Don Sennott

Don & BONNIE SENNOTT

Authors of YOUR HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK: Finding Answers in God's Word

YOUR HEART IS AN OPEN BOOK: Fill it with God's Love (Expanded Large-Print Edition)

Don accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a Billy Graham Crusade in Washington, D.C. in 1952. He was six years old. Over the years since, there have been times when his life reflected his love of the Lord. During other periods, his lifestyle may have made some of his friends wonder if he was a Christian at all.

This being the case, you may ask what gave him the boldness to co-author a book on Christian living. He did not approach this effort thinking he has a lifestyle worthy of emulation. Rather, he approached it recognizing that thanks to God’s grace he has been blessed far more than anyone deserves.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works,

so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Don is a Viet Nam Era Marine Corps veteran, a 1970 graduate of the University of Maryland, and a retired sales professional. He has two sons, Darrin and John, and three grandchildren, Sierra, Savannah, and Clay.

In 2010, Don was a volunteer at the Water of Life Community Church food bank in Fontana, California. Loading and unloading groceries was his principal task. One afternoon, he happened to be listening to the message that one of the volunteers was giving to the people who had come to get food when he was nudged (he believes by the Holy Spirit) to ask the manager, Diana Vallance if he could also speak to the group. She encouraged him to prepare something for the next week. The next week he gave the message, and the next, and the next. When he realized that many of the people who came for help had limited English, he started working with a translation program to prepare the talk in both English and Spanish. The only Spanish he knew was what he had picked up studying Spanish for Dummies and other texts. It wasn’t exactly the smoothest translation, but somehow the message got across and was appreciated. Don became hooked on writing for all of God’s people.

Bonnie came into his life compliments of eHarmony. He was smitten on the first date and remains so today. (See the below poem: “Starting Over" )

They traveled to Israel on their honeymoon and were baptized in the Jordan River.

Bonnie brought her heart for Jesus to Don’s writing. The two of them became serious about scriptural-based writing after they became deacons at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church. Several of their “Deaconese” were homebound, so Don and Bonnie started writing sermon summaries to help the shut-ins feel more a part of the congregation.

After about three years, they decided to attend Saddleback Church but felt an obligation to continue serving those who had gotten used to receiving their summaries. They started putting out weekly messages based on their life experiences. Many of the pages in this book came from those stories.

At Saddleback Church, Don and Bonnie were exposed to the ideas and the writing style of Rick Warren. Several of the stories in this book reflect Pastor Warren’s influence. They also became involved in the Assisted Living Ministry, acting as hosts with a team of volunteers for weekly chapel services at Park Terrace.

Bonnie served as the Program Director for the Overeaters Rehabilitation Program at the former Long Beach Naval Hospital. She was also the Chairman of the Board of an international self-help organization.

A new chapter in the book of Bonnie’s life was opened nineteen years ago when she heard her daughter sing the Christian song “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord.” She always loved Jesus, but that song made her want to know him more deeply.

Bonnie’s daughter Dawn is an Attorney ad Litem in Arkansas. Bonnie’s granddaughter, Shayna Gregg is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.

In January 2022, Don and Bonnie relocated to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they found a welcoming and loving community.

STARTING OVER

Inspired by the poem “In Memoriam” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

“I hold it true, what 'er befall;

I feel it when I sorrow most;

‘tis better to have loved and lost

than never to have loved at all.”

That famous poem by Tennyson—I read his words and felt his pain.

A widower too, I sat and questioned, “Did he ever love again?”

Was his heart too scarred and broken? Had her death destroyed his soul?

Fearing loss, did he stay lonely, faithful to the mourner’s role?

I fear loss, but still, I’ll venture near the precipice called love,

praying God will only send me one who’ll give a gentle shove.

As I fall, I trust she’ll join me. We can let our feelings grow,

looking up to get direction, mindless of the rocks below.

Falling, falling, feeling breathless, in a senseless state of bliss,

letting go of all life’s worries, finding peace in one soft kiss.

Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all;

better still to love another if you dare to take the fall.

For everything there is a season, A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance. Ecclesiastes 1a, 4 (NLT)