European rationalism was born in a mystical experience

It is 4:06 PM Tuesday afternoon here in south western Michigan. It is 61 degrees and sunny right now outside. As usual I am running on empty. I am not running on a full tank of gas these days. I often think being alive is a miracle. It is amazing how my body keeps going moment by moment. I eat very little actual food and yet I am still functioning. I believe it is God that sustains me and not anything else. Life is mystical. Death is mystical. I am thankful for the gift of eternal life bestowed on me by God. I live because the Lord lives/I am in mystical union with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ The Life The Way The Truth.

I got up this morning I think around 7:30 AM. When I came upstairs I found my wife talking on her cell phone. I had a normal morning. Carol and I had devotions/reading through the New Testament/The Acts of the Apostles/prayed.

Carol left this morning to visit a member of her church with another lady. While Carol was gone this morning I wrote in my paper diary and messed with our main computer. I mowed our lawn late this morning and spent the afternoon doing yard work. It has been a simple day. All I have been reading today is book I read last night, which is titled, ‘The Last Days of Mankind’ by Karl Kraus.

I will close to drift. Tomorrow will be the first day of May 2024.

“[6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
[7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
[11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Phil. 3:6-11

a method of tapping into the unconscious

It is 3:21 PM Monday afternoon here where the tulips bloom. Soon it will be Tulip Time here in Holland Michigan. The other day Carol got a card in the mail from a couple we became friends with when we were at Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson Miss., telling us they would be in our area the last day of April and the first week of May. This couple asked if we Carol and I would like to meet up with them while they are in our area. Carol texted the lady and said ‘sure!’. Carol and I have not seen this couple (they have grown children) in over 40 years. We have mainly stayed in contact with this couple through Christmas cards. It will be weird to spend an afternoon with this couple (who are our age), but why not. It will be a trip!

I got up this morning around 7:35 AM. When I came upstairs I found Carol in her Room/library/Study doing her feet treatment. I won’t go into what I did this morning in detail since it would be boring and not something that would shed light on the Great Mystery of Being.

But Carol and I did have devotions-we are reading through the New Testament/this morning we read from The Acts of the Apostles-after reading from Acts we read a prayer in the devotional book, ‘The Valley of Vision’-we closed in prayer Carol opened and I closed In Jesus Name Amen!

Carol left this morning to go grocery shopping and I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and doing nothing. When Carol got home from grocery shopping I left to do errands. When I got home from errands I found Carol on the main computer. Time keeps rolling along. Carol left to go visit someone around the block and I have been drifting. I did read today off and on from these books-‘The Dead’ a novel by Christian Kracht Translated by Daniel Bowles, ‘Straw Dogs: Thoughts On Humans And Other Animals’ by John Gray, ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ by John Gray and ‘Miss MacIntosh, My Darling’ A Novel by Marguerite Young.

Last night I mainly read till I went to bed, ‘The Dead’ a novel by Christian Kracht Translated by Daniel Bowles. Well, I am very tired so I will close to wait for a full moon to appear in the night sky.

“[10] And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
[11] And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
[12] And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
[13] The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
[14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
[15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
[16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
[17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
[18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
[20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
[21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
[22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
[24] Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
[25] Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
[26] Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:10-26

the idea of progress is a secular version of the Christian belief in providence

It is 1:50 PM Sunday afternoon. It is 67 degrees and cloudy right now. It started raining last night and continues to look like it will rain till the earth is under water. I believe the biblical account of a world-wide flood-Noah and the Ark. The earth will someday maybe soon a flood of fire-the wrath of God-massive destruction of the Wicked.

I got up this morning around 6:55 AM. I woke up because my mind wanted to function in a world of daylight. So I got up to find Carol up and cooking herself eggs for a morning meal. Eggs are a blessing in a world on the blink of destruction. Soon eggs will cost us a bag of gold.

I spent the morning doing the usual. Carol and I had devotions before she left for church around 8:45 AM. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology: A Canonical Thematic & Ethical Approach’ by Andreas J. Kostenberger & Gregory Goswell.

Carol got home from church around 1 o’clock PM. So has gone by Time in a timeless void.

Last night I read before going to bed at 10:30 PM, ‘Born Under Saturn’ by Margot & Rudolf Wittkower. I also read yesterday from these books-‘Miss MacIntosh, My Darling’ A Novel by Marguerite Young and ‘The Obscene Bird Of Night’ A Novel by Jose Donoso. This afternoon when not falling into a coma I have been reading, ‘Straw Dogs: Thoughts On Humans And Other Animals’ essays by John Gray. I also have been reading lately another book by John Gray titled, ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’.

I will close to drift. It will soon be time to bail out of this sinking ship.

“[18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
[19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
[20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
[21] The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
[22] Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” First Peter 3:18-22

the dead could contact the living by means of automatic writing

It is 2:36 PM Saturday afternoon here in south western Michigan. It is 74 degrees and partly sunny. As I write these words I feel myself falling asleep. I did not sleep well last night. I had a horrible dream during the night that is still on my mind/soul. Anyway it is the Time of day I write in my online diaries and soon put away my paper diary. Days always become night. There is Light and there is Darkness. There is Life and there is death. There is Heaven and there is Hell. What side are you on?

I got up this morning around 7 o’clock AM. When I came up out of our Open Basement/the Lower Level where I sleep I found Carol getting dressed. She left this morning to meet up with two other women from her church to drive over to GR to attend a Meeting of the PCA Women Ministries. Before Carol left I made for breakfast a pot of oatmeal for our morning meal. After Carol and I had mush we had devotions-we read Chapter 2 of The Acts of the Apostles and then read a prayer in the devotional book ‘The Valley of Vision’.

Carol left around 9 o’clock AM and I spent the morning writing in my paper diary, I filmed a video for my Youtube channel and read from a volume titled, ‘New Testament Theology’ by Eckhard J. Schnabel. I read New Testament Theolog past 12 o’clock Noon. I ate lunch and then started reading from a book titled, ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ non-fiction by John Gray.

I do not know when Carol will be home today. We do not know the future. All we know for sure is if we are not saved we are lost and going o Hell.

Last night I read before going to bed, ‘Miss MacIntosh, My Darling’ A Novel by Marguerite Young and ‘The Obscene Bird Of Night’ A Novel by Jose Donoso.

I will close to drift. Tomorrow will be the last Sunday of April 2024. Next week we will enter the month of May 2024.

the subliminal mind is the primary psychological reality

It is 2:56 PM Friday afternoon. Carol and I are back from the hospital. Carol is OK after the coloscopy procedure. We went out for lunch afterwards since Carol had not eaten in 24 hours in solid food.

I got up this morning around 7:10 AM. We had devotions before we left for the hospital this morning. While Carol was undergoing her procedure I read ‘The Obscene Bird Of Night’ a novel unabridged by Jose Donoso translated from the Spanish by Hardie St. Martin, Leonard Mades & Megan McDowell and ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ cultural studies by John Gray.

There is not much else to report. I got up too early this morning. I spent the morning in a fog just waiting to go to the hospital. Everything was up in the air till Carol’s coloscopy was completed. In another five years Carol will undergo another coloscopy since colon cancer runs in her family on her Dad’s side.

Last night I mainly read, ‘The Obscene Bird of Night’ till bedtime. This afternoon I plan to drift. I am beat! Tomorrow will be a Saturday.

telepathic messages from the dying

It is 2:54 PM Thursday afternoon. It is a cold sunny afternoon. Time goes by. I am tired as usual. I am always tired because the world is tired.

I got up this morning around 8 o’clock AM. When I came up out of the lower level I found my wife dressed and ready for action. I made myself oatmeal for breakfast. Carol can’t eat any solid food today because she has in the morning a colonoscopy at a 11 o’clock AM at a local community hospital (this hospital is down the street and Carol worked there as a Nurse for over 30 years).

Carol did leave this morning to do errands. She left after we had devotions, we started reading through The Acts of the Apostles/New Testament this morning.

I spent the morning while Carol was gone writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘New Testament Theology’ by Eckhard J. Schnabel. Last night I read before going to bed from these two books, ‘The Immortalization Commission’ by John Gray and ‘The Obscene Bird of Night’ a novel by Jose Donoso.

Caleb is dropping off Josie and Cora after they get out school. Time goes by. I will close to drift. I am tired.

describe the interior development of the faithful soul seeking God

It is 3:08 PM Wednesday afternoon. It is a cold sunny afternoon. It is not snowing or raining this afternoon, so that is something to stand up and cheer about

I got up this morning (another miracle) around 7:10 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was baking bran muffins to go with a giant meal she is taking over to a member of her church who just had their fourth child. Carol is constantly making meals to give to folks. Carol likes feeding people.

This morning after I ate breakfast Carol and I had devotions. This morning we finished reading The Gospel of John and tomorrow (if we are not dead) we will start reading The Acts of the Apostles. I mainly wrote in my paper diary and read ‘An Introduction To The Medieval Bible’ by Frans van Liere. Last night I read before calling it a night, ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ non-fiction by John Gray and ‘Obscene Bird of Night’ a novel by Jose Donoso.

I did leave the house late this morning to visit our local Public Library and to visit local thrift stores in search of used books. I bought this used paperbacks and a DVD Box set THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH: George Harrison and friends’ 1971 Concert. The two used paperbacks one I had and one I didn’t have-‘Grace Notes’ A Novel by Bernard MacLaverty I had already but I did not have this novel crime fiction ‘People Who Knock On The Door’ crime mystery by Patricia Highsmith.

I did watch this afternoon DVD Box set THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH: George Harrison and friends’ 1971 Concert Madison Square Garden New York City. I suppose there is nothing else to report. I will close to drift. Carol goes to her church tonight for a book discussion and a meal.

a scientific vision of universal death

It is 4:02 PM Tuesday afternoon here in south west Michigan. It is 56 degrees and cloudy this afternoon. It has been predicted to rain this evening. I am right now recovering from mowing our lawn front and back. This afternoon Lowe’s delivered our NEW POWER + Touch Drive 56-volt 21 electric mower. Caleb came down and show us how to get the mower to mow since he has one himself. So the lawn looks like paradise. I also got out the edger and wacked weeds. Towards the end of May 2024 I will get my flower garden ready for wild flowers.

I got up this morning around 7:15 AM. When I came upstairs Carol was getting ready to hit the day head on. Carol and I had breakfast and then we had morning devotions. We have one more chapter in the Gospel of John and then we go into The Acts of the Apostles/New Testament.

Carol left around 10 o’clock AM to do errands. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary, I filmed a video for my Youtube channel saintonfire77. I read till Noon from a book titled, ‘Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, & Ethical Approach’ by Andreas J. Kostenberger & Gregory Goswell.

Carol got home from running around 2:23 PM. At Noon Lowe’s delivered our new electric lawn mower. I did read this afternoon before doing lawn work, ‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ intellectual history/Spiritualism by John Gray. I plan to buy another book written by John Gray titled, ‘Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia’.

UPS delivered this afternoon a book I pre-ordered from New Directions titled, ‘The Obscene Bird Of Night’ a novel unabridged by Jose Donoso translated from the Spanish by Hardie St. Martin, Leonard Mades & Megan McDowell. I have in my library another novel by Jose Donoso titled, ‘A House In The Country’.

I will close to recover from lawn work.

pure psychic automatism

It is 3:10 PM Monday afternoon here in south west Michigan. It is a cloudy partly sunny day. I would not say it is warm, but it is not that cold either. I am tired so this will be short and sweet. Why go into great details when all days are basically the same.

This morning I got up at 7:30 AM, I immediately got dressed because I had an appointment to have our car’s oil changed at 8 o’clock AM. So I went to that changed oil in car appointment and when I came home Carol suggested we take a drive to Grand Haven and visit their central library used books store Cheap Stacks and then on the way home afterwards stop for lunch at Carver’s.

So Carol and I drove to Grand Haven and visited Cheap Stacks Loutit District Library used books store. I bought these used books today for my book collection-

‘The Hill Of Evil Counsel’ a novel by Amos Oz

‘A Few Notes On Tropical Butterflies: Stories’ by John Murray

‘The Game’ a novel by A. S. Byatt

‘My Life as a Fake’ a novel by Peter Carey

‘On Their Own: Women Journalists And The American Experience In Vietnam’ biography/journalism by Joyce Hoffmann

‘Under The Volcano’ a novel by Malcolm Lowry Introduction by Stephen Spender

‘The Immortalization Commission: Science and the Strange Quest to Cheat Death’ cultural studies by John Gray

‘The Dead’ a novel by Christian Kracht Translated by Daniel Bowles

‘Amulet’ a novel by Roberto Bolano Translated from the Spanish by Chris Andrews

‘The Soldier’s Return’ a novel by Melvyn Bragg

‘Plays Well With Others’ A Novel by Allan Gurganus

‘Kate Chopin’ biography by Emily Toth

‘Time Pieces: A Dublin Memoir’ by John Banville

‘What You Did Not Tell: A Russian Past and the Journey Home’ memoir by Mark Mazower

‘Fryderyk Chopin: A Life And Times’ biography by Alan Walker

‘Devils In Daylight’ a novel by Junichiro Tanizaki Translated by J. Keith Vincent

‘Hell At The Breech’ a novel by Tom Franklin

‘Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies And Their Journey’ Eastern European history by Isabel Fonseca

‘Casanova in Bohemia’ a novel by Andrei Codrescu

The above are the used books I bought today at Cheap Stacks. I am too tired to write more so I will close for the day.

a political utopia proceeds from the perfectibility of mankind

It is 2:16 PM Sunday afternoon here in south west Michigan. It is 47 degrees and sunny this afternoon. I am thankful for sunshine. I always feel somewhat better when I can see sunshine.

I got up this morning around 7:30 AM. When I came up out of the Lower Level I found my wife having breakfast and getting ready to go to church. As I was making myself oatmeal for breakfast my wife left for church at 8:05 AM. I spent the morning writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘New Testament Theology’ by Eckhard J. Schnabel.

Carol got home from around 12:15 PM. We ate lunch and now Carol is dozing. I have been writing in my paper diary and reading from a book titled, ‘How Nietzsche Came in From the Cold-Tale of a Redemption’ by Philipp Felsch.

I suppose I will close to drift. Last night before going to bed I read from a book titled, ‘Winners & Losers: Battles, Retreats, Gains, Losses, and Ruins from the Vietnam War’ by Gloria Emerson.

https://www.bookforum.com/print/2102/the-tough-lessons-of-gloria-emerson-s-vietnam-reportage-13265