bierkergaard

In the deserts of the heart, Let the healing fountain start, In the prison of his days, Teach the free man how to praise . W.H. Auden We just had one of those Pennsylvania Spring showers that blows in like a rain parade and then exits, leaving a train of water in its path. Rain and sun are the ingredients for green and verdant. Too much of one, tips the scales to dryness or dampness. Yellow or Gray.  Since I have been a Pennsylvanian, not by birth, but for most of my life, I am attuned to how the cadence of weather calls here. I do love it but would love it more if I lived elsewhere and returned. Rain spiritually can symbolize Grace--as in a dry and barren land (Is. 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants). Or, it can represent Judgment as in the Days of Noah (Gen. 7:12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty ...

Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. Noah gets off the Ark after the Flood and barbeques some birds and clean animals on an altar. The Lord is quite pleased by the savory smoke and makes a universal promise to never again destroy earth's creatures. A small sacrificial act on Noah's part and a big promise from God. I love how God notes the evil inclination of the human heart and still responds in Grace. A scent of the Gospel to come. I made some barbecued baby back ribs for a party Sunday night. It was a three day process where it cost me about $40  dollars in ribs, sauce, and spices on Thursday night, creating and applying the rub on Saturday, and barbecuing the ribs for a couple of hours on Sunday on a low heat. I...

Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Many years ago I watched an episode of "Touched by an Angel" that was called "The Spirit of Liberty Moon" or something like it about a a married couple of Chinese dissidents and their daughter. I know that I have blogged about it before. Set in the time of the  Tienanmen Square protest, it really rocked me. I had Touched by Angel pegged as a show for middle-age women looking for a good cry over sweet, and sticky stories. Hallmarkitis. I had been channel surfing on a bored Sunday night and decided to ride that night's story wave. It was a good deal more harrowing and haunting than a low-tide schmaltzy tale of sentimentality that I was expecting.    I have recently acquired the episode on DVD through Netflix and yesterday began watching through the season where this episode was made. Bo...