Bigger and Better was AWESOME

Hey there everyone I hope you are having a great day! I know I am still recovering from last night because it was so much fun. The winning team was the 7th grade men because they brought back a working mini crotch rocket. We also had 2 second place teams. The 7th and 8th grade girls got 2nd because they brought back a 27" TV with stand remote that work. And the Freshmen girls got 2nd place because Erin Weber brought the house down with her speech! It was awesome.

Last night was great we will try to take some pictures of what was brought back!

This coming Sunday night we are having our first High school Next Class which we are going to be talking about "Hearing the voice of God". It will be starting at 6pm. This class is highly discussion oriented and we will be talking about some cool stuff so if you are a high school student or you know a high school student who would like this class send them to CVMC on Sunday night at 6pm! Its going to be awesome.

I hope you all have an amazing day today!

P.A.

Tonight is the Night of BIGGER AND BETTER

Alright everyone it is here! The night we have pumping up for over a month now BIGGER AND BETTER IS TONIGHT!

So this is what you need to do for tonight:
1. Bring a friend or 6.
2. Make sure you are here before 6:30pm!
3. Make sure everyone in your group is ready to talk to some strangers!
4. Eat a good dinner before you come because this could get intense!
5. Did i mention invite a couple friends?

Tonight has the makings of being the most fun night of the Century! So don't miss out my friends. Can't wait to see ya.

P.A.

1 More day until Bigger and Better

Man, I can not wait for tomorrow! Bigger and Better, oh my goodness. Its so much fun, and God is blessing us with awesome weather so there are no excuses unless you have a game or a practice that run late, but still no excuses for tomorrow because its all about trying to get as much stuff for pass it forward, and goodwill as we can! Its going to be so much stinking fun.

So again tomorrow night please be here as close to 6:30pm as possible because we need to make sure we are out of here so we can give as much time as we can to get a ton of cool stuff.

6:30pm - 8:30pm - Crystal Valley Youth Group Bigger and Better Night!

Be there!

P.A.

Bigger and Better

I can't wait to see what we bring back this coming Wednesday night! Bigger and Better is going to be so stinking awesome this year! We are going to have perfect weather, and a perfect time for you to invite your friends to come and have a ton of fun with our youth group.

So for those who might be clueless on what bigger and better is let me explain.

Bigger and better is a small group game where all the small groups will be given a single paper clip, then they are assigned a neighborhood in middlebury, and they all drive to that neighborhood and get back together as one group. Then they take the paper clip to a house and ask them if they can give them something bigger or better for this paper clip. Then whatever item they receive they head to the next neighbor and they ask them if they have anything bigger or better then the new item they have. At the end of the night who has the biggest or best item wins a pizza party!

So that is what we are doing this coming Wednesday night, its a time to get small groups together and hang out and have some time to have some fun together and make some good memories at youth group :)

Hope to see you here this Wednesday at 6:30pm.

P.A.

Movie Night

Hey there everyone, I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow night is our Movie Night! We will start at 8pm and we will wrap up probably around 10. We will have some discussion time after the movie inside our small groups and the parents will be meeting with me in the Sanctuary for like a 15 min wrap up from the movie.

So here are the Details 1 More time!

8:00pm - Start time
AT Crystal Valley
Bring any snacks you want to bring!
We will provide Popcorn and Drinks!

Can't wait to see ya!

Here is the Trailer for the movie!



P.A.

Wednesday Night Reflections

Hey there guys I am going to start putting some reflections from the night up here because I think once we leave we sometimes loose what we talked about and I want us to make sure we are fully getting what God is trying to download to our brains! So here we go!

- The guys got really into the balloon volleyball and I think we could go professional with a team!
- For those who haven't experienced what Zacchaeus experienced through Jesus Christ you are missing out on so much love and freedom!
- When push comes to shove what are you going to choose? Jesus or to be ashamed of him in front of your friends?
- Are you willing to stand up for the guy who took a bullet for you?
- Are you going to let a little girl put you in your place like Peter did?
- Are you willing to work to see Jesus in your life like Zacchaeus did?
- Whats that ONE thing that you think you can't let go of because you think that will make you look so weird to people.......
- God is longing to set you free from your past reputation are you willing to embrace HIS way to make you have a new reputation?

Youth Group Tonight!

Hey there everyone! I hope you are all having a wonderful day today.

Tonight we got some pretty exciting things going down, we have some super creative games from David and Michelle tonight, then we are going to have a new way of doing announcements, and then we are going to be wrapping up our "Backpack" Series. We are going to be discussing reputations tonight! So you will not want to miss tonights youth group. 6:30pm - 8:30pm tonight right here at CVMC!

Bring a friend and your Bible tonight we are going to be dissecting another story from the Word!

Hope to see you tonight!

P.A.

The most fun week you can ever have

So this week starts the crazy end of September for the youth group. This week we end the "Backpack" Series on Wednesday, then we have the movie night Friday at 8pm here at CVMC, then Sunday night we have a big leaders meeting, then Next Wednesday is Bigger and Better. Holy Cow! Lots of awesome things.

So these next 2 Wednesday nights you will not want to miss. This Wednesday night we are talking about your reputation. We will be having some fun and craziness but we are going to be talking about what you are known for in your school. So Wednesday night is going to be a night of questions. Because we want to present you with a bunch of question to ask yourself because its so important to make sure your reputation is representing Jesus!

So come this Wednesday night and hang out with us! Its going to be really fun.

P.A.

Friendships and Relationships

Hey there everyone I hope your day is going well, my voice is still out so its kinda crappy but ohh well its still all good.

Last night was pretty stinking fun, I have never seen a more intense game of Chicken on the roof then I did last night! It was awesome. The Judges were relentless with their comments and it was awesome!

So for those of who couldn't make it last night we broke down a verse in Proverbs about friendship.

Proverbs 12:26 "A righteous man is cautious in his friendships, but the way of the wicked leads him astray"

We talked about being cautious with your friends and making sure you are checking for 3 things

1. Who those friends hang out with. Are they people who have a bad reputation or are they people that are good people who have good reputations. Because if you are hanging out with people who have bad reputations guess who is going to be grouped with them! YOU!
2. What do they talk about all the time. Is it their girlfriend or boyfriend, is how much they are getting away with at home, how much they cheat on homework and tests, what they can get away with at school. What is dominating the conversation when you are talking with them. Be listening for what they are talking about.
3. Do they up lift you or are they always bringing you down. You don't want to be around someone who is always down on themselves and others, because it will absorb you into that negativity, and will eventually becoming who you are.

Don't let your friends have a massive influence over you, Allow God to direct you in your decisions and the choices you are going to make!

Hope you all have a great day today!

P.A.

Sickness has overcome my body

Hey there everyone I am sorry I didn't update yesterday, I was on a couch all day long trying to sleep and stop puking. So today I am feeling a little bit better, I am at work trying to get some things changed around for tonight because I have no voice, with all my puking and stuff it took my voice away, and I can't talk anymore. So tonight we have a couple things planned differently tonight.

So tonight at 6:30 here at Crystal Valley Youth Group will be going down, we have some pretty cool things planned for tonight, I know the games and worship are going to be great! The message tonight we are going to be focusing on friends. We are going to be taking a different look at friends tonight then I think some of you are used to, so come ready to discuss about friends.

Hope to see you tonight at 6:30!

P.A.

Friendships!

Hey there everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful Monday! I know my Monday is filled to the brim with craziness, but its good craziness.

So this coming Wednesday we have a packed youth group night for ya, We have some sweet games that our good Ted Graber and Wes Miller will be leading us in, and Worship Wednesday night is going to be totally different because of some things we have planned, so come out Wednesday night at 6:30 as we continue in our series "Backpack"

We are hitting the time of month where we are having a lot of things going down, so here is a little list of whats coming up:

1. This Friday is fireworks here at the church its going to be a great night to come over and watch the fireworks and hang out with your small groups. There will be food here and tons of other things to do so come on out at around 8pm (or come after the football game) and hang out with us.
2. September 24th is the movie night here at the Church! You should definitely come and watch a great movie with us that night! The movie is "To save a life" we have been showing previews every week at youth group and on Sunday morning so come and bring your parents if you want because all parents with youth group age students are allowed to come. And the best part is its FREE!
3. September 29th is our bigger and better night! We will be breaking into our small groups and heading out to different neighborhoods in Middlebury. We will arm you with a small paperclip and you will head to each house asking can you give me something bigger or better then this. After an hour or so you will have some pretty cool things! I can't wait to see what you guys come back with! 6:30 - 8:30, meet at the church and we will have all the transportation ready and waiting for ya!

Well I hope you all have a great Monday! We hope to see you on Wednesday night, praying for ya.

P.A.

Special Friday Edition

Hey there everyone, I am in the office today getting some work done for our Destination unknown trip coming up in November. Man this trip is going to be awesome. Be praying about this trip that God can draw us to the best deals, and the best time because this trip is going to be awesome! The place we are going is so stinking sweet, you will not want to miss it.

This trip is for High school only! So High school students we are thinking of you while we are planning it so don't think that we are going to be doing boring things because half the things I have in mind for this trip, I can't wait to do.

So Sign ups will be soon, the main thing this meeting is going to be addressing is Cost, and how to raise some funds so you don't have an outrageous amount! So be looking for sign ups soon!

Have a great weekend everyone, I won't be at the football game tonight we have a wedding to be at tonight. I will be out of town tomorrow night with some guys from the youth group at the Sox game so if you need to get a hold of me text me because I won't be answering my phone tomorrow night while I am at the hallow grounds of U.S. Cellular field.

P.A.

Straight up Talking!

Hey there everyone, hope you are all having a great Thursday so far. I know I am pretty tired from last night but still here at the office working away for this Sunday and all the cool things that are coming down the pipe!

It was interesting this morning when I came to church and had a couple messages on my phone from different people asking me why we are talking about such hard things at youth group. It was great because my answer was really easy, and it was "because our kids need to hear the church talk straight up about the issues these students are dealing with" And we had one person want to start attending because they need to hear those things they said.

I want everyone to realize that we aren't going to run this youth ministry like a cookie cutter youth ministry. We have insane amounts of love for each of the students that come into our ministry, and I hope and pray that every single one of them find Jesus in a personal way, but we aren't going to back down from the hard issues students are facing in the schools today. I hope and pray that us being honest about what we are seeing at Northridge, Concord, Goshen, and all the other schools isn't making people upset, but making people think about what they can do to be a light in their school (See Matthew 5:13)

So my Web challenge for those reading this is to take a stand, and be a light, an unquenchable light for Christ today at school and for your family. Follow after God's heart, and move towards Him in a new and powerful way today!

P.A.

Backpack Pt 2

Hey there everyone I hope things are going well for ya'll. I know for me I am wide awake and rocking and ready for tonight!

Here is the skinny for tonight

1. Youth starts at 6:30, I know its a common to show up at 6:35 but our starting time is 6:30.
2. Bring your Bible, a Pen, and a Notebook for tonight!
3. Bring a couple hundred friends tonight! We have plenty of room for a couple thousand students tonight (Just kidding we really only have room for about 3oo students, but if you want to invite all of Northridge, Goshen, Concord,Fairfield, Betheny, and Central I am down)
4. Take some time to pray before coming tonight. Tonight can be a very powerful night!
5. We are done at 8:30!

So I hope to see you all tonight, Its going to be stinking amazing!

P.A.

The longest tuesday of all time!

Hey there everyone, so a little bit about my night last night. We have a dog that is currently pregnant and is about to give birth in a week. And her belly is really big and she throws up everything! So last night at 4am she starts throwing up. Gross. So Esther and I were up at 4am with the puppies. Esther did an amazing job with them, she helped them out and got them calmed down. She is awesome!

So enough about how stinking tired I am today :-)

So Tomorrow night we have some awesome things planned for you! We have a couple special games planned by Mark Metcalfe, and if you have been here before when Mark has done games you know they are amazing. Doug Edlund is going to be rocking the Emcee for us tomorrow night, and the worship band is going to lead us into the throne room of Christ with Worship. Tomorrow night is going to be powerful.

We are going to be continuing our series called "Backpack" tomorrow night we will be talking about shame and guilt and I have a story that involves cookies tomorrow night that is pretty hilarious. So come and hear that story tomorrow night, but even from last week we have had a score of students come to know freedom in Christ from confessing their sins from last week, and if you could talk with them about the healing power of confession its insane! So come tomorrow night ready to hear from God, and be prepared for a very powerful night!

Can't wait to see you tomorrow night!

P.A.

Labor Day

Hey there everyone, I hope you are all having a wonderful day! I know I am I got to sleep in a little bit, play with the puppies and now I am sitting in my office working feverishly to make sure I can get home to be with my wife on this awesome national holiday :)

So a quick little blurb about whats going down this week,
1. This Wednesday we are continuing with our backpack series, man we have some awesome break through already with students confessing and being freed by the Holy Spirit. This week we are going to be talking about Guilt and Shame, man this is a hard topic because this brings up past hurts and wounds. So please come ready this Wednesday by praying that God would move in your heart and that God would help you work past some of the bad decisions we might have made!

2. I have been sending out Texts almost everyday this week with verses and devotions so if you aren't getting those please text me with your name in the text so we can put you in the loop for those! They are a great way to start your day, and continue thinking about God in a new and exciting way! So text me at 574-370-2094 if you aren't getting those and I will make sure you do!

3. September 17th is our fireworks night! Make sure you are planning on being here to hang out and be with a ton of people while we watch the fireworks! Its going to be amazing! They are honestly like right about us! Its pretty cool! So come out at 8pm that Friday night, or right after the home football game!

I hope you all have an awesome day today! Eat some grilled chicken, or burgers today! Because today is like the perfect day to do that. Hope you all have a great week, and we hope to see you on Wednesday.

P.A.

What a great night

Hey there everyone, man what a great night last night. With the Baby food roulette, and then the really gross story about the bathroom :) (Those who were there last night know what I am talking about)

Man it was a great night as well because I know after the message I know there were some students who were really wrestling with their spiritual backpack. Let me encourage you again to look inside your spiritual backpack and be honest about what is in there. Is it anger, hurt, shame, guilt, or maybe something else, but the only way you will experience true freedom in that is if you leave that stuff at the foot of the cross and walk away from it!

We read in Hebrews 12 last night about the sin that easily entangles, trips us up, and also weighs us down. Last night there some students who got to experience true freedom because of some confessions they made. It was amazing to me to see their eyes light up when they felt the weight of that stuff roll off their back and they could experience that forgiveness that only God can bring!

So for those who weren't here man we missed ya! For those who were there man what a great time, hope to see you next week! Bring a friend with ya so they can experience what ya'll experienced last night.

I am off the next couple days riding a tandem bike with my wife at the midwest Tandem Rally. So I will be back on Sunday to see ya'll

Have a great weekend everyone!

P.A.

Funniest night ever

So tonight has the potential to be hilarious, if you weren't going to come tonight, believe me you need to. We have so many awesome games that we are going to be playing its going to be insane! We have thee funniest video's to show you tonight, and the message tonight has a story inside of it that is thee funniest thing I have heard in a long long time! So tonight is not the night to miss.

God has some awesome stuff planned as well! We are starting a new series called "Backpack" Its going to be pretty awesome, tonight we are talking about our spiritual backpack. So you will need to bring tonight a Bible, a Pen, and a Journal to write in. Also tonight we will be passing out the September Calendar! So there are lots of reasons to be there tonight!

I can't wait to see you all tonight, so many awesome things are coming down the pipe!

Be praying for God to move in ways that we have never seen!

Take a look at Monday's post to see the things you need to bring and be prepared for!

See ya tonight at 6:30!

P.A.