Category: News

We’ve been trying new things on the HT webpage.  In fact, we want you to have something new every time you visit!

So, we’re going to take our own stab at reviewing movies.  Always ready to poke fun at ourselves, we’ll call this column “Higher Movies.” (smile).  If you’d like to submit a review for our weekly movie review, you can submit it to me. 

This review is provided to you by our our resident Batman expert,  Pastor Petersen. 

“Fan Boy Bliss”

Batman Begins began last night. I couldn’t wait for the weekend. Jacqui and I went. I read Batman comic books ever month and have for years. Being more than a casual fan I expected to be disappointed despite the good reviews. But I loved it, loved it, loved it. It may be the best comic book turned to movie ever. Jacqui even liked it.

What was good? For the fanboys: great casting, great origin story, great use of the Ra’s Al Ghul and Scarecrow, great use of Lucius Fox and explanation of how Batman gets his gadgets, very low level love interest/story (thanks for that! I hate it when these get sappy.) and lots of great effects. The ultimate fanboy kick? The best, absolute best, batmobile ever and the best entrance to the batcave.

Only two minor disappointments: no pearls on the street in a pool of light after the Wayne’s are killed. That is a classic comic panel and they could have paid homage there. At that point in the movie I thought they would and was bummed when they didn’t. That would have been a very nice touch visually just to let us fanboys know they were paying attention. They also failed to show Batman as much of a detective/scientist. I know there are a lot of different Batmans in the books, but I’ve always been prone to the thinking batman.

For the non-fanboys? It is a good action flick. There is plenty of dialog, plot and character development, to supplement the “ooh-ahh” effects. It is just a good story. There is nothing deep here: just fun. I highly recommend it. 

Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN, and a member of the Higher Things Editorial Board. This review was taken with permission from his blog, CyberStones.

What do you think?  Tell us on the Higher Things Forums.

One of the cool things that we’ll be adding to the Higher Things website is media!  We’ll be achieving your favorite HT authors on Issues, Etc., in sermons, and podcasting our Daily Reflections.  

We are going to give you a little preview of our Media Section with a little taste of the Fall 2005 Edition of Higher Things and some lagniappe from Pastor Cwirla. 

Check out HT Media now!

Dear everyone,

October 15th has arrived and, as promised, The Feast is now online!

Check out the 2006 conference web page at: www.thefeastonline.org

• Download Registration Forms and Pre-Conference Information.
• Get a foretaste of our worship life at The Feast.
• Meet our Plenary Speakers and get a preview of some of the many great In-Depth Sectionals that are being planned.
• Explore the fun activities your group can enjoy in/around Colorado Springs.
• Get a sneak peak at the tentative schedule for the conference.
• Join in on the discussion at our Feast Forums.

Remember that registration will open on November 15, 2005.

On behalf of the rest of “Team Feast” we’re looking forward to seeing you in Colorado Springs in the land of high altitude, low humidity, and for one week next summer, the next greatest Higher Things Lutheran Youth Conference!

So check now and check back often at www.thefeastonline.org. This will be your online home over the next 9 months as we prepare together for The Feast!

Enjoy the appetizer.

In Christ,

Mrs. Sandra Ostapowich, Plymouth, MN
Conference Publications Coordinator

Rev. Marcus Zill, Laramie, WY,
2006 Conference Director

“And in this mountain The Lord of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees.”  (Isaiah 25:6)

Our Executive Editor, Pastor Todd Peperkorn, has been a very busy man lately!  He presented at the Lutherans in God’s Word (LiGW) workshop at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.  His topic was “One Body at the Table.”

He will be on Issues Etc this Sunday night discussing “Youth Ministry.”  Check him out on October 16th from 10 pm to midnight CT online!  Listen Here!

The Staff of Higher Things extends our prayers to those who are in the path of or effected by Hurricane Rita.  May the Lord keep you and your family safe and protect you from all harm and danger.

As you prepare for the Hurricane or watch the news, take a moment and ignore the weather and reflect upon the promise of the Gospel: 

“They cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.” (Psalm 107:28-29)

Click here for our Hurricane Resources.

The Lord be with you!

Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Higher Things Web Committee
revborghardt@higherthings.org

It’s time for something new, isn’t it? The web committee has wonderful plans to change the look, feel, and content of the Higher Things website! In fact, we are so excited, we couldn’t even wait until Advent. We’ve already begun. We’ve added:

• A new and more stable host.  Faster, quicker, better!   Do you like it? This change is already here!
• Think it’s time for a whole new slew of moderators for the Higher Things Forums?  Done!  Check out the announcement here!

There’s so much coming on the website, that I can’t get into all of it!  But, I can tell you the following:

• A completely new look to the whole Higher Things website, complete with easy to navigate drop-down menus, information registration materials for The FEAST, and more!
• Daily Reflections for the full year!  Available through email, posted daily on our website, or download a seasonal booklet!  We’ve even got a slew of new writers!  Here are our 2005-2006 Reflectors:

 Are you excited?  I know we are!  It’s coming soon!

In Christ,

Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Higher Things Web Committee
revborghardt@higherthings.org

Join us at:

July 18-21

Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO

More information by October 15th!

Don’t forget! The FEAST news is coming October 15!

Dear Friends in Christ,

Joel Ostapowich has performed many hours of voluntary work for Higher Things in the past. His work is greatly appreciated and, as president of Higher Things, I thank him genuinely for his help. Joel’s work was exemplary and done in a professional manner. There is nothing that I am aware of which would lead me or Higher Things to conclude that Joel is anything but a responsible professional person any comments by others to the contrary notwithstanding.

Should he wish I would gladly commend him to others for the fine work he has done for us.

Klemet Preus
President, Higher Things
September 21, 2005

“Why did this happen? What’s going on in this world? Has God forgotten me? Is it because of our sins? Is it a gift from God? Does He work evil out for my good?”

There’s a feeling of helplessness that occurs when bad things happen to those around you.  You want to do something…but you aren’t really sure what to do. Some give money, some give items, others serve.  What can Higher Things do?  We did some theology.

With heavy hearts, we put before you this online collection of Hurricane Katrina Articles.  We enlisted some of our writers to reflect upon suffering – some of these submissions we received from their blogs and others they wrote for us.  We hope these meditations and sermons provide comfort to those who are suffering in this world – whether because of Hurricane Katrina or by the cares that happen to us in this fallen world.

May these be a gift to you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Rev. George F. Borghardt III
Higher Things, Internet Services Committee
revborghardt@higherthings.org