Motivation Matters

Question: What do all three of these things have in common?

A grand slam to win the game in the bottom of the
ninth inning.
An encore from the band at a sold-out concert.
A camper who gets tapped out for Little Chief or Belle.

Answer: They’re all things that get a lot of attention. For weeks to come, people will talk about these feats. There might be news coverage, and Twitter and Facebook will be teeming with comments on the topic.

Think about the last time you did something that got a lot of public recognition or attention. What did you do? Why? Was getting all that attention a motivating factor for you to do it?

Read Matthew 6:1-4 in your Bible.

What do these verses teach you about your motivation to give to others? Explain.

When have you done something good or even godly because you wanted people to take notice or applaud you? What do these verses say about that kind of attitude?

What does it mean to be a hypocrite? Are there areas of your life in which you’re being a hypocrite? Explain.

hypocrite—noun

• a person who claims to to have moral standards or beliefs to which his or her own behavior does not conform; pretense.

The Point
Jesus clearly expects giving to those in need to be a vital part of His followers’ lives. But motivation matters—and when we give, it isn’t about getting attention or making a name for ourselves. Instead, we should give quietly, out of a desire to please God.

Take Action
What are some ways you could put Jesus’ teachings about how to give into practice right now? List three ways you’ll do so this week.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

VLOG: Country Breakfast!

Twice a summer our Central Staff hosts a breakfast for the entire camp. You’ll find loud music, pancakes, bacon, and of course our famous cheese grits! The Grit Train is always a hit! While it’s easily the most energetic breakfast of their year, it almost always ends up in a brief food fight. Oh the fun things that only happen at Camp Ridgecrest! Watch this short video…

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Obedience

Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch Christian, who, along with her father, helped provide safety for Jews during World War II. After a raid on their house, she and her family were sent to a concentration camp.

Life in the camp was dreadful—but Corrie and her sister focused their lives on extending the love of Jesus to fellow prisoners. Decades later, Corrie began a worldwide ministry to testify of God’s love and forgiveness.

After one of many speeches on grace, Corrie was approached by a man who came to shake her hand. He was a former prison guard in the camp. It was only through the power of Christ that Corrie was able to extend grace to this man.

Take Action
Memorize 1 John 4:19. It will help you to remember why you’re called to love others, even when it’s hard.

Journal
Think about Corrie Ten Boom’s story as you read Matthew 5:43-48 in your Bible. Jesus’ command is for us is to love our neighbors—and our enemies. The people who hurt us, ridicule us, gossip about us, and make fun of us. All of them. Who do you find hard to love? Be honest about it to God. Record your prayer, asking Him for His grace and strength to help you love those people. List a few ways you will commit to show that person God’s love this week.

Week in Review
Take some time today to think over what you’ve learned this past week.

The kind of life Jesus has called you to won’t make sense to the world. How does that challenge or convict you?

Being a Christian isn’t about keeping rules; it’s about following Christ in radical obedience. Are you keeping the rules or cultivating a relationship with Jesus?

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

VLOG: Bedlam Ball With a Little Newspaper Party on Top

We had a ton of fun playing Bedlam Ball in the rain! Once we were good and soaked, we transitioned inside to play a Newspaper Party… a camp favorite! But we weren’t done there… after we had the boys good and tired, we relaxed and watched a movie at Ridgecrest Cinema. It was a packed night, and they had a blast! Watch how much fun they had!

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An Eye For An Eye

Read Matthew 5:38-42 below. Then, dig deeper into what the words and phrases really mean.

“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

—Matthew 5:38–42

One of the oldest laws in the world, this principle was supposed to be used to help courts determine appropriate punishments that fit the crime.

A slap on the right cheek was usually a backhanded slap which was considered a high insult. In commanding His followers to turn the other cheek, Jesus was instructing us not to seek vengeance even when facing the worst offense possible.

In Jesus’ day, the outer garment called the coat was an essential garment since it protected people from the cold and doubled as a blanket for the poor. In Old Testament law, people could sue for others’ shirt (inner garment), but taking their coat was not permitted because it was too severe. Jesus’ instructed His followers to go beyond what the law said to reconcile with others.

Roman soldiers could legally force civilians to carry their gear for up to a mile. Jesus instructed His followers to carry it one more mile as an act of service and love.

The Point
If you’re a follower of Christ, you’re called to a radical way of life that won’t make sense in the world’s eyes. Are you living that way?

Take Action
How will you live radically different. Below, list three ways you’ll put today’s Scripture passage into practice in your life this week.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

Keep Your Word

When actor Gary Sinise gave his word to Marine Cpl. J.B. Kerns, he intended to keep it. So, he did.

In March, Sinise and his band, the Lt. Dan Band, were set to perform at a benefit concert to raise money for Kerns, a Virginia Marine who lost part of his right arm and both legs below the knee in Afghanistan last year. Sinise had to cancel that appearance because of a car accident, but rescheduled it for May 24, 2012.

Sinise didn’t say why he chose to keep his word to Cpl. Kerns, but Christians do have a reason to keep their word. Read Matthew 5:33-37 in your Bible. Pay close attention to verse 37.

Oath—noun
• a solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says, or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says
• a solemn attestation of the truth or inviolability of one’s words • something (as a promise) corroborated by an oath

Behind the Story
In Jesus’ day, oaths to God were considered binding. Therefore, Jews would avoid using God’s name in their oaths and sub in other things (like heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or their own heads). In this passage, Jesus condemns that sort of flippant, careless type of speech. Your yes should be yes. Your no should be no. You should keep your word.

Take Action
Take some time to evaluate yourself. How well do you keep your word . . .
to your parents?
to your friends?
to your teachers?
to coaches/teammates?
to your counselors/cabinmates?
to your church?
to God?

Posted in Boys, News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

VLOG: Camp-wide Clue

You may remember the classic game of Clue. Sometimes it’s a board game, sometimes it’s an event held at a bed and breakfast, but this time it’s a huge game with all 325 campers and staff at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys! There were 11 suspects, 8 weapons, 8 possible dates, 8 rooms where the crime could have taken place, and 8 motives that the campers had to decide between. The camp was broken into teams that had to run around the property completing small challenges in order to learn facts about the crime. If you completed the challenge, then you received a clue. The first team to solve the mystery was declared the winner!

Perhaps the funniest part of the game is the end when the mystery unfolds before their very eyes. Our “characters” act out the hilarious crime as answers to the questions are revealed one at a time. It was fun to play, and hysterical to watch. This game is a camper and staff favorite. Here is a sneak peak…

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest, Campwide Activity, Clue, Ridgcecrest Summer Camps, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG | Leave a reply

VLOG: A Country Breakfast

An average meal at Camp Ridgecrest is exciting. It’s loud, tons of energy, lots of food, laughter, cheering, singing, stomping and clapping… it’s just a good time. But there is one morning, twice a summer, where breakfast is a little bit rowdier than a typical day at camp. The best part of this breakfast is that it’s only the beginning of the best day of the session. This breakfast was followed by skills, SockWar, and then Organized Crime. It’s the day that never ends…and they love it. Check out this short clip from breakfast!

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VLOG – Bedlam Ball

Have you ever been to Wal-Mart or Target and seen those cages full of the large inflatable balls? I feel like every kid wants to grab one of those balls and play with it. That’s what inspired this Camp Ridgecrest game! We took 120 over-sized balls and placed them in a huge pile in the middle of a field. The entire camp, broken up into 10 teams, each guarding their own goal… we call it Bedlam Ball. It’s one of the campers’ favorites! Watch this short clip!

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It’s Not About Rules

New Heights

Few people have reached the heights Sergey Bubka did. The Ukranian Olympian broke the world record for men’s pole vaulting 35 times in his career.

As a 19-year-old, Bubka was already a notable athlete after an upset victory at the World Championship of Athletics.

The Ukranian pole vaulter would go on to win six consecutive world championships from 1983-1999. He became an Olympic gold medalist in 1988. And in 1991, Bubka became the first person to clear 20 feet—a height that has not been matched since. To this day he remains the current world record holder.

His athletic career is one of unprecedented heights, earning him nicknames like “The Tsar” and being called the “Hero of Ukraine” by the Ukrainian president. He even has a stadium named after him in his home country.

Bubka reached higher levels than anyone ever expected. As a believer, Jesus calls you to the same thing.

Read Matthew 5:20-22. Consider these questions:

– How would you summarize this passage in your
own words?
– What higher standard did Jesus call His followers to?
– What impact do these verses have on the way you live your daily life? Explain.

The Point

Clearly, to Jesus, living obediently isn’t just about following all the rules. It’s about the condition of your heart. If your heart is pure, then your actions will be, too. And Jesus values purity.

“[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.”

—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Matthew 5, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply