Summit Ministries

Tuesday...

The third day in and a routine is forming. I heard one staff worker liken this routine to that of a "continual drinking from a water hose". There is much truth to that statement.

Our whole schedule is a balance of having our minds boggled, and having our spirits refreshed. I'm also starting to see the intentions behind this schedule too... it is a communal mini-calendar (a phrase highly influenced by the hippies of Manitou!) Today we had our first field day, and it was explosion of personality, raw talent, and honest effort. I, not being the most competitive individual, loved seeing the intensity of others I would normally look over in the classroom compliment and encourage those who appear to be more timid.

This has been the same for the classroom as well. Whether I'm looking at those that are naturally endowed with the gifts of brilliance, or those who would consider themselves more of seekers, I see willingness. I see interest rising more and more, and it has been encouraging me. I was so grateful that Eric Smith brought this out of our after lunch discussion in Ethics. The question raised of what does it mean to live a good life, and it was great to see the responses brought forth. There seemed an universal concern to get to the heart of the matter, sincerely. I remembered a phrase from a sermon I heard recently while mulling over the responses in Eric's discussions..."oh the potential for the nations that is in this place." I have seen a sea of lights and sponges around me, one that I pray will continue to spread throughout the world.

From our focus on God's word in the morning with Dr. Noebel, to the re-affirmation of it in every lecture thus far, the appreciation of God's word being active and living has been thickly laid upon us. Anyone could see this in Kevin Bywater's lectures today. 4 religious groups (Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Muslims and Christians), a plethora of questions, and 1 Triune God were all rediscovered in light of God's Word. Kevin's ginormous heart for God's Word to be taken seriously, coupled with a hysterical approach to lecturing inspired me to keep him in my prayers as he undertakes Summit Oxford. During his open session after free time, Kevin was a porch-talking, joke-cracking, gospel-resounding, awe-inspiring machine. He is the kind of professor I'd want to take home to mom... and knowing that there are several other speakers to come, I'm starting to wonder if I need to bring her out here.

I also noticed that I'm falling in love out here... with the staff. What was an instant appreciation has grown to a firework-esque status of enjoyment, based on their hearts to go above and beyond (even in the simple things). If quality servants come at a high dollar, then this staff must be making a fortune!

I guess what I've seen today from others is this: like-mindedness represented in so many different forms...

And what I've seen from the staff and lectures is this: A channeling (in everything we do) of those forms toward a Christ-exulting end... deliberate efforts to demonstrate Philippians 2:5.

In a appreciative state...