During the past few weeks, my friend Justin and I have taken a hiatus from our Bible study on Titus. He took a mission trip to North Dakota, a place to which he has been returning for several years, and Windom. His grandfather also died. So we're working through that.

But I have been going to church pretty much every week, as usual.

My darling wife and I have switched from a family service (which we liked, because church wasn't complete without crying and yelling babies -- I'm totally serious) to the more traditional Lutheran service offered at the same time. 

This week, a hymn that I don't remember ever hearing struck a chord with me. I'm sure some of you know it -- "Let All Things Now Living." Here are the lyrics:

"Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who still guides us on to the end of our days.

"God's banners are o'er us, his light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into light.

"His law he enforces, the stars in their courses and sun in its orbit obediently shine; the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the deeps of the ocean proclaim him divine.

"We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing; with glad adoration a song let us raise till all things now living unite in thanksgiving: 'To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!'"

This hymn reminded me that all of the things God has created praise him, except us. We have a choice. But why would we choose not to bow to our creator? So many more powerful things than me -- stars, the sun, hills, mountains, rivers, fountains, the ocean -- obey a mighty God that commands they follow a path he's forged for them.

Why do I disobey? Why not submit to my creator's might and glory? Why do I have times when I'm purposely praiseless? To be honest, I don't remember the last time I said the word hosanna. Maybe that's because language has changed, but maybe it's because I need to change my heart.