Anonymity was the answer a year ago. God compelled me to share the hope my marriage has received regarding sexual intimacy stumbling blocks, but I wasn’t sure where it would ultimately lead. Anonymity allowed me to wander while writing about Christian marital sexual intimacy.
As I found my niche and voice (Hello, low-libido sisterhood!), several things came together that made me realize transparency was needed more than ever.
The first is the opportunity to have a voice in my real-life community for Christian Marital Sexual Intimacy through the magazine site, Wilmington Faith and Values. So, you may see me link over to them. I want to serve marriages in my community in a relational way. (April 2017 update, unfortunately Wilmington FAVS lost its funding and is no longer operating.)
The second is to truly live out being radically real. I want to be a part of the Christian Sexspiracy: A conspiracy to be more open about sexual intimacy. Low-libido ladies have a hard time wrapping their minds around the fact that sexual intimacy is large factor in the ‘happiness quotient’ of most marriages.
I want to be a part of the revolutionary pattern that helps marriages by acknowledging that things are imperfect with humans, but with divine power, things can be made new. I can do this better with total transparency.
The third is “Fear Not.” This decision has been months in the making. Over and over again, verses came into my view with this resounding theme. “Fear Not.”
Fear Not that you are revealing the face to go along with your weaknesses. Because through weakness, God’s strength is shown……
As year 2 of OysterBed7 commences, I hope you like the fresh look of the blog.
I adore the Pearl pseudonym. But, my real name is Bonny Logsdon Burns from Wilmington, NC. Gone from the sidebar is the back of my head, replaced with my smile to greet you.
My husband, Dave, wholeheartedly supports this blog and was prayerful with me in regards to the decision to come out of my shell. He will continue to be a.k.a. Mr. Muscle in my posts. Not much else about OysterBed7 is going to change.
(Note to self: “Fear Not.”)
Good on ya, Pearl! er, uh… Bonny!
Perhaps instead of a Bonny lass you can be a Bonny Pearl, eh? 😉
Keep doing what you’re doing. The world needs your words.
Thx @SongSix3!! You and Tiff are wonderful encouragers. We’re in an incredible minstry together. Being in the south, Bonny Pearl is totally acceptable. 🙂
We spent a total of 6 years living in Charleston, SC… know EXACTLY what you mean! Almost everyone we met down there went by two names!
LOL!
Bonnie Pearl should have red hair, no?
Bonnie – Love what you do, and glad to see God moving you out into the light. Our blessings and continued prayers.
Hehe… My own bonny lass certainly has red hair, and I LOVE it!
You are awesome, Bonny! I’m so glad to be able to read your blog and also call you “friend”! I’m so proud of you and your servant’s heart! May God bless your steps and outreach!
Thank you, Gretch! Who knew where those talks into the wee hours of church camp would go. I hated when the kids would knock on the counselors’ door to tell us to be quiet…….said no counselor EVER. LOL..I value our friendship and we’ll see where God leads.
Glad to know you even more now. I really appreciate everything you stand for and how you have used this space in the past year. May God continue to bless you!
Megan
Thank you, Megan! 2013 has lots in store, I just don’t know what yet. 🙂
That’s so cool that you’re in Wilmington.. I live in Jacksonville! If you ever do any events or seminars, I’m there! 🙂
Hey fellow tarheel! Awesome! I’ll let you know if anything is developed this way. 🙂
Nice to meet you, Bonny! So happy you’ve decided to not be anonymous anymore! I know anonymous writers have great reasons for being anonymous but I’m always just burning with curiosity to know them for real!
Hey Elizabeth, thanks for you encouragement and for your excellent work at Warrior Wives. I’m totally real and hope my ordinariness lives up to your curiosity. 🙂
Or, since you’re in the South, “Miss Bonnie Pearl!” I’m excited for you for the next phase of your ministry. I think you are brave, but I know you would say that you aren’t, rather that God is leading, guiding and caring for you.
Love the picture of you and Mr. Muscle!
Gaye
Thanks, G! Keep me in your prayers.
Well done, good and faithful servant! This brought me so much joy (and tears) to read! Love to see your smiling face!
Thank you encouraging kindred spirit! God’s got something in store, I’m just holding on and prayerfully being obedient.
Welcome, Bonnie. Nice to see your face. 🙂
Thank you, Lori.
Woot! Woot! Congratulations! You both exude the love of Jesus on your faces. Thank you for coming out and thank you for being a blessing to my young marriage.
Thanks, Gracie! If you are blessed, it’s because of the Lord! How fun to get a ‘Woot!’ I don’t think I’ve ever had one before. 😉
So excited to finally see the smiling face behind such an encouraging corner of the blog world !!! Yay Bonny Pearl 😉 Yes Bonny Pearl you shall be cause in the south its just better to have two names 😉
Kait in Alabama
It is better to have two names, maybe it will double the encouragement? LOL! Thanks for YOUR encouragement, Alabama Kait!
OK, we’ll give Bonny Pearl a shot. 🙂
What have I done?? LOL!
Bonny Pearl you shall be!
I am so proud of you “Bonnie Pearl”. We welcome the new look to your website, seeing you and Mr. Muscle’s smiling faces, and just knowing you are as close as you are to me is really cool! I live in Greensboro, NC! :)You have opened many doors for my marriage and my husband REALLY thanks you for it. 🙂 I feel the Lord has his Hand all over you and your ministry…you can’t get any better than that!
G’boro! I’ve spent some time there when one of our kids attended UNCG. I want to stay firmly in the Lord’s palm. I give the Lord all the glory if you have found meaningful work here.
Congrats on coming out of the shell, and God’s blessings over you as you embark on this new chapter of your marriage and sexual intimacy blogging journey. May the Lord protect you from the attacks of the Evil One as he most definitely doesn’t want us to be more open about godly sexual intimacy. I read somewhere once that Satan tries everything to get unmarried couples to have sex before marriage and once couples are married tries everything to get them to stop. We need more godly women to be willing to step out and be radically real like you are doing, Pearl. Thanks for that!
Thanks, H! Your continuing support is a joy and honor to me. You are indeed a sweet soul sister. Blessings to you as we march ahead in this ministry together!
Yes, we anons do have reasons for not revealing. But like you, I have every intention of showing my Clark Kent to the world at some point. (Just not now.) It’s nice to see your lovely face here. Your ministry is important, and I’m glad that you encourage wives the way you do. May God continue to bless you and Mr. Muscle!
Anonymity is an effective tool. Your work is incredible and you bless many marriages! I would love to collaborate more.
Bonny,
It’s great to ‘meet’ you and Mr. Muscle! 🙂 You both have nice smiles, and I admire your desire to minister locally within the church–it’s desperately needed! I feel an urgency to stand for the truth and be used of God in a similar way somehow, but admittedly have absolutely no idea how or when.
I pray God will continue to bless and use you as you trust Him in this new phase of ministry!
Greg, as always, thanks for your kind words. You have such a servant’s heart. Maybe for now, you just keep leading people to godly media and speaking salty words when opportunity arises. As to when, He’ll show you! I covet your prayers.