Bible Studies
November 2024
"A Conference through Pastor Dolby’s Eyes"
by Pastor Dolby
Greetings in Christ Jesus, beloved All Saints Family. My monthly newsletter articles are typically a devotional reflection to encourage your own devotional habits. This month will be a bit different. I want to share my experience at the fall District Conference in Seaside, Oregon.
So…what is a Pastors Conference and what do you get out of it?
Our church body, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, challenges pastors to attend regional conferences in their local circuit and regional district (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and part of Idaho makes up our district) twice a year.
The benefits for a pastor include 1) continuing education, 2) mutual encouragement with brother pastors in the region or district, and 3) time for a mental and spiritual “breather” from pastoral work. It is a tremendous benefit to my prayer life to have this time to rest, be rejuvenated, and refocus on the joy of my calling to serve alongside all of you.
Since I began serving at All Saints, the locations I’ve attended Pastors Conferences include Marysville, Aberdeen, Leavenworth, and most recently, Seaside, Oregon. It is a joy to visit places I would never have an opportunity to see otherwise.
My time in Seaside, Oregon last month
It was challenging to mentally prepare for the conference topic of “Resilient Leadership” during the four-hour drive because I couldn’t help thinking about other things connected to the region I was traveling to. There is United States history and cinema history connected to the region around Astoria, OR, which I would be traveling through to Seaside.
The Lewis and Clark Bridge had me reflecting on the historical expedition of the same name. Their cross-continental trek from 1804 to 1806 (882 days!) across the newly purchased western portion of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase is awe-inspiring. I was also daydreaming about seeing Cannon Beach with my own eyes after seeing it so many times in the movie, “The Goonies”.
When I arrived at the Seaside, I had just enough time to get to my assigned table for the keynote speaker sessions. This conference was district wide and was part of a larger conference that included all church workers of our LCMS church body – so educators from Lutheran schools and other church workers were in attendance, approximately 200. It was great to connect with Mr. Paix Irigon at the conference!
Over three days we would have four sessions led by the keynote speaker, Tod Bolsinger. He is an author of numerous books, has a Ph.D in Theology, and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. The points that struck a chord with me were points from his book Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.
I will share some reflections on his lectures in a moment. But first, I want to say that the four sessions of an hour and a half each with this speaker, went by very quickly and that was very refreshing. Every fifteen to twenty minutes he would stop speaking, invite us to turn to our individual tables and discuss for eight minutes amongst ourselves. Then he would bring us back together and take five to ten minutes to engage the topic with us. There was one catch: When we came up to any of the assigned microphones to share, we had to share what someone ELSE said at our table that was insightful or challenging to us. This was an effective and humorous exercise to get us to actively engage our closest neighbors rather than waiting for our turn to speak.
Here are some highlights of his reflections that caused me to think deeper about my role as a leader.
- Leadership is disappointing people at a rate they can absorb.
- Leadership is energizing a community of people toward their own transformation in order to accomplish a shared mission.
- The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness.
- Sabotage is not the bad things that evil people do, but the human things that anxious people do.
- You don’t learn by experiences, you learn by reflecting on experiences.
The next part of the conference that is helped my spiritual health was thanks to the work and devotion of our District President, Pastor Michael Von Behren. He would open each session with a 15-minute devotion. In hindsight, I see the thoughtfulness he put into weaving his sermon text from Wednesday night’s Divine Service, 1 Peter 5:1-11, to open each session. The sermon was written specifically to encourage pastors and educators in our roles as leaders struggling with exhaustion, self-doubt, or the reality of suffering for Christ as a believer in this world. He had his entire sermon memorized, including long Bible passages, and presented powerful visuals by acting out the Bible stories he was sharing. His preaching style was not robotic either despite being memorized. His pace, tone, and body language when talking to us was incredibly comforting.
Also, being able to attend Divine Service and not lead was wonderful. I found myself listening to everyone else sing the hymns as I silently contemplated the meaning of what my family in Christ was publicly declaring in song. It was good for my heart and mind to be a part of the crowd and not lead for a short time.
As I made my way home on Thursday, 1 Peter 5:1-11 was planted firmly in my heart. I was encouraged at how refreshed I was by the conference. The theme “Resilient Leadership” changed my attitude of wanting a vacation to praying for a wholeheartedness in my calling. The four-hour trek home went quickly because I spent a lot of time praying for myself; something I realize I do not do much of these days. It is wonderful to lift my family, my church family, and those in my life in prayer to our Saving God. But it is also good to bring the petitions, hopes, laments, sorrows, and joys of my own heart to God in prayer too.
I must admit that I often belly-ache about these conferences the week before I go. I incorrectly think I do not have time. I am thankful for a church family, a circuit of pastors, and a district that pushes us to take time to rest, rejuvenate, and be refreshed. I hope this gives you a glimpse of what these pastors conferences look like and do for your pastor.
Our monthly memory verse will be the verse Pastor Von Behren preached on at the conference: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10
May God bless you and keep you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Dolby
October 2024
"Our Reformation Inheritance"
by Pastor Dolby
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
– James 5:8
When you hear the word “inheritance” what synonyms come to mind? Perhaps words like heritage or heirloom. There are a few other words that struck me when I went beyond the synonyms I was most familiar with: 1) Ancestry, 2) Birthright, 3) Culture.
When I hear the word ancestry, I think of that which I received from family who came before me and those I have the blessing of passing on family traditions, genetics, etc. to the generations after me.
When I hear the word birthright, I think of a blessing that was intended for me from the beginning. I admit that “birthright” has a bit of baggage for me because of the sad story of Jacob and Esau. Isn’t it ironic that the story is remembered in that order rather than Esau and Jacob, since Esau is the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah? It is good to put that historical narrative to the side for now and focus on the intention God has for our birthright as his redeemed children, adopted through the gift of faith.
A birthright is a particular right of possession or privilege one has from birth. The blessing of our Reformation Inheritance, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is that it is a gift God intends to go beyond ourselves.
This leads to that third synonym for inheritance: culture. God has given us a new family by his eternal gifts of grace, faith, and hope of everlasting life with him. This culture we are brought into is not limited to life after death, but rather spills over into a joyful, hope-filled earthly life. God has given us a new culture to offer to our neighbors, the world all around us. We have inherited a culture of light in the middle of today’s culture, which is like every culture before it, a culture drowning in the mire of spiritual darkness.
In this month of remembering our Reformation Inheritance, we rejoice that this is not something that had its genesis in Martin Luther or any blessed Reformers of the 16th Century, but it has always been from the LORD our God who desires to give us a heritage of salvation. Through Scripture alone, God opens up to us the glorious inheritance we receive by his Grace alone. God reassures us of his justifying work in Christ alone and we receive this eternal inheritance by faith alone. Finally, this causes us to thank God alone and not have any room to brag or boast about our contributions…it really is all about God for us!
The monthly memory work from Saint James is a gift from the Holy Spirit to instruct how to wisely spend our days on earth.
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. – James 5:8
To be patient as a Christian on earth does not mean we hide away from the world and hoard our inheritance. God meant for this Reformation Gospel Inheritance to bless us and be shared by us. Establishing our hearts on the foundation of Jesus’ eternal victory makes it clear that time is precious and other human beings are who God is calling us to serve and engage with the only hope there is for us…this gift in Christ alone. The joy in knowing that Jesus is coming again to usher in the new heavens and the new earth, that epic 8th Day of Creation, the Resurrection – that is our Reformation Inheritance, but it is not meant for us and no one else. May this assure and inspire us into daily action for our fellow man and woman.
Now, when you hear the word “inheritance” I pray you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the faith of your spiritual ancestors which God alone gave to you. I pray you are as eager in sharing the birthright of the Gospel, sharing Jesus with others as if you were surprising your best friend with a Christmas present…something you can’t wait for them to receive and realize what they’re getting.
In conclusion, may God bless us with the wisdom and boldness of his Holy Spirit as we share our cultural inheritance, the eternal riches we’ve received in Christ Jesus alone. May our neighbors discover joy as we look to intentionally give them freely, just as we have freely received from our good and gracious God: the eternal gifts of salvation, forgiveness, authentic joy in life on earth because of what Jesus has accomplished for the sake of all.
A mighty fortress is our God. This is a glorious inheritance. May the world hear it from our lips and our lifestyle of engaging them. In his Name. Amen!
In Christ,
Pastor Dolby