Awake and Alive

Talk Description:
Whenever challenging world, national, family, or personal events seek to make us wonder whether anyone is in control in our turbulent world, it can be incredibly important to learn to hear our heavenly Father laughing (Psalm 2).  We can learn to laugh too even when the winds of culture seem to be blowing against us from many angles. We laugh with him when we realize that no one in this world can overrule our Father's saving purpose for us in Jesus.  As we laugh with our Father, we learn how to stay actively engaged and involved in the world without being consumed with anxiety about the ultimate outcome.  

Bio: Rich Gurgel and his wife Sue have five sons, three daughters-in-law, and ten grandchildren.  Rich spent thirteen years as a parish pastor in Oklahoma and Wisconsin, 21 years teaching at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, and now for the last three years, he has been serving as president of Martin Luther College.

Session Description: Do you know what story you're a part of? Is it an epic, like Lord of the Rings? Is it a tragedy, like Hamlet? Is it a comedy, or a romance? Or does this universe not have any story? This is actually a deep philosophical question, because how you answer it determines whether or not you can say that your life has purpose or meaning or value. This is also a deeply practical question, because how you answer it determines whether or not you have any comfort to give someone going through tough times, including yourself! Join us as we see how recapturing the narrative of our lives gives us amazing ways to wield God's Word practically and skillfully in everyday situations.

Bio: Luke Thompson taught philosophy courses at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Bethany Lutheran College before becoming a pastor in WELS. He served eight years in Ottawa, ON, Canada, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran, where he ministered to government workers, South Sudanese immigrants and the university students of University of Ottawa and Carleton University. For over twenty years, he has worked with and help start campus ministries, presenting internationally on apologetics, philosophy, and pop culture. His most recent divine call is to Martin Luther College, where he teaches theology, history, and philosophy and leads a “film and philosophy” club and a Great Books club. He is author of Your Life Has Meaning (NPH) and co-author of Quick to Listen (NPH).

Bio: Tom has been privileged to serve congregations in Minnesota and Oregon, as well as serving on the faculty of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School. He retired in 2017, and then took a call for a local church in Mankato, becoming re-retired May, 2022. 

Bio: Rev. Jonathan Bourman studied for the pastoral ministry at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN (class of 2004), where he received a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral ministry. He attended graduate school at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 2008. He served Trinity in Brillion, WI, for five years and then as founding pastor of Peace in Aiken, SC, until the summer of 2022. He currently pastors St Mark in Mankato, MN. In addition to doctoral studies, he continues ministry there.