The Race

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." -1 Corinthians 9:24

Today, my wife ran in a half marathon in Akron with about 6,000 other people. It was a great sight to see...all these people running. Many of them were just running to finish the race, but there were several of them who were running to win. Many of the marathoners travel all around the world just to run marathons and try to win. I watched as the guy who won the marathon crossed the finish line and I wondered to myself, what did he have to do to win? What does it take to be a runner who runs in such a way as to win or get the prize? It takes a ton of running, probably years of running, training, stretching, eating right, drinking water, taking care of your body, and more. My wife is training to run a full marathon in a couple of weeks and it has taken her months of training just to run this marathon and finish it, but imagine what it takes to win a marathon. So why does God compare our lives to races so often in the Bible? I think it's because a race is not easy, it takes discipline, it takes focus, it takes endurance. God never promised that the life of a Christian would be easy. How are you "running"?

SOW!

Hey Everyone!

It's Thursday and that means it's time to "crown" a new S.O.W.! (student of the week that is...)

Drumroll please!

Hayley Green
7^th grade
Hudson Middle School

What’s your favorite restaurant? Why? What do you order there?

Chick-fil-A because it’s the only place in Ohio where I get sweet tea. Duh . . Chicken

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Math because I have a cool teacher and I actually have to use my brain.

What is your favorite sports team? Why? What about your favorite sport to play?

Virginia Tech Hokies because that’s where I’m from. My favorite sport to play is softball

What is your favorite TV show? Why?

The Sweet Life because it’s always different.

What is your favorite movie ever? Why?

Hairspray because it’s a musical

What band or CD do you listen to the most? Why?

Chris Tomlin because I like it and I can play it on the piano and guitar.

What website do you visit the most? Why?

Youtube.com because I can look up everything

What is your favorite part of Edge? Why?

Worship because I like to sing

If you weren’t at Edge, you would be . . .

“chillin’” with my friends

Do you have any other hobbies and interests?

Music and sports.

There she is, your student of the week. be sure to say, "Hey" to Hayley whenever you see here around!

Losing...

Yesterday afternoon, the soccer team I coach (Hudson Middle School) lost their first game of the season, and we lost to CVCA (please don't rub it in). Losing is difficult. I am a very competitive person so I have always hated losing. Maybe it's because I have 3 older brothers and we were always competing for something every chance we got. I think Jesus doesn't like losing either. Sure, He loves us either way, but Jesus is such a passionate person, and when he walked the earth, He was a rebel. He was so tough, and most of all, He conquered death. Some people might have thought that because He was crucified here on earth that he lost in the end, but there is so much victory in Christ because he over came death...He conquered it for us! What if you went into every game you played knowing that you were going to win. That would give you a SURE HOPE! That is exactly the hope we have in Christ. We have a COMPLETE HOPE! Every day that we wake up, we must know that no matter what happens, if we know Christ, we are going to win in the end. That is comforting and motivating. Let that be the motivation that drives you! The Bible actually calls us MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Christ! Check out Romans 8:37-39 when you get a chance!

AGOW!

Welcome to Tuesday's on the EDGE Blog: home of the Addicting Game of the Week!

This week's game is a winner with a winning theme song...can anyone identify the original song and artist behind the original?

Defend your dinner from the invading sprouts!

Enjoy Attack of the Sprouts

COW!

The comment of the week this week goes to none other than Hayley Green! Hayley, thanks for being open and commenting about your testimony and your experience on Friday night at Edge! I get really excited when God works in lives like He did on Friday night. Praise God for changed lives and renewed lives in Christ!

Congrats Hayley, but more importantly, thanks for sharing and praise God for how He is working in your life!

Here it is...
Hayley Green said...
Last night was very emotional for me. I realized that I have been drifting away from God, thinking that since I excepted Him into my heart, I could do what I wanted to do and say what I wanted to say. The message last night was a powerful one, and really made me think again about why I am a Christian. And I now know that I am a Christian beacause Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins because he loves me more than anything. Last night I re-deticated my life to God, and I am ready to take on my life... with Him right by my side.

Sat Sep 22, 09:30:00 PM

Changed!

Jesus Christ has changed my life and I hope that He has changed yours too! Last night at Edge, we talked about how our sin broke our relationship with God, but through Jesus Christ's death and ressurrection, we have a way to reconnect with God! Don't forget about the fact that you were made for a relationship with God...you were created for connection with your Creator! Now every human being has an opportunity to reconnect with God through Christ no matter what they have done. What did you think of last night? Were you impacted by the message of Christ for the first time, or maybe just reminded of it. If you know Christ, you have are reconnected with God and you have the hope of being eternally connected with God!

SOW!

Hey All, the Student of the Week Award is Back!

And this week's winner is.......

Andrew Vadyak
7^th grade
Hudson Middle School

Enjoy getting to know Andrew and if you see him around at EDGE (he's the guy who plays bass in the band) be sure to say, "Hey!"

What’s your favorite restaurant? Why? What do you order there?

TGI Friday’s, because of their appetizers, Fried Mac and Cheese

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Language Arts because I understand it well.

What is your favorite sports team? Why? What about your favorite sport to play?

Rochester Rattlers Lacrosse team, because I play lacrosse and it’s my favorite sport.

What is your favorite TV show? Why?

The Office because it’s funny

What is your favorite movie ever? Why?

The Bourne Ultimatum because it’s awesome.

What band or CD do you listen to the most? Why?

Desperation Band because it’s awesome.

What website do you visit the most? Why?

Youtube.com because of the cool videos

What is your favorite part of Edge? Why?

The pizza because it’s free . . . wait, I never pay for food my mom and dad buy my food . . . because the pizza is good.

If you weren’t at Edge, you would be . . .

Sleeping

Do you have any other hobbies and interests?

Music and lacrosse.

Edge Preview!

Don't forget, everyone, this Friday, Edge from 7-9 PM! So you brought friends to the Late Night and many of them came back to the first Edge, but this Edge will be the most important of all for your friends to come back to. We have talked about how we are created for connection, and how God made us to be WIRED to Him. This week, we are going to talk about what caused the tragic break in that connection, and then the amazing news on how the connection can be restored!

On top of the best news that anyone could ever hear, we are going to have pizza, games, the edge band, great prizes, and crazy fun! Don't miss this night! It could change you and your friend! See you there!

AGOW!

Hey All,

Grab a friend and play this weeks AGOW!

Knock your opponent off the screen in SPACE SUMO!!

For the record, I beat Todd 8-5!


Enjoy!

COW

The comment of the week this week is from a guy who was encouraging to the last COW winner and because you were encouraging and said some great things in your comment, you are now the COW winner for this week. Way to go, Nathan! By the way, which Nathan are you? Please let me know so I can know who to give the prize to on Friday night! Congrats Nathan! Here it is...

nathan said...
Nice job, Johnsey! I should really start commenting in these if I ever want to win... But that's not the point. The Edge is all about why and how we love God. And Johnsey described that pretty darn well. Therefore, she deserves it entirely. Way to go!

Tue Sep 11, 04:24:00 PM

Like Nathan said, keep commenting because you could win the Comment of the Week!

Cleveland Browns

As many of you know, I am a BIG Browns fan, but it is very difficult to be a Browns fan sometimes, especially after last Sunday's game against the Steelers. We got beat down pretty good. But there is still some hope, right. Please tell me there is hope. That was only 1 game and the Steelers are pretty good, right. At least no one expects the Browns to be any good. It's not like they are Michigan or anything. Why is it that Brown's fans are the most loyal of all fans, but have the worst team? All I know is that I will be Brown's fan for life, win or lose. I just hope we come around some time here. A Brown's fan is also a lot like Jesus Christ because He loves us and is completely loyal to us no matter what we do, no matter how bad our season of life is. He is our most loyal fan and we are undeserving kind of like the Browns. So now you know how it feels to be the Browns.

AGOW!

Hey All! Time for the Addicting Game of the Week!

You know what they say... "When life gives you lemons, SMASH THEM!"

enjoy

Lemon Smash

And don't forget to post your High scores!

COW

Alright, everyone, our Comment of the Week is back! Be sure to come back every Monday to see who won the COW award. Also, if you want to win the comment of the week, you have to comment on the blog so don't forget.

This week's winner is Miss Johnsey Erdmann! I appreciated Johnsey's response to the message on Friday night. She understood exactly what we talked about and I could tell it had an impact on her life! Congrats Johnsey and thanks for commenting!

Here it is...

Johnsey said...
I realized just how small I really am and the fact that our Larger-Than-Life GOD loves me is truly amazing

Fri Sep 07, 11:21:00 PM

You will claim your prize at the next Edge on Sept. 21!

Saturday Shmaturday

How was your Saturday? I hope it was restful and not too much of a letdown after such a fantastic Friday Edge. : )

Today I slept in and then this afternoon I slept some more! I love sleeping so much that it's hard to put words to it. Is anybody with me? I think one of the reasons I enjoy sleep so much is that I don't get enough of it normally. And when I go too long without enough sleep, I become stressed and, honestly, a little mean.

But do you know what I need even more than sleep everyday? The Word of God - the Bible. The Bible is to my soul what sleep is to my body. It is completely necessary and keeps me going. If you have a relationship with Jesus, but don't read the Bible, which is God's message to you, you will become spiritually stressed (and maybe a little mean!) That's because God uses the Bible to speak to you and show you what He wants from your life. So get some of it...everyday! Whether it's a Bible study, reading, or good teaching, make it a commitment to get your daily dose of Scripture. You might start to love it as much as I love sleep. And that would be something.

WIRED!

I had a blast tonight hanging out with all of you at Edge! You guys have so much energy. You were really WIRED tonight! But really, I hope you guys got the message tonight on how BIG God really is because of the amazing universe He has created, but also how loving He is to make creatures like you and me. Remember, He created us to have a connection with Him, to have a relationship with Him.

KEY PHRASE: God created EVERYTHING around us, but He created us to be WIRED to Him.

Make sure you come to the next Edge when we talk about how that connection was broken and how that broken connection was fixed. It's actually the most amazing message you will ever hear!

If you learned something new at Edge tonight, let's hear it!

SOW

Ok, so we don't have a Student of the Week this week, but Thursday will normally be the SOW day or Student of the Week day so I wanted you to get used to it. You have to be at Edge on Friday nights in order to get the SOW award. Someone will come and interview you at Edge and it will be posted within the next 2 weeks. Also, the great thing about the SOW is that we will also be praying for that student on the week that they win it! What a great thing!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT EDGE TOMORROW NIGHT FROM 7-9 PM! BE THERE!

Hey Parents!

IN THE TRENCHES- NEXT MEETING THURSDAY 9/6: A time for parents, and anyone
else who has a heart for students, to come together in prayer. We meet
from 7-8 PM the first Thursday of the month in Room 17 (downstairs). Also check out the great resources available in our library. Look for the "In
The Trenches" sign on the shelf. Copies of "ENGAGE" are available in the
Info Center off the atrium.

AGOW!

Hey everyone! This weeks AGOW is "nudge"

enjoy!

Endurance

Are you tired? Are you weary? Do you need encouragement? Read Hebrews 12:1-4. This morning at Edge, we talked about running the race and stripping off the sin that slows us up in our race of life. These things can only be done by looking at the endurance of Jesus Christ on the cross, being put through horrible beatings, being mocked, being put to shame, and eventually dying on the cross to take our place. That, my friends, is endurance! Let's be in awe of Christ today and be encouraged that he went through all of that so we don't have to. Rest in that today! You are loved more than you could possibly imagine!
Have a great Labor Day Weekend!