Concert

"See just how good, how pleasant when brothers live together?" Psalm 133:1.

Who? Brothers. Sisters. Family. God's people. Doing what? Living. Dwelling. Abiding. How? Together. In unity. One. In peace. Getting along. In concert. It's like a perfume, a precious oil, a balm poured onto the head, drenching hair, running down lavishly. Onto the collar, infusing its material with sweet aroma. Yes. It's like a heavy dew on parched hills. So, just how good is it when God's people live in harmony? This good: There, in that place, Jehovah commanded the blessing. The blessing? What blessing? Eternal life.

When we meet a brother or sister today, we recognize Jesus has bought abiding peace with each other and with God. And, together, we live thankfully to our God for Jesus' peace.

Saw

"One of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection," Acts 1:22.

You had to be there. If you were one of the twelve apostles you had to have had been there. With Jesus. From his baptism to his going up into the sky. Because you eye-witnessed Jesus: Yes, I saw him do this and that, I heard him say such and such. Yes, I saw him killed. Yes, I saw his body buried. Yes, I saw him alive days later. I touched the nail scars in his hands and feet. The scar from the spear in his side. The Jesus that died is the Jesus I saw alive later! And. You had to have been chosen by Jesus. If you weren't there, you're not a witness to those things. That's what made you one of new Jerusalem's twelve city wall foundations. And, yeah. Jesus prayed that people who believed through their word would be one. Yep. Jesus said believers who had not seen him would be blessed. That's what they told us.

As we visit with a brother or sister today, we recognize a deep debt of gratitude for those martyred witnesses to faith. And, together, we give thanks to God that he provided for us faithful witnesses to Jesus. Sky kingdom.

Listening

"Honor me so as to give me offerings to show thanks," Psalm 50:23.

Who's talking? Jehovah God. But who's listening? Dear God, our God: We're listening to you! We know you have no need. You don't need any thing. You need no thing from us. You don't need anything we've got. We know. Every treasure, every hidden treasure in the cosmos, is yours already. We know. What you want is our real thanks. So, humbly, we receive your discipline. We won't ignore your word. We won't loot. We won't joint adultery. We won't frame deceit. Won't speak evil. No. You are holy. Instead. We will live faithful. Faithful to you. To the covenant. Faithful to the sacrifice. Of your son. Yes. We will demonstrate our heart's thanks for Christ. All glory to you!

When we speak with a brother or sister today, we will honor our God for his covenant with us. And, together, we will live out thanksgiving to our most able, and good, and gracious God.

Red

"Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he interpreted in all the Scriptures the things about himself," Luke 24:27.

That's what Jesus, recently made alive, did while the three of them walked along the road to Emmaus. Now, in Jesus' day the Bible (the Hebrew Scriptures, right?) organized into three great sections: the Torah (Moses' Law/Instruction), the Prophets (starting with Joshua), and the Writings (the rest of the Scriptures starting with Psalms). It's still divided like that in Jewish circles. Anyway. In some modern Bibles there's a habit to render Jesus' words in red print with everything else in customary black print. But Jesus' interpretation illustrates that, if we like red, the whole Bible should be red print. First, it's all God's word, not merely favorite portions. And, second, it all points to Christ.

We listen with a brother or sister today and hear of God's phenomenal work to redeem humans in Jesus. And, together, thankfully, we follow Jesus home.

Fulfilled

"Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled," Luke 24:44.

Who's talking? Jesus. (Risen from the dead.) Who's he talking with? His followers. Why's he saying this? Because they saw him killed. Because they had seen him, dead. Because they saw him buried in a tomb. It was finished. And now they see him - see his hands and feet with crucifixion scars. And now they see him eating broiled fish. And now they hear him talking. Reminding that all the scriptures had said all this had had to happen. And now they hear new instructions for the road ahead. Their job. Preach repentance and forgiveness to all ethnics. In Jesus' name. He's coming back. God's still working in power. Right now. Not finished. Sky kingdom.

Visiting with a brother or sister today reminds us of our communion in Christ, living and acting in his congregation. And, together, thankfully, we proclaim Christ's death until he comes!

Done

"Without ceasing, I give thanks for you," Ephesians 1:16.

Who gives thanks? Paul. To whom gives he thanks? to God. For whom? for you. That is, for us. That is, for Jesus' body. That is, for Jesus' church. That is, for Jesus' fulness. That is, for the ones over whom God made Jesus the head. That is, for the ones God made Jesus head over every other single thing out there. And to what end prays he? That God may give you (us) wisdom. Give you (us) to understand Him. That you (we) may know the hope. Know the richness of God's inheritance. That you (we) know God's unmeasurable greatness. Greatness of His power. Power to raise Christ out of the dead. Power to seat Christ at His right hand in the skies. A prayer that you (we), the congregation, get it. What God has done.

When we meet a brother or sister today, we glory with each other in the mighty power of God. And, together, we bow in thanksgiving for the God who saved us, together with, forever. Sky kingdom.

Soar

"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me," Psalm 63:8.

Our souls thirst for you, O God, our God! Our whole being thirsts for you like a man in a desert. We want to follow you because your love is better than life. So we will praise you. We have seen your power, your glory! We saw it in your dwelling place - among your people! We saw it at the empty tomb! You satisfy better than choicest foods. Our lips sing your praises as we think about you through the night hours. Yes, because you have been our salvation. Your wings lift us as we soar in your joy. And their every stroke drives evil powers to the bottom. We joy in you, O God! You ever have been our help.

Visiting with a brother or sister today reminds of our God's satisfaction in Christ. And, in this place of prayer together, we offer him thanks and praise.

Space

"We went outside the city gate by the riverside where we thought there was a place of prayer," Acts 16:13.

And, sure enough, there was just such a place. So, what makes a place of prayer, a place of prayer? Does the space itself, in itself, have some sacred quality to it? Is there a line on the ground such that when you cross that line you leave the profane space and enter a holy one? Well, unquestionably, in our own human minds we think like that. But what makes for a place of prayer is this: people praying. Where do we usually pray? Maybe a corner of the living room? A garden? In wilderness? Favorite chair? Church building? It's the praying, not the space, that makes it holy. Because no matter where that place is, in prayer we meet God. He was already there. Listening. Holy.

We meet a brother or sister today and find in that meeting, a place of prayer. And, thankfully, together we meet God.

Pause

"Sing praises to God!" Psalm 47:6.

People: Clap your hands! People: Sing loud, joyful songs to God! Because Jehovah, the Highest of all, is wonderful! God is the great king over all the earth! Because, for us, God has overcome every foe. Because God chose his people in Christ! Because God chose our heritage in Jesus! God rose with a shout! With trumpet sounds! So: sing praises to God! Yes! Sing praises! Did we hear? Sing praises to our King! Because God is King over the whole earth! Sing praises in the psalms! Because God reigns! Because God's on the throne! Every leader of the nations is joining with the people of Abraham's God! Because they all belong to God. Because God's supreme!

Next time we see a brother or sister today we'll pause and praise our God. And, together, we sing grateful praises throughout his earth.

Incomparable

"We are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory," Romans 5:2.

Happy? Yes! Happy! Happy because of what? Hope. Hope of what? Glory. God's glory. (What's God's glory? Everything more than ever dreamed by human capacity to imagine!) Where'd the hope come from? Hope came from where we stand. So, where do we stand? In God's grace. We've got right standing right now in his generosity. How'd we get that standing? We got there by faith. Faith in ... what? Faith in who: the Lord, Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus about what? Faith that he was given over to die for our sins. And? Yes - faith that he was raised from death to make us right with God. What did that do? Trusting Jesus brought us peace with God. And what did that do? Peace with God brought us hope. Hope for what? The glory of God. Incomparable glory to come.

When we visit with a brother or sister today we joy with each other in the hope of God's glory. And, together, we give thanks to God for the confidence we have in great expectation. Sky kingdom.

Unashamed

"You have sorrow now but I will see you again," John 16:22.

Who's talking? Jesus. Who's he talking to? His friends (that's what he called them). And what's with them? They're grieving. Why? Because of death. They're anticipating his death, to be sure. And we all understand death's grief, don't we? But they don't understand resurrection. (but then, who does? we talk about it. we want it. we hope for it. but we don't see it. we don't experience it.) But Jesus does. So he talks about parturition. About a woman's labor. Her agony. Her sorrow. And about her joy when she's delivered the little one. Jesus said it's like that. Death brings deep sorrow. But, Jesus said: I will see you again; no one will take your joy from you. So that's where we are: we're waiting. Waiting to see him in joy. Sky kingdom.

As we look forward to seeing a brother or sister today, just so we anticipate seeing Christ, risen in glory. And, together, we give grateful thanks to God in unashamed hope of joy.

Pitching

"Look! God's tent - with humanity!" Revelation 21:3.

That's what it says: God's setting up his tent to live with people. Tent? Yes. Tent. He's camping out with us. But it's really no surprise, is it? When ancient Israel meandered through the wilderness, God's glory filled a literal tent at camp's center. But then (and we get this), remember where it says that the Word became flesh? (of course!) Even there it says he tented with us! That tent? Jesus' body, Yes, flesh and blood. Glory as of the only Son from the Father settled in with us. And now - new Jerusalem! - God's pitching his tent once again - the tent? His peoples. No need for sun here. Why? Because his glory fills them: He will be their God and they his children. Wow! Sky kingdom.

When we visit a brother or sister today, we come in sight of God's glory breaking into our lives. And, together, gloriously, we say, Thank You!

Hey

"Praise Jehovah!" Psalm 148:1.

You, skies: Praise the Lord! You, heavens: Praise the Lord! You, angels! You, armies! Hey, you! Sun, moon, shining stars: Praise the Lord! You, deep space: Praise the Lord! You, floods beyond the sky: Praise the Lord! Your God commanded, and you happened! God decreed and it goes on and on! You, Earth: Praise the Lord! You, monsters in the deep: Praise the Lord! You, atmospheric powers, lightning, hail, snow, mists, hurricanes: Praise the Lord! You, mountains, hills, fruit trees, evergreens: Praise the Lord! You, wild things, domesticated animals, reptiles, birds: Praise the Lord! You, kings, nations, managers, rulers: Praise the Lord! You, young men, young women, elders, children: Praise the Lord! You, all you: Praise the Lord, the One and Only! Why? because he raised up power for his people's praise!

When we visit a brother or sister today, we remind each other of the Christ God raised up. And, together, we praise God's power to save.

Whores

"God gave even to the ethnics repentance into forever life," Acts 11:18.

(Oh, we remember ethnics refers to non-Jewish people, right? gentiles.) So what do Jesus-followers do with that? Here's what: They glorify God. And why do they do that? Because they're not God. And they know that. God does what God does and if God says he cleaned a thing, it's clean. Purified. No longer common. Not everyday. Not standard issue. Not ill-bred. Not vulgar. The thing's pure. Immaculate. Innocent. Chaste. God takes whores and turns them into virgins. Better believe it. Proof? Here: He took us. And made us holy. Even us ethnics. That's what Jesus' cross cleansed. Repentance into forever life. Sky kingdom.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, we glorify God for the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. And, together, we give thanks that he receives our repentance and returns eternal life to even us.

Fret

"Delight yourself in Jehovah and he will give you the desires of your heart," Psalm 37:4.

That's what it says. And, too: Don't get upset because of the bad guys - they won't last long. Instead, trust the Lord - do good stuff anyway. Live in the land and enjoy its safety. Depend on the Lord - he'll take care of you. He'll exhibit the good and right things you do in time. Yes. That's what it says. So. Dear God, when we start to get all anxious about stuff, we wait patiently for you, instead. We won't envy the bad guys who seem get ahead. We won't fret over them. No. Thank you for letting regular people enjoy the land. Thank you for your complete peace deep in our hearts. Praise you, Lord, for becoming our sure, safe refuge. You ever deliver us to joy!

We meet today with a brother or sister for no other reason than to enjoy our God's promises with each other. And, together, we give thanks for his strength in troubled times. Sky kingdom.

Ethnics

"The ethnics are fellow heirs and fellow body members and fellow participants of the promises in Christ Jesus through the Good News," Ephesians 3:6.

The ethnics? Well, it means everybody that's not Jewish. The word the apostle penned there is the background word for the English word, ethnic. It's usually rendered in our English Bibles as: Gentiles. So, if you're not Jewish, you're one the ethnics (Gentiles) it's talking about. Well, what it's really talking about is the great mystery. The mystery that nobody dreamed until the Good News (the Gospel, right?) came. What's the amazing mystery? This: the ethnics become heirs together with, they become one body together with, they become sharers together with. Together with? Yeah, that's what it says. Together with each other (Jew or ethnic) in Christ's promises of eternal life. Nobody's ethnic gets left out. Sky kingdom.

We receive each other, brother or sister, in the one body of Christ, whatever our ethnicity. And, together with, we praise our one Father through our one Lord, Jesus.

Pursue

"I give them eternal life," John 10:28.

That's what he does. Everybody's got some purpose they pursue. Sometimes it's given to them by somebody else, sometimes they choose it, sometimes they couldn't verbalize it, it just sort of happens by some default thing. But everybody's got one. Jesus, too. His purpose: eternal life. He gives it. That's what he does. But not to just anybody. No. Not to anybody who won't believe he is the Christ. Nope. But. To anybody that does believe he is the Christ, yes, he gives forever life. And they will be forever not destroyed. Not at all. No one can snatch them away. They're his flock. Yep. His sheep hear his voice. And he knows them. And they follow him. And, too, nobody can take them out of his Father's hand, nope. Yep, God gave them to Jesus. That's what he does. Yep. Sky kingdom.

We catch up with a brother or sister today in order to hear our shepherd's voice. And, thankful, secure, together, we receive Jesus' forever gift.

Consummate

"They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore," Revelation 7:15.

Therefore? Therefore, who? Who: the ones coming out of the great tribulation (i.e., who lived in faith, faithfully to God, on earth). Only a few? Oh, so many! So many you can't even count them. Therefore, what? What: they're standing right at the throne of God, serving him all the time. Therefore, what then? What then: He who sits on the throne will shelter them. (Green pastures.) They won't ever starve again. They won't ever be parched again. (Shall not want.) No sun will ever scorch them again. (Fear no evil.) Why not? Because. Because the Lamb. Because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them to springs of living water. (Untroubled waters.) And God. And God will wipe away every tear. (Home. Home at last.)

We speak with a brother or sister today and tell of the hope Jesus' blood brings. And, together, we give thanks for God's consummate washing.

Good

"And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever," Psalm 23:6.

It's about the shepherd, not the sheep. The shepherd, not the sheep, precludes shortage. Refreshing rest comes by the shepherd's guidance, not by the sheep. The shepherd, not the sheep, leads to the right way to live. Why does the shepherd do this? Because that's his way. Persistent courage in the face of deadly danger grows from the shepherd's care, not from the sheep's nature. Deep consolation roots in the shepherd's discipline, not the sheep's resilience. Overwhelming assurance arises from the good shepherd's instruction, not from the sheep's goodness. The shepherd, not the sheep, endows bounty in the face of opposition. The shepherd, not the sheep, blesses overabundantly. But doesn't the sheep need to obey? Well, duh!, yes, of course! What kind of a question is that? Else, the sheep got eaten by the wolf. Everybody knows that. Anyway. Back to the point: The shepherd, not the sheep, guarantees home.

As we meet today with a brother or sister, we glory in our Shepherd's love that leads us safely home. And, together, we give thanks for the Shepherd who laid down his life to the wolf for us.

Counsel

"And now I have set you before God and the message of his grace," Acts 20:32.

Who has set whom before God? The apostle Paul has handed over to God the elders of the Ephesian congregation. Hmm. How were these elders, so to speak, in Paul's care to that point? Well, he, Paul, had worked among them selflessly for years to teach and show them Christ. He had warned of twisted dangers ahead and of their need to keep alert, to feed God's precious congregation, bought with Jesus' blood! But mainly, Paul had declared God's whole counsel with them: The Word of God's grace. He would now leave, so they must continue in that Word, on their own, with God. Why? because the Word of God's grace is able to build up and to deliver the inheritance God has for all his holy people. Sky kingdom.

As we share with a brother or sister today, we find strength in the presence of our God. And, together, we give thanks for his grace that grows us into Christ and secures heaven.

Vision

"In your light do we see light," Psalm 36:9.

O Lord, Jehovah God! Your love reaches up to the heavens, your loyalty to the skies! Your goodness ranges past mountaintops, ocean depths shallow in your justice. You protect all your creatures. Your precious love covers us in the shadow of your wings. Everyone enjoys feasting in your house. You give drink from your river of pleasure. Life's fountain belongs to you. Your light brings light to our eyes, and we can see. To know you - Yes! to be known by you - brings your love and goodness flooding into good hearts. Keep us from arrogance. Keep us unyielding against bullies. They cannot rise from your judgment. Oh, God, continue your steadfast love!

God's light awakens eyes today that we see Him true. We recognize each other, brothers or sisters together, and glory in God's vision with thanksgiving.

Himself

"God himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you," 1 Peter 5:10.

What God? The God of all grace. The God who called you into his eternal glory. The God who called you in Christ. (The only God that is, was, or ever will be.) This God. This God called whom? You. All you. (Us). This God will do it. Himself. Will do what? Mend you. Fix you. Brace you. Found you. When? After you've suffered a little while. Not a long time. And whom's the object of the verbs? You. And who's the subject of all the actions? God. Himself. Will do it. Sky kingdom.

We visit today with a brother or sister to remind each other to hang in there a little while longer: God's at work! And, together, we praise the Lord God Almighty, the Holy One, and the Lamb, saying: Thank you, forever!

Breakfast

"Come to breakfast!" John 21:12.

So, what do you do the third time you show yourself alive after having died? Do you walk through walls? Do you rise up into the sky? Do you give inspirational talks about spirituality? Well, if you're Jesus, you invite your exhausted, hard working, frustrated friends to breakfast. And, oddly enough, you don't just wave your hand over the rocks and turn them into bread; you actually get a fire going on the beach and cook the food. And when it's done, and they're there, you, personally, serve them grilled fish and toast. That's how the Risen Christ does it.

When we meet with a brother or sister today, perhaps at a meal, we confess the Lord provides all we need for life (eternal), liberty (from the Law's curse), and the pursuit of happiness (in a world without end). And, thankful, we, together the living body of Christ, invite everybody around to breakfast. He lives!

Voluntarily

"They sang a new song," Revelation 5:9.

Who sang it? Four monstrous creatures and 24 elders. Where are they singing? High in the sky, encircling a grand throne. But, wait! What was the old song? This: Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power! Ok. And what's the new song? This: To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Ok. So how is the new song different from the old song? The new song includes a Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, but now alive. Yeah. And (again) who's singing this? The 4 monsters and 24 elders. And millions of angels. And every creature in the sky. And on earth. And under the earth. And in the sea. And every, single, being, in them. We'll all of us be there, at that moment, for that moment. Voluntarily.

Visiting with a brother or sister today, we choose to worship God and his Christ even on earth, well below the sky. And, together, we give blessing and honor and glory and power: we say: Thank You!

Profit

"What profit is there in my death?" Psalm 30:9.

Clearly, no profit remains to the dead person. But it does not say that the person who fails to profit is the one who died. Not this verse. Rather, the one who fails to profit is God. Interesting, isn't it? And just how does God fail to profit in death? Or, to ask it differently, what constitutes profit for God? Praise from thankful people. But what praise does a dusty grave give? What praise does dirt give? What profit lies in clods? (Clearly: none.) So. When we cry out to God for help, and he helps us, he turns our mourning into dancing, he releases us from sadness and brings on gladness. And our glory sings God's praise and thanksgiving to him forever. God's profit.

When we recognize each other today, brother or sister, we joy in the sky kingdom's fellowship. And, together, we give God his profit thankfully, praising his grace forever.

Terrible

"He's done terrible things against your people," Acts 9:13.

Who's talking? Ananias. (The NT mentions 3 Ananiases: a high priest that had Paul's face slapped, a believer that keeled over dead because he lied to the Holy Spirit, and this one, a good guy.) Who's Ananias talking about? Saul. (The NT mentions 2 Sauls: an ancient king of Israel, and this one, an unbeliever terrorist from Tarsus.) Who's Ananias talking to? The Lord. Why? because the Lord told him to help Saul regain his sight. (He had been blinded.) What's Ananias saying? He's reminding the Lord that Saul is a bad guy destroying his church. Here's the thing. God's at work in the hearts of bad guys, and we don't know anything about it until the deed's done. So in less vain moments, his people pray even for terrorists.

When we see each other today, brothers or sisters, we remind each other that God is at work even when we don't see it. And, together, we thank the Lord that he worked in our hearts to create his congregation including us.