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In the week before Lent, Pr. Sam Schuldheisz joins us on HT-Radio. For the first half of the episode he talks about fasting in Lent Then, Pr. Borghardt and Jon Kohlmeier have “Free Time.” In free time, Jon Kohlmeier gives a shout out to some of our regular listeners and then Pr. Borghardt talks about having a happy Lent.
The Fall Christ on Campus Care Packages were a huge success and the Spring Care Packages can be ordered through March 15th!
These make perfect gifts to send college students from parents, grandparents, church youth groups, LWML circles, and others. So dare to care about your college students while they are away from home and feed them the Higher Things way!
Learn more and order now through March 15th!
Rev. Marcus Zill, Executive
Higher Things, Christ on Campus
zill@higherthings.org
“Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517”
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This week we have a special “Free Time” episode of HT-Radio. Pr. George Borghardt and Jon Kohlmeier talk about things that are on their minds. They begin by walking through the Gospel lessons for the “-gesima” Sundays of Pre-Lent. Then they talk about the original Star Wars trilogy in a segment that was recorded at 2am on Saturday. Jon Kohlmeier spent his friday night watching the trilogy with a group from Luther Memorial Chapel in Shorewood, WI. He has some questions about the fourth commandment and baptism in the films. Finally, Pr. Borghardt talks about how the Law isn’t for “someone else,” it’s for you!
Dear Reflections readers,
Glory be to Jesus! This is the refrain of the Lenten Reflections from Higher Things as we hear of the glory of Jesus in His suffering and death for sinners. The Lenten Reflections begin with Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and carry us through Holy Week (and an Easter surprise), April 8, 2012. We are also pleased to offer an additional format. Try the new “in line” PDF file, great for reading the Reflections on your computer or mobile device. As always, a printable booklet is available.
To download the Reflections as a PRINTABLE BOOKLET, click here.
To download the Reflections as an IN LINE PDF file, click here.
In Christ,
Pastor Mark Buetow
HT Media Services
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This week on HT-Radio Pr. Buetow talks about his recent article on the Higher Things website, “Growing Up? You Need your Pastor More than Ever!” (http://dtbl.org/4608). In the second half he joins Pr. Borghardt and Jon for “Free Time” and helps answer a question from a college student about the Law. Then, Pr. Cwirla concludes his series on the Lord’s Prayer talking about the last word, “Amen.”
In the weeks preceding our youth conferences each summer, we often hear the question, “What color will the shirts be this year?” And when the crowds of Lutheran youth, chaperones, and pastors arrive at a college campus and check in at the Higher Things registration table, they receive a bag full of conference materials, which includes the greatly-anticipated conference t-shirt.
This year, in honor of Higher Things’ 12th birthday and the Twelve conference theme, we are offering a special opportunity: We are looking for 12 groups and/or individuals to sponsor conference t-shirts. For a minimum $1200 donation, your logo will be printed on the back of the conference t-shirts, which every attendee at all four conferences will receive, wear throughout the week, and take home as a great souvenir to be seen by lots of other people too! This year’s donation amount is drastically reduced from previous years, and we hope that more of you will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
Please email exhibitors@higherthings.org to reserve your spot on the Twelve conference t-shirts. Our conference attendees will appreciate you!
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In Episode 171 of HT-Radio, we look forward to the Transfiguration, which falls this Sunday, in the One-Year Lectionary. Pr. Bamsch talks about Peter’s “mountain top experience” that was interrupted by a cloud and the voice of the Father. Then Pr. Cwirla is almost finished walking us through the Lord’s Prayer. This week, he covers the last petition, “deliver us from evil.” Next week he’ll talk about the conclusion. Oh… yeah.. we came up a little short on time so you’ll have to bear with Pr. Borghardt and Jon Kohlmeier for a couple minutes.
Rev. Mark Buetow
As you move up out of middle school and into high school and from high school into college, the Lord has given you, beside your parents, teachers, and other adults to help you, a very important person: your pastor. This week, the church celebrates the festivals of three pastors (St. Timothy on January 24 and St. Titus on January 26, with St. Paul’s Conversion in between). It’s a good time to stop and remember why you need a pastor more than ever as you face the challenges of going from youth to adult.
Let’s start with your Baptism. The pastor you have now may or may not be the one who baptized you. But the pastor whom the Lord has given you now has the job of reminding you whose child you are even when it seems like you’re a wandering orphan. Your pastor will remind you that when you were washed with water and the Word, you were made a child of God. Right now, there are a lot of influences around that want to force their identity on you. Be cool. Be bad. Be yourself. Be whatever you want. When all those confusing voices make you uncertain, your pastor will remind you who you are and to whom you belong. In Jesus, by your Baptism, you are a child of God. You are His dear and precious child because His dear and precious Son died and rose for you. When you doubt your identity, ask your pastor. He’ll tell you!
Holy Absolution. Your pastor knows you. He knows what you do even if you don’t tell him. He was a kid once. He was in high school. He went to college. He knows the temptations that are out there. And so it is that your pastor may gently take you aside and remind you that you might not be acting like a child of God. That there might be some repentance needed there. Yet your pastor would only do that so that He can absolve you. Forgive you! Declare to you the Good News that even though you’ve messed up, pulled a whopper, done something stupid, in short, you sinned–for Jesus’ sake those sins are gone. Wiped out. Bled for by Jesus. Died for by Jesus. Left in the empty tomb by Jesus. Forgiven. Forgotten by God. Your pastor’s job is to remind you of that. When you are burdened in a way that you can share with no one else, go see your pastor. He’ll lead you to the cross and the font and the altar and pronounce forgiveness so that you can go in peace!
The Word. Your pastor is there to help you face the challenges to your faith that the devil, world and your own sinful nature throw at it. Especially in high school and college, those around you are good at challenging what you believe, calling it into question, trying to prove to you that it’s wrong and foolish. Sometimes even your close friends who belong to other denominations and religions will try to show you that what you believe is wrong. Your pastor is ready to strengthen you with God’s Word. With the comfort of the scriptures. With the Good News of Jesus. Along with reminding you of God’s promises, your pastor can help you sort out the arguments and issues you have to deal with and understand them with the wisdom of God’s holy Word at your disposal. Your pastor is trained to help you give a ready defense of your faith and confess Jesus boldly in a world that wants to ridicule and laugh at your believing in Jesus. When you have questions you can’t answer, go see your pastor. He’ll help you sort them out and answer them with God’s unfailing Word!
Holy Communion. Your parents try to keep up with your appetite by keeping the fridge full. Your health teacher tells you to watch what you eat so you stay healthy. And there’s always the appeal of grabbing some fast food with your friends. The Lord has given you a pastor to make sure you also eat regularly the food that gives eternal life. Your pastor wants to make sure you don’t miss out on the gift of eating and drinking Christ’s body and blood. Even when you’re young you can experience death. It might be a grandparent or younger family member. A friend dies from cancer or is killed in a car accident. Even if you think you are invincible you know that death is out there. And only one thing can overcome it, beat it, and defeat it. That’s Jesus who rose from the dead and who promises that in eating His body and blood He will live in you and you in Him and He will raise you up from the Last Day. In an uncertain world where anything can happen, when you worry about what your future holds, go see your pastor! He’ll give you the body and blood of Jesus as God’s own promise that you are taken care of now and forever.
There’s too many attacks on you from the devil, the world and your sinful nature for you not to need your pastor! He’s the one guy out there who isn’t there to judge you or condemn you but help and comfort you. He doesn’t do it with worldly wisdom or cheap psychology aimed at teenagers. No, he’s got something much better to help you. He’s got God’s Word. As a steward of Jesus’ gifts, your pastor is Jesus’ connection to you your whole life long and right now, too. So go and put your pastor to work. He’ll be glad you did. For after all, the Lord has called him to be a pastor for you!
Rev. Mark Buetow is pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, IL. He is also the Media Executive of Higher things.
We Lutherans talk a lot about the difference between Law and Gospel. You know the terms. But what difference does it make? You’ve heard about C. F. W. Walther, too, but what’s he got to say about this for us today? We’ll open up our Bibles, ask each other lots of questions, and find out. Yeah, it makes a difference – in like everything we do: knowing Christ, hearing and sharing God’s Word, living every day. It’s one of the highest things!
Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Prior to coming to the seminary, he served two congregations in Texas for a total of fifteen years.
When: Saturday, March 24, 2012
Cost: $25/person
Where: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church / 7611 Park Lane / Dallas, TX 75225
For more information contact: Rev. Michael Schuermann, (972) 638-7652 or revschuermann@orlcs.com
or
Sandra Ostapowich at retreats@higherthings.org – Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
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Jon Kohlmeier comes speeding back to HT-Radio this week to ask Pr. Borghardt about the Fourth Commandment. Also, sitting at the table in Fort Wayne is Rev. Rich Heinz. Pr. Heinz continues to talk about the Forth Commandment and pirating music. Sandra Ostapowich jumps in to talk about this summer’s Twelve conferences and then Pr. Heinz walks us through the Wedding at Cana text and Jesus turning water into wine.
