A Most Interesting Week

So with Higher Things in the rearview mirror, I have two weeks to get things done and to get ready for Vacation Bible School. So this was going to be a busy week . . .

Was.

Early on, I started feeling fatigued and a bit under the weather. That often happens to me after a long trip and my defenses go down. So while I got a little done on Monday, I only did what I had to do on Tuesday and Wednesday and tried to sleep it off. I started feeling better on Thursday and woke up on Friday feeling pretty good, though I lost a lot of time I was counting on. 

Then on Friday morning I got an email from Higher Things . . . some folks who had been at the conference tested positive for Covid. No other information. Okaaaaaaay. I'm vaccinated, so not really worried about it. But with all the breakthrough talk out there . . . is that what made me so tired for those couple of days? I didn't get too sick, which would mean the vaccine did its job. But do I need to worry about the installation I was at? Do I need to worry about those who were at church on Sunday? And what about this Sunday? Ugh. Not what I wanted to deal with. So I went and got tested just to make sure, and thankfully, the test came back negative. So no worries. Didn't have it. Didn't spread it. All good.

But now a really busy week coming up!

Today, though, I had committed to being at a rally at the Finnish Embassy in Washington to speak to the unjust arrest and persecution of two Finnish Lutherans, Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen. They are being tried for hate crimes for speaking and teaching the biblical view of marriage. After this week, I really didn't want to go, but I had given my word, so I went. It was good that I did. We need to speak for religious liberty and free speech, for what is happening in Europe and Canada is coming here next. An official from the Embassy came out and spoke to us, which was good of him to do. 

The Secret Service came out to make sure we were safe. :-)  Or maybe it was because we were right across the street from the VP's residence?

Here's what I said:

This year marked the 500th anniversary of the Diet of Worms, when a man named Martin Luther was called before the Emperor and ordered to recant - to deny and revoke - the things he had written. He said that he could not. He could not submit his faith to the opinions of others. His faith was bound to the Word of God. Therefore, he said, unless convinced by proof from Holy Scripture and clear reason, it is not safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me.

Today, 500 years later, the same demand is being made of Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen. Both have been charged with crimes for their faith, for what they believe to be the clear Word of God, for what they have written and spoken. And both have said: Here I stand.

Today, we have gathered to stand with them. For all Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have done is speak the Word of God. The Word that God has spoken for the life of the world. A Word that does not change as the teachings, truths, and opinions of man change, but a Word which is for all time and all people. A Word the Church must speak, whether it is popular or easy or not.

That is the very problem, some would say. You can believe whatever you want, as long as you keep it to yourself. Your Church can believe whatever it wants, as long as you keep it within the four walls of your Church. You can believe whatever you want, as long as you do not bring it into the Public Square. 

But that is simply not possible for anyone with deeply held beliefs, whether they be Christian or anything else. What you deeply believe about God, about the truth, about life and death is a part of who you are. It is more like the blood that pumps through your body and gives you life than it is like a coat that you can just take off and hang at the door. What you believe effects every part of you - how you live, how you think, how you speak, and how you love. And are not those who insist that Christians not bring their beliefs into the Public Square bringing what they believe into the Public Square? 

So Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen are being charged for doing that. They are being charged with “incitement against a group of people.” But both Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have spoken firmly against any discrimination, prejudice, or hate. If all people matter and are important to Jesus, who died on the cross on behalf of all (as they believe), then all people also matter and are important to the Church. And that’s exactly why Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have spoken and written. And that’s exactly why the Church speaks the Word of God. 

Not to hate, but to love.

Not to discriminate, but because we all need Jesus.

Not in pride, but in humility.

Not to dominate, but to serve.

Not from superiority, but in recognition of our own failings.

Not to incite, but to unite all people in the truth of God’s Word.

Now there will be some - maybe many - who disagree with us. That’s okay. We do not hate them. They should be free to disagree with us as we should be free to disagree with them. 

What would not be loving would be to remain silent, for love always wants the best for others. Perhaps here, too, some will disagree with us about what that means, what love is and what is best for others. But why can we not talk about this without being accused of incitement or hate? Is not truth and love worth the effort?

So to conclude, as I have been talking a lot about speaking the Word of God, I would like to finish with that Word. 

First, a Word for the Finnish government and authorities:

The Apostle Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

So to those who are charging Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen - we do not hate you. We pray for you. We thank God for you, for your important work of governing, and for your work for the people of Finland. You have been given a great responsibility, and to whom much has been given, much is required. Therefore we also pray that God would give you wisdom and guidance and courage in your work, to allow freedom of speech and religion in your land, and that these charges would be dropped. For there is nothing to fear if one speaks the truth.

And second, a Word for my brother and sister, Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen:

Thank you for your brave and courageous stand. You are an inspiration to us. And remember these words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:11-12).

Here we stand. We cannot do otherwise.

Higher Things Day 4 + 1

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this . . . been a long and interesting week. (That'll be in the next post!) But on our way back from Michigan we took a slight detour through Pennsylvania so that I could attend the installation of a new pastor at one of my churches. It made for a long day and a long trip, but the kids were good about it and the service went well. Here's a picture:

After the service we had some refreshments and then got on the road, getting home around dinner time. So I am really glad I got 99% ready for Sunday before this trip, so that I didn't have to be too stressed about getting home. :-)

Higher Things Day 4

The last day is always a short day. Start with Matins, then the final plenary, then lunch and the closing Divine Service. The conference t-shirts in size large (MY size!) did not arrive on time, so we put off taking our group picture until today, so we could all wear our shirts together. Well, that didn't work out so well. I didn't get my shirt in time and it rained . . . :-(  We were going to take our picture on the same bench outside the chapel as last time we were here, but it was too wet. So we took it in the chapel - which is good, so you can see some of the chapel.

We left as quickly as we could after the closing service so we wouldn't get into the hotel too late. We stopped in Elmore, OH (think: middle of nowhere) for dinner. We found a little hole-in-the-wall place that had good pizza.

After dinner, we wait until it gets dark, and then comes "Higher Things @ Night" in the van. This is when we get really silly remember all the adventures of this week, imitating people, and playing assorted games. If you get a question right, you get to eat one of the official candies of Higher Things, a Mike 'n Ike. Which are generally good . . . except for the red ones. They say they're cherry, but no human being with any taste buds would agree. They're vile. So part of the fun is that after dark, you can't see which flavor you're getting until after you bite into it! Then you discover if you got a good one or one of the dreaded red ones!

So, for the first time ever, you can join in the fun and try to guess which of the group we're talking about here . . . (I'm not going to give any answers and throw anyone under the bus! You'll have to use your imagination . . .)

Who ate butter like it was ice cream?

Who got potatoes stuck in their phone?

Who couldn't figure out the "You are here" on the campus map and thought we weren't on the campus!

Who thought people had turkeys for pets?

Who walked into a sign pole?

Who walked into a tree?

Who left pastor's towel on the bathroom floor. :-(

Who did a "back flop" off the high dive at the pool and almost broke their back?

Who fell asleep and got water poured on them?

Who is really bad at playing the game "Contact"?

Who had to sit "in the hole" the most?

Who was the best rapper in the group? (You already know the answer to that one!)

That's enough for now! We'll post more if we think of more for you.

We got into the hotel around midnight and bedded down for a few hours sleep before heading off to Macungie, PA for the installation of a pastor there. But that's another day . . .

Higher Things Day 3

Another full day today, though I did not have any responsibilities. :-)  Nice to just be part of the crowd today and talk and visit with folks. Some I met here . . .

Pastor Rick Townes. Seminary classmate and attended Saint Athanasius for a while

when he was stationed out our way.

Pastor Jim Leistico. I see him at many Higher Things conferences.

He's up in Ontario now. (Yes, Canada let him out!)

Pastor Dan Grams. Used to be in my circuit a while back, now in Michigan.

So we wrap things up tomorrow and start to head back. But I'll write more about that tomorrow. The kids are all having a good time and have already said they'll be back next year. :-)

Higher Things Day 2

Day 2. First full day. Breakfast, Matins, Announcements, Plenary, Lunch, Vespers, Breakout Session, Free Time, Breakout Session, Dinner, Evening Prayer, Breakout Session, Free Time, Compline. A full day, all in all. 

I taught my second session this evening, the final Breakout Session of the day. A little different than the first one - probably both a little better at some points and a little worse. I prepared too much material and had trouble fitting it in both nights. Or maybe I just talk too much! Anyway, seemed to be well received again and folks had some kind words. Hopefully they took some points home that they can remember and use. :-)  But I am done now! Tomorrow I have no responsibilities at all. I may try to get some work done, but maybe not. We'll see . . .

I didn't take any pictures today until the very end, a picture of many of us from the dorm we are staying in praying compline. This is the last thing of the day, at 11 pm, before going to bed. We just meet up outside with whomever. It's a good way to end the day.

Higher Things Days 0 and 1

Higher Things 2021 is here! Nice to be able to come after the Covid shutdown last year. Day 0 (Monday) was a travel day for us. We drove to Ft. Wayne and stayed overnight at the seminary. We also arranged to have dinner with the seminarian we adopted last year, Christopher Durham, and his family. It was a very nice evening.

Somewhere in Ohio (with one sleepy head!).

With Seminarian Christopher Durham.

On Tuesday we drove the rest of the way to Grand Rapids, MI. We had a little trouble finding out where check-in was, but we finally got there and settled into our rooms. Not too long after that the conference got underway with the Opening Divine Service and the first plenary session. Both were very good, but my voice was pretty tired at the end of the Divine Service! We sang a lot! 

After dinner was Evening Prayer, followed by the first of six Breakaway sessions. I was on the schedule to teach in this slot and it went pretty well - got positive feedback. A good crowd of people, too!

I'll be on again tomorrow night.

After this we had a couple hours of free time. Joanna and I first went to the "rap battle," where the lyrics to hymns are rapped to a beat. Pretty funny. They needed one more pastor to finish the evening, to battle against another pastor, so I was up. I'm a ham, so I did alright. :-)  Joanna recorded it, so I'll post it if we can get it from her phone to my computer.

After that, Joanna tried her hand at the rock climbing wall and did really well. Caleb went next (he'd done it before) and positively flew up the wall. Here are the videos:

Excuse the bobble toward the end - I almost fell down some steps moving back!

 

Now it's time for some sleep!

Prescient Quotations

Here are a couple of quotations from Philip Melanchthon - written some 500 years ago - that sound like they could have been written today. The more things change . . . as they say . . .

"Uneducated men hate literature and want it destroyed, hoping that thereby they can hide their own ignorance better."

"We can see that it happens generally that the best things are held in utmost contempt and, on the other hand, that the worst things are made great."

"Do we not see how our century is afflicted more than anything else by the fact that the mighty cannot bear free speech, and not even any thought of freedom?"

And a little story I liked . . .

"What happens to the Muses and the study of them now is the same as Strabo reports as having once happened in Iassus to a singer accompanying himself on the cithara. When he was singing learnedly and sweetly in the theatre there and the Iassians were listening to him, as soon as a bell rang (which was the sign for the sale of fish on offer), immediately all left the singer behind and scattered to buy fish, with the exception of one somewhat deaf man who alone remained, not having heard the sound of the bell. The singer thereupon turned to him and said: "I am immensely grateful to you - because of the enthusiasm for music as well as because of the honour to me - for not dashing out immediately at the ringing of the bell, like all the others, in order to buy fish." The man said: "What do you say? Has the bell rung yet then?" When the singer confirmed this, he said: "Good luck to you," rose and forthwith he, too, ran out to buy fish. The singer was abandoned alone, and in a city of that size he did not find anyone who cared more for music than for rotten fish."

Any application to today . . . ?  :-)

Athanasians at CCLE

I attended my first Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE) conference last week in Houston, TX, as we are looking into the possibility of starting a classical Lutheran school here. It was very interesting. I learned a lot and had a lot of good and helpful conversations. I also ran into many Athanasians! So many people have passed through our congregation, and they pop up all around the country.  :-)  A good reminder to me of how we serve the church even after people leave.

So, some pictures . . .

Drs. Ed and Jackie Veith

(Jackie received the prestigious Magistra Magna award this year. Ed receive the same recognition a few years ago, making them the only husband and wife recipients of this award.)

Mrs. Jocelyn Benson

(not an Athanasian, but the head teacher of the Wittenberg Academy, where Joanna is enrolled for High School, an online Lutheran classical school.)

Jeff and Anna Martin

(Jeff and Anna were part of our mission church in Purcellville. Anna was installed as the new Executive Director of the CCLE!)

Dr. Jim Tallmon

Grace, Lilia, and Thea Martin

Gene Wilken

(again, not an official Athanasian, but at least an honorary one! Gene and his wife have been faithfully logging into our online Morning Prayer for years and are some of our longest attenders. Gene has also been a great support to us with his knowledge of electronics.)

I also got to see Emily, Caroline, Isabel, and Natalie Ludwig, Athanasians who were also in our mission in Purcellville, who now live about 45 minutes west of Houston. Sadly, I did not get a picture with them.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to my youngest who auditioned and made it into The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestra for 2021-22. She also auditioned for and was accepted into a String Sinfonietta in the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, but decided to decline that invitation and play in the full TCSYO instead. Both groups are highly competitive and she worked really hard for the auditions. We are proud of her. Being accepted into one of these groups was important this year as we pulled her out of the rapidly deteriorating public schools and put her into the Wittenberg Academy for High School. She'll receive a better education there, I believe - it is a classical education academy, and it also doesn't have all the extra nonsense the public schools seem so interested in these days. So since she won't be in the music program in school, she wanted to get into one of these orchestras. And she did! We're looking forward to a good year! :-)

If you'd like to listen to her play (from a little over a year ago - she's even better now!) here's a link to her playing a duet with her older sister. (Go to the 24:30 mark in the program for their duet - or listen to the whole recital!) This was part of here sister's senior recital for VCU which, sadly, had to go online. She was going to play it with her live on the VCU stage, but had to settle for the recording instead.