Latest News

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:

• Advent (Booklet available for download Nov. 1!) - Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX
• Christmas (Booklet available for download Nov 1!) - Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX
• Epiphany - Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX
• PreLent - Rev. Grant Knepper, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
• Lent - Rev. Daniel Feusse, Concordia Lutheran Church, Clearwater, NE
• Easter - Rev. William M. Cwirla, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hacienda Heights, CA
• Trinity (Pentecost Tide) - Rev. Duane Bamsch, Evangelists Lutheran Church, Kingsbury, TX
• Trinity (Apostles' Tide) - Rev. J. Richard Sawyer Jr., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church & School, Brandon, MS.
• Trinity (St. Lawrence/Martyrs' Tide) - Rev. Richard Heinz, Senior Pastor, Saint John Lutheran Church, Lanesville, IN
• Trinity (St. Michael/Angels' Tide) - Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, Emmaus Lutheran Church, South Bend, IN
• Trinity (All Saints' Tide)

 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!

"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

There is certainly a lot of anticipation for THE FEAST!

The 2006 Higher Things Lutheran Youth Conference will be held July 18-21, 2006 at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, right at the foot of Pike's Peak.

If you haven't seen the logo yet, what are you waiting for!?! Check it out. Be sure to make this link your best friend. It will be the place to check back often to access future information about the conference.

The principal speakers at THE FEAST will be Rev. Peter Bender and Rev. Dr. Brian Mosemann. Rev. Bender is the Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Sussex, WI, and Dr. Mosemann is the Director of the Pre-Seminary Program at Concordia University in Austin, TX.

Detailed conference information and registration forms will be available online by October 15, 2005. Please put that date on your calendar. You won't want to miss out because Saturday, October 15th will be the equivalent of a Lutheran cyber block party!

But to help many of you out with your own immediate planning so that you can be at THE FEAST next summer, here are some things that you probably want to know:

• Registration, Housing and Meals: $300
• Registration information and forms will be available on our web page by October 15, 2005.
• Registration will open on November 15, 2005. A non-refundable deposit of

$75 is due at the time of registration.

A lot is still in the planning stages at this point, but I can tell you about a few new things in store for everyone at THE FEAST, in addition to everything you come to expect at a Higher Things Conference:

• THE FEAST will appropriately begin *and* conclude with the Divine Service.
• There will be Pre-Conference Activities and Hiking Excursions for those who wish to come early on Monday.
• Registrants will be able to attend two different "In-Depth Sectionals" this year.
• We are looking forward to having upwards of 30 youth join us from such places as Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Ghana.

If you have questions that can't wait until October 15, please contact us at TheFeast@HigherThings.org.

So who is helping to plan for THE FEAST? The conference committee includes:

Rev. George Borghardt, Conroe, TX (Catechesis)
Mrs. Jane Casey, Fort Wayne, IN (Local Arrangements)
Rev. Dr. Steven Hein, Monument, CO (Entertainment/Recreation)
Mrs. Sandra Ostapowich, Plymouth, MN (Publications)
Mrs. Sue Pellegrini, Everett, WA (Information/Registration)
Rev. Adrian Sherrill, Denver, CO (Volunteer Coordination)
Rev. Dr. Richard Stuckwisch, South Bend, IN (Worship)

Also helping to serve in an advisory capacity are Rev. Bruce Keseman (Freeburg, IL) and Mrs. Lynn Fredericksen (Pleasant Prairie, WI). Rev.

Pr. Keseman was the conference chair for DARE TO BE LUTHERAN and Mrs. Fredericksen is the Higher Things Treasurer. Countless others will be involved in similar fashion along the way.

Please keep all of us in your prayers as we continue to plan for the conference, and know that we look forward to helping you prepare to arrive at THE FEAST next summer.

In Christ,

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

Isaiah 25:6:  "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."

In the past five years, Higher Things has held five major conferences and produced 16 magazine issues. These have become consistent and trustworthy tools for many LC-MS congregations in their ministry to youth. Higher Things also offers a suite of online resources, including devotional materials, Bible Studies, web forums, blogs, and e-mail lists for high school youth and college students alike. Higher Things has also expanded into campus ministry and plans to offer leadership training opportunities in the future. 

We've sure come a long way since the "Dying to Live Conference" in Laramie, WY in July, 2000! Thanks be to God for His gifts!

Success and growth brings forth a variety of challenges and it creates new opportunities. The Higher Things Board of Directors met in mid-August in Minneapolis, MN for a governance retreat to dream, plan and organize for the future. This sort of self-examination is necessary for any growing organization, including those who "Dare to be Lutheran." 

We took a good, honest and objective look at how Higher Things is structured and we adopted some important organizational changes that will best suit the future development and expansion of Higher Things. These changes include a shift from a single Executive Director to several focused Executive positions in key operational areas such as Publications, Conferences, Web, Campus Ministry, and Leadership Training. 

This new structure will unburden operations, increase creative freedom, and create a responsive organization that will be able to deliver more conferences and impact more youth and their congregations without sacrificing the quality and character people have come to expect from Higher Things. 

Work on implementing the details of this new structure is now underway. Look for an update in early October.

Rev. Klemet Preus 
President, Higher Things
September 05, 2005