HARDEE'S ON HARRISON

As a trauma nurse, I witnessed many unusual things and experienced many unforeseen circumstances.  Like the following, some of those experiences are forever branded in my mind:

It wasn’t uncommon for people to come to the E.R., complaining of one fictitious ailment or another, hoping for their predetermined outcome: drugs, attention, free room and board, etc.  This was particularly common on cold winter nights when the homeless were looking for shelter.  Most of them were in often enough that they were on a first name basis with us!  So that we could make preliminary preparations, when the paramedics radioed in, they would often provide us with gender and initials if they were transporting someone whom we all knew.  Although it isn’t likely today, back in those days, hospitals would often provide a room for the night if it was exceptionally cold outside.  It didn’t take long for word about the hospitals’ unwritten policy to travel the streets and, during really cold spells, the homeless would often relish a long hot shower, delight in a good night’s sleep and savor a decent meal.

One evening the paramedics provided us with information about a female whom they were transporting, but gave no initials.  We prepared for her anticipated needs; however after a brief examination it was evident that she truly didn’t need hospitalization and she was discharged.  She was not a happy camper!

I offered to find her a ride home; the conversation went like this:

“Do you have any relatives or friends whom I can call to come get you?”  She just stared at me.

“What is your address?  I’d be glad to ask the police to take you home.”  She looked right through me!

“Where do you sleep at night?”  “Hardee’s on Harrison,” she responded abruptly!

After spending several nights on a bench at Hardee’s restaurant on Harrison Street, evidently she’d gotten wind of the hospitals’ “standard procedure” and hoped that she’d be granted a room for the night.  She was disappointed that the outcome wasn’t what others seemed to have experienced.

My heart went out to our new E.R. friend.  Her situation reminds me of times in my life when it seemed as though I had no one to call, didn’t know where to turn and that the Provider and Comforter upon whom others had come to depend didn’t seem to be showing up for me:

Where in the universe are You?

What on earth are You doing during these endless dark nights?

Where is the assurance that You’re in the midst of my spiritual hunger and thirst?

Where am I to turn to find rest for my weary body and mind?

For the sake of Jesus, why don’t You show up?

Ever been there?

Not unlike our E.R. friends, when we plead for help, we often have a predetermined outcome in mind and get pretty disturbed when God doesn’t pull through accordingly.

Yet, Father doesn’t abandon us during these trials.  After all, it was our Creator who granted Satan limited power in Job’s life (Job 1:12) and He had an ultimate goal in mind in using “the Accuser” to test Job.  He waits and watches while holding the reins:

Will she turn to Me or others?

Will she continue to honor Me in the midst of the storm?

Will her faith in Me waiver?

To the human mind, God’s approach often seems cold and calculating and we’re typically clueless as to what His goal is, yet in due course, Job understood it well:

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

“I know that You can do all things,

and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”…

“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”…

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

Therefore I retract,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6

Like Job, when we come to the end of our trial actually seeing Him rather than simply knowing about Him, then we will realize that Hardee’s on Harrison is not such a bad place to be.

Whole-Heartedly,

Bonnie

THE WELCOME MAT

We recently had visitors from the city who hadn’t been here for a few years.  We were excited about preparing our home for them.  One of our visitors refers to himself as “somewhat of a germ freak,” so country life is a bit of a challenge for him.  While we try to accommodate him as best we can, things don’t always turn out as planned!

A few hours before they arrived, our neighbor, Robbie, came running across the pasture carrying our momma cat, Missie.  Gasping for air, he announced, “She was at our house and I think something happened to her!”  One look at Missie’s barely attached, mangled paw confirmed Robbie’s concern!  Being predisposed to infection and a prime target for predators, putting her outside was too risky!  Closing Missie in the shower for observation and treatment seemed like a better option.  While zipping through some emergency care, I prayed that she’d do well until we could offer more extended attention.

Soon our guests arrived.  While Missie seemed to be content in her new protective “cage,” as the minutes passed, her cold paw began to warm-up and the odor of dead flesh began to waft through the house.  We apologized for the smell and explained the situation.  While they were quite concerned for Missie, the “germ freak” became a bit uneasy.  The conversation went something like this:

Germ freak:  “Where is she?”

Me:  “In the shower.”

Germ freak: “The one we normally shower in?”

Me:  “Yes.”

Germ freak: silence

One of our visitors was particularly excited about seeing our Haflinger horses so... we all walked out to the pasture.  The horses came to greet us and our friends oohed and aahed over their beauty.  However, a few days before our guests’ arrival, we noticed that the gelding had rubbed an area on his hip until it was raw.  The conversation went something like this:


Germ freak:  “Oh my gosh!  What’s wrong with your horse?”

Me:  “What do you mean?”

Germ freak:  “That spot on his side!

Me:  “He’s been rubbing an itch that’s getting better with treatment.”

Germ freak:  “Why is he doing that?

Me:  “Probably some type of parasite.”

Germ Freak:  Oh!  Is it contagious?

Me:  “Could be.”

Germ Freak:  silence


It didn’t take long for the thrill of seeing the horses to wear off and we were on our way back to the house.  After a bit, we suggested taking their belongings to the guest house before dark.  At the front door of our visitors’ quarters we have a lovely mat that reads, “Welcome.”  On the mat lay our 18 year old cat, Smokie.  Under normal circumstances one might think, “How inviting!”  However, Smokie not only would not move, she cried when we touched her!  With a body full of arthritis, Smokie normally whimpered a bit when we handled her, but not like this!  We gently picked her up and lovingly placed her on the cushioned rocking chair on the front porch.  The conversation went something like this:


Germ freak:  “What’s wrong with your cat?”

Me:  “She’s old and probably isn’t going to be with us much longer.  We’re surprised she’s made it this long.”

Germ Freak:  Is she OK?

Me:  I’m not sure.

Germ freak: silence

With everything unloaded, we were blessed with a great time of fellowship.  Time flew and the hour was late when we suggested that we all head to bed.  Gary offered to accompany our guests to their lodging area to double-check that their needs were met.  When they arrived at the front door, Smokie was there to greet them… again.  However this time she didn’t cry when Gary touched her!

The conversation went something like this:

Germ freak:  “Is she ok?”

Gary:  “She’s dead.”

Germ freak:  “She died on the welcome mat?”

Gary:  “Yea, I guess so.”

Germ freak:  silence

The next afternoon arrived all too quickly, for us anyway, and it was time for our friends to get on the road.  Quite an adventure this visit was for them.  In years past, I would have reflected upon our time together and judged myself as a miserable hostess.  Today I find freedom in knowing that hospitality is an attitude of the heart.  I can honestly say that our hearts read, “WELCOME!” no matter how things might unfold.

Ya’ll come back now.  Ya hear!


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/http://whole-heartedlife.blogspot.com/">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

N.T. Wright Interview: “Simply Jesus” & Wright Responds to Critics

Frank Viola interviews N.T. Wright!  I thought some of you may be interested.

Click this link to read the unedited interview:
http://frankviola.org/2012/01/23/ntwright

Blessings, Bonnie

I Don't Do Windows

A few weeks ago I noticed that our fruit and nut trees were beginning to bud.  Yikes!  It is too early!  I admit, though, that this early sight of spring triggered an urge in me to begin some deep house cleaning.  While I’m not a spotless window freak, I really do need to get the window cleaner out.  If the “soul” of our home is mirrored by our windows as our eyes are said to be the mirror to our soul, then we’re in big trouble!

Like with many other cleaners, window cleaners cause my eyes to burn and spraying all those minute particles into the air makes it difficult for me to breath!  While many of us may not give it much thought, most window cleaners contain not only ingredients that irritate our eyes and respiratory tract, but also toxic ingredients which cause central nervous system depression and degenerative lesions in the liver and kidneys.  Why is it that we are so willing to risk such health problems, especially when plain water works just as well?

If you feel that you must use more than water, what if I told you that you can make effective window cleaner in less than five minutes that is not only less expensive and smells better than commercial brands, but is also biodegradable and most importantly non-toxic?

I think you’ll be pleased with the healthy and penny saving results of this product:

Fill a quart spray bottle with:
1 1/3 cup white vinegar
2 2/3 cups distilled water
10 drops lemon essential oil
Shake well and you’re good to go!

Window Cleaning Tips:
• Wash windows on a cloudy day or on the shaded side of your house.  Sunshine causes the cleaning solution to dry too quickly which causes streaking.
• Using newspaper as a cleaning “cloth” not only prevents streaks, it also leaves a dirt-resistant film on glass.
• You can more easily see which side of the window needs repolishing if you wipe the panes in opposite directions; i.e. outside horizontally and the inside vertically.

If you’re an avid window washer, you likely have a build-up from commercial cleaners on your windows.  Don’t expect the above recipe to remove all that residue.  Try using equal parts water and vinegar with a squirt of dish soap the first time you clean them.  If this fails, try equal parts rubbing alcohol and water with a squirt of soap.  Once you remove the build-up, there will be no need for the soap or alcohol and the initial recipe should work fine.

I know... sounds like a lot of work doesn’t it?  In fact, as I was writing this article it got me to thinkin’ about Willie Nelson’s song, “I Don’t Do Windows!”

But you’ve been mean to me sometimes
I think I better tell you what’s on my mind
I don’t do windows and I don’t come to work `til nine.
And if you make me mad, I won’t come to work anytime!

Since my husband is loving and kind, I don’t have poor Willie’s excuse.  Plus, our country view is too beautiful to miss because of grimy windows!  So… I guess I’d better get busy!

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

Where's the Beef?

Some of you might remember the 1984 Wendy’s “Fluffy Bun” commercial on which three elderly ladies closely examine a micro beef patty at the fictional burger joint, Fluffy Bun, “Home of the Big Bun”.  Having anticipated a big juicy burger, two of the ladies begin to question the size of Fluffy Bun’ patty and the 81 year old fireball, Clara Peller starts yelling angrily, “Where’s the beef?”  What a hoot!

Twenty-seven years later…

 Genetically modified bacteria in your beef patty (http://www.benthamscience.com/biot/samples/biot3-3/biot3-3/0002BIOT.pdf) should be of greater concern than its size.  The FDA has approved the use of transglutaminase (TG), a coagulation enzyme extracted from a bacterial broth, as being safe (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/gras_notices/grn000029.pdf).

According to the Federal Register notice Sec. 319.15:

“Fabricated beef steak shall be prepared

by comminuting and forming the product

 from fresh and/or frozen meat.

Transglutaminase enzyme at levels of up to 65 ppm may be used as a binder”

(http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/FRPubs/01-016DF.html).

In other words, it is acceptable to sell pieces of meat too small to serve, bone, skin, etc. mixed together with “meat glue” which maintains whatever creative form the producer imagines (http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/507019473/bone_skin_industrial_gelatin_for_industry.html).

 While the fabricated meat purchased in a grocery store is to be labeled as “formed” or “reformed,” there is no such FDA requirement for meat ordered in a restaurant.  That “prime rib” just may be scraps that are typically thrown to Fido.

Speaking of dogs… Assuming that it was mocking the use of “meat glue,” I laughed out loud when I first read this, however according to Chef Dave from the French Culinary Institute (http://www.cookingissues.com/primers/transglutaminase-aka-meat-glue), this is a legitimate way of testing the “quality” of TG!  Check this out!

“How to test meat glue: a) Rub a lot of meat glue into a piece of raw chicken; b) if it just smells like chicken your glue is no good; c) If it smells like wet dog you're good to go!”

Yum!

While the smell supposedly dissipates in a few minutes, consuming dangerous bacteria is of greater concern.  Most of us know that if we sear a piece of beef, we destroy any potential food borne illness which is most often found on the surface.  However, what happens when we glue multiple pieces together?  The dangerous toxins which normally live on the exterior are now mingled into every seam.  This is why E coli outbreaks from ground beef are more common than from whole cuts!  Searing this fabricated “cut” would be of little benefit!  But…. never fear!  TG is classified by our trusty FDA as a GRAS product (generally recognized as safe) when used properly.

While some argue that we’ve been safely using gelatin for years, TG is not gelatin.  Instead, TG has the property to bind protein rich foods like meat, poultry and seafood, or foods mixed with gelatin which is a protein.

While I don’t agree with his conclusion, Chef Dave has obviously done his homework!  He accurately explains that TG-ases are normally found in the human body holding a number of important roles including blood clotting.  However, when they are improperly regulated, they are associated with accumulation of plaque causing Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease, as well as cataracts, arteriosclerosis, etc.  Dave concludes, “None of these are related to eating food made with mTG, but rather due to imbalances in the body’s ability to regulate the TG that it produces.” Wouldn’t you think that consuming more TG than what the body deems necessary to produce would affect the body’s ability to regulate a microbial TG, especially for those having any of these pre-existing health issues?  I’m just sayin’.  (Transglutaminases in Disease, Soo-Youl Kim, et al., Neurochemistry International 40 (2002), 85-103).

Considering that most fast food chains and many restaurants now serve cloned beef, often plagued with diseases (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/15/AR2008011501555.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008011600975 ), glued together with isolated bacterial enzymes, we need some feisty consumers like Clara to rekindle the “Where’s the beef” slogan and develop an infomercial to expose these risky practices.  In fact…, my son, Jake just may be our best candidate!

On a beautiful fall day, I took Jake, who was then 3 years old, to an outdoor pork BBQ.  Our taste buds were tantalized while standing in line to get our sizzling pork loin sandwiches!  After finding an empty table where we could enjoy the meal we had long been waiting for, Jake removed the top half of the bun from his sandwich, peeked inside and queried loudly enough for all those around to hear, “Where’s the beef?”

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

DISCLAIMER:

The author of this article does not endorse everything represented on/in suggested links, books, etc.  Each of us is accountable to God to weigh everything according to His Word.  All content of this article is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech.

The Matter of the Heart is Love

I have several childhood memories of Momma and me making Valentines for family members and friends.  I recall more clearly one year in particular when Momma and I made a beautiful Valentine’s Box to hold all the cards that I anticipated receiving from my schoolmates.  Using a shoe box, we cut a slit in the lid.  We covered the entire box with bright red tissue paper and outlined the edges of the lid with ruffled white lace.  We meticulously cut various sizes of red, pink and white hearts from
construction paper and carefully glued them to the tissue covered box.  We placed some smaller hearts in the center of larger ones, sprinkled glitter on some and wrote words of affection on others.  Resting on the center of the lid was my favorite heart.  It was made of dazzling pink fabric, trimmed in elegant white lace, bigger and prettier than any other heart on the box.  It was a shattered heart, though, with an opening in the center to fit over the slit in the lid.  Every card that entered my Valentine “treasure chest” had to pass through the brokenness of this heart.

While I’m not sure why it was my favorite then, as I consider this special heart now, it has great significance to me.  I’ve come to understand, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17)  In Hebrew, “broken” and “contrite” are very expressive words.  Broken signifies “to be shattered” and contrite implies “to be crushed” into nothingness.

It is made clear in Scripture that "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9).  This stony heart with which every person is born cannot submit to the will of God, therefore it must be put to death!  A shattered spirit and a heart shattered and crushed into nonexistence are the sacrifices which God requires and looks upon with favor.
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
(Psalm 34:18)

The graphic above is an image that I believe my Lord gave to me years ago as a logo for my counseling ministry.  It depicts the heart of those who have come to that place in life where they know in the very depths of their soul that they are nothing without Jesus and that while they may have accomplished much according to the world’s standards, they can do nothing of themselves worthy of God’s attention.  While they may have professed faith in Jesus for years, it is at this pivotal point where they have come to a deeper realization that Jesus truly is their only hope.  From such a wounded heart faith proceeds and seeks God for mercy!  I used to believe that this was the position from which we are made ready to receive this precious gift;

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh
(Ezekial 36:26).

I’ve come to understand instead that it is this point at which we realize that there has been (past tense) a new life birthed within us!  While Momma and I created a beautiful Valentine Box to receive sentiments of affection from others, when God recreates us, our new heart provides a dwelling place for Jesus (Ephesians 3:17), supplies a receptacle of God’s love (Romans 5:5) which we didn’t have before and makes it possible for us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).

There is only One who deserves the glory for this death and resurrection in us!  “The Lord your God will circumcise (cut to pieces, destroy) your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6)!

The matter of the heart is Love!

Whole-Heartedly,
Bonnie

ADVICE ON LICE

Head lice are as common as lizards in the Philippines. They are everywhere! It isn’t uncommon to see family members picking through each other’s hair in an effort to eliminate the creepy crawly varmints! And guess who got them while Gary and I were there? Needless to say, they were attracted to the one with waist-long hair! There are advantages to being bald!

While Americans often contend that it is other countries with such parasitic problems,

it is estimated that up to 12 million infestations of perdiculosis (head lice) occur each year

in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age alone!

In fact, in 1996, America’s National Pediculosis Association reported that “head lice appear to be developing a resistant to commercially available chemical treatments.” While $100 million dollar a year may be good for the pediculicide industry, families are not only suffering from the expense of repeated purchases of such products, but repeated chemical exposures of these toxins are causing adverse consequences.

Not only are lice shampoos ineffective, a quick scan through FDA’s MedWatch reveals that the adverse effects of these pesticides range from minor skin irritation to death! (http://www.fdable.com/basic_query/aers/51facacd0cb8880b90eb2b16afbe0add

http://www.fdable.com/basic_query/aers/ef00b4c582ca861fee77d48b608346d5

http://www.fdable.com/basic_query/aers/2112ebb159295d1cd950a68c769cf4d4)

The chemical ingredients are known hormone inhibitors, carcinogenic, neurotoxins, allergenic and more. Not a good thing for placing on the highly permeable scalp! It is reported that 60% of what is placed on the scalp is absorbed into the blood system!

What is The Center for Disease Control and Prevention doing about this problem? David Satcher, Director of CDC told the NPA, "CDC does not have resources for surveillance or applied research programs regarding pediculosis or scabies"! I bet Mr. Satcher has never had head lice! While the local and state health departments are the ones to whom CDC refers people, they are desperate for answers to this public health crisis!

So… what did I do? Not wanting to bring the little blood-sucking critters home with me, before leaving the Philippines and against my better judgment, I tried an over-the-counter product. It burned my scalp, irritated my eyes, made me feel quite dizzy and… it didn’t work! Not wanting to go through that again, when we arrived home, I began a relentless search for how to effectively deal with these pests without harmful chemicals. While I found some very interesting suggestions, this is what stood out to me as being worth my attention:

1) Vinegar dissolves the “glue” which holds nits (lice eggs) to the hair shaft.

2) Some nit combs are more effective than others. The best one on the market seems to be the NitFree Terminator. The best price that I found is at http://www.liceinfo.net/terminator-comb.php).

3) Tea Tree oil is not only an effective insecticide that kills lice it is also a powerful repellant (http://www.rmbarry.com/research/lice-tea-tree-oil.html)!

Here is what I did! Before bed:

• Wash and towel dry hair as usual.

• Saturate hair with vinegar. Do not rinse or wring out!

• Place hair in a shower cap for thirty minutes. Place towel around neck to catch drips.

• Comb hair with nit comb. No, I didn’t comb every individual strand of hair or carefully segment it out!

• Do not rinse vinegar, replace shower cap and go to bed.

• Next morning – comb with Nit comb again.

• Four times a day rub organic Tea Tree oil, straight-up, into scalp, especially focusing on the hairline where nits like to live. Placing approximately ten drops of oil on fingertips and starting at the temple message your way to the center of scalp. Repeat with another ten drops on the other side, again from the nap up and again from forehead back.

After a few days, I quit looking for nits on the comb and crawlers in the sink. It only made me crazy! I knew I was on the right path because I began to experience less itching right away. Although I was relieved, I was persistent for at least three weeks! The life span for lice is about 30 days!

While it is often suggested that you vacuum daily, washing everything in sight, etc., lice do not live long without a human host. Besides using Tea Tree oil repels lice from wanting to be near you, so… don’t make yourself crazy trying to keep up with these time-consuming activities.

Yes, there were moments when I wondered what I would look like bald, but I can report today that my long auburn locks are louse-free. Well... at least they used to be auburn! That harsh dose of chemicals really did a number on the color of my hair (wink)!

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
DISCLAIMER:

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