bierkergaard

I consider tranquility to be one of the most beautiful words in the English language. It evokes a spirit of calm and peace within me. Even saying it somehow creates the experience of sereneness. Say it aloud three times slowly: TRANQUILITY. TRANQUILITY. TRANQUILITY. See, feel better? I have had tranquility on my mind all week. Not entirely sure why. I know one of my greatest heart needs is peace. I have considered how truth is a creator of tranquility. Jesus said that "The Truth will set you free."   In my devotions all week, John Calvin's writings have reminded me of the tranquility that God gives to a soul. Calvin, being Calvin, also writes of the tumult and distress of unbelievers.   I find this picture of this river in Missoula to be tranquil because it flows clean and pure. It is not stagnant and putrid. Peace in the process of navigating the rapids of life.     Lies cause conflict and contentiousness. Although it is quite the fact that truth-tellers ...

I headed down to the Philly-area on Thursday for a College and Career Conference at a hotel. I like to get back to my hometown area on occasion .  I still have a lot of Philly in me. Yo, Adrian.  By Thursday, the snows had been plowed sufficiently to clear the roads. Although, I did have to make essentially a blind right turn out of a gas station because a pile of snow about the size of one of those Stonehenge standing stones blocked my vision.   I feel a lot of weightiness because my school counselor position is the role in the school that is appointed to help kids figure out their future. I think it is one of the reasons that we send so many students to college in the U.S, even  though half  of them won't get a degree.It kicks the career can down the road and makes the college deal with it. Or not. It is much easier to chose a college than a career.  The conference was enlightening. I gleaned some good ideas. These conferences are usually j...

Matthew 16 The Pharisees and Sadducees  came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.   2  He replied,  “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’   3  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. [ a ]   4  A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”  Jesus then left them and went away. Here in Central Pa., we were on the receiving end of the largest amount of snow ever measured in these here parts.  We were begging for some snow. Watch what you beg for. A week ago, the weather prophets were telling us that the models were showing a historic snow event. The satellite pictures showed the Northeaster' looking like a pink fist punching Pennsylvania in the face. When I w...

My apologies for nor not blogging last week. A good buddy, that I had not seen in eons, had the opportunity to hang out with me drinking beer last Saturday when I typically blog. We had a Part 1 and 2 and stayed sober-minded nonetheless. Tellus360, the best pub in Lancaster, also shuts down the first days of the New Year. So, it must be some type of symmetry here. Even though I only blog once a week, I take it seriously. People from Saudi Arabia read it. I want to give them hope that one can be human and love God and enjoy His good gifts like drink in moderation. We first went to The Fridge for a New Belgium promo event in the AM to 1:00 PM or so. Then he went home to the Fam until 3:00 while I obtained a Gyro at the local Greek place. Plus, I walked another 6 blocks and drank an espresso down at Square One coffee. Overall, I walked about two miles and was beer-free for the same amount of time. It takes wisdom to slow down and stop when the gravity cheers for consumption. Brake a...

I am back from Quebec. And Toronto. I spent two days in Toronto with two flights cancelled waiting for Air Canada to recover from the snowy weather. It snows in Canada? Who knew? Air Canada handled the adverse weather and cancellations very poorly. It was the holiday season. I get it. But from a land where hockey is like a religion, played in cold and on ice, I'd think they would have flying in such weather in their DNA like Buffalo or Minneapolis. I have learned a valuable lesson about departing from a small airport like Harrisburg International. International is a big grandiose. It has flights to Canada. Sometimes.... If the flight is cancelled on the way back, chances are rebooking ain't going to be easy. With a large airport, massive TSA lines and extortionist parking, and hectic city driving to and from are costs. At a smaller airport, TSA is quick, driving is easy, and parking is still expensive but less challenging. But if the flight is cancelled, that flight...

I am attempting to blog from my iPhone at a cafe in Quebec. Asymmetrical blogging. I have some time. I have a lot of espresso hurtling through my nervous system. If someone sneezes, I am so jittery that I might have a stroke. I first ordered a 16 ounce coffee, then a double espresso. Then, I accidentally gave the barista a ten dollar tip. The credit card processing system here in Canada is different than the U.S. Handheld devices. Prone to screw-up at the hands of dudes like me. Rather than retract the tip, I let the tip stand. The barista tried to dissuade me but it seemed like a Christmassy thing to do. He then repaid me by making me a single espresso for free. Now, I got the shakes. The little espresso cup trembles. I have found the Quebec natives to be quite reserved. I only know a bit of its culture, but this reticence seems historical. A walled city, where the French were beat in battle by the British in a sneak attack up a bad-ass hill during the French Indian War. Psychol...

This Fall, rather than pulling my kale out when it started to get cold, I decided to let nature take its course. I figured that soon enough, the kale would slowly freeze to death. A death by degrees. I would take no heroic measures to keep it alive. Instead, four days from Christmas Day, the kale is still kicking. All on its own. We have had a very warm Fall but the temps have dropped below freezing numerous times where frost was on the leaves in the morning. I had consulted a farmer friend of mine and he advised that kale can survive frosts. It dies when the thermometer gets in the mid-20's. Heck, I am feeling that I should wrap some Christmas lights around these sulfuric evergreens. I started growing kale about ten years ago around the time it was trending. But, I am not one of those foodie types that will pay 12 dollars for a plated dish of two sliced organic tomatoes drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Instead, I will spend two dollars and buy a plant. Kale grows well, is o...