Home!

Got home safe and sound last night. Nice to sleep in my own bed! This morning, found this next to our house . . .

. . . which looks like a spent firework to me! That's kinda scary . . . if it had fallen on our roof . . . hot? fire? Thanks be to God it didn't!

Higher Things Day 4

Last day! :-(  The week always seems to go by so fast and it's time to go home before you know it. So we had to get up early to pack up, load the van, and check out so we could leave right after the closing service to get to the airport. It was a little bumpy, but we got it done! 

After breakfast was the final plenary, before which was the announcements and one last chance for tetramorph teams to earn points and win. And we almost did! Four youths from each team (including one from our group!) got to do one final challenge - and whoever won would win the team competition. It was close, but our group cam in second. But a valiant effort.

The closing Divine Service was great, as were all the services. Already talking about next year! Thanks WashU!

Just a couple photos today . . .

Teaching my breakaway: "Rising Hope on Judgment Day"

Higher Things Day 3

Day 3 started as Day 2 did - with an early breakfast to get our choir member to practice. The we began with Matins, where I preached on the Parable of the Sower. I'll get that posted soon. A terrific plenary session followed, then lunch.

But in the morning, it was meet old friends day! 

First up was Kathryn Peperkorn. When we lived in New York, she would fly out to have a lesson from her voice coach in New York City and stay with us in our house. We haven't seen her in many, many years, so it was great to catch up a little.

Next up were the Hensleys! With me here are Mary, John, and Lucy. When their father was finishing up his Ph.D. dissertation, they lived in Virginia and attended my church. I baptized John and Lucy in those years, and now here they are attending Higher Things! They now live in Saint Louis where their father teaches at the Seminary.

Preaching at Matins.

After lunch there were two breakaway sessions with an adult/group leader thank you reception in between while the youth did a service project. I taught in the second session of the day (the final breakaway session) and it went much better than yesterday. I get to teach this twice more in Colorado. Someone took a picture of me teaching, but I didn't receive it yet.

After dinner, we went over to Concordia Seminary for Evening Prayer, free time activities, and Compline. We had two youths in the talent show, and they both did really well. The winners of points for their tetramorph teams will be announced tomorrow morning.

The Hensleys also sang with the group from their church.

But this wasn't just old friend day - we also made new friends. I met the pastor of a former member who now works as a recruiter for the Fort Wayne Seminary. We took a picture together and sent it to her.

The youth made new friends, too. And the free time activities were a lot of fun.

Had to get this giant ball around an obstacle course!

Now it's late and we have to get up early in the morning to load the van and check out before breakfast so we can get to the airport right after the Closing Divine Service. Hopefully nothing will go wrong with the flight home!

Higher Things Day 2

Today was the first full day. Started with an early breakfast so we could get a couple youth to choir practice. 

After breakfast was Matins and then the second plenary speaker, the President of the St. Louis Seminary. Lunch followed that, and then Vespers. And bit of free time to go to the merchandise tables to see what was for sale, and to go to the exhibitor hall and visit with folks there.

Nice old chapel.

Jocelyn Benson of Wittenberg Academy. We visit at HT every summer!

Michelle Baumann of Y4Life.

Dr. Baneck, the Synod's Pastoral Formation guru, and Chaplain Craig Muehler, head of LCMS chaplains.

Here's our group photo.

I taught the first of my two breakaway sessions this afternoon. It went okay. It seemed like a some of the youth had different expectations of what I was going to talk about. But I got a couple nice comments, too. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little better.

Ran into a couple students from Concordia Wisconsin who know my daughter . . .

And a few more old friends . . .

Tomorrow is another full day, starting off by preaching for Matins. But ore on that tomorrow. Kids are having fun. Things are going well. But off to bed now!

Higher Things Day 1

So the day started early early - departing for the Metro at 5 am. Two trips to get everyone there, then off to the airport. Security was EMPTY and flew through. :-) The flight went well . . .

Saint Louis is hot! We arrived and checked-in and got all our stuff. Then it was off for lunch . . . which we thought we had plenty of time for! But we had to wait ONE HOUR for our food at Panera! So that made the ol' schedule a lot tighter! We got to the chapel for the Opening Service on time, even got a row where we could all sit together. 

Things are spread far apart, so lots of walking. It's also kind of a confusing campus, so takes some time trying to figure out where everything is. But we're getting there. 

After the Opening Service was the first plenary speaker, then finish getting folks settled in the dorm, then dinner, the first breakaway sessions, Evening Prayer, free time, and Compline to finish the day. A LONG day, but a good one. 

And as usual, some selfies with my friends . . .

Six Months!

Oh my. Dear public, hear my confession. It's been six months since my last post! Yowzah! On the totem pole of priorities, posting here just hits pretty low, and life just seems to get busier and busier! But it's Higher Things week and I'm going to be posting for that, so I thought I put a few things up before we leave . . .

First, a couple photos from the (April) Virginia State March for Life:

Next, our group for the (May) Assist Pregnancy Center's Walk-Run-Ride for Life:

With the Executive Director of Assist, Kelly White.

In late May, my wife planned a trip for the two of us to get away for a couple days for our anniversary - 31 years now! We went to Douthat State Park and did some hiking, kayaking, and just hanging out off the grid. Even though it rained a lot, a nice break. (And we stopped at Buc-ees on the way - our first time!) The cabin had been built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and so was pretty rustic, but they had done some updating with new kitchen appliances and a new shower - so pretty nice!

Almost stepped on this little guy! An orange spotted newt.

I was slow taking our bird feeder down this year, and the house finches decided to build their nest in it!

Sadly, a mean crow came and got the babies just a day or two after they hatched. :-(

For Father's Day, my daughter took me to see the Phillies play the Nationals. After we waited out a 1.5 hour rain delay, the Phillies decided to lay an egg and lost 4-1. But our seats were pretty good and I enjoyed hanging our with her and having some ballpark eats!

Now you're caught up . . . kinda. Trying to increase my fitness and ride out of the road more and do some more circuit training inside. I've had lots of travels (Saint Louis, Florida, Pennsylvania). I'm up for election for the Board for International Mission in a few weeks - so we'll see if I get to serve another term or not. 

Check back for Higher Things posts and see how we're doing in Saint Louis!

2026 March for Life

A great day at the National March for Life this year. Not too cold, and a large contingent of Lutherans. We were near the front this year so the March went faster than usual. 

Here are some pictures . . .

My daughter and friends in from Concordia University-Wisconsin.

Pastor Jonathon Bakker, Campus Pastor at CUW.

Patrick Henry College students, part of our Campus Ministry up there.

Folks from Saint Athanasius.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, head of LCMS Life Ministries.

Rev. Dr. Aric Fenske and his wife Marie, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life.

Pastors Esget and Zimmerman.

Rev Randy Sturzenbecher, North Dakota District President

and President of Higher Things.

Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz, Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty.

Mollie Hemingway and Julia Habrecht

If you didn't come this year, make sure you come next year!