New Baby video

This a short quicktime video of Jediah - click to play
Jediah Video

Jediah Norman arrived last night

It has been a crazy couple of days around the Norman house. Sunday night Kimberly and Micah came over to visit and Kimberly was not feeling well. They were thinking of going to the hospital the next day, but ended up going in at about 10:30 PM that night. Kimberly had severe swelling and was eventual diagnosed with preeclampsia. The doctors decided to induce labor. Kimberly was very brave and wonderful and Micah was a great coach and took good care of Kimberly. By Tuesday at around 7 PM Kimberly was having strong contractions but Jediah's heart rate was slowing. The doctors felt that it was becoming to hard for Jediah, so they opted for a C-section. Micah went along and stayed with Kimberly during the operation. Sometime soon after 8 PM Jediah entered the world four weeks premature weighing 3 lbs and 10 oz. Praise God for a wonderfully beautiful baby boy. Kimberly was doing well afterwards and her family all gathered around to see her and Jediah. Micah, Melia and Lily Mann were there to welcome Jediah.

Great new podcast -The Writer's Almanac

The Writer's Almanac is a great new broadcast and podcast from Garrison Keillor. Everyday has talks about authors born on that day a reads a poem. They are outstanding and quite moving. The title of this entry will take you to the site. You can subscribe to the podcast or to an email version or just visit the site from time to time. Here is one of the poems that spoke to me and I used it in a sermon today:
Poem: that has no title by Robert Lax from Tertium Quid.

praise god, though he's no place in any
astronomic seating plan,
sing still his might for still he can
wreak havoc on the race of man.
he still can shrug the earth a bit
to make your standing towers sit
and quite destroy your joules and volts
with mediocre thunder-bolts.
he still can tear your towns apart
while his surrealistic art
grows grass where hitler's moustache grows
and ferns from hirohito's toes
fills frank sinatra's mouth with ashes
and springs a toad from garbo's lashes
and with some slight celestial mayhem
destroys the shrines of martha graham
and porter cole and coward noel
and splits the earth from pole to pole,
or with some ray you haven't found
sink dante's hell-shaft under-ground.
sing still his might for still he can
wreak havoc on the race of man.

even More Lily Pictures

Well - there is only one thing worse than a grandpa's wallet when it comes to pictures of grandchildren - It is a grandpa's blog - Here are even more Lily pictures. Before the summer is over I will have grandchild number two and I will be adding many Jedi pictures. How can you help it when your grandchild is so beautiful?

New Lily Pictures

Here are some new pictures of darling Lily - who now 17 months old.

UPDATE ON OVER 50 FUN

Well, well, well - It seems like things are just getting started with Dr. Chui. I wasn't sure how we stood after our last get together, but it seems like we hit it off better than I thought. He wants to see me again. Some of the results came back pre-cancerous - so I get to do it all over again in three years.

When it rains it pours!

This has been a crazy day. I'm up in SF watching Aric and Abel while Peter and Amber attend a really cool trade show in LA. We have been having a good time hanging out. Earlier Micah calls with news that Kimberly may have some problems with the baby and her health and the doctors are wondering if they should terminate the pregnancy or induce early labor - After we all flipped out the doctors decided things weren't as bad as they thought and Kimberly could continue the pregnancy - but she needs to come back for tests after the delivery.... Then Melia calls and they are taking Lily to the emergency ward because she is favoring her left arm and whimpering when mom and dad try to move it . . . Last I heard all was well - but they were waiting to see another doctor. They haven't called back so I'm hoping that is good news. I am keeping my kids and grandkids in nonstop prayer.

Something new

I'm experimenting with posting a video. This may / may not work

Over Fifty Fun

Well, well, well, there are so many new fun after 50 experiences! I finally gave in to my doctor's wishes a few days ago and completed my complete physical examination. Yes, COMPLETE physical examination. Last Friday Dr. Chui, a very nice man went where no man has gone before. He was great and the procedure was painless and over before I knew it - BUT no flowers, no dinner and not even a phone call the next morning. Well, actually his nurse called yesterday to see how I was doing, but I though that was a bit impersonal.

The strangest part of the procedure was waking up half way through, watching everything on a monitor and getting a guided tour of my innards by Dr. Chui as he was extracting the five foot long endoscope. Very surreal. He gave me a set of pictures to take home to commemorate the event. I decided that I would save you and not post them here.

Getting Ready for Easter

I'm really looking forward to Easter Sunday. I will be preaching on the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel as the ultimate vision of resurrection. I am working on a powerpoint background for Easter that is from a picture of one of our sanctuary's stain glass windows.
I need to go to Costco and pick out a roast or ham or some festive cut of meat. Peter and Amber, Micah and Kimberly, Melia and Micah and Lily will all be coming for Easter dinner. It should be a great time. I'm hoping to have a dart board set up.

Holy Week

Palm Sunday was very good. I really felt confident getting back to preaching. We had good attendance and I felt that Jesus was with us. Today is a busy day - pastor's prayer meeting, new tires on the car, finish taxes, mail a book I sold on eBay, counseling, support group and more - I think I need to get over the reality that I won't complete everything and just complete the most important items. Here is a new picture of my darling granddaughter -

Thanks for the prayers

Thanks for the prayers and keep praying! Church was great and God is good. This is a song by Chris Tomlin that keeps running through my mind and I want to make it my song and prayer:

Verse 1
Caught in the half-light
I'm caught alone
Waking up to the sunrise
And the radio
Feels like I'm tied up what's holding me
Just praying today will be the day I go free

And I want to live like there's no tomorrow
I want to dance like no one's around
I want to sing like nobody's listening
Before I lay my body down
I want to give like I have plenty
I want to love like I'm not afraid
I want to be the man I was meant to be
I want to be the way I was made


Verse 2
Made in Your likeness
Made with Your hands
Made to discover who You are
And who I am
All I've forgotten help me to find
All that You've promised let it be in my life

The Way I Was Made
Authors: Chris Tomlin
Ed Cash
Jesse Reeves
Copyright: 2004 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services)
sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Back to work

After taking around a month off from ministry, I am returning this morning. I am surprised at how apprehensive and anxious I feel. I have felt great love from the church and from God, so I'm not sure why I am feeling these feelings. I am trusting that God will meet me in worship today and affirm my calling and gifting as a pastor.

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

My parents stopped by last weekend. We had a great time. Family is so precious. Here are my parents with their great grandaughter.

A Poem

This is a wonderful poem and picture that my daughter made for me as a Father's Day present about 10 years ago. The picture is from 1985 or '86 when we spent a very happy day spent at Pictured Rocks National Monument in Munising, MI. Micah can be seen as a toddler and Melia must be a first grader. I was 30 something. There is a picture of the poem as the layout seems to add to the feeling and meaning.


Inadequate words of good intent to sooth things unspoken.
I show my heart, my need, your constant gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

Take peace, know that you have given all-
Know that He knows, Know that he loves- that the eyes of a proud Father look down upon you as the eyes of a daughter look up for guidance.

Things lost, life rushes on- you’ve not been swept aside.
A constant faith, unending selfless striving to show your heart, to fill the need with your gift of patience, kindness, this is love.

A nice picture

This picture was taken at Max's Deli. Lily was about 2 months old at that time. A lot of folks have been asking about Teri. She has just been transfered to a new recovery program, It is a 90 day to 6 month program. She cannot call home for the first 2 weeks. I hope she can find some help there. If you email me, I can send her address.

More New Baby News!

In the middle of all the crazy stuff going on with our family, I was so happy to find out that MIcah and Kimberly are expecting a baby boy! This is the latest ultrasound. It is a close up of the babies face. They have chosen, Jediah, for his first name. It means "hand of God". Micah wants to call him Jedi for short. I can't wait to have another baby around. Lily has been growing up so fast. She is walking and starting to talk. A few days ago words began to have real meaning for her. It was so fun to watch. She can say and understand; up, cracker, cheese, shoes, olive, and cat. It is amazing how you can have a meaningful conversation with so few words. Well, at least Lily and I can.

Kind Words from Pastor Nancy Schell

You might have heard of the hard time our family has been going through. The church has been wonderfully supportive and kind. Here are some kind words from Rev Nancy that were written for the church newsletter:
Dear Family,
We here at Westminster are a particular part of the family of God. Called together by our Lord, we continue to learn day by day what it means to be a healthy family. How does each of us learn the skills necessary for living together? How do we care for each other, support each other, accept each other for the persons we are?
For almost eighty years, Westminster has been my family--through the good times and the hard times. Eight years ago, we called Rev. Steve and Teri Norman into this family, to walk with us and help us grow and change. I have watched as Steve has helped us find a new vision of what Westminster can become.
I have admired Steve's honesty, openness, and vulnerability. One of my continuing frustrations is how we can care and love each other if we are not willing to admit where we are hurting. How can we be "wounded healers" unless we are willing to reveal our own struggles? Pastor Steve has been a model of this by his personal integrity.
As the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter to the Christians scattered over the known world, "You are a kingdom of priests." Today each of us here at Westminster is a priest for our God, speaking for our Lord to the people and speaking for the people to our Lord. Right now we are called to pray to God for Pastor Steve and Teri in their struggles, to care for them, and support them with our love. Tomorrow any one of us might be the one who stands in that place of need.
Together let us be the Body of Christ!

Dear church -

Worship is more that sitting in the sanctuary on Sunday Mornings. The word "worship" actually means "work of the people". We often think of worship as prayer, preaching, sacraments and singing. Worship can involve all four elements, but worship is more than that. Worship is serving God. Everything we do as service to the Lord is worship. When we share God's love in real tangible ways it is worship. Just imagine you could be washing the dishes and worshiping God at the same time. No cathedral, no organ, no pulpit necessary! So, why is it necessary to meet together on Sundays?

We need to be together in worship on Sundays because we are part of a community together. Following Jesus is more than a solitary pursuit. It is also a walk along side and with others who are also following Jesus. There are times to worship alone and times to worship together. There are times we worship through serving God and others in very practical, visible ways and times we worship and serve in ways that may seem invisible. Singing out together, speaking out together, believing God hears and responds may not seem practical to some, but things happen unseen - deep in our hearts. These are the invisible workings of God in us that become visible as we live out our worship in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit mysteriously moves through the prayers, songs, words, signs, hand shakes, hugs and symbols we share on Sunday morning. Worship should always be God-centered, but we do benefit and receive hope and strength when we worship the living God together. We have a lone solitary life in Christ and a together body life in Christ. Both are real and both are necessary parts of the Christian life. Come; let's worship together this Sunday.

Capernaum

We are blessed to have an awesome ministry meet at our church called the Capernaum Project. The minster to youth and youg adults with disabilities - The local paper published a wonderful article about them at http://www.rosegardenresident.com/rg-cover.shtml - or click on the title of this article