bierkergaard

I had an unusual urge to check Twitter on Friday morning around 5:50 am during my devotional and prayer time. Really, I am not sure why. Usually, when I do stuff like this I am practicing spiritual evasion. I would rather be entertained than admonished. But, this seemed like a different motivation in my spirit. So, I went along and did not rebuke it. When I got onto Twitter, I saw a comment about the earthquake in Japan and the resultant tsunami. So, I went to TweetDeck's Twitter trending and saw a lot of comments about the disaster. So, I turned on the TV and all the Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Baltimore stations, were in their Morning News mode and every one of them had the weather forecast segment on at the time I blew through the channels. I remember being struck by the almost nonchalance of the weathermen about the day's forecast. Meanwhile, the Japanese nation was in seismic upheaval and hundreds of people were dead or dying. In the meantime, make sure to wear a jacke...

OK, so the other night I have 8 COSTCO hamburgers to barbecue. For those who buy these, you know--when frozen--could double as hockey pucks. They are twice as thick as other patties. Same deal with the steaks. Just like how everything is bigger at COSTCO. I inherited, like with a step-child, my wife's Weber gas grill when we married. For the life of me, I can't seem to figure out how to get it to work properly. I used to have no issue...now the safety mechanism keeps the gas from flowing. It is safe alright...it doesn't work. Safe as a pile of dirt. Could have been worse. It could have had to adopt a yappy dog named Oodles or something equally detestable. With the grill, my wife seemingly has no problema. She turns a dial here, a dial there, utters a few chants, and the grill purrs like a kitten. Yet, even she swears that her grill has never been the same since my Dad laid paws on it. Seemingly, her female intuition gives her insight that I lack. I turn the gas on, push...

Tim Keller, the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in New York City, one of the flagship churches in the Presbyterian Church in America (along with my church, Wheatland in Lancaster, Pa...he-he), has penned a very thoughtful essay on what he thinks is so great about the PCA. Interestingly, it is not because there is total unity on all issues theological and practical. On essential Reformed doctrine, total agreement. On lesser doctrines and the working out of such doctrines, hardly unanimity. Keller argues, I think quite successfully, that such diversity within a general confession is actually a good thing. One, it forces us to examine ourselves and our convictions in light of others' convictions. No one has a corner on the truth. Except, me of course (only a joke). Second, when differing, it provides an opportunity for us to exhibit grace and charity. Learning to fight fair is a rare skill. Some of the bitterest and rancorous fights I have seen have been in churches. And, that is to ...

"How often is it the case that individuals do not know whether they are self-willed; so long as the providence of God seem to pet them they are very pious, and can talk about submission with the greatest apparent sincerity; but let God just drive across their path: lay his hand upon them: blow their schemes to the winds of heaven: and see whether they will talk of submission then; see whether they are self-willed, or whether as little children they will instantly submit." Charles Finney I am quite aware that Charles Finney is not very beloved in Reformed circles. Revivalism, the Anxious Bench, morbid self-introspection, Christian Perfectionism, an emphasis on the will of man instead of God, are just a few in the litany of charges against C.F. Here is a critique from a contemporary. Yet, as a member of the Presbyterian Church in America, I think it wise to listen to those within Christendom who we do not agree with as God may be trying to teach us something that we need to ...

I just did a search of the word dogs and dog in the Bible. There are 40 places in the Bible where dogs are mentioned. Like goats and pigs, dogs have a bad rep in the Word. Returning to its vomit, licking sores, eating rotting flesh. Makes me think twice about having a dog lick my face. The most affirming verse, and it ain't much, is Mark 7:28 "But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." At best dogs are vacuum cleaners with fur. Canines need some serious P.R. (and) to make less revolting food choices. I don't have a dog but do love lavishing attention on dogs in our 'hood who are out on walks with their owners. It is a real win-win. I pet them, they get some love. And, we go our separate ways. Nothing to pick-up. It is a special treat when I encounter a Beagle, because that is the breed of dog I had when I was a kid. Would I want a Beagle now? Heck no, I would rather have shingles. Beagles are ...