Summit Ministries

Day number two of Summit Ministries and session two is starting out really well. I requested to write on the second day because I didn't think I would have much to say about check-in and everything on Sunday, but honestly, even the first day was a blog-worthy experience as my learning experience started last night. First off, the staff here at Summit are great people with a real heart for what they're doing. Everyone has a passion for this ministry, from the lecturers to the cooks, (not to say the cooks are any less, important—food comes pretty high on my list of life essentials and cooking for almost 200 hungry teenagers is no small feat). Back to the passion thing, it's been really cool to see these people's energy and the effort they put into making it a great experience.

Today, after devotions at 8, we had a lesson on Christian Leadership and I learned enough in that one class alone to last me for at least this week. It's an amazing concept to think that, although we can't control our circumstances or the things that happens to us, we can control our attitudes and that determines where we go (attitude determines altitude). That decision is made on a daily basis, minute by minute, situation by situation, encounter by encounter. We alone are responsible for the way we choose to react to situations and to say that someone else made us mad or made us react in a certain way is to say that we are under their control—we become a slave to them.

It's a freeing thing to know that I don't have to allow something that happened or what someone said control my mood. Knowing who God is and what he says about us allows us to be free from our circumstance and, gives us a new standard for living as imitators of Christ. Being conformed into his image means that we 1) know Christ and his personality and 2) respond to situations in a way that mimics Christ. This aspect of the talk was probably most impactful for me and I could handle just chewing on that for a while, but there's about 15 other things that have been thrown out throughout the three lectures and I have so much to think about!

Overall, it's been a great two days and I'm glad to have some free time to absorb all that's happened and reflect on two jam–packed days. The people here are part of what makes this such a cool experience as well. It's so amazing to see what a community we are, being united in a common love for God. I've been to plenty of camps with Boy Scouts, but I've never experienced the kind of bond that unites Christians when they are all packed into a hotel. I've met more people than I can keep track of in just 2 days and they are all radiant with joy and caring that you don't see at regular camps. So, even at 10:40 PM, after a long day of lectures and having some country fun at the Flying W Ranch, the lobby is filled with exuberance and card games and the sound of people jamming on a guitar and piano. So, it's a cool thing to see Christ's body acting in love. I have a feeling it's going to be just as moving and powerful an experience in the next 12 days.

p.s. Hi mom/dad/brotha!