Summit Ministries

As Summit comes to a quick close, we are all sad but also enjoy looking back on the fun and educational times that we have had for the last two weeks. Although this has been my second time at a Summit camp, I have continued to learn new things.

August 29th, 8:15am - Summit I woke up with a start this morning as my roommate, John Mark hollered in my ear...... "Bro, I think we are gonna be extremely late to class!" He was jumping out of bed himself and, I, (still 95% asleep) was thinking "It's only around 7 and I'll just skip breakfast and get some extra sleep." My very tired, half alert thought process was interrupted by my very loud roommate, Nate, who explained that the class bell had already rung. Every single one of my senses sprang into action as i forced myself to wake up and get/fall out of bed. It was bright because of the sun pouring in through the window. My room smelled of overused after-shave, shaving cream and hints of toothpaste. i could hear the sound of people bounding through the halls and racing down the stairs to get to class on time. Ten minutes later I was in the classroom, rushing for my seat. Dustin ( a staffer ) was just finishing the morning devotions and getting ready to introduce the speaker for the first session.

The morning of Tuesday, August 28th came heralded by the cacophony of three cell phone alarms resounding at 6:50. To the four of us girls in room 412, the morning came all too soon (we had stayed up until 1 o'clock girl-talking). Within the next twenty minutes I experienced a cold shower, spilled face lotion, and the realization that 90% of my clothes needed laundering. After rushing through my morning routine, I met my beautiful and caring small group leader for breakfast. Our heart to heart time was a sweet and a deep way to start off another enlightening and busy day at Summit in Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Sunlight... turn over... soreness... loud music... (loud music?) Oh, I guess it's time to get up. But you know what, if I didn't know better, I'd think I was still very sleepy. This morning, I have officially declared last night the shortest night in history. You've heard of the longest day, right?

Today was quite interesting around Summit Ministries in beautiful Manitou Springs, CO. It was far from a typical to say the least. Whether students opted to climb to the top of Pikes Peak or sleep in and enjoy a relaxing day around Manitou Springs, the general consensus was that it was fulfilling and satisfying. In this blog I will tell you about my personal day and some of the activities the other students engaged in.

"There's a certain amount of humility that is attached to wonder, and a certain amount of pride attached to knowledge and I think the moment you say 'we know beyond a shadow of a doubt this exists', you can't have faith that it exists. Faith is no longer possible. So faith is only possible when doubt is possible. Faith is only possible when humility and wonder is possible..." -- Mr. Jonathan Foreman

It's day six here at Summit. I've already made a lot of new friends and I feel like I know the schedules, but it still surprises me to think that almost a week has already gone by. For some reason I can't help but think it's still day two and we have the entire session left here. But I guess when you're having a great time the days pass by a lot quicker without much notice.

It's day five here at Summit, Session Seven, and it has been a full day. Here are a few highlights...

I was awakened this morning from my sweet slumber at 7:00 am by our wonderful night watch-woman, and just like every other day at the Summit Hotel, you have no choice but to hit the ground running. We are served every morning, noon and night a wonderful meal made by a staff that really, honestly seems to like making food for us. Like Emerson said yesterday, this food here is NOT your typical campy food. For one thing the food does what is should. It doesn't bounce, jiggle, change colors or glow ultra-violet. It tastes fantastic and is just the thing to get us through our grueling sessions. Thank you Summit Staff for keeping us alive. *thumbs up* Moving on........

This morning, after a great breakfast and a quick devotion, all of the students headed to the classroom and hit the books full throttle. We got to hear the much anticipated part II, and conclusion, of Dr. JP Moreland's lecture on Post Modernism. After that John Stonestreet took the podium and gave us an amazing session on marriage and family. Kevin Bywater followed with an eye opening talk on what he called "Pseudo Christian Cults." This was the end of our morning classes for the day and we headed off to lunch. The food here, by the way, is simply phenomenal. This is not your average camp food. The staff here puts a great deal into making sure we stay nourished and satisfied... and stuffed! After lunch we headed back to the classroom. John Stonestreet returned, this time addressing BioEthics.

Monday, August 20th, today is our first full day, and what a day! The first lecture was given on leadership, by Dr. Robert B. Linden; He spoke on the attitudes a Christian leader needs to develop. It was eye-opening to me, as I saw a whole new perspective on how you view your circumstances, and how your attitudes affect you. Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we CHOOSE to react to it. In learning to be a strong Christian leader, we must learn to be a solution orientated leader, not a problem orientated leader; your attitude is key in leading others. For an example, a principal took three classes of students, he then told the first teacher that her class was the top students with the highest IQ's. The second class he explained were average, and the last was toward the bottom. At the end of the year they found out from the teachers that the students acted as the principal told them. Really all the students were average and had the same IQs'. The teachers treated the students the way they were told they were, and that is how they responded. Your attitude as a leader affects the way your class responds; we are either the masters or the victims of our attitudes. What you believe about a situation often determines the outcome. As you set goals you must persevere with an optimistic outlook on the trials you face; to prove this one must only look at Edison. We then had a second lecture from J.P. Moreland, PH.D in philosophy. This lecture was very interesting as we studied the "ideology" (or world view) of naturalism and postmodernism. They both are self refuting and contrary to the truth. It is very interesting learning about philosophy; the nuts and bolts of our language. I am learning a lot so far, even though it is only the first normal day. I am looking foward to the rest of the two weeks up here. It really helps prepare you to face the vast slough of religions out there when you know what their worldview is. You can't stand up for what you believe if you don't know how to defend the Bible and your worldview. Summit is really preparing me as now I am beginning to know other world views and how to witness to them.

Hello everybody! Today's the first day in the seventh session. I am very excited to be here and look forward to how the Lord will be working in everybody's hearts.

Today has been so fun and so fast! The last day was over by the time I finally woke up! At this point we are all past tired- zombies at best- and the speakers had an incredible task. Dr. Noebel, Chuck Edwards, and Todd Cothran had to sum up two weeks of hard core knowledge for us and tell us how best to use it... good gravy. Many times over the past two weeks different speakers have referred to Summit as a fire hydrant in the face... I totally agree. This was my second time as a Summit student and while it sank a LOT further than last time, it was still overwhelming at times.

O my Goodness, we have had such an amazing time so far here at Summit! These past two weeks have been packed with info, and I know as much as people don't want to go home, at the same time people are excited to go home and digest/ go over everything we've learned. Yesterday evening was the Sudan Auction - where Summit staff were auctioned off to students, for such things as, 'breakfast in bed', or 'getting your laundry done, for free', deals. Our main objective was raising money for Sudan and we raised well over $1000.00 (between all 180 of us). Today after morning sessions we went out back to the picnic tables during lunch and waited for our "Fantastic 5" to come with our Sonic run. (That was one of the auctioned off deals. Along with 15 loads of laundry - free, peanut-butter pies, and pieing the "Fantastic 5" with whipped cream.)

Twas the night before Wednesday, when all through the hotel, not a creature was stirring at least none that we could tell, when suddenly a sound cracked through the night, as young men woke up for the manly man hike. they stepped out with vigor, they marched forth with glee, the predawn light plain for all to see. but the way was long, the trail steep and before long, these young men were beat. but still they marched on, their minds on the prize, the box of doughnuts waiting just above the rise. Finally the young men reached the summit, and paused to reflect on just how they had done it. hey chewed thoughtfully on their deep fried treat, as John Jon rose to his feet. Godly Men, he intoned, aren't made but grown. With doughnuts in our stomachs, and truth in our minds, we once again returned before it was nine.

It's hard to believe that the session is almost over. With it being the 10th day, it has just been a blur with the non stop of daily activities one after the other. From waking up in the morning to eating breakfast, and starting our day growing and expanding in our knowledge of the world God has made. It would feel as though we had just begun the session if it had not been for a whole notebook full of notes staring me in the face from the past nine days, recording all the words of wisdom and understanding from all the professors, doctors, and passionate people who love God with there heart soul and mind. With this being the second session that I have participated in within the last two years, I can honestly say that the time I have spent here has been life changing to say the least. It has shown me that I can and do have the ability to defend my faith regardless of the opposition.

Wow, it's amazing how much new and thought-provoking information you can learn everyday here at the Summit! After the now routine 7 a.m. rise, breakfast, and room clean-up, we began the classroom day with Dr. Noebel's "Bible Hour" and learned how the Scriptures are actually not non-historical. It's quite amazing how discoveries like the Dead Sea scrolls or Hezekiah's tunnel can make the Bible come alive. Dr. Noebel also gave us information to attain additional hardcopy resources enabling motivated students to further delve into our daily topic. Following "Bible Hour", Day 9, brought us two very informative and convincing speakers in Dr. J.P. Moreland and Dr. Frank Beckwith. Dr. Moreland began the academics with a discussion of the worldview of Scientific Naturalism. It was very interesting to see what natural occurrences could be explained by the existence of God and how those same occurrences held no weight in the realm of Scientific Naturalism. Following Dr. Moreland was Dr. Beckwith's overview of Relativism with a title of "Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air." The main issue with relativism is that it cannot account for the natural existence of right and wrong. Dr. Beckwith was very clear in showing us this fact and how the issue of "tolerance" is clouding our objective moral values.

Day 8 at Summit was somewhat less academic than the other days have been - today the group split up to either hike Pike's Peak, go white-water rafting, or simply relax at the hotel. I chose the hike, and immensely enjoyed the chance to be out in God's creation. The greatness of the mountains is an awesome reminder of the greatness of our God!

I can't believe that week one is already over! It has gone by so fast. In just a week I have learned so much about my faith, other religions, how to share our faith, and much more!

Friday has finally arrived here at Summit Session 6 and what a great line up of events we had today! The morning started like any other here at the Summit with seven o"clock being rung out by a few seconds of some blaring, yet Godly, music. Breakfast was the best it has been all week with the main dish being biscuits & gravy. Then, our morning routine started in the classroom with the pledges, Amazing Grace, and devotions.

Thursday, August 9th, is an amazing day for me and I believe it is true for all the other Summit students and staffs. The first period was about a topic that Christians should be concerned about. Mr. John Stonestreet talked about Bio-ethics. This topic wouldn't have made much sense to us if he hadn't introduced to us the Biblical concept of marriage and enrichment the day before. The previous lesson gave us a better understanding about what God has designed us for from the beginning. Today Mr. Stonestreet shared about the potential that the biotech age has made available to us. The media really just shows us one side of the picture because they wanted to push their agenda on this issue. The big part of the issue, that we have never heard from our public schools or media, was explained to us today under the light of the biblical worldview. We need to think about the ethical stand that God wants us to take and be prepared to defend our faith.

It's Wednesday night (I think...the days kind of blur together) and we just finished a classroom video: "The Wall Of Separation." It had some great info, even though some people seemed to have trouble staying awake.

Today is the second full day of Summit and it was amazing as usual. First off was morning devotions. Stubbs spoke about God's love for us and how we are to respond to God because of it. Doc spoke on why we should study the Bible this morning as well. He talked about how the Bible is part of world literature and how it had a great influence on western civilization. The Bible has literally changed the face of not just our country but all of the world. Everyone should study it even if they don't believe in the LORD!

Hello everybody! We students of Session 6 are having so much fun here at the Summit! Yesterday, we all arrived at the beautiful Summit Hotel after a ride through very narrow streets up a very steep hill. Those of us who arrived early were escorted to our rooms, many of the up several flights of steep stairs, and then we were free to roam until dinner at 5:30. The scenery is beautiful from up here, especially from the long veranda equipped with green rocking chairs, and many of us took advantage of this opportunity. Others strolled the streets of Manitou Springs, browsing in shops or just taking pictures. It might have been easy to forget about dinner, but the Summit staff did not allow this They wrote, in many languages and styles of grammar, on strips of masking tape that dinner was at 5:30 and taped them to us.

We woke, tired but excited, on a bright Friday morn, and began our last day at the Summit with sausage and cheese croissant…and orange juice. Dr. Noebel taught Bible Hour and gave us an outline for a thorough yet concise study of "The Book". Then, our debriefing began with a challenge from Chuck Edwards for us to be the salt and light in our world. We're not to be numbered among those who sit around and simply watch things happen in the world around them, but rather we're to be the ones who make things happen for the glory of God. Todd Cothran presented and discussed some resources that are available through Summit, and helped us to determine how we're going to take our worldview home – how we're going to remember our time at Summit. Our morning was concluded with Doc giving us more resources and ideas for putting our worldview into action, and he suggested we read a book a week…to keep us out of jail.

Today, Thursday August 2, 2007, day 12 of Summit Ministries Session 5, was altogether filled with knowledge, friends, and fellowship. The early wake up was surprisingly routine and the breakfast (French toast and bacon), amazing as expected. Finishing off their morning coffee, hot chocolate, or black tea (my personal favorite), students filed into their seats to attentively learn from today's speakers.

Today's long but fun day started with the manly man hike and the ladies poolside breakfast. There were about 30 - 35 guys hiking (wow) and about the same amount for the girls.