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O for a hymn that I can sing,
That I have sung before!
A tune within a narrow range
And words I can ignore!

If it were written past 1910,
Or in a minor key.
‘Tis not the will of Mighty God
That it be sung by me!

Some folks feel that way. They have a strong preference for a certain style of songs to be used in worship. Someone shared these letters written to pastors with me a while back.

Letter #1:

“I am no music scholar, but I feel I know appropriate church music when I hear it. Last Sunday’s new hymn – if you can call it that – sounded like a sentimental love ballad one would expect to hear crooned in a saloon. If you insist on exposing us to rubbish like this – in God’s house! – don’t be surprised if many of the faithful look for a new place to worship. The hymns we grew up with are all we need.”

Letter #2:

“Was it the organist’s idea or yours that our peaceful worship service was shattered by that new hymn last Sunday? The music was sacrilegious; something one would expect to hear in a den of iniquity, not a church! Don’t expect me even to attempt to sing it next time!”

Letter #3

“What is wrong with the inspiring hymns with which we grew up? When I go to church, it is to worship God, not to be distracted with learning a new hymn. Last Sunday’s was particularly unnerving. The tune was un-singable and the new harmonies were quite distorting.”

The first letter was written in 1865 about the hymn “Just As I Am.” The second letter was written in 1874 about “I Love to Tell the Story.” Letter #3 was written to a pastor in 1890 about the hymn “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.”

The more things change, the more they remain the same. I see posts on social media saying we don’t need anything other than the hymnbook. What do you think about the changing musical styles in church? We can all have our musical preferences. Nothing wrong with that. But dismissing the worship of others for not reason but “you don’t like it” does not seem very Christ-like to me.

Isaac Watts, considered the Father of English Hymnody, created a storm of controversy in the early years of the 18th Century when he started writing “human centered” songs like… “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”!

I have shared many times that I appreciate a wide variety of music genres. I especially appreciate people today who are sharing Scriptural truths through their musical compositions.

Six times in the Psalms it speaks of singing NEW SONGS to the Lord (33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1). Similar verses are also in Isaiah and Revelation. I pray that the church will continue to do just that until our Lord returns.

I treasure and value the rich musical tradition of Christianity. I am also grateful for those who are using their gifts and talents to produce new songs of faith and hope for believers today. As long as the songs are sharing the truth of God’s Word, pointing people to Jesus as the only source and hope of forgiveness and life everlasting, speaking of His death to pay for sin and His victory over death for everyone, what exactly is the problem?

Daily chapel services were part of my life as a student at Concordia Lutheran College in Austin. I still remember a line from one of Professor Richard Dinda’s sermons as we entered another Lenten season. He said, “We now find ourselves in the pits of the church year.”

I think many of us can relate to that sentiment. Lent is a sober and somber time of reflection that many people would just as soon skip and get on to Easter. But hold on for a second. We need this reminder. Lent points us to our own sin as the reason for Jesus coming to this world. Lent tells you Jesus loved you enough to pay for your filth and guilt that would keep you out of heaven. Lent is an exposition of just how vast God’s love for you is. That love was shown in Jesus’ life, suffering and death to ensure you could be forgiven.

I was in that mindset many years ago when God led me to write the following song. I hope the lyrics will help you through your Lenten journey this year.

Lenten Wonder

I’ve often wondered, Lord, at all that you’ve done
Into this world of sin you sent your Son.
And even stranger, Lord, you did this for me:
You sent your Son to Calvary.

Jesus the Lamb of God, He took my pain,
The one who knew no sin for sinners has been slain.

 I’ve often wondered, Lord, oh, can it be true,
That a poor wretch like me could be loved by you?
Love that could not be earned gave this gift free:
You sent your Son to Calvary

The nails, the cross, the spear, wounds that He bore,
He suffered these that I might live forevermore

I thank and praise you, Lord, that through faith I’m saved
To sin and death I am no longer enslaved
Jesus who went to die on Calvary He rose again in victory.

I thank and praise you, Lord, that by grace I’m saved
Of sin and death I am no longer afraid
Jesus who went to die on Calvary He rose again in victory.

In the Summer of 1989, I was on a mountain side outside of Denver with our Youth Group. We were a part of the LCMS National Youth Gathering “Blessed in the Journey.” As we were sitting in an outdoor amphitheater called “Red Rocks” waiting for a concert to start, a hailstorm broke out. There were only two exits to the amphitheater, and one road down the mountain. It was awful. People were screaming and running. As soon as I saw what was happening, I gathered our group, told them all to hold hands and stay connected. We huddled together to keep warm. Ambulances coming up for those seriously injured blocked the only road out, so we were standing in the cold night air, soaking wet. After several miserable hours, we were finally able to start loading people on buses. Our group got split up at that point. Two of them were taken to hospitals for hypothermia. I stayed until all the buses were loaded, sending Cheryl back with the rest of the kids. It didn’t really hit me how serious and life-threatening it had all been until I had rounded up the kids from the hospitals and everyone was safely back at our hotel.

We had a service at our Church a few months later that the Youth led, sharing with the congregation their experiences at the Youth Gathering. The young man who talked about that night said, “Pastor was one tough dude. He took control and kept us all safe.” That made me feel pretty good. I had acted bravely, with courage.

In the Summer of 1995, I was with my family in Colorado. My in-laws have a Cabin near Lake City. The picture at the bottom of my website is taken from the front porch of that place. We went down into Lake City one day to do some shopping. A lady in one of the shops, which was actually the front room of her house, was talking with my oldest daughter about churches and mentioned that she had been raised a Lutheran. Rachel told her I was a Lutheran pastor and she immediately told me that she was from the old Augustana Synod of the Lutheran Church, but was part of the Presbyterian Church in Lake City because that was all there was. “Besides,” she said, “if it weren’t for Luther, we’d all still be Catholic.” I wasn’t sure of the point she was trying to make, so I just smiled and said, “Well, maybe so.”

I’m not sure what that lady heard when I said that, but I had no sooner said those words than she lit into me like I’d just killed her cat. “Who do you think you are? You’re no better than us? Why do you think you’re any different? I’m right, you know I am.” and so on, her voice getting higher and sharper the longer she went. My first thought was, “I’m on vacation. I don’t need this!” and then I thought, “Does she really think this will get me to buy something here?” As soon as she would let me speak, I tried to find a common ground, assuring her that I believed that anyone who trusted in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting would be saved. After all, that is what the Bible says. She looked at me kind of cross-ways, I wished her a nice day and hurried out of there.

As I thought about it later, I wondered where her rage came from, but I also wondered why I was so eager to get away from there. It was a far cry from the approach Luther took to the opposition he faced: HERE I STAND. It is so much easier to back down or make a quick exit or to never even assert yourself to begin with. In that situation, I didn’t display courage when I needed to.

…in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… 1 Peter 3:15

I was caught off guard. I gave an answer, but I wasn’t courageous about it.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13

I was glad I displayed courage at Red Rocks. I asked God to help me display the same kind of courage in being His witness.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

I try my best to be ready and prepared to tell others about my Savior. And I know He will be there to help me as the opportunities arise.

The Gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent was the Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). We heard how He combated the temptations that came His way: He used the Word of God. Satan tried to throw some of those words back in His face, but Jesus did not fall for that twisting of the meaning of Scripture. He was steadfast and faithful to His mission of living a perfect life for us, which He would then offer as the payment for the sins of the world.

While three temptations are recorded here, there could have been more. We all know from our own experience that Satan is relentless in His attacks. That last verse of that Gospel reading reminds us of that.

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13)

There would be more temptations directed at Jesus. Daily. Just like we are constantly bombarded. Satan is always looking for the “opportune time” when he thinks you will be most susceptible.

I don’t sleep well. I haven’t for almost 30 years. While I am able to fall asleep quickly, I only sleep a couple of hours before I am awake again. Sometimes I am able to fall asleep again quickly, but more often than not I am awake for an hour or more before I get some more rest. And yes, I’ve been to doctors and had sleep studies and tried their recommendations, but nothing has helped. It have accepted it as a reality in my life.

The reason I mention this is that I am often awake during the time when it is dark. And I can tell you that the Prince of Darkness is an accurate title. He is very busy at night. All kinds of temptations come when I am unable to sleep, often times they assault me from multiple directions at once.

I have discovered that following the example of Jesus when He was tempted actually works! I speak God’s Word to the devil. I pray for God’s help as Jesus did in the Garden. I sing hymns and spiritual songs – in my head, not out loud, because Cheryl is still sleeping. Satan does not give up, but I have the power to resist every temptation he throws at me. That may sound arrogant, but it is not. I am not referring to my own power, but the power of God that He makes available to followers of Jesus.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God is faithful. He provides the way out, the power to resist.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14–16)

His mercy and grace help us, empower us, to resist temptation.

It even works in the daytime. Give it a try the next time you are tempted.

A few days ago we heard about a tornado going through Iowa. Some friends of mine live in that area and posted pictures of the storm as it was happening. Pictures of the aftermath reveal the devastation. I’ve seen it up close. Over the years I have helped clean up after tornados in Oklahoma and North Texas. I have also helped with clean up and rebuilding after Katrina, the flooding from Harvey in Southeast Texas, and then after the floods in Nebraska a few years later. Most recently, right after I retired, Cheryl and I went to Sulphur, Louisiana to help clean up after Hurricanes Laura and Delta. We were there for two weeks.

That was when I met the folks from the Trinity Lutheran in Tyler, Texas Disaster Response Team. What an awesome group. Their mission is to get to disaster sites as quickly as possible, usually within 48 hours, to start helping and caring. Their primary focus is chainsaw work/tree removal. They cut up downed trees or dangerous standing trees and get them out of the way so the other clean up and recovery can begin. See how they describe themselves here:   https://bit.ly/3vMY18K

Last week I went with them to build a couple of Disaster Response Camps they mentioned in #2. It will speed things up the next time they need to respond after a hurricane.

By the way, every Lutheran Disaster Response Team I have been a part of does this as a gift, at no cost to those whose lives have been turned upside down by disaster. Volunteers pay their expenses to get there and back. It is a way for us to be the hands and feet and arms and ears of Jesus to those people. It also gives us the chance to tell them why we are doing it. We are sharing to love of God in Christ with our labors. We tell them about our Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us all. He showed us how to be a servant to others, and we are trying to follow His example.

Sometimes you might think there is nothing you can do, or that your little bit won’t make a difference. One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference to that one.”

If you have not been part of a disaster response team, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. Do so in response to what Jesus said in that parable about the End Times:

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

The kindness we show by serving others gives us the chance to share the Good News with them. And that is something they all need to hear.

Hark! the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers thee;
Who will answer, gladly, saying, “Here am I, send me, send me?”

 If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked, with the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.

If you cannot be a watchman, Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven, Off’ring life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your bounties You can do what God demands;
You can be like faithful Aaron, Holding up the prophet’s hands.

Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,”
While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!”

I told a story about some of my grandchildren yesterday, my youngest daughter’s two kids. My middle daughter also has two children, and her husband brought three daughters with him into our family, so we have seven grandchildren in all. I won’t be telling stories about all seven, but I do want to share an ongoing drama with our youngest granddaughter, Micah.

Even though they live in Colorado, we get to see her almost daily using video chat. When Micah was about a year and a half, she started calling me “Papa.” She recognized me on the phone and would say “Hi, Papa!” It kind of melts my heart. It is a wonderful thing. The drama is her steadfast refusal to call Cheryl “grandma.”

We went up to their house for her second birthday. The entire time we were there, Cheryl was working on her, trying to get her to say “grandma.” She thinks she might have said it one time, but she still refuses to call her that. At one point, my daughter pointed to Cheryl and asked Micah, “Who is that?”  Her response: “No Papa!”

Three months later, it continues. Last week I went to Florida with a group to construct some Disaster Response camps for future deployments of volunteers as needed (More about that tomorrow). Because I would be gone all week, Cheryl flew up to Colorado to be with Micah and her family. She comes home today, and Micah has still not called her “grandma.”

I know that is disappointing to my wife. She has always loved children. Her face lights up when she gets to be with her grands, who she calls her “littles.” She does not love Micah any less than the others, but longs for Micah to acknowledge her for who she is.

That made me think of how it must grieve and hurt our heavenly Father when the children he loves so dearly will not acknowledge or come to him. That is most of the people in the world! Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior sent for all people refuse to recognize the Father for who He is.

“He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.” John 5:23

The word translated as “honor” in this passage can also mean “recognition.” They refuse to recognize that Jesus and the Father (along with the Holy Spirit) are the one true God. This is devastating for a God who loves the world and wants everyone to know and come to Him.

“[God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

Jesus made that point repeatedly. How tragic that even God’s chosen people, through whom the Savior would come into this world, rejected Him.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37

It is not simply that God wants people to call Him “Father.” Saying the word is not enough. He wants people to believe that He is their Father, who wants them to be in a loving relationship with Him now and forever. He made that possible by sending Jesus to be our substitute and take the punishment our sins deserve. Faith in Him receives the forgiveness and life and salvation He earned for you.

What can you do to help others see their heavenly Father for who He is?