Summit Ministries

Wow!!! What a day at Summit!!!! It is now 11:00 pm and the day has ended. The staff auction has just concluded. I am not positive on the amount of money was raised, but my home schooled, educated, estimate on how much was raised is about $3,000 all told. Which will all be for Peter Hammond's Mission in Sudan.

Day 10 of Summit started the same way most of the other days at Summit Colorado started: with an early wake-up. At 7:00 A.M., the bright and shining faces of the better–motivated Summit students could be seen chewing on waffles in the cafeteria for breakfast. But I sure didn't see those faces. My face was planted squarely on a pillow until at least 7:15ish. After breakfast and last–second room cleanups in preparation for the iron–fisted inspections of certain Summit staff, we all gathered in the classroom for a devotion by Eric Smith. He spoke from the book of Leviticus about the many rituals the high priest had to go through to make atonement for the Israelites and how Jesus has done that for us through his death at Calvary.

Today was the second Monday of the class and for me the hardest day of the week. Last night we watched a movie called "Obsession." It was about the ideas and culture of radical Islam and for me it was an eye opening experience. I woke up this morning about six to the sound of my room mates alarm clock going off for about the 7th time and truthfully I wished it had not gone off at all because I was still struggling with the truth of Islam. I couldn't understand how a culture could be wrapped up in a lie so much so that they were willing to kill themselves in "war" for their god. At this point I really wanted to turn on God for allowing these people to fall so far in their deceit but I simply could not do that—not after all God had done for me.

According to God, Sunday is the day of rest, and I can honestly say that I have never had a greater appreciation for this time of relaxation! The week has been intense. Summit has been incredibly educational, and tons of great fun, but having a day to oneself is a nice change of pace.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I could tell it was going to be a good day. The sun was shining, the air was filled with the breakfast aroma of sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits. Although we were lacking in the sleep department, we eagerly sat down in softly cushioned classed room seats, to have our daily devotions. David (Stubbsie) shared that the voice of God is silent at some point in everyone's life. There's a point in everyone's life when they go through a difficult time, pray to God, but receive no answer. Sometimes people take this as a sign that God is ignoring them, but God has a bigger, better plan in mind. Jesus Christ chooses to answer prayers when His plan has been fulfilled.

Today our main speaker was Kevin Bywater. Every time I hear one of our speakers, I think of today's issues in a different way. It opens your eyes to a different perspective on the issues. Kevin Bywater spoke about Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses. He said many things that jumped out at me.

It's day four of Summit, and I'm flooded. God is working, and He's working quickly and intensely on me, overflowing me with conviction, challenge, joy, wonder, confusion and bitterness on occasion, which results from some strict policies like room checks. I'm not used to impeccably folding my bed sheets over and sanitizing my dresser surface each day, but I suppose its for the health and comfort of all guests in this 150 year old hotel at the foot of Pike's Peak.

Today is a day that has changed my life. Coming to Summit, I expected to learn, to grow. I never thought I'd be transformed—and it's only the third day.

I would like to take this time to boast of my learnings. I'm feeling smart today. Not that I'm saying that I'm dumb, but you know–I go to art school. I approach life with more of a "sensitive" soul a.k.a. my school has a pass/fail system so I pay no mind to my studies ( I hope my mother doesn't read this).

I learned a few things at Summit today. First, the weather in Colorado is pretty erratic. Second, Summit is amazing. Third, the weather in Colorado is pretty erratic… seriously. We had classes this morning with Dr. J.P. Moreland and Peter Hammond. One word… wow! Anything I thought I had an idea of, including reality, was shattered today and built back up by some godly, scholarly worldviews. Lunch was food… in the afternoon we had Dr. Bauman speak on meaning and the meaning of meaning. Pretty profound to say the least.

So apparently I am the first Summit student to partake in the blog writing experience. This is also my first time at Summit, so yeah, lots of firsts tonight. Well, so far so good, it seems, everyone is enjoying themselves. Like even right now I am sitting in the lobby listing to the chatter and laughter of everyone. Pretty cool that we are already making friends after barely twenty-four hours. So it seems like this will be a really awesome session.

Welcome to Summit Ministries Colorado Conference blog! Today was the first day of Session 1, 2007. 98 students from four countries arrived over the weekend and received their first taste of what the next two weeks will hold. Dozens of lectures by some of the top Christian thinkers of our day will provide each student with a solid foundation for defending their Biblical worldview.