Stupid
Jan 31, 2007 Uncategorized
This is really stupid, but I’m not sure if it’s the good stupid or the bad stupid:
Small
Jan 31, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Amazed
.:itunes:. Rocket Queen by Guns N’ Roses
How very little I know about the world around me.
I was struck twice about that in the last week.
The first was when I saw this little tiny bugger (via danny).
Apparently, there are a few of these living in your eyelashes. Here’s a picture of a few of them feeding on the skin cells in your eyelash follicles:
Don’t worry, they aren’t lonely. They are friends with the thousands of dust mites that live on your pillow.
The second was when I saw this picture of a shark that lives thousands of feet under the surface of the ocean. He only came to the surface because he was sick. They speculate that because he died shortly after they found him.
All of this reminds me how much I don’t know about the world around me.
Hebrews 5:13 “…there is no creature hidden from His sight…”
Snap Preview is Gone
Jan 31, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Boo
.:itunes:. Dilemma by Nelly
OK, here’s the deal.
I know I asked you to vote on the Snap Preview thing.
I know I said it would be democratic.
I know a majority of you voted for me to keep it on my site. (Even though the nay-sayers were more vocal).
But, as all Americans know, just because you win the popular vote doesn’t mean you win the election.
I have decided to drop Snap Preview for one reason alone: I decided I didn’t want to force it on anyone.
Some of you like it (I personally do), some of you don’t. For those of you who liked it, just download Cooliris. I have been playing around with it and even though I don’t like it as much as Snap Preview, it will work for me. And now I can have it on all sites, not just those with Snap Preview.
iPhone
Jan 31, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Stuck
.:itunes:. Angel by Eurythmics
(via shirster)
Click on it for a larger view:
South Korean Criminals Happy
Jan 31, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Thinking
.:itunes:. Stay Together For The Kids by Blink 182
(via Reuters.com)
South Korean gangsters get more satisfaction from their line of work than the police, according to a survey published on Tuesday in local dailies.
According to the survey conducted among 109 jailed mobsters by the Korean Institute of Criminal Justice, 79.3 percent of gangsters said they were somewhat or very satisfied with their life in organized crime.
About 65 percent of police said they enjoyed their profession, according to a separate survey.
South Korean gangsters make on average about 4 million won ($4,255) a month, which is typically higher than the pay for police.
Quote of the Day
Jan 30, 2007 Quotes
.:mood:. 
.:itunes:. Holla Back Girl by Gwen Stefani
(via Goodmanson)
“There is more evidence from scripture for me to go out and get a concubine than to start a denomination.”
-Ed Stetzer
This made me laugh
Jan 30, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Laughing
.:podcast:. On The Edge Vol. 2 by DJ Tripp DJ Mix
(via Tempus Fugit)
I think I’m going to torment my MySpace friends with this one.
Snap Preview
Jan 29, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Thinking
.:itunes:. The New Year by Death Cab For Cutie
A few weeks ago, I added Snap Preview to my blog. If you hover your mouse over a link, it will show you a small preview of the site that you will go to if you click on the link. I have always thought it was a cool feature on other people’s site.
Well, Bill Kinnon has killed the “Snap Preview” function on his site. When I asked him why, he said…
Part of the issue is simple bandwidth usage, part is the annoyance factor - the reader can’t control what happens when they accidentally or otherwise end up over a link - and Cooliris plug-in gives the reader the choice - rather than me making it for them. The other reason is that too often the Snap Preview just shows an empty box - a complete waste of time.
So, here’s my question of the day. Should I get rid of the Snap Preview or do you like it? I will make this a pure democracy. Yes, you have the power to change NoelHeikkinen.com. That is power, my friends.
I would also like a comment as to why you voted the way you did.
Vote Here:
Poster of the Day
Jan 29, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Good, really good
.:itunes:. I Can’t Say Goodbye by Lost Dogs
(via Jack)
Quote of the Day
Jan 27, 2007 Quotes
.:mood:. Chill
.:itunes:. Feng Shui by Gnarls Barkley
Last night, I was watching the Sopranos and this quote was posted on the wall:
“No man can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.”
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Quote of the Day
Jan 27, 2007 Quotes
.:mood:. Laughing
.:itunes:. Hey Ya by Outkast
I was just reading Bowden’s Bio and I loved this comment he makes:
“Middle-aged is wishing your wife would wear the dress you won’t allow your daughters to be caught dead in.”
-Bowden McElroy
Threat of the Day
Jan 26, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Outstanding
.:itunes:. How Many Times by Zack Hexum
Does the UN think this threat is going to carry any weight? (via Houston Chronicle)
“If Iran takes this step, it is going to confront universal international opposition,” said Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns. “If they think they can get away with 3,000 centrifuges without another Security Council resolution and additional international pressure, then they are very badly mistaken.”
That’s like saying to your 2 year old, “If you do that I am going to tell you not to do it again. You watch it, mister.”
I don’t know, it just made me laugh.
Work, Work, Work
Jan 26, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Really Good
.:itunes:. Don’t Believe It (It’s Easier Said Than Done) by King’s X
Today, I’ve been thinking a lot about my job for a few reasons.
First, my friend Dave’s post about his job at Xerox. Over the years he has worked there, he has always been so excited about the company and his role there. It comes up often on his blog, and I suspect it’s not just because they would fire his butt if he bad-mouthed them. Here’s a bit from his blog:
I’ve worked at Xerox for ten years and it’s a far from perfect company, but I’m very proud of this place. Xerox has a social leave program that employees can apply for. Xerox pays these employees salaries for a year while they use their work place skills to help non-profits make the world a better place. They’ve also recently given 122 scholarships to minority students for technical studies.
We’ve been in a turn-around for the past few years when things were pretty ugly. Our CEO Anne Mulcahy has done an amazing job turning things around while keeping the company motivated. We just reported our earnings and we’re getting continued positive news from Wall Street (with the exception of a few naysayers).
Anyways, I like working for Xerox. I wake up every morning looking forward to doing my job.
Then, you add to that the comments over at Mark Batterson’s blog. He asked the question, “Why Do Pastors Quit?” and there have been (to date) 17 comments. This one struck me today:
Most days I am happy being a pastor, today is one of those days I want to quit. but even on days I’m not eager to quit I still think I could walk away with no regrets easily. Today is bad because yesterday I had a conversation with one of those people that drains me. It usually takes a couple of days for me to recover from conversations with this person.
But, as I have analyzed myself and my ministry here are a few things that stick out.
I think Billy Graham once said that most people who go into the ministry do so out of a sense of guilt or as a means of resolving their past. I’ve come to realize that’s me. I won’t bore you with the details but suffice it to say my childhood wasn’t the best, alcoholic parents and then some . . . I’m a pretty insecure guy and I’ve looked at ministry as a means of resolving my own problems.
I came to realize a few days that I don’t have much of a pastoral heart. I love teaching and preaching but I am not moved by the suffering of my people like I should be. I think that is because of #1.
I can’t stand conflict and will go a hundred miles to avoid it yet conflict seems to be the name of the game in pastoring a church…
I’m tired of the pressure to keep repeating the things we have always done. I feel that, if I told my church leaders, and the rest, what I think we really need to do to reach the community they wouldn’t buy it for a second.
That post made me really sad. Now, I don’t know the guy who posted it, so I am about to make a few sweeping generalization and I know that.
Here are two things that reading these posts made me think about:
- It seems like this pastor is not really suited well for his job, while my friend Dave is extraordinarily well suited for his.
- It also seems like this pastor’s environment is not one that encourages him to use his gifts and lead well. Xerox, on the other hand, seems to be led very well in a way that really makes the employees want to work there.
These posts also made me think about the uniqueness of ministry as a vocation, both for the person who has the job (the Pastor) and the environment (the church). With ministry as a career, it’s hard to see tangible results for all your work. It’s not like the construction worker who can look at a wall they built at the end of their day. Working with people’s lives is a long-term, slow-going process.
With all this said, I have had an amazing week where I really feel like a lot has been accomplished. I could go into details, but that is not the point here. The point is that it is a rare week when things feel that way.
OK…that’s enough rambling for now.
Oh, and don’t get the wrong impression from this post. I feel the same way about my job and Riverview as Dave feels about his job and Xerox. In fact, I will plagiarize his last line for myself:
Anyways, I like working for Riverview. I wake up every morning looking forward to doing my job.
Pray for North Korea
Jan 25, 2007 Uncategorized
Please keep praying for North Korea.
(via VOM-USA):
A North Korean evangelist has been executed for possessing and distributing a Korean New Testament. World Bible Translation Center has confirmed the incident, even though the details of the death are not available. Pray for the family and friends of this evangelist. Ask God to comfort them and encourage them, knowing that to be absent in this natural body, is to be present with the Lord. Also pray Christians in North Korea will entrust themselves to Christ and preach the gospel without hesitation.
I just laughed out-loud in a coffee shop
Jan 25, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Embarrassed
.:itunes:. Homeboys by Adam Again
Not sure if this story from Dave is true or not. You have to take everything Dave says with a grain of salt, but one way or another this story about our friend Brad is awesome:
Brad was cooking dinner last night for his family, making shake-and-bake type chicken. As he was cutting the chicken he cut off the tip of his finger. Try as he might, he couldn’t find it in the cut chicken anywhere. He shook the chicken, cooked it and served it to his family. Before they ate, he explained to them, “After dinner, I’ve got a surprise for you.” The family was excited about the surprise and as they ate their dinner, finger tip and all.
After dinner, the family gathered around waiting for their “big surprise”. Brad went to the trash and pulled out the loads of paper towels he’d used to try and stop the bleeding of his finger and explained to them that one of them was the lucky person who’d eaten his finger tip. You would think they would feel lucky and thankful, but instead they gagged and screamed.
Finally!
Jan 24, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Relieved to check this one off
.:itunes:. I Could Laugh by Seventy Sevens
Nearly six months after I started, I finally compiled my summaries of the New Testament books into one paper. I also added a brief section on how to interpret the Bible. You can download it in the “My Papers” section or by clicking here:
“Interpreting the New Testament Normally”
Hope this is a good resource for you.
Feminism and Slutty Clothes, Part 2
Jan 24, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Thinking
.:itunes:. Sexed Up by Robbie Williams
A coupled days ago, I posted an article on Feminism and Slutty Clothes and I promised I would post my thoughts. Today, I posted a podcast with my thoughts, because they were more than I wanted to type.
Make sure you read the original post and comments first.
Here are my bullet points I expand on during the podcast:
- Saying the world continues to be skewed toward men because some women dress “slutty” is a harsh generality.
- I agree that it is paradoxical that feminism / women’s lib grew up with an increase in public sexuality.
- People will always judge you based on outward appearance. They shouldn’t, but they will. See 1 Samuel 16:7
- Most of my hardcore feminist friends would be the first to criticize any woman who is dressed “slutty.”
- The problem is everyone’s, both men and women.
- What is considered inappropriate dress is subjective.
- Bottom line: we ALL need to be more considerate of others.
I Promised
Jan 23, 2007 Uncategorized
OK, I promised I would comment on the Feminism and Slutty clothes post, but I have decided my thoughts are too long to type. So, my first order of business tomorrow morning will be to post a Podcast on it.
You are just dying with antici…
…pation, aren’t you?
Superbowl Shuffle
Jan 23, 2007 Uncategorized
.:mood:. Torturous
.:itunes:. Beloved Wife by Natalie Merchant
It’s amazing that this used to be cool. But now that the Bears are in the Superbowl again, I thought I’d post it. I couldn’t even watch the whole thing without getting bored out of my mind.
