the time for the Bridegroom is near

It is 12:10 PM Thursday afternoon here in rainy cold snowy West Michigan. It is the last day of March 2022 today. Tomorrow is April 1, 2022 in world history. Carol left for the Northwest this morning for ten days. She will be visiting Josiah, Hannah, Marika, and Lydia there in the state of Washington. I will be here praying and praying and praying. Right now I am watching the snow fall.

I got up this morning around 6:35 AM. Carol got a ride from Emily for the airport in Grand Rapids around 7:50 AM. I wrote in my paper diary this morning and read till late morning from a volume titled, ‘The Life Of Jesus Christ’ Part Two Volume 1, Chapters 1-57 By Ludolph of Saxony Translated By Milton T. Walsh.

I really not much else this morning but write in my paper diary and read ‘The Life Of Jesus Christ’. It looks for me to be a super quiet day. I have been mainly reading during the afternoon and evening hours from a massive volume titled, ‘Literary History Of The United States’ Third Edition Robert E. Spiller, Willard Thorp, Thomas H. Johnson, Henry Seidel Canby, & Richard M. Ludwig. I did read a little last night from a memoir titled, ‘An Impatient Life: A Memoir’ by Daniel Bensaid.

Carol was gone last night to a Woman’s Bible Study held at her church. The women in her church are studying and discussing The Epistle to James. When Carol got home I was reading ‘Literary History Of The United States’. Carol and I talked till 10:20 PM and then closed the day in prayer.

There is not much else to report right now. Carol expects to be in Washington at Josiah’s place around 8 o’clock PM tonight. She is texting me as she flies across the United States, she has three lay overs during her plane flight.

Slumber not, slumber not,
For the time flies apace—
The time for the Bridegroom is near;
Let us watch, let us wait,
With a firm, trusting heart,
Be ready the summons to hear.
O provide for our lamps,
Let your vessels be filled
With grace He will freely supply;
Then, with rapture complete,
Our belovèd we shall meet,
When midnight shall echo the cry.

Refrain

Slumber not, slumber not,
For the time flies apace—
The time for the Bridegroom is near;
Let us watch, let us wait,
With a firm, trusting heart,
Be ready the summons to hear.

Slumber not, slumber not,
Tho’ He tarry awhile,
Not long will He linger away;
He has left His commands
To the faithful and wise,
Then let us in meekness obey.
Yes, the Bridegroom will come
To His long waiting bride,
And wipe every tear from her eye;
Go ye forth may we hear,
And with joy, not with fear,
When midnight shall echo the cry.

Refrain

Slumber not, slumber not,
For the moments are brief;
O think of their anguish of heart
Who will come, but too late,
To the door of the feast,
And hear from the Bridegroom, Depart.
Let our lamps be well filled
And their luster be seen
When He to the marriage draws nigh,
Then our souls will rejoice
At the sound of His voice,
When midnight shall echo the cry.

Refrain

he is outside the state of grace

It is 9:29 AM Wednesday morning here in West Michigan. It is a cold wet gray morning. It has been predicted to get in 50 degrees today, but tomorrow and Friday it is predicted to snow ice rain deadly Winter weather.

I got up this morning around 6:35 AM and when I came upstairs I found my wife getting a cup of toast and a cup of coffee. Carol left this morning to have breakfast with a friend and then go to a grocery store. It is sad to know millions of Ukrainians have seen their grocery stores destroyed by Russians. The Russians want to starve men, women, and children. For what reason? plain demonic hate is the reason for the slaughter of Ukrainians by the Russians.

This morning I have basically written in my paper diary and read from these two volumes for morning worship-

‘Reformed Systematic Theology-Spirit and Salvation’ Volume 3 by Beeke & Smalley

‘Theoretical-Practical Theology: The Works of God and the Fall of Man’ Volume 3 by Petrus Van Manstricht

This afternoon I have an appointment with a therapist at 1 o’clock PM. This day of prayer goes by peacefully. Last night I mainly read till bedtime from a book titled, ‘Literary History Of The United States’ Third Edition: Revised published 1949.

I will close to pray.

“That is offers a just opportunity for the wicked to complain that he did not elect them as he elected others, because reprobation, as with an iron grip, holds them bound that they may not do their duty: I respond: (a). He is not obligated to elect them, because he is the absolute Lord of all, and for this reason they have no right to quarrel (Matt. 20:13-15; Rom. 9:14-16,21). (b) These arguments would perhaps be somewhat valid if through a subtraction of their strength unjustly made or through an impediment of their external actions, with their inclination to these acts nevertheless remaining, they could not do them; but indeed they, both freely and with the greatest delight, both sin and cannot do otherwise: they follow their nature like brute beasts, trampling underfoot the grace of God, and they do not want to have it any other way. For this reason, a complaint such as that of that wicked faultfinding servant (Matt.25:24) proves most unjust” pg. 89 ‘Theoretical-Practical Theology: The Works of God and the Fall of Man’ Volume 3 By Petrus Van Manstricht

56 C.M. Isaac Watts
Gospel Invitation. Song. 5. 1; Isa. 55. 1-3
1 [Let every open ear attend,
And broken heart rejoice;
The trumpet of the gospel sounds
With an inviting voice.]

2 Ho! all ye hungry, starving souls,
That feed upon the wind,
And vainly strive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind;

3 Eternal Wisdom has prepared
A soul-reviving feast;
And bids your longing appetites
The rich provision taste.

4 Ho! ye that pant for living streams,
And pine away and die;
Here you may quench your raging thirst,
With springs that never dry.

5 Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich ocean join;
Salvation in abundance flows,
Like floods of milk and wine.

6 [Ye perishing and naked poor,
Who work with mighty pain
To weave a garment of your own
That will not hide your sin;

7 Come naked, and adorn your souls
In robes prepared by God,
Wrought by the labours of his Son,
And dyed in his own blood.]

8 Dear God! the treasures of thy love
Are everlasting mines;
Deep as our helpless miseries are,
And boundless as our sins!

9 The happy gates of gospel grace
Stand open night and day;
Lord, we are come to seek supplies,
And drive our wants away.

propaganda and empire

It is 1:07 PM Tuesday afternoon here in West Michigan. It was sunny this morning, but now it is cloudy. It is 36 degrees and we are predicted to have snow this coming Thursday and Friday. We are back to Winter weather once again.

I got up this morning around 5:45 AM. My sciatica woke me up and I decided to just get up and face another day of prayer. When I came upstairs it was 6:05 AM and Carol was still in bed. I made a fresh pot of coffee and then wrote in my paper diary. Carol got up around 7 o’clock AM, when she got up I was making myself oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast I wrote some more in my paper diary and read from a volume titled, ‘The Life of Jesus Christ’ Part Two Volume 1, Chapters 1-57 By Ludolph of Saxony.

Carol and I had morning devotions around 9 o’clock AM. After devotions we prayed and then Carol left to do errands. I left the house around 10 o’clock AM to visit Bluestockings Book Shoppe and visit southside Goodwill Thrift Store.

I bought these used books at Bluestocking Book Shoppe this morning for my library-

‘Propaganda And Empire: The Manipulation of British Public Opinion, 1880-1960’ By John Mackenzie

‘Hannibal: A History Of The Art Of War Among The Carthaginians And Romans Down To The Battle Of Pydna, 168 B.C. With A Detailed Account Of The Second Punic War’ by Theodore Ayrault Dodge

‘Unfinished Empire: The Global Expansion of Britain’ by John Darwin

After Dark’ A Novel by Haruki Murakami

‘The Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas’ by Etienne Gilson

‘The Hermetic Museum: Alchemy & Mysticism’ by Alexander Roob

‘Memories Of The Future’ A Novel by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky Translated From The Russian By Joanne Turnbull

‘Maldoror and Poem’ by Lautreamont Translate and Introduction by Paul Knight

‘Morte D’Urban’ A Novel by J.F. Powers

‘Letters’ A Novel by John Barth

‘The Letter On Apologetics & History And Dogma’ by Maurice Blondel Text presented and translated by Alexander Dru & Illtyd Trethowan

‘Medieval Essays’ by Etienne Gilson translated by James Colbert

After visiting Bluestockings Book Shoppe I headed towards home, but stopped at southside Goodwill Thrift store to look at their used books and bought these four used books-

‘Sepharad’ A Novel by Antonio Munoz Molina Translated from the Spanish by Margaret Sayers Peden

‘The Girl In A Swing’ A Novel by Richard Adams

‘Horatio Nelson’ a biography by Tom Pocock

‘Show Down’ A Novel by Jorge Amado Translated By Gregory Rabassa

When I got home from my travels Carol pulled up in front of me. She was back from grocery shopping and doing errands.

I am tired so I will close to clean the kitchen and pray. I mainly read last night from a volume I got in the mail yesterday titled, ‘Literary History Of The United States’ Third Edition: Revised By Robert E. Spiller, Willard Thorp, Thomas H. Johnson. Henry Seidel Canby & Richard M. Ludwig.

cramp words

It is 3:14 PM Monday afternoon on a very cold sunny day. It feels like the middle of February instead of the early days of Spring. Like I have written over the years it does not get warm here till towards the end of May 2022.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM once again. I have been sleeping better in spite of waking up during the night to use a bedside urinal. So I got up and came upstairs to find my wife of 43 years getting herself a cup of coffee. I made for myself a pot of oatmeal for breakfast, Carol said she would fry herself some eggs later for a morning meal. I ate my oatmeal and then wrote in my paper diary. I have been writing in a diary since 1968. I love to write words down for no one to read. I do not know how many people read my online diaries since I rarely get comments. I do not know even if our children read Pop’s online diary Crookedfingers even watch my Youtube videos.

After Carol and I had our morning devotions I spent the morning up till I left to volunteer at the Book Nook reading, ‘Reformed Systematic Theology-Spirit and Salvation’ Volume 3 by Beeke & Smalley. I left for the Book Nook around 9:35 AM. The Book Nook was not busy so I mainly read from a book titled, ‘The Red Prince: The Fall of a Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Europe’ biography by Timothy Snyder. I bought this used paperback at the Book Nook this morning for fifty cents, even though I had already at home a hardback edition of this book. I also bought these used books at the Book Nook today-

‘Bunker Hill: A City, A Siege, A Revolution’ American History By Nathaniel Philbrick

‘John Adams And The American Revolution’ American History/Biography By Catherine Drinker Bowen

‘The Fragrant Garden: A Book About Sweet Scented Flowers and Leaves’ by Louise Beebe Wilde

I also bought for a dollar a DVD movie titled, ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’.

When I got home I found Carol listening to a lecture by the late Dr. R.C. Sproul. I ate lunch and wrote in my paper diary. In the mail this afternoon I received a book I had ordered used titled, ‘Literary History Of The United States’ Third Edition: Revised’ By Robert E. Spiller, Willard Thorp, Thomas H. Johnson, Henry Seidel Canby, Richard M. Ludwig.

I do not remember much about last night. I think last night I mainly read from a book titled, ‘Britain’s Empire: Resistance, Repression, And Revolt’ by Richard Gott.

cold cook

It is 1:54 PM Sunday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is 24 degrees and partly sunny right now. Anytime the clouds could roll in and it will be once again a cold gray sky.

I am tired as usual this afternoon. It seems as I get older I am more tired. I can see why old men like to take naps as I reach being 70 years old. If I live another 30 years I will be a 100 years old. Carol has a friend who is 95 years old. Around here one finds a lot of people in their 80’s and 90’s.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. I came upstairs to find Carol up. I made for breakfast a pot of oatmeal for Carol and I. After breakfast I wrote in my paper diary and then Carol and I had devotions. Carol left for church around 8:30 AM. While Carol was gone I wrote in my paper diary, read from a book titled, ‘The Life of Jesus Christ’ Part Two Volume 1, Chapters 1-57 By Ludolph of Saxony. I did film a video this morning for my Youtube channel.

Carol got home from church around 11:30 AM. When she got home I was putting away what I had written thus far in my paper diary. We ate lunch and so has gone my life of prayer today. I do not know what I will read next today since I am exhausted! I should do my exercises and go for a walk someplace. I need to move my body!

I will close to fall down on my face.

dismal ditty

It is 11:28 AM late Saturday morning here in West Michigan. We woke up this morning to snow on the ground. The last two days it has been raining snow. Winter has come back with a wicked vengeance.

I got up this morning around 6:30 AM. When I came upstairs I found the house dark. Carol had not gotten up yet to face another day of unceasing prayer. I made a fresh pot of coffee and then did my sciatica exercises. Carol got up as I was writing in my paper diary and reading from a volume titled, ‘Reformed Systematic Theology: Spirit and Salvation’ Volume 3 by Beeke and Smalley. In this volume ‘Reformed Systematic Theology: Spirit and Salvation’ I have read almost 800 pages thus far.

I do not know what I will read this afternoon. I have these books on my To Be Read Pile on my reading table by my living room recliner chair-

‘An Impatient Life: A Memoir’ By Daniel Bensaid

‘British Empire: Resistance, Repression, And Revolt’ by Richard Gott

‘The Gospel Singer’ A Novel by Harry Crews

‘Sing Backwards And Weep: A Memoir’ by Mark Lanegan

‘Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage’ A Memoir by Dani Shapiro

Yesterday I read during the late afternoon hours, ‘British Empire: Resistance, Repression, And Revolt’ by Richard Gott. I read during the evening hours till I went to bed, ‘An Impatient Life: A Memoir’ By Daniel Bensaid Translated by David Fernback.

Yesterday in the mail I did receive a book I had ordered from VERSO Books titled, ‘How I Became a Socialist’ by William Morris “the first of William Morrie’s political writings to be published for nearly fifty years” Introduction by Owen Hatherley.

Due to the bad snowy icy weather it is too dangerous to drive anywhere. So here I sit in this warm house as the Russians bomb the citizens of Ukraine. Right now people of Ukraine are being slaughtered by the Russians.

I can’t think of anything else to report. Next Friday Carol flies out to the Northwest to visit our son Josiah and his family for ten days.

I suppose I will close to eat lunch and pray.

Eternity Box

It is 2:05 PM Friday afternoon here in Holland Michigan. It is 42 degrees and the sun is shining. There is also visible blue sky this afternoon.

I just got home from volunteering at our local library used books store The Book Nook from 10 AM till 1 PM. Before I went to the Book Nook I made a quick trip to Gateway Center thrift store to buy four used CD’s I saw yesterday by the music group The Byrds. I also bought at Gateway a used book titled, ‘The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz’ A Novel by Mordecai Richler. I collect the writings of Mordecai Richler.

The Book Nook was busy today, but did have time to read from a book titled, ‘Jonathan Edwards, Pastor: Religion and Society in Eighteenth-Century Northampton’ by Patricia J. Tracy. I bought three used books from the Book Nook today-

The Book Of Common Prayer September 1979 Edition

‘Evangeline A Tale Of Acadie’ poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

‘Cass Timberlane’ A Novel Of Husbands And Wives By Sinclair Lewis

On the way home from the Book Nook I stopped at Action Thrift Store to look at their used books. I found one used book titled, ‘Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love’ by Dani Shapiro. I have been reading lately another memoir written by Shapiro titled, ‘Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage: A Memoir’.

This morning I got up around 6:15 AM. When I got home Carol was dressed, she left this morning to have breakfast with a friend. While Carol was gone I wrote in my paper diary and read from a book titled, ‘The Glory of God and Paul: Texts, themes and theology’ by Christopher W. Morgan & Robert A. Peterson. Carol got home from have breakfast with a friend as I was getting ready to leave for Gateway and then the Book Nook.

Last night I mainly read from a book titled, ‘Sing Backwards And Weep’ A Memoir by Mark Lanegan. I went to bed around 10:30 PM. Now it is another day to prepare for Heaven the end of this world.

I will close to rest. I am tired. I need to seek healing.

“[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Phil. 3:20,21

Flying Camps

It is 12:15 PM Thursday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is a cold dismal gray rainy day. A good day to go and butcher a hog.

I got up this morning around 5:35 AM. I got up early due to sciatica pain in my right leg. Plus I had to be at my last Physical Therapy session at 7 o’clock AM this morning. So I got up, got dressed, and went upstairs to face my life. Each day is given to me as a gift from God. When I came upstairs Carol was making a pot of coffee. I did my sciatica exercises because my legs were in extreme pain. Next I made myself a pot of oatmeal for breakfast.

Due to the bad weather Carol drove me to my Physical Therapy session around 6:45 AM. Carol picked me after my PT around 8 o’clock AM. When we got home I wrote in my paper diary and we had morning devotions. After Carol and I had devotions (read Tripp, the Bible, and prayer) I wrote some more in my paper diary and read most of the mornings from a book titled, ‘The Life of Jesus Christ’ Part Two Volume 1, Chapters 1-57 By Ludolph of Saxony.

I left the house this morning to visit our bank to get some cash and then visit Gateway Center thrift store to look at their used books. At Gateway I bought one used book and two used CD’s. I found used a novel by William H. Gass titled ‘Middle C’ the CD’s were Beth Orton and Sixteen Horsepower.

When I got home I ate lunch and wrote some more in my paper diary. Time keeps rolling along.

Last night I read till I went to bed from a novel titled, ‘The Gospel Singer’ A Novel by Harry Crews. I suppose I will close since I feel so tired. Carol has over tonight her Neighborhood Woman’s Book Club.

the doctrine of reprobation

It is 12:08 PM Wednesday afternoon here where one will find nothing but old Dutch men dancing in wooden shoes to the tune of God Bless The Republican Party.

Outside this afternoon in 50 degrees and rainy. It is a dreary day. A good day to grill hotdogs on a log fire.

I got up this morning around 7:10 AM. I came upstairs to find my wife in her usual place. She left this morning to have breakfast with friends downtown. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary, reading ‘Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings’ [The Classics of Western Spirituality]. I also filmed a video showing folks the used books I have collected the last couple of weeks.

This afternoon I have been reading, ‘The Gospel Singer’ A Novel by Harry Crews. There is not much else to report. Do not know when Carol will be home today.

Last night I mainly read from a book I received in the mail yesterday titled, ‘An Impatient Life: A Memoir’ by Daniel Bensaid Translated By David Fernbach. I went to bed last night around 11 o’clock PM. Now it is another day in my life of prayer. I should mention that this morning after I ate my oatmeal Carol and I had devotions. Carol read as she does every morning from Paul Tripp’s devotional book ‘New Morning Mercies’ and then we prayed together. Carol’s prayers are usually long whereas my prayers are short. I am always praying inside my mind. My mind is united to the mind of Christ Jesus the Second Person of the Godhead. My supreme desire to think like God my heavenly Father. I want the perfect will of God.

I just remember I also read this morning from a book titled, ‘Theoretical-Practical Theology: The Works of God and the Fall of Man’ Volume 3 By Petrus Van Mastricht Translated By Todd M. Rester. I read some of the chapter in this volume on the Doctrine of Reprobation.

I will close to do my sciatica exercises. Tomorrow I have my last Physical Therapy session for my sciatica.

Peter Pan

It is 4:37 AM Tuesday late afternoon here in West Michigan. It is a cold dark damp day. It has been predicted to rain tonight and tomorrow.

It has been a very long day for me. It seems lately the days are long and draining. I am not sure if I am getting enough sleep these days.

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. When I came upstairs Carol was getting ready to go shopping. I had a Physical Therapy session at 9:30 AM. I did not get into anything this morning, because I can’t focus if I have someplace to go or something that must be done during the morning hours. Carol and I did have devotions before I left for my PT session. I was home from my PT session around 10:15 AM. I wrote in my paper diary and then read till Noon from a book titled, ‘Reformed Systematic Theology-Spirit and Salvation’ Volume 3 by Joel R. Beeke & Paul M. Smalley.

Carol and I left the house around 1:10 PM to look at a friend of Carol’s old family books. I had offered this friend of Carol’s to look at her old books to see if they were worth anything. So we drove over to Carol’s friend. a widow. Most of the books had belonged to woman’s mother and were very old. I did not see many books if any that were worth any real money. I did though buy two old used books from the lady-‘Peter Pan: The Story Of Peter And Wendy’ by J. M. Barrie and ‘Native Son’ A Novel by Richard Wright First Edition 1940.

Carol and I were home by 3:30 PM because we were to baby-sit Josie Joy today. In the mail today I did receive a book I had ordered from VERSO titled, ‘An Impatient Life: A Memoir’ by Daniel Bensaid Foreword By Tariq Ali Translated by David Fernbach.

The last book I read before going to bed last night was, ‘The Gospel Singer’ A Novel by Harry Crews.

I am beat so I will close.