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Higher Things Magazine for Fall 2018 – Now Available!

From the plenary sessions to the breakout sessions, from the Gospelly good sermons to the glorious times of worship, Higher Things Sanctified 2018 summer conferences were focused like a laser beam on our sanctification in Christ.

Whether you’d like to relive some of those great Sanctified 2018 memories or get a sweet taste of what a Higher Things conference is like, our fall retrospective issue fits the bill! Not only have we included some of the pictorial highlights, but we’ve also specially picked articles that reflect the essence of Sanctified 2018.

And believe it or not, it’s time again to think about registering for our next summer conferences: Concordia 2019!  You’ll find all the details in this fall issue of Higher Things Magazine!

Included in this issue:

Check out this issue with a Higher Things® Online Subscription at https://higherthings.org. With your HT-Online Account, you also gain access to every issue of Higher Things® Magazine ever printed along with Bible Studies and Leaders’ Guides for many of the articles.


Please note: If you a current HT-Online subscriber, we have migrated our site to a new platform. This was a huge undertaking — 69 magazine issues and 767 articles! This will allow you to better discover all this great content and use it for your devotions and study.

Part of the migration is that you will have to create a new login using the email address used when you signed up to access the content. Follow these steps to restore access:

  1. Follow this link: Sign in to your account
  2. On the login window, after “Forgot your password?” Click “Reset It.”
  3. Enter your email and click “Send me reset instructions.”

Please email support@higherthings.org if you have difficulty restoring your access. You may still access this issue via the previous links: http://higherthings.org/magazine/issues/summer2018. Thank you for your patience!

Print copies of the magazine will be arriving in your mailbox soon. You can subscribe to the print edition of the magazine at https://higherthings.org/magazine.

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Reflections for Trinity 17-22, 2018 Now Available

Higher Things presents the next set of Daily Reflections for Trinity 17, September 23rd, 2018 through the week of Trinity 22, November 3rd, 2018. Reflections are available as a printable booklet and in a variety of other formats.


Daily Reflections are also available as a daily podcast. Subscribe with these links:
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe on Android
Subscribe on Google Podcasts


Thank you!

Help keep the Higher Things Daily Reflections FREE! For more than a decade, Higher Things has provided our readers with free Gospel reflections on our website, by e-mail and downloadable as print-ready PDF’s. We want to continue this service but we need your help! Please consider making a donation to Higher Things in the name of the Reflections to help continue this service to our website viewers and the youth in particular. Help us to keep the reflections free, just like the Gospel! Consider making a donation online.

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Higher Things’ Registrar

To apply for this position, please email your current resume with a cover letter and salary expectations to ostapowich@higherthings.org no later than Tuesday, Sept 25, 2018.

Link: Download the Registrar Job Description.

Are you a super organized, self-starter who is able to work with minimal supervision, and good at not only following policies but explaining them to others? Do you like helping people? And most importantly, do you love Higher Things and want to get more involved? As in, going-to-all-the-conferences-each-summer-involved? Higher Things is looking for a new Conference Registrar!

The Conference Registrar is responsible for all aspects of the Registration process for Higher Things conferences planning. The Conference Registrar reports to the Conference Executive and works in partnership with other organizational leadership to carry out the mission of Higher Things. This is a year-round, part-time position with Higher Things.

Applicants must be a member in good standing of a congregation of The Lutheran Church —  Missouri Synod and able to travel to the conference site (s) from Sunday-Friday of the event week and at 1-2 other times per year. Interested parties should email questions and resumes to sandra@higherthings by September 25, 2019. We are seeking to fill this position in early October to begin training and working immediately.

Summary of Position

The Conference Registrar is responsible for all aspects of the Registration process for Higher Things conferences and planning. The Conference Registrar reports to the Conference Executive and works in partnership with other organizational leadership to carry out the mission of Higher Things. This is a year-round, part-time position with Higher Things.

Essential Job Functions

Conference Client Services 

  • Develop customer-focused relationships with conference group leaders and registrants at all times.
  • Evaluate and assesses conference registrant needs and communicate relevant details to the Conference Coordinator or other conference staff, as needed.
  • Understand and articulate Higher Things policies, ensuring compliance throughout planning and during conference events.
  • Communicate and resolve problems effectively and in a timely manner. 

Financial Responsibilities

  • Verify deposits/payments received and posted by the Business Executive.
  • Prepare registration reports as requested by the Conference Coordinator and Conference Executive.
  • Review charges and finalize bills; assists in resolves billing disputes. Follow up with groups incurring charges after conferences to pay remaining balances.

Other Assigned Job Functions

  • Maintain accurate information in the Higher Things conference registration system.
  • Oversee site volunteers at each Conference during the check-in process.
  • Maintain regular contact with Group Leaders regarding registration status, add-ons, special needs, etc.
  • Establish methods and processes of Registration check-in for each site.
  • Oversee check-in/check-out for Exhibitors, Higher Things staff, volunteers, and day-pass attendees.
  • Generate status reports for the Conference Coordinator and Executive, as needed.

Qualifications

  • Must be a member in good standing of a congregation of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
  • Highly motivated professional who is a self-starter, resourceful, and able to complete tasks independently with minimal supervision, while  also able to contribute positively in a team environment, and work successfully with diverse groups of internal and external contacts.
  • High level of resilience, flexibility and the ability to adjust to changes readily. Must be able to successfully overcome obstacles and problem-solve.
  • Good organizational and time management skills with the ability to successfully manage multiple projects, work under pressure, and demonstrate positive results. 
  • Must be detailed-oriented and all work must be presented with accuracy.
  • Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, data entry, and other administrative software systems (preferably OS X). 
  • Must be available to provide on-site supervision of all conference housing processes and able to accommodate the high demands and workloads resulting from client requests and policy requirements.
  • Travel required to the conference site(s) from Sunday-Saturday of the event week and at 1-2 other times throughout a year.
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Higher Things Magazine for Summer 2018 – Now Available!

Higher Things hopes your summer has been a great one so far! Right alongside our Sanctified 2018 conferences, this issue of Higher Things Magazine is dedicated to reminding you of and pointing you toward those abundant gifts from God that feed your faith: His Word and Sacraments. Along with a few of our returning authors, we are featuring a former Higher Things summer vicar, Rev. René Castillero, as well as two new guest writers, Emilyann Pool and Emma Leistico, who all in their own unique ways focus on the reality of Christ and Him crucified!

Included in this issue:

Check out this issue with a Higher Things® Online Subscription at https://higherthings.org. With your HT-Online Account, you also gain access to every issue of Higher Things® Magazine ever printed along with Bible Studies and Leaders’ Guides for many of the articles.

Please note: If you a current HT-Online subscriber, we have migrated our site to a new platform. This was a huge undertaking — 69 magazine issues and 767 articles! This will allow you to better discover all this great content and use it for your devotions and study.

Part of the migration is that you will have to create a new login using the email address used when you signed up to access the content. Follow these steps to restore access:

  1. Follow this link: Sign in to your account
  2. On the login window, after “Forgot your password?” Click “Reset It.”
  3. Enter your email and click “Send me reset instructions.”

Please email support@higherthings.org if you have difficulty restoring your access. You may still access this issue via the previous links: http://higherthings.org/magazine/issues/summer2018. Thank you for your patience!

Print copies of the magazine will be arriving in your mailbox soon. You can subscribe to the print edition of the magazine at https://higherthings.org/magazine.

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Higher Things’ Technology Manager

To apply for this position, please email your current resume with a cover letter and salary expectations to media@higherthings.org no later than Friday, August 31, 2018.

Link: Download the Tech Manager Job Description.

Summary of Position

The Tech Manager is responsible for managing, maintaining, and supporting the various technologies used by Higher Things, as determined by the Media Executive. This is a part-time (estimated 5–10 hours per week) position.

Primary Responsibilities

Web

  • Manage and maintain Higher Things’ website technology.
  • Upload Higher Things’ Reflections to the Higher Things’ website.
  • Post Magazine content to the Higher Things’ website.
  • Maintain and register Higher Things’ domains.

Email

  • Manage general support emails to webmaster@ and support@higherthings.org through HelpScout.
  • Assist in creating and sending MailChimp campaigns.
  • Maintain and manage organizational email system through Google Apps Domain and support as needed.

Social Media

  • Administrate access to the various Higher Things’ social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.).

3rd Party Applications

(List of applications/services is on page 2 of the job description.)

  • Offer general support for the various applications/services Higher Things uses to accomplish its mission.
  • Manage access to these applications/services.
  • Provide on-site technical support at Higher Things Conferences.
  • Assist in developing the board-approved Technology Budget.
  • Attend Higher Things’ summit meetings as able/needed.

Qualifications

  • Member in good standing of a congregation belonging to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
  • Expert with the content management system WordPress.
  • Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a plus.
  • Broad-based knowledge of software solutions.
  • Ability to learn knew hardware/software quickly.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
  • Team-player and self-starter.
  • Strong work ethic with ownership and pride in results.
  • Result-driven and result-oriented.
  • U.S. Citizen, this is not an H-1B eligible position.
  • Clean criminal record.
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Higher Things Magazine for Spring 2018 – Now Available!

Vocation, vocation, vocation! We can’t emphasize it enough! Our callings and relationships are gifts from God, which you’ll discover in our topical spring issue of Higher Things Magazine. Vocation is precisely what Paul is talking about in Ephesians 2:10: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” As always, we start by foundationally understanding who we are as baptized children of God. From there we grapple with the Law and Gospel and where they come into play as we fulfill the various roles we walk in. And finally, we tackle a question that you have probably asked yourself at one time or another: “What do I do with my life?” From cover to cover, you’ll notice a recurring theme: Through faith in Christ, we have the freedom to live out our vocations for the good of our neighbor!

 Included in this issue:

  • #whoami – By Rev. George F. Borghardt
  • Free in Christ-Slave in Christ – By Rev. Donavon Riley
  • Called to Receive: The First Table – By Rev. Eric Brown
  • Called to Serve: The Second Table – By Rev. Aaron T. Fenker
  • Jesus for You, Jesus Through You – By Rev. Harrison Goodman
  • Vocational Variety: God’s Wisdom for Women – By Deaconess Ellie Corrow
  • Called to Deliver: The Pastoral Ministry – By Rev. Rich Heinz
  • So What Do I Do with My Life? – By Rev. Mark Buetow
  • Catechism: Three Orders: Table of Duties – By Rev. William M. Cwirla

Check out this issue and the others on higherthings.org. With your HT-Online Account, you also gain access to every issue of Higher Things® Magazine ever printed along with Bible Studies and Leaders’ Guides for many of the articles. Print copies of the magazine will be arriving in your mailbox soon. You can subscribe to the print edition of the magazine at http://higherthings.org/magazine/subscriptions.

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Higher Things Magazine – Winter 2017

Bundle up by the fire and get through the remaining weeks of winter with the latest issue of Higher Things Magazine!  From cover to cover, you’ll find articles that consistently turn your eyes toward the Cross—that remind you where God’s love for you can always be found: in water, Word, Body and Blood, whether you are smack dab in the pew at Divine Service or in the quiet of your bedroom wondering where God could possibly be.

Included in this issue:

  • Down from the Mountain By Rev. George F. Borghardt
  • Jesus Hits the Spot By Rev. Aaron T. Fenker
  • Metaphors, Grammar, and Scripture, Oh My! By Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz
  • Thank God We Are Beggars By Rev. Harrison Goodman
  • Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? By Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard
  • He Is Always There By Erica M. Olson
  •  “Pray Then Like This…” By Katie Hill
  • Catechism: Invocation By Rev. William M. Cwirla
  • Stay tuned for our spring topical issue on VOCATION!

Check out this issue with an HT-Online Subscription at http://higherthings.org/magazine. With your HT-Online Account, you also gain access to every issue of Higher Things® Magazine ever printed along with Bible Studies and Leaders’ Guides for many of the articles.

Print copies of the magazine will be arriving in your mailbox soon. You can subscribe to the print edition of the magazine at http://higherthings.org/magazine/subscriptions.

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Celebrate the Reformation with FREE bonus digital issue of HT Magazine!

Celebrate the Reformation with Higher Things by downloading our special bonus digital issue for free through December 2!

October 31, 2017 marks 500 years since that turning-point day in the Church when Augustinian monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. With the providential invention of Gutenberg’s printing press, Luther’s grievances and desires for reform in the Roman Catholic church were spread near and far.

After that pivotal event in 1517, Luther and other Reformers went on to flesh out those principles of the Reformation that are non-negotiables when it comes to understanding how God has saved us. Hence, we have the Solas of the Reformation.

While there are five Solas that emerged: Sola Gratia (grace alone), Sola Fide (faith alone), Sola Scriptura Scripture alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone) and finally, Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone), we have chosen to spotlight four of them in this bonus digital issue. Christ alone saves us by Grace alone through Faith alone as revealed in Scripture alone.

We hope these articles strengthen your knowledge but also encourage you in light of the sweet good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for YOU!

DOWNLOAD NOW!

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Reflections for Trinity 11 through Trinity 16 2017 Now Available

Higher Things presents the next set of Daily Reflections for Trinity 11, August 27th, 2017 through the week of Trinity 16, October 7th, 2017. Reflections are available as a printable booklet and in a variety of other formats below.

Download the Reflections for Trinity 11 through Trinity 16 2017 as a booklet by clicking here or in a variety of other formats at higherthings.org/reflections.

In Christ,

Rev. Aaron Fenker
aaronfenker@higherthings.org
Media Executive
Higher Things, Inc.

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Higher Things Magazine – Summer 2017

Higher Things has enjoyed another great summer of conferences, but we’ve also been busy putting together our summer issue of Higher Things Magazine, chock full of rich theology—all woven together by the sweetness of the Gospel. Each article is undergirded by the confidence we have in the gifts God gives us through Christ Jesus—gifts that bring us forgiveness, strengthen our faith and help us love our neighbor.

Included in this issue:

  • Pax Domini – By Rev. George F. Borghardt
  • God’s Plan for YOU – By Rev. Aaron T. Fenker
  • The Law Only Instructs – By Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
  • Religion vs. Relationship: A Dangerous Dichotomy – By Kelly Klages
  • Back to Bach: Soli Deo Gloria – By Rev. Gaven M. Mize
  • Eat, Drink, and Be Forgiven – By Molly Buffington
  • Truth and Grace By Kelly Kyle
  • Behold, They Stand at the Door and Knock – By Joshua Ulm
  • Catechism: Our Restless Hearts: The 9th and 10th Commandments – By Rev. William M. Cwirla

Check out this issue with an HT-Online Subscription at http://higherthings.org/magazine. With your HT-Online Account, you also gain access to every issue of Higher Things® Magazine ever printed along with Bible Studies and Leaders’ Guides for many of the articles.

Print copies of the magazine will be arriving in your mailbox soon. You can subscribe to the print edition of the magazine at http://higherthings.org/magazine/subscriptions.