Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere

I just got back from what can best be described as a heavenly week in San Antonio, which was a few degrees short of Hades in the way of temperature.  I was at the Higher Things 2009 conference, one of two "Sola" conferences (the other is in two weeks in Grand Rapids, MI.  Please, Lord, let it be cooler!).  

First, a bit of full disclosure:  Higher Things is the host of this blog, and I'm the president of HT, so I have at least a couple of dogs in the HT hunt, but what I'm writing today is personal.

I got involved with Higher Things in 2004 in Seattle.  I was invited to give a 3-part in-depth presentation and was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors.  I was at a vocational low point, as I recall it, having just been diagnosed with high blood pressure and adjusting to a bad combination of bp meds with their side-effects.  I was also run down spiritually.  Little did I realize how much of a boost a bunch of teenagers gathered in liturgical worship and daring to be Lutheran could be for a tired pastor.  It may be selfish, but Higher Things conferences have become my personal annual retreat ever since.  I am renewed here like nowhere else.

The conference theme was Sola, accenting the great "solas" of the Reformation - solus Christus, sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriputura (Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone for those of you slept through Latin).  We heard a couple of great presentations by Prs. William Weedon and Bruce Keseman, two very different men with different gifts, but one clear sola message.  Bill Weedon has his own reflections on the experience here.

The worship was magnificent.  A sterile auditorium was converted to a reverent worship space through the use of banners, a lectern, pulpit, altar, and the spectacular crucifix that HT brings to almost every conference.  There is something to be said for sacred sparesness.  I must confess to a bit of "crucifix envy."  (Is that a sin?)

The preaching and liturgics were consistently fine throughout.  As a preacher, I find it a singular joy to be a hearer of the Word, and the Word I heard was clear Law and Gospel, a traditional Lutheran trademark.  The liturgists all exhibited the "relaxed dignity" I have been speaking about on these pages.  In fact, the liturgists were so relaxed and dignified you barely noticed them, which is as it should be.  The liturgical style was genuine.  Except perhaps for the incense at Evening Prayer, these services could have been done at any Lutheran congregation.

The organist, Chris Loemker, is a wonderfully gifted liturgical musician who uses the organ to preach.  Yes, preach.  He clearly studies every hymn stanza and interprets the text musically, utilizing the wide range of voices the organ offers.  A friend of mine commented that this is why the organ is an instrument uniquely suited for liturgical worship.  It also demonstrated the difference between music as servant versus music as master.  The organ made you pay attention to the words not just the music.

The in-depth and breakaway sessions covered a huge variety of topics from archaeology to Mormonism, dating, abortion, you name it.  I was happy to see a healthy number of "apologetics" oriented workshops.  The rising generation really needs the equipment to make a sound defense with gentleness and respect.

Though I was busy with schmoozing, smiling, and attempting to look "presidential" (whatever that means), I did manage to hear some very fine teaching.  I sat in on a packed session on giving a the Christian response to abortion rhetoric that was one of the best talks I've ever heard on the topic.  The speaker, a young pastor named Kristopher Morris, held the rapt attention of a young audience in a packed, stuffy room.  You could have heard a pin drop during most of the hour; the kids would have gladly stayed for another hour.  Pr. Morris told a moving story of a young mother's struggle with cervical cancer during a pregnancy that left me, along with others, sitting on the floor sobbing quietly.  Grace breaks through when you least expect it, my friends.  I had to wait for almost 20 minutes for the post-talk crowd to clear, the mark of a speaker who has connected with his hearers.  

Another great moment for me was bidding farewell to a gym load of kids wearing "Sola!" t-shirts - ordinary kids and extraordinary kids, home-schooled kids, parochial school kids and public school kids, kids with hair color not found in nature, kids with funny metal things sticking out of their face, squeaky clean looking kids, kids of all shapes and sizes, all daring by the grace of God to be Lutheran.  I have a hard time not getting choked up when I see that sea of young faces.  I look on those faces and the youth leaders and pastors who took the time to bring them to steamy San Antonio in July and see hope for the future.  I am renewed.

Soli Deo Gloria!