Higher Things, Day 5 - The End, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The last day, as most of you know, is a half-day, a travel day. We say a lot of goodbyes and then start the journey home. Our plan was to load the van after lunch and before the closing service, then get out pretty quickly. 

Nope.

When I got to our van, it was dead. Completely. Didn't even try to start. :-(  I saw someone in the parking lot and tried to jump it, but couldn't really get a good connection on her battery, so it didn't work. Not even close. So we left our stuff in our dorm rooms and went to the Closing Service and would deal with the van after that. The Closing Service is one of the highlights, IMHO. I snuck out after communion to call AAA. Sadly, they basically said that someone would be there up to 1.5 hours from then. We would just have to wait and see how long it took. Sigh.

So after watching most folks leave, another friend offered to try again to jump - this time with a better battery connection. Thankfully, that worked, but the battery wouldn't hold a charge, wouldn't restart by itself. So it was off to the auto parts store for a new one. The first place wouldn't install it for us, but the second would, and did. All-in-all, not too bad, but it did hold us up leaving, which meant we get to our hotel later in the night. We were hoping to leave by 3 CT, 4 ET, but ending up leaving after 5 ET. (This was the "Bad" of the title.)

But before talking about that, some pictures . . .

Pastor Stan Temme, Evansville, IN, and his son Simon. Stan is the one who finally got our van started and followed us to the auto parts store to make sure we got taken care of. Thanks Stan! (Part of the "Good," along with the last parts of the conference.)

Pastor and Headmaster Steve Kieser of Plano, TX.

Almost 1,000 youth in attendance.

The final standings of the "tetramorph challenge" - the different teams the youth were divided into. Our team, Leo, was victorious!

The theme of next year's conferences, with an apologetics focus.

So, the trip home . . . went smoothly, at first. Stopped for a quick dinner in Fort Wayne, then wound our way through rural Ohio to our hotel outside of Pittsburgh. The fun always starts after dark when we begin to get silly remembering all that happened during the week and laugh a lot. We also started a new "Higher Things after Dark" tradition this year . . . but you'll have to wait for that until the next post!

But what about the "Ugly" in the title? Well, that happened around midnight when we were in eastern Ohio, trying to get onto a highway . . .  we got to the on ramp Google led us to, which was closed for construction! So after pulling over and figuring out how to get to the next on ramp, we started down the road when we were stopped by a freight train! TWICE! By the same train! It went across our street, stopped, a man pivoted a switch in the track, and then it backed up across our street onto the new track! Fortunately, it wasn't an ultra long train - only about 40 cars, but still another hold up, causing us not to get to the hotel, checked in, and to our rooms until after 2 AM!

So now, after a couple hours of sleep, we'll be off again soon for the last leg. Got to get home and get ready for church tomorrow! But check back - I'll try to get a post up later today about our new tradition. Trust me, you won't want to miss that!

Higher Things, Day 4 - Second Full Day

The schedule for Thursday is much like the schedule for Wednesday, and by now everyone knows the drill and things tend to run smoothly. All the youth seem to be having a good time and it sounds like good learning, too. One difference was that last night there are some fire pits to sit around and chat about . . . anything on your mind. I was one of the pastors "assigned" to a fire pit to talk with the youth (and some adults) that came. It was an enjoyable time to talk with them. During the day, with the panel Q&A, there were some really hard questions asked! I did not get any doozies, but still good chats. They had announced that they were not providing S'mores this year, so my daughter and I walked over to the Dollar Store across the street from Valpo and bought the ingredients ourselves - so whoever came to our fire pit got some! ;-)

Some more pictures for you . . .

Jocelyn Benson, Head Teacher at Wittenberg Academy, my daughter's school. This picture should come in handy one day, don't you think?

Kathy Berg, wife of Pastor John Berg of Sheboygan, WI. I sang with Kathy in the Schola Kantorum at the Seminary when her husband and I overlapped there.

This is the room I taught in - a recital hall! The video screen was ginormous! I had to take a picture of it! I taught again today, and while I had fewer in attendance, the presentation went a bit better. 

I previously posted a picture of the inside of the chapel - here's what the chancel area looks like from the outside. Pretty impressive.

Pastor Larry Feldt (I think I'm spelling that right!) of Denver, IA (the mile WIDE city!). Larry and I overlapped at Seminary.

The Douthwaites all together before the start of one of the plenary sessions.

And finally, last but certainly not least . . .

What is this monstrosity, you ask? The air conditioning system for the chapel! Who's the genius engineer who design that rat's nest of hoses!

Anyway, one more day (a half-day) and then the long trek home. But that's for tomorrow's post.

Higher Things, Day 3 - First Full Day

Today got started with a bang as I met my old friend, mentor, and sign language teacher Dave Bush in the lobby of the student center. He looks exactly the same as 27 years ago!

Some other friends (and relatives!) - old and new - that I ran into today . . .

My nephew Adam (the "other Pastor Douthwaite" in attendance!)

Adam's wife Sarah, also a deaconess. Their church is in Dallas, TX.

Tom Olson, from NC.

Grace Martin!

The Martin family were members of our mission congregation before they moved to Texas.

Dr. Dan Brege, Indiana District President (for a few more weeks). His daughter Heidi attends my church.

So this is how the day went: breakfast, Matins, plenary session, Lunch, vespers, breakout class, panel discussion, another breakout class, dinner, evening prayer, a third breakout class, free time, compline to close out the night. There is some time between each of these to do some other things as well - to chat, do some pastoral duties, etc.

I taught my first breakout this afternoon. As some of you know, my topic this year is: A Small Catechism on Predestination. A meaty subject! But one that I think is important to have a conversation on with the youth. Lots of misunderstanding and bad theology on this out there. I felt like I did just okay. The room dynamic was quite different than I am used to. It was a large recital hall and I was up on a stage, so a bit separated from the folks. I think that made it hard for me to get feedback as I was presenting. But I received some good comments afterward and good questions at the end from the youth, so I guess that's a good sign. I get to do it again tomorrow, so that should be a little better.

Finally, here's our group photo:

Tomorrow: The Second Full Day

Higher Things, Day 2 - Getting Started

The conference began today. We ate a good brunch (since dinner is the first meal provided here) and drove the final two hours. We arrived around Noon, checked in, found our rooms, unpacked, made the beds, and then it was time to head to the chapel for the opening Divine Service. I'm not sure how many are in attendance, but we seem to have filled the chapel pretty good. Here's a picture of the inside:

To get an idea of the size of this chapel (and it is rather large!), check out the pulpit on the wall under the chandelier on the right. We were sitting about 1/3 of the way back, I think. The only bad thing about the chapel is that the sound system really isn't very good. ;-(

After the service we went to another building for the welcome and the first Plenary session. The speaker had a lot of energy and kept the kids engaged. Then it was time for dinner - a pretty good selection of food, and met and talked with some pastor friends. As always, I got some pictures . . . Some of these pastors you've seen before from previous Higher Things pictures. :-)

Dave Mumme, Minnesota South 1st VP

Jim Leistico, serving in Canada, eh!

Nathan Neugebauer, serving in South Dakota, did his vicarage in my circuit in the SELC.

Joe Murphy, Parker, Colorado, and classmate at Seminary

Chris Sifferlein, Littitz, PA, vicared close by when I was in NY.

My nephew Adam is also here with a group, along with his wife Sarah. I got to talk with them a little but didn't get a picture yet. I still have a couple of days . . .

Soon it will be time to pray Compline and head off to bed. I should sleep good tonight!

Higher Things, Day 1 - The Drive

So drove to Fort Wayne, IN today. A mostly pleasant drive, though boring. Had torrential rains for a while in western PA, but otherwise not bad. When we checked into the Guest Dorm where we're staying tonight, I met an old friend - Marcia Lange, wife of the pastor who taught me Greek here at the Seminary and now 1st VP of Synod. We had a nice conversation catching up. Then met up with our new adopted seminary student and his family and some friends who live in town and went to dinner. Here are some pics . . .

Sleeping beauties! Can you tell they're brothers? :-)

Caleb, Delie, and little Hosanna

At Pizza Hut for dinner.

This morning we have some time, so letting the kids sleep a little, then having brunch, then off to Valpo. They're in the Central Time Zone which means we have an extra hour this morning, but lose an hour for the drive home. :-(

Thoughts After Dobbs #4

Pro-life means not only to speak against death, but to care for all life, from the womb to the tomb, no matter what it looks like, or how able or disabled, or how useful it seems or not to us. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are to love as Jesus loved. A tall order! And one we will always fall short of. But one that the love of Jesus for us compels us to do.

That being said, those who are pro-abortion often accuse us of caring only for the yet-to-be-born baby and not for the mother. While I do not think that entirely true, maybe we need to look at ourselves and acknowledge the grain of truth here - that we need to be doing a better job at this. Encouraging fathers to be fathers, supporting mothers and families, providing the help that they need. Being there for the elderly, and helping those caring for the elderly. And much more.

The early Christians in Rome did this by going to the garbage dumps and rescuing babies who had been thrown away. You could do that then! But if all life is valuable, precious, and important, those early Christians knew that had to act like it, and they were compelled to act like it. And that opened the minds and changed the hearts of many Romans.

The Church (it seems to me) used to be much more active in this, but the government has taken over and because of all its rules and regulations has forced the church out. But maybe this is the time for the Church to step up again. And step in. If the government is not going to care for all - and not only allow, but also perhaps encourage assisted suicide, mercy killing, abortion, and other forms of death - then the Church will have once again rescue lives that are being thrown away; lives the world does not want. But lives that Jesus wants. Lives that Jesus died for. Lives that are worth our lives, too.

Thoughts After Dobbs #3

Language is a big deal. The words we use matter. I heard on the radio recently a commentator reflect on the phrases that someone "got" an abortion, or "received" an abortion. He asked: What exactly did that woman "get" or "receive" when she walked into the clinic? (Or took those pills?) Actually, nothing. But she lost and gave up an awful lot - a little boy or little girl. Someone in my Bible Class commented that actually, what the woman received was a trauma to her body, mind, and soul. Good point. And after that, what she needs in the Gospel! For yes, there is forgiveness for abortion, as there is for each and every sin. These women who have gotten abortions - for whatever reason - need our care and the care of their Saviour. And it is incumbent on the church to provide this care. This is what we have to give - forgiveness, hope, and life in Jesus. We don't just want to stop abortions (and other kinds of killing), but help and care for these mothers, the elderly, and all who are endangered these days. (More on this in another future post.)

But more on the words we use . . . I used them above. Perhaps we should stop using the language of "fetus" in describing the life in utero. How about baby? How about little boy or little girl? That might, in a slow and steady way, help to humanize these little lives and help people begin thinking a little differently. Language matters.

Thoughts After Dobbs #2

My second thought post-Dobbs . . .

While this ruling will certainly effect the number of surgical abortions performed in many states, and the grizzly dismemberment and painful killing will decrease, the number of abortions done by pill is on the increase. Some estimates I've seen claim that as many as 60% of all abortions are now done by pill. Perhaps some states will pass laws restricting the availability and distribution of these pills, though I'm sure there will be a whole raft of legal challenges to that, too. 

The problem with these pills are that the evidence shows they are not as safe as is often claimed, and that they are marketed as "preventing pregnancy," or an "emergency contraceptive" - so that many who take them probably do not even know they are killing their baby. The claim that they "prevent ovulation" may be accurate in some cases, but if taken after ovulation, (or perhaps too close to ovulation,) they prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, thus causing an abortion.

That's why my previous post said that Dobbs is a step in the right direction. Minds and hearts still need to be changed, to know that the life inside a woman is a little boy or little girl, in need of our love, care, and protection. Until we acknowledge that, the problem will go on. 

Tomorrow: More on the language we use . . .

Thoughts After Dobbs

For the next few days and posts, I am going to put out here some thoughts on life after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. Not political thoughts, but what this means for us as the church. 

First, Dobbs is a step, not a victory. There is still much work to be done. The Law constrains behaviour but it cannot change hearts. We need to continue to proclaim the Gospel that each and every life is a life for whom Jesus died and who God loves dearly, whether that life is in the womb or in a nursing home, whether than life is a man or a woman, whether than life came about in loving ways or not. 

Dobbs returned the abortion debate to the states, which means that Christians in each state now need to step up their games on a state level. For the past 50 years the March for Life in Washington was a big deal every year. Now, a March for Life in each state will be more important. These are harder to get folks to come out for, but we need to put in the effort. The national political parties know that a local ground game is important in elections; we need to know that, too. 

Here in Northern Virginia, our local Lutherans for Life chapter is small. Good folks, but we've had trouble getting traction with many people and churches. We need to keep pushing on and proclaiming the Gospel of life. Many people think abortion and other life issues are political issues and so don't want to go near them. They are political. No denying that. But they are also theological. And we need to proclaim the truth of God's Word no matter what. No obnoxiously, but with clarity and charity, consistently and courageously. And trust the Word to do its work.

Cool Picture

 

Happy Independence Day everyone!

Vacation Bible School - Extra

A couple more pictures for you . . . the final day chalk art:

PS I also found out why the coins brought in on Tuesday were so few . . . the papers I asked be distributed to each child that day to take home never were! I found them all this morning as I was cleaning up a few things. So the families didn't know until Wednesday's offering! So that answers that question! 

Vacation Bible School - Day 5

We finished up today and really ended on a high note. The kids did well, learned lots, sang great, and raised more money in offerings than ever before! So let me explain . . .

If you've been reading the newspapers we create, you know we challenge the kids each year to fill up a large vase we have with coins. Tuesday is penny day, Wednesday is nickel day, Thursday is dime day, and Friday is quarter day. We've filled the vase a couple of times, but other years we fell a bit short. But we always have fun trying! I also give the kids the incentive that whatever they give I will match and so double their offerings. This year they far exceeded anything we've done before.

So this year . . .

Tuesday . . . not too many pennies. Many kids forgot. I was skeptical about this year.

Wednesday . . . much better! Kids brought the pennies they forgot and then also their nickels.

Almost half full . . .

Thursday . . . now I'm worried! Lots of coins! The vase is approx. 4/5 full!

We've never done that well before on a Thursday!

Friday . . . On! My! Goodness! I cannot believe how many quarters they brought!

The view from above.

Total donated by the children: $472.19! With my match, we raised $944.38! A record BY FAR! The cause this year was to donate to the Lutheran Heritage Foundation to supply Bibles and Bible Story books for the children of Ukraine who lost everything in the war. The kids really thought that was great.

Today's sense was smell. Here's a picture of trying to guess what something is simply by smelling it. Not as easy as you think!

Music time! Sitting with the kids and singing hymns. They love it!

Group photo  :-)

And for next year, here's our theme:

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and the updates!

And here's the link to the final newspaper for the week.

Vacation Bible School - Day 4

Hard to believe VBS is almost over! It's a long and tiring week, but always a good week. The kids have had a lot of fun, and learned a lot, too. We've been especially emphasizing how God created them and they're not an accident, they didn't happen by chance, and God didn't make a mistake with them (like accidentally give them the wrong body). Our teachers and helpers have been wonderful, too. 

A couple more pictures for you today, and, of course, the link to the Day 4 Newspaper . . .

Thursday was the sense of taste, so we had some of the children try to figure out what they were tasting. It's not as easy as you think! Texture and smell play a big part in what a thing tastes like to us!

Working on the craft of the day.

And here's your link to the Day 4 Newspaper.