Aaron Giesler
Aaron is the youth pastor at Grace Church in Abq, NM. He passionately loves Jesus and ministering to teens. Also, he has a couple of degrees from different schools that only means he is able to pass tests. Aaron has a lovely wife Heather and three great kids who put up with his crazy schedule. Sports, outdoors, guns, reading, and Applied Math are his other interests.
What Do Transvestites and Teenage Boys Have in Common?
- By Aaron Giesler
- Published 07/27/2008
I have started working out again. I've taken a new job in a great city
and finished with seminary. So, with all my new-found free time I am
attempting to get back in shape. Because I'm in ministry I can't
really afford to buy a gym membership. Not to be hindered, I have turned
part of my garage into a weight room. My modest gains... or losses
rather, have encouraged me.
Working out in my garage also affords me the opportunity to listen to music that doesn't suck. Most gyms I have ever been in, and I've been in quite a few, play the WORST workout music. So I crank up the radio to whatever I deem worth listening to, and I also get to check out what my students are probably listening to.
One night in the midst of shoulder presses and rockin' tunes, a familiar voice came on the radio. It was Dr. Drew of (most recently) Reality Rehab fame. I used to watch Love Line on MTV when I was a teenager but I had no idea that Dr. Drew was still doing Love Line on the radio.
I wanted to change the channel but decided to see what kind of things people are "talking" about on the show. I don't know what you think of Dr. Drew, but anyone who is willing to talk openly and honestly about sex, relationships and addiction gets my respect. Sure, his moral compass may not point the exact same way as yours, but he "preaches" responsibility and healthy relationships. Also, the show is quite entertaining to see what young people think is normal or not.
There was one caller that night who really grabbed Dr. Drew's attention, as well as mine. The caller was a 25 year old girl named "Peter" who was a transvestite calling about gender reassignment surgery. Apparently Peter had already had chest surgery and was discussing the "other half" of the surgery. Peter was questioning why doctors could not perfect this surgery. Dr. Drew said that gender development was a "miracle" and trying to recreate that was next to impossible. He went so far as to say that he doubted that gender-reassignment surgery would ever be very successful. What a great testament to God's creation and man's vain attempt to be like Him.
The discussion that followed reminded me of the turbulent time called the teenage years. Dr. Drew asked Peter if he/she was on hormone treatment. She said she started it about 2 years ago. They talked about how she was eased into testosterone and is still working her way up. She was almost to "normal" levels of the male hormone in her system.
Dr. Drew asked her what it was like when she started hormone treatments. If you are a guy, you already know what she said. Peter said that she was very hyper, easily distracted, had a libido through the roof, and dealt with anger and rage. She even had to cut her dosage back for a time because she was unable to complete any work. Dr. Drew stated the obvious and said, "what you felt is what every guy goes through for 4-5 years."
That whole exchange reminded me that as an almost 30 year old I don't have the same forces working against me I once did. It also reminded me that the guy students which I minister to have some pretty strong urges and forces to overcome. Not that anyone gets a pass on sinful behavior—sin is wrong. But it is apparent that we need to help students deal with these things that are new to them. If we can help them rely on the power of God to overcome these strong urges of their body, then we teach them a lesson they can use for their whole life.
I realize that this is not just for guys ... but I'm not really sure what the other experience is like, so I'll leave that blog to one of the lady bloggers.
Working out in my garage also affords me the opportunity to listen to music that doesn't suck. Most gyms I have ever been in, and I've been in quite a few, play the WORST workout music. So I crank up the radio to whatever I deem worth listening to, and I also get to check out what my students are probably listening to.
One night in the midst of shoulder presses and rockin' tunes, a familiar voice came on the radio. It was Dr. Drew of (most recently) Reality Rehab fame. I used to watch Love Line on MTV when I was a teenager but I had no idea that Dr. Drew was still doing Love Line on the radio.
I wanted to change the channel but decided to see what kind of things people are "talking" about on the show. I don't know what you think of Dr. Drew, but anyone who is willing to talk openly and honestly about sex, relationships and addiction gets my respect. Sure, his moral compass may not point the exact same way as yours, but he "preaches" responsibility and healthy relationships. Also, the show is quite entertaining to see what young people think is normal or not.
There was one caller that night who really grabbed Dr. Drew's attention, as well as mine. The caller was a 25 year old girl named "Peter" who was a transvestite calling about gender reassignment surgery. Apparently Peter had already had chest surgery and was discussing the "other half" of the surgery. Peter was questioning why doctors could not perfect this surgery. Dr. Drew said that gender development was a "miracle" and trying to recreate that was next to impossible. He went so far as to say that he doubted that gender-reassignment surgery would ever be very successful. What a great testament to God's creation and man's vain attempt to be like Him.
The discussion that followed reminded me of the turbulent time called the teenage years. Dr. Drew asked Peter if he/she was on hormone treatment. She said she started it about 2 years ago. They talked about how she was eased into testosterone and is still working her way up. She was almost to "normal" levels of the male hormone in her system.
Dr. Drew asked her what it was like when she started hormone treatments. If you are a guy, you already know what she said. Peter said that she was very hyper, easily distracted, had a libido through the roof, and dealt with anger and rage. She even had to cut her dosage back for a time because she was unable to complete any work. Dr. Drew stated the obvious and said, "what you felt is what every guy goes through for 4-5 years."
That whole exchange reminded me that as an almost 30 year old I don't have the same forces working against me I once did. It also reminded me that the guy students which I minister to have some pretty strong urges and forces to overcome. Not that anyone gets a pass on sinful behavior—sin is wrong. But it is apparent that we need to help students deal with these things that are new to them. If we can help them rely on the power of God to overcome these strong urges of their body, then we teach them a lesson they can use for their whole life.
I realize that this is not just for guys ... but I'm not really sure what the other experience is like, so I'll leave that blog to one of the lady bloggers.
