This Month’s Honorable Mentions

Posted by Sharon

The Honor Band assignment was a definite hit, and many of you submitted awesome photos wearing your honor bands. Here are some pictures of you ladies looking good!

Catherine Green sports her honor band at the center of  the state of Alabama on her campus of the University of Montevallo. It’s just a coincidence she is wearing green and white.

Grace Valentine eats at Cafe do  Monde in her home of New Orleans while wearing her honor band.

Ragan Story and Kierston Haddock represent Crestridge and show off their honor bands while away at school.

Thank you to all who participated! We love to see your submissions. December’s assignment coming soon!


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November Assignment Winner!

Posted by Sharon

This month, Ron wanted you to get creative and snap a picture wearing your honor band. A bunch of you submitted fabulous pictures of yourselves looking stylish with your honor bands on. However, we did choose a winner. This month’s assignment winner is Mary Massey. Mary snapped a picture of her other Crestridge gal pals wearing their honor band’s while riding on a carousel.

Allie Buchalski, Molly Speese, Cari Phillips, Kayla Gula and Ashley Gryska all sporting their honor bands at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA.

Winner will receive a free store item of her choice sent to her door! Enjoy, and everyone stay tune for next month’s assignment.


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Let Him Lead

Posted by Phil

Read Proverbs 16:1-4.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Things aren’t always as they seem?” Sometimes, the things we think are certain may only be a wish—or even worse, a scam. If only we could pull the curtain back and see things as they really are, we could avoid so much sin, confusion, and heartache.

Often, the problem may be our own pride or selfish motives. All too often, we fail to consider God’s will when we make our plans. We may think we have everything planned out, but only God knows the outcome.

Proverbs 16:1-4 is a reminder that we don’t ultimately determine our futures. Our plans don’t necessarily succeed; God’s plans, on the other hand, are sure to succeed. Even terrible circumstances cannot ultimately disrupt God’s purposes for His people, since He gives believers the strength to endure all situations.

It’s easy to come up with our own plans, then take them to God and ask for His blessing. But that isn’t what He’s asked us to do. Instead, as today’s passage says, He invites us to surrender our plans to Him and line them up with His purposes. When we give our plans to God and pursue His purposes, those plans will be achieved because He’s the One who is doing the leading.

Surrendering your plans to God isn’t easy. It doesn’t always feel good. But regardless of what you think or feel, will you trust God with your present and your future? Your Heavenly Father is worthy of trust, and His promises are sure. Don’t foolishly and arrogantly ignore God and live as if you are in control of your life. Depend on God—He’s the path to true freedom and joy.

Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be achieved. —Proverbs 16:3


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The 2011 Crestridge Intern…Kayla Dulhagen

Posted by Sharon

That’s right…Kayla is here, ready to work hard and prepare for the summer!  Kayla started working November 1st and has already been a huge help.  She will help recruit and hire staff, brainstorm some new activities, write devotionals and blogs, and more.  We are excited that she is here!  Check out the video to get to know her better.

Don’t forget, submissions for the November Assignment are due this Monday, November 15th!


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Praise!

Posted by Phil

What do you spend most of your time thinking about? As you sit in class at school, where do your thoughts go? Is it the game that’s coming up? Are you dreaming of next summer at Camp? The boy/girl you’re trying to get to notice you? The car you want? Whatever consumes your thoughts also consumes your heart.

Read Psalm 95:1-8. Chew on verse 6.

What reasons to praise the Lord does the psalmist give us in verses 3-5?

The psalmist speaks about the “depths of the earth . . . the mountain peaks . . . the sea . . . the dry land.” What does this signify?

What does bowing down to worship the Lord symbolize?

Have you ever hardened your heart to the things of God? Why? When? What happened?

What things of God is your heart hardened toward right now? Why?

This passage describes worshiping God in a variety of ways for many reasons. What are some reasons you can praise God today?

What steps will you take to praise and worship Him right now?

Today’s passage of Scripture is a call to worship. The psalmist reminds his readers that God is the Creator of all things, from the deepest valleys and seas to the highest mountains. The psalmist calls us to recognize God for who He is, the great God above all others who deserves all of our praise.

But God also wants our hearts to be obedient to Him. He wants us to have submissive attitudes and hearts completely surrendered to His will for our lives. Praise Him today. Ask Him to help you completely surrender your heart and your mind as you give Him all that you are out of your love and devotion for your King.

Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. —Psalm 95:6


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Ron Wants You to Wear Your Honor Band…

Posted by Karah

Follow everyone’s favorite camp director as he goes about his daily life here at camp. Ron even takes time out of his busy schedule to explain November’s assignment. This month we make things a bit more challenging. Ron wants you all to take a picture holding your council ring sign or wearing your honor band. Feel free to get creative with your pictures. Take them in public places or surrounded by your best friends. The winners this month will be the people who complete the assignment in the craziest place. The prize will be something from our grab bag (water bottles, sweatshirts, sweatpants,etc.) as well as the customary free canteen/store delivered to your door. As always, submissions are due MONDAY THE 15th. Submissions can be sent to RHBARNHARDT@GMAIL.COM. Good luck!


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Surprise Assignment-Pumpkin Carving Contest

Posted by Sharon

As most of you know, Halloween is right around the corner.  In fact, it’s this coming Sunday!  One way to celebrate Halloween and the fall season is to carve pumpkins.  So we decided, why not have a Pumpkin Carving Contest!  Come up with a design that has a camp theme, carve your pumpkin, then take a picture and send it to us.  All submissions are due by this Sunday, October 31. Winners will be posted Monday.  Please send your photos to rhbarnhardt@gmail.com.

Here is an example that was done this weekend:

When you’re done carving, you can even roast the pumpkin seeds for a delicious snack!  Have fun and be creative!


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Enthusiasm ≠ Obedience

Posted by Phil

Earlier this year, American missionaries tried to take Haitian children out of Haiti and into the Dominican Republic where they were setting up an orphanage. The problem? The missionaries didn’t have the required documents to take the children from the country. No matter how good their intentions, they weren’t properly obeying the laws in Haiti, and it cost them greatly.

Read 2 Samuel 6:6-11. See what happened in verses 6 and 7.

Why did Uzzah reach out and grab the ark?

What happened to Uzzah when he reached out and took hold of the ark of God?

Why does the Bible say the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah?

What does it mean to be irreverent?

What did Uzzah’s disobedience cost him?

Think back to a time in your life when you were disobedient to God. What did it cost you?

The fact is, David didn’t properly follow the instructions found in Exodus about how to move the ark of the covenant. Instead, he followed the Philistine’s example and moved the ark on a cart. David’s reason for moving the ark was understandable; he simply wanted to bring the ark, a revered, holy object, to Jerusalem. He wanted to honor God and the ark by putting it in a place of prominence. But God had very specifically laid out how the ark was to be moved, and David didn’t follow God’s directions. Because of this, a man lost his life.

God is serious about His holiness. He calls us to respect that holiness and to live a certain way because of it. David was enthusiastic about moving the ark and wanted it to be in a place of importance and prominence, but he wasn’t obedient. We can do the same thing when we’re enthusiastic in our worship of God, but we don’t obey Him. Enthusiasm is never a substitute for obedience.

When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. —2 Samuel 6:6-7


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Handle w/ Care

Posted by Phil

When I was in fifth grade, my teacher taught us how to fold the American flag. He was a retired, decorated Marine and had spent time in Vietnam. He loved his country, and he treasured the flag, the symbol of freedom for the United States. He took great pride in teaching us how to keep the flag off the ground, how to fold it perfectly, and how to put it in a case. It wasn’t just any old cloth to him; he would have given his life for it.

Read Numbers 4:4-6,15, concentrating on verse 15b.

What was “the work” of the Kohathites”?

What were they to care for?

What were the curtains and skins of manatees to be used for?

What would happen to the Kohathites if they touched the holy things?

What do these verses teach you about the value God placed on the ark?

What do these verses teach you about the character of God?

God placed high value on the ark of the covenant. Certain people had been instructed by God to handle the ark in a very specific way. God didn’t just tell them to pack it up and go. He was very specific in His instructions. God doesn’t do things haphazardly. He always has an order and a purpose. His ways work to bring honor to Himself and to teach us to value and respect the things of God. The question is, do you?

The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.

—Numbers 4:15b


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What do I need to do to protect my kids from inappropriate sites?

Posted by Phil

As a parent today, computers surround our children. I have a computer in my house that we are teaching our kids how to use…even as young as 4.  Our children will never know a world without this powerful tool. And it is because this tool is so powerful, that we as parents need be aware of the risks that are online. We welcome you to watch this very short video that poses a few questions that may help you begin to form a plan of how to protect your own kids in your home. We at Ridgecrest Summer Camps want to continue to partner with you as you continue to do your best to raise your own kids.


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