Christ Academy

Ten years ago, a brilliant little thing started up in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Christ Academy was born.  As a two week intense academy for high school young men, it has grown to be a place of religious instruction, rich worship experience, and a safe place for young men to explore God with other young men the same age.  Concordia Theological Seminary has been doing this academy now for 10 years.  For 10 years, high schoolers have traveled to Fort Wayne to study at the seminary.  They have made life-long friendships, experienced community around the study of Holy Scripture, and relaxed and had fun while enjoying sunny Fort Wayne.  These students have class together, worship and eat with the seminary community, and enjoy activities and travel.  Do you know a student that should be a pastor?  Do you know a high schooler that wants to learn more about Christ and His Church?  Recommend to him and his family he come to Christ Academy.  These two weeks will be amazing.  www.ctsfw.edu/admission/academy/index.php

Happy Holy Week

Wishing you a blessed holy week and a happy Easter.  The Lord has conquered by his cross and we are now alive with his blood.  Pax!

Texas in Fort Wayne

Stephanie and I have welcomed the Hardaways into our home this week.  They are from Houston...visiting the seminary.  Matthew is thinking of becoming a pastor.  It has been wonderful having old friends in town to enjoy some company.  I pray their visit was fruitful and that they have great travels home.  

Concordia University

Dreyer and I have made it to Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. What a wonderful place. This is my first trip to CSP. Being a Concordia graduate (River Forest...now Chicago), I love seeing another Concordia...it is like a bond. Have you visited any of our schools? Which ones?

Back in the Fort

I had a great time in Texas.  There was lots of warm weather and kind, loving Texans to share it with.  I was welcomed back to Fort Wayne with lots of snow and ice...what a horrible change from 65 and sunny.  And if that wasn't bad enough, tomorrow, I head to the great white north...Concordia Saint Paul.  The thing is...those people are warm and kind, too...so it really isn't that bad.

Amen

Check out www.amen2008.org!  ...and if you can, go.

Recruit Houston: Stop #4

Well, I've come to my final stop.  Across the street from the Johnson Space Center, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church sits in the heart of Space City.  The former call of Pastor John Kieschnick, a member of the CTS board of regents, Pastor Greg Finke now preaches and teaches here.  The Associate Pastor, Lonnie Gonzoles, used to be the associate at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church in Sugarland, Texas while I was the vicar at Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston.  He set up my venue here...but alas he had to be out of town.  It would have been nice to catch up.  Tomorrow, I head back to the Fort...time to see my wife again, YIPEE!!

Music to the ears

My great friend and church musician, Cantor Janet Muth (of Memorial Lutheran Church and School) is gonna have lunch with me today.  Janet has done a great job leading both the church and school through the church's sacred music.  I'm glad to have an extra time slot to meet with her again.  Music has a special place in the heart of the church.  Humans love to sing.  Sometimes we hide it in the shower or in the car as we buzz down the freeway...but we can't help but sing, hum, or whistle.  And it is wonderful that the church is no different.  Our confession of faith is carried along in the arms of music's notes.  I suppose we love it because it fills rooms and resonates in our hearts long after we have made it home.  There are other reasons, too, but suffice it to say we love to live with music.  It is pretty crazy the kinds of music that appeal to us, too!  Whereas I couldn't even imagine hymns without an organ or piano - or perhaps church music without strings and brass - I love a good AC/DC rock out or to listen to the nuances of Metallica.  Rap and hip hop appeal to me, too.  And I just love big band.  What do you rock out to?

Recruit Houston: Stop #3

My third stop was St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas.  Pastor George Borghardt takes care of the youth there and took good care of me.  Had lunch with Pastor Jeff Ware and Borghardt...along with a prospective student.  Prayed evening prayer with the college youth and then taught on the Office of the Ministry.  We ended the day with dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  What a wonderful day and some great people.  Sorry, I didn't take any photos...

Recruit Houston: Stop #2

Stop number 2 is in the heart of the Galleria district, sometimes called Uptown.  This is where I met my beautiful and darling wife.  So there is a little bit of sentimental value to this stop.  Here are a couple photos of the church and their current construction project.  You can check up on Memorial Lutheran Church's building project at mlcbuild.blogspot.com.  Enjoy!

Photo of Stop #1

With Angels and Archangels

Pastor Wayne Graumann of Salem Lutheran Church and School took me on a tour of their worship center this afternoon.  Take a look at this awesome altar...from the two angels in the book of Revelation, but it brings to mind the song of Isaiah 6, which we sing during the communion liturgy.  (BTW, he told me that the 50 foot pipes for the organ were built right into the poured concrete...which means that the low notes make the floor shake just like Isaiah 6.  WOW!)  A special thanks to Rev. Graumann, who also serves as the chairman of Concordia Theological Seminary's Board of Regents.  I was very happy with the extra time he took out of his busy day to spend with me.  And thanks to all the wonderful people of Salem.