Uplook - April 20, 2024
Dear Seattle Saints,
I was at the church yesterday morning to see off our group headed to a “Youth Summit” comprised of youth from nearly 10 of our Northwest congregations. Over 100 young people have gathered at a camp in Southern Oregon for a time of fellowship, learning, worship, and prayer. The theme for the weekend is “A More Excellent Way! Discover Christ in Paul's epistle to the Corinthians”. We (and they) live in a world with so many voices calling in different directions. Thank the Lord that in Christ and His redemption we have found “A More Excellent Way”. This phrase is quoted from 1 Corinthians 12:31 concluding a discussion about spiritual gifts and as a prelude to Paul’s famous discourse about love.
The King James translation of the scriptures uses the English word “charity” to describe the Greek word “agape” which describes empathetic, self-sacrificial and abiding love. The Greek language uses several other words to describe other facets of love. Some of the more familiar include “eros” (passion, romantic love ) and “philia” (intimate friendship love), and “storge” (familial or patriotic love). C.S. Lewis wrote a book entitled “The Four Loves” which provide some deeper explanation of each if you are interested in further study.
John the Apostle was known as the apostle of love, and it is said that as an old man he was carried before a congregation to speak and his simple message went something like, “My little children, love one another.” This is consistent with the overtone of the Gospel which he wrote. Remember the familiar words “For God so loved the world…” and “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end” and “lovest me more than these?”. The same theme extends to the three letters which are attributed to him as well. Maybe this is because of these words of Jesus:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
May that “More Excellent Way” infuse every part of our hearts and lives (and the lives of our young people). May it shine out as the paramount voice among the many today and may the Holy Spirit prepare ears and hearts to heart its truth in the midst of the noise of many twisted ideas and falsehoods. Again in Jesus own words:
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32
Housekeeping notes:
Pastor travels – Lori and I plan to be in Woodlake, CA over next weekend for their annual special meetings, themed around “Passing the Mantle”. We would appreciate your prayers for our travel and for the meetings. Bro. Ryan Trotter will be our guest speaker in Seattle for next Sunday so please support him with your prayers and attendance. Looking forward, Lori and I will travel again in late May to our Brooklyn NY church for their annual revival meetings and hope to spend a couple of extra days visiting her brother who lives in Virginia before our return home by month end.
Memorial Service - Sis. Denise Macomber (wife of Bro. Randy) in Chehalis went to be with Jesus this week after some time of illness. Please pray for the Macomber family during this challenging time of grief and loss. A memorial service in her honor has been scheduled on May 25 in our Chehalis Church at 2 pm.
Blessings,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
I was at the church yesterday morning to see off our group headed to a “Youth Summit” comprised of youth from nearly 10 of our Northwest congregations. Over 100 young people have gathered at a camp in Southern Oregon for a time of fellowship, learning, worship, and prayer. The theme for the weekend is “A More Excellent Way! Discover Christ in Paul's epistle to the Corinthians”. We (and they) live in a world with so many voices calling in different directions. Thank the Lord that in Christ and His redemption we have found “A More Excellent Way”. This phrase is quoted from 1 Corinthians 12:31 concluding a discussion about spiritual gifts and as a prelude to Paul’s famous discourse about love.
The King James translation of the scriptures uses the English word “charity” to describe the Greek word “agape” which describes empathetic, self-sacrificial and abiding love. The Greek language uses several other words to describe other facets of love. Some of the more familiar include “eros” (passion, romantic love ) and “philia” (intimate friendship love), and “storge” (familial or patriotic love). C.S. Lewis wrote a book entitled “The Four Loves” which provide some deeper explanation of each if you are interested in further study.
John the Apostle was known as the apostle of love, and it is said that as an old man he was carried before a congregation to speak and his simple message went something like, “My little children, love one another.” This is consistent with the overtone of the Gospel which he wrote. Remember the familiar words “For God so loved the world…” and “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end” and “lovest me more than these?”. The same theme extends to the three letters which are attributed to him as well. Maybe this is because of these words of Jesus:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
May that “More Excellent Way” infuse every part of our hearts and lives (and the lives of our young people). May it shine out as the paramount voice among the many today and may the Holy Spirit prepare ears and hearts to heart its truth in the midst of the noise of many twisted ideas and falsehoods. Again in Jesus own words:
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:32
Housekeeping notes:
Pastor travels – Lori and I plan to be in Woodlake, CA over next weekend for their annual special meetings, themed around “Passing the Mantle”. We would appreciate your prayers for our travel and for the meetings. Bro. Ryan Trotter will be our guest speaker in Seattle for next Sunday so please support him with your prayers and attendance. Looking forward, Lori and I will travel again in late May to our Brooklyn NY church for their annual revival meetings and hope to spend a couple of extra days visiting her brother who lives in Virginia before our return home by month end.
Memorial Service - Sis. Denise Macomber (wife of Bro. Randy) in Chehalis went to be with Jesus this week after some time of illness. Please pray for the Macomber family during this challenging time of grief and loss. A memorial service in her honor has been scheduled on May 25 in our Chehalis Church at 2 pm.
Blessings,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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