With no possible chance of survival, Captain George Kirk evacuates the ship. Including his wife who is currently in labor. Kirk has a medical shuttle ready for his wife and her medical team to be evacuated on. When autopilot is destroyed, he must make a tough choice. Join his wife in evacuating the ship or pilot the ship to increase everyone else’s chance of survival?

He orders the pilot of the shuttle to leave without him on board.

In the face of certain death, Kirk attempts to keep his wife calm. He assures her that “this is the only way [she’ll] survive.” That “the shuttles will never make it if [he] doesn’t fight them off.”

James Tiberius Kirk is born as his father runs from console to console on the bridge of the Kelvin. In the end, setting it on course to fly straight into the Romulan vessel. Sacrificing himself. Fulfilling his vocation - first as husband, doing what he was called to do. Dying for his wife. (Eph. 5:25) Second, as father, protecting his newborn son James T. Kirk and setting an example for him. Finally, as Captain, evacuating his crew and assuring that they get back to safety. All this at the cost of his own life.

When a movie presents that illustration of vocation in just the first 10 minutes, how can it not be a great movie?

Yeah... I watched Star Trek tonight.

The Gospel of Halloween

Witches, wizards, skeletons, devils, and superheroes? Never mind that. Let’s get to the candy! As Halloween approaches, many calling themselves Christians will get all worked up about this supposedly satanic holiday. With emphases on witches and devils and violent horror, these folks get upset and say that Christians have no business observing this holiday and ought to do something better, something more godly and pious. Thus all over “Halloween” celebrations are replaced with “Fall Festivals.” There’s even a group who invented a new holiday on October 31 called “Jesus Ween.” (Does anyone else think that just sounds odd and creepy all at once?) So can you be a Christian and celebrate Halloween? Can you dress up and go to a party? Go trick-or-treating? Have fun? The fact is, a Christian CAN celebrate and enjoy Halloween. Read on to find out why.

How to Be Disciples of Jesus - A Reformation Sunday Homily by Rev. Brent Kuhlman

Yes, His Word! Only His Word! And with His Word He gives Himself. Entirely. Completely. To be God for you! With all His Good Friday benefits. All His Easter gifts! All His pentecosting you with His Spirit! That’s what He gives to you with His Word.

Dead People Don't Accept Jesus

This week's HT-Video short by Pastor Borghardt answer a question on how to talk with your friends about why you don't and can't accept Jesus into your heart.

Higher Things Reflection for Reformation Day

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Happy Reformation Day! Today we celebrate that, through Martin Luther 500 years ago, the Lord brought the light of the Gospel more brightly to His church. And if there is anything Dr. Luther and our Lutheran forefathers taught, it's that Christ's Word is the truth that sets us free.

Luther's Diet of Worms Speech from 2003 Luther Movie

Happy Reformation Day! 

My first baseball game was at Wrigley Field. I went with my grandpa and my sister. I really don’t remember anything about it except that we sat in the upper deck and I probably wasn’t awake for more than 3 or 4 innings. Because of all of that, at that point were I actually became a fan of baseball being a Cubs fan went hand-in-hand with it.

Now most of you know the Cubs. They ended this season with just 71 wins. That’s 91 losses. Making them the 3rd worst team in the National League. Usually they’re known as the “Lovable Losers” this season they weren’t even all that lovable thanks to Carlos Zambrano. But the fans keep watching anyway. The real fans, the ones who really believe that there is always next year, and that maybe, just maybe, next year will be different stand behind the Cubs year after year whether the blue “W” is flying above the scoreboard at the end of the game or not.

The only thing that could make this seasons NLCS better is if the Cubs were in it. But they’re not. There’s always next year.

This year my second favorite team has a real shot at going to and winning the World Series. Milwaukee is electrified with excitement. The Milwaukee Brewers have had an extremely exciting season. I’ve seen 10 games in person. Including games against their NCLS opponents both in Milwaukee and St. Louis. It will be an exciting series. The tension between the Brewers and the Cardinals has lasted all season.

But let’s take a step back for a second. You know how I came to be a Cubs fan, but where did the Brewers come from? Well first it probably has a lot to do with living in Milwaukee just a 10 minute drive from Miller Park. But I think a lot has to do with my best friend Andrew (pictured with me above, in front of Wrigley). Andrew is a true baseball fan: with the Brewers every step of the way, gets angry with them when they mess up, couldn’t contain his joy when they made the playoffs and then advanced onto the NLCS. 9 of the 10 Brewers games I went to this season were with him.

So by the grace of God, I now cheer for a halfway decent team (at least this season) at all of their games except for those against my team - the Chicago Cubs. The same excitement is there. Milwaukee is going crazy with excitement (when they aren’t distracted by the Packers). This seasons Brewers love playing baseball. You can hear it in their voices. You can see it in their smiles. Prince Fielder gets frustrated when he’s intentionally walked because he just wants to bat. The team likes each other, they make fun of each other in press conferences, most of them have adopted what is called the “beast mode” pose. Beast mode started with Prince Fielder impersonating Sully from Monsters, Inc. to his two kids watching in the stands. Not only are the Brewers a lovable team this year. They’re actually doing well!

So, now we’re just minutes from the first pitch of Game 1 of the NLCS between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Let’s go Brewers!

And Cubbies - there’s always next year.

Through that depressing year, daily chapel services and the three nights a week of evening prayer offices were a great blessing to me. When nothing seemed to be going my way, I could still take refuge in the Word of God and the hymns and prayers of the church. The chapels on campus very literally became my sanctuaries from the troubles of life. Most nights when I couldn’t sleep, I walked up to the Prayer and Meditation Chapel and would pray Compline. Sure, I could have prayed in my dorm room, but there is an added element of peace praying before the altar and crucifix. The church nave itself confesses Christ. It is extremely difficult to walk into a church and not be immediately reminded of your baptism and Christ’s death and resurrection for you even when nothing in life is going the way you want it to.

I walked passed the chapels multiple times a day, since I had to walk through chapel hallway to get to anything from my dorm room. At all hours, you could hear students practicing on the organs. It was a constant reminder that not only was the chapel our home away from our home congregations but that it is our home away from our heavenly home. The physical place where heaven comes down to meet earth. The place where Christ physically places His body and blood into our mouths.

I have now been living at home for the past several years as I finish up my schooling. Still, my church, Mount Zion Lutheran, remains a great blessing to me. Each Sunday morning I am able to go to my home away from my heavenly home. I walk in and hear the pre-service music being played by the organist. The icons depicting major points in the life of Christ are displayed on the wall. A crucifix hangs above the altar as an instant reminder of my baptism into Christ’s death. In this home away from home, I hear the words of Christ, words of Holy Absolution and the proclamation of Law and Gospel. I see the altar, the baptismal font, the crucifix, the art, and the architecture itself which constantly point to Jesus for me. I see the bread and wine as Pastor lifts it before me and says, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” I taste the bread and wine the body and blood of Christ given for me as it is placed into my mouth. I go home my true home in the presence of Christ. I feast with my ancestors, my brothers and sisters - the whole church. I rejoice with the whole company of heaven. All in this place. This physical building set aside for one purpose. The place where Christ’s Word is preached and His gifts are given to His people.

Can the Word be preached and gifts be given in an auditorium, concert hall, houses or classrooms? Absolutely. But why settle for that when you can have a place set aside for just that purpose. A physical sanctuary from all the troubles of this life. A place that no matter what is happening outside its walls, confesses Christ for you.

Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us.
The altar recalls Christ's sacrifice
And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclame
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.

Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,
That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing;
"I know My own; My own know Me.
You , not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen."

Today is International Coffee Day! So we can't let that pass without posting this video:

Although, J.S. Bach didn't seem to like coffee all that much in his Coffee Cantata.

Now, The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels:

It's one of my favorite feast days. Though, it's hard to find people who actually observe it. The thing with all Feast Days is that they point us to Christ. If you can't talk about St. Michael and Angels without talking about Christ, you've missed the point.

Hymns for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels are almost as good as Baptism hymns! Michael and All Angels crushing the devil. Jesus crushing Satan and a whole lot of, "You can't touch me! You've been defeated! Christ has made me His! Take that!" So here's one of those hymns - Christ, the Lord of Hosts, Unshaken (LSB 521):

Christ the Lord of hosts, unshaken By the devil's seething range,
Thwarts the plan of Satan's minions; Wins the strive from age to age:
Conquers sin and death forever; Slams them in their steely cage.

Michael fought the heav'nly battle, Godly angels by his side;
Warred against the ancient serpent, Foiled the beast, so full of pride,
Cast him earth-bound with his angels; Now he prowls, unsatisfied.

Long on earth the battle rages, Since the serpent's first deceit;
Twisted God's command to Adam Made forbidden fruit look sweet.
Then the curse of God was spoken: "You'll lie crushed beneath His feet!"

Jesus came, this word fulfilling, Trampled Satan, death defied;
Bore the brunt of our temptation, On the wretched tree He died.
Yet to life was raised victorious; By His life our life supplied.

Swift as lighting falls the tyrant From his heav'nly perch on high
As the word of Jesus' vict'ry Floods the earth and fills the sky.
Wounded by a wound eternal Now his judgement has drawn night!

Jesus, send Your angel legions When the foe would us enslave.
Hold us fast when sin assaults us; Come, then, Lord, Your people save.
Overthrow at last the dragon; Send him to his fiery grave.

Blessed Feast of St. Michael and All Angels to you!

Today the Higher Things Reflection observed the Feast of St. Philip and St. James:

- Psalm 4 (ESV)

Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Danger! The world is falling apart! There are protests and riots in Egypt. New Zealand has been torn apart by an earthquake. Libya is plagued by violence. Even here in the US, protests become more frequent. Elected officials are running away from their vocations.

It doesn’t even stop there. Maybe your own life is falling apart too. You’re stressed about about what comes next in your life. Friends are going through problems that you just can’t seem to fix. Your boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you, leaving you feeling worthless and unlovable. There are arguments with your parents, siblings, and friends. Close friends just seem to be growing more distant. School isn’t going as well as you hoped it would. Those who you love are being laid off and can’t find work. Someone you know is going through a divorce or ugly break up. That one sin continues to eat at you. You get caught in the sin that you thought you would be able to get away with. Even when surrounded by a bunch of people, you just feel alone.

Of course, new governments will be set up. Buildings will be rebuilt. Eventually, even the violence and protest will settle down. Your life and future always have a way of working themselves out. You meet new friends to replace those who have walked out of your life. You meet a cute girl or boy who makes you feel worth something again. You are forgiven by family members and friends and you forgive them. Maybe you ace that big test; maybe you don’t. 

The Psalmist reminds you that you have hope. You even have peace in a world that is falling apart. You have peace even when things don’t work themselves out. You have a peace that is out of this world and doesn’t rely on you either. That peace is found in the LORD, the God who commands the armies of angels. That same God who sent His only Son to die for you, to forgive you all your sins. That peace, that safety, that the psalmist lies down and sleeps in is unfailing. It was poured over your head at your Baptism. It is delivered into your ears when you hear the Word read and preached by your pastor. That peace is placed into your mouth at the Lord’s Supper. That peace is the peace of Jesus, freely given to you. 

Trials and tribulations continually vex us. There is really nothing we can do about it. They don’t go away if we live “our best life, now” - our best is never good enough. We can try our hardest to fix everything, but it never works. But there is one person who is consistently and continually our refuge. That person is Jesus! 

You do have peace in the midst of those trials and tribulations, whether you realize it or not. You are baptized, whether you remember your baptism or not. The Lord hears your prayers and your cries unto Him. He makes you dwell in safety, and you lie down in peace and sleep - both at the end of the day and the end of your life.

Earthquakes and volcanos will come. You may even see a time when dogs and cats live together. Through it all, you have a Heavenly Father who loves you and gave His Son for you; that you may lie down and sleep in peace.

Today is the day that Pitchers and Catchers report and Spring Training begins! The only day that beats this day is Opening Day! This year is the Cubs' year! (Of course every year is the Cubs' year at this point in the season. Realistically, I expect the Brewers to do really well in the NL Central this year.) So go eat a hot dog, buy some peanuts and Cracker Jack and rejoice in the fact that baseball season is here! 

Here's a quote from the movie "Valentine's Day" for your enjoyment:

Teacher:  "And now for a little history about Valentine's Day"

Franklin:   "Valentine's Day was a massacre in Chicago where they shot everybody and put a curse on the Chicago Cubs" 

Teacher:  "Thank you for sharing, Franklin, but this is a different Valentine's Day." 

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matt. 2:11

“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it  and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” Lev. 2:1-2

There has been a lot of talk about incense recently. Probably due to yesterday being the Feast of Our Lord’s Epiphany  (one of the magi’s gifts being frankincense and all). Unfortunately, all the discussions I hear about incense seem to be missing something. They seem to be missing the gift!

There are a slew of people who can’t stand the smell of incense. Just the sight of a thurible can send them into a mad fit of coughing. Perhaps, that is because they associate all smoke with the smell of not-so-good smelling smoke. Perhaps they have better reasons. On the other side, there are people who use entirely too much incense for the space and ventilation of the area they are burning it in.  That’s not very helpful and could send many more people into fits of coughing. 

Let’s put all of that aside and assume that everyone can sit in a sanctuary where at least a very little incense was burned before a service or during the singing of Psalm 141. Now what? Why use incense? 

Before I go on, you should know that I love incense. A couple years ago, I was talking with a friend and found out that an organist, who couldn’t stand incense, was the reason we didn’t have incense at one of the evening services we both attended. To which I responded, “I hate people!” (I haven’t been able to live that one down yet.) I knew that I liked incense but I wouldn’t have been able to give you a good answer as to why. I probably would have said the same things that many incense advocates say now. “Shouldn’t church smell like church?” “It visualizes our prayer before God” “It’s biblical. The Psalms say, ‘Let my prayer rise before You as incense.’” “People just don’t like it because they think it’s too Roman Catholic.” Not that any of those are completely terrible answers, I suppose. They just still don’t get to the gift of incense. 

Then, a couple months ago I heard someone say, “If you ask someone why they like incense in worship and their answer has nothing to do with Jesus, they’re probably better of without it.” That’s what I was missing! Jesus! That has been sitting in the back of my mind since then. Sometimes, I even thought that I was better off without it. I just liked incense for incense sake. I thought that’s how the liturgy was REALLY suppose to be done! There’s no gift there. No gift at all.

Then comes Epiphany. (You could say that I had and epiphany on Epiphany). The magi bring Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We always hear a lot about the gold and myrrh - how they are fitting gifts. I just don’t remember ever hearing much about the frankincense. (It is perfectly possible that I just wasn’t listening.) The gift of frankincense. 

What was frankincense used for? It was used with sacrifices to make the aroma pleasing to the Lord! My Hebrew knowing, pastor, friends tell me that in the Old Testament when God was angry the text literally talks about His nose burning. The incense was meant to soothe the nose of God so that the Israelites might be in his favor once again. 

Now, it probably isn’t so hard to see the gift of incense. The magi give frankincense to Jesus pointing us to why he was born in the first place. Born to be the ultimate sacrifice, the final sacrifice for them, and for you! So, now? Now, it serves as a reminder to us while pointing to Jesus. The gift of incense is that it reminds us that God is angry no more. Incense proclaims that there was a sacrifice who’s aroma was pleasing to God. Jesus, on the cross, taking upon Himself the sin of the world, for you! No longer will God’s nose burn against you. Jesus has taken up all the anger having it focused on Himself, so that you may have forgiveness and everlasting life!

That’s the gift of incense. Always pointing to Jesus, whether we like it or not.