What Planet Are You From? Part III

Is “heaven” a place where we go someday to live in a city of precious metals and jewels, as we’ve been taught, or is it an expression of something spiritual that can not be touched?

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched….But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God (Hebrews 12:18, 22).

The Jewish church state was formed on Mount Sinai.  It was a touchable place, a place where much was about outward and earthly things.  The gospel Church is formed on “Mount Zion”; it is neither an earthly nor a material mountain.  It is about inward and spiritual things.  It is everything that we have in Christ Jesus!

We read that the author of Hebrews says, “You have come to … the heavenly Jerusalem…”  This is past tense!  It has already happen!  You are there!  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19).  While we remain foreigners and aliens in this world, we are “a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9-11).

As a tangible community, the lifestyle and fellowship demonstrated by its faithful and humble citizens announce to the world and beyond that Jesus has shattered their enslavement by and to idolatrous powers in this world and that Father’s glorious kingdom is already at hand.

We are given a glimpse of the untouchable, yet magnificence of the holy city in Revelation 21:2-23; 

(2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband...Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. (12) It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel...(18) and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone...and the twelve gates were twelve pearls...and (22) I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb

1 Corinthians reads 3:16 reads, Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?  Is this a contradiction to what we read in Revelation?  How can we be the temple of God, yet the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple?

Because Jesus prayed, May all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them (John 17:20, 21, 26).

I pray that you find comfort in knowing that while you may be an alien to the rest of the world, as a child of the Father, you don’t have to wait to dwell with Him in His city.

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth….  They were longing for a better country--a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).

This is what the “good news” is all about!  The Kingdom of God has come!  If you are “in Jesus,” you’re already home!

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S.  Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/.  You may also contact me at:

             Bonnie Jaeckle

             In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

             Diagonal Progress

             505 Jefferson St.

             Diagonal, IA 50845

What Planet Are you From? Part II

Do you ever feel as though no matter how hard you try, you’re never understood?  Do you often feel all alone even when you’re surrounded by others?  Does it feel as though others perceive you as an alien from a different planet?

The Hebrew word for alien is understood to mean “one who is not a part of any worldly culture, someone who doesn’t fit anywhere.”  This is something that the Psalmist clearly understood!

Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were (Psalm39:12).

Isn’t it interesting to consider that the Psalmist was dwelling with his Lord on earth at that moment in time?  It was always my understanding that this world is not my home and that I would someday “go to heaven” to live in the place that Father is preparing for me.  What I didn’t realize until more recently is that the word “heaven” was a common Jewish term for “God”, often substituted for the divine name to avoid possible misuse.  33 times, Matthew refers to the “kingdom of heaven”.  He only uses the “kingdom of God” 4 times.  Mark and Luke, however always refer to “the kingdom of God”.

The Hebrew and Greek words for kingdom primarily mean “rule” or “reign.” Both terms refer to the exercise of God’s power, dominion, or sovereignty.  The inauguration of the Kingdom of God was manifested in Jesus.  God’s kingdom is where Jesus is and He said that He is here now!

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15).

As the body of Christ, then, the Kingdom is within us.

Having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, Jesus answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21).

Jesus taught us to pray, saying, “Thy Kingdom come thy; will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Mat 6:10.  In that, we are praying, “May the Kingdom of God be accomplished in and through us wherever we go, whatever we do!”

Jesus told His disciples, Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’ (Luke 10:8-9)!

While I realize that a three part article may be difficult to follow, please hang in there with me for next week’s Part III.  I think that you’ll find the conclusion quite challenging!

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S.  Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/.  You may also contact me at:

             Bonnie Jaeckle

             In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

             Diagonal Progress

             505 Jefferson St.

             Diagonal, IA 50845

What Planet Are You From?

We just purchased airline tickets to visit Gary’s family in Virginia.  For some reason, this conjures up thoughts of a previous trip that we made out East a couple of years ago.

Our flight left very early in the morning, so we decided to stay in our camping van overnight at the airport.  A storm brewed up in the middle of the night and soon the wind was so strong that it blew the vent cover on our roof nearly off its hinges.  The noise and rain pouring onto our bed woke us up!  Wrestling against the wind, we finally got the cover pulled back over the vent.  By that time our bed was soaking wet!  It was two in the morning and we had to be in line for security checks in two hours.  A soggy bed… two hours… why bother trying to go back to sleep!  Instead, we lugged our suitcases through the rain to our assigned terminal which was pitch-black with no one in sight.  Watching the marquis, Gary noticed that our flight had been canceled.  He quickly called our travel agent who got us the last seats on the only flight going out.  This flight had us leaving Moline, Illinois, going to Minneapolis, to Atlanta and then to Virginia. 

While waiting for our flight in Minneapolis, I noticed that there was another flight scheduled to Atlanta before ours.  I inquired at the desk and they were able to get us in the last seats available.

Meanwhile, Gary’s face was starting to itch.  Was he having a nervous reaction to the stress?

We knew it was going to be a close call to connect with our flight in Atlanta; however, we had no idea how far it was to get to our departing terminal!  Huffing and puffing, we slid through the gate just as they were starting to close the doors! 

By this time, Gary’s hands and legs were beginning to itch.  What in the world was going on?

When we finally arrived in Virginia, four hours late, we stood sleepy-eyed waiting at baggage claims to no avail.  Our luggage hadn’t arrived with us so we made our way to the customer service desk!

We explained to the receptionist that our flight itinerary had been changed several times since we purchased out tickets and that our luggage had not arrived.  She asked from where our initial flight originated.  “Moline,” Gary responded.  She suggested, “Well, when you come from a different country you have to go through customs.”  In his best mustered-up patient tone, Gary pronounced, “Moline.  We came from Moline, Illinois!”  She responded, “Yes and you must go through customs.”  While I held my tongue, I wanted to scream at her, “What planet are you from, lady?”

I never considered that maybe the problem was with us!  By this time Gary was developing welts on his face and itching everywhere.  He did kind of look like a refugee who needed to be quarantined!  Unbeknownst to us, he had gotten into some poison ivy just before we left and before it was over there was no inch of his body unaffected!

Do you ever feel as though no matter how hard you try, you’re never understood?  Do you often feel all alone even when you’re surrounded by others?  Does it feel as though others perceive you as an alien from a different planet?

I have some words of comfort for you.  Please stay tuned for next week’s Part II of “What Planet Are You From?”

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S.  Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/.  You may also contact me at:

             Bonnie Jaeckle

             In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

             Diagonal Progress

             505 Jefferson St.

             Diagonal, IA 50845

Marigold’s Babies

You likely recall my story about Gary and me tugging and pulling trying to get a very resistant pregnant goat transferred from my brother’s barnyard to ours.  Hoping to beat the arrival of her babies, I've worked diligently to get her trained to get on the stanchion to eat.  I’ll tell you, she’s not a stupid cookie!  She maneuvered every which way trying to get to the treat waiting for her without having to get up on that stanchion!  We nailed a sheet of metal to the side of the stanchion so that she wouldn't go around it for the treat.  We nailed another sheet of metal to the front of the stanchion so that she had to put her head through the proper opening in order to get to the snack.  Little by little she learned that if she really wanted that treat, she’d have to find a way to get those wide horns through the narrow head-stall.  One day she’d do it.  The next day she’d balk.  As she came to understand that I had no intention of hurting her, she did it more and more without hesitation.  At first I allowed her to eat without locking her in.  Then I began to lock her in extending the time period each day.  Once she was used to the head-stall, I began to touch, rub and tug on her utter until she was willing to allow me to do it without resistance.  As the days went by she and I became friends.

I had read that goats like to eat Marigolds and here at Marigold Meadows we have lots of them.  So I gathered up some dried flower heads one day and took them to her as a gift.  I explained to her that she and I would soon spend time together milking every day and that she would be providing a very important need for us at Marigold Meadows.  I asked her if she would mind if I called her “Marigold”.  While she obviously didn't verbally respond, twice a day Marigold hears me coming and makes sure that she is in the barnyard to greet me with her gentle bleating.

As the days went by Marigold’s tummy got so big that I swore she had a truck-load of goaties in there.  Her udder got so full that she could barely walk, but she was always there to greet me.  Until one day, not only didn't I see her when I came across the meadow, I didn't hear her either.  My heart leaped with anticipation. 

I came around the corner of the barn

and there she was with twins

 that were still moist from the delivery!

I must have just missed it because shortly after I arrived, she delivered the placenta.  I was so excited I could hardly talk.  I went into the barn where they were and asked Marigold if I could see her babies.  She had no problem with my presence.  In fact, as I picked her babies up into my arms to welcome them to our farm, Marigold looked at me as if to say, “ Aren't they just precious?”  I couldn't agree more.

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S.  Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/.  You may also contact me at:

             Bonnie Jaeckle

             In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

             Diagonal Progress

             505 Jefferson St.

             Diagonal, IA 50845

Tis the Season for Egg Nog

Tis the season for egg nog!  Well, it was for many people over the last few weeks, anyway.   My husband, Gary is not a big egg fan.  However, he loves egg nog.  Figure that out!  J  Having chickens in our farm yard menagerie, we have plenty of eggs!  While we typically purchase a carton or two of eggnog while it is “in season”, I decided to try my hand at developing an egg nog recipe without all the artificial colors, flavors, added chemicals, etc.  Wanting to tweak the ingredients, if necessary, I took it to a family gathering and asked for honest opinions.  It was sure a big hit!  Not only is it very fresh and health, it is extremely easy.  I can’t imagine ever buying egg nog from the grocer again.  I thought that you might be interested in giving it a try.  If you like egg nog, you won’t be disappointed!

Place 6 farm fresh eggs in a blender

Add 3/8 -1/2 cup of raw honey, 3 cups fresh milk and 1 tsp nutmeg

Blend.

Pour this into a large jar or pitcher and add another 3 cups of fresh milk.  Stir well and serve while nutmeg is not settled in the bottom.

While the “holiday season” is now over and you’ll have difficulty finding egg nog on shelves in grocery stores, you can make this any time you have a hankerin’ it!  I hope you whole-heartedly enjoy my recipe!  We sure did!

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

P.S.  Please feel free to contact me with questions, thoughts, topics you’d like to ponder or to read past articles at: http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/.  You may also contact me at:

             Bonnie Jaeckle

             In Search of the Whole-Hearted Life

             Diagonal Progress

             505 Jefferson St.

             Diagonal, IA 50845