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Authentic Identity

Joe Killian • Sep 02, 2020

It was a unique opportunity for me to coach four individuals who all had the same job but who managed four different geographical areas. Typically, I coach members of a team who have varying responsibilities. Because we were all still living in "quarantine" mode we began the process in an online retreat where I introduced the concepts of the Our Journey WITH God book to the team. We then scheduled coaching sessions that allowed me to guide each individual through the four sections of the book.

In the early phase of the coaching process we talk through the concept of false identity. This is helpful because it allows us to recognize those times when we are living as someone other than who we truly are. This happens because long held beliefs and habits permeate our perceptions of who we are and we unknowingly behave in ways contrary to our authentic self. In fact, it is one of the most common things I observe in the people I coach. The pressure we face to be something we are not is relentless. This can cause us to be prone to doubting and even demeaning some of their most uniquely authentic qualities. I reminded each person that even though they were all doing the same job, they should be doing so in their own unique way. This is because they all have different authentic identities.

In the last section of the book I make a clear distinction between being and doing with God. To be precise I say: "The primary starting point and emphasis of our journey must always focus on knowing and being with God, not just doing for God." This concept goes beyond prayer time with God, which is, of course, incredibly important. What we learn in spending that time with Him is a greater understanding of who He created us to be, uniquely––authentically. This was the message that God had made so clear to me while coaching other teams last year. What I was hearing God say was, "I want them to be who I created them to be."

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139 13-14

What beliefs do you harbor about yourself that may not be true and authentic? Do you have habitual behaviors that continually frustrate you because they leave you feeling empty and less than whole? Where might you be living falsely? Ask God to help you uncover this false identity so that you can live authentically, true to who you are.

Know full well that God desires that you live as He created you to be, in your authentic identity!

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Authentic Versus False Identity

By Joe Killian • 16 Oct, 2020

The story continues...I'm still working on the pondless waterfall in our front yard. I shared this project with you two weeks ago in Playin' In the Dirt. Since then I've had to rework sections of the stream three different times because we were losing too much water. I am now an expert on evaporation rates and excessive splash, two causes of water loss. This morning I tore the whole thing apart and I'm starting over.

Kung Fu Panda

By Joe Killian • 08 Oct, 2020

Have you ever watched DreamWorks Animation's Kung Fu Panda? I stumbled across it recently and thoroughly enjoyed Jack Black's performance as a bumbling, noodle selling, kung fu enthusiast, giant panda named P o. Set in ancient China, it is more than a humorous slapstick comedy. The core message of the story jumped out at me as I have been focusing recently on the concept of being. Po is shockingly identified as the Dragon Warrior and he reluctantly enters training. The goal of the training is to receive the Dragon Scroll, which is believed to hold the secret to limitless power. Now I don't want to spoil the big reveal but I will say that what Po realizes is the same as what I speak to in the concept of being and authentic identity. So, where do we find the secret to our "power?" I praise You, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works! My very self You know. Psalm 139:14 God knows it; and we must seek Him with all of our hearts in order to find it. As it was in the movie, the answer is stunningly simple. Our authentic identity is already within us. The challenge for Po in the movie was in seeing himself accurately and not the way others saw him. Even his teacher scoffed at the idea that Po was anything more than an underachieving dreamer who overate when he was anxious. Po's problems are rooted in the fact that he believes the lie of his false identity much more than he does his authentic one. Is it possible that you do the same? Who could have imagined that beneath all of Po's girth lived the Dragon Warrior? What's hidden from view in you? Seek God for understanding as to who He created you to be. Spoiler Alert: the secret of your limitless power is already in you. God placed it there and He wants you to be who He authentically created you to be.

Playin' in the Dirt

By Joe Killian • 02 Oct, 2020

Maria and I have been playing in the dirt a lot recently. First we replaced our French drain and then we embarked on a creative project intended to change the entire look of our front yard. My brother Jeffrey and I installed a new front step.