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Inside this issue:
• Higher Things Magazine Turns Five Years Old • Memories from The Feast • Setting the Record Straight on Confession and Absolution W W W. H I G H E RT H I N G S . O R G
/ FA L L / 2006
We’ve compiled a sampling of some notable blurbs from the Higher Things blogs. Check them out and read more online at http://blog.higherthings.org/.
From Aaron Fenker on the God Who Forgives: ———————————————————— You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds. Psalm 99:8 Is that truly our God? He is to us “God-Who-Forgives” but yet must take vengeance upon us? Doesn’t this seem how it goes? We are sealed by His name in our Baptisms, but yet we suffer? Does God still love us? We look to Christ and we get an emphatic YES!! http://blog.higherthings.org/aaronfenker/user/ aaronfenker.html
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From Heidi Bamattre on Growing Up: ———————————————————— What is it to grow up? Is there some magical turning point where you turn from a child into an adult? Sometimes I wish there was. When I think of becoming an adult, I think of . . . knowing more, of being certain of more things, of having a family of my own and responsibilities of my own.Those things seem to come very slowly rather than all at once. I know more now than I did a year ago, and I definitely hope that next year I’ll know more than I do now. Eventually I’ll move out, in a year and a half, I’ll be a nurse (hopefully) and have an actual job. Sometimes it seems like that’s a long ways away, and sometimes it seems like it’s just around the corner. I’ve noticed something in my four years of teenagehood. It’s confusing being a teenager. In some ways, you’re still a child.You live with your parents, you have to go to school, you hopefully don’t have to completely support yourself. But then there are moments where you feel like you’re almost an adult. I have quite a few adult friends at school.That happens when you go to a community college. And they all treat me as if I’m on their level. Along with that, there’s the confusion of trying to figure out what exactly to do with your life. Maybe it was easier when that was decided for you. When YOU have to make that decision—what college to go to, what to major in, what job to get when you graduate, who to marry (in quite a few years!)—it’s pretty scary. Sometimes it feels like every decision you make could have some catastrophic effect on your life. And at times like that, it’s good to remember that God will work all things for good, that God HAS worked all things for good. If you do make some great mistake in your life, it’s forgiven in the death of Christ. And no matter what your vocations end up being, God will work through you to the aid of others. It’s not all on us. http://blog.higherthings.org/nurseheidi/ article/1313.html
From Hannah Adickes on Scars: ———————————————————— Some scars are there to be relied upon fully. Christ scarred Himself for us. When He could have risen from the dead pure and without blemish . . . He didn’t. He rose with those scars to show all the Didymuses (Thomases) in the world that He did it. He conquered death, hell, and Satan for us! His scars are there for us! He suffered all of that just so that we could be granted eternal life with Him. How cool is that!? His scars make ours not matter. They are there, and you may not be able to get rid of them . . . but because of His, ours become beautiful.We are scarless then in His sight because of the blood that came out of Him. By His body that was shed, we are given forgiveness. We are washed clean in Baptism and given His body to eat and drink so that we might be forgiven. What more could we ask for? We may be just like Thomas and allow ourselves to doubt, but all we have to do is look at those scars on Christ.They are there to point us back to Him, that we might live in Him and point others to Him. We can live in that forgiveness and the freeness that He delivered to us by suffering on the cross!! Our scars are healed! http://blog.higherthings.org/femlem1/article/1422.html
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From Anna Joy Holbird on Preparing for College: ———————————————————— I think my fears have been calmed some. Am I still slightly nervous? Yep, I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t be. Am I excited? Of course. I guess college is kind of like surfing (or all of life): you ride this board on waves that go up and down. Sometimes you fall off, but you get back up when the next big one comes along and you try again. The best thing about it all? Jesus is working everything together to the good for you. For me. :) That totally rocks, doesn’t it? http://blog.higherthings.org/annajoy/article/1800.html
From Heidi Bamattre on The Feast: ———————————————————— It was wonderful. I think it was the best HT conference so far. It’s funny how they just keep getting better and better. It made me decide that I have to go to one of the “For You’s” next year, because I’m not sure if I could survive a HT conference-less year. There’s something wonderful about being so immersed in Word and Sacrament for four days . . . and we had two divine services this year! That was wonderful . . . as was having two in-depth sectionals! The gifts just keep on coming. http://blog.higherthings.org/nurseheidi/ article/1766.html
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Contents
Volume 6/Number 3 • Fall 2006
HigherThings Volume 6/Number 3/Fall 2006
FEATURES
COLUMNS
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Save the Whales By Rev. Tim Pauls Animals may be cute and fun, but have you ever considered their place in God’s creation? And why did He give us charge over them? If you like animals, Pastor Pauls’ article on creation, stewardship, and nature is for you.
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Higher Things magazine Five-Year Birthday Tribute By Rev. Tim Pauls and Julie Stiegemeyer Higher Things magazine just turned five years old! From the very first staff members to the best-loved articles, we’re giving you the finest highlights of your favorite magazine.
10 The Feast Collage Another Higher Things conference has come and gone. Summer is over. School has resumed. Homework is never ending. The future looks bleak. But cheer up, because we’ve got tons of pictures and quotes from The Feast!
14 What's Love Got to Do with It? By Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer How does God make His love known to us? Pastor Stiegemeyer contemplates this question as he writes about Valentine's Day, warm fuzzies, and what love's got to do with it.
26 Myths about Confession and Absolution By Rev. Brent Kuhlmann Do you think that Confession only takes place in a dark booth? Or that your pastor tells your parents every sin you just confessed to him in confidence? Pastor Kuhlmann sets the record straight about what really goes on during Confession and Absolution.
Dare to Be Lutheran: Nice Isn't Enough By Rev. Todd Wilken Life is all about loving Jesus, right? The sweet, kind, polite Jesus who thinks you’re great no matter what? Before answering, read Pastor Wilken’s article about how Jesus’ death on the cross is more and better than just nice.
20 Mining the Riches: He Rides! By Rev. J. Bart Day Why did Jesus allow Himself to be crucified? How could He love those who despised, rejected, and killed Him? And why are the suffering, death, and resurrection so important to us as Lutherans? Check out Pastor Day’s article for those answers and more.
23 Pulse: Jesus in the Movies By Rev. George F. Borghardt III There’s been a lot about Jesus in the media lately. From movies to books, He’s popping up everywhere. But can you trust what the secular world teaches about Him? Read Pastor Borghardt’s article to find out what the media has right about Jesus and what it’s got really wrong.
24 Confessing Christ on Campus By Rev. Derek Roberts College is more than just homework, late nights, and bad cafeteria food. It’s also an opportunity to discuss Jesus with those who haven’t heard of Him. For tips on how to start conversations about Christ, read Pastor Roberts’ article.
28 Enemies to Love By Kathy Luder With school back in full swing, teachers and students are bound to butt heads. Our very own Kathy Luder already has, and she shares her story of frustration, fury, and forgiveness— all over homework.
30 Honor Thy Pastor By Rev. David Petersen Get a load of this. The catechism says you’re supposed to honor your pastor! Are you surprised? amazed? intrigued? To find a few good ways to show him that you appreciate what he does, start by reading Pastor Petersen’s article.
Also in this issue: 2 Blurbs from the Blogs 15 “For You” Conference Information 19 News and Notes
Interim Editor
REV. TIM PAULS Interim Managing Editor JULIE STIEGEMEYER Assistant Editor ADRIANE DORR Art Director
STEVE BLAKEY Editorial Associates
REV. PAUL BEISEL REV. GEORGE F. BORGHARDT III REV. DAVID PETERSEN REV. ERIK ROTTMANN Bible Studies Editor REV. TIMOTHY SCHELLENBACH Business Manager LYNNETTE FREDERICKSEN
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Christ on Campus Executive REV. MARCUS ZILL Conferences Executive REV. BRUCE KESEMAN Internet Services Executive REV. GEORGE F. BORGHARDT
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Retreat Executive LANDON REED Interim Publications Executive MOLLIE HEMINGWAY
_____ Board of Directors President REV. KLEMET
PREUS
Vice President REV. WILLIAM Secretary SANDRA
CWIRLA
OSTAPOWICH
Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN
REV. BRENT KUHLMANN MARK PFUNDSTEIN BRUCE PARADIS REV. RICHARD RESCH DR. BEVERLY YAHNKE ___________ 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 executive editor of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2006. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. For subscription information and questions, call 208-343-4690 or e-mail subscriptions@higherthings.org. (This phone number is only used for subscriptions queries.) For letters to the editor, write letters@higherthings.org. Writers: you may submit manuscripts to: submissions@higherthings.org. Please check http://higherthings.org/magazine/ writers.html for writers’ guidelines and theme lists.
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Save the (Collect the Whole Set)
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ut here in Idaho, there’s been a big hullabaloo about wolves. (Hullabaloo is a technical term, meaning “something that takes up more time on the news than I like.”) A long time ago, ranchers destroyed the wolf population because wolves eat sheep.This, however, apparently destroyed the delicate ecology of the area. Without wolves, it was only a matter of time until we’d be overrun by angry sheep and rabbits, and no one would be available to blow down houses made of straw or sticks. So a few years back, some federal department of something started reintroducing wolves to parts of Idaho to reset the environment. Sadly, some wolves apparently missed the sensitivity training courses,and they started killing sheep again.
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Unfortunately for them, some ranchers started shooting them accidentally while cleaning their high-powered rifles with the barrels sticking out the windows of their pickup trucks. I’m sure it was accidental, because shooting wolves is usually a violation of federal law. I actually have a point to this story, and we’re almost there. So far, it’s a discussion of science (ecology) and environmental law, right? It’s about whether or not wolves are necessary for the environment, right? It’s not about religion, right? So far, yes. But one night, the local news station hullabaloostically reported that yet another wolf had been shot, and police suspected foul play.The news station then cut to a spokeswoman for a local conservation group who said,“I can’t understand why anyone would shoot a wolf, because the wolf is a sacred animal.” Huh? Sacred? Sacred isn’t a scientific word or a legal term. It’s a religious word.The woman wasn’t talking science
or law but religion. She was saying that wolves should be protected because they’re holy—because some god favors them—which finally brings us to the question that I was supposed to address a few paragraphs back: What’s up with this whole animal rights thing? I mean, people are attacked for wearing fur coats. Some have said that animals have the same right to live as you, so every burger is a murder in disguise.That’s pretty extreme. On the other hand, cruelty to animals isn’t right either, and few things bug me more than a guy who catches fish and leaves them flopping on the bank instead of throwing them back or taking them home for dinner. So where do you draw the line? We’ll start here:“And God blessed [Adam and Eve]. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:28
ESV). Note two important truths: God declared that Adam and Eve were superior to animals, and God told them that they were to have dominion over animals. That continues today.You’re superior to animals, and you’re to be a steward of them. After all, God created man in His own image; no animal can say the same. Now this means that animal rights ideas go bad when they teach that man is just another animal (instead of superior) or that man is the greatest threat to nature (instead of its steward). For instance, imagine someone saying,“I worship Mother Earth. It’s the planet and her ecosystem that’s keeping us alive. Animals are part of that system. When you kill an animal, you’re messing with your Mom.”That’s paganism more or less, and you’ll find that a fair number of animal rights activists are in that camp. What does this say about the one true God? It says He doesn’t exist, that He’s not keeping you alive. Instead, the planet is, so the planet is now your god. If God’s not there, then He didn’t send His Son to die for you.Therefore, you’re not going to rise from the dead.Your last act of service to Mother Earth is going to be as compost. Congratulations. Or imagine someone saying,“We’re no better than animals. We’re just an accident. Some cells evolved into snails, and some into human beings. But we all came from the same soup.” It’s a logical result—well, sort of—from that religion called evolution, another faith that questions God’s existence and activities. If God doesn’t exist, you’re not created in His image.You’re not redeemed by His Son.You’re just a cosmic accident. Lucky you that you weren’t the snail. The funny thing is that when people
insist that animals deserve the same rights as people, it doesn’t elevate animals—it cheapens people.You’ll find that animal rights groups and abortion rights groups get along quite well, because if man’s just another animal, it’s okay to terminate unborn children. But save the whales, because we’re running low. Anyway, that’s where animal rights goes bad—when it denies God and worships the creation (e.g., animals, planet, etc.) instead of the Creator. I think Romans 1:22–23 might have something to say about that. Should you take care of animals? Sure. God created you to be a steward of His creation, including animals.That means using some for food and other resources. It may mean destroying some for the sake of peoples’ safety.Think of the mountain lion that wanders into town or the nest of wasps on a playground. Sometimes it won’t be a clear cut decision: if you’re in Idaho, should you side with the sheep or the wolves? The Bible doesn’t give an answer. It’s your call. But the Bible makes this crystal clear: this world, with all of its flora and fauna, is coming to an end.You’re a steward on earth, but this isn’t your final destination. You’re not just another animal. God prizes you so highly that He made man in His own image. And because Adam lost that image, God’s Son took on human form and flesh to save you. He didn’t become a wolf to save wolves. He became man to save man and to save you for everlasting life.” Rev.Tim Pauls is associate pastor and acting school administrator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Boise, Idaho. He is the Interim Editor of Higher Things. His e-mail address is tpauls@goodshepherdboise.org.
By Rev.Tim Pauls
The Creation (1534 Luther Bible) by Lucas Cranach workshop
Whales
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Nice J
oel Osteen is the pastor of the largest and fastest growing church in America. His Houston congregation has an average weekly attendance of thirty-five thousand.Thirty-five thousand!
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Joel Osteen is a TV star. His show, Lakewood Church, is seen by millions every week. He has appeared on Larry King Live, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. Joel Osteen is a successful author. His first book sold over four million copies. For his next book, he has secured the largest advance for a nonfiction book to date—thirteen million dollars. And to top it all off, Joel Osteen is a nice guy— a really, really nice guy. I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to Joel for three years now. As far as I can tell, the smiling, soft-spoken, sweethearted Joel isn’t just acting nice. He really is nice.
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The God that Joel preaches is nice too—really, really nice. According to Joel, we underestimate just how nice God is. Joel says that God wants to give you your best life now. Joel says that the more we believe this, the nicer God is to us. But nice isn’t enough. In his book Your Best Life Now, Joel writes:“God knows we’re not perfect, that we all have faults and weaknesses; that we all make mistakes. But the good news is, God loves us anyway” (pp. 57–58). Isn’t that nice? God sees our imperfections, faults, weaknesses, and mistakes, but He doesn’t care. He’s willing to overlook them. He loves us anyway. Nice. But again, nice isn’t enough. Joel’s God is in denial. Joel’s God sees our sin, but instead of dealing with it, He ignores it and acts like it doesn’t exist.That’s not enough.There’s no denying our sin, not for us and certainly not for God. Scripture says that God sees our imperfections, faults, weaknesses, and mistakes for what they really are: sin. Scripture says that God doesn’t overlook or ignore our sin. Now, compared to Joel’s God, Scripture’s God doesn’t sound very nice. But that’s good. When it comes to our sin, nice isn’t enough. Sinners like us don’t need a God who ignores our sin. We need a God who has dealt with our sin once and for all. Joel says,“The good news is, God loves us anyway.” But that’s not true.“God loves you anyway” is nice, but it isn’t the Good News. God doesn’t love sinners any way.The Good News is that God loves sinners in one very particular way:“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9–10 ESV). God loves sinners like us this way: He sent Jesus to take our place at the cross. At the cross, God didn’t ignore or overlook your sin. At the cross, God laid your sin on Jesus, His Son, and made Him the atoning sacrifice for your sin. At the cross, God dealt with your sin once and for all. Thank God He isn’t nice. If He were, He wouldn’t have put His own Son to death to pay for your sin. If God were nice, He would have just ignored your sin rather than sending Jesus to take your place at the cross. Joel Osteen and his God are nice. But nice isn’t enough. Jesus dying for you on the cross isn’t nice, but it is enough.
sn’t nough By Rev.Todd Wilken
Rev.Todd Wilken is host of the nationally syndicated radio program Issues, Etc., heard on about one hundred stations nationwide, on XM radio, and on the Internet at www.issuesetc.org. He also hosts the weekday edition of Issues, Etc. heard on AM 850 KFUO in St. Louis and on the Internet at www.kfuo.org.
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Happy 5th Birthday About five hundred years ago, on the seventh Sunday after the Feast of the Holy Trinity, Martin Luther preached, “There is no higher or greater work we can do on earth than nurturing people with the Word. Oh, how the devil hates such a good work! That is why he attacks it so viciously through sects, tyranny, violence, and persecution. That is also the reason it is such an inherently difficult thing, why it takes so much time and energy to help young people mature a bit, to accept scriptural principles, and to live in fear and reverence of God. In short, there is no other task so difficult, as to train people to live piously, nor is there greater service we can render to God.” (House Postil, Sermon for the 7th Sunday after Trinity)
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The good doctor then held up a collection of papers, which vanished during the potluck that followed. Lost for centuries, it lay carefully concealed behind an Albrecht Dürer woodcut exhibited at the Louvre, where it was accidentally discovered in early 1965 by a visiting Lutheran clergyman who let the restroom door slam behind him, jarring the artwork from the wall.The papers spent the next thirty five years in the back of a church file cabinet in Lincoln, Missouri, where some humidity damage took place. Today, the remains of the booklet hang in the reception foyer of the Higher Things magazine office building. It includes a paper entitled “Der Pulse,” with Pastor Johannes Bugenhagen reviewing the latest lute band lyrics; an angry letter to the editor from an “Ulrich Z” about the Lord’s Supper; and fragments of a page by a woman named Luder, which read,“Ach, this town smells like dead herring” and “I sure hope one of my descendants is a decent writer.” This, of course, is exactly how Higher Things didn’t get started.The Luther quote is real enough, but that’s it.Truth be told, a little over five years ago, a
Higher
group of pastors and laypeople saw the need and the opportunity to put together a magazine that would teach the Christian faith, especially to youth in the Lutheran Church. Since then, Higher Things has been giving you high quality articles with incredible artwork about relevant issues. But more to the point, it’s been teaching you the faith that Jesus taught His disciples. It’s been telling you that your Savior and His Word aren’t irrelevant Sunday morning matters, but life and truth for you, now and forever. As Pastor Todd Peperkorn, the first executive editor, wrote in Issue #1: “Jesus Christ came into this world to free us from the bondage of sin, death, and the power of the Devil.These are not dead words you learned from the Catechism, but living words that flow from the voice of God Himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us this life through His Word, Preaching, Baptism, Holy Absolution and the Lord’s Supper.These ‘Higher Things’, provide you with the knowledge that Christ is in you and you in Him. And it is the ‘Higher Things’ of Christ that change who you are and how you look at the world.” This is our twenty first issue, which means that Higher Things magazine is officially five years old. I’ve been a fan from the beginning, and I’m honored to have a hand in it now. I give thanks to God for the many people He’s used as His instruments to produce it, and pray that He would continue to bless those labors. And I give thanks to God for you, and pray that you might always be certain of His faithfulness to you in Christ Jesus…for if He’s already purchased your salvation with His own death, how could He forsake you now? Thanks for reading, and the Lord be with you. Pastor Tim Pauls Interim Executive Editor
Things Magazine! Higher Things Turns Five With twenty issues behind us, we decided to look back at past issues and find some great stats. Here’s what our editors came up with: 24—The number of pages in the first issues of the magazine 32—The number of pages in the current issues of the magazine 16—The number of HT magazine covers that have been yellow or orange 2001—The year HT magazine was founded 45—The number of pastors who have written for the magazine 37—The number of laymen who have written for the magazine 47,500,000—The number of Google results for “Higher+Things+Magazine” 4—The number of bags of peanut M&Ms consumed at a two-day HT magazine meeting 47—The number of states where we have subscribers to the magazine 4—The number of articles about Contemporary Christian Music 18—The number of layouts featuring sunrays in the artwork Too many—Number of times we give the art director a hard time about featuring sunrays in the artwork
Some of the topics we’ve covered in Pulse columns • SpongeBob • Linkin Park • Star Wars • Rolling Stone • Lord of the Rings • Luther movie • Simpsons • Sports Illustrated • Passion of the Christ • Survivor • Hellboy, the comic book • The Silence of the Lambs • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe • Buffy the Vampire Slayer • 24 Article that sparked the most letters to the editor “Wizards, Witches, and Hogwarts: Should Christians Read the Harry Potter Books?” (Winter 2002) Strangest Photo in the Magazine [the tattoo guys from winter 02] What we know about Kathy Luder: • lives in Middleville, Indiana • thinks she’s beautiful • has Danish heritage • favorite foods start with the letter“w” • likes to listen to Bach • likes to spend Sunday afternoons at the mall • likes flowers, snow, melons, and pumpkins • dislikes mud, bugs, spiders, and snakes • likes to wear T-shirts and jeans • avid reader of the HT Forum • a fan of Strongbad e-mail • her true identity is not Adriane Dorr • e-mail address is kathyluder@hotmail.com
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“Don’t let Pr. Zill drive you in a golf cart (sprinklers!!). Also, that Mouth House people rock and they make good friends for life!!” – Kelsey Fischer, Weatherford, TX and Hanna Theiss, Houston, TX
“Higher Things is, for sure, one of a kind. I can’t wait for the next conference.”
“Fun things happen on 2 hours of sleep!” – Rae Gleason, Bridgman, MI
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“Colorado can be really hot, Pr. Borghardt is really funny, and that 1200 people singing Luther hymns is gorgeous.” – Rachel D., Goldsboro, NC
“So glad you’re offering two HT conferences! I’ve grown and learned so much from these conferences in my faith and about theology. THANK YOU! See you next year!”
“It was so wonderful to be able to worship with so many other people that share my faith.This has been one of the best experiences of my life.The music was wonderful—I had chills and tears in my eyes most of the time! I am grateful to have had this opportunity, especially right before I begin college.”
“I feel so much stronger in my faith and so proud of being Lutheran! All of the presentations I attended were outstanding, and I wish I could have been to all of them!”
“The services were familiar, beautiful, and faithful. The sermons proclaimed Christ crucified for me and gave me hope.”
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“Colorado drivers are insane and Pastor Sherrill loves U-turning!” – Sara Hasz, Kingston, WA
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“Keep up the good work.Thank you for providing me, and so many teenagers just like me with such a fun and wonderful experience. I praise the Lord that y’all dare to be Lutheran!!”
“Higher Things is so Lutheran and full of good stuff!” – Rev. Michael Erickson
“Higher Things provides a theologically sound reference.” – Nathan Nengebauer
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“It’s nice to learn more about my Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective.” – Lauren Hedstrom
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here was a funny commercial on television around Valentine’s Day last year. A man was sitting at the kitchen table while his wife stood with her back to him at the counter. She said,“Dear, is this the year that you bought me that diamond necklace I’ve always dreamt about?”
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Love
Got To Do with It? By Rev.Scott Stiegemeyer
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Photo courtesy Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
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With a look of terror on his face, eyes like saucers because he’d forgotten all about Valentine’s Day, the man said,“No, honey.” “Well, then did you make reservations at the ritzy French restaurant?” “Uh, no.” “Surely you bought a dozen roses.You have roses for me, don’t you?” “Actually, no, I don’t.” Getting a bit desperate but hoping for the best, the woman said,“Then I know you got me a sweet card. You did. Didn’t you?” The guy hesitated and said,“Well, no. I didn’t get you a card either dear. But I did think about it.” And with that, she swung around and threw her arms around him, kissing his face and neck.“Oh, I just knew it. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” The screen faded to black, and the announcer intoned, “Sometimes it’s the thought that counts. But in the real world buy your sweetheart . . . ” He then went on to promote whatever product the commercial is trying to sell. The point is that even though we repeat these shallow little platitudes to each other, such as “It’s the thought that counts,” we all know that’s baloney.Thoughts are great, but they are not enough. Not for a relationship based on love. But what is love? For many, it seems that love is just a feeling that comes and goes. With God, however, love is never mere sentiment. Love involves action.The Bible
says,“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). The Bible does not say God loved the world so that He had a warm feeling or thought a happy thought about us. Love is more than a warm fuzzy. It is action. I’m glad that when God loved the world, He didn’t just think about it. He got to work. He got dirty. He scuffed his shoes. He broke a sweat. He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins. The Church is the hands and feet and mouth of God in the world today. God makes His love known to sinners most explicitly through preaching and the Sacraments. He also makes His love known very tangibly through works of mercy. There is no question that people are obsessed with love.They want to feel loved. And they—at their best— want to show love to others. But real love can be hard to find because love is never selfish. It is always patient and giving and kind, just like St. Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 13. Where can people know that they are more than ascended apes, the results of random natural forces? How can they hear that their lives have meaning? What can be done to help people understand who God is and what He has done for us? I want to encourage all of you to consider and pray about dedicating your lives to full-time service in the Church as pastors and deaconesses. There are certainly many ways to demonstrate God’s love to people. But there is a special need for young men to consider pastoral ministry and young women to think about becoming deaconesses. God uses pastors to pronounce His declaration of pardon through preaching and Holy Absolution.The angels erupt with rejoicing each time a sinner is baptized into Christ. And it is a mighty privilege to wait on God’s people at the table where His own body and blood are served for the forgiveness of our sins. Being a pastor is hard and dangerous work, but God will use you to alter lives for time and eternity. While the pastor serves in his unique calling, the deaconesses of our Church demonstrate God’s mercy to people who are weak or hurting.They tend the sick and aged. They nurture children.They relate to the women of the parish and help care for the material needs of people. All of this is God’s action revealing His love as more than just a feeling. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is blessed with a very fine university system that prepares students to be instruments of God’s love as professional church workers. Go to higher-ed.lcms.org to find out more about what our educational institutions offer. God is in the business of loving humanity through Word and Sacrament and works of mercy. And the colleges and seminaries of your Church are here to offer you the finest training for these noble tasks. Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer is Director of Admission at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after recently moving from Concordia Lutheran Church in Brentwood, Pennsylvania. Contact him at stiegemeyerse@ctsfw.edu.
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Information about the 2007 Higher Things Conferences Location and Dates University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (capacity 1200) July 24-27, 2007 Plenary Speakers: Rev. William Cwirla (Hacienda Heights, CA) and Rev. Todd Wilken (St. Louis, MO)
LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center, Ridgecrest, NC (near Asheville) (capacity 1800) July 31-August 3, 2007 Plenary Speakers: Rev. William Cwirla (Hacienda Heights, CA) and Rev. Brent Kuhlman (Murdock, NE)
What To Expect Higher Things conferences are packed with excellent teaching from God’s Word, outstanding Christ-centered worship, loads of fun, and lots of opportunities to make new friends from all over the country – even from outside the country! Higher Things “Dares to be Lutheran,” meaning that we do not hide our uncompromising emphasis on God’s Word. In fact, youth tell us again and again that they love Higher Things conferences because they learn so much about their Savior and the Christian faith. Many conference attendees travel long distances and like to do some sightseeing as well. The conference schedules will allow for ample opportunities to enjoy the local sites, like the Mall of America in Minneapolis and the Biltmore Mansion and Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
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A Higher Things Luthe
Minnea July 24-July Music in Your Life: A Pre-Conference Workshop for Conference Musicians
Check out
Use of LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center for this ev
ran Youth Conference
apolis, MN y 27, 2007
Asheville, NC July 31-August 3, 2007
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For us by wickedness betrayed, For us, in crown of thorns arrayed, He bore the shameful cross and death; For us he gave His dying breath.
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LW 275 “Oh, Love, How Deep�, (v. 5)
www.foryou2007.org for more information!
vent does not imply alignment with or endorsement by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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www.higherthings.org
Register ONLINE at www.foryou2007.org
Music in Your Life: A Pre-Conference Workshop for Conference Musicians
Preconference Events
Registration $275 includes the conference activities, T-shirt, most meals, lodging, and more! A $75 non-refundable deposit per registration must accompany the registration forms or be paid at the time of online registration. Registration will be open August 1, 2006, to February 15, 2007, or when either conference fills, whichever happens first. All fees must be paid in U.S. funds. If the conference of your choice reaches capacity before your registration is processed, you may opt to be placed on a waiting list, transfer your group’s deposit to the other conference, or receive a refund of your deposit.
Discount for Early Registration Mailed registrations postmarked or online registrations completed by December 1, 2006, will receive $5 off each participant. Group and Individual Registration Forms can be downloaded from www.foryou2007.org.You can even register your entire group and pay your deposit online!
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A preconference choral workshop,“Music in Your Life,� will also be held one full day prior to both conferences for those who wish to sing in the conference choirs. More information about this great opportunity and applications to participate will be available to download by October 1, 2006. Both conference sites will provide lodging (for a modest fee) to groups arriving a day early for sightseeing. A large block of free time will also be incorporated into both conference schedules to provide opportunities for group sightseeing trips.
Who May Attend While Higher Things conferences are geared specifically for high school students, registrants may be any youth that have been confirmed before the date of the conference, including college students. Non-LCMS youth may attend with the approval of a local LCMS pastor and the appropriate conference coordinator. Adult chaperones must also complete registration forms. Unfortunately, children, spouses, and other adults cannot be accommodated as unregistered conference participants Higher Things recommends a ratio of one adult for every seven youth in your group, and one male adult if there are male youth, and/or one female adult if there are female youth in your group. Each group must be accompanied by at least one adult chaperone. Adult chaperones must be at least twenty-one years old at the time of registration and approved by their pastor for the role. College students have an opportunity to apply to serve the conferences as college student volunteers. Those selected to serve as College Student Volunteers receive a 50 percent discount on their registration fees. Watch www.ForYou2007.org for more information!
For us He prayed; for us He taught; For us His daily works He wrought, By words and signs and actions thus Still seeking not Himself but us. (LW 275:4)
HIGHER THINGS
News & Notes Higher Things, Inc. Updates Higher Things welcomes Pastor Brent Kuhlman (Murdock, NE) and Mr. Mark Pfundstein (Washington, DC) to the Board of Directors.
Thank Yous are in order The magazine staff would like to thank Pastor Todd Peperkorn for his years of dedicated service to Higher Things magazine and to the youth of our Church. We’re indebted to him for his labors and delighted to count him as a continued friend of Higher Things. Recently, we’ve also learned that Dr. Gene Edward Veith is retiring as columnist from Higher Things in order to devote his attention to his new position as Academic Dean at Patrick Henry University. We are sad to see him go, but we hope he will send along articles once in a while to include in the magazine.
Writing for Higher Things Magazine Update At its meeting in July, the Board of Directors for Higher Things appointed Pastor Tim Pauls as the new interim executive editor of Higher Things magazine, succeeding Pastor Todd Peperkorn who served as executive editor from the magazine’s inception in 2001. “I’ve been a big fan of Higher Things magazine since the first issue,” said Pauls.“It’s been a pleasure serving in various capacities, and I’m certainly honored by the appointment to interim editor.” When asked about the magazine, Pauls added,“Unlike other periodicals, HT has never been afraid to treat youth like they can think and want to learn—learn about Jesus and His Word and what that means for them. It’s always been a relevant, high-quality piece that never stops declaring why it’s worth daring to be Lutheran. Furthermore, the chance to work more with writers like Kathy [Luder] and the editorial staff is quite the privilege.” Pastor Pauls serves as associate pastor and acting school administrator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho, where he lives with his wife, Teresa, and their two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing and fly fishing. Pauls said that his initial goals with the magazine are to continue its high quality and increase circulation. His interim status is pending the appointment of a Publications Executive by the Higher Things Board of Directors.
Publications Executive Needed Higher Things has grown so much over the last few years that we’ve had to make some organizational changes in the past year in order to keep up with it all. We have a Board of Directors who oversee the big picture of Higher Things and serve as guardians of the mission and stewards of our resources. Then we have the Executives. They are the amazingly dedicated (and a little bit nuts) people who are in charge of doing all that you see Higher Things doing—conferences, retreats, campus ministry, Internet services, and publications. In the past, HT Publications has meant Higher Things magazine. The quality of writing and design is unparalleled in youth publications. Our magazine has not only set a high standard for Lutheran theological magazines, but it’s set a high standard for all that Higher Things puts into print. There’s a lot we’re doing and even more we’d like to do at Higher Things that need to maintain that standard of style and production set by our magazine. So we’re looking for someone to take on that job. If you (or someone you know) are a confessional Lutheran, support Higher Things, have an experienced eye for design and layout, are able to manage complex projects and a variety of staff, please check out the Higher Things Publications Executive job description linked at www.higherthings.org. We will be accepting resumes from candidates until October 15, 2006, at publications@higherthings.org.
If you’ve ever thought about writing for Higher Things magazine, take a look at the “For Writers” section at the Higher Things Web site (http://higherthings.org/magazine/writers.html). We have updated theme lists and new writers’ guidelines for the 2006–2007 publications.
Higher Things Online Higher Things Internet Services in conjunction with Higher Things magazine is proud to present to you a brand new premium service: an online edition of the Higher Things magazine that we affectionately call HT Online.This brand new service is available to new and existing subscribers of the magazine. HT Online allows you to view your favorite magazine online all the time. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can view the latest issue and all the past issues. Check it out at www.higherthings.org.
Conferences Just “For You,” Higher Things rejoices to introduce Pastors William Cwirla, Brent Kuhlman, and Todd Wilken as the main speakers for our 2007 Lutheran Youth Conferences. All three have well-deserved reputations in the Church as outstanding theologians, and youth at previous Higher Things conferences have rated each of them among the very best sectional teachers. Next summer, youth have a choice of not just one but two Higher Things Lutheran youth conferences. Both will celebrate the work of Christ “For You.”The first will be held from July 24–27, 2007, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN.The second will take place from July 31–August 3, 2007, at Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, NC, near Asheville. See our Web site (www.foryou2007.org) and the pull-out pages in this issue of the magazine for more information.
Use of LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center for this event does not imply alignment with or endorsement by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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MINING THE RICHES
He “Hosanna,”
they chanted. Perhaps it was more like an exuberant acclamation of kingly triumph (All hail the king!) and less like a prayer for their dying world (Grant us salvation!).
Two crowds were converging on their king.“Hosanna,” they chanted.Those before Him were coming out from Jerusalem to meet Him. Others followed from Bethany having witnessed the new life given to Lazarus. Pomp, power, prestige, and possessions had always been the way of a king. But this King was different. The preaching of the forgiveness of sins was complete; now He would embody forgiveness in His own suffering, death, resurrection, and glorious ascension. His way would not be the way of the world but the way of God, the true King. He came not upon the stallion carrying war’s death-bearing king but mounted the donkey bearing the burden of peace. And as true King, He came not to serve Himself but those in the dying world around Him. As He entered Jerusalem, the Holy City, every eye was fixed on Him who is true God, begotten of the Father from eternity H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 20
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9 ESV)
Rides! Original art by Tom DuBois
By Rev. J. Bart Day
and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, who had come as their Lord.This Son of man they knew. He came into streets shadowed by sin. He came to hearts strained by suffering, to those groaning under guilt, burdened by the rigid demands of the Law. He came to those who are outcast, plagued by both disease and birth, to those crying out in grief and loss. He came as Lord of the Sabbath, giving rest to all the weary, breaking the prisons’ bars, giving release to the captive. He came with all eyes fixed upon Him, a myriad confessing the name. Out of the mouths of babes, He perfected praise with all creation echoing.The air was filled with music of flute and drum, pipe and tambourine, filled with petaled fragrance, filled with palms signing victory, the Father’s creation crying out in praise to the creating Word who came in flesh. He came even to those who would despise and reject Him, to those who would hate and kill him. Caesar and his power surveyed all.The stony flesh of the self-proclaimed savior pointed to an empty promise. From above, Caesar’s minions mused on what was to come. Below, the Messiah reached out to the outcast, to the weeping, to the weary. What is below leads to what is truly above. Once it was the voice of the Father saying,“You are my
“Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die. O Christ, your triumphs now begin O’er captive death and conquered sin.” (“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty,” (LW 105:2)
beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11 ESV). But with Christ‘s coming, Baptism, temptation, and transfiguration are complete. He came down among His people to lift them up by being lifted upon the cursed tree. Still He rides. Having traveled from the Father back to the Father, He remains in our midst. Before His ascension, He declared, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 ESV). As once He rode upon the lowly donkey, still He rides into our midst by way of the simply and lowly gifts of Word, water, bread, and wine. In our very midst is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 ESV), still offering the same forgiveness to those weary by the changes and chances of life. Together with the body of Christ and the communion of saints, we are drawn down to look upon the Word made flesh who descends to our need. In seeing Him, we see the Savior of the world. We, too, must cry,“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” For He comes to us. Rev. J. Bart Day is associate pastor and headmaster of Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston,Texas. You can e-mail Rev. Day at revday@mlchouston.org.
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ow when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say,‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’“ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting,“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said,“This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11 ESV)
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Ultimate Event
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The
H I G H E R
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hrist Academy is a two-week 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 some day becoming a pastor. ✠ ✠ ✠ ✠ ✠
Worship, the Center of the Experience Life-Changing Studies Clarity of Direction Fun Activities June 17-June 30, 2007
For more information, please call:
1-800-481-2155 www.ctsfw.edu ChristAcademy@ctsfw.edu
Jesus in the Movies
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By Rev. George F. Borghardt III
astor, you just need to realize that this is just fiction. It’s just a movie. It’s just fiction. If you think about it that way, you can enjoy the movie.” Evidently, my body language in the theater betrayed what I was thinking.
“Thank you. I’ll try to remember that.” Being a pastor is fun; you always get to give the nice answer. I straightened up, was more mindful of what my body was communicating, and tried to watch the movie. It wasn’t that the movie was particularly bad. It was that I was having problems suspending disbelief. It wasn’t just fiction; it was anti-historical. I mean, really. Jesus never married Mary Magdalene. He has a bride already: the Church. Now, the movie had the part about Jesus being a man right, but He is also true God. If He’s not God, then I’m lost, because it takes God dying to save me from all my horrific sins. Come to think of it, Jesus seemed to be everywhere this summer. He was on the big screen in movies like The DaVinci Code and The Omen.Then there’s TV. He was on the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and people were talking about Him on morning shows. Jesus was everywhere. But which Jesus did we see? Was He the Jesus who is true God and true man, begotten of His Father before all worlds? Was He the Jesus who is God of God and Light of Light, very God of very God? Was He the Jesus who loved His bride and gave up His life for her that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water and the Word? Or was
He the Jesus portrayed in The DaVinci Code and scrutinized by the History Channel, who was only human, married to a woman, had kids, died, and stayed dead? Does evil get defeated by force as in movies like The Omen? Or does Jesus defeat the devil by dying on a tree? And the big question of the summer: Is the Jesus you saw in the movies and on television the One who rose again from the dead on the third day? That’s the problem with learning about Jesus from movies and the television.You never know who you are going get. Are you going to get the One who was crucified for you or some other Jesus? It can be hard to separate the fact from the fiction, especially when it’s made so entertaining. Nothing generates revenue like a controversy about Jesus. But there is real danger for Christians because fiction isn’t just fiction if it leads you into false belief or despair. Now, you don’t go to the doctor and ask him to fix your car. No, that’s what the mechanic does.You don’t go to the mechanic to get your teeth cleaned; that’s what a dentist does. Each one—mechanic, dentist, and doctor—are all gifts from God. Each job requires specific skills, and those skills have been given to help us. It’s true |that the dentist may be able to tell you about your car and the mechanic may tell you about your teeth. But if you want the straight stuff, you go to the most qualified person who has been provided for you by God for that specific task. The place that the Lord has given for us to learn and hear about the real Jesus is the Church. In the Church, you get the true Jesus through His gifts—the Word preached, read, and delivered in its truth and purity as well as the Sacraments given out rightly (Augsburg Confession, Article VIII). In the Church, the bride of Christ, we receive Jesus
preached into our ears, and we have our sins washed away in Baptism. He even feeds us His body and blood under the bread and wine. Popcorn may taste good, but the body and blood of Christ gives eternal life. The lady who gave me advice as I watched the movie was right. We can look at these things as fiction. But we must also handle this fiction with care and guard our eyes and ears so that we put our trust only in the true and good stuff of Jesus Christ crucified for us. The Word is the test, isn’t it? Does what you hear agree with what was preached to you? Does it agree with what you were taught in the catechism and read in the Scriptures? Are you hearing about the Jesus who died and rose for you, or are you hearing about another Jesus? I realized I was thinking too much and not watching the movie. I had missed a few minutes.The fiction on the screen was now Tom Hanks’ character talking about the Council of Nicaea with actor Ian McKellen who played Gandalf and Magneto. Then the wonderful Christian lady next to me leaned over and commented,“I didn’t know that was how we got the Scriptures.” I whispered back,“Umm, it’s not.This is all fiction.” And because I couldn’t resist, I said with a giant smile,“You just need to realize that this movie is just a movie. It’s just fiction. If you think about it like that, you can enjoy the movie.” She gave me a loving whack on the arm, but we both learned a lesson.That’s the great thing about being a pastor: you get to deliver Jesus all the time, even during a bad movie. Rev. George F. Borghardt III is the assistant/youth pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe,Texas. He is the Internet Services Executive and the southeastern chairman of the For You Higher Things 2007 conference. Check out his blog at http://blog.higherthings.org/borghardt/ or e-mail him at revborghardt@higherthings.org.
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Chapel, Minneapolis, MN ✠ University Lutheran Church & Student Center, Champaign, IL ✠ University Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IN ✠ Zion Lutheran Church, Alva, OK ✠ Zion Lutheran Church, Morris, MN
✠ CHRIST ON CAMPUS CHAPTERS ✠ All Saints Lutheran Church & Student Center, Slippery Rock, PA ✠ Christ the King Lutheran Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, MI ✠ Concordia Luthe
Confessing Christ to Your onfessing Christ on campus is confessing Christ among people we know as friends— all of whom God wants to save through the knowledge of salvation.
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The best opportunities we have to faithfully confess Christ are to people we already know, like our friends, roommates, and classmates. Friends are far more likely to seriously listen to us. Handing out tracts and Bibles to unknown people is virtually fruitless.There is wisdom in this saying:“People will not care what you know until they know that you care.” Do you want to confess Christ to friends but aren’t sure what to say? Here are a few simple suggestions that may set the stage for the Gospel to be heard and believed by your friends. Some call this pre-evangelism, and it is easy enough for anyone to do.
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Ask them what they know and believe about Jesus. A question about Jesus’ identity is always much better than a personal, emotionally charged sermon about how Jesus changed your life, just as He can your friend’s if he would only invite Jesus into his heart. How you segue into that question takes a little creativity and observation. What are the two of you already talking about? Was there a TV special on Jesus last night? A recent debate about Jesus on campus? A new movie that challenges the truth of our faith? In all likelihood, people know at least a little about Jesus. Most either believe in Him or are uncertain. Either way, friends are usually glad to explain what they know or admit their ignorance about a subject when asked. Asking a question is non-threatening. It shows you don’t assume you know everything, nor are you advancing a hidden agenda to change another’s religious beliefs. A question asked with sincerity and calmness shouldn’t put your friend on the defensive. A question shows interest.
Use your friend’s response in your reply. Listen carefully to your friend’s answer. Ask more questions if you need clarification.You may want to repeat it back in your own words, which shows that you seek clarity, simplicity, and accuracy. For example, you might say,“So, Jesus was a good man and inspiring teacher but not God.” Now, you could stop here.You found out what you wanted to know. Perhaps your friend will now ask you what you believe. Great. He or she is giving you permission to speak about what you know and believe about Jesus. Or you might gently move the conversation along further. Do it with a question. For example,“Hmm. If Jesus was truly a good man, why did He say all those things about Himself being God?” Your friend now has to think about it. A good man doesn’t usually lie. Either Jesus was a good man and spoke the truth, or He was a liar, a lunatic, or something worse. In such a scenario, your friend might reveal inaccurate knowledge.“Well, that was just what others said about Him. Jesus never said that about Himself.” Before saying,“Wait a minute! That’s not true!” pause and think how to pose your objection in the form of another question: “Hmm. How do you explain in John 8:58 where Jesus says,‘Before Abraham was, I am’? Or when Jesus was asked if He was Christ, the Messiah, while He stood before the Jews and before Pilate, and He finally admitted,‘I am’ (Mark 14:62)?” Here’s another approach:“Yes, others did say that about Him, didn’t they? Why do you suppose men like Peter and Paul said that and remained completely faithful to Jesus’ identity as God in human flesh (even to their own death) if they had not been convinced of it through Jesus’ resurrection appearances?” Good questions help keep the conversation going and advancing towards the truth.
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t. Calvary Lutheran Church, Gunnison, CO ✠ St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church & Campus Center, Laramie, WY ✠ St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel, Iowa City, IA ✠ University Lutheran
eran Church & Student Center, Vermillion, SD ✠ Grace Lutheran Church, Muncie, IN ✠ Luther Memorial
By Rev. Derek Roberts
Another question may be in order. People often question truth and historical knowledge. If, for example, your friend says:“Well, we can’t really know the truth about Jesus,” then you might respond with another question. Ask “What do you mean by that?” or “Have you read any books about the reliability of the New Testament?” Not every conversation has to get to the foot of the cross and the fact that Jesus died for your sins. It may go there, but don’t force it.The key is to ask sincere questions, not quote verses or shame the person for his disbelief. If possible, try to avoid tension, but realize that any question your friend can’t answer—no matter how kindly and respectfully asked—may not be welcome. You may have to drop the topic or wait for another time to continue.That’s okay. But don’t think your conversation was fruitless or a failure.The goal is to plant a seed; only God through the Spirit can bring it to life.You want to get your friend thinking about who Jesus is. It may cause him to privately reflect and search out the truth from you or someone else at another time. It also helps to have a foundation of knowledge about the reliability of what we know and confess to be true.Take a look at the resources on our Web site (christoncampus.higherthings.org), especially the section entitled “Books Every College Student Should Read.” At Christ on Campus, we encourage you to build yourself up to give “a reason for the hope that is in you” doing so “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV). Rev. Derek Roberts is a campus pastor serving the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, via First Lutheran Church. He is a member of Team Campus and can be reached by e-mailing pastor@utklutheran.org.
Chapel & University Student Center, Shorewood, WI ✠ Lutheran Campus Ministry, Knoxville, TN ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship at Berkeley, CA ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship of Pittsburgh, PA ✠ Lutheran Student
Friends
Christ on Campus is: ✠ The campus ministry arm of Higher Things ✠ Pastors and laity interested in confessional Lutheran campus ministry ✠ A great source for campus ministry resources ✠ Discussion forums for college students and campus ministry workers ✠ College retreats and service opportunities ✠ A growing and developing network of campus ministry chapters
Christ on Campus Chapters Twenty strong and growing daily! The nine newest chapters include: ✠ All Saints Lutheran Church & Student Center, Slippery Rock, PA ✠ Christ the King Lutheran Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, MI ✠ Luther Memorial Chapel & University Student Center, Shorewood, WI ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship at Stanford, Palo Alto, CA ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship at Vanderbilt, Nashville,TN ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship at Wright State University, OH ✠ Redeemer Lutheran Student Fellowship, Dickinson, ND ✠ Zion Lutheran Church, Alva, OK ✠ Zion Lutheran Church, Morris, MN
Fall College Retreats Check our Web site for more details! University Lutheran Chapel, Minneapolis, MN Dates: October 13-15, 2006 Speaker: Rev. Brent Kuhlman Topic:“Forensic Justification: A More Radical Gospel! A More Radical Lutheranism!” University Lutheran Church & Student Center, Champaign, IL Dates: October 20-21, 2006 Speaker: Rev. Prof. Roland Ziegler Topic:“God’s Grace for All of Our Life”” University Lutheran Chapel, Boulder, CO Dates: October 27-29, 2006 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Steven Hein: Topic:“Three’s Company: Cross Life in Dating, Intimacy, and Marriage” First Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN Dates: October 27-29, 2006 Speaker: Mr. Craig Parton Topic:“Christianity on Trial: Cross Examining Christianity’s Truth Claims from a Legal Perspective”
Christ on Campus V Staff Conference Make plans to join us in Milwaukee.More details to come! June 5-7, 2007 Luther Memorial Chapel & University Student Center, F A Shorewood, WI
Learn more about Christ on Campus http://christoncampus.higherthings.org Contact: Rev. Marcus Zill, Christ on Campus Executive: zill@higherthings.org or (307) 745-5892
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Fellowship at Stanford, Palo Alto, CA ✠ Lutheran Student Fellowship at Wright State University, OH ✠
Myths of Individual Confession Holy Absolution By Rev. Brent W. Kuhlman
Myths
abound concerning the practice of private Confession and Absolution in the Church. Below are seven common myths. (1) Lutherans eliminated the practice of private Confession and Absolution. Therefore, private Confession and Absolution are done only by Roman Catholics. (2) God forgives me because I confess. (3) God forgives me because I’m sorry for my sins. (4) God forgives me because I promise to do better. (5) A pastor can’t forgive sins because he’s just a man, not God. (6) My pastor will get on the phone and tell my parents what I’ve confessed. (7) Private Confession and Absolution is done in a booth.
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It’s time to undo some of these misunderstandings. Are you ready? Here goes.The Lord Jesus Christ mandates that the forgiveness of sins be proclaimed in the Church. Jesus said: “If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven,” (John 20:23 ESV). (See also Matthew 16:19; 18:18.) Forgiveness is not an option. The forgiveness of sins that Jesus won for the world by His Good Friday death is to be applied and given out through the spoken spirited Word of pardon by the called ministers of Christ. On account of the Lord’s Word, the Reformers kept and extolled private Confession and Absolution with the pastor. Why? For the sake of comforting the troubled conscience with the word of absolution: “I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Pull out your Small Catechism. The fifth chief part teaches you how you can go to your pastor individually to confess and to receive Absolution. So does the
hymnal. (See page 310 in Lutheran Worship.) Elsewhere the reformers stated:“For we also retain confession [with the pastor] especially on account of absolution, which is the Word of God” (Ap XII 99). In addition, we maintain that the Absolution “is a command of God—indeed, the very voice of the Gospel” (Ap XI 2). Since the Church is created and lives from the Gospel, we Lutherans happily keep individual Confession and Absolution for sinners who freely choose to use it. Since this is a service of the Church, the rite is normally done in front of the altar at the communion rail, the altar candles are lit, and the pastor is vested. It’s the Lord Jesus who’s the forgiver. When the pastor speaks the Absolution, it is Christ’s Word. Christ Jesus Himself is there in His Spirit-filled words speaking, doing, and giving what He says and promises: forgiveness. When you hear the Absolution, you hear Christ just as the paralytic heard Jesus say:“My son,
and
your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5 ESV). The absolution is the viva vox Christi (the living voice of Christ) for you. God wants you to confess. Please do. Before Him, plead guilty of all your sins, even the ones you don’t know about like you do when you pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” But before the pastor you’re free to confess only the sins that bother you as you examine your life according to the Ten Commandments. What’s more, God wants you to be sorry. He works that in you through the Ten Commandments too. In addition, God wants you to improve. And He’ll see to that too through His Gospel applied to you. But that’s not why God forgives you. He forgives you only because His Son Jesus died for you. Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 ESV). Our confidence then is in Jesus and His Word of absolution. We trust what He’s done on the cross and what He
says and gives in His spoken Word of pardon. What Christ has forgiven is forgiven. Consequently, your pastor will not divulge your confession to anyone. “The words which absolution give Are his who died that we might live; The minister whom Christ has sent Is but his humble instrument. When ministers lay on their hands, Absolved by Christ the sinner stands; He who by grace the Word believes The purchase of his blood receives” (“As Surely as I Live, God Said,” LW 235:5–6) Happy confessing. Happy trusting the Absolution! Rev. Brent W. Kuhlman, STM, is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Murdock, Nebraska. His e-mail address is bb55841@alltel.net.
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Enemies to B
ecause the boys were all gone for some reason or another last night, my mom and I had dinner alone. We had quiche. My dad and brothers are too fussy to eat it, so it’s a bit of a treat, and it was fun. Afterwards, while I dried and Mom washed, we got into a little debate.
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“Any homework?” Mom asked. “Just this stupid assignment from Mrs. Pavlov, but I’m not doing it,” I said. “Really?” she asked, raising her eyebrows. “Yeah. It’s no big deal. She doesn’t read anything we hand in, and half the time she loses it. It’s just busy work. I’m just going to make it up during lunch and hand it in.” Mom had stopped scrubbing the pan in the sink. Her face was frozen, eyebrows arched, lips pursed. She didn’t say a thing. She just looked at me. I hate that. My heart started racing. I could feel myself getting nervous. I went on.“I’ve got it covered. The whole class knows it’s a joke. It’s not a real assignment. She’s just punishing us
because Jason won’t do his homework. She can’t make him do anything, so she thinks if she is mean enough to us, we’ll pressure him into it.” She turned back to the pot.“What’s the assignment?” she asked. “She wants us to read a column from a news magazine or a newspaper and find four rhetorical devices or examples, like metaphors, and then explain them. It’s supposed to be one page. I can just make it up. She won’t know and doesn’t really care. I hate that class.” “That assignment doesn’t sound that hard,” she said. “But it’s not fair. I can’t make Jason do his homework. And she really doesn’t read our assignments anyway. She is the worst teacher I have ever had,” I said, stomping my foot. “Who is the teacher?” she asked quietly. I kept drying.“Is she asking you to sin?” she asked. “No, but she shouldn’t be a teacher,” I said.“She doesn’t like kids. My English is better than hers.” My voice was
Love
By Kathy Luder
getting louder. “It doesn’t matter. She’s the teacher. You’re not.This won’t hurt you.” Her voice was still quiet. She put the pot in the dish drainer and turned to me.“You have to do it,” she said. “Mom, you don’t understand. She always picks on Molly and me.” I felt my foot stomp of its own accord as I backed away from the sink.“Even the principal thinks she’s mean and unfair. He told us at student council that she was in trouble with the school board.” Now I was pacing the floor. Mom stood still, her eyes following me. I stopped.“He told Molly that he’ll even change her grades if Mrs. Pavlov isn’t fair. He’s done it before.” “It still doesn’t matter,” she said, taking my towel and picking up the pot. I just stood there and heard myself whisper,“I hate her.” Mom froze.“No, you don’t.Take that back.” “She’s the worst. Okay, I don’t hate
her,” I said. “Good,” she said. “But I really dislike her,” I added. “Of course.You can’t help that. But you can be nice. And you can obey,” she said. “Mom . . .” I started to protest. Mom put up her hand.“That‘s enough. She’s a person. She has problems. One of them is the principal. Another is Jason. And you’re one too. Don’t you think she can tell how you feel?” “But she’s mean!” I said. “Maybe she is mean because no one is nice to her,” she said, bending over to put away the pan. “But she started it.” Mom stood up and twisted around, tossing me the towel.“Then you stop it. You show her what love is.” “What? You want me to love her?” I asked. “Yes. Love her. Respect her . . . even though she doesn’t deserve it.
Being mean to a mean person never made him nice. And I seem to recall someone once saying ‘Love your enemies.’” She smirked as she walked out of the kitchen. I grabbed the paper and a notebook and sat down at the table. I figured I’d just plow through it, but Mom came back in with a magazine. She sat down beside me.“I found one,” she said.Then we worked through the assignment together. Mom’s interest got me interested, and I was surprised how much essayists depend on rhetorical devices. We could have finished in ten minutes, but we kept finding better and better examples and really enjoyed ourselves. When we finished, I said,“Mom, I’m sorry I was so snotty about Mrs. Pavlov. I really don’t hate her.“ “I know Kathy.The One who said ‘Love your enemies’ first loved us.That makes all the difference, doesn’t it?” “Yeah, it does,” I said, feeling the grin spread across my face. “Kathy?” she said as she stood up. “Yeah?” I said. I saw that smirk return as she turned to leave and said,“That was a rhetorical question.” Kathy Luder loves quiche and metaphors.You can e-mail her at kathyluder@ hotmail.com.
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Honor Thy Pastor
by Rev. David Petersen
n the Table of Duties at the end of the Small Catechism, Luther includes the following Bible passage under “What Hearers Owe Their Pastor”:
I What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:14 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Gal. 6:6-7 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 1 Tim. 5:17-18 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 1 Thess. 5:12-13
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Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb. 13:17
1 Timothy 5:17–18 says,“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says,‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’” (NKJ). In 1 Timothy, the word elder does not mean an elected lay official as it often does among us. It is a title for the spiritual elders, that is, the pastors like Timothy. St. Paul’s point is that the hearer owes his pastor honor and should be especially thankful for the preaching (Word) and teaching (doctrine) that the pastor does. Part of what St. Paul is writing here is that the pastors should be paid. In the best of circumstances, the pastor makes his living by the charity of his hearers and devotes himself full time to this work. But there is more to honor than money. Honoring your pastor also includes listening with intent to his sermons, praying for him, encouraging him, and helping him. In the first place, you honor your pastor by listening to, comprehending, and learning from his sermons.The pastor is primarily a preacher.That is what he was called to do. He probably works far harder on his sermons than you realize. He does so because he thinks they are important. When you listen with intent, with concentration, trying to comprehend and apply what he is saying, you honor him.You could also honor him by attending Bible class. It is also important to pray for your pastor. Pastors face many temptations and also have very important work to do. Remembering him in your prayers honors and helps him. Encouraging and complimenting the pastor is also a way to honor him. He needs to hear your gratitude.That gratitude encourages him and lets him know that his work has value. Some people worry about giving the pastor a
big head. But big heads don’t come by way of compliments but by way of defensiveness. If your pastor is honored by you and feels loved by you, it will humble him and energize him. You do not need to do any more than say “Thank you, Pastor” on the way out of church on Sunday morning, but specific praise and thanks is always more powerful and more meaningful. No pastor in the world would be anything less than thrilled if a teen came out of church and said something like:“Pastor, I really liked the way you used you explained the word grace in the sermon today. I’d never thought of that before, and I now feel closer to God and more thankful than ever before. I am looking forward to next Sunday.” You can help the pastor by considering his needs and helping.You could volunteer to babysit his children or mow his lawn. Pastors need those things. But what most pastors really want is volunteers.You could honor your pastor by helping with Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, or the Evangelism Committee.You could help with little things your pastor does every week that few people notice, like making the coffee on Sunday mornings, straightening (and removing old bulletins from) hymnals, or locking up. This all seems pretty obvious.These are the kinds of things most of us do automatically for our grandmothers. Still, maybe none of these things quite fits the bill for you and your pastor.That‘s okay. St. Paul doesn’t tell us how to honor our pastors, just that we should. Rev. David Petersen is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is also on the Higher Things editorial board. His e-mail address is David.H.Petersen@att.net.
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Asheville, NC July 31-August 3, 2007
A Higher Things Lutheran Youth Conference Minneapolis, MN July 24-July 27, 2007
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The Gospel is not just that Jesus died. The Gospel is that Jesus died FOR YOU. The Good News of Easter isn't only that Jesus rose, but that Jesus rose FOR YOU. On the Cross, Jesus won forgiveness, life, and salvation FOR YOU. Then, as if that wasn't enough good news, on the third day, He rose FOR YOU. It's not just a nice idea; it's personal. FOR YOU makes the Good News very good news indeed! At Higher Things, we think the proclamation "FOR YOU" delivers so much Gospel that we've decided to make "FOR YOU" the theme for next summer's two conferences. Next year, Higher Things is more than doubling the capacity of our annual conferences by offering one "FOR YOU" in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 24-27, 2007, and the next week, one more "FOR YOU" in Asheville, North Carolina, from July 31August 3, 2007. Online registration FOR YOU opens on August 1, 2006 and will close on February 28, 2007* or when capacity is reached for each conference, whichever happens first.
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