bierkergaard

Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth A couple of months ago I strained a tendon in my right arm elbow. I continued to lift so the strain slowly was becoming worse over time. About three weeks ago, I decided to cease lifting until it cleared up and healed.  I wrapped the elbow so expertly myself with an ACE bandage. Can you tell?  I was disappointed to do so because I have been very consistent with my three days of aerobic and three days of lifting regiment in the mornings after years of trying to be consistent and usually petering out.  Of the two, I like to ride and run more than lift, so the lifting has always been more difficult for me to stick to over time. Arnie, I am not. We have heard the term "elbow grease" to denote that extra effort that makes a difference, usually on a physical task like buffing the car with wax. It is generally a solid principle...a little extra effort is the differe...

Who does not know that things like these have happened and do happen in the world. That someone who once ruled over countries and kingdoms has ceased to rule and is obliged to see a more powerful ruler take his place. That someone who once was hailed with jubilation soon, yes so soon, that the whole thing seems to have been a dream. hears the same jubilation shouting another name? Soren Kierkegaard, from his discourse, " He Must Increase; I Must Decrease."  I was recently in the bowels of the Hershey Arena (the indoor arena of the Hershey Empire before the Giant Center was built). I was at an awards banquet for one of my seniors winning a scholarship and the room where the event was held was the same place where entertainers would hang out before and after their performances. The Hershey Arena is where Wilt dropped a 100 points during a basketball game on a hapless opponent, a record that still stands in the NBA  The room has seen better days... This room was a walk...

This morning I faced a decision. Do I run or chill? It was overcast, looking like it could rain. I was down in the Metro Philly area staying over at my brother's place, not too far from Valley Forge Park. The run around the Park is a pretty hard five miles. I haven't been running as much since buying the FitDesk. But, I try to run once a week. My watch needs to be recharged by motion. It is Memorial Day Weekend and I do like to pay homage to the Fallen and running through the history down in the Park always inspires. The Arch in Valley Forge symbolizes our country's founding for me. I figured the more I thought about it, the less likely I would do the run. So, I laced up the Nikes and headed down to the Park. I dig the essentiality of running. If one has a pair of shoes, one can run.  No expensive equipment, gym membership, and personal trainer. So, run I did. I had some regrets along the way. I was sweating profusely.  I imagined toxins being leeched out of my syste...

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, modest, benevolent, full of mercy and of good fruits, not judgmental, unfeigned. As the sun has been obscured by clouds and rain for much of the last month, it is making that rare day of sunshine special. Even unusual. Almost a celestial abnormality. My espresso consumption continues to increase, more clouds and rain, more crema. The Seattle solution... However, this past Thursday was a stellar day. Sunny with skies of blue, and poofy cotton ball clouds. Temps warm but not ugly hot, which happens in Pa. sometimes.  I got to thinking on the drive home from work--a pleasant trip for the most part on country roads--why anyone who could afford a sunroof for their car would not get one. Inconceivable. Self-punishment? Denial of pleasure?  A modern day bed-of-nails and hair shirt?   On this Thursday afternoon, a friend on Facebook posted the picture above of her sunroof and her enjoyment t...

Isa 48:18 Oh that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Yesterday, my 80 year old Dad, my 40 something Brother, and my bad 52 year old self, went for a bike ride down at the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail. The picture above is gazing upon the river from above on Turkey Hill, where the dairy is and some big-ass wind turbines. I hiked up there a few weeks ago. The ride yesterday, on the trail, was known unofficially as "Bikes Before Beer."  The sky was blue and serene for the ride down the trail (five miles) along the Susquehanna. We took a bit of a break before turning around and the tempest came out of nowhere. Like the Perfect Storm. We barely got back to the cars before all hell broke loose. Needless to say, the last five miles back--even though it was a slight incline and against the roaring wind and incoming rain--went considerably quicker than the way down. The ...

I have a thing for beverages. Two weeks ago I wrote about beer. Last week espresso/coffee. This week. Wine. Next week. H2O. Maybe I am called to the beverage business. And here I am just writing and wasting my time.  I won't even tell you how much time I dedicated to researching espresso machines this week.       After getting jacked on espresso last Friday, I headed to a local tasting room for California wines here in Lancaster. The night before I had been watching the local public access channel (I have Basic Cable so my options for TV are limited) and there was a winemaker being interviewed.    I was thinking that it was another local vineyard trying to convince people that its wines were on par with Napa and Sonoma California. Although I am hardly a sommelier, I know this much about wine: There is no substitute for the warm and dry by day and cool by night geography of good wines. It is not even debatable. Or maybe it is. There is a lot of ...

I am not sure when I developed a taste for coffee. Sometimes in my 30's. I wasn't that discriminating in my taste and also was primarily drinking it to fuel my work-outs. It took awhile to figure out that I shouldn't drink it late afternoon as well as to appreciate coffee for more than just an adrenaline booster shot.  Now I am firmly in the clique of coffee snobs. Almost as insufferable as wine snobs.  My Dad likes to remind me at times of my judging him and others for drinking coffee and getting jacked on Joe as a moral failing. I was high-horsey with beer and coffee for a pretty long period of early adulthood.  Then, I turned to the dark side. I fell hard. Especially espresso.  So..... Friday morning was another Comp Day off of school. It was rainy and cool. Not a good day to skateboard or other outside activities. Thus, I decided to adventure over to Rustic Cup, a new coffee shop in downtown East Prospect. Not that there is really a downtown ...