Desert Well

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...

This week on 'Desert Well' we discuss and read the 1517 article “No One Builds Alone: Why the Future of Lutheranism Must Be Built Together” by Russ Lackey and Mark Mattes. We summarize its central claim that the church is not renewed by a lone “hero” pastor or corporate-style strategy, but when Christ’s body acts like a body: pastors rightly preach and administer the sacraments, while layp...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 tes...

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,...

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...

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 presch...

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 dis...

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 Alexand...

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...

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 plan...

The conversation introduces an upcoming post-Easter sermon series, “The Five Myths of Stewardship,” aiming to shift from a law-heavy “you must” approach to a more gospel-centered perspective. Key ideas include living in a “received world” where everything belongs to God, stewardship extending beyond money to time, talents, possessions, home, food, and children, and the clarification that the Bible...

Today we have set up a more natural on-camera conversation and as we discuss Thomas Anderson’s Christianity Today article “Urgency Is Not Faithfulness,” tying it to Holy Week and Christian discipleship. We reflect on internet-driven pressure for churches and pastors to issue immediate statements, noting how words are dissected for what they omit, and how anxiety spreads and elevates reactive voice...

This week on 'Desert Well Podcast', we reflect on coming to faith, evidence and apologetics (including the book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, biblical archaeology via Expedition Bible, and visiting Israel), and share personal stories of faith formation without a single dramatic conversion moment. We explore obstacles that keep people from faith—personal pain and anger at God,...

In this episode, we have special guest Neil Grepke joining us as we discuss why God does not expect people to believeblindly and why asking “why” is not a problem. We acknowledge that some Christian doctrines, such as the Trinity, cannot be proven with scientific evidence and still require faith. At the same time, we argue that in today’sinternet culture, appeals like “because the Bible says so” a...

Today Jared and Derek discuss the tension between Jesus’ promises and lived reality, sparked by a question about praying for peace amid conflict in the Middle East. They explore what Jesus means by giving peace, emphasizing internal peace in Christ while acknowledging that wars and unrest will persist until Jesus returns, and they encourage praying with specificity while trusting God’s timing. The...

In this episode, we discuss relational wellness as part of a broader wellness focus, reflecting on loneliness and theneed for three kinds of connection: an intimate relationship, close friends, and a community of belonging. Derek shares how his closest friendships formed through proximity and shared interests, but were sustained by trust,reciprocity, and meaningful conversation, including examples...

Today we return with another ‘Desert Well’ conversation around Jesus, reflecting on the humbling start of Lent after Ash Wednesday. We will connect the topic to widespread anxiety in both youth and adults, then discuss a Concordia Journal transcript from Concordia Seminary St. Louis’ “Tangible” podcast featuring Dr. Rick Mars and his work on Christ-centered Christian counseling. We explore common...

In this episode, we gather around the well of Jesus to discussimportant matters of faith, ministry, and mental health. Joined by Ryan Strehlow, an eighth-grade counselor at Faith Lutheran Middle School in Las Vegas, we delve into his unique journey from being a Director of Christian Education to a school counselor. Ryan shares his inspiring and challengingexperiences, the evolving role of school c...

Join us as we gather around the well for another heartfeltdiscussion. This episode dives deep into the significance of Lent, exploring its history, traditions, and personal practices. We reflect on how Lent prepares us for Easter by fostering a spirit of repentance, self-denial, and spiritual growth. We also share some creative ways to observe Lent and answerquestions on fasting and its purpose. W...

In this episode of the Desert Well Podcast, we explore theintersection of faith and technology. Join us as we gather around the well that is Jesus to discuss how Christians can think about and use technology in their daily lives. We delve into the historical context of technology in the church,talk about digital media consumption, and consider how technology can both positively and negatively infl...

In this episode of the Desert Well Podcast, we discuss the importance of gathering around Jesus and drinking deeply from His good news. We cover a range of topics, starting with the recent voters meeting where strategic planning for the years 2026 and beyond was discussed. We delveinto the concepts of viability and opportunity, sharing insights from ministry executive Jim Henkel. Our conversation...

Join us as we celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week in this special episode! Discover the rich heritage and unique activities that make this event a highlight for students and teachers alike. We'll explore the joy of free dress days, daily devotion times, and a grand baptism chapel. Learnabout the historical importance of Lutheran schools, and hear from Mr. Derek Blessing about how our scho...