bierkergaard

A couple of months ago, in a blog posting, pastor and writer Mark Batterson happened to mention that his publisher Multnomah Books was going to give away some free copies of his newest book PRIMAL for bloggers to review. I thought, "Hey, I read, I blog ( Bierkergaard: "Where Theology Collides with Real Life," ) and I am writing a book (tentatively title "On the Edge: Helping Teens Successfully Transition to College ,"... it might be good for me to examine a book more seriously than just as a casual reader. I could learn not only content but also elements of style and structure. Oh yeah, another reason...I like free books. Providentially, I was deemed worthy to be one of the chosen bloggers to review the book. Anyone who knows me, and most who will read this blog posting do not so maybe it is a moot point, knows that I tell it like it is. I am not going to give a "T-Ball" equivalent of a review just to get more free books. I am going to throw this b

Today I mowed the yard. The reasons for doing such were two-fold. One, the grass seed that I had planted before we went out to Montana in September is growing at a faster rate than the other grass around it, creating an uneven appearance in the lawn. Since it has been warm up until recently, this grass has continued to grow. The disparity in height among the blades has become pronounced. Kind of like middle school among the kids... Frankly, I don't really care. But, lawn care in my neighborhood is treated as an art form and it looks bad if I don't behave according the the "Guild of the Grassmen" ethos. My newer grass is also greener. When Scott's came out at the end of September to re-seed the entire yard, the guy had said that the seeds he planted would replace my grass...and it is happening but slowly. I had planted the first round as it sprouted quicker and gave me time to give it about a weeks worth of water before we headed West. I figured that some grass wou

1 Tim 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Yesterday afternoon, I ate three small Thai peppers. These bad boys, like a welterweight boxing champion--although small is stature--pack a mighty punch. I can often sneak stuff past my mouth but then my stomach goes, "Um, wait a minute! Will you please stop eating the equivalent of hot coals?" These peppers were leftovers from some Thai cooking I made several days ago. I am thinking of making a "Noel Necklace" out of the red and green ones and take it out to California for Christmas which I sure will impress the locals. I was very disappointed when Lina and I last went to Bangkok Wok in Mechanicsburg and they appeared to not honor my request to make my dish mildly hot. The dish had no heat. I wept harsh tears from the loss. They probably thought that since I am a white boy, that I couldn't take it. Not so, I used to work at a Mexican r