Northside UMC is located at 2799 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA
Carpooling HIGHLY encouraged. See you there!!
Have questions? Contact Dave McCune: hiesyl@gmail.com
Thursday, October 25, 2012
October 30: Halloween Costume WL Club!!
Northside UMC is located at 2799 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA
Carpooling HIGHLY encouraged. See you there!!
Have questions? Contact Dave McCune: hiesyl@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Wyldlife 9/25 Recap!
Hi Bears! Last week was another rocking Wyldlife club. Unlike August, this month and next month we are teaming up with other school such as Sutton, Westminster, Lovett, Pace, and Whitefield for what we call All-Area Wyldlife!
A lot of folks...
+ a small barn...
= huge fun!
even the Goat was impressed
It was great to see so many HIES faces out and the chance they had to see fiends from other schools and to make new ones. Our high school volunteers were also a great addition.
Our mid-town area director, Genaro "G" Lawhorn shared with us tonight from the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.
He shared his own personal story from high school when a relative gave lent money for road trip. Not being wise, he spent it all and didn't have enough to pay for gas to get back home! He sheepishly called the relative and feared having to face him. Instead of being mad, the relative was glad he was all right and that G was able to make it home.
This is not unlike the story of the Prodigal son. The son asked for his father's inheritance while the father was still living. Bold move! The father granted the request and the son took off to the city, spending his money like someone his age without concern for anyone but himself would. Problem is, money runs out.
He found himself so desperate for food he took a job as a farmhand and actually ate the pig's food! Finally he "came to his senses" and decided to return to his father, the whole way rehearsing how he would explain himself.
to his surprise, the father not only welcomed him back but was out looking for him and ran to meet him before the son even got home. More, the father threw a huge party for his lost son who was now found.
The message is simple but tough for us to come to grips on. The idea that many of us have of God is that he is taking score of all our rights and wrongs. We need to make up for these and explain ourselves before getting right with him. This story, however, turns this idea on its head. Truth is, God is out looking for us, ready to welcome us home, regardless of how "bad" we think we have been. True, we live with the consequences of our past decisions, but God not only puts no conditions on our returning, he welcomes us with open arms, ready to party!
I love this a great message for all of us and particularly for students who live in such high pressure, performance based environments. It would only be natural to assume God requires the same performance. Instead he offers his grace.
Thanks for this message G!
And thanks to y'all for checking out Wyldlife!
Until next time,
Dave McCune
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
ALL AREA WYLDLIFE SEPTEMBER 25th!!
Next wYLdlife is Tuesday, September 25th from 7:00-8:00 at the Chastain Conservancy. All 7th and 8th graders are invited!
This is a special All Area event as students from Sutton, Lovett, Wesminster, Woodward, Pace, Ridgeview and Whitefield are also invited.
Carpooling is highly encouraged as the driving gets tight near the conservancy. Feel free to spread the word!
Details...
WHERE? Chastain Conservancy (4001 Powers Ferry Rd NW, 30342)
WHEN? Tuesday September 25th, 7:00-8:00pm
WHAT? If you've never been to club check out the recap of our last event here!
Have questions? Contact Dave McCune at hiesyl@gmail.com. See you soon!
Wyldlife Recap!
Our first Wyldlife club was a blast! Thanks to all the parents who helped drive and who stayed at the barn to run the event. Here is a summary of what we did and what we discussed.
WL club is a "party with a purpose". On this particular evening we grilled out and then did some group games. One hope of these games is for students to relax a little. Their lives are so structured and full or pressures to perform - we want to provide an environment where there is no such stress. Let loose a little! Sometimes that's all that's need to refocus for a challenging week of academics or sports.
Another hope of these group mixers is to connect middle school students to volunteer helpers, all of whom are upper school students this year. We have some incredible guys and girls who love sharing their time with middle school students. How cool is that? All of these helpers are going through our student leader training and many of them will be in cabins with us at our trip to Windy Gap over Presidents' Day weekend in February.
Here are some pictures from the games...
Here's a short clip of the "controlled chaos" that is WL club. In this games teams were racing to carry the high school helpers around field. It was fun to watch names be learned and stories to be shared all while having an amazing time!
Finally WL club always includes, and typically concludes, with a talk that connects the life of Jesus to a middle school context. The leader will share a story from their life to help relate...we did all live through middle school at one time! Our leaders' lives have been touched in incredible ways by the life of Jesus so that's what we talk about however we have no expectation or condition regarding a studet's views on faith to come to Wyldlife. Everyone is welcome!
Here is a made-for-the-internet summary of the talk I (Dave) gave at WL club on August 28th...
YOLO - "You Only Live Once". If you are a middle school student...or if you live with one, undoubtedly you've heard this phrase! YOLO is a mentality...a state of mind that drives us to squeeze every last ounce out of what life has to offer. It's why I love being around middle school students. The excitement for life keep me energized (as well as extremely exhausted!).
When I was in middle school I had some incredible experiences. As a 7th and 8th grader I had the awesome opportunity to go to Kanakuk sports camps in Missouri. For three of the days there they loaded a bus full of guys onto old school busses and sent us out with our college leaders into the Ozarks. We spent the time sleeping in caves, eating oreos (the only food provided on the busses - an ENOURMOUS box), jumping off rocks into freezing lakes, and basically being Huck Finn for a while. We were so full of clay from caving diving and dirty from not showering that when we stoped at a pizza place they made us sit on the curb out side and brought the food to us...us who were down to a pair of dirty soccer shorts as our only clothes!
It was crazy, it was dirty, and it was definitely a YOLO experience!
note: before the talk students got in groups with the high school helpers and answered the question "what was the craziest thing you did this summer?" People shared YOLO experiences! Each week we break up into groups and have questions to either lead into the talk or to process it afterward.
When you think YOLO experience what comes to mind? I heard some crazy stories just a minute ago. Some of you went to new countries, some of you landed a flip on a wake board, and some of you learned something new for the first time. These are the things that usually come to mind.
How many of you though would have this thought, "life with God = YOLO experience"? I'm guessing not many of us and I don't blame you! When I was your age my image of God was someone keeping score in my life - if I did something wrong it was "boom, lightning bolt!" That's why this short passage is so interesting. Check it out. This is from the book of John. John was a friend of Jesus, they were bros. Anywhere Jesus went, John went with him. Many people think John was actually a teenager when he experienced the things he wrote about - not much older than you! Here it is...
"The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they (i.e. Y'ALL) might have life and HAVE IT TO THE FULL" ~ John 10:10
Pretty wild huh? Did you know that Jesus came so that you could experience life lived fully?! Is that the idea of God that you have? Again, I know why most of you wouldn't equate YOLO with Jesus. People back then had questions and you have questions too:
If you only life once why...
...did I get a concussion
...are my parents fighting
...is there drama with my friends
...do people I know have cancer
...are my grades terrible
...do I feel like life is amazing one minute but feel totally helpless the next
I hear you. I love that Jesus doesn't pretend life is perfect - there are all sorts of "thieves" in your lives, right? But what He does say is that in spite of those, life can still be fully experienced.
This year at Wyldlife we will be exploring the life of Jesus, a guy who came for you and me to experience life to the full - he was had a YOLO mentality long before twitter! Of course there are questions and we'll look at those too. Thanks for coming out and thanks for reading - see you next time!
WL club is a "party with a purpose". On this particular evening we grilled out and then did some group games. One hope of these games is for students to relax a little. Their lives are so structured and full or pressures to perform - we want to provide an environment where there is no such stress. Let loose a little! Sometimes that's all that's need to refocus for a challenging week of academics or sports.
Another hope of these group mixers is to connect middle school students to volunteer helpers, all of whom are upper school students this year. We have some incredible guys and girls who love sharing their time with middle school students. How cool is that? All of these helpers are going through our student leader training and many of them will be in cabins with us at our trip to Windy Gap over Presidents' Day weekend in February.
Here are some pictures from the games...
Here's a short clip of the "controlled chaos" that is WL club. In this games teams were racing to carry the high school helpers around field. It was fun to watch names be learned and stories to be shared all while having an amazing time!
Here is a made-for-the-internet summary of the talk I (Dave) gave at WL club on August 28th...
YOLO - "You Only Live Once". If you are a middle school student...or if you live with one, undoubtedly you've heard this phrase! YOLO is a mentality...a state of mind that drives us to squeeze every last ounce out of what life has to offer. It's why I love being around middle school students. The excitement for life keep me energized (as well as extremely exhausted!).
When I was in middle school I had some incredible experiences. As a 7th and 8th grader I had the awesome opportunity to go to Kanakuk sports camps in Missouri. For three of the days there they loaded a bus full of guys onto old school busses and sent us out with our college leaders into the Ozarks. We spent the time sleeping in caves, eating oreos (the only food provided on the busses - an ENOURMOUS box), jumping off rocks into freezing lakes, and basically being Huck Finn for a while. We were so full of clay from caving diving and dirty from not showering that when we stoped at a pizza place they made us sit on the curb out side and brought the food to us...us who were down to a pair of dirty soccer shorts as our only clothes!
It was crazy, it was dirty, and it was definitely a YOLO experience!
note: before the talk students got in groups with the high school helpers and answered the question "what was the craziest thing you did this summer?" People shared YOLO experiences! Each week we break up into groups and have questions to either lead into the talk or to process it afterward.
When you think YOLO experience what comes to mind? I heard some crazy stories just a minute ago. Some of you went to new countries, some of you landed a flip on a wake board, and some of you learned something new for the first time. These are the things that usually come to mind.
How many of you though would have this thought, "life with God = YOLO experience"? I'm guessing not many of us and I don't blame you! When I was your age my image of God was someone keeping score in my life - if I did something wrong it was "boom, lightning bolt!" That's why this short passage is so interesting. Check it out. This is from the book of John. John was a friend of Jesus, they were bros. Anywhere Jesus went, John went with him. Many people think John was actually a teenager when he experienced the things he wrote about - not much older than you! Here it is...
"The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they (i.e. Y'ALL) might have life and HAVE IT TO THE FULL" ~ John 10:10
Pretty wild huh? Did you know that Jesus came so that you could experience life lived fully?! Is that the idea of God that you have? Again, I know why most of you wouldn't equate YOLO with Jesus. People back then had questions and you have questions too:
If you only life once why...
...did I get a concussion
...are my parents fighting
...is there drama with my friends
...do people I know have cancer
...are my grades terrible
...do I feel like life is amazing one minute but feel totally helpless the next
I hear you. I love that Jesus doesn't pretend life is perfect - there are all sorts of "thieves" in your lives, right? But what He does say is that in spite of those, life can still be fully experienced.
This year at Wyldlife we will be exploring the life of Jesus, a guy who came for you and me to experience life to the full - he was had a YOLO mentality long before twitter! Of course there are questions and we'll look at those too. Thanks for coming out and thanks for reading - see you next time!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Wyldlife Fall Kickoff!
Who’s invited? ALL HIES 7th and 8th graders. So please spread thew word, especially to new students!
Where? The Chastain Conservancy Barn
4001 Powers Ferry Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30342
When? Tuesday August 28th, 6:30-8:00pm
Questions?
Get more info here:
Young Life Staff
Dave McCune
603-667-5911
YL Parent Committee
Scott and Tasha Whitehead
Sheldon Staples
Dudley and Tricia King
Andrew Reeves
Lynn and Jay Johns
Beverly Knoechel
Wistie and Robert Kennedy
Monday, February 27, 2012
Windy Gap!!
Hi Bears! Our annual trip to Windy Gap NC is just around the corner, March 23rd-25th. There is still space left so sign up now!Trip info:
Leave: 4:30pm Friday March 23rd
Return: 5:00pm Sunday March 25th
Cost: $180
Here is a link with registration, health, and payment info. (scroll down to the "Wyldlife Windy Gap" section)
Monday, February 20, 2012
Wyldlife Club Wednesday February 22nd
Hi Bears! I hope you are appreciating your presidents today! Don't forget that our next club is this coming Wednesday, February 22nd, from 7:00-8:15 at Grant Knoechel's house:
6220 Mountain Brook Ln NW
Atlanta, GA 30328
All 7th-8th graders are welcome. See you all soon!
6220 Mountain Brook Ln NW
Atlanta, GA 30328
All 7th-8th graders are welcome. See you all soon!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Club Date for 2012!!
Hi Bears!! Welcome back from Christmas and New Years.
You're back to school and we're back to Wyldlife. Wyldlife is a place to have fun, get a little crazy, and hear an incredible message, all with great friends and HIES Upper School volunteer leaders.
Wyldlife once a month on Wednesdays (note the new day!) from 7:00-8:15, and is open to any HIES 7th or 8th grader. We will meet in students' houses, so if you would like to host, please contact hiesyl@gmail.com.
Here is the Calendar:
1/18/12 Club
Dave and Virginia McCunes house
2248 Riada Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
2/22/12 Club
TBA
March 23rd-25th Windy Gap Weekend!!
3/28/12 Club
TBA
4/25/12 Club
TBA
5/16/12 Club
TBA
Can't wait to see you out!
Can't wait to see you out!!
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