Upcoming Events

Hey guys, remember about the upcoming events over the next few weeks...

1. Construction Crew Interviews
On this coming Sunday night, Youth group will meet. Everyone that signed up for the construction crew needs to be there this night. The new anchors to our XSN TV Network will be interviewing all applicants. If you havn't applied you still have time. Go to http://www.oakparkbaptist.org/groups/youth1/activities.htm and click on the "Xcelerate Construction Crew Applications". Print an application, fill it out and bring it with you this Sunday Night. DON'T FORGET! The youth room will shut down this one week from today (Thursday). The Construction crew will meet that thursday and make disicions on colors and other stuff. It will be a lot of fun. Be there this coming sunday night to apply and/or interview!

2. New Years Eve Party
Guys, trust me you won't want to miss this either. Not only will we be having church compition in Ping-Pong there will also be a joust game. Thats right, you will all have a chance to TRY to beat me. (I personally think I can take you all.) If you don't know what I am talking about, check out the "Gladiator Duel" on http://www.bounce-a-lot.co.uk/inflatable_games.htm. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

Allright, see ya'll This sunday!

-Matt

Construction Crew Interviews

Hey, just reminding you that the interviews for Xcelerate's Construction crew will be on Dec 30. If you want to be a part of the crew you need to make an effort to be there that Sunday Night. If you are planning on being out of town and will not be able to make it then let me know ahead of time so I can get with the people doing the interviews and schedule a different day.

Oh yea, I won't be doing the interviews...I have hired (w/o pay) two anchors for our XSN. I am still looking for one more but I know these people will do a great job. They will be interviewing you and selecting who will be on the crew. (I will have a vote also). Ok, make sure you fill out those applications!

Youth Room Renovation/Xcelerate Construction Crew

Youth Room Renovation
The Youth Room will be closed from January 3-February 9 for renovation. That's right, the youth room will finally be redecorated and that '80s paneling will finally be gone. Our current theme is XSN (Xcelerate Sports Network). That can still change if you have a better idea soon. We have all ready started to gather our materials so if you have a better idea now would be the time to tell me! Otherwise this will be our theme. During the time that the room is closed all youth (except 4 lucky people) will be locked out and will not be able so see the inside at all. (For those that want to see the construction part pictures will be taken). Only the 4 members of the Xcelerate Construction crew will be allowed in. For those that aren't allowed in, you opinion still matters to us. Let us know what colors you would like to see or furniture you would like to have. We are on a low budget but we are still going to try and do this top-notch!

The plans are to turn the youth room into an XSN Studio. The trailer is divided into three (3) sections, two main rooms with the closeable divider (our one big room right now) and the class room in the back. The class room in the back will be made into a recording studio where all the XSN broadcasts will take place. The room where the ping-pong table is right now will become a place to relax, watch some XSN News and so fourth. It will be like a lobby. The other part of that room (where the basketball goal used to be) will become a coffee shop. Here you will have access to coffee, hot chocolate, Cokes, and maybe chips. (You will have to pay for most of the stuff but I will try to provide the coffee free.)

Xcelerate Construction Crew
If you wish to be a part of the construction crew you must fill out an application which you can get on "The Board" in the youth room or online on our activities page of the official youth web-site. After the application there will be an interview on Dec 30 (unless rearranged personally) with the two new TV anchors for XSN. After which the anchors will choose four (4) youth to become members of the Xcelerate Construction Crew. They will receive a special pass that must be worn while in the building. If there is a huge response, more than 4 youth will be taken. Print your application, fill it out and turn it in now! You don't want to miss this one!

Poll
I have changed the poll before the closing date b/c I have decided to take both options on the poll and merge them together. The vote is now to see if you like that idea.

Points Winner

OK, So I know I was supposed to have this up Tues at noon, but my boss called me in monday to work b/c someone called in sick. So everything has been pushed back a day.



So here it goes....



In 3rd Place we have.......Steven Norman......who came from last to third in one day by risking points. (Could have taken first if he brought a friend...oh and sorry JJ, he took all your points)



In 2nd Place is......................Carleigh Lucas.............who hung in there until the end.



The winner of our 2007 points competion is.........................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................Alan Wight.

Unfortunently there was a little clause in the fine print stating that Alan could not win! However, I will look over that clause if Alan can follow the "Clause Erase" Instructions below.

Clause Erase Instructions
#1. Give the following Code to Matt by Dec 16 (atc515Gippc)
#2. Find out who's Shadow healed the "sick in the streets" in the New Testement and where that is found.

If the Clause is not erased by December 16 Carliegh Lucas will be our default winner. Good Luck!

OK, Its been a while

Hey guys, I know its been a while, just want to keep you informed about things going on around here. In case you don't know, we started our fundraising last week. We will sell items after church (am). We have for sale shirts, calendars, and discount cards (starting this week) that we are selling. At the end of the fundraiser, the money will be split up between everyone that participated and evenly divided by the number of days you worked. Our Camp deposits are due by the beginning of Jan so make sure you have $50 to pay me or come work the fundraisers. Also, for the cards you can check out up to 10 cards to sell. For each card you sell you get $5.00 (we sell them for $10) straight to your account, so sell 10 cards and you have your deposit. You are responcible for the cards you checked out meaning that I have to either have money or the cards back. If you check out 10 and loose 5 then you will have to pay for 5. So make sure you don't loose them.

Also don't forget to check out the official website calender for the date of our Christmas party.

Our New Years Eve party is going to be great! We have other churchs currently planning on coming!

Thats all for now, see you later.

No Shirts

Ok, I am sorry to say there was not enough interest for shirts so we will not be printing shirts. I will post the polls again in a few months to see if there is interest then, but as for now there will be no shirts.

CAMP '08

OK guys, we are going to Student Life Camp in Clevland TN. We will be at Lee University and will split Middle School and High School...

Middle School will attend the regular camp with on-campus activities during the day. It will cost you $280.00 and will include everything from your camp registration to gas cost. There are a total of 5 spots. (The overall cost could go down by up to $10 if we fill all our spots.)

High School....You will attend the Student Life Mission Camp. We will be at the same place, with the same service. The only difference is that from 10:30-3:00 instead of doing on-campus team building games, you will do off-campus mission work. I have requested the following work with #1 being the thing that we most want to do and #4 being the least wanted. Your price will be $310.00. This is your total price and includes everything from your camp fee to gas cost. (It could go down if we fill all our spots). There are 6 spots for High School Mission Work.

#1-Children work (backyard bible clubs, VBS, etc.)
#2-Light Construction (building porches, ramps, etc.)
#3-Physicall Labor (Yard work, property cleaning, etc.)
#4-Elderly Care (nursing homes, etc.)


Please make an effort to try and go. I know some of you wanted to go somewhere else this year, but I ask you to trust me, go and be prepaired for God to move. The dates are JUNE 28-JULY 2. That is a weird date, its Saturday-Wednesday. Lets fill all these spots and have a good time. I will have a sign-up sheet in the youth room on "The Board". Please make sure you sign-up.

If your worried about money, don't be. We have plenty of fund-raisers planned and then even more $ in the schoolarship fund. All you have to do is show me you want to go by earning your way.

T-Shirts

Ok, there are two polls on the right side of the screen. Vote for Both! The first poll is about the shirt color you would like to have. The second is about the design you would like to see on the back. There are 4 options below. Choose which one you like best then vote for that option on the poll! Thanks.

Option #1 (below) Option #2 (below)
Option #3 (below)
Option #4 (below)

Official Website

OK, I have to update the official website on my computer at the church b/c that is where the program I use is at. The problem is that the internet is not working in my office right now so I can't update the site. I know another person who has the program so as soon as I get a chance to get there and update it there I will do so. In the mean time I can't update that site. Make sure to tell your parents, thats why its not getting updated. I am working on getting the internet connection fixed, but who knows how long that will take. Thanks

Oh yea, make sure you check out the questions for Identity Theft. Ch 3 has allready been posted and Ch 4 is comming soon.

Identity Theft Ch 3

OK, here are the two Ch 3 Questions...be the first to answer both questions correctly and recieve 3 pts.

Question #1: Who said "I never use alcohol because I don't want anything or anyone controlling or making choices for me."?

Question #2: Why does God ask us to be sober?

The answers to both questions can be found in Ch 3 of your book. Please read it. This is important. Ch 4 questions coming soon. (read ch 4 for next week)

Weekly Post--point system

I know the updates have been few and far between, but stick with me, I have been very busy with school. Also, the actual website I have to update at the church and I havn't been in the office lately.

You should be reading Chapter 3 of "Identity Theft" for Wed. I will be posting a question to answer from that chapter. I will also be starting a point system. The winner (after xos finishes) I will take out to eat with one friend. Others can come but I am only paying for those. You can choose the resturant but I have to approve (b/c of the price--I'm a poor college student). Anyways, the points for the question will be posted along with the question coming soon. The first correct answer gets the points. So make sure you keep checking back!

ok, talk to ya later.

RTU!!!!!!

Are you ready? Rock the Universe is this saturday. If you bought a ticket listen closely (or read closely).

We will be leaving the church at 12 noon this coming saturday (9/8). We will ride straight to Orlando, that means eat lunch BEFORE you come. We will have a little extra time to get dinner before we get into the park (bring money for dinner, the church is not paying!) We will enter the park around 4pm. We will leave around 1am sunday morning. We should arrive back at the church sometime around 4am. Then if anyone wants to sleep over at the church you can (make sure you bring your air matress or sleeping back ahead of time). If your parents want to pick you up at 4am they can. I will be there for the guys that want to stay until morning. If a girl wants to spend the night let me know so I can get a girl chaperone! There will be NO SUNDAY SCHOOL this sunday. The guys will be sleeping in the youth room! We will get up around 10am and go to church at 10:45.

OK, in short...we will leave the church sat (9/8) at noon. We will get back Sun (9/9) at 4am. If you want to sleep over you can, if not you don't have to. If you do we will wake up around 10am to be in church at 10:45

Oh yea, NO SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEK!!! JUST CHURCH

Allright, see ya

Emily check this out

Hey Emily, check out Leviticus 19:28. I know there is one in the New Testiment, but I found one in the old testiment. Going back to Sunday school, I know that the old testiment is old, but it still applies, right?

Check it out.

Weekly Post---MUSIC

Allright, here is one for thought. I know some people who think that it is wrong to listen to any music that is not Christian. They say that there is all kinds of Christian music out there so you can find what you want to listen to in the Christian relm. Now, before you say they are all crazy they have a pretty good reason behind it. According to the bible, we should be glorifing God at ALL times! They say that if we are listening to music that is talking about our girlfriends, or tractors, then we aren't glorifing God.

On the other side of the argument, this is a way to connect with other people. Not only that, there are a lot of good songs that don't have a bad message. If we only listen to Christian Music, aren't we putting ourselfs in a box and doing exactly what Christ says not to do? After all, the Bible says be in the world, not of the world. How are we in the world if we box ourselfs off in this Christian music thing?

***Please Note I am only talking about secular songs with an O.K. message or better. NOT ANY SONGS THAT PROMOTE DRUGS, DEFYING AUTHORITY, OR ANY OTHER NEGATIVE MESSAGE!***

So what do you think? Is it allright to listen to songs that are not Christian? Why or why not. Tell me why you think that. don't just tell me what you think. You have to have a reason.

RTU TICKETS/MALL SCAVENGER HUNT

Ok, the tickets have been bought for RTU! If you have not paid me for your ticket then you don't have one. If you still want to go then let me know and I will add you to a list in case someone decides to drop out at the last moment.

If you did pay me, your ticket has been bought. We will leave the church no later than 1pm, but keep checking back for the time to be here! We won't get home that night until around 4am. Current plans are to sleep at the church that morning. But, plans might be changing. Stay tuned!

As for the mall, all going to the mall need to be here at 1pm. We will be done and be ready to be picked up by 4pm. The Groups are as follows:

Scott's Group
Alan
Nate
JJ

Pams Group*
Emily
Charles

*For pams group I am waiting on confirmation. If that person can't go then Pams group will be down a person. OK, any questions just comment back! Talk to you all later

Weekly Post---Is Lying Wrong?

OK, most of us would say "ya, lying is wrong" but what about when some asks you how they look when they really look horrible. Do you tell them they look horrible, to you try and sweet coat it, try to avoid the question all together, or do you just outright lye and tell them they look good?

Next question, are all of the above options (except telling them they look horrible) lying?

What do you think? Is a little white lye still a lye? If it is, is it ok?

If you answer this with a good argument I might enter you into some kind of drawing to win a new CD I just bought today.

emily can post blogs

because she is amazing.

and so is matthew.

alright.

as i am fairly sure you all know, the revival was sunday monday tuesday and wednesday this week. i actually got the chance to go monday, tuesday, and wednesday nights. it ended up being a lot of fun. matt and charles and some other peoples from oak park were the band for the four nights. and they were really good. i for one would like to applaud them [[yes i am enough of a dork to say that kind of stuff]] savana and i started screaming along with one of the songs and it was just overall a good time.

well, me and mavis are gonna be there for sunday school and church this sunday, so i definitely think everyone should try to come.

also GIVE MATT YOUR E-MAILS AND SUCH!!! come on guys. i for one am very proud of myself and my new ability to blog.


--emily

How do YOU POST BLOGS??

Allright, I just found out that for you to post a blog I have to add you as a team member, meaning I need your e-mail address that you signed up with or are going to sign up with. e-mail them to me (mattsimm@alltel.net) or just leave them as a comment. I will delete them as I add you. Thanks

Wednesdays meeting

Hey, I just wanted you all to know that this coming wed (Aug 15) we will be planning our fundraisers, camp, and other activities. You all might think that it is a little boring but if YOU want to have a say in what YOU are going to do it would be a good idea to try and be there. It will start at 5pm in the Youth room. Youth will be later that night at 6:45pm.

ALSO RTU $ IS DUE THAT NIGHT. Its $40 per person. If you have money in your youth account, you need to write me a note saying you want a ticket! If you don't write it down I will forget and you won't have your tickets.

All right, see ya'll sunday

Scavenger Hunt in the Oaks Mall

Allright, on Saturday Aug 18 we are going to have a scavenger hunt in the mall. You will need one digital camera of a phone camera per group. These will NOT be provided. We will leave the church at 1pm and get back around 3:30. From there we will determine the winner and wrap things up around 4pm. So, the scavenger hunt will be on Saturday Aug 18 from 1-4pm. There will be no food provided, eat before you come or eat at the mall (with your own $).

Youth Revival

Hey, for the youth revival at Forest Grove Tonight, we will leave at 5:15. So be at the church by 5pm. Also, for all the other nights we will leave at 6:15. We will probally be back at the church by 9pm. See ya'll there.

Rock The Universe Tickets

Guys, if you want to go to Rock the Universe (RTU) then you need to let me know ASAP. The money for the tickets is due August 15. They will be $40 per person assuming we get 10 people to go. If you want to go then get me the money. I will take it early.

THE CODE!!!

Allright, For a choclate bar of your choice...Tell me "The Verse is..." then quote 1st Corinthians 1:18 from memory. YOU HAVE TO SAY "THE VERSE IS..." Those are the key words. Without them you get nothing. This option only available until Sunday. The first person to tell me face to face at any time on Sunday, July 29th, wins.

Are you Coming?

Allright guys, I know a lot of you will be out of town this week b/c of the mission trip. So what I want to know is how many are planning on attending? Create yourself a name and password and let me know! Also, I have extended the Pole until the end of July. VOTE NOW

Topic of the Week--New Blog

Hey guys, I have finally found a blog. There is a way to put it on our website, but until I can figure out how to get that done it will just be linked to our page. Anyways, let me know when you are on. Just say...Hey, I'm on! See yall later. Don't forget to vote on the poll.