Oh, Wise One

YOU CAN’T BELIEVE your friend talked to you like that. It would be easy to call him or her unreasonable, demanding, and selfish. Maybe it was over a game of 4 square, or even a disagreement during cabin clean-up. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you don’t want your friend to get the last word. You could also do the opposite and apologize. But if you do that, are you backing down, giving in, and letting him or her win? Why should you do that? How would you handle this situation?

Read James 3:13-18. Study verse 17.

What are the characteristics of wisdom from above?

What are the good fruits of wisdom?

How do we develop godly wisdom?

Are there times when we shouldn’t comply or show mercy?

Is it possible to avoid favoritism in all situations?

How do you define wisdom? Some would say that if you make a lot of money you must be wise. Others would say that if you are in a powerful position in government, you are probably very wise. Few people look at how others achieve success. They only see the end result.

In James we learn about another kind of wisdom—godly wisdom. People with this kind of wisdom are known for being peaceful, merciful, and treating everyone with respect. They always put others first. They’re known for their gentleness, and their lives are orderly and full of good, godly things, not favoritism or hypocrisy.

What kind of wisdom do you want to have? Earthly wisdom is temporary, but with God’s wisdom, you can make an eternal difference in your life and in the lives of others.

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I-40 to Open Before Summer

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God Really Does Look at The Heart

YOU’RE LOOKING AT YOUR WATCH. The speaker in the school assembly is going on and on. Somehow, you feel like the speaker just loves to hear himself talk. It reminds you of the last concert you attended. The outfit the singer wore was so weird! It’s obvious when someone wants to be the center of attention. Does this ever happen at church? Or what about Camp?

Read Mark 12:38-40. Pay attention to verse 40.

Why did Jesus warn against scribes in the marketplace?

Is it wrong for religious leaders to seek recognition? Explain.

What did Jesus mean when He said that scribes “devour widows’ houses”?

What do these verses teach you about God’s attitude toward our motives?

When have you found yourself doing something good, even something godly, but your actions were fueled by a desire for recognition?

Why is that kind of worship, love, or service not what God wants?

If you have grown up in church, you may remember being in awe when you listened to long prayers or heard solos ending in high notes. When does public recognition overshadow a heart for worship? Jesus warned us about those who are only involved in religious practices to garner the praise of others. There will be judgment for that kind of motive.
What about you? Do you attend worship because you love God or because you want to meet the expectations of others? If your friends didn’t attend Bible study, would you still be involved? We will grow in our faith when we desire a deeper relationship with God. Take time to examine your motivation, and spend time in prayer. God will meet you there.

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Want to know if your favorite staffer is coming back? Look Here!

Hey guys!

We are extremely excited about our staff for this summer.  We are almost completely done with hiring them.  We have searched all over the country to get the very best staff to hang out with you guys and teach you about Jesus this summer!  So here they are, your 2010 Camp Ridgecrest Staff!

Returning Staff:

Seth Ladd, Andrew Shirley, Sam Pineda, Wayne McLemore, Hunter Barnhardt, Micah Andrews, Tory Singer, Kyle Andrews, Wayne Hines, Eli White, Patrick Streeter, Juan Bowen, Steven Fuller, Brian Hartsfield, Graham Rigby, Jamey Klempin, Stephen Turner, Bryan Galloway, Quinton Stevenson, David Howerin, Jeremy Churchill, Nathan Harvey, Tyler Barrett, Jason Patskoski, Daniel Waldroup, Seth Showalter,  Jeremy Craddock, Matt Stapp, Ben Fritz, Will Blanton, Britton Van Sickle, Justin Westbrooks, Daniel Waldroup, Bryan Melton, Richard Hutchins, Ginny Allgood, Christine Redd, Hillary Hunt, Rebecca Davis, Linzee Long, Kayla Dulhagen

Some Amazing New Staff:

Randall Ausdran, Culby Hinson, Mark Vining, Will Shepard, CJ Milam, Mike Payne, Jordan Keeney, Cade Sherman, Jesse Gysin, Derek Jankowski, Jared Morgan, Will Correll, Adam Nichols, Andrew Willhite, Jimi Bell, Matthew Ennis, Bobby Dalton, Brian Butcher, Nathaniel Burkett, Joshua Ward, Vince Sapp, Matthew McMillan, Logan Wells, Stephen Sloan, Will Thornton, Keatton Van Sickle, Chace Corbett, Seth Ennis, Drew Boggess, Daniel Field, Lydia Marsh, Allyson Basden, Caroline Arledge

Like we said we are very excited about our staffers so far! There will be a few more added here soon.  I hope everyone is getting ready for the summer; there are 68 days until Opening Day IA!! See you soon!

By the way, of course, our fearless leaders, Ron and Phil will definitely be back!

Leave us a comment about these great staffers!

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March Free Canteen Winner!!

Congratulations to David Henry!  He is the free Canteen winner for the month of March.  He won a free canteen by commenting on our blog!  So if you want a free canteen delivered to your door, start reading our blog and commenting!  David, your canteen will be at your door soon.   Hope you all are ready for Canteen and everything else this summer; it is just around the corner!

Posted in Boys, News, Uncategorized | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, ridgecrest, Ridgecrest Boys, Ridgecrest Canteen, Ridgecrest Canteen Contest, Ridgecrest Contest | Leave a reply

Love, Love, Love.

NO RUNNING IN THE HALL. Don’t litter on school property. No standing on the bus. No cell phones or iPods at camp. No double-blobbing.

Rules, rules, rules. Sometimes, it seems like our entire day at school or time at camp is spent following rules (or listening to someone enforce them). What is the purpose of all these rules, anyway? Some would say they are for the health and safety of the students and staff. What about God’s rules? What is the purpose of the guidelines found in the Bible?

Read Galatians 5:13-15, focusing on verse 14.

What does it mean that we have freedom as believers?

Who is your neighbor?

Is it possible to love someone if you don’t even like them? Explain.

How does loving people fulfill all of God’s laws?

According to these verses, what are the consequences of not loving others?

It’s a simple concept. If you love God and love others, you are meeting all of God’s requirements. Understand this: God is love, and His principles for living are based on love. As Christians, others should see love when they look at our lives. Jesus spent His life on earth showing love to people and ultimately loving us enough to die for our sins. We can continue to communicate His love by giving of ourselves in service to others.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Devotion, Galatians, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Love Isn’t Just A Feeling

I LOVE THAT SONG, DON’T YOU? “I love this ice cream.” “I love to play basketball at this gym.” “I love playing Sock War.” “I love my counselor.” Love. We throw the word around all the time. It can have a casual meaning or a heavy-duty one. “Because I love my country, I will serve wherever I am needed.” “I loved my grandmother; I really miss her.” “I will never love another girl/guy like that.”

So with all this talk of love, what does it mean when we say we love God?

Read Mark 12:28-31. Memorize verses 30 and 31a, if you haven’t already.

What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart?

How is it possible to love the Lord with all your mind? Will this affect your thinking?

If you love God with all your strength, what kind of commitment are you making?
According to God’s point of view, whom are we required to love?
Do you ever have trouble loving yourself?

Mark 12:30 states that we must love God. We understand that, but HOW we love God is the key. We must love God with our hearts—all our feelings and emotions. It’s clear from these verses that Jesus is asking us to let God be in charge of everything in our lives. Do we love God enough to let Him be in charge of our mind, attitudes, choices, and whom we allow to influence our thinking? When we give God our strength, we allow Him to direct how we spend our time and energy.

Jesus also challenges us to love others, making their needs as important as our personal desires. A loving relationship with God must be our first priority. We can have a meaningful life when we love God and love others.

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Now introducing your 2010 Tribal Leaders….

Tribal Leaders for Summer 2010
We are very excited about these great guys and you should be, too!

Apache Tribe- Hunter Barnhardt

Hunter is a recent graduate of Presbyterian College in his 14th summer at camp.  He is really excited about Sliding Rock and ruling the camp with the mighty Apache.

Shawnee Tribe- Micah Andrews

Micah is a Sophomore at Florida State University.  This will be Micah’s 13th summer at camp.  Micah is ready to be the leader of the great Shawnee and have more fun than anyone else in camp.

Choctaw Tribe- Tory Singer

Tory is a Sophomore at UGA.  This is his 2nd summer at camp.  He is real excited about leading the mightiest tribe in camp in all the best activities such as Raft Race and MUDFEST!!

Arapaho Tribe- Kyle Andrews

Kyle is a Junior at FSU.  This will by Kyle’s 10th summer at camp.  He is really excited about working with the Araps this summer and leading them to victory in the opening night Ultimate Frisbee game against the Sioux.

Sioux Tribe- Wayne Hines

Wayne is a Montreat College guy who majored in Outdoor Education.  This will be Wayne’s 2nd summer at camp. He is ready to return back at camp after serving as a Sioux counselor in 2007.  He is excited about leading the Sioux on the trail and teaching the guys all about Christ and the outdoors.

The summer is getting closer and closer.  It is warming up here and the sun has come out.  We hope you are getting real excited about this summer because all of us here at Ridgecrest cannot wait to see you!

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Returning Staff, Ridgecrest Camps Staff, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Ridgecrest Tribal Leaders | Leave a reply