Don’t Be Afraid of Suffering

“HOW MANY TIMES DO I have to tell you?” “If I had a quarter for every time I told you how to do that, I would be rich.” Do these statements sound familiar? Sometimes we just don’t get it, even though something has been explained to us over and over. It just doesn’t click. What is something you just don’t get?

Read Mark 10:32-40. Read verse 39 aloud.
What did James and John ask Jesus?
What was Jesus’ response?

What cup was Jesus going to drink? (What was going to happen to Him?)

What kind of persecution do followers of Christ experience today?
In what ways have you experienced persecution for following Jesus?

If you were to live more boldly for Jesus, what persecution would you experience?

The disciples—how much they remind me of myself! Jesus had told them very specifically what was going to happen to Him, and their only concern was sharing in His greatness. They wanted to rule beside Him in a place of honor. They didn’t get it! They didn’t get that Jesus was going to be persecuted, suffer, and die. They didn’t get that anyone who boldly follows Jesus will also experience persecution and suffering.

Whenever you wholeheartedly live for Jesus, it will offend the world, and you will suffer for your faith. It’s a guarantee! However you are also guaranteed that Jesus loves you, is with you, and will one day reward your faithfulness. That is something Jesus doesn’t mind telling you over and over again. Make sure you
get it!

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On the road again…

Hey Y’all!

It’s Seth, I have been on the road for the past week in the Commonwealth State (that’s Virginia, come on).  I was able to go to Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and Liberty University to recruit some staff for this summer.  We only want the best staff, so we travel all over to find them!  I may have even seen one of your counselors.  On my trip I got to see:  Eli White, Ken Brown, Jason Browning, and Sam Pineda.  They told me to tell all of you hello through the Blog! Next week I leave to go on an 11 day trip to Florida, I hope it is sunny and warm down there. I want to get away from all this cold and snow!  I will let you guys know where I am going so if I am near you, leave a comment and maybe I’ll see you around!

Seth’s Next Adventure:
2/9:  Clemson, SC
2/10:  Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
2/11:  UWF, Pensacola, FL
2/12: Back to Tallahassee for the night
2/14:  Good News Church, St. Augustine, FL
2/16:  Orlando, FL
2/17: UF, Gainesville, FL
2/18: Jacksonville, FL
2/19: Charlotte, NC

Leave a comment if I am coming near you!

In Him,

Seth

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Camp Ridgecrest Virginia Staff, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Staff Recruiting, Travel | Leave a reply

January FREE Canteen Winner!

Congrats to Van Lucas! He is our January winner of a Free Canteen delivered to his door, straight from the Ridgecrest Canteen. Van, go ahead and tell me your order. I’ll make the hike to the canteen, through the snow, to pick up a drink and candy of your choice.

You too could win a Free Canteen! Simply make a comment on any blog post to enter. You can make as many comments as you like. Good luck and see you this summer!

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Live By Example

WHAT DO MILEY CYRUS and Kobe Bryant have in common? They are role models for thousands of teens. Girls try and dress like Miley, and boys try and shoot like Kobe. Who wouldn’t want to trade places with them for a day? Just the thought of thousands of fans screaming your name is a rush. With which famous person would you be pumped to trade places?

Read Matthew 20:20-28 and memorize verse 28.
 Who came to Jesus? Why?
 What was Jesus’ response?
 
What was Jesus’ requirement for greatness?
 How did Jesus model servanthood?
 
Whom do you have a hard time serving? Why?
 
How would Jesus want you to serve that person this week?

Mothers want the best for their kids. James and John’s mother was no different. After all, they were some of Jesus’ best friends. Believing Jesus to be the Messiah who would set up an earthly kingdom, she wanted recognition and honor for her boys—yet Jesus told her sons to live as servants.

Jesus’ response was not expected. The most amazing thing about the whole conversation was that Jesus used Himself as a role model. He wasn’t asking His disciples to do anything that He wasn’t doing or going to do, including laying down His own life so that all could be saved. When you are looking for someone to model your life after, don’t look at celebrities. Look at the cross.

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The First Shall Be Last…What?

“AMERICAN IDOL.” “America’s Next Top Model.” Paris Hilton’s “My New BFF.” Whether it’s a singer, model, or best friend, the contestants are all trying to be first, the greatest, the one on top. Unfortunately, many Christians have that same idea. We want to be the one who is recognized, honored, and seen as the best. Many would rather sing on the worship team than scrub toilets at the church or go on a “big” mission trip instead of mowing the lawn of the elderly lady next door. When was the last time you did an act of service that few people knew about?

Read Mark 9:33-37 and ponder verse 35.
 
What did Jesus ask His disciples?
 
What were they arguing about?
 
Why do you think they didn’t want to tell Jesus?
 
What does verse 35 mean?
 
What do you think is the hardest part about being a servant?
 
What is one concrete way you can serve another person this week?

Jesus knew what the disciples were arguing about. He knew it was a heart issue; that’s why He nailed them on it. Jesus turned their thinking upside down and their hearts inside out when He told them that in order to be great, they had to be servants to all.

But the kind of service Jesus is talking about isn’t just a summer mission trip, a work day at church, or a service project at camp. It is a lifestyle. It is putting others’ needs before your own. It is quietly serving your parents, classmates, cabin mates, and that crabby neighbor. This week, instead of looking for ways to get noticed, quietly serve someone and let God notice. It’s the way Jesus lived His life on earth—and He is your example.

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Meet Seth, the New Boys Intern

Seth arrived at Camp Ridgecrest a week and a half ago. We’ve been excited about getting him on board as we prepare for the summer. You’ll hear more from him as the summer get’s closer!

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What’s The Most Important Thing?

IT’S SUNDAY, AND YOUR COACH schedules a morning practice. You have Bible study on Wednesday night, and your friends call and invite you to go out for hot wings. The prettiest girl or hottest guy in the school isn’t interested in God but is very interested in you. Your friend has a cell phone at camp and you don’t know whether you should tell your counselor. The scenarios are endless of everyday situations that call for tough choices—choices that boil down to what Jesus wants or what you want. Think about a “Jesus or you” choice that you recently had to make. What made the choice difficult? If you could do it over, would you choose differently?

Read Luke 14:25-35. Stop and think about verse 26.
What relationships did Jesus say could never be more important than Him?
 
Why do these verses make you feel uncomfortable?
 
What did Jesus say was the cost of putting others before Him?
 
What relationships are you tempted to put before Jesus?
 
What steps do you need to take today to make sure that you are choosing Jesus first in all things?

Jesus isn’t calling you to actually “hate” everyone in your life except Him. You know God’s character and that He would never ask you to do that! What Jesus is saying is that no friend, family member, coach, boss, or boyfriend/girlfriend—absolutely NO ONE (that includes yourself)—is to be more important to you than Him. It’s one thing to say you are a Christian, but if your choices don’t scream “I’m a follower of Jesus!,” then your relationship may only be lip service.

Jesus’ whole point is that following Him costs us. Clearly, He wants us to follow hard after Him with a single-minded focus. When you are willing to pay the price, then you can call yourself a true disciple. Does your life announce to the world that you are His disciple?

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Camp, Like you have never seen it!

Greetings From Camp!

So I am sure you all have read about the snow that has fallen here at camp over the last month, well it is STILL HERE!  We went around and took some pictures of camp; fallen trees, deep snow, and the frozen lake!  I am sure you have never seen camp like this before, don’t worry though, we will cut a hole in the ice for you to go swimming this summer, if it is still here!

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Motives Matter

IN TODAY’S VERSE, Jesus makes a big shift on His audience. They were used to the Law, but Jesus started talking about motives. The Pharisees were trying to do all the right things, but their motives were selfish and self-seeking. It’s not just our external behavior that matters, but what’s going on in our heart.

Read Mark 7:10-16 and check out what Jesus said in verse 16.
 
Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reason?
 
Does that honor God? Why or why not?
 
What does today’s passage teach you about that?
 
How do we break God’s laws to follow tradition?
 
Does society pressure you to accept behavior that is wrong?
 
What should you do in that situation?

The Pharisees valued being right and making sure everyone obeyed. Jesus finished His teaching with a simple statement—if you have ears, you should listen. Everyone has ears, but not everyone listens. We can focus so much on what we think we should be doing that we never stop to listen to what Jesus says to do. Jesus desires a relationship with us. And out of that relationship flows obedience to His commands. When we spend time in His Word and prayer, we will be more like Him. Legalism comes out of pride and selfishness. When we read the Bible and apply it to everyone else, we have missed the point. When we apply it to our lives, we’ll find the great things God has in store.

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December’s Free Canteen Winner!

Congratulations to Regan Pompeo, our newest winner of a Free Canteen delivered to his house! Regan, like many of you, commented on our blog last month, and his name was randomly drawn to be the winner! Regan, let us know your order from the Canteen, and we’ll mail it to you right away. For the rest of you, make sure you comment on the blog this month to be entered into the monthly drawing! You can comment and enter as many times as you like. We hope that you are as excited as we are for camp this summer. More news from camp soon….

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