Author: Higher Things

Higher Things has a photo contest! If you would like to vote on the best photo of who is reading Higher Things, CLICK HERE and you will be able to download the file and vote. Enjoy!

-Pastor Todd Peperkorn
Executive Editor

Higher Things wishes to offer our apologies for the delay in providing pictures from the recent Dare to be Lutheran conference. We ran into unexpected problems.

However – we have pictures now!! LOTS of them. Come and see all that went on last month in St. Louis at DTBL.

Six new Bible studies with leader guides are now available on the Higher Things web site. These Bible studies are based on articles in the current issue of Higher Things, and include addressing topics such as life, aliens, the pope, getting punched for defending the faith, ceremonies, prayer, and losing stupid. They are downloadable, and are available in PDF format, or other formats upon request. They are also free, so enjoy!

Check otu Dr. Norman Nagels (of the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) sermon from the Dare to be Lutheran Conference here.

If you are a college student, or a group leader with college students coming, don’t forget about our Christ on Campus College Sectional. Detailed information, including some changes in program, are available at:

http://higherthings.org/html/campus/events/dtbl.html

If you are a college student, or a group leader with college students coming, don’t forget about our Christ on Campus College Sectional. Detailed information, including some changes in program, are available at:

http://higherthings.org/html/campus/events/dtbl.html

7 Days ’til 1200 Youth DARE TO BE LUTHERAN!!

The annual Higher Things youth conference, “Dare to be Lutheran”, begins ONE WEEK from TODAY in St. Louis, MO.

You’ve heard about this upcoming conference for months. Maybe your church is sending youth to it. But what will actually be going on there each day? What are the speakers talking about? What is the worship like? Who got to throw out the first pitch at that Cardinals game?

Keep up with the Higher Things conference on our Live DTBL BlogCast. Articles and pictures from the conference will be posted multiple times each day by Higher Things Webmaster, Stan Lemon, as well as other DTBL reporters.

Talk about the conference on the Higher Things Dare to be Lutheran Conference Forum.

Following the DTBL conference, keep up with your favorite reporters on their new Higher Things weblogs!

Watch www.HigherThings.org for more news and updates on the Conference, Forums, and Blogs.

Higher Things – Dare to be Lutheran
http://dtbl.HigherThings.org
http://dtbl.HigherThings.org/photos/

Did you just finish reading a Higher Things article and can’t wait to tell us how awesome it was?  Or did it stink?  Maybe it raised some questions in your mind…

Go to www.higherthings.org and tell us what’s up.  Once there, click on a magazine cover and comment on the articles you’ve read from that issue! You can even download short Bible studies on favorite articles to dig deeper into the topics they cover. 

Or you can register to participate on the HT Forums and start a discussion on an article or question one brought up for you. HT now has Forums for Middle and High School youth, College students, and Youth Workers. We even have a Forum just for the upcoming Higher Things: Dare to be Lutheran Conference! Make plans to get together with your online friends, find out what everyone is doing with their free time and what exciting sectionals to attend, and get inside information on St. Louis and what great things to expect at the this summer.

If you look forward to getting your Higher Things magazine, check out our www.higherthings.org to stay up on Higher Things in the downtime.

Announcing…

The 2006 Higher Things Conference will be held at

Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO

July 18-21, 2006

More details will be coming over the next several months, but hopefully this information will be helpful to many of you as you begin to make plans to join us in 2006.

When more information is available it will be posted at www.higherthings.org and be made available in the magazine.

Pastor Marcus Zill
HT Vice President, 2006 Site Coordinator

Pastor Dan Woodring
HT Executive Director

Announcing…

CHRIST ON CAMPUS III
A Higher Things Conference on Campus Ministry
Bloomington, IN, June 28-30, 2005
Check it out: http://higherthings.org/html/campus/events/cocIII.html

General Information
Christ on Campus III is the third annual Higher Things conference for those engaged in campus ministry. Whether you are already doing campus ministry or  are just getting started; whether you are a full or part time campus pastor, a town & gown pastor, a DCE, a DCO, or an interested layperson, this conference is for you.

We are pleased to have two outstanding speakers who will address different topics important to campus ministry. There will be lots of opportunities to share ideas and resources with others at the forefront of campus ministry.

This year we will again hold a special pre-conference workshop on the basics of campus ministry. And, of course, there will be plenty of chances to socialize and simply get to know others with whom you will be able to network long after you have returned home. You won’t want to miss Christ on Campus III!

Date and Location
June 28th through June 30th, 2005. The conference begins Tuesday afternoon, ends Thursday mid-afternoon. It will be held at University Lutheran Church & Student Center in Bloomington, IN. ULC is a full time campus ministry and campus congregation serving the students at Indiana University.

Pre-Conference Workshop
A special half-day workshop intended for those who want to learn the basics of leading a confessionally faithful campus ministry will be held the afternoon of June 28th. Led by pastors at the forefront of campus ministry today, this workshop will help provide you the tools and mindset you need in your campus work.

The Speakers
Rev. Dr. Michael Eschelbach
Associate Professor of Theology at Concordia University in River Forest, IL.

Cinema Sophia – “Using Cinematic Worldviews to Catechize”  Young zpeople live, think and speak the world of films they view. Yet film, like all other art, reflects realities of sin and grace. Hosting films and leading discussions about them is a fantastic means of meeting and connecting with students. Learn about the approach in general, and learn about some specific examples employed by someone who has hosted films for the last 4 1/2 years on campus at CURF.

Critical Thinking – “The Philosophy of Religion on Campus.”
When meeting a person for the first time, mention that you are a theologian and the conversation is over. But if you tell them you are a philosopher, they will pour their hearts out, giving you an opportunity to engage them in issues of truth, which inevitably leads to discussions of The Truth. Hosting a time for young people to pursue the philosophy of religion is welcome and provides a means to promote critical thinking that allows college students to see the Truth clearly.

Rev. Dr. Steven Hein
Director of the Concordia Institute for Christian Studies in Colorado Springs, CO.

Holy Anguish – “Helping College Students Deal with Doubts”
When the faith of college students is assaulted on the secular campus today, many can become silent sufferers of doubt. Doubt is not synonymous with unfaith, but it is serious business…a holy anguish for faith-life that needs proper attention. Doubt can lead either to unfaith or to greater maturity. It all depends on how it is treated. Doubt means something is wrong with faith. It is either malformed or malnourished. Understanding the symptoms, causes, and kinds of doubt can be vitally important for on-target ministry by those who seek to teach college students the Word of God.

NOTE: Also invited to speak is Rev. Dr. Norman Nagel, Systematics Professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Nagel was a former a former campus pastor of 17 years at Valparaiso University.

Cost & Registration
Registration is $69, though those who register before May 1, 2005 can  receive the early bird rate of $59. Please fill out and mail in the registration form.

Download the Christ on Campus III Registration Form

Accommodations
Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. The following are near by and recommended. Special rates available if you mention this conference.

Indiana Memorial Union
900 E. 7th Street
(800) 209-8145
(Just across the street from University Lutheran Church)

Motel 6
1800 North Walnut Street
(812) 332-0820

University Plaza Hotel
1710 Kinser Pike
(812) 334-3252 or (888) 406-4262

Shuttle Information
The Bloomington Airport Shuttle is $22 one way, and brings you right to the door of the Indiana Memorial Union (just across the street from ULC). It begins trips from the Indy airport at 6:40 am and leaves every two hours until after 10:00 pm. The number to call is (812) 332-6004 or make reservations online at http://www.bloomingtonshuttle.com.

For More Information
[About the Conference]
E-mail Rev. Richard Woelmer or call him at (812) 336-5387.

[About Higher Things Campus Ministry]
E-mail Rev. Marcus Zill or call him at (307)745-5892.

CHECK OUT THE NEW & IMPROVING WEBSITE:
http://higherthings.org/html/campus.html

Downloads

Christ on Campus III Mailing

Christ on Campus III Registration Form