reefer madness

It is 1:40 PM Friday afternoon. It is cold windy cloudy sunny afternoon. At least it is not snowing.

Carol and I were gone all morning doing errands. While out running around we visit thrift stores to look at their used books. Since I am getting rid of thousands of old used books I am more selective now in what I buy/add to our library. I found these used books this morning-

‘Glamorous Powers’ A Novel by Susan Howatch

‘The Crofter & The Laird’ A Memoir by John McPhee

‘Cloister Talks: Learning From My Friends The Monks’ By Jon M. Sweeney

‘Lost Children Archive’ A Novel by Valeria Luiselli

‘Table Money’ A Novel by Jimmy Breslin

‘Brecht & Co.: Sex, Politics, And The Making Of The Modern Drama’ biography by John Fuegi

While we were running around we also stopped for burgers for lunch. Now we are home recovering from the trip out into the dead American world.

This morning Carol and I both got up around 6 o’clock AM. I got up made a pot of coffee and then wrote in my paper diary. I was too wasted this morning to read so I dozed. While I was dozing Carol left to do an errand. I woke up from dozing and went and picked up an order for five pounds of black and tan coffee beans. When I got home from Simpatico Nice Coffee Carol was home.

We left the house soon afterwards to look for plastic bens to put books in for storage.

Well I am tired so I will close. Last night I read late into the night the novel, ‘Wolf’ by Jim Harrison.

shake the dust off your feet

It is 9:44 AM Thursday morning on a cold, damp, gray ugly day. It feels like late Autumn this morning. Maybe the world is entering another Ice Age? Maybe the earth will never experience another Spring Season?

I got up this morning around 6:38 AM. When I got up Carol was getting ready to leave the house to go out into the world to meet someone for a meal. She left soon after I got out of bed. She is still out in the world someplace probably talking to someone who is not listening to her. People generally are trapped in their selves.

I have mainly spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘The Life Of Jesus Christ’ Part One Volume 2, Chapters 41-92 by Ludolph Of Saxony Translated By Milton T. Walsh.

It is 9:50 AM Carol just got home from being out in the dead American world. She told me she when she was walking in that she dropped off a load of stuff at the Gateway Center Holland Rescue Mission. We now got to drive over to Gateway and unload the van of shit. I do not know how many loads I will have to take to Gateway to get the lower level library free dehauled throw the books into the fiery pit.

Last night I mainly read till my bedtime the novel ‘Wolf’ by Jim Harrison. This novel ‘Wolf’ has become one of my favorite all times novels.

Well I suppose I should close to find out what Carol wants to do next in this icy cold death flow.

the grace of revelation

It is 1:47 PM Wednesday afternoon in a gray cold death flow. I was sitting in my main study writing in my paper diary and I fell asleep. I decided to write in my online diaries as well to keep me falling over in a state of pure physical and mental exhaustion.

I got up this morning around 6 o’clock AM. Carol was already up when I got up to face my Life (born August 14, 1952). I spent the morning dozing and writing in my paper diary. Carol left to attend a Woman’s Bible Study at her church. While she was gone I read, wrote in my diary, and filmed a video for my Youtube channel.

Carol came home from the Bible Study with three children. Carol is babysitting three small children for a woman she knows at her church till 3 o’clock PM. Carol feels good if she is doing good deeds all the time. The Christian life should be one of constant good deeds.

The last book I attempted to read this afternoon was or is titled, ‘God In Himself: Scripture, Metaphysics, and the Task of Christian Theology’ by Steven J. Duby.

Since I can’t stay awake I will close to drift.

the radical otherness of God

It is 11:48 AM late Tuesday morning. I just remembered our granddaughter Josie Joy comes to our house after she gets out of school at 2:30 PM. Our oldest son drops Josie off on the way back to his place. Caleb works from home and Josie gets bored by herself. So Caleb drops off Josie so her Noni can entertain her till Emily her mother comes home around 4:30 PM from work.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. I took drugs last night to enable me to sleep, so all morning I have felt like crap. It takes all morning and into the afternoon for this nerve drug to wear off. Plus this morning I ate eggs for breakfast and afterwards I felt like gagging. I am not into food. I am not a food junkie. I am into feeling empty so as to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Carol left this morning to do errands. When Carol got home she changed her clothes and went to have lunch with her sister-in-law widow and her sisters for lunch. Carol’s older brother died a couple of years ago from cancer.

I have spent the morning feeling sick, reading from a book titled, ‘Contemplating God with the Great Tradition: Recovering Trinitarian Classical Theism’ by Craig A. Carter. I also have been writing a ton of shit in my paper diary. The shit just flows out of me lately. I am wasted on Girl Scout Cookies and Lemon Pound Cake. I am overfed. I need to fast and pray instead of seeking stimulation of my intellect/creative juices.

Yesterday I received in the mail a book I had ordered titled, ‘A User’s Guide to Melancholy’ by Mary Ann Lund. This book is a user’s guide to the classic book, ‘The Anatomy Of Melancholy’ by Richard Burton. I looked at these books last night. So much to read as I float in smoke.

I also read last night before crashing, ‘Backward Ran Sentences: The Best of Wolcott Gibbs from the New Yorker’ Edited And Introduction By Thomas Vinciguerra.

Well it is now in the death flow 12:02 PM I will close to feel sick to the center of my Self.

the idea of a specialist doctor for the mind

It is 4:49 PM Monday late afternoon here in West Michigan. It has been a warm cloudy sunny day. It is predicted to get hot tomorrow. The hot weather will cause more plant growth. I need to buy wild flower seeds next week. It is getting that Time of year to plant seeds in the ground.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. When I got up I found Carol reading in our living room. I got myself a cup of coffee and sat in the dining room waking up. Every morning when I get up I walk to my main study put on my glasses, write down the Date for my paper diary and write in the right corner of a sheet of Wide-Rule paper the Number of page it is Now in the history of Jonny Ray Keen A Writer & Christian Mystic.

I do not think Carol went anywhere today. Yes Carol leave the house this morning to take books we do not want to Bluestocking Books Store to see if the owner wanted them for instore credit. While Carol was gone to messed with my books down in the lower level seeking to determine to keep and what to give the Poor and wild wandering misfit.

I mainly read today is from a novel titled, ‘Wolf’ by Jim Harrison. I received this afternoon a book I had ordered from Amazon a book titled, ‘A User’s Guide to Melancholy’ by Mary Ann Lund. This evening I have been reading the ‘Introduction’ to this guide to the famous 17the century classic, ‘The Anatomy Of Melancholy’ by Richard Burton Introduction By William H. Gass [New York Review Books Classic] The first edition of ‘The Anatomy Of Melancholy’ appeared in 1621.

There is not much else to write. I have been enjoying the Girl Scout Cookies. Last night I mainly read late into the night from a book titled, ‘The Accidental Life: An Editor’s Notes on Writing and Writers’ by Terry McDonell.

I suppose I will close to go into the evening hours. I could filmed a video Monday Reads. I will close.

Aristotelian natural theology

It is 3:42 PM Sunday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is a cold late sunny afternoon. I have been cold to the bone all day. I feel wasted. I think I am sick with something. Maybe I am over tired and need this week catch up on my rest. I have been eating too many Girl Scout Cookies.

I just got up from an hour nap. Carol just walked through the front door. She walked around the neighborhood.

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. Carol was up and she asked me to make oatmeal for breakfast. So I made a pot of oatmeal for us to eat for a morning meal. Oatmeal is a blessing from God the Creator.

Carol went to church around 8:30 AM and got home around 11:33 AM. I spent the morning feeling sick, writing in my diary, and reading from a book titled, ‘God In Himself: Scripture, Metaphysics, and the Task of Christian Theology’ by Steven J. Duby.

This afternoon I have only read a few pages in a novel titled, ‘Wolf’ by Jim Harrison. Last night I also read the novel ‘Wolf’ before going to bed around 11:40 PM.

There is not much else to report. The COVID-19 plague rages out of control throughout the world and the human race is doomed to extinction. So cheer up it can not all be bad. Look on the bright side of things. It could be worse.

Lemon Pound Cake

It is 1:11 PM Saturday afternoon on a gray sky ugly late Spring day. It has been predicted to rain today.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. When I got up I found Carol communicating with her cell phone. I got myself a cup of coffee and sat in our dining room seeking to wake up.

Carol left this morning around 8:05 AM for Covenant PCA to make pigs with people from Covenant PCA. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Contemplating God with the Great Tradition: Recovering Trinitarian Classical Theism’ by Craig A. Carter. I also filmed this morning a video showing folks the used books I bought at thrift stores this week.

Carol got home around Noon. Carol is now making apple dumplings. This evening we go down the street to have burgers with our son Caleb and his family.

I am tired this afternoon since I did not get to bed till almost Midnight. I am a light sleeper. I will close to wait to see what comes in the mail this afternoon.

fly boy

It is 10:15 PM Friday night. It has been a crazy day! Never found the time or presence of mind to write this morning.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. Carol was already up messing with her cell phone. This morning Carol volunteered at her church to help make pigs-in-a-blankets to raise money for Youth Activities and Mission Projects.

I spent the morning looking at my books, I filmed a short video for my Youtube site, and wrote in my paper diary. When Carol got home I was ready to take loads of books to the Gateway Center Holland Rescue Mission Store. But before we could leave a friend of Carol’s stopped by after she got out of work. Carol and her friend talked for awhile and then Carol and I did our errands. So went the day. We were done with all our errands by 4 o’clock PM and I have spent the evening hours writing in my paper diary, wandering the house, talking to Carol, and reading from a novel titled, ‘The Red Lily’ by Anatole France. I bought this old novel at the local library used books store a long time ago. Who reads these days the writings of Anatole France?

Carol went to bed early this evening. I was writing in my diary when my wife headed off to bed. It is a blessing having a warm bed in a world being ravished by the COVID-19 plague.

Well I will close to drift till my bedtime. Tomorrow will soon be here. Last night I mainly read till bedtime from a novel titled, ‘Wolf’ by Jim Harrison. A really fine read during the Plague Years.

be found feasting upon Jesus

Morning

“Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”—Matt, xxiv. 28.

My soul! these are the words of Jesus, none of which should be suffered to fall to the ground. No doubt much instruction is contained in this passage. An eagle is a bird of prey: and Job saith, that the eagle hasteneth to the prey as the swift ships. Job ix. 26. In all birds of prey there is great sagacity, a vast quickness of scent to smell their proper food afar off; and thus natural instinct, added to a rapacious appetite, compel those creatures to fly swift to their prey, and to devour the carcase. Is there nothing in all this that suits thee, my soul? Oh yes: If Jesus hath given thee a real principle of life in himself, which becomes a spiritual quickening from day to day, and from one hour to another, thy hungering and thirsting for Jesus will be as earnest and as importunate as the instinct of nature in those birds for daily food. Pause, my soul, and say—is it so? Dost thou seek after Jesus in his ordinances, in his word, in retirement, in meditation, in prayer, in providences; and, in short, in all the various ways by which thou mayest enjoy him, as a famished bird would hasten to his prey? If Jesus be indeed the one blessed object of thy desire, will not this be manifested by the earnestness of thy desires? Did David long for the waters of Bethlehem when thirsty? Did he declare,” that as the hart panteth for the water brooks,” so he longed for the enjoyment of God? Here then, my soul, mayest thou learn how to estimate the real standard of thy affections to thy Jesus. Oh for grace to have the soul exercised day and night, and never, never to give over those longings, like pregnant women, until the full desires of the soul in Jesus, and upon Jesus, be fully gratified. Methinks as the eagles gather together unto the carcase, so should believers be found feasting upon Jesus. In Jesus, and his glorious excellencies, every thing is suited to the wants of the believer: his name, his person, his work, his blood, his righteousness; every perfection, every promise, every experience we have had in him in times past, becomes food to the soul. So that the spiritual cravings of the soul, when the soul is in health and strength, like the natural cravings of the bird of prey, act like the same instinct to lead to and to feed upon Jesus. See then, my soul, whether this morning thou art risen with a keen appetite for Jesus. Surely thou hast tasted that the Lord is gracious in times past. And if thou art in health of soul, wilt thou not as much hunger again for this heavenly food, as the body of an healthy man craves for his morning meal? Oh blessed Lord, give me this appetite. Excite an hungering in me for thee. Let it be for thyself; not for thy gifts only, not for thy graces only, sweet as these are; but, blessed Jesus, let it be for thyself. And let this desire be continual: every day, and all the day. And let it be wholly to thee, in all that belongs to thee. I mean, after every thing in Jesus; thy cross, if needful, as well as thy crown; a love to thy precepts, as well as thy promises. And, O let this desire be so insatiable, so earnest, so unceasing, that nothing I have of thee may so satisfy me that I should long no more after thee; but rather provoke my soul’s appetite, and tend but to inflame my heart and longings more and more, till, from tasting of thee here below, thou bringest me to the fountain-head of enjoyment above, where my longing eyes and longing soul shall feast upon Jesus and his love for ever and for ever. Amen.

holding on to hope

It is 12:09 PM Thursday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is a cold cloudy sunny day. When we got up this morning there was a layer of frost on the ground. I hope the cold days have to kill all the fruit trees in Michigan.

Carol and I both got up this morning around 6:15 AM. Carol left this morning to have a meal with a group of her cousins in Hudsonville. I spent the morning messing with my books. I am going through my book collection and seeking to decide what to keep and what to give away.

Now I am in the afternoon hours. I plan to sit and doze this afternoon. Wait to see what comes in the mail this afternoon. All I have attempted to read these days is a book titled, ‘The Accidental Life: An Editor’s Notes on Writing and Writers’ Memoir by Terry McDonell.

I will close to feel wasted. Tomorrow is a Friday. This evening Caleb, Emily, Josie, Cora and their little dog Ollie are coming over for dinner.

If I find the presence of mind this afternoon I might read something deep and profound.