Happy Easter!
Reverend George Borghardt Reflections: Reverend George Borghardt is probably one of the most famous Lutheran pastors in North America and he is the current President of Higher Things, Inc., which is a conservative youth ministry in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). I want to discuss several aspects of Reverend Borghardt in this blog post to give you a well-rounded view of him. Reverend Borghardt is one my three favorite Lutheran pastors on YouTube along my pastor, Reverend Michael Phillips of Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) of Lima, Ohio, who was Pastor of the Month in March 2020, and the Reverend Doctor Jordan Cooper, who will get to be Pastor of the Month someday.
Reverend George Borghardt has a wife, three sons, one daughter, and a cute little dog called Thor. Thor is a male Jack Russel Terrier. Thor is a really interesting sidekick for his "fur-dad," Reverend Borghardt, because he was named after the Norse god of thunder and lightening called Thor. I am currently working on a Norse Mythology book and Thor the Norse god plays a big role in that book and hopefully Reverend Borghardt's dog called Thor will play at least a small role in my Norse Mythology book. Reverend Borghardt's dog called Thor shares his own "commentary" during Reverend Borghardt's videos on "Higher Things, Inc.'s" YouTube channel right along with Reverend Borghardt's commentary. Thor is an adorable, loving, and cuddly dog, who sometimes has a temper. I sadly have one too, so I cannot bash Thor for that. Reverend Borghardt gives Thor a lot of dog treats in the Higher Things, Inc. YouTube videos. If I would give Thor treats, then he would love me too. Granted dogs are very loyal to their "fur-parents," so Thor would love Reverend Borghardt more than me, even if I bought Thor more expensive dog treats. I love Thor and his Trump collar.
Now let us look at Reverend Borghardt's Education. Reverend Borghardt graduated from Baton Rouge Magnet High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1991, which is the same year in which I was born at St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, Ohio. Reverend Borghardt went on to study and major in Classical Studies aka Classics aka Classical Greek and Classical Latin at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Our Bachelor of Arts degrees are very similar, because I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in Classics aka Classical Humanities aka Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations from The Ohio State University at Lima and Columbus. Reverend Borghardt really knows his Greek and Latin, but I focused more Greek and Roman Mythology, Greek and Roman Literature, and Greek and Roman History. Reverend Borghardt graduated from Louisiana State University in 1996. Then Reverend Borghardt went on to study Lutheran Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri and he graduated with his Masters of Divinity in 2000.
Reverend Borghardt's Religious Vocations are interesting and he has made a big impact on thousands of people in these vocations. Reverend Borghardt was the Conference Executive for Higher Things, Inc. from July 2007 to April 2013. He has been President of Higher Things, Inc. from May 2013 to present. He was the Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS) in McHenry, Illinois from November 2010 to February 10, 2018. He has been the Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Bossier City, Louisiana from February 11, 2018 to present.
Reverend Borghardt was baptized, catechized, confirmed, and raised Roman Catholic. However, while he was in college, he converted to Lutheranism. Reverend Borghardt is very conservative theologically, since he is a Confessional Lutheran. He focuses heavily on "Calvary and Easter" in many of his sermons and YouTube videos. He preaches both Law and Gospel in such a way, that Martin Luther and the late Reverend C.F.W. Walther, who was the First President of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), would both be very proud of. Reverend Borghardt is a source in my upcoming history book, which is also my first history book, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, James Ussher, and their Work in Classics: With Other Christian Essays.
Reverend Borghardt is also an "Evangelical Catholic." Back during the Reformation in the 1500's, Martin Luther wanted his followers to be called "Evangelical Catholics," who are Catholics obsessed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The name "Lutheran" was given by the Roman Catholics, who were angry, that Martin Luther would dare challenge Pope Leo X, as an insult. Roman Catholics, who disliked Luther for one reason or another, called Martin Luther and his followers "Lutherans," because they believed, he was a heretic. Arius was the heretical pastor living at the time of the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. The Trinitarian pastors and bishops called Arius and all of his followers Arians, because they were all heretics denying the Divinity of Jesus Christ and denying the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Some Roman Catholics believed, that Martin Luther and the Lutherans were in the same category, even though Martin Luther believed, taught, and confessed, what the Catholic Church historically believed, taught, and confessed, including the Divinity of Jesus and the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.
Let us read the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke Chapter 24:1-12:
"24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the Sepulchre, bringing the spices, which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the Sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the Body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, 'Why seek ye the Living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember, how He spake unto you, when He was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the Sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women, that were with them, which told these things unto the Apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the Sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that, which was come to pass" (KJV 1611).
Corona Virus Update: Sadly Reverend Borghardt has to share his Pastor of the Month blog post with the Corona Virus. The following is the purely the opinion of me, James W. O'Flannery, and it is not necessarily the opinion of Reverend Borghardt or anyone else in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). ALL Ohio stores, which were deemed "unessential" by Governor Mike DeWine (R) of Ohio and Dr. Amy Acton of the Ohio Health Department, will be allowed to reopen on Tuesday May 12, 2020. Governor DeWine and Dr. Acton have mandated, that ALL shopkeepers, store managers, store workers, and vendors must wear face masks during business hours. Governor DeWine and Dr. Acton are not going to mandate, that shoppers wear face masks, but they are allowing stores to mandate, that shoppers must wear face masks, when they are shopping. Ohio stores, which allow shoppers to shop without face masks, will have close their doors immediately and have their entire store "fogged" for $500 to get the Corona Virus out of their stores, if a shopper gets the Corona Virus in a particular store. For that reason, Jennifer Garrett of Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) is mandating, that all JFC shoppers, who chose to shop in-person in her store, wear face masks. ("It's mandatory! There are NO exceptions!" --Reverend Boomhaver in his Online Maundy Thursday Sermon for St. Luke's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Lima, Ohio) (Granted he was referring to Governor DeWine's "stay at home order," which did have loopholes, and it is being relaxed. However, it fits here.) I will be wearing a face mask at all of my book signings for a while for three reasons: 1. Governor DeWine and Dr. Acton say, that I must wear it to sell my books and other products, 2. I want my readers and other customers to feel safe, and 3. I do not want to be violently attacked like the guy in the New York City grocery store, who chose not to wear a face mask during his grocery shopping trip. Please wear a face mask or other face covering, when you are shopping. However, if you are unable to wear a face mask or other face covering or you are morally opposed to wearing such things, then I will NOT mandate, that you have them during my appointment sales, which Governor DeWine is encouraging. I refuse to lose sales over people refusing to wear face masks during appointment sales. If you want to buy something from me, then please call or text me at (567) 712-8026 and we'll set-up a time to meet up. What about going to in-person church or going for a walk? Face masks and other face coverings will prohibit you from singing your best, so please take it off during in-person Masses and other in-person church services. Face masks are hard to breathe in, when you are outside in the heat. Plus the sunlight beats the Corona Virus every time.
May 2020 Book Signing(s):
1. I'll be having a book signing at the Jen's Furniture and Collectible (JFC) on the corner of High Street and Chestnut Street in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday May 16, 2020 from 11 AM to 3 PM. (This event is postponed, because I need a plexiglass shield in front of me, when I have book signings at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles.)
2. I'll be having a book at The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday May 23, 2020 from 11 AM to 5 PM.
3. I'll be having a book signing at the Jen's Furniture and Collectible (JFC) on the corner of High Street and Chestnut Street in St. Marys, Ohio on Saturday May TBA, 2020 from 11 AM to 3 PM.
June 2020 Book Signings: TBA
July 2020 Book Signings: TBA
August 2020 Book Signings: TBA
October 2020 Book Signing(s):
1. I'll be having a book signing at the Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show at the Vaughnsville Community Center in Vaughnsville from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show: I will be hosting the 2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday October 31, 2020 from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Vaughnsville Community Center on State Route 12 in Vaughnsville, Ohio. I'm looking for vendors to come and sell their merchandise. I'm pretty much open to anything legal and clean, but homemade baked goods and craft items are preferred. Please see my "2020 Vaughnsville Craft and Vendor Show: Vendor Entry Form" blog post for more information:
https://ohioirishlutheranpress.com/blogs/news/vaughnsville-craft-and-vendor-show-vendor-entry-form
My Green Irish Angel Statues: My Green Irish Angel Statues are really cute! They are only $1 each and they make great gifts. I have three kinds: 1. Cross-Bearing Angels, 2. Praying Angels, and 3. Angels Holding Butterflies. I like the Cross-Bearing Angels the best, because they are carrying Crosses. Each one bearing a Cross reminds us, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's Demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their personal sins. They're available exclusively at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on the corner High Street and Chestnut Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) in St. Marys, Ohio.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and Happy Easter!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)