one might get an itch that there's something new that can be done with language... the most surprising thing that happened when i went pleasantly insane the first time is that i was possessed by the urge to write poetry. it was not polished, but i was astonished at the kinds of words that wanted to come out of me, words i had seen only in fantasy novels, words i never thought i would have the
Metaphor induces a madness in the person who discovers it. We are all awakened to metaphor by a particular writer, special to us, and then, as if granted a new conspiratorial thinking, we no longer proceed by deductive logic but instead search every new concept by a distant spider-web conjunction of stars so that the image comes together like puzzle pieces and the thought just happens to fall outs
I followed you a long while back on Twitter but I’m really happy to read more from you again on Substack, now that I’m a perma-lurker of sorts on social media.
It‘s good to be reminded that there is something still alive and screaming under the plastic veneer of everyday life—I love that your writing makes me remember and feel that
I think if you were to seek the God of the Christians and read the Bible(and seek help from some Christians who are led by the Holy Ghost), you might be set free from some ailments. Certain “spiritual practices” are related to demons.
If you might want evidence that God(who created the heaven and the earth) has answered prayer, a man named George Müller was involved in some work that was connected to the care of thousands of orphans. (A certain Müller was converted around 200 years ago and has had good repute among a number of Christians and actually experienced answers to prayer.)
I think the fact that some men have used words and sentences that have communicated meaning(and truth or untruths) might be related to the fact that God created man(in his own image; “in the image of God created he him”).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)”
“All things were made by Him.” The Word was made flesh and walked on water and laid down His life. Jesus died on a cross and God(the Father) raised Him from the dead and set Him at his own right hand.
Jesus, the Word made flesh, taught as one having authority. He was the Word by whom all things were created and the Son for whom all things were created. And men saw His glory. Jesus will appear again.
I am not a pastor and am not certain that you will be miraculously healed, but God has healed some people.“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5)
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
If you’ve considered getting physical copy of the Bible, I think a KJV combined with a use of some resource(Blue Letter Bible?) that can help you understand some words that were in Greek or Hebrew might be helpful. (Many faithful Christians have used KJVs and some KJBs were used to save souls. I think using or listening to the KJV might also help you focus on the intended meaning of certain words and sentences…I think some heresies might be related to incorrect interpretation or usage of words, and many faithful servants have used the KJV. (Other “versions” have been used, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day and for ever, and centuries of people benefitting from a particular “version” might support an argument that a version has been used by God…))
*Some “practices” might actually produce some effect(would a lot of people do certain things if there were no actual effect?), but if a practice goes against a commandment of God, you might not actually need it.
@QC there is a Person, the Holy Spirit. I’m willing to share some information through comments but if you might want to actually know God(and experience love and joy), it might be helpful for you to seek the Spirit’s leading and read inspired scripture(the Bible) and listen to some Spirit-led teachers.*
If you’ve sinned severely, a woman out of whom was cast seven demons (Mary Magdalene) was one of the first to see Jesus after the resurrection.
“11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
If you are willing to repent (sin no more and follow God and obey Jesus and serve him and be baptized), I think you might experience true love and actually love others(and actually being able to do things, rather than wanting love and wanting to “not harm others” while seeking to be shown love and healed…The God who created the heaven and the earth “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”…(Ephesians 3:20-21)).
Paul(the apostle) was a persecutor and a blasphemer before he became a Christian.
George Müller, before he was converted, sinned (theft, lying, and intentional sins…)
Many people who have been affected by demons have sinned or been sinned against.
*and cease reading some things that have been related to evil practices (certain things have been related to demons. I don’t have a particular hatred for some particular people who have wanted to be healed…the devil is a liar and some people who have not taken the Bible seriously might not have been extremely aware that evil spirits can get access to people through certain practices and did not realize that some things were related to malice…can you consider how Adam’s wife was tempted?)
I am not a pastor. I’m not extremely mature but I suspect that if you were to speak to a person(who actually knows God and has led others) you might be helped. Some people have actually cast out demons. (although staying free might require that you cease doing certain things and renounce certain things)
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
(I am not extremely mature. A well-known story involved a woman who was with a man who was not her husband…”Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”)
this is exquisite, thank you
Metaphor induces a madness in the person who discovers it. We are all awakened to metaphor by a particular writer, special to us, and then, as if granted a new conspiratorial thinking, we no longer proceed by deductive logic but instead search every new concept by a distant spider-web conjunction of stars so that the image comes together like puzzle pieces and the thought just happens to fall outs
nice. you might be interested in one of my twitter threads about thinking: https://twitter.com/QiaochuYuan/status/1634408607268896768?s=20
Thank you, thank you, thank you
I followed you a long while back on Twitter but I’m really happy to read more from you again on Substack, now that I’m a perma-lurker of sorts on social media.
It‘s good to be reminded that there is something still alive and screaming under the plastic veneer of everyday life—I love that your writing makes me remember and feel that
i am glad to hear that <3
Qiaochu,
I think if you were to seek the God of the Christians and read the Bible(and seek help from some Christians who are led by the Holy Ghost), you might be set free from some ailments. Certain “spiritual practices” are related to demons.
https://www.derekprince.com/sermons/85
If you might want evidence that God(who created the heaven and the earth) has answered prayer, a man named George Müller was involved in some work that was connected to the care of thousands of orphans. (A certain Müller was converted around 200 years ago and has had good repute among a number of Christians and actually experienced answers to prayer.)
I think the fact that some men have used words and sentences that have communicated meaning(and truth or untruths) might be related to the fact that God created man(in his own image; “in the image of God created he him”).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)”
“All things were made by Him.” The Word was made flesh and walked on water and laid down His life. Jesus died on a cross and God(the Father) raised Him from the dead and set Him at his own right hand.
Jesus, the Word made flesh, taught as one having authority. He was the Word by whom all things were created and the Son for whom all things were created. And men saw His glory. Jesus will appear again.
I am not a pastor and am not certain that you will be miraculously healed, but God has healed some people.“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5)
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
If you’ve considered getting physical copy of the Bible, I think a KJV combined with a use of some resource(Blue Letter Bible?) that can help you understand some words that were in Greek or Hebrew might be helpful. (Many faithful Christians have used KJVs and some KJBs were used to save souls. I think using or listening to the KJV might also help you focus on the intended meaning of certain words and sentences…I think some heresies might be related to incorrect interpretation or usage of words, and many faithful servants have used the KJV. (Other “versions” have been used, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to day and for ever, and centuries of people benefitting from a particular “version” might support an argument that a version has been used by God…))
*Some “practices” might actually produce some effect(would a lot of people do certain things if there were no actual effect?), but if a practice goes against a commandment of God, you might not actually need it.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20147&version=KJV
@QC there is a Person, the Holy Spirit. I’m willing to share some information through comments but if you might want to actually know God(and experience love and joy), it might be helpful for you to seek the Spirit’s leading and read inspired scripture(the Bible) and listen to some Spirit-led teachers.*
If you’ve sinned severely, a woman out of whom was cast seven demons (Mary Magdalene) was one of the first to see Jesus after the resurrection.
“11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
If you are willing to repent (sin no more and follow God and obey Jesus and serve him and be baptized), I think you might experience true love and actually love others(and actually being able to do things, rather than wanting love and wanting to “not harm others” while seeking to be shown love and healed…The God who created the heaven and the earth “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”…(Ephesians 3:20-21)).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A36-50&version=KJV
https://www.derekprince.com/sermons/202
Paul(the apostle) was a persecutor and a blasphemer before he became a Christian.
George Müller, before he was converted, sinned (theft, lying, and intentional sins…)
Many people who have been affected by demons have sinned or been sinned against.
*and cease reading some things that have been related to evil practices (certain things have been related to demons. I don’t have a particular hatred for some particular people who have wanted to be healed…the devil is a liar and some people who have not taken the Bible seriously might not have been extremely aware that evil spirits can get access to people through certain practices and did not realize that some things were related to malice…can you consider how Adam’s wife was tempted?)
I am not a pastor. I’m not extremely mature but I suspect that if you were to speak to a person(who actually knows God and has led others) you might be helped. Some people have actually cast out demons. (although staying free might require that you cease doing certain things and renounce certain things)
Matthew 12:43-45
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012%3A43-45&version=KJV
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%204&version=KJV
I think you might like the 4th chapter of John.
(I am not extremely mature. A well-known story involved a woman who was with a man who was not her husband…”Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”)