MONTHLY ARCHIVES: April 2012

What Does Your Life Say

Posted by anthologycreative

What identifies Christians? What adjective would most people use to describe Christians? Good? Disagreeable? Are we known as hypocrites? How would most people describe our churches?

Let’s flip the question a bit. How did Jesus want His followers to be identified? According to John 13:33-35, Jesus wanted His followers to be identified by their—wait for it—love.

After that last meal with His disciples, He gave them a new command: love one another. Easy enough, right? The next sentence, however, raises the bar: “Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” That is a far more specific definition of love than we are used to. The kind of love Jesus calls His followers to is self-sacrificing and considers the other person first. Does that describe how you love others?

This week’s devotions are focused on love. We live in an incredibly self-centered, decadent, and arrogant society. Self-sacrificing love is not a virtue that often makes its way into the news. What is worse is that the kind of love Jesus has called His followers to is often not clearly apparent in our churches—or the lives of those who call themselves believers.

Jesus wants us to love the way that He does. It’s how the world will know we belong to Him. Is that kind of love apparent in your life?


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Brag A Little

Posted by anthologycreative

I had been practicing and thought my ping-pong skills were pretty impressive. So, when my friend challenged me to a game, I asked, “Do you really think you can handle it?” That day, I learned not to brag about my ping-pong skills. My friend never told me he was a ping-pong master!

As you read Galatians 6:11-16, notice what Paul said of himself in verse 14.

God gave the Jews the sign of circumcision as an outward sign of their covenant with Him. Why do you think the Jews would boast in that outward sign? What was the problem with their boasting?

What did Paul mean when he said that “circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing” (v. 15)?

Why do you think Paul was so emphatic about only boasting in the cross of Christ (v. 14)?

What do you think boasting in the cross of Christ sounds like? What would it look like if you did it?

Do you know anyone who always boasts in Christ rather than him or herself?

How quick are you to talk about Christ? Where are you when you are likely to talk about Christ?

Where are you when you tend to shut up about Christ?

What do you brag about most often? Some of us are always ready to brag about ourselves, to push ourselves forward, to make ourselves sound important. Not Paul. Instead, he wanted to brag about the cross of Christ. So should we. As believers, we should always be ready to brag on the One who is the Creator of the world, the Savior of all humanity. Today, ask God to fill your heart with His wonder and cause you to think and talk of Him in your conversations.


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I Am With You

Posted by phil

This past summer our theme was I Am With You. All of our devotions and morning watches focused on this theme. We want you to remember that no matter what is going on in your life, your God is with you. Check out this very short must see video we made for Summer 2011. We’ll see you in just over a month!


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Sow and Reap

Posted by anthologycreative

When a farmer plants corn, he doesn’t harvest wheat. You can only harvest what you’ve actually planted. And believe it or not, that principle holds true for our spiritual lives as well.

Read Galatians 6:6-10, paying particular attention to verse 7.

Sowing refers to planting seeds. Reaping refers to harvesting the resulting food. What are some good seeds you are planting with how you live your life? What harvest do you think you will reap from those seeds?

What are some bad seeds you’re planting? What harvest do you see yourself reaping from those?

Why do you think Christians sometimes “get tired of doing good” (v. 9)?

What are some seeds you should be planting that you are not?

What are some seeds you need to quit planting?

We like to think of God as a loving Father who wants us to be happy, healthy, and wealthy, but that’s not the total picture of God. He gives us freedom to act, but our actions always have consequences. We may not suffer immediately for breaking one of God’s commandments. However, in the long run, every one of us will experience the consequences of the choices we’ve made.

You can choose to sin—even as a believer—and think it doesn’t matter or that you’re getting away with it. But your sinful choices have consequences. Spend some time today talking with God about the choices you’re making. If you need to, ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him what good seed you need to be planting. Determine to do all He shows you.


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Online Scavenger Hunt Winner!

Posted by phil

Well done J-M Collard! You were the first person to turn in the correct answers for the online scavenger hunt. You win a $50 gift certificate to the Camp Ridgecrest Store! Enjoy!

Below are the correct answers…

The first thing I want to hear in the morning is the sound of  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­  Reveille    and Ron’s voice ringing loudly over the speaker. All morning when I am at skills I think about ­     Chicken Tender Tuesday . That is just what I need to give me the energy I need for my favorite activity – sock war! The only problem is that I have a sweet tooth, but that will be  satisfied  by going to the   canteen to get some Reese’s Cups. After working up a sweat during sock war, it feels great to  dive   into the nice cool lake. After free swim, a few friends and I go find  dry wood and start building the campfire  so we can cook  packet meals . But we can’t hang around for too long because we get to go sing campfire songs with Singing Sequoia. There is no better way to end the day than to sit the fire and watch the embers  float into the starry sky.

See you soon!


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Camp Ridgecrest – Online Scavenger Hunt Details

Posted by phil

Fellas,

Here is the blog post you need to complete the on-line scavenger hunt that we had in the Spring Redskin you recently received. If you didn’t receive the Redskin, you can still complete this challenge! Complete this scavenger hunt and be the first one to email the answers to rscamps@ridgecrestcamps.com and you could win $50 to the camp store. (Please put your name in the email along with your answers!) To do the on-line scavenger hunt follow the clues below and answer each question. The links will take you to different websites to find the answer for each blank! Have fun!

My Ideal Day at Camp

The first thing I want to hear in the morning is the sound of  ­­­­­­­­­­­­­  Blank 1    and Ron’s voice ringing loudly over the speaker. All morning when I am at skills I think about ­     Blank 2  Blank 3     Blank 4 . That is just what I need to give me the energy I need for my favorite activity – sock war! The only problem is that I have a sweet tooth, but that will be  Blank 5  by going to the   Blank 6   to get some Reese’s Cups. After working up a sweat during sock war, it feels great to  Blank 7   into the nice cool lake. After free swim, a few friends and I go find  Blank 8  Blank 9 and start building the Blank 10  so we can cook  Blank 11 . But we can’t hang around for too long because we get to go sing campfire songs with Blank 12   Blank 13. There is no better way to end the day than to sit the fire and watch the Blank 14 float into the starry sky.

  1. Blank 1 – The mascot for Texas A&M University’s name is: Texas A&M Traditions.
  2. Blank 2 – What animal loves dancing to “Techno” music: Techno dancer?
  3. Blank 3 – What is the final word in the title of this movie that Elvis starred in back in 1956: Elvis the movie star?
  4. Blank 4 – According to this website, Fun Factz, what is the most productive day of the workweek?
  5. Blank 5 – What word, in the NIV version of Psalm 17:15, also means, “content?”
  6. Blank 6 – On this website (Army/Navy Store), you could purchase a military ____________.
  7. Blank 7 – In this video, a man performs a rather unsuccessful ______________. OUCH!
  8. Blank 8 – This Bed and Breakfast, Bed and Breakfast, Asheville, NC, near camp is called the _________ Ridge Inn.
  9. Blank 9 – In 1998, this Major League pitcher won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. What is his last name? Rookie of the Year Awards
  10. Blank 10 – What types of songs are listed on this website: Songs?
  11. Blank 11 – This website gives a recipe for what food (HINT: 2 words): Recipes?
  12. Blank 12 – In this video, a man is doing what in the rain: Rain video?
  13. Blank 13 – These underground caves found in Alabama are known as: ______________ Caverns. Alabama Caves
  14. Blank 14 – This fine restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio offers a great menu of Steaks, Seafood and Sushi: Cincinnati Dining.

Good Luck! Email your answer in ASAP to try to win $50 to the Camp Store!


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Restore

Posted by anthologycreative

Picture this. Your best friend falls into some sin that is damaging to him and painful to you. What do you do?

You could write him off. If he has no more concern for you than this, then you just won’t bother with him any more.

Or, you could get angry and let him know it. Tell him you are not going to let him get away with this. Or, you could ignore it. You would rather have the friendship than a nasty disagreement over this sin.

Read Galatians 6:1-5. Really think about verse 1.

Look back at the three possible reactions to your friend, above. What is wrong with each of them?

What do you think it means to “restore” a person who has sinned? How do you do that?

What does it really mean to have a “gentle spirit” when you deal with someone who has failed spiritually?

Do you have a gentle spirit? Why or why not?

How does a person develop a gentle spirit? Explain.

In what ways could you fall into sin when you are trying to help a friend who has a sin problem?

We are all going to fail at times. When your friends sin, they need to know that they’re loved and forgiven. They need the chance to make things right. If you have a Christian friend right now who is caught in a sin, pray that God will give you the right words to say to restore him or her.


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Campers with their Counselors

Posted by phil

Over the past 20 years I have been here at Camp Ridgecrest, this is still the reason I do what I do. These relationships and the fruit that comes from them will continue to change lives for years to come… Do you remember your counselors? What were their names? Have you tried to contact them recently?


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Holy Spirit Fruit

Posted by anthologycreative

What does an apple tree produce? Apples. That’s why we call it an apple tree. Will an apple tree ever suddenly begin to grow coconuts? Of course not. That’s just not its nature.

People are born with a sin nature. However, unlike the apple tree, people can actually change their nature. When we experience the transforming love of Christ, repent of our sinfulness, and trust Jesus for salvation, we’re actually given a new nature. And, because of that, we produce a different kind of fruit.

Read Galatians 5:22-26. Pay special attention to verses 22-23.

Based on these verses, how do you recognize a person whose life is controlled by the Holy Spirit?

Does this passage mean that you should try as hard as you can to be loving, joyful, peaceful, and so forth? Why or why not?

What is the difference between trying hard to produce the fruit and living by the Holy Spirit so that He produces the fruit in you? Explain.

When you take an honest look at your life, what kind of fruit do you see? What would your parents say? Your best friends? Your cabin mates?

When does your life tend to produce the most Holy Spirit fruit?

When does your life tend to lack the fruit of the Spirit?

Some people are angry all the time. Other people are never happy. People can be impatient, unkind, faithless, and self-indulgent. None of that is what the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. When your life is controlled by the Holy Spirit, you will see His fruit ebbing out of you. It may start with a little joy. Soon you will find yourself growing in patience, goodness, and genuine love. The key is to live by the Spirit. The question is, are you?


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