Big Announcement

Hi Everyone!

So, after an unexpected three week delay, here is the big announcement!

The LGAC Youth Group now has a website!

The website is https://sites.google.com/site/lgacyg/ 

I've been working on it for a few weeks, and there is some content on there already.  It's still a work in progress, and I know there are some things I need to change and update.  Please feel free to tell me what things are out of whack.  I'm a little out of practice with creating websites, as this is the first website I've created in over three years.

For anyone interested, I decided to create a website when I realized that the blog wasn't the best way to organize all of the Youth Group stuff.  The website gives me some more control, and much better organization potential.

Anyway, this week's announcements are already posted onto the website.  Go check them out.

(By the way, I have not decided what to do with the blog.  I still plan on using it, but I am not sure in what capacity.)

-Michael

Announcements for 2/22/2013

Hi Everyone,

My big announcement for the Youth Group has been delayed until next week.  Boo...  Anyway, here are this week's announcements.  

• Three (3) weeks until the Lake Champion permission slips and payment are due.  I need both the permission slip and payment in order to reserve your spot for Lake Champion.  Loving Grace Alliance Church is paying for some transportation, but that space is limited.  So, get me that information soon.  March 8th is the absolute dead line.  I need that permission slip and payment by 5:00pm Eastern Time.  This deadline is set by Lake Champion, and I can't budge it.  Make all checks payable to "Loving Grace Alliance Church", and in the memo line put "Lake Champion".  
• Youth Group Meeting on March 3rd is cancelled due to a conflict with the annual Men's Wild Game dinner.  Meetings will resume March 10th at the normal time.
• I need ideas from the Youth Group for activities. Just about everything is up for change. Our standard meeting time will remain Sunday evenings from 5:00pm - 7:00pm, but other than that, I'll listen to any ideas. 

A couple of questions to help you with your ideas.

• What is something that you like to do for fun?  Is it something that we could do as a group?

• What have you always wanted to try as a group, but could never get enough people together?

• Is there an event or activity that you would like to do?  It can be seasonal and weather dependent.

The next time I lead the Youth Group, I want three ideas from everyone.  I'll post the feasible ideas on the blog, and we'll put them to vote.  I will do my best to implement the ideas.  

Remember, the whole purpose of Youth Group is to learn and grow within God's word.  God's word can come in all different forms, shapes, and sizes.  I will continue to teach straight from the Bible, but there are lessons that can be learned while doing an activity   We can incorporate God's word before, after, or during an activity.  


I want the Youth Group to be a Godly place and to be a fun place.  Teaching the love of God and the word of God will always come first, and it will never be compromised.  But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun.  Help me to make the Youth Group a more enjoyable experience.

I'm working on several other projects.  One of them is done, and it's waiting on approval.  I showed a sneak peak of it last Sunday, so if you missed it, you'll have to wait.  

See everyone Sunday!

-Michael

Announcements are Delayed

Hi Everyone,

this week's announcements are delayed until later this week.  I am working on something, and I don't want to duplicate my efforts.

Kind regards,

Michael

Lake Champion, Meeting Cancellation, and Ideas

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple of quick announcements.  

• Four (4) weeks until the Lake Champion permission slips and payment is due.  March 8th is the absolute dead line.  I need that permission slip and payment by 5:00pm Eastern Time.  This deadline is set by Lake Champion, and I can't budge it.  Make all checks payable to "Loving Grace Alliance Church", and in the memo line put "Lake Champion".  
• Youth Group Meeting on March 3rd is cancelled due to a conflict with the annual Men's Wild Game dinner.  Meetings will resume March 10th at the normal time.
• Also, this coming Sunday, we will be meeting in the Sanctuary, as the downstairs will be set up for the upcoming Women's Tea.  No worries.  We will be continuing the move "Gods and Generals" and our discussion on "Faith in the American Civil War."
• I still need ideas for the Youth Group activities and events.  I have only received one idea so far.  It was a suggestion to go horseback riding.  (As a side note, I found that highly ironic.  I want everyone in the Youth Group to have fun, and I want to incorporate as many ideas as possible.  However, horses are one of two things in this world that I am afraid of.) 

I'm working on a few other things right now, but they're in the early stages of development.  

See everyone Sunday!

-Michael

Changes to the Blog!

Hi Everyone!

I made several changes to the blog this morning.  Here is a complete run down of the changes:

• Changed the Color, Text, and Layout of the blog.  I got tired of the brown, so I found one more wintery color scheme.  I also added a second column to the right of the blog main window.  
• Added a search box, so now you can search through all of the blogs for a certain word or phrase.  (I forgot to add this feature when I first created the blog.  Oops!)
• Added two "Popular Post"  sections.  Now you can read the most popular posts from the Previous 30 Days and All Time Favorites!  (Please note that I don't think it's working properly.  The "Previous 30 Days section has a post from June of last year...  I guess it's a work in progress.)

I'm working on a few other changes, but I haven't finalized them, yet.  Come back soon!

-Michael

From the Mind of Michael : The Pope

From the Mind of Michael is a series of thoughts and observations from Michael, one of the Youth Group Leaders.  The views and opinions expressed here are solely that of Michael McCracken, and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Loving Grace Alliance Church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, or any one else for that matter.

I just read that Pope Benedict XVI will be stepping down from the Papacy at the end of the month.  This brings to mind thoughts about the Pope and Roman Catholicism.

To begin with, I wish Pope Benedict XVI all the best.  I pray his health improves, and I know he will continue to do God's work in whatever capacity he is able to do so until the Lord calls him home.  I have the utmost respect for the Pope and Roman Catholicism.  My prayers are with him and all Catholics.

Though I'm not Roman Catholic (and never was), I do like a lot of what the Papacy and Roman Catholicism stands for.  Several of my good friends in high school are or became Catholic.  It was through them I learned about bishops and cardinals and the pope.  When I was in grade school and most of college, the pope was Pope John Paul II.  All of my Catholic friends spoke highly of him.

I remember one summer several of them made a trip up to Canada to see him speak one time.  It might have been back-to-back summers, but that's not the point.  The point being that while I was growing up, the Pope I knew was a well liked and well respected individual.

So it surprised me greatly when Pope Benedict XVI was elected with less than jubilant fanfare.  I had thought that after such a positive previous Pope, that people would respect the position of the Papacy and what the individual stood for.  Instead, there were demeaning remarks and rude comparisons.  There was one image that likened Pope Benedict XVI to Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars.  (That's a bit more than extreme by my standards.)

So, as the next Pope will be elected in Vatican City (which is the smallest sovereign country in the world), I pray that the next Pope has a much warmer reception.  I pray that the Vatican is able to enact God's will in electing the next Pope.  I pray that the next Pope is a Godly man, and someone who holds up the virtues and principles of the Bible.

God bless and God speed.

-Michael

February 17th Meeting Update

Hi Everyone,

On February 17, the Youth Group will be meeting in the sanctuary.  The Ladies Tea will be set up in the downstairs, so we will be relocating for the evening.  This works out fine, as we will be continuing the lesson on "Faith in the American Civil".

Kind regards,

Michael

Youth Group Announcements for 2/4/2013

Hi Everyone!

So... I've been really busy at work, and I've had to push through some of my lunches the past couple of weeks.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I do, and I enjoy who I work with.  I just want everyone to know why I haven't had time to post any updates on the blog lately.  Anyway, onto the updates.

After today's post, I'm going to make more frequent updates, but they will be much shorter than normal.  I realize that by sending out long messages, people might not read them entirely.  So, I will be condensing the posts and increasing the frequency, in an attempt to keep everyone up-to-date and informed.

LAKE CHAMPION ANNOUNCEMENT!

Ok, I think that will get everyone's attention.  I made the Lake Champion Announcement two Sunday's ago, and I started handing out sign-up sheets.  Please contact me to receive a sign up sheet.  There is detailed information regarding Lake Champion on the Events and Calendar page.  (If it's not there now, it will be up soon.  I'm going to that page next.)

I NEED YOUR HELP:

I need your help.  I am currently doing a series called "Faith in the American Civil War."  After the series is done, I have run out of ideas.  This is where you come in to help me.  I need ideas on topics, discussions, activities, events, or really anything for the Youth Group.  I'm going to start asking you for your input every Sunday, and I'm going to use as many of your ideas as possible.

These ideas can be about anything; Verse by Verse through a certain book.  Topical studies.  We can do activities that teach through doing instead of sitting and listening.  How often do you want a Youth Group party?  I want your ideas.  So, get your ideas ready, because I'll be asking for them.

FAITH IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR:

I continued my study on "Faith in the American Civil War" yesterday.  We reviewed Isaiah 10: 1-4 and 2 Corinthians 5:1.  Then I showed the first 45 minutes of Gods and Generals (we made it through The First Battle of Bull Run/Battle of Manasas).  

Next week, we will continue where we left off, and make it through the Battle of Fredericksburg.

That's all for now.  Check back later for more information.  

First Meeting of 2013

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The first Youth Group Meeting will be this Sunday from 5:00-7:00 pm at the church.  The Youth Group is signed up to clean the church every second Sunday of the month.  Many hands make light work, so let's have a strong showing, and we'll get done with the cleaning quickly.

There are two related things I would like everyone to think about.  The first is "What activities do you want to do between now and our summer break?"  The second is "If those things cost money, what fundraisers would you like to do in order to pay for the activities?"

Lastly, I will be doing a topical study on faith in the American Civil War.  I want to show the movie "Gods and Generals".  It is rated PG-13.  Movieguide.org reviewed the movie here.   Christiananswers.net reviewed the movie here. The wikipedia synopsis of the movie is here.  Please let me know if there are objections to showing the movie.

That's all for now.  I pray to God that we have a blessed 2013.

-Michael