Colorado

After leaving Ames, we traveled to Ft. Collins and enjoyed some fellowship time with the college group that was meeting that night. We all went to our respective homes that night and were picked up by Tom in the morning for a trip into the Rocky Mountains. I have visited Estes Park once before, when I was 17 and my youth group went to a teen conference. It was an incredible experience then, and all the more now. We spent the entire day hiking trails, climbing giant rocks, and soaking in the beauty of God's creation. Oftentimes, I felt speechless as I gazed over hundreds of miles of hazy blue sky and distant mountain ranges. Words and pictures cannot do this part of the world justice. I sat, mesmorized, on a cliff next to a roaring water fall, Alberta Falls. Sitting next to the deafening waters made me consider how much more vast must Niagra Falls be than this, and how incredibly awesome and powerful a God we serve who spoke this earth into existence.

Psalm 65:5-8: You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the sea, the roaring of the waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

IA State

Our week at IA State started off with unloading the van and setting up the display for the first day, "In The Beginning." this display talks about how there is evidence in science and the creation for an Intelligent Creator, and invites discussion with students about what they believe. Before the display was set up completely, students were stopping to read it and take pictures. Megan and I took turns at the table we had set up for the books we were giving away. Today's book was Inspired Evidence by Bruce Malone. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about the amazing way that God designed the earth. Written as a daily devotional, you can easily read a page in less than five minutes, gleaning insight into reasons for why the natural world works the way it does. As students stopped by the table with questions or even just looking for a free book, I was able to talk to several. For nearly an hour, I talked to a student who was adament that not only evolution was true, but that I was completely warped in my understanding of science. While I am no science guru, I was able to respond to his inquiries about God and science fitting together and explaining each other. He was continuing to get flustered and angry throughout the conversation, but I kept calm and explained concepts about God and how our own human heart's are on a continual search for God and the truth. On several occasions, Adam stood and stared into the distance as he contemplated what I'd just said and tried to come up with an argument against it. Whenever he could not think of an argument, he would change the subject to something completely different. Finally, realizing he just wanted to argue with me, I politely excused myself from the conversation. It is saddening that people have so denied God in thier hearts that they refuse to admit His existence when it is right in front of them. The rest of the week consisted of amazing fellowship with the church members and many discussions with students on campus. The weather consistently remained in the 90's with a lot of sunshine and humidity, but this did not stop Tom from spending 5-6 hours each day preaching and sharing with students. 50-60 students all huddled together to share the shade underneath several trees surrounding the sidewalk Tom was standing as they listened and asked questions. Each day, at least one or two students sought to gain the attention of the audience away from Tom as they paced in circles and shouted that what Tom was preaching was lies. Fortunately, most of this did not last for long as students continued to ask legitimate questions that Tom was more than happy to answer.

In the Beginning

Contrary to popular belief, I have in fact been keeping a mostly accurate memoir of my first three weeks traveling with Tom Short. However, as I lack any technologically advanced contraptions in which I can access the internet upon every whim, as is the cultural trend at this time, I am at the mercy of my dearly beloved teammate, Megan, and whoever else might grant me a few minutes with their laptop at whatever moment they feel desireable. Okay, okay, enough with the drama...So, on Labor day, I happened to be hitchhiking and was picked up by this guy named Tom Short and his three interns...actually, that's not even true either. To be totally serious, this summer I'd been praying for God to show me what a 'next step' could be in my relationship with Him as well as serving my church and taking more steps in sharing the gospel. Tom Short is a pastor who lives in Ohio but spends most of the school year traveling to many large university campuses as he shares the gospel of God's grace with students. He has been doing this for nearly 30 years and has seen many people come to Christ and reverse athistic, agnostic, and evolutionary ideas as they realize through logical and scientific discussions that God not only exists, but desires a personal relationship with individuals through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. This summer, Tom invited young people to apply to travel with him over the fall semester. I jumped at the chance, as this would be a wonderful way of learning more about answering questions about my faith, leading people to Christ, as well as learning from someone who's been involved in college ministry for a while. On Labor day, Tom and the rest of the interns, David, Duncan, and Megan picked me up in Davenport. We traveled to Ames, IA where we would spend the rest of the week on the campus of IA State. I got to stay with my sister in the apartment she shares with three other girls who attend the church she is a part of. The next morning, we all assembled at campus, unloaded the van, and began setting up the displays we would be using. These displays are very large and will easily catch the eye of anyone walking by. In the past, Tom usually would stand in the quad on campus and preach for about 4-5 hours a day, inviting questions and dialoguing with students about questions concerning God. Now, with these displays, more dialogue is able to happen between all of us with different students, rather than just Tom talking to a large group all at once. Tom really likes this method, because not only are we learning from our discussions one-on-one with students, but more students are willing to open up and ask real questions when fewer people are listening.

God's Grace

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4,5 NIV