Saturday, November 29, 2008

The Father's Love Begotten


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

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Westminster Stuff

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.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Florida Trip Pictures




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.

Monday, November 10, 2008

A new poem

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

Friday, October 31, 2008

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

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.

Thursday, September 04, 2008

You asked for it!



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)

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Camp pictures on Sunday


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...

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

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A poem I enjoy

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.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Message from the Present to the Future



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



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.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

What I really was up to in Austria


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


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?

Friday, June 20, 2008

Austria

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

Saturday, June 14, 2008

On the shores of beautiful Lake Victoria

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.

Monday, June 02, 2008

All the Grandkids


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

Livingston, I presume?

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!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Westminster Annual Pastor's Report

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.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Africa Mission Update

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.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Africa Trip

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.