bierkergaard

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. For some personal reasons, I was thinking about rejection today. Rejected like garbage. I considered the rejection that many of us feel in various arenas: Family  - Feeling that we were not accepted and cared for in our families. Or ignored. Or doted upon (rejecting our independence). So hard to get it right. Be merciful on ones parents, what a responsibility that so few are prepared for. Our own marriages show us how hard it is, openly exposing our inadequacies.   Peers - Call it the middle school syndrome. While not as raw as middle school, we all want to fit in and be accorded admiration and affection by our peer group; the wounds of middle school and high school can last a lifetime, known as "the best years of your life." Huh? We only think they were always the best after time has dulled the pain. Work - We strive to have e...

2nd Kings 2:23 & 24 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. I have been growing my hair out. On my head, not just my ears. At almost 50 years of age, my hair grows profusely out of both places. Some odd mix of retained youth and encroaching middle age. Even as of a couple of days ago, I was intent to become hippie-like  and let the locks grow on and on. I was getting Shaggy and all I needed was Scooby-Doo. I was thinking Rasta, trying to look more spiritual and non-conformist. Guru-like. Or at least George Harrison. Caused me to reflect on those men in the Bible who had long hair. Absalom, whose locks got caught in a tree branch leading to his death by the...

On Friday night, my buddy came over and we went to get some dinner and a beer. After supping, we headed over to a local tobacco shop down in Columbia. As a result of him buying two cigars there earlier in the day, he was now a member of the smoking room club and all the privileges therein. Not exactly exclusive. It is a well-ventilated room with no carpet or fabric to retain smoke residuals. There was a well-lit fake Christmas Tree with cigar box presents underneath. Hint. Hint. Christmas shoppers. My buddy whipped out two cigars, one for him and one for me. My cigar was so dark it looked like the wrapper was made of tree bark. From the first puff or two, I knew it wasn't for me. It too heavy, me too much of a cigar lightweight. But I smoked on. I didn't want to disappoint my generous friend. Maybe it was that we were in this self-contained room. Even though it was well-ventilated, I felt like I was being suffocated slowly and softly, a sm...

This afternoon, I made my seasonal run to COCTCO. It roughly corresponds to summer, fall, winter, and spring, with maybe another visit or two thrown in. I mean it is macro-shopping. I am not a shopper by nature so I really like the once-and-done for three months vibe. I do hit the local grocery store when I only need one of something and not a twelve-pack. Like Tabasco. Or eggs, something fresh. But for meats and the like, my steer have a big "C" burned on their hide. When I came home, I prepared to unload. My trunk was packed in the Honda Civic. No bags or boxes. Au Naturel. Then, I grabbed my laundry hamper and carried the quarry inside over and over again. An easy way to be green. Nary a bag. I reflected how much of a blessing it is to be able to go to a store in an afternoon and carry home more food than my ancestors might obtain in a year. Amazing. Then, as I was eating the COSTCO faux sushi (hey, it is whole plate for ten bucks), I po...

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. We have all heard the statement that "Pride comes before the Fall." When we are looking with our nose up in the air sniffing at how great we think we are, a rock of reality lurks in our way below on the path we trod. Since we lack a circumspect spirit step-wise, we trip and fall. I don't want to act as is if I am free of this. But how about when pride also comes after the Fall? We are down and rather admit how we found ourselves there, the proud spirit still wants to defend itself, blame-shift, and attack others. A wounded pride is like a wounded animal. Proceed with caution. It bites. We are down and stay down, all the while still acting all high and mighty. Only God can be high and mighty. When man tries to be God, he is more the Devil. In human conflict, it is true enough that it often not so clear about who is right in wrong. In most conflict, each party has a measur...