salvation consists in the transformation of one’s whole being into the immortal, incorruption humanity of Christ

It is in the death flow 1:52 PM Wednesday afternoon. It is a cold gray cloudy day. Once again no evidence of it being Spring.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I got up Carol was in the kitchen baking cookies. This evening she takes a meal over to a family who are going through a trial. Carol baked cookies to go with a meal for this family going through difficult times. Yesterday Carol took a meal to a family where a person is undergoing treatments for cancer.

So when I got up this morning I got myself a bottle of cold water and sat in my living room chair seeking to wake up. It constantly amazes me to SEE inside my head my Whole life from birth till the present Day. I am constantly SEEING inside my brain scenes from my Life. Inside my mind I am constantly remembering my whole life being repeated over and over. It is weird to be constantly reminded of my existence in this dead American world. It is like constantly being before God the Judge on the Last Day being reminded of all my sins from birth to old age.

After I woke up somewhat I got a cup of coffee and messed with our main computer. After messing with our main computer I wrote in my paper diary and talked to Carol. Carol left this morning for a Woman’s Bible Study and then to do errands. While she was gone I wrote in my diary, filmed a video for my Youtube channel and read ‘Looking Unto Jesus’ by Isaac Ambrose. So has gone by existence.

Last night Carol went t bed around 8:45 AM and I stayed up till 11:15 PM. I read last night mainly from a book titled, ‘The Life Of Jesus Christ’ Part One Volume 1, Chapters 1-40 by Ludolph of Saxony. I am almost finished reading this volumes and will soon start reading, ‘The Life Of Jesus Christ’ Part One Volume 2, Chapters 41-92 by Ludolph Of Saxony Translated By Milton T. Walsh.

I will close to drift. Today is the last day of March 2021. Tomorrow is April 1, 2021. It will soon all be over.

“[33] Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
[34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
[35] But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
[36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
[37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
[39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
[48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” First Corinthians 15:33-50

Ghosts of Spain

It is 4:12 PM Tuesday afternoon in the flow of constant decay. Carol and I left the house to visit thrift stores in search of used books. I bought these used books today for fun.

‘Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through A Country’s Hidden Past’ by Giles Tremlett

‘Nostradamus’ biography by James Laver

‘The Intimate Henry Miller’ collection of stories and essays by Henry Miller

‘The Tibetan Book Of The Dead’ Third Edition/W. Y. Evans-Wentz Psychological Commentary by D. C. C. Jung Introductory Foreword by Lama Anagarika Govinda Foreword by Sir John Woodroffe

‘The Real Presence through the ages: Jesus Adored in the Sacrament of the Altar’ Compiled and Edited by Michael L. Gaudoin-Parker

‘Modern European Poetry’ Edited By Willis Barnstone

‘Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy’ by William Barrett

‘A Gentle Creature And Other Stories’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky A new translation by Alan Myers

‘Collected Short Stories by Bertolt Brecht Edited by John Willett and Ralph Manheim Translated by Yvonne Kapp, Hugh Rorrison and Antony Tatlow

‘The Loss Of The Ship Essex, Sunk By A Whale: First-Person Accounts’ Thomas Nickerson, Owen Chase, And Others (Penguin Classics)

‘Great House’ A Novel by Nicole Krauss

‘Hard Candy’ Crime Fiction by Andrew Vachss

‘Shella’ A Novel by Andrew Vachss

‘Strege’ A Novel by Andrew Vachss

‘Down in the Zero’ A Novel by Andrew Vachss

‘Blue Belle’ A Novel by Andrew Vachss

It is now 4:29 PM I will close for the day. This afternoon nothing came in the mail for me that would blow ones mind.

the Bible promises the salvation of the complete human being

It is 12 o’clock PM Noon here in a sunny windy Tuesday. A good day to stand in the wind and fly a kite.

I got up this morning around 7:30 AM. When I got up Carol was in the kitchen making soup to take to a family that as a person undergoing chemical treatment for cancer today. Carol knows a lot of people right now dying from all different types of cancer. It seems a lot of people daily die either from cancer or COVID-19 plague. Death is flowing everywhere all the Time. Time is on the wind blowing through Reality structures.

So I got up got myself a bottle of water sat in my living room chair to wake up to existence. After I woke up I got myself a cup of coffee and messed with our main computer. After messing with our main computer I wrote in my paper diary and spent all morning reading from a book titled, ‘Incarnational Humanism: A Philosophy of Culture For The Church In The World’ by Jens Zimmermann.

Now it is 12 o’clock Noon. Not sure what I will the rest of this day to keep myself awake. Last night Carol went to bed early and I read late into the night a book I received in the mail yesterday titled, ‘Life Embitters’ by Josep Pla Translated from the Catalan by Peter Bush. I also received in the mail yesterday these two books-

‘Dialogue with Death: The Journal of a Prisoner of the Fascists in the Spanish Civil War’ by Arthur Koestler With A New Introduction By Louis Menand

‘The Untold Journey: The Life of Diana Trilling’ biography Natalie Robins

So Times goes by. Carol left to do errands. I was too tired to leave my cell this afternoon. I will stay here drifting on a death flow.

Well I suppose I will close to write in my paper diary and read some more of the book, ‘The Gray Notebook’ by Josep Pla Translated from the Catalan by Peter Bush.

the ancient roots of Christian humanism

It is 1:49 PM Monday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is a cold sunny day. I hope someday to experience a warm bright sunny Spring day. It still feels like Autumn and not Spring presently.

Carol and I both got up this morning around 5:45 AM. I got up and have basically dragged my fat ass through this day. I could right now easily fall asleep if I sat for an extended period of time. But I force myself to wander my cell and write in my diary.

To be honest I have done nothing today but fight to stay awake. I did finish reading a story in the book, ‘The Collected Stories of Stefan Zweig’ Translated from the German by Anthea Bell. I also have been reading off and on from a book titled, ‘Incarnational Humanism: A Philosophy Of Culture For The Church In The World’ by Jens Zimmermann.

Last night I messed with my books down in the lower level and went to bed around 11:15 PM. I slept poorly and that is why right now I am hardly able to keep myself awake.

I do not know what else to report so I will close.

the human self as an island of autonomous consciousness and will

It is 12:06 PM Sunday afternoon here where the wind blows and the rain beats against the door of our shack. It is a blessing to have a warm cell and plenty of wood for a stove.

I got up this morning around 7:10 AM. When I got home I found my wife in her usual place. I got myself a bottle of cold water and sat in my living room chair with the goal of waking up to existence in a wet cold death flow. After I woke up I took out the garbage and cooked Carol a morning meal. I ate for breakfast yogurt with a cup of coffee.

Carol left for Covenant PCA around 8:30 AM. While she was gone I wrote in my paper diary and filled up the fourth and final bookcase with books.

Carol got home from Covenant PCA around 11:15 AM. We ate lunch and I wrote some more stuff into my personal private diary. The last couple of days I have attempted only to read from a book titled, ‘Incarnational Humanism: A Philosophy Of Culture For The Church In The World’ by Jens Zimmermann.

There is not much else to report this afternoon. These days I am seeking to give my brain a rest. My brain needs to air out.

Last night we had a nice meal with our oldest son and his family who live down the street from us. It is a blessing to have family so near during this world wide COVID-19 deadly plague. When one is dying it is a blessing to have loved ones near by.

I will close to drift in this cold rainy dreary death flow. Tomorrow is a Monday. We are going into the Holy Week. I think Carol told me today is Psalm Sunday.

the history of madness

It is 2:56 PM Saturday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is another cold gray damp day. It has been predicted to rain this afternoon and into the night time hours.

I got up this morning around 7:35 AM. I slept in because I was tired from yesterday. So I got up to face the ongoing death flow. Carol was up reading her Bible when I got up. I got myself a bottle of water and sat in my living room chair with the goal of waking up.

I decided around 7:15 AM to get a cup of coffee and mess with our main computer. After messing with our main computer I wrote in my paper diary and spent rest of this day placing books into my new book cases. So has been my day thus far. This evening Carol and I are going down the street to have dinner with our oldest son and his family.

In the mail today I received two books I bought on sale from IVP Academic-

‘Incarnational Humanism: A Philosophy Of Culture For The Church In The World’ by Jens Zimmermann

‘In Search Of Ancient Roots: The Christian Past and the Evangelical Identity Crisis’ by Kenneth J. Stewart

I will close to rest. Tomorrow is the last Sunday of March 2021.

God without passions

It is 12:07 PM Friday afternoon in the death flow. It is a cold damp wet rainy gray early Spring day. It looks there will be no sunshine this week. Maybe during the month of April 2021 we might see some sunshine.

This morning I got up around 6:15 AM. Surprising I was this morning the first one up and not Carol. When I got up Carol was still sleeping. So I got up made a fresh pot of coffee. I next messed with our main computer.

This morning Carol and I had a second vaccine shot around 9:45 AM. After we got our second shot we visit thrift stores before coming home. I found these used books this morning-

‘Locust Hill’ Southern American History by Mary Wallace Kirk

‘King Must Die’ historical fiction by Mary Renault

‘Civil War Stories’ by Ambrose Bierce

‘1858: Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant And The War They Failed To See’ by Bruce Chadwick

‘Eva Braun: Life With Hitler’ biography by Heike B. Gortemaker Translated from the German by Damion Searls

‘Man Of Destiny: FDR and the Making of the American Century’ by Alonzo Hamby

‘White House Ghosts: Presidents And Their Speechwriters’ From FDR To George W. Bush by Robert Schlesinger

‘IKE: An American Hero’ biography by Michael Korda

When we got home from our travels we ate lunch and now I am writing in my online diaries. Caleb just dropped off Josie for us to baby-sit.

I am tired so I will close. This morning I did not read anything because I am too full intellectually.

Last night I mainly read, ‘Looking Unto Jesus’ by Isaac Ambrose.

tasted of the joys of heaven in prayer?

It is 4:07 PM Thursday late afternoon. It has been a cold gray damp day. Once again it felt like Autumn today. Where did the warm sunny Spring weather go?

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. When I got up a made a pot of coffee and then I dozed till sometimes past 7 o’clock AM. I woke myself up and ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Carol and I had devotions and then Carol left to do stuff. While Carol was gone I read my books and filmed a short video for my Youtube channel.

This afternoon the fellow (who is named Thom) we hired to build book cases came and installed them down in the lower level. Tom had to build bottoms for the four book cases.

There is not much else to report this afternoon. This evening we are having over for dinner Caleb, Emily, Josie, Cora, and their little dog Ollie.

Last night Carol went to bed early and read my books till 11 o’clock PM.

In the mail today I received my second edition of the book ‘Looking Unto Jesus’ by Isaac Ambrose. I read last night ‘Looking Unto Jesus’ by Isaac Ambrose along with a volume titled, ‘The Fall of America Journals 1965-1971’ By Allen Ginsberg Edited by Michael Schamacher.

I am going to close because I am exhausted.

the heavenly prize is proportionate to what you have suffered here below

It is 1:57 PM Wednesday afternoon here in West Michigan. It has been a windy cloudy sunny day thus far. It has been predicted to rain, but have not seen any rain drops yet. Last night it rained and you could see the grass turning green due to that little bit of rain. As the old saying goes “April showers brings May flowers”.

I got up this morning around 5:50 AM. I got up to find Carol messing with her cell phone. Carol had made coffee so I got myself a cup of coffee and sat in my living room chair to wake up to existence.

Carol left this morning for a Woman’s Bible Study at her church around 8:30 AM. I spent the morning reading Isaac Ambrose’s book, ‘Looking Unto Jesus’ and also ‘The Life of Jesus Christ’ Part One Volume 1, Chapters 1-40 by Ludolph of Saxony.

The fellow we hired to build book cases for us came by this morning around 11:45 AM and delivered four book cases.

So the day goes by. I am tired and plan to drift through the rest of this day. Yesterday I mainly read, ‘The Collected Stories Of Stefan Zweig’.

I will close to face what comes next. There is no way of escape.

humility is the first step on the path to the highest wisdom

It is 12:34 PM Tuesday afternoon in a warm death flow. Outside this afternoon it is sunny. The afternoon sky is a hazy color blue.

I got up this morning around 6:15 AM. When I got up I found my wife in her chair reading and messing with her cell phone. I asked her she had made coffee and she said No. So I made a fresh pot of coffee and then messed with our main computer. I aske my wife if she wanted me to make her anything for breakfast like eggs? She replied one egg with a half a slice of cheese on a small piece of sour dough bread sounded nice. So cooked my wife an egg and toast. I had yogurt for a morning meal.

I spent the morning mainly writing in my paper diary and reading these books-

‘The Life of Jesus Christ’ Part One, Volume 1 Chapters 1-40 by Ludolph of Saxony

‘The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary’ by Jonathan T. Pennington

‘The Gospel of Matthew’ [The New International Commentary on the New Testament] by R. T. France

Around 11:30 AM I did some yard work and ate lunch. After lunch I decided to read from a book I mainly read last night titled, ‘The Collected Stories of Stefan Zweig’ Translated from the German by Anthea Bell.

So has gone by this day thus far. Last night after searching and searching the lower level high and low I located these books I had been looking for days-

‘The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World’ biography by George Prochnik

‘The Festival Of Insignificance’ A Novel by Milan Kundera

‘Shirley’ A Novel by Susan Scarf Merrell

‘Degas In New Orleans: Encounters In The Creole World Of Kate Chopin And George Washington Cable’ Literary Biography by Christopher Benfey

So the death flow keeps flowing. Not much else to report so I will close.