D A R E
T O
B E
L U T H E R A N
igher Things
Inside this issue:
• The Top Ten
Films All Lutherans Should Know and Love
• Ballroom Dancing: A Lesson in Life • Questions and Answers about Virginia Tech
W W W. H I G H E RT H I N G S . O R G
/ SUMMER / 2007
We’ve compiled a sampling of some notable blurbs from the Higher Things blogs. Check them out and read more online at http://blog.higherthings.org/.
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Contents T A B L E
O F
FEATURES 4
To Burn or Not to Burn
By Jess Norton Your friend just got the new Nelly Furtado CD, and it’s the same one you’ve been wanting to get. He offers to let you have it after school so that you can burn your own copy. Do you take him up on it? Or do you fork over the eighteen bucks and buy your own? Read Jess Norton’s article on music piracy if you’re unsure about how you’d answer.
6 Film History 101
By Doktor Martin Luther It’s summertime. Instead of whining to your parents that you have no life, pop in one of the ten films all Lutherans should know and love. Doktor Luther has outlined several classic movies that you’re sure to enjoy. And if you don’t, well, it’s better than sitting on the front porch waiting for the ice cream truck.
12 Money . . . Money . . . and More Money
By Rev. George F. Borghardt III While you might have a summer job, we’re betting that you’re still begging your parents for more money. But who ultimately gives us all that we need? Believe it or not, money doesn’t grow in your parents’ wallets, but it does come from God who knows just how much you need.
14 The Wife of a Pastor
By Julie Stiegemeyer When we think of pastors’ wives, we usually think they should play the organ, make coffee for Bible Study, lead the Altar Guild, and teach Sunday School, right? Or maybe not.To get an inside scoop on what it’s like being married to a pastor, check out this interview with Julie Stiegemeyer.
18 Letters Home
By Chaplain Richard Townes Chaplain Richard Townes saw a lot of things, both painful and joyful, when he was deployed to Iraq with a Marine battalion for several months.Through a series of letters written home, he shares the struggles and successes of being a pastor to some of the men and women who fight to protect us.
24 Saved Sex: A Plea for Virginity
By Rev. Tim Pauls Society tells us that sex outside of marriage is okay, that it won’t hurt anybody, and that it’s a sure cure for loneliness. But that’s not God’s plan for you. Read Pastor Pauls’ article to find out why God wants you to wait and why He loves and forgives you, even if you do fall prey to temptation.
28 Let’s Dance
By Rev. Jason Braaten Ballroom dancing is regaining popularity all across America. It’s graceful, classic, and fun. But Pastor Braaten, a ballroom dancer himself, believes you can learn more from dancing than just the cha-cha and waltz. It’s a lesson in leading, following, relationships, and love.
COLUMNS
Volume 7/Number 2 • Summer 2007
10 A Moonlight Drive
By Kathy Luder What started out as an innocent drive to listen to music and hang out with Molly turns disastrous for Kathy when a drunk driver loses control of his car. As a result, Kathy is forced to grow up quickly when she finds herself hurt and in trouble.
16 Christ on Campus: Questions from Virginia Teach
By Rev. Paul Siems The recent shootings at Virginia Tech left many Americans wondering why and how it happened. While the thought of such a tragedy happening in your own school might frighten you and give you concern about your safety, Pastor Siems reminds us that Christ has won eternal security for us in heaven.
22 Mining the Riches: God’s Breath
By Rev. Bart Day God spoke, and things were created. His words had their intended effect. Sin has tainted that perfect creation, and now we live in a sinful world. At the same time, Pastor Day expounds on why we can wait with eager anticipation for Christ’s new creation where we will live with Him forever.
30 Good Government
By Rev. David Petersen Have you ever considered that a good government is one of the ways in which your heavenly Father gives you your daily bread? It’s true! For a lesson in history, tyranny, freedom, and liberty, go straight to Pastor Petersen’s article.
Also in this issue:
2 Blurbs from the Blogs 20 News and Notes
HigherThings Volume 7/Number 2/Summer 2007 Executive Editor REV. TIM PAULS Managing Editor ADRIANE DORR Assistant Editor
JULIE BECKWITH Art Director STEVE BLAKEY Editorial Associates
REV. PAUL BEISEL REV. DAVID PETERSEN REV. GREG ALMS REV. ERIK ROTTMANN Bible Studies Editor REV. DAN MACKEY Business Manager
LYNNETTE FREDERICKSEN Subscriptions Manager ELIZABETH CARLSON No Anabaptists were harmed in the making of this magazine.
____ Christ on Campus Executive REV. MARCUS ZILL Conferences Executive REV. BRUCE KESEMAN Internet Services Executive REV. GEORGE F. BORGHARDT
III
Retreat Executive LANDON REED
_____ Board of Directors President REV. KLEMET
PREUS
Vice President REV. WILLIAM Secretary SANDRA
CWIRLA
OSTAPOWICH
Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN
REV. BRENT KUHLMANN MARK PFUNDSTEIN BRUCE PARADIS REV. RICHARD RESCH DR. BEVERLY YAHNKE ___________ Higher Things Magazine ISSN 1539-8455 is published quarterly by Higher Things, Inc., 5009 Cassia, Boise, ID 83705. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the executive editor of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2007. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at St. Louis, Missouri. For subscription information and questions, call 1-888-448-2359 or e-mail subscriptions@higherthings.org. (This phone number is only used for subscription queries.) For letters to the editor, write letters@higherthings.org. Writers may submit manuscripts to: submissions@higherthings.org. Please check http://higherthings.org/magazine/writers.html for writers’ guidelines and theme lists.
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Higher Things Magazine is available in Braille and on audiocassette tape for the visually impaired. Contact Lutheran Blind Mission at 7550 Watson Road, St. Louis , MO 63119; call toll-free 1-888-215-2455; or e-mail at blind.mission@blindmission.org.
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Money Money... Law and Gospel:
By Rev. Ge orge Borg hardt
Money, Money, and More
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“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine” (Psalm 50:10–-12 ESV).
oney. Stuff. Mammon. It's all His, His, His. From the cattle on a thousand hills to the bird on the mountain, it’s all His. Everything belongs to the Lord—all of it.
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And unlike us, He doesn't horde it all to Himself. He doesn't sit at the poker table guarding all His chips. He tosses them out, gives them away to all men. He gives His gifts to good people. He gives them to evil people, even to you and me. Everything you have in your wallet is His. The lint in your wallet is His too. Even the wallet is His. Hey, isn't that wallet yours too? I mean, after all, it is your wallet, right? Of course it is. But it comes to you as gift from above from your Father who excels at giving everything from wallets to, as the Small Catechism says, “clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” You are probably going to be earning and getting more in the coming years. As you get this stuff called mammon, don't forget that it's all His. You'll have it for a while, use it, probably abuse it, and He will give you more anyway. That's the way your Father is. He gives without asking anything in return.
Consider God demanding something in return from you. Now that's scary. If He wants something from you, then it's everything. It’s all you have and are and all you acquire. Everything. Not only would He want it all, but He'd want it given with a cheerful heart too. That's the opposite of how we normally give. Usually, we give Him what we can spare or whatever is leftover after we get and use what we want. Christ paid all that is due to God for us, all that we deserve for our mismanagement, for desiring more than we have been given, for not trusting that He's going to provide for us. The Father has already paid what God demanded of you in the giving up of His Son. Receive His gifts without fear, and then cheerfully give Him what's due. Be certain and sure that He'll give and provide more. He hasn't failed you yet, has He? That's how you face the tough decisions that are coming up in life, such as when the credit cards arrive. My eight-year-old son already gets them in the mail. Watch out for those credit cards. They are a good tool for developing credit, but they must be paid off. The only thing free in this world is salvation; everything else probably needs to be paid for. Not only will you have to pay that credit card back, but you’ll have to pay it back with interest.
You'd be surprised how much things cost, like books, gas, insurance, food, and cars. I still am. As a result, it might be good to sit down with a piece of paper and plan ahead a bit. Just how are you spending what you’ve been given? How can it best be used? Prioritize what you actually need before what you only think you need or what you really want. What did you write first on your budget? Was is DVDs, junk food, or a new stereo for your car? Then that's your idol. Repent, and erase your idol and start over. It’s to be the Lord first and then you. He will not suffer Himself to be second on anyone's list. You don't get around to giving to the Lord. No, He's first, and after Him comes everything else. Just because everything is His, don't fall into the trap of thinking that He needs it. He doesn't. You aren't doing Him any favors, nor do you get extra credit for giving Him stuff. In fact, if you think you might earn His favor by giving a bit more, you might as well keep your money. All things are His, remember? And when there isn't enough, don't despair. When there is enough, don't feel secure. In both cases, He is the same giftgiving Lord who loves us in the giving up of His only-begotten Son. When times are tight, spend less. When times are fruitful, you might want to put that extra money away for when times are tight. You never know when those will be given to you. But never doubt Who is tending to and caring for you. Your Father is doing the tending and caring. He adorns with lilies the grass of the field that is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the oven. He feeds the birds of the air; He doesn't let one of them drop to the ground apart from His loving care. If He tends to them, He'll certainly tend to you in Christ. The cattle on the hills are His as are all the beasts and birds. He who has everything gives you everything in Christ. Live that way. Use your money that way. He has given you all things in Christ. “So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours . . . you are Christ's, and Christ is God's” (1 Corinthians 3:21–-23). Rev. George F. Borghardt III is the assistant/youth pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe,Texas. He is the Internet Services Executive and the southeastern chairman of the For You Higher Things 2007 conference. Check out his blog at http://blog.higherthings.org/borghardt/ or e-mail him at revborghardt@higherthings.org.
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Danc Let’s
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allroom dancing is back. The popular prime-time show Dancing with the Stars has helped to raise awareness of this almost lost art. Now, with movies like Take the Lead and Shall We Dance? appearing on the silver screen, we’ve even learned a few more things about it. What we find is something rarely found anywhere else in society. Whether dancing the Foxtrot to Sinatra or the Salsa to Shakira, one thing remains the same—the man leads and the woman follows. I have often joked that everything I know about marriage I learned from ballroom dance. It’s corny, but there’s some truth to it. Even Jane Austen recognized it when she wrote that she considers dancing to be a picture of marriage—charity
ce
and fidelity are the principle duties of both. And really, she’s right. They are the same. The details may vary, but the roles remain the same. The man leads, the woman follows, and both are done with charity and fidelity, love and honor. By the grace of God, I am a husband. And also by the grace of God, my wife is willing to dance with me (if you’ve ever seen me dance, you’d understand why). Sometimes dancing is easy. Sometimes leading with fidelity and charity come so easily I wonder why I practice or even take lessons. It comes out beautifully, even naturally— two people taking separate steps, each successive flowing into the next, as if they are one singular motion. More often than not, however, it isn’t By Rev. Jason Braaten so easy. It is difficult. It’s frustrating and exhausting. Sometimes it is outright painful. A stubbed toe here and a cracked knee there, watch out! You’re going to run into . . . . Amid all this, however, the rules remain the same; whether it is difficult or easy, frustrating or joyous. Men lead and women follow. And both accomplish it through fidelity and charity, each loving and honoring his partner. But what does it mean to lead? To lead in dance is to invite your partner to follow you on an exquisite adventure of singular motion between two people. This leading is not forced or demanded. You invite her to come along for the ride. The male sets the example, he decides what steps, what form, how fast, and where to end up. He is the frame; she is the picture. He presents her as spotless, graceful, the essence of
If you're interested in reading more about dancing, check out CPH's new release Marriage Is Like Dancing by Richard Eyer.
beauty for all to behold. His lead is providential; everything he does is for her. If she does not follow, he continues to lead. He can’t make her follow. In fact, he can’t make her do anything. All he can do is lead with fidelity and her well-being in mind. So he simply continues to invite her to join him on this journey where the two become one fluid and artful dance. And if she wants to be in on it, she will follow. If she wants to partake of this, she’ll follow. In a similar way, husbands lead their wives in marriage. They invite their wives to embark with them on a singularly fluid motion toward the same goal. The Bible teaches that husbands are to lead their wives in marriage. They set the pattern, the paradigm for their life together. Yet this is not forced upon wives; you can’t make them follow. The task of the husband is to lead not to make his wife follow. If she doesn’t follow, he continues to lead; he continues to invite her to follow in this singular motion. His concern is for her; not by working to get her to follow but only by continuing to lead. Sometimes this is easy. But more often than not it is difficult, frustrating and painful. It is a task that I am constantly failing to do. As a full-fledged sinner, my response to wayward following is not a continuance of the invitation. It is not a perpetual leading but ultimately devolves into a blaming of what she has not done or could not do. I thus try to bend back into joint the out-of-joint; I force, coerce, constrain, and assert my will to lead upon my partner’s lack of following. In the end, however, I have essentially forsaken my role as the husband. I have forsaken the lead. I have given up fidelity and the wellbeing of my partner for something more controllable. By the grace of God, I am a husband. And in this same grace I also live as one. For Christ Jesus, our husband, gives himself for us, his sinful spouse, the church. Through his death and resurrection, he presents us blameless and spotless, pure and holy, forgiving us all our sins, even those of wayward leading and following. Our Lord’s death and resurrection lead and draw us to himself, where we daily live in his forgiveness. Right now you’re in training to be one day by the grace of God husbands and wives. Until then, through dating and friendships, you are discovering the difficulties and joys of courtship. You are learning about charity and fidelity, love and honor. Meanwhile, why not dance? What better preparation could there be for this than learning to dance? If you’re not quite ready to sign up for lessons, rent Take the Lead. Watch it with your friends even. I wish I had. So, let’s dance. Let’s dance with the hope that the picture will be the reality. Rev. Jason Braaten penned these thoughts last year after taking his first ballroom dancing lesson with his wife, Lauren. He currently serves as an admission counselor at Concordia Theological Seminary and can be reached at braatenjm@ctsfw.edu.
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