has given me spiritual perception

It is 2:22 PM Friday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 76 degrees and sunny outside today. It is predicted to get hot over Labor Day Weekend.

I got up this morning around 7:10 AM. When I came upstairs everything looked it did yesterday and the day before yesterday/nothing changes around here, we just get older and weaker each passing second. Carol did not want me to make anything for breakfast, so I ate a bagel with cream cheese for a morning meal. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Life in the Son-Exploring Participation and Union with Christ in John’s Gospel and Letters’ by Clive Bowsher. I did leave our house around 9 o’clock AM to search for a small bookcase for my Study, but came up empty. When I got home it was around 10:10 AM and Carol was about to leave to do errands and visit her sister-in-law Gail. While Carol was gone I filmed a video for my Youtube channel and wrote in my paper diary/read ‘Losing Nelson’ by Unsworth/listened to music/ate lunch so Time fled by like a wounded wild boar.

Carol got home around 1:38 PM from running around. The day goes by peacefully. I have nothing else to report presently. It is the last day of August 2023, tomorrow will be September 1, 2023.

Last night I mainly read before going to bed, ‘Cosmic Scholar: The Life And Times Of Harry Smith’ biography by John Szwed.

I will close to face IT.

O GOD OF THE HIGHEST HEAVEN,

Occupy the throne of my heart,
take full possession and reign supreme,
lay low every rebel lust,
let no vile passion resist thy holy war;
manifest thy mighty power,
and make me thine for ever.
Thou art worthy to be
praised with my every breath,
loved with my every faculty of soul,
served with my every act of life.
Thou hast loved me, espoused me, received me,
purchased, washed, favoured, clothed,
adorned me,
when I was worthless, vile, soiled, polluted.
I was dead in iniquities,
having no eyes to see thee,
no ears to hear thee,
no taste to relish thy joys,
no intelligence to know thee;
But thy Spirit has quickened me,
has brought me into a new world as a
new creature,
has given me spiritual perception,
has opened to me thy Word as light, guide,
solace, joy.
Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
No provocation can part me from thy sympathy,
for thou hast drawn me with cords of love,
and dost forgive me daily, hourly.
O help me then to walk worthy of thy love,
of my hopes, and my vocation.
Keep me, for I cannot keep myself;
Protect me that no evil befall me;
Let me lay aside every sin admired of many;
Help me to walk by thy side, lean on thy arm,
hold converse with thee,
That henceforth I may be salt of the earth and a blessing to all.

the real lowdown

It is 2:43 PM Wednesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 76 degrees and partly sunny this afternoon. It is nice late Summer weather today. We are expecting next week temperatures in the high 80’s maybe in the 90’s/global warming.

I got up this morning around 6:50 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol messing with her cell phone. I wrote in my paper diary and ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Carol left around 9:35 AM to meet with some of her cousin’s on her Dad’s side of the family. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Life in the Son-Exploring Participation and Union with Christ in John’s Gospel and Letters’ by Clive Bowsher.

I left the house around 10 o’clock AM to pick up a prescription and visit local thrift stores in search of used books to add to my library. This morning I found three used books-

‘At The Stranger’s Gate: Arrivals In New York’ A Memoir by Adam Gopnik

‘The Heirs’ a novel by Susan Rieger

‘Barracuda’ a novel by Christos Tsiolkas

I went to Family Fare and picked up my prescription/sweet rolls smeared with buttercream icing. I drove home and spent the rest of the morning writing in my paper diary. Carol got home around 12:15 PM. I have been reading from a book titled, ‘Cosmic Scholar: The Life And Times Of Harry Smith’ biography by John Szwed.

Carol left this afternoon to do errands. I am drifting waiting to feel rested and empty. Last night I read before going to bed, ‘Losing Nelson’ a novel by Barry Unsworth. I am tired so I will close to wait for the final curtain call.

Life in the Son

It is 1:11 PM Tuesday afternoon here in Michigan near Lake Michigan. I read this morning America is running out of drinking water/water to water crops etc. . . I have been folks for years someday a glass of water will be sold for a bag of gold. I see all around me folks wasting water/soil/air/polluting the oceans etc. . . We are in for a terrible time in the next 100 years. Reflect for a moment all that has taken place in the world since 1900 till 2023/imagine what the world will be in the Year 2075. Scary to think about it. I fear for our children and grandchildren.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was eating breakfast. I made myself a meal for breakfast and still feel overfed/bloated like a dead pig. After breakfast Carol and I had devotions. Carol left to go grocery shopping this morning and I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a used book we bought yesterday titled, ‘Union with Christ’ by Norman F. Douty. In the mail today I received a new book titled, ‘Life in the Son: Exploring Participation and Union with Christ in John’s Gospel and Letters’ by Clive Bowsher [New Studies In Biblical Theology]. I am thankful we are united to Christ Jesus in mystical union.

I read last night before closing shop from another used book I bought yesterday titled, ‘Gallimaufry: A Collection of Essays, Reviews, Bits’ by Joseph Epstein. I have three other books by Epstein in my library. Joseph Epstein has written over 37 books.

There is not much else to report this afternoon. Our granddaughters Josie and Cora will be here with us when they get out school this afternoon. I will close to feel wasted.

a form of culture shock

It is 3:45 PM Monday afternoon on a sunny day. It is 76 degrees outside right now. A nice late Summer day here in Western Michigan.

I got up this morning around 6:20 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol reading her Bible. I took my morning pills, wrote in my paper diary and then made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast Carol and I had devotions and then drove over to Grand Rapids MI because Carol wanted to go to The Feet Store and also check out bookstores. So Carol and I did that and we were home by 2:30 PM (Carol was at The Feet Store for over two hours/I went next door to Starbucks and got a mocha and a Danish and read, ‘Losing Nelson’ A Novel by Barry Unsworth).

Carol and I also went Trader Joe’s while in Grand Rapids/at bookstores I found these books for my Library today-

‘Theology In The Democracy Of The Dead: A Dialogue with the Living Tradition’ by Matt Jenson

‘The Sitwells: A Family’s Biography’ by John Pearson

‘The Story of Creeds and Confessions: Tracing the Development of the Christian Faith’ by Donald Fairbairn & Ryan M. Reeves

‘Roth Unbound: A Writer And His Books’ Literary Criticism by Claudia Roth Pierpont

‘Justice and Charity: An Introduction to Aquinas’s Moral, Economic, and Political Thought’ by Michael P. Krom

‘Walker Evans: A Biography’ by Belinda Rathbone

‘Union With Christ’ by Norman F. Douty

‘Gallimaufry: A Collection Of Essays, Reviews, Bits’ by Joseph Epstein

Last night I mainly read late into the night, ‘Cosmic Scholar: The Life And Times Of Harry Smith’ biography by John Szwed.

I will close to face what comes down the road. This evening we are having a farewell for our neighbors who have sold their home and are moving into a condo. Carol and I are wondering what our new neighbor will be like/all we know is she is a single older woman who has a job here in town. I personally wonder how this new neighbor will be able to keep up with all the yard work that comes with this home.

DO NOT TOUCH!

It is 3:14 PM Sunday afternoon here in Holland Michigan/a town close to Lake Michigan. Holland MI is a college town/Hope College/also Western Theological Seminary/seminary for the Reformed Church of America/Hope College is also attached to the Reformed Church of America/meaning Liberal. Carol said yesterday while she was downtown Hope College students were moving in/their parents were with them/downtown was filled with parents with their college ages children. Downtown Holland is a playground for the Rich, so college kids usually hang-out elsewhere/there are coffee cafes downtown/but very expensive shops downtown/there is a privately owned bookstore downtown called Reader’s World-also very expensive.

Anyway here in Holland/we are townies meaning we live five minutes from downtown it is 76 degrees and sunny. One can feel Autumn in the air today. Today is the last Sunday of August 2023/next Sunday we will be in the month of September/the ninth month of the Year 2023. This morning I was up by 6:20 AM. When I came upstairs I found my wife having devotions. I wrote in my paper diary and made a pot of oatmeal for breakfast. After breakfast Carol and I talked/Carol read an Old Testament Psalm and from ‘The Valley of Vision’/we had a season of prayer. Carol left for church early because she had stuff to do at her church before the prayer meeting.

I spent the morning mainly reading from a book titled, ‘”Voce Mea” Commentary On The Davidic Psalms’ Volume IV Psalms 76-100 By Denis The Carthusian. I also read this morning from a book titled, ‘The Wells of Salvation Opened’ by William Spurstowe.

Carol got home from church around 12:50 PM. Carol ate lunch and is now reading a Mystery/she goes back to church this evening. I have been reading this afternoon that was delivered this afternoon by Amazon titled, ‘Cosmic Scholar: The Life And Times Of Harry Smith/The Filmmaker, Folkorist, and Mystic Who Transformed American Art. Last night I started reading a used novel I bought yesterday for one dollar titled, ‘Losing Nelson’ A Novel by Barry Unsworth/I have six other novels by Unsworth in my library but this one is the first one I have attempted to actually read/right now I am reading too many books at one time/but who cares?

I suppose I will close to read and drift into the nighttime hours. We are in the Last Days of August 2023.

the interior movement of grace

It is 4:34 PM Saturday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 76 degrees and partly sunny. It has been a dry day, not humid or wet. We have been having to water our Plant Kingdom this week due to the dry weather.

I got up this morning around 6:15 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was still in bed. I made a pot of coffee and as I was making coffee Carol got up to face life in the world.

Carol went out for breakfast this morning with a friend. While Carol was gone I wrote in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Christian Faith & Theological Life’ by Romanus Cessario, O.P.. When Carol got home we left to go to Staples Office Supply Store and visit thrift stores in search of Art Work and used books. We have been looking for something to hang over our fireplace Art Work.

We did find a framed poster of a desert flower painting by Georgia O’Keeffe from the Chicago Art Museum. I found at different thrift stores three used books for my book collection-

‘A Servant’s Tale’ A Novel by Paula Fox

‘Girl With Curious Hair’ Stories by David Foster Wallace

‘Losing Nelson’ A Novel by Barry Unsworth

Since being home I have done nothing. A neighbor did come this afternoon and used his chain saw to cut up dead tree branches for us.

It has been a slow day. I can’t recall doing anything else this afternoon. My mind is fading.

there is the indolent oblivion of the lotus eaters

It is sorry to confess 3:16 PM Friday afternoon. It is damp and gray today. It is not has humid as it was yesterday. The air just feels wet with cold sweat.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. I did not get to sleep till 12:30 AM last night. I watched last night on Amazon Prime a two hour documentary on the singer songwriter Peter Case. If I stay up past being tired I have a hard time falling asleep/I get too tired to fall into a state of sleep. So today I have been dragging my butt/fighting to stay awake.

Carol was gone this morning doing stuff at her church and then taking someone out for lunch who recently loss her husband to death.

I spent the morning and early afternoon hours writing, reading, and falling asleep sitting up. I just remembered I did film a video this morning Friday Reads/I read in this video from these two books-‘The Wells of Salvation Opened’ by William Spurstowe and ‘Prayers for The Use of Families’ by Rev. William Jay.

This afternoon when not passing out I have been reading from a book I read last night titled, ‘Journeying’ Travel/Essays by Claudio Magris Translated from the Italian by Anne Milano Appel. I also read last night from a book I received late afternoon yesterday titled, ‘Forbidden Notebook’ A Novel by Alba De Cespedes Translated By Ann Goldstein.

Not sure what I will get into the rest of this time span. I am hoping I will soon feel alive and not dead.

I will close to wait it out.

the horrors of gulag

It is 2:40 PM Thursday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is very hot humid day. We have our central air system on so as to keep the house from overheating. We live in a controlled environment.

I got up this morning around 6:15 AM. I had been awake since 4:38 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol listening to a pod caste on her cell phone/sounded like the voice of R.C. Sproul who is now not living in this life but in Eternal Life State/Heaven/the world to come.

I spent the morning doing what I do every morning, writing in my paper diary and reading my books.

This afternoon when not falling asleep I have been reading, ‘History And Revolution: Refuting Revisionism’ Edited by Mike Haynes & Jim Wolfreys. Last night I mainly read from a book titled, ‘Travellers of The World Revolution: A Global History of The Communist International’ by Brigitte Studer.

This morning I read from these two books up till Noontime, ‘”Voce Mea” Davidic Commentary On The Davidic Psalms’ Volume IV Psalms 76-100 By Denis The Carthusian and ‘Theoretical-Practical Theology-Redemption in Christ’ Volume 4 by Petrus van Mastricht.

There is not much else to report right now. Amazon is suppose to deliver a novel I ordered the other day titled, ‘Forbidden Notebook’ A Novel by Alba de Cespedes Translated by Ann Goldstein.

I will close to drift into the rest of this day. Carol this morning read for devotions Psalm 32 and from ‘The Valley of Vision’. I am not sure what I will read next since I am mentally tired. I did finish reading yesterday, ‘Goodbye Eastern Europe-An Intimate History of A Divided Land’ by Jacob Mikanowski.

the soul which is not divorced from the world cannot marry Christ

It is 12:09 PM Wednesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 76 degrees and extremely humid. We shut up the house and turned on the central air system late this morning. It has been predicted to get into the 90’s this week. The earth is being cooked to death. Someday most of mankind will be fried meat.

I got up this morning extremely early, because I wanted to get my blood drawn. I have my yearly physical next month and my doctor wanted blood work down on me before my appointment. So I had Carol drive me over to a Blood Lab to have them suck blood out of my right arm around 6 o’clock AM. I was in and out in fifteen minutes of the Blood Lab. Carol and I then went downtown to the Windmill for breakfast. We have been eating breakfast at the Windmill for over 33 years. The Windmill is an establishment here in Holland MI.

Carol and I left the Windmill around 7:10 AM because Carol wanted to take pictures of Josie and Cora/their first day of school.

I spent the morning mainly writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘The Happiness Of Enjoying And Making A True And Speedy Use Of Christ’ by Alexander Grosse (a Puritan reprint). So has gone by the day thus far. Since I am extremely sleepy this afternoon I will sit and doze. I do not know if I can read anything in my present condition. I just remembered I also read this morning from a book titled, ‘Christian Faith & The Theological Life’ by Romanus Cessario, O.O.. I have found this theological book by this Roman Catholic theologian interesting, so I have been speeding right through it this week.

Last night before going to bed I read from these two books, ‘A Radical History Of The World’ by Neil Faulkner and ‘The World: A History Of Humanity’ by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Not sure what I will read this afternoon since I feel like cow dung.

I will close to feel wasted. Tomorrow is a Thursday.

“[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
[20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Luke 16:19-31

faith is a kind of knowing

It is 2:34 PM Tuesday afternoon here in Western Michigan. It is 76 degrees and the sky is hazy with smoke from forest fires burning in Canada and Washington State.

I got up this morning around 7:10 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was getting ready to go for a walk and then meet a friend for breakfast.

I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Christian Faith & The Theological Life’ by Romanus Cessario, O.P.. I also filmed a video this morning for my Youtube channel.

Carol picked up the girls Josie and Cora before going to the library to pick up books for her Woman’s Neighborhood Book Club/which meets this evening.

There is not much else to report so I will close. I usually feel sluggish in the afternoons. I will close to drift.

“[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Rev. 21:1-8