the final establishment of the kingdom of God

It is 2:27 PM Wednesday afternoon here in west Michigan. It is another nice early Autumn afternoon. Tomorrow it will be August 1, 2019. Soon the year 2019 will be gone.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. I got up and made a fresh pot of coffee. I toasted waffles for breakfast this morning. After breakfast I wrote in my paper diary and then messed with our main computer. After messing with our main I read from a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher. I read this book by Stuhlmacher till 11 o’clock AM and then I decided to do yard work since the weather was so mild. I mowed the front and back yard. I cut down dead flowers in my flower yard. As I was working outside Carol came home from going to the Farmer’s Market with Emily and the girls. They also went out for breakfast and walked around Kollen’s Park before going to the Farmer’s Market.

After doing yard work I came inside the house and cleaned up. Carol prepared fresh corn on the cob and melon for lunch. After lunch I wrote in my paper diary and now I am writing here in my online diaries. I plan to read this afternoon from a novel I read all day yesterday titled, ‘Kasebier Takes Berlin’ a novel by Gabriele Tergit Translated from the German by Sophie Duvernoy.

Carol and Josie just left to do errands. There is nothing pressing on my mind this afternoon so I will close to read ‘Kasebier Takes Berlin’. I am suppose to get a book delivered today by Amazon. I have several used books coming in the mail this week.

“[16] Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
[17] And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:16-20

“[43] Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
[44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
[45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
[46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
[47] For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
[48] And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
[49] And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
[50] But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
[51] But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
[52] And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 13:43-52

the beauty of the ineffable deity illuminates the souls of the saints

It is in the ongoing death flow Tuesday afternoon. It is 2:37 PM and Carol just went to take a nap. I have been listening on NPR about a new 50th Anniversary Woodstock Box-Set recently released. I am not that into Woodstock so I will let it pass buy the 36 CD’s Woodstock Box-Set. You also can get a 3XCD or a 10XCD Box-Set of the music and sounds of the original Woodstock Music Festival which I think took place in 1970. Take me back to the Garden.

So this day has gone by thus far normal. We had Comcast and set up a new internet connection this afternoon. Carol thinks she is going to save money by us switching to Comcast, we will see.

I got up this morning around 6:05 AM. A sore sweaty body drove me out of bed this morning. So I got up made a fresh pot of coffee and downloaded into Youtube a video I filmed last night. After that I wrote in my paper diary and Carol and I went out for breakfast.

The day has gone by quietly since coming home from having breakfast. This morning Amazon delivered a book that I have been reading today titled, ‘Kasebier Takes Berlin’ a novel by Gabriele Tergit Translated from the German by Sophie Duvernoy. This morning I read from a book titled, ‘Reclaiming Participation: Christ as God’s Life for All’ by Cynthia Peters Anderson.

Well, there is not much else to report. Existence keeps disappearing in the Void. I have no plans for the rest of this day. All one can do is fire back when the enemy shows its face. Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes.

Last night Carol did not get back from her Book Club till 10 o’clock PM. We went to bed around 10:30 PM. I basically read last night from a book titled, ‘Louis Auchincloss: The Growth of a Novelist’ by Vincent Piket. I will now close for the day.

learning how to die

It is 2:33 PM Monday afternoon here in west Michigan. It is a wet humid gray afternoon presently. When I was driving home from the library it was raining. We need rain so I hope it continues to rain off and on today.

I am extremely tired this afternoon so I won’t bore you with great detail about today. I am falling a sleep so I will get to the point. I have to write something here even if it is nothing mind blowing. I just got in the mail a used book I had ordered titled, ‘Louis Auchincloss: The Growth of a Novelist’ by Vincent Piket.

This morning I volunteered at the Book Nook our local library used books store. It was very quiet in the store, which caused me to fall asleep a couple of time. When I was able to stay awake I read from these two books, ‘See What I See’ essays by Greg Gerke and ‘The Rush For Second Place: Essays And Occasional Writings’ by William Gaddis.

When I got home from the Book Nook Carol was up. She left this afternoon to visit her elderly friend Pam and then to go to a dentist appointment.

I brought home today from the Book Nook these used books to ADD to our library-

‘Rimbaud’ biography by Pierre Petitfils Translated by Alan Sheridan

‘Brass’ a novel by Xhenet Aliu

‘Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin’ biography by Jill Lepore

‘The Hungry Eye’ photography Walker Evans

‘Picasso: The Early Years, 1892-1906’ Edited by Marilyn McCully

This morning I think I got up around 6:45 AM. I got up ate breakfast and then messed with our main computer. I downloaded this morning a video I filmed last night into my Youtube site. After messing with our main computer Carol arrived home from work. Carol and I talked before she went to bed. I left for the Book Nook around 9:35 AM, so has gone my existence thus far. I will close to doze. There is no way of escape.

Last night I mainly read before going to bed from a book titled, ‘Wilco: Learning How To Die’ music biography by Greg Kot.

Adam received the inbreathing of the Holy Spirit

It is in the death flow 11:09 AM Sunday morning here in west Michigan. The sun is shining outside but it is hot so we have our caged closed down. We have our central air system blowing cool air into our living space. I am thankful for a living space in a dead world. I am thankful I am not homeless but that we have a solid roof over our heads as the world goes to the dogs.

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. I once again fetched out of the ice box frozen waffles to toast in a toaster for a morning meal. After breakfast I messed with our main computer and then wrote in my paper diary. I am always writing in my paper diary. Well I keep a yearly diary meaning I am currently writing in my 2019 Paper Diary and I am on page 667 right now. It could be my last page since the Lord Jesus could come any moment I stop the whole shooting match.

I got out to read this morning for devotions a book titled, ‘Reclaiming Participation: Christ as God’s Life for All’ by Cynthia Peters Anderson. I found this interesting from this book by Anderson-

“In Cyril’s account, in which he follows the pattern of redemption that was primary in the early church, humanity was created in the image of God and Adam received the inbreathing of the Holy Spirit. Meyendorff notes that it is important to see in this Greek patristic pattern, outlined by Cyril, the intent for humans to live by graced participation in the life of God, and that only in this participative relationship are they truly human. Humans were also given free will and commandments to preserve this gift of life in the Holy Spirit, but disobeyed. This result in a gradual loss of the divine likeness as sin darkens the likeness and causes it to fade and degrade over time. Finally, when sin becomes dominant, human nature becomes devoid of this grace and the Spirit no longer dwells within it. Jesus, as the Incarnate Word, enables our reacquisition of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit forms the vital indwelling link between creation and God through the one person of Christ and provides a stable base for the Spirit’s indwelling and transforming work in humanity. This is a concept Cyril inherited from Athanasius and developed into a major emphasis of his soteriology. The movement of the pattern is the gift and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, first given to Adam in creation, lost through the fall, and reappropriated in the Spirit through the Incarnate Word.

Jesus makes it possible for us to recover this divine image, not simply through a remaking of our deformed or corrupt nature, but also by a reappropiation of the divine life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the incarnation, the divine Son, who lacks nothing in himself, becomes human so that he can receive, as a human, the gift of the Holy Spirit that is crucial for human redemption and renewal. . .” pg. 42,43 Cynthia Peters Anderson

It is now 11:28 AM late Sunday morning. Carol got home from work around 9 o’clock AM and soon went to bed. I plan to drift through the day reading my books and writing in my paper diary. I will close for the time being. There is no way of escape.

I just remembered that this morning I filmed a video showing folks what books I read in the mornings.

grace perfects nature

It is 11:58 AM late Saturday morning here in the Wasteland. It will soon be Noontime and it will be all downhill. As I type these words I am falling asleep. I need to wake up and get involved with this day. Why?

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. I got up got a bottle of cold water and sat in the living room dozing till 8 o’clock AM. I woke myself up and walked to our kitchen (it is a blessing having a kitchen and not having to cook food on a campfire out in the desert of south Texas) and toasted myself waffles for a morning meal. I do not take our life style as normal. We are living like kings and queens. We are pigs.

After breakfast I warmed up a cup of coffee and messed with our main computer. Last night I filmed a video for my Youtube channel. I always check my video to see how many of my subscribers have left me. This morning no one had left but I had some more subscribers. I wonder why people watch my Booktube videos? Maybe these subscribers are book lovers like me.

Carol got home from work around 8:39 AM. She was so tired she said she felt sick. It must be hard working 12 hour shifts in a hospital where you are constantly running from one floor to the next. My wife and I are getting old and need to rest. Carol went to bed soon after she got home from work.

I left the house around 10 o’clock AM to visit local thrift stores and to get milk and bread at a near by grocery store. I found these used books this morning to add to our library-

‘The Silent Angel’ A Novel by Heinrich Boll Translated by Breon Mitchell

‘Kinflicks’ A Novel by Lisa Alther

‘Vindication Lincoln: Defending The Politics Of Our Greatest President’ by Thomas L. Krannawitter

‘The Kid Stays In The Picture’ autobiography by Robert Evans

‘Shadows on the Hudson’ A Novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer

‘A Diary Of The Century: Tales From America’s Greatest Diarist’ by Edward Robb Ellis

When I got home I ate lunch and cleaned the kitchen. Next I wrote in my paper diary and now I am writing here in one of my online diaries. Existence speeding by. How many days do we have left to live? There is the Last Day the Day of Judgment. What will it be like to stand before the Judge the Lord Jesus Christ and have all our days flash before us in few minutes?

Well I am tired so I will close. I do not know what I will read this afternoon. I could brush my teeth and take a nap. I could look at this book this afternoon, ‘Reclaiming Participation: Christ as God’s Life for All’ by Cynthia Peters Anderson.

God’s grace is always primary and initiative

It is 3:49 PM Friday late afternoon in the death flow. It is 80 degrees this evening, but not extremely humid. It has been a long day. I feel like I have been up 24 hours.

I got up this morning around 6:45 AM. When I got up I found Carol sitting in the living room as usual. Carol asked if I wanted to go out for breakfast and I said No. I told her I get too full eating out for breakfast. I am more comfortable eating small meals as I travel to an early grave. Why fill my belly with pancakes when the world could go up in smoke anytime? It all seems absurd.

After breakfast I wrote in my paper diary and then messed with our main computers. I did get out to read this morning a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher, but never got around to reading it. Carol and I got into a big discussion on the end of the world this morning and before I knew it it was time for me to get ready to go to the Book Nook. I volunteer at the Book Nook our local library used books store on Friday’s and Monday’s from 10 o’clock AM till 1 o’clock PM.

Today the Book Nook was not busy so basically read some more of the novel, ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell. I brought home today from the Book Nook these used books to ADD to our library-

‘Oscar Wilde’ A Biography by Philippe Jullian Translated By Violet Wyndham

‘The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis’

A Worldly Country’ Poems by John Ashberry’

‘In Our Time’ essays by Tom Wolfe

‘McSweeney’s volume 31 literary journal

‘The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995’ by Lee Lorenz

‘Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy’ by David Stevenson

‘Five Plays’ Jean Cocteau

‘Betjeman’ A Biography by A. N. Wilson

‘Travels In The Interior Districts of Africa’ by Mango Park Edited with an Introduction by Kate Ferguson Marsters

‘For The Soul of France: Culture Wars In The Age Of Dreyfus’ by Frederick Brown

‘The Grove Press Reader 1951-2001’ Edited by S. E. Gontarski

‘The Changing Light At Sandover’ A Poem by James Merrill

In the mail this afternoon I received a book I had ordered titled, ‘Reclaiming Participation: Christ as God’s Life for All’ by Cynthia Peters Anderson.

Carol works the next three nights so she has been sleeping all afternoon. I am tired so I will close to sweat. Tomorrow is a Saturday.

“[6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
[7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
[8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
[9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
[10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
[11] Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
[12] That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1:6-12

the quest for Jesus

It is 12:57 PM Thursday afternoon in the flow of the plan of redemption. It is a warm sunny day here in west Michigan.

I got up this morning around 6:12 AM. When I got up I found the love of my life in the living room messing with her cell phone. I pray all my days I wake up seeing my Beloved.

So I got up to face another day in my span of time on this earth. I got myself a bottle of cold water and sat in the dining room. I woke up feeling ready to get back into a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher translated and edited by Daniel P, Bailey. As I read Stuhlmacher I wrote in my paper diary.

This morning around wanted to do errands so I got dressed and we were out the door around 8:45 AM. While we were out wandering the Wasteland we stopped at a Salvation Army thrift store so I could look at their used books. I found these four old used books to ADD to our library this morning-

‘The Case For Jesus: The Biblical And Historical Evidence For Christ’ by Brant Pitre

‘Nansen’ A Biography by Roland Huntford

‘Music, In A Foreign Language’ a novel by Andrew Crumey

‘The Bayou Trilogy: Under The Bright Lights, Muscle For The Wing, And The Ones You Do’ Crime Fiction by Daniel Woodrell

We got home from our wanderings around 11:15 AM.

So existence keeps ticking away like a Time Bomb. This evening we and our neighbors are gathering for an ice cream social in the middle of our street.

Last night I spent the evening mainly reading a novel by Guy De Maupassant titled, ‘Strong As Death’. I read late into the night this novel by De Maupassant. Now it is another day to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

I will close to brush my teeth and wait for night to collapse on the world.

I had never been attacked by a garage band playing punk-rock songs

It is 12:12 PM Wednesday afternoon here in the buzzing Dead Zone. Where is that buzzing sound coming from? I think it the sound of saws destroying the last of the Giant Red Woods.

Here in the Dead Zone the weather is mild and sunny. I already feel in the air the end of Summer 2019. Next Summer my wife plans to retire completely from the world of professional nursing. I am sure my wife will stay busy in her state of retirement. This afternoon my wife is having lunch with one of her Aunts and some cousins. I have been reading my books and feeling sick.

I have been reading this morning a novel by Guy De Maupassant titled ‘Strong As Death’ in Volume IV of THE COMPLETE WORKS OF GUY DE MAUPASSANT. Last night I read a long short story by De Maupassant titled, ‘Ball-Of-Tallow’.

It has been a usual day thus far today. Carol took the car into Maplewood Auto to have its breaks checked or replaced. I picked her up in our old Dodge van and we went to a thrift store and then to Caleb and Emily’s to pick items we left there when we celebrated Fourth of July with our family when everyone was here for a visit. At the thrift store I picked up two used books, ‘Brideshead Revisited’ a novel by Evelyn Waugh (I already had this novel but my edition was an old paperback, this edition is nice hardback edition) and a paperback titled, ‘Wilco: Learning How To Die’ music biography by Greg Kot.

Last night I basically read Guy De Maupassant and went to bed around 11:10 PM. Now it is another day in the last days of the American Empire. We will soon all be dead.

Well I suppose I will close to read and wait to fall into a cold icy grave.

Orthodoxy was unconsciousness

It is 2:51 PM Tuesday afternoon here in the Dead Zone. It is a sunny cloudy day here in west Michigan. A good day for a gun battle.

This morning when I got up at 6:35 AM I found Carol home from work. She got out early this morning, because she went in early last night for a nurse. I immediately cooked myself breakfast when I got up. I ate a big morning meal and then wrote in my paper diary. After writing in my paper diary I messed with our main computer. I responded to comments posted on the video I filmed last night for my Youtube channel.

Carol went to bed around 7:30 AM and I left for the library around 10:15 AM to help pack the used books that did not sell at the Friends of the Library used books sale. I left the library around 12:30 PM and I brought home these used books that I bought from the left over used books-

‘The Complete Works of Guy De Maupassant’ 16 Volumes Translations and Critical and Interpretative Essays by Alfred De Sumichrast published 1917

‘Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack Room Ballads’ By Richard Kipling

‘Under the Deodars, The Phantom ‘Rickshaw’ & Wee Willie Winkie’ by Richard Kipling

‘A History Of Britain: At The Edge Of The World 3500 B.C. -1603 A.D.’ by Simon Schama

‘A History Of Britain’ Volume II ‘The Wars Of The British 1603-1776’ by Simon Schama

‘A History Of Britain’ Volume III ‘The Fate Of Empire 1776-2000’ by Simon Schama

‘Americana And Other Poems’ by John Updike

‘Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce’ A Poem by Robert Penn Warren

‘To Walt Whitman, America’ a literary study by Kenneth M. Price

‘Sorties’ by James Dickey

‘The Sound Of Things Falling’ A Novel by Juan Gabriel Vasquez Translated from the Spanish by Anne McLean

‘Beyond Your Doorstep: A Handbook To The Country’ Nature Writing by Hal Borland

‘Homeland: A Report From The Country’ Nature Writing by Hal Borland

‘Cockroach’ a novel by Rawi Hage

‘All Aunt Hagar’s Children: Stories’ by Edward P. Jones

‘Music for Wartime: Stories’ by Rebecca Makkai

‘The Art of the Novel’ literary study by Milan Kundera Translated from the French by Linda Asher

‘You Are Not A Stranger Here: Stories’ by Adam Haslett

‘Leave It To Me’ A Novel by Bharati Mukherjee

‘Samaritan’ a crime novel by Richard Price

‘An Unfinished Season’ A Novel by Ward Just

‘Metropolis found: New York Country 25th Anniversary Collection’

OK that is done writing out a list of the used books I bought home today from the Friends of the Library used books sale remains. That was exhausting!

So Time keeps killing me. The time is now 3:20 PM. I need to close shop and head for the hills.

This morning I really did not read anything before leaving for the Herrick District Public Library. I am very tired these days. Life is one ball and chain. I will close to wait it out.

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

It is 3:31 PM Monday afternoon in the Death Flow. I just cleaned up after mowing our lawn front and back. Who says they do not believe in miracles?

It is a cool cloudy sunny breezy afternoon in the Wasteland. I have been feeling sick all day, but I force myself to live in the Dead Zone. I believe in the Resurrection of the dead.

This morning weird dreams and sweat drove me out of bed. When I stumbled out our bedroom I found Carol sitting in the living room reading the Bible. I got a bottle of ice mountain sparkling cold water and sat near my wife remembering all my past deeds.

Finally I got up went to our kitchen and pour out a bowl of cereal for breakfast. After breakfast I wrote in my paper diary and messed with our main computer. I left for the library around 9:10 AM to check out the Friends of the Library used books sale and to volunteer at the Book Nook.

I brought home today from the Friends of the Library used books sale and from the Book Nook these used books to ADD to our library-

‘On Booze’ essay by F. Scott Fitzgerald

‘Mythologies’ essays by Roland Barthes Translated by Annette Larer

‘Dusk and Other Stories’ by James Salter

‘American Sea Writing: A Literary Anthology’ Edited and With An Introduction by Peter Neill

‘Trajectory’ Stories by Richard Russo

‘The Dud Avocado’ a novel by Elaine Dundy

‘Flaubert’ A Biography by Frederick Brown

‘Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit’ a novel by Janette Winterson

‘The Bourgeois Experience: Victoria To Freud’ Volume 1 ‘Education of the Senses’ by Peter Gay

‘Gleanings in France’ Selected Letters by James Fenimore Cooper

‘A Motor-Flight through France’ travel writing by Edith Wharton

‘Empire of Cotton: A Global History’ by Sven Berkert

‘Writings From The New Yorker 1925-1976’ E.B. White

‘The Encyclopedia of Ireland’ Edited by Brian Lalor

Today the Book Nook was busy due to people attending the Friends of the Library used books sale. When not helping people I read ‘Nineteen Eight-Four’ a novel by George Orwell.

When I got home from the Book Nook I found Carol gone. She got home around 3 o’clock PM and is now sleeping because she works tonight.

I am sick and I believe I am at the end of my rope. I will close to feel sick and to read some more of the book, ‘The Ministry Of Truth: The Biography Of George Orwell’s 1984’ by Dorian Lynskey.