Uplook - March 16, 2024
Dear Saints,
Warm greetings on this beautiful sunny Saturday. We have had the privilege of living in several different locations over my years of being a pastor. They have ranged from places whose average number of sunny days was 277 per year and average annual rainfall was about 12 inches (Woodlake, CA) to here in Seattle where the average number of sunny days is 152 per year and the average annual rainfall is about 40 inches. Possibly in the middle of those two extremes was our time in Medford, OR (also our original hometown) with an average of 195 sunny days per year and average annual rainfall of nearly 20 inches. We used to joke about how the people in Southern California (I suspect Arizona as well) think they “own the sun.” I remember when we first moved there, someone in an office rose to open the windows during a rainstorm. The children got all excited about worms on the sidewalks, etc. I remember responding with “Where I’m from rain is not an ‘event’ but normal life”. Over the years we have lived in small towns and in large cities and have discovered literally the meaning of learning to be content in whatever STATE we are in😊. Of course, that is a bit of a twist on Paul’s words to the Philippian church.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11–13
Paul was obviously talking about much more than his physical location, the number of sunny days or days with rain, expanding it to include the entire situation in which he found himself at any time. By God’s grace, he was able to “learn” from each location and situation a quality which we also can find both useful and necessary – CONTENTMENT.
In Christ we are offered abundant life but we are often challenged to comprehend just what such life really looks like and how to thrive and be content within it. When people have asked us through the years how we have fared in the various places we have lived our response has been that we have always tried to “look for the good” in each place. The “good” for us has ranged from fresh oranges in our yard to world class music teachers for our children, from warm beaches to lovey deep green forests, from one temperate season to four definitely different seasons in the year, all depending upon the location. We have found favorite shops and restaurants and beautiful sites all along the way. I suppose there have been a few negatives along the way as well…but we try not to focus up them as they do not help us “learn” contentment.
I share all of that in an attempt to encourage you to “look for the good” not only in the weather (on this beautiful sunny day in Seattle…which we never take for granted) but in every part of your life. God is certainly teaching us all that through His strength which is given to us we can do what we are called to do no matter the circumstance. God bless you all.
Housekeeping Notes:
NO EVENING SERVICE – Tomorrow evening’s service has been cancelled to allow all of our young people to support the Young Peoples Service in Chehalis. Bro. Alex is the scheduled speaker so pray for him. Feel free to rest and tune into Portland or one of our other branch churches for evening service.
CHOIR - Choir practice will be AFTER MORNING SERVICE tomorrow. We will be providing a simple lunch for choir members and their families, followed by practice. This will allow all to attend and still have time to travel to Chehalis for the Young People’s Meeting.
SECURITY UPDATE – The new Narthex Front door has been installed along with special security glass over all of the lower parking lot windows and the window adjacent to the upper lot entrance. While fairly expensive, this should save us from any future window breakage of those windows. Installation of new lower parking lot lights and replacement of the light above the upper lot entrance will begin next week. Thank you for your patience and prayers during these projects.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
Warm greetings on this beautiful sunny Saturday. We have had the privilege of living in several different locations over my years of being a pastor. They have ranged from places whose average number of sunny days was 277 per year and average annual rainfall was about 12 inches (Woodlake, CA) to here in Seattle where the average number of sunny days is 152 per year and the average annual rainfall is about 40 inches. Possibly in the middle of those two extremes was our time in Medford, OR (also our original hometown) with an average of 195 sunny days per year and average annual rainfall of nearly 20 inches. We used to joke about how the people in Southern California (I suspect Arizona as well) think they “own the sun.” I remember when we first moved there, someone in an office rose to open the windows during a rainstorm. The children got all excited about worms on the sidewalks, etc. I remember responding with “Where I’m from rain is not an ‘event’ but normal life”. Over the years we have lived in small towns and in large cities and have discovered literally the meaning of learning to be content in whatever STATE we are in😊. Of course, that is a bit of a twist on Paul’s words to the Philippian church.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:11–13
Paul was obviously talking about much more than his physical location, the number of sunny days or days with rain, expanding it to include the entire situation in which he found himself at any time. By God’s grace, he was able to “learn” from each location and situation a quality which we also can find both useful and necessary – CONTENTMENT.
In Christ we are offered abundant life but we are often challenged to comprehend just what such life really looks like and how to thrive and be content within it. When people have asked us through the years how we have fared in the various places we have lived our response has been that we have always tried to “look for the good” in each place. The “good” for us has ranged from fresh oranges in our yard to world class music teachers for our children, from warm beaches to lovey deep green forests, from one temperate season to four definitely different seasons in the year, all depending upon the location. We have found favorite shops and restaurants and beautiful sites all along the way. I suppose there have been a few negatives along the way as well…but we try not to focus up them as they do not help us “learn” contentment.
I share all of that in an attempt to encourage you to “look for the good” not only in the weather (on this beautiful sunny day in Seattle…which we never take for granted) but in every part of your life. God is certainly teaching us all that through His strength which is given to us we can do what we are called to do no matter the circumstance. God bless you all.
Housekeeping Notes:
NO EVENING SERVICE – Tomorrow evening’s service has been cancelled to allow all of our young people to support the Young Peoples Service in Chehalis. Bro. Alex is the scheduled speaker so pray for him. Feel free to rest and tune into Portland or one of our other branch churches for evening service.
CHOIR - Choir practice will be AFTER MORNING SERVICE tomorrow. We will be providing a simple lunch for choir members and their families, followed by practice. This will allow all to attend and still have time to travel to Chehalis for the Young People’s Meeting.
SECURITY UPDATE – The new Narthex Front door has been installed along with special security glass over all of the lower parking lot windows and the window adjacent to the upper lot entrance. While fairly expensive, this should save us from any future window breakage of those windows. Installation of new lower parking lot lights and replacement of the light above the upper lot entrance will begin next week. Thank you for your patience and prayers during these projects.
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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