bierkergaard

I have been reading a biography about Russell H. Conwell, the founder and first president of Temple University in Philadelphia (the link first has a copy of Conwell's Book Acres of Diamonds , the remainder of the document profiles his inspiring life and lasting work). Ostensibly, I am doing research on a book about college transition and I want to show the power of relationships and Conwell is my model. Privately, I find inspiration beyond writing for the book...I see the power of his life and work and want to do the same... Conwell was not a Philadelphia native (or Pennsylvanian for that matter). He hailed from Massachusetts yet found recuperative healing and solace in Philadelphia after the Civil War. Once he was better, he returned to Massachusetts and became a Christian and entered the pastorate through the lasting influence of his dear friend Johnnie Ring--who had sacrificed his life in a remarkable act of service to Conwell during a battle between the North and the South (...

Psalms 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? Yesterday's blog was hard to write: Considering the wrath of God in the face of people's sinful complacency. Yet, we must always remember to think of God's mercy, too...in Christ, He is neither capricious in His wrath nor His mercy. He responds with favor towards those who plead for forgiveness and repent with sincerity (and change as a result) into truly better people. Yet, God hardens His face towards those who show no sorrow for their evil, don't confess sin, reject grace, and essentially tell God, "Thanks, but no thanks" as if Christ dying on the Cross is something we as sinners can toss in the trash like junk mail. I have been working on a book about college transition for almost two months now and I am nearly finished. One section that I have delayed writing about because of its difficulty is facing the tragedy of life honestly...neither minimizing how h...

Revelation 3:16 "So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. " I have been reading Francis Chan's 2008 book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God . Don't let the title have you thinking that this is going to be a book about Universalism--that all are saved because a loving God would never send people to Hell. It is quite the contrary. In Chapter 4 "Profile of the Lukewarm" Chan goes on the offensive about complacent "Christians." He cites this verse in Revelation 3:16 (above) and the Parable of the Soils by writing "Do not assume that you are good soil." (Luke, Ch. 8). As such, Chan especially zeroes in on those who profess faith but lack the true signs of faith. He suggests that they can call themselves Christians but that they really are not. They may attend Church but there is no fruit to suggest that their "faith tree" in more alive than the wood pews they sit on. I ...

James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Lina and I are making a conscious effort of trying to eat healthier. It starts at the beginning of the food chain in finding the right kind of foods (and then eating the right amounts). We are even backing up a step to foray into purchasing organic and fair trade when it is possible. It is kind of a two step forward one step backward kind of thing because of our own inconsistent eating habits (like, is it even possible find an organic Whoopie Pie?). Plus, it looks like I need to start drinking organic beer because that is a significant part of my weekend caloric intake. Lina has already written about her take on our organic adventure in her blog and I wanted to add my thoughts. It is indeed possible to find many foods that are FT/O (Fair Trade and Organic). Fair Trade food ...