A Confirmation Blessing

/ The Pastor

The following is a confirmation blessing I wrote in honor of my niece, Meara, who is professing her faith today. I had the privilege of baptizing her in 2004 (my second ever baptism) and now I am here in Minnesota to be part of her big day. I pray that God may work in her heart to bring glory to his name through her life.

Today you profess your faith,
In Jesus Christ our Lord.
May your light shine ever bright,
With him you are adored.

Stand firm and never back down,
Though Satan push against.
For God is your strong fortress,
Through Jesus he’s dispensed.

You are His beloved child,
Forever in His arms.
So don’t ever fear or fret,
With Him will come no harm.

So proclaim your faith boldly,
And never be ashamed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
You are forever claimed.

Moving

/ The Pastor

The following is my new article for The News Tribune (Tacoma, WA). It talks about our (Living Word Lutheran Church) move to our newly purchased building (our first building). We are very excited around here and can hardly wait to start serving the Kingdom in our new community.

I greatly dislike packing and moving. Can I get an Amen? Maintaining the status quo is so much easier and less painful, but in many cases, it has to be done and so you do it. Before you start, it doesn’t look too bad but as you get going it doesn’t seem like you are making any progress. Boxes pile up and then more and more items seem to just appear that needs to be packed. And then there is the moving part. Loading the trailer/vehicle and transporting, and then the unpacking. In the process of all of this there is often a cleaning out and throwing away as you discover items you don’t need. In the end, once everything is unpacked and settled, there is a transformation and a new beginning. The pain of the packing and moving is gone and now you enjoy the newness of where you are.

The congregation I serve, Living Word Lutheran Church, is now in the process of packing and moving to our new home on 269th Street East, just off Meridian in Graham. I am excited about our move, but I still need to pack and get it done. My back is already hurting just thinking about it. But I would never think or suggest that the pain is not worth it for I know, once we are settled, our new beginning will be off and running. A transformation of sorts will take place for we will never be the same again. You see, we are not really moving but rather planting a new church in Graham. New in so many ways and I can hardly wait to see what God is up to.

If you are in the area and looking for a new church home, come and check us out. We hope to be worshiping out there before Christmas. But don’t get me wrong, this congregation is not setting up a clubhouse that you must join, but rather we are setting up a mission center, a home base as it were, to advance the Kingdom of God in Graham. We are not looking for members but rather looking to create disciples for the Kingdom. After all, Jesus never commissioned the disciples to, Go therefore and make members of all nations. As Christians, we are to be about making disciples who make disciples and so on. Members of clubs/organizations come and go, but disciples of Jesus are forever.

So, with that mind set, I am excited about packing and moving, even though I will need a couple extra chiropractor visits after it is all done. I am excited about setting up our mission center and then going out into the community to witness our faith to people. Through it all, may God be glorified, praised and worshiped, through Christ Jesus our Lord. With that, can I get an Amen? Amen.

Befitting

/ The Pastor

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly. [Psalm 149:1 ESV]

Studying Psalm 149 with my midweek Bible study crew inspired me to write the following poem.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
You are awesome, indeed that’s true.
Your great power has broken through.
To make my heart completely new.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
Lead me now that I may review.
Jesus died – my days won’t be few.
Jesus lives – I am made holy new.

Praise is indeed befitting You.
Something that I can’t overdo.
My praise now is just a preview.
Your praise will not discontinue.

Level Ground

/ The Pastor

My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord .
Psalms 26:12 ESV

You have placed me on level ground, oh God, through Christ Jesus my Lord.
You have placed me on the firm foundation of Your Word.
You have given me hope beyond this life.
You have placed me upon the Rock.
And i give You thanks and praise – in the assembly and through my life.
Oh God, I honor and worship You,
On level ground.
This world proclaims a message that sits precariously on shaky ground.
It’s hope is false and death-ridden.
But You are my God and You alone, for through You i am on level ground.
With You,
I never feel like I’m running up hill.
I never feel like I’m spinning my wheels.
I never feel like I’m running into dead ends.
For with You i am on level ground.
And so I will praise You in the great assembly and I will praise You with my every breath.
I will praise You with my brothers and sisters, and I will praise You in the midst of the world.
Thank you for placing me on level ground through faith in Jesus Christ.
Thank you for saving me.
Thank you for holding my life.
Oh God I praise You –
On level ground.
Amen!

Reformation Praise

/ The Pastor

On this Reformation Sunday, I give thanks to God for raising up Martin Luther and the other Reformers to show us the truth of the Gospel – that we are not saved by/through works of the Law, but apart from the Law through the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are saved by Faith alone in Christ alone by God’s grace alone as revealed in the Word alone all to the glory of God alone. And so let pray together and sign God’s unending praise.

It is indeed right and our pleasure to give thanks and praise to You, oh God, our Creator and Redeemer. We are sinful creatures who only want to glorify ourselves – looking out for number one – but through the Law You have convicted us and showed us how we fall short. But through Jesus, You saved us through his death and resurrection. And now, through faith in him, You have given us hope. How can one not be excited about this? How can one not rise up and praise You? How can one not live out loud, proclaiming Your glory through word and deed? And so we do just that by joining with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven in singing Your unending praise…

A Reformation Poem

/ The Pastor

The 5 Solas of the Reformation are highlighted in bold in this poem. They are important statements in understanding the Good News of Jesus Christ as proclaimed in Scripture. The Gospel is from God alone, and praise be to God for that, otherwise we would surely mess it up and condemn ourselves.

Salvation from God was needed by me.
A sinner i am, i can’t disagree.
A Savior i needed, that’s my decree.
Listen right now and i’ll share how i’m free.

God’s grace alone is where it starts,
His love is free straight from His heart.
Through faith alone He will never depart.
For in Christ alone i have a new start.

So where’s this news? Well, it’s God’s Word alone.
It is there it says your sins He atones.
Jesus died and rose, he now sits enthroned.
Through faith alone you will ever be known.

Confess your sins and admit you need Him.
And forgiveness is yours way to the brim.
His light will shine and never grow dim.
And in His great love you will always swim.

Written to the glory of God alone.

Steadfast

/ The Pastor

Sunday, October 27 is Reformation Sunday. This is a day when we recognize a world-changing movement that God orchestrated through a group of ordinary and sinful men – most notably Martin Luther. Five hundred years later, many continue this “movement” which is nothing more than faithfulness to the Word of God. I pray every day that I remain faithful and stay true to the Word – not striving to tickle itching ears with a false gospel. This world needs scripture faithfulness in the midst of a plethora of false prophets. May I never be tempted to join the crowd.

So, God willing and through His Holy Spirit, I will continue in the footsteps of those first Reformers. The following is a prayer that I wrote that we will use as the Prayer of the Day on Reformation Sunday. May I always be faithful. To God be the glory. Amen.

Holy God, You have saved us by Your grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. Keep us steadfast in Your Word that we would live to Your glory. May we not be content with the status quo but, using the example of the Reformers, may we live out loud in the freedom that we have through the Gospel and stand strong in the mighty fortress that is You. To You be the glory, through Christ Jesus our Lord in union with the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.

My Mighty Fortress

/ The Pastor

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[Psalms 46:1 ESV]

Oh my Mighty Fortress,
I wake this morning in peace,
For You are my Refuge and Strength.
You are my very present help in trouble.
No matter the size,
You are my Defender.
My skin may be thus destroyed but so be it –
You hold my life.
My name my be sullied and dragged through the mud but so be it –
You have given me Your family name through Jesus.
My body may be weak and in pain but so be it –
For Your grace is sufficient for me.
The powers that be may roar and show their teeth but so be it –
You are my Shepherd.
The very earth may crumble and fall a way but so be it –
I am secure in You.
My Mighty Fortress, my God,
I praise You that You are my Refuge and Strength for it gives me courage to go forth into this day.
Affliction may torment me but You are my Life, Fortress and God.
And thus I shall live forever, in peace, with You.
Thank you, God, for being my Mighty Fortress.
Amen.

Yes, Yes, YES

/ The Pastor

WOW, this one just flew through my fingers and onto the keyboard. No other words of introduction. So i’m just going to leave this right here. To God be the glory!

Oh yes, yes, YES! it is right and it is our joy to give You thanks and praise, oh God. You are our mighty Rock and Foundation, our Strong Fortress and Shelter, our Father who has redeemed us through Jesus Christ. You are our Life. Enliven us with Your Spirit that joy may spill forth from our beings and soak all those around us with Your love. May no one be missed. May we not show partiality but run to the lost and outcast. May we embrace our enemies and those difficult to love. May we beam with delight, so much so, that people are blinded and see nothing but Your glory. We love You and worship You, oh God, and thus we join with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven in singing Your unending praise.

My King

/ The Pastor

As I survey our current political scene, I need to remind myself over and over again that God is in control. No matter who holds elected office, God’s plans will not be thwarted. Yes, Satan is running wild, deceiving and leading many away but he is not king. There is only one King and He reigns forever. Let the politicians – the kings of this world – fight it out, but you, let’s praise our Father and King…

Hear my praise as i rise this morn,
oh God my Father and King.
You are
Creator,
Sustainer,
and Redeemer of my soul.
You are the One who i adore.
There is none other worthy of praise,
for You are the One who reigns.
The kings of this world vie for position,
striving for their honor to be conveyed.
But i’m not going to follow the false kings,
them i refuse to raise up.
They lead for their glory and not for You.
Their praise i refuse to sing.
For You are my King who forever reigns.
It’s Your praises that i want to proclaim.
You and You alone are worthy, oh God,
For in the end, You are the King who remains.
So receive my praise as i rise this morn,
Your mighty acts are to numerous to name.
You have saved me through Jesus Christ my Lord,
And through him i’ve been reborn.