something to smile about

Hi! How are you this Saturday? For many of you, it's one of your last days of spring break. Don't you think spring break is a fantastic idea? I didn't get a spring break because I'm not a student anymore, so even if you don't like being a student, remember the good side of it. You get breaks!

Do you know what else is good about being a student? You spend seven hours a day with your friends. And you get the weekends off! You also don't have to worry (usually) about what you're going to do the next year because you'll be going back to school. Every stage of life has its ups and downs. And, in my experience, every year seems to go faster. So enjoy where you're at cause you won't be there long.

When I was a student, I sometimes found myself wishing away my days, waiting for the next thing. "If I can just make it to Christmas break...I just want it to be spring break...I'll be so much better when summer comes." It's a shame that I thought those things so often. I should always be looking for what God wants me to do today with what He's given.

Well, thanks for letting be cheesy on this pretty Saturday. Here's something to really be happy about: "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:2-5

Where we were, and why we will be there again.

You wondered where we were here, and a lot of you were right. Well guess what, we're going back and you're all invited!

Good Friday Edge

There will be NO EDGE this Friday because of Spring Break, but we will continue next Friday, which is Good Friday. Does anyone know why Good Friday is a holiday? Come next Friday because we will be talking about what Good Friday is all about and what it means to each of us. Good Friday is one of the most difficult days for people who follow Christ, but it was also the most amazing, radical thing that has ever happened in the history of mankind. Come hear about it next Friday! We will also be stuffing our faces with Pizza, playing a wild BOG, and worshipping with the rockin' Edge band!

www.edgehcc.com!

Hey everyone,

Just a quick note to say that the address to the edge blog is now www.edgehcc.com.(so that's where you should be telling all your friends to go!)
the old address (edgehcc.blogspot.com) will still work but it will just re-route you to the new edgehcc.com!

AGOW!

The AGOW! this week is...


MONKEY KICK OFF!!!

be sure to post your high scores!

and yes, I have been to Monkey Village.

COW

The comment of the week this week is from Adam Seal. Adam, I am not sure if you have recieved this coveted award yet or not, but congrats. I am jealous that you are going to the Louisville Slugger bat company. That is awesome! So because of that and your loyalty to actually respond to what the post is talking about and use your real name, you deserve comment of the week.

Here it is:

adam seal said...
my brothers get out ealier than i do!!! (that stinks lol) o well, cvca rox my sox. i am goin 2 nashville and louisville 4 spring break and i get 2 stop at the louisville sluggers bat company when we r in louisville. .... i hope i can get a sovenier... ha...ya right. lol

ps: i think i spelled a lot of things wrong so sorry!

spelling stuff wrong rox my sox!

Wed Mar 21, 07:37:00 PM

Congrats Adam! You da man. Pick up your prize at the next edge.

I hope everyone is having a great spring break. If you are bored and you have a Wii, let me know, we'll hang out and play it. All right, even if you don't have a Wii, we can still hang out.

Buckeye Madness

Has anyone else been watching Ohio State squeak there way through the tournament, winning the last 2 games just barely! It's fun to watch, and if you are like me, you want the buckeyes to go all the way and beat Florida in the championship to make up for the football national championship where Florida handled us. Don't forget the game is on today, the elite 8, Buckeyes vs. Memphis at 4:40 today! Don't miss the game.

By the way, if you are on spring break right now and still on the blog, tell us where you are blogging from?

The Holy Spirit

This Sunday, we will be talking more about the Holy Spirit. We have talked about who He is and what He does, but how can we be guided by Him. Watch this video. This is not what happens when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, but it's funny. If you are not gone on spring break, please join us Sunday as we talk more about the Holy Spirit!

Spring Break?

So what is everyone doing for spring break? Who is going the furthest away? Jillian and I are headed up to Vermont to ski for a couple days. Let us know where you are going. If you are staying at home, what will you do? Sleep in? Play video games until your eyes pop out of your head? Anyway, I hope everyone has a great spring break. If you are bored over spring break please check out our blog. We will be posting new things daily even on spring break. You take a break, but the blog will never take a break. Remember, we will not have edge over spring break, so our next Friday Edge will not be until April 6th. On breaks, it's always easy to also take a break from God. Don't do that this spring break. Use your time to open up his Word for a while and read and check it out. If you don't know what to do when you read your Bible, just do this. Read a chapter and have a pen and paper there beside you. When you get to something you have a question about, write the question down. When you get to something that is a promise from God, write it down. The Bible is full of promises and we need to start checking them out.

AGOW!

Here's the AGOW, better late than never!

It's a twist on the old favorite Base Jumping...

Enjoy Elite Base Jump.

be sure to post your high scores.

COW

This week's COW comes from a bright, young, 6th grade girl named Johnsey Erdmann. Johnsey wrote quite a dramatic response to learning about parent's night. She wrote what many of you were feeling about parent's night. Parent's night turned out to be good though. I am glad you let you your parents come.

Congrats Johnsey! Here it is...

I am about to die! not only do my parents have to showw up in public, but I have to be there with them, watching the calamity unfold!!!

Such a dramatic response, Johnsey. She followed that comment up with letting us know that her parents really aren't that bad. I know them. They really are great parents!

Get your prize at the next Edge!

Oh Happy Day

Today is a good day. My best friends are coming into town and I'm just thrilled about it. There are some friendships in my life that I think are given by God, blessed by Him. So, when I see these friends, I feel like my soul is refreshed in a way. We talk about things that matter, laugh about some things that don't matter, pray for each other, and encourage each other. I know that I can trust them to be a good friend in hard times and to forgive me when I mess up as a friend. It's a real friendship, you know?

I hope I didn't get to mushy on you. There is a point, I promise. I'm thinking...how do you become a good friend? Honestly, you follow Jesus' example. His life will show you how to think of others before yourself, how to forgive, how to show compassion, and just how to love people in your everyday life. When Jesus walked on the earth, people who no one else accepted wanted to be Jesus' friend because they knew He was a real kind of friend.

I like that when I'm with my friends, we don't have to have some spectacular activity planned. We can just sit around together and it's not boring! (College made us really good at that.) What is something you really appreciate about your good friends?

Where are we?

Can anyone help us out?

LEDGE MEETING TONIGHT!

Quick reminder to all of you who are involved in LEDGE, the student leadership team of Edge, we have a meeting tonight from 7-8:30 PM. Be there! Thanks!

Edge this Friday!

Don't miss it! As some of you might know, this Friday at Edge is parent's night. To some of you, this does not sound good at all...your parents at edge with you, but this will be a great night...I PROMISE! Last year, the students whose parents did not come felt left out. So make sure your parents come this Friday night and make sure you come. We are not making you hang out with your parents all night, but we want your parents to see what edge is all about. So come to edge this friday for pizza (hot and fresh like the picture), games, prizes, special parent's night edition of deal or no deal, the band, and third part in the series, "Little Steps that can make a Big Difference." Be there this Friday night, after all, parents are sweet. I mean they raised you, they changed your diapers, they gave you food, they made you live and grow so the least we can do is invite them to edge one time during the year.

See you Friday!

08 Edge Games Week 1

Late Night '08 General Information

EDGE LATE NIGHT
7:30-11PM ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

• Medical and release forms are not necessary because students at no time will be permitted to leave the property.

• Admission cost is $10 at the door. There is no pre-registration. Cost is primarily for food and game materials. Students will have the opportunity to purchase this year’s Edge t-shirt for an additional $10 throughout the night.

• Students can be dropped off at the front of the church (Rte. 303 side) at 7:30 p.m. Pickup is at 11:00 PM at the same location. Please cooperate with traffic personnel as we attempt to move many cars in and out at these times. Please do not park your car and get out in the line of traffic.

• Students will be supervised by adults at all times without exception. (We expect between 400 and 500 students. As a result, we will have over 75 adults for supervision and security throughout the night, as well as Hudson Police Department presence.) Furthermore, all voluntary supervision will be required to check in to receive a special nametag and to ensure that they are a part of the supervision team that has received pre-event training.

• Students will be outside for the majority of the event. In the rare case of cool weather, long sleeves are encouraged. In the case of rain, the event will happen indoors.

• All game equipment is made out of soft inflatable material and proven to be very safe. Each game is supervised and organized by an adult and/or trained facilitator.

• Students will have the opportunity to participate in a Wii Rock Band competition. There will be a sign up the night of the Late Night for anyone interested. Each band will have to perform on the “hard” level. The band with the highest score will get to perform in front of the entire group.

• This is not a Hudson Middle School sponsored event. For any questions about anything concerning this Late Night event, feel free to contact us using the contact information below.

The Late Night is sponsored by Edge, which is the ministry to middle school students at Hudson Community Chapel. Edge meets on the first 3 Wednesday nights of each month from 7-8:15 PM. Please go to www.edgehcc.com for more detailed information on this ministry.


Contact Information
330-650-9533, ext. 320
edge@hudsonchapel.org

Edge Adult Leadership Info

So you are interested in joining our Edge leadership team?

Edge is a place that seeks to create an atmosphere of love and it starts with our leadership team. Middle school students are screaming out for someone to love them, and you could be that person. If you desire to join a team of people who have a passion to form relationships with students in order to show them the love of Christ, this is the place for you. We want adults who…

…first and foremost, love Jesus Christ and have a growing relationship with Him.

…desire to build loving relationships with middle school students for the purpose of pointing them to Christ.

…have the time to commit to this ministry and most of all to the students of this ministry (they require time and consistency).

…are willing to take on a small group of students who are entrusted to their spiritual care.

…are a team player.

You may have thought there were more requirements to be someone who invests in middle school students for the sake of Christ, but those pretty much sum it up. There are so many misconceptions about what we are looking for. Here are some of them. We don’t expect you to…

…act like a middle school students (PLEASE DON’T!)

…be under the age of 30 or even 90 for that matter.

…have the energy of a 13 year old.

…own an ipod (you don’t even have to know what one is).

…have a degree in theology or have the Bible memorized.

…be an eloquent speaker (see Moses).

Simply put, we are asking adults to give time and energy into loving the next generation with the love of Christ so that they may come to know Christ, grow in Him, serve Him daily, and lead others.

Middle school is the most impressionable age of all. Did you know that the majority of Christians come to know Christ before the age of 18? Now is the time for you to invest in the kingdom by joining our team. Please consider this opportunity to make a difference.

Here are the steps you should take to join our team…

STEP 1—Download, fill out, and turn in a leader’s application

By email, send to: todd.iannetta@hudsonchapel.org

By mail, send to: Hudson Community Chapel
ATTN: Todd Iannetta
750 W. Streetsboro St.
Hudson, OH, 44236

Leader’s Application (attached pdf)

STEP 2—Download, fill out, and turn in an HCC volunteer background check.

Please send to: Attn: Rick Schuping
Edge, BG Check
750 W. Streetsboro St.
Hudson, OH 44236

Background Check (attached pdf)

STEP 3—Wait to hear back from us for the next step.

Edge Parent Info

CLICK HERE to receive weekly parent email updates!

GETTING STARTED AT EDGE

8 Ways for Parents to Partner with Edge

SOME PARENT RESOURCES
www.cpyu.org
www.pluggedinonline.com

About Edge

Edge is the Middle School Ministry of Hudson Community Chapel. It's an incredibly fun place where 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students are given the chance to know Jesus Christ, grow in Him, and serve Him daily!

for more information about edge, check out "Getting Started at Edge", and keep checking back to the blog - it's updated daily!

If you're a parent, be sure to check out our Parent's Section.

EDGE GAMES '08 Parent Info

Edge Games
General Information For Parents

No pre-sign up is needed for this event. Medical and release forms are not necessary because students at no time will be permitted to leave the property.

Students can be dropped off at the front of the church (Rte. 303 side) at 7:00 p.m. Pickup is at 9:00 PM at the same location.

Students will be supervised by adults at all times without exception. (We expect between 300-400 students, and as a result we will have plenty of adult supervision throughout the night) Furthermore, all voluntary supervision will be required to check in and receive a special nametag to ensure that they are a part of the supervision team.

There is no charge for this event. However, each night students will have a chance to purchase this year’s Edge Games IV t-shirt for $5.00.

Students should come dressed to be active that night as we will be playing team games. Students do not have to be athletic to participate.

Students will be put into different teams and each team will be supervised by 3-4 adult coaches.

All students are expected to comply with the rules set forth by our Edge staff and adult leaders. The adult leaders have the right to send students home for behavior problems.

For any questions about anything concerning The Edge Games event, feel free to call or email the Director of Middle School students at the address or number below.

Todd Iannetta

Director of Middle School Students

Hudson Community Chapel

Phone: (330) 650-9533

Email: todd.iannetta@hudsonchapel.org

SKI SPLASH WEEKEND IS COMING! If your son or daughter would have a blast at a weekend retreat that includes a day of skiing or snowboarding at Peek N’ Peak in New York, and a day at Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA, than this is for them! The Ski Splash weekend takes place February 16-17 with details and registration on-line at www.edgehcc.com.

Back to edge Games Flyer

EDGE GAMES '08

info for parents

AGOW!

This weeks AGOW is pure bomb-juggling excitement.

enjoy DETONATE!!

be sure to post your highest scores in the comments section!

COW

All right, our comment of the week needs to go an anonymous person who goes by the name of "a certain baby". I am so intrigued by that name. I mean, is it baby like a little whiny baby or like what's up baby? What is the meaning behind the name and who are you? Reveal yourself, certain baby! However, I really like this person's comments. They are sometimes funny and sometimes bring in edge messages like this one. Someone was really listening during the ladder analogy a couple Friday nights ago.

Congrats to a certain baby...not just any baby...a certain one.

Here it is:

a certain baby said...
hey anonymous, for that really mean insult i think you just took a step DOWN the ladder if you know what i mean! oh by the way i got to lvl 38 on the 2nd lvl!!
Wed Mar 07, 07:25:00 AM

By the way, don't tell people when they take a step down the ladder. Although true sometimes, it is mean to say that to others. However, in this case, I thought it was very funny.

Claim your prize at Edge if you choose to reveal yourself.

Don't quote me on this....

True confession: I love words. I feel like the right combination of words is almost magical. That's why I love to read, music with good lyrics, playing Scrabble, and hanging out in the card section at stores. It's true, sometimes I could spend over an hour looking at greeting cards. Don't judge me. And I just love when I happen upon a good quote. (Up there is a gigantic Scrabble board. Who knew?!)

So...here are some quotes that might make you think or just quietly chuckle to yourself. You can chuckle loudly if you want, but people might stare. Enjoy!

It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. -Mark Twain

In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. -Albert Camus

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. -Groucho Marx

Character is what you are in the dark. -Dwight L. Moody

There's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. - Morpheus in The Matrix

I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That's deep enough. What do you want - an adorable pancreas? -Jean Kerr

What is this strange thing?

There is this really bright thing in the sky today that I haven't seen in some time here is northeat Ohio called a sun. I don't know about you, but there is something about a sunny day that makes my whole attitude better. I am happier and most of us are happier on these sunny days. What makes you happy? More imporantly, what gives you joy? Do you know that even the bright sun will eventually fade away, but the Word of God will last forever? Don't forget to think about what lasts, what is eternal, and what is from God. I hope you all will live your lives with joy because of the promise of eternity with Christ to those of us who believe!

There is no edge tonight. Because there is no edge tonight, your assignment is to do something nice for your parents. Clean your room without them asking, tell them you love them out of nowhere, ask them if they want to hang out with you. I know this sounds crazy, but, hey...you may get a boost in your allowance, you never know.

SOW!

Howdy All, SOW! Time!

Hey, do us a favor. If we interview you to be the Student of the Week...CHECK THE BLOG! it means you WILL be student of the week!!! (oh yeah, and come to edge, or else I'm eating your candy bar prize.)

anyway...This week's SOW! is.....

Sean Szoch!

Sean is a 7th grader at Hudson Middle School (by the way, does anyone know where that is?)

1.Fav Restaurant: Pad Thai- it is delicious. He gets egg rolls, rice, noodles and you guessed it, pad thai. excellent.

2.Fav Subject in School: Something called "team support" by his description I know it's actually called "study hall". Hey, but it's a great place to get your math homework done, AND you can listen to music....

3.Fav Sport: Skateboarding. Fav. Skateboader: P.J. Ladd 'cause he's got stlye.

4.Fav TV show: Family Guy. it's funny, he likes the dog and the baby.

5.Fav Movie ever: The Ringer - he really likes the part where Jeffy copies Forrest Gump

6.Fav Band(s): Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (is that a cool name or what?) and UnderOath. he likes the singing and the drumming.

7.Fav website: www.singingfish.com - listens to music.

8.Fav part of edge: the Games at the beginning! they're funny!

9. if he weren't at edge he'd be: at home. being bored.

There he is. Sean Szoch. Your Student of the Week!

be sure to give a high five to Sean next time you see him and Sean, man, come to edge, you'll get a prize!

One Parent to Another

“God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, so that we would listen more than we talk”. I don’t know exactly where that line comes from, but it sure packs a punch, doesn’t it? As a parent I all too easily fall into that trap of talking, talking, talking. Nagging is what Maddie would say. I can’t help but feel like the teacher in the old Peanuts cartoons… “wah, wom, wah, wah”… I keep talking and this is all she hears.

In my professional life as a Distribution/Supply Chain Manager, I make a concerted effort to seek first to understand, then to be understood. Good advice from a very wise man named Dr. Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective People – I highly recommend this book). I have had great success using this approach with my employees & colleagues. But for some dumb reason I had never thought about using it with my daughter.

One day it clicked and I thought “hmm…wonder what would happen if I tried this with Maddie?” I made a decision to be quiet and really listen to her. I thought my head would explode the first time I tried it. I literally had to bite my lip to keep from talking. At first she held back a bit, probably waiting for me to jump in and start blabbing at her again. After a few of these conversations where I stayed quiet, it sunk in that I was really listening to her and that she had my full attention. I thought about what she said as she was talking, not just how I would respond. I listened to what she was not saying as well…what emotions were there under the surface, her body language, the tone of voice.

An amazing thing happened…I got to know my daughter. Really know her, not just who I thought she was. I learned about what matters most to her, what her greatest challenges are, what bothers her, and what she is learning about herself, life, and God. Sure wish I had shut up years ago!

The best talks we have ever had were riding around at night in the car. The quiet, lack of interruptions, and the fact that she felt safer by not having to look me in the eye make this the ideal time for us to talk. Now when Maddie says, “Mom can we go for a drive?” I know what she really wants. To talk.

Anytime, my sweet girl, anytime. I’m listening.


Carol Ann
“Maddie’s Mom”

AGOW!

There is some serious strategy involved in this AGOW!....

protect your desk from a bunch of creeps by building a maze of towers.

enjoy Desktop Tower Defense!

Disclaimer: this game takes a while...especially if you plan on beating it...

COW!

This week's Comment of the Week sounds like a great commercial for Edge! We should get this person to be an Edge spokewoman because of all the nice comments she made about Edge. This week's COW winner is Taylor Garrett. Taylor is a newer student to Edge, but we are so glad she liked Edge the other night! Thanks for the awesome encouragement! I am so glad you learned some things and are growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ! Here it is...

Taylor Garrett said...
Edge is a really fun, amazing place to learn about the glory of God. The sermon about the "Little steps make a difference" is a really great lesson! Todd explains how the whole process of taking little steps work and what is our modivation to take those steps. Edge is a place i can go to have fun, relax, and most of all learn lessons about God's glory! All of the things this church does for their youth is amazing!!!!!
Sat Mar 03, 01:02:00 PM

Thanks for joining us Taylor, and I hope and pray that you and everyone else will not just have a blast at Edge, but also look for ways that they can grow in their faith in Christ! Claim your prize at the next Edge...don't miss it or you will miss your prize!

let's talk spring

It's snowing outside right now. And that's fine. I'm not going to complain. Even though it's March and it's snowing. It's fine. Really.

Okay, let's talk about something positive....Spring! Reasons (off the top of my head, it's not like I've been thinking about the spring for the past four months) that I love springtime:

~The sun shines and the world smiles.

~Trading in my sweaters for something non-itchy and cotton.

~Going to the park and doing park things.

~Seeing all the stores with their spring displays. It's pretty. Sorry if you boys can't relate.

~Trees turning green and flowers coming up. I marvel at God's creation!

~Freeing my feet and wearing flip-flops even if it's not quite warm enough yet.

I guess that's all I've got for now. Let me know what makes you excited for warmer days! They're just around the corner.

p.s. The picture shows my true feelings on spring. I hope you like it.

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in words alone, but in every leaf of springtime." -Martin Luther

Take Little Steps and come to Edge tonight!

Join us tonight for Edge from 7-9 PM! We will once again be talking about Little Steps that can make a Big Difference, except tonight we will be talking about the motivation behind taking those steps. Why do we take steps? Come chow on pizza, hang with your friends, play some intense games, rock out with the edge band, win sweet prizes, and so on and so on!

See you tonight!

SOW!

Is it Thursday already?? That must mean it's time for another Student of the Week!

This week's SOW is a 6th grade homeschooler, Dale Stradiot!
Let's learn a little more about Dale...

1. Fav Restaurant: Outback. he gets the steak. He loves steak.
2. Fav Subject in School: Science. he likes to do experiments like turning celery weird colors in food coloring.
3. Fav T.V. show: Futurama - it's funny, he likes Bender the robot.
4. Fav Movie ever: Saving Private Ryan. Great movie.
5. Fav Song: "My Space" by Eleventy-Seven - he loves everything about it, "the perfect song"
6. Fav Website: likes gaming websites...AGOW anyone?
7. Other Hobbies and Interests: Paintball and Airsoft. it's fun and he loves the competition.

Be sure to say, "Hey" to Dale when you see him around!