bierkergaard

A dear student of mine passed away in a car accident. She was a great kid. Brought so much joy. Sad to have lost but glad to have known. Bye Masey. You are loved.

* This statue is in Valley Forge Park. My favorite place in the world. The Freedom of Discipline sounds like crazy mumbo-jumbo like "War is Peace", "Up is Down" or "Black is White." But it is not. Want to see an unfree person? Let that person live an undisciplined life. Ungodly rebellion is romanticized as a pathway to freedom but Jesus calls that individual a slave to sin.  Dylan sang long ago and perhaps believes it no longer that "You have to serve somebody." What has brought this to my mind recently was the reading of two books about Valley Forge and the Continental Army's camping out there in the Winter of 1777. The war was going poorly for the Colonials. The leadership and military smarts of George Washington was being questioned by some in the Continental Congress who had fled to York, Pennsylvania, when the British occupied Philadelphia.  Washington's personal character seemed unassailable yet his military acumen was lackin...

I am an early riser by habit. I can get to sleeping later but it has to be a trend for a couple of weeks before it takes. I wake up early for work at 5:00 AM so even on Saturday and Sunday, I am typically up around then. I love the early morning though. Waking up before 5:00 is very daunting but once it is 5:00, I am up and at 'em. No snooze button typically although I will sometimes go back to sleep on the weekends if I lay in bed for a bit and have nothing pressing. I am a certified master napper however. I love coming  back from work and hitting the sheets for an hour or two. I often have to heal from the concussive nature of my job and the sooner I sleep it off, the sooner I am ready for the next day. Better than pills from the Psychiatrist I'd say. I don't need to usually process the day verbally. Just let me sleep and I will  be fine. It is a luxury of being single. I know many parents would crave to be able to do this but it is hard when there are kids needin...

I am back blogging! Now that my travels are back at low-tide, I can get back on the Bierkergaard horse. Had a lovely time in Portland, Oregon. What is not to not like? Great Coffee, Craft Beer, and Ethnic Food Trucks a block from my hotel. The parking lot of the Food Trucks has apparently been sold to a developer so the Food Trucks will have to find a new place to park. Kind of a shame. Portland is cool for many reasons and  Food Truck culture is a part of that. But, it has become too cool and so prices are escalating, condos need to be built, and money moves in. Then, the place isn't as cool as before. Here is something not to like about Portland. It is overcast and rainy for large chunks of the year. No real surprise there but after a week, it did wear on me. Yet, I surmise, this fuels the Coffee, Beer, and Book culture. All indoorsy. Paid a visit to Powells Books a few blocks from my hotel. It is the largest bookstore in the US. Bought 5 books and spent $75 or so dollars ...

I will be back to blogging in mid-January when my travels conclude. Until then, have a blessed start to 2019!

Well, getting ready to fly out to Portland, Oregon, for a little R and R. I have a considerably less ambitious travel itinerary this year as compared to my two last years during this season. As is becoming typical, I had car troubles and got a cold. That just seems to all coincide. I get antsy when I prepare to travel, which wears me out. I fear chaos. But, I have learned to embrace it because what is gained is worth the cost. I get out of town for Christmas. Because our family convenes more on Thanksgiving, I typically jet-out over Christmas to elsewhere where I give myself permission to eat, drink, and be merry. I almost accidentally typed "messy." It is probably a bit more than true. I enjoy myself but then walk miles in penance back and forth.  I usually park myself physically in some smaller type of city then do all I can to imbibe it deeply for a week to ten days. And then I pack up and head back to be it ever so humble, Columbia, Pa. Once I retire I plan to fol...

I had a nice acquisition recently....a picture frame that had a photo of flags in it that had been in storage at work for a lot of years. I cared little for the pic. The frame looked nice. I had intentions.  My grandfather from Germany (Opa to me) was an architectural draftsman with expertise in brewing and breweries. A decade or ago so my dad had uncovered a treasure trove of Opa's drawings from more than 50 years ago which were stashed away at the family cabin . This drawing of the brewing process of his is a perfect fit in the frame. I was reminded that what is inside the frame is more important than the frame itself. Now, don't get me wrong. The frame is sweet. Solid, silver, and hefty. But, the drawing is what justifies and beautifies the frame. In an era where our culture is frame heavy (appearance, money, status, etc) it is good reminder that character matters. What is encased in the frame. Jesus says something along the lines of "What shall it profit a man...