Desert Well

Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • 4.8 (5)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Join Pastor Jared Townley and Principal Derek Blessing from Lamb of God Lutheran Church and School, Las Vegas. Delve into discussions on faith, scripture, and the unique challenges of ministry in a desert city, all while connecting with a community centered on the love of Jesus.

  1. Sep 25

    064:Pastor Scott Snow on Retirement, Grandparenting, and Passing On the Faith

    In an in-person conversation recorded around Grandparents’ Day, Pastor Scott Snow returns to reflect on the transition into retirement after decades of ministry, noting it still feels like vacation because he continues to preach, officiate weddings, and assist with funerals, while also enjoying new freedom to travel, visit family, and camp in his travel trailer. The discussion turns to “passing on the faith,” emphasizing prayer before and after children are born, praying with them, and creating an everyday atmosphere where the Holy Spirit works through lived example—consistent worship, family devotions, and faith-shaped routines. We address discouragement when children drift from faith, encouraging continued prayer and hope in God’s promises and baptism. Pastor Snow shares practical ways churches can equip parents, including adult-involved confirmation, modeling prayer, and providing devotional resources, while stressing intentional priorities amid competing activities. 00:00 Welcome Back 00:50 Retirement Transition 02:33 Travel And Camper Life 05:58 Helping In Ministry 08:05 Mentoring New Pastors 11:17 Learning On The Job 14:25 Passing On Faith 15:55 Prayer And Example 18:57 Worship And Devotions 25:17 Faith Is Caught 27:10 Faith Is Caught 27:38 Kids Copy Worship 29:13 When Kids Walk Away 32:23 Grandparents Matter 34:21 Season Conversations 36:24 Prepare The Field 38:16 Church And School Role 41:57 Equipping Parents Practically 46:32 Modeling Messy Devotions 48:26 Making Faith Priority 53:05 Balancing Sports And Church 56:50 Mentors And Lifelong Learning 01:00:32 Final Prayer And Wrap 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/7tyRO4c5jJU and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  2. Sep 11

    062: Faith, Works, and Assurance: Lutheran Clarity on James, Justification, and Sanctification

    This week we discuss the role of good works in the Christian life, especially for Lutherans who often emphasize salvation by grace through faith. We explore common misunderstandings—trusting personal effort or moral history for assurance—and wrestle with James’ teaching that “faith without works is dead,” using excerpts from the Lutheran Study Bible and the Apology to the Augsburg Confession to argue that works do not merit forgiveness but necessarily flow from living faith. We distinguish justification (God’s once-for- all declaration of forgiveness through Christ) from sanctification (a lifelong process in which good works emerge), and read the Formula of Concord on good works, addressing tensions around necessity, freedom, motivation, intentional sin, and the guiding “third use” of the law for Christian living. 00:26 Will My Faith Endure 02:01 God Cries Not Angry 04:31 Works And Assurance Tension 06:03 FCA Heaven Question 07:47 Why Talk Works Today 10:43 James And Hard Passages 11:10 Study Bible And Concord Quote 16:57 Living Faith Produces Works 18:26 Two Slippery Extremes 22:26 Justification Versus Sanctification 27:34 Husband Forgiveness Analogy 28:40 Growth Means More Dependence 30:25 Opening The Next Section 30:41 Formula of Concord Tour 32:32 Good Works Controversy 35:52 Affirmative Thesis Reading 40:08 Obligated Yet Free 46:09 Negative Thesis Rejections 49:49 Third Use of Law 53:05 Boundaries and Discipline 57:49 Wrap Up and Reflections Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to tune in every Friday to catch the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/N7KuBU-fuss and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  3. Aug 28

    060: Teaching the Next Generation : Deuteronomy, Psalm 78, Ephesians 6, and Luther on Keeping Kids in School

    Today we discuss Bible and catechism study on the role of education and faith formation in children. We read and reflect on Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 , Psalm 78:1–7, and Ephesians 6:1–4, emphasizing guarding one’s own soul, teaching God’s deeds and commands to children and grandchildren, and using everyday “teachable moments.” We note Jewish practices of binding Scripture on the body and doorframes, connect Psalm 78 to Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13, and highlight that education aims at setting hope in God, not only knowledge. Using Luther’s Large Catechism and sermons on keeping children in school, we describe parental authority extending to teachers, affirm teachers as God-given, and warn against reducing education to getting rich while stressing law-and-gospel comfort in parenting.00:00 False Christs and Judgment01:00 Why Education Matters02:47 Prayer and Study Setup03:36 Deuteronomy 4 Teach Kids05:14 Guard Your Soul07:24 Word Your Eyes Have Seen14:36 Buckets and Memorization19:50 Deuteronomy 6 22:39 Teach in Everyday Moments28:14 Israel Trip and Torah Signs31:15 Psalm 78 Tell Next Gen33:55 Psalm 78 Meets Parables35:30 Teaching Beyond Facts37:16 Everyday Teachable Moments40:02 Hope Not Forgetting43:52 Household Habits Redemption45:17 Ephesians Parenting Charge51:09 Luther Authority Partnership54:22 Luther Schools And Culture01:04:14 Law Gospel Parenting Weight01:08:59 Wrap Up Next TopicsThank 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/wZ1LtJyVA8U and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  4. Aug 21

    059: Rey’s Hungary Mission Trip: English VBS Camps, Sharing the Gospel, and Life in Aszód

    Returning guest Rey, a Concordia junior in the pre-seminary theological studies program with a Biblical languages emphasis, describes his first mission trip and first time abroad: a three-week trip to Aszód, Hungary, serving VBS-style English camps for Hungarian middle and high school students at a Lutheran school . He explains how the biannual Concordia trip began, who went (11 students plus Pastor Anderson’s family), and what camp involved—worship, Bible study in color teams, English immersion, activity rotations (sports, crafts, English, drama, music, and “Questions with PQ”), and events like dodgeball, wacky Olympics, and a “disco.” Rey shares highlights (relationships, travel, student conversations), challenges (leading Bible discussions in English with hesitant middle schoolers), observations about American-culture curiosity and English slang, and advice to pray and not be deterred by cost. 00:00 Meet Rey Again 00:42 Concordia Major Explained 02:04 Testing Out of Seminary Greek 04:41 Hungary Mission Trip Overview 05:57 Where Is Aszód 06:39 Budapest Travel Tales 11:29 Why Rey Joined the Trip 16:02 English Camp VBS Format 20:17 Daily Schedule and Events 22:40 Dorm Life And Long Days 23:03 Camp Highlights And Connections 24:10 Student Stories And Faith 25:41 English Camp Conversations 27:11 Funny Phrases And American Culture 28:34 Influence And Language Boundaries 30:17 Organic Faith Talks And Pastor Role 34:22 Group Sizes And Age Preferences 39:06 Challenges Of Bible Study In English 43:06 First Mission Trip Reflections 44:05 Why Hungary Needs Missions 48:24 Future Leadership And Advice 50:44 Final Thanks And 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 catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/92j9ASkLVQ8 and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  5. Aug 14

    058: From Guilt to Grace: The Gift of Prayer

    This week we discuss Bob Hiller’s 1517 article “Blood Bought Prayer,” reacting to how prayer can become either a guilt-producing law (e.g., the alleged Luther quote about praying three hours a day) or a convenient, phone-based habit shaped by apps, echoing concerns from Freya India’s “When Faith Is Just An App.” We emphasize that prayer is first a gift purchased by Christ’s atoning blood, granting believers access to the Father, and that Jesus gives both the command and the words to pray, especially in the Lord’s Prayer. We consider how the Divine Service sets the pattern for personal devotion and highlight simple daily routines from Luther’s Small Catechism (morning, meals, evening) that avoid both pietistic pressure and convenience-driven minimalism, with pastoral reflections on faith, suffering, and trusting God’s promises. We have also included today's article here https://www.1517.org/articles/blood-bought-prayers and here is also the article we thought about doing this week on meditation https://www.1517.org/articles/meditation-chewing-on-the-word. 00:00 Intro and Article Setup 00:58 Convention News Banter 02:20 Starting the Prayer Article 03:44 Luther Quote and Guilt 07:03 Prayer Apps and Convenience 10:05 Embodied Faith Beyond Phones 13:20 Prayer as Blood Bought Gift 15:29 Access to the Father 19:41 Lord's Prayer as Need 22:27 Promises Ask Seek Knock 23:14 Amen as Confidence 23:40 Let It Be So 24:31 When Prayers Hurt 27:03 Pietism vs Piety 29:26 Divine Service Rhythm 32:33 Prayer Habits That Stick 38:56 No Guilt Prayer Life 41:50 Quick Prayers in Passing 44:04 Talking to Jesus 45:53 Wrapping 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 catch this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/xQuoMkJXluA and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  6. Aug 7

    057: Inside the LCMS Convention: Paperwork, Resolutions, and Hope for the Future

    This week Pastor Jared and Derek recap the LCMS convention’s logistics and key takeaways, describing the stack of daily documents (workbook with 300 overtures, nominee bios, and multiple “Today’s Business” updates), how voting occurred across several sessions, and how floor committees revised resolutions overnight. They share practical tips like tracking vote percentages, and praise the convention’s organization. Big-picture reflections include strong doctrinal unity despite differing opinions, the encouragement found in conversations and networking, and surprise at the number of younger delegates and women lay voting delegates. They highlight positive resolutions on encouraging presidential election participation, preserving circuits, enabling synod entities to create special purpose entities (including a Riverside property example), a telehealth counseling feasibility study, and clarity in prior approval for theology faculty and university presidents. They conclude with hope grounded in younger involvement and trust that Jesus remains Lord of the church. 01:38 Why So Many Books 02:36 Voting Booklet Breakdown 04:10 Backpack Full of Paper 04:37 Todays Business Explained 06:48 Tracking Votes and Revisions 11:48 From Logistics to Takeaways 13:15 Unity in Doctrine 15:21 People and Connections 20:35 Daily Convention Rhythm 24:49 Understanding Disagreements 25:12 Haidt and Moral Intuition 29:52 Turning to Resolutions 30:14 Convention Whiplash 30:40 Election Participation Debate 36:05 Circuit Structure Changes 38:03 District Special Purpose Entities 41:29 Telehealth and Worker Care 42:24 University Hiring Transparency 44:09 Celebrations and Fellowship Votes 46:28 Consent Calendar Dynamics 49:04 Contentious Issues Revisited 51:07 CTCR Clarifications 52:25 Online Seminary Training Debate 57:02 Worship Commission and New Hymnal 58:42 Did You Enjoy It 01:01:29 Hope for the Synod 01:02:22 Jesus Leads the Church Thank you for joining us around the well that is Jesus! Be sure to check back each Friday for the latest from us here at 'Desert Well'! You can also catch this week's episode on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 and YouTube https://youtu.be/f3Jeqn5IR4s . We will see you next week!

  7. Jul 17

    054: Heading to Phoenix: LCMS Synodical Convention

    This week on 'Desert Well' Pastor Jared and Derek discuss the LCMS synodical convention, detailing their travel timing and roles: one as a Pacific Southwest District advisory delegate and the other as a pastoral voting delegate attending as an alternate. They explain LCMS structure (synod, 35 districts, circuits), how circuits send one lay and one pastoral voting delegate, and how conventions occur every three years to decide matters through overtures submitted by congregations, circuits, districts, or synod boards. They describe the convention workbook, reports, 374 overtures, and how 11 floor committees process them into resolutions or place them in omnibus categories. Using an example overture about opening access to Lutheran Confessions, they show how a resolution is formed. They preview debated topics like pastoral formation amid a pastor shortage, Concordia University system governance after Ann Arbor’s closure, and elections, and share excitement about the process and networking while anticipating conflict and “politicking.” 00:00 Travel Plans to Phoenix 01:03 Why We’re Going 01:46 Advisory Delegate Role 05:40 Pastoral Delegate Explained 07:47 LCMS Synod Basics 10:19 Districts and Circuits 14:08 How Convention Voting Works 17:40 Overtures and Submissions 19:33 Convention Workbook Tour 21:37 Floor Committees Breakdown 27:00 Reading a Sample Overture 30:58 Omnibus Categories Explained 32:07 Omnibus Pull-Out Options 32:47 How Resolutions Get Written 33:16 Convention Workbook Walkthrough 34:32 Floor Committees and Hearings 36:32 Daily Schedule and District Meetups 39:23 Sample Finance Resolution 804 42:00 Hot Topics Pastoral Formation 51:43 University System Governance 55:36 Elections and Ballots 57:55 What We Dread and Hope 01:03:41 Networking Heat and Wrap-Up Thank you for joining us this week 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/O-i_97gchDM and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492. We will see you next week!

  8. Jul 10

    053: The Mission: Chris Townley on Faith, Vocation, and Saying Yes to Ministry

    This week on 'Desert Well' Pastor Jared interviews his dad, Chris Townley, on his first podcast, discussing how their family’s faith deepened over time and how laypeople support pastors as part of a “crew.” Chris describes his work as a self-employed civil engineer since 2003, including how he adopted the tagline “Through faith, all things are possible” from Philippians 4:13 and relied on faith when unexpectedly starting his business. He explains the “Working Genius” framework (wonder and tenacity), his role as a deacon at St. John’s Lutheran in Midland since 2017, and ministry through shut-in and hospital visits. Chris recounts being drawn into deacon training and later joining a Cambodia mission trip, where he helped lead a pastoral conference and saw the value of diverse gifts on a team. He encourages listeners to “do something” in service and trust God to equip the called. 00:00 A Special Episode 00:32 Why Dad Is Here 02:04 Pastor Needs A Crew 03:40 Meet Chris Townley 05:04 Working Genius Explained 08:37 Engineer And Deacon Life 12:53 Faith In Business 17:49 From Curious To Cambodia 19:59 Pastor Kempen Sparks The Trip 24:10 Mission Prep And God’s Hand 27:36 God Was Faithful 28:55 Via de Christo Spark 30:57 Deacon Training Journey 34:09 Hospital Visits Presence 38:31 Future Missions Liberia 39:48 Just Do Something 43:16 Encouraging Church Workers 49:43 Always On Mission 51:49 Closing Reflections 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 watch this week's episode on YouTube youtu.be/hPRJ-QAe4mk and Apple Podcasts podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492 . See you next week!

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Join Pastor Jared Townley and Principal Derek Blessing from Lamb of God Lutheran Church and School, Las Vegas. Delve into discussions on faith, scripture, and the unique challenges of ministry in a desert city, all while connecting with a community centered on the love of Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • Show Website
    Desert Well