VLOG: Gladiator Night

Another addition of a “lost” VLOG we are re-posting to our blog!

Men. We love letting boys be boys, while at the same time, teaching boys to be men. And not just men, but men of God.

While I’m not saying you have to have huge muscles and be mean and tough to be a man, there is something within boys that loves acting like some of the “manly men” that watch on TV or in movies. For some of the younger boys, they are brought to life, just by getting to play “tough” while being surrounded my men who passionately love Jesus and love them as well. There is no doubt that through our counselors these boys interact with Godly men of all shapes, sizes and giftings. But in this one game, Gladiator Games, they get to let their testosterone run thick and they get to play hard. Man it’s fun to watch…

Ridgecrest Vlog 2012 – Gladiator from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Activity, Camp Ridgecrest, Camp-Wide Activities, Gladiator Games, Gladiator Night, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG | Leave a reply

How Do You Handle Conflict

Read Genesis 13:1-7.

In a perfect world, we’d all get along. All the beauty queens who wished for world peace would get it. But since our world is extremely broken, conflict is inevitable. What matters the most is how we handle it—in front of believers and non-believers.

We know this: all people are created differently—with different passions, gifts, personalities, and talents; therefore, disagreements are bound to take place.

As you read through Genesis 13:1-7, what did you notice about Abram and Lot?

They were family. But, even more than that, they were extremely close, having lived and traveled together for a long time. Through poverty and trouble, wanderings and miracles, they were never separated. Not until their meddlesome herdsman started causing trouble did it put a wedge between them.

Whether you’ve known someone for five minutes or your whole life, trouble is bound to show up sooner or later. The question is: will you let it come between you? Will you let conflict drive you apart? Or will you let it go and hand it over to God?

The family of God has a strong bond under the leadership of Jesus. This month, we’ll talk about what Scripture says about conflict, how you should deal with it among believers and non-believers, and what your role is as a peacemaker in Christ’s kingdom.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Genesis 13, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

VLOG: Guerilla Warfare

Another re-post of one of our “lost” VLOGs from the summer…

Many of you have heard me talk about this game…I love it. One of the reasons I love this game so much is because of the ridiculous preparation it requires. It takes our staff over 60 hours to prepare for this game that lasts 1 hour. We blow up about 20,000 water balloons for our campers. We have over 20 fifty-five gallon trash cans crammed full of water balloons. We actually have 2 water balloon filling contraptions that we have built to prep for this game, allowing us to fill 10 balloons at one time. Like I said, I love this game. If you like water balloon fights, you’ll love Guerrilla Warfare…. watch this….

Ridgecrest Vlog 2012 – Guerilla Warfare from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Christian Camps, Guerilla Warfare, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG, water balloon games | Leave a reply

VLOG: Fireworks Show

We are back, still loading some of the “lost” VLOGS from the summer….

This was one of my favorite nights this past summer. Black Mountain put on a massive fireworks show for the entire town. It was beautiful. We thought that this was a perfect opportunity for our campers to get to experience a massive and professional fireworks display. Our folks loved it. Watch this!

Ridgecrest Vlog 2012 – Fireworks Show from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Posted in News | Tagged Black Mountain, Black Mountain Fireworks, Camp Ridgecrest, Christian Camps, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG | Leave a reply

VLOG: Bedlam Ball

Once again, we are still putting “lost” VLOGs back up on our Blog every few days.

Check out this short video from one of our favorite games here at Camp Ridgecrest, Bedlam Ball. It’s every boys dream really, about 100 over-sized inflatable balls in one pile staring you in the face, almost taunting you. And on top of that, you have permission to jump right in that pile and play…. Watch this short clip….

Ridgecrest Vlog 2012 – Bedlam Ball from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Posted in News | Tagged Bedlam Ball, Camp Ridgecrest, Camp-Wide Activities, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG | Leave a reply

Speak Grace

Has your knee ever gotten mad at your hand when you got a paper cut on your hand? Has your toe ever been upset with your head when you bumped your head on the car door?

Umm, probably not. Why? Because it simply does not make sense for your body parts to get mad at each other. Yet, believers are the body of Christ, and we often war against one another.

Read Ephesians 4:25-29, reading verse 29 out loud.

According to these verses, why should we speak the truth to one another?

Is it OK for a Christian to be angry? Why or why not?

How should we respond when we get angry?

In the verses that lead up to today’s passage, we are instructed to “put on the new self” (Eph. 4:24). What does that mean, and how does your understanding affect how you understand today’s passage?

Before you say anything, ask yourself these three questions: Is what I am about to say true? Do I really need to say it? Will the people who hear it be encouraged toward Christlikeness or discouraged? If you cannot say yes to all of these questions, you probably should keep your mouth shut. This doesn’t mean that you won’t have to say some difficult things—sometimes people need to be confronted in their sin. However, it does mean that you should do it with an aim of helping them to grow in Christ—not just to point out that they’re wrong.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Ephesians 4, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

There Is Only One Judge

Have you ever taught someone how to play a game or sport? I have. It’s hard work. There are a lot of rules to teach your student, and you have to make sure that you direct him or her closely.

Sometimes after teaching someone something new, a strange thing happens. After working hard to teach your student the game, another person comes along, and the student becomes the teacher. Your student begins to teach the new person, then relentlessly criticizes him when he gets something wrong. Ten minutes ago your student had never heard of the game, and now he wants to act like an expert! Sadly, we sometimes act like that in the Christian life.

Read James 4:11-12, zoning in on verse 12.

The verses leading up to today’s passage are about humility. What does being humble have to do with the passage for today?

What are we really doing when we criticize and judge other believers?

Is being “a judge” rather than “a doer of the law” a good thing or a bad thing? (Hint: see James 1:22-25.) Why or why not?

Who is the “one lawgiver and judge” that James wrote about in verse 12?

What do these verses have to do with how we treat other believers?

When we criticize other believers, we are acting as if we are the judge, but there is really only one Judge—and He has been infinitely kind to us. The ground around the cross is level. We all stand there as sinners in need of a Savior. Make sure you keep that in mind when you stand in judgment of a fellow believer’s words or actions.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, James 4, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission. | Leave a reply

VLOG: This Land is My Land

Unfortunately, all of our VLOG’s from this summer were mysteriously deleted when moving to our new website. So, in an effort to preserve history, we plan to re-post all the VLOGS from the summer. Starting with this one….

This Land Is My Land! A new game created by our Program Director and now Intern Matt Stapp. It’s very creative and involves all the things our campers love. Watch this short video if you haven’t already!

Ridgecrest Vlog 2012 – This Land Is My Land from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Activity, Camp Ridgecrest, Campwide Activity, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, This Land is My Land, VLOG | Leave a reply

Don’t Be A Stumbling Block

I love to watch buildings get demolished. It’s very exciting! You can sit and watch a building being built for an entire day, and the building site will basically look the same at the end of the day as it did that morning. But when a demolition crew takes down a building, it happens fast!

Read Romans 14:13-18. Focus on verse 13.

Describe the stumbling blocks referred to in the text. Can you think of other stumbling blocks?

What does the Bible say that people should stumble over? (Hint: See 1 Cor. 1:23.)

How has someone been a stumbling block to you in your journey of faith? How have you been a stumbling block to someone else? Explain.

Why is it a problem if you know something you’re doing is keeping others from growing in their faith and you choose to keep doing it?

Whom are we serving when we avoid doing something we feel is acceptable before God in order to not be a stumbling block for others? Explain.

I don’t know why I like to watch things being demolished, but I do know that watching lives get demolished is no fun at all. Just like a building, a life can get demolished in a hurry. A careless comment here, a thoughtless remark there, or a “helpful” criticism every so often, and friendships that took years to build can fall apart in an instant. When you are tempted to exercise your “gift” of criticism, don’t. Our task as believers is to encourage and edify each other, not tear each other down. Believe it or not, your criticism can become a stumbling block in another believer’s life that causes his or her spiritual growth to stall or even stop. Don’t spend your time and your words creating pitfalls for other believers. Encourage and speak the truth in love when the Spirit leads you!

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Romans 14 | Leave a reply

“The Well” Theme Video

So many of you have heard about this video. We have not released it to folks outside of camp yet, until now. This is your chance to watch the 3 minute video we use to introduce our 2012 theme to the campers here this summer. I have to say, it’s pretty sweet. Check it out…

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Camp Theme, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Summer Theme, The Well, Theme Video | Leave a reply