The Ministry Of Truth

It is 4:52 PM Sunday evening here in the Death Zone. Right now it is sunny outside and I see clouds. I think it is in the low 80’s outside this evening. We still have on the central air system blowing cool dead air around and around our living space. Carol and I both agree that our living space smells like old carpet. I bought a couple of years ago a carpet cleaner and we plan to clean our carpets the next hot day.

It has been a long day. I do not feel like going into great details about this day. It has come and it is going. It is a new week in the dead American world.

This afternoon Caleb, Josie, Cora, and Ollie came over to hang out and eat food. Emily got off work early and was here around 3 o’clock PM.

Carol went to Covenant PCA this morning and there was a church potluck over the morning worship service so she got home around 1 o’clock PM. When she got home I was sitting in the dining room drinking coffee and reading, ‘Nineteen Eight-Four’ a novel by George Orwell.

Caleb and Emily and their crew left around 4 o’clock PM for their place down the street from us. So existence goes by. Amazon delivered this afternoon a book I had ordered titled, ‘The Ministry Of Truth: The Biography Of George Orwell’s 1984’ by Dorian Lynskey. Last night I read before going to bed, ‘The Fan Man’ a novel by William Kotzwinkle.

This morning I read for devotions from a book titled, ‘Biblical Spirituality’ Edited By Christopher W. Morgan. I wrote off and on all day in my personal paper diary. Tomorrow I volunteer at the library used books store The Book Nook. I plan to attend tomorrow also the last day of the Friends of the Library used books sale. I also will help box all the used books that did not sell Monday evening. I am sure I will bring home a bag of used books tomorrow.

Well I suppose I will close to read and face the approaching darkness.

the Age of Aquarius

It is 10:13 AM Saturday morning here in west Michigan. It is another hot day in Michigan and throughout the world. The earth is overheated in time the world will be a dead planet. Aliens in the future will visit this planet and find only plastic bottles.

I got up this morning and we soon left to go grocery shopping. Now we are home and I am still have not woken up to this day in the Dead Zone.

I am not going to the second day of the Friends of the Library used books sale because I am too tired. I need to rest today from being out in the dead world.

Carol is taking Josie to a play at Hope College this afternoon. Caleb is bringing over Cora this afternoon to hang out here. Emily is working today and Caleb is watching the girls.

Last night I basically wandered my cell and read ‘The Fan Man’ a novel by William Kotzwinkle. I do not know when I will be able to get back into my intellectually heavy Christian books. I am tired and overheated.

When we got back from food gather and filling up the car with gas I wrote in my paper diary. I ate for breakfast a ham sandwich, that was fun.

Last night I counted the number of used books I bought at the Friends of the Library used books sale and the total was 39 used books. I would say the theme of these used books in Art and Writing. In another life I would been a Writer or an Artist. I did ask myself last night as I was looking the piles of used books I recently bought if any of them would advance my spiritual growth. Is there any divine wisdom in any of the these used books I bought recently? Or is all this literature useless in achieving spiritual maturity? In the end it is all absurd. I am wasting my time and money on vanity.

I will close to brush my teeth and sit.

my father is a book

It is 5:11 PM early Friday evening here in west Michigan. It is 91 degrees this evening where we live. The earth is on fire.

I got up this morning around 6:10 AM. When I got up I found my wife in our living room reading the Bible. Carol was also making fresh blueberry muffins. I made a fresh pot of coffee and then wrote in my paper diary.

Carol left around 8 o’clock AM to meet a friend for breakfast. I left the house around 9 o’clock AM to look at used books on sale for the Friends of the Library used books sales before opening up the Book Nook.

Today at the Friends of the Library used books sale I found these old used books to ADD to our library-

‘Journals of Ayn Rand’ Edited by David Harriman

‘The Intellectual Adventures of Ancient Man: An Essay on Speculative Thought in the Ancient Near East’ Henri Frankfort

‘The Trick of It’ a novel by Michael Frayn

‘Astray: Stories’ by Emma Douoghue

‘My Father Is A Book: A Memoir of Bernard Malamud’ Jama Malamud Smith

‘The Book In The Renaissance’ by Andrew Pettegree

‘The New York Chronology: The Ultimate Compendium of Events, People, And Anecdotes from the Dutch to the Present’ James Trager

‘The Mandelbaum Gate’ a novel by Muriel Spark

‘Art Chronicles 1954-1966’ Frank O’Hara

‘Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams’ biography by Lyle Leverich

‘T.S. Eliot’ Literary Criticism by Stephen Spender

‘A Scanner Darkly’ Science Fiction by Philip K. Dick

‘The Rush for Second Place: Essays And Occasional Writings’ William Gaddis

‘The Cambridge Companion To John Updike’ Edited by Stacey Olster

‘Lost Classics’ edited by Michael Ondaatje

‘The Glass Rainbow’ A Dave Robicheaux Novel by James Lee Burke

‘A Dream of Red Mansions’ Classical Novel In Four Volumes By Cao Xueqin and Gao E Translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang

I got home from the Library around 2:30 PM. So the day has gone by. I have been reading this afternoon from a novel titled, ‘The Fan Man’by William Kotzwinkle.

I will close for the day.

the Johannine Jesus is eternally equal with the Father

It is 5:38 PM Thursday early evening in the flow of existence. It is another humid hot day here in west Michigan. It did rain today off and on, but right now it is clear and sunny outside.

This morning a weird intense dream drove me out of bed around 5:45 AM. So I got up cooked myself a big farmer’s breakfast and then wrote in my paper diary. After writing in my diary I made video and then read till Carol got home from work ‘Trinity Without Hierarchy: Reclaiming Nicene Orthodoxy in Evangelical Theology’ Michael F. Bird & Scott Harrower Editors.

I left to help once again set up for the Friends of the Library used books sale around 9:30 AM and got home around 1 o’clock PM. I brought home from the Friends of the Library these used books for our library-

‘The Fan Man’ a novel by William Kotzwinkle

‘The Cry Of The Owl’ a mystery by Patricia Highsmith

‘The Elephant Vanishes: Stories’ by Haruki Murakami

‘The Making Of A Writer: Journals, 161-1963’ by Gail Godwin

‘Alfred Stieglitz: A Biography’ by Richard Whelan

‘More Matter: Essays And Criticism’ by John Updike

‘The First Three Novels: Call for the Dead, A Murder of Quality, & The Spy Who Came In from the Cold’ by John Le Carre

‘Picasso And American Art’ Michael Fitzgerald With A Chronology By Julia May Boddewyn

When I got home from helping set up for the Friends of the Library I cleaned up, wrote in my paper diary and then cataloged the used books I bought today into my LibraryThing site.

This afternoon I messed with our main computer and have been reading, ‘Tears Of The Trufflepig’ a novel by Fernando A. Flores.

Last night I filmed two videos for my Youtube channel and read ‘Tears Of The Trufflepig’ a novel by Fernando A. Flores. I went to bed around 11 o’clock PM. Now it another day in the Dead Zone. Tomorrow I volunteer at the Book Nook but I will check out also the Friends of Library used books sale. It will be another long day tomorrow for me. Carol is off from work for a couple of days now.

Well I will close to drift into darkness.

the tomb traditions of the Gospels

It is in the flow of eternal life in mystical union with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ 3:51 PM Wednesday afternoon. It is another hot day here in west Michigan. The fields have turned to dust and nothing is growing. Hopefully we can buy rice from Indian to survive this famine.

I volunteered today from 9:30 AM till 2:35 PM at our local library to help set up for this week’s Friends of the Library Used Books Sale. It was hard back breaking work, but I got some old used books out of the ordeal. I plan to help throughout the Friends of the Library used books sale because I love books. I am a book lover and love spending my short life among books.

I bought these used books from the Friends of the Library used books sale today (I was able to get these used books early before the actual sale because I won’t be able to go through the used books the day of the actual sale because I have to be in the Book Nook.)

‘Inside George Orwell: A Biography’ by Gordon Bowker

‘Rant’ a novel by Chuck Palahniuk

‘The Lover’ a novel by A. B. Yehoshua Translated From The Hebrew By Philip Simpson

‘Summer In Baden-Baden’ A Novel by Leonid Tsypkin Translated from the Russian by Roger and Angela Keys Introduction by Susan Sontag

‘The Cambridge Companion To Walt Whitman’ Edited by Ezra Greenspan

‘Before Our Time: A Theory of the Sixties From a Religious, Social and Psychoanalytic Perspective’ by Henry Idema III

‘And our faces, my heart, brief as photos’ essays by John Berger

‘Letters of Marcel Proust’ Translated by Mina Curtiss New Introduction by Adam Gopnik

‘Factory Made: Warhol And The Sixties’ biography by Steven Watson

‘Modigliani: A Life’ by Meryle Secrest

‘Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty’ biography by Phoebe Hoban

‘Danube’ travel by Claudio Magris Translated from the Italian by Patrick Creagh

‘The Age of Wonders’ A novel by Aharon Appelfeld Translated by Dalya Bilu

‘The Borrower’ a novel by Rebecca Makkai

After volunteering I drove home, but before coming home I stopped and bought five pounds of Mexican black and tan coffee beans.

I am pretty beat this afternoon so I will close to gather my wits. This morning I read for devotions ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher. I made a video last night for my Youtube channel. I might make a video tonight if I am still in my right mind.

Carol works tonight and then is off for a couple of days. Our days on earth are flying by like eagles.

“[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
[7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
[8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
[9] For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
[11] Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
[13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
[15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
[16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” First Corinthians 15:1-20

Christ manifested the form of God in the form of a slave

It is 1:31 PM Tuesday afternoon here where we live out our numbered days. We all are given a certain number of days to prepare for the Eternal State. I am extremely tired so I will make this short and sweet. If I sit too still I immediately fall asleep.

I got up this morning around around 7 o’clock AM. When I got up I found Carol reading in the living room. I got a bottle of cold water and sat across from my wife seeking to wake up to another day in my Life. After waking up somewhat I ate breakfast and then wrote in my paper diary. After writing in my diary I read till Noon from a book titled, ‘The Beauty of The Lord: Theology As Aesthetics’ by Jonathan King.

Carol left this morning to visit her elderly friend Pam.

I have nothing to do today but find someway to keep myself from falling asleep. It might rain this afternoon.

Last night I watched a taped television show with Carol. She went to bed early and I stayed up late reading my books. I started reading last night a novel titled, ‘Time Will Darken It’ by William Maxwell.

Yesterday evening Caleb dropped by with Josie, Cora, and his pet dog Ollie. We had not seen the girls in over a week. Little Cora had grown since we last saw her. And Josie is becoming a little girl more and more. Soon Josie and Cora will be teenagers and we will be ancient grandparents.

Well, I am wasted so I will close to drift. Not sure what I will read next. I do have a book being delivered by Amazon this afternoon titled, ‘Doing Theology with the Reformers’ by Gerald Bray. I have been reading for several months for morning devotions a book titled, ‘Romans 1-8’ New Testament VII Reformation Commentary On Scripture Edited By Gwenfair Walters Adams.

I need to close before I collapse.

the Christ of faith

It is 1:53 PM Monday afternoon here in west Michigan. It is hot sunny afternoon today.

I volunteered at the local library used books store today The Book Nook. The store did not have much business during my three hour shift. I read and wandered the store till my replacement came at 12:55 PM.

When I got home from the Book Nook I found the house empty. Carol must have gone someplace.

I am tired as usual. I did not sleep soundly last night. I just made a fresh pot of coffee in hopes the hot coffee will wake me up.

I have nothing to do today but wait it out. At the Book Nook I read some more of the novel, ‘Abel And Cain’ by Gregor Von Rezzori. I brought home from the Book Nook two used books to ADD to our library-

‘Bismarck’ a biography by Edward Crankshaw (we have in our library three other books written by Crankshaw)

‘Bauhaus 1919-1933’ (Bauhaus Archiv)  Magdalenia Droste

This morning I got up around 6:45 AM. I spent the morning reading ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher. I left for the Book Nook around 9:45 AM.

Last night Carol and I watched television and went to bed around 11 o’clock PM.

Caleb picked up his dog Ollie yesterday around 6 o’clock PM. Ollie was happy to see his Dad. Today Emily and girls come home after being gone a week camping with Emily’s family.

Well not is not much else to report. Existence keeps decaying.

Jesus goes to his death with the certainty of immediate glorification

It is in the flow the eternal Plan of God 12:15 PM Sunday afternoon. It is another hot sunny day here in West Michigan.

I got up this morning around 6:34 AM. When I got up Ollie our oldest son’s pet dog greeted me as I came out of our bedroom. Today little Ollie goes home after being with his Noni and Papa for a week. Our oldest son Caleb comes home from a week at work in Boston Mass. When I got up this morning I found my wife reading the Bible in our living room. Carol reads through the Bible every year. I think Carol is now in the Book of Joshua and the Prophecy of Jeremiah. I got myself a bottle of cold water and sat in the living room seeking to wake up to another day. After waking up I walked to our kitchen and cooked myself breakfast.

After breakfast I messed with our main computer, wrote in my paper diary and read till Noon from a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher. I also made a video this morning for my Youtube channel.

Carol went to church this morning and after church she was planning to visit her elderly friend Pam.

So this day goes by normal thus far. It is tragic to know that we live in a country that has gone insane. We are surrounded by mad dogs. I constantly hear the roar of the devil on the internet.

Last night I read and watched a taped television show with Carol. Carol went to bed early and stayed up late and read my books. Now it is another day, the beginning of a new week. This week is the Friends of the Library used books sale. I will help set up the used books sale starting this coming Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is the first day of the used books sale and continues until next week Monday afternoon. I wonder what used books we will find to add to our book collection.

Well I suppose I will close to read some more of the book, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher. I have pre-order these books on New Testament theology coming out in the Fall-

‘From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God’ (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology) by Benjamin Gladd

‘The Story Retold: Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament’ by G. K. Beale

‘The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians’ by N.T. Wright & Michael F. Bird

Well, I will close to read and wait for the end of the present evil age.

the blood of the covenant

It is in the flow of Life 10:05 AM Saturday morning. It is a sunny warm morning. There is a breeze this morning blowing through the house.

I have been having a normal morning. Right now Carol is out back chopping at plant growth and I am reading from a volume titled, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stuhlmacher.

I got up this morning around 6:15 AM. I got up to find Carol up sitting in the living room. I got myself a bottle of ice water and sat in our dining room slowly waking up to a new day. I next ate breakfast and messed with our main computer. After messing with our main computer I got out to read, ‘Biblical Theology of the New Testament’ by Peter Stulhmacher. So has gone by Time.

I plan to just drift through the day. I do not plan to leave the house today.

Last night we watched a taped television show and went to bed early. I do not remember right now the last book I read yesterday. Now I remember what I last read, I read a short story in The Paris Review Spring 2012 issue 200. I sat outside in the front of our house with Ollie on a chain and read The Paris Review until Carol got home from her running around.

Well I suppose I will close. There is nothing pressing on my mind this morning.

a sudden light

It is 3:42 PM Friday afternoon here in west Michigan. It is another bright warm sunny day. We are expecting hot weather to come our way the rest of this week. It is predicted to get in the 90’s. The polar ice cap is melting while we are being cooked by the sun. Ocean are rising and soon New York City will be under water. Here in Michigan Lake Michigan the water levels are so high beaches are disappearing. House are being washed away along the shores of Lake Michigan.

I have had thus far a normal day. I am extremely tired this afternoon due to old age and lack of proper rest. Last night our bedroom was hot as an oven and hardly slept. Carol got up around 4 o’clock AM and I got up around 6:15 AM.

This morning I volunteered at the local library used books store The Book Nook from 10 o’clock AM till 1 o’clock PM. I brought home these used book from the Book Nook to add to our library-

‘Auden’ a biography by Richard Davenport-Hines

‘Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography’ by Gail Levin

‘Znleika Dobson’ a novel by Max Beerbohm New York The Heritage Press 1960 hardcover edition

‘A Sudden Light’ A Novel by Garth Stein

‘Echoes Of An Autobiography’ by Naguib Mahfouz Translated by Deny Johnson-Davis

‘Two Lives: Gertrude And Alice’ by Janet Malcolm

‘The Grand Surprise: The Journals Of Leo Lerman’ Edited By Stephen Pascal

‘Proust and his World’ with 145 illustrations by William Sansom

‘Psychogeography: Disentangling the Modern Conundrum of Psyche and Place’ Words by Will Self Pictures by Ralph Steadman

‘The Eye of the Lynx: Galileo, His Friends, And The Beginning of Modern Natural History’ by David Freedberg

In the mail this afternoon I received in old used book titled, ‘Paris Interzone : Richard Wright, Lolita, Boris Vian and other on the Left Bank 1946-1960’ by James Campbell.

Carol is not here this afternoon, she is out doing errands. I am tired so I will close to feel sick.