Westview Church » Jay’s Blog

Introduction toTom Clegg!

Keith Willhite — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:55:58 +0000

I am humbled and honored to be called by the Elder Board of Westview to serve as your Interim Pastor.

What exactly is an interim pastor? Webster describes interim as “on or for the intervening time period.” So, I am serving as our pastor until Westview calls a new pastor. In that time I will be speaking most weekends, sharing the pastoral care with Pastor Susan, participating in the Leadership Team, advising the Search Committee and overall preparing Westview to call a new pastor.

Over the coming months we will have lots of opportunities to get to know one another. I ask that you please take a minute and introduce yourself and help me to remember your name!

A few things about me:

I am happily married to Jodi and to that union has been brought two daughters: Chelsea (20) at UNI studying Theater Performance and Lindsey (18) at Drake studying Vocal Performance and Education. Yes they’re born for the stage and I love it!

Jodi has just come through a two year season of terrible health and is now on a rapid rebound. For this we are very grateful! Once you get to know her you will learn she can sew, knit, crochet or otherwise make just about anything.

I was born and raised in Des Moines…went to Valley. Grew up attending church. Attended Open Bible College, Regent University, Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh.

The Lord has been pleased to use me as a pastor, missionary, church planter, seminary professor, denominational executive, consultant, coach and now lead a ministry called the Missional Transformation Network.

Since I travel a great deal the opportunity to be home more is wonderful…thank you Westview!

In my spare time I enjoy running (try to get in a marathon every year), reading (I’m a serious history geek), play the guitar and like working with my hands around the house etc. If you haven’t already joined my facebook it’s a great way to get connected.

For now please pray that our Heavenly Father be glorified in all I say and do, for the Holy Spirit to empower Pastor Susan and myself to lead and serve well and for Jesus Christ to be evident in every aspect of Westview Church!

See you Sunday!!

With much love and appreciation,

Tom

Tom’s email is Tom@westview.org, and he plans to have office hours on Wednesday’s.

An Update from Jay

Keith Willhite — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:38:39 +0000

Wow! The end is near for Barb and me at Westview! It’s hard to believe that our 17 plus years with this great church will soon come to an end. Our last Sunday with you will be July 25. We will miss you all terribly, but we know that God had great things in store for this great church! Check out www.Journey3.org <http://www.journey3.org/> for more information on what we will be doing in Portland, Oregon.

Would you pray with us about a couple of crucial things as we work on making the move to Portland?

Please pray that we find a buyer for our house. We have had several people look at our house and we are waiting for a good offer.

Please pray for me as I raise the needed support for the new ministry I am called to start in Portland. I have attached a copy of the strategic plan that gives some explanation of what I believe God is calling me to do. Unlike 17 years ago, when we began Westview, I don’t have a classis behind me providing the needed income for this new church start. City Classis will be my supporting classis, but they don’t have the resources to fund this ministry, so I am working at raising the support I need. Please pray that God will provide through interested individuals and churches.

Thank you for blessing Barb and me and our boys in so many ways over the last 17 years! We look forward to watching what God does through you in the days and years to come!

Tom Clegg announcement

Keith Willhite — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:31:44 +0000

Tom Clegg chosen to be our Interim Pastor!
We had a couple of great candidates to choose from. The Elder Board has asked Tom Clegg to serve as our interim pastor beginning August 1. Tom will be preaching most Sundays and will be advising the Elder Board and the Search Team. Tom is known to many of us as a trusted consultant and coach. He has worked with many churches and has served as an interim pastor twice.

Community Garden

Keith Willhite — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:42:40 +0000

Westview Church has a Community Garden on the eastern edge of our property. Food raised there is given to the Food Pantry. If you are interested in adopting a plot or just helping out when you can, please contact Angie Schmitt at 267-1426

Westview Lenton Email Devotions

Keith Willhite — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:15:56 +0000

During Lent you will receive an email devotion written by a Westview attendee. Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays until Easter, a different Westview person will share with us a meaningful scripture and a brief commentary on the passage. I hope this spurs us on in our own bible reading and prayer life.

There is Power

Pastor Jay — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:09:20 +0000

An old hymn that we sang in church when I was just a little fella went something like this, “There is power, power, wonderworking power, in the blood of the Lamb”. There is power, and that power is tied to the blood of the lamb. Sounds mysterious and messy doesn’t it? But the blood is shorthand for the death of Jesus, which is shorthand for the purpose of Jesus to give himself sacrificially for the world. And Jesus tells us, in Acts chapter 1, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”. There is power. But the wonderworking power of Jesus is tied to the purpose of Jesus for our lives. I am to be a witness for Jesus. Do I lack power in life? Well, am I a witness?

Enjoy Life!

Pastor Jay — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:30:04 +0000

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15
I commend to you…life! What is life all about? The Westminster Catechism answers that the purpose of life is “to know God and enjoy him forever”. God wants us to enjoy life. He knows that, if we make it our life’s aim to know him, we will find peace in the regular activities of our days.
And that is a good thing!

Discovery Hour Registration!

Keith Willhite — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:20:05 +0000

It is not too late!

Children’s Discovery Hour

is starting!!

Register TODAY for preschool & elementary classes.

Ages 3 – 5^th grade may attend

9:00-10:00 Sundays beginning 9/13

Click here for Registration Form!

Big Timber Meats

Pastor Jay — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:14:31 +0000

I was walking Chase, my yellow Labrador, down the street in Big Timber, Montana, when suddenly he crouched low to the ground, his hair stood on end and he desperately pulled on the leash to get away. We were on vacation traveling out west and stopped in this small mountain town to take a break and stretch our legs. Barb was checking out the shops while Chase and I were enjoying the sunshine.

What caused his sudden anxiety? I tightened my grip on the leash and looked around for a threat…another dog, a cat…what could it be? Then I saw the sign, “Big Timber Meats, Wild Game Processing”. We were right in front of a wild game meat locker. And, in Montana, that can be anything from antelope, to elk, to buffalo, to bear. Chase had caught the scent of something big and scary from inside that building…and he was anxious!

I’ve thought about that since. I get anxious. You get anxious. Every person (and my dog) experiences anxiety. Jesus says, “Don’t be anxious, but…when you do, turn your anxious thoughts into prayers”. That’s my rough translation.

Chase doesn’t know how to pray. He just tries to escape. And here’s the kicker. Chase didn’t realize that the beast that he smelled and feared was already dead and hanging in the locker.

Life Management

Pastor Jay — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:54:06 +0000

What is it that we want for our children? We want them to move out and take responsibility for their own lives…right? I want my boys to manage their own checking accounts, do their own laundry, set their own alarm clocks and call their mother on Mothers Day. Self-management is foundational to success in life. But God says there’s more to it.

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Most people will be successful if they manage three big areas of life: wisdom, strength and riches. Wisdom can be defined as your intellectual and critical thinking growth. Strength refers to your abilities, capabilities, and competencies. Riches is your material prosperity and your ability to provide for yourself and those you love. Set goals and stay on track in the big three and almost always, you will be seen as successful by your peers.

These three areas are good things! But God says that there is something more foundational to life. Am I growing in understanding and knowing God, through Jesus Christ? What goals have I set, what plans have I made to grow in knowing God?