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. 6h ago

    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!

  2. 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!

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

  5. 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!

  6. Jun 26

    051: Desert Well’s 1-Year Check: Future Hopes and Reach

    This week we reflect on roughly a year of weekly Desert Well Podcast episodes, noting increased comfort on camera, the value of unplanned conversation, and a developing monthly structure (guest, article, topical discussion) as we introduce a new recurring “Word” segment. We discuss why the podcast exists primarily to help people go deeper in faith and relationship with Jesus, and how it provides accessible teaching outside Sunday worship. For the first “Word” segment, we read Romans 8:31–39 and focus on the certainty of salvation grounded in what Christ has done, not human effort, emphasizing that nothing in creation can separate believers from God’s love and that Christ intercedes for them amid suffering and doubt. 00:29 Back In The Studio 01:55 Episode 51/52 Milestone 03:40 Getting Comfortable On Camera 06:38 Podcast Speed Shenanigans 08:49 Adding Monthly Structure 10:31 Has The Mission Changed 18:22 Future Hopes And Reach 23:01 Tough Topics And Phrases 24:46 New Segment Tease 25:07 Podcast Listening Habits 26:05 Storytelling Podcasts 27:58 New Monthly Format 29:54 Study Bible Tools 32:48 Reading Romans Eight 34:49 Certainty of Salvation 41:41 Misused Sports Verses 45:31 Living in Assurance 49:19 Why This Passage 51:05 Closing ReflectionsThank you for joining us for another week gathered around the well that is Jesus! You can also find this week's episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/vtLUcPjKCEM and Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/desert-well/id1823028492! We will see you next week!

  7. Jun 19

    050: Keeping the Pointy End of the Stick Sharp: David Rufner on 1517, Gospel Mission, and Generosity

    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!

  8. Jun 12

    049: Back to Basics: Why the Creed and Lord’s Prayer Still Matter

    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!

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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
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lamb of God Las Vegas
  • Show Website
    Desert Well

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