2009 WSSA Stack UP!

Ridgecrest Summer Camps is about to be involved in breaking a Guinness World Record!  We are joining the WSSA Stack Up! team to beat the world record of “Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day.”  The event is being held this Thursday, Nov. 12.  Ron has been pushing us hard to train and get ready for the event.  Check it out!

Speed Stacking for a World Record. from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

Check back at the end of the week to see our involvement in breaking the world record!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Crestridge Vlog, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, VLOG | Leave a reply

He Can Handle It. Give It Up.

POLICE OFFICER, TEACHER, JUDGE, principal, mom, dad, pastor, counselor. What do all these have in common? If there are some not-so-nice words that pop in your head at the thought of these people, then you should stop what you’re doing and pray about that right now. These individuals are in roles of authority. They have been granted authority over you by the state or by God.

Now think about this: when was the last time you really thought about Jesus having ultimate authority over your life?

Read over Mark 1:21-28. Pay attention to verses 25 and 26.
 
What are some things that jump out at you? (Feel free to take some notes in your Bible.)
 What does verse 24 reveal about Jesus?
 
Read through verses 25 and 26 again. Jesus’ authority was over both the physical and the spiritual. How does this encourage you?
 
Why is it important that Jesus taught “as one having authority” and had the power to perform miracles?

There is an Ultimate Authority to which we all are accountable. It would be easier if we recognize that sooner rather than later. The demons in this passage knew who Jesus was. His words sent them into convulsions. The point? There is power in the words of Christ and authority in His very presence. That same authority isn’t lacking from your life. The power of Christ that is over heaven and earth is the same power in you. So why do we have a problem surrendering to Him? What do you need to surrender completely to Christ today?

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You don’t have to sin.

WHEN YOU’RE IN TROUBLE, to whom do you run? Whom do you ask when you need help? If you have a question, to whom do you go to find the answer?

I hope your answer is that you go to the ultimate authority for each situation. If you’re in trouble, don’t you think you should go to your parents? If you need help, your counselor, friend or parent would probably be able to lend a hand. If you’re looking for an answer, maybe you should go to an expert on the subject. But that only works if you know who the expert actually is.

Read Matthew 4:1-11 and focus on verse 7.
 
Look at the three temptations and the responses of Christ. With what did the Devil begin his temptation of Jesus? How did Jesus respond?
 
The Devil tempted Jesus with physical needs, status, and questioned Jesus’ authority as the Son of God. What does that teach us about how the Devil will tempt us?
 
How did Jesus respond to the Devil’s temptations? What does that teach you about how you can respond?
 
When Jesus used the phrase, “It is written,” what did He reveal to us?
 
Read verse 7. What does it say about the authority of Christ?
 
What do these verses teach you about the power Christ has to overcome sin and temptation? How does that affect your daily life?

You would’ve thought that the Enemy knew better than to tempt Jesus. Maybe he thought this was the only opportunity he would have to stop it before it all started. Jesus had fasted in the wilderness for 40 days, so maybe he thought this was the time. But Jesus spoke with the authority of God’s Word. He also spoke with the authority of God. When you find yourself in trouble, you simply need to run to the One with all authority. His name is Jesus.

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Who Is He?

HAVE YOU EVER written or received a note that reads: I like you. Will you go out with me? Check yes, no, or maybe.
If you have, then you’re not alone. It seems like at some point in everyone’s life, they come across one of these notes. Some of us spend more time writing them than receiving them. If the person you send it to checks “no,” then you write one to someone else. If he or she checks “maybe,” then you at least have a chance. If he or she says “yes,” then you finally have a significant other because that person has acknowledged that they at least like you too. Don’t you think it’s good when you finally know how someone feels about you?

Read Mark 1:9-13 and reread verses 10 and 11.
 
How is the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) represented in this passage?
 
Who came down to Jesus? Who spoke to Jesus?
 
What did God say to Jesus? Why is this event in Jesus’ life important?
 
How did this experience in the life and ministry of Christ help Him in verses 12-13?

Jesus was recognized as the Son of God by God Himself. God acknowledged to everyone that He has a father-son relationship with Jesus Christ. And with that relationship comes all authority. They may not have realized who He was beforehand, but no one left that river without knowing who Jesus really was.

Have you recognized Christ as the Son of God? Without that understanding, Jesus is just another guy who dipped in the Jordan River.

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He’s Not a Superhero, But He is Powerful

WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO: Batman, Aquaman, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, or Ron Springs? Sometimes, we think it would be nice to have superpowers. There may have even come a point in your life when you thought you actually had superpowers, but then you realized that you didn’t have any power at all. You’re not alone in that: John the Baptist realized something similar during his ministry preparing the way for Christ.

Read Mark 1:4-8 and really focus on verse 7.
 
What do you think John meant when he said that he was unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals?
What made him come to that realization?
 
Do you think it may have been a humbling experience for John to realize that Someone was coming who was greater than he? Explain.
 
How would you respond if you knew someone was coming after you who had greater power than you did?

The most beautiful phrase in this passage of Scripture are the words, “I am not worthy.” John had come to a point of understanding and acknowledgement that he was no longer going to be “the man.” John knew that when Jesus came, he would move aside and let the One with the real power take over.

Do we have the same understanding of Jesus that John had? Do you know this Jesus who is the Son of God and who has all the authority of heaven? It’s easy to discount Jesus as just prophet, a good man, or a teacher with devoted followers. Many religions do. But Jesus declared Himself to be nothing less than God. John recognized early on that Jesus was no ordinary man. He is the one and only Son of God, powerful beyond measure, and able to handle whatever you throw at Him. Let Him display His power in your life.

Posted in Devotions, Girls | Tagged Book of Mark, Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Devotion, Weekly Devotion | Leave a reply

More New Skill Options?

Last week I uploaded a couple clips showing some new skill options for camp.  Of course, when we thought of these skills it was in the middle of winter so they would really only work if camp stayed open year round.  Even though that’s not going to happen anytime soon, it was still fun playing outside in the cold and icy weather.  

These two clips are a couple more options for new skills that we came up with.  The first one is a type of strongman competition.  Instead of a log or caber toss, how about an ice toss?  The person who can carry the biggest slab of ice and throw it the farthest wins. 

Hayne, one of our local go-to guys, wins this round. For those of you might want to try this at home, wear gloves! Hayne’s hands were freezing and remember…safety first!

Now watch the boys intern, Stewart, try and make his way across the frozen lake in a canoe. 

For those keeping a tally sheet, that makes:

1.  Ice Fishing

2.  Ice Disc Golf

3.  Ice Throwing

4.  Ice Canoeing

Which was your favorite?

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Crestridge funny videos, Crestridge snow/ice, Ridgecrest funny videos, Ridgecrest snow/ice, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

New Skills?

If you’re part of our facebook fan page, then you know that we’ve asked campers and staff what new skills they’d like to see this summer.  (If you’re on facebook and not a fan of the camp, then you need to be!).  The following clips are suggestions from us on what the new skills should be.  Watch the clips and tell us what you think.

And as you know, we here at Ridgecrest Summer Camps are all about safety first, so it would be the counselors who would cut the holes with the chainsaws…just as Stewart demonstrated.

How about Ron’s throwing arm?!?!  He might even be available to lead this skill if buttered up enough!

Okay, so you’ve probably figured out that these skills wouldn’t be plausible for the summer.  Back in January we had some really cold days where the lake froze over (about 4 inches thick) and we just had to take advantage of that since it doesn’t happen often!  What you watched is some of the crazy fun antics we here in the office came up with.  Check back next week to see a couple other clips of how we had fun with the ice and cold weather.

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Crestridge funny videos, Crestridge snow/ice, Ridgecrest funny videos, Ridgecrest snow/ice, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Fun Times at Disney World

This past week, Ron, Phil, Caleb and I had the opportunity to attend the American Camp Association’s National Conference.  Camp professionals from all over the United States gathered to learn how to make their camps even better!  It was information overload, but we learned a lot!  This year’s conference was at Coronado Springs Resort in Disney World.

On Thursday afternoon, the four of us ventured out to Hollywood Studios.  The first ride we went on was the Tower of Terror.  It is like an elevator ride that takes you up 13 stories but then drops suddenly!  It doesn’t do that once, but a few times.  I came off the ride with tears streaming down my face, not because I was crying but because I had never heard Ron scream before! We were all laughing so hard!  The rest of the afternoon included The Great Movie Ride, a Car Stunt Show, the Rock ‘n’ Roll roller coaster, and one more ride on the Tower of Terror.  I love roller coasters, but I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest on the Rock ‘n’ Roll roller coaster and the Tower of Terror.

We saved the best for last-another ride on the Tower of Terror.  We wanted all of you to experience the thrill with us.  The second video is for sound purposes only.  Listen closely and you can hear us laughing and screaming, but pay special attention to Ron!

We hope you enjoyed this special blog dedicated to our great director, Ron Springs!

Posted in News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Camp Ridgecrest, Funny videos, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply