Home Sweet...

home·bod·y /ˈhoʊmˌbɒdi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hohm-bod-ee] noun. a person who prefers pleasures and activities that center around the home; stay-at-home.

This week has been fantastic, mainly because I've been home so much. The older I get, the more I realize I'm a homebody. I think that might be because I'm usually too busy to be home much, so the thought of home always sounds appealing.

There's another home that I long for and it's my heavenly home. Do you know that if you know Jesus, you have a home with him that is much better than any you'll ever find here? In fact, Peter says that Christians are "strangers" or "foreigners" here on earth. When I look around and see the state of our world, I'm really thankful that this isn't all God has for me.

Remembering that my real home is with Jesus changes the way I live. I want to live in a way that pleases the Lord...after all, I'll be spending eternity with Him!

2 Corinthians 5:6-9
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Playing with gifts...

In my family, after we open the Christmas gifts and the days following Christmas, we just start playing with all of our gifts. However, now I really don't get any toys for Christmas so I don't have a lot to play with. Therefore, I usually try to play with the toys that my neice and nephew get. So what did you get for Christmas? I did get one toy, a GPS navigation system for my car. So I did get to spend some time playing with that. You know, those things are amazing. If you have ever seen one of those, you know that it tells you where you are at all times and can easily get you wherever you want to go by just typing in an address. It can even tell you where the nearest Mexican Restaurant is located. Technology is pretty great. I was thinking about GPS systems which stands for Global Positioning System. Basically, the way they work is there are satilites out there that somehow are positioned to locate you wherever you are and it tells you on the little screen in front of your eyes. It reminds me of the fact that the Bible says there is no where we can go where God isn't. God is like a GPS system. He is everywhere, and He always knows where we are even when we try to hide. The comforting thing is that he is always with us.

My friend Charles...

Today I went with my family to see A Christmas Carol, the play based on the book by Charles Dickens. I've seen it so many times, but today some messages that I believe ol' Charles was trying to send really hit me.

Basically, in the story, Scrooge spends his life in pursuit of money, which he hoards and denies from people who need it. Then, three spirits visit Scrooge to show him what his life has meant, or rather, not meant.

The first spirit shows Scrooge the Christmases already past. He didn't have money then, but he was happy. The second spirit shows Scrooge the Christmases of the present. He sees that some live in luxury, but others suffer and are hungry. This spirit has two children with him named "Ignorance" and "Want" and they are the result of the worlds' greed. The last spirit is the ghost of Christmas to come. He shows that Scrooge will die and people will rejoice that he is gone from their lives.

So, here's what I got from this. First, the world will try to make your life about stuff and what you have. But it will never fill you up. If you spend your life investing in people, caring for them in the name of Jesus, it will make your life worth living. Then, when your time on earth is done, it will have meant something because it honored God. And the other point is that if you have a lot and don't do something about the poor who are hungry, you are not living the way you are meant to live. Think about all of that this Christmas as you celebrate.

I think that Charles was a pretty smart guy. : )

Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas! I also wanted to remind all of you that there is Edge this Sunday at 10, but there will be no Edge the following Sunday, Dec. 30th. Instead, you should go to the main service where people are getting baptized and you will have the opportunity to take communion. It will be a cool experience. That's where I will be, and I might even serve communion to YOU.

Over the holidays, the blog will not always have daily posts, but I will try to post on occasion when I can. I am headed out of town to visit different people in our family. I hope all of you have a great Christmas!

SOW!

Thursdays are Student of the Week Days here at the Edge Blog.

Let's get to know:

Elijah

7^th grade

CVCA

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

Outback because it’s good, I order a blooming onion and shrimp.

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

History and Bible because my teachers rock.

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

White Sox, Cavs and Stealers because they rock.. My favorite sports to play are basketball, baseball and football.

What is your favorite TV show? Why?

Sportscenter because it’s about sports.

What is your favorite movie ever? Why?

Passion of the Christ and Gladiator because they rock.

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

Marvin Gaye and Earth Wind and Fire because they’re awesome.

What website do you visit the most? Why?

Espn.com because I check all my fantasy leagues.

What is your favorite part of Edge? Why?

Definitely Edge Games!

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

Playing PS 2, watching movies or playing outside.

Do you have any other hobbies and interests?

Watching or playing sports.

And there's your SOW for this week. As always, if you see Elijah around be sure to give him a high five and say what's up!

Charlie Brown is right

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, and I have to admit something. I think that the reason it started as one of my favorite times of the year was because of having school off, decortating the tree, putting lights up, getting lots of gifts, eating great stuff, sleeping in, and so on. I mean there are so many reasons why Christmas time is great, but as I have grown up, I have realized why Christmas really is such a great occasion. The reason Christmas is so great is because of Jesus Christ coming to the earth to start his mission of saving the world through his death and resurrection. All the other reasons are ok reasons to like Christmas, but they are reasons that don't last. The Christmas gifts will eventually get old and rot, the Christmas cookies will be gone, you will eventually have to go back to school, and get up early again. What else do you have to look forward to? But if we focus on Christ as our reason for celebration, we focus on the thing that lasts forever, that never fades, that never ends. I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the gospel. I am all about the gospel. If you are having trouble figuring out what Christmas is all about, ask Charlie Brown. He's got it.

AGOW!

It's Addicting Game time here at the Edge Blog, and this week's game is especially festive!

Join Scrooge in is favorite Christmas past-time....

Reindeer Tipping!




Use the arrows keys to move Scrooge around the reindeer pin and tip over any sleeping reindeer, but watch out for Santa and those pesky penguins with the cannons!

COW

The Comment of the Week this week goes to lilb-baller12. Would you please reveal your name? Congratulations! You never know what you are going to find on the edge blog and hitting Japanese Jello is what you were doing if you played the AGOW this week. Thanks for the feedback, lil-baller! Make sure you tell us who you are so you can get the prize. Here it is...

lilb-baller12 said...
OK i never in my life thought i would be hitting jello sorry Japanese jello
onto a plate with a spoon that is probably the weirdest game i have ever played. but it was fun !!!!!

Sun Dec 16, 08:51:00 PM

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Snow day." Even though I don't go to school anymore, I hope you get it. I really do. : )

Speaking of hope, I want to share with you something I was thinking about yesterday.

I have a friend, a beautiful friend, who I've known for quite some time. A little after we graduated from college and just a month before her wedding, she found out she had stage four cancer. That's the last stage of cancer before you die.

The past year has been so hard for her and life isn't what she thought it would be. She is in pain a lot and has to fight a lot of fear. My friend has to deal with the real possibility that most of the things she thought she would do in life might not happen. Those things are tougher than I can imagine.

But the really glorious part of the story is that she knows Jesus. She has a relationship with Him and that gives her hope. When she is weak, Jesus gives her the strength to go on. And she can trust that God knows more than she does. But most of all, she can hope for heaven. Everything is going to be alright for my friend because, in the end, there is heaven. When she dies, if it's in two weeks or 50 years, she gets to go be with Jesus. And that's what it's all about.

In our deepest winter, our greatest despair, Jesus is hope.

SOW

This week's Student of the week goes to CAMERON! Way to go man! Let's get to know Cameron a little bit here. If you see Cameron around Edge some time, give him the edge rock explosion, and introduce yourself!

1. What’s your favorite restaurant? Why? What do you order there?
TJI Friday’s. They have Fried Green Beans . . they’re so good.

2. What is your favorite subject in school? Why?
I have three, gym, lunch and math. They’re fun and I’m good at math.

3. What is your favorite sports team? Why? What about your favorite sport to play?
The Indians, Cavs and Colts because they rock. Football and baseball.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Why?
Sportscenter because it’s awesome.

5. What is your favorite movie ever? Why?
We are Marshall and Goonies . . . the truffle shuffle!

6. What band or CD do you listen to the most? Why?
Marvin Gaye and Earth Wind and Fire because I like their music.

7. What website do you visit the most? Why?
Espn.com to check on all my fantasy teams.

8. What is your favorite part of Edge? Why?
All of it maybe Edge Games.

9. If you weren’t at Edge, you would be . . .
At my Friends house.

10. Do you have any other hobbies and interests?
Sports and I collect baseball cards.

What is a small group?

Today, I would like to highlight Edge small groups. Small groups are a very important part of what we do in Edge, and a very important part of growing in your relationship with Christ. I am interested in hearing what you guys think of your small group and how it has helped you grow in your faith. What have you learned from small group? Who is your small group leader and how has that person helped you grow? Let us know.

We are planning on launching some new small groups in February after the Edge Games, and we would love to have students who are not in one join up with one. If you come to Edge on Fridays, this is the next level of involvement and it is our desire to see every student at Edge eventually get connected with a small group. A small group is a small group of students with one (or two) great adult leader(s) who hang out together, take a closer look at the Bible, and talk about life together. It's a great time!

AGOW!

Have you ever tried herding jello?

try japanese jello

you have now.

enjoy!

COW

The comment of the week this week is the start of a little edge games trash talking. Congrats to Wes Gray for your comment on the Edge Games. It is great that you started coming to Edge for the first time at last year's Edge Games and you are still coming to Edge. That is why we do the Edge Games!
Here it is...

w said...
can't wait!!! hey todd, do we get to stay on the same teams? i hope so! i was on bahammas last year (the games were my first time at edge so this is like an aniversary for me) and need i remid you all BAHAMMAS CAME FROM LAST TO WIN IT ALL BABY!!!! i am PUMPED UP!!!

Wed Dec 05, 07:12:00 PM

The answer to your question about teams is this...if you are in a small group you will be assigned to a team and if you are not in a small group, you will be allowed to pick your team. Hope that clears it up.

Soup, soup, the magical food.

Hello! I have to say, you guys are amazing! So far, we have collected 436 cans of soup! We are so close to the goal of 500 cans and I believe we can even pass that!

And it really makes a difference! We already took the 436 cans downtown and there were three semis there, collecting everything toilet paper to flour to give to families in need. This is the way it's supposed to be....people who have a lot giving to people who don't. : )

Tomorrow - Sunday - is the last day to bring in soup cans. Remember: my office from 9:30-10am and from 11-11:30am.

You are also an amazing group of people because you put together the most incredible elf costumes I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure Nathan Young could have been on the set of The Santa Clause and Olivia Zeller was totally original as a snow elf. I loved it!

See you in the morning!

SOW!

Hey Everybody, I hope you're all having fun getting your elf costumes together! Remember: there's a sweet prize for the best dressed elf!

But for now, it's Thursday, and that means it's SOW time, introducing:

Andrew

7^th grade

CVCA

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

Moe’s Southwestern Grill they have the best quesadillas.

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Latin because I have an awesome teacher.

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

Buckeyes because I’m from Ohio. My favorite sport to play is tennis.

What is your favorite TV show? Why?

Mythbusters because it has large explosions.

What is your favorite movie ever? Why?

Starwars 3

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

Toby Mac

What website do you visit the most? Why?

Addictinggames.com, it’s all in the name.

What is your favorite part of Edge? Why?

Games and Battle of the Grades because 7^th grade will win.

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

Watching TV at home or reading.

Do you have any other hobbies and interests?

Reading, video games, guitar, tv, tennis and karate.

Elf Contest!

Yes, that is correct, this Friday, December 7th is the first ever elf dress up contest at Edge. I have talked to many of you that have their costumes planned out, and I am looking forward to seeing all of them. We will have a really good prize for the winner that will make it worth dressing up. This Friday is the last Edge of 2007 so don't miss it. We will have everything we usually have except it's Christmas time so we will throw in some Christmas cookies, Christmas movie game, a Chistmas story, and much more. It will be a blast. Don't forget to dress up like an elf either. It will be a lot of fun! See you Friday!

EDGE GAMES '08

Don't miss 3 nights of intense competition...

January 11 January 18 January 25

Bring your friends!
Click for Parent Info

AGOW!

Hey everyone! it's time once again for the addicting game of the week!

You're AGOW this week is JUMBO WORD VAULT!

Try to unlock the safe by decoding all the different words!


Note: this game updates itself daily, so check back for new puzzles!

Enjoy!

COW

The comment of the week this week is more like the random comment of the week. It goes to Mr. Jordan Wear who randomly commented on the rock in the picture. Check it out.

jordan wear said...
whoa that rock looks like the marble on my grandma's counter

Wed Nov 28, 06:35:00 PM

Congrats Jordan! Get your prize at Edge this Friday!

Hey there! Today at Edge Todd talked about God being unchanging. He can't change. Isn't that cool? I was thinking about times when I'm really thankful that God doesn't change.

When the people around me change and disappoint me, I'm glad God doesn't and never will.

When the world seems uncertain and I don't know what my future holds, I rest knowing God will be the same yesterday, today, and forever.

When I'm in a new place and everything around me is unfamiliar and scary, I like knowing that God is just as He always was.

When I read God's promises in the Bible, I'm thankful that they are still true today and always will be because God won't change His mind about them.

I hope this has you thinking! When is a time that you were thankful for the unchanging nature of our Lord?