Category: Life Issues

Crysten Sanchez

Higher Things does something to a person.

I’ve been involved with Higher Things in one form or another since 2007. The summer before my senior year of college, I was called upon to be a College Conference Volunteer (CCV) by Pastor Rob Jarvis, the CCV Manager for the For You conference in Minneapolis. He was a campus ministry pastor from Morris, Minnesota. They needed more college volunteers. He knew that I went to school in St. Paul, and that I was a decent person on account of the fact that I was marrying one of his former members. My now husband, Daniel, was active in the campus ministry while he went to school at the University of Minnesota in Morris. I agreed to serve, but was uncertain of what the week would bring.

What that week at For You was one of the most incredible times of my life. I met wonderful people. I was floored by the sheer force of the preaching and teaching. Plus, I had an amazing time that was fueled by very little sleep. It ended up being life changing, and I don’t say that flippantly.

I had to take 2008 off while getting settled into married life and a new job, but I then brought a group of youth to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the 2009 Sola conference. I was a fairly new youth leader introducing this great organization to a congregation, and, thankfully, they never looked back. While getting reacquainted with some of the HT staff that year, I put myself out there and asked if there was anything I could help with. The following fall, I was asked to plan the entertainment for the 2010 conference in Nashville, Tennessee. That’s when I planned for a conference of 1,100 people to go to a rented out saloon for a night of line dancing, billiards and pictures with giant horses in cowboy hats. We prayed compline in a bar. So, that happened.

Following the 2010 conference season, I was asked to serve as the Housing Coordinator for all three 2011 conferences, and through that process, I was trained to take over as Registrar for the 2012 conference season and beyond. I couldn’t believe that this organization that I had come to love so much found something worthy in me to ask me to take part in their mission. Without hesitation, I agreed. Throughout the 2012-2015 seasons, I served as Registrar and loved it. I truly enjoyed working with all of the group leaders to assist them in getting their ducks in a row as they prepared to attend their first or twelfth conference.

Through the growing and changing of the organization, I now serve as the Conference Coordinator for Higher Things. This past summer, I coordinated my first conference at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. What a ride! Who would have thought something so great could happen in the middle of the corn fields of Iowa? This job allows me to stay home with my two young children while working with an incredible organization, the mission of which is to bring the Gospel to the ears and mouths of youth and adults alike.

I meant it when I said that the week in 2007 that I served as a CCV was life changing. It brought me into the world of HT, which now has become my career. I encourage anyone to take part in these conferences, in any way, if at all possible. You never know where it will lead you.

Crysten Sanchez is a member at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

This article originally appeared in Higher Things® Magazine. Become a subscriber today by visiting higherthings.org/magazine/subscriptions.

Rev. George F. Borghardt

My Son, when you were born I held you in my arms and said to you, “You little sinner! You little hater of God and His word! God is going to save you at the baptismal font!” And God did save you. He named you in the waters of Holy Baptism. He washed your sins away. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Now that you have graduated from high school, I selfishly wish I could freeze time. I would keep you in our house, in your room, safe from the world out there that is going to hate you. I’ve considered just grounding you for the rest of your life, but that doesn’t seem right or fair. You don’t deserve to be grounded—at least this time!

Instead, I’m going to write you this letter and tell you how I feel. I’ve told you before that nothing we do is just for ourselves, it is for others, too. So, I know there are parents who feel like I do about their sons and daughters who are graduating.

This graduation isn’t the end for you. It’s just the closing of one door. It’s a single accomplishment. Now, the real work begins. Time to live as an adult! Time to begin your life out there!

I don’t just want to keep you frozen here because I love you, but I also want to protect you from life “out there!” That scares me! Out there, I can’t keep you in the faith. I can’t protect you from all the filth and lies that will be thrown at you from the world. I can’t fix your bruises anymore or make decisions for you. I can’t even make you do things like go to church or Sunday School!

The Gospel is that I’m not the one who ever had to keep you in the faith in the first place. It all rests on Jesus! He promised to be with you in the waters of Holy Baptism. I was there at your Confirmation to see the good Word that He put into you produce fruit! Those were not dead words but living-Jesus-Christ-and-Him-Crucified-for-you-words that will carry you through anything that you will go through in life. He has put His Body and Blood into you. His Supper will keep you steadfast in the faith—the one true faith—unto life everlasting!

I wish that His gifts meant that you could do anything and be anything in this life. But that would be a lie. You can try to do anything. You can try to be anything. You won’t always get what you want. Things aren’t always going to work out for you.

But whatever you try, do so as if God has given to you to do it. That’s what a vocation is! It is what God has given to you to do in the particular place and time you have been placed by Him. Before graduation, you were a high school student. Now that vocation is over, and it’s off to work and college. You are a student. That is what God wants you to do. You are working to pay for college. That is what God wants you to do, too. Do these vocations as if you were doing them for God, because you are doing them for God.

He saves you by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. But college and work are, well, work. You have to get up for class. You have to do your homework. You have to get to work on time. You have to be a good student and good worker. When you do your vocation, you are serving God. When you don’t, you are sinning against God. Also, there is no “grace alone” to make things right at school or work. So, if you don’t go to class, you will have bad grades. If you don’t work, you won’t eat.

Don’t worry about what God wants you to do with the rest of your life, either. As you do what is given to you to do in your vocations now, He will lead you into whatever He has next for you in this life. He will give all His gifts in His time. There are no shortcuts in life. There is only His giving in the particular time that He gives the gifts that He gives to you. So, work like you have to earn your life but always know that He gives you gifts like your job, your college, and your career. You work, but your work is always still given by grace alone.

When you fail, don’t get down on yourself. Don’t think that you can fix it. First, confess your sins to God and to those whom you have failed. Be forgiven. Then, suffer the consequences “out there” in the world for wherever you have fumbled, knowing that, because of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, there are no eternal consequences for your sins. Jesus has taken them all.

After you been forgiven, look for the gift from God in your failures. There’s a gift in every bad thing in this life. There just has to be, because we believe that God is always good to us in the suffering and death of Jesus. So, nothing can happen to you apart from Holy Baptism. Nothing difficult in your life happens apart from the Cross of Christ. He is working all things for your good. Every door that closes, every door that opens, even your graduation has all been part of the good gifts that He gives to you. The gift may be for you, or it may be for those around you. Remember that you learned in Confirmation that we aren’t here just for ourselves. We are here for others—even when we fall down.

This is why my prayer for you is that you get up and go to church every Lord’s Day! Go to Bible class whenever you can! You need Jesus to save you! You need His forgiveness to enliven you to live your vocations out in this world. You need His life to enliven your life. Set your alarm and get yourself to church!

I hope this letter is a gift to you, Son. I hope it’s a gift to the rest of you who read it, too. Your parents love you. They are proud of you. They will be proud of whatever and wherever the Lord leads you. And if you ever—and I mean ever—need any help in your journey, know that your parents will be there for you, to pick you up, to remind you are forgiven, and to tell you that you that they love you.

I love you, Son.

In Christ,
Dad

Rev. George F. Borghardt is the Senior Pastor at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in McHenry, Illinois. He also serves as the president of Higher Things.

Rev. Andrew Ratcliffe

Meaningless (NIV). Useless (GNT). Vanity (ESV). Futile (TLB). Absolutely pointless (GW)! Depending on your translation, that’s how King Solomon begins his short book entitled Ecclesiastes. Of all people why would Solomon—King over God’s people, builder of God’s Temple, political alliances abounding, gifted by God with wisdom beyond compare—reflect on life and come to conclusion that everything has been useless, that it’s been pointless? Yet he writes, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind” (1:14). “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun” (2:18). “For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity” (2:23).

If you think about it, it’s not that surprising really. How often have you wondered the same? You pour time, and energy, and more time into a friendship. But it seems you’re doing all of the giving and there’s nothing given in return. Is that friendship meaningless? Perhaps it’s pointless. You strive to perform well on the job, accomplishing tasks ahead of schedule, assisting others and being proactive in addressing work-related needs. But your service isn’t rewarded or recognized, and not like that person next to you. Don’t you have value as an employee? Is your work meaningless? You try to listen to your mom and dad. You try not to yell or talk back, but your mom and dad just don’t seem to get it. They won’t listen and it seems like you’re always in trouble. You wonder: Am I meaningless? When the world seems to cave in around you, when no one seems to listen, when there’s no apparent way out, or no way to get relief, then doubt sets in. Self-esteem wanes. You wonder, “Am I useless? Is life meaningless?”

How could King Solomon make such a statement? How could we?

Yet, Solomon’s words provide us with a moment to stop, think, and reflect on how these things are not meaningless. Even more so, Solomon’s words cause us to stop and give thanks that a life lived in Christ is always meaningful.

First, these things are not meaningless. Friendship: While I do not suggest you place yourself in relationships where you are taken advantage of or not truly appreciated, any loving service you provide to anyone is still meaningful, be it friend, family member, or coworker. Work: It’s great to be recognized! Even when you’re not, performing a job well is faithfully living out a meaningful life of vocation to which God calls you. Family: Even when things go awry, with parents and children getting on one another’s nerves, each time confession and absolution—forgiveness—is shared as family, you can’t get more meaningful than that! Life: If you’ve ever had the chance to sit with someone contemplating self-harm or suicide, you’ve had the chance to share the beauty, presence, and meaning that life has as it is rooted in our God, in Christ. These things are not meaningless.

Second, you are not meaningless. No matter how much you doubt, no matter how much your perceived value seems to slip away, no matter how much the “joy” seems to be sucked out of life, Ecclesiastes 2:26 remains true: “To the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” God has given you joy! Because you please Him, He gives you joy! Not because of what you think, say and do, trying to look like a “good” Christian. It’s all because of Jesus. Your joy is found in Christ alone. Your value is found in Christ alone. You “please” God because of Christ alone.

On the cross Jesus took all of the sin—your sin, my sin—that devalues, that is pointless, that left within makes us meaningless. Jesus became meaningless for you, taking sin upon Himself, becoming the lowest of the low, giving Himself up to death. In rising from the grave He shows sin has no power over you to devalue you or drag you down. And in the seemingly meaningless means of bread and wine, He forgives, sustains and strengthens you with His very Body and Blood. In Christ alone, who gave His life for you, you are precious, treasured, valued and meaningful in God’s eyes at all times. Thanks be to God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Andrew Ratcliffe serves as pastor at St. John Lutheran in Seward, Nebraska.

Paul Norris

Have you recently experienced the death of a friend, family member, or loved one? If so, you have you probably grappled with some of the worst emotional pain you have ever felt in your life. We do, as Christians, take comfort in the passages of Scripture which tell us of God’s promises, but the sting of death is very pointed and painful for those who remain. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tells us “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” This verse is great, and it does give us much comfort, but yet our hearts wrestle with deep grief at the loss a loved one.

Why as faithful Christians do we still feel such emotional grief at a loved one’s death? The answer is that we were not meant to die. God did not create man in the garden with the intent that he would die. Mankind was created by God to be sinless. It was not until Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit that sin and death came to man. Since that moment, every man and woman have died or will die because of sin. It is for this very reason, even today that when we experience the loss of a loved one, that death does not sit well with us. Even though we are Christians and we have faith in Christ, we still feel the loss and experience grief with all the emotional rollercoaster twists and turns that follow it because it was not designed by God for us to experience. God through Scripture does give us comfort in the loss of our loved one who was in the faith, but it still hurts nonetheless.

There has been a modern trend in the church to have a so-called “celebration of life” rather than a funeral. It is a service or presentation during which one remembers and extolls all the good times and good things a person did during his or her life. More often than not the focus is on the person who has passed away rather than the Gospel. I find this particularly interesting that one would focus on the good of a mortal human, because Scripture is quite clear that good works can never pay the price of our inherited sin which condemns us all to death, but instead it is the Grace of God that saves us through Christ death and resurrection. Also it seems that the focus gets directed toward an idea of an ethereal heavenly eternity, rather than the new heavens and new earth.

Instead, the funeral service found in the Lutheran Service Book is intended to reflect the Christian confidence, trust, and hope in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting that Christ Jesus won for us on the cross. It is not solely about the person who has died but instead focuses on the Gospel promise of salvation through grace alone through Jesus Christ that the departed received in his or her baptism. We should, of course, commemorate our departed who was a baptized child of God, but the focus of a funeral service should always be Christ, and the Gospel His Word brings to us.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” It’s okay to mourn; it’s okay to miss your loved ones. God does not expect us to put on a strong face and not mourn the death of a loved one. Jesus wept at the news of the death of his friend, Lazarus. Jesus knows the hurt you feel and will provide you comfort in your grief. An additional comfort to we who remain on earth is that we can join with the faithfully departed in the faith in the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps you have heard it said a few times before communion, but listen to what is really being prayed and proclaimed in the Proper Preface (Easter):

…”By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:”

That is awesome stuff! With angels, archangels, and ALL THE COMPANY OF HEAVEN. Yes, when we kneel at the altar rail and receive the true Body and true Blood of Jesus in the elements of communion we are gathered with all of heaven, which includes all those who have gone before us in the faith, including our loved ones. For that moment we are with Christ, and as Arthur Just Jr. says in his book Heaven on Earth, “What we must always remember when we go to the Lord’s Supper is that we commune with Christ, and wherever Christ is, there is heaven.” We join with all the Church and heaven in communion at the marriage feast of the Lamb, joined in a mysterious union with Christ and everyone who is in Christ. For me, it is really powerful and comforting to know that I join in Holy Communion with my parents each Sunday, even though they are both with the Lord in Paradise.

Finally, we must remember the final victory over death, sin, and Satan: Jesus Christ. We endure many hardships and pains in this life, and none quite hurts as bad as losing one we love, but Jesus’ death on the cross paid the final and full price for our sins. He has won victory over death, and He promises that those who believe in Him will be saved. Hold fast to God’s promises, for He always keeps them.

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

Paul Norris worked for 10 years as a police officer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. He now works as the administrative assistant at Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas.

Chris Vecera

Christ is present for you in the church. Where Christ is present there is the church. It’s not a symbol of His love or grace. It’s not a contrived feeling of comfort or happiness. It’s real. In Christ, God loves you and dwells with you. He is present to forgive you. He is present to give you His righteousness and take away your sin. Along the way, a lot of other stuff will pry its way into your life in the church, but none of it will take away Christ for you. None of it will take away the gifts He gives and the promises He makes to you.

On Saturday night, you’ll stay out with your friends until the early morning, but you won’t care because it’s fun. They won’t understand why you get up early on Sunday morning. At best, you’ll be embarrassed to tell them you have to go to church, but more than likely you won’t mention it. Christ will still be present to forgive you. This is Jesus’ promise to you, and it will never change.

You’ll occasionally get bored. You’ll probably wish you were sleeping instead of sitting in an uncomfortable seat. You’ll completely space out and think about stuff that you shouldn’t think about during church. You’ll count the minutes that the service starts to cut into your weekend plans and steal a glance at the girl in the next row who you think is pretty. You’ll mindlessly repeat the parts of the service that are said every week without a second thought, or any thought at all for that matter. Christ is still present to give you the gifts of His mercy and grace because those gifts aren’t dependent on the things you do.

At some point, you’ll probably feel like you’d rather have nothing to do with it. People that you trust will lie to you and betray you. They will frustrate you. You’ll get angry, and you might even feel justified about it. Maybe you’ll think that you aren’t good enough—God couldn’t possibly love you! You’ll be overwhelmed by shame, and it’ll make you want to walk out on it all. Even in this, Christ is present. In church the gifts of His death and resurrection are delivered to you. His mercy and grace are for you. All of Christ’s righteousness is given to you for free, without work. Your sin is taken away, and you can’t have it back. It has been crucified with Christ. Nothing you do, and nothing that is done to you can change that.

Your baptism saves you because it’s a baptism into Christ. You don’t have to try to clean yourself up because you’ve already been washed by the water and the Word. You’ve been marked with the cross of Christ, buried with Him, and sealed with the Holy Spirit forever. All of your sin is forgiven, you are made completely righteous, and you will be resurrected with Him to newness of life. The Lord’s Supper delivers the Body and Blood of Christ to you for the forgiveness of your sins. Your pastor speaks the Word of Christ for you, “Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.” Christ is present, and nothing will change that.

I want you to know this more than anything else I could ever tell you because you are my child, and I love you. I can’t be the perfect picture of this love, but I promise I will point you to the place you will always find it. The love of Christ for you will always be found in church. When you’re born in a few months, I’ll bring you there as often as possible.

Chris Vecera is a New Testament Theology Teacher at Lutheran High School in Orange County California.

Dakota Monday

Everyone loves a good story. James, a 20-year-old college student, has been fed stories all his life, but there has been one narrative that’s been vexing him for quite a while. He’s worked hard to achieve the glory of this narrative that promised him so much. It promised him a normal life, friends, family, and above all, love and acceptance.

Five years later and James is working a good job and has found the love of his life. James is in a relationship with Bryan, a 26-year-old graduate student. James did everything in his power to achieve the straight narrative. He prayed for healing, he sought out Christian counseling and therapy, he pushed back all his male friends—gay or straight—and he even dated a few girls. None of this worked out for James. No matter how hard or how long he prayed, no matter how much money he spent on counseling or therapy, no matter how much time he spent with his girlfriend and less time with his male friends, the straight narrative never became a reality.

James is not alone. There are Christians who struggle with same-sex attraction (SSA) who are always being fed the straight narrative, the LGBTQ narrative, the celibacy narrative, etc. These Christians travel down a hellish road called the theology of glory. They hear that they can fix themselves if they pray hard enough for healing; they are promised the status of straightness if they attended this ministry or see this therapist. They are promised the love of their life and great sex if they accept narrative X, Y, and Z. How could we have gone so far off course in helping Christians who are struggling with SSA? We have led them down the road to despair.

My name is Dakota, and I, like so many others, struggle with SSA. I am a confessional Lutheran, and I am committed to celibacy. However, I am not writing to feed you the celibacy narrative, because celibacy is not THE answer. Granted singleness does have its perks. You have more time to pursue vocations. You have time to volunteer, study, write, hang out with friends, and serve your neighbor. But be warned, celibacy, if made the object of your hopes, comfort, and faith will fail you and lead you down the path of hopelessness. It will point you elsewhere other than to remember your baptism.

Lutheran parents, pastors, friends, political activists, and counselors would all benefit our churches if they would feed their fellow Christians who are struggling with SSA the Gospel narrative, that is, the theology of the Cross. We must remember that heterosexuality is not THE answer. Marriage is not THE answer. Counseling or therapy is not THE answer. Celibacy is not THE answer. Instead we must remember that JESUS is THE answer.

When we make something other than Jesus the object of our hopes, comfort, and trust, we are doomed to fall into despair and disillusionment. However, when we look to our baptism, which reminds us of all of God’s promises to us fulfilled in Christ, we are compelled to look to Jesus. Our baptism reminds us of the Gospel. It is the promise that announces to us that God has marked us with His most holy triune name. People like me need to hear and keep on hearing God’s Word of Gospel. Heck, we all do. We need to focus on Jesus and, when we do, good works will follow—not the other way around. When we focus on our good works, it will lead us away from Jesus and His Gospel. It will take us further into despair.

If you are a pastor, I would encourage you first to read good books on this issue. I also encourage pastors to listen more to those who share their SSA struggles with you. Pastors, please don’t jump to heterosexual marriage the first chance you get; instead allow your struggling Christian to bring that topic up. Parents, your son and daughter might be terrified at the idea of revealing his or her struggle with SSA. So, I ask you to cultivate a family environment that focuses on Jesus and forgiveness and not on politics. I also encourage you to have your child meet with their pastor first before you ever consider a counselor or therapist. If a good Lutheran pastor cannot be consulted, then contact the LCMS or Higher Things.

For friends of Christians struggling with SSA, I would encourage you not to treat them any differently than you did before they revealed their struggle. I would encourage you to be mindful of how and when you use “homo”, “fag”, “gay” and other slang terms relating to homosexuality. It might be all in good fun, but Christians struggling with SSA may receive this differently than you intended.

Above all, constantly speak the Gospel narrative. Remind your sheep, your son or daughter, or your friend, of their baptism into Christ—direct them to Jesus. It is perfectly okay to have disciplines like filters or content blockers on your computer, accountability from friends or a pastor, to seek out regular help, to make appointments for private confession and absolution, and even to commit oneself to celibacy. However, it is never okay to make these disciplines the object of your trust, hope, and comfort.

Instead, take comfort in this: No matter with what you struggle with, dear Christian, Jesus is always there to forgive, to welcome you to His table, and to remind you of your baptism. He will never ever cast you off because you struggle with same sex attraction. So find your rest in the Gospel.

Dakota Monday attends Grace Lutheran in Greensboro, North Carolina.

René Castillero

Recently, a young high school-aged man (considering the ministry himself) asked me “Why did you study theology?” I was quick to answer his question, but then I began realize that my answer is vastly different today as compared to 2009 when I began my studies. After some personal reflection, I was baffled when I thought about what younger René had believed about theology…something like: “I study theology to satisfy the intellectual craving of my human mind.” To be completely honest, I have recently wondered if this was my sentiment even up until the point I stepped on the seminary campus! According to younger René, theology was no more than a body of knowledge to be consumed—no more than any other subject like biology, chemistry, physics, or even worse, just another philosophy. If that were the case, theology would become no more than static to the “theological-scientist” who sits in high towers, receiving the waves of cryptic nonsense. Boring. Uninspiring.

The true theologian, however, knows that theology is not meant to be a lofty discipline, only to be enjoyed by the uber-intellectual types. Any good student will eventually realize that the study of theology is, above all else, a gift that is meant to be delivered and enjoyed by all the saints, the congregations, and the church itself. Theology, “words concerning God,” is not made up of various notions and opinions of men, but is the divine truth—God’s God’s own doctrine—which can only be steadfast, unperishable, and the source of all truth, because the source of all true theology is founded in the witness and work of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Thus, theology is not man’s at all, but is God’s own doctrine of our Savior (Titus 2:10), which must be given to all Christians as a gift, just as Luther preached: “These are words which no one can exhaust or fathom; and when they are rightly believed, they out to make one a good theologian, or rather a strong, happy Christian, who can speak and teach of Christ…” Theology cannot and should not be understood as something abstract, intangible, or impersonal. It speaks to you, personally, who were once dead in sin, but now are called to a new life in Christ (Romans 6). This theology we study, found in the Scriptures, is all about Jesus and His Gospel that saves sinners. All theology is, and will always be, centered on Christ and giving all that He has given us to teach and preach: the entire counsel of God! Because it’s all about Christ, theology must be delivered to you, His children. If Christ is delivering theology in his Word, then it can only be a gift for you to receive.

So why study theology? Because it’s all about Christ. The task of theology is to point your fallen man to Jesus, to take you to the font, to point you to the Supper, and always lead to the Cross. Theology is all about Christ, it is Law and Gospel, it is for killing the old and making alive the new, it is for you. As sheep hunger for the green pastures, you—the Christian—cannot help but desire to live within the fold of your beloved Shepherd, to hear His voice speak to you daily, to hunger for the food and drink of eternal life. Whether it looks like a pastor teaching his beloved congregation, a parent with his children, an old man in his bed, or the catechumen clutching his first Bible in one hand and Small Catechism in another, to truly study theology is to dwell in Christ. So then, we pray with David, “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens! My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path” (Psalm 119:89, 25, 105).

René Castillero is an MDiv student of CTSFW, former HT summer vicar, and currently serving as vicar at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Basehor, Kansas.

Rev. Brandt Hoffman

Dear young adult,

This may be hard for you to hear, but from the time you reach the age of fourteen, all the way into your early 20s, you are in a stage of your life known as “young adulthood.” For this reason, I will ask you to “put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11) for a moment and consider what I have to say to you.

As you become an adult, it’s important that you assess the things that are important to you. You see, your whole lives up to this point have been an exercise in being exposed to what your life could be, along with all the subjects of math, science, reading, art, literature, etc. However, I want to talk to you about something else you have been exposed to (a little or a lot): the church.

You know that over time, the more you learn about something—the more you are exposed to it—the more it grows. The church is the same. The fellowship of believers is the church. Those believers are all messed up and sinful. They suffer, they sin, they fall down. For this reason, God gathers them and you together in the church, the place of worship, so you might be strengthened and enlightened by His gifts and so you can hear and receive forgiveness.

I want you to grow in this because as a young adult, life is hard enough without having the emptiness of a distant relationship with Jesus. As you grow into a man, the church—just as when you were a child—is there for you to strengthen you and mentor you into your new life as a baptized child of God as you grow into adulthood.

Christ has claimed you as His own in Holy Baptism. He has written your name in the Book of Life. He has made Himself clearly present to you in His Word and Sacraments. Your journey to adulthood need not be a solitary one. The life of the church includes your life as well. As each member has a part in this life of Christ, I am thankful for everything He has done for you and all He will continue with you as the head of His Church.

Love,

–Every pastor and father who has ever loved a son or daughter.

Rev. Brandt Hoffman is the pastor and director at Christ Lutheran Church & School in Coos Bay, Oregon

Rev. Tim Radkey

In another five years, my daughter is going to receive a gift from her mother and me. This gift is going to be a red four-door 2010 Jeep Wrangler. It will be her very first car. It won’t be considered a classic car, but it will be over a decade old. This Jeep has been a source of great memories for our family as we drove around town with the top down. We shared many laughs and crazy hair moments. This Jeep has been loved, cared for, and serviced—knowing it would be handed to someone we love deeply. This Jeep is not without its blemishes, dings, and imperfections but even those have meaning behind them. Bottom line, this Jeep will be given to her with grace (she didn’t work for it) and love and will get her where she wants to go.

When I think about the question, “What church is being handed down to my daughter?” I find many similarities between the church and the Jeep with one exception, the church is a much greater gift and it was given to us by God’s grace and love demonstrated in Christ Jesus. If she wants to ask about this grace, she can look to the manger and beyond. If she wants to ask about this love, she can look to Calvary. There will be no mistaking that this church is the greatest of life-bearing gifts she could ever receive. This church is here for her, because this church gives her Christ and always will.

This church she will receive from her mother and me is also marred. It is not marred by Christ, its true Bridegroom; it is marred by Christ’s people. The people of this church have hurt one another. The people of this church have experienced division over some of the silliest issues, but rarely has it been over the content of the Gospel. The people of this church have also seen the reconciliation that comes from Christ alone. While the wounds have often been deep, the reconciliation and forgiveness have extended deeper still. Our daughter will know that Christ and His gifts are perfect and will sustain her until eternal life begins. She will know that the pews are full of people who are still completely dependent on the goodness, mercy, and forgiveness that Christ extends in this place. And that is a gift we can all enjoy!

Rev. Tim Radkey serves as pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church, McKinney Texas.

Jonathan Kohlmeier

The Fifth Sunday of Easter is called “Cantate Sunday.” Cantate means “sing!” It comes from the introit appointed for the Sunday, “O, sing to the Lord a new song! Alleluia! His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. Alleluia!” (Psalm 98:1-2).

If you have a good voice or a bad voice, if you can read music or not, if you’ve been singing in choirs for years or have never had any experience singing under a director, sing!

I’m not going to tell you that God needs you to sing praises to Him. I’m definitely not going to tell you that if you aren’t singing as loud as you can the Spirit isn’t really working in your heart. But I am going to encourage you to sing. Sing in church. Sing throughout the week. Sing for your neighbor. Even sing for yourself! I don’t care if it’s “good” or completely off key.

As you look around the church on Sunday morning you’ll see all sorts of people whom God has placed in your life so that you might sing for them. In the pew ahead of you is the elderly couple who is losing their eyesight and can only sing the select stanzas that have been imprinted upon their minds throughout the years. To the left is a family whose father has fallen asleep after a long, hard struggle with sickness. Their voices break as they hit some of the lines they need to hear the most, “It was a strange a dreadful strife when life and death contended. The victory remained with Life the reign of Death was ended” (LSB 458:4). Sing those words for them. Sing it even if you can’t hit the written notes correctly.

Behind you there are little children who can’t yet read, who are counting on hearing you sing so that they may know the treasure of the churches hymns too. Your singing teaches them to confess your shared faith.

If you ask any young child who is regularly in church and whose family regularly makes use of the hymnal what their favorite hymn is, not only will they tell you but they will be able to sing the first couple stanzas! They likely can’t read the words or the music but have come to know them both by heart because they have heard their parents and others sing them. Sing for your littlest neighbors in the pew and who you see throughout the week.

Your pastor needs you to sing, too! Even if it sounds terrible and nowhere close to the melody the way that it is written, at least trying to sing it will encourage him to pick the really good hymns that may have a more difficult melody. He also needs to hear the words of the hymn stanzas when he’s distributing the Lord’s Body and Blood or at other times when he doesn’t have the opportunity to sing. Sing for your pastor.

As you sing, even if you’re flat or sharp or monotone, it encourages those around you to sing as well. That is a gift to you!

If the time comes when you can no longer see the words in the hymnal and can only remember some of the hymns that you’ve been singing your whole life, your neighbor will be there to sing for you. When you are facing the death of loved ones, when you lose your job or your house, when the changes and chances of life completely overwhelm you and when you try to sing the words and they just don’t come out, your neighbor is there to sing the treasures of the church for you! When your voice gets stuck in your throat as you hear 1,000+ youth belt out “A Mighty Fortress” at a Higher Things® conference, your neighbor is there to sing for you! When you bring your own young children to church you can rejoice that the whole congregation is there to help teach your children the faith.

So, sing! Love your neighbor by singing for them. Sing hymns throughout the week with your neighbor and for yourself! Sing the hymns that talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for you—and for your neighbor, too! Then, when you go through trials and temptations, when you get sick and are near death remember that the church is there singing with you, singing to you, and singing on your behalf.

Jonathan Kohlmeier is a member at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center in Iowa City, Iowa. He is also Webmaster for Higher Things. You can email him at jonkohlmeier@higherthings.org.