Our guest on the podcast is Pastor Joel Gaertner, the Director for Special Ministries of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod). The reality is that ALL of us have special needs, but many of us tend to wear them more on the inside than the outside. How can Christians and Churches be a more welcoming place for with special needs, especially those who have to navigate the challenges of bodies and minds that don't work the way that many others do.

We will spend some time talking about what people with special needs are wanting from their Christian brothers and sisters and how we can better reflect the hands and feet, the heart of Jesus to them. It's short and to the point, but here's a summary you can remember:

"Be Curious. Just do it! Fail forward. Keep going!" We hope this 40 minutes will be a good investment in our own self awareness to serve others!

You can learn more about Joel's ministry focus here: https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/special-ministries/

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org
Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Reflections on Memorial Day and Ending Well

Memorial Day is thought of many different ways. A national holiday. The start of summer vacation. Family gatherings and cookouts. A day that honors those in the armed forces (That's actually Veterans Day in November). And then there is the actual intention - honoring those who have given their lives in military service to this country.

On the podcast this week, host Mike Westendorf and Pastor Pete Panitzke reflect on the value and importance for American Christians to pause and consider the sacrifice of men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms that we have enjoyed.

With the recent passing of Mike's father Paul (Vietnam Veteran), Mike shares some thoughts on the confident end of earthly life that we have in Christ and some of the comforts and lessons learned as his dad finished his earthly race. Lessons and conversations that hopefully help us wrestle with how we want our earthly lives as a Christian to end and to end them well - honoring God and showing the next generation how to die well too.

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Our Guest this week is Jim Buske of Lighthouse Youth Ministry and he relayed a story he asked a man in the predominantly African American Garden Homes neighborhood of Milwaukee about the challenges the city and the neighborhood faces. His friends answer was informative, not just for minority communities, but speaks to an increasingly important need for all people groups.

The response? The neighborhood lacks "Uncles". The man or woman working in their yard or garage that the neighborhood young person could come and see what they were doing, learn by observing and asking questions. The neighborhood lacks trusted advisors and the younger generation is telling us the same. They don't need older people to be heroes, but they are wanting a trusted friend and advisor that they aren't necessarily related to.

This opens an important door for Christian men and women to serve younger generations and a huge opportunity for young people to connect to the Body of Christ (the church), Not for religions duty, but for Christian relationship and humility is the path to that deeper relationship.

In this episode we'll talk about some of the challenges of mentoring and the need for the church, young and old, to lead with greater humility as we seek to learn from one another and walk best in the commandment Jesus gave his church "Love One Another".

To learn more about Lighthouse Youth Ministries please visit: https://www.lighthouseyouthcenter.com/

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Voting is a significant topic in American culture, especially in an election year. But what does the "right to vote" really mean? While it seems straightforward, the reality of that vote changes in different contexts and today we want to talk about what voting is and means in the church specifically.

The podcast today gives important context to the why of voting and how voices without a vote are heard and acknowledged and how important it is for men to handle this responsibility Biblically, so that every voice is heard in a meaningful way. When done well, even when we disagree with the outcome, we have the strength of the word and promises of God that it is HIS kingdom that we are building and not our own. It's to that end that we want to vote well.

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Have you ever wondered if God seems to care more about how we behave than who we are? It's honestly not fair of us to see the God of the Bible, the God of the cross and empty tomb this way, but in our world we tend to feel the constant judgements all around us. Whether it's at work, at home, in relationships, at church... we have opinions of others and we feel the opinions others have of us.

So what does God think of me? Does God love me? Or does God love my behavior? The answer... yes.

In this podcast we dig deep and open up a bit more of the motive for this conversation and the answers to the questions were refreshing and hopeful, because they are Biblically true. How can we live with greater peace and confidence in God's love for us??? Keep getting a hug from Jesus! Listen in and share your thoughts and questions.

If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Why Lutherans Use Creeds in Church

Creeds are a statement of belief that help Christians express the basic truths that they believe, as both an individual or as a corporate church. Perhaps you already know this, but there is not a uniform agreement in the larger Christian church about the importance of validity of the Creeds. So why, in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, do our churches frequently use one of the three Ecumenical creeds in worship on an almost weekly basis?

In this Episode of GQGC we will dig into the origin and purpose of the creeds as well as their value and importance to helping us keep the main things the main things. All of us live by and have statements of faith. Even "No creed, but Jesus" is a creed - a statement of belief. The value of the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian creeds is of significant help and importance to Christians living in the world today. We hope by the end of the episode you'll know more about why that is true.

If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Understanding Jesus Descent into Hell

The Apostles Creed is a simple summary of the Biblical, Christian faith through the use of several statements that have rich theological depth to them. The second article, (or second paragraph of the creed) has to do with Jesus, who he is, what happened to him and what he does. As part of this creed, there is a line that says "He descended into hell" and this has left people asking questions. In today's podcast we talk about the origin passage for that in 1 Peter 3 and the timeline of Jesus suffering, his death, where his spirit went when he died and when he descended into hell and for what purpose. If this has been a confusing part of your understanding of the Christian faith, we hope this conversation will be helpful and hope filled to you as you consider what Jesus descent into hell means for you and me.

If you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Three Thoughts on what God Has Already Given You

In a sermon from a few weeks earlier, Pastor Pete shared an illustration that involved $80 as he helped the congregation wrestle with our guild driven anxiety that fuels the "TRY HARDER" voice we all wrestle with from time to time. With the illustration comes a great conversation on what it means to have access to all the blessings of my heavenly Father. I don't have it, but my Father does.

We'll talk about the struggle to believe we believe and what God is expecting from us when it comes to the stewardship of the gifts he's given. Join us for a great illustration and conversation and let us know if you have questions as you join us!

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org