Archive for July, 2005
New Japanese Android – You’ll Forget She’s Not Human
So I stumbled on this article today about Japanese scientists who have created the most life-like human-looking robot yet. Several times throughout the article, it says something like, “one day, we’ll have androids that will fool us into thinking they’re human.” And all I could think of to respond was, “Why in the world would [...]
Mega-churches Mega-Bad?
Clint Rainey is a journalism student at the University of Texas. His piece for Dallasnews.com on the inadequacy of megachurches is on the mark. He decries the Church Growthy lust for razzle-dazzle, all in the name of being “seeker sensitive.” Mr. Rainey questions what the mega-churches are trying to attract seekers to. Certainly not [...]
Batman Began
Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. And a grand decade-and-a-half it’s been. To celebrate I took my lovely bride out to eat at an elegant Spanish restaurant I know. It’s called Mallorca and is on the southside area of town. The food is outstanding and the service is second-to-none. I asked one of our [...]
Meditations in Tombstone (Arizona)
One of the fun-est things I did while working as a seminary recruitment officer back in the olden days was make a sidetrip to Tombstone, Arizona. I’d been in Tucson meeting with prospective students at a Lutheran church when I noticed the famed Western town nearby on the map. I had a half day I [...]
Higher Things Photo
This is me delivering my in-depth sectional at the Higher Things youth conference last week in St. Louis. My topic was Christ in Fantasy Lit and Movies. The room seated 300 and we had maybe 200 or 250. The technology available was excellent. I used Powerpoint for the first time (only had a couple of [...]
Episcopal Bishop Cans Conservative Priest
Some time ago, I wrote about a storm brewing among Connecticut Episcopalians. A handful of conservative-ish priests and their parishes objected to their bishop, Andrew Smith, participating in the consecration of an openly gay bishop in 2003. They requested to be placed under the ecclesiastical supervision of a more conservative bishop, as an alternative to [...]
The Barren Cross or the Crucifix?
Fellow blogger, Rev. Paul McCain, has posted an exceptional piece answering whether Lutherans prefer crucifixes or bare crosses. Go here for that. It is a frequent misconception that Lutherans, lumped in with Reformed churches, oppose the use of a crucifix (that is a cross with the statue of Jesus on it). Nothing could be further [...]
How to Argue About Jesus
The highlight of the past week in St. Louis with the Higher Things Youth Conference was undoubtedly the worship. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard 1200 teenagers absolutely belting out all 10 verses of Salvation Unto Us has Come. People who say that you can’t use traditional liturgy and hymnody with youth [...]
Higher Things Youth Ministry Update
Hey all, I apologize for being quiet the past few days. But as I’d mentioned, I’ve been in St. Louis all week with the Higher Things Youth Conference. And it has gone fabulously well! The sectionals are meaty and interesting. The worship is excellent. And the campus of St. Louis [...]
Higher Things Youth Ministry
On my way to the Higher Things Lutheran youth conference in St. Louis, MO where I’ll be preaching and delivering some sectionals.
It seems to me that youth ministry, at its best, does three things well:
- Worship- Teaching- Fun
We do all three, but we know how to keep them separate.
In a time when entertainment is [...]
