Posterior Posterity
May 29, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
This picture of Dan, JR, and I was taken Saturday night at a wedding:
This picture of Dan, JR, and I was tattooed Thursday night on Kevin Judy’s rear end:
We have been immortalized.
What is the Gospel?
May 27, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
As I am flying this week, I will be working on some conference messages I am giving over the course of the summer and in several of them, I have been asked to give a message “on the Gospel.”
Normally, this would not be a hard message to give. But I am learning that a lot of people out there have some pretty divergent views on what the Gospel is.
So, here’s my question for you: What is the Gospel?
Without looking anything up in the Bible or anywhere else, give me your answer in the comments section of this post. I am very interested to see what everyone writes. Then, sometime in the next week or so, I’ll post a general outline of my message I am working on.
Congrats, Jane
May 26, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Congrats to Jane (my wife’s sister) who is getting married to this guy:
Booed? Seriously?
May 25, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I got “booed” at in church today.
Not sure why…maybe this picture will give us a clue of some sort:
The Morning Fog
May 24, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Last week, Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman’s 5 year old daughter died when she was accidentally run over in her own driveway.
It was heartbreaking to many people around the world.
This morning, my friend Susan died unexpectedly of an infection that hit her bloodstream. She was only 30 and left behind a husband and 2 year old son. I spent the whole morning with her husband who is “feeling lost.”
It was heartbreaking to me personally.
I can’t help but think of this verse:
James 4:14
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Chapman’s family is different this week than it was last week. Susan’s family is, too. This is the nature of the world we live in.
And now, I’m sitting alone in a restaurant trying to process all of this. I have to deal with it now because in less than two hours, I’ll be performing a wedding for some other friends. Then tomorrow, another wedding. I have to pull out of sorrow to celebrate joyfully with these two couples. .
Oddly, my greatest source of comfort are the words of Susan’s husband. To each person who came by the hospital today, this “lost” man said the same thing:
“God knows what he is doing. Susan and I met fast, fell in love fast, had a kid fast. Now I know why…God knew this was coming and he wanted us to have this short time together, because he knew it was all the time we had.”
Wow. What an example of a man who is both grieving and standing firm in his faith in God’s sovereignty. His words also strike me in another way. Susan, knowing I was teaching on homosexuality a couple months ago, volunteered to share her story at Riv. I asked her, “are you sure?”
Her response?
“I think that God wants me to tell my story now. I don’t know why, but I am convinced this is the right time.”
It was indeed the right time. For those of you who missed it, here it is:
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Have fun with Jesus, Susan. Thanks for sharing your life and story with us.
We’ll see you soon.
Isaiah 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the LORD has planted for his own glory.
Fatherly Pride
May 23, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Any regular reader of my blog knows about our family’s growing obsession with baseball. Who knows, maybe we’re living at the start of a Heikkinen Baseball Dynasty.
Regulars also know that my son Jesse has been pitching this year in a competitive league. I have been so impressed with how well he has done, especially since he is so young. When I watch him play, I find myself thinking, “that boy has a gift!” Of course, every dad thinks that about his kid, so read that with a grain of salt.
This week, he pitched an amazing inning and I was beaming on the sidelines. He rushed over to me and almost jumped into my arms with excitement. I was thrilled to see my son use his gift.
As I sat back down in my lawnchair, I thought about this verse:
1 Corinthians 12:7 – A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
God the Father has given each of us a gift–we are wired to do something well. How excited he must get when he sees us using our gift! It must be somewhere in the neighborhood of my excitement when my son uses his gift.
I am Jack Bauer
May 22, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
That’s right. And I didn’t even try to manipulate the results.
Times, they are a changin’
May 21, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Something just dawned on me: I am only teaching in the current Riverview auditorium one more time. (Technically, 3 times but only one weekend.) After that, we will be in the new building!
Wow.
I am so excited about the new facility and the opportunity to reach more people for Jesus. I’m almost giddy. OK…I am giddy.
Go Penguins!
May 20, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Would this be a bad time to mention that I’m a Penguins fan?
Tags: penguins
Southpark Pastors
May 20, 2008 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Thanks to Gary for his rendition of Riv’s pastors (sans Mark).
