EDGE ALL VIDEOS

My favorite. JUMPING PICTURE!

Tired in the AM

Obstacle course

Obstacle Course 2

Dance Party!

Basketball 1

Basketball 2

Basketball 3

Erin and the Pig Foot

Dr. Bados enters

Hank and the Ladies

Waterslide 1

Waterslide 2, 3 and 4

Waterslide 5

Waterslide 6 and 7

The Edge: LAST DAY

Last day at the Edge.  We woke up early, packed up our bags, loaded the cars and went to our last chapel of the week.  The speaker, Mark, talked about taking what we had learned and bringing it home to make a stand for Christ.  Wayne finished off the meeting with one last song.  

On the way home we went to what is a Covenant Pres. Edge legend.  Mojo Burrito.  it is a small Mexican restaurant at the bottom of the mountain.  Although I was at the Edge when this first became popular to us, I have no idea why.  I don't know the story behind it.  Anyways, we didn't eat anything, just stopped for a picture. 

As much as it sounds cliche I grew more in Christ than I could ever imagine helping this kids and listening to them speak.  It was a great week and I can't wait for Edge 2014.

Edge Day 4: THE BLAST

We took off for Six Flags White Water Park bright and early in the morning.  

We got to the park at about 10:30 and took off for rides.  Just as a disclaimer I want to say I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures because I had to put my camera in our group locker.  

So I will use my best writing skills to describe some of the things that happened.  

About mid day we went on one of the coolest rides at the park is called the tornado.  (See Here)  

Elizabeth, Janna, Connor Merck and Victoria filled one tube, while Jack, Hank, Tate and I filled the other.  

My challenge to them was that the first tube must yell like men on the way down and my group would scream like a group of little girls.  

The first group's yells lasted only half of the ride until they turned back to girly screams.  

When we got in our tube and were pushed down such as in the video above we hooped and hollered in our best middle school girl impressions.

We came out the end of the ride to see a crowd of people laughing at us.  The lifeguard told us "I really thought you guys were a bunch of little girls."  Guess we won that challenge.  

The Cliffhanger (See here) is a one person water slide that gives you a good look around the entire park.  I went on this slide 7 years ago as a camper and was still mortified walking all the way to the top.  I am terrified of heights.  

I was accompanied by Jack, Elizabeth and Tate.  Dave, Bradley, Abbi, Tabitha and Noah were some of the others to conquer the Cliffhanger.  I'm sure there were a few others but I can't remember them at the moment.  

There were a plethora of other water slides that were ridden, but one of the harder cooler attractions at the park was the obstacle course, AKA Mini-Wipeout.  

Elizabeth, Tate and Connor

Hanging on for dear life.

Here are some other pictures from the day

Noah

Luke and Bradley

Norma Bedell and Erin Jackson

Dave and Jack

We got back to the campus just in time for dinner, which was just the beginning of an epic evening at Covenant College.

After the lawn party and counselor's meeting we lined up outside the doors of the auditorium.  I must add, this is where some of the best pictures are taken.  

Tate being Tate

Kaitlyn being Kaitlyn

Abbi being Abbi

Bradley being Bradley

We met this kid from another church who was impossible to beat in a stare down.  He had a staredown of steel that searched into one's soul.  

Tabitha and Tate chillin'

About that time we entered for our last night of fun and worship and everyone was as energetic as they had been all week.  

Connor H

Noah lookin' like a zombie

Erin and Victoria

Wyatt and Connor M

Dr. Bados returned this evening and made a cracker disappear.  

Then we entered into a time of worship with the Wayne Kerr Band.  The students just can't seem to get enough of the worship time.  They love it.  

Luke D

Wyatt Erin and Jack

Nolan the guitarist jammin'.

The speaker tonight talked about imitation and how having good Christian friends and role models to look up to is important in growing in Christ.  He also talked about how maybe some students might be ready to step up and be that example, a light unto the world.  

After we finished we sang This little light of mine....I'm gonna let it shine....and this is what happened.  

Glow sticks poured down from the ceiling and began flying around the room.  It was a blast.   

We went to our group discussion after the night session and then to a pizza party where the room broke out into chants for the Clemson Tigers and Auburn Tigers.  

Everyone was rowdy and ready for more fun...which they got.

We finished the night with the finale of Edge's Got Talent.  Edge had more talent then I had ever seen.  No one from our group made it, but Emily Gaddis, a student from our buddy church Clemson Pres made it to the finals and sang Want You Back by the Jackson 5.  

(Sorry for the bad video quality...one of the stage lights was shining directly at us...but the audio sounds fine.)

Here are two more videos from Edge's Got Talent if you are interested in watching.

Jar of Hearts

and our Winners singing an accapella 3 part harmony version of  Trouble by Taylor Swift

I know none of these were our students but I was so impressed with the talent I had to post them.  

Tomorrow we have our morning session and then will be on the road.  I have seen all of this kids grow in some type of way this week and I have been blessed to have a part in helping them do so.  

Your prayers have worked.  

See you guys tomorrow.  

EDGE 2013: Day 3: THE IMPACT

I started off day three with a run in hopes of boosting my energy for the day.  Didn't work.  

Maybe Wayne could pull some of his magic at 'Waking up With Wayne.'  We partook in a rendition of Singing in the rain with our Arms Out, Elbows in, Head Up, Thumbs Up, Booty Out and Tongue Out.  It was pretty fun.

After hanging out with Wayne we split up into small groups and delved deeper into Psalm 139.  

Small groups lasted about 30 minutes and then the girls and guys went to their separate groups.

The guy today talked about the Word of God and the different ways it can further our personal relationship was Christ.  

By the time we finished that, our group discussion and lunch, it was time for...WATERFEST.  To attempt to describe what happened would be an injustice, so let me show you instead.  

Girls with their battle paint

Big Slide

Wyatt

Kaitlyn

Chicken Dance.

Army Crawl

Mud/Water Angel.

We had a great time at Waterfest and by the end everybody was really muddy and wet.  

Everyone went back to their rooms and showered before Dodgeball and Edge's Got Talent.  

I was unable to attend Edge's Got Talent Auditions because I had been chosen to Coach dodgeball but I heard Kaitlyn Root showcased her volleyball setting skills very well and the judges were impressed.  

'Out of the Blue' was our first dodgeball team and consisted of Bradley, Luke, Connor, Wyatt, Micah and Connor H.  They lost both of their matches but both of their games were very close.  The team that eliminated them from the tournament went on to win the whole thing.

Tate, Hank, Elijah, Noah, Jack were joined by Will (from Clemson Pres) to form 'Space Jam.'  

The group won their first game fairly easily but were ousted in their next game eliminating them from the tournament.

And as it has almost become a tradition at The Edge someone lost their voice.  This year's victim? Erin Jackson.

With tournaments over we had some time to burn before dinner so we went out to part of the campus where you can see the city of Chattanooga.  it's a beautiful view.  

And the kids have been bugging me about posting this video all day so click to see it.

It poured rain for about an hour during dinner.  Afterwards stopped we went and chilled out on the lawn where some of the students offered themselves up for free hugs.  This is what I found on my camera when I returned from the counselor meeting

Bradley gives a free hug

Wyatt gives a free hug

Connor Merck gets a free hug

Bradley joins the group hug

Looks like they had fun and made some new friends.  

Tonight at The Edge was a very special night.  It was commitment night.  The speaker talked about what it means to take faith in Christ and make it our own.  

The students are sent out of the auditorium with a notecard and pencil and are asked to spend some alone time with God.

If they want to pursue a personal relationship with Christ they write I want to know Christ on the card.  If they just aren't quite ready they would write I do not want to follow Christ and if they already have a relationship with him they would write I want to know Christ deeper.  

On the other side of the notecard they could write whatever they wanted. 

When they returned to the auditorium they would lay their cards at the foot of a cross that had been put outside.  

Some big decisions were made tonight all around.

I have no words to describe the presence that was in the auditorium during that time and worship.  The Holy Spirit made it very clear to me and lots of others that God was present and working in lives.  

After a time of soft slow worship we ended the night with a bang, singing the Wayne Kerr version of Holy Ghost Party.  

It is a simple song.  One line repeated numerous times in many different ways.  It goes, "There ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party cause a Holy Ghost Party don't stop."  Crazy doesn't even begin to describe it.  

We left the auditorium and discussed what we had heard and what had happened.

After discussing we went to view the overlook of the mountain and see the lights of Chattanooga at night.  

Pretty cool shot if you ask me.  

Cool shot of the students looking out at the city.

To end the night on a funny note, around 11:30 Elizabeth Denton hit some sort of sugar rush from the sugar she never ate.  She was hyper and this was the result.

\

Maybe this means we've hit delirium.  It was bound to come sooner or later.  Tomorrow we hit up the water park!!  

The prayers you have sent our way have been appreciated and very effective and that was evident tonight.  Thanks so much for reading!  Send in some comments below and let me know whatcha think!  

  

Day 2: The Jet Lag

This picture pretty much gives a description of how everyone felt for the first part of day 2.  

The group woke up at 7 o' clock sharp to hit up the cafeteria. After a great breakfast, which continues to impress, we all headed to Wake up with Wayne.  

Wayne Kerr could tell everyone was a little tired so he initiated a morning back rub to help wake everyone up.

After we had finally woken up, well most of us at least...

we split up for our small group discussions.  

In our small groups we talked about Psalm 139 and how God knows things we think or do even before we do them.  

Small groups lasted about 30 minutes before the guys and girls went their separate ways for a group talk.

Our speaker talked about the church and how it is like a revolution.  He went through a couple stories where families had suffered extreme tragedies but were able to show the love of Christ and forgiveness to the people and families of people who committed those crimes.  Instances like those are quite unusual but that's what happen when we use love as our weapon towards the sin around us.  Because when it all boils down to it, if it is a revolution, there is a battle between good and evil, us and sin, heaven and hell; And through Christ we can defeat this evil.  Reminded me of a Christian Hip-Hop song talking about Jesus' return.  Click for a listen.

We had some group discussion, grabbed some lunch and got ready for "church time."  Church time is where we have some free time to plan our own events with the youth group.

We played a game similar to capture the flag.  In short the goal of the game was to get as many nerf darts from your side into a bucket on the other teams side.  

 The game begins

Team attack!

Abby on the move

Dave and Elizabeth

Jack and Noah

Everyone surround the bucket!

Erin made a new friend.

 Apparently the game worked because everyone was fairly sweaty and thirsty afterwards, so we hit up the  swimming pool.

Then came the basketball tournaments.  We had four teams in all, 3 boys teams and 1 girls team.  

Connor, Elijah and Noah, the NBG (Nothing but Game) had a rough day, but played well considering it was their first time participating in the Edge tournament

Wyatt, Bradley and Luke Densmore, AKA The Chubby Bunnies lost their first game, won their second and advanced all the way to the quarterfinals where they lost 10-8 on a shot at the buzzer.  Once again, very impressive for the first time participaters.  

Erin, Victoria, Elizabeth and Abbi Merck or "The Bandana Bandits," won the first two games and made it to the semifinals before losing 4-0 to a very good opponent.  It didn't help that we couldn't get a shot to fall.

Last but not least, Tate, Hank and Jack also known as Space Jam made a deep run in the tourney.  After losing their first game they rebounded and won 3 in a row, putting them in the semifinals. 

 In the semis they overcame a four point deficit in the final minute to tie the game and send in to overtime.  In OT their opponent knocked in two quick buckets making it 8-4.  With under a minute Hank put in a layup, which narrowed the lead to two points.  Jack had a shot at the buzzer that missed and they ended up losing by two.  Sometimes it's just the way the ball bounces.

Regardless I was extremely proud of everyone who participated.  They did a great job.

After dinner the students went to the front lawn where they played a game, which resembled that of Fear Factor.  

The report I received was:  Bradley, Elizabeth and Jack had to eat baby food and Erin Jackson held a pickled pig's foot inside her mouth for about 5 minutes.  I wasn't sure if I should have been proud, impressed or disgusted.  So i tried to convey all 3.  

I continued to be amazed by the job Wayne Kerr does with the worship 

Wayne Kerr and The Edge go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  

He engages the students and gets them hyped up.  He then proceeds to slowly ease the students into a time or praise and worship that is both meaningful and enjoyable.

They love it.

The speaker tonight talked about how God seeks out a personal relationship with us.  The relationship is out there for us to pursue and that a relationship such as that can be a very powerful thing.  

There will be pain and troubles from the ridicule we may receive from being a Christian and from the sin we struggle with. 

 A relationship with God is also practical.  We must continue to come to God to help us conquer our sin.  

Personal, Powerful, Painful, Practical. 

The four P's.  Then we ended the service very fittingly with In Christ Alone, which is a response meant to comfort us in a world full of sin that brings us down. 

After our group discussion the counselors went and found hiding places around the campus and the students had to search for us.  Once they found us, they could have ice cream.  I hid under a tree, which was pretty secluded.  I went unfound by our group for about 30 minutes until Luke and Conner Hadden found me.  

While we were eating ice cream Dave brought to my attention something happening not far across the lawn.  Hank Johnson had been laying in the grass for about 20 minutes already, but when I looked over he was surrounded by 13 girls, laying down beside him.    

Hank loves the ladies

I was impressed.  So Tate and I decided to lay down beside him to see if he had found a truth in how to get the attention of girls.  Believe it or not...he's onto something!  Some girl walked over and gave me her ice cream sandwich.  Who knew it could be so simple.  only Hank.

Tate probably didn't receive as much attention as he would have liked.

#ForeverAlone

#JustKidding

Day 2 was long, awesome and exhausting.  I am not quite sure how anyone has anything left in the tank but we always seem to keep moving forward at full speed.  If Day 3 is anything like Day 2, the kids are in for a treat.  Your prayers are appreciated! Keep them coming!  Signing off for now.  Bedtime.