Motown Madness: Live on Purpose

Instagram

Tumblr

Lenny and Larry's Baked Nutrition

This is another thing that I was extra excited for because it was my last time. But it wasn't exciting that I would never get to do it again, but excited that we were ready to make the most of it. I went to my first Motown Madness in 8th grade, and have been to most of them, at least for one night, the past few years. First we stayed at Abby Hick's house, then Bella Mills's, then Cassie Meek's, last year at Patty's, and this year she hosted us seniors one last time. 

The first night of Motown is always the main food event, even though it's around 10:00 before we get started. After the first service, the churches break off and each group goes to their host home for a month-awaited-and-planned-out smorgous board. Our idea was grilled chicken salad, tons of fruit, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, salsas, and some other trimmings. 

Friday night, session one message highlights:
Speaker:  John Nix - fun fact:  He is the pastor at Toby Mac's camps and Camp Electric, which happens to be in Nashville, TN.
Worship band:  The Neverclaim

Church isn't a museum to put on a display but a hospital for broken sinners.
No matter how good your acting skills, it does not impress God.
God's grace and mercy is not because we are deserving but because He is loving.
Passage:  Acts 17-Paul discussing Christ's suffering and dying with the men in the synagogue-Why?  Because we sin.  What's sin-"Not only bad things committed but also good things ommitted" (James 4:17 "If anyone then knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.")  And sin is bad not only becuase of what we do, but also who we do it to; all sins hurt God.
Songs that came to my mind relating to this:  "Scandal of grace, You died in my place so my soul will live" and "What can wash away my sins?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus"
Sin is sin, and sin deserves death, but we can find redempion in Christ, and Him alone."You were dead in your transgressions and sins...but becuase of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ--it is by grace you have been saved."  Ephesians 2:1, 4-5

Saturday morning is in a tie with the awaiting and planning for great meals. Of course Motown Madness is about growing in the Lord with people from your community, but next it is also about the food. Honestly. Just ask anyone who has been involved. It's like a tradition. 

I had been in one of those energy ruts where it seems like nothing I do can recharge me. I was so exhausted. In that case, I was really looking forward to this weekend of rest and recharging for my body and spirit!

Patty was ready to fix me right up with some espresso. And some advocate spark for the afternoon. I was dead, but the artificial energy got me through!

 

Pancakes and pajamas are the perfect picture of comfort. I was dubbed pancake chef.

Patty was hard at work, too, up much earlier than we, making sausage, bacon, eggs, biscuits, gravy, and getting out the fruit and drinks. And her kitchen decorations are punny.

Breakfast is one of he best times to fellowship!

Acts 2:42, 46-47 The Fellowship of Believers  "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and prayer...in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor.."

 

 

My pancake of choice was apple cinnamon with pumpkin spice chips, and of course fresh fruit. The other pancakes some had were chocolate chip or blueberry banana-a variety, just like our personalities and backgrounds.

 

Session 2, Saturday morning
Passage:  More of Acts 17 where they are having more of an understanding talk of the scriptures with the Bereans
Church is not an organization but an organism.  (We need each other working the way we should so that church can function!)
God's word is also living; as we read it, it also reads us.  ("For the Word of God is living and active...it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12)
Christ is not an addition to our lives, but He is our lives.  ("For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  Philippians 1:21)
Catching a theme for this service?  There is more to living than just life.  Life is found in following Christ.

Thanks to David Noe, one of our college-age leaders here in Morristown, Motown Madness got a Snapchat filter!  We felt special for a couple days.

It's also always an adventure to find something to do during Saturday afternoon's free time after the morning service. On weekends like this where the weather is nice, parks are packed and recreational sports are taken to the next level. Sometimes people go bowling, make crafts, visit nursing homes, go to Starbucks, have a scavenger hunt, go to the mall, etc, but this year we did it big.

 We went out of state. 

Yep. Right after that morning service we packed up the coolers and a couple ads and drove to North Carolina to picnic at Max Patch.

I had never been here before, but now it's on my list of places to go back!  Not too far into the smoky mountains is this little road with stops along the way to view nature, park, camp, picnic, whatever, and we found us a nice little spot and set up camp alongside the river!

We couldn't miss this opportunity to get some great pictures of our senior squad either.

We took literally all the leftovers we had and spread out a buffet for our picnic lunch. Fresh food, fresh air, fantastic fellowship=best picnic.

This is my gospel gang, and we're here to proclaim The Name.  #GospelGang #NoShame

"I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you.  I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles, my joy knows no bounds."  2 Corinthians 7:4
When I can't express my feelings, God knows.
#NuffSaid

After eating we hit the road, but still not headed home!  There is more to see of Max Patch than this!  Up and up and round and round, you finally get to an opening at this here sign. Now for the hike. It's not that long, but it sure is steep!  But like all difficult things in life, the view from the top is worth it.

Though it was cloudy, it was still beautiful. It even snowed on us a little bit!  You could see forever from up there. It was amazing to see Gods work in a weekend full of Him to begin with.

 

Morgan, Roxanna, me, Julia, and Patty with the background views

Sunday school squad for life. 

Also thanks to Jack Tyler for letting me borrow his hoodie and blanket; without it, I would've died. My feet were numb and I was shivering even with all that.

 

 

 

 

I peeked in the perfect photobomb

 

This time next year, we will be all spread out at our respective colleges, but we've already been thinking about plans of how to meet up at times. Through high school, I have come to know and appreciate these girls so much. We are so different, but that's how we love each other and are able to keep each other accountable and pray for each other for any and everything.

And what are we to do with all that we have learned through life? --- "Go into all the world and make disciples..."  Matthew 28:19

"You will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jersalem [Morristown], Judea and Samaria [TN and America], and to the ends of the earth."  Acts 1:8

Session 3, Saturday night

Worship

It's not worship, preaching, then leave church into the rest of life; it's all worship.

We must be careful to worship the Creator, not creation.  ("They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised."  Romans 1:25)

You know how we get so pumped sometimes at the end of something that we chant for an encore?  (concerts, my team joking at speed workouts, "one more! one more!", etc)  Well, what if we were so pumped when we were reading the Bible that we chanted "One more verse!"  That's what John's kids started doing.  Funny, but what a great thought!

***One of those crazy things that God works out also happened during this message!  Something John said reminded me of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and then in the prayer that was a few minutes later, he reference the same scripture.  God never ceases to amaze me.
Another thing to think on:  we like to make certain things known about us, our association with certain brands or people or activities.  What brand do you make the most known?  When people see you, what do they think of?  (Questioning myself here, as well.)

  Saturday night is the last session, and after a funny chain of events including a road being closed and a detour in the opposite direction, we barely made it back in time!  But we did, and that's what counts. We had a blast!
The Starnes family also has two dogs, Jake and Sam, and as you can see, they are quite friendly.  Good thing I'm used to it from my own pets at home.  The banana pajamas were just too much, though!

 

To end, I'll share one last thought that is really challenging, even to those who may seem to have it all together.
 We can have all the right answeres without being right with God.
Yep.  Like the first message, putting on a display in the museum.
Life can look all prim and proper on the outside, like you love life and serving and are honestly living for the Lord.  Sometimes it's even easy to fool people, even fool ourselves.  (Ever heard the saying, "fake it til ya feel it"?)  We can read the Bible, go to church, fellowship with other believers, know just the right things to say and ways to act, but if our heart isn't right, God sees right through all that even when others don't.
It doesn't matter if we look like we're on track with God if we aren't on the inside.  God knows.  God is the One who saves.  If your heart is hard or you're set on your own ways of living, don't fool yourself or others.
Don't just live the religion, be real-real love, real life.
Live on purpose.
 

God's Beautiful Power

Follow @makenzie_jones

Instagram

Tumblr

 

While we were gone to the beach, we had fantastic weather!  It only rained once, and it didn't even mess up our plans.  That is a huge blessing to get to enjoy over 2 weeks of perfect beach weather.  We had all the sunshine, heat, and humidity we could handle.  One night there was a lightning storm.  All lightning.  No thunder.  It was amazing!  It was constant lightning with no noise!  We stood out on the balcony and watched it for a really long time.  I thought this was an awesome demonstration of God's power.  He is the one who controls the weather, something powerful, and so unpredictable to us. I believe that is one thing He uses to show us that we are not in control; He is.  We can't know what will happen or how it will happen.  He is in total control, and His plan is amazing.

The golf night was a late night, and I was exhausted. I cherish my sleep, but I got in bed after midnight!  It was worth it though. If Dad had not wanted to stay longer and practice putting, I wouldn't have gotten to experience this amazing lightning storm.  It was truly amazing and made me watch in awe of how powerful our God is. He makes beautiful things happen that we can't understand so that He can demonstrate that awesome power.


This also led me to look up some verses about lightning and brought to mind a song by the Newsboys!  Here's some of what I found.

"The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning."  Psalm 29:7

Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky
To show me You are with me
I I I can't deny
No I can't deny that You are right here with me
You've opened my eyes
So I can see You all around me
Light light light up the sky
You light up the sky to show me
That You are with me

"See how He scatters His lightning about Him, bathing the depths of the seas.  This is the way He governs the nations and provides food in abundance.  He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to strike tis mark.  His thunder announces the coming storm..."  Job 36:30-32

"When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.  He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses."  Jeremiah 51:16

"Camp Running Wild" is a Fitting Name Indeed

Instagram

Tumblr

My last year of team camp was exciting for many reasons!  For one, it's my last year, which is a relief, but a little sad, too. However, I'm glad I finished it this way with this team. This was the most fun and challenging camp of all 4 years. Each year the team has gotten better, physically and friendly (if that makes sense), but this year is just something special. 

 

Also a big thank you to Jeni, Mary, and all the other adults who spent their week helping us survive!  Jeni can also take credit for the majority of these pictures.

 This comic is a dream come true of a nightmare I had a couple years ago. Farmer and I still joke about it. If you haven't experienced his bus driving...well, just imagine.

The number of team campers we had this year exceeded that of any previous year, as well as the maximum capacity of sweaty runners for the cabins!  We moved venues to the Clyde-Austin 4H Camp in Greeneville (yes, I went back-to-back camps from Greenville to Greeneville). It was a great move, in my opinion!  We had so much more room, better and closer runs, and more fun opportunities.

Picture while we still had energy

Creative Grace made us all collages and handed them out before we loaded the bus.

The picture doesn't do this morning view any justice.  You should've seen this beautiful sunrise.  It was thundering, too, so it made it seem even more beautiful.  Although I hate getting up so early at camp (around 5:40), little things like this "shed some light on the subject."

This is an awesome picture of us doing one of our morning runs.

The first night, we did something new and actually kinda relaxing.  We watched the Prefontaine movie!

The camp has a cat that basically lives there. We saw it every day!

Every year we make a circle of hands that surrounds the things we want to include in our team and excludes the things we want to keep out.

Morning circuit days weren't originally planned to be around the lodge, but a morning storm forced us to set it up that way. It ended up working out so well, that's how we did it the next time, too. Some stations were inside, one on the stairs, some outside upstairs, and some outside downstairs, but it all worked out it a nice loop.

Breakfast time!  We had the whole camp reserved for the week, so we had tons of space. No worries about seating here in the cafeteria.

Why Farmer made us "hide" while he set up one of our games, we don't know. We started out in the bathroom, but the elevator seemed like more fun. And who needs elevator music when you have us?  We made our own.

We didn't get to run Mount LeConte this year, but we did one much worse.  Welcome to Viking Mountain.  I have never done a run so difficult in my life.  Imagine running up a mountain for almost 9.5 miles with no breaks, all uphill.  I am not going to lie; there was a point that I almost cried, but I sucked up those tears and told myself that I was going to make it to the end and tell Coach Farmer that that was the worst thing he ever made me do.  And that is just what I did.  He laughed.

After I finished, Farmer and I took an adventure. We'll leave the details at that.

If you look closely, you can see the bus down there.

"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights."  Psalm 18:32-33

It may have taken us over an hour to find the right one, but the view from the fire tower was beautiful.

"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet, and be steadfast in all your ways."  Proverbs 4:25-26

Although it was the toughest run, I am glad I did it.  Talk about a feeling of accomplishment...or death, whichever way you want to look at it.  Physically, it was like death, but mentally it was accomplishment.  I am thankful for all the new challenges that we encountered this year at camp.

 

The pictures from this experience also gave me new opportunities to look up corresponding verses!  I really like the new ones from above that I found and plan to keep them on my mind throughout this season.  Gotta stay focused!

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31

The camp also has a lake where we got to canoe and kayak one afternoon!

 

 

 

 

Game time!  The three of us on that tiny little box had to stand that way for most of two hours.  Yes, it was painful and very tediuos balancing.

Throughout the week, we write enocuraging notes to each other to take home and read.  All our decorated paper bags lined the window of the conference room.  The girls get pretty decorative with designing and drawing our names!

The rocket competition is another activity we do each year, and Coach Farmer made sure that it didn't get left out this year.  The big open fields actually made it way better for launching here than the cul de sacs in the cabin areas.  Emma and I made the Lemon & Lime rocket, which did not fly very far at all, but it got 2nd in the design contest!  We also enjoyed hanging out in our pajamas.

 

 

After launching rockets, we headed back up to the lodge and started a campfire and roasted smores!  This would've never happened at the old location.  It's hard to beat a campfire and toasted marshmallows.

Please take a moment to look at these faces.  None of this was staged; these were their actual reactions.

The one on the left here has to be the best!  Icker and Blaine are in total amazement, while Emily and Caroline literally look like they're about to barf.

One day all of our activities were on the obstacle course!  We felt goofy wearing these helmets, so we were making those odd faces on purpose. The obstacle course sure gave us lots of laughs!

This was a simple, yet exciting challenge on the obstacle course!  It was probably my favorite.  From the start, I actually doubted that we could do it, but we did on the first try!  We all had to rope swing from one box to the other, but once we were on the second box, we couldn't get off; everyone had to fit!  All the activities we do make us strategize, so for this, we did the sturdy people first to support the back, and the people with the smallest impact went last so they wouldn't hit too hard and knock everyone off.  I went last.  By that time, there was literally nowhere for me to go, but somehow they got me in!  I just loved it!  They made one small corner for me to rest my foot, held open thier arms, and off I swung!  The few arms engulfed me, and I held tight to them, and we did it!

Here I am doing a couple more obstacle course challenges.

One of the new activities we got to try at the camp was archery!

Danny has become my new runner partner for this year, and we are having a blast!  He is the closest on the team to my speed, but most of the time, he can go more than I can.  This picture was after an awesome road run that started along the Nolachucky River at the Hot Springs, NC border and back towards Greeneville.  It was a little over 9 miles, but they flew by!  We had a great time talking and running.  It was one of those #RunHappy runs where you just keep rolling and don't really feel any pain.  Not only did we have an awesome run, it was Danny's birthday!

I am so thankful to have him here with me leading the pack this season!  There have been many runs where he has pushed me faster than I would've gone on my own, especially up hills.  I need that peer motivation to push me further, harder, and faster!  Sometimes it's also really nice just to have someone to talk to and enjoy the run with.

I'm pumped to see where we end up this season!

This is Blaine!  He moved here from Michigan last track season, so this is his first full year with us.  I'd never really talked to him until this week, but he is so cool and such a good kid!   He's a hard worker, too.  I eat a lot, and I eat slow, so I'm usually the last one out of the dining hall.  A couple times, though, Ryan and Blaine kept going back for seconds and thirds, so we shut the place down together!

On the last full day, we were done.  I can't sleep during the day usually, but this time, even I fell asleep on the bus ride.  These 4 were out for sure.  Farmer thought it would be funny to jump in the van and yell and be crazy to wake them up, but they didn't think it was so funny.

The calm before the storm...or the swarm I should say. Shortly after this picture, we ran right through a Japanese hornets' nest, and needless to say, they did not like it.

 

 

On the last night, we always do some kind of competition, whether it's a talent show, boys vs. girls game night, or this totally new one--water olympics.  I wasn't too excited about it at first, but it was really fun!  We drew blue or green colored paper to split up on two teams then chose people to represent for different competitions.  As we found out that morning during the post-circuit pool workout, I am the champion breath-holder, so I anchored my team on the breath-holding relay.  There was also a water-running race, biggest splash, fastest trip down the slide, pool stick finding, and another one or two events.  For the final event, everyone participated.  We linded up (above) and used a pool noodle for the classic over-under relay. 

Total point tally:  my team, green team, came out on top!

Another thing that always takes place on the last night is the officers' meeting with both guys and girls and coaches.  I am so thankful to have been chosen captain this year.  I really want to use my position to further make the most of all the blessings that God has given me.  I feel that this year is going to be really special. 

Another picture that could be captioned like the first, "while we still had energy," but we really didn't have that much energy.  For the final and longest run of camp, the annual time-prediction, no-watch run, we drove to Johnson City to run out and back on the Tweetsie Trail.

 

And we're off!

Farmer biked it so he could GPS the route since none of us had ever been there before.  The Tweetsie Trail is a beautiful, scenic, fine gravel trail that goes out and back 6 miles, for a total 12.  There are slight hills, but they are so long and gradual, you don't really notice until your legs start burning (going up) or speeding up (going down).

 

 

This is the halfway point (actually the start, but we started in the middle becasue of the picnic area), where a couple moms waited to mark the turn-around.

This sight about halfway through the second half made me so happy. You just don't understand.   A family of goats was running on the trail, too!  They were so cute!  They trotted along next to me for a minute and made their cute little "baaa" noises.  If I had my phone, I would've sacrificed time to stop and take a picture with them, but I didn't (coach Haas took this as he ran by later), so I kept the pace rolling.

It was so hot and humid all week. After our last run, the 12-mile Tweetsie Trail, I was literally salty.

Once we were done, this is how we felt.  Camp was over, and we were dead.  All we wanted to do was eat and go home!  After one "hill" (or mountain) of a week, it was finally that time.

 

 

 

Finishing my last run of my last year of cross country camp was a great feeling. I enjoyed the week so much, but I was exhausted, and relieved to be done. Thank you to all the people who helped make my last camp the best one to remember.

 One last part of camp each year:  morning-after yoga.  It has changed locations every year, but we find somewhere to do it.  I was more dead this morning than the day before, but sometimes that's just how it goes!