A Kingdom Greater Than Any

Issue 4: May 2009 Editor: Jessie Cross

Nearly 1500 years have gone by since the Western Roman Empire fell into ruin, and yet it is still re- membered as one of the greatest kingdoms in this world’s history. Yet even this mighty empire that conquered the ancient world was helpless to stand against the One who confessed before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate: My kingdom is not of this world… but now my kingdom is from another place (John 18:36). For the soldiers guarding the garden tomb outside of Jerusalem could do nothing but quiver in fear as the earth shook and the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone to show the world that Christ had risen and therefore had secured by his death and resurrection an eternal kingdom for his people (Matthew 28:1-11)! Yes, empires and kingdoms rise and fall, but the Word of our God stands forever (Isaiah 40:8).

What is this kingdom? We live a short distance from a border that separates Minnesota and Wiscon- sin: the Mississippi River. I can look on a map and see that the “Kingdom” of France has rivers, hills and cities. But where will I find this Kingdom we pray about in the second petition? Jesus answered a similar question this way: The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, „Here it is‟ or „There it is,‟ because the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:20-21). To Pilate, Jesus said: I am a king… I came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:36-37) and St. Paul wrote: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:15-16). This kingdom we pray for is not at this time a place with rivers and cities we can observe with our eyes, but it is Jesus ruling in our hearts by His Word. Those who belong to this Kingdom of God are those who trust in Jesus as our Savior from sin, our Eternal King of Kings!

Membership. We become members of the earthly kingdom, the United States of America by birth. But by birth, we were sinners and therefore excluded from God’s kingdom. Instead we belonged to a very different and very horrible kingdom, the kingdom of sin and the devil and therefore were under God’s wrath and punish- ment (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3). Although we can make the choice like Pontius Pilate and the Jewish leaders did to reject Jesus and his kingdom, we could never make a choice of ourselves to choose Jesus and his membership in his kingdom since we were dead in sin. So it was only because Jesus chose us (You did not choose me, but I chose you…John 15:16) and sent His Holy Spirit to give us a new birth from above in Baptism (no one can en- ter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit…John 3:5) so that by the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith we now trust Jesus as our Lord and King (No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit-- 1 Corinthians 12:3).

Why pray? Since we are believers already by God’s grace, why pray this petition? First of all we pray it for others, asking that God would bring others to trust his Son’s saving work and be gathered into his kingdom. But because we are on this side of heaven, we also recognize we are in constant danger of attacks from Satan, the world’s temptations, and our sinful nature within. Therefore, we are also praying that we would not fall away from our Lord and reject his kingdom, but in our daily weakness, we pray as the man who came to Jesus did in Mark 9:24: Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

What a difference! Go back to where we started. Because God has made us members of His kingdom through the good news about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we enjoy the victory Jesus won that Easter morn- ing when He not only showed his power over the soldiers of the kingdom of Rome, but defeated for us the kingdom of hell and death! By: Pastor Shaun Arndt; Good Shepherd, Holmen By: Alicia Gartner

Andrew Bakalars

11th season in baseball, MVP for 3 years, 2nd place in a tournament… I’d say Andrew has a love for baseball. He has been playing since he was 4 years old. His role model, favorite coach, and the rea- son that he got started were all because of his father. In the field he plays pitcher, short stop, and 3rd base. He is usually first or second in the batting line-up. Just like any other person, the thing that he dislikes about baseball is losing. “It’s easy to get the concept of baseball down and actually play it, but some of the opponents I face make it challenging. I love the challenge to win, to play my best, and use the God given abilities that I have been given.”

Susanna Harbach

She lives, breathes, eats, and sleeps tennis. She has been playing since she was in 2nd grade, and when asked why she started, she simply said that it runs through her family. Susanna most enjoys ground strokes in tennis. A groundstroke in tennis is a forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court. It is usually hit from the back of the tennis court around the baseline. She most enjoys the matches. When Susanna was 13 years old, she won 2nd place in the 14 and under division for La Crosse Park and Rec. She says that tennis is easy, but it requires a lot of practice, but it only makes her a better player.

Anna Bechly

Dance, Dance, Dance!!! “I was always trying to do the things the ballerinas did on TV,” says Anna. She has been dancing since she was 5 years old. She does many types of dancing; jazz, hip-hop, tap, and lyrical. She likes to make up her own choreography. The aspect that Anna most enjoys about dancing is the recitals because she gets the chance to show off her talent. The only thing she doesn’t like about it is how sore and stiff you can get after the many hours of dancing. She has 5 medals and received her first one when she was 12. She has gone to Minneapolis for competitions, which is a great learning experience to observe other studio’s styles of dance. If dance is easy, Anna finds ways to make it challenging to make herself better.

Noah White

Noah has had an interest in hockey since he was in 2nd grade. He has traveled all over the United States to places like Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, and North Dakota to play in tourna- ments, and he loves it. His team won 1st place in a tournament in Albert Lee, Minnesota. There are many different skills in hockey, such as, shooting, blocking, and stopping the puck. One of his favorite defensive moves is called a butterfly. It’s a style of goaltending in which the goaltender fre- quently drops into the splits but is stopped at his knees. Noah loves the challenge that hockey gives him, and it only helps him become a stronger and better player. By: Deanna Marquardt

Summer jobs can be a great way for teens to use their time in the summer. It can fill a teen’s time, which can keep them out of trouble. It can give them freedom to do some of the things that they want to do by giving them money so that they don’t have to ask their parents for it all the time. This also teaches them responsibility to do their job and teaches them to use their money wisely so that if there is something that they want, they have to save up for it. Sum- mer jobs can help a teen figure out what they might like to do for a career later in life. Also it gives teens the skills and even some experience that they might need later in life.

However, jobs take up time and can be stressful for teens. But if they are introduced to them earlier in their life, it will help them to deal with it better when they have their own apart- ment or house. On the other side of the scale, they don’t have the freedom to go out and do stuff with their friends when they want to. Instead, they have a responsibility that has to come first. This is good for them because it teaches them what life will be like when they are on their own without their parents taking care of everything for them.

Getting a summer job may give teens the opportunity to try new things. Sometimes these things can be a source of trouble for the teen. For example, they might be tempted with the opportunity to experiment with drugs and alcohol and other things that are both bad for their health and illegal as well. Also in the work place, they might have to face harassment and religious persecution. Having a summer job isn’t bad for a teen; it can actually help them to realize what life will be like out in the world by themselves. They will have to face some difficul- ties, but they will just have to learn what to say and how to react to the situations.

In a poll of Luther students, 60% of students already have a summer job lined up for the summer, and 35% of students are planning to get summer jobs soon. The remaining 5% either didn’t have a summer job already or didn’t want a job right away. So if you are looking for a summer job, think about what you like first and then try to find a job that you think you might enjoy doing. A summer job should be a learning and an enjoyable experience.

By: Jesse Nofftz

Golf

As the snow melts and spring arrives, students are looking forward to getting outside again. There’s one sport that helps fulfill this desire more than all the rest. The 2008-2009 Luther High Golf Team has 20 members. This makes it the largest golf team in Luther history. Although the skills of these golfers vary widely, there are a few stand-out performers on the golf course. Sen- ior Mitch Cook returns for his 4th straight year on the Varsity golf squad. If Mitch can shave off 4 strokes from his average score of 42, he has a legitimate shot at qualifying for state competition. Other Varsity golfers include Juniors Matt Raabe and Matt Homstad, who have improved by 10 strokes from last year. This year’s team also contains a stand-out freshman. Erik Hansen, who has battled his way to hold the teams #2 position, may prove to be a key in the Knights’ attempt to reach sectionals. Other candidates to make the playoff squad could include Christian Niemi, Matt Schneider, Karl Schwedler, and Max Campbell. Varsity coach Mark Loersch, in his 4th year, says “he is excited about the chance to coach a team which shows not only willingness to learn, but an eagerness to improve and play the game to the best of their abilities.”

Softball

The 2009 Luther High Softball Team has started out the season with a superb 9-3 overall and 7-0 conference record. Highlights include 2 wins in a double header against Coulee Confer- ence rival G-E-T, in which senior Courtney Hoeg broke the Luther High record for most career strikeouts. During these 2 games, Courtney struck out 22 batters and passed the previous record of 325 strikeouts held by Becky Schomberg. Senior Amy Dobrunz and Junior Emily Snider continue to bring their offensive talent to the table as they are hitting for a .543 and a .484 average, respec- tively. The Lady Knights will rely on the arm Courtney, Amy’s bat, and the other seven seniors on this experienced team as the WIAA Playoffs grow ever closer. If the team finishes strong, there is a high probability that the Lady Knights can make a deep run into the playoffs. Good luck to the team and congratulations again to Courtney Hoeg on her history making accomplishment. Baseball

The 2008-2009 Luther Baseball Knights were looking forward to another season of baseball, a season hopefully without the many weather postponements that affected the team’s consistency last year. The Luther Baseball team returns varsity starters Brad Essig and Jor- dan Podella from last season, as well as another handful of experienced varsity players including; Ryan Zibrowski, Cody Krueger, Sam Hendrickson, Ryan Barnes, Caleb Schultz, and Clint Gilman. With this lineup and Coach Jon Bilitz at the helm, Luther Baseball was hopefully set for a successful season in the tough Coulee Conference. With a current record of 2-5 (0-3 in conference), the Knights season has not started up to par with their expectations. However, with a lot of season remaining and playoffs only a few weeks away, there is no doubt in the mind of the players and staff, that the Luther baseball team has the potential and passion for a strong run through the post-season.

Track

The 2008-2009 Luther Track Team opened the year with 2 indoor meets – adding an indoor meet at St Mary’s University, which gave the teams a great start to the season with early competition. In the outdoor season opener here at Luther, both teams finished second overall with many high finishes, including 2 first place finishes for the girls and boys in the 4 x 100, and 4 x 800 relays, as well as a first in the boys 4 x 400. The girls took the top three spots in the discus, while the boys brought home a first in the shot put. Also among this season’s accomplishments, the boys’ pole vault team is within inches of break- ing a long-standing school record. Though low numbers may hurt the team in some of the bigger meets, their quality performances will surely have a great impact at conference and regionals down the road. By: Emilee Germanson

Matt Harter, an alumnus of Luther High, has set a new record in La Crosse, being elected the youngest mayor. As a kid, Matt always wanted to be an Eskimo or a Cowboy. This changed as he started high school and he thought about possibly having a career in politics. This dream became his reality in April, when he was elected to be the mayor of La Crosse, WI.

Matt has had many positive role models in his life that have helped him realize his potential to become mayor at a young age. He expressed that God helps him every day when faced with decisions and choices he has to make. His family has also been a great influence and support in his running for mayor. His parents told him that he could be or do whatever he wants with his life. Matt’s father, Gary, served as one of his main role models for him. Working side by side with his dad in the family business and pushing him to try different things in his life has been a positive part of Matt’s life. Leading up to Election Day, Matt’s youngest brother sported a “Vote for My Brother” sign on his motorized truck. On Election Day, you might have caught sight of his sisters standing on the streets with signs that said “Vote for Matt”. His family has helped to support him in his campaign and are true Matt Harter supporters.

Luther High was also a positive role model for Matt and served as a stepping stone in his knowl- edge of the political arena. When asked which classes benefited him, Accounting and Econom- ics were mentioned because of their practical side in today’s society. He expressed that all classes are important, and students should take their studies seriously since you never know what God’s plan for you will be.

Matt’s opponent in the election was Dorothy Leonard. It was said to have been a clean campaign, and Matt felt that he and his volunteers did their part to keep it that way. Face book was a vital tool that was used in his campaign, and he told us that he did not even have a Face book account until he decided to run for mayor. He used the tools of technology to reach a large number of people in the La Crosse area and to share with them his ideas for change. Matt has always tried to stick to the facts when discussing the issues. This way no one can get confused about where he stands and what his ideas are.

While running for mayor, his campaign basis was all about Change. He wants to make La Crosse a better and closer community. Being a property owner since high school, he felt that property taxes are too high. Right now Wisconsin’s unemployment rate is higher than the average unemployment rate, so he is also looking to help the job development in the area by trying to bring in new businesses. Working to reduce unnecessary spending is also high on his to do list during his term. He wants to have an “open door” government, which gives the people the ability to watch how and when the government spends the tax payers’ money. The internet could be one effective way to communicate to the people what the elected officials are working on. One of his platforms is that there should be more common sense on spending the tax payers’ money; spend it on what we need, not necessarily on what we want.

As mayor, Matt believes the best quality one should have is humility. He feels being humble will gain respect from the people and help him serve ALL the people. Being the youngest mayor elected in La Crosse, he believes that his age will help him in a positive way. He has found more support from the elderly than he has from the college students during his campaign. The people are looking for a change, and Matt feels he can do this by using common sense and the best interests of the people to help him make his decisions. There was a 33% voter turn out for the mayoral election this year. Working with the people and knocking on many doors gave Matt sense of what the people wanted and needed. His hard work paid off with the election results being in his favor.

After his four years in office are finished, Matt is undecided if he wants to continue having a career in politics. He might if there are more challenges and opportunities in which he feels he can make a difference. Matt has been inaugurated and has begun his job as mayor of La Crosse. Change is in the air! By: Sarah Krajewski Many students count down the days until summer vacation. Some even start counting on the very first day of school. Summer Vacation is a very coveted event for both teachers and students. Every country has a bit of a different form of summer vacation. In the U.S., they average 3 months of vacation. Australia and New Zealand’s summer vacation is from December to February. Ireland’s vacation is from the end of May to the be- ginning of June. In Canada, the first day of summer vacation starts the Thursday before the last Friday of June through Labor Day. Scotland’s is about 7 weeks going into August. In state schools in England and Wales, summer holidays usually start in mid-July and last until the first week of September, normally about six weeks.

Many families take their vacations during the summer months. According to topvaca- tionspots.net, the top ten most popular vacation spots are Orlando, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, Maui, Mexico, Florida, Italy, Las Vegas, and Cancun. When asked what they were doing this summer, Luther students responded in many ways. A lot of seniors are either working all summer or taking a break before going off to college. Some of the juniors are visiting colleges and working. One of our juniors, Josiah Loeffelholz, is going to Florida for a few weeks. Leah Justin jokingly said she wanted to stay as far away from Luther as possible. I am sure that is the feeling of many students. Who would want to be near school when they can have a break and relax from homework and school deadlines? Bryan Walkley stated he was traveling. Briana Schulze is planning on working with the Loggers, camping, and going to amusement parks. Ethan Proksch is going to work, volunteer, attend summer school, and spend time on the river fishing and soaking up some sun. Morgan Nofftz is playing softball. Daniel Fehr and some friends are going up to his cabin in June. Steve Ebner is planning on learning Russian. Scott Zietlow is going on his annual fishing trip to Alaska. Sarah Krajewski is babysitting, working, and going to family reunions. When asked, Henry Heyer said, “bass GUI-TAR!!!” Aaron Schwartz, Laura and Sara Rieke, and Danielle Murray are going to be in Lutheran Vanguard, a summer marching band based out of Appleton’s Fox Valley Lutheran High School.

Summer vacations are something every student and faculty member look forward to. It is a time for friends and family bonding, relaxing, and rejuvenating. Vacations provide the opportunity for many new and cherished memories. Have fun this summer!