bierkergaard

Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" I was never much of a coffee drinker in my 20's and 30's. Beer is another story. Despite times of abstinence from alcohol for periods of time, for various reasons, coffee is a fairly late development in my beverage agenda. Now, coffee in the a.m. daily, beer or other spirits, generally only on the weekend. So, I drink much more coffee weekly than alcohol. Don't want to become a barfly. But even my coffee drinking is generally moderate: 6 ounces or so daily but strong. I had purchased some Starbucks Christmas Blend on my way out to Pittsburgh a couple of week ago over Thanksgiving and have been drinking it down. But, I have come to the conclusion that it is much too bitter and burnt for me. My progression from crap coffee, to Star

In light of the shooting in Connecticut, questions of meaning, morality, and mortality, come forth. Tragedy is not easily assuaged. Discussions of justice take a profoundly serious turn. Many question God's goodness and as well they should. As a Christian, I take trust that God decided to create the Universe despite what has happened. Evil, pure evil, shows its face. Temporal justice, like taking out the killer, shows the human setting of the scales aright is quite miniscule. Osama authorizes the destruction of thousands and we talk as if we settled the score in a Pakistani safe house. Not so. Osama would have to die four thousand times and then we would still be left with the loss of life. The atheist has no explanation except that annihilation is the fate of all, sooner or later. By bullets or too much bacon. The reincarnationist posits that Karma must do its work and that all who died are working out their destiny. Christianity does provide a hard truth that God is the ul

   When I think of the Christmas season, I see a consumerist wave washing across America. I dive under it and watch it wreck those who try to ride it to shore. So odd that we celebrate the birth of Christ by spending so much on stuff. Jesus, the one who warned us that our lives don't consist in the abundance of our possessions. Counter-cultural Jesus. Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I could care less that it is a holiday that is based on a Roman celebration. God redeems Pagan celebrations just like He redeems Pagans. But, the whole tit-for-tat gift-giving, (again) I could care less. A good gift is pretty cool, but most of the time a gift is something that I could have bought for myself without feeling obligated to another. Kids are a different story. Giving gifts, within measure, makes the holiday magic for them. Let kids have fun. They will be adults soon enough. But some parents spoil their children, not only diminishing the gifts, but themselves as gift-givers

Today, I calculated the cost differential between bagels and donuts. Donuts cost about half of what bagels do and are loaded with sugar. Sold! Donuts it is. Since I live in the land of Goy (that is non-Jew I think) good bagels are costly here. I spent close to 50 dollars on three dozen bagels on Friday for a faculty breakfast. There were spreads too but still. Costly. My church was having lunch today. It is great. None of us has an idea about what others are bringing. No pre-planning. Oh, how I have left that lands of Presbyterianism, not theologically but practically. It always works out. People bring cool foods. Today I had a homemade pumpkin cheesecake with chocolate frosting. Crazy good. So, I swung to Dunkin' Donuts that appear to be taken over by Indian proprietors. One of the Hindi ladies reminded me that I could call ahead with my order. You see, I made a run on the Creme  donuts. Not Boston Creme. White Creme. Boston Creme is like Canadian Bacon. I had to go with t