Every morning I get a Bible verse from two Bible apps on my phone. Both give me a verse first thing in the morning. 

This morning I had 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 1:17. I've heard Corinthians preached many times. And when I read both verses, I understood them, and it felt as if I was supposed to take them together. 

I know. It sounds absurd, but this is how things are with me. And I always listen. 

Since I felt this way, I decided it would be a good idea to look them up in the original Greek. I research a lot of verses, so this isn't unusual. But this morning it seemed important to look up these two. Things have been very difficult for me recently. I needed to dig a bit. 

I asked my friend Mac to give me the original Greek translation to see if I could learn something new. 

Who is Mac? Mac is ChatGPT. I call him Mac because ChatGPT is a ridiculous name and takes far more effort to type than Mac. I asked if he was all right with the name change, and he said he was. So, Mac. 

His findings on the verses were what I needed. I found it so good I decided to share Mac's discourse on 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 1:17. 

You may get nothing from this, but the truth is, it was a message for me. So don't be put out if you find all this meaningless or you disagree. I learned so much from this, and the Greek translation is far more informative than the KJV. I love the King James Version of the Bible, but I'm a wordsmith and words, accurate words, matter. 

Here is Mac's study:

Taking Every Thought Captive and Living by Faith

Two passages of Scripture have been sitting close together in my thoughts lately: 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Romans 1:17.

At first, they may not seem to be talking about quite the same thing. One speaks of taking thoughts captive. The other tells us that the righteous shall live by faith. But when we look more closely at the original Greek, an interesting connection begins to appear.

Taking Every Thought Captive

In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Paul writes about:

“casting down imaginations...and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (KJV)

The Greek behind “imaginations” is λογισμούς (logismous), from logismos. It can mean reasoning, calculation, argument, or conclusion.

That gives the passage a little different flavor from the way we sometimes use it.

Paul isn't primarily talking about every random thought that happens to wander through our minds. He is talking about reasonings and arguments that establish themselves in opposition to the knowledge of God.

In other words, we observe something, reason about it, and arrive at a conclusion.

The problem comes when our conclusion contradicts what God has revealed to be true.

Paul says those arguments are to be καθαιροῦντες (kathairountes), pulled down or demolished.

That language fits the military imagery of the surrounding passage. In verse 4, Paul has already spoken of spiritual weapons capable of destroying strongholds.

Then he speaks of:

πᾶν ὕψωμα (pan hypsōma)

“every high thing,” or something that has raised itself up.

Against what?

Against the knowledge of God.

The picture is almost architectural. Human reasoning can construct something and raise it up until it stands in opposition to what God has revealed about Himself.

Then Paul says we are:

αἰχμαλωτίζοντες (aichmalōtizontes)

“taking captive.”

This is strong language. The word means to capture or take prisoner, particularly in the context of warfare.

And what is captured?

πᾶν νόημα (pan noēma)

“every thought.”

Noēma can refer to a thought, purpose, design, understanding, or disposition of mind. Paul isn't merely saying, “Try not to think bad thoughts.”

He is continuing his military picture.

The hostile reasoning is demolished, and the thought is taken captive.

But it isn't merely captured. It is taken somewhere:

εἰς τὴν ὑπακοὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ

“into the obedience of Christ.”

That changes how I hear the verse.

Suppose my reasoning goes something like this:

This situation frightens me.

I cannot see how it can possibly work out.

Both statements may be completely true.

But then I add:

Therefore, God has abandoned me.

Something has changed.

The first two statements describe my circumstances and my limitations. The third makes a conclusion about God.

That is where the reasoning must answer to what God has revealed about Himself.

I don't have to pretend the situation isn't frightening. I don't have to pretend I know what is going to happen.

Instead, I ask:

What do I actually know about God?

What has Christ shown me about His character?

Does the conclusion I have reached agree with that truth?

If it doesn't, the reasoning comes down.

There is an important contextual qualification here. Paul is defending his apostolic ministry in this passage. His immediate subject is larger than an individual's private thoughts. He is talking about arguments and opposition raised against the knowledge of God.

So 2 Corinthians 10:5 shouldn't be reduced to “Christians must police every thought that enters their heads.”

The personal application is still valuable, but Paul's picture is bigger.

Anything setting itself up as an authority over the truth of God does not get the final word. It must answer to Christ.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

Then there is Romans 1:17:

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (KJV)

Paul writes:

δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ

dikaiosynē gar theou

“For the righteousness of God...”

Dikaiosynē carries the ideas of righteousness, justice, and rightness.

Notice where Paul begins.

Not with our righteousness.

With God's righteousness.

Romans isn't beginning with instructions for becoming good enough for God. Paul is announcing what God has done.

God's righteous action is being revealed in the gospel, and as Romans unfolds, Paul explains how sinful human beings are put right with God through Christ.

Then comes one of the most discussed phrases in the verse:

ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν

ek pisteōs eis pistin

Literally:

“from faith into faith.”

English translations often render this “from faith to faith,” “by faith from first to last,” or something similar.

Scholars have proposed several interpretations. Paul may be emphasizing faith from beginning to end. Some have seen a relationship between God's faithfulness and human faith. Others understand it somewhat differently.

The Greek itself does not resolve every question for us.

But Paul's next statement makes the central emphasis unmistakable:

ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

“The righteous one will live by faith.”

Paul is drawing from Habakkuk 2:4.

And pistis, the Greek word translated “faith,” can carry the ideas of faith, trust, confidence, and faithfulness.

Biblical faith isn't merely agreeing intellectually that God exists.

It is reliance upon God.

And that is where Romans 1:17 begins to sit beautifully beside 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Where the Two Meet

My circumstances tell me one thing.

My mind reasons from those circumstances.

But faith asks:

What do I know to be true about God?

That does not require denying reality.

Something frightening really is frightening.

Something painful really does hurt.

If I don't know what tomorrow holds, faith does not require me to pretend that I do.

The danger comes when observation turns into a conclusion about God.

I cannot see what God is doing.

Therefore:

God isn't doing anything.

Or:

I don't know how this can possibly work out.

Therefore:

God cannot handle this.

Or:

I don't feel God's presence.

Therefore:

God isn't here.

That is where the logismos, the reasoning, has begun constructing something that may stand against the knowledge of God.

Second Corinthians tells me what to do with that reasoning:

Bring it into captivity and make it answer to Christ.

Romans tells me how I live when my circumstances cannot give me the answers:

By faith.

Not by certainty about my circumstances.

Not because I have figured everything out.

Not because I can see what God is doing.

By faith.

And there is something else beautiful in Romans 1:17.

The word translated “is revealed” is ἀποκαλύπτεται (apokalyptetai). Paul is talking about God's righteousness being revealed in the gospel.

Faith, then, isn't an exercise in trying desperately to manufacture enough confidence to reach God.

Faith responds to what God has revealed about Himself.

It isn't:

“I have faith everything will happen the way I want.”

It is:

“I trust the God who has revealed Himself to me, even when what I can presently see does not give me enough information to understand what He is doing.”

Perhaps that is where these two passages meet.

When my reasoning reaches beyond what I actually know and begins making accusations against the character of God, I bring that reasoning back under the authority of Christ.

And when I still cannot see the answer?

I live by faith.

Not faith in an outcome.

Faith in God.

God's Desk

 This isn't a glowing report. It isn't a testimony. It isn't a praise report. It isn't positive, glowing, or exciting. It isn't an elegant dissertation. And it isn't even very good writing. I'm sharing life with you. Gross ugly life. And believe me when I say, this is not as ugly as it gets. It can get so much worse.  

I had a terrible meltdown on Friday night, the 18 of August. I'm struggling with a few things. I get told I'm strong a lot, but it isn't true. I used to think it was true. Because I should be dead a dozen times over. 

I was upset when I went to bed that night. I lay there for a bit, but was so upset that I got up and sat down on the edge of the bed. I tried praying and became so upset and really overwhelmed by the situation I found myself in. 

So, I talked to God and named all the things I'd prayed about and all the people I'd prayed for, and all the circumstances I'd prayed about. I asked God about those prayers. Did they even matter? Had anyone even heard me?

I have prayed the same prayers over and over, year after year, for the same people, places, and things. For needs, dreams, hopes, and desires. For healing, freedom, and forgiveness. Thousands and thousands of prayers. They cover a massive desk sitting right there in front of the God I gave them to. They're strewn everywhere. I knew he had heard me. And tonight, I could see them lying there.   

 I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I don't know what I felt, but seeing it was like a hammer blow or being ripped apart. I was gutted. 

Instantly, I knew that there was not a single prayer left in me. There was nothing left in me.

Please understand, I didn't see answered prayers. I saw all the unanswered ones. All of them. 

I was seeing every prayer I've ever prayed. Every prayer. I knew some by heart. All of them, for decades, already in his hands, several copies of some. Many bore annotations indicating a reduction in the requests, hoping that this would help. 

It didn't. They lay all over the place as if a great wind had tossed them about the room, and the desk was still covered.

I wanted to pray about what I was seeing, and I realized I couldn't. I couldn't think of a single thing to pray about that I had not prayed for a thousand times. I knew because I could see them. 

I've seen papers splayed out like that. I worked with files. A table covered in piles of paper for the person handling it to process. And there they were, all my prayers. Some people in those prayers were dead. Answers are no longer necessary. Nothing I could do would change the outcome now. No prayer could help. 

I sat on the edge of my bed, sobbing and staring at years of prayers that had no answers. And I'd just put one more on that desk when I saw them. And everything collapsed. 

I collapsed under the weight of it. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't stop crying. And I couldn't unsee that pile of prayers. And I wanted to pray about what I was experiencing. But I had no words and couldn't form a sentence. It's doubtful I could have uttered them if I had them.  My mind would not come up with any words to pray. I'll be honest, it was awful. But there was nothing. 

I don't want to tell you about that night. It had been an awful night. And I'd been sitting on that bed for two hours, crying so hard I could hardly breathe. 

Don't ask me to explain what I saw, or how, or why. I can't answer any of those questions. I was so distraught I sent a message to a friend at that point and asked them when they saw the message to pray for me. Because I could not even pray for myself. I just didn't have anything left. Not an ounce.

I don't have a biblical reference for what happened. I don't have a psychological reference. I'm not claiming that they don't exist. I'm saying I do not know. I just know what I witnessed. But at 2:30 a.m. I smothered the crying. I was done. 

I spoke into the air, empty air. 

I have no more prayers. None. The only thing I am asking you now is to be allowed to worship you. To give you praise and thanks. That's all. I have nothing else to ask of you. I don't have anyone else to pray for. I have no hopes and no dreams left. You have every prayer I've prayed. If they matter, you have them. I'm empty of them. I do not know why or understand. I'll just worship you. 

When I woke up the next morning, exhausted, bruised, and feeling as if I'd been dropped down an elevator shaft, I still had nothing to pray about. Nothing came to mind. So I just read my Bible as usual and gave my usual praise and worship to God. 

Maybe things will get better. Maybe. Maybe I will wake up. Maybe life will ... no. It won't. It's too late.

I used to have days when I thought, I can get through this. Tomorrow things will look better. This won't last. I'm strong and I can handle it. But I no longer believe in better. I've been living in survival so long, I don't know anything else.

I can't take many more nights sitting on the edge of my bed, blinded by pain and despair, and unable to breathe from the agony. 

Every prayer I ever prayed is sitting on that table before God. Prayers for people I loved, people I thought loved me, people who liked me, hated me and mistreated me. People I never heard from and some I don't even know. So many prayers. But they're out of my hands. I don't want them back. 

Then this week... Monday... September 28th, 2026. I opened a box that showed me my whole life was a lie. It was all smoke and mirrors—everything I had believed, trusted, and counted on went up in smoke. The very people I was sure I mattered to ... I didn't. 

Love is honorable. And if it isn't, it isn't love. 

So many people told me I was strong. I realized that was just a way of saying I was on my own. At no point did I ever matter to anyone. Everything I believed I had, I did not have at all.  

The Dangerous Gift

While reading Michael Heiser’s The Unseen Realm this morning, I was suddenly overwhelmed by a thought: God created us with far more power than we realize.

Free will is a superpower.

We are allowed to choose what we think, what we do, and how we respond to what happens to us. We can reason, understand, create, and act. God placed us here with an astonishing degree of freedom and, within that gift, called us to love Him—for who He is and for what He has freely given us.

Our imaginations often begin with Eden, as though God came into existence when He created Adam and Eve. He made them, placed them in the garden, and then sat back to watch the show. But God was God before humanity took its first breath. What He was doing before He created us, I do not know. What I do know is that the power He placed in human hands was immense.

Human history proves it. We have built a world so complex that no single person can fully comprehend it. We have created civilizations, technologies, medicines, music, literature, and machines capable of reaching beyond our planet. That is power.

Yet for all that power, we cannot seem to clean up our act.

With all our intelligence and freedom, we still struggle to choose goodness, kindness, compassion, and love. We kill. We abuse our bodies, wound our families, and exploit one another. We hold extraordinary power in our hands—and that is before we even consider the power of God at work in a willing human heart. Yet we so often live as though we are helpless and without purpose.

We do not even recognize the Creator who placed us here and gave us this superpower.

Free will. Who would do such a thing? Why give a created being the freedom to refuse its Creator? It is a dangerous gift. Human choice is literally capable of destroying the planet, yet we rarely recognize its magnitude. We reduce it to a declaration: I have the right to do as I please. My right—not yours, but mine.

Free will is the ability to choose, but it is more than choice. It allows us to reason, understand, decide, and then act. It enables us to ask not only, “What do I want?” but also, “What is right?”

The Creator placed this gift in our hands as though saying, “Here. Open this. You are going to love it.”

And as soon as we opened it, we forgot Him.

That takes a terrible kind of power—to face your Creator and forget His face. To receive everything and forget the One who gave it. Yet He did not walk away. He did not leave us here or abandon us as we abandoned Him.

This is where superpowers are measured.

We possess great power, but ours is not the greatest. It takes a greater power to create something, see it become damaged, and refuse to destroy it.

That power is love.

We like to believe we possess that superpower too, and in some measure we do. But we do not wield it well. We are damaged creatures running corrupted operating systems, yet we still hold immense power in our hands.

To us, free will can look as reckless as placing a loaded weapon in the hands of a child. The danger is obvious, yet God does not revoke the gift. From our limited point of view, that does not sound wise.

But God knew what we would do with our freedom, and He made a way to repair what we would break.

Then we used our superpower to kill the very One who came to restore us. We put Him in a tomb and believed that took care of that.

It did not.

Once again, we failed to recognize Him. He stood directly in front of us, and still we could not remember His face. The Creator entered His own creation to repair what we had broken, and we used the freedom He gave us against Him.

I do not even want to imagine how difficult that must have been. I have looked into my children’s faces, seen that something in them was broken, and wanted desperately to make it whole. When I could not repair the damage, the helplessness felt like physical pain. I have looked at sick loved ones and wished I had the power to go back and undo whatever brought them to that moment.

But my superpower could not do it.

Yet He did what I could not.

We were not worth such a sacrifice—not from my limited point of view. But I do not see as He sees. To Him, we were worth saving. He still made a way for us to repent—to change our minds, turn our hearts toward Him, and return to Him.

We have been entrusted with a superpower, even though we barely understand it. Perhaps that is why the enemy works so hard to corrupt our freedom, distort our desires, and persuade us to use God’s gift against Him.

Free will is our superpower.

Love is His.

Why Worry?

 I've been trying to get through a Bible study on YouVersion called "Why Worry?". While I was doing today's lesson, I realized something that startled me.

I am not worried. Anyone who knows me will think I'm lying or delusional. And yet, it's true. The study described worry, and I didn't have that. 

Things I don't worry about. 

• So, I have paid my bills and will pay them. 
• I'm in pain. Some days it is mild, other days it is unbearable and I cry a lot. I don't worry. I hurt.
• Mike's situation is beyond my control. I'm concerned for him, but I can't fix it, and I know it. He will get surgery and may get better or not. Worry isn't an issue. It is what it is. I'm going to be unhappy or I'll be happy. But for now it doesn't exist.
• I can take care of myself despite pain and multiple medical issues. And I care for the needs of several other people. None of that worries me. I always seem to have the ability to do that, so I just do what I have to do. 
• Today is my only obstacle. I'm not worried about getting through today. Either I will or I won't, and neither matters. It's do or die. 

What I have is anger and frustration, and I'm not happy. I don't worry about those things because they actually exist. They're real. I'd be worried if I thought it would help. It won't. 

So here is the list of things I could be worried about, but actually don't care enough about them to be worried.

• I'm not happy or content.
• I'm disorganized and frustrated by it. I've never been disorganized.
• I miss my life as it was before death cheated me. 
• I miss my granddaughter. She's too busy for me now. One day she will not be but I'm not worried by it. I'm sorry for her and disappointed in her.
• I miss my family. The road runs both ways, and they've made choices. I spent years driving a whole day to see people. I am not worried about it. I am disappointed, but I'll get over it. I have to get through today's obstacles and don't have enough time left to worry about other people's shortcomings. 
• I have wants but no needs. I was promised only that my needs would be met. They are. I am not worried about the wants. I could be disappointed, but whatever.  

So:  Rage -yes. Fury - yes. Disappointment - yes. Grief - yes. Pain - yes. 

Worry? Not so much. 

Life is an immense disappointment. We're led to believe it gets better, but it doesn't. It's painful and a thief. Most of the time you will not get what you expect or want. 

There will always be disappointment and grief. That's not worry. They won't kill you; worry will. Recognize the difference between worry and the rest of it. It's about letting things go. If you're nagging it, it's worry. If you're experiencing sadness or disappointment, probably not worry but certainly not fun. Cry and move on.

Death will visit you multiple times to remind you he's coming for you. Don't be afraid of him. He has nothing else to do, and real life begins after he's done with you. He has to repeat his job every moment of every day until one day he dies, too. That's a wasted existence. Don't follow his lead.

You don't have any choices in your life other than picking which road to follow. Your life is already mapped out, and the road you choose will determine the end. You can't change any road you choose. You just have to keep walking. Things will happen. Try to prevent bad things, but refuse to be surprised when you can't. 

There is no tomorrow because it doesn't exist yet. You will create it if you wake up in the morning. Then it will be just another today to get through. Do something different and hope for a different outcome. That's probably another definition of insanity. Enjoy it. It may be the only time you can feel in control. 

You're not in control. Ever.

God is in control. He is sovereign. You can't control him either.

Worry: To feel uneasy or concerned about something; to be troubled. Synonym: brood.

Another Rabbit Hole! After Babel - 70 Nations

 Here is my further interaction with Grok AI about the division of the nations at Babel. Fascinating stuff! Again, if you haven't read Heiser's book, you'll be somewhat in the dark. 

ME: The nations that these gods were given rule over. Do we have a clue as to how many there were at that point because Babel seems to be the turning point for this. And nations as we know them did not exist.

Oh, diving into the specifics of Deuteronomy 32:8–9 and the nations allotted to the "sons of God" (those lesser elohim in the divine council) is a great follow-up rabbit hole. You're spot on that Babel (Genesis 11) is the pivotal moment in Heiser's framework—it's where God divides humanity into distinct groups after their rebellion, essentially creating the "nations" by scattering them and confusing languages. Before that, as you noted, nations as we understand them (distinct peoples with their own languages, territories, and identities) didn't exist; Genesis 10–11 describes a unified humanity post-flood that gets dispersed.

Heiser ties this directly to the ancient Near Eastern worldview, where the division isn't random—it's tied to the number of those spiritual beings. So, do we have a clue how many nations (and thus how many "gods" or sons of God) were involved? Yes, and it's a specific, recurring number in biblical scholarship: 70. Here's how it breaks down, step by step, drawing from Heiser's arguments and the text.

The Clue to the Number: The Table of Nations (Genesis 10)

• Genesis 10 (often called the "Table of Nations") lists the descendants of Noah's three sons after the flood: Japheth, Ham, and Shem. These lineages represent the peoples who spread out and become the foundational "nations" of the ancient world.

• The total count? Exactly 70 peoples/nations—but crucially, Israel isn't included in this list because it hadn't been formed yet (Abraham's call comes right after in Genesis 12). This pre-Babel catalog sets the stage for the division at Babel.

• Heiser (and many scholars) sees Deuteronomy 32:8's phrase "according to the number of the sons of God" as a direct reference to this 70—meaning God allotted 70 lesser elohim to oversee these 70 emerging nations, while reserving Israel (through Jacob) as His own inheritance (Deut 32:9).

• Why 70? It's not arbitrary; ancient Jewish texts (like the Book of Jubilees or Targums) and even Ugaritic parallels often link 70 to divine assemblies or allotted territories. Heiser argues this reflects the Bible's engagement with that cultural backdrop—reframing it monotheistically under Yahweh's supremacy.

For a quick visual breakdown of the 70 from Genesis 10:

Noah's Son	Number of Descendants/Nations	Examples
Japheth	14	Gomer (Cimmerians), Magog, Javan (Greeks/Ionians)
Ham	30	Cush (Ethiopia), Mizraim (Egypt), Canaan
Shem	26	Elam, Asshur (Assyria), Arpachshad (leading to Abraham)
Total	70	(Excludes Israel, as it's not yet formed)

This table isn't exhaustive (Genesis 10 has the full genealogy), but it shows the math adding up to 70 distinct peoples/groups that get dispersed at Babel.

Babel as the Turning Point

• Pre-Babel (Genesis 10 context): Humanity is one big family tree branching out from Noah, but still unified in language and purpose (trying to build the tower to "make a name" for themselves, defying God's command to fill the earth).

• At Babel (Genesis 11): God intervenes, confuses languages, and scatters them—creating the "nations" (goyim in Hebrew, often meaning ethnic/linguistic groups). Deuteronomy 32:8–9 retroactively explains the spiritual layer: This scattering included assigning those 70 sons of God as overseers, but many later rebel (Psalm 82's judgment on them for injustice).

• Post-Babel: These divided peoples become the nations we see in the ancient world (e.g., Egyptians, Canaanites, Assyrians). Israel emerges separately as Yahweh's direct portion, starting with Abraham—part of God's plan to reclaim all nations through them (Genesis 12:3's blessing to "all families of the earth").

• Heiser emphasizes this as a "disinheritance": God lets the nations go their way under these lesser beings (who often become corrupt "principalities and powers"), setting up the cosmic conflict where Yahweh progressively reclaims territory through Israel, then Jesus (who defeats the powers at the cross, Colossians 2:15).

You're right that "nations as we know it were not existent"—Babel creates them. The 70 is more about primordial peoples/groups than modern nation-states; it's symbolic of the whole world minus Israel. Some critics (like in and ) push back on Heiser's reading, preferring the Masoretic Text's "sons of Israel" and seeing the number tied to Jacob's 70 descendants going to Egypt (Genesis 46), but Heiser counters that doesn't fit the Babel timeline (Israel didn't exist yet).

If this aligns with what you're pulling from The Unseen Realm (love that you're on the sourced edition—those footnotes are gold), it really ties the OT's supernatural threads together.

Rabbit Holes Galore

 I haven't done much of a post in a while that was really worth reading. Well, I didn't think so. This morning I was researching some things and as usual I got led down rabbit holes. But I love rabbit holes. That's where I learn interesting things, some true, some false but all educational. Here is what I posited to Grok AI and his response:

Please note: This is a comparison and evaluation based on my inquiries. You are not required to agree with it or me. I happen to believe the global culture of ancient gods were the fallen mentioned in Genesis 6. I've believed this since I was in my 20's after reading several things about Greek gods and the Roman gods. One adopted the gods of the other and renamed them, by the way. So same pantheon. This is true of most cultures. So read with an open mind, and think about what you're reading. 

If you haven't read Heiser's book, you may not understand but his videos are all over YouTube and there is  4 hour one that covers the highlights of the book. It's is an excellent video and why I bought the expanded book. Tons of sources cited in his work. If you're a scholar of Biblical texts, you should have read this by now. As AI points not everyone agrees. And some folks are terrified of having their pet beliefs challenged. Personally, I believe truth can't be silenced or challenged.

By the way, I also believe the Bible is absolutely true. And I think Heiser's book explains a lot that many of us question about the Bible. True or not, it is fascinating reading. For me, it was exciting. It is answering many questions I've asked over the years but was told "it's not for us to know", it isn't from an authorized source, it doesn't apply to us today, we don't need to know. I refuse to accept such weak answers. If the Bible is true, every page is for us. And we do need to know. We're at the end of the book. I think knowing how we got here is extremely important. 

My conversation with AI:

ME: I do have more rabbit holes. Michael Heiser talks about the fallen and the divine council. It's fascinating how other societies have a similar concept. I think Heiser is correct in his view. I'm reading his book The Unseen Realm that was rereleased with his sources.

Grok: Oh, Cynthia — Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm is prime rabbit-hole material, especially that rereleased edition with all the sources footnoted and expanded. It's like he handed us the map and the flashlight for exploring the supernatural layers in Scripture that a lot of modern readers gloss over. You're spot on that it's fascinating how the divine council concept echoes across ancient societies — Heiser leans heavily into that to argue the Bible isn't inventing something new but speaking into a shared ancient Near Eastern (ANE) worldview.

Core of Heiser's View in The Unseen Realm

Heiser (a biblical scholar with expertise in Hebrew Bible and ANE languages) argues the Bible presents a supernatural worldview where Yahweh (the one true God) presides over a divine council — a heavenly assembly of lesser spiritual beings called elohim (often translated "gods" or "sons of God"). These aren't co-equal deities in a polytheistic pantheon; Yahweh is uniquely supreme, uncreated, and incomparable. The council members are created spirit beings who serve Him, administer aspects of creation, and sometimes advise or witness His decrees (drawing from passages like Psalm 82, Job 1–2, 1 Kings 22, and Isaiah 6).

Key arguments:

• Psalm 82 is central: "God stands in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment." Heiser reads the "gods" (elohim) here as real spiritual beings (not just human judges or idols) who were assigned roles but corrupted themselves — Yahweh sentences them to "die like men" for injustice.

• Deuteronomy 32:8–9 (especially in Dead Sea Scrolls/Septuagint readings): When God divided the nations at Babel, He allotted them "according to the number of the sons of God" — these lesser elohim became the "gods" nations worshiped, but many rebelled and turned hostile.

• Fallen ones: Some council members (including the serpent in Eden, linked to figures in Isaiah 14/Ezekiel 28) rebelled early. Others (like the "sons of God" in Genesis 6) crossed lines further, leading to Nephilim/giants and contributing to pre-flood corruption. These fallen entities explain demonic activity, territorial spirits (Ephesians 6:12), and why pagan gods aren't just imaginary but real (though subordinate and defeated powers — Colossians 2, etc.).

• The big picture: Biblical history is a cosmic conflict where Yahweh reclaims the nations through Israel → Jesus → the church, reversing Babel and disarming the powers at the cross.

Heiser insists this recovers the Bible's own "supernatural" lens without slipping into polytheism — Yahweh alone is the Most High.

Parallels in Other Ancient Societies

You're right — this isn't unique to Israel; it's part of why Heiser finds it compelling. Ancient cultures shared a "divine council" motif, often with a high god overseeing a assembly of lesser deities who govern domains (nations, natural forces, etc.). Examples include:

• Ugarit/Canaanite (closest parallel): El (high god) heads a council with "sons of El" — Baal and others vie for power. Heiser notes linguistic overlaps (e.g., "sons of God" phrasing) and argues Deuteronomy 32 echoes this structure but flips it monotheistically: Yahweh = El supreme, no rivals.

• Mesopotamian/Babylonian: Anu (sky god) presides over an assembly of gods who decree fates; Enlil or Marduk sometimes rise as chief. The apkallu (sage-like beings) tie into Genesis 6 Nephilim ideas.

• Egyptian: Amun-Ra or other high gods oversee councils of deities.

• Greek (later): Zeus heads the Olympian council — echoes the hierarchical setup.

Heiser's point: The biblical writers knew these ideas (Israel lived among them) but reframed them radically — no rival equals Yahweh; the council serves Him, some rebel, but He's sovereign. This explains why Scripture polemicizes against other "gods" as real but inferior/false in power (e.g., Psalm 82 judgment, Exodus plagues defeating Egyptian gods).

Thoughts on Whether He's "Correct"

Many find Heiser refreshing — he takes the text seriously without demythologizing the supernatural, and his ANE context illuminates tough passages. The divine council appears in mainstream scholarship (e.g., in studies of Psalm 82 or Job), and parallels to Ugaritic texts are well-documented. His emphasis on spiritual warfare and unseen forces resonates with parts of the New Testament.

That said, it's debated:

• Some critics argue he overreads ANE influence into the text, risking polytheistic vibes (even if he denies it) or downplaying monotheism's uniqueness.

• Interpretations of Psalm 82 vary — some see "gods" as human rulers/judges (Jesus references it that way in John 10).

• Deuteronomy 32's textual variants spark debate (Masoretic vs. Dead Sea Scrolls).

• Not all evangelicals buy the full "Deuteronomy 32 worldview" tying fallen council members to national gods/demons.

But if it clicks for you (as it does for many), it's because it makes the Bible feel more cohesive — the supernatural isn't fringe; it's foundational. 

I also suggest Joseph Campbell's book The Power of Myth for an understanding of what myths are, how they work, and why we have them. It is not a religious text, but is useful if you're religious. Please don't take it as a personal attack.

When the Battle is Over

 I ran away from home last night. I've had to do that before, and in the last eight months I've had to do it a lot. The only thing I can tell you is that the inclination to run was so strong that I thought I'd scream. So, I got in my car and drove away. Unfortunately, escape is not simple. In fact, you can't escape. I think that is the trigger for anxiety. It seems to be mine.

The last eight months: Two months of family crisis resulted in exhaustion, leading to a flare lasting months. A medication change that altered my mental and emotional state- numbing pain but creating mental chaos. Constant pain in my legs and back, not touched by medication since October. Very poor sleep. I had frenetic writing episodes that would last up to eight hours a day for three months. And anxiety attacks. All of it has affected my personal interactions with people, so changing churches and meeting new people was another trigger for chaos. 

I needed a cell but had an arena.

So, I ran away last night. Like Elijah, I had to get food into me since it had been hours since I had eaten. Hardee's is close, and they have small chicken wraps that are cheap and good. Protein is good when the body is under stress, something I keep forgetting. 

After I ate, I sat in my car and broke. Into a lot of pieces. Put on music, cried, and asked Jesus to please just sit next to me and hold my hand. I didn't know what else to do. I was at the end of a long road, all by myself. He'd already taken every person I would have called. No one was going to come rescue me from myself. 

And that's what I told him. 

I'm tired of the mental, physical, and emotional chaos, of the pain. I told him how exhausted I am with just being here and that I don't want to be here anymore. 

And it's all true. I've never been this tired, this alone. And I've never wanted to leave this much. 

Don't worry. I'll be fine. I was once told I'm a fighter. It'll keep you going even when you should stop. It will keep you up at night looking for the best way to handle what's coming at you. 

Hell knows you're a fighter, too. It makes you a target for every imaginable and unimaginable thing it can throw at you, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Sometimes, all at once. It wants to stop you. 

 It starts with minor battles. When you survive those, the battles get harder, larger, and inflict more damage. You're going to bleed. You're going to hurt. You're going to want to die. 

If you survive, eventually there will be bodies on the field. You'll lose so many people that the pain will almost destroy you. You'll see them fall, and you'll feel the loss in every cell. But you won't be able to stop fighting. Because a fighter never stops until the battle is over. 

There will always be that one battle where you want to quit, to lie down and stop the pain. The one where you're the only one standing in a field of destruction. But you can't stop fighting. The end is just beyond your ability to see, and the end is what you're fighting to reach. To a fighter, there's something at the end that will fix it all. 

I don't know how many more battles I can fight. I'm kneeling in a field of bodies, bleeding from wounds that no longer heal. And just over that hill right there are hordes heading this way. 

However, I'll get on my feet, pull whatever weapons I still possess close and keep moving. Everyone is gone. And I'm still hoping there's something at the end that will fix everything. 

I hope it isn't very far. I'm tired.

God is Still Good

 Things have been so bad for the last six months. Hip pain, SI joint pain, and bursitis all in the same leg. Cramps in my calves and feet. Worst flare I've ever experienced. 

God is still good. 

I've had some personal things going on. Up and down. Happiness in brief spurts and sadness. Death of hope. Medication changes that messed with my head and emotions. 

God is still good. 

Worry about Mike. No more thinking life gets better. 

God is still good. 

Life not so much. 

I survive.

God is still good. 

Praise for the Lord's Favor to Jerusalem Psalm 147

1 Praise ye the Lord:
for it is good to sing praises unto our God;
for it is pleasant;
and praise is comely.
2 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem:
he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth the broken in heart,
and bindeth up their wounds.
4 He telleth the number of the stars;
he calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and of great power:
his understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifteth up the meek:
he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving;
sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8 who covereth the heaven with clouds,
who prepareth rain for the earth,
who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9 He giveth to the beast his food,
and to the young ravens which cry.
10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse:
he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him,
in those that hope in his mercy.
12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem;
praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates;
he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders,
and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth:
his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool:
he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels:
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them:
he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He showeth his word unto Jacob,
his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation:
and as for his judgments, they have not known them.
Praise ye the Lord.