Find the latest news about what’s going on in Higher Things.
Meet the Fischers! This is Nathan Fischer and his beautiful bride, Katie. They were married on Saturday, August 5, 2006. Aren’t they just a beautiful couple?
Nathan serves as a copy editor for our Reflections and is the writer of the blog, Blood & Water. We are very proud to have him on our Staff.
Both Katie and Nathan were original MouthHousers. Do you know what that means? This makes for yet another HT wedding! Is this the third one? Can you name the other two?
We know there are a variety of youth gathering events that church youth groups can choose to be a part of, so we at Higher Things would like to thank YOU for making The Feast our most successful conference yet!!!
We love you…
THIS MUCH! No, we can do better than that. We love you….
THIS MUCH!
Thank you for your support in helping Higher Things put the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the ears of youth at the Feast and beyond. Soli Deo Gloria!
In Christ,
Pastor Borghardt
Internet Services Executive
Higher Things, Inc.
Forty years ago today, one of our beloved founders and the coordinator of our first (“Dying to Live”) and most recent conference (the Feast) was born. To celebrate our Christ on Campus Executive’s turning old, we will be unveiling a whole new line of Matrix HT action figures later today. Look for them very soon! Until then, we would like to offer this list of things older than Pastor Zill…..
Things we know for sure are older than Pastor Zill..
1. Dirt and everything in the UW Geology Museum is older than Zill.
2. The Spork (1874) – the combination of fork and spoon is older than Zill!
3. Pastor Zill’s Favorite Sports – Football (1879), Baseball (1846), and Basketball (1891) – older, older, older than Zill.
4. Indoor Plumbing was created in ancient Egypt (4000 BC). Zill was born a bit later.
5. Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity in 1752 making it older than Zill.
6. Elvis – (1935 – 1977?) – Whether the King is alive or dead, he’s older than Zill.
7. University of Wyoming – Founded in 1886. Yes, the Wyoming Cowboys are older than Zill too!
8. Pastor Cwirla is older than Pastor Zill – but not by much!
9. Pastor Zill’s favorite drink is Tequila (1656). Cactus juice is older than Zill.
10. Crackers (1792) – I don’t know why they are in the list, I just like crackers! But cracker are older than Zill too!
11. Snakes – Garden of Eden – Adam and Eve’s pet gone wild. Yes, the Fall happened before Zill was born.
12. Where Pastor Zill hikes – Vadauwoo is older than Zill (see Gen 1:1)
13. Planes (1903), Trains (1550), and Automobiles (1800s) – all existed before Zill.
15. The LC-MS (1847) is older than Pastor Zill.
16. Book of Concord (1580) is older than Pastor Zill.
17. Televisions (1928) AND Radio (1902) – both of these pre-date Pastor Zill.
18. $0.31/gal. gasoline (price of gas in 1965).
19. Toilet Paper (China – 1391, first roll was made by Scott Paper in 1890). Yes, Baby Zill used toilet paper. Shocking, eh?
20. The Lord God – He’s eternal. That’s really older than Zill!
Special thanks to the Pastor Zill’s congregation’s president for helping us compile this list…
How are they going to be used? You never really know. They might just end up online, in a magazine post-conference collage or future Higher Things publication or brochure.
Enjoy,
Pastor Zill, Coordinator
The Feast
Tradition says that Lawrence was bound to a grill and placed over a fire. Yet, even in the face of death, he kept his sense of humor. As Satan gleefully lashed out against Christ’s Church, Lawrence did not love his life more than His Lord. He “hated” this life, anticipating the joy to come. “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!” he joked. And just before he died he declared, “It’s cooked enough now.” (Higher Things Reflections – August 10, 2006)
Our Lord Jesus continues to bring us through the season of Trinity as we go through the first part of St. Lawrence/Martyrs’ Tide. Higher Things would like to thank the Rev. Richard Heinz for writing this season’s Reflections. Pastor Heinz is Senior Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, Lanesville, IN.
The booklet of the first part of St. Lawrence/Martyrs’ Tide is available in pdf-format for download here. You can receive the Higher Things Reflections in your e-mail box today! Subscribe by sending any e-mail to: Reflections-on@lists.higherthings.org. You can find an RSS Feed and Podcast for the Higher Things Daily Reflections here. Listening to podcasts requires iTunes. Our Podcast is updated daily.
In Christ,
Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Internet Services Executive
Asheville FOR YOU Conference Chair
Higher Things, Inc.
TOP TEN REASONS WHY HIGHER THINGS IS ABSOLUTELY
THE COOLEST YOUTH ORGANIZATION ON THE PLANET
10. All Lutheran speakers all the time
9. Worship you can actually do in your home congregation
8. Really cool hymns by old dead guys
7. Purple T-shirts
6. Great Blog
5. Worship, work, play – and we know the difference
4. HT Conferences, HT Web, HT Magazine, HT Retreats, HT Lock-ins, HT Christ on Campus – enough said.
3. Service orders that come from approved hymnals
2. HT Extreme! Action Figures™
1. Two words: Word / Sacrament
They wore shirts that everyone wanted. And they proved why they got them!!!
This years Christ on Campus Student Volunteers simply demonstrated to everyone at The Feast the spirit of togetherness that is Higher Things. They helped with registration. They helped videotape the plenary sessions. They carted the crew’s stuff everywhere. They endured being called “Mullet Heads” by yours truly. They helped out at all the sectionals, passed out evaluations and did just about a little bit of everything to help make the conference run smooth.
And they even had the time and strength to move this rock and balance it on the top of all the other rocks at the Garden of the Gods! Now only Purple People could do that!
The Christ on Campus Student Volunteer program is a wonderful opportunity for college students to have a chance to come to a conference at a reduced rate, play a major part in the behind the scenes work that makes our conferences what they are, and make lasting friendships. 
We had Christ on Campus Student Volunteers in 2003 (Arlington) and 2004 (Seattle) but took a year off from the program last summer (St. Louis). This year’s Purple People demonstrated to Higher Things Nation why we won’t ever do so again.
So look out next year as we will have twice the number of Christ on Campus Student Volunteers!
Thanks gang! You were simply the best! Props to the Purple People!
For us baptized, for us he bore; His holy fast and hungered sore; For us temptation sharp he knew; For us the tempter overthrew.
The Gospel is not that Christ was born, that He died, or even that He rose on the third day. We can talk all day about all the wonderful, amazing, miraculous things that Jesus did and does today – and it still wouldn’t be the Gospel. The Gospel is the proclamation of Christ and Him crucified FOR YOU. The Gospel is in the FOR YOU. Everything that Jesus did, He did FOR YOU!
That’s why we’re so excited about this year’s conference theme, “For You”. We, the coordinators of next year’s Higher Things conferences, invite you to come and hear the best news there is – the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified FOR YOU.
Whether you attend the conference in Minneapolis, MN from July 24-27, 2007 or the conference in Asheville, NC from July 31-August 3, 2007, expect to be richly fed in the best of our worship traditions, taught on a number of subjects of interest to youth today by skilled Lutheran pastors and laity, and set free to play and fellowship with one another as Christians in the cross-won freedom of the Gospel.
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.
When we worship, we worship. When we work, we work. And when we play, we play. And with Higher Things, the FOR YOU gets delivered to you! Our goal at Higher Things is to assist congregations, pastors and parents to deliver the Gospel into the ears of youth. And nothing immerses a young person in the Gospel like an entire Higher Things conference (or two) devoted to that purpose!
This year, we have not only more than doubled our potential maximum capacity by offering two conferences, but we are opening registration a full three months earlier than has ever been done in the history of Higher Things conferences. You can even register and pay your deposit online!
Read more about conference details here <http://higherthings.org/conferences/foryou2007/about.html>. Visit the FOR YOU conference website <http://www.foryou2007.org> frequently for updates about the upcoming conferences, instructions and materials for both print and online registration, and to ask and receive answers to burning questions about each conference (FAQ page to be online soon).
Also, learn more about Higher Things and support all the work we’re doing with our conferences, magazine, website, and retreats for youth and college students by visiting <http://www.higherthings.org>.
For us he rose from death again; For us he went on high to reign; For us he sent his Spirit here To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer. (“Oh Love, How Deep” – LW #275)
In the Name of Jesus,
Sandra Ostapowich
Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
Pastor George Borghardt
Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
Dear everyone,
So if you would like to get a few extras for yourself, others you know, or people who couldn’t make it to the Feast we will be selling them until August 31 or as long as supplies last.
To see pictures of the shirts:
The prices are as follows (these prices include shipping):
1 for $8
2 for $14
3 for $18
Or you can get bigger quantities for even less:
6 for $30
10 for $40
Want a different quantity or have questions? Simply e-mail us at thefeast@higherthings.org.
Again, this sale on Large Tan Feast Conference Shirts is good until August 31 or as long as supplies last.
Please make checks payable to “Higher Things” and send to:
The Feast – T-Shirt Sale
1309 Grand Ave.
Laramie, WY 82070
Make sure you let us know where you want them mailed and we’ll be happy to accommodate you.
Thanks,
Pastor Zill, The Feast
2006 Conference Coordinator
