LifeWay Trustees to Camp Ridgecrest

Camp Ridgecrest was honored to host the LifeWay trustees at camp a few days ago. The group was meeting at Ridgecrest Conference Center and made their way to the Camp Ridgecrest Pavilion for an evening picnic. Tours were given of both Camp Ridgecrest and Camp Crestridge. Trustees were seen walking around the lake with their wives enjoying the peaceful setting, relaxing in rocking chairs, and even talking business while overlooking Lake Ridgecrest. Overall, it was a beautiful evening in the mountains. We thank the trustees for everything they do for LifeWay and Ridgecrest Summer Camps!

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Did you know?

A few things you may or may not have known about Camp Ridgecrest! All but one of them are true. Can you guess which one? Comment below. Hope you enjoy…

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Living at Camp this Fall

Everyone can’t be as lucky as Wayne. He’ll be living here at Camp Ridgecrest at least through Christmas. He’ll be helping with everything from hiring staff, new building projects, some video and website additions, and of course many rounds of frisbee golf. If you happen to stop by camp, be sure to give Wayne a call….he’ll be here!

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Spots going at Record Speed!

Well, it’s exciting and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Some sessions already have a wait list. This is the fastest registration process in the history of Camp Ridgecrest. We are doing everything we can to ensure that our returning campers can get their spot, but you have to act fast. All current campers were sent multiple emails with the registration link included. Check your inbox for details.

Also, we are in the middle of the first annual Friend Frenzy Week! This is a week designed for current camp families to give their friends a chance to sign up before we post the registration link to the general public. Take advantage of this unique opportunity that ends August 31st.

Overall, the summer of 2009 was a huge success! We love hearing story after story of how God used this place to impact the lives of campers, staff and even parents. If you have a story to share, please comment below, or send us an email to rscamps@ridgecrestcamps.com. We love hearing what God is doing in the lives of our Camp Family.

With the school year approaching, please remember to sign up early for next summer, as well as to take advantage of our weekly devotion blogs that are posted each Monday morning for your campers. If there is anything else we can help you with, please let us know! See you in the Summer of 2010!

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Hard Work

Hard Work
Read This Passage: Proverbs 13:8-11

Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but whoever earns it through labor will multiply it. —Proverbs 13:11

A FEW MONTHS ago, I went to work for a marketing firm. The job was much different than they let on during the interview process. As it turned out, the owner of the company was using unethical techniques to obtain employees. He did this because he was able to make money off of people working for him.

In today’s world, many people don’t want to work to earn their living. They’d rather do whatever is easiest, even if it’s fraud or something that’s not quite illegal, but not right either.

In today’s passage, God told us that wealth obtained by fraud will “dwindle.”  For months the owner of the company I worked for made a great deal of money through fraud and dishonesty. Then everything fell apart. The owner lost his business and his income.

In this world, there’s an obvious need for money to survive. But ask yourself just how important money and riches are. In terms of eternity, are they worth lying and cheating to obtain?
God has called us to earn our living, and sometimes that’s hard work. But He respects and blesses that. In the end, it’s worth it.

Pray
Father, help me make decisions in my life that reflect You. Keep me accountable for my actions.

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Camp Ridgecrest InternS (Plural)

For the first year in history, Camp Ridgecrest will have 2 Interns throughout the year. The first will be Wayne McLemore (LC Reserved Redtail). Wayne has been at Camp for a long time as a camper, counselor, Sioux counselor, Videographer and Assistant Program Director. He grew up in Chattanooga, TN and graduated from the University of Georgia. After spending a year in Japan teaching English, Wayne returned to Ridgecrest this summer and had an incredible time. We are honored that he will be our Intern from September-December. He’ll work on various projects around camp, including this blog, so you’ll be sure to hear from him before too long.

We also have Seth Ladd, (Chief Genteel Pine). Seth has spent a number of years at Camp as a counselor as well as the past 2 summers at the Choctaw Tribal Leader. A grad from Mississippi State University, Seth plans to go to medical school. We are so excited that he has delayed his plans for a year in order to serve Camp Ridgecrest. Seth will begin his internship with us in January and will continue through the summer of 2010.

We have lots of plans for these 2 great men, and I’m sure you’ll be hearing more from them. But for now, enjoy the rest of your summer…

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Free for All

Free for All
Read This Passage: Proverbs 11:24-26

One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. —Proverbs 11:24

AS I STOOD in that foreign country, my ears full of indecipherable language, my North American view on life began to deteriorate. There I stood, sweating in the 100 degree heat of the Nicaraguan jungle, reevaluating every idea I’d ever had about wealth. I thought I understood poverty, but I didn’t really, not until I went to Nicaragua and met people living in it. I was in the heart of one of the poorest countries on the globe, meeting people who had nothing. And it was there that I met some truly rich people.

In Nicaragua, I met people who -literally had nothing. Many didn’t know where their next meal would come from. Though most had next to nothing, they lovingly offered our mission team what they did have. These people who had so little wanted to give it to us, who had so much.

As Christians, that spirit of generosity should also characterize us. As today’s key verse says, when we give freely to others, whether we have a lot or a little, we gain. We have a peace that we know we’ve done what is right and satisfaction that we’ve allowed God to work through us. When we don’t give and know it’s right to do so, we only rob ourselves.

Pray
Father, renew my heart and redefine wealth for me. I thank You for all I have, and what I have, I offer to You.

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11,000 water balloons…225 kids!

We aren’t afraid to spend 3 days filling up water balloons just to see our campers pop them all in about 1 hour… After all, that’s one of the greatest parts of camp…doing things that you can’t do anywhere else on earth. They had the time of their lives!

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Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt
Read This Passage: Luke 12:31-34

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Luke 12:34
 
MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES. Expensive fashion trends. Pricey cars and electronics. In today’s world many of us seem to be in love with the idea of more. We want more stuff, more money, more popularity.

There’s nothing wrong with having nice things or working hard and saving to get something you want. But there is a problem when this stuff—material, earthly things—becomes the treasure in your life. We can have all the money in the world, but if our bank accounts are where we store our treasure, our hearts have a zero balance.

I have learned recently what it means to be without. I found myself scrounging for enough money to pay my rent, yet I felt blessed because I learned what it really means to completely rely on God. Putting an emphasis on worldly treasures got me nowhere, but as I focused on God’s kingdom, everything fell into place.

Know this: the things God values aren’t the same as the things the world values. And He knew we’d have a problem wrapping our brains around His idea of treasure, so He explained it in today’s passage. God’s treasure isn’t tied up in money and bank accounts. God’s treasure is about the things He values: His love, eternal life, salvation, the gospel, mercy, and grace. And God’s kind of treasure can’t be destroyed or taken away from you.

Luke 12:34 contains a clear message about the insignificance of worldly wealth. The things we possess in this lifetime eventually rot away like everything else. When we trust in Jesus, we are setting ourselves up for eternity and storing up -treasures in a safer place.

Real Choices
Where do you store your treasure? Only you and God know the answer to that. Take some time to evaluate what is important to you.

Digging Deeper
Sometimes our desire for more isn’t a question of overindulgence, but true need for something we don’t have. Maybe your family struggles to pay rent and other bills. That can be scary. Take a look at Matthew 6:31-34 and find comfort in the love your Savior has for you.

Pray
Father, help me to focus on You and not the treasures of this world. Help me to seek after Your kingdom and Your will as You fulfill Your Word by adding the rest of things I need.

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You Chose 6 of These…

A quick glance into a day of Skills. We have quite a few skills offering everything from Horseback, to Weighlifting, and Outdoor Living to Rocketry. Each camper can choose 6 skills that they want to take each 2 weeks. We try to offer so many that you will have years worth of options to experience while at Camp Ridgecrest. We also offer: crafts, swimming, canoeing, climbing, mountain biking, geocashing, basktball, baseball, lacrosse, football, disc sports, djembe, indian lore, paintball, cup stacking, tennis, bible study, fitness, archery, rifelry, and more…

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