SPIRITUALITY - BARBARA, A GORILLA & GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

We recently took a family of ten to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. What an exciting adventure to experience with children, most of whom had never been to the zoo! The twelve of us packed into our motorhome and excitedly anticipated what we would see. Casting our votes, the primates won out as the favorite zoo animal for this group of Ringgold County folks! Consequently, we spent a fair amount of time watching gorillas.

Obviously disturbed by our presence, one adult gorilla seemed to hunt us down no matter how far we moved away from him. When he’d spot us, he would determinedly and swiftly lumber to where we were standing and slam himself into the window through which we were watching. We never determined why he so adamantly wanted us to go away! Relieved that the window separated us from him, we prayed that he wouldn’t break the glass and we’d quickly move along.

In another corner of the “cage”, however, we encountered a young gorilla who was more than welcoming. He especially had his eyes fixed on six-month old Barbara who was watching the gorillas’ activities from her daddy’s arms. With concentrated interest, the mesmerized young gorilla strolled toward the window where we were standing. Slowly and with purpose he tilted his head from one side and then to the other, closely examining Barbara’s face. Expressing his desire to touch her, he gently reached toward her and placed his hand on the glass. It was obvious that Barbara had captured his heart. The room was packed with “zoo goers” and those close enough to observe this interaction, motionlessly waited along with Barbara to see what the young gorilla would do next!

Barbara responded to the gorilla’s loving gesture with the most beautiful smile I have every seen. Moved by her acceptance, the young gorilla lifted his emotion-filled eyes nearer and kissed Barbara’s precious Down’s Syndrome face through the window! We couldn’t believe what we were witnessing and Barbara was thrilled!

I couldn’t help but consider the contrast between these two gorillas and to be reminded:

There is another who despises our presence. In anger, the devil advances toward God’s children, determined to destroy everything we were created to be. Desiring to steal away all the peace and joy that is ours, he repeatedly slams himself at us with all the power which he can muster, hoping we will cower in fear. Hating the assurance which we have in Jesus’ love, Satan points out our “shortcomings” with repeated degradations and belittling, attempting to cause us to question our worth.

Yet, as I observed the interaction between Barbara and the young gorilla, my mind immediately moved toward Jesus.

With His eyes fixed in concentrated interest,
Jesus passionately seeks out those whom He loves.
Desiring to know them intimately,
He purposefully moves toward them,
carefully examining everything about them.
Without overlooking physical, mental or emotional “weaknesses”, He recognizes and rejoices in their usefulness,
viewing them as a beautiful part of His perfect plan.

While fully consumed with the loving acceptance of the young gorilla, I had no concern for where the adversary was, what he was doing or when he might attack again. It just didn’t matter.


Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

INTERVIEW WITH FRANK VIOLA - FROM ETERNITY TO HERE

I'm participating in a Blog Circuit for Frank Viola's book, FROM ETERNITY TO HERE. Below are the questions which I submitted to him regarding his book and his responses.

Bonnie: There is no way that your life can not have been changed as a result of the Spirit working in you while writing this book! Would you mind sharing with us the impact that From Eternity to Here has had on your life?


Frank: The message of the book has been an unfolding revelation 17 years ago. The message has caused me to love my Lord more, to receive His love more fully, and to adjust my life as much as I know how to the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. It’s given me a stunningly clear vision and purpose from which to live. It’s also left me with a desire to know Him more.


Bonnie: I'm writing about the role of women in the Church. Have the
revelations which the Holy Spirit has given you about Eve and the
Bride of Christ changed readers' perspective on the role of women in
the Church? If so ...would you please share some of the feedback that
you've received?


Frank: Based on the feedback I’ve received, the main thing it has done is to show readers how passionately the Lord loves them. Both men and women, because we are all part of the New Eve, the Bride of Christ. Many have said they’ve fallen in love with the Lord all over again. This has brought great encouragement to my own heart.


What a Lord we have! He’s amazing.


OTHER BLOGS PARTICIPATING IN THE “FROM ETERNITY TO HERE” BLOG CIRCUIT

Today (June 9th), the following blogs are discussing Frank Viola's new bestselling book “From Eternity to Here” (David C. Cook, 2009). The book just hit the May CBA Bestseller List. Some are posting Q & A with Frank; others are posting full reviews of the book. To read more reviews and order a copy at a 33% discount, go to Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Eternity-Here-Rediscovering-Ageless-Purpose/dp/1434768708/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233609867&sr=1-4

For more resources, such as downloadable audios, the free Discussion Guide, the Facebook Group page, etc. go to the official website: http://www.FromEternitytoHere.org

Enjoy the reviews and the Q and A:

-----

Out of Ur - http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/05/viola.html

Shapevine - www.Shapevine.com (June newsletter)

Brian Eberly - http://www.brianeberly.com

DashHouse.com - http://www.DashHouse.com/

Greg Boyd - http://www.gregboyd.org/blog/

Vision Advance - http://vision2advance.blogspot.com/

David Flowers - http://ddflowers.wordpress.com

Kingdom Grace - http://kingdomgrace.wordpress.com

Captain's Blog - http://www.captainestes.blogspot.com/

Christine Sine - http://godspace.wordpress.com

Darin Hufford - The Free Believers Network - www.freebelievers.com

Zoecarnate - http://zoecarnate.wordpress.com

Church Planting Novice - www.churchplantingnovice.wordpress.com

Staying Focused - http://kimmartinezstayingfocused.wordpress.com/

Take Your Vitamin Z - www.takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com

Jeff Goins - http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org

Bunny Trails - http://bunny-trails.blogspot.com

Matt Cleaver - http://mattcleaver.com

Jason T. Berggren - http://blog.jasonberggren.com/

Simple Church - http://www.simplechurchjournal.com/

Emerging from Montana - http://wordofmouthministries.blogspot.com/

Parable Life - http://www.theparablelife.blogspot.com

Oikos Australia - http://www.oikos.org.au/blog/

West Coast Witness - www.WestCoastWitness.com

Keith Giles - http://www.Keith.Giles.com

Consuming Worship -- http://www.consumingworship.org

Tasha Via - www.tashavia.blogspot.com

Andrew Courtright - www.andrewcourtright.blogspot.com

ShowMeTheMooneys! - http://www.showmethemooneys.com/

Leaving Salem, Blog of Ronnie McBrayer - http://leavingsalem.wordpress.com/

Jason Coker - pastoralia.missionaltribe.org

From Knowledge to Wisdom - http://isthistheway.typepad.com/

Home Brewed Christianity - http://www.homebrewedchristianity.com

Dispossessed - http://kblog.kevinjbowman.com

Dandelion Seeds - http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Dandelionseeds

David Brodsky's Blog- "Flip the tape Deck" - http://flipthetapedeck.blogspot.com/

Chaordic Journey - http://jeffrhodes.wordpress.com

Renee Martin - http://www.reneemartinmusic.com/profiles/blog/list

Bob Kuhn - http://organicchurchnola.wordpress.com/

Living with Freaks: www.livingwithfreaks.com

Real Worship - http://therealworshipleader.com

Fervent Worship - http://ferventworship.blogspot.com

Julie Ferwerda Blog - www.JulieFerwerda.com / www.OneMillionArrows.com

What's With Christina?! - http://w2christina.blogspot.com

Irreligious Canuck - http://www.irreligiouscanuck.com

This day on the journey - http://guychmieleski.blogspot.com

Live and Move: Thoughts on Authentic Christianity - http://liveandmove.blogspot.com/

Spiritual Journey With God - http://www.elvineve.blogspot.com/


Dries Conje - http://www.echurch.co.za / http://www.thejesusfeed.com / http://www.bookdisciple.com.

Journey with Others - http://journeywithothers.blogspot.com

On Now to the Third Level - www.080808onnowto.blogspot.com

Christine Moers - www.welcometomybrain.net

Breaking Point - http://marybethstockdale.wordpress.com

Hand to the Plough - http://www.handtotheplough.com.au

Jon Reid - http://jonreid.blogs.com/oneanother/welcome-pilgrim.html

Weblight - www.blog.worldwidewebservices.se

D. L. Webster - http://gzmproductions.com/dlwebster

Searching for the Whole-Hearted Life - wholeheartedlife.blogspot.com

SPIRITUALITY - SEARCHING FOR THE WHOLE-HEARTED LIFE

When my husband was a “pastor”, he held “chapel services” for pre-schoolers. Each week, the teachers would remind the children, “It’s time to go to chapel now.” Off they’d go to the appointed place to see and listen to the appointed person. Although we could have an interesting conversation about this; suffice it to say for now that it isn’t unusual for little ones to believe that the “pastor” is Jesus and many of these innocent hearts called Gary, “Chapel”!

We discovered that one of his pre-school friends lived in our neighborhood when he stopped to visit after spotting Gary mowing our yard. A few days later, while busy at the back of our house, I heard doors opening and closing in the front. Proceeding to investigate, I felt a slight resistance on the knob. With a bit more counter-resistance, I discovered a little face peeking back at me!

“May I help you?” I asked.
“Yes, he replied, is Chapel home?”
“No, he isn’t,” I responded.
“So, what are you doing here!” he interrogated.
Trying not to laugh, I said, “I live here. What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for Chapel,” He insisted.
Apologizing that “Chapel” wasn’t home, I promised to inform him of this visit.

Can you imagine what this little fella endured in order to find “Chapel”? I assume that he snuck out of his house and walked alone a fair distance. Seemingly without fear, he marched into a home he had never been in before. He determinedly opened and closed the front door, two closet doors and finally a fourth door at which he encountered this woman who was in “Chapel’s” house!

Among many other things, the Holy Spirit used this precious event and Philip Yancey’s Reaching for the Invisible God to help me understand my heart at that time. It seemed that no matter how hard or what I tried in order to experience intimacy with Jesus; it was fruitless. In fact, sometimes He seemed even further away. There were instances when a glimmer of intimacy would “show-up” and then vanish as quickly as it came. Yes, there were even times when it seemed like God was “just playing games”. I became weary and frustrated; yet I had an indistinct knowing that His hand was in it.

Have you ever wondered,
“What does the Whole-Hearted Life look like?
How do you search for it and where is it found?”

“Chapel’s” little friend was relentless and fearless. Had he learned that, “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” [Hebrews 11:6]? It sure seemed that nothing and no one was more important to him.

Are you enduring what seems to be a forty year wilderness experience without spiritual water to quench your thirst? Don’t quit seeking Jesus! These journeys strengthen faith, deepen awareness of how desperately He is needed and how unimportant all else is. Be relentless and fearless in searching for the Whole-Hearted Life. He never abandons His promises:

• “….For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
• Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
• You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, …” [Jeremiah 29:11-14]

“If you find God with great ease, perhaps it is not God that you’ve found.” – Thomas Merton.


Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie


DISCLAIMER:
The author of this article does not endorse everything represented on/in suggested links, books, etc. Each of us is accountable to God weigh everything according to His Word.

SPIRITUALITY: NO OTHER NAME

Although I didn’t fully understand why, I had been experiencing uneasiness regarding denominational labels prior to attending a Christian event where the speaker began the evening with asking for a show of hands from those representing various denominations; “How many Catholics are here tonight? Are there any Baptists? I bet we have some Presbyterians!” As the questioning continued, the repulsion to being compartmentalized by any religious label increased. I hoped that my denomination would be forgotten altogether.

I became lost in my Father’s presence and the revelation that in using a name other than the one my Husband, Jesus, had given me, I was being unfaithful to Him. While grieving my unfaithfulness, I was filled with a deep desire to be identified only as the Bride of Christ, acknowledging no other Name but His. His sweet peace flooded my heart with these reassuring words, “You don’t have to raise your hand. Remember, none of those names are yours anyway.”

As a young girl, I loathed my last name. It didn’t represent anything or anyone I wanted to be associated with. In fact, I dreamed of having lots of money for the purpose of changing it! During a particular time of distress over what my name represented, Jesus spoke these precious words, “Bonnie, don’t you realize that you don’t need money to change your Name? I have given you a new Name. You have My Name now. You are My daughter!”

There is peace and joy not only in being free from the tormenting connotations of a family name, but also in the renunciation of religious labels.

NO OTHER NAME
(Isa. 56:5, 62:1-12, 64:4, Eph. 3:15)

Longing for love from my daddy
Burdened with his name of shame
I dreamt of wealth, forever to change
The haunting of my father’s name

In my shame He could not keep silent.
The mouth of my Lord proclaimed,
“No longer will you be called ‘deserted’
I will give you an everlasting name.

As the Bride of Christ, you’ll be baptized
Into the power of My Precious Name
My life within you will grow stronger
Your salvation will shine like flame.”

“No other name but the name of Jesus.
No other name but the one which I gave
You have no other name, but your Bridegroom’s
Because there is no other name which saves!”

Yet, I was attracted to and deceived by others
Through the years, I claimed worldly names
Until my Husband exposed my adultery
Convicting me that I’d caused Him pain,

He said,
“Please, Treasure the Name of your Bridegroom
Renounce your marriage to all other names.
You are baptized in Me and no other man
You are My Bride, who has no other name.

I’ve crowned you with splendor and glory
Your righteousness is to shine out like the dawn
I long to rejoice over you with singing,
Please, dance for me with your white robe on.”

He said, “No other name but the name of Jesus.
No other name but the one which I gave
You have no other name, but your Bridegroom’s
because, there is no other name which saves!”

“You are so beautiful in your splendor and glory
Oh, how your righteousness shines like the dawn!”
I’m moved by His love, my white robe is flowing
As I dance before Him while singing this song;

“No other name but the Name of my Jesus.
No other name but the one which You gave
I have no other name, but that of my Bridegroom
Because there is no other name which saves!”

I’ll be called by no other name!
Because there is no other name which saves!


Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie


Copyright © 2008 by Bonnie Jaeckle

NATIONALISM - MEMORIAL DAY: FORGETTING TO REMEMBER?

Memorial Day is right around the corner. This celebration frequently stirs-up fond memories for most of us of the “beginning of summer”, family picnics, parades, visiting cemeteries, flying American flags, the first water activities of the year and the Indianapolis 500.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was officially appointed May 30, 1868 to commemorates U.S. men and women who have been killed in military action. However, “according to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who died in captivity. The freed slaves re-interred the dead Union soldiers from the mass grave to individual graves, fenced in the graveyard and built an entry arch declaring it a Union graveyard. This was a daring action for them to take in the South shortly after the North's victory. On May 30, 1868, the freed slaves returned to the graveyard with flowers they had picked from the countryside and decorated the individual gravesites, thereby creating the first Decoration Day. A parade by thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers from the area was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day)

While I certainly have no objections to remembering the 1,194,198 military service members killed in American Wars, I wonder why we don’t have a day of rememberance for the 20-40 million Native Americans needlessly annihilated or for the 15-20 million Africans who died in the slave trade, all for the purpose of American power, prosperity and imperialism?
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html, http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat0.htm#America, http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstatv.htm)

In fact, as a country which claims to be “Christian”, I wonder why America has never set aside a day to remember and honor the estimated 70 Million Christians who have died for their faith or the 171,000 Chrisitans worldwide who are martyred each year?
(http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstatv.htm,http://christianity.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=christianity&cdn=religion&tm=85&gps=238_1572_1259_573&f=00&tt=11&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.gordonconwell.edu/ockenga/globalchristianity/resources.php)

I wonder, is this an indication that Americans believe that dying for one’s country is more important than demonstrating love to other human beings or dying for one’s faith in Jesus?


Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

SPIRITUALITY - COMMUNITY LIFE

The “American way” is to be independent and self-sufficient. I know. I lived it for most of my life. As a result of many experiences, I concluded early in life that I couldn’t depend upon nor trust others. So ... I set out to prove to myself and the world that I could handle life on my own.

I climbed the career ladder, ran my household and raised my son independently. I was a perpetual student and obsessive workaholic. I never asked for help and was too busy for relationships. I accomplished my goals and the world praised me for it.

I didn’t realize that this journey would lead me not only toward independence, but self-centeredness and self-absorption, as well. It always does. It is part of our sinful nature and never what God intended for His people. It was Satan who separated himself from God and convinced Adam and Eve to do the same. As a result, all of us lean toward this independent, isolated way of life.

Although I acknowledge that I don’t qualify for the role, I thought I was protecting myself from additional hurt. In reality, I was setting myself up for separation from God. I didn’t realize that when I vowed to never trust anyone again, I was subconsciously including the only One I could trust. The more self-sufficient I became, the less need I had for others, including Jesus. Independence always leads to putting Jesus and His Kingdom “on the back burner”.

The Holy Spirit has brought me to a deeper understanding of the Father’s will to build an eternal community and that

our life together as His followers is to be the expression of the fullness of Jesus. “….The assembly is, in fact, His body, and every individual contributes to bringing His body to a state of completeness.” [Eph. 1:23, The Source.]

There is no individualism in this!

Jesus never called His followers to be isolated, self-governing “All-American Stars”. Instead, He commanded us to lay our lives down for one another in love and to live in unity so that the world would know that we are His and that His Father sent Him [John 13:34-35, 15:12-13, 17:21].

Finally, I recognize that I can’t do it alone and that God never intended for me to. I am realizing how very incomplete I am without my brothers and sisters in Jesus. When we gather together, not just once a week, but as members of a community who depend upon, encourage and help one another daily, the love and life of Jesus is expressed.

Without unity:
• everyone’s faith is weak,
• we all lack genuine knowledge of Jesus and
• the whole body remains immature [Ephesians 4:13].

Without unity, there is no life and the world is repulsed!

When Jesus observes His People in Ringgold County, what does He see? Are we living as a unified community? Is our love for each other so strong that we lay our lives down for one another? Is there genuine life amongst us or death as a result of independency and self-sufficiency? Do you suppose that the way in which we relate to one another convinces the world that we are His and that the Father truly did send His Son?


Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

HEALTH - SWINE FLU PANDEMIC

The Swine Flu Pandemic seems to be “the talk of the town”. Information about its symptoms and dangers is readily available, so let’s not go there. Instead, let’s see if we can shed some helpful light on this feverish panic. Our previous conversations (see www.whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com) about the CDC and Big Pharma should help us fit some of the inflated pieces more easily into place.

The Numbers:

According to the WHO (World Health Organization); as of April 30, there are only 257 reported cases of the Swine Flu worldwide with 8 deaths. Even if these numbers aren’t inflated as some WHO insiders say, the worldwide reported cases of this new virus does not warrant the scare tactics being employed. Remember that, despite the projections of millions of deaths, the bird flu virus killed 257 people worldwide since late 2003. 257 deaths from any disease, over the course of five years, does not constitute the fear that was stirred-up! http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_27/en/index.html

The “Treatment”:

Reportedly, the current swine flu virus responds only to Tamiflu. It’s been estimated that Big Pharma will rake-in up to $388 million from Tamiflu – not including sales as a result of a pandemic outbreak! With 12 million doses released from the government’s stockpile, as soon as the health emergency was declared, is it a coincidence that members of President Bush’s administration and the Board of Directors of the company which created Tamiflu happen to be the same people? (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hceWV2_Cu7yoSvw9iNYZ90-qnCyQD97R2FVG3, http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/pdf/HHSPandemicInfluenzaPlan.pdf)

For a one-week prescription, this “wonder drug” reduces the duration of the Swine Flu by only 1-1.5 days for $135 - $190! Yet, its common side effects are not unlike the Swine Flu symptoms. The more serious side effects, however, are:
• Convulsions
• Delirium/delusions
• neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections (resulting in 14 deaths in children/teens which led Japan to ban Tamiflu for children in 2007).

Despite the added insert warning in 2006, "people with the flu, particularly children, may be at an increased risk of self-injury and confusion shortly after taking Tamiflu….” and 1,800 reported adverse events since Tamiflu’s approval in 1999, the FDA did not begin investigating until 2007! (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-11-25-tamiflu-brain_N.htm)

The “Mystery”:

Since research indicates that this peculiar swine/avian/human flu strain is unlikely to occur naturally, where did it come from?

Army criminal investigators are investigating the possibility that disease samples are missing from the top biolab at Fort Detrick; a top scientist for the United Nations has examined and concluded that the current swine flu viruses are biological warfare agents.

In the meantime, despite the fact that just weeks ago, Baxter was under investigation for distributing seasonal flu vaccines contaminated with deadly live avian flu virus to 18 countries last December, Baxter has been elected to work with the WHO to produce a vaccine against this “mysterious” flu! This is even more alarming if one understands that the probability of mixing a live virus biological weapon with vaccine material by accident is virtually impossible! (http://www.infowars.net/articles/april2009/270409Baxter.htm, http://www.prisonplanet.com/accidental-contamination-of-vaccine-with-live-avian-flu-virus-virtually-impossible.html, http://www.prisonplanet.com/medical-director-swine-flu-was-cultured-in-a-laboratory.html)

Assuming that there will always be “mysterious” flus and vaccinations peddled as the proposed answer,

What are the best options:

• Optimize Vitamin D Levels (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/02/23/vitamin-d-deficiency-part-one.aspx)
• Increase Animal-based Omega-3.
• Eat Garlic.
• Diffuse Tea Tree Oil.
• Avoid Sugar/Processed Foods.
• Adequate sun exposure, rest and fluids.
• Reduce Stress.
• Wash Hands.
• Avoid Hospitals – unless emergent.
• Avoid Vaccines.

Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie


DISCLAIMER:
The author of this article does not endorse everything represented on/in suggested links, books, etc. Each of us is accountable to God weigh everything according to His Word.

All content of this article is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The author sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. The information herein is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This is best left to the Creator of the universe. In all health-related situations, “qualified healthcare professionals” should always be consulted. The author deems THE GREAT PHYSICIAN to be most qualified. The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material.