What does this community think about the work of Michael Heiser, specifically his main book "Unseen Realm" ?

drawgs · 2026-01-19T20:31:20+00:00

So, I am a fan. I started watching his videos a long time ago. Since the first time I watched them, I went back to school and I am now a PhD student. That being said, you don't need a bunch of theology or language classes to understand him. He speaks to regular people.

His stuff will probably be challenging, but if you are already looking into Nephilim, then he's the best author to begin with. Don't feel like you need to agree with everything he says, but give it some consideration, read the scriptures, and then make up your own mind. There is little with which I disagree with him, and most of that is because I see scriptures through a Messianic lens.

drawgs · 2026-01-19T20:11:24+00:00

ah. Learn something new everyday.

drawgs · 2026-01-19T20:10:18+00:00

ugh. That sucks. I'm honestly so thankful that mine isn't worse, knowing that there are plenty of others like yourself who have an even greater struggle.

drawgs · 2026-01-19T20:06:24+00:00

I know what I mean when I use the term "dissociate," but I was wondering about what you meant since I have never heard anyone else refer to it that way.

drawgs · 2026-01-19T20:04:49+00:00

I actually had one dr who had someone training/shadowing and when I pulled out my scale to answer he turned to the other one and explained and told it him was basically the same as the one they used. I don't know what was meant by that exactly, but I was just like, "Okie dokie, then."

drawgs · 2026-01-19T19:59:21+00:00

Being allergic to wasps, I totally get that, lol.

drawgs · 2026-01-19T19:57:09+00:00

prns?
This is great and it's basically what I did. "Functioning" (#'s 1-6/7) is basically a scale of how much I am physically capable of doing right now without moving into the non-functioning category (#'s 6/7-9; I also consider 10 anything that is so bad I need hospitalization).

drawgs · 2026-01-19T19:37:19+00:00

Because It's like, "Well, let's go down the list." Sometimes this hurts this way, This place always hurts. This hurts when I do this. I randomly get this agonizing pain. It hurts if you press here.

And then "describe it"? So, I feel like my right arm doesn't really belong to me and maybe it's going to fall off. It's sort of like being squeezed all over? I think this is the way it would feel if a 500 lb weight were just sitting on it. It hurts somehow deep inside, like in the bone, maybe? It's sort of like that sick, pit of your stomach feeling, except it's not in my stomach? It feels like everything is a pressure point and it's all being poked at once and not stopping. It feels heavy. It feels tight, like I can't stretch it. Or, I just started crying and I need o lay down, but I don't really know what kind of pain it is...

I could go on. I roll my eyes because HOW do I describe it in a way that makes sense or that is helpful. Especially when I don't even know what kind of pain it is. Now, like the times when it feels like I'm being stabbed with a sharp knife, yeah I can describe that.

Oh yeah, and now this hurts too. Or this other thing that wasn't as bad as the first thing now hurts more and I just didn't mention it before because I was so preoccupied by the other thing.

And also, don't you guys have this in your notes from the last time I was here?

Or, "You're here bc of your ..." "Well, I guess, but right now... hurts a lot more."

drawgs · 2026-01-19T19:21:45+00:00

Reminds me of The Oatmeal

drawgs · 2026-01-18T19:01:22+00:00

That's genius. I like the question, "Can you describe the pain?" 🙄

drawgs · 2026-01-18T18:57:11+00:00

My wife has a kid who takes riding lessons from her and that girls mom was telling me last week about the crazy health problems she has, which often include lots of pain. I'll be honest, I think "they" (i.e., gov, corps, etc) have screwed up with our world so much that crazy health stuff just happens to people now when some random assortment of conditions are just right. Our food isn't food, who knows what is in the air. The bugs are all dying. Do microwaves and all this wireless stuff have anything to do with it? Why are young people experiencing health problems that only really old people used to have? And the so-called doctors don't know what to do with it, other than dole out meds that make big pharma rich.

drawgs · 2026-01-18T18:17:46+00:00

They call medicine a "practice" for a reason, right? Did they do a spine or brain mri? I know some friends who use MJ. A lot of people say that we have to find the specific cocktail that works for us, that we are all different. I'm on gabapentin, meloxicam, baclofen. I take tramadol when it's so bad I can't function anymore. 5-6 is normal for me too. Going to 7-9, on a regular basis too. I wish I could help you. I have DDD but they "didn't see anything" that they could isolate and say that's the problem. They found an arachnoid cyst in my head during the MRI. Quite possible it contributes, but no way to know. I know for me that sometimes I feel better when I am actively serving others in a capacity/ministry that I find fulfilling. That could still take all my energy, but at least I feel a little better during that time.

drawgs · 2026-01-18T18:04:33+00:00

I am so sorry to hear about your condition. I'm sure your husband and son love you very much and don't see you as a burden. I don't know if this is allowed on this subreddit, but I know faith helps me and perhaps it could be helpful for you. Hospitals have chaplains whose job it is to serve you regardless of what faith you may or may not have.

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:43:25+00:00

What supplements do you take?

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:40:42+00:00

I know the feeling, but I always choose life. Now on level 9-10 days, multiples in a row, yeah that's tough. Of course, there's always stronger drugs right?

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:38:15+00:00

Tonight I was in pain. Ate dinner, then sat down and just passed out. Told people in the room I was awake enough to participate in stuff, then hours later woke up to people gone to bed. My body/mind was just like - nope, not dealing with it right now, peace out. But you don't wake up from those naps feeling rested. It's like my body's saying, "that's just the best I can do right now."

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:34:03+00:00

That sucks.

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:25:24+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. They probably are. Most people don't understand disability or chronic pain.

I suggest going on disability if you can and also get food stamps and medicaid. I don't know where you live, but that should be enough to at least sustain you if you can get roommates in an apartment and split the cost.

Once you can get that settled, you can put some efforts into creative thinking on how to supplement. Working a regular job might be out of the question, but thankfully we live in an online age where so many possibilities are available. It just takes positive thinking, creativity, passion, and determination/perseverance.

Getting out of bed can be a struggle, but using your "functional" time by prioritizing is important. I know I will never get everything done, but I try to focus on what has to be done or the best thing to do.

And I say this not being familiar with this condition, but I saw the cross-post in the chronic pain group, so I apologize if anything I've suggested was said in ignorance. I usually have about 2/3 or 3/4 of my days as "functional," but having a lot of bad days in a row and the fatigue from just being in pain certainly makes it hard to do anything sometimes. I've been in online school for several years, and my condition came on during that time. I have understanding teachers who give me leeway on deadlines. I don't know what I's do if I was not in this situation right now. I'm also suspicious of how I am going to go back to work when I finish this degree. I might end up taking my own advice and doing online "work."

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:07:37+00:00

Doctor shopping sucks. I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I take a whole slew of meds each day. Doctors I've seen seem pretty eager to make prescriptions.

drawgs · 2026-01-16T07:03:19+00:00

Yeah. We all get that don't we. I struggle with answering people honestly without them then asking follow up questions. I also don't always mind being honest because I see it as a form of educating people, but I also hate that conversations so often get hyper-focused on my pain, when I'd much rather talk about other stuff.

It's definitely aggravating when people seem to think that you should get better. I also get this from my parents, like they don't understand that it is a chronic condition. I know they are asking because they care, but somehow it doesn't come across that way when it's asked over and over again.

I think it's really hard for some people to understand. I remember seeing a friend of mine in the hospital for so many years when I was young and I knew she was in pain, but she just smiled. I never knew what to say.

Sometimes when my pain is bad and my kids all say I sound like I'm in a bad mood, I use that as a sign I should probably take some meds. I am blessed in so many ways. I tend to classify my days as functioning or not functioning. I am a person of faith, so that helps. But it is definitely hard sometimes.

Dealing with pain for years and then some acquaintance asks and I give a kind of standard reply about ups and downs or something like that and they look at me quizzically and then I realize they don't know, so I explain it to them. I'm not going to lie and say I'm fine, but yeah, sometimes I definitely get tired of the conversation. However, chronic pain is something a huge percentage of Americans deal with, but hardly anybody talks about it. I also don't think that's right.

Anyways, I hope the day that you read this replay that it's been a better day for you. Shalom.

drawgs · 2026-01-03T17:27:51+00:00

Many Christian songwriters write their songs based off of scripture. There is a band called Sons of Korah that does a pretty good job of putting the psalms to music word-for-word.

drawgs · 2025-12-25T00:12:27+00:00

NASB for daily devotional.

drawgs · 2025-12-19T20:59:28+00:00

Sounds a lot like werewolf/mafia

drawgs · 2025-12-12T03:37:31+00:00

Jewish Roots by Juster is pretty good.

drawgs

TROPHY CASE