Rules

"The Lord warns them, he terrifies them with his anger," Psalm 2:5.

Whom does the Lord terrify? Kings and rulers and their world counselors. How does the Lord terrify? With his anger. What causes the Lord's anger? Their persistent rebellion against God and his chosen king. Indeed. God has chosen a king for his eternal kingdom. Here's what God said to his king: You are my son; today I have begotten you. (Yes, that's what he told him.) God has given to his messiah king an inheritance: the peoples of earth from beginning to end. So, God warns earth's leaders: Show your loyalty to his son, or else be destroyed. And, God promises, Whoever puts their trust in him for protection will be happy. Sky kingdom rules.

We meet a brother or sister today and encourage each other to keep trust with Christ. And, together, we give thanks for his eternal guidance.

Talking

"Jehovah God is in his holy temple," Habakkuk 2:20.

So. Thus. Ergo. Therefore. World! Talking to you, World! World, keep silence in his presence! World, you're talking too much. Talking too much to your lifeless creations. Talking too much to your made plans. Talking too much to your handicrafts. Talking too much to your factory-built stuff. Trying to talk your artifice into becoming intelligent. Trying to make your machines live. Lining them with pretty rocks to think they're beautiful. But there's no breath in any of it. So, World, hush! Stop the ceaseless chatter! Be silent! God, the God who creates stuff from nothing, God who creates life from dead dust, the one and only, the living God's in his holy temple.

When we see a brother or sister today, we pause in tranquil silence to honor him in whom alone dwells immortality. And, together, we bow quietly in praise to God, unique author of life.

Keeps

"If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed," John 8:36.

Who is this son who sets free? Jesus, God's son. From what does he set free? From slavery to sin. Whom does he set free? You. That is, whoever abides in his word. That is, whoever believes in the son. That is, whoever will know the truth. So, whoever believes in him, abides in him, comes to know the truth, these are they who become Jesus' true followers. The truth? What truth? The truth that Jesus came from God, the truth that God sent Jesus, that Jesus honors God, that Jesus keeps God's word. That before Abraham existed, Jesus is. That's the liberating truth. Jesus sets free, indeed. Free to life. Sky kingdom.

When we see a brother or sister today, we remind each other that the Son of God has set us free. And, together, we give thanks that in keeping Jesus' word we will not experience death forever.

Outflowing

"We have all received from his fullness," John 1:16.

From whose fullness? From the fullness of God's son. Fullness of God's Word. From the Word that became a human being. What was the fullness that filled him? Grace. Yes. And truth. Grace and truth. Who has received? We have. (We who? we who received him.) What did we receive from the fullness of God's son? Grace. What did we receive from the Word that became human? Grace upon grace. Generosity! and more generosity. Moses gave the Law. But grace and truth came by ... Yes, that's the real deal ... grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. God's son. God's Word. Word that became human.

When we meet a brother or sister today, we joy in the overflow of God's generosity. And, together, we give thanks for his immeasurable grace outflowing into the healing of our souls.

Crowned

"In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son," Hebrews 1:2.

Who spoke? God. When? In these days. These last days. To whom did God speak? To us. How did God speak to us? Through his son. Who's his son? The heir of everything. Who's his son? The one through whom he created the world. Who's his son? The brightness of God's glory. Who's his son? The one who bears the exact image of God. Who's his son? The one who holds up everything by his powerful word. Who's his son? The one who cleaned up sins. Who's his son? The one who sat down at God's right hand. Who's his son? The one who's far superior to angels. Who's his son? The one to whom God is father. Who's his son? Jesus. The one crowned with glory and honor.

As we meet with a brother or sister today, we listen with ever greater attention to his message of our salvation. And, together, we give deeply respectful thanksgiving to God who extended to us grace.

Feet

"How beautiful are the feet of him who, over the mountains, brings good news," Isaiah 52:7.

In that age news got from here to there by means of an actual human being, boots on the ground. The messenger walked, ran, traversed, suffered dusty roads over mountain passes. And if the news he brought heralded hope and good news for the eagerly awaiting community, well, then, how beautiful the man's endeavor to put out the good news, how beautiful the pierced feet that carried him! So, for a people in the dark, who despaired of safety, who saw no hope for life, suddenly to hear: Your God reigns! Ah, what joy! What singing! What comfort! What redemption! Everyone on earth will see the salvation of our God.

We visit with a brother or sister today and share the joy of good news: Our God reigns! And, together, we give deepest thanksgiving to God for his messenger, Jesus, his Christ.

Images

"The dragon stood before the woman who was giving birth to a baby so that he might eat her child as soon as he was born," Revelation 12:4.

A lot of images flood our minds concerning the birth of Christ, some of them straight from the Word, others developed over years of acculturation. A favorite image: a golden lit three-sided shed, strewn with hay, mom and dad looking into a manger, a deep-blue starry night sky in the background, words of peace. Quiet moments of wonder. Luke's gospel account of Jesus' birth lends itself easily to that picture. John gives a larger setting for that wondrous event. War in the sky. Life and death struggle. God's mighty angels in pitched battle beating down the dragon out of the sky. In the midst of the war, at the child's birth, that mighty army paused to declare God's glory. They announced peace for people who pleased God. Then battle continues. Sky kingdom.

As we visit with a brother or sister meditatively today, we remember Jesus came to yield his life in redemption for our sins. And, together, we marvel that he should come into this world a baby, so dependent on mom and dad.

Father

"When the time was just right, God sent out his son, born by a woman," Galatians 4:4.

So, the discussion concerned slavery to the elementals of this world. That is, slavery to human passions, to human vengeance, to human fates decreed by arbitrary gods, indeed, to life-long slavery to the fear of death. Slavery to the god of this world. So, the discussion concerned human redemption. God's redemption. Buying back pawned-off junk. Redeeming chattel into children. Children of God. Who call him, Abba. Father. Yes, that's what they were talking about. Redemption from slavery to freedom of the glory of the children of God. God did it. With his son. Jesus. Born from a woman.

We meet with a brother or sister today at the manger in wonder of God's redemption. And, together, we worship God alone, creator of the universe, and father of birthed-again human beings.

Responsible

"Joseph planned to divorce her," Matthew 1:19.

They had to get married. (Remember that old phrase? It implied she, an unmarried woman, got pregnant and that he, the responsible man, must marry her so that their child would have full parental protections. Plus, he made her an honest woman, and, she made him a righteous man.) What a mess! Unmarried mother-to-be. Jilted lover. Troubled nights. Divorce plans. As they wander, the baby finally comes, but they've got no home. And then, in the middle of the night, in their king's wholesale slaughter of little boys, they run for their lives. Strangers in a foreign land. Unsettled. End up unknowns in a backwater town with a passel of kids. Yes. Welcome to our world, baby Jesus! A violent, dangerous, messy one. And God planned to make out these broken humans a peaceable kingdom fit for the heavens.

We visit with a brother or sister today, overjoyed, amazed at God's plan for redemption. And, together, we kneel, humbly thankful for grace in time of our deep need.

Declared

"The Good News is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord," Romans 1:3.

It's weird, but consider: Who can name any one of their many ancestors living a thousand years ago? Well, even a millennium before Jesus was born, God gave prophets his promises of good news to come. They wrote down these promises in the sacred writings (the Bible). In that good news, God promised that a descendant of King David would be his own son. That sacred record lists the descendants' line to Jesus. The good news heralded God's grace to produce in humans faithful obedience to God in Jesus Christ. But how to know he's his son? Accordingly, the Holy Spirit declared it. When? when Jesus rose powerfully alive from the place where dead people rot. Life! Sky kingdom.

We wander with a brother or sister today and wonder at God's amazing purpose in the gospel. And, together, we give awed thanksgiving for that child recipient, on our behalf, of God's great promises.

Immanuel

"The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son and she will name him Immanuel," Isaiah 7:14.

God gave that message to Ahaz, king of Judah, more than 700 years before Jesus was born. Through Isaiah the prophet, it served as a sign of God's promise that the king's enemies would disappear. How did it work? A maiden, at that moment yet a virgin, would eventually conceive a child (she likely became the prophet's wife). After giving him birth, but before her boy Immanuel matured enough to choose right over wrong, Ahaz' enemies were gone. The mother and her toddler testified to God's faithfulness. (Fast forward seven centuries). Matthew, a Jew, told that the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary, a virgin, before she had relations with her husband. Matthew said this fully completed what Isaiah had said so long beforehand. God with us.

We meet with a brother or sister today and marvel together at God's patient presence with us through the centuries. And, together, we join God's mighty army in praise for his steadfast love.

Being

"I will sing praises to my God as long as I have my being," Psalm 146:2.

O God, your help becomes our blessing! Hoping in you confirms your blessing! You made the skies and the earth and the sea. You keep faith forever! You bring justice to wronged people. You feed the hungry. You set captives free. You give sight. You lift up. You love people who do right. You watch out for migrants. You support widows and orphans. You bring bad guys to ruin. You reign forever! You reign everlasting. Praise you, O God!

We meet with a brother or sister today, and we praise our Lord in anticipation of his return. Together, we say, Thank you, Lord! Thank you for coming back to bring us home!

Metamorphosis

"Our homeland is in the skies from which we are waiting for the Savior," Philippians 3:20.

We're waiting for the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, to come from the skies. That's what we're doing right now. Waiting for him. Our home is otherworldly. This world, these human boundaries - not our home. Our commonwealth rests upward. Our citizenship calls upward. Eyes look up into the skies awaiting Jesus. Metamorphosis: He will transform our dull bodies to share in the glorious brightness of his own body. Yes, we wait for him to come and exercise his astonishing power over all nature. Sky kingdom.

When we pray with a brother or sister today, we lift our eyes up expectantly into the skies. And, together, unshaken by earth's passing troubles, we give thanks joyfully for salvation sure to come.

Rejoice

"The Lord is coming soon, don't worry about anything," Philippians 4:5f.

Don't worry. Be happy. But how can we be happy in a world where wars continue mercilessly? How can we not worry when children get abused? How can we sing songs of Zion in a foreign land? How, when families fall apart? How, when black and white boys don't play together well at all? How, when everybody's mad at everybody else who's got it made but they themselves don't get any privileges and have to work hard for what they got? Lord, do you have any idea, any idea at all, what's it like down here?! What Jesus said, when he was down here, when the nails hammered through his hands: Father, forgive them, they don't know. So. Here's how (he said): Set our minds on things above, where Christ is right now. He's our real life. When he appears, we will too. In glory.

We meet with a brother or sister today on our knees at Jesus' feet and yield all our anxiety into his scarred hands. And, together, we rejoice trusting he's coming soon.

Smallest

"No one greater than John the Baptizer has ever lived," Matthew 11:11.

Oh, yeah? Says who? Jesus. Oh. ok. So, what made him so great? All the Prophets and the Law prophesied to this point, that Elijah would come. (Elijah?? apparently, Yes.) The prophet Elijah would come just before the great and awesome Day of the Lord came. Elijah would heal broken relationships in preparation for the Lord's coming. Now, when that Day came all the bad guys would be burned away. All the good guys who feared the Lord would run free and happy. Then, Jesus said: John is the Elijah of those prophecies. (So that's why John's so great.) And then, Jesus said: Yet the smallest person in the sky kingdom is greater than John.

When we see a brother or sister today, we see a commoner made great by Jesus' sacrifice. And, together, we give joyful thanks for our secured inheritance in the kingdom of our Lord, of our Savior.

Hear

"Persevere until the Lord's arrival," James 5:7.

James incontrovertibly asserts the Lord will appear. That's the fundamental fact. A fact not yet realized, but a real fact. In fact, says the Good Book, the Lord keeps getting closer. Indeed, the Maker of the skies and earth has fixed a day on which he will judge the world - and the Judge stands at the door. Right now. That close. So. What do we do as we await his advent? Be patient. Persevere. Endure. Be steadfast. Don't complain about each other. Instead, strengthen each other's hearts. Hear about the suffering and patient endurance of the Lord's bygone prophets. And recognize the Lord has a very tender heart and overflows with mercy.

When we meet today with a brother or sister, we encourage each other to press on in the joy of Jesus' soon appearing. And, together, we give thanks for God's mercy and assurance of forever life with him.

Preached

"Then the blind people will see again and the deaf will hear," Isaiah 35:5.

When? O when, Lord? When crippled people skip like deer. When those who can't talk shout with joy. When? When God comes in glory and majesty and saves. And punishes his enemies. When? When the highway of holiness opens up. When? When that road belongs to the redeemed who walk there. When? When the unclean may not get on it. But when is that? When the message is proclaimed. When the word is preached to those with anxious hearts: Be strong!; Fear not!; God will come! When the singing ransomed walk on that road to forever joy. No sorrow. No sighing. Sky kingdom.

We meet today with a brother or sister looking at Jesus, hearing his word. And, skipping together on the Jesus road, we shout joyfully: Thank you, God, for salvation!

Sate

"I thirst for the living God," Psalm 42:2.

Just like a deer thirsts for a stream of water, we thirst for you, O God! Our tears have flowed. People even asked us if you're there! We speak from broken hearts. We used to sing songs of praise. But now sadness fills us. So many troubles overwhelm. Yet. Yet. Yet, we will remember you, anyway. We choose to put our hope in you. We choose it. We choose to praise you, anyway. You, our savior, our God. Why do we stay sad? Why so upset? You do indeed show your true love daily. So, at night we will, yes, we will sing. We will pray to you, O living God!

As we meet with a brother or sister today in the midst of life's struggles, we turn eyes toward God. And, together, we give thanks for hope that his faithfulness will sate our thirst completely.

Style

"I will build my church," Matthew 16:18.

Who's talking? Jesus. What's he planning to build? His church. So. Walking around some town, we might see a building of a particular style and say: That's a church. Or, see a different structure and say: That's a synagogue. Or, yet again another and say: That's a mosque. Or, one more time, another style and say: That's a pagoda. And so on. That's not what Jesus was talking about. No. Not a church. He spoke of a group of people, of an assembly of human beings, of a gathering of earthlings, of a congregation of congregated persons. These all would have one commonality (and it wasn't what the building looked like!). They had confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God. They had subjected themselves individually and freely to Jesus as his subjects in his kingdom. Sky kingdom.

In hope, we visit today with a brother or sister confessing our common Lord, living parts of his church. And in his kingdom together, we praise our God for his mercy and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Farmer

"The good seed is the children of the kingdom," Matthew 13:38.

When Jesus spoke of farmers planting seed in fields, he explained different meanings for the seed depending on the particular parable: it might mean the Word, or the Gospel, or the kingdom. Here, the farmer's broadcast seed represented all God's children in his kingdom scattered throughout the world. (Oh! and the farmer is Jesus, right?) Contrasted with what? with the children of the devil also scattered in the world. So, the world of our present age sits a mixed bag with both people of Christ's kingdom and people of the devil in it. (We do not confuse his kingdom with nations of this age!) Christ's kingdom, his planting, that is, his present-day church, does not have its whole context. Yet. But comes a day when the Lord secures the weeding out, and then the righteous will shine like the sun in God's kingdom. So said Jesus, anyway. And so we hope.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we tell of Jesus' planting and maturing and cleansing in his kingdom. And, together, we confess the sacrifice of thanksgiving that shines his name.

Changed

"Repent, for the kingdom of the skies is coming soon," Matthew 3:2.

Ever see any of those crazies carrying a big poster around town warning of the calamities to come? (Likely we've seen them mostly in cartoon caricature, way seldom in real life.) Well, anyway. The words above got spoken by a man not standing on street corners. Instead, he was out in the boonies, a desert land that, oddly enough, had a stream flowing through it. Yeah. Swarms of people flowed out to the wilderness to listen to him. His name? John. And he dunked people in the river who wanted to show they had changed. So they called him Dunking John. Yes, they did. And he announced that a strong man was coming to dunk people with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Soon. (Spoiler alert: talking about Jesus.) Sky kingdom.

We meet today with a brother or sister in confident hope that yet again Jesus is coming soon in the sky. And, together, we give heartfelt thanks that God receives changing people into his kingdom.

Baptized

"Christ accepted you, so you should accept each other," Romans 15:7.

Who should accept each other? Anybody who claims Christ as lord. That is, both believing Jews and believing non-Jews. That is, both the Hebrews rooted historically as God's particular people and all the rest of disconnected humanity. Both recipients of God's promises to his ancient people and ethnic newbies. Both Jews and Gentiles. Why should all these different peoples, ethnics all, receive each other? Because Christ did receive us all. Because Christ showed God's faithfulness to the Jews by becoming their servant. Because Christ sang praises to God among and with the Gentiles. Because it stands as a categorical imperative from the Lord that Gentiles and Jews should rejoice together, harmonizing praises to God. And when it says Gentiles and Jews, nobody but nobody's left out. Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female: each one baptized into the singular Messiah, Jesus. Sky kingdom.

And so meeting with a brother or sister today, God fills us with his joy and peace. And, together, through faith in Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit steeps us in hope.

Standard

"They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," Isaiah 11:9.

Who's talking? God. Whose mountain? God's. Who will not destroy? The wicked won't. Why not? because somebody's coming to judge earth's peoples: poor, meek, wicked - all. How will he not judge? Not by appearance. Not by hearsay. So how will he judge? He will judge the poor honestly. He will judge the meek fairly. His word will slay the wicked. What empowers him? The Spirit of God. Of wisdom. Understanding. Counsel. Might. Of knowledge. Yes, the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. So: lambs will live safely with wolves. And leopards with kids. Calves with lions. And cows with bears. Yes, a child will lead their way. A baby will play by the cobra's den. A toddler's hand will cover a viper's nest. So. Who's this righteous judge? Jesus. The standard for all peoples.

We share today with a brother or sister in this passing age as we anticipate God's kingdom yet to be fully realized. And, together through Christ, we give thanks to God in assurance of that coming age. Sky kingdom.

Supreme

"God is King of all the earth," Psalm 47:7.

Yes! God is King over the nations! God sits on his holy throne! Even the leaders of the earth belong to God! He is supreme! We clap our hands for you, O God! We give you shout outs with loud, joyful songs! We respect you, we honor you, we fear you, O Jehovah God, the Most High! You defeated all our enemies, you've controlled them all. You chose our inheritance! We put our lives on hold as we think about your work, as we prepare to praise you. Praise you, God! The nations' leaders gather as yours in Abraham! We sing praises to you! You are our King!

We meet with a brother or sister today to praise God, our king. And, together, we give thanks for his Christ who made us all, Jews or ethnics, children of the promise to Abraham. Sky kingdom.

All

"Then comes the end, when he hands the kingdom over to God," 1 Corinthians 15:24.

Who's doing the delivery? Christ. What's Christ handing over? The kingdom. What kingdom? The one over which he reigns. The kingdom that God made him king over. How long will Christ reign? Until all things come under Christ. Who's making all things subject to him? God. God has put all things (ta panta - look it up) under Jesus' feet. Christ the king reigns over all things until God subdues every last enemy to him. (The last enemy? Yes. Death itself gets wiped out!) Reigns over all things? Yes. Well, No. Not every, every all. Not God himself (like, duh!). All else. And then Christ will hand over the kingdom to God, and even Christ will subject himself to God (to the very one who had given all things to Christ), and God will be all in all. One God and father of all, over all, through all, in all. Sky kingdom.

We anticipate meeting a brother or sister today so as to share confident hope in God's timeless future. And, together, we praise God gratefully, we glorify God eternally for including us in Christ's kingdom.

Surprise

"Look, your king is coming to you, he is gentle, riding on a donkey," Matthew 21:5.

That's Jesus' announcement to the people of his day about his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Riding into town on a donkey hardly met glorious expectations for a conquering hero back from the wars, readying the troops for a final push over the hated foes. And yet, there he was. On a donkey. So. What's our present-day expectation of Jesus appearing in the clouds (that's what the Bible says of his advent coming soon) in his kingdom? Do we want the lion of the tribe of Judah, or do we want a lamb, slain from the foundation of the world? However our hope will actualize, it will surprise us, not quite as we had imagined, (because God always surpasses our wildest imagination), and far better than our plans for his kingdom could ever be. And never disappointing, as that's the way God's love poured into our hearts works.

We meet expectantly with a brother or sister today for God's revealing of Jesus' final triumph, accepting God's version of what it will be, not our own. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus, his Messiah, our Lord.

Smarter

"Nobody knows when that day or time will be," Matthew 24:36.

Who's talking here? Jesus. What day's he talking about? The day the Son of Man would appear. Yeah, and Jesus said nobody except the Father knows when. Nobody. Nobody except. (But that never stopped people over the past two thousand years from weighing in with their smarter-than-Jesus wisdom and bandying dates and times all over the place.) Jesus clearly said life would be normal at his advent. Clearly. Two guys would be at work like normal when the Son of Man would come. Two women would be at work like normal when the Son of Man would come. Just a normal day like any other. So, Jesus said, Get Ready, Stay Alert. Because he's coming. When we do not expect him. Except the Father.

As we get together with a brother or sister today, we hope eagerly anticipating Jesus' nearing advent. And, together, we give thanks to God for holding our future secure, well in hand.

Nearer

"Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed," Romans 13:11.

Therefore. Owe each other nothing at all. Well, except for, keep on paying back love to each other. (That's how we do everything the law says to do.) Yes, we keep owing love to each other. And, too. It's time for us to wake up. Nighttime's dying away. It's dawn. There's no time for doing dark stuff, no time for wild parties, no time for getting drunk, no time for any sexual sin, no time for fighting, no time for jealousy. It's time to end plans that satisfy our sinful selves. Salvation's getting closer and closer! So. Before it's too late. Because it gets closer and closer. Consequently. It's time to get up. To get dressed with Jesus. With the Lord. With Christ. To anticipate the Day ahead!

We remind each other today, a brother or a sister, that the Lord will appear soon, that the consummation of the age draws nigh. And, together, we give thanks to God for confident hope that the eternal Day's coming!

Present

"The Lord's teachings will go out from Zion," Isaiah 2:3.

In the eighth century, B.C., a prophet saw the word about the last days. Here's the word he saw: the hill that the Lord's temple sat on in Jerusalem would become the most exalted of all mountains, all peoples would flow up to it to learn and walk in God's ways; God's judgment and peace would reign supreme over all. So, in the last days, seven and a half centuries later, God spoke to us humans through his son, Jesus, whom he raised up (from the dead) to reign beside. As Jesus prepared to leave earth and to rise up into the clouds, he told his followers: Repentance and forgiveness of sins must be announced in his name to all peoples, beginning from Jerusalem. And so it was. And so it continues. Until Jesus should appear again in the clouds. Sky kingdom.

We meet with each other today, brother or sister, walking in the Lord's way. And, as we turn together toward Zion's hill, we give thanks for the Lord's teachings reaching out to us all the way from the hill's cross to our very present.

Stilled

"God is our protection and our strength," Psalm 46:1.

God helps us in times of trouble. Therefore: We will not be afraid. Even if the earth shakes. Even if the mountains slough off into the sea. Even if the oceans roar. Even if mountains shake with the seas' pounding. We will not fear. God lives right in the middle. His dwelling remains secure. Nations rage. Kingdoms fall. God speaks. And the earth melts. Jehovah God of armies lives among his people. God is our fortress. God wipes out opposing wars, weapons, armor - all in shambles. God says: Be still! I am God! So, hearts quiet down. We will not fear. Sky kingdom.

Today we visit with a brother or sister stilled in our God's protection. And, grateful together, we give heartfelt thanks for his imperishable security.

Crispy

"Fire came down from heaven and burned them up," Revelation 20:9.

Whoa! What's it talking about? Well, that's the whole Bible story of Armageddon. Yeah, that's pretty much it. So. Everybody Satan deceived, Gog and Magog, all the bad guys of planet earth (and elsewhere), a humongous number, surrounded God's people, his city. Looked pretty grim. Hopeless. But not so! No! Not at all! (Why not? because God.) So all those stories and movies and books about the horrors of the Armageddon war? Nothing to them. (They're not Bible.) Just as the thing's about to start, so it seems, God sends fire from the sky and it's all over. Like that. Crispy critters. His people, his kingdom, safe for ever. Nothing to worry about. The war's done. Done. Sky kingdom.

Citizens of a kingdom that cannot be shaken, we meet with a brother or sister today in thankful praise to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, alive for ever more. Praise and honor and glory and power for ever! And ever!

Safe

"Whoever comes to me I will never cast out," John 6:37.

Jesus said he had come down from the sky. He said his father had sent him. So, Jesus said, he came to do his father's bidding. He had not come to do whatever he, Jesus himself, might have otherwise wanted to do. And, Jesus said, his father's will held that Jesus should not lose a single thing that the father had given to him. Yeah. So, Jesus said, he, Jesus, on the last day, would resurrect every thing given to him. Yep. Every single one who gazed at Jesus, each one might have forever life. That is, every single one who believed in Jesus would have life that never ends. Yes. Jesus himself would raise each one up on the last day. Unbelievable. Well, that's what Jesus said, anyway.

We, brothers and sisters, come together today blessed in assurance that we're safe in the arms of Jesus. And, together, we speak unutterable thanks to God for receiving our living belief in Christ as enough for life.

Criminal

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom," Luke 23:42.

Who's talking? A criminal, hanging, nailed to a cross beside Jesus. Where's Jesus? Well, yeah, also nailed to a cross, dying, beside the convict. Now, this bad guy had acknowledged that he himself deserved this horrid execution. He also had affirmed that Jesus' execution had no just cause. And then, he said: Remember me. To whom (again)? To a dying Jesus. To one later that very day, who hung dead on his own cross. So how does one man, watching another die right beside him, make such an absurd request? No matter. Jesus answered: You'll be with me in paradise today. Sky kingdom.

When we visit a brother or sister today, we acknowledge our own just convictions for sin, and ask a risen Christ to remember us in his kingdom. And, together, we express inexpressible thanks for the assurance of God's grace and unfathomable kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Moved

"He brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son," Colossians 1:13.

Who did this? God. Who did God do this to? Us. To us, who? To us, who believe in Christ Jesus. To us, who love all the people likewise made holy by faith in Christ. So what's the thing God did? God transferred us. God packed us up and moved us all from that place to this place. What place did us get moved from? From the domain of darkness. From its power. What place did God move us into? Into the kingdom of his son. Of Jesus. Into the kingdom of heaven. When's God going to move us in? He's already done it. Past tense. Transfer's done. Since when? Since the day us came to understand God's real grace, since us came to living faith in Jesus. Sky kingdom.

Seeing a brother or sister today, we share God's love in the kingdom's new rule. And, together, we give thanks to God for having moved us into his neighborhood.

When

"Says the Lord of heaven's armies: They belong to me. On that day they will be my very own," Malachi 3:17.

Who? Who belong to God? These: People who honor the Lord. Who fear the Lord. Who esteem the Lord's name. And in what ways do they respect God? Two ways. Way one: These talk with each other. (Talk about what? God's loyalty, of course!, his faithfulness!) Way two: These do not bad-mouth God. They do not buy into vulgar talk that claims it's pointless to serve God since the bad guys keep on winning. No, not at all. Quite the contrary: these God-honoring people become his treasure. God's treasured possession. When will we see it? (Here's the call for perseverance). When? When he does it. Obviously.

We visit with one another today confessing God's loyalty to us, his own people. And, together, we honor the Lord of the sky kingdom whose armies ever serve his purposes in his time.

Grace

"Where does my help come from?" Psalm 121:1.

Our help comes from you, Jehovah God! You, maker of skies and earth, you source our help! You keep our feet steady in earthquakes and our souls secure in life-quakes. You never sleep on the job. You keep your whole kingdom, and you keep us individually. You shade us from the sun's scorching heat. You light the night path. You keep us from the evil one. You keep our very lives. You keep us now, in the present, as we wander here and there, in and out, and you keep us forever more. Our help arises from you - thank you!

We visit today with a brother or sister sustained by the Lord in life's vagaries. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus who, though tested/tempted in every matter just like us, ever baptizes us in grace in our time of need.

Clarified

"The flesh benefits nothing," John 6:63.

Jesus spoke those words after having said: My flesh is true food. (He had made a big deal out eating his flesh and drinking his blood, that these brought life.) But even before that, he had aleady said: Don't work for perishable food, rather, work for lasting food. Well, ok, so what's lasting food? Jesus clarified: The Spirit gives life, not the flesh. Not fleshly genealogy. Jesus gives life to the world. The very words Jesus breathed out are spirit. They are life. Communion is about listening to Jesus, breathing in his very words, living by them. Doing the work of God, doing work that yields life, is this: Believing in the Son of Man whom God sent. Now, if we take offense to Jesus' teachings, to whom else shall we go to hear whose very words breathe life?

Today, we meet with a brother or sister, adopted into eternity through the breath of his Spirit. And, together, we give thanks that taking in Jesus, the Word, means eternal life.

Forlorn

"The Lord's love never ends," Lamentations 3:22.

It's hard, really hard, to put that line in its context, isn't it? People sing it as though all were at ease in Zion. But a forlorn, solitary figure wandering in the ashes of the aftermath of his beloved Zion's devastation spoke that line. He spoke it remembering the unspeakable horrors of his beloved people's wholesale destruction, reduced beforehand to consuming the remains of their own children. It's very hard. So, how can he speak that line among surrounding terrors? Here's how: He chooses hope. Hope over ashes. He chooses to hope that the Lord's unending love will yet change present sorrow. What else remains? Sky kingdom.

We lift our heads with a brother or sister today looking up to the Lord, our only hope for a worthwhile future. And, together, we give thanks that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

Wondering

"Will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:8.

People keep wondering: Why bother with prayer since God never does anything when you need it? Jesus said: Oh, keep praying, keep hoping, keep the faith! God answers his people quick. But then, Jesus wondered. Yes. Jesus wondered. Jesus. Wondered: When he comes, will he find any earthlings still praying, hoping, believing in him?

When we visit with ... (start over) ... When we pray with a brother or sister today, we do answer our Lord's question with, Yes! And, together, we give thanks for his sacrifice securing for us his sure, coming salvation, the answer of all answers to prayer.

Writings

"You have known the holy writings since you were a child," 2 Timothy 3:15.

Who wrote that? Old man Paul, in his last letter, from jail. (He was beheaded shortly afterward.) Who'd he write to? Timothy, a young preacher he mentored. Ok. Holy writings: what made them holy? God's own breath produced them. So, the Scriptures have inspired value to bring wisdom, to teach God's people about every good work. They warn, they correct, they train in doing right actions. They make God's people competent. Ok. Who'd Timothy first learn the Scriptures from? From Lois, his grandmother. Yeah. From Eunice, his mother. These women are the source of Timothy's faith. And now, when Paul is spent, Timothy raises the banner to announce the salvation wisdom of Christ.

We visit with a brother or sister today, recognizing we are beneficiaries in the faith of so many before us. And, together, we give thanks to God for his living, sustaining word.

Compliant

"You have wrestled with God and with men, and you have won," Genesis 32:28.

Jacob wrestles with God, and wins? What is this? Well, to be sure, the Bible says that Jacob actually wrestled through the night with another man. That unnamed man who found Jacob unbeatable, he's the one that told Jacob he'd won against God. Jacob received his ruling and called for a blessing. So, the unnamed man's blessing became a name change: no longer was Jacob, Jacob, but was now Israel, the God-wrestler. (So his children became the God-wrestler's kids, right?) To make sure this God-wrestler wouldn't forget, with a mere touch the man without a name dislocated Israel's hip joint so that he limped away, but alive, from the match. God might allow a win to a mortal, but with it God wrests a daily reminder of who controlled the match.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we receive God's ruling that we are the offspring of the God-wrestler, God's new Israel. And, together, no longer wrestling but giving thanks to God, we receive forgiveness through his son, the compliant one.

Overwhelms

"Jehovah God is kind and merciful," Psalm 111:4.

Our whole hearted thanks goes to you alone, O God! In the middle of the congregation of your people, all thanksgiving goes to you! Everyone who loves them, studies on your great works. You provide food for everybody who honor you. You hold up high the covenant you made with us through Jesus' sacrifice, foremost in your mind. You have promised the best offerings of earth's peoples to your congregation. All your actions show your faithfulness and justice. Your orders remain trustworthy, founded on your very character! You've set us free in Jesus. With him, you created an everlasting covenant! Holy and awesome be your name forever! Wisdom starts with respecting you, yes, fearing you. Everybody obeying your wisdom understands life. Praise you forever!

Visiting with a brother or sister today, God overwhelms us with his outstanding kindness. Together, together, we praise the Lord from now into eternity.

Turned

"When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers," Luke 22:31.

What's the setting? It's in a large enough private room with more than a dozen men in it. What's the occasion? The Jewish Passover. Who's talking? Jesus. Who's he talking to? Generally, to everybody there, but at this moment, singularly, to Peter. What's he saying to him? That before the night was out, he, Peter, would exclaim that he, Peter, never had known Jesus, let alone called him Lord. (And what would Jesus be doing while Peter was doing his denials of Jesus? Jesus would be being beaten in preparation for being killed.) But, Jesus said, when he, Peter, repented, Jesus wanted him, Peter, to encourage the rest. Yes. Jesus said that when Peter repented, he, Jesus, would forgive him, Peter, and give him, Peter, a message that he, Peter, should grant to others: Jesus forgives. For real.

So, we visit with a brother or sister today knowing that Jesus forgave us all our transgressions. And, together, we give thanks to God for granting to us, too, the same message of reconciliation. Sky kingdom.

Libation

"But even if I am bled out as a libation on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you," Philippians 2:17.

Who in the world says stuff like that?! That they're glad to be offered in sacrifice? Some modern analysts speak of a so-called martyr complex, a desire one might have to suffer and die for causes. Doubtless, a few folk, not many, just look for such causes. Very, very few, indeed. (Martyrs genuinely trade their lives selflessly for others' lives.) But mostly, that's just how some analysts, and would-be analysts, dismiss noble impulses in gentle folk that challenge their own self-obsessions. So, who says stuff like that? People who know the fleeting happiness of this world is timed, who know an inexpressible, eternal joy is breaking out from God's presence. Sky kingdom.

We meet a brother or sister today, children of God, shining as lights in this passing world toward a coming world. And, together, we give joyful thanks to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus.

Deep

"He fell on his face at Jesus' feet giving him thanks," Luke 17:16.

Who did? Some foreigner. An unknown. And what did he do? Not much, really. He just said, Thank You!, to Jesus because Jesus had healed him of a dread disease. (In fact, had the rest of the healed people thanked Jesus, there would have been no particular point to draw attention to this guy.) But Jesus noticed this nobody and made him somebody for the rest of us. That's really what obeying Jesus is all about: Not much, really, just doing our duty, so to speak. Just saying Thank You, meaning it, and living it out. Sky kingdom.

As we share our lives today with a brother or sister, we feel Jesus' deep healing from sin's dread power. And, together, we fall on our faces at his feet with deep joy and thanksgiving.

Sake

"I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus," 2 Timothy 2:10.

That's how one old preacher, rotting away in prison, left behind by almost every friend, coming up to a death sentence, explained his life. All for the sake of the elect. Who's that? The chosen people. And who are these? Human beings who heard the preaching of the gospel, who confessed Jesus as Lord, who left behind unrighteous ways. That old man saw his purpose to draw people to eternal life in Jesus' message. He trusted that to die with Christ was to live with Christ. To endure with Christ was to reign with Christ. But, to deny Christ was to be denied by Christ. To be faithless - well, that didn't change Christ: Christ remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. So, that old guy shared life in Christ toward the elect, the church.

We cannot help but meet with a brother or sister today to encourage each other in faithfulness to Christ. And, together, thankfully, we strive ahead for the Lord's appearing.

Sad

"My life is much too sad for you to share, for the Lord is against me," Ruth 1:13.

Who said that? The one who called herself Bitter Woman (Mara). Why? She and her family became economic refugees in a foreign land. Then, her husband died. Then, her sons died. Then, bereft, she told her surviving daughters-in-law she had no hope, nothing to share with them. Clearly, God's hand opposed her. Destitute, she told them to make new lives for themselves. She would go back to her own country, drained. How hard can life get? Hopeless, helpless, left behind. What to do? Here's Ruth's response: Your God will be my God. I will share your life. May God strike me dead if I don't. Hmm? What's this thing about God, even when he doesn't seem very nice?

We share lives with a brother or sister today, through thick or thin, hoping in God anyway. And, together, we marvel thankfully that even on a cross Jesus entrusted himself to God.

Quieted

"Power belongs to God; steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord," Psalm 62:11, 12.

For you alone, O God, do our souls wait in silence. You alone remain our rock, our salvation. For you alone, O God, do our souls wait in silence. Our hope arises from you. You alone are our rock, our salvation, our fortress. We shall not be shaken. Our salvation, our glory rests in you, O God. We trust you at all times. We pour out our hearts before you, O God. You remain our refuge. We place no delusions in people - they're all lightweights. We place no vain confidence in rising wealth. All power belongs to you: You own steadfast love. We await you in silence.

We meet with a brother or sister today with quieted hearts and anticipate God's salvation. And, together, we yield the thanksgivings of our hearts to God for his everlasting love.

Talk

"The important thing is faith," Galatians 5:6.

What kind of faith does it talk about? The kind that works through love. The kind directed to Christ. The kind that yields great expectations of righteousness. The kind that binds to Jesus. The kind that heralds freedom from cursed doom. The kind that expresses love for one another. The kind that sanctions the Spirit's fruit. The kind that crucifies the flesh, its passions, its desires. The kind that walks by the Spirit. The kind that displays a new creation. That's the kind of faith it talks about.

We connect in faith with a brother or sister today. And, together, we thank God that believing in Christ suffices for eternal life.

Showcases

"Power is made perfect in weakness," 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Whose power? Jesus'. Weakness perfects Jesus' power. How so? Weakness showcases grace. When human action and potential have depleted to nothing, what sustains and drives capacity? God. God alone. When human weakness wipes us out face down onto the ground, what picks us up? Grace. God's generosity. God's goodness. God's desire. God's will. God's purpose. Nothing else remains than to start the next sentence with: If it had not been for the Lord ... we'd've been swallowed alive. The weakness of Jesus' cross became God's power for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Sky kingdom.

Finding a brother or sister today, we boast in nothing else than the cross of Christ. And, together, we praise God for grace that perfectly powers the new creation.

Special

"We don't deserve special thanks; we've just done our job," Luke 17:10.

He had been saying things like: Repent or perish. Like: Enter by the narrow door. Like: Some are last who will be first. Like: Everyone who brags about himself will be humbled. Like: Invite the poor to your party, you'll get paid back in the resurrection. Like: Whoever does not renounce all he has cannot be my disciple. Like: It's right to party with a repentant brother because he's back home. Like: You cannot serve God and money. Like: You must forgive a repentant sinner. So, his disciples said: Increase our faith! Jesus said: Just do the job. (Yeah, the sky kingdom really is something else.)

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we marvel that Jesus yielded himself to unimaginable humiliation for our joy. And, together, we give thanks for the privilege to join with him in humble service for people who don't yet get it.

Embarrassed

"Who, on one hand, abolished death and, on the other, shined bright toward life and immortality," 2 Timothy 1:10.

Who did this? Jesus. Jesus did. By what means did he light the path to life? By means of the gospel. What's that shining to immortality? The message of the good news! The power of God. The word of Christ. The message of Jesus' cross, and of Jesus' resurrection. Embarrassed for following Christ? Oh, no! Never! How else would God save us; how could he call us to a holy calling? (Believe it: Not by our works, but by his own generosity, his own purpose.) By his grace in Christ before the worlds ever got started. Sky kingdom.

We join a brother or sister today to follow Jesus' shine on his living path. And, together, we shout out thanksgivings to God for his imperishable gospel.

Unutterable

"That time is coming soon," Habakkuk 2:3.

What to do in the meantime? You know, while we await that time soon to come? Wait for it. That's what. Wait for it. It's a sure thing coming. Wait for it. Sooo ... well ... what is it that we're waiting for? For God's justice (and mercy) finally to make itself known. That's what. Oh. Ok. So, what to do in the meantime? (didn't we already ask that?) Here's what to do: Do what's right because we trust God. Yeah. Do right because we trust God, and he will bring forever life. Another way it's often said: The righteous shall live by faith.

So, as we meet with a brother or sister today, we affirm salvation through faith in Christ comes soon. And, together, we speak unutterable thanksgivings to God's faithfulness into every generation.

Righteous

"I will praise the Lord Jehovah all my life," Psalm 146:2.

Yes, O Lord - We will sing praises to you as long as we live! We will not put our trust in mortal humans. You, God, remain our happiness, our hope. You alone made the skies and the earth and the seas and all in them. You keep faith forever. You do what's fair for the wronged. You feed the hungry. You set wrongly imprisoned ones free. You give sight to the blind. You lift up people in trouble. You love people who do what's right. You protect aliens. You defend orphans and widows. You are righteous! You will reign forever. We praise you, Lord God!

We meet with a brother or sister today so that we may remember God's goodness to us. And, together, we praise God's faithfulness to all generations for gifting us his life.

Tender

"Let the rich one glory in his being lowered," James 1:10.

God's new society on earth: his kingdom, the kingdom of the skies. A new value system. So, for example, a brother in low position is lifted up, a brother in higher position is brought lower. But that's not the new value system - not yet anyway. Worldly revolutions and rebellions do that all the time. A sort of might makes right thing where everybody strives for their own prideful advantage. Instead, here's the new deal: both brothers glory in God's work in their lives. The one glories in God who imputes high value to downtrodden hearts, the other glories in God who receives none but humbled hearts.

So, as we meet with a brother or sister today, we glory in our God who recreated in each of us new, tender hearts. And, together, we give thanks to God for Jesus whose broken heart healed ours.

Provision

"Plead the widow's cause," Isaiah 1:17.

Everybody wants to plead the wealthy widow's cause. In doing so, perhaps, she will then provide grateful reward out of her great provision. Yeah. But Jesus cursed men and their pretentious prayers who devour widows' houses: these men, he said, will receive the greater condemnation. And Isaiah's talking about backing the powerless, like forgotten orphans and unimportant widows. Instead of what? Instead of pursuing gifts, advantage, even bribes, from the world's wealth. Indeed, the sky kingdom's economy roots in God's heart: mercy and justice.

As we visit with an unimportant brother or sister today, we attend to the sky kingdom's affairs. And, together, we give thanks to God for having visited with us, too, when Jesus came by.

Listen

"They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them," Luke 16:29.

And with this line, Jesus unequivocally sets up the Bible (specifically the Hebrew Bible, that is, the Old Testament) as adequate to bring people to faith in God and his will. If a person refuses to learn from Moses' law and from the prophets' writings, neither will that person come to believe God's warnings if someone rises from the dead to teach the same. I mean, that's what Jesus taught, anyway. But why did the discussion even come up? Because a guy, formerly enjoying the good life (but now dead and in torment) wanted another dead guy, formerly really bad off (but now comforted in the good life), to warn the formerly rich guy's brothers back home to share their good fortune with poor folk. The response: They've already got all the warning they need.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we share with each other from the wealth of God's storehouse. And, together, we praise God for the adequate provision of his sufficient word.

Penury

"We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world," 1 Timothy 6:7.

Now, we humans speak of a few folks as born with silver spoons in their mouths, meaning, some people are born into wealth. Quite so. Some are. Nonetheless, the Bible speaks clearly: ya came to the planet with nothing, ya leave it with nothing. Sure, everybody wants a little more. Or a lot more. But it never was how much stuff a person had that made for a life worth living. It never has been so. Desiring the wealth of this world only yields forgotten memorial stones. Jesus had no home to lay his head, yet, his poverty made us worthy heirs of unimaginable wealth. His penury realized for us that food and clothing remain enough for worthwhile service to others.

As we speak with a brother or sister today, we look up, away from this world, into the heavens for real riches. And, together, we give thanks to God for showing us true treasures in Christ. Sky kingdom.

Relentless

"But are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph," Amos 6:6.

Who are not grieved? The cream of the crop of the nation: the best people of the best nation on earth. And who's Joseph? Well, it referred to Joseph, one of Jacob's twelve sons. Jacob's other name was Israel. So, here, Joseph stood for the kingdom of Israel. OK. So, what's the problem? Israel's best of the best luxuriated in wealth and position careless that godless injustice ruined the rest. So, God judged that the elites would be the first into slavery and exile. God undoes all nations through justice and equity. Kingdoms of earth pass into oblivion, but God's sky kingdom ever advances.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we mourn for the state of earth's injustices. But, together, we give joyful thanks that God works his relentless will through Jesus, Lord and Savior!

Down

"Praise Jehovah God!" Psalm 113:1.

Praises to you, O God, from your people! Praises to your name! We bless your name from this moment, right now, into all eternity! Your people praise you from wherever the sun rises, eternity east, to wherever it sets, eternity west. You, O Lord, rule from your throne over all peoples - your glory shines from beyond the skies! You look way down to see the skies we look up to see! We cannot imagine your equal! And then. And then, you reach down to pick up the poor out of the dust. You reach down to lift the needy out of the ashes. You fill the home of a childless mother with kids. And, wow! You lift us all up as princes of your people. What an awesome God you are!

When we visit with a brother or sister today we tell of God's wonder. And, together, we give thanks for God's amazing compassion and mercy.

Said

"I did not come to judge the world but to save the world," John 12:47.

That's Jesus. What he said. What he also said, in the very next line, was: Whoever rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge. Wait! Who's that judge of the last day? The very word that Jesus spoke. The judge is his word. Jesus, light of the world, shows us God. The one and only God sent Jesus out into the world to shine into the darkness of human lives so that people could see the God who sent him, and hearing Jesus' words, could hear the words of the God who sent him. And so that people seeing him and hearing him, and receiving him, that is, believing in him, would have life. Life that goes on and on into unimaginable glory. Sky kingdom.

So, when we receive a brother or sister today, we do share Jesus' sure word and see God. And, together, we give thanks for this savior, bearer of light, of word, of salvation, of life. The eternal kind.

Details

"Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God," Hebrews 4:13.

God created the whole cosmos. God keeps the universe going by his powerful word. God knows it better than artists even know their own artful work. The details of creation, for example the universal constants, hold by God's design. God is in the details. (That other saying has got it all wrong.) God knows his creation better than draftsmen design their nuts and bolts. And so, we can know that his son, the master builder, understands us. Entrusted with the details, Jesus also controls for the whole magnificent operation. So, we serve with the more diligence trusting him to judge fairly.

Today, when we visit with a brother or sister, we spur each other on to love and good deeds. And, together, we give thanks that God saw us in distress and detailed Jesus' life for our hope.

True

"Whoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with large things," Luke 16:10.

What's the small stuff? Money. Yeah. That's pretty much it. Well, it and other resources that belong to this world. And he goes on to say that if a person can't be trusted with small stuff, then, he says, they won't be entrusted with real wealth. Hmm. And here we thought real wealth was the bank account and stocks and bonds and lands and such like. So, how do we get true riches? Well, what he said was, use worldly wealth making friends so that when the worldly resources are all gone (that happened when we died) the friends, now in heaven's home, will welcome us. Sky kingdom. A totally different value system.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we share God's provisions with yet others, too. And, together, we give thanks to God who gave us heaven's true wealth in Jesus.

Between

"There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and people," 1 Timothy 2:5.

And who is that mediator? The man, Christ Jesus. OK. So what's a mediator? Somebody who goes between two enemies and smooths the way for friendship. Somebody who makes peace between warring factions. Somebody, a man, who gave himself to pay for the sins of all people. A man, a ransom. Somebody, who presented God to men as a faithful lover and not as an oppressive slave master. Somebody, a man, whom God designated his son by resurrecting him out of dead people. Somebody, a man, who presented us to God as righteous and holy. Somebody, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God received. And in receiving that man, received us. Sky kingdom.

We meet with a brother or sister today reconciled with each other and with God. And, together, we give thanks for the selfless work of our one mediator who made us friends with God.

Deeds

"I will never forget their deeds," Amos 8:7.

Who won't forget? The Lord, Jehovah, won't. At times it feels like life never gives a fair shake. But consider: What deeds will God not forget? He will not forget privileged people who oppressed the humble. And what made the privileged, privileged? These could not wait until holidays were over in order to lord it over the others again. These swindled the others with unfair balances. These saw humble people as cheap commodities, rungs on a ladder, to step on toward materialistic valuables. These privileged ones returned their leftovers instead of food for others. We need not despair. God's justice will be vindicated, in spades.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we encourage each other to bank on God's promises. And, together, we give thanks to Jesus who gave up unimaginable privilege to humble himself with us.

People

"We are the people of his pasture," Psalm 95:7.

You, O Lord Jehovah, are the great God! You're the emperor king over all gods. You sustain the abyss of the earth in your hand. Everest and Denali belong to you. You own the Mariana Trench. Your very hands fashioned the tectonic plates. And you made us. You made people your wealth. You made us the dearest treasure of your hand. You amaze us. When we hear your Word, today, we soften our hearts toward you. We learn your ways. We will not test you in our dead wanderings. We will recognize you. We will sing to you! We'll yell, Hurrah! You are our rock! You are our salvation. We praise you!

When we find a brother or sister today, we will praise God who found us first. And, together, we give thanks to God for having sought us, dying sheep, and made us his living people.

Good

"I am the good shepherd," John 10:14.

Says who? Says Jesus. So, what makes a good shepherd good? Consider a hired hand, for example. A hired hand's just looking for a job when he finds this one. Has no vested interest in the sheep. And here's the deal: Not only do sheep wander off mindless, but the wolf prowls in the background looking to feed his face. So. The wolf comes. The hired hand sees the wolf ... and puts the sheep between himself and the wolf. And the wolf snatches the sheep. And the other shepherd? Same scenario. But the other shepherd puts himself between the sheep and the wolf. And offers his life to the wolf for the sheep's safety. That's what we call vested interest. And, Yes. That's what makes him good.

When we meet up with a brother or sister today, we tell of our shepherd, the good one, who gathered us and laid down his life for us. And, together, we give thanks to God for his goodness.

Beauty

"Like sheep we all have gone astray," Isaiah 53:6.

Who have? Us. We. How many of us? All. We all. What did we do? Go astray. Followed our own lead. Went where we wanted. Ended up where we headed. In grief. Sorrow. Regret. In a ravine. Lost. In a pit. A grave. What about him? He had no majesty that we saw. No beauty that got our attention. Nothing about him notable to us. We despised him. We turned away from him. We considered him like plague. And yet. His wounds were ours. His crushing belonged to us. His chastisement brought us peace. The beatings on his back healed us. His death redeemed us. All us. God charged him with our arrogance. He went to the slaughter without complaint. The shepherd of our souls went out like a lamb. And found us.

We visit with a brother or sister today remembering Jesus sought us out, each of us. And, together, we say, Thank You!, gratefully, for a redemption we don't begin to comprehend.

Smelly

"There is joy before the angels of God," Luke 15:10.

Says who? Says Jesus. What makes for such joy, for much joy in heaven? This: One sinner human changes their life. One sinner who repents. One lost person now found. Why did Jesus say that? Because lots of lost people flocked around him, and religious experts found that rank. The religious experts criticized Jesus for getting his hands smelly with smelly people. But, then, that's what shepherds do, isn't it? They develop an aroma like sheep. Yes. The Good Shepherd starts to smell, like us. So we trust him. And we change to be like him. We become incense. The aroma of Christ.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we share in the found happiness of heaven. And, together, we give joyful thanks that heaven counted us worth Jesus' effort. Praise you, God!

Limitless

"I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent," 1 Timothy 1:13.

Who was? Paul. Whom did he insult so violently? Jesus. The apostle Paul did. The man who persecuted God's church violently. Tried to destroy it. The foremost of sinners. But he received mercy. And why did such a man receive the Lord's grace? So that Jesus would show the rest of us his limitless patience with us as we come to believe in Christ. This same man, now a follower of Jesus, became the Bible's outstanding missionary of Christ to the nations, wrote much of the New Testament. But before all that, the Lord sought him out. And ordered him to snap to. And he did.

We visit with a brother or sister today and reflect soberly on our own former disobedience to God. And, together, we give deepest thanks that the Lord sought us out and received our faith as sufficient for his grace.

Leads

"Like a tree planted by streams of water that produces fruit in season," Psalm 1:3.

Who's like that tree? The happy people who love the Lord Jehovah's teaching. That's who. The people who think about God's teachings as they work throughout the day. When they wake at night they turn to it, too. They're not like the people who go where sinners go or do what bad people do. They've given all that up. Yes, Lord, we set our minds on you and on your ways. We hear your Word. We ponder over it. We figure out ways to practice it. And you bless us! Oh, yes, you do! You make us stand tall through judgment. You lift us up in the great congregation at the end of time. You do show us the way that leads to eternal life. Bless you, O God!

When we speak with a brother or sister today, we remind of God's fruit-filled word of life. And, together, we express unutterable thanksgivings, mediated by his Spirit, for our God's care.

Submit

"God is treating you as his children," Hebrews 12:7.

Sure, there are many lines that tell of God blessing his kids. We might think this line, too, concerns happy gifts from a doting father, but not here it doesn't. Here, instead, it turns our attention to Jesus who held on patiently under hostile, sinful men. The Good Book's encouragement at this point calls us to hold on patiently, too, when we're undergoing trials in this old world. This correction from God prepares us for his kingdom in the sky. In fact - and here's where it calls for heart-testing trust - God's discipline proves us to be his children. Otherwise, we'd be bastards. (Yes, that's what the Good Book says!). So. We shall (Yes. We. Shall.) submit ourselves to the Father of spirits, and in doing so, live!

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we encourage one another to press on, trusting God just like Jesus trusted God with his very soul. And, together, we give thanks to be God's kids indeed. Sky kingdom.

Ahead

"Be happy that you are sharing in Christ's sufferings," 1 Peter 4:13.

Followers of Jesus give up what messed them up beforehand - possessions, position, even dear relationships. When they do this to obey Jesus, well, this can be very hard. Obviously! To do so, though, brings a share in Jesus' sufferings. We do so while changing our view, away from present death, upward, to a bright shining glory sharing in Jesus' coming life. Obedience to Christ brings temporary insults and other trials. But then it yields a glory in the sky that just throws the scale entirely off the balances. Worth it. So. Whoever suffers by continuing to do right: these entrust their very lives to God. Who else has the words of glorious life? Sky kingdom.

We visit joyfully with a brother or sister today so as to share in each other's life in Christ. And, together, thankful to God, we look ahead to a stunning glory that comes very soon.

Everything

"You must give up everything you have to follow me," Luke 14:33.

Who said this? Jesus did. Who was he talking to? The large crowds that went along with him. Jesus went on to say: If you don't, you cannot be my follower! Wow. These are tough words. Not tough to understand - they're pretty plain. So, what's Jesus doing here? Jesus separates out his disciples from people who're just there because it's the popular thing to do. Jesus does not call people to a cause (though there is one). Jesus does not call people to take over the government (though there is another). Jesus calls people to take up their own crosses to follow him. Crosses. And follow him. Serious business. Not your everyday religion. Sky kingdom.

We make time today to meet a brother or sister, remembering Jesus is Lord. And, together, we give thanks for the honor of giving up all to follow him into the sky.

Welcoming

"I write to you knowing you will do even more than I ask," Philemon 1:21.

Who's writing? Old man Paul. What's he confident about? That Philemon will obey even more than what Paul's asking him. Why is he confident? Because Philemon's a fellow worker with Paul - a local gathering of God's kingdom meets in his house. Because Philemon loves the Lord Jesus. Because his faith anchors in Christ. Because he loves the Lord's people. Because he shares his living faith. Because he has refreshed God's people. OK. So what's Paul asking him to do? To receive a useless, runaway slave back as a brother in Christ. Yes, to welcome that slave hospitably as though he were welcoming Paul himself. To obey the Lord. Sky kingdom.

We visit with a brother or sister today, obedient to our Lord in whatever he asks. And, together, we give thanks that he changes us continually from glory to glory.

Feelings

"Choose life that you and your offspring may live," Deuteronomy 30:19.

Sounds like a good plan! So. How do you choose life? I mean, what does that mean? Hmm. Well. Here's what the Good Book says: Love the Lord God, Jehovah. OK, got it! But. How does one do love? Is it, like, get warm feelings about God? Like, generate good thoughts toward God? Well, maybe, yeah, OK. But here's what the Good Book says: Obey God's voice. Hold tightly to him. Obey his commandments. Walk in his ways. Keep his statutes. Keep his rules. It also says: Don't turn away from him. Don't stop listening to him. Don't worship anything else. And that's how we choose life. That's where God's blessings, not curses, are.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we remind each other of life's choices. And, together, we give thanks that God has made his blessing way clear to anyone listening.

Marvels

"O Jehovah, my heart is not proud," Psalm 131:1.

God, dear God, you're teaching us humility. You're teaching us not to look down on others. You've made it clear to us that we cannot do great things or work marvels. But your teaching has instilled in us calm souls. Yes, you have placed a serenity into the center of our hearts. You have brought secure assurance deep within. Joining into your humility brings thanksgiving, joy, peace that passes head knowledge, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

We meet with a brother or sister today in the meekness of Christ. And, together, immeasurably blessed, we say: Thank You!

Nulled

"He gave up his place with God and nulled himself," Philippians 2:7.

Who did that? Jesus did. What did he do? He released his hold on being like God. Not at all like his predecessor who chose self-rule thinking to become like God. What did Jesus do instead? He emptied himself. He took hold of slave-likeness, became man. He humbled himself. He became obedient. To God. Yes. He was born like humans are. He obeyed God to death. Jesus obeyed God to the cross. And God filled him up with life and made him King, Lord. Different rules. Different rule. Sky kingdom.

When we look at a brother or sister today, we see another ruler filling up each other's lives: the Lord, Jesus. And, together, we give glory to God who teaches us his love and others' welfare.

Beg

"And they began to beg him to leave their area," Mark 5:17.

Who begged his departure? The people who had witnessed a phenomenal healing. Who had been healed? A crazed, fearsome, demon possessed strongman howling among the tombs. Who's being begged to leave? Jesus - the one who healed the scary man. Why do they beg him to leave? Because they're scared. So what did Jesus do? He left. With such power available at his mere word, Jesus humbly got back in the boat that brought him there and left. But he didn't leave himself without witness. No. He also left the healed man, now quieted in spirit, clothed, in his right mind, to tell God's story of mercy among fearful people. It's a different kind of rule. Really. Sky kingdom.

Today, when we meet with a brother or sister, we share Jesus' healing power in our own lives. And, together, inviting him to stay and dwell among us, we give thanks for God's mercy and unimagined grace.

Pit

"The person who makes himself humble will be great," Luke 14:11.

Jesus healed a seriously diseased man. Certain (self-)righteous men watched to see if Jesus broke religious rules in the healing. Jesus noted that even they would break a religious rule to save their child who fell into a pit. Then he noted that these same righteous men had tried to get the best places at a banquet. Jesus told them that humility served much better than pride. So, we see Jesus. He lowered himself even to breaking of himself against our religious traditions in order to heal us. So, God raised him from the pit to his throne.

When we meet a brother or sister today and shake hands, we recognize Jesus who reached down to give us his nail-pierced hands. And, together, we lift praises and thanksgivings to God for having received us with Jesus at the throne.

Gate

"Jesus suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people," Hebrews 13:12.

The Place of the Skull, where the Gentiles nailed Jesus to a cross, rose as a hill outside the city not far from the city garbage dump. Jesus suffered and died out there, so that by his defilement his blood might make the people holy, pure before God. So. In thankfulness to him, we shall live out our lives serving him. We shall love each other. We shall show hospitality. We shall extend compassion. We shall keep sexually pure. We shall be satisfied with what we have. We shall keep true to Jesus' teaching - he is the same yesterday as today as forever. Our home isn't here. Through Jesus, we shall offer sacrifices of praise, of speaking his name, of doing good, and of sharing what we have. Sky kingdom.

In visiting with a brother or sister today, we acknowledge Jesus as the one for whom we now live. And, together, we give thankful praise to God, our helper who never will forsake us outside the gate.

Great

"Don't act as if you are a great man," Proverbs 25:6.

Humility stands at the heart of Jesus' character. The gospels speak of Jesus quite clearly as the son of God, yet Jesus most often, by far, spoke of himself as son of man. Jesus went around doing good, but when someone addressed him as a good person, Jesus pointed to God, instead, as the only good one. When someone wanted him to settle a family matter, he said he had no plans to judge between them. When his apostles tried to stop children from annoying him, Jesus scolded the men to say his kingdom consisted of such people. When his people rejected him, he wept heartbroken for them. When his world came after him with hammers and nails, he placed his hands on a crossbeam. Though he was in the form of God he became obedient to death.

We meet up with a brother or sister today in humility recognizing our kinship through confession to God of sin. And, together, we give thanks for the Christ who humbled himself so for our forgiveness.

Savior

"Every animal in the forest is mine, cattle on a thousand hills are mine; I know every bird on the mountains, every living thing in the fields," Psalm 50:10.

Dear God: If you were hungry you would have no need of our food. The whole world, the entire universe (!) belongs to you. You, O Lord God, Jehovah, are the Mighty One. You call out to the earth. You shine from your beautiful city. You come in devastating power to judge your people. You call every faithful person who made an agreement with you. The skies shout out your right way of being. You are our God. We will not presume to think our offerings of food, clothing, shelter, money, whatever, somehow give what you need. No. We offer to you our thanksgivings, we offer to you our spoken need, we offer to you our pleas for help. You, O God, will deliver us in your awesome power.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we confess our weakness and need. And, together, we offer thanks to God for having presented Jesus to us, our Savior.

Thrown

 "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire," Revelation 20:14.

Whoa, Nellie! What does that mean? Yeah, that's a big deal, but it's a future (to us) thing. It's the aftermath of the Great Day of Judgment when every person ever to have lived, no matter when, where, or how they died, shall have been brought back to life and God shall have judged them in their accounting for the way they had lived. The deepest sea, death itself, the very place where the dead are dead, all these gave up the dead people in them. (It sort of repeats itself to make sure we get it, that everybody's at judgment.) The lake of fire is the place where God destroys for ever. People whose names are in the book of life (that is, covered by Jesus' sacrifice) have transferred to life. Everything else - into the lake! Death, too, dies forever. Jesus shall have reigned through it all until every last enemy has been put down - including death itself.

So, when we meet with a brother or sister today, we encourage each other to keep walking in the light of Jesus' life, bypassing that lake. And, together, we give thanks for the hope of resurrection to forever life!

Graves

"The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God," John 5:25.

On a day sure to come, everybody, that is, every body (if we're not catching on to it: every dead body) in graves will hear Jesus' voice and these bodies will come out of their graves. The people who did good will rise to a great life forever, and the people who did evil will rise to be judged guilty. That's what Jesus said, anyway. And, too, Jesus said God gave him, Jesus, power to make this judging decision. And, too, Jesus said that any person (we're all dead people walking, right?) who hears his word, and believes in him, in Jesus, has forever life. No further judgment. They have already left death for life. Sky kingdom.

Today, when we visit with a brother or sister, we're excited that in listening to Jesus' voice, he has given life. And, together, amazed, we tell him, Thank You!, for such assurance of life.

Outcasts

"People will come from the east, west, north, and south, and they will sit at the table in the kingdom of God," Luke 13:29.

Words, in part, Jesus answered to the question: Will only a few people be saved? Jesus pointed out that people from all over the world would respond to God's banquet invitation. And he also pointed out that many people who thought themselves privileged would find themselves unknowns, outcasts - indeed, as doers of evil. While Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem (that is, to his death) he gave hope to all sorts of people who had thought themselves outcasts from God's glory. Jesus encouraged all to enter the narrow door. The door of repentance and faith in his sacrifice for them (for us), and yielding their (our) wills to his.

We meet up with a brother or sister today to encourage each other in the faith of Jesus, outcasts no longer. And, together, we give thanks for the sure hope of sharing at the kingdom banquet, finally home with God.

Judge

"You have come to God, the judge of all," Hebrews 12:23.

So why do we fear? It's not like we've come to the foot of the terrible mountain king, where lighting blasts and thunders roar and darkness and gloom reign! We've not come to the mountain where if even an animal touches it it should be killed. Where strongest of men shake in their boots. No. Not at all. We have come to God's sky mountain, to the sky city of the living God! Where mighty angel armies in their dress regalia extend from the throne as far as the eye can see. Yes! To the spirits of matured good people. Oh, Yes: To Jesus, who mediates a new agreement between us and God. The agreement in his own blood that speaks of grace. Not of vengeance. Not of death. No fear. We have come to life.

We meet with a brother or sister today at the throne of God to find grace and help in time of need. And, together, fearless by the blood of Christ, we give thanks for God's love and mercy.

Survivors

"I will make new heavens and the new earth," Isaiah 66:22.

Who plans to craft this new universe? God. Creator God will surely do it. But first: this line holds wonders, both of a glorious future as well as of a severe judgment against the present universal order. God will cleanse all hypocrisy out of those claiming to follow God. God will send survivors of the cleansing out into the world to tell God's glory. Indeed, God declared that he would come to gather every nation and language to witness that glory. Those survivors would then collect all Jehovah's scattered people back into God's house. These people who followed God will never forget the devastating judgment that birthed them into their present future. God himself will guarantee their eternal life. Sky kingdom.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we bow in humble awe of the Creator who created wonderful plans for his people. And, together, we confess thanksgivings for grace that forgives sin and creates for his own a new cosmos.

Rules

"When will you comfort me?" Psalm 119:82.

Dear God - I've grown weak from waiting for you to save me! It feels like leather smoldering away into air. How long do I have to endure? Remember, O God, I'm just your servant! Lies and persecution and contempt and suffering keep chasing me down. I need your help as these have just about made an end of me! But know this, dear God: I still hope in your word. I remember your demands. Your commandments are trustworthy. I have not forgotten your orders. As you give me life through your persevering love, I am then able to live out the life rules you gave me. O Yes!

As we meet with a brother or sister today, we judge our God trustworthy to his promises. And, together, we express thanksgiving for his comforting and sure word.

Win

"May you win when you are judged," Romans 3:4.

Who's the You that's being judged? (Now, this really gets weird here.) It's talking about God. That God's being judged. God's under judgment? Yes. Well, for pity's sake, who's the judge? Who dares pass judgment over God? Humans. We do it all the time. Yeah, every time we complain about the state of the world. When we say, How could a loving God let such rot happen? that's us passing judgment on God. When we say, Why doesn't God do something about things? that's us passing judgment. We're saying God's not loving enough or powerful enough or true enough or smart enough. But the Good Book says that God will vindicate himself indeed. To our satisfaction. His Word will prevail over our judgment. And we will freely agree that God's own judgment of, and covenant with, us humans stands right. Always did. Does yet. And ever more will do.

When we visit with our brother or sister today, we speak grace with each other. And, together, we will thank God who overcame our judgement in his grace to all of us through Christ's cross.

Swallow

"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ," 2 Corinthians 5:10.

So, the Good Book's been talking about death and dying. About troubled life in this world with its attendant sufferings. About our bodies wearing out tiresomely. About the disappointments and burdens of mortality. And, then, suddenly, it's talking about hope. Yes, hope! Hope that life, immortal life, would swallow up our mortality. That life would consume death and dying! That God's preparing us exactly for that! His Spirit guarantees it. So, whether in this world or the next, our goal focuses on pleasing God. Yep. Because every person will appear before Jesus to receive their just deserts. So it says.

We meet with a brother or sister today encouraged by the Holy Spirit to stand confidently before Christ. And, together, we give thanks that we may walk out our living faith into eternity with him.

Judgmental

"Do you think I came to bring peace to the world?" Luke 12:51.

Jesus asked that. Sometimes, Jesus asked questions that he answered boldly. This is one of them. He asked. He answered. Here, he answered, No. Not world peace, but division. Wait a minute! What about peace on earth and all that? People find peace when they seek the sky kingdom above all else. But worldly rebels just find conflict. Preaching the Good News does one of two things: people repent, believe it, take sides for, and receive peace with God; or, they reject it, take sides against, and receive God's judgment. Jesus separates his own out from the world. This brings them peace with God. Sky kingdom.

When we speak with a brother or sister today, we tell of the peace we have with God through Christ. And, together, we give him thanks for delivering us from the world's judgmental strife.

Dust

"He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt," Hebrews 11:26.

Who thought this? Moses. To suffer what? To suffer the Christ's reproach. Wait - when did he visit with Christ? He didn't. Moses lived and died about a millennium and half before Jesus was born. So what's the deal here? Moses suffered the same type of rejection that Jesus did in his time. It's the world's rejection of God's purposes for people. Yeah, it's the fundamental rejection of God. Don't want God messing in our stuff. Don't want God spoiling our fun. But Moses believed that God's promised rewards left the world's shabby hoard in the dust. Sky kingdom. Not about this world.

We look forward to visiting with a brother or sister today, grateful that they cast their lot with us. And, together, we give thanks to God for the reward of Christ. Word.

Counsel

"Who among them has stood in the council of Jehovah?" Jeremiah 23:18.

Well, as it turns out, none of them. None of them saw God's word. None heard it. None paid attention to it. None listened to it. Nonetheless, they scurried around to tell their dreams when God did not send them. They announced visions that God did not show them. They told people who ignored God's word that everything would work out OK. They ignored God's coming hurricane and told hard-hearted people they were safe. Rather, God's true people receive godly counsel from God's true word. These hear the God who is here. Who is there. And throughout the cosmos. And beyond it. Word.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, chastened, we listen to God's word reverently. And, together, we give thanks to God who shares his counsel richly with his listening people.

Name

"The people God chose for his very own are happy," Psalm 33:12.

Here's the story: From his throne in the sky, God looks down and sees all peoples everywhere. God had formed their hearts so he pays careful attention to what they choose to believe. The people who trust him, who believe him, who fear him, these are those whose souls God delivers from death. They do not hope in the armed might of man. They know instruments of war cannot rescue. They know such worldly powers offer only false hope. God's people trust his steadfast love to keep them alive during famine. O Jehovah God! Our souls wait for you! You are our help and shield. Our hearts are glad in you. We trust in your holy name.

With a brother or sister today, joyfully, we affirm God's love. And, together, we give thanks that he chose to call his own people good enough by such faith.

Unburdensome

"This is the victory that has won against the world," 1 John 5:4.

Right! Yeah! Ah! but ... wait ... what won, exactly? Looks like it's both a who and a what: Who wins? and, What did the winning? Well, the who is the person who believes that Jesus is God's son. That's who has won. The person who's been born from God - that's who has won. Who's born from God? The person who believes that Jesus is the Christ. Who loves the father. The person who keeps God's unburdensome commands. That's who's won. (What commands? to love God's children.) To say it out loud: The person who loves God's children. That's who's won. OK. So, what's the what that has won over the world? Our faith. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Believing that Jesus is the Christ. God called that faith good enough.

God has made us good enough, so we meet victoriously with a brother or sister today! And, together, we praise God for having wrapped us up with Jesus in his win against all our odds.