bierkergaard

"There is a living God. He has spoken in His Word. He means what He says. And He is willing and able to perform what He has promised." Hudson Taylor There were givens in Hudson Taylor's missionary work in China: - A belief in the inerrancy of the Bible and a devotion to the Word - A dedication to world missions and the Great Commission - The practice of prayer and dependence on God There are many people and ministries that believe the above, maybe not as in-depth in comparison to the work of Hudson Taylor and China Inland Mission, yet these principles are pretty much par-for-the-course among evangelical Christians. So what made the CIM so different and so effective? This essay details it  and I think that these principles are very applicable today in our 21st Century context. Here are the Five Principles: (which made him Hip). Dress - As seen in the picture above, Hudson dressed in Chinese clothing and wore his hair in a Chinese style. When ...

Pic from here   Acts 20:35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" If I were to zero in on one haunting question (in three parts) in my own life--and I don't think it is an unusual one--it is how do I give of my time and talents best? And, how concerned is God about results externally? And, is it possibly to really fail outwardly but still be commended by Jesus with a "well-done?" On the first question, I think it is wise to zero in our giftings when giving. I know that this can be used as an excuse to avoid the nastier and grittier aspects of service. like scrubbing toilets, yet I do think what we are best at needs to intersect with the world's greatest needs. I like to write for instance. Some people like to read what I write. Words are important. So, I put my hand to that plow. I also like to cook and...

I received an email this morning that both encouraged and discouraged me. Funny how that can happen.... First, the encouragement. An individual who is a nationally known book-seller graciously took the time to read the final proof of my book . If this book was piece of furniture, it is time for sanding. The words as wood and the structure of design are done. He paid the book a huge compliment. He said the book is "Very, very, very good." This guy know his books and had my full permission to be candid. That is like a home run, or at least a ground-rule double. He is a major league book umpire. On the discouragement side, he wrote that there are pages of minor (mostly) suggestions. He queried how candid I wanted him to be. I told him completely. Hmm...a lot of sanding in my future. Drats. However, I am all  in with this book, sink or swim. Or, hit or strike out. I think perhaps a standard of maturity is the willingness to ask people for true feedback on some project, et...

  Apparently, the Buddha like his coffee with cream and sugar...pretty sure Mohammed would want his straight black and strong. Jesus, not sure.     Above is a photo from my favorite go-to place for Vietnamese in town. I have no illusions that the joint is top shelf foodie paradise. Instead, it is like a diner that serves good not great Vietnamese food at a reasonable price. I am pretty much a regular there. I routinely taunt the Vietnamese cook that her food ain't spicy enough for me. I really want the place to prosper because it enriches the cultural palate of our community. I can tell that they consider me a frequent flier by the tone of their voices and I am hardly there all of the time. The place does not look like it is going to make it to be honest. That really saddens me...I feel like I am throwing them penny lifesavers, yet they are slowly sinking. Maybe that explains the offering? A wishing well...    ...

In the faith community I am a part of, VERITAS in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, we were notified several months ago that we were going to lose our meeting space by the end of August 2013. We try to not see ourselves as a space or a building but a people. So, perhaps we were better equipped for the news and handled the announcement better than some would have. Yet, creating a space--not just for ourselves but for our local community--is part of the mission of the church. We host artists and musicians and other events in the space when we don't have a church service, which is such a small percentage of the week anyway. We don't want the space to be wasted by non-use. So, offering the location to others, has been part of the plan from the start. Thus, the news that we were being asked to leave was not great news, but it wasn't bad news either because it caused us to think through what would be the best location to resettle in. A fresh start. And, ...

Matthew 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. I have developed a maxim of sorts for my drinking of coffee and beer (picture from here) For the Joe, it is "One and Done." For when I drink too much coffee, my agitation index spikes. Although I love the taste of the brew, the jitters annihilate the joy. If I am to have a second cup, it is several hours later but before noon as to not mess up my sleep. With beer, I have tried to erect a firewall of "Two and Through." I find with beer, wine, or spirits, I am fine with up to two drinks. After the second, it can be a slippery slope. Even when I do drink more than two, I don't get drunk as a rule. Yet, I am clearly in the zone where consumption has taken the wheel and drives me deeper into imbibing. That is where the seltzer has been a huge asset. Often, drinking alcohol becomes mindless, and less and less mind is paying attention to how much I have t...