Introduction
“God speaks through the music we play” Upon being asked about his theory of relativity, Albert Einstein said, "It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception." Henry ward Beecher put it this way, "Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself."
Music has always been a way of expression for me. There’s a magic power in music that allows me to connect my soul and spirit to the sounds and words. I use music to open my heart and mind so I can experience my deep feelings and aspirations.
God uses the writing of Jon and Ritchie to touch my soul and spirit. Their lyrics have helped me through the toughest times of my life and I want to share it with you. Each song that I use in this devotional has special meaning to me and I share with you how to use their songs and lyrics to help you work through challenges you might be facing in your life. Other devotions that I wrote are designed to help you find hope and inspiration so you can live your life EVERYDAY.
As I mentioned in my biography, I oversee a shelter for homeless men and a disciple program that helps men to overcome mental illness, addictions, and homelessness while at the same time teaching them how to become a disciple of Christ.
Most of the devotions I wrote come from lessons I teach to the men in the shelter and program. The concepts come from the word of God and so do most of Jon and Richie’s lyrics. Jon said in an interview that “his life was blessed.” I agree. I think it’s because the lyrics he writes are based on biblical principles.
The Purpose of the devotional
Jonnies Church
This devotional was written for “Die Hard Bon Jovi Fans” that can relate to their lyrics in a heartfelt way, fans that know their songs inside and out and fans that feel connected soul and spirit. I’m not talking about an obsession, I’m talking about a soul and spirit connection to the meaning of their lyrics.
I don’t worship the music or the lyrics I worship the creator of music which is God. Jon, Richie, Tico, and David have been blessed by God with awesome musical talent to bless us and to see us through our tough times and special times in our lives.
This is volume 1. I wrote 180 devotions because it represents half of a circle, a turning point in our lives. Volume 2 will complete My Circle. Because a circle is never ending I decided to write 3 more volumes.
Volume 2 will consist of 180 devotions that focus on Love and Relationships. As you know Jon and Richie write a lot of songs about love so were going to explore the lyrics together and apply them to our lives and relationships.
Volume 3 will be about: How to Overcoming Addictions. The foundational song will be “Something for the Pain.” I agree with Jon “addiction is not a death sentence.”
Volume 4 will be about: Overcoming the effects of living in a dysfunctional family. The foundational song will be “I just want to be loved” and “Everybody’s Broken.”
Hello to the newcomers: Just a side note, if you’re a new generation fan … Welcome to where you are. Get to know all their songs and listen along.
The main purpose of this devotional is to help you to make deeper applications and connections to Bon Jovi’s music and heartfelt lyrics so you can be inspired and motivated to live out your passions, dreams and to help you overcome any obstacles you might be facing.
Songs are like snapshots and there’s a story behind every song Jon and Richie wrote and I try to bring it out in the devotions.
“Welcome to Wherever You Are” will help you:
1.Explore in depth the meaning of Bon Jovi lyrics based on my life experiences. “Step in to the deep end and make yourself a home.” (Everybody’s broken)
2.Find the songs that will encourage you, inspire you and motivate you.
3.Develop a better understanding of your self
4.Improve your relationships
5.Deepen your faith
6.Heal emotionally and spiritually
7.Clarify the vision you have for your life and relationships
8.Discover the truth about yourself and the direction your life and relationships are heading
9.Work through and overcome challenges and circumstances by digging into the lyrics and applying them to your life
10.Discover what might be holding you back from experiencing peace, happiness, joy and success
11.Identify and deal with any bad habits, hurts and hang-ups that you might have.
In this devotion I use the word “God.” For me God means the Trinity… God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit but it might mean something different to you. Please feel free to substitute or replace the word God with whatever word that represents your Higher Power.
Note: This devotional wasn’t designed for you to read it through in one sitting. It was designed to be read one day at a time.
Also you might think after working through the devotion that some parts of the devotion are redundant. It’s intentional. If you’re like me you need to be inspired, motivated, encouraged and kicked in the butt more than once. I think we need to hear these messages repeatedly so they sink into our minds and become part of our belief systems. Look at it this way it’s just like listening to a Bon Jovi song over and over. You know we all do it. Enjoy. You’re a work in progress and God’s miracle. Have a Nice Day.
How to use this devotion
Today’s Mantra
Today’s mantra is the song or songs that you will be listening for that day. I choose the word mantra because it means a word or formula, sung as an incantation or prayer or a sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer and meditation. I also choose it because of the lyric in “In These Arm”… And these were our words…Our words were our songs…Our songs are our prayers…These prayers keep me strong.
There’s many times when I’ve had something on my mind and I just couldn’t put words to it until I listen to Bon Jovi and most of the time it would come crystal clear. There music does the talking and says the things I/we want hear (Triumph- Magic Power).
Bon Jovi’s music is affirming, inspirational and motivational. When I turn their songs into my prayers I feel like I can face any challenge or any obstacle that comes my way.
You can listen to the songs before, during or after you read the devotion. It’s your choice. There’s no wrong way. The song or songs address the message I bring to you in the devotional. The goal is to use the message in the song to motivate you and to inspire you to live out your values and beliefs as well as to keep you focused on living your life to the fullest “Everyday”.
Today’s lyrical focus
Today’s lyrical focus is the lyrics that you will be focusing on for that day. I choose the word “lyrical because it means poetic, inspired, emotional, romantic and expressive which to me defines the heartfelt writing of Jon and Richie.
Each lyric has meaning and a heartfelt message to it. The devotion will address the message and meaning behind the lyric(s). What I suggest is that you listen to the song and focus on the lyrics I have listed and think about what the lyric or lyrics mean to you personally. Ask yourself, how can I apply it to my life and the situation I’m in?
Disclaimer: The message and meaning behind the lyrics are my interpretations not Bon Jovi’s.
Quotes
I hand pick the quotes so that they go along with the lyric and devotion. Take the time to read them and think about them. Quotations help us remember the simple yet profound truths that give life perspective and meaning (Criswell Freeman). I want to encourage you to take time and find ways to apply them to your life.
Reflection
At the end of each devotional you will find questions to help you personalize the message and to put it into action. Take your time and work through each question. Some devotionals will have more questions to answer than others, take your time and complete the questions before you move to the next devotional. I suggest that you purchase a journal or a notebook to record your answers. Remember this is the “Story of your Life.”
Try to find a quiet place so you can write and express yourself without being interrupted. Make sure you have time to read through the devotional and answer the questions. Allow God to transform you through the music and the lyrics. He did it for me and I know he will do it for you.
I strongly suggest that you work through the devotional for 4 days then complete the review and repair questions. Please make sure that you completed all the questions before moving onto the next devotion. Remember this is an action orientated devotion that encourages you to take action.
As you read through the devotional you might sense repetition in the messages. This is intentional. I believe we learn through repetition. I think we need to hear these messages repeatedly so they sink into our minds and become part of our belief systems. Look at it this way it’s just like listening to a Bon Jovi song over and over. You know we all do it .
Review and Repair
You will find a review and repair section following the fourth devotion that consists of questions to work through. Please take your time to process your reflections and what you’ve been learning and working on. This will help you to apply what you’re learning to your life.
Characters
I use Tommy, Gina, Jimmy, Billy Jean, Joey and Jimmy shoes to illustrate the message I want to give you in the devotion. So I created a fictional story behind the character .These are my interpretations to the characters and the meaning behind the lyrics. I think we can put ourselves in the shoes of these characters. Keep your mind and heart open. Allow your imagination to flow.
In the last chapters of the devotion I give you an idea of what Volume 2 is going to be like. I’m using the format and similar topics. Tommy and Gina’s relationship will be the model I’m going to use to help you to apply Bon Jovi’s lyrics to your life and hopefully teach you how to deepen and strengthen your love in all your relationships.
The title of the next devotion is “All about Loving You.”
Biography
Michael Barbarulo is a noted, well credentialed and trained professional in the field of addictions, homelessness emotional, behavioral and personality disorders. Mike is currently the Director of Men’s Ministries and Shelter operations for the City Mission of Schenectady. He has spent the last 18 years as a, counselor, therapist and Life Coach working with adults, adolescents, homeless men/women and the criminal justice population. Michael is a mental health/addictions educational consultant. He’s also receiving his PhD in Counseling.Michael lives in North Greenbush with his wife Joelle and his two kids Michael and Alyssa.
Contact information
Email: proactivesolutions42@gmail.com
Website: www.proactivesolutions.org
Dedications
To my Wife, Michael and Alyssa
Thank you for your love and support for the last year in a half. I really appreciate you. I’m all about loving you.
To Jon
Thank you for your passion, heart and transparency that bleeds’ throughout your music and lyrics. God has used you to get my life focused and centered on Jesus and my wife and kids thank you for that. You’re helping me to take control of my destiny. “The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection” (Thomas Pain). You’re truly an inspiration to me so keep writing you’re book. P.S I would bet my life that there is a lot of Bon Jovi fan’s in heaven.
To Richie
You’re the best guitar player I have ever heard because you play from your heart and soul. Your chords run deep through my spirit. God has a special place for you when you go home to be with him. He’s going to put you right next to Him so you can play … Keep the Faith and Living on a Prayer. Thank you my brother. “To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage” (Lao Tzu)
To Dorthea
What can I say “behind every good man is a good woman.” Thank you for keeping Jon focused and grounded.
To Tico
Thank you for your quite strength and your humility. “He's like a quiet strength. He's a strong man, when you get him, you get his best.” (Dennis Washington)
To David
Thank you for your strength that comes out through the keyboards and changing your mind and joining Jon at the conception.
To Hugh
Like you said in an interview, “You’re just the bass player.” No seriously, thanks for keeping Tico in beat and filling the shoes of Alex.
Table of Contents
Welcome to Wherever You Are…. It’s your Life
1.Personal Connections to Welcome to Wherever You Are and It’s my life
2.You have a purpose
3.Defining purpose
4.Living consciously
Review and Repair
5.Getting to know yourself
6.Looking at Reality
7.Love what you do
8.Break loose
Review and Repair
9.Defining your purpose
10.Love what you do
11.Time to make some decisions
12.What drives you?
Review and Repair
13.Believe it or not, your values are a road map for your life
14.New beginnings
15.My Challenge
16.Go the Distance
Review and Repair
17.Storms
18.Bless the curse
19.Look at the “Big Picture”
20.Life’s ups and down
Review and Repair
21.Transitions
22.It’s hard
23.Letting go what use to be
24.Go Deep
Review and Repair
25. Stop making yourself feel guilty
26. Feel the fear and do it anyway
27. Just getting through
28. Feel your life
Review and Repair
29. Taking life for granted
30. UGLY
31. Change yourself
32. The path of no risk is the biggest risk of all
Review and Repair
33. Be Assertive
34. Belly Flips
35. Face the Truth: Everybody’s broken
36. Working through your brokenness
Review and Repair
37. Nobody’s perfect
38. Turn your scars into stars
39. Living a life that works for you
40. Passion, Passion and More passion
Review and Repair
41. Sacrifice and Belief
42. Just older
43. Share your pain
44. Let go of old ideas
45. Be resilient and stay strong
Review and Repair
46. No Pain no gain
47. Handicaps don’t matter
48. Finding Comfort
49. Okay I need help
Review and Repair
50. Joey needed to grow up
51. Eyes wide open
52. Accept what you can’t change
53. Crisis vs. Opportunity
Review and Repair
54. Mend it don’t end it
55. Light a candle and “Pray together”
56. Stone of Faith
57. Happy Endings
Review and Repair
58. Simplify your life (Pt 1)
59. Keep going
60. Lean on yourself
61. God has given you a melody to write
Keep the Faith
62. Personal connections to Keep the Faith, and I Believe
63. Fight
64. Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened
65. What do you believe?
Review and Repair
66. Keep your faith
67. Get back up
68. Live in the moment
69. Forgiveness
Review and Repair
70. Courage
71. Novocain
72. Risking
73. Be true to yourself
Review and Repair
74. Roll the dice
75. Misery is optional
76. Hold onto hope
77. Emmanuel
Review and Repair
78. Stay hopeful
79. Stand in the rain so no one sees me
80. Come in out of the rain and get a hug
81. Honesty
Review and Repair
82. Nothing but the truth
83. You hurt me
84. When you feel like a headline on yesterday’s news
85. Communicating our feelings
Review and Repair
86. Facing our hurt
87. Seventy times seven
88. Forgiveness build the bridge
89. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto
Review and Repair
90. Facing the truth will set us free
91. Attachments
92. Skinned knees
93. Concealed anger
Review and Repair
94. Nothing but the truth
95. What’s missing now?
96. Life is a promise
97. Reality is merely an illusion
Review and Repair
98. Carry on
99. You’re not helpless or hopeless
100. Blue eyes crying
101. These Days
102. Yo Adrian we did it
Review and Repair
103. Relationship Barriers
104. Relationships enlighten us and keep us alive
105. Bargaining with God
106. Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Review and Repair
107. Loving myself
108. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up
109. Anger
110. When troubles strike
111. Patience and persistence
Review and Repair
Bounce Back & Have a Nice Day …Everyday
112. Personal connections to Have a Nice day and Everyday
113. Character
114. Role models
115. Busting Loose
Review and Repair
116. Patient Endurance
117. Happiness is a choice
118. Open Road
119. No Brakes
Review and Repair
120. Silent Scream
121. Achievers
122. Achievers are determined
123. Naysayers
Review and Repair
124. Stay committed
125. Keep on trudging
126. Knocked down but not knocked out
127. Mean people suck
Review and Repair
128. We all fail from time to time
129. Michelangelo
130. Obstacles and Detours
131. Fail forward
Review and Repair
132. Create your reality
133. Promises, Commitments, Dreams
134. Persistence & passion
135. Stay focused and positive no matter what
Review and Repair
136. Relax … Life is a Journey
137. Everybody’s a critic
138. Beautiful Pearl
Review and Repair
139. Keep your Joy
140. Getting past your past
141. Home sweet home
142. Family rules
Review and Repair
143. Who am I now
144. Defense we use as an adult child
145. Life doesn’t just happen
146. Reassure yourself
Review and Repair
147. Self respect
148. Bill of Rights
149. Face your shadows
150. Family Scenes
Review and Repair
151. Making peace with your parents
152. Making peace with your past
153. Real Heroes
154. Forgive so you can bounce back
Review and Repair
155. Mom & Dad, why do I have to forgive?
156. Thank God for mistakes
157. Flexibility
158. God will fight your battles… all you need is faith
Review and Repair
159. Stink-in Think-in
160. Can Do Mentality
161. Say Goodbye to Anxiety and Worry
162. Lighten your load
Review and Repair
163. S.O.S
164. Survive or Thrive
165. Attitude
166. Stand your ground
Review and Repair
167. Confessions of Gina
168. Confessions of Tommy
169. Claim your rights
170. We need to talk
Review and Repair
171. Milton Hershey
172. The Secret of success is failure
173. What limitations?
174. Is your life really that bad?
Review and Repair
175. A note from Tommy
176. My perspective on life
177. Don’t bend don’t break an don’t you dare back down
178. Tommy needed me
Review and Repair
179. Close your eyes to see
180. Full Circle
Review and Repair
EXCERPT FROM VOLUME 2
1. Thank you for Loving Me
Personal Connections
Today’s Anthem’s
Welcome to Wherever You Are
It’s my life
Today I want you to take some time and listen to “Welcome to Wherever You Are” and “It’s my life” and work through the following questions.
1. What do I think about when I listen to these songs (for instance: memories, people, places and things)?
2. How do I feel when I listen to these songs? Explain.
3. What do these songs inspire me do?
4. In what ways do these songs remind me of changes I need to make in my life?
5. How do these songs help me?
6. The main messages I get out of these songs are…
Here are my personal connections to “Welcome to wherever you are” and “It’s my life”
“It’s my Life” and “Welcome to Wherever You Are” encourages me to reflect on the following issues:
1. Not being judgmental about where you are in life. (Richie Sambora)
2. Accept yourself and where you are in life.
3. Accepting each other’s opinions politically and moving forward ( Jon)
4. Staying passionate
5. Staying hungry
6. Respecting each other’s differences (We all are different but yet the same -Bon Jovi)
7. Facing reality each day
8. Loving ourselves no matter what
9. Accepting that God sees us as a miracle
10. New beginnings
11. Seeing loss as a part of life.
12. Living consciously
13. Developing self respect
14. Self efficacy
a. Being confident to face your situation, and learning and stretching so you can learn what you need to from the situation you’re in.
15. Personalizing your mistakes and failures, learning from them and moving forward.
16. Addressing denial and facing the truth.
17. Pride and humility
18. The importance of living your values.
19. Life’ interruptions ( life changes like the weather- Bon Jovi)
You Have a Purpose
Today’s Mantra
Lost High Way
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Today’s lyrical focus
We all have the blood of Eden running through our veins
Welcome to wherever you are is a song about meeting yourself where you are in life and believing that you have purpose. Because “we have the blood of Eden running through our veins”, we all have talents, gifts and abilities to contribute to the world. “Everyone is a miracle in their own way.” Budda said, “Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”
It’s important to take the time to get to know the real you by asking yourself questions like, Who am I? Who do I want to be? What do I want to be known for? Am I caught between who I am and the person I want to be? We all have roles to play in this life and we need to check in from time to time to see if we are growing into the person we want to be. Napoleon Hill said it this way,“If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.”
Reflection
I want you to listen to “Welcome to Wherever You Are” and “It’s my Life, and answer the following questions. I recommend that you listen to the song several times. Record your answers in your journal. Remember if your “Life is worth living, it’s worth recording.” (Anthony Robbins)
1. What do I think about when I listen to this “Welcome to Wherever You Are” and “It’s my Life (for instance: memories, people, places and things)?
2. Am I the person I want to be?
3. How do I feel when I listen to this song?
4. What does the song inspire me do?
5. Does the song inspire me to make any changes my life? Explain?
6. Does the song show me I’m were I’m supposed to be? Explain?
Defining Your Purpose
Today’s Mantra
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Today’s lyrical focus
“Caught between who you are and who you want to be”
I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.” ~Og Mandino
God has given everyone a purpose for their life. As Jon said “Everyone’s a miracle in their own way.”We all have talents and abilities to make an impact on this world. I think it’s important to take the time to discover your passions and dreams. We all want to know why we exist.
For those who are living their passions and dreams don’t expect everything to go your way. It’s not unusual to hit speed bumps now and then. Just don’t quit. Push through and fight even harder. Always trust God to give you the strength and direction you need and always “Keep the Faith.”
The first thing you need to do to find and discover your passions and dreams is to stop and think about the legacy you want to leave. What impact do you want to make? What do you want people to think and feel when they hear your name? What makes you excited and jazzed every day? Jon wanted to be a rock star and look at him now.
Responsibility is the key to creating the life you desire. You have the ability to respond in any way you want to. In order to take responsibility for your life and situation, make sure you eliminate any excuses you might have, if you’re having a pity party, stop. If you continue to blame people, places and things for your life, nothing will change. This leads to failure and heartbreak. Washington Irving said it best, “The easiest thing to do, whenever you fail, is to put yourself down by blaming your lack of ability for your misfortunes.”
Reflection
1. My personal definition of responsibility is…
2. I’m removing the following excuses…
3. I’m afraid of…
4. Reasons why my life can change are…
5. How will my life change if I take responsibility?
6. How will my life be one year from now if I don’ take responsibility?
Living Consciously
Today’s Mantra
Welcome to Wherever you are
Keep the Faith
Today’s lyrical focus
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” ~ Oscar Wilde
Self awareness plays a big part in our quest for success and happiness. According to John Gottman, “In the last decade or so, science has discovered a tremendous amount about the role emotions play in our lives. Researchers have found that even more than IQ, your emotional awareness and abilities to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships.” This is way practicing self awareness is so important.
Sometimes life can get so busy that we lose touch with ourselves and others. It’s not uncommon for a person to wake up one day and realize their not happy. As a Life Coach I come across this a lot. People wake up one day and realize that their life is out of control or for some reason is going in the wrong direction or their relationships are falling apart. If I just described you there is hope and it starts with the self discipline of becoming self aware. Welcome to wherever you are encourages you to take a look at where you are right now in this very moment. If you don’t like your life you can change it. Maria Robinson said “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Reflection
1. Describe your life as it is currently.
2. Am I happy with my life? How can I make it better if I wanted to? Explain.
3. List 10 things you want out of life. When you’re done write a paragraph describing what you want.
Review and Repair
1. What did I learn this past week about myself. God and others?
2. What concepts or ideas stood out to me in the devotions? Why?
3. What adjustments do I need to make in my life?
4. What needs to change (if anything) about how I think feel and act?
5. What changes have I made so far? What actions have I taken?
6. How are people reacting to my changes?
7. Steps I will continue to take are…
8. I’m committed to…
9. My victories this week were…
10. God please help me with…
Impressum
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 19.12.2010
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