the 16,000 operational German machine guns on the Western Front

It is 12:34 PM Tuesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 5 degrees and snowing this afternoon.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was dressed and figuring out how much money we spent during the month of January 2023. Carol left this morning to do errands and to meet a friend for lunch. Before Carol left we had morning devotions and when she left I fed the birds. We have been feeding birds over 30 years. Carol’s mother always fed birds. I remember going to buy bird seed for Carol’s mother when she was alive. Both Carol’s parents have died and gone to Heaven.

I spent the morning mainly writing in my paper diary and I also filmed a video for my Youtube channel. So has gone by my day thus far. I did not get around to reading any of my William Perkins books this morning. I do not know what I will read this afternoon. I do not know when Carol will be home. Carol just stopped by to drop/unload off the bird seeds/sunflower seeds and cracked corn before going to meet her a friend for lunch.

I will close to drift. Last night I mainly sat in the dark waiting and reading off and on from a book titled, ‘Why Read: Selected Writings 2001-2021’ Essays by Will Self.

union of flesh

It is 2:07 PM Monday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 17 degrees and cloudy. It is not snowing, which is a blessing.

I volunteered today at the Book Nook our local library used books store today from 10 AM till 1 PM. Hardly anyone came into the store so I wandered the store and read till my replacement came at 1 o’clock PM. On the way home from the Book Nook I stopped at Action House thrift store to look at their used books and only found one used book that I thought was worth buying, ‘Contested Conventions: The Struggle To Establish The Constitution And Save The Union, 1787-1789’ Early American History by Melvin Yazawa. At the Book Nook I read from these two books-‘The Gloss & The Text: William Perkins on Interpreting Scripture with Scripture’ by Andrew S. Ballitch and ‘The Night Inspector’ A Novel by Frederick Busch.

I got up this morning around 8:10 AM. Carol made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast we prayed and I left for the Book Nook. Last night Carol went to church when she got home I was watching football and reading ‘The Night Inspector’. Carol and I went to bed around 10 o’clock. I went down into the lower level and read late into the night. Now it is another day and we are almost at the end of the month of January 2023.

I am suppose to get delivered today by Amazon a CD and a novel/book. I am tired so I will close to wait. Carol left to go get her blood pressured. Carol wants to find out if she has high blood pressure. I will close to see what will happen next. I am falling asleep. I need to get cooking before the world goes up in smoke.

the mucilage of the underground dead

It is 2:22 PM Sunday afternoon on a cold cloudy day. It will soon be over so be quick!

I got up this morning around 5:50 AM. When I came upstairs my wife had just gotten up and was making a fresh pot of coffee. Today is my wife’s 70th birthday. My wife and I are growing old together. I often wonder when death will tear us apart. Will my wife stand by deathbed or will I stand next to her deathbed? All is unknown. Life is so quickly shot down.

I spent the morning doing the usual activities. My wife and I had morning devotions (my wife and I usually have long spiritual discussions in the mornings about different religious topics). After devotions I read and wrote in my paper diary. Carol did not go to church this morning due to the bad Winter weather.

This afternoon I have been reading, ‘The Night Inspector’ A Novel by Frederick Busch. At 3 o’clock PM this afternoon we will watch football.

I will close to wait. Tomorrow is a Monday once again.

the smoke of sanctification must rise from the fire of grace

It is 12:39 PM Saturday afternoon here in Western Michigan, It is cold and snow is coming. I am thankful I do not have to be anywhere in this winter weather. I hate to be on the roads when it starts snowing. People are going to die today on these icy snow covered roads.

I got up this morning around 7:50 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was about to make oatmeal for a morning meal. I had a normal morning so I won’t go into details. All my mornings fall into the same pattern.

Carol left this morning to walk a track at Evergreen Commons Center. While she was gone I wrote in my paper diary and read from a book titled, ‘Faith Working Through Love-The Theology of William Perkins’ Edited By Joel R. Beeke, Matthew N. Payne, & J. Stephen Yuille.

Carol got back from her walk around 11:04 AM. We had lunch and now I am writing in my online diaries. This afternoon Carol and I will go down the street to have take out Mexican food with Caleb and the girls. We will be celebrating Caleb and Carol’s birthdays (tomorrow is Carol’s birthday). This morning Carol received flowers from Josiah, Hannah and the girls Marika and Lydia to acknowledgment of Carol’s birthday.

This afternoon I have been reading from a novel I started reading yesterday titled, ‘The Night Inspector’ A Novel by Frederick Busch.

I do not have much else to write so I will close to wait it out.

the kingdom of grace

It is 2:11 PM Friday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is snowing and very cold outside today.

I am as usual worn out. I got up this morning around 7:45 AM. When I came upstairs I found my wife getting ready to leave to meet a friend for breakfast and then to do errands.

I left to volunteer at the Book Nook (our local library used bookstore) around 9:35 AM. The store was busy but I did have time to read from a book titled, ‘The Gloss & The Text: William Perkins on Interpreting Scripture with Scripture’ by Andrew S. Ballitch. Carol showed up around 1:10 PM to do her volunteer shift. I left came home and when I home I ate lunch and then filmed a video Friday Reads for my Youtube channel. In this video I showed folks the used books I bought at the Book Nook today and what I read last night and what Carol and I have been reading in the morning during our devotional time. First here is a list of books I read last night and then the used books I bought today at the Book Nook-

‘Why Read: Selected Writings 2001-2021’ Essays by Will Self

‘Frankissstein’ A Love Story by Jeanette Winterson

‘Everybody Thought We Were Crazy: Dennis Hopper, Brooke Hayward and 1960s Los Angeles’ biography by Mark Rozzo

Below is a list of the used books I bought today at the Book Nook for my library-

‘The Portrait of a Lady’ A Novel by Henry James

‘The Black Rhinos of Namibia: Searching For Survivors In The African Desert’ Travel/Nature by Rick Bass

‘The Lady In Gold: The Extraordinary Tale Of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece Portrait Of Adele Bloch-Bauer’ Art History/Biography by Anne Marie O’Connor

‘An Open Book: Coming Of Age In The Heartland’ A Memoir by Michael Dirda

‘The Portable Chekhov’ Edited, and with an Introduction, by Avrahm Yarmolinsky

‘The Last Titan: A Life Of Theodore Dreiser’ biography by Jerome Loving

‘The Poems of W.B. Yeats’ A New Edition Edited by Richard J. Finneran

‘Riders on the Storm: My Life With Jim Morrison And The Doors’ Memoir by John Densmore

‘Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights’ biography/Civil Rights Movement by Rich Wallace & Sandra Neil Wallace

Those are the books I read last night and the used books I bought today at the Book Nook. I am tired so I will close to wait.

faith is a supernatural gift given by God to the sinner to take hold of Christ

It is 12:23 PM Thursday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It has been snowing most of the day. Right now the snow has stopped and there is some strong sunlight appearing. I do not know when it will start snowing again.

I got up this morning around 6 o’clock AM. Wild weird dreams drove me out of bed this morning. I came upstairs to find Carol reading her Bible. I got myself a cup of coffee and wrote in my paper diary. After breakfast Carol and I had devotions. Carol left this morning to meet up with friends to celebrate her birthday. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Faith Working Through Love-The Theology of William Perkins’ Edited by Joel R. Beeke, Matthew N. Payne, & J. Stephen Yuille. So has gone by Time thus far. Carol should be home before Caleb drops off Josie around 3:25 PM.

Last night I mainly read late into the night, ‘Frankissstein’ A Love Story By Jeanette Winterson.

I have no plans for the rest of the day. Because of lack of sleep I feel overfed and drugged today. I will close to wait to see what comes in the mail this afternoon. I do not recall if I mentioned yesterday in my LJ diary that I received in the mail a book titled, ‘Blinding’ A Novel by Mircea Cartarescu Translated from the Romanian by Sean Cotter.

there are no degrees of justification

It is 1:16 PM Wednesday afternoon here in snow covered West Michigan. It has been snowing all day. Finally we are getting some heavy duty Winter weather. I will feel better when we get into the month of February. Before we can count to ten it will be Spring 2023. This coming May 2023 Carol and I will celebrate 44 years of marriage.

I got up this morning around 7:45 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol still in bed, which is not normal for her. I made a fresh pot of coffee and then wrote in my paper diary. As I was writing in my paper diary Carol got up to go through another day. I made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast for my wife and I. After breakfast we talked and had morning devotions. After devotions I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Faith Working Through Love-The Theology of William Perkins’ Edited By Joel R. Beeke, Matthew N. Payne, & J. Stephen Yuille. I also looked at these two volumes in ‘The Works of William Perkins’ Volume 2 ‘Commentary on Galatians’ and Volume 6 ‘A Golden Chain’.

So the day has gone by. I have no plans for the rest of this day. I finished reading last night the novel, ‘The Great Mistake’ by Jonathan Lee. I started reading last night a novel titled, ‘Frankissstein’ A Novel by Jeanetter Winterson (I collect the writings of Winterson).

Today is our oldest son’s birthday, Caleb Jon is now 42 years old. Next June 2023 our daughter will be 38 years old and in August our middle child Josiah will be 41 years old. In August 2023 I will be 71 years old. Life is quickly flying by. Soon I will be in Heaven.

I suppose I will close. I am suppose to get a novel delivered by Amazon today.

I just remembered yesterday evening while Carol was gone to an Woman’s Ministry Meeting at her church I filmed a video for my Youtube channel.

verbal plenary conception of inspiration

It is 12:03 PM Tuesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 34 degrees and cloudy. I wonder what the weather was like on the day I was brought into the world. What will be the weather when I leave this world. I long for Paradise.

I have to leave the house around 12:45 PM for my Therapy Session. Almost two years ago I started seeing a Therapist/Psychologist about my problems with depression, anxiety, and feelings of dread. I keep seeing this Therapist because he is a Christian and I like sitting down and just talking to someone besides my wife. I think over my life time (70 years) I have talked I mean really talked to only a very few people. Since I left the Visible Church in 2006 I have not had any real long in-depth discussions with any mature Christians. I really do not think I have ever had any meaning discussions with other Christians in 53 years that I have been a Christian. My personal judgment is that people and also Christians in general do not talk on any deep serious level about anything. I am reminded of T.S. Eliot’s poem ‘The Hollow Men’.

Anyway, I am writing now to kill time before I leave at 12:45 PM for my Talk Session. My Therapist and I only talk about 45 minutes. I usually meet with my Therapist every four weeks. My Therapist and I always have something to talk about because I am long winded. Also because I have lived for so long time I have a bag full of stories to share with any listening ear. To be honest I always feel like shit after I talk to someone. I am just an old crazy fool rambling on about nothing. An old wind bag is what I am.

This morning I got up around 7:55 AM. When I came up out of our open basement I found Carol washing dishes. I ate breakfast and then I wrote in my paper diary. After writing in my paper diary Carol and I had morning devotions because that is what we do.

I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book that was delivered yesterday by UPS titled, ‘The Gloss & The Text: William Perkins on Interpreting Scripture with Scripture’ by Andrew S. Ballitch Foreword By Donald K. McKim [Studies In Historical & Systematic Theology].

It is now 12:18 PM Tuesday afternoon. I am tired so I will close. Carol left to go grocery shopping just as I sat down to sing the blues.

flee to Christ for salvation

It is 3:31 PM Monday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 30 degrees and cloudy. Right now I see some sunshine peeping through the clouds.

I got up this morning around 7:20 AM. I came upstairs to find Carol reading. It takes me all morning to wake up. Carol made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast Carol and I had devotions and then I got ready to go volunteer at the Book Nook (our local library used books store) from 10 AM till 1 PM.

The Book Nook was somewhat busy but I was able to read some more of the novel, ‘The Big Mistake’ A Novel by Jonathan Lee. I bought these used books at the Book Nook today-

‘Mercury Pictures Presents’ A Novel by Anthony Marra

‘Heirs Of The Founders: The Epic Rivalry of Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster’ American History/Biography by H.W. Brands

‘Brecht Collected Plays’ Volume 5 Edited by Ralph Manheim & John Willett

On the way home from the Book Nook I stopped at Action House thrift store to look at their used books and bought one used paperback titled, ‘The Night Inspector’ Historical Fiction by Frederick Busch.

When I got home Carol had just gotten home from visiting someone from her church. Carol and I ate lunch and then I wrote in my paper diary. Now I am writing in my online diaries about my life in union with the Risen and Exalted Son of God Jesus The Messiah.

I am going to cut this short because I am tire. There is always next time.

303 7s C. Wesley
Tempted; but Flying to Christ the Refuge. Ps. 57. 1
1 Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the raging billows roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last!

2 [Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of thy wing.]

3 Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
All in all in thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;
I am all unrighteousness;
Vile and full of sin I am;
Thou art full of truth and grace;

4 Plenteous grace with thee is found;
Grace to pardon all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the Fountain art;
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.

a cessationist view of predictive prophecy

It is 1:53 PM Sunday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is raining snow and cold outside this afternoon.

I am tired as usual. When I am tired I mean not physically tired but world weary. I am tired of living in a fallen world. So this day has gone by thus far normal. Carol and I live a good life. We are richly blessed in material and spiritual blessings. I am thankful for being born in America.

I got up this morning around 8:10 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was leaving for church. Carol has gone to church her whole life. Carol’s mother went to church her whole life. Carol’s mother mother went to church her whole life. I am sure in Carol’s family folks having been going to church for centuries. After Carol left I ate breakfast, wrote in my paper diary, and read from a book titled, ‘The Labors of A Godly And Learned Divine, William Perkins Including Presently Unpublished Sermons’ by Matthew N. Payne & J. Stephen Yuille. I also filmed a video this morning for my Youtube channel.

When Carol got home from church (around 12:30 PM) I had been writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘William Perkins: Architect Of Puritanism’ Edited By Joel R. Beeke & Greg Salazar.

This afternoon Carol and I will watch professional football and read (we put the TV on mute).

Last night before going to bed I read some more of the novel, ‘The Big Mistake’ A Novel by Jonathan Lee. Well, I will suppose close.