Uplook - July 26, 2025
Greetings from Kawasaki Japan,
I'm writing this after 9 pm on Saturday evening here which is before most of you will be up in Seattle. We traveled safely by God's grace and are looking forward to church with Bro. Yoshiki and the saints here tomorrow.
My text for tomorrow is from John 15. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15:1). By God's grace we hope to speak first about how important it is to embrace and plant the "true vine" ...which is Christ. There are so many voices in the world today but Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life".
While the metaphor Jesus uses in the passage seems to be grapevines which were prevelent in Israel, I have been thinking about the Japanese Bonsai tree. Actually, Bonsai began in China hundreds of years ago but the Japanese have perfected the growth of these small trees and turned them into an art form.
I am struck by the professional care put into not just the planting and watering of these miniature trees but more importantly the pruning which must take place for them to provide the beauty and elegance for which they are known. They don't bear "fruit" like grapevines but they do exude a sense of beauty and peace for which they are famous.
Jesus said that pruning happens to bring forth fruit which remains in our lives. And I think that creative beauty (mirroring the creator) in our character and peace in the Hebrew sense of "shalom" or thriving wholnesss and completeness in our lives qualify as fruit right along with the more traditional fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians chapter 5.
So...today, may the Lord work in all of our hearts, pruning away what is unnecessary or unprofitable in order to bring forth in us the fruit which only He can give. God bless you all.
Housekeeping details
Youth Camp - Please remember to have your campers at the church before 8 am on Monday and then plan to be back at the church before 10:30 Saturday to pick them up. In the interim ...pray for safe travel and many spiritual blessings.
Camp Meetings - Please pray for the South Korea camp meeting which begins on July 31 and goes through August 3. Also for the many other camp meetings around the word which are in progress or will soon start.
BB
William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
I'm writing this after 9 pm on Saturday evening here which is before most of you will be up in Seattle. We traveled safely by God's grace and are looking forward to church with Bro. Yoshiki and the saints here tomorrow.
My text for tomorrow is from John 15. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15:1). By God's grace we hope to speak first about how important it is to embrace and plant the "true vine" ...which is Christ. There are so many voices in the world today but Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life".
While the metaphor Jesus uses in the passage seems to be grapevines which were prevelent in Israel, I have been thinking about the Japanese Bonsai tree. Actually, Bonsai began in China hundreds of years ago but the Japanese have perfected the growth of these small trees and turned them into an art form.
I am struck by the professional care put into not just the planting and watering of these miniature trees but more importantly the pruning which must take place for them to provide the beauty and elegance for which they are known. They don't bear "fruit" like grapevines but they do exude a sense of beauty and peace for which they are famous.
Jesus said that pruning happens to bring forth fruit which remains in our lives. And I think that creative beauty (mirroring the creator) in our character and peace in the Hebrew sense of "shalom" or thriving wholnesss and completeness in our lives qualify as fruit right along with the more traditional fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians chapter 5.
So...today, may the Lord work in all of our hearts, pruning away what is unnecessary or unprofitable in order to bring forth in us the fruit which only He can give. God bless you all.
Housekeeping details
Youth Camp - Please remember to have your campers at the church before 8 am on Monday and then plan to be back at the church before 10:30 Saturday to pick them up. In the interim ...pray for safe travel and many spiritual blessings.
Camp Meetings - Please pray for the South Korea camp meeting which begins on July 31 and goes through August 3. Also for the many other camp meetings around the word which are in progress or will soon start.
BB
William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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