Uplook - August 31, 2024
Happy Saturday!
It is the last day of August which means 2024 is now 2/3 complete and time is moving on quite swiftly it seems.
This week I had occasion to have some time with several of our grandchildren and we entered into a discussion about we are governed by time and yet God operates outside the realm of time and is not constrained by it. God choses to enter our time/space on a regular basis because of His great love for all of humanity. From the beginning, the creator entered into the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day to spend time with Adam and Eve. Even after humanity’s terrible plunge (theologians call it “The Fall) into sin, God chose to enter our world time and time again. Old Testament examples of God entering time and interacting with human beings abound including Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Moses, Joshua, Elijah and all the prophets, David, Solomon, and many more.
In the New Testament, we are in awe reading John’s words: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “ John 1:14 Jesus, the second person of the Divine Trinity, came as a human (incarnate) and set up his tent in our neighborhood (world). It was then once again possible to see bodily the love of the creator embodied right before us in the person of Jesus Christ as he walked the shores of Galilee and calmed it’s angry storms. Living bodily for over 33 human years he was crucified, rose again 3 days later and after 40 more days ascended back to heaven. And yet God’s interaction with humanity was far from over.
Jesus promised two things before his departure. The first is that he would return and the second is that in the interim time frame, he would send the Holy Spirit as an advocate, guide, comforter, and teacher. We are currently in that interim time frame with the Holy Spirit present and available to us as believers. The 3rd person of the Divine Trinity has been sent from eternity into time, specifically for your benefit and mine. May we not take this great opportunity for granted. And while we learn, follow, and embrace the comfort offered by the Holy Spirit may we always remember Jesus’ promise to return. We have a beloved sister whom we have known for over 50 years (and have been her pastor as well) who always signs her cards with the phrase, “Perhaps today!” in anticipation of that very promise. May we not lose track of time and find ourselves too busy to watch.
Housekeeping Items
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
It is the last day of August which means 2024 is now 2/3 complete and time is moving on quite swiftly it seems.
This week I had occasion to have some time with several of our grandchildren and we entered into a discussion about we are governed by time and yet God operates outside the realm of time and is not constrained by it. God choses to enter our time/space on a regular basis because of His great love for all of humanity. From the beginning, the creator entered into the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day to spend time with Adam and Eve. Even after humanity’s terrible plunge (theologians call it “The Fall) into sin, God chose to enter our world time and time again. Old Testament examples of God entering time and interacting with human beings abound including Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Moses, Joshua, Elijah and all the prophets, David, Solomon, and many more.
In the New Testament, we are in awe reading John’s words: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “ John 1:14 Jesus, the second person of the Divine Trinity, came as a human (incarnate) and set up his tent in our neighborhood (world). It was then once again possible to see bodily the love of the creator embodied right before us in the person of Jesus Christ as he walked the shores of Galilee and calmed it’s angry storms. Living bodily for over 33 human years he was crucified, rose again 3 days later and after 40 more days ascended back to heaven. And yet God’s interaction with humanity was far from over.
Jesus promised two things before his departure. The first is that he would return and the second is that in the interim time frame, he would send the Holy Spirit as an advocate, guide, comforter, and teacher. We are currently in that interim time frame with the Holy Spirit present and available to us as believers. The 3rd person of the Divine Trinity has been sent from eternity into time, specifically for your benefit and mine. May we not take this great opportunity for granted. And while we learn, follow, and embrace the comfort offered by the Holy Spirit may we always remember Jesus’ promise to return. We have a beloved sister whom we have known for over 50 years (and have been her pastor as well) who always signs her cards with the phrase, “Perhaps today!” in anticipation of that very promise. May we not lose track of time and find ourselves too busy to watch.
Housekeeping Items
- Musicians - We will be having a musicians meeting and resuming practices this month in anticipation of Special Meetings and Christmas. Please be sure to sign in to the music schedule (on our website or app) for the latest dates which will be posted there sometime this week.
- Brooklyn Special Meetings – I have been asked to speak at the upcoming Brooklyn, NY special meetings (Sept 1-8). Lori and I plan to travel midweek and would appreciate your prayers for us and for the services here in Seattle over the two Wednesdays and one Sunday we will be gone. It could be next week’s Uplook will be late due to our travel.
- Chehalis Special Meetings - After discussing with many, we have decided to recess Seattle services for Sunday, September 22 so our saints can provide full support for our sister church in Chehalis for the special meetings. A flyer is posted in the narthex with details.
- Seattle Special Meetings – Looking forward to our own special meetings scheduled for October 19-20. A flier is posted in the narthex and will soon be added to our website and Facebook page for more details. Please begin praying for these meetings
God bless you all,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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