This week on 'Deseret Well ', special guest David Rufner, a former Lutheran pastor now head fundraiser for 1517, joins us. David shares his background serving 16+ years in Michigan, his move to Big Bear, California in 2020 to join 1517, and his ongoing service as head elder and pulpit supply at a vacant local church. He explains 1517’s mission to “declare and defend the good news that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone,” describing the need to resist “mission drift” and keep Christ crucified and risen central. David outlines 1517’s resources (books, podcasts, free academy courses, articles, and preaching tools), reflects on why the organization refreshed him with “pure gospel,” and discusses giving trends, donor stress, budgeting stewardship, and practical approaches to gratitude and mission-focused generosity. For more information on 1517 visit 1517.org.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:22 Meet David Rufner

04:23 From Pastor to 1517

08:14 Grief and a New Call

11:09 Why 1517 Is Different

13:57 Mission First Importance

19:11 How 1517 Serves Churches

20:49 Staying on Mission

23:06 What Fuels the Passion

24:28 Gospel Refreshing Again

25:31 1517 Conference Impact

26:47 Pastors Gatherings vs Gospel Rest

29:42 Absolution Stories From Listeners

31:34 Fundraising vs Stewardship

33:03 Church Life Complications

37:39 Giving Trends and Donor Stress

40:40 Talking Money in Church

45:16 Stewardship Without Guilt

48:27 Where to Find 1517

48:50 Podcast Challenge and Farewell

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/RtVaCsABN6Y and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

This week we delve into the “Back to Basics” sermon series we are doing this summer here at Lamb of God Lutheran Church Las Vegas. We discuss how many people near the church lack foundational Christian knowledge (heaven and hell, Jesus as Son of God, the Trinity, basic Bible literacy) and why that matters in a post-Christian context, including for children and adults. Using 1 Peter 2, we emphasize spiritual growth as something God builds in believers, not self-achieved, with Jesus as the cornerstone. We connect this to Luther’s Small Catechism as a simple, household-focused tool rooted in the Reformation’s education push, outline upcoming topics (Creator, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Lord’s Prayer), and explain choosing the Lord’s Prayer over the Ten Commandments given Jesus’ fulfillment of the law.

01:43 Back to Basics Setup

03:01 DNA Cloning and Adam

07:27 Why Basics Matter Today

11:47 Summer Series Planning

15:50 First Peter Spiritual Milk

18:27 Sanctification Not Self Help

24:08 Cornerstone Foundations

25:53 Temple Mount Archways

26:34 Jesus as Cornerstone

27:23 Rejected Stone Meaning

28:52 Small Catechism Basics

31:37 Why Luther Wrote It

32:33 Education and Literacy

35:14 New Member Questions

37:04 Who Is Jesus

39:49 Why Lord’s Prayer

43:50 Petitions and Forgiveness

45:43 Back to Simple Faith

48:59 Grandpa’s 1943 Catechism

49:50 Closing Reflections

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday for the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/E2NkYShIuxk and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 ! We will see you next week!

This week we discuss Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical on artificial intelligence through a Christianity Today article summarizing it. We explain what an encyclical is, distinguish ordinary vs. solemn magisterium, and compare it to Lutheran CTCR documents, asking why Lutherans should care about what the pope says. Reading the article, we note the warning that AI is a spiritual and civilizational test that could make humans more machine-like within a technocratic paradigm, using Babel vs. Nehemiah as imagery and treating limits as gifts. We compare AI’s power to nuclear proliferation, critique “move fast and break things,” and discuss isolation replacing communal vices, the Word (logos) not being algorithmic, and Christian hope grounded in Jesus. Lastly we debate practical use of AI in church, cautions about sermons/prayers, and concepts like transhumanism, posthumanism, vocation, and loving neighbor.

We have included today’s article https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/05/christians-listen-pope-leo-encyclical-artificial-intelligence/, the video we referenced https://youtu.be/xM4AOIZ-Uy8 , and the encyclical http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html .

02:10 What Is an Encyclical

04:43 Magisterium and Lutheran Parallels

08:51 Why Listen to the Pope

12:41 AI as Spiritual Test

16:28 Stay in Your Lane Debate

20:27 Silicon Valley Arms Race

24:14 Tech Bro Utopias and Bunkers

26:46 Tower of Babel Framework

27:44 Babel as Mercy

29:13 Broken People Using Tech

31:26 AI Without an Off Switch

32:10 Control Panic and Original Sin

35:02 Vices of Isolation

36:27 Christian View of Humanity

37:21 Logos Not Algorithmic

38:20 Hope After Babel

43:31 Language Barriers Falling

45:53 Love God Love Neighbor

50:57 Transhumanism vs Posthumanism

52:38 Limits as Gifts

54:24 Join the Tech Conversation

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday to hear the latest from us here at ‘Desert Well’! You can also find this week’s episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/APGQY28Lk5E andApple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492

This week we discuss a felt “season of change and transition,” comparing it to a page turning where you can’t yet see what’s next. We reflect on an earlier dramatic text about a difficult year ahead and on end-of-school-year emotions, including staff devotions and worship. Derek shares Psalm 90:17 and Ephesians 3 about God establishing the work of their hands and doing more than they can imagine, emphasizing that God works through people rather than their own effort. We talk about managing change by involving and empowering staff, communicating what is known and unknown, and recognizing different reactions to change. We balance trusting God’s control with using reason and discernment, finding comfort in knowing the Author even when the next page is unclear.

02:29 Season Of Transition

04:46 Wave And Page Metaphors

07:26 School Day Backstory

07:58 Devotions Psalm 90 17

12:17 Change Culture In School

19:53 Guiding Staff Through Change

23:12 Faith And Decision Making

24:02 Staff Worship Recap

25:33 Why Gather Together

26:25 Ephesians 3 Reminder

28:10 Faith in Decisions

30:20 Two Extremes of Control

31:53 Mary and Martha Balance

34:51 Ascension and Trust

37:06 We Not Me Culture

42:42 Turning the Page Forward

44:00 Interim Leaders Mindset

45:48 Closing Thoughts and Wrap

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back every Friday for the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch this week's episode on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/0YxcCpyltsw. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 ! We will catch you next week!

In this end-of-school-year conversation, Pastor Jared and Mr.Blessing reflect on the past year. They share key highlights, starting with special baptism chapel as a meaningful community celebration that builds relationships with students and families, and they recall moments like Good Friday chapel where students powerfully sang “Reckless Love.” They also note strong academic outcomes through MAP Growth testing, describing it as a national standardized measure used to track student progress and affirm teaching practices, with results above national levels. Finally, they discuss a healthier, more unified staff culture marked by shared decision-making, openness in prayer requests,and ongoing systems work that supports the school’s ministry, closing with appreciation for students, staff, and families and how quickly the busy, fun year passed.

01:33 Secret Staff Spirit Days

06:18 School’s Out Recap

07:29 Baptism Chapel Highlights

11:54 Chapel Leading and Worship

13:58 Good Friday Reckless Love

18:17 MAP Testing Wins

20:06 Teacher Joy Moments

21:17 Goals And MAP Growth

22:43 Proving Academic Standards

23:38 Staff Culture Shift

25:35 Unity And Shared Ownership

31:29 Systems And Change Management

35:40 Student Relationships And Lunch

38:18 Why The Year Flew By

41:06 Community Partnership Wrap Up

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/hvRGhCSMHi8! You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492!

In this episode, we interview Tonya Tomlin, newly appointed preschool director at Lamb of God. Today we will hear about Miss Tonya’s background and passion for early childhood education and what lead her here to Lamb of God, where she has been with us the last three years. Tonya shares her journey from growing up in North Dakota to living in Texas for 24 years, working two decades in church preschool ministry, and moving to Las Vegas during the height of COVID. She explains how she began teaching Sunday school at 16, transitioned from volunteering in her son’s school to full-time preschool work, and why she loves the rapid growth and “aha moments” of three-year-olds. Tonya discusses joys and challenges in the classroom, how faith is woven throughout the school day, changes she’s seen in kids due to electronics, and her hopes to expand programs like the new 18-month-old class.

02:29 Meet Tonya Tomlin

03:26 From Texas to Vegas

06:07 New Preschool Director Role

06:33 How Tonya Became Teacher

10:18 Why Preschool Years Matter

15:26 Bucket Filling Moments

18:02 Hardest Parts of Preschool

22:21 Building Trust and Compassion

27:01 Teaching Faith in Class

28:11 Faith Woven In

29:11 Taught Versus Caught

30:47 Screens And Attention

32:09 Grandparents And Generations

34:25 Teachers Guide Parents

37:46 Trust Your Gut

39:24 Kids Say The Darndest

43:56 New Director Role

46:00 Future Of The Preschool

47:38 Starting Faith At Home

49:09 Family Worship Basics

51:41 Relationships And Leadership

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to hear the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also watch today's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/fbIDLr-UBPE. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492!

This week on 'Desert Well' we discuss the book "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur. We highlight the book’s main value: portraying the 12 disciples as ordinary, varied men empowered by Jesus, making them relatable and helping readers see themselves in Scripture. We also note distinctions between “apostle” and “disciple,” Jesus’ circles of influence, and the claim that the disciples’ main training with Jesus may have been about a year and a half. We touch on chapters about Peter, John, Andrew, and Judas, concluding the book encourages everyday believers to share the gospel and grow in sanctification.

We have included the link to the book here https://a.co/d/0eeLtO3j.

02:25 Why This Book Now

04:13 How Derek Got the Book

05:45 Fiction Reading Detour

10:00 Why Recommend This Book

11:10 Disciples as Ordinary Men

14:32 Intro Insights and Circles

16:03 Apostles vs Disciples

16:44 How Long They Trained

20:25 Apostles as Sent Ones

22:11 Using Original Languages

23:43 Book Chapter Roadmap

25:39 Peter and Leadership

31:38 John Learns Love

36:09 Andrew and Small Things

38:50 Limits of the Sources

39:53 Judas and Divine Mystery

42:45 Living It Out

44:52 Wrap Up and Exit

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! We will see you next week! You can also catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/vPgNRdrCJMM. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492.

Today we discuss a five-part article series by seminary professor David Maxwell on how Christians should understand anger and desire, contrasting Plato’s chariot image (directing the passions) with the Stoic goal of eliminating them. We trace how early church fathers split between Gregory of Nyssa, who argues passions entered through the fall but should be redirected for good, and Cyril of Alexandria, who views the Christian life as lulling passions to sleep toward an invincible, passionless state. We evaluate how Lutheran law/gospel language can imply a stoic “kill the passions” spirituality, while Luther’s writings, hymns, and the Formula of Concord’s distinction between human nature and sin suggest passions are corrupted but not identical with sin and can be constructively directed with confidence in Christ. We have included today's article here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dSclESwyHAwdlsXGPVx3n_JnMty-oCLsIN6kP4FqqfA/edit?usp=share_link.

00:52 Anger Desire Question

02:12 Derek On Anger

03:57 Reading Plan Greek

05:41 Righteous Anger Myth

06:51 Jet Engines Plato

09:19 Stoics Four Passions

11:28 Early Church Split

15:06 Gregory Direct Passions

19:57 Anger Desire In Scripture

21:20 Garden Passions Debate

27:31 Cyril Lull Passions

30:30 Apatheia Modern Apathy

32:04 Jesus Wept Interpretation

34:15 Jesus Wept and Grief

35:02 Impervious Word Debate

35:54 Early Church on Passions

37:00 Lutheran Kill Passions

39:36 Law Gospel and Stoicism

46:23 Full Stop Grammar Tangent

49:22 Directing Passions with Luther

54:49 Original Sin Accident

57:58 Redirecting Anger and Desire

01:04:48 Final Reflections and Wrap Up

Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to join in every Friday to hear the latest from 'Desert Well'! You can also watch today's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/ewWYaox4UaM. You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/.../desert-well/id1823028492.

We'll see you next week!

Today we open with talking about our new running-water feature in our in office studio then dive into why people go to church after a congregational survey asked “What is church for?” We contrast common views of church as a place to worship, a family routine, a social club, a moral/learning center, a service or political action hub, or a source of good feelings, noting pros and limitations of each (including how COVID disrupted habitual attendance). Using the Book of Concord and the Augsburg Confession, we define the church as the assembly of believers where the Gospel is purely preached and the sacraments are rightly administered, emphasizing worship primarily as receiving God’s gifts (forgiveness, Word, Sacrament) and secondarily responding with thanks and praise.01:31 Why Talk Church04:49 Kids Ask Why Church07:26 What Is Church Really10:58 Why Worship Habit15:44 Church As Social Club25:00 Church As Life Coaching29:37 Sermon Feedback 35:22 Knowledge Limits Brains36:37 Service And Politics38:09 Church vs State Lanes39:18 Two Realms Explained42:23 Therapeutic Deism Trap44:14 Emotions Without Manipulation51:44 Book of Concord Basics55:34 Augsburg Confession on Church01:01:43 Worship as Receiving Gifts01:10:18 Why Gather Every Sunday01:12:08 Wrapping Up and Next TopicThank you for gathering around the well that is Jesus with us here at "Desert Well'! Be sure to check back every Friday for our latest episode! You can also watch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/6OG4zWl-dvU . You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/.../desert-well/id1823028492.

We return to an in-person format with special guest Leah Abel, who will lead Lamb of God’s 2026 strategic planning process. Leah shares her background as a DCE and ministry leader, her path from Iowa to serving in Florida and Colorado, and her current work in process facilitation and project management for churches and organizations. This conversation addresses common objections to “strategic planning” in church settings, framing it as stewardship of attention, time, and resources and as clarity about identity and purpose rather than “more stuff.” Leah explains the difference between consultants and facilitators, emphasizing that ownership of decisions increases implementation. She outlines a two-phase process: a “vision frame” (mission, values, strategies, outcomes) informed by congregational input, followed by a one-page “vision plan” for multi-year direction, highlighting that the power is in the process as much as the final product. A huge thank you to special guest Leah Abel for joining us around the well this week!

00:00 Welcome Back With Guest

02:00 Meet Leah Abel

03:03 Leah’s Ministry Journey

07:42 Why Churches Plan

10:36 Stewardship And Order

13:09 Speed Of Church Life

17:05 Vision Frame Explained

19:35 Facilitator Vs Consultant

27:32 Process Over Product

28:46 Why Planning Matters Here

29:40 Leading Without Bulldozing

30:33 Why Bring In a Facilitator

35:03 Church Identity and We

39:05 Vision Team and Process

39:42 Vision Frame Explained

45:38 Survey and Core Insights

48:47 Vision Plan and Strategy

59:11 Skeptics and Readiness

01:08:09 Closing Thanks and Next Steps

Thank you for joining us around the well this week! Be sure to check back every Friday to hear the latest from ‘Desert Well’! You can also YouTube https://youtu.be/6OG4zWl-dvU . You can listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 .