I hope that you are taking some time this year to read your bible. Nothing will help you grow in your relationship with God than reading His word. If you’ve been using the bookmark or the link on our site you’ve learned that it’s a challenge to be in God’s word every day. but it’s a challenge that is worth the struggle. By the way if you started and have fallen behind don’t worry about it, just pick it up on today’s date no one is keeping score!

Jesus showed us by example why it is important for you and me to be reading our bibles. In fact, He settled some major things by reminding people of what they read or should have read in the scriptures:

Some people were real uptight about what they could or couldn’t do on the Sabbath and Jesus said, “Have you not read what David did?” (Matthew 12:3).

Then there were ome others were confused about divorce and remarriage and He said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female?” (Matthew 19:4).

Another place people were upset about the kind of singing and worship that was going on to this He said, “Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have prepared praise for yourself’?” (Matthew 21:16).

In the middle of a debate about the resurrection the Lord said, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’?” (Matthew 21:42).

And to the young lawyer who asked Him about eternal life Jesus said, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Luke 10:26).

The apostle Paul also gave reading the Scripture importance in the life of the church.

To the Ephesians he wrote, “When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3).

To the Colossians he wrote, “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:16).

Even reading the letters of Paul was so important that he commands it with an oath: “I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren” (1 Thessalonians 5:27).

In another place wrote to the Corinthians, “We write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

We are not born with the ability to read, it has to be taught to us. Learning to read did not come easily for me, it was a real struggle and learning to read with understanding is a life-long pursuit. The importance for you to read your bible are immense. Literal reading is not the point…maybe you prefer listening, recordings, podcasts etc are readily available if that’s more your learning style.

The point is that the Word of God is given to us for a purpose. Not a religious tome of rights and wrongs but it is the story that we find ourselves in, the story of the God who is there, a love story about God and you. Reading the story, even if you don’t understand every detail gives a touch point for the Holy Spirit to speak into your spirit, it give you something to share with the people around you, it can spark all kinds of things in you that no one and no thing else can. It feeds your soul. It is also what we must pass on to our children and our children’s children.

The old Sunday School song is true…read you bible pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, grow.

Get growing, start reading!

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

I wanted to take just a moment to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year!

In writing to the Church at Philippi Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14 – Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Without a doubt, the greatest goal any of us can have in this year ahead is to experience Christ in a greater way than we ever have before.  Indeed, this was Paul’s desire as he says in verse 10 “I want to know Christ….”

This past year has been filled with many challenges for many Westview families as they have experienced trials and difficulties that if given the choice in the early part of last year may not have chosen to go through them.  Yet, none of us are afforded the “luxury” of picking and choosing what we go through.  For sure, there are problems we all experience in our lives that come as a result of poor judgment, yet I believe this is one of the great things about experience as we learn from each of those situations so we don’t have to repeat them!

I want to encourage you to look to this new year of 2012 in faith and determination that will bring you through in greater victory and strength than you ended this previous year with.  Let me remind you of another very familiar passage from Philippians, 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who makes me strong.” (Remember, here was a man who wrote this while in  prison for the cause of Christ!).

Love more!  Serve more! Give more! Just doing these three things alone will move us far along the road to happiness and contentment in the year ahead.

Here’s a thought: Live the New Year ahead in such a way you will be a bit sad next Dec. 31st when the ball drops closing it out!

Again, have a wonderful New Year, and I want you to know that you are appreciated!

See you Sunday,

Tom

PS – Bring a friend!

Is it me, or am I the only one who says every year, we’re going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season- Jesus? But every year, and I mean every year, the advertisements beckon, the children plead (well they used to!), the pressure to meet extended family obligations grows, and it just seems so much easier to indulge our wants, whims and cave in under the pressures. Overspending, overeating, materialism, and busyness. Do these really add or do they rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of his rightful role as the center of our celebration?

This Christmas, how can we cut through the hype, hysteria and heartburn that leaves you exhausted and broke at the end of the year? How can we, instead, experience the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us?

Look back over this past year. Look at all challenging times Jesus has brought you through. Despite the set backs and in light of the triumphs, the anchor of our lives has held fast. We have faced death, disappointment, discouragement, we have lost jobs, houses and relationships. But we have also welcomed babies, tasted victory, found new jobs, been married, received promotions and moved into new houses. Through it all He was with us even, especially, when it didn’t feel like it.

You see, Jesus Christ, is not always apparent but is always present. In the heat of the moment, when things are looking bad it is so easy to think we are all alone. In the same way in the heat of the Christmas season it’s just so hard to lose sight of reason behind it all. Waiting until we are in the heat of it all to decide what to do, to remember He is with us, to stay within the budget, to live our from beneath the crushing weigh of unrealistic expectations is often too late.

So may I take a moment to remind you to decide now, remember now, choose now:

to be thankful,

to be mindful,

to be humble and,

to be disciplined.

Thanksgiving is not only an obvious time to give thanks but a great time to help your family adjust their expectations and pace, speak to those “traditions” that are meaningful and those that need to be laid aside. Some of those conversations may be difficult, awkward or even painful but you need to ask yourself which is worse a little discomfort now or heartache, headache and heartburn in just 30 days?

When it comes to saying no waiting till Christmas is just too late.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

PS – I’m very thankful for you.

As we wrap up our series on the 23rd Psalm, here’s a fresh way, with big thanks to Pastor Susan for finding this, of looking at this powerful portion of scripture.

Psalm 23 Litany

This has been another busy week. I don’t know whether I can focus on worship this morning. Something is nagging at my feelings.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Life is busy. There seems to be no end to work. I can’t relax.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

I have bad, painful memories. I am hurting inside.

He restores my soul.

I struggle with sin. The good I want to do I cannot do. The evil I do I do not want to do. Who will rescue me from this body of death?

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

I am getting older and may soon die. Someone I love may soon die.

Even though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

My fellow workers look down on me. My boss gives me a hard time. I have few friends at school.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Life is full of troubles. My health is not as it should be. Where can I find meaningful work?

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I am worried about the future. Will I meet a partner? Can I repay my debts? Is my business going to fail? Will my marriage last?

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Think about it.

Have a great week!

See you Sunday…bring a friend,

Tom

11-3-11

In a few days our oldest daughter Chelsea has a birthday, she will be 22. I know it’s a cliché but years just seem to have flown by! So a few days ago I was asking her about some of her lifetime memories. It was amazing the things that she not only remembered but why they were important to her. A couple of the things she mentioned were what we called, ‘family nights.”

For all of her childhood I traveled a great deal: supervising churches, conference speaking and consulting. But for the most part I was home every Sunday night. These became those aforementioned family nights. It was an evening when we would cook the same simple meal, go over the upcoming calendar, learn from the scripture and do something fun, usually a game, read from a good book or sometimes watch a movie.  It was enjoyable and helped minimize the overall chaos of a young family. To say we read the bible as a family everyday would be an outright lie but we did once a week. And we made it a point to emphasis what the scripture taught with an object lesson.

Back to Chelsea. Here at 22 she recounted to me a family night lesson from 15 years ago. It was about the incredible power our words have and how once we say something impossible to ever truly take it back. At the beginning we put out paper plates and travel sized tubes of tooth paste. The first part of the lesson was a contest to see who could make the most creative sculpture with toothpaste. As she reminded us of that night I remembered that we had a ball. She made a snowman,  her sister drew a picture with her toothpaste. We looked their creations over and struggled to name a winner. There would have to be another competition to decide who won. I read from James 3:3-8:

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  ⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Here the bible tells us that words are very powerful. And that bad words are as powerful as a forest fire!

At that point I said, so to determine our winner and so we will remember this important point from the bible, “I know how we will decide the winner.” Jodi laid some tooth picks, spoons and popsicle sticks on the table and I reached into my billfold and pulled out my emergency 100 dollar bill and let the girls look at it. “Ok gang, here’s how we will determine the winner and this is the prize. If you win the contest you get to have this 100 dollar bill!” Their eyes were as big as the paper plates in front of them. Chelsea said she thought if she won she’d be rich her whole life! (economic lessons came a bit later!)

“All you have to do to win the contest and have the $100 is…using any of the tools on the table or even your bare hands…put the toothpaste back in the tube.

They scrambled! Toothpaste flew! They made their best effort!  But soon…their work slowed and they became frustrated.

“This is hard!”

“I can’t do it!”

“This is impossible!”

Silence.

“What does this teach us?”

“That toothpaste is squishy!” Lindsey said.

“That I’ll never have $100,” said Chelsea.

“Well really what it teaches us is that words are even harder to put back once they are said.”

True then and still ringing true in her now.

It was good to be reminded.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

PS – Bring a friend!

Fifty-five years ago Jim Elliot and a team of missionaries were working to reach a tribe of Indians in the jungles of Equador by learning their language and translating the scripture into their tongue and them give them the bible. They knew this was dangerous. Other missionaries had tried to discourage them from even making contact with the tribe as they were known to be violent to outsiders. But they went anyway. The next day. The team was murdered to a man. Speared to death. Martyred for the cause of Christ.

Years later Elizabeth, Jim’s wife was a guest in our home a number of times and became a mentor to my wife and me. She told us one evening at our kitchen table that the night before the team made their fateful last trip they sat around their kitchen table, thirty plus years before, and sang the hymn: We Rest On Thee Our Shield

We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.

I said, “Wait a minute! Doesn’t it work?”  And Betty told
us, “Yes it works Tom, because they also sang the second verse.”

Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.

You see if the ONE thing that you most desire is God Himself, to dwell in His presence, to passionately pursue Him then you are absolutely safe, secure and assured even if a spear is thrown through your heart, which is exactly what happened to them.

This week let Him be your shield and defender.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

10-20-11

Winter is on its way. The leaves are turning. The geese are flying south. You can feel the difference in the wind nipping at your ears.

How very different summer storms are from winter ones! In winter they seem to crash into us with such violence, bringing life to a crashing halt and if any straggling remnants of leaves or grass have lingered behind, these are swept away with the first gusts. Nothing is left but desolation; and long after the rain, sleet and snow have ceased and the snowdrifts have melted, only mud bear tokens of what once was. But when the clouds bring their downpours in summer, when the winds have lashed us with their fury, and the sun finally breaks forth, all things seem to rise with a renewed life from their refreshing bath. The flowers, shining with the rainbows, seem to smell sweeter than before; the grass seems to have gained an even brighter shade of green; and the young plants quickly seem to have literally sprung up from the showers. The air, too, which may previously have been oppressive, has become clear, and soft, and fresh.

So, too, is the difference when the storms of life fall on lives which are lost and on those who are at home in Christ. In the former they bring out the hopelessness and desperation which may before have been completely unapparent. Their state brought to a crashing halt is not relieved by the prospect of any sunshine to follow it or of any flowers or fruits to show from the rain. But for the one whose life is centered upon Jesus Christ, ”though weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning.” The sure security of hope and love follows every tear; and tribulation itself is turned into the, believe it or not, best of blessings.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

Wading in a mirror smooth lake at daybreak fly fishing I am awestruck by the beauty of my surroundings. It’s almost as if the beauty of it all might swallow me up and I’d be happy to let it. Have you ever wondered what it is about nature that so grabs us if we let it?  Why do snow capped mountains, lush forests, roaring surf or sparkling streams so deeply touch us? Where does the preference for, appreciation of and yearning for beauty come from?

Paul wrote in Romans 8:19-25

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

It seems to me that the splendor of nature is a foretaste (those first fruits) of a world made right. A world as it was meant to be from the beginning. A world that one day will be fully restored and until then our souls pine for that day.  A day when everything will be completely set right. Until then it lingers in the edges of our senses like the echo of familiar tune we can’t quite name, a fragrance we can’t quite place and sort of warm déjà vu that deeply we know but then we don’t quite know that we’ve somehow been here before. Something like the Garden of Eden yet none us was personally there.  Collectively our human experience points both back to the garden and forward to the new heaven and new earth. Reminders and foretastes.

Likewise when we live out faith, hope and love it is a foretaste and a reminder of how life ought to be. Ought to be.

Whenever we go to the movies we sit through 20 or so minutes of movie trailers, those short summaries of the coming movies. They give us the biggest laughs, most jaw dropping special effects or teasing thriller elements all in hope to provoke from the patrons the thought, “I want to see that one!”  Like the beauty of nature makes us yearn for the world to made right so faith, hope and love lived out in the life of Westview can cause people to say I want to see that one.

The beauty of God’s love lived out in your life, this week, like the beauty of nature or a movie trailer has the foretaste and reminder of how life was meant to be and one day will be. When people see that, they are drawn to it and want to see it lived out.

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

10-6-11

In The Midst of Crisis

There’s a true story that comes from the sinking of the Titanic. A frightened woman found her place in a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the raging North Atlantic. She suddenly thought of something she needed, so she asked permission to return to her stateroom before they cast off. She was granted three minutes or they would have to leave without her.

She ran across the deck that was already slanted at a dangerous angle. She raced through the gambling room with all the money that had rolled to one side, ankle deep. She came to her stateroom and quickly pushed aside her diamond rings and expensive bracelets and necklaces as she reached to the shelf above her bed and grabbed three small oranges. She quickly found her way back to the lifeboat and got in.

Now that seems incredible because thirty minutes earlier she would not have chosen a crate of oranges over even the smallest diamond. But death had boarded the Titanic. One blast of its awful breath had transformed all values. Instantaneously, priceless things had become worthless. Worthless things had become priceless. And in that moment she preferred three small oranges to a crate of diamonds.

Trials of all kinds confine, define and refine us. They come at us as opportunities and temptations, challenges and consequences. Regardless, every trial contains the possibility of drawing us closer to God by reminding us of what is truly most precious, what are our actual priorities, where we have placed our faith and just how faithful He always is. So, no matter what you are facing choose wisely, trust earnestly and remember God is with you no matter what.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12-13

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Think about it,

Tom

With three weeks to go until launch of the new program year there is a LOT going on behind the scenes at Westview!

Teachers are preparing for Discovery Hour, plans are being made for fall events, special services are being developed, schedules are being coordinated and none of it can happen with out lots of people stepping up to give their time, energy and resources.

In particular there are three areas of ministry that need immediate help to ensure a smooth launch into an effective new year of ministry:

The first one is a Small Group Ministry Coordinator. This role helps keep small group leaders resourced and cared for as well as assisting the pastoral staff in developing new groups for newcomers. If you are interested in helping Westview become an even more effective church drop me a line at tom@westview.org.

Second, is for several people to come along side our Senior High Ministry to help out with the youth group’s meetings. This is the practical doable ministry of helping set-up and being present at meetings on Sunday evenings and special events as well, as coming alongside and being friends, mentors and examples to senior high students. If you are interested in finding out more about this great opportunity to help out and be a positive influence in the lives of some awesome young people contact Kevin Roose at klroose@msn.com

Third, you’ve heard me joke about the need for people (especially men!) to serve in the Nursery during Discovery Hour and our worship services but this really isn’t a joking matter. The ability to provided safe, inviting and respectful nursery care for little ones, is not only key to caring for our own members but, is critical to providing a distraction free experience to all newcomers and worshippers. This literally is the ministry that touches little lives’ first but it is also the standard by which new young families will judge Westview’s commitment to thinking of others first. This opportunity is not to serve during every service but to join the rotation and place your name on the schedule. To sign up or to find out more connect with our Children’s Ministry Director, Tyra Behnkendorf at tyra@westview.org.

Please prayerfully consider generously giving your time and energy to one of these three opportunities.   It will make Westview stronger, more hospitable and capable of ministering, especially to the next generation.

Think, and pray, about it!

See you Sunday,

Tom

Come join us to represent Westview in the Waukee Fest Parade.  Waukee Fest will be held Saturday August 27, with a parade starting at 11am that morning.  It is roughly a 1-mile route winding from the middle school to the old elementary school near the triangle.  We’ll walk the route, handing out information about Westview and the clinic and food pantry ministries.  We’re also looking into having Westview T-shirts made.  Please let the Sandbultes know if you’re interested: markanddeanne(at)juno(dot)com or call – nine eight seven – nine five seven two

When I was young my parents took me on a combined business trip vacation through South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. When we were in the Black Hill outside of Deadwood, SD I remember visiting “Boot Hill” it was a cemetery dating back to the wild, wild west days. Buried there is Wild Bill Hickok who met his demise in a saloon gun fight over a card game. Next to him lies Martha Jane “Calamity Jane” Canary along with the many other colorful figures interred in the cemetery that sits atop a hill outside of town. Intrigued as I was with cowboys I read with great interest the inscriptions on the tombstones of gun fighters, prospectors, lawmen, homesteaders, assorted nere-do-wells and prominent early citizens of the area. The inscriptions mostly gave the story of the deceased departure. Some in vivid detail others with just a line or two. While I can’t remember them all twoI remember to this day.
The first was: “In new boots here lies he, hit by a train he did not see.”

A brief tribute to a cowboy who wasn’t going to wear out his boots or take them with him.

The other I remember was an inscription in tribute to a beleaguered prospector:

“I lost my gun. I lost my horse. I am out of food. The Indians are after me. But I’ve got all the gold I can carry.”

The prospector had one, obviously, objective in mind — to get rich. In his desperate craving to pile up wealth, he risked and lost everything he had — even his life. And he found that he could not take his gold with him.

About his wealth, years ago the famous comedian W.C. Fields cracked, “Well, if I can’t take it with me then I’m not going.” He died many years ago and, of course, he left his wealth behind.

One man reportedly arrived at the Pearly Gates pushing a wheelbarrow full of gold. (Maybe it was the above prospector!) He insisted on taking it in. But St. Peter asked, “Why did you bring all that street pavement with you?” Of course, in this facetious story, he would not need that “street pavement” on streets already paved with the substance.

It is true that we cannot take it with us. But we can send it up ahead!

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom

With all this heat how about a lesson from that great winter sport of hockey?

Jacques Plante was an amazing man. His career as a goalie for the National Hockey League Montreal Canadians, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, The Toronto Maple Leafs and finally the Boston Bruins included the invention of the goalie face mask (this made mother’s very happy and dentists very sad), and involving the goalie out of the net to help the defense (revolutionary when Plante began them, but now pretty much standard practice). He won the Vezina trophy (this is a BIG deal) seven times for highest achievement in goal, and was named to the all NHL star team seven times. He had 79 career shut-outs.

What most people don’t know, however, was that it was adversity that moved the man into the goal net. Jacques Plante was a severe asthmatic. As a child, when he would play defense on the ice-pond in sub-zero weather, he had difficulty breathing whenever the game would require him to skate fast. As a result, he moved into goal where he wouldn’t have to do much high-speed skating. When Plante was interviewed about his illustrious career, he frankly confessed, “If it hadn’t been for my asthma, I probably would have stayed on defense and never progressed beyond pond hockey.”

What may seem an obstacle may in fact be the stepping stone, the loss may in fact be the gain.

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

Think about it.

See you Sunday,

Tom