Surrounds

"I truly believe I will live to see the Lord's goodness," Psalm 27:13.

Why may we believe this, truly? Because the Lord, who saves us, is our light. Because the Lord protects us, that's why. And we therefore fear no one. So if enemies attack us, if an army surrounds us, yes, even if war breaks out, we will not be afraid. Why not? Because we will keep on trusting the Lord anyway. Trusting. In him! Lord, thank you for hearing us when we call. Thank you for not turning away when we come to you. You have helped us. You help us. You will help us. You're our Savior! Even if our families leave us, you receive us. So we wait for you. We wait for your deliverance. We wait for your goodness. We believe you!

As we see a brother or sister today, we meet faithfully anticipating God's goodness. And, together, giving thanks for past deliverance and for future salvation, we praise the God of all grace!

Singular

"They offer to demons and not to God," 1 Corinthians 10:20.

When we bless the blessing cup and break bread together, we participate in the blood of Christ, we participate in the body of Christ. There are a lot of us, yet in these sharings we remain one, together, in one body. Singular sacrifice of Christ. And we have no illusion that faith in whatever, in anything at all, just as long as you have faith in something, is acceptable to God. No. Not at all. Idolatry, sexual immorality, grumbling have no place in Christ. God receives one sacrifice - Christ. All other sacrifices, however heartfelt they may be, are sacrifices to demons, not to God. These result in snake bites, in the Destroyer's devastation. There is one acceptable sacrifice to God. One. And it's Jesus, crucified. Whom God resurrected to life. Forever. Sky kingdom.

We meet today, brother or sister, and we pause in awe of the unique work of the Lord Jesus. And, together, we give thanks to the one and only God, imperishable, in whom alone dwells immortality, blessed forever.

What

"Believing, you may have life in his name," John 20:31.

By believing what? By believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Not by believing what? Not by believing in yourself that you can do it. Not by believing human might can fix it. Not by believing that your political party will make things right. Not by believing that your country can resolve the challenges. Not by believing your government can herald harmony. Not by believing that common sense in common people will pull it all together. Not by believing that mother nature will moderate it all. Not by believing that science will prevail. Not by believing that mystical power of the stars will bring peace and harmony. No. But by believing what? By believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: No other name under the sky given among men by which we must be saved.

When we meet up with each other today, brother or sister, we are mutually encouraged by each other's faith in the Lord Jesus. And, together, we give thanks to God who gives the victory to his congregation through his Christ.

Prove

"I died, but look! I'm alive forever!" Revelation 1:18.

So, the skeptic asked the scientist (a disciple of Jesus): If I told you that I was resurrected from the dead, what would you say to that? The scientist said: First, prove that you had died. Well. That's the deal, isn't it? Resurrection has to do with having been dead, doesn't it? When Jesus says I died, he speaks no myth or hyperbole. He was dead. Dead. And now he lives. God, Creator of the cosmos, reached into his grave and raised up the dead Jesus back to life. And that moment stands forever as the Holy Spirit's sign that this man is the Son of God. Jesus now has power to open death's gates to free the dead, the really dead, to life. Real life. Forever life.

When we cross paths with each other today, brother or sister, we speak of the living Christ who first joined with us in death. And, together, we praise God whose resurrected Son guarantees our eternal communion in life.

Forms

"Shouts of joy and victory come from the tents of the righteous," Psalm 118:15.

God has done powerful things! God's power has won the victory! The Lord's power has done mighty things! We will not die! We will live! We will tell what the Lord has done. Jesus opened the gates to usher us into his kingdom. Yes, he is the gate. Jesus came in the name of the Lord: God blessed him. He's the stone the builders rejected but God made the cornerstone. This is the Lord's victory day! His light shines on us. Even when others want to silence, we will tell what the Lord has done!

Meeting with a brother or sister today, he forms his church. And, together, we shout good news, giving thanks to him for always and ever.

Job

"Speak to the people all the words of this Life," Acts 5:20.

So there's two groups of people involved here. The apostles. And the Sadducees. Jesus gave the apostles a job (apostle means sent out on the job), namely, to tell all the things they had seen and heard Jesus say and do. Not everybody can be an apostle: you had to be there to see and hear what Jesus had said and done. The Sadducees, a wealthy political and religious party, controlled the priesthood jealously. They did not like the changes implied by preaching Christ. So they put them in jail. God freed them and told them to keep on preachin' on. This repeated several times. Sometimes they got killed. And this repeated. Yeah. To our present day. But God still tells his people to tell the whole story that Jesus' apostles witnessed. And so we do. Congregation. Of Christ. Sky kingdom.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we tell the apostles' story of Jesus, again. And, together, we say: Thank you, Lord, for loving us and saving us and the whole world.

Set

"I love you, Jehovah! You are my strength," Psalm 18:1.

You're my rock! You're my fortress! You're my deliverer! You're my refuge. You're my shield. You're my saving strength. You're my high defense. You're worthy of praise. You've saved us from our enemies. Death-ropes wrapped around us. Deadly rivers overwhelmed us. Traps from the grave opened before us. But we called out to you from these depths, and way up in your temple you heard our distress cries. Then you rocked the world. You shook mountain foundations. You fired up the heavens. You bent the skies. You stepped down, no, you flew down to our depths. You drew us out of the floods. You rescued us from overwhelming odds. You lit our lamps in the darkness. You lifted us up to your bright path. No one is like you, Lord! You're amazing!

With a brother or sister today, we glory in God's life-giving work: he changed our set. And, together, we give thanks for the eternal redemption with which he has graced us in his Christ.

Graduated

"The Father qualifies us to shares in the holy people's dazzling lot," Colossians 1:12.

Ever feel unqualified? No more! Your Father, God, has rendered you worthy. God ensured your qualification to shares in the birthright of his Son. And how did God do this? God moved you out from the domain of darkness. And removed you to where? God graduated you into the kingdom. The kingdom of his Son. Of his beloved Son. From the dark realm to the shining inheritance. You have a share in the kingdom which God prepared, for you, from the foundation of the world. Let no one degrade you, you, who have been graduated by God! And by what means qualified He us? God reconciled everything making peace by the blood of Jesus' cross. Qualified by blood. Sky kingdom.

We visit today with a brother or sister mutually qualified by our Father to share in a holy, blazing inheritance. And, together, we give thanks to the One who qualified us His heirs.

Nor

"Will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 8:39.

Nor. That word, Nor, weird as it may sound, links all sorts of circumstances and entities that share one common attribute. But first, what are the things linked by that conjunction? Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death, life, angels, rulers, the present, the future, powers, heights, depths, (nor) anything else in all creation. (What in the world is left out of the list?!) All these have one common characteristic: they have no power. None. They have no capacity. None. They have no faculty. None. No ability to what? To accuse us. To condemn us. To separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we laugh with a brother or sister today, we joy in the fathomless assurance we have with God's hyper-triumph in Christ. And, together, we lift holy hands in praise and thanksgiving for his imperishable love.

Beyonding

"In the coming ages he would show us the surpassing riches of his grace," Ephesians 2:7.

Who's showing these things? God. What's God showing, manifesting, proving, demonstrating? Riches. Wealth. What's their quality? Surpassing. Excelling. Exceeding. Transcending. Beyonding. What sources these riches? Grace. Gift. Present. God's generosity. When would God show them? In the coming ages. (Not yet at present.) Throughout time in the future world sure to come. To whom would God show these? To you. Us. To us, once dead in sin. To us, now made alive, together. By God. To us, raised up, together. By God. To us, seated in the skies, together. By God. Together, with Christ whom God raised up from the dead and seated at his right hand in the skies. For by grace are we saved through faith, the gift of God.

When we visit with each other today, brothers or sisters, we exclaim: not by works that we have done but by the power of God! And, together, we shout Hallelujah! What God hath wrought! Amen!

Commons

"In my Father's home there's lots and lots of space," John 14:2.

Home. A belonging place for the heart. For the deepest yearnings of the soul. For the fulfilment of the mind's dreams. For restoration of a worn body. Home. A belonging place from which to grow. To receive sustenance. To flourish. To gain capacity. To mature. To learn wisdom. Home. A belonging place for fellowship. For reconciliation. For relationship. For bonding. For troth. For friendship. For family. God's home. The vast commons Jesus establishes for us. In which to share together. To commune together. To participate together. To explore together. To sharpen design together. To discover grace. Again. Forever new. That's where he is now, you know? Jesus. He's there prepping hard to get our places ready, brothers and sisters. We know. Oh, yes! We follow the path he pioneered for us!

To visit with a brother or sister today means we find courage in each other's homeward travel. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus preparing us for home.

Before

"God even gave his own son over for us," Romans 8:32.

Way before the start, God fully intended that any who loved him, whoever he called, these people would morph together into the shape of his son. It was always forever his plan that his son become the first one among many others. Many brothers. Many sisters. So it's a no-brainer that God will gift us everything with this son, too. All things, everything is working together in God's purpose to end up good for his children. God's Spirit helps us in our weakness! Jesus intercedes for us right now! God is for his own! Always has been! God has always planned to glorify his own! Whoever he justified, whoever he called, whoever loved him. So. Who can prevail contrary?

Sharing lives with a brother or sister today, we confess the Risen Christ alive to intercede for us! And, together, we praise God that he prepares a place for us in his imperishable glory.

Purple

"They stripped him of the purple cloak," Mark 15:20.

Why? Mainly, because the cloak was valuable and Jesus was not. As long as the gentiles found this pretender to the Jewish throne worthy of mockery, well, sure!, keep the so-called royal robe on him. But, man's might and justice has spoken: Crucify him! So, having tired of their fun, it's time to get down to the business of teaching this Jew and others like him not to mess with Roman law and order. So they kill Jesus wretchedly on Skull Hill. Friends bury his remains. The authorities seal the stone that had been rolled in front of the tomb and plant guards. Why? To pre-empt resurrection claims. It is finished.

With a brother or sister today, we mourn for our sins that hammered the nails into Jesus, we weep for the cost to him of our freedom. And, together, we return the Lord's cloak quietly, awestruck in thanksgiving for God's undying love.

Entitled

"And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked," Mark 14:51-52.

That's what the young guy did, following the arrested Jesus, what he did when they caught him. And the older guy out in the courtyard, who had followed Jesus there for the trial, when accused of having been with Jesus, swore an oath: I do not know this man. And the rest of the erstwhile followers - they all left Jesus and fled. So. Next time we start feeling righteously entitled in our selfless service as protectors of Jesus and his faith, we just remember who, having been asked, Are you the Christ, Son of the Blessed?, answered: I am. We remember who made the good confession. And who didn't. Who went to the cross. And ...

We greet each other humbly today and remember Jesus' lonely confession before the tribunal. And, together, we bow, confessant, thanking the Christ that even as we fled, he shepherded us back into the arms of his blessed Father.

Again

"Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in her memory," Mark 14:9.

Jesus died for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. God raised him up from the realm of the dead to his own right hand. A few evenings earlier than his execution, Mary wasted a fortune in perfume to anoint a very live Jesus. Though she didn't know it at the time, she prepared his body for burial. And here we are, two continents and two millennia away from that place and moment, executing Jesus' prophecy. Once again.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, we discover that their grand gestures or small kindnesses extend Jesus' grace. And so, together, we speak thanks to God who gets our every detail and nuance, and blesses.

Ruminate

"How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?" Mark 12:35.

For the crowds listening in on those deliberations it was great fun. The debates established Jesus' intimate knowledge of the Scriptures and his wisdom in applying the Word of God to current affairs. They also showed his complete mastery of teaching methods. The days-long disputations ended with no reputed authorities further willing to pursue reasoned discussion with him. That last question stumped them. How many people would claim, like David, they heard God talk to a descendant of theirs, a descendant who wouldn't show up for another thousand years? And then, to speak of that distant descendant as their own master! The foggy absurdity of the matter just stopped everybody from further speculation. The cross - and its revelation - would resolve absurd fog into the awesome clarity of God's mysteries. But that moment still loomed three days ahead. No fun at all.

When we speak with a brother or sister today, we ruminate on the questions Jesus asked that draw us into his mysteries. And, together, we give thanks that his sacrifice resolved our iniquities, and reconciled all debates.

Hungry

"It was not the season for figs," Mark 11:13.

So, what's a hungry Jesus to do with the leafed-out, figless tree? He curses it. Next day it's withered away to its roots. Nobody ever eats from it again. (That never seemed quite fair to me.) Surely, there's a lesson here for the discerning. Well, yes, there is a lesson (after all, this is Jesus we're talking about!), and here it is: Have faith so that whenever you pray and have anything against anyone, forgive them. That's what Jesus said was the moral to the story. Hmm. So what's the connection between an unseasoned fig tree, faith, and forgiveness? Well, as the textbooks often say about problems the authors didn't want to explain: Let that be an exercise for the student to determine. But the point remains. To receive God's forgiveness, one must forgive others. Believe it.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we forgive any wrongs we hold against the other, or against others. We believe God will likewise forgive us. And, together, we give thanks for Jesus' cleansing word.

Bedrock

"He went into Jerusalem, into the temple, and having looked all around he went out," Mark 11:11.

Ever think of Jesus scoping out a temple? Conducting its detailed examination? Maybe. But what's he looking for? Now, the temple proper was maybe about as big as a medium sized church building that holds several hundred people. This is not where Jesus looked - he wouldn't be allowed in (!). But it sat at one end of a vast plaza. The 39-acre plaza rose up to 130 ft. above bedrock on a stone foundation. A tall stone wall with colonnades and enclosed rooms surrounded it. This space was impressive indeed. It could hold well over 100,000 people. The whole generically was called The Temple. This, Jesus examined. So what's he looking for? For a place of prayer for all peoples. And didn't find it.

When we visit with a brother or sister today we take time to pray with one another. And, together, our prayers give thanks to God for his grace and mercy, for his faithfulness even in our lack.

Measures

"Sing praises to Jehovah who is king on Mount Zion!" Psalm 9:11.

But how to sing praises to God when the people cry out in distress? How to tell of God's mighty deeds when the people remain devastated by oppression? How? Here's how: Remember. Remember God. Remember God as the avenger of blood! Remember: God does not forget the cry of the afflicted! Remember: God lifts up from the gates of death! Remember: God unwrapped Jesus' dead body. Remember: God drops oppressors into the pit they dug! Remember: God snares the tyrants in their own nets! Remember God. Remember: God sends the wicked, all that forget him, back to the grave. Remember: God does not forget the needy. Remember: God does not forget the hope of the poor. O God, teach the nations, teach us all, that we are but humans. We remember your mighty deeds: we praise you in hope of your salvation!

We encourage a brother or sister today to remember our Defender who never sleeps, who measures our time and circumstance very carefully. And, together, we give thanks for tomorrow's resurrection.

Derelict

"What do you want me to do for you?" Mark 10:51.

That's what Jesus asked this beggar. The panhandler had called out to Jesus from the roadside. People from the travelling crowd told the guy to shut up, but it just made him yell out all the more. He was blind, but he wasn't deaf, and he had heard that Jesus was passing by. He told him exactly what he wanted Jesus to do for him: Make him see again! So Jesus did. Turns out this derelict was actually a person, with a name - Bartimaeus (we'd call him Bart). Jericho, his home town. Yeah, belonged to somebody's family (old Timaeus' boy, we'd say). We know nothing more about him except what we need to know, that now he followed Jesus. On his way to the cross.

When we visit today with a brother or sister we remember that we, too, received Jesus' healing, that now we follow him. And, together, we give thanks to God that Jesus passed by our side of the road, too.

Whatever

"What do you want me to do for you?" Mark 10:35.

The kingdom of God uproots our implanted sense of authority and rule. It's really hard to get it. Really hard. So Jesus has got to keep explaining. Now, what did James and John want of Jesus? They wanted him to do whatever they asked. Whatever? (!) And whatever really was something: they wanted him to have them rule, right and left, in Jesus' kingdom. So Jesus talks about drinking cups. Drinking cups of woe, rather than of glory. And they must receive a baptism like his. They must die. Jesus' rule arises from serving. Not from forcing it over others. From giving his own life as a ransom. Not from downputting others. His lordship comes by choice, not by might. Jesus heads to the cross outside Jerusalem, and he bids his kingdom to meet him there.

When we chat with a brother or sister today, we remind each other that we live because Jesus served us. And, together, we serve this world gratefully, following our Master in it.

Greater

"What were you discussing on the way?" Mark 9:33.

Jesus seldom asks questions, but when he does, he puts our hearts on the examining table. But his disciples won't say. The Word, of course, does say: They had been conversing, well, OK, arguing. About what? Well, what else (?) - about which of them was the greater. Our hearts hurt because Jesus had opened up his heart's distress that soon he would suffer and die miserably. (In fairness, they don't get it. Nevertheless.) They focused rather on a coming triumphal entry into Jerusalem and establishing reign in the kingdom of God. So Jesus must open hearts to the nature of God's kingdom: Service. To be first in the kingdom is to become last of all, servant of all. It is to receive a child into a warm-hearted hug. For Jesus. And for God.

When we visit with a brother or sister today, we tend to real needs through which we may serve one another. And, together, we give thanks to the One whose heart met our need so completely.

Shrines

"Let's put up three shrines, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah," Mark 9:5.

So speak terrified men, when their ignorance overtakes their tongues. At any rate, Peter's wisdom (or its lack) led to those religious words. So what had happened? Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. And then, Jesus morphs in front of their faces. And then, his clothes start shining blindingly. And then, Moses and Elijah, both prophets centuries long dead, show up to talk with Jesus. And then, fog rolls in. Scary times. Most of Jesus' work was doing doable (but rare otherwise) kindnesses with needy people. These gentle deeds got punctuated occasionally by sheer terror for his followers. So the bewildered in their fear just kind of made up stuff to say. And then, God's imperative radiates through the fog: This is my beloved Son; listen to him! And then, next thing you know, everything's back to normal, just Jesus and the three guys.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, rather than to invent religious talk, we listen with each other to the Son of God who loves us and died for us and lives for us. And, together, we give thanks for the Word that brings life despite terrors.

Worthy

"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected," Mark 8:31.

The moment his disciples discovered Jesus as the Messiah, he began to teach that he would die agonizingly. Plainly. Rejected by elders, chief priests, scribes. Plainly. But that three days later he'd rise again. Plainly. Then with intention and deliberation he announced that any disciple of his must deny himself, take up his own cross, and follow Jesus. That's the only way to save one's own life. Life, as Jesus would have it, isn't about ease and securing happiness (but we all want these!), it's about losing one's life in Jesus' sake. And in the gospel's sake. And in that loss (right there!), to find it.

Today, in mutual anticipation with a brother or sister, we look ahead to Jesus' appearing with the holy angels in the Father's glory. And, together, we rejoice being counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name.

Assay

"For the Father is looking for these types to worship him." John 4:23.

So, Yes, life is a test. No, not an experiment. A test. Not an experiment where they throw stuff at a lab rat for fun, just to see what it will do. Not at all like that. But a test. Definitely a test. Like an assay to prove ore for gold. A test that reveals what the assayer's looking for. And this Assayer's looking for just this type of person: who will worship God for real. Yes, who will worship in spirit and in truth. Testing for persons whose deeds synch with God's interests. God's on a quest to find just such persons. That's what Judgement Day is all about. The test that proves for what God seeks.

As we see each other today, brothers or sisters, we worship our Father as we back each other in life's challenges. As we become neighbors to each other, like Jesus to us. And, together, the praises of our lips synch with the realities of our deeds.