Saturday, May 31, 2008


Kristine at the very beginning of her very full, active and vibrant life! She's a winner!


Hello,

The Detroit Red Wings now lead the best of seven Stanley Cup Finals series 3-1 after a very hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. They return to Detroit for game 5 on Monday. GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!

Have a great Sunday service,

Bill

Friday, May 30, 2008


Nick with Professor Strait at his Hamline University graduation. She is a favorite among Hamline University students, including Nick, for her care and helpfulness.


Hello,

The New York Yankees are in Minneapolis to begin a four game series with the Minnesota Twins starting tonight. GO YANKEES!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bill

Thursday, May 29, 2008


Bill with a picture of "our" beach in Maui. That's enough to make anyone smile!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. F (John 12:1)
2. G (John 2:1-11)
3. J (Matt. 3:13-16)
4. I (Mark 5:1-13)
5. A (Matt. 21:1-9)
6. C (Luke 4:14-17)
7. H (Matt. 26:36, 46-57)
8. D (Matt. 28:16-17)
9. E (Mark 1:21)
10. B (Luke 24:13-15)


New Quiz: Killings
Answer the questions below with names from this list.

  • Abishai
  • David
  • Haman
  • Herod
  • Ishmael
  • Jehu
  • Josiah
  • Paul
  • Samson
  • Stephen

1. Which king went in to battle in disguise and was killed by archers?
2. Who wept with mourners then decoyed them into a city and killed them and cast them in to a pit?
3. Who, "when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men.. slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under"?
4. Who had letters sent by posts into all the king's provinces to kill all Jews both young and old and plunder their possessions in one day?
5. Who ordered the killing of Ahab's seventy sons and received their heads in baskets?
6. Who ordered the killing of a man by sending a letter to Joab saying, "Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die"?
7. Who became the first Christian martyr when his enemies "ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city and stoned him?
8. Which preacher was drawn out of a temple by angry Jews and just as they were about to kill him he was saved by the intervention of soldiers and centurions?
9. Which blind prisoner, brought to a building full of people, "bowed himself with all his might and the house fell... upon all the people that were therein," killing more people in his death than he had his whole life?
10. Which of David's mighty men "lifted up his spear against 300 and slew them?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008


Here's the college graduate during the recessional at Hamline University!


Shalom,

Be not troubled! Relax!!! Pray in the Spirit and fellowship with like-minded believers.

Be confident in God's love for you.

Go Vikings!

Have a supernatural day,

Bill

Tuesday, May 27, 2008


Nick, Kristine and Brian at the CD release party for Brian's band, Watson.


Hello,

Fret not! Relax!!! Pray in the Spirit and praise God.

Anticipate the spectacular.

Go Yankees!

Have a great day,

Bill

Monday, May 26, 2008


Kristine and Nick are very supportive of each other!


Hi,

Fear Not! Relax!!! Pray in the Spirit and study God's Word.

Expect miracles.

Go Red Wings.

Shalom,

Bill

Sunday, May 25, 2008


This man looks like he just came from a great Sunday service!


Hi,

The New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners today in a come back victory by a score of 6-5. They swept the three game series with Seattle and now have a five game winning steak! GO YANKEES!!!

Have a great week,

Bill

Saturday, May 24, 2008


Bill with Jon and Brian, members of Watson and fellow Vikings fans!!!


Hi,

The Detroit Red Wings have a 1-0 lead in the best of seven Stanley Cup Finals after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in a 4-0 shutout.
GO RED WINGS!!!

Have a great Sunday service tomorrow,

Bill

Friday, May 23, 2008


Roxy, Nick and Bill enjoying a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon in St. Paul, Minnesota.


Shalom,

As a believer you are CALLED. (Ezekiel 3:10-11)

As a believer you have a MESSAGE. (Jeremiah 29:11)

As a believer you have a PURPOSE. (2 Timothy 4:5)

This weekend will be the best weekend of your life.

Shalom,

Bill

Thursday, May 22, 2008


Bill and Nick after the Hamline University graduation ceremony. Now that's a proud Dad!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Solomon (1 Kings 11:4)
2. Asa (2 Chron. 15:16)
3. Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4)
4. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3:105)
5. Jehu (2 Kings 18:4)
6. Manasseh (2 Chron. 33:1-6)
7. Demetrius (Acts 19:24-28)
8. Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:28-29)
9. Aaron (Exod. 32:3-4)
10. Elijah (1 Kings 18:21-40)


New Quiz: Jesus' Events
Match the events in Jesus' life from the second list with the place where they happened from the first list.

A. Jerusalem
B. Emmaus
C. Nazareth
D. Galilee
E. Capernaum
F. Bethany
G. Cana
H. Gethsemane
I. Gadarenes
J. Jordan


1. Where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
2. Where Jesus turned water into wine.
3. Where the Holy Ghost, as a dove, descended on Jesus
4. Where Jesus caused demons to go out of two men and into a herd of pigs.
5. Where Jesus rode a colt and people strewed branches along His path.
6. Where Jesus went into a synagogue and was given the book of the prophet Esaias.
7. Where Jesus was betrayed and arrested.
8. Where Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples.
9. Where Jesus taught in the synagogue.
10. The resurrected Jesus walked along with two of His followers to this village.


Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008


Nick with some of his friends who also graduated from Hamline University on Saturday.


Hi,

The New York Yankees shutout the Baltimore Orioles tonight 8-0. With Alex Rodriguez back in the lineup and Jorge Posada soon to return, things are looking up! GO YANKEES!!!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

Bill

Tuesday, May 20, 2008


Super Agent Mom Roxy and her Hamline University graduate, Nick.


Hi,

With a 4-1 victory last night over the Dallas Stars, the Detroit Red Wings captured the NHL Western Conference Championship 4 games to 2. That a way to go, boys!

Next up, the Stanley Cup Finals. The Stanley Cup Finals are the Super Bowl of hockey. The World Series of hockey. The best of seven final round series will begin Saturday night at 7:00pm at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. GO RED WINGS!!

The Red Wings will host the Eastern Conference Champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both teams are well balanced offensively and defensively. It should be an intense, exciting and dramatic finals. I declare the Red Wings are winning this series!!!

Shalom,

Bill

Monday, May 19, 2008


One of Nick's biggest supporters is his older sister, Kristine.


Shalom,

On Sunday we began a short, three lesson series entitled "Relax". Relax is not a word you will find in the King James version of the Bible. We are instructed to not be anxious about anything. To not worry. To fret not. To not let your heart be troubled. To fear not. We have a choice in today's world to either let the world dominate our thoughts or let the Word of God dominate our thoughts.

Jesus said that in the last of the last days there will be an increase in frequency and intensity of many weather conditions, political situations and world conditions. Famines, earthquakes, dictatorships, wars, etc.

We have to decide to not be troubled when we hear reports such as these. We must choose to follow the instructions that Jesus gave us and remind ourselves that our God, the God of the Bible, has all things under His control. We have the authority, as a believer, to release God's power. When we are hooked up with God, we will never fail.

Have a great day,

Bill

Sunday, May 18, 2008


Nick and Maya after Nick's Hamline graduation ceremony on Saturday. Maya will graduate next year.


Hi,

The Detroit Red Wings will be traveling back to Dallas for tomorrow's game 6 in the best of seven Western Conference Finals. They lead the series 3-2. We want to win this one! Let's go boys!!!

Have a great week,

Bill

Saturday, May 17, 2008


Bill and Roxy with Kristine, who was very fashionable even as a baby!


Hello,

Nicholas William Novak received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamline University today. Bill and Roxy, Kristine, godparents Greg and Robin Swoverland and Nick's girlfriend, Maya, attended the ceremony. We had a beautiful day for an outdoor graduation. Nick looked great and we were all very proud of him. Next, after a summer of basketball camps and coaching, will be his student teaching in the fall.

Have a great Sunday service tomorrow,

Bill

Friday, May 16, 2008


Bill, Roxy and Kristine are all very proud of Nick who will be graduating from Hamline University tomorrow morning.


Hello,

The Detroit Red Wings have an opportunity to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals tomorrow when they take on the Dallas Stars at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bill

Thursday, May 15, 2008


Bill and Roxy in their first home in Ladysmith. Someone very short was taking this picture!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Joshua (Josh. 10:16-18)
2. David (1 Sam. 20:1, 5)
3. Joash (2 Chron. 22:10-12)
4. Elijah (1 Kings 17:2-4)
5. Obadiah (1 Kings 18:4)
6. Rahab (Josh. 2:5-6)
7. Adam (Gen. 3:8)
8. Moses (Exod. 1:22; 2:2, 10)
9. Jesus (John 8:57-59)
10. Saul (1 Sam. 10:21-22)


New Quiz: Idolatry
Answer the questions with names from this list:

  • Aaron
  • Asa
  • Demetrius
  • Elijah
  • Hezekiah
  • Jehu
  • Jeroboam
  • Manasseh
  • Nebuchadnezzar
  • Solomon

1. Which king, when he became old, was drawn into idolatry by his wives?
2. Which king removed his mother from her throne because she had made an idol in a grove?
3. When a bronze serpent, erected by Moses, became an object of idolatry, which king destroyed it?
4. Who placed a great golden image on Duras' plain and commanded his subjects to fall down and worship it at the sound of music?
5. Who cunningly assembled all the Baal idolators in their temple and then had them slain by eighty men?
6. Which wicked king set up altars for idolatry in the house of the Lord, made his children pass through the fire, and used witchcraft?
7. Which silversmith, who made shrines for Diana, started a riot among other silversmiths because Paul was trying to stop the worship of Diana and put a stop to their craft?
8. Which king, to make idolatry more convenient, set up two golden calves in Bethel and Dan, because, "it is too much for [them] to go up to Jerusalem"?
9. Who used golden earrings, donated by the people of Israel, to make a golden calf for them to worship?
10. Who proved to the people the existence of the true God by winning a contest over the prophets of Baal?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008


More family fun at Disney World!


Hello,

The New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays tonight by a score of 2-1. They finish the series in Tampa tomorrow and return home to take on the New York Mets in inter-league play on Friday. GO YANKEES!!!

Shalom,

Bill

Tuesday, May 13, 2008


Another beautiful day in sunny Florida! This was a trip to Disney's Polynesian Resort for lunch.


Hello,

The New York Yankees will host the New York Mets this weekend in the last Subway Series played at Yankee Stadium.

Friday 6:05 pm
Saturday 12:05 pm
Sunday 7:05 pm

GO YANKEES!!!

Shalom,

Bill

Monday, May 12, 2008


Nick will be graduating from Hamline University on Saturday and begin his student teaching in the Fall.


Hi,

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Dallas Stars by a score of 5-2 tonight to take a 3-0 lead in the best of seven game Western Conference Finals. Game four will be Wednesday night in Dallas. GO WINGS!!!

Shalom,

Bill

Sunday, May 11, 2008


Mickey Mouse has always been a good friend of the family. We hope to see him again very soon!


Hello,
Today begins a very busy week. Last week was another busy week with a CD release party, a basketball tournament, a trip to the Twin Cities, wedding preparations, as well as the usual baseball games, hockey playoffs and ministry activities.

Kristine and Brian invited us to a Friday night CD release party for "Watson". The band was outstanding and their second CD even better than their first. The people, families and crowd were fun and it was an exciting event to take part in.

The Minnesota Fury and Coach Nick had a successful weekend finishing third in a tournament held at Champlin Park, a suburb North of Minneapolis. His team is beginning to play really good team ball and should continue to improve and be successful in the next two months.

At The Spoken Word Church we have just completed an eleven lesson series on the Godhead. We ended the series today declaring that God is Love. As believers, God lives inside of us. We live in God. We have the authority to release the power of God through our words. There is power in the spoken word.

The next three months will go by very quickly with vacations, weddings, trips, games, concerts and special church events.

Have a great week,

Bill

Saturday, May 10, 2008


It's always a blessing to be able to spend time with Nick and Kristine!


Hello,

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Dallas Stars tonight by a score of 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. They now travel to Dallas for game three. GO RED WINGS!!!!

Have a great Sunday,

Bill

Friday, May 9, 2008


This time it's fun with Minnie Mouse!


Hi,

The Detroit Red Wings won the first game of the Western Conference Finals last night defeating the Dallas Stars by a score of 4-1. The next game will be Saturday night at Detroit. GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend,

Bill

Thursday, May 8, 2008


We spent a lot of time at Disney World when our children were young, but the "big kids" sometimes had more fun than the little ones!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Moses (Ex. 16:3-4)
2. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:10-11)
3. Abram (Gen. 15:5)
4. Solomon (2 Chron. 7:1)
5. Peter (Acts 10:11)
6. Jesus (Matt. 3:16)
7. Joshua (Josh. 12:13)
8. Elijah (2 Kings 2:11)
9. Ezekiel (Ezek. 1:1)
10. David (1 Chron. 21:16)


New Quiz: Hiding Out
Answer each question from this list of names.

  • Adam
  • David
  • Elijah
  • Jesus
  • Joash
  • Joshua
  • Moses
  • Obadiah
  • Rahab
  • Saul

1. Who, when he heard that five kings were hiding in a cave, had great stones rolled against its mouth, and guards posted?
2. Who hid in a field to escape a jealous king who wanted to kill him?
3. Which little boy was hidden in the house of God for six years to save him from being murdered?
4. Who was told by God to hide by Cherith Brook and eat the food supplied by ravens?
5. Who "took an hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water"?
6. Who hid two spies among the flax stalks on a house roof?
7. Who hid from God among garden trees?
8. Which baby was hidden by his mother for three months to save him from being killed by the pharaoh?
9. Who hid to save himself from antagonistic Jews who "took they up stones to cast at him"?
10. Who had "hid himself among the stuff" and had his hiding place revealed by God?

Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008


Bill and Roxy with our son, Nick. We are so proud of our favorite coach!!!


Hi,

Every Wednesday morning Bill and Robin represent The Spoken Word Church at an area ministers' meeting. We continue to pray for the revival that is happening in our area. We also have been studying the Book of Acts a chapter at a time.

The Detroit Red Wings will host the Dallas Stars Thursday night in the opening game of the Western Conference Finals. The best of seven series will be very exciting and intense. The winner advances to the Stanley Cup Finals. GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!

Have a great day,

Bill

Tuesday, May 6, 2008


Nick and Kristine with Grandpa Cliff Koehler.


Hi,

The New York Yankees start a three game series with the Cleveland Indians tonight at Yankee Stadium. GO YANKEES!!!

Have a great day,

Bill

Monday, May 5, 2008


Birthdays are a fun way to show families love for each other.


Shalom,

This coming Sunday we will be completing our series on the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit share attributes. We have had ten lessons so far and #11 will be this Sunday. The attributes of God in this series are:

  1. God can stand alone.
  2. God knows all things.
  3. God knows the future.
  4. God has a special plan for you as a believer.
  5. God is sovereign.
  6. God is unchangeable.
  7. God is holy.
  8. God is all powerful.
  9. God is faithful.
  10. God is good.
  11. God is love.

Take some time and meditate on these attributes and become better acquainted with the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible.

Have a great day,

Bill

Sunday, May 4, 2008


One of our vacation highlights is enjoying great restaurants!


Hi,

The New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-2 to sweep the three game series.

Have a great week,

Bill

Saturday, May 3, 2008


Remember, Sunday, May 11 is Mother's Day! Kristine and Nick appreciate what their mom, Roxy, does with them and for them.


Hello,

The New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners this afternoon 6-1 at Yankee Stadium. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter each collected three hits. Bobby Abreu, Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera had two hits apiece.

Mike Mussina recorded his third straight victory. GO YANKEES!!

Have a great time in church tomorrow,

Bill

Friday, May 2, 2008


Nick and his Minnesota Fury are in Kansas this weekend at the Kansas University Jayhawk Invitational.



Shalom,

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Colorado Avalanche last night 8-2 to win their best of seven second round playoff series 4-0.

The four game sweep by the Red Wings puts them into the third round of the playoffs, the Western Conference Finals, where they will play the winner of the Dallas Stars/San Jose Sharks series.

Have a great weekend,

Bill

Thursday, May 1, 2008


Summer's coming! We're planning on lots of fun and lots of Yankee wins!


Do You Know Your Bible?
Answers to previous quiz.

1. Hannah (1 Sam. 1:11)
2. Ezekiel (Ezek. 8:3)
3. Absalom (2 Sam. 14:25-26)
4. Eliphaz (Job 4:13-15)
5. Paul (1 Tim. 2:9)
6. Samson (Judg. 16:17-19)
7. Elisha (2 Kings 2:23-24)
8. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:33)
9. Jesus (Luke 12:6-7)
10. Esau (Gen. 27:1-35)


New Quiz: Heavens Above
Each Scripture character mentioned in this quiz had an experience concerning heaven.

1. Which leader, being harassed by hungry people, was told by God, "Behold I will rain bread from heaven and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day"?
2. Who dreamed of a tree "which reached unto heaven"?
3. Who was told to "look now toward heaven and tell the stars"?
4. After he finished a prayer, who saw fire come down from heaven and consume his offering and sacrifice in the house of the Lord?
5. Who had a vision of heaven opening, and a sheet, knit at the four corners, let down to earth?
6. Who, after being baptized, had the heavens opened to him and saw the Spirit of God coming down in the form of a dove?
7. Which man's prayer caused the sun to stand still "in the midst of heaven" so that the Israelites might "avenge themselves upon their enemies"?
8. Who was carried by a whirlwind up to heaven?
9. Which prophet was standing between earth and heaven with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem?


Answers and a new quiz will be posted next Thursday!