Love for Bruce Jenner

Transgender. (Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner)

Many who read that word and these names will have varying reactions...for some it's confusion, for some it's very strong feelings about progress, for others there is fear of the unknown, and for others there is a sense of sorrow.

Many will also make their opinion of me depending where I land regarding this issue -- If I hold the "wrong view" some will call me a bigot and heartless.

So let me begin by saying, I have sat personally with those who were in the midst of "transition" and spoke to them about my love for them, Jesus' love for them and expressed the willingness to journey through the decisions ahead with them.  I've looked into the eyes of those who call themselves transgender, and I've listened to the confusion and hurt that they've expressed--my heart has broken for them in those moments--the torment they have expressed to me is real.  That being the case -- I not only sympathize but have great compassion on those who experience this torment--including Bruce Jenner.  But that being the case--you may find it surprising that I believe Bruce Jenner has moved further from finding his "true identity" rather than closer.

Therefore I am not, and will not celebrate with the masses about Bruce Jenner.  Not because I have anything against him--but because I long for him, along with all people to discover an identity that is true, and life-giving.  He, nor any of us will find that identity through any sort of change or manipulation that we try create in our own lives.  (whether that be sexual, moral etc)

I am not writing this to argue about the feelings of the transgender or gay community; I acknowledge openly that I believe their feelings to be very real and so in that sense very TRUE!  Just as I acknowledge openly that many men experience feelings of lust for many women -- they are very real and very true.  The question is are they right and therefore to be acted upon.  Or if you don't like the idea of "right and wrong" applied to this scenario let me put it this way -- Is acting upon those true feelings and desires ultimately beneficial to a human being finding true fulfillment in life?

If the goal of human life is ultimately meaningless beyond a string of "in the moment experiences" that ultimately amount to nothing but death -- one might be able to argue for acting upon those feelings or desires.  But what if there is more?  And what if our feelings and desires don't always lead us "rightly"?  What if the lure of instant gratification actually forfeits our longing for true identity and purpose?

If human life is not meaningless--these are questions worth entertaining--and if you are entertaining them the best answers I know of are found in the story of the Bible, and in the perfect love that God offers ALL humans by His grace through Jesus.

Let me give you a quick glimpse at the story -- if your heart goes out to someone like Bruce Jenner and his search for identity--so does mine! -- Read the following with an open heart.

God created us out of His perfect love, to know and receive His perfect love in relationship

In creating humans He created us male and female, IN HIS IMAGE (gender is important!  We were created to perfectly compliment the other!  Women with their own beauty, gifts and needs.  Men with their own beauty? ;), gifts, and needs)  When we distort gender, we are distorting part of God's design for us.  But beyond just the gender issue is the issue of being "in God's image" -- in short this means that God meant OUR identity to reflect HIS identity -- so that not only would we as humans know His perfect love--but that through us His love would be reflected and communicated to all creation!

So why are so many humans (all humans!!!) longing for an identity where we are secure, loved and find meaning?  Short answer: SIN.  As humans we have all turned to other means other than God's love to try fulfill and live our lives.  God lets us go our own way for he gave a free will; He does not force us to love Him.  But the result of leaving Him who gives us identity through His perfect love is that now we all struggle with a longing at the core of who we are--a longing for love, and longing for identity.  --- and despite all our attempts to "find a new identity" -- even going to the length of sexual surgery for some -- we are not finding what we are looking for ...

The abridged version of the story is--this is where JESUS enters the picture of our lives.

Jesus is God's answer to rescue us from our own choices, and the sin and death we find ourselves bound in so that once again we can experience the love of God and the Identity that He gives.

Jesus came into our midst -- a human like us--experiencing the same feelings and struggles, but by nature fully God and able to rescue us from sin, and free us from its outcome, death.

The Good News about Jesus speaks to the longing of Bruce Jenner to find an identity that "fits".  Jesus is the answer to the longing that is in every human heart to know and experience a life of love and meaning.  Jesus offers us a New Identity -- one in which we are made righteous (that is--our identity is 'put right'); the Identity we were created to bear but despite all our efforts we could never find.

The really Good News is -- Jesus loves you, He love Bruce Jenner -- yes He loves even Caitlyn Jenner,  None is outside of Jesus' love -- He offers you His love today, He calls for you to stop striving for an identity that you will never find on your own; He calls for us to repent of (turn away from) those strivings which only lead us further from Him, and instead accept His grace and forgiveness.

You may come to this point and say -- Kellen you didn't really deal with the "transgender" issue --I know.  That is a discussion that needs to be had openly with humble hearts all around--preferably in person.  What I know however is the longing of the human heart for love...and what I further know is that all our attempts to find a love that ultimately fulfills us falls painfully short of our hearts longing--because our hearts were created for One Perfect and unconditional love -- that is the love of God -- that love is what Jesus offers to all of us.  That is the love He is offering to you right now.

Further discussion is welcomed --I'd love to listen and I'd love to pray for and with any of you -- but my preference is to sit face to face--so feel free to send me a message!

Practical Lent Suggestions

During the season of Lent -- which leads up to the celebration of Easter -- many people will give things up.  ("fast" from something)

This is a good practice...BUT... if all we do is give up something; we are missing the point of Lent (or any fasting) -- the point is not just what you give up (in fact that should not be your focus); the point is what you seek to GAIN!

Simply put--Lent is about seeking JESUS.  We fast from things that crowd Him out, or distract us from Him, or that by going without will remind us to focus on Him.

But instead of just telling you to "focus on Jesus", I want to offer some practical advice as to how you can make your "giving up" of something into an opportunity to GAIN so much more of Jesus!

It starts with our FOCUS.

Do NOT focus on your fast -- focus on JESUS.  If you are giving up sweets; don't spend your whole day lamenting that you are going without and sharing with everyone who will listen how much you are missing sugar.  To do so is to have the opposite effect that the fast ought to have.  In fact Jesus warns us in Matthew 6 to make sure that we DON'T let people know when we are fasting but to instead carry on as we would most other days as far as outward appearance is concerned (Matthew 6:16-18)  Remember that JESUS is your focus -- it is HIS approval we seek, not each others!

So focus on Jesus, not on the thing you are fasting from, and especially not on the reactions of others.

Secondly, REPLACE what you have given up with the BEST.

In other words, don't just give something up and leave a void--fill the void with JESUS.

Here are some examples of what that might look like:

If you gave up tv or facebook:  During the time you would have been watching tv or on facebook take time to pray and read the Bible.  Instead of filling your mind with the stuff of our world--fill it with the Word of Jesus!  (Imagine if all the time you spent on tv/facebook was spent getting to know Jesus!!  How much better would you know Jesus at the end of 40 days!?)

If you gave up sweets or something like alcohol:  Take the money you would normally spend on sweets or alcohol in 40 days and GIVE IT AWAY!
Additionally--every time you start craving that thing you gave up let it remind you to thank Jesus that He is more than enough and learn through these 40 days to depend on Jesus more and more.

These are just a couple examples -- but hopefully they give you an idea of how you can not just give something up, but GAIN something so much more.

I would love to hear what you are giving up for Lent, and what your plan is for getting to know Jesus better during the next 40 days!

Are you Content or Complacent?

Content or Complacent -- these two words are similar; yet display a radically different attitude.

Complacent: "Showing a smug satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements"

Content: "A state of satisfaction, peaceful happiness"

Paul said he "learned to be content no matter what the circumstances..."  Later he says this is because he looks to the "One who gives him strength" --- JESUS is the source of contentment no matter whether he is well fed or hungry.  This is contentment, and this is good.

However, Proverbs says:  "the complacency of fools will destroy them"  (Prov 1:32b)

I've heard Christians use the word "contentment" to describe their satisfaction with their current experience of Jesus -- and they almost display a disdain toward the idea of longing for more than what we currently know of Jesus.  This is not contentment -- this is complacency.

Jesus did not set us free from sin, and fill us with His Spirit so that we could be complacent with the bare minimum of who He is.  Rather, He is a ever-flowing spring of life, an infinitely deep well of Love and He intends that our life would be spent going ever deeper into who He is, growing ever more confident in His grace.

There is a deep end to Jesus--deeper than any ocean depth.  It is ok to begin your journey in the shallows; but it is lazy complacency to remain there--the shallows is NOT the place of contentment--true contentment is experienced as we dive into the depths of Jesus and we realize that all else besides Him is worthless!

Be content in all circumstances because you are ever growing more in love with Jesus.  But never allow yourself to be complacent, as if you have arrived and are experiencing all that Christ has for you--I assure you there is more!  Look always to the One who gives MORE than we can ask or imagine!

Christ in our WORLD > Christ in Christmas

God was willing to "be man" so that we might "be Christ" in this world.
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us; so that we might have the Word dwell in our flesh as we dwell in this world.

Christmas is a story of great humility, love and sacrifice (God being born to humanity as a baby in the lowest of circumstances)--all so that humanity might know the love of God in Jesus.  (through His ultimate sacrifice of giving up His life for us)

Today, followers of Jesus are asked to live lives of humility, love and sacrifice so that this world may continue to know the love of God through Jesus.

However, we get sucked into a celebration of Christmas that largely ignores the purpose of Jesus coming (even though we may "acknowledge Christ-in-Christmas all season long!")--and therefore we miss the purpose of His Spirit-filled-followers remaining on earth.

For followers of Jesus, our lives should be markedly different than the world.  This should be reflected in how and why we celebrate Christmas...It is NOT about gifts and food and parties.  (Though those are all good thing to be enjoyed, and Jesus surely did!)  It is NOT primarily family and friends (though I love family and friends).

A follower of Jesus is called to BRING JESUS into our world.  This must mean more than putting up a sign on our lawn, or a button on our coat--it should cost us more than that, for it cost Jesus more than that!  Take note of His sacrifice and humility in order to bring the love of God to you.  Is your celebration of Christmas (and more importantly your life in general) looking anything like the coming of Jesus into our world?

Enjoy the food, drink, family and friends during these days of rest and celebration -- for there "is a time for all things" and rest and celebration is one of them.  But in so doing, don't ignore--and don't fail to live in such a way that truly remembers the One who took on flesh and dwelt among us so that you may be filled with Him, so that His presence would continue in this world!

Inspired BY...or Inspired TO...?

There is much to be inspired BY in this world.

Whether it is something you see in nature--a sunset or sunrise, the colours of fall, the intricacy of a snowflake--the list could go on.

Or maybe it's the actions of another:  I love reading about or watching stories from WW2 -- there are so many heroic and inspiring stories!

Today I was thinking about what inspires me in other people and I started jotting things down like:  "great faith, great sacrifice, unusual love, generosity, dedication, perseverance in trial, boldness in the face of adversity, purity in the midst of corruption..."

As I looked at the things I had listed I asked myself -- "I know I am inspired BY those things, but am I willing to DO those things?"

Honestly, the things I listed all take HARD WORK.  It's one things to be inspired BY them...but it's another thing to be inspired TO DO them!

I am too often inspired BY and not inspired TO.

I want to DO the things that inspire me, and perhaps in so doing inspire others--not just to be inspired BY, but to be inspired TO DO likewise.

ENJOYING God's gifts...

This morning I came to God asking to receive from Him and this is what I "heard" Him say:

(Heavenly Father) --"Receive my child--this gift is for you!"

As I heard this, my initial joy quickly turned to a question:

(my response) 'Father what would You have me do with this gift?'

As I waited to hear a response in my spirit--expecting (even hoping) for some clear task to be shared I heard this:

(Heavenly Father) -- "ENJOY!"

O how I needed to hear that from God today!  His gifts are given to His children because He loves them!  Though they are useful gifts for the work we have to do they are given to bring us joy, not to place a burden on us.

For example:  The gifts I have requested from Meghan the last year or so have been mainly tools of different sorts:  A Stihl Chainsaw, a Sliding Compound Mitre Saw, a Table Saw etc.

If these had been given to someone who was not seeking them; and had no work to do with them--they would be burdensome tools--perhaps even creating a pressure to do something with them.

But for me, I had work that I desired to do--but I knew I needed these gifts to do the work well.  So receiving these gifts wasn't a burden--it was exciting, and I have enjoyed not only receiving them, but more so, using them!

Moses sang a song to the people of God before he died--and at the beginning of that song He sang of God's teaching coming down "as the rain" and that God's speech may "distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass."

We are that grass, we are the land that God's rain is falling upon--through His Word He pours out gifts to His children.

What kind of land will you be?

Will you drink in the rain falling on you--will you enjoy that drink--and produce useful crops?
or
Will you be land that refuses to drink and produces thorns, and burdens?
(see Hebrew 6:7-8)

Your Father wants you to enjoy the gentle rain of His Word everyday!  Remember that next time you open your Bible--say to God "I am hear to receive and enjoy the gifts that you give to me!"  And then drink in deep and enjoy!

Stay thirsty my friends!  ;-)

Walking Around NAKED!

Would you knowingly walk out your door in the morning without any clothes on?

Even the boldest of us probably will answer that question--NO!  Putting on clothing is such a natural habit of our morning that most of us can't imagine forgetting to put on clothes and walking into our day without them.

Yet, many of us who love Jesus, walk into our days without Jesus.

In his letter to the Romans Paul says:  "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."  (Rom 13:14)

It's such a simple statement we often just gloss over it without much thought.  But what if you made "putting on Jesus" as much of a morning habit as putting on clothes?

What might that look like? -- perhaps you can even combine it with actually getting dressed:

-As you put on a shirt remember:  "He has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness!"  (Isaiah 61:10)  You are a new creation, filled and clothed with the very righteousness of Christ!  O what an amazing gift!  BE who He has created you to BE.

-As you put on your socks or shoes remember:  "how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  (Rom 10:15)  Commit to being a "bringer of good news" today!

-As you pull your pants up:  "Gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you.  Do not be dismayed before them..."  (Jeremiah 1:17)  Go into your day with confidence!  You have the Spirit of the Living God within you--do not be nervous or afraid to let Him have control of you today!

As you glance in the mirror before leaving the house PRAY:  O Father lead me in the train of Your robe, for I am one of the captives that You have set free and are leading to salvation!  May I display your glory as plainly today as the clothes I am wearing!