HYMN: Born from Above into the Kingdom

One of the few benefits of being a pastor without a congregation to serve is that I get to hear other pastors preach from time to time. That can be a mixed blessing, because pastors often make the worst listeners when it comes to sermons. (I'm no exception. It's not so much that I critique; it's more that I find my mind wandering.) That being said, when I find a good preacher to listen to, not only is it edifying for the soul; as a writer, I find good sermons inspire me to write hymn texts. Pastor Rick Stuckwisch affects me that way, for example, so I find myself on his blog when I’m in a dry spell. 

I’ve been attending Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where God has placed the Reverend Paul Anderson. Pastor Anderson is a brilliant man and an excellent preacher. This past Sunday and then again this evening, he preached on John 3:1-17. Fed by the words and the Supper, I was inspired to write. The suggested tune is ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN, which is the tune for Lutheran Service Book hymn 694, “Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower.” 

And yes, I committed the cliche, the cardinal hymn writer's sin of rhyming "love" and "above." I do my best to avoid that when possible; we'll see if I can eliminate that in the next draft.

This is a rough first draft. As always, feedback is love.

Born from Above into the Kingdom

1. Born from above into the Kingdom;

Born from above: I’m God’s own child. 

I’m born of water and the Spirit,

No more my soul by sin defiled. 

Through faith in what I cannot see

Christ gives new life to me. 

2. Born from above in worded water,

Made new in that baptismal flood;

In bread and wine new life I’m given:

Christ’s perfect flesh and holy blood. 

These gifts the Father’s love reveal:

Christ’s blood the sign and seal. 

3. Born from above in absolution:

My pastor speaks Christ’s grace to me

Born from above in Gospel preaching:

The Word in flesh has made me free. 

I’m born again, born from above,

Through my Redeemer’s love. 

4. Lord, grant that I may come in daylight,

And may my faith be unashamed. 

Help me to make a good confession

And praise the Christ for whom I’m named. 

Now, newly born, dear Lord, I pray,

Renew me every day. 

98 98 86

ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN (LSB 694)

Lent 2a; John 3:1-17; New Life in Christ

HYMN: How Long, O Lord, Will You Forget

I am not particularly good at judging the merit of my own work. This is true across most aspects of my work as a writer. Or any of my work, for that matter, considering how I seem to be received by those whose responsibility it has been to be my greatest sources of feedback and support...but that's another matter. Anyway, I was thinking about my most recent hymn text, "How Long Will You Forget," which I posted not too long ago. It's not a bad text, as far as it goes, but it could be better. I decided to start over with the same base text, Psalm 13, and try a different meter. So I moved from a 66 77 77 scheme to Long Meter, which is 88 88. I went from 18 lines to 16, but it enabled me to emphasize some thoughts in a different way. The new text uses the tune WINDHAM, which is hymn 429 in Lutheran Service Book, "We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died."

Compare the two and let me know what you think. Feedback is love.

How Long, O Lord, Will You Forget

1. How long, O Lord, will You forget?

Your servant is by grief beset.

Your face from me is turned away.

My heart is anguished all the day.

2. As vengeful enemies rejoice, 

I long to hear Your wondrous voice.

In boundless grace be near to me.

Consider, Lord, and answer me.

3. Oh, silence every fearsome foe.

Preserve my life from death and woe.

I trust Your steadfast love, O Lord,

Revealed through Your most holy Word.

4. My Savior dear, Lord Jesus Christ,

Who for my sake was sacrificed,

Forever I will sing Your praise

For blessings shown through endless days. 

LM (88 88)

WINDHAM (LSB 429)

Psalm 13; Tribulation

HYMN: How Long Will You Forget?

Once again I find myself in the unexpected and sad situation of being a pastor without a congregation to serve. It's a long story, one I'm not exactly ready to tell. But after the axe fell, one of my pastor colleagues—thank God for faithful brothers who provided support, encouragement, and prayers in the midst of heartache—encouraged me to meditate upon Psalm 13 in my devotions. The benefit of considering King David's prayers in the midst of my own is that a fellow sinner dares to all but yell at God in the midst of difficulties he largely brought upon himself. It's not so much that it's right to be angry with God, but with David I can see how anger and frustration turn into acceptance, then hope, and finally joy.

Anyway, as I considered Psalm 13, an idea for a hymn version of the Psalm came to mind. What appears below bears little resemblance to that first idea, but the juices started to flow nonetheless. The suggested tune for now for this text, AUF MEINEN LIEBEN GOTT, is the tune for the beautiful hymn "In God, My Faithful God," hymn 745 in Lutheran Service Book. 

As always, feedback is love.

How Long Will You Forget?

1. How long will You forget?

Your servant is beset. 

Your face from me is taken. 

Am I to be forsaken?

My soul persists in anguish;

Apart from You, I languish. 

2. I long to hear Your voice

As enemies rejoice. 

Consider, Lord, and hear me!

In boundless grace be near me!

Oh, let me not be shaken. 

Let joy in me awaken. 

3. Your steadfast love I trust,

For You are true and just. 

O Christ, my faithful Savior,

Your praise I sing forever,

Before my foes confessing

Your bounty as my blessing. 

66 77 77

AUF MEINEN LIEBEN GOTT (LSB 745)

Psalm 13; Tribulation