the foundation of Christian piety is that a seed has been planted within us which the dominion of sin is broken

It is 12:37 PM Wednesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is a cold gray day. I am once again feeling sleepy due to not sleeping soundly last night. I woke up during the night around 4 o’clock AM and never fell back asleep. Finally around 6:30 AM I decided to just get up and face my life. I can’t escape this life till the Lord calls me Home. So I got up and came upstairs to find Carol frying eggs.

I had a normal morning. All my mornings all are the same. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Some Pastors And Teachers reflection a biblical vision of that every minister is called to be’ by Sinclair B. Ferguson.

I put away my paper diary and book by Ferguson around 11:30 AM due to feel weary. Now I am writing as is my habit in my online diaries.

Do not know what I will do this afternoon to keep myself awake. I could read or I could just sit and wait. I usually begin to feel more awake around 5 o’clock PM. Tonight Carol goes to a Woman’s Bible Study, if it is not called off because of bad weather.

Last night I read and went to bed around 10:45 PM. I read last night from these two books, ‘Homage To Barcelona’ A Memoir by Colm Toibin and ‘Book 1: Recounting’ A Novel by Luis Goytisolo Translated from the Spanish by Bredan Riley. I got out to look at last night a book titled, ‘Barcelona’ a history by Robert Hughes.

I will close to wait. Tomorrow is the first day of December 2022. Time flow circle of Light.

the Schwenkfeldians denied bodily worship

It is 4:17 PM Tuesday late afternoon here in Michigan. Outside it is getting dark and it is 54 degrees. We might have some snow tomorrow.

It has been a normal day thus far. I did not sleep soundly last night. I woke up four times during the night. I finally decided to get out of bed this morning around 7:30 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol getting ready to for the day. She wanted to go grocery shopping early this morning.

I had a typical morning today. I wrote in my paper diary and read from Volume One of ‘The Existence & Attributes of God’ by Stephen Charnock. Carol got home from grocery shopping around 11:10 AM.

I had a therapy session today at 1 o’clock PM. I left for my appointment around 12:45 PM. I got home from my therapy session around 2:45 PM. On the way from my therapy session I stopped at a thrift store to look at their used books and CD’s.

I have spent the afternoon since getting home doing nothing. I have not read anything this afternoon. I did find this afternoon at the thrift store I stopped at one used book (which I had already in hardback, this edition is a paperback edition), ‘Seveneves’ Science Fiction by Neal Stephenson. I have been reading since last night from a memoir titled, ‘Homage To Barcelona’ by Colm Toibin.

Last night Carol and I went to bed around 9 o’clock PM. I went down into the lower level around 9:45 PM. Time Span.

Tomorrow is the last day of November 2022. I will close to go into the night time hours.

the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux

It is 2:58 PM Monday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is 42 degrees and cloudy this afternoon. Time Span keeps going by. There is going to be the end of Time sooner than later.

I got up this morning around 6:50 AM and came upstairs to find my wife ready to hit the road running. She had to go do an errand and then meet up with her sister-in-law etc. . . Carol and I prayed and she left to do her errands. I left to volunteer at the Book Nook our local neighborhood library’s used bookstore from 10 AM till 1 PM.

The Book Nook was not super busy so I was able to read from a book titled, ‘Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of The Self’ by Andrea Wulf.

I just remembered that this morning before leaving for the Book Nook I filmed a video for my Youtube channel Monday Reads.

Today at the Book Nook I bought these used books-

‘The Sacred Pipe: Black Elk’s Account of the Seven Rites of the Oglala Sioux Recorded & Edited by Joseph Epes Brown

‘Black Elk, Holy Man Of The Oglala’ by Michael F. Steltenkamp

‘A Woman On Paper: George O’Keeffe’ The Letters & Memoir Of A Legendary Friendship By Anita Pollitzer

‘A Land’ Nature Writing by Jacquetta Hawkes

‘In The Hands Of The Great Spirit: The 20,000-Year History Of American Indians’ by Jake Page

‘Kandinsky’ Biography & Art by Thomas M. Messer

‘Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian’ Photography

When I got home this afternoon from the Book Nook I found Carol cooking lunch. We ate lunch and Carol had to leave to do some more errands. While she was gone I cleaned the kitchen and fed our birds. So has gone by Time Span.

I will close to rest for now. It will soon be over.

the spiritual person, in the Spirit, worships God, who is Spirit

It is 2:42 PM Sunday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is a cold gray day. This morning I woke up to rain falling from the dark skies. At least it is not snowing this afternoon. We can kiss our lucky stars for that.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came up from the lower level where I sleep I found my wife reading her Bible. Carol went back to bed because she was not feeling well. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘The Existence & Attributes of God’ Volume 1 By Stephen Charnock. Around Noon I turned on the TV to watch Professional Football. So has gone by Time Span. What watching football I have been reading, ‘BK 1: Recounting’ by Luis Goytisolo from ‘Antagony’.

There is nothing else to report. I am extremely tired. I am speechless. Tomorrow is the last Monday of November 2022. Next Monday we will be in the month of December 2022. We are coming to the end.

Last night due to shell shock I sat in the dark and went to bed around 9 o’clock PM.

the Spirit is not to be known apart from Christ

It is 4:24 PM Saturday afternoon here. It is late afternoon and the sun is soon going to set. Days go by faster and faster as one gets older. We are here only for a few moments and then we are forever either in Hell or Heaven.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came up from the lower level I found Carol reading the Bible. I won’t go into details about my morning, because it is always the same. After devotions Carol went outside and did yard work till 2 o’clock PM. I watched college football all day. I am taking a break from watching football to write in my online diaries.

This morning besides writing in my paper diary and read from a book titled, ‘Some Pastors And Teachers’ by Sinclair B. Ferguson. This afternoon I have been reading while watching football from a novel titled, ‘Book 1: Recounting’ by Luis Goytisolo from ‘Antagony’.

There is not much else to report this evening. This time of the year our weekends are filled with watching football.

Last night we watched football and went to bed around 10 o’clock PM. Well I will close to face the coming darkness. Tomorrow is the last Sunday of November 2022. Time Span.

profane beauty

It is 1:53 PM Friday afternoon here in West Michigan. It is 45 degrees and sunny this afternoon. I am thankful for another day of sunshine. I do not enjoy cold snowy dark days. Give me days filled with sunshine and blue skies!

I am recovering from volunteering at the Book Nook today. I find going out into the sad world draining. There is sadness everywhere these days. It seems lately there are mass murders every day and this is suppose to be the season to be jolly.

The Book Nook was not super busy so I read and wandered the store till Carol showed up at 1 o’clock PM to do her volunteer shift. When I got home I ate lunch and wrote in my paper diary.

At the Book Nook today I bought a used paperback titled, ‘The Professor’ a novel by Charlotte Bronte.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM and when I came upstairs Ollie greeted me. Caleb picked up Ollie this morning and took him home.

I had a normal morning, wrote in my paper diary, Carol read Tripp and then the Bible. After reading the Bible we prayed and Carol left to fold church bulletins. I left to volunteer at the Book Nook around 9:40 AM. So has gone Time Span.

Last night I finished reading, ‘Queen Lucia’ a novel by E.F. Benson and have been reading today, ‘Antagony’ ‘Bk.1: Recounting’ by Luis Goyisolo Translated by Brendan Riley.

I have had no Time today to read my Christian books. I will close to feel wasted. It will soon be Time.

O Jesus my hope, for me offered up,
Who with clamor pursued Thee to Calvary’s top,
The blood Thou hast shed, for me let it plead,
And declare Thou hast died in Thy murderer’s stead.

Thy blood, which alone for sin could atone,
For the infinite evil I madly have done,
That only can seal my pardon, and fill
My heart with a power of obeying Thy will.

Come then from above, its hardness remove,
And vanquish my heart with the sense of Thy love;
Thy love on the tree display unto me.
And the servant of sin in a moment is free.

Neither passion nor pride Thy cross can abide,
But melt in the fountain that streams from Thy side;
Let Thy life-giving blood remove all my load,
And purge my foul conscience, and bring me to God.

Now, now let me know its virtue below,
Let it wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow;
Let it hallow my heart, and thoroughly convert,
And make me, O Lord, in the world as Thou art.

Each moment applied my weakness to hide,
Thy blood be upon me, and always abide,
My Advocate prove with the Father above,
And speak me at last to the throne of Thy love.

the blessed hope

It is 3:56 PM Thursday afternoon here in West Michigan. Right now outside it is damp and gray. This morning we did have some sunshine, but now it is gray cloudy and might rain. It has been predicted to be sunny Friday and Saturday though. We can always hope for sunny days in this world covered in darkness.

I got up this morning around 6:50 AM. I got up to find Carol ready to go. She was once again cooking food to take out to her younger brother’s place. Carol cooked her brother and his wife a big Thanksgiving meal. Carol’s younger brother is married but they have no children. Her younger brother is recovering from shoulder surgery and his wife does not cook. Carol finds enjoyment out of preparing meals for people especially family members. Carol likes sharing her food, her time, and her money with people from all walks of life.

I have no memory of my divorced mother ever cooking a Thanksgiving meal. I also have no memories of my mother cooking or buying food. My mother was killed in a car wreck December 1968, she was 36 years old.

I spent the morning hours writing in my paper diary, having devotions with Carol and reading from a book titled, ‘O Death Where Is Thy Sting? Collected Sermons’ By John Murray. At 12:30 PM we turned on the TV to watch Professional Football. Carol left to drive out to her younger’s place out in the country to deliver a feast. Before the first football game came out I walked Ollie around the block.

While watching football this afternoon I have been reading, ‘Queen Lucia’ a novel by E. D. Benson. Right now I am writing some words in my four online diaries before the next football comes on at 4:30 PM.

Last night I mainly read late into the night from Book One of a tetralogy titled, ‘Recounting’ by Luis Goytisolo Translated from the Spanish by Brenda Riley.

I will close to feel tired and overfed. Tomorrow is a Friday in the Time Span. All we can do is hope.

God is a Spirit

It is going on 2 o’clock PM Wednesday afternoon here in West Michigan. I am in my Main Study writing on my lap top computer. Carol is writing on e-mail’s on our main computer, so I brought up my lap top computer and brought it into my Study to write in my LJ diary Crookedfingers. Also our main computer’s screen goes BLACK off and on which is very troublesome. I am thinking of buying a whole new computer system next month. I think it is time for a new computer. Our present computer is outdated and we need something current.

It has been thus far a normal Wednesday for me. Well we did have a visitor stop by this morning, which is not normal. Our friend Tim stopped by for a catch-up. We had not seen Tim for a long time and it was good to sit down and hear him tell us how he had been doing this year. Tim left here around 11:45 AM for a meeting.

I have been this afternoon mainly reading still, ‘Queen Lucia’ a novel by E. F. Benson. This morning before our friend Tim came by I read from volume 1 of Stephen Charnock’s two volume work ‘The Existence & Attributes of God’.

I was up this morning around 7:15 AM. Carol had been up since 6:25 AM. We had a normal morning today. After Carol and I had family worship she left to some food shopping and I read Stephen Charnock. Carol has been cooking food for two days. She cooking a big Thanksgiving meal to share with her younger brother and his wife who live out in the country. Carol plans to deliver to them a Thanksgiving meal tomorrow. Her younger brother is recovering from shoulder surgery and his wife is not into cooking.

Caleb this morning dropped off their dog Ollie for us to care for while they are visiting his wife’s family up North for Thanksgiving. Carol and I like having Ollie around for a couple of days.

Well I will close to feel wasted. I am world weary.

last rites

It is 12:17 PM Tuesday afternoon in the Time Span. We are all given a certain amount of days to prepare for death, but so many die without preparation.

I am down in the Lower Level writing on my lap top computer because upstairs is noisy. I am also tired and do need any more stress.

I am down here also reading, ‘Queen Lucia & Miss Mapp’ fiction by E. F. Benson. I collect the writings of E. F. Benson.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came upstairs I made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast I wrote some more in my paper diary and Carol read Tripp and the Bible. After our Bible reading Carol and I prayed together. To be completely honest I have prayed more since my wife retired from being a Nurse for 45 years. When Carol was working we hardly found the right time to have devotions together because we lived in different Time Zones. Now we start our days together with prayer and end our days together with prayer. We should pray at our meal times together.

I spent the morning reading and writing in my paper diary. This afternoon I am down in the Lower Level feeling exhausted from living in this wicked world.

Last night we watched some Monday Night Football and went to bed around 10 o’clock PM. Now it is another Time Span. I will close to feel drained.

This afternoon Carol is babysitting Josie.

Love divine, all loves excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.