Hoedown

Yesterday was changeover, where the staff cleans the entire hotel in about 6 hours for the next session of students. After we were done working, Summit threw us a party and it was a blast. We went over to the Summit ranch for some BBQ ribs and then had a hoedown back at the hotel. If you've never square danced or line danced before I think you should, because nothing is better than engaging in a part of American culture that seems to be fading away. Our caller was named Spike who was joined by his wife, and I absolutely love seeing old people teach a younger generation how to have fun in ways that are not typically celebrated.

Rock Climbing

Colorado is not an ugly place, and rock climbing on cliffs is incredible.

I Approve, yes, I Approve

Here's to the coolest people ever, who raised $175 to buy Bibles and Christian flags for the people of Sudan. Once you have my Official Seal of Approval, you never loose it, and please feel free to use this honor on your resumes. Love to all.

-William C. Doublestein

The Beatles, Elvis, and now Michael Jackson

It's a sad day today. I'm a huge fan of Michael Jackson's music and have always been very interested in his life, and it's hard to believe that he would pass away right before his final tour. I would have loved to see the King of Pop in concert, but I guess I'll just have to wait for the next influencial musician to come onto the American music scene. I would argue that Jackson was one of the three most important popular singers to hit the 20th century, along with the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Who knows, perhaps Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift will be the next great. *cries*

Aquabats Concert!

This concert was absolutely amazing :) I was so happy to be able to go to this because I only found out about it a few weeks ago and a lot of stuff had to fall into place in order for it to work. Special thanks to Ryan for switching days off, Mike for letting me borrow his car, and Dustin for letting me stay out past curfew. To my surprise this show was not only a concert, it was a ska festival with about 20 bands. I got to the venue in Denver at about 10:30 am and stayed until about 11:20 pm. It was a crazy day and night but everything was worth it once the Bats came out on stage. I was happy to be in the first row and get to talk to all of them, and it was great getting some pictures with Crash, Bones, and Rickey Fitness too. You know, by the way, the Aquabats are seriously the best band in the world.

My Seal of Approval

Hi everybody. I just realized that I forgot to tell you about the staff auction here at Summit. Every session the staff gets together to sell a service (basically slavery) or a good to the students for chartiy. This was a tradition started by Dr. Noebels son that has raised over $300,000 to buy Bibles and Christian flags for the people of Sudan. Well, last session I decided to sell the William C. Doublestein's Official Seal of Approval. It was well recieved and it ended up raising $75. The certificate says "For exemplary portrayal of coolness, awesomenisity, oober style, and classiness in everyday social interactions both here at Summit and all across the globe. Today I salute you and congratulate you for being among the few, the proud, the awe-inspiring recipients of my official SEAL OF APPROVAL." Congrats to Eric Van Egmond for this prostigious award :)

Evolution?

Hey everybody. So evolutionists have cited an ancient fish called the "coelacanth" as a missing link between fish and reptiles. It supposedly evolved over 400 million years ago, but guess what? In 1938 a fisherman caught one (and others have been caught since), and they still swim in our oceans today! The crazy thing is that when you compare the 400 million year old fossil to the live fishes cought in the 1900's you will find zero differences! "Not even an extra fin!" as Dr. Noebel says. Here's an article about it, pretty interesting if you ask me. Enjoy!

http://www.harunyahya.com/books/darwinism/atlas_creation_II/atlas_creation_II_05.php

Heroes

It's important for people to look up to heroes, and meeting them in person is quite something. A while ago I had the priveledge of meeting Tony Dungy, prior coach of the Indianapolis Colts and an amazing role model, at his book signing for Quiet Strength. Then last year I got to meet and spend a little time with the MC Bat Commander, Ricky Fitness, and the rest of the Aquabats after one of their shows. Tonight I met Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, at Summit's graduation. This was the first time he's come to a Summit graduation and it was incredible getting to meet the guy who has had such an influence on my upbringing. I thanked him for his ministry and told him just how much Adventures in Odysee (a kids radio program) impacted me when I was a kid. This perked his interest and he told me to be sure to give my parents his best. All in all, Dr. Dobson's a pretty cool guy who has the guts to stand up for what he believes in even though people want to kill him for it. I'd say he's a good one to look up to.

A few thoughts on abortion

Here at Summit we learn a lot about current events and social issues, and today I've decided to share a few stats concerning abortion.  Perhaps a blog isn't the best place to do this but I figure that it's better than Facebook and some of you may be interested, so what the hey.  Did you know that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood has a direct link to Adolph Hitler?  Now before you discredit me and call me crazy hear me out.  The story actually starts with Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin.  In 1883 Galton became the father of an idea called "eugenics" which is the perfection of the human race by getting rid of it's "undesirables" and multiplying its "desirables."  Margaret Sanger was a huge fan of this idea and became a eugenicist herself, publishing many articles on the matter but most importantly setting up most of her Planned Parenthoods in black neighborhoods.  Adolph Hitler was then influenced by Sanger's and Galton's ideas concerning eugenics and initiated the Holocaust.  Here are a few interesting numbers: 1.1 million American soldier have been killed in all American wars, 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust, 50 million American babies have been killed from abortion since it was legalized in 1973.  Sanger was a very important person with a past that no one ever talks about.  Even today 514 of every 1,000 black pregnancies end in abortion.  She has been extremely successful in attacking what she considered a "less desirable" race, and her work continues without issue.  The good thing is that for the first time since Gallop began taking polls on the issue in 1995 51% of the U.S. population is pro-life.  For the other 49% consider this: when watching an abortion through an ultrasound you can actually see the baby recoil from the doctor's instrument and try to swat it away.  Just something to think about.   

Aquabats Concert?????

Hi everyone!  So I'm excited beyond words but at the same time trying not to get my hopes up.  Next Saturday the Aquabats will be headlining the D-Town Skankdown in Denver, Colorado, only an hour and a half away from where I'm living in Manitou Springs.  There is little in this world that I would rather do than see this show, so today begins the planning to see if there is any way I can make it out to Denver.  First order of business, I'll need to move my day off, and I have no idea if this is even possible (perhaps if I bat my eyelashes to the higher-ups).  Secondly, I'll have to either find someone to go with me or borrow someone's car for the trip. But you know what, even in the most impossible of situations, I always say "where there's a Will there's a way."  And today world, that Will has arrived!

Fun day of shooting!

Life is good, MacGamut is no more :)

Paintball in the Rockies

One of the most beautiful places in the whole world is Summit's 36 Acres.  36 Acres is a property complete with mountains, forests and creeks donated to us years ago and today is used as our paintball field.  Yesterday I got to go with the students to ref a few games and play a few others.  The good news is that I only got shot twice, but the bad news is that I never shot anyone and really didn't do much for my team.  Oh well, I still had a blast and I'm sure that I'll have many more paintball games before my time here is up.  Pics taken by Laura Clawson and Judson Alphin, thanks!  

Day Off!

Today I had a day off and hiked up Red Mountain solo for some good ol' Bible reading on the mountain. It was nice :)  

Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NwmUVO9mrQ

Sometimes you hear a tune and you can't stop thinking about it.  Rarely does my mind ever slow down, but today I heard this melody by John Mayer and just kindof escaped from everything. It's not that I don't like where I am (because I am in love with where I am), I just recieved the message that Mayer was trying to send.  See John Mayer is one of my favorite artists and if you think I'm crazy for this it's probably because you don't know enough about him.  He is an awesome guitarist and songwritter, and much of his best work is never played on the radio.  In fact, he makes fun of himself for songs like "Your Body is a Wonderland" and it seems like he much prefers the stuff that isn't in the Top 40 (like his jazz).  But music aside, I also like John Mayer because he seems incredibly real and doesn't care to act like himself even when people don't get him.  So anyways, what I love about this song/video is the reason Mayer made it.  He's been recording a new album called Battle Studies and just decided to take a break from the studio one day and run away to Japan.  Listening to his ipod and turning to solitude in a place far away, he wanted to figure out what was going on in his head.  It worked for him, and it works for me too.  Today I sat at the piano and all the sudden I was able to make beautiful music right on the spot.  Perhaps my music theory classes have subconciously influenced where my fingers were going, perhaps not practicing percussion for a month has made me turn to a different instrument for an outlet.  Whatever the case may be, I got away from the intense mind workout of Summit and just relaxed with the power of music.  

    

Faux Hawk Tuesday!!!!!!!!

The fauxhawk (or faux-hawk) hairstyle is an approximation of a mohawk, made without shaving or buzzing the hair on the sides of the head, allowing an imitation of the look of a true mohawk without having to commit to removing most of one's hair.  -Wikipedia

Her Heart Still Beats by Brave Saint Saturn ---> a very important song

The girl in the alley kneels with exhaustion 
She's guarded by the skinny guy who limps from some infection 
Behind a veil of bleached thin hair her eyes tell a story 
Like a photo of Berlin, December 1944 
She's looking for a handout, she's been high for several weeks now 
She's too far gone for whoring and the money just gave out 

And her heart still beats inside 
And the blood runs in her veins 
A remnant of life remains 
Her heart still beats inside 

The man finally comes to the door, I've seen him several times 
He always looks pissed off and his sunglasses stay on 
I think he got his biceps and tattoos while in prison 
And it doesnt seem to bother him when he says "go to hell" 

And his heart still beats inside 
The blood runs in his veins 
A remnant of life remains 
His heart still beats inside 

The thought it comes to my mind, to somehow intervene 
But it could bring me trouble, and what can I do anyway? 
It's hard to be effective when it happens so often 
To see a life unraveling, through drawn venetian blinds 
I'm sickened by compassion, I'm stifled by my limitations 
Anesthetic apathy, come take the pain away 

And my heart still beats inside 
The blood runs in my veins 
A remnant of life remains 
And my heart still beats inside 

Oh God, we need you here 
We're sinking fast and we dont care 
The evidence is all around me, on both sides of my door 
Our hearts beat