Christians, we’re missing the bigger issue.

“Social media brings out the worst in people.”

 

That line has been said so often it has become cliché.

 

But this past week, I felt as if it were true...

 

Let me be clear, it does not matter on what side of the Bruce/Caitlyn issue you are on.

 

This issue is how it was approached.

 

My Facebook feed was filled with derision and contempt. And it was mostly coming from self-identified Christians. So very few were filled with compassion and understanding that I spent so much time scrolling through my newsfeed just to find a couple that would stop me from getting angry.

 

Whether or not a sex change actually changed Bruce Jenner’s sex was not the main issue in all of this.

 

The main issue was that he was in pain, and we knew it, but couldn’t care less about him until “he became a she”.  You could see it in the interviews. You could hear it on television. If you kept up with this story, even just a little bit, the pain was obvious, yet so few of us prayed or cared about him.

 

 I hope we start praying for Caitlyn though.

 

We all know that, regardless of gender, we deal with the problems of identity and self-worth. Changing our private parts doesn’t change that.

 

Once the photoshoots ends and the TV spots cease, Caitlyn will have still have to face inner demons like the rest of us. So instead of mocking, hating or condescendingly educating, we should be praying. Praying that those whole deal with any identity issues will come to find their identity in Christ.

 

We know that telling Caitlyn she’s still a guy won’t change anything so why write it? We should be telling her that Jesus can take all her pains and insecurities and make them something unimaginably beautiful. That Jesus can give her the affirmation and love that’s been missing and that He can fill the void this sex change was searching to do.

 

I do not praise Caitlyn for what occurred. I personally do not find it courageous.

 

 

However, I do not find it disgusting, and I do not label this as sick or filthy.

 

The only real emotion I feel in all of this is sadness.

 

We are politicizing a deep, personal struggle, and the only remedy to her pain is being put on the back burner for status likes.

 

So I want to challenge you, my brothers and sisters, pray for those struggling with who they are. Pray that God will grant you the opportunity to sit and listen to their struggles. And pray that, in due time, you are able to share the beautiful and transforming gift of a relationship with God.

 

Let the Holy Spirit change their lives, rather than trying to do so yourself.

 

You don’t have to agree with where I stand, and that’s okay. I just felt compelled to share my heart.

 

May God find glory in all of this.

 

As always here's a song that's been on repeat in my house.

 

Until next time,

 

Noel

The Beach

I got burnt this week . Like BIG TIME. I had a red tank top on the other day, and I'm pretty sure it just looked like I was wearing a regular shirt. It was insane!

But you know what? As much as it stung, I couldn't care less. Because I was at the beach.

If you know even the tiniest bit about me, you know I love the beach. Specifically beaches where the water is warm. (I have no time for cold water. None.) So as you can imagine, when my family arrived at Virginia Beach, I was home.

There's just something about beach towns that call my name. From the slower pace of things, the sound of the waves crashing and the general acceptance of flip-flops for everyday use, I'm able to just sit back and enjoy the moment. I guess that's why I like it so much. It reminds me to take things as they come and not worry about tomorrow. Matthew 6:25-34 comes to mind. Especially verse 34:

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

So yeah the beach is a good place to learn to take things one day at a time. I already miss being there, but hopefully I can take that attitude with me back to Boston.

Here's some more fun pictures we took while I was there. Enjoy (with some great music)

NYC Part 2 (The 9/11 Museum)

 

"I know this place is sold out... but it sounds like it's empty..."
During Memorial Weekend, my family had the opportunity to be one of the first groups of people to enter into the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It was both remarkable and incredibly sobering. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I thought the world was about to end. World War III would break out, and not much would be left standing. Now obviously none of that came to fruition, but I still remember crying myself to sleep that night as a 10-year-old kid wondering why this happened.

This museum brought it all those emotions back to me, as well as to everyone else in the building. People rarely talked. Everyone listened to the audio exhibits. Even though the place was sold out, the museum was so large you couldn't help but feel there was only a handful of people there with you. That's when my mother uttered the quote you see at the top of the page. It was true.

If you are ever in New York City, I recommend going here. Even though I took a lot of pictures, it doesn't due this place justice. Even if you don't member much from that time or were living far away from New York when it happened, this is definitely a great place to visit with family and friends.

Even if just to remind yourself to live every day with purpose.

 

 

^^^ This is the museum.^^^

^^^This is the part of the North Tower that was first hit with Flight 11^^^

^^^There is an exhibit where you can give your personal story of that day. They take those stories and play them at the entrance of the museum."^^^

^^^The Freedom Tower^^^