the epistemological onslaught of modernity

It is 1:32 PM Sunday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 45 degrees and mostly cloudy. It has been predicted to rain today. We will wait and see if rain comes today. It did rain yesterday off and on.

I got up this morning around 7:05 AM. A very intense spiritual dream woke me up. Lately I have been having a lot of intense religious dreams. I wonder why? It can’t be my reading since I am reading the same type of books I always read. So I got up and came upstairs to find Carol eating breakfast.

Carol left this morning 8:30 AM for church. I spent the morning mainly writing in my paper diary and reading my books. I did also film a video for my Youtube channel. Carol got home from church around 12:15 PM. Now it is 1:36 PM Sunday afternoon. I have been reading these books today-‘By The Renewing Of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of Christian Doctrine’ By Ellen T. Charry and ‘Virtue and the Voice of God: Toward Theology As Wisdom’ by Daniel J. Treier. Yesterday I basically read all day and late into the night from a book titled, ‘The Tree Of Life: Models of Christian Prayer’ by Steven Chase.

I am tired as usual. I have no plans for the rest of the day except write in my paper diary and read my books. Once you get into a certain flow reading wise it is difficult to change course. Years ago I always read my Christian books all weekend since I stopped attending a visible church in 2004. I seek to keep my mind and heart focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow a fellow from a Floor and Carpet Store is coming over to our place to measure our floors. Carol and I are going to have our home floors recovered with plastic wood. We having our house carpets torn out and replaced with plastic wood flooring. Our house carpet is over 33 years old. It is time to tear out the old carpet (living room, dining room, Main Study, and master bedroom) and have new flooring installed.

I will close to drift. Today is the last day of April 2023. Tomorrow it will be May 1, 2023.

the wandering mind

It is 1:49 PM Saturday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is a cloudy warm afternoon presently, but by late afternoon we are expecting rain showers. Next week it has been predicted to rain and snow.

I got up once again too early, I got up around 6:45 AM. I came upstairs to find my wife dressed for the day and ready to leave. She left this morning around 8 o’clock AM to help make pigs-in-the blanket at her church.

I spent the morning writing in my paper diary, reading my books and I filmed a video for my Youtube channel. I mainly read this morning from a book titled, ‘Pierced By Love: Divine Reading With The Christian Tradition’ by Hans Boersma. This afternoon I have been reading a book titled, ‘The Tree Of Life: Models of Christian Prayer’ by Steven Chase.

Carol got home from making pigs around 12:30 PM. She left soon after getting home to do food deliverers.

I am sleepy this afternoon so I will be coasting slowly through the day. I do not take naps because if I do I am never able to fall asleep at night.

Last night I mainly read from these books before going to bed-‘Danube’ history/travel by Claudio Magris, ‘Rakes of the Old Court’ A Novel by Mateiu Caragiale and ‘Reading for my Life: Writings, 1958-2008’ by John Leonard.

I will close to drift. Tomorrow is the last day of April 2023.

the ethics of self-control

It is 2:05 PM Friday afternoon in the enclosed Time Span. There is nothing outside this Time Span worth a pile of gold.

I am once again running on empty so this will be short and sour. I got up this morning around 6:50 AM. I woke up thinking about Idaho. When I came upstairs I found my wife getting ready to leave the house. This morning my wife left around 8 o’clock AM to help make pigs-in-the blanket at her church. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book that was delivered last night by Amazon titled, ‘The Wandering Mind: What Medieval Monks Tell Us About Distractions’ by Jamie Kreiner.

I left to volunteer at the Book Nook around 9:40 AM. The Book Nook was not busy today so wandered the store and read from a book I read last night titled, ‘Danube’ history/travel by Clandio Magois. Carol showed up around 1 o’clock PM to do her volunteer shift. I came home, ate lunch and wrote in my paper diary. Nothing came in the mail today exciting. So goes by this day. I plan to sit and drift this afternoon. I am tired. Tomorrow is a Saturday then comes Sunday and then May 2023.

ecclesial recognition of the mind of the Scripture

It is 2:49 PM Thursday afternoon on a warm sunny late Spring day. Slowly the days of Spring go by and soon it will be Summer. I am falling asleep as I write so I better get cooking.

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. Lately I find myself not wanting to get up in the mornings, but I am not one to lay in bed once awake. I heard early this morning my wife getting up around 5 o’clock AM. As I laid down in the lower level of our house I can heard my wife walking all around upstairs. My wife does not walk but she clops around the house. When I came upstairs I found my wife cooking food to take to a gathering of friends from her Nursing days/the meeting of the Board.

Carol left around 9:50 AM for her social gathering. I spent the morning up into the Noontime hours writing in my paper diary and reading. I also filmed a video late this morning for my Youtube channel. I mainly read this morning from a book titled, ‘Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew’ by Hans Boersma.

Carol got home from her social gathering around 2:02 PM. When she got home I was reading from a book I started reading last night titled, ‘Danube’ history/travel by Claudio Magris Translated from the Italian by Patrick Creagh. Last night I finished the novel, ‘A Different Sea’ by Claudio Magris Translated From The Italian By M. S. Spurr.

There is not much else to report this afternoon. I am waiting for Amazon to deliver a book I ordered the other day. This evening Caleb, Emily, Josie, Cora and their little dog Ollie come over to our house for pizza. Josie will soon be dropped off by Caleb. Time Span goes by in the Eternal Now. Tomorrow will be the last Friday of April 2023.

the mystagogical telos of Scripture

It is 3:05 PM Wednesday afternoon here where I am experiencing Time Span in the Eternal Now the life of the Godhead. It is 47 degrees and sunny now do not know about the future.

I got up this morning around 7:17 AM (I always have a time piece near me so I won’t get lost in time). I am afraid I won’t know the Time and it will be too late to meet the Lord Jesus at His Return. When I came upstairs I found my wife where she usually is to be found in the mornings. Carol and I have been living in this house going on 33 years. Next month Carol and I will celebrate 44 years of marriage. We have lived most of our married life in this house. It is weird to realize how time goes by fast.

This morning I did all the usual activities. Carol left around 9:50 AM to meet with some cousins for breakfast and to socialize. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Platonism & Mystical Theology-The Spiritual Doctrine of Gregory of Nyssa’ by Jean Danielou. I did leave the house this morning to visit local thrift stores in search of old used books to ADD to our library. I found these used books this morning-

‘Man in the Woods’ A Novel by Scott Spencer

‘Going Nucular: Language, Politics, and Culture in Confrontational Time’ Essays by Geoffrey Nunberg

‘Geisha’ Japanese Culture/Memoir by Liza Crihfield Dalby

‘Like Hidden Fire-The Plot To Bring Down The British Empire’ by Peter Hopkirk

‘The World Atlas of Wine’ Sixth Edition Michell Beazley

Carol got home around 12:27 PM. When she got home I was sitting in our dining room reading from a book titled, ‘The Fifth Impossibility-Essays On Exile And Language’ by Norman Manea.

Today Amazon delivered a book I had ordered the other day titled, ‘Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew’ by Hans Boersma. I have been reading this book since it was delivered to me this afternoon. Carol is now outside doing yard work. Time Span is fading as I write. I will close to face the coming darkness. Last night I mainly read from a novel titled, ‘A Different Sea’ A Novel by Claudio Magris Translated From The Italian By M. S. Spurr.

loss of identity

It is 2:05 PM Tuesday afternoon here in Michigan, We are under a freeze warning today. I snowed all morning and now it is turning icy cold. By evening there will be a covering of ice on everything.

I got up this morning around 7:33 AM to find the world as I left it last night. Everything visible is in a flux of change. Nothing remains the same except God. God is unchangeable therefore His love is unchangeable.

When I came upstairs I found my wife in her living room chair reading. I had a normal morning. I wrote in my paper diary, read my books, and had devotions with my wife.

I got a call from the Book Nook this afternoon telling me the used books I had set aside had been priced and I could come down and pay for them. I bought these used books from the Book Nook today-

‘The Library: An Illustrated History’ By Stuart A. P. Murray Introduction by Donald G. Davis Jr. Foreword by Nicholas A. Basbanes

‘Exchange’ A Novel by Paul Magra

‘The Book Nobody Read: In Pursuit of the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus’ by Owen Gingerich

‘On Rereading’ non-fiction by Patricia Meyer Spacks

‘The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries’ by Marilyn Johnson

‘The Interpretation Of Dreams: The Illustrated Edition’ by Sigmund Freud Edited With An Introduction And Essays By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

‘Benjamin Franklin: Printer At Work’ by Lawrence C. Wroth Including A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain

‘Islands Of Books’ essays by Lawrence Clark Powell

‘The House of Paper’ fiction by Carlos Maria Dominguez Translated from the Spanish by Nick Caistor

‘Library: An Unquiet History’ by Matthew Battles

‘Book Row: An Anecdotal and Pictorial History of the Antiquarian Book Trade’ by Marvin Mondlin & Roy Meador

‘Introduction to Book History’ by David Finkelstein & Alistair McCleery

‘The Story Of Libraries from the Invention Of Writing to The Computer Age’ by Fred Lerner

‘A Handbook For The Study Of Book History In The United States’ by Ronald J. Zboray & Mary Saracino Zboray

After I picked up the above used books at the Book Nook I came home to rest. I did get a used book/novel in the mail today titled, ‘A Different Sea’ A Novel by Claudio Magris Translated From The Italian By M.S. Spurr.

Last night I mainly read late into the night, ‘Divine Days’ A Novel by Leon Forrest. I will close to rest.

desiring the One

It is 3:04 PM Monday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 47 degrees and sunny this afternoon. Carol is outside doing yard work. I just fed the birds and poured clean water into their bird bath. I also put fresh suet out for the woodpeckers.

I am tired so this will not be long. I got up this morning around 7:27 AM. When I was coming out of the lower level Carol was leaving for her first physical therapy session. She was going to go grocery shopping after her therapy session and then meet a friend for lunch.

I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Pierced By Love: Divine Reading With The Christian Tradition’ by Hans Boersma.

I left to volunteer at the Book Nook around 9:30 AM. I left early because I had to stop at our bank and get some cash.

The Book Nook (our local library used books store) was not busy so I mainly sat and read from a book titled, ‘The Wine Lover’s Daughter’ A Memoir by Anne Fadiman. I set aside around twenty books to be priced at the Book Nook that I want to buy. All these used books are on books and libraries.

When I got home I ate lunch and wrote in my paper diary. Carol got home around 2 o’clock PM so goes by Time Span.

Last night I read mainly ‘Divine Days’ A Novel by Leon Forrest. Now it is Monday afternoon and I need to rest.

it is staying home that we go home to God

It is 1:39 PM Sunday afternoon on a cold partly sunny afternoon. It is predicted to be cold all week. I long for a week of warm sunny weather. I love blue sky days where there is plenty of sunshine.

I got up this morning around 7:45 AM. When I came upstairs my wife was eating breakfast. She was planning on leaving for church around 8:30 AM this morning.

My wife left for church and I spent the morning writing in my paper diary, reading, and I filmed a video for my Youtube channel. I mainly read this morning from a book titled, ‘Pierced By Love: Divine Reading With The Christian Tradition’ by Hans Boersma.

Carol got home from church around 12:34 PM. I put away what I had been reading and ate lunch. So has gone by Time Span. Do not know what I will get into this afternoon.

Last night I mainly read, ‘Divine Days’ A Novel by Leon Forrest and ‘Rakes of the Old Court’ by Matien Caragiale. I did go back to Action House yesterday after I had mowed our lawn front and back. I picked up these two old Vintage used books-‘Ariel-The Life of Shelly’ a biography by Andre Maurois Translated By Ella D’Arcy and ‘Valentine’s Manual of Old New York 1926’ Edited By Henry Collins Brown.

I will close to face what comes next. Tomorrow is a Monday. I volunteer tomorrow at the Book Nook from 10 AM till 1 PM. Time keeps flowing by.

Where you there?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when they rolled the stone away?
Were you there when they rolled the stone away?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when they rolled the stone away?

Were you there when He rose up from the dead?
Were you there when He rose up from the dead?
Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when He rose up from the dead?

swan song

It is 3:21 PM Saturday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 44 degrees and cloudy this afternoon. At least it is not snowing presently. I might snow next week, so let us cross our fingers and wish the best.

I got up this morning around 8:05 AM this morning. When I came up from the lower level (our open basement where I sleep at night among my books) I found my wife in her usual area. In the mornings it takes me awhile to wake whereas my wife has already been up three or four hours. My wife goes to bed early and gets up early. I tend to read late into the night and go to bed around 11:15 PM. I spent the morning doing the usual things. Around 19 o’clock AM Carol and I had devotions and closed in prayer.

I left this morning late to fill up a gas can with gasoline for our lawn mower. I also stopped at Action House again to check out their Vintage books to see if they had put out anymore old books. I found one old Vintage book out published in 1900 titled, ‘Literary Friends and Acquaintance’ biography by W. D. Howells.

I mowed the lawn when I got home and then had lunch and messed with our main computer. In the mail today I received two used books I had ordered-‘Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for An Era’ biography by Laurence Leamer and ‘Jerusalem City Of The Book’ Book about books by Merav Mack & Benjamin Balint.

Last night I mainly read, ‘Divine Days’ A Novel by Leon Forrest. So has gone by Life Span. Tomorrow is a Sunday, next Sunday will be the last day of April 2023. Well I suppose I will close to face what comes around the corner.