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Jul 31, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

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Moblogged by Noel.

Why?

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

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Moblogged by Noel.

Oops…I forgot I said I would start with pictures.

I took this one in the Super 8 pool room.

What do you supposed happened that made this sign necessary?

Someone catch their Speedo on the diving board?

Bucklava

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

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Moblogged by Noel.

My friend Ken got a computer from the church he works for.

It was the wrong kind, so he amended the outside.

It reminded me of the words of Jesus:

Matthew 23:27

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

There’s a sermon here somewhere.

Worship Leader

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

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Moblogged by Noel.

Yes, indeed, this was the conference worship leader.

Need I say more?

Overall Good

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

//MOOD: Swell

//ITUNES: Good People from the album “In Between Dreams” by Jack Johnson

OK, I’m tired of typing.

Suffice it to say, it was a good conference. I am pysched to get back into local ministry, though. It always works this way.

I am so excited for this entire fall at Riverview. I think we are entering a new and exciting phase and I can’t wait to see what God does. This week, while God was working on my life, it just made me more and more excited to be a part of his plans.

Here we go.

Quiet

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

//MOOD: Alone, but OK

//ITUNES: Times Like These by Jack Johnson

I tried to spend time alone during this conference, so I could pray and reflect. But it took awhile to get alone.

Monday – Car accident, 7 hours late to conference, missed Opening Session

Tuesday – Catch up on prep I was planning on doing Monday

Wednesday – Finally got alone

So, I turned my phone off, grabbed my bible and decided to spend 8 hours alone.

God ran me through the ringer.

The long and short of it was that by the time 7:15 rolled around and I had to leave for the conference, I was beat up. I felt totally unqualified to do ministry. But, I had to go.

So I hopped in the car and powered up my trusty iPod. The first song to kick in was Dan’s “Where are you?” In case you don’t know it, it goes:

Hear our prayer we are the weak

We are like those who lack strength

Where are you? Where are you oh, my God?

Where are you? Where are you oh, my God?

Here the prayers of our troubled souls

We are the bruised we are the battered

Where are you?

Yup, that’s how I felt. Ironically, the next song was this one, also by Dan:

You are the God that moves

You are the God that sees

Jevoveh Jireh

You supply all our needs

You are here, you are here with us

You are here, you are here with us

I love your ways, and I will praise your name

Your mercy is as deep as your justice

I love your ways, and I will praise your name forever, forever

I love how God just steps in and works on our lives just the way we need him to.

Then, that night I hung out with Ken, who spoke so well into my life. He is with a church out in New Jersey and is a super smart guy with a passion for “normal” biblical interpretation. I appreciate so much and God used him big time that night.

So, the next day, I was ready to go again.

I headed in and found out tons of people had been impacted greatly the night before. Apparently, God had to run me through a ringer so I could give the right message that night.

Car Accident

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

//MOOD: Good

//ITUNES: No Other Way from the album “In Between Dreams” by Jack Johnson

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Moblogged by Noel.

You’ve already seen this picture, but I figured I’d repost it since I am going to talk about the accident.

It was so weird. I am driving along I-75, minding my own business when a wheelbarrow falls out of a truck ahead of me. I slammed on my breaks the same time the girl in front of me did. Unfortunately, her brakes were better.

It took 7 hours for me to get a new rental car. I spent that time in a towing yard in the middle of a soybean field in Findlay. I must admit, though, that the people at the towing company were awesome. It was a family owned business and they treated me well.

The kicker (not the only one) was that I had just passed an exit that I was going to take so I could grab lunch. But since I hate McDonald’s and it was the only fast food place, I kept going on.

I ate 7 hours later.

Arg.

Anyhoo, most of the people I talked to at the rental car company were cool (with only one exception, which I will assume was a fluke). They took care of me, just kinda slow. Really slow. What are you going to do?

Tonight I return my second rental back to them. Hopefully that will go smoothly.

Back

Jul 30, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

//MOOD: Good, Actually

//ITUNES: Banana Pancakes from the album “In Between Dreams” by Jack Johnson

Ironic song playing in my iTunes right now. Here are the lyrics that starts the song out:

Can’t you see it’s just raining?

There ain’t no need to go outside

It is raining right now and no one’s going outside. That’s a problem, since I am having an Open House for my house today. And here I sit all alone again.

It’s weird because I just got back from the conference, where I spent more time alone than I have in a long time.

I don’t like being alone, but I’m a little used to it right now.

Anyhoo, as you can tell my blogging sabbatical is over. I have lots to write about, but I’m sure you won’t want to read it all. So, I am going to span my thoughts over several posts to you can skip the ones you don’t care about.

First, I’m gonna start with some pictures from the trip.

My Day

Jul 24, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

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Moblogged by Noel.

I am texting this from the lobby of a towing company where I have spent the day. And, yes, that is a rental car. Long story short: a guy two cars ahead of me lost a wheelbarrow which caused me to hit someone. And guess who got a ticket? Thats right! Me. And I am still hours away from where I am supposed to speak tonight. Please keep praying for me!

Blogging Sabbatical

Jul 23, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge

//MOOD: Good

//NOISE: Kids

I very well may be without internet this week. Weird for me, but good I suppose.

I plan on using this time as a blogging sabbatical. Instead of blogging and reading blogs, I plan on:

* Teaching (I am going to be at a conference)

* Praying

* Studying the book of Titus

* Tweaking Riverview’s facility expansion plan and fall strategy

So, here’s where you come in. Please pray for me this week. And if you happen to think of it, shoot me a note (assuming I can still receive IMs) to let me know you are praying for me and what you are specifically praying for. The address to IM me is: pra...@noelheikkinen.com.

Thanks and I will post thoughts on how the week was in a week or so!