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

Week One of Session 2A Vlog

A lot happens each day here at camp.  Here’s a quick recap to show you some of the activities we did during the first week of session 2A, 2013.

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Activities, Camp Crestridge, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Session 2A | Leave a reply

Johnnie Armstrong’s Campfire Message

Johnnie Armstrong, former director for Camp Crestridge, has been with camp since the beginning, 1955.  She has continued to return each summer during our third session.  She spoke at campfire this past Tuesday and a camper asked if we could post her message online.  You can click on the link below to access the message. The Lord has used and is continuing to use Johnnie in mighty ways.  We are thankful for all she has done for Camp Crestridge!

Johnnie Armstrong’s Campfire Message

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Skill Stretches Vlog

At Camp Crestridge, we want to make sure our campers are ready for skills each day.  In order to do that, we lead them in the proper stretches.  We actually had a couple guests come help! Parents, there’s more to come in the session video!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Crestridge Skills, Nancy Cothran, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Sharon Aylestock, Stretches | Leave a reply

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

Carnival Vlog

Carnival involves all the Crestridge campers going to Camp Ridgecrest for a couple hours, playing games, earning Ron Dollars, and eating good food!  At the end of the evening, each cabin goes to the Auction to claim their prize!

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

Night of Chaos Vlog 2013

The name says it all, “Night of Chaos”!  This activity includes lots of water, shaving cream, hair gel, ping pong balls, squirt guns, footballs, and much more.  The Green is truly chaotic during this activity!  Unfortunately on this particular night, the activity was cut short due to a thunderstorm but the girls still enjoyed their time of Chaos!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Chaos, Night of Chaos, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, shaving cream, water | Leave a reply

Excuses

“I forgot.” or “It’s not my fault!”

Think about times in the past when you let someone down. What excuses did you give for your behavior?
It’s human nature to try to excuse or justify our bad behavior. But as Christians, we simply can’t rationalize our sin, even when society accepts it.

Read Matthew 5:27-32 to learn more. After you’ve read through the verses several times, ask yourself some tough questions:

Addicts tend to rationalize their behavior. As sin addicts, so do we. How do you rationalize the sin in your life?

If you could sit with Jesus, like a friend, and talk through your reasoning, what do you believe He would say?

Check out verses 29-30. What is God’s attitude toward sin? How would you write these verses using modern-day examples?

The Point

Sin is sin. We can rationalize it and make excuses for our sin, but that doesn’t make it OK. True disciples of Christ don’t excuse their sin; they put a stop to thoughts and behaviors that lead to sin.

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

Steven Curtis Chapman sings at Closing Program

This past Friday marked the closing of our first session for 2013.  One of our camp dad’s, Steven Curtis Chapman sang “King of the Jungle” at our Closing Program which happens to be one of our favorites!  What a treat!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Closing Program, King of the Jungle, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Steven Curtis Chapman | Leave a reply