REVNORMAN

Small things done with great love

2011-08-23T16:18:00.001-07:00

Maybe you are like me. I believe with all my heart that part of following Jesus is to share my faith with others, but in reality I find this very hard to do. When it comes to talking to someone about my faith, I can think of a hundred reasons why it is not the time or place and oh- by the way did I forget to take out the trash or brush the cat? I recently rediscovered a classic book on sharing the good news of Jesus that is helping me with this. You might have read it or heard about it. It is Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World by Rebecca Pippert. This book was written about 32 years ago has much to say that the church still needs to hear and practice.
Rebecca Pippert kick’s off the book with her now famous quote, Christians and non-Christians have something in common. We’re both uptight about evangelism. The idea of telling other people about our faith in Jesus seems awkward at best and offensive at worst. It seems like an extra chore or task added to an already busy and weary life. Becky turns that around and shows how faith sharing can be a normal, natural part of our Christian lives. Sharing about our faith becomes something we get to do instead of something we have to do. When we are relaxed with ourselves and in love with Jesus the good news just flows from us with out us even realizing it. On the other hand if we are uptight, bitter or cynical about life and God, that flows out too. Sheldon Vanauken wrote, The best argument for Christianity is Christians; their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the biggest argument against Christianity is also Christians – when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.

The reality is that we can only authentically share what we know to be true and have come to experience in our own lives. The Apostle John writes We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! (1 Jn 1:3,4 The Message) We must know Jesus if we are to share Jesus and even then we only can bear witness to what we know from the word and from experience.
We can share with words and we can share with deeds. Usually words and deeds work best in tandem. God knew that words alone lacked power and credibility and that actions alone could be easily misunderstood. That is why the word became flesh and dwelt among us. That we would hear, see, know and experience God among us.
One of the many ways we share our faith at New Hope is by connecting with people through simple acts of kindness (deeds) that hopefully, by God’s grace, might lead to spiritual conversations (words). Since this doesn’t come naturally we need to practice so we can grow and it can become a natural normal part of our lives. On Nov. 5th we will practice kind deeds by going through the neighborhood and offering to replace batteries in smoke detectors. Starting in September we will be collecting batteries. Right now you can begin praying that God would open doors for good connections and good conversations that will bump people a bit closer to Jesus.

Easter is coming!

2011-03-30T16:21:00.001-07:00

Easter is a special Sunday when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, victorious over sin and death. What good news we have to share with the world around us. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! I think we sometimes loose sight of the wonderful message that God has given us to share. This world seems to be in a tailspin, with earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear meltdowns, wars and rumors of wars. It is important that God’ people remember that God has not given up on us. The risen Lord is still moving across the world, reaching the lost, healing the broken and changing lives. The surprising thing is that He has chosen to do this through us. Those who love and follow Jesus are his hands and feet in the world today.
There are many ways to serve the Lord and share his love. Isaiah puts it this way: and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Is 58:10 We can boldly spend ourselves on behalf of God because He has freely given himself for us. God desires that we bless others as He has blessed us. And He has blessed us abundantly.
Saturday April 23, the day before Easter, we will be sharing the good news of Jesus by way of a simple act of kindness. We will meet at the church at 10 Am and then head over to a local self-serve car wash to dry cars. Why dry cars? It is a simple way of letting people know that God loves them. It is also a simple way for us to learn how to bless people. I hope you can come and help. Many towels are needed for this event, so please bring towels to worship and leave them in the basket in the lobby.
Another way you can spend yourself in blessing others is to step outside your comfort zone and bring a friend or neighbor to worship. When surveyed about how people came to be part of a church the number one answer is that someone brought me to church. Think of someone you know who needs a touch from the Lord, ask them if you can pick them up on Easter Sunday. Come worship the Lord!
Pastor Steve

lent at New Hope

2011-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

A special addition to worship during lent is art work by Ron Garcia. Most folks at church know Ron as our bass player, but he is also a very accomplished artist. Each Sunday, Ron is painting a picture based on the sermon and theme for the day. Jim Olsen has made big cut out letters for each Sunday's theme. Thanks Jim and Ron! After worship the pictures are hung along with the theme word in the lobby. Ron also is a professional picture hanger and art display person. We will use all the pictures on Maundy Thursday for our worship celebration that evening.

Lent 2011

2011-02-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
These are the well-known words of the best known and best loved Psalm – Palm 23. Many of us memorized it as children and we hear it read at many funerals. We see it on plaques, wall hangings and sympathy cards with a portrait of Jesus carrying a lamb.
The Psalm does reference the valley of the shadow of death, but it is not a death chant forever to be lost in funeral liturgies! This is a life song! It is a hymn of praise and joy about a living relationship with a living God. Lambs can be cute, but this psalm is not a children’s story. This is a song about real life. Life packed with danger, predators and enemies. Life packed with joys, wonder and adventure.
What could a song about a shepherd and his sheep, written some thousand years before Jesus, have to do with us? Plenty! Come to worship during Lent and discover and explore the 23rd Psalm. Each week we the message will apply a line or phrase of the psalm to our lives and walk with God. Ron Garcia will create a work of art based on the message each Sunday while I preach. We will have moving music and other visuals – but most of all we will gather to praise God and come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Lent is about our walk with God. Let’s walk through the 23rd Psalm together as we prepare our hearts during lent (March 9 – April 17) for the celebration of Easter Sunday (April 24).

New Sermon Series Starting June 27 at New Hope

2010-05-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

One day Jesus’ disciples came to him and made this request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” Of all the requests and questions the disciples brought to the master, I have a feeling that this was one of His favorites. This was music to Jesus’ ears! “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Who taught you how to pray? When did you learn how to pray? Was it bedtime prayers with mom and dad? Someone saying Grace before a meal? Sunday School? A Prayer group? Maybe it was the night you knelt by your bed and asked Christ to be your Lord and savior? Maybe it was in the hospital? Or by a graveside? Whenever and wherever it was and even if you don’t remember - at some point you learned how to pray.

I am intrigued by this idea of learning how to pray. Is prayer really something we have to learn how to do? Doesn’t it come naturally? Why can’t I just pray in a way that I enjoy, that feels comfortable to me, that suits my schedule, that makes me feel fulfilled and happy? Well, that would make sense if you were simply talking to yourself or only talking to the four walls. But if prayer is talking to God, then I am in a conversation with a person. And if I am having a conversation, then I am part of a relationship - a relationship with the Lord God king of the universe. And maybe, just maybe God has some preferences on how he would like to be addressed.

This example might help. I was teaching the children’s Sunday School class a few years ago and one of the children wanted my attention and called out over all the others. She got my attention!

“Hey, Steve!”
“Just who are you talking to? I don’t want you to just call me Steve.”
“Oh, so do you want me to call you Pastor Steve like everyone else does?”
“No, I don’t want you to call me Steve or Pastor Steve because you are not everyone else. You are one of a select group of the only three individuals on this planet who are allowed to call me Dad - and I don’t want either of us to forget that.”

It was my daughter who was trying to get my attention. She accomplished her goal, but I don’t think she was pleased with the attention she received. I was not happy with the way she addressed me. It is important that she call me, Dad, because that is our precious relationship to each other. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven” because that is how God wants His children to address Him. We never can forget that God is a person and not a force or a thing. Prayer is conversation with the Living God, who loves us deeply, and is always to be honored, respected and worshiped as Lord and God.

I hope you join me in worship as we learn how to pray by studying the Lord’s Prayer.

New Hope Church Signs

2010-04-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Church Sign

2010-04-26T11:42:00.001-07:00

Summertime is coming soon!

2010-04-26T09:40:00.001-07:00

There is an old blues song that is ringing in my ears this morning:
Summertime, and the living is easy.
Catfish are jumping, and the cotton is high.

May is just getting here, but this is the time when most of us are firming up our summer plans. The days have been getting nicer. The sun is shining. Summertime is right around the corner. I’ve been thinking of camping, getting away to Lake Almanor, fishing, Spirit West Coast, Vacation Bible School and all good things summer. And of course my upcoming wedding in June is foremost in all my thoughts about summer.

As you get your summer plans in order, I want to plant a seed and get a plug in for the Lord. Vacations are good and God wants us to find times of rest and reconnection, but we never take a vacation from God. It is easy to allow worship and time with God to fall to second or third place and even be forgotten during the summer. I would encourage you to keep God present in your summer plans. Think of things like: How can I arrange my plans so I don’t miss worship on Sunday? If we’re away over a Sunday, what church could we visit? What can I do to help my family be aware of God’s presence during our vacation time?

That old blues song has another line that I love:
One of these mornings, you're gonna rise up singing
You're gonna spread your wings and take the sky

I feel like that is happening at New Hope. I have been so pleased and energized by the good participation and growing attendance on Sunday mornings. There have been many good reports from members and visitors of how they have been growing closer to God through being a part of New Hope. A recent visitor commented, “I really enjoyed your services - very on the mark and informal. I loved the message on love and the spirit-filled worship.” I also keep hearing great reports that we are warm and welcoming church. I am hoping that over the summer this trend will continue. May all our vacations and summertime fun bring us closer to God and renew and refresh us to serve the King of Kings with heart and soul and mind and strength at New Hope Community Church!

New Hope Church Signs

2010-04-07T15:25:00.001-07:00

Hey - It has been a while since I've posted!

New Sermon Series

2010-02-02T16:37:00.001-08:00

I am currently preaching a verse-by-verse series on First John. At first glance John’s letter may not look like much. It is one of the shorter books of the Bible. The vocabulary is very limited. John uses few and very simple words. He repeats himself a lot. You could read through it in less than 20 minutes. But don’t judge this little book by size or vocabulary. Take a second look. Spend some time in it and you will see that is rich and full and jam packed with meaning, insights and application.
It’s a lot like my fiancé’s chocolate decadent cake. On the outside it looks like a nice simple little cake. But one bite in you realize that you have bitten into much more than you ever expected! This cake is much more rich and flavorful than expected. It must be savored and eaten in small bites to be appreciated. That’s why we are taking 1 John in small verse-by-verse sections each Sunday and slowing down, taking our time and truly savoring the rich message of 1 John.
John’s message comes from the heart of a man who was best friends with Jesus. They worked side by side. They laughed together, ate together, walked many miles together and shared both joys and sorrows. When John wrote this letter it was near the end of his life. He was an old grandfather in the faith writing to his spiritual grandchildren, second and third generation believers who did not see Jesus when He walked the earth. They did not witness the miracles, hear the preaching, or touch the risen body of Christ. John is concerned that they know the true authentic Gospel. That is the core of this letter.
First John is very much a message for us. As Jesus said in John’s Gospel: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." That’s us! We live centuries after the 33 short years that Jesus walked the earth. In those 33 short years Jesus did so much that John says the world could not contain all the books that could be written about Jesus the Messiah. Yet John packs the main ideas about what it means to follow Jesus in five short chapters! I hope you will join me as we unpack First John and apply it to our lives Sundays 9:30 AM at New Hope.

HANDBOOK for 2010

2010-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

Someone sent me this today. I really like it! It is being posted on my desk wall.
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants & eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Thanksgiving is the life we a called to live as followers of Jesus.

2009-10-27T22:45:00.000-07:00

A praise song that speaks deep into my heart is Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman:

Blessed be your name 
In the land that is plentiful 
Where the streams of abundance flow 
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name 
When I'm found in the desert place 
Though I walk through the wilderness 
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise 
When the darkness closes in,
Lord, still I will say... Blessed be the name of the Lord

I love this song. It reminds me that the test of my faith is found in the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart. What comes out of me is evidence of what is inside me. Am I filled with thankfulness to God or bitterness and resentments? Every year Thanksgiving reminds me that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart are to be a thankful response for the wonderful love that God has poured out to everyone of us in His Son, our Lord.

This song causes me to ponder two basic questions:
Can I appreciate and love God when life is hard?
Can I appreciate and love God when everything is going right?

You wouldn’t think praising God in times of abundance would be a challenge, but it can be. It is so easy to forget whom the goodness comes from and attribute it to circumstance or ourselves. In times of abundance we can quickly forget to thank the Lord from whom all blessings flow. When life is hard and things don’t go according to our plans we can slip into bitterness and lose faith and trust in the Lord. Faith is the assurance of the sure and certain hope we have in the goodness and love of God whether we have much or little; whether life is easy or hard.

The longest section of the Heidelberg Catechism is titled simply, Thankfulness. And teaches us that God has saved us at great expense so that “in our whole life we may show the ourselves grateful to God for his goodness”. For Christians, Thanksgiving is not just a day in November. Thanksgiving is the life we a called to live as followers of Jesus.

Solitude and Silence from Life Together

2009-10-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

Solitude and Silence

Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to answer that call; alone you had to struggle and pray; and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot escape from yourself; for God has singled you out. If you refuse to be alone you are rejecting Christ’s call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called. “The challenge of death comes to us all, and no one can die for another. Everyone must fight his own battle with death by himself, alone. . . . I will not be with you then, nor you with me” (Luther).

But the reverse is also true: Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. Into the community you were called, the call was not meant for you alone; in the community of the called you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day you will be only one member of the great congregation of Jesus Christ. If you scorn the fellowship of the brethren, you reject the call of Jesus Christ, and thus your solitude can only be hurtful to you. “If I die, then I am not alone in death; if I suffer they [the fellowship] suffer with me” (Luther).

Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you.

2009-09-30T23:35:00.000-07:00

There is a praise song I loved to sing a few years ago that you might remember: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you.
That song lyric is taken from a prayer that the Apostle Paul prays for the Church in Ephesus. Paul prays: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
We don’t think of our hearts having eyes. In fact this is the only place in scripture where this phrase is used. Paul is talking about our spiritual eyes. Jesus often said, He who has ears let him hear. Of course, everyone Jesus was speaking to had ears – but were they really hearing the message? Jesus’ people are to be people with vision. Vision is seeing clearing what God is doing now in the midst of us. Seeing what God is doing does not come naturally. Our natural vision is focused on ourselves, others, circumstances, and things. Vision from God, seeing with the eyes of our heart, is focused on things from above. The eyes of our hearts see things that are unseen by natural eyes.
I pray that God would open the eyes of our hearts to see what God is doing in the midst of us at New Hope. Paul prayed that the eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts would be opened as to have a clear vision of the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. I pray that the eyes of our New Hope hearts would be opened to the same things. We have been blessed with gifts and riches and power in the Spirit- abundantly supplied by our God and Father. The eyes of my heart were opened to this at our church picnic. I saw caring, hospitality, love and community. I saw a rich welcoming spirit and a warm embracing faith. I saw youth who cared about including others and providing well-planned fun activities. But most of all I saw the presence of a God who has richly blessed us with more than enough to go around. We have much to share with others.
All to often we focus on what we don’t have and miss what we do have. When this happens we miss out on being a part of the very thing God is doing and blessing. We also fall into the trap of scarcity and survival living, when God would have us live bold, trusting lives. God would call us to take risks for furthering His Kingdom, knowing that he is a good God and will supply all our need. May God open the eyes of hearts that we might have a clear vision of the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Jesus is alive and well at New Hope Community Church

2009-08-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a wonderful first month at New Hope! I am finding New Hope to be a lively, joyful group of faithful Christians. A lot of good things are going on here! We need to share the good news that Jesus is alive and well and dwelling among us at New Hope Community Church.
Before my first official Sunday at NHCC, I visited a worship service. Driving up to the property, I wondered if I was either too early or way too late. From Peralta Blvd. it appeared that no one was here and nothing much was going on. I was so surprised when I pulled into the driveway and saw a parking lot full of cars, people gathered by the entrance to the ministry center, and smiling greeters passing out bulletins. I thought, “Wow, this must be the best kept secret in Fremont!” And I wondered, “How can we let our neighbors know we are here worshipping God on Sundays? This should not be kept a secret.” During worship a few simple ideas came to mind. As I share them, God might bring some more ideas to you.
I decided that could to park out on the street in front of the church on Sundays. This way folks driving by will see that something is happening here. I am hoping that other church members might join me in this. We still need some cars in our parking lot, but it would be good if a few of us could park out front. Another way to let folks know we are here is to have a few A-frame signs out front on Sundays, maybe with a few helium balloons attached to create some interest. I am looking into having some signs made. Before I do that, I also am looking for someone who would be interested in putting the signs out each Sunday before worship and putting them back afterwards. Let me know if you feel called to help.
These simple things will help get the word out, but the best and most effective way to get the word out has not changed since Jesus walked the ancient roads of Galilee. The best and most effective way to get the word out has always been by word of mouth. We have no problem telling friends if we get a good deal at a local store or find a good restaurant or a good car mechanic. Businesses rise and fail on the words shared from the mouths of their customers. It is no different with churches. The words we share have great power to build up and to tear down. Telling our friends, neighbors and people that Jesus is alive and well and dwells among us as we gather in His name at New Hope Community Church is good news and needs to be shared. Who might you share this good word with today?

Settling in at New Hope

2009-08-19T01:45:00.000-07:00

I am still getting settled in at New Hope. My office is still filled with boxes to be unpacked and my home is filled with boxes waiting to be packed and moved. Getting in, getting unpacked, getting settled takes time and planning. I’m sure that in a few months, I’ll feel like I’ve always been here – but right now everything is new and unfamiliar and at the same time very right and good.
Getting to know and connect with new people also takes time and intentionality. It is one thing to simply get someone’s name down and another thing all together to come to know each other as fellow members of God’s family. It can seem strange and awkward at first but then before you know it you feel like you’ve known each other for years.
I hope to be getting to know all the members and friends of New Hope over the next few months. I want to learn more about you than just your names and faces. I want to hear how you came to know Jesus and how and why you connected with our church. I want to hear your hopes, joys and concerns for New Hope as we learn to follow the Lord together. I want to discover the gifts and callings God has on your lives and find ways for us all to grow together in the things of God.
I want to meet with everyone who considers New Hope to be their church family. Some of you might like to meet in my office, others over coffee, and maybe some over dinner. There are sign up sheets out on the information table after worship where you can indicate, which type of meeting suits you and some general times that might work. After folks sign up, I’ll be in contact to set up a time to meet. I’m hoping this will be a great way to start the process of getting know each other better. I’m sure there will be some awkward moments and it will take me some time to get everyone’s name and face connected, but I’m also sure that it will all be good. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all better and serving Jesus with you at New Hope Community Church!

Pictures from First Sunday at New Hope

2009-08-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from my first Sunday at New Hope Community Church. If you'd like to see more click on the link to the right called "New Hope Pictures"

Getting Ready for New Hope

2009-07-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

I’m sitting at my dining room table surrounded by boxes of the books, dishes and odds and ends that I have been packing. It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over the years! “To keep or not to keep?” That is the question that I am facing right now.

I am also pondering in curious wonder about the new joys and challenges that are waiting to be discovered at New Hope Community Church. I am looking forward to getting to know the New Hope church family and learning about our local mission field in the Fremont area. It will be a joy to visit with you and your families, learning your faith stories, ministry gifts and callings, and visions for New Hope.

Thank you to Rev. Jim Schoon for all the love and leadership through the years. I can already see that Jesus has been doing a good thing through the people who worship together at New Hope, and I am so glad to be invited to become part of it! I pray that God will lead us together as we follow Jesus in the months and years to come.

My first Sunday with at New Hope will be August 9. I’ll be getting settled in the office the week before that. If all goes well, I plan to see some of you at Spirit West Coast! You are all in my prayers, please pray for me as I keeping sorting and packing…

Leaving Westminster...

2009-07-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have two projects to attend to as I sit at my desk this morning. The first is to write a good-bye letter to Westminster and secondly, a hello letter to New Hope Community Church. Ecclesiastes 3:1 comes to mind: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. I think it is no stretch to add to the well-known list that follows that there is also a time to say, “hello” and a time to say, “good-bye”.

It has been 11 years that I have lived, worshipped, prayed, laughed, cried, rejoiced and struggled with the saints at WPC. There have been so many changes in the past 11 years that in many ways I still feel like I just arrived. I have had some of the best and some of the hardest years of my life here in San Jose. You have been very kind and supportive of me and my family. I will fondly remember camping, back packing, neighborhood kindness evangelism, coffee houses, youth mission trips, youth worship bands, Lenten Friday dinners and more. I will especially hold dear in my heart those of you who warmly welcomed me into your homes and lives as we sought to serve Jesus as a community.

Seasons end and new seasons begin. That is the way of life and the way of a God who makes all things new. Seasons do not need to be compared or be in competition, they just need to be what they are: times when God has moved in proper ways for that season. So God is doing a new thing in my life as I move to New Hope Community Church and God is doing a new thing in the life of Westminster as the interim pastor arrives. I am happy to announce that this Sunday during worship the session will be announcing the new interim pastor. He is a good man with solid experience and a love for God and God’s church. I pray that you will welcome the interim pastor and his wife as you welcomed my family so long ago and open your hearts with expectation as you enter the interim season.

As I close, I need to mention a few logistics about the next few weeks:
My last Sunday preaching is July 12, but I will be pastor until July 31. The interim pastor will begin August 1. As many of you know Rev. Nancy Schell, is required to step down as Parrish Associate when the Senior Pastor leaves. Nancy’s last Sunday in worship will be July 19, but she will function as Parrish Associate, visiting the sick and meeting with the deacons, until July 31.

Again thank you all! Stay close to Jesus as His faithful disciples! I look forward to hearing great things about Westminster as you enter this new season under heaven.

Jamming with Melia

2009-07-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

I had a fun time last night playing harmonica with Melia and the Robinson Family Blues band at Don Quixote’s in Felton, CA

Good way to start the day

2009-06-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me the following prayer. I think it is a great way to start the day:
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not a loss; good, not evil; success not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.

Some funny cartoons

2009-06-19T13:46:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me these and I just had to share a few:

The New Puppy Wardrobe

2009-06-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

A friend was inspired by the Toddler Diet I posted awhile back and came up with this great idea!

Pastor Steve’s blog article inspired me – So I want to tell you about the New Chic Way to Dress: The Puppy Wardrobe – Also Known As the Grunge Look

Now that we have a puppy I am changing the way I dress. For night wear I have a pair of pajamas with a rip in the knee where Wimsey decided to grab and hold on. But they go well with the slippers covered in mud and foxtails from chasing him around the backyard in the middle of the night.

For work I have nylons with runs that start at the ankle, because I am his favorite chew toy, pants with mud below the knee, where he ran and jumped up on me, sweaters with dog slobber all over the sleeves, and chew marks on my shoes. Everything goes really well with the scratch marks on my hands and arms (chew toy Mommy again) and the red eyes, from getting up in the middle of the night and at 5 AM every morning trips outside. Totally hip look. Really.

Let me know if you’d like to have “the look” also. I could arrange a puppy visit!

Westminster Annual Report

2009-06-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

Most folks have heard by now that I am soon to leave Westminster to take a call at a new congregation in the SF Bay area. I am happy and sad at the same time. I have truly enjoyed the privilege of pastoring at Westminster and pray God's best for this part of the body of Christ as they move forward in God's plan for them.

For some reason it is the custom at WPC for annual reports to come at the end of the first quarter of the new calendar year - I have always found it hard to think back over the last year when we get so far into the new year - Anyway - I wrote an annual report a few weeks ago and I think it would be good to post it here as a way of thanking God for last year and moving forward with joy and thankfulness into a new year that is full of many unknowns for all of us...

Isaiah 35:10
Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and with singing unto Zion and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

2008 and into 2009 has been a rough time for many of us. Unrest over denominational issues, disappointment with the church, loved ones dying, lost jobs, friends moving away, savings and retirement funds lost, family troubles and illness are just a few of the hard things members of our church have faced this past year. We may have moved into a new calendar year, but for those who are still experiencing loss nothing is new. The dates on the calendar may have changed but for many the season remains the same.
The Scriptures take pain and loss very seriously, but the Scriptures also take joy very seriously. I remember starting a sermon series on joy at the start of 2008. I shared about joy being a gift from God and a spiritual discipline to be entered into and exercised. When I preached that series, I didn’t realize how much those words would be needed in the months to come.

Jesus teaches about the joy of the Lord that can be found and experienced even in the most painful times. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. C.S. Lewis wrote that joy is not so much the attainment of a hope or desire, but the anticipation of the fulfillment of that hope or desire. True joy can only be found when and if the object of hope is also true. Jesus is our true Joy. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before him. We can endure the hard parts of our lives for Jesus, the joy set before us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, is key to finding joy in the midst of hardship. Joy is a gift to be received from God but also a way of life to be learned. In 2008, many of us learned Joy the hard way. Thanks be to God that though He seems at times to be far away, he is always closer than we could ever imagine.

There were also many bright spots in 2008 that we should not overlook. Our small group ministry had 7 study groups and 5 fellowship groups going in 2008. Thanks to Debbie Piper for leading a training workshop for small group leaders. Thanks to the Maxwell’s, many of us met in dinner groups to help build community. Thanks to the Jerosko’s for the painting of the sanctuary, the remolding of the bathrooms and painting the new meeting rooms in the Ed. Building. Thanks to Steve Ringer for all the progress on the playground. Thanks to Betty Slater for getting us involved in the community 4th of July parade where our VBS float took a prize. Thanks to Mary Fatula for keeping us actively supporting the food bank and thanks to Jim Rose for keeping us involved in the Crop Walk. The Rolston’s and Paul Dawdy have been very helpful connecting our youth group with the youth from Immanuel and Santa Clara Presbyterian Churches as we explore a shared youth ministry. Thanks to the Mission’s Committee for making my Africa trip to visit our missionaries possible. Thanks to Peter Barrett and Celeste Pellet for the Stations of the Cross art and dramas for Lent 2008. Thanks to everyone who did their part and pulled together to serve Jesus as a community of faith in 2008.

Looking in to the rest of 2009, I want to uplift the efforts of Steve Jenks, Joe Fatula and Rick Marovich. They have formed an outreach team and have planned a schedule of special events for 2009. The first three movie nights were very well done. Thanks to everyone who helped. The team plans the events, but it is up to the rest of us to get behind the team and encourage attendance and participation. I am looking forward to more creative community building activities from our outreach team in 2009.

Jedi's Birthday

2009-06-09T08:04:00.001-07:00

We had an early birthday party for Micah and Jedi. Here a few pictures of the grandkids.

Lily and Grandpa at the Sacramento Zoo

2009-05-20T18:10:00.001-07:00

Update on the Ordination Standards Vote:

2009-05-20T17:52:00.001-07:00

According to a Presbyterian News Service press release our denomination decided for the fourth time in 12 years to require that ordained church leaders are to be faithful in marriage and chaste if single.
Terry Schlossberg of the Presbyterian Coalition, a group that supported defeat of the change made this comment:
Since the 1970s the PC (USA) has heard, considered, and responded to appeals to change her standard of sexual morality. Those who wish to change the biblically rooted standard have continually pressed the matter and required repeated votes that have had the same outcome each time. It is well past time to acknowledge that the Church today, as throughout her history, knows her mind on this matter, and that it is the mind of Christ. It is time to call for forbearance from those who constantly disturb the peace and unity of the church. It is time to live into our decision about sexual morality. Now it is time to live out the decision pastorally, leading people out of our society's sexual confusion into repentance and newness of life.

Sad to say the PCUSA is fragmented and disjointed in our understandings of many of the core beliefs that have long held us together. The debate about sexual behavior is not the cause but rather a symptom of a much deeper divide. We are sorely divided on common understanding of Scripture, who Jesus is and what He calls His church to do and be. I appreciate Terry Schlossberg’s words and encouragement. It is time to move forward from endless debates. After over 30 years of lobbying for gay ordination it is time to stop disturbing the peace and unity of the church. Please pray for the PCUSA and ask God to reform us once again.

MORE Grandkid Pictures - What else did you expect?

2009-04-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Miracle Toddler Diet! Guaranteed Results!!!

2009-03-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

People are always on the lookout for a new diet. The trouble with most diets is that you don't get enough to eat (the starvation diet), you don't get enough variation (the liquid diet) or you go broke (the all-meat diet). Consequently, people tend to cheat on their diets, or quit after 3 days.

Well, now there's the new Toddler Miracle Diet. Over the years you may have noticed that most two-year-olds are trim. Now the formula to their success is available to all in this new diet. You may want to consult your doctor before embarking on this diet, otherwise, you may be seeing him afterwards. Good Luck !!!

DAY ONE:
Breakfast: One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly.
Eat 2 bites of egg, using your fingers; dump the rest on the floor.
Take 1 bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and clothes.
Lunch: Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk (3 sips only, then spill the rest).
Dinner: A dry stick, two pennies and a nickel, 4 sips of flat Sprite.
Bedtime snack: Throw a piece of toast on the kitchen floor.

DAY TWO:
Breakfast: Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor and eat it. Drink half bottle of vanilla extract or one vial of vegetable dye.
Lunch: Half tube of "Pulsating Pink" lipstick and a handful of Purina Dog Chow (any flavor). One ice cube, if desired.
Afternoon snack: Lick an all-day sucker until sticky, take outside, drop in dirt. Retrieve and continue slurping until it is clean again. Then bring inside and drop on rug.
Dinner: A rock or an uncooked bean, which should be thrust up your left nostril. Pour Grape Kool-Aid over mashed potatoes; eat with spoon.

DAY THREE:
Breakfast: Two pancakes with plenty of syrup, eat one with fingers, rub in hair. Glass of milk; drink half, stuff other pancake in glass.
After breakfast, pick up yesterdays sucker from rug, lick off fuzz, put it on the cushion of best chair.
Lunch: Three matches, peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Spit several bites onto the floor.
Pour glass of milk on table and slurp up.
Dinner: Dish of ice cream, handful of potato chips, some red punch. Try to laugh some punch through your nose, if possible.

FINAL DAY:
Breakfast: A quarter tube of toothpaste (any flavor), bit of soap, an olive. Pour a glass of milk over bowl of cornflakes, add half a cup of sugar. Once cereal is soggy, drink milk and feed cereal to dog.
Lunch: Eat bread crumbs off kitchen floor and dining room carpet. Find that sucker and finish eating it.
Dinner: A glass of spaghetti and chocolate milk. Leave meatball on plate. Stick of mascara for dessert.

Repeat Every Four Days!
Enjoy!
However, Sorry-to-say, in order to lose the entire 75# in 2 weeks, you’ll need a support system and only BEING a “toddler” will guarantee these results!

I've been waiting for a good poem

2009-03-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for a good poem. I heard this on the Writer's Alamanac podcast this morning:

Poem on a Line by Anne Sexton, 'We are All Writing God's Poem'

by Barbara Crooker

Today, the sky's the soft blue of a work shirt washed
a thousand times. The journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step. On the interstate listening
to NPR, I heard a Hubble scientist
say, "The universe is not only stranger than we
think, it's stranger than we can think." I think
I've driven into spring, as the woods revive
with a loud shout, redbud trees, their gaudy
scarves flung over bark's bare limbs. Barely doing
sixty, I pass a tractor trailer called Glory Bound,
and aren't we just? Just yesterday,
I read Li Po: "There is no end of things
in the heart," but it seems like things
are always ending—vacation or childhood,
relationships, stores going out of business,
like the one that sold jeans that really fit—
And where do we fit in? How can we get up
in the morning, knowing what we do? But we do,
put one foot after the other, open the window,
make coffee, watch the steam curl up
and disappear. At night, the scent of phlox curls
in the open window, while the sky turns red violet,
lavender, thistle, a box of spilled crayons.
The moon spills its milk on the black tabletop
for the thousandth time.

"Poem on a Line by Anne Sexton, 'We are All Writing God's Poem'" by Barbara Crooker, from Line Dance. © Word Press, 2008. Reprinted

Easter Faith

2009-03-24T09:39:00.001-07:00

Easter is a time of newness and life! Jesus rose victorious over sin and the grave! The great rally cry of the church is “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Notice the cry is Christ is risen, not was raised. The spell checker on my computer has never approved of or liked the sentence Christ is risen. When we speak of our risen Lord and Savior, we are speaking of something that doesn’t fit easily into the language and thought of our normal natural world. We are proclaiming a message that is bigger and grander than our systems and constructs. In Jesus Christ, the word became flesh, the outside came in, God moved into our neighborhood and the world was never the same again. Jesus was raised from the dead on that first Easter and he also is risen now and forever more. Our verbiage is inadequate when it comes to speaking about the one who is and was and who is to come all at the same time. I’m thinking that the message cannot be fully expressed or contained in words alone. God has never stopped being in the business of making words become flesh and blood reality. That Christ is risen is a message that is lived. The words, Christ is risen, become flesh and blood reality as we live in a community of faith in the world today, in the now. It is a message that language alone is incapable of fully expressing. It is a message that needs to be seen and experienced as well as heard.
Easter Sunday is a wonderful Sunday to invite someone to visit Westminster. The pancake breakfast, special music in worship, the egg hunt after worship all work together as a celebration of Jesus and who he is in our lives. People are more open to going to worship during holiday times and we can take advantage of that openness. I encourage everyone to invite someone to our Easter worship celebration. The number one reason someone visits a church is because someone they know and trust invites them. People find Jesus when they are found by others who cared enough to seek and search and invite. Someone once invited you to worship with them, now is a good time to pay that favor forward and invite someone to come to worship with you. I hope to see you and your friends in worship on Easter Sunday.

FALLING INTO THE FAMILIAR

2009-01-05T11:48:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to fall back into the familiar when we try to change. We have all found this to be true. You know the drill, New Year arrives and you embark on turning over that new leaf and attempting an exercise plan or new budget or new diet. You might start out strong but before long you drift back to the same old habits. If it is hard enough for an individual to keep from falling back into the familiar, imagine how hard it is for a whole family or a church to change. Even when the new ways are more effective and healthier, we tend to favor the known and familiar. Maintaining change is hard.

I have been a Presbyterian for over 50 years and a Presbyterian minister for 23 years. So, I can say that I have come by my Presbyterian ways and habits honestly. I believe that there a many good things about our PCUSA systems and structures, but I also think that some of the things we’ve inherited are no longer serving us as well as they did 30 years ago, or 500 years ago. Sometimes I feel like we are still revering an 8-track system in an ipod world. I’m not into change for change’s sake, but I do think we need to experiment and risk and try to find better ways to live and grow together as a church living in the contemporary world.

Last year the congregation voted to amend our bylaws to allow for a smaller session, as way to free elders to be a governing and visioning body. As the elders are no longer chairing the majority of committees, we now allow for others who are gifted and called to lead in new and innovative ways without having to also be elders. Believe me, it has been hard not to fall back into the familiar. Especially for me as I have been a part of the old system for so long. As we end our first year and start another, I want to thank our session for the willingness to try new things and to pull us back on track when we have fallen back on old habits or gotten side tracked along the way. We are blessed with good leaders, from very diverse backgrounds, who all bring different thoughts and gifts to the mix. I am amazed at the many times they reach consensus and also impressed on how they have been willing to risk and move forward when they’ve had a difference of opinion and had to vote.

Two experiences have encouraged me in the quest to find new and better structures for Church life. The first is that I attended a conference last year that was about a new, innovative leadership structure that would work well with Presbyterian churches. Imagine my surprise and affirmation to find that it was almost exactly like what we are trying at WPC! Others are have the same problems and finding similar possibilities! The second experience was a visit to Westminster from a General Assembly committee that is looking at ways to help churches be more successful. I had a great meeting with the GA committee and they were very impressed with our plan and hope to have some follow up meetings to learn from our experience.

As we move forward into 2009, the session will be having a retreat to evaluate our progress, appoint new committee chairs and ministry leaders and seek God for his leading and direction for church. Please pray for our church leaders and encourage them as they seek to explore new and better ways to help people find their gifting and calling in the Lord.

Life Chart

2008-12-30T15:50:00.001-08:00

I posted this a while back, but someone just sent it to me today and I think it is worth repeating

Lily's Fourth Birthday

2008-12-21T17:56:00.000-08:00

Grandkids

2008-12-20T22:00:00.001-08:00

I bought Lily, Jedi and Silas all Mickey Mouse ears when I was in FL... I just found this picture of them on Melia's blog and had to steal it and post it on my blog...

recovery

2008-12-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

All is well on the recovery front. I tried a brief journey to Safeway yesterday at about 5:30 AM to forage for eggs and half and half - I thought I was up to it - but thank the Lord for the nice young man who walked around the store and got things for me... once I got there I realized that I was not really ready for any shopping trips and I wasn't willing to try out the little motorized shopping cart. So the rest the day I kept my foot up as per the doctors orders and Shannon's ever ready reminders... Today is great so far. I found I can sit up and work at the dining room table and keep my foot over my heart by putting my foot up on a pillow on the table. (We'll see how long this lasts) So far no need for pain killers and I am very thankful for that. Side comment: There is not much worth watching on daytime TV.

Foot Surgery

2008-12-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

Hey - If anyone is wondering the surgery went well! I am home alone recovering (don't tell my Dr because he wanted to someone to be with me all day). I just watched Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happiness and the switched to Oprah and she is interviewing Will Smith today...do I see a theme...what does this mean...probably that I WILL be able to continue to PURSUE HAPPINESS until the meds wear off in a few hours...

More Tree lighting pictures

2008-12-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tree Lighting

2008-12-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

We had a great crowd for the 15th Annual Tree Lighting at Westminster. The mayor of San Jose was here. Three area schools attended - There was standing room only!

The Father's Love Begotten

2008-11-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

QUESTION: How do our holiday celebrations reflect the love of God as expressed in the life and ministry of Jesus?
ANSWER: Not very well.
The very sad truth is that our Christmas celebrations are often marked by consumerism and overindulgence. It is not that God is anti-celebration. God loves it when his people celebrate. In fact the Bible commands us to celebrate the good things of God.
During Advent we’ll look at four Advent celebrations in Scripture and ask two questions: What is being celebrated? And how could our Christmas celebrations reflect the Father’s love begotten through Jesus in the world today? Come and explore new ways to celebrate that are more congruent with the one whose birth we are celebrating November 30 – December 21 at Westminster.
So here is an advent idea:
How about having a family meeting this week and talk about Christmas and how you celebrate it?
Share stories about the “comfort foods” of Christmas – not just he foods but the things you always want to do because they bring you closer together and remind you of home and family.
Share the things that drive you a bit crazy at Christmas and could be discontinued.
Share about new things you could do to make this Christmas more Christian.
Agree on a plan for a simpler, more Christian Christmas.
For ideas- Find out about the Advent Conspiracy:
www.adventconspiracy.org

More alternative celebration ideas:
www.simpleliving.org

Westminster Stuff

2008-11-12T12:19:00.001-08:00

Someone once said, “Change is always difficult and if it isn’t difficult it isn’t significant change.” If that is true and I think it is, I am very happy to say that we’ve been experiencing true change at Westminster this last year. At our congregational meeting last year we voted to change our number of elders from 12 to 7. This may have seemed like a small change, but it was an important piece of a bigger plan.
For many years sessions have been seen as the managing center of the church. In some ways this has worked well, but in other ways it has not. A plus is always having people to fill positions, but a negative is that the gifting and passion of the incoming elders does not always fit the open positions. Another downside is that the visioning and governing role of elders is often lost, as session members are too focused on their own individual committees to have a sense of the whole picture of the church. When the session is in essence a committee of committee chairs, it is easy to lose a sense of the overall vision and leadership can degrade to turf wars.
The new plan relieves the elders of most of the committee and ministry responsibilities so they can actually be the visioning and governing board of the church. The committees and ministries are then lead by gifted lay leaders and/or staff who work under the direction and broad guidance of the session. The structure allows for the ministry leaders and committee leaders to have more freedom to move forward without session having to micromanage every action. The result is more actual ministry and less committee meetings and red tape.
This first year has not been without its bumps and everything is not yet functioning as envisioned, but much great progress has been made. The most progress has been in the growth of small groups, more community building opportunities and the good work being done to beautify our church campus We now have 7 study groups and 5 fellowship groups! Our Sunday Welcome Table and New Dinner Groups are helping build community. The painting of the sanctuary and the remolding of the bathrooms are just a few of the projects that have been accomplished. There are many good things happening.
In January at the annual session retreat will be evaluating our progress, regrouping and moving forward into 2009 and beyond. Thanks to everyone who has been patient and willing to take risks to try something new. Remember the 7 last words of the church are: We have never done it that way before.

Florida Trip Pictures

2008-11-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

Shannon and I spent a few days visiting the Piper's in Florida. Due to our 50 and over year old bladders, I think we visited every restroom in the park. It was great to see Greg and Julie and Dave and Debbie. I was able to show off my awesome driving skills at the Magic Kingdom. The day at Disney concluded with a wonderful dinner on the top floor of the Contemporary Hotel watching the fireworks display.

A new poem

2008-11-10T15:20:00.001-08:00

Here is a poem I am enjoying that I heard a while back on the the Writer's Almanac:

Sing we and chant it
While love doth grant it.
Not long youth lasteth,
And old age hasteth.
Now is best leisure
To take our pleasure.

All things invite us
Now to delight us.
Hence, care, be packing!
No mirth be lacking!
Let spare no treasure
To live in pleasure.

"Sing we and chant it..." by Anonymous. Public Domain. 1595

From "A Word about Praise" in C.S. Lewis's Reflections on the Psalms:

2008-10-31T14:25:00.001-07:00

But the most obvious fact about praise - whether of God or anything - strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise - lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game - praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians of scholars. I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds praised most, while the cranks, misfits and malcontents praised least...
I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: "Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don't you think that magnificent?" The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about.
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.

You asked for it!

2008-09-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

A lot of folks have commented that they noticed that I’ve lost a lot of weight from seeing my pictures on my blog and have asked for my secret. Here it is:

As of today, I have lost 80 pounds and 4 pants sizes! It has taken about 2.5 years. About a year or so ago my son-in-laws parents shared this diet with me. It speed up my weight loss and it has worked wonders. I have lost around 50 of those pounds on this diet. I don’t know where the diet originated. It says it is from the Max Planck Institute of Nutrition in Germany – but they claim that it is not from them.

I do the diet for 2 weeks and then stabilize at that weight for at least a month if not two before trying it again. Exercise has also been key. I started with cardio once or twice a week and now exercise every day for an hour and just added weights a few days ago.

Just a couple of more things about the diet:
• It is not really from Max Planck Institute of Nutrition, Germany. They deny any connection.
• The diet claims that you can lose 20 pounds in two weeks. The Max Planck Institute of Nutrition also says that even if you were starving you would not lose the amount of weight the diet claims you would lose - so don't expect a 20 lb loss!
• I do think you can expect a 5 -10 lbs loss.
• I would follow it as closely as possible the first time to do it and modify it later. I have suggestions for modification when you go for it the next time. I did break down the second week my first time through and added cream to my coffee and salad dressing...
• Taking a multivitamin is really important and drink lots of water. I take a multivitamin for men, E, C, Fish Oil, Garlic and cranberry pills.
• You should also try to exercise 3 times each week for a minimum of 30 mins of good cardio - like a treadmill or bike - bikes are good for lower impact on your feet and knees.
• I would then take off a week or two (sometimes a month) before doing the diet again - during that time I would eat low carb (Adkins maintenance style) and no sugar and alcohol only once a week (why does beer have to be so fattening?)
• Sleeping at least 8 hours is good for weight loss
• Eating after 7:30 PM is a bad thing
• Tell yourself constantly “It is only for two weeks!”
• I found it helpful to buy all the food for each week in advance and pre-make as many meals as possible- especially the lunches - I often graze on the food for the day rather than just eat it at meal time

A few modifications:
I interpret green salad as any vegetable you would put in a salad – cucumber, tomato, olives, onions, and so on.
Sometimes I get sick of salad and have a vegetable.
I have mushrooms and onions with my steak.
I use steak sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing.
I often fry stuff rather than grill or boil it.

Here is an unedited version of the diet. Don’t believe what is claims at the end:

Saturday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired
Lunch 2 boiled eggs, spinach with little salt
Dinner 1 big steak (grilled or broiled) or 3 roasted mini-steaks, green salad and any
amount of fruit

Sunday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired, 1 serving-sized bread item
Lunch 1 big steak, green salad and any amount of fruit
Dinner boiled ham without limit

Monday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired, 1 serving-sized bread item
Lunch 2 boiled eggs, lettuce and tomatoes
Dinner boiled ham and green salad

Tuesday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired, 1 serving-sized bread item
Lunch 1 boiled egg, boiled or raw carrots, Swiss cheese
Dinner fruit and natural yogurt

Wednesday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired, carrots with lemon
Lunch steamed fish and tomatoes
Dinner 1 steak and green salad

Thursday
Breakfast as much black coffee without sugar as desired, 1 serving-sized bread
Lunch grilled (or broiled) chicken
Dinner 2 boiled eggs, carrots

Friday
Breakfast tea with lemon and without sugar
Lunch 1 grilled or broiled steak, fruit of choice
Dinner free: whatever one chooses – whatever one wishes

The food and drink items cited above without any quantity or amount specified may be consumed in any amount desired. Throughout this diet, one should be drinking large quantities of mineral water. Throughout this diet, alcohol in any form is strictly forbidden. On the 8th day, the diet plan begins again from the beginning and runs for another week (2 weeks altogether). After the two weeks, one may resume normal eating habits.

When one strictly keeps to this diet plan as it is laid out here, he/she will lose 9 kg. (ca. 20 lbs.) in the two-week period. Clothing size will be changed, and the lost weight will not be regained for three years.

(From the Max Planck Institute of Nutrition, Germany) (not)

Camp pictures on Sunday

2008-08-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say that we will be showing slides of the Hot August Moons Church Camp Out this Sunday after worship.
Bring your slides on a CD in .jpg format and we'll add them to the show!

Prayer for today...

2008-08-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

I have a prayer book that has a prayer written by a Christian brother or sister from history for each day of the week.

Here is one for today from Dwight L. Moody (1837-99)

Use me, then, my Savior, for whatever purpose, and in whatever way, Thou may require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with thy grace. Here is my sinful and troubled soul; quicken it and refresh it with thy love. Take my heart for Thine abode; my mouth to spread abroad the glory of Thy name; my love and all my powers, for the advancement of your believing people; and never suffer the steadfastness and confidence of my faith to abate; so that at all times I may be enabled from the heart to say, ‘Jesus needs me and I am His.” AMEN

A poem I enjoy

2008-08-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a poem that has been running through my heart and mind the past few weeks. I first read this in my English Lit. class at Bethany and have loved it ever since. This summer, while enjoying the beauty of God's creation it came to my mind. Don't let the "old English" put you off - this poem is worth wading into and spending some time in the images, rhythm and sounds...

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918.

13. Pied Beauty


GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

Message from the Present to the Future

2008-07-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Lily and I were digging out the stump from an old bush in the front lawn. While we were digging we thought we hit a big rock, but it turned out to be an old water turn off box. It was really sort of exciting to uncover the box and look inside. Finding it empty we decided to write a letter to the future, when someone might be digging in that spot to plant something new. We wrote a note telling who we were, the date and added, "Jesus Loves You." Placed the note in a baggy and buried it back up.

Discovery Museum

2008-07-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Shannon and I took my grand daughter, Lily, and Shannon's nephew, Finn, to the Discovery Museum in San Jose. Here are a few pictures. If you are looking for Africa pictures - they are coming! I also just posted a few more sermons on my pod cast site and more are coming.

What I really was up to in Austria

2008-07-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

Africa pictures are coming soon - But first I had to cleanse my soul and confess what the trip to Austria was really all about: DESSERT!

Silas visits Grandpa

2008-07-02T16:06:00.001-07:00

Well, I am back from Africa and hope to be posting some pictures and reflections soon BUT Silas came to visit me at the office today - What can I say?

Austria

2008-06-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

This is my second day in Austria. I arrived yesterday after an 8 hour plane flight, 4 hour lay over and another 2 hours in the air from Brussels. It was quite an adventure. I sat next to a diplomat's relative from Entebbe to Brussels, who gave me a great inside view of East African life and politics.

Changing money from dollars to euro was quite the shock! $300 dollars came out to about 175 euro. In Uganda it was quite the opposite with $100 coming to 155500 schillings.

It has been really good to see the Mann's and learn more about what God is doing through their lives in Austria. They live right on the Danube river. I've been watching boats and barges pass by from their window. Tonight they will have a prayer meeting in their home with folks that help them in their ministry. I think it will all be in German, so this should be interesting. Being in places where English is not the main language has been an interesting and challenging part of the trip. Tanzania's official language is Swahili. Some people knew a little English - but I only knew how to say, "Hello. How are you? I am fine." in Swahili and not very well at all and it didn't get me very far. Fortunate, Godfrey my Tanzanian guide and friend was never too far away and could rescue me!

When I get home, I hope to post some pictures and go through my journal to recount some of my experiences over the past few weeks.

Thanks to everyone who has been writing me emails even though I haven't been able to answer very often. The messages from home have been great

On the shores of beautiful Lake Victoria

2008-06-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey! I've been in Africa for about 10 days now and this is the first chance I've had to get any solid computer time. I am in Bulima, Tanzania at Nassa Theological College. Westminster supports this school as a mission through Africa Inland Missions. I thought it would be in the city of Mwanza, but I am out in the sticks - but they have the best internet access that I have encountered so far on this trip.
I was inivited to preach in chapel yesterday and it was a great honor. The students here work hard and really seem to know their Bibles. I've been able to spend time with some of the profs and their families -It has been great!

A school teacher, named Godfrey has been showing me around and acting as my guide. He has a great sense of humor and has been much fun and really good guide.

My first week was in Uganda. I was in a much more urban area, filled with motor scooters (boda bodas)bikes, diesel fumes, people walking, cows and goats and store fronts on every inch of street space selling big hanging hunks of beef and everyone burning fires in front of their shops. The traffic is wild with people darting in and out on the boda bodas and trying to cross with out getting hit. I was excited to learn about the Ugandan Presbyterian Church and met with a pastor who shared their history with me. I'll share more about this later.

Tomorrow I go to spend the night at the Tanzania Children's Rescue Center. Monday I return to Kompala, Uganda and will see Pat Montgomery again. Pat lead a workshop for teachers this weekend in Kompala. Then on to Austria to see the Mann's on Wednesday.

All the Grandkids

2008-06-02T21:47:00.001-07:00

Memorial day and the grandkids destroy the house - but it was fun!

Livingston, I presume?

2008-06-02T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hey-
I'm taking off for Africa on Wednesday! I'm not taking my laptop so I'm not sure if I'll be blogging on the trip - but I will for sure when I get back. I can't believe this is really happening... please pray that things go well and I came back with a good plan for next years WPC Africa Mission Trip!

Westminster Annual Pastor's Report

2008-05-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is my annual report for 2007:
It was so good to come back from my Sabbatical in February of 2007 and find Westminster as vibrant and healthy as ever. Thanks again for the wonderful gift of sabbatical and many thanks to everyone who worked extra hard while I was away.

God has been moving at Westminster this past year, as we have sought to know God and do God’s will as the part of the Body of Christ that meets on the corner of Shasta and The Alameda. It has been a joyful and challenging journey to discover what it means to equip and call Christians of all ages to answer the call of God on their lives.

To help us move closer to our vision, in late 2007, we decided on a plan to reduce the size of the session. The idea was to move from session being a meeting of "committee chairs" to being the group that focuses on the overall vision of the church. Most all of the usual committee work was delegated to staff, ministry teams, and committees under the direction of the session. In addition to their monthly meetings, session now holds special quarterly meetings that include all staff, ministry team leaders and committee chairs to pray, plan, and share concerns, successes and vision. This restructuring is an attempt to free people to serve in their areas of giftedness.

I was also very encouraged by the God Nights, and other special worship times and prayer ministry in 2007. We are moving and growing in our understanding and practice of worship by finding times and expressions of worship outside of traditional Sunday mornings.

Two vision areas that we are continuing to grow in are short-term missions and community outreach. I am praying that God will help us move forward in a significant way in both types of outreach. The Africa mission group started meeting in 2007, and we are ready for a pre-mission trip site visit in June, leading towards a mission trip in 2009. In the fall, I plan to start an intentional outreach strategy to reach families and singles in our church neighborhood. A special ministry team to these ends will be formed in August or September. I believe that it is important to remember that both foreign missions and local missions are equally part of God’s call to the church. Our continued involvement in the Alameda Business Association and PACT has been a vital link to our community.

Many upgrades and improvements have been made in our building and grounds in 2007 and in 2008. Thanks to everyone who has been involved! It is good to see so many folks taking pride and ownership of our facility. After a few years of struggling to replace our playground, it looks like ground will be breaking soon on that project.

I am very encouraged by the new small groups, Sunday Morning welcome table, and other ministry ideas that are in the wings to help us connect and build community at Westminster.

I feel strongly that God is moving in our fellowship and is transforming lives and saving souls. I pray for renewal in all of our lives as we joyfully follow God together at WPC. I believe that our church is a place where can walk forward to realize the dreams God has placed in our hearts. I thank God for his goodness in my life and hold dearly the privilege of being your pastor.

Africa Mission Update

2008-04-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

It was over a year ago that I first felt a nudge from the Spirit about a Westminster Africa Mission trip. The night that Missionary Frank Dimmock spoke to us about his mission, He invited us to pray about sending a group to Africa. I thought, “Wow this might fit well with our vision for short term missions at WPC.” Then I sensed a still small voice saying, “We could do that.”

Over the next year, I talked with our missions committee, held several informational meetings, got educated, and prayed.

Here’s what I have learned:
• WPC has many connections to Africa through members of our church and through ongoing mission support.
• WPC has adults who are interested and willing to go on a mission trip outside the US.
• African pastors urge US churches who are contemplating a mission trip to Africa to send a representative on a pre-trip to build relationships a year or so before the group arrives.
• We need to visit our missionaries and participate on the field as a major way to revitalize WPC’s vision for world missions.
• It is important for the senior pastor to lead the way in local and world mission.

Action Steps:
I am going on a pre-mission trip June 4 -24 to visit several possible projects, develop relationships, and visit some of our missionaries. While in Africa, will be visiting Uganda, Tanzania, and possibly Lesotho. On the way home, I’ll be visiting our missionaries in Austria.

When I return, we will settle on a project and move forward with setting dates for a 2009 Africa Mission Trip with a team of 8 – 10 adults.
Please pray for this effort, and seek the Lord as to how you might be personally involved.

Get involved:
Contact pastor Steve Norman to find out how you can be a part of this mission.
(408)-294-7447 X12, Steve@RevNorman.com

Stay Connected:
Check out Westminster’s Africa Mission Blog for more updates and info- See link to the right.

Africa Trip

2008-04-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

Some of you might know that I've been talking about a possible mission trip to Africa...We'll it looks like the dream is becoming a reality. We have had a few meetings at WPC to see if there is interest and there is! Then a member of WPC told me about a trip that she is taking in June to Uganda and I said something like, "Maybe I should go on a pre-mission trip site visit and make some contacts." Famous last words! Looks like I will be going to Uganda and Tanzania in June with a side trip to visit our missionaries in Austria! Last week I applied for my passport and yesterday got 5 different immunizations. My arm is killing me! After getting these shots there is no turning back. Keep me in your prayers.

Quote

2008-04-21T20:54:00.001-07:00

"All the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."
Sean O'Casey, born John Casey in Dublin, Ireland (1880).

Two more pictures of the stations of the cross

2008-04-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the last two pictures of the six stations of the cross. The first is the women who wept as Jesus passed by with the cross and the second is the Crucifixion.

Easter Kids

2008-04-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Silas and Lily from Easter Sunday

Easter People

2008-04-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Someone once said that “A realist is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been purified. A skeptic is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been burned.”

So often we pray trying to get God to change our circumstances – but what if God is using our circumstances to change us?

Years ago– I had a men’s bible study every Sunday at 6 AM we would meet, have breakfast and the guys would go home and get their families and bring them back for Sunday school and worship. -

One Sunday morning I had a terrible pain in my abdomen – I had the men pray – I was confident God could heal a stomach ache – but it was hurting – one of the guys suggested that I go see the doctor before worship – I went – the doctor said this is either appendicitis or and infection that looks like appendicitis – I can take a blood test and find out – but we should get you ready for surgery just in case.

I said – well – we prayed - I’m pretty sure I don’t have appendicitis – I’m going to go back to church and preach and serve communion and I’ll call you and you can let me know that I’m fine –

The doctor told me I was being foolish and I should NOT leave the hospital –
He was right
I went back to church and preached and was fine until the closing hymn, I almost collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital.

As I was be sedated for the operation – I was praying – “Lord, why? I believed that you could heal me?”

And I sense the Lord say – “I know you believe I can heal you – but do you trust me enough to bring you through this surgery.”

And at that moment I learned something about myself –

I learned that didn’t really trust God to be with me in suffering and when I was afraid….

I trusted God when he changed my circumstances, as I desired – but I wasn’t to good at trusting God when he used my circumstances to change me, as He desired…

It is so easy to believe when we see the miracle –

• The healing happens
• That check comes in at the last minute
• Our children come home safe
• The car just misses the light pole
• We get the job

But do we believe when we see little or nothing?

And the honest response should be: of course not.
Why should I ever believe, if I see little or nothing?

Remember Thomas? Solid, rational, honest Thomas refused to believe “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it”

Be careful what you say!

John 20: 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

That sounds like the same thing the Apostle Peter says in verse 1 Peter 1:8
8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

That sounds nice – but why should we? How can we believe if we haven’t seen like Thomas and Peter?

John says that he wrote his Gospel that we might believe.

The testimony of the word of God is one evidence for Jesus - it is written that we might believe - believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Another witness is the risen Lord Jesus Christ himself – when Peter talks about a “living Hope” and John writes about having LIFE in his name – it is all about the FACT that Jesus is here and now – we don’t hope in a dead teacher – who lived 2000 years ago – we hope in a the Lord Jesus Christ who lived – died and rose for ever on the 3rd day.

I can’t see him – but I can see evidence of his presence.

Just like I can’t see the wind – but I know when it has been blowing.

I can feel it.
I can see the effects of the wind.
And even when it stops blowing – I’m pretty sure it will come back and there will be a breeze again.

How do I know Jesus is alive?
By the changed lives of those who say they’ve meet him.

By the changed world I live in – by all the acts of love and mercy by his followers –

And yes by answered prayers – of course by answered prayers….

But most of all by the testimonies and witness of those who still trust him even when their prayers are not answered the way they desired – they still trust because they know that God is real and that God is good and they have come to know that He always makes good on his word –

Another word for this trust is faith.

And when you have found faith you have found the most precious and dear commodity in the world.

Do you have faith in Jesus?

Maundy Thursday Tonight

2008-03-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is part of the bulletin for tonight's service at 6:30 PM

As we gather around the table we remember the night that Jesus had his last supper with his disciples. This was not an ordinary supper. It was the Passover supper. On that night Jesus spoke new meaning into the ancient Passover meal. Our communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, was instituted on this night as Jesus ate and drank with his closest friends. May Jesus be with us as we gather round the table with our friends and families.

After the meal Jesus was betrayed and turned over to the authorities and condemned to a cruel death on the cross. After our supper, you will be invited to walk the stations of the cross and follow Jesus on this lonely road. The stations are not numbered. Feel free to walk them in any order as to make room for all to walk the stations. You may walk all, some or none. Please refrain from speaking until you reach the church parking lot.

Walking the Stations of the Cross goes back to the earliest days of the church when pilgrims would go to Jerusalem and trace Jesus' steps. They called the route - the Via Dolorosa - way of suffering or the Via Cruces way of the Cross…

Markers were put up all along the way to remember different things that happened along the way to the cross. Pilgrims would stop and pray and think about Jesus' suffering. As a teaching tool, many churches in Europe made their own stations of the cross in church or churchyards using paintings or sculptures - sort of like medieval multimedia - to teach about Jesus' last day

Like a lot of things we do as Christians it became more than it was intended to be. Stations were added that were not biblical - just based on legend- like the story of Veronica who wipe's Jesus' face with a towel. There is no set number of stations. Some traditions had 37 stations. Most today have 14 of those 14 on 6 or 7 are actual found in the Bible. We are only using 6 stations and they are all directly from scripture.

So why are we walking the stations during Lent?

We are hoping that by experiencing the Stations of the Cross, that the eyes and ears of our hearts will be opened once more and we will hear the story of the cross in a new way.

Equipping 101 Update

2008-03-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Here are few basic understandings and concepts concerning the NEW Westminster Leadership Plan

Basic understandings:

Session seeks God for vision and direction.
Session casts the vision and implements the vision via the gifting and calling of our church members and staff.
Session oversees the whole ministry of the church.
Abandon the concept that there is one elder representing each area of ministry on session.
Abandon the idea that every ministry needs to overseen by a specific committee or staff person.
Leadership needs to rotate to allow for many to take their turn leading, work against stagnation and control, and avoidance of burnout.

Three main types of groups:

Each ministry, committee or task force has a leader appointed by session. They may function as a team or committee or an ad hoc group of volunteers as approved by session. All appointments are renewed annually by session.

COMMITTEES

Standing Committees are committees that are required to be ongoing for the health and wholeness of the church and some are required by the Book of Order. They are led by leaders, who serve for one to three-year terms and may renew for a second three-year term, but must term out after six years. Nominating, Stewardship and Personnel shall be chaired by active session members.

MINISTRIES

Some ministries are lead by paid or volunteer staff as determined by session in consultation with the head of staff. Some are lead by church members.

Ministries are lead by leaders who are renewed annually but are not required to term out at three years.

Standing Ministries are ministries where a rotation of leadership is best due to the stress of the work or the power held by that ministry. Standing Ministries are lead by leaders, who serve for one to three-year terms and may renew for a second three-year term, but must term out after six years.

Staff Lead Ministries are lead by paid or volunteer staff as determined by session in consultation with the head of staff. These leaders are given annual performance reviews by the personnel committee. Some of these ministries may be Standing Ministries.

TASK FORCES

Task Forces are appointed by session for a certain project with specific goals and are disbanded when the task is complete.

The next post will be a list of Standing Committees, Standing Ministries and Ministries. Hopefully that will put some context to the above descriptions.

Equipping 101

2008-03-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

Equipping 101,our annual meeting for all leaders, is Sunday March 16 following worship in Mission Hall. Lunch will be provided. If you are a deacon, elder, small group, leader, or ministry leader- this meeting is for you! If you simply want to learn about some new exciting changes at WPC - this meeting is for you!

Through the years, churches like ours have gotten stuck in a committee-based system that came from good intentions, but in many ways hinders ministry. Writer Thomas Bandy says the modern main-line church structure is designed to make sure that people are informed about the church, enrolled as members, nominated for office, supervised and kept. While he feels in the New Testament the church was designed to make sure folks were changed by God, gifted, called, equipped and sent.

There is a tension, however, because we do need to keep programs running, bills paid, lights on, and maintain a structure for our common life. The Book of Order addresses this dilemma when it says that, Mission determines the form of structure and administration. All structures should enable the church to give effective witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the contemporary world. (G-9.0402a) And all structures shall be open to the possibility of change (G-9.0402c) In studying and working on this structure it was interesting to discover that the Book of Order actually opens many doors to new ways of doing ministry.

The new structure is not an attempt to make the old system work better. This is an attempt to transform the way we order our lives so that our leadership structure reflects who we are, how we best operate and actually helps us to equip followers of Jesus to answer God's call on their lives. And we just might become more Biblical and more Presbyterian in the process! I'm hoping that all our WPC leaders will attend this meeting. Please feel free to call or email me if you have any concerns or questions. I'll be posting parts of the new plan here on my blog before Equipping 101 and you can read about it in the 2008 Vision Brochure. Hope to see you then! Please RSVP to the church if you plan to attend
Steve

Stations of the Cross

2008-03-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from worship the past few weeks. Celeste, the director of the Westminster Art School has been drawing these during worship. They will be part of our worship time on Maundy Thursday.
Station One - Jesus is condemned
Station Two - Jesus Receives His Cross
Station Three - Jesus Falters Under the Weight of the Cross
Station Four - Simon of Cyrene Helps Carry The Cross

Lent Adventure 2008

2008-02-01T02:06:00.000-08:00

Lent Adventure 2008

Be prepared for worship to be a bit different during lent this year. The 2008 Lent Adventure will take us to discover the old tradition of the Way of the Cross. The Way of the Cross or Stations of the Cross artistically depict scenes from the last hours of Jesus' life as he is condemned to death by Pilate, carries his cross, is crucified, dies and his body is placed in the tomb. For centuries Christians have used these depictions of the stations as a way to pray and meditate on this moving and important part of Jesus' life and ministry. Although there is no set number of stations, most Roman Catholic churches celebrate 14 stations. We will follow a version that uses 6 stations. Each Sunday during lent we will journey through a station of the cross. Using drama, art, prayer, music and scripture, walking the Stations will become a way to walk with Jesus along the way of suffering. By identifying with Jesus' suffering we come to understand God's heart poor and hurting people. By walking the way of the cross we can gain some insight into the great price Jesus paid for our salvation. I'm hoping as we can stretch a little and gain much from this ancient Christian practice.

Special Lent Small Groups are returning. The small groups will be doing an Intervarsity study called, Simplicity and Fasting. This study guide explores the disciplines of simplicity and fasting—foreign ideas these days. Yet leading a simple life can help us focus on what's truly important. Fasting in this study is about more than refraining from food. It is about freeing up our lives and clearing our minds of clutter so that we can become hungry for the things that really matter. It is said, "Less is more." What would happen if we spent less? Spoke less? Ate less? What is the purpose of fasting? What are the benefits of leading a simple life? There are several small group options for adults, college age and high school youth. You can sign up for a small group during coffee hour. The Lent Adventure begins with the Ash Wednesday Service oh Feb. 6 at 7PM in Mission Hall.

Random Christmas Pictures

2007-12-28T12:00:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures from Christmas Day. The last picture is Micah, Melia and kids talking to Micah's parents via video conferencing on the Internet. Micah's parents are in Austria.

Yorkshire Pudding Perfected!

2007-12-27T18:17:00.001-08:00

After three attempts I think I got my puddings right for Christmas Eve!

Can you believe that it is almost 2008?

2007-12-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that it is almost 2008? In just a few days the New Year will be here! God doesn't wait until after Dec. 31st to begin a new thing. According to the Lamentations, God's compassion is new every morning. Great is God's faithfulness. In Isaiah 43:18,19 says: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

What new thing is God doing in your life? Where is God building a path and beginning to trickle streams of living water in the desert places of your life?

I believe God is doing a new thing at Westminster. I hear stories of changed lives. I see new ministries being born in peoples' hearts. I see a spirit of change and a willingness to risk in faith.

At our congregational meeting on Jan. 13 the session will share the 2008 vision plan. Through out 2007 at monthly meetings and special vision retreats your session has been seeking God's will and direction. This year we need to complete the playground. We are moving forward on being a green Church by beginning to utilize solar power. We are finding better ways to communicate between the two language groups at our church. We are restructuring the session and ministries to be a better fit with our gifting and calling.

Another important meeting will be Equipping 101, Feb. 3 at 3 PM in Mission Hall. This is a meeting for all church leaders, where we will go over the new structure of session. I hope all church leaders will be there.

God is always doing a new thing. Isaiah asks, "Do you not perceive it?" My prayer is that we would turn our eyes from past glories and past pains at WPC and that our eyes would be open to the new things God is already doing and will be doing in the midst of us. I hope this would be your prayer too as we step into 2008 as followers of Jesus.

Lily's choir debut

2007-12-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Lily - the one in pig tails, made her choir debut on the third Sunday of Advent at Westminster.

Just a picture of Peter and his dad

2007-12-14T19:57:00.000-08:00

Colbert Advent

2007-12-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why Stephen Colbert is singing and dancing like this - BUT WHAT A WAY TO START ADVENT!!!!!

Advent at Westminster

2007-12-05T11:54:00.002-08:00

Year after year it seems that Christmas get farther removed from the One whose birthday we are celebrating. Hopefully during our worship celebrations at Westminster we can find ways to enter Advent and celebrate Christmas in ways that bring us closer to the real message and meaning God intended.

The Advent theme for this year is Advent Wreath: Full Circle. The circle of Advent Candles we light each year bring with them the traditional themes of hope, love, joy and peace. Each week's worship celebration we will focus the theme for each candle. The hymns, scriptures, and sermon will speak to those themes. The Advent services will be a bit more traditional as the Sanctuary Choir will be back in the choir loft, pastors will be wearing robes and we will sing all carols instead of praise songs. Various members and friends of Westminster have graciously agreed to share personal stories of how they found gifts of hope, love, joy and peace in their lives through Jesus. The overall purpose is to be encouraged and set free to worship God in new and creative ways during Advent.

Here are a few suggestions from www.simpleliving.org on how we can celebrate Advent in a way that brings us back to the true meaning of the season:
STOP - Evaluate absolutely everything you do for the Christmas season. Does it give life and joy? Does it bear Christ’s light into the world? If not, say “goodbye.”

PRIORITIZE - Family comes first. Make space in a hectic schedule to enjoy the beauty of the season together in your own home.

SIMPLIFY - Instead of a gourmet extravaganza, host potluck dinners or invite friends for a cup of Christmas tea and a plate of cookies.

DO IT DIFFERENTLY - Instead of hosting a dinner, go to a soup kitchen, give to the food bank and serve those who are not overfed this season. Now, that is welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God.

SABBATH TIME - Savor the relationship you have with God, the relationships you have with others, the gift of this day. Be still. Listen. Give thanks.

Visit www.simpleliving.org for more great ideas.

Advent is also a great time to invite family and friends to worship services so they might learn more about the real meaning of Christmas.

A great Thanksgiving with the guys!

2007-11-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

I had a great Thanksgiving with my boys. We played poker and the new rock band video game. Great fun! The turkey came out very well and the gravy was awesome! Peter's new girl friend Tami was there too. Melia and MIcah were off visiting MIcah's grandparents. There is much to be thankful for and God is still good! Later Thanksgiving night I took off for Placerville to see my parents and my brother's family.

2007-11-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

I've been having a great time relaxing and catching up on my studies in Orlando at my cousin Dave's beautiful home. There is a tennis court next door. I don't play but it has been fun to watch and you can hear all the grunts and groans and whoops as they hit or miss as the case might be. Reading by the pool and taking walks by the near by lakes has been refreshing. There has been a closeness of God's presence.

A real treat has been a book I discovered in my room called Patches of Godlight by Jan Karon. I was pleasantly surprised by this moving collection of quotes from a wide range of writers and thinkers.

Here are few short ones that I enjoyed:

Be faithful in the little practices of love, which will build in you the life of holiness and make you Christ-like.
Mother Teresa

I am certainly convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.
Florence Nightingale

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
Abraham Lincoln

God is good

2007-11-11T00:41:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderfully fun dinner at a friend's home tonight and after I came home rocked Silas for a while and later when spending some time in prayer and meditation, I found this beautiful prayer:

Teach us, O Father, to trust thee with life and death,
And (though this is harder by far)
With the life and death of those that are dearer to us
Than our life.

Teach us stillness and confident peace
In thy perfect will,
Deep calm of soul, and content
In what thou wilt do with these lives thou hast given.

Teach us to wait and be still,
To rest in thyself,
To hush this clamorous anxiety,
To lay in thine arms all this wealth thou hast given.

Thou lovest these souls that we love
With a love far surpassing our own
As the glory of noon surpasses the gleam of a candle

Therefore will we be still,
And trust in thee.
John S. Hoyland, 1887-1957

Mystery Dinner Theatre

2007-10-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

The mystery dinner was great as always. Here is a link to pictures of the Vikings - Copy and paste this address into your web browser. www.rjweb.org/wpc/2007-10-mystery

Come reach out to the world as they run by our church this Sunday!

2007-10-11T16:09:00.001-07:00

There will be a 1/2 Marathon in San Jose, and most roads around Westminster will be closed starting at 4AM.
This includes sections of The Alameda/Santa Clara, Park, Hedding, Hester, Dana, and Bascom.

The best open route to the church will be Leigh to Hanchett Ave. from either San Carlos or westbound on Park. For a complete list of closures, times, and maps please visit

Even though it will be hard to get to worship this Sunday – BUT it is important that we all try to attend as a witness to our community!

The race starts at 8 AM. Come early and cheer on the runners. Our youth worship team will be playing outside on the front lawn.

Help needed with water –I still need a few more folks to help with water. Please email me and let me know if you can help with passing out water. I am also looking for two more large water containers to borrow that morning.

Come reach out to the world as they run by our church this Sunday!

More Silas Mann Photos!

2007-09-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

Silas Arthur Mann has arrived!

2007-09-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

Silas Arthur Mann arrived last night at around 7:45 PM. He weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz and was 20" long! He is a most beautiful baby - OF COURSE!!!!!!! Yeah MIcah and Melia!

More Rich Wedding Pictures

2007-09-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I just recieved some more pictures from Rich Williams Wedding that I thought I should post.

More Kick Off

2007-09-17T19:28:00.001-07:00

Kick Off Sunday!

2007-09-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from Kick Off - thanks to everyone who made it such a great success! The jousting was good fun!

Two More Poems

2007-09-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

Click on the title of this post to find out more about the Writer's Almanac!

Poem: "Meadowbrook Nursing Home" by Alice N. Persons, from Don't Be A Stranger. © Sheltering Pines Press, 2007.

Meadowbrook Nursing Home

On our last visit, when Lucy was fifteen
And getting creaky herself,
One of the nurses said to me,
"Why don't you take the cat to Mrs. Harris' room
— poor thing lost her leg to diabetes last fall —
she's ninety, and blind, and no one comes to see her."

The door was open. I asked the tiny woman in the bed
if she would like me to bring Lucy in, and she turned her head
toward us. "Oh, yes, I want to touch her."

"I had a cat called Lily — she was so pretty, all white.
She was with me for twenty years, after my husband died too.
She slept with me every night — I loved her very much.
It's hard, in here, since I can't get around."

Lucy was settling in on the bed.
"You won't believe it, but I used to love to dance.
I was a fool for it! I even won contests.
I wish I had danced more.
It's funny, what you miss when everything.....is gone."
This last was a murmur. She'd fallen asleep.

I lifted the cat
from the bed, tiptoed out, and drove home.
I tried to do some desk work
but couldn't focus.

I went downstairs, pulled the shades,
put on Tina Turner
and cranked it up loud
and I danced.
I danced.

Poem: "Psalm" by Stuart Kestenbaum, from Prayers & Run-on Sentences. © Deerbrook Editions, 2007.
Psalm

The only psalm I had memorized was the 23rd
and now I find myself searching for the order
of the phrases knowing it ends with surely
goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever only I remember
seeing a new translation from the original Hebrew
and forever wasn't forever but a long time
which is different from forever although
even a long time today would be
good enough for me even a minute entering
the House would be good enough for me,
even a hand on the door or dropping today's
newspaper on the stoop or looking in the windows
that are reflecting this morning's clouds in first light.

New Poems

2007-09-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

I found some new nice new poems from the Writer's Almanac that I want to pass on. The first doesn't look like a poem - but it is!

Poem: "Seagulls" by Louis Jenkins, from North of the Cities. © Will o' the Wisp Books, 2007.
Seagulls

There were no seagulls in the harbor, none at the marina. I saw none in the air. There were no seagulls at Canal Park, or McDonalds, or at Russ Kendall's smokehouse, or at the Kmart parking lot, or any of their favorite hangouts. It's winter and snow is falling, but I don't believe seagulls fly south. I've often seen them standing around on the ice all day, as if they were waiting for a big bus to come and take them to a casino. Where are all the seagulls? This is not a question I ever thought I'd ask myself. You get used to someone being around and if they go away you miss them. That's how life is. But seagulls are primarily a nuisance, and if you can't count on that, what can you count on?

Lily and Jedi

2007-09-02T03:29:00.000-07:00

Lily and Jedi had fun playing in the backyard the other day with a big blue ball and a card board box house. I was glad I grabbed the camera

Link to more camping pictures

2007-08-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

There a lots more great Hot August Moons camping pictures at http://www.rjweb.org/wpc/2007-08-camping/index.html or click on the title of this post.

Even more Rich wedding pictures

2007-08-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

Rich had three good friends attend and Leanne had three good friends attend we all hit off really well and had a fun time. After Rich and Leanne left on the honeymoon we took a walk downtown and then returned for a quick jump in the pool. The night before we sat around the kitchen table with the lights out, watching a mid-western thunder storm and telling tales about Rich and Leanne - Great fun!

Rich's Wedding Part Two

2007-08-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

The ceremony went well. The bride was lovely and Rich looked pretty good too. Everyone had a great time. Here are a few more pictures - sorry no dog pictures and no house pictures - maybe next visit I'll get some of those to share...

Rich's Wedding Part One

2007-08-25T00:23:00.000-07:00

Many of the readers of this blog know Rich Willliams. I am in Neosho, MO this week to perfom his wedding. His bride is a great gal named Leanne. Between them they have 5 dogs! Cabboose, Barnabus, Angel, Rock and Mister. Sort of a yours, mine and ours type of thing. They bought a beautiful historic home that I will try to get some pictures of tomorrow. And maybe a few dog pictures too. These pictures are from the rehearsal. There is an awesome mid-western thunder storm going on right now - it is 2:30 AM - lightening is flashing! Thunder is rolling! My hotel windows are wide open. It is really great!

WPC Church Picnic

2007-08-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

We had a great picnic on Sunday. Rick James took some very nice pictures. You can see more pictures at http://www.rjweb.org/wpc/2007-08-picnic/index.php

Princess Class

2007-08-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Lily recently attended a "Princess class" it was a week full of little girls learning about being princesses! At the end they had a princess recital. Here are a few pictures.

Hot August Moons at Tahoe

2007-08-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a fun week camping with families from Westminster at Sugar Pines Campgrounds at Lake Tahoe. We laughed, sang, ate, fished, rode bikes and played together. It was a great week. A highlight was a daily jam session with Steve and Sean Frost. Steve brought along an acoustic bass and Sean and I had acoustic guitars. We jammed on some old CSN&Y, John Mayer, Clapton, Robben Ford and of course - the old standard 12 bar blues. I think the other campers enjoyed the music…. At least we kept the bears away if nothing else...

iPod Tales

2007-07-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

I recently sent a friend the following story and thought I would post it here (with a few embellishments) for all to read. It might bring a tear to your eye.

My iPod died yesterday. Poor iPod. I originally got it for free from my son, Peter. He said that it didn’t work and I could have it – GEE THANKS! But it was cool, because it only cost 50 bucks to repair. It was an old Photo iPod – so no video or cool games. But it worked well and I loved it. I had it for a few joy filled months and then one fateful day I dropped it in the sink while washing the dishes and it drowned. A warm hair dryer helped along with a trip to the Mac repair shop. ($180 – I should have buried it then). Then, it stopped working a little over a week ago and I took it in and they said they couldn't fix it - BUT when I got home it worked! The iPod lives!
Yesterday, it was in the cup holder in my car. I spilt coffee and thought it missed the iPod only to find when getting to the gym that I had filled the bottom of the cup holder with coffee and my iPod was soaking in it! The poor thing thought it was charging, really it was shorting out. I was able to trade it in and get 10% off a new model...
So today is my first day with my new iPod! I am already thinking I should have gotten the 80 gig instead – after loading all my music, books and podcasts – it took up 20 gigs! I could dump some podcasts....

Here's a recent poem

2007-07-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote a few divorce poems that I may share on my blog. Here is the first one about the dock in Santa Cruz, CA

Waves
Rhythmic
Chaos
Depth
Dark and light blue
White caps

Sunlight flash
Band of gold skipped off the dock
Up to the sky
Into the waves
Sinking deep

Lost forever?
Resting in the sand?
Eaten by a fish?
Forgotten?

God only knows….

Praying The Lord's Prayer

2007-07-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

This is from Prayer by George A. Buttrick. It is a classic old book on prayer. Here are suggestions on how to use the Lord's Prayer as a guide for prayer"

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Help me to believe this day that there is a power to lift me up which is stronger than all the things that hold me down.

Hallowed be Thy name.
Help me to be sensitive to what is beautiful, and responsive to what is good, so that day by day I may grow more sure of the holiness of life in which I want to trust.

Thy Kingdom come.
Help me to be quick to see, and ready to encourage, whatever brings the better meaning of God into that which otherwise might be the common round of the uninspired day.

Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Help me to believe that the ideals of the spirit are not a far-off dream, but a power to command my loyalty and direct my life here on our real earth.

Give us this day our daily bread.
Open the way for me to earn an honest living without anxiety; but let me never forget the needs of others, and make me want only that benefit for myself which will also be their gain.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Make me patient and sympathetic with the shortcomings of others, especially of those I love; and keep me sternly watchful only of my own. Let me never grow hard with the unconscious cruelty of those who measure themselves by mean standards, and so think they have excelled. Keep my eyes lifted to the highest, so that I may be humbled; and seeing the failures of others be forgiving, because I know how much there is of which I need to be forgiven.

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
Let me not go carelessly this day within the reach of any evil that I cannot resist, but if in the path of duty I must go where temptation is, give me strength of spirit to meet it without fear.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
And so in my heart may I carry the knowledge that thy greatness is above me and around me, and that thy grace through Jesus Christ my Master is sufficient for all my needs. Amen.

A few good prayers

2007-07-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

Here are two very nice prayers that a member of WPC just sent me that I would like to share. She says they have been helpful to use when she can't sleep.

This was written by Teresa of Avila.

Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass.
God does not change.
Patience achieves everything.
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.

This is part of the "breastplate prayer" of St.
Patrick.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ
when I arise.

MORE Experiments in Prayer

2007-07-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some practices that might help you with your prayers. Many of concepts I'm using come from two books - Prayer - Does It Make a Difference by Philip Yancey and a classic - Prayer by George Buttrick

But first a disclaimer:

These are just some ways that others and myself have found to helpful in prayer. There is no tried and true formula that if followed to the letter will guarantee your prayers will be answered -

THE SUGGESTION THAT IF YOU -
• Pray in this posture -
• Use these words -
• Have this proper amount of faith
AND IT WILL BE DONE AS YOU ASK
- IS NOT CHRISTIAN PRAYER - it is magic and superstition -

Next week I'm going to talk more about the difference between prayer and magical thinking - but for now - I want to be very clear that the ideas and practices I share are just tools to help you in your prayers and not methods to guarantee your prayer requests will be answered as you like -

EXPERIMENTS IN PRAYER:

The first has to do with time and place of prayer

You can pray anywhere and anytime - and daily life should be punctuated with brief prayers to God - sort of an on going dialogue but there also is a place for structured prayer.

I think most folks have tendency to find one or the other easier or more fitting for them -

Some folks have a continual prayer dialogue with God through out the day - God, help me - God be with that person - thanks God for opening my mind and heart to that other way of thinking … But they have a hard time remembering to kneel by their bed at night or in the morning.

Others may have no problem stopping at certain times during the day for prayer. They start the day kneeling by their bedside or in the kitchen with coffee and talk with God and read a few scriptures. Pause at lunch break and then before bed. But in-between those times - they just live life and trust in the Lord - and don't talk with God much until the next appointed time.

Neither is right or wrong - I think we need both. It is like in a marriage. Many times during the day you may say - I love you. - There might be many hugs or kisses on the cheek - or glances across the room - phone calls - and that is good and necessary

But then there are other times - private times alone when you share your love together in more intimate and passionate ways - You set dates to have a special dinner together - even though you could be close and eat dinner as you do every night - you set special dates to just be with each other -

Both connections are needed in a healthy marriage and both types of connections are needed with God

My struggle is not with the on-going prayer dialogue - my struggle is with the special scheduled times of prayer -

Here are some things that have helped -

Find places and times when you are already alone and quiet and take advantage of those times to pray -
So mine are in the shower and driving to work - those are prayer times that work - Yours may be different - Could a coffee break during the day - could be a time at night when you finally get the kids to bed and your spouse falls asleep on the couch as usual - but try to notice those times and use them.

Make times and make a place
You might actually schedule a time in your calendar or set an alarm on your cell phone or PDA and have a quiet place in mind like a garden or study. We think of Islam as having certain times of prayer - but Morning Prayer, midday prayer, evening prayer have long been part of the Christian tradition.

What do I pray about? How do I keep focused in prayer?
I was at a conference on prayer at MPPC and John Ortberg shared about how his mind wanders from thing to thing when praying and how that would drive him crazy - O Lord I praise you for - and he would think of a problem at home - or an issue a staff member had - of something he was supposed to do that day - and the thought came to him that maybe those things weren't really distractions - maybe those were the very things he needed to be praying about -

• Praying out loud can help - softly - be careful here
• Writing prayers
• Reading prayers of others - psalms and collections - I found one at a bargain book store - called "A Time to Pray" that has 365 different prayers from scripture, early church, Celts, mystics, reformers, hymn writers, modern authors - great help in learning to pray.
• Use the Lord Prayer as an outline for prayer (I will post an example of this later)

Here is an example of a prayer that has helped me by John Baillie CH (1886-1960) was a Scottish theologian who wrote A Diary of Private Prayer (1936)
Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin:
Let me use disappointment as material for patience
Let me use success as material for thankfulness
Let me use trouble as material for perseverance
Let me use danger as material for courage
Let me use reproach as material for long suffering
Let me use praise as material for humility
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance
Let me use pain as material for endurance -

Consider your posture in prayer
There is no proper posture in prayer - but I do think there should be a congruency in our verbal language and our body language and I would encourage experiments in posture and prayer - the Bible has people sitting, standing, bowing, raising hands, dancing, spinning, lying down - all sorts of postures in prayer - try raising your hands or opening your hands in a symbol of receiving or letting go - try kneeling as a posture of submission or reverence - lay prostrate on the floor as a sign of helplessness before God - It won't guarantee that your prayers are any holier or greater, but it might help you prayer more with your whole being and not just your head - or intellect.

Think through what you are really trying to accomplish in prayer - are you really seeking God's will and involvement or are you trying to use prayer as a way of manipulating God and others?

David Mains gives a checklist of good questions to make sure or prayers or on target:
1. What do I really want? Am I being specific, or just rambling in my prayers?
2. Can God grant this request? Or is it against God's nature to do so?
3. Have I done my part? Or am I praying to lose when I haven't dieted or pass a test when I haven't studied?
4. How is my relationship with God? Are we on speaking terms?
5. Who will get the credit if my prayers are answered? Do I have God's best interest in mind?
6. Do I really want this prayer answered? What would happen if I actually got that job? Or if I actually did get that boyfriend or girlfriend back?

One last thing that can help with prayer - talk to others about your prayer life - what has been helpful - share about times when you feel you have connected with God and about times you have not - and there will be a strengthening and as you encourage others you will be encouraged -