Camp Ridgecrest – Page 13

What’s Your Motivation

Posted by anthologycreative

Have you ever thought something like this: “I can tell this little white lie now. I will ask Jesus to forgive me later”? If you have, did you notice it was easier to lie the next time? Did you start to notice a pattern? Whenever you were in a pinch, you probably found it easier and easier to shoot off another lie.

Read Romans 6:15-18. Look at verse 17.

Do you see Christ just as the Person to ask for forgiveness for a sin you continually choose to repeat? Why or why not?

What do these verses teach you about that kind of attitude?

Why is forgiveness a gift you shouldn’t take for granted?

How does your life show God’s grace is precious? Explain.

Today’s reading says the Romans “obeyed from the heart.” Does that mean that the Romans were afraid of Christ or that they loved Him? Explain.

What’s the reason for your obedience to God? Explain.

The word “pattern” in verse 17 refers to the teaching the Romans received. A pattern is predictable and recurring. If you live by the pattern taught in Scripture, your life will be predictable and consistent. You know you love Christ, and you know how He is calling you to live—and you obey from the heart. That means that the reason you’re obedient to God isn’t because you think you have to, that being “good” will earn you His favor, or that the way to live the Christian life is to follow a bunch of rules. It means that you obey Christ’s commands out of love, recognizing who He is and what He has done for you. When you understand the cost Christ paid to set you free from sin and the depth of His love for you, you simply can’t pursue a life characterized by sin.

Leap Day 2012

Posted by Karah

Do know what Leap Day is? Do you know why it was created? These questions will be answered if you watch this video! You’ll also see how we celebrate Leap Day here at Ridgecrest Summer Camps! We hope you enjoyed Leap Day!

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Leap Day, Leaping, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Give Him Control

Posted by anthologycreative

It’s brand new. Silver! It is the hottest car in town. When you put the top down, people can see that you are the driver of the new car everyone is talking about. You drive slowly down Main Street. Your cousin waves you down. He asks to take your car for a spin. You remember all the cars he has dented the past few months. But he is your cousin. He has your best interests in mind, doesn’t he? You offer him the keys.

“Yeah right!” I hear you say as you read this. But don’t we do that all the time? Offer the keys of our heart to a driver who doesn’t have our best interests in mind?

Read Romans 6:12-14. Look again at verse 12.

What does it mean to let sin rule in your body?

How have you seen this play out in your life?

Do you think that your musical tastes or your movie or Internet habits show who reigns in your life? Why or why not?

When friends hear you talk, whom do they suppose rules your heart? Explain.

In the way you speak to your teachers and parents, is it obvious that Christ rules your heart? Why or why not?

Does Christ reign in your study and work habits? Explain.

Think of your heart as a huge parking garage. There are many cars in it, and each one represents an attitude, an activity, or some other facet of your life. Christ died for you so He can drive each one of these cars. But you may have said to Him, “You can drive this old truck but not this sports car.”

The point? If Jesus isn’t in control of every part of your life, He isn’t your King. That’s what today’s Scripture passage is about. If sin is reigning in your life, Christ isn’t in control. What areas of your life are you withholding from Jesus’ control? Give them to Him today!

Alive

Posted by anthologycreative

The sunrise this morning took my breath away. Along the horizon there were a few clouds, metallic pink on the backdrop of a pink and yellow sky. A nice cold morning here at camp! The breeze was invigorating. I felt so alive. I knew God was with me.

Read Romans 6:8-11. Notice verse 8.

When do you feel most alive? In nature? With friends? At a worship service?

Are you aware in those moments that God is with you? Why or why not?

Do you think God gives us those moments to remind us of the truth that He is always with us, even when we do not feel Him?

How do you feel knowing God is always with you, living with you?

What does it really mean to live with God?

Are you aware that Christ is with you at school? At the movies? Everywhere? Explain.

How is it that we still are tempted to sin even though we died to sin?

Today’s verse tells us that because we died with Christ to sin He now lives with us. When you live with someone, they know all the very best and the very worst about you. They know what you do and don’t like. They know what buttons to push to make you instantly furious. They know what fills you with happiness.

Christ knows all about you, inside and out, and still loves you thoroughly. As today’s Scripture passage points out, while our sin is the reason for Jesus’ death, we did nothing to bring about the resurrection—yet we get to share in the fruit of it, eternal life. What a miracle! Let that truth sink in today. Live each moment for God!

Guerilla Warfare

Posted by phil

Here is a look back at one of the best games at Camp Ridgecrest. Nothing like 18,000 water balloons unleashed by 300 people in a short period of time. Only something that can be experienced at Camp Ridgecrest. And yes, camp is just over 3 months away! Grab your spot if you haven’t already…

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, water balloons | Leave a reply

Sin Doesn’t Have A Hold On You

Posted by anthologycreative

When you hear the word slave, what picture pops into your head? I see a poorly clothed man or woman who is skinny, bruised, and ashamed. Hands tied behind the back. Head down. Eyes on the floor. There is no hope and no escape in store for him or her.

Read Romans 6:5-7. Pay attention to verse 6.

What comes to mind when you read the phrase “enslaved to sin”?

Do you believe you have been freed from the slavery of sin? Why or why not?

Did you live yesterday like your old self had been crucified with Christ? Explain.

Is there something you would have done differently yesterday if you had remembered you are no longer a slave to sin?

Do you have a habit that you are unable to break even though you have accepted Christ into your life? If you do, consider asking someone you can trust to help you with it.

How will your life be different today by remembering you are free from sin?

The words “for we know” in our passage (v. 6) today are so important. Often that is the reason we stray back to old, sinful habits: we forget what we know. And when we forget, we act as slaves, helplessly doing what our sinful desires demand. We have to remember what we know! We know that our old selves have been crucified with Christ.

I have a ring a dear friend gave me. I wear it to remind me of what I know. Every time I look at it, I am reminded of whom I belong to and how I should honor Christ with my life. Would a symbol help you remember what you know? What will you choose, and what will it remind you of?

2012 Theme Design

Posted by Karah

Are you getting excited about this summer yet? It won’t be long till we have campers at camp again! We’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about our theme for this summer. We have finally made a decision and it is “The Well”. The theme verse is John 7:38, “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” NLT

We are currently trying to think of a design for our theme. We are having a little trouble so we’d like your help! From now until Friday, February 17th, we will be accepting submissions for the potential theme design. The person who submits the best design will win $50 to our clothing store this summer. We may even put that design on our theme shirt! You can send submissions to rscamps@ridgecrestcamps.com. Submissions can be drawn by hand, designed on a computer, etc.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Clothing, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Summer Theme | Leave a reply

You Have Been Rescued From Sin

Posted by anthologycreative

Read Romans 6:1-4.

Finally, after two months, the helicopter spotted you and rescued you from the tiny, forsaken island! Relief flooded you from head to toe. Last night was the first night you spent back in your own bed.

When the morning sun flooded the room, you opened your eyes. Laid out on a chair were new jeans and a T-shirt in your favorite colors and brands. You smiled. As you got up to put them on, you saw in the trash can the tatters that had been your clothes as a castaway. You pulled them out, smelly and torn. You stared at them fondly for a minute. Then you put them on and walked downstairs.

Crazy? Yes! But not as crazy as living in death and defeat after you have received new life in Christ.

Christ has rescued us from sin and given us a new set of clothes to put on each day. When we get up each day, we have a decision to make. We can reach for old tatters (like an old attitude that constantly reminds you that you aren’t worth anything)—or we can reach for the attitude of Christ that reassures us we are significant because He loves us and has rescued us.

Do you have a favorite attitude that you put on each day? What is it? Now think about what attitude Christ would have you wear instead. You have been rescued from that! Live like it today!

Choctaw Hill: Before and After

Posted by anthologycreative

After roughly 4 months of constant work, seven cabins have received a complete upgrade. Cabins 10-16 are now complete and ready for campers this summer! As we have continued to update you all throughout the process, today we are proud to present the final product and show you the differences. You will notice many differences on the hill. A few of those differences include: big porches, a green trim on Choctaw cabins, green roofing, Cabin 12 facing a new direction, new green doors, and much more! To see how awesome the upgrades are, check out the pictures below…

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Cabin Restoration, Camp Ridgecrest, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Choctaw, New Cabins | Leave a reply

High Five Etiquette

Posted by phil

Boys learn a lot of things here at Camp Ridgecrest. One of those things is how to properly administer a “high five.” Thanks to the friends of camp, “Trip and Tyler” for this hilarious idea!