2003 Fall - Higher Things Magazine (with Bible Studies) by Higher Things: Dare to be Lutheran!

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FEATURES

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Contents

The Masks of God By Dr. Gene Edward Veith

What is God’s calling for you? Concordia University Professor Dr. Gene Veith explores the Lutheran understanding of vocation.

8 Photos and Highlights from IN HIS FACE the Higher Things Conference in Arlington, Texas 10 Yes, I’m a Preacher’s Kid! By Rev. Peter D. Hoft

Ever been the topic of a sermon illustration? Pastor Peter Hoft knows the joys and trials of growing up in a pastor’s home.

14 Romance Redeemed By Elizabeth Meckler

Do sit-coms and romantic comedies shape the way we think about romance? A college student considers the price of buying into the definitions of love in a media-driven culture.

16 CITY OF GOD 2004 Conference Information 20 Five Dumb Things Adults Think about Youth By Rev.Todd Peperkorn

Adults sometimes assume they know the needs of teens. But do they?

22 Teacher’s Pet By Kathy Luder

Kathy’s friendship with Molly is threatened when an innocent comment gets blown out of proportion.

24 The World of Sexploitation By Re. Eric Andrae

While casually browsing through current magazines, Campus Pastor Eric Andrae finds some surprising similarities.

COLUMNS 12 The Messenger Is the Message: God’s Great Angel Visits His People By Rev. Stephen R. Wiest

Jesus is in the Old Testament already showing how He will save His people.

26 Pulse: Luther Movie Review By Rev. Paul T. McCain

Opening around the country at the end of September, this powerful new movie tells the dramatic story of Luther, the Reformer.

28 Email information and News and Notes 29 Ex Cathedra Boyfriends, spam-o-rama, and so much more!

30 The Catechism: The Sign of the Cross By Rev. David Petersen

HigherThings Volume 3/Number 3 Fall 2003 Editor-in-Chief REV. TODD PEPERKORN Assistant Editor JULIE STIEGEMEYER

Editorial Associates REV. TIM PAULS REV. DAVID PETERSEN REV. SCOTT STIEGEMEYER DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH Art Director STEVE BLAKEY

Business Manager LYNN FREDERICKSEN

Bible Studies Editor REV. ERIK ROTTMANN Subscriptions Manager CYNTHIA HALL

Marketing and Grants Director PAM KNEPPER

HIGHER THINGS, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS President REV. KLEMET

PREUS

Vice President REV. MARCUS

ZILL

Executive Director REV. DANIEL WOODRING

Secretary SANDRA

OSTAPOWICH

Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN

REV. BRUCE KESEMAN SANDRA OSTAPOWICH REV. TODD PEPERKORN REV. KLEMET PREUS JEFF SCHWARZ DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH MOLLIE ZIEGLER REV. MARCUS ZILL Higher Things Magazine ISSN 1539-8455 is published quarterly by Higher Things Inc., 2026 22nd Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the editor-in-chief of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2003. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. For subscription information, write to: Higher Things Magazine, P.O. Box 8098, Fort Wayne IN 46898 or e-mail to Subscriptions@higherthings.org. For general information about Higher Things, Inc., please e-mail info@higherthings.org.

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@ Have you been subjected to “vocational counseling” to help you choose your career path? @ Have you been pushed into “vocational training” because your grade point average is not the best? @ Are you considering a “vocational school” to make sure you get a job? If so, then you’re familiar with the term “vocation,” which is technically a Lutheran term. Like other words ripped off from theology by secularists—such as “creative,”“inspired,” “mission,” and “spiritual”—the word “vocation” has been drained of its true meaning. Now it just means “a job.” Actually, the term—from the Latin word for “calling”—refers to one of Luther’s greatest insights, a concept that gives meaning, value, and direction to everyday life and transfigures even the secular world with the presence of God. The doctrine of vocation is an application of the key Lutheran insight that God works through means. In His spiritual kingdom, He works through the means of grace: the Word and the Sacraments.These He brings to us by means of the vocation of “the called and ordained servant of the Word,” the pastor. In God’s earthly kingdom, though, He also works through means, particularly through human beings in their various callings. He gives us this day our daily bread through the vocation of farmers, bakers, food processing workers, the stock boy at the grocery store, and the hamburger flipper. He brings new life into the world through the vocation of mothers and fathers. He protects us by means of police officers, fire fighters, soldiers, and government officials. He imparts the ability to read and write by means of teachers. He brings healing—not usually through miracles, though He can if He wants to—by means of doctors and nurses. They are all, in Luther’s terms “masks of God,” human beings just doing their jobs, but God Himself is hiding behind these facades. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights” (James 1:17). We are right to thank God for our food, for the recovery of a sick friend, for a beautiful work of art, since He is the source of them all. In the medieval church—as well as in much of American religiosity today—only church workers were thought to have a “calling” from God, with only churchy kinds of activities being considered truly “spiritual.” Luther, though, insisted that every Christian has a calling and that God governs and leads His people into even allegedly secular activities. Other Christians sometimes talk about “serving God” in whatever we do, but, as always, the Lutheran emphasis is on what God does through us. And just as we are blessed by how God is serving us through all of the H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 4

by Gene Edward Veith

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people around us—parents, teachers, cops, the factory workers who made our clothes, the lady at the checkout counter—God is working through us. The purpose of vocation, according to Luther, is loving and serving our neighbors. Not so much “serving God,” as if He needed our works, but serving the actual human beings whom God brings into our lives. Christians have multiple vocations. We have a calling in the family. We have a calling in our work. We have a calling as citizens in our society. Each of these entails particular neighbors whom we are to love and serve. In the family, a husband is to love and serve the neighbor who is his wife, and she him; parents love and serve their children, and vice versa. Workers love and serve their customers, as well as the boss and fellow employees. In the society, rulers love and serve their subjects (not tyrannize them), and citizens love and serve each other by agitating for the common good. In the church, pastors love and serve their parishioners, who, in turn, love and serve each other by singing in the choir, passing out bulletins, and mowing the church lawn. Everybody loves and serves each other. Of course, it doesn’t always work that way. So we keep coming back to the Divine Service to confess the sins that we have committed in our vocations, whereupon Christ absolves us through the vocation of the pastor (see “The Office of the Keys and Confession” and the “Table of Duties” in the catechism). So what about somebody who is still in school and isn’t married and isn’t old enough to vote? What is a teenager’s vocation? Well, being a child, according to Luther, is a vocation, so the same must hold for someone on the verge of adulthood. See who your neighbors are. Love and serve the members of your family, the members of your church, the members of your society, including your friends. One of your vocations is doubtless that of a student.The proper work of a student is to study. Love and serve William Shakespeare, the American founders, the person who came up with the Pythagorean theorem, and the rest of those through whom God has blessed our civilization, by studying them. And you may have a job, miserable though it may be.That is a vocation too. If you weren’t doing something to help someone else, the company would be out of business. God is hidden there too. In the meantime, realize that in the course of your life, as it unfolds, God will be calling you—through the gifts He has given you, your interests, and your opportunities—to other avenues of service throughout your life. He may call you to a family of your own, to a spouse and maybe to parenthood.To a career or lots of careers.To congregations and to opportunities to get involved with your community. Watch where He will be hiding. Dr. Gene Edward Veith is Dean of Arts and Sciences at Concordia University in Mequon,Wisconsin. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Higher Things.

For articles, Bible studies, an e-book, and other resources on the subject, go to the Cranach Institute website (www.cranach.org) and click on the button “vocation.” Here are some key books:

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Einar Billing, Our Calling (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1964). Gene Veith, God at Work: Your Vocation in All of Life (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002). Gustaf Wingren, Luther on Vocation (Evansville, IN: Ballast Press, 1994).

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04 20 1,

Ultimate Event

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hrist Academy is a twoweek residential program for high-school-aged men, founded by Concordia Theological Seminary. It is a place where students can study about Christ who is present in His Word and Sacraments and who died that their sins would be forgiven. It is a place where students can experience seminary life. It is a place where students can explore the possibility of someday becoming a pastor. Worship, the Center of the Experience Life Changing Studies Clarity of Direction Fun Activities June 20 - July 3, 2004

For more information, please call:

1-800-481-2155 www.ctsfw.edu ChristAcademy@mail.ctsfw.edu

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IN HIS FACE CONFERENCE 2003 â&#x20AC;¢ SCRAPBOOK

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Preache “So, you’re a preacher’s kid?”

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“Yeah, story of my life. I’m a P.K.” It’s the stigma I’ve had to live with my whole life. I’m the kid who gets the gold star every year for perfect Sunday School attendance. I’m the kid who gets mentioned as a sermon illustration. When I was a kid, no one told "colorful" jokes around me. Don’t get me wrong! I love my dad and I know he’s doing the work of the Lord, but sometimes I wish his vocation was not so public. Does he really have to wear his collar in the restaurant? It’s embarrassing when all eyes are drawn to the pastor’s family. Sometimes I wish my dad had a different job that is more behind the scenes- like being an accountant, or a postal worker, or even a plumber. No one ever says,“So, you’re a plumber’s kid?”Why must my identity be so much attached to my father’s profession? These were some of the feelings I had growing up as the firstborn son of a parish pastor. It’s not that I didn’t respect what my dad was called to do, but sometimes I wished I could have been more like everyone else. For some odd reason, people thought I was supposed to be more holy than all the other kids. When friends were around me they would be careful what to say. I guess they thought I couldn’t relate to the issues in their lives.“We wouldn’t want to offend the ears of the church boy,” is what I sensed loud and clear. I sometimes felt somewhat of an oddball in the group, the “goody-two-shoes.”You could say I was sort of ‘out of the loop’ when it came to details of my friends lives. Yet, being a “PK” has not been an entirely bad experience. In fact, as I look back, it was good for me. It has taught me more than anything else in my life what it

By Rev. Peter D. Hoft

her’s Kid means to bear my cross as a Christian. Even though at times I felt I had the word “dork” written on my forehead, I learned that being somewhat different from the world around me is not such a bad thing. In fact, it’s a calling that all Christians must endure. When you are made fun of for preferring to spend Sunday morning in church instead of in the bathroom hung-over from the night before, this is what it means to bear your cross. When your girlfriend or boyfriend dumps you because you want to save sex for marriage, this is what it means to bear your cross. When you are ostracized by your Christian friends who disagree with your Lutheran beliefs, this is what it means to bear your cross. These crosses can be painful because we naturally all want to be liked, loved, and accepted. So, when we are rejected by our peers, it especially hurts. We certainly do not choose our own crosses. Trials and tribulations go against our will. They are never easy to bear. Jesus even told us that. Jesus once told his disciples,“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Bearing my cross even now as an adult can be rough. But nothing I’ve faced can even compare to the cross our Lord carried. From the moment of His baptism to His final cry at Calvary, Jesus carried the burden of the entire world’s sin. If there is anyone who knows what it feels like to be ridiculed and rejected, it is Him. When my crosses in life seem heavy, I find comfort in the cross of Christ.There I find His forgiveness, hope, love, and strength. I take heart that Jesus overcame the world for me. Today, I am thankful for being a preacher’s kid. I don’t see it so much as a stigma anymore. Rather, I see it as a station that God has called me into. And I’m glad He did, because it was the Word of God preached and sacraments administered through my dad’s calling that prepared and inspired me to be the preacher I am today. Rev. Peter Hoft is associate pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois. He is a husband and father of one son, and is the son of the Rev.Thees C. Hoft.

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Mining the Riches

hen he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the LORD said to Satan,“The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him,“Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.” And I said,“Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.

The Messenger God’s Great Angel

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And the angel of the LORD enjoined Joshua,“Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men of good omen: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. For behold, upon the stone which I have set before Joshua, upon a single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day. In that day, says the LORD of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree.” Zechariah 3:1-10 (RSV)

The word angel simply means “messenger,” and the greatest messenger of God is He who is Himself the Ultimate Message of God, Jesus Christ, our Savior. He is ever the Messenger of the glad tidings that humankind has been justified, that is,“put right,” before the Triune God by virtue of the Father’s eternal love in sacrificing His Son for the sins of the world. Zechariah, the Old Testament prophet, exhibits the evangelical ministry of this Justifying Angel in several chapters of his book.

this priest and his people: “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” (v. 2 RSV). The Angel of the Lord, who stands by Joshua and stands up for him against the Accuser, commands that His high priest be clothed with fine festal apparel and a clean turban. This action is a foreshadowing of how the Lord Christ shall robe His own priestly people in white (Rev. 7:13-14), having cleansed and purified them with His blood by virtue of baptism into His death and resurrection (Eph. 5:25-27). The Gospel-Word of the Angel Himself to Joshua bears out that what is here performed for priest and people is an omen of the work of Him who is to come, the Servant sent from God called “Branch” (Zech. 3:8). Martin Luther comments of Zechariah 3 that “in every way Christ is here shown as being God and an Angel coming into the world.” The Reformer rightly can say this because the Angel of the Lord is in fact the Son of God, who will become in His incarnation the ultimate Joshua (“Jesus”!), covered with the sins of the people. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written,‘Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree’” (Gal. 3:13 RSV).Thus, the Son of Man prophesies to an Old Testament namesake of His in

Is the Message: Visits His People According to Zechariah 1, the prophet sees a man riding a red horse and standing among a grove of myrtle trees. To this central figure, soon identified as the Angel of the Lord, report all the other angels whom God has sent out to patrol the earth. At their glad tidings of peace throughout the world, the great Angel Himself asks for God’s mercy upon long-bereft Jerusalem and Judah, that is, all those who hold fast God’s promise of a Savior from sin, death, devil, and hell. God responds to the intercession of His Angel with comforting words of Gospel for His people. So we see in Zechariah 1 that the Word of the Lord which came to Zechariah is none other than the Angel of the Lord, God’s own Word and Son, who secures mercy from the Father for all His saints (cf. Rom. 8:31-34). The gracious bestowal of divine mercy upon men by the Angel of the Lord comes center stage in Zechariah 3. There we find Joshua, the high priest of God’s people after the exile, standing before the Angel of the Lord under the burden of grave accusation of sin by Satan (“the Adversary”).The Angel of the Lord, now identified as the Lord Himself, speaks a verdict of divine acquittal over

by Rev. Stephen R.Wiest

Countless times before His own incarnation, Jesus, the Word of God, who was with God in the beginning and was Himself God, appeared among men as the messenger of the Holy Trinity. As one poet states,“His love [was] too great that He should wait for His Nativity.” The eternally-begotten Son of God revealed the gracious face of His Father in many and various ways to our ancient fathers in the Faith. Some of the titles for this Messenger were Angel of the Lord, Angel of God, Angel of the Presence, and Angel of the Covenant.

Zechariah 3 of His own work as the Branch who will hang from the Tree of the Cross. Zechariah invokes the Angel of the Lord one last time in his twelfth chapter, which deals with Judgment Day:“On that day the LORD will put a shield about the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, at their head” (v. 8 RSV). At this time all of Christ’s redeemed ultimately shall conform in glory not only to great David but even to great David’s Greater Son, God in the Flesh, the Angel of the Lord who is Head of God’s Church. Our glorification, which is wrapped up with our justification, is even now ours in part as we look unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Someday soon, our faces, like St. Stephen’s, will be radiant like the face of the Angel, for we will become fully what we behold by faith in that Son of Man who stands at God’s right hand to justify us! Reverend Dr. Stephen R.Wiest is associate pastor of Our Father Lutheran Church, Greenfield,Wisconsin.

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I paced back and forth outside the doors. I’ve done it again, I thought. I’ve let my anxiety and expectations get the better of me. I’m two feet away, and I can’t get up the courage to go in there. I checked my watch; I had been pacing for half an hour now. I was there to visit Cory, a 19-year-old who was suffering from injuries sustained while working in construction. I thought he might like to see a familiar face. I felt compelled to go and visit him, yet my resolve

By Elizabeth Meckler

Romance Redeemed

wavered. I waited fifteen more minutes for the courage I could never muster; then I left the hospital. I had stood in the hallway for forty-five minutes. As young women living in a media-driven age, we develop perverted ideas of romance and love. I couldn’t visit Cory because I was imagining romantic scenarios. My focus should have been on Cory and his condition, but it was on what the visit could do for me. Many young women can identify with the longing for a Christian partner and the fantasy of the perfect man, as well as feelings of loneliness. We are caught up in a syndrome which is fueled by sin.

The Syndrome Admit it girls: as a product of the media we, and countless other women, have been conditioned to believe in and search for an unattainable kind of romantic love. We’ll call it:“My Man Understands Me Implicitly, Never Yells, Resembles a Movie Star and Brings Flowers” Syndrome.To this we must add the continual problem of finding a “Nice Christian Boy.” Our expectations are formed by media images. Romance, to us, is the plot line of a romantic comedy: boy meets girl, they fall in love, fight, suddenly understand each other, and live happily ever after. However, no relationship is like that, nor should we expect it to be so.

The Sin I could easily blame the syndrome on the romantic comedies and Chick Lit titles I’ve perused, but they were not the cause of my problem. I repeatedly say,“I’ll rely only on You, Lord.You fulfill all of my needs and I won’t depend on anyone else. I’ll trust that when I’m ready You’ll send me the one You have prepared for me.”Then I begin to worry over the fact that I’m twenty, single, and dateless. I doubt God’s goodness and do not trust in Him. Instead of looking to God, I look to the “dream man” for fulfillment. Have you been there? The devil tells us we’re unwanted. He latches onto our doubts. We fall deeper into the sin of trying to control what we should be giving to God.The result is we doubt God’s awesome love and make Him a lesser God. James 1:6-8 says,“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”When we ask God to give us the wisdom to deal with our loneliness, we cannot be in doubt of His response. Christ invites us to bring our cares to Him, yet so often we don’t.

The Solution There was one Man who trusted God fully: Jesus. Imagine how it was for Jesus, knowing that God’s plan for Him included a cruel and violent death at a young age, and yet also knowing that through His death the world would be offered eternal life. Jesus knew and He struggled with facing His death at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46), yet He trusted God enough to say,“Rise, let us go! Here comes My betrayer” (verse 46)! He went to the cross trusting His Father’s will. On the cross He bore our lack of trust and defeated our sins of doubt and self-reliance. Jesus gave Himself over to death and defeated sin, death, and the devil. His resurrection proves it. We are joined to Him through Baptism; His victory is our victory, and His righteousness our righteousness.The Holy Spirit, who comes to us through Word and Sacrament, brings us Christ’s sanctification and cleansing. Through the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we learn to trust in the Lord.

So What? Some of you may be saying,“I know that already. What does it really have to do with my love life?” Christ’s sacrifice has everything to do with our love lives. We can trust that God will take care of us, no matter what may come. He may even provide us with husbands who are “Nice Christian Boys.” At the same time God is preparing us to be a Wife of Noble Character (Proverbs 31:10-31) and teaching us to have realistic expectations. Our future husbands cannot fulfill our every need. Since God is the center of our lives, His love overcomes those shortcomings. Christ has claimed you as His own.This may mean that you are meant to remain single. Don’t let that scare you.The incredible truth is that God, through Christ Jesus, has fulfilled all of our needs, whether we are married or single. Christ works through His Word and Sacrament to forgive our sins and give us life, and He works through our Christian friends and family to heal our loneliness. Through both the heavenly and the earthly, God shows us His love in our lives. Elizabeth Meckler is a junior at the University of Iowa majoring in English and history. She attends St. Paul Lutheran Chapel and University Center where she serves as secretary, newsletter editor, and a peer minister. Elizabeth hopes to eventually earn a Masters of Arts in Theology and write for the church. She'd like to say thanks to Pastor Mons for titling this article (and reading it over a thousand times).

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Lutheran Youth Conference As a Lutheran Christian, your identity is shaped by where you belong. You are a citizen in the Church, the City of God. Join us for four days of dynamic Lutheran teaching, worship, enjoyment and making friends on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. Registration opens this fall. Space will be limited. Start preparing now!

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CITY OF GOD Lutheran Youth Conference Seattle, WA - August 3-6, 2004 Registration: $129 per person Housing and Meals: $120 per person. Conference Speaker: Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director, LCMS World Relief and Human Care.

See you in the CITY OF GOD!

Dare to Be

Lutheran

For registration forms go to www.higherthings.org

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SPECIAL SECTION

CITY OF GOD Lutheran August 3-August 6, 2004 Seattle, Washington Theme: Those attending the City of God Lutheran Youth Conference will take an in-depth look at their identity as a citizen in the Holy Christian Church. Join us and gain a better understanding and appreciation for who you are and where you belong as a Lutheran Christian. When: The conference will begin on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 and will end on Friday, August 6, 2004. We are planning an optional fun day on Monday, August 2, 2004 before the conference begins. Details will be announced no later than November 1, 2003. Where: Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington. SPU is a park-like campus nestled in Seattle’s historic Queen Ann neighborhood with easy access to public transportation. It is only 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Seattle and a short walk to the unique shops of Fremont. Schedule: A detailed schedule of each day’s activities will be released no later than November 1. Here’s what to expect: Worship Like past conferences, worship is central to our daily activities. We will gather three times daily for brief, but grace-packed services using the best of our Lutheran liturgical tradition. Worship services will take place in the campus chapel.

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Catechesis We believe that youth are interested in the serious study of God’s Word, which our past conferences have demonstrated. Our past conferences have proved this to us. At City of God, you will have every opportunity to learn and grow as a Lutheran Christian. Our main speaker is Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director of Lutheran World Relief and Human Services. Pastor Harrison was one of the most popular speakers at our Making Waves Youth Conference in 2002. In addition to the main sessions, you will have your choice of a variety of sectionals and break-away sessions on topics geared to your individual interests. Fun Seattle is well-known for being one of the most exciting cities around.You will have plenty of time to experience it. Our goal is to plan activities that let you enjoy what Seattle has to offer, while giving you the opportunity to meet and interact with those who will be attending the conference.Take a cruise on Lake Washington. Visit the Space Needle. Check out the very cool shopping on Seattle’s wharf, and more.

City of God Registration Information

Youth Conference Who may Register: While the conference is specifically geared for 15-18 year olds, registration is open for any confirmed youth. Each group must designate one adult (over 21 years of age) to be the congregational adult leader. There is no limit on the number of additional adults (age 18 or older). All adults must pay the same registration fee as the youth. We recommend at least one adult leader per nine registered youth. Cost: Registration costs $129 per person.This includes all program cost and entrance to activities. A non-refundable deposit of $75 per person must accompany each registration. Housing and meals will cost an additional $120 per person. Housing and meals: All registrants will be housed in the residential halls at SPU.They are only a short walk from the conference center, chapel and cafeteria. Meals will be provided at SPU’s new restaurantstyle dining facility which features award-winning cuisine, and a variety of culinary options.This is not typical university dining—the food is excellent! You will be responsible for one or two meals on your own during the conference.

Registration: Registration opens on January 2, 2004 and will close on March 30, 2004 or when our capacity of 650 registrants is reached. We expect this conference to fill quickly, so please register early. Any registrations post-marked before January 2, 2004 will be returned. Registration forms and instructions will be available in October 2003 on our web page or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: City of God Registration Info 1615 E. Buffalo Street New Buffalo, MI 49117 Further Information: Under the Further Information header…More information will be coming. Subscribe to Higher Things News for the most current conference news releases. Send any e-mail to HTNEWS-on@lists.higherthings.org or check our web page at www.higherthings.org.

See you in the City of God!

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It is amazing to me how dumb adults can be sometimes. Speaking as an adult, I can attest to this personally. But this is perhaps no more obvious than when adults try to engage in "youth ministry." Youth ministry, of course, means figuring out anything that we adults can do to keep young people in church and connected to Christ. Here are a few dumb things that adults often believe when it comes to youth and the church:

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Numbers matter. The only way that youth ministry is effective is if it is huge. Nowhere in the Scriptures is there anything about the Word of God being bound by or limited based on the number of people hearing it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply not true. Like a good basketball team, improvement comes not from focusing on the numbers, but on the fundamentals of the game. We are called to be faithful, not to reach some arbitrary number.This is why there are seven "Five Dumb Things Adults Believe About Youth."

By Rev.Todd Peperkorn

Dumb Things Adults Believe About Youth

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Teenagers hate theology. In order to relate to youth, bible studies center on the "teen" issues of sex, drugs and peer pressure. Pastors and youth leaders have been taught to believe that youth are incapable of handling real bible study and theology. This is partly a reflection of the poor catechesis that went on during the generation of the "great disruption." Most of the pastors and youth leaders of the last fifteen years grew up in a very antihistorical or anti-traditional society. We have an opportunity to give our youth real meat, not simply theological chips and soda pop. Why not give it to them? Worship for youth must reflect the pop culture of the day because young adults can’t stand traditional worship. Much of the evidence today points to the fact that the Millennial Generation is about a return to the traditional. In fact, many of the most cuttingedge contemporary worship type churches have started doing more traditional liturgies and music, even Gregorian chant for their youth! But more importantly, our responsibility as the church is to teach and pass on the faith to our youth. By giving them less than the best we have, we are teaching our young people to hate their own church! Youth need a regular "mountain-top" experience in order to get their spiritual batteries charged. This is just simply unbiblical. The Christian faith is not based on emotional highs that sustain us. Christ’s Word and Sacraments sustain us through the good times and the bad. By fostering the idea that you must have a mountain-top experience, we really are teaching our young people that being a Christian is about being happy or feeling good. It’s like a drug. If I don’t feel a certain way, then something must be wrong. Why not instead give them the Faith of all ages? Why not give them the good things of God, which will sustain them through all of the pitfalls and trials of being in high school? By giving them a firm foundation, we are preparing them for their life in the world as Christians.

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The youth leader/teacher must be "hip" and "cool" in order to minister to teenagers. Adults who try to act like youth end up looking foolish and lose the respect of the youth. Be real! What is cool to an adult is probably not nearly as cool to a teenager. It is one thing to listen and pay attention to the needs and interests of young people; it is quite another to pretend to be something we’re not. The youth work of a congregation is successful based on the number of activities available. As a Christian congregation, we are not called upon to be the social directors and activity coordinators for the members of our church. Heaven knows that teenagers have enough things to do! This is why it is so important that what we give our young people is the very best we have, namely, the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins. Activities are good, but they are not finally the point of why we are the church. The youth leader must underplay any kind of Lutheran identity, because this could drive a wedge between the youth and their other Christian friends. Be who you are! When we pretend to be some sort of "generic" Christian or try to appeal to common denominators, we lose the biblical distinctiveness that makes us who we are. Lutherans have a great treasure and history of the Gospel and the Sacraments. Young people are naturally curious about their identity and what makes them Lutheran. Why not dare to be Lutheran? Perhaps we may find that our young people are quite as embarrassed as we are. Let worship be worship! Let study be study! Let fun be fun! So what do you think? Have I missed anything? Do you think I’m right or wrong? I would love to hear your responses to this. Write me at editor@higherthings.org and let’s start talking. Rev.Todd Peperkorn is pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is the editor-in-chief of Higher Things: Dare to Be Lutheran.

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Teacher’s All I said to Molly was that Mr. Hanson was kind of cute. He is our chemistry teacher. Chemistry is the boringest stuff on earth, but he gets excited about it. He is really dorky, but he tries to make chemistry interesting. He makes terrible puns and tries to be funny to help keep us awake and make us understand. He is a nice guy, goofy as can be, but in a cute way.That is what I meant.

wasn’t there. When I went upstairs looking for him, I found him standing at my desk reading the letters. “NO!” I screamed, pushing him backwards onto the bed. He is two years older than me and quite a bit bigger. He just laughed. Everybody was laughing at me. I was out of my mind with rage. I was on

Has anyone seen my tie?

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Molly knew it. She even agreed. But then over lunch, right in front of me, she told Kelly and April that I think Mr. Hanson is cute! She acted like I was some geeky kid with a crush on old Mr. Hanson—just for a laugh. She knew it wasn’t true. She knew Kelly and April have a mean streak and she played right into it. What made it worse was that I completely lost it. Molly laughed harder than anyone. By the end of the day, the whole school was laughing at me. They called me “teacher’s pet.” It is not like I am super sensitive.This isn’t the first time I’ve been subjected to public ridicule. I am, after all, in high school. But it is the first time I’ve been betrayed by someone I really care about. I can handle April and Kelly.They’re just a couple of stuck-up dolts. But Molly! Molly was my friend. She handed me over to their ridicule like a lunch lady slopping seasoned beef into the all-you-can-eat taco bar. She did it just to gain a few seconds of female bonding! She and April and Kelly were the “in” crowd. I was taco filler. I was so furious I misspelled my own name on my Econ paper in 5th period. I plotted my revenge all afternoon. I would make Molly endure public humiliation. As soon as I got home, I started writing letters to the school newspaper about her. Wouldn’t they be interested in the fact that Molly won’t drink out of the drinking fountains at school for fear of germs? Wouldn’t they get a chuckle over her summer polka festivals with her grandparents? She has costumes and CDs. Who even knew there were polka CDs? Vengeance would be mine. She was no match for me in a war of words. I was well into my second draft when Mom called me down to get Dad and my brothers from the garage for dinner. I got Dad and Michael, but John

top of him and trying to hurt him, pummeling him with all my strength.Then Mom and Dad were there, telling me to stop, and pulling me off of him. I melted in frustration. I curled up into a ball and rolled onto the floor between my bed and the desk and cried. Mom and Dad told John to leave, but he didn’t. He just stood in the doorway.They eventually got me calmed down and off the floor. I told them what

had happened with Molly. Right away, Dad started smirking. He always says he can never keep a straight face at a funeral. He always thinks of something funny at the worst times. “What?” I said. John said,“Hey, I heard what Kelly was saying about you today. But, really, nobody believed it.You just freaked out.You kind of brought it on yourself. I can see why you’re so mad since it was Molly who started it. But this drama queen stuff is over the top.You are as bad as Kelly.” “Go downstairs, John. We’ll be there in a minute,” Mom said.“Now, look, Kathy, I know you’re hurt. But these letters are wrong.” My Dad had tears in his eyes and I could tell he was biting his tongue. “What?” I asked Dad again, feeling my anger creep back to the top. “Kathy, I am talking to you,” Mom said over Dad’s coughing. “The letters. I know. I didn’t actually send them. I wouldn’t have, you know.” “I know. But your language and emotion is a little scary.You didn’t carry it as far as Molly. But at some level, you’ve betrayed her too," Mom said. "You shouldn’t have even written these things down. Now, John knows about them.” I started to protest, but she stopped me.“Yes, he was wrong to come in here. I am not saying that what you did was as bad as what she did to you. But maybe you can see that you’re not a completely innocent victim here. Maybe you can bring yourself to cut Molly a little slack. She has been your friend for a long time.” Dad stood up to leave the room. He looked like

By Kathy Luder

PET

he was in pain.“What is so funny, Dad?” He burst out laughing, finally managing to gasp out,“Old man Hanson with that fish tie of his . . . in a tux . . . picking you up for the prom!” “Dad, you are as goofy as Hanson.” I was exhausted. I couldn’t defend myself anymore. Let ‘em laugh, I figured. Who cares? “You should get a fish tie.” I told him. I turned to Mom,“I’ll destroy the letters.I am sorry I wrote them.But I don’t know if I can make up with Molly.” Well, we did. Not right away, and everything isn’t like it was, but we did make up. It took almost two weeks before we even talked again. I knew she felt bad, but I wasn’t going to talk to her first. Eventually, she just sat by me at Sunday school one day like nothing had ever happened. And wouldn’t you know that Mrs. Zaftig was explaining the parable of the unmerciful servant? Molly called me that afternoon. We never talked about what happened. I have mostly forgiven her. She knows it, I think. But I haven’t told her. I just did it. She hasn’t said she was sorry, either.There is still a bit of rift between us. I don’t feel too good about that. Mrs. Zaftig’s Sunday School lesson didn’t help any. So I caught our pastor a few weeks later and asked him, hypothetically, of course, what if we couldn’t completely forgive someone? Doesn’t the Bible say that if we don’t forgive we won’t be forgiven? He just loved it.The guy lives for these questions. It is really kind of pathetic. He could talk theology all day and night if he had an audience. Anyway, he went on for a long time. He wanted to loan me half a dozen books from his library. But what it boiled down to was that we can’t forgive as perfectly as we’ve been forgiven because we are still sinners. Jesus also died for this. We can’t condemn people to Hell.That would be denying the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But even though we don’t forgive perfectly, we rest in the perfect forgiveness that we receive from Christ and not what we do. So, I am trying to be a better sport. And as stupid as my Dad’s humor is, I can barely stop from laughing out loud whenever Hanson wears that fish tie of his. Kathy Luder attends Midwest Lutheran Church in Middleville, Indiana. She imagines herself quite stunning and extraordinarily clever but, alas, no photo is available. In fact, no photo exists. PS:Thanks for the cup. Six Flags was great.

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The Wo

-ploit

Benjamin Franklin once said,“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” It is obvious, though, that one more thing has become certain in this world:“Sex sells.” And sex will be used to sell everything from ATVs to zip files, from bikes to Yahoo ad space. Recently I was at one of my favorite places: Barnes & Noble. You gotta love a place that has books, magazine, CDs, food, let’s you lounge around, provides easy-chairs for your comfort, and is open just about the whole day! But I’m getting off the subject. Anyway, I was checking out the magazines– especially the sports, music, and entertainment sections–when I noticed not only how many magazines had gorgeous, half-(or three-quarter)naked women on the cover (pitching the usual bikinis, workouts, and music, but even computers, guitars, and home-care), but how many had the word “sex” or a form thereof on the front:

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There was sex and math: “100 Sexiest Women” “22 Sex-Bomb Bathing Suits” “32 Unbelievable Sexy Pages” “769% More Sex, Probably” “4 Sexy-Guy Posters” Sex was paired with things I’d never (before or since) thought of as sexy: “Sexy Destinations” “The Word’s Sexiest Careers, Technology, and Shirts”

And don’t think that these were magazines only for adults or so-called “adult magazines.” No, this list included: Seventeen, J-17, Elle Girl,YM, Cosmo Girl, Sugar, and others targeted specifically at...you! It’s a “Sex-plosion,” as another of the periodicals screamed from its cover (which, by the way, was right next to Kick-Off, the magazine of Pop Warner football, and nearby Christian History)! You may be thinking:“This is old news. What’s your point?!” It is this: you are being taken for the dummy, you are being used, and some (many?) of you are naively playing the part of the fool.This is not so much “sex-plosion” as it is “sex-ploitation.”The media and pop culture lords are targeting today’s teen in the hopes that you will not be savvy enough to see beyond the shallowness of cheap sex,“romantic” dreams, stud boys, and hot babes.This culminates in the sale of the product they’re hyping as well as your soul. It is the drool-inducing eye-candy that may give a momentary sweet rush, but ultimately decays your mind and spirit. It is style over substance. The problem is not that you are turned off by this stuff. No, the problem is that we are turned on. And turned on to what? Most often, to seeing others as simply objects for our selfish, lustful pleasures; to view-

rld of

tation

By Rev. Eric R. Andrae

ing only with eyes, but not appreciating with mind and heart; to poor stewardship of money, time, and, yes, even our bodies. Let us instead, with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength, look to another Body. Look to God who became man for us, "to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" Jesus died and rose for our life and salvation. As the Holy Spirit fixes our gaze, indeed our whole life on the Crucified Christ, all other things find their rightful place. Is there then a right place for sex? Of course! Sexuality is a wonderful, blessed gift from our Creator. “I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members...” (Small Catechism). He has created male and female in His image (Genesis 1:26-28). Our sexuality is God-given, which finds fullest expression in the emotional and physical love within a Godpleasing marriage (Hebrews 13:4). In the meantime, what’s an unmarried teen like you to do? Communicate with members of the opposite sex; treat them with respect; listen to them; talk to your parents and pastor about sexuality; with their

guidance, spend time with girls and boys; invite them to church (the Body of Christ!) and youth group activities; let your thoughts, words, and deeds be marked by purity and decency; get or stay healthy (your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, after all!); pray; when you fall short of God’s will for you, confess your sins and hear the Lord’s forgiveness. Does all this mean that we must remove ourselves from any and all influences of pop culture, including bookstores? No. Certainly, in humility and thanksgiving to God, we can enjoy the talents and gifts of others that are on display in various ways. We can, with our Lutheran goggles and hearing-aids on, enjoy the things of mass media–that’s what my regular Pulse column is all about! But don’t be just another naive victim of the media’s sex-ploitation. Be cool young men and women of street smarts and godly wisdom, of style and substance. Dare to be different. Dare to be Lutheran! Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-24) Rev. Eric R. Andrae is campus pastor at First Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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The lights go down and the screen stays black.The pounding noise of thunder grows louder.The screen flashes with a burst of lightning, and we see a man running across an open field. Bolts of lightning crash all around.The man falls face down in mud, crying out in terror,“Save me, St. Anne. I’ll become a monk. Save me! Save me!”

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So begins Luther, the new movie on the life of the Reformer. After the storm, we see Luther as a monk, and then the movie moves to Luther celebrating his first mass, trembling in fear at the moment of consecrating the elements of Holy Communion. The movie continues with scene after scene in the life of the younger Luther. The years covered are July 1505 to June 1530.This is the greatest challenge for the movie. It may also be a chief criticism of it. How is it possible to fit these twenty-five tumultuous years into a space of less than two hours? Is there too much to make sense? What has to be left out? One can only imagine the agonizing decisions that had to be made in the process. The movie is stunning, dramatic, powerful, and beautiful. For a Lutheran, the movie is intensely emotional. The movie takes a few liberties with the sequence of certain events and even some details, for the sake of making sense out of things for the viewer. Where the movie does portray an actual event and relate actual details, the level of fidelity to the actual history is remarkable and powerful. The acting is very well done by the lead, Joseph Fiennes, who portrays Luther as a young monk, gaunt from his monastic life, profoundly intense and passionate about the spiritual care of souls, both his own and others.Those who play supporting roles in the film do a very fine job. All are very authentic and believable, communicating through voice and expression, the entire range of human experience. Does the Gospel come through in this movie? Absolutely, yes. Would I have appreciated more? Yes, absolutely. Let me hasten to add that it was breathtaking to hear the Gospel come through as clearly as it did, when it did. A major Hollywood distributor said that he loved the movie and wanted to distribute it, except for one condition. He asked for all the “Christ stuff” to be taken out. It wasn’t.Thank goodness. The movie shows Luther’s progress in realizing how, in Christ, God is a loving heavenly Father, not the harsh judge who is appeased only though a Christian’s works. I would have appreciated a bit more than what the movie did, but I can not help but be thankful for the Gospel that is in the movie.There is no question that it is Christ whom Luther discovered. Luther does a marvelous job portraying the problems of the church in the 16th century; the scenes of Luther’s visit to Rome and then the selling of indulgences by Tetzel are absolutely brilliant.They use a fictitious woman and her child to bring home the personal impact of the sale of indulgences and Luther’s very pastoral response.

By Rev. Paul McCain The costumes, location work, and cinema photography are stunning. The historical accuracy is also impressive. For example, Lucas Cranach’s paintings are seen in the elector’s palace. The relics on display are very authentic-looking; the costumes show the stark contrast between the “haves” and the “havenots.”Those who are aware of these details will appreciate the depth of detail in the movie. The movie was filmed on many locations throughout Europe and therefore has a level of realism and authenticity that is very impressive. The movie shows Luther’s multifaceted personality, warts and all.The depth of his spiritual anguish is shown in disturbing reality as he writhes in spiritual, emotional and mental torment, contemplating a God whom He can never make love Him and a Devil constantly seeking to devour him. It is painful to watch. But then we see the bold, confident man of faith, clinging to the Word, standing up courageously for what the Word of God teaches about Christ and salvation.The movie ends with a dramatic portrayal of the courage of the princes of the German territories at Augsburg informing Emperor Charles V of their decision to defend the teachings of Luther. Luther has been assigned the rating of PG-13.The scenes of death in the movie are graphic.There are no battle sequences, but the results of the peasant war are graphically presented, along with several images of hangings.This is not a movie for younger children, nor should it be.The portrayal of violence is necessary to show just how powerful an impact the results of Luther’s work and its misinterpretation were. This reviewer left the movie theater inspired, uplifted and profoundly moved by the power of this movie. It encouraged me to dig more deeply into Luther’s writings, and Luther biographies. It brought many aspects of the man Luther to life and lifted him from a cold printed page to a living, human reality. Luther will be released this fall, September 26, in 400 theatres, in 55 major urban areas across the country, with more to come throughout the rest of the year. Rev. Paul McCain is the Interim President and CEO of Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri.This review appeared first on Pastor McCain’s e-newsletter list “Cyberbrethren.” Used by permission.

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In this issue of HT we are starting a new column entitled Mining the Riches. This column,which will be written by various pastors and theologians of our church,will take an in depth look at a portion of the Holy Scriptures and unlock Christ where He may be found. The first article,entitled "The Messenger is the Message" looks at Christ in the Old Testament, particularly through the story of Joshua the high priest in Zechariah chapter three. Enjoy!

2004 Higher Things Conference: CITY OF GOD in Seattle, WA

IN HIS FACE a great success in Texas!

We are pleased to announce that the 2004 Higher Things Conference, "CITY OF GOD" will be held August 3-6, 2004 in Seattle, Washington on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. The main speaker will be Rev. Matthew Harrison, the Executive Director of the LCMS Board for Human Care. Registration information for this conference is available in this issue of Higher Things.

IN HIS FACE was the theme of the annual Higher Things Youth Conference held in Arlington,Texas this past summer. Photos and other comments about the conference are available at the web site. Go to www.higherthings.org for more information.

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Ex Cathedra From Advice to Absurdity Dear Ex Cathedra, In a recent issue of Higher Things Magazine, you wrote that SPAM is “evil in its purest form.” I respectfully disagree. In fact, I have written a little song in praise of SPAM: STAND BY YOUR SPAM Dear Ex Cathedra, My boyfriend and I really love each other. But my parents don’t like him and won’t let me go out with him. What can I do?Amanda, 17 Dear Amanda, What is it about your boyfriend that your parents don’t like? Is he an ex-convict named “Spike” sporting head to toe tattoos of cats and monkeys playing volleyball? No matter. My final answer is . . .listen to your parents. Here’s why: First, there’s that whole 4th Commandment thing. “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents . . . but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.” To disobey parental authority is disobedience to God. Second, if you go ahead and see your boyfriend anyway (either defiantly or secretly) your parents will have even more reason to question your judgment. And worse, they will be justified in their objections to your boyfriend. After all, if your boyfriend really loves you the way he should, he will not encourage you to disobey God’s law. If he does encourage you to be disobedient, your parents have every reason to dislike him. You can, in the meantime, try to change mom and dad’s minds. Don’t be argumentative. Just talk to them respectfully. Find out what their objections are. Are these things that can be remedied? (Tattoos can be removed.) Help them to see the good qualities in him. Just assure them that you have no intention to disobey them. All this is part of the reason dating is so difficult. Wouldn’t you rather just ask for a puppy? —EC

By Spammy Whinette (With apologies to Tammy Wynette, who sang a song that is rather similar to this one)

Sometimes its hard to love a lunch meat That comes from Minnesota in a can. Unlike salami, sausage or pastrami, It’s not a meat that’s a treat for every man. But those love it will stick with it. And confess to the world that they’re a fan. Now, why not love it And be proud of it? After all, it’s just pork—-pork shoulder and ham. Chorus Stand by your Spam! Give it some bread to cling to! Put it in some hot dish to bring to Your Church’s Spam-A-Rama! Stand by your Spam! And tell the world you love it! Keep buying all the cans you can! Stand by your Spam! —A Concerned Pastor Friend of SPAM Dear Spamophile, You obviously need major therapy. I have no interest in your self-made liturgies. And above all, if you don’t stop emailing me, I’ll report you to your ISP. I’m serious. STOP EMAILING ME!—EC

Dear Ex Cathedra, Who are Naomi and DoRena?—Kathy Luder Dear Kathy, Nice try, but you didn’t even bake me a cake!—EC

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The Sign of the By Rev. David Petersen

Cross Morning Prayer In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer: I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ,Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

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Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest.

he symbol of our Lord’s unjust execution, the cross, has become the symbol of blessing.That is because all blessings come from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All of Christian hope is based on the self-sacrifice of our Lord upon the cross. It is our chief symbol, the main thing that decorates our churches and our homes.The cross defines us now and forever. The cross was first drawn upon you when you were brought into Christ through a watery death and re-birth in Holy Baptism.The pastor made the sign of the cross upon your head and your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ.The pastor still makes the cross on you. He makes it on you at the absolution, benediction, and other places during the service. He might make it on you if he visits you in the hospital or he might have made it on you at the communion rail before you were confirmed. Some Lutherans follow along with the pastor and make the sign of the cross on themselves. Luther advised us to do this also in private prayer. In The Small Catechism he says:“In the morning, when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” His instructions for bedtime prayer are much the same. Luther’s instructions for prayer include the sign of the cross. He thinks that is normal Lutheran practice. Notice that he does not tell us to fold our hands, kneel, or even to bow our heads.Those are good ceremonies for prayer also and have always been done by Lutherans.They reflect the posture of the tax-collector in the Temple, but are not the most fundamental ceremony. Signing oneself with the cross is the most ancient, simple, and profound ceremony we have. It is also the most natural.When Luther instructs us to make it in the morning and evening, he is only expecting us to do what Christians have always done. The most historic and simple way of making the sign of the cross is to use the right hand, palm inward, to touch four points of an imaginary cross upon yourself. First touch the forehead, then the middle of the chest, then one shoulder, and then the other.There are other ways of doing it. Instead of just touching the points, some prefer to trace a cross, being careful to “stay within the lines,” and returning back to the middle at a fifth point. Some like to go from the right shoulder to the left or to hold their right hand so that the tips of their index and middle fingers are touching the tip of their thumbs in a Trinitarian reference.There is no wrong way.There isn’t even really a preferred way. No one gains favor with God either through ceremonies or by lack of ceremonies.The point is what this simple gesture reminds us of – the saving love of God revealed and given to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Thus it helps us to pray. It reminds us of who we are in Christ. It identifies us to the world. We are defined and live by the cross. Luther doesn’t want you to forget that. + + + The Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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Seattle, WA - August 3-6, 2004 Registration: $129 per person Housing and Meals: $120 per person. Conference Speaker: Rev. Matthew Harrison,

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Masks of God Bible Study Leaders’ Guide Rev. Darrin L. Kohrt

Begin your study of God’s word by singing or praying, “How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord.” (Hymnal Supplement 98’, 879)

I. Called to be Servants. What do the following verses have to say about our life in the world, our vocations, and our service to neighbor? a. Galatians 5:13: Here St. Paul declares that the motivation for our deeds toward others is love. This love was first shown to us in Christ, whose selflessly gave everything for our redemption. Now this divine love gets expressed through us to our neighbor, not only by words but also by deeds. b. Romans 15:17: Service to neighbor is not a burden to the faith, but it is a joy and a glory. c. Matthew 5:16: By our faithful love for neighbor, expressed in word and in deed, God’s Word will work powerfully in those who witness our faith and in this way they will be moved to “praise your Father in heaven.” d. 1 Corinthians 10:31: Our vocation is not for our personal glorification, but for service to neighbor and for the glory of God. In WHATEVER we do, we do so for the glory of God.

II. Called to be Saints. The term “call” or “calling” is used many times and in a variety of ways in the Bible. Its most important usage involves our salvation. Through Christ God has called us to be with Him for eternity. a. Read Romans 8:29-30. In Paul’s sequence what precedes our calling and what follows it? Predestination precedes it and justification follows it. God chose us “before the foundation of the world.” The called are “declared righteous” or justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. b. According to Luther’s Explanation to the Third Article, by whom and through what are we called? …the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel…” c. According to 1 Peter 2:9, in our calling what have we been rescued from? What does this mean for us now and in eternity? We have been rescued from darkness. Darkness signifies the kingdom, power and control of sin and Satan. We now walk in the light of Christ. We now have the assurance that Satan cannot pull us away from the kingdom of God.

Masks of God Bible Study Rev. Darrin L. Kohrt

Begin your study of God’s word by singing or praying, “How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord.” (Hymnal Supplement 98’, 879)

I. Called to be Servants. What do the following verses have to say about our life in the world, our vocations, and our service to neighbor? a.

Galatians 5:13:

Romans 15:17:

Matthew 5:16:

1 Corinthians 10:31:

Read Romans 8:29-30. In Paul’s sequence what precedes our calling and what follows it?

According to Luther’s Explanation to the Third Article, by whom and through what are we called?

c. According to 1 Peter 2:9, in our calling what have we been rescued from? What does this mean for us now and in eternity?

The Messenger IS the Message: God’s Great Angel Visits His People Bible Study Leaders’ Guide Rev. Glenn Niemann

“Precious Moments” are going for minimum bid on eBay. Stop by your local “Mega-Mart” and you will find a multitude of winged figurines – marked down, mind you - in the clearance bins. And no longer can you be “Touched By An Angel” at 7pm on Sunday evenings, because this syrupy series has been canceled from television for some time now. Indeed, it would seem that this nation’s recent “angel obsession” has run its course. However, in his tremendous article (which in itself ought to be used as a Bible Study!) Pr. Wiest reminds us of the truth about angels…and of The True Angel Himself!

I. Angel 101 What does Holy Scripture tell us about angels (lit. messengers )? Genesis 1:31: created holy II Kings 6:15-17: Elisha and company protected Psalm 103:20-21: they do His bidding

Daniel 7:10: innumerable Luke 2:13: hence, a heavenly HOST Hebrews 1:14: sent to serve His saints

Are all angels heavenly? Job 1:6-12 & 2:1-7: Satan walks the earth Isaiah 14:12-15: why evil angels came to be Mark 5:9: a “legion” numbered 6,000 soldiers

Ephesians 6:12: spiritual forces of darkness II Corinthians 11:13-15: Satan can appear “angelic” II Peter 2:4: hell is judgment for evil angels

Whom are God’s angels sent to proclaim? Luke 1:1-20: the birth of John the Baptizer Matthew 1:18-21: the birth of Jesus

Luke 24:4-7: Christ’s resurrection Acts 1:10-11: the ascension and second coming of Christ

II. THE Angel of the Lord ( I. E., “AoL” BELOW) – when the Messenger IS the Message He is “King of kings and Lord of Lords” … and Angel of angels! Genesis 22:11-17: AoL: “by Myself I have sworn” Genesis 48:15-16: “the Angel who redeemed me” Exodus 3:1-6: AoL appears, LORD speaks

Isaiah 63:7-9: the Angel of His Presense Hosea 12:2-5: Judah struggled with the AoL Malachi 3:1: the Messenger/Angel of the Covenant

The coming of The Day of The Angel of the Lord Zecharaiah 12:8: “like God, like AoL” Revelation 5:11-14: the angels worship The Lamb Hebrews 1:1-14: The Son exalted above the angels Revelation 19:9-10: worship Christ, not angels Hebrews 2:1-9: AoL’s incarnation = Christ’s humiliation Revelation 22:16-17: Jesus’ angel? The Apostle John!

The Messenger IS the Message: God’s Great Angel Visits His People Bible Study Rev. Glenn Niemann

I. Angel 101 What does Holy Scripture tell us about angels (lit. messengers )? Genesis 1:31: II Kings 6:15-17: Psalm 103:20-21:

Daniel 7:10: Luke 2:13: Hebrews 1:14:

Are all angels heavenly? Job 1:6-12 & 2:1-7: Isaiah 14:12-15: Mark 5:9:

Ephesians 6:12: II Corinthians 11:13-15: II Peter 2:4:

Whom are God’s angels sent to proclaim? Luke 1:1-20: Matthew 1:18-21:

Luke 24:4-7: Acts 1:10-11:

II. THE Angel of the Lord ( I. E., “AoL” BELOW) – when the Messenger IS the Message He is “King of kings and Lord of Lords” … and Angel of angels! Genesis 22:11-17: Genesis 48:15-16: Exodus 3:1-6:

Isaiah 63:7-9: Hosea 12:2-5: Malachi 3:1:

The coming of The Day of The Angel of the Lord Zecharaiah 12:8: Hebrews 1:1-14: Hebrews 2:1-9:

Revelation 5:11-14: Revelation 19:9-10: Revelation 22:16-17:

Sexploitation Bible Study Leaders’ Guide Rev. Robin Fish, Sr. Rev. Andrae was correct; it’s all about sex – pleasure – desire – lust – sex. Look in the news and you will see it is not just a problem for young people. It is a powerful thing among people generally. It is what is behind the push in the media toward homosexuality and gay issues. 1. Look up Genesis 1:26-28. Are sexuality and the sex drive good or bad? They are part of God’s good creation, so they are good. It is our use of them that is oftentimes evil. 2. Now read Genesis 2:18, 21-24. Is there any ‘sexist’ prejudice in God evident here? No. God created man and woman to fit together (and not just physically!). She was the “helper suitable for him” They belonged together. How does this passage answer the modern suggestion of inequity between the sexes? Woman was created from man to be his partner. She is “bone of [his] bone and flesh of [his] flesh.” She came from Adam’s side, not his feet, or some lower form of life. Woman was created to be the male’s equal, partner, helper, and other half. Man is incomplete without woman and woman is incomplete without man. 3. Quickly review Genesis 3. Pay particular attention to verses 16 and 17. What went wrong with God’s good gift of sexuality? Sin was the first problem, and the curse of God on sinful mankind became the second obstacle in our sexuality. What does the end of verse 16 seem to describe, in modern terms? What we often call “the Battle of the Sexes.” It describes the tension between women wanting to be independent of man (or to dominate man) and the reality that man is the “head” and will ordinarily exercise leadership. And this is by God’s command, not selfish human ambition alone. What does verse 17 say Adam did wrong first? He “listened to the voice of [his] wife.” He did that before he acted in any other sinful way. What does God mean by “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife”? He means that Adam listened to her rather than to Him and His command. Adam’s problem was not that he paid attention when his wife spoke, but that he disregarded God’s Word on the basis of his wife’s word of enticement. Matt. 10:37: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” 4. God put desire in us for good reason. He made it a delight for our blessing, and then our sin twisted it, and God cursed it – lightly, but effectively – because of our twisted and sinful nature. What does Ecclesiastes 7:20 add to this discussion? It means that, like it or not – or willing to confess it or not – we are all guilty. We all have to wrestle to some degree with this sin and its temptations. That makes this topic personal for every single one of us. 5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Take note of the categories of sin listed. Four of the nine are clearly sex-related, with “idolaters” as likely also sexually identified, in the day of ritual prostitution in pagan temples as a common thing. That was one of the early pagan fund-raisers, before bake sales and Ice Cream Socials. [Note: “effeminate” referred to heterosexual men who allowed themselves to be used by homosexual men – what we call a “male prostitute” today.] The lure of sexual sin was as powerful then as today. What was the answer described here? The answer is the work of Christ – washing, sanctifying, and justifying us. 6. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure, but will provide “a way of escape.” What does that mean in this context? There is always a way out. “Flee youthful lusts” is a passage that comes to mind. Avoid temptations. Run from them when they present themselves. You cannot eat forbidden fruit is it is out of sight and miles away. What has God provided for “escape” from the powerful temptations to sin? Forgiveness. Prayer. Scripture. The wholesome fellowship of fellow believers. He will also answer your cries for strength and help, but only if you turn away from the sin. If you say, “I’m a Christian. I can beat this temptation.” And choose to stand in the face of temptation and face it down, you will lose. Satan never tires, but us people do. How does 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 help us understand God’s will in these matters? God understands our weaknesses. He has established His good order in this world to help us escape, and to deal with the pressures of our desires and drives. Husband and wife help each other by fulfilling those ‘needs’ of the flesh in a wholesome and godly way. When desires become too great, God’s plan and order are there to give us a satisfactory and God-pleasing answer. 7. Proverbs 31 sings sweetly about the “excellent wife”. God intends us to be together, male and female. He clearly intends us to find it “good”. How may we address that in our own lives? By seeking to avoid situations where our lust may be stirred up. By listening to God’s Word, and not the “experts” of society for our moral values. By pursuing a God-pleasing husband or wife with whom we may have our proper place to use the natural desires God has created (and which Satan always tries to pervert) so that we may exercise self-control in such matters. What guidance does 1 Corinthians 10:31 offer you? No matter what, keep Christ in mind, and seek His glory. Remember, as a Christian, your life is not really about you. Christ’s life is about you. Your life is about Christ and for the sake of your neighbors. Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. And what comfort in 1 Peter 1:13? The grace of God, and the coming day when this struggle against our own flesh will be done, and we will be free to be holy in all things. These things should comfort us – “I am persuaded that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Finally, what proclamation of hope (or confidence) does St. Paul give us in Romans 8:28? God is on our side. He is clearing the way and planning His aid and blessings for us every step of our way, for although it is dark to us, He knows the way, and has it planned for our salvation!

Sexploitation Bible Study Rev. Robin Fish, Sr.

Rev. Andrae was correct; it’s all about sex – pleasure – desire – lust – sex. Look in the news and you will see it is not just a problem for young people. It is a powerful thing among people generally. It is what is behind the push in the media toward homosexuality and gay issues. 1.

Look up Genesis 1:26-28. Are sexuality and the sex drive good or bad?

2. Now read Genesis 2:18, 21-24. Is there any ‘sexist’ prejudice in God evident here? How does this passage answer the modern suggestion of inequity between the sexes?

3. Quickly review Genesis 3. Pay particular attention to verses 16 and 17. What went wrong with God’s good gift of sexuality? What does the end of verse 16 seem to describe, in modern terms? What does verse 17 say Adam did wrong first? What does God mean by “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife”?

4. God put desire in us for good reason. He made it a delight for our blessing, and then our sin twisted it, and God cursed it – lightly, but effectively – because of our twisted and sinful nature. What does Ecclesiastes 7:20 add to this discussion?

5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Take note of the categories of sin listed. Four of the nine are clearly sex-related, with “idolaters” as likely also sexually identified, in the day of ritual prostitution in pagan temples as a common thing. That was one of the early pagan fund-raisers, before bake sales and Ice Cream Socials. [Note: “effeminate” referred to heterosexual men who allowed themselves to be used by homosexual men – what we call a “male prostitute” today.] The lure of sexual sin was as powerful then as today. What was the answer described here?

6. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure, but will provide “a way of escape.” What does that mean in this context? What has God provided for “escape” from the powerful temptations to sin? How does 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 help us understand God’s will in these matters?

7. Proverbs 31 sings sweetly about the “excellent wife”. God intends us to be together, male and female. He clearly intends us to find it “good”. How may we address that in our own lives? What guidance does 1 Corinthians 10:31 offer you? And what comfort in 1 Peter 1:13? Finally, what proclamation of hope (or confidence) does St. Paul give us in Romans 8:28?

2003 Fall - Higher Things Magazine (with Bible Studies)

Articles inside

The Sign of the Cross

Luther Movie Review

The World of Sexploitation

Teacher’s Pet

Five Dumb Things Adults Think about Youth

Romance Redeemed

The Messenger Is the Message: God’s Great Angel Visits His People

2003 Fall - Higher Things Magazine (with Bible Studies)

The Masks of God