It’s amazing how authentically and purposefully human Jesus was; our Savior, our Lord, all man and all incarnate was – and is today – redemption’s ultimate example for mankind’s ability to apprehend the Father.

The sovereign Yahweh made His choice to work His redemptive plan THROUGH creation. For He could have chosen any infinite supernatural method that He desired, but Yahweh chose to work THROUGH mankind for all of creation’s deliverance from sin, and redemption’s graceful gift of a return to eternal relationship.

How marvelous His simplistic passion.

Our Father God creating for the purpose of relationship; and our Father God maintaining that same passionate desire for us today.  Yahweh created for mankind, and mankind’s fellow management of His creation (i.e., the garden).  Proving that He wants us involved with Him daily, for His purposes lived righteously throughout our existence.

When does His collaborative conception birth?

At the moment we offer our whole faith and complete trust, when we surrender to His immediate and tangible presence, and when we listen closely to hear His voice’s intimate and distinct personal call for us to live a life of ‘kingdom existence.’  At this critical mass moment we personally apprehend our Father’s heart and begin to see our way clear.

God communicated this example THROUGH His only Son, and our only Savior; Jesus. And just like Jesus, we can … in the midst of noise, destruction and sin’s confusion … apprehend Yahweh for our lives.

This ‘above life pathway’ is truly an anti-cultural reality when we surrender to trusting, believing and waiting on God for God’s purposes in our lives; for Yahweh’s plan is a simple and patient, a “faithful strategy” for everyday life, when we quiet ourselves long enough to apprehend Him and live in His presence.

“Now on the last day (Feast of Tabernacles, as priests pouring water), the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)

“You both know Me and Know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” (John 7:28-29)

“When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Tuly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6: 25-26)

I love the story of Jesus feeding the hungry 5,000. Yet … being a man of historical facts and correct context, I must admit that I have trouble with the headcount.

According to cultural norms, the 5,000 was only the male headcount that amazing day.  If you assume the additional count of women and children, it is conservatively safe to assume that there were 7,000-plus people who experienced the lower life’s ridiculous lunch becoming the kingdom’s eternal buffet.

True to our human realities, the very next day the crowd sought Jesus for more; we’re told their search was for more temporal satisfaction.  They wanted to be fed (earthly concerns) again by the newly rumored ‘new Moses’ miracle worker.  After their first ‘miracle meal’ they either ignored or forgot Jesus’ presentation on kingdom realities, for they were only focused on His provisions the belly and not teh heart.  Granted, a great step in the right direction (Jesus as our personal provider), it falls short of the wonderous realities of  the upper life in Jesus Christ.

In short, the followers placed priority upon their lower life, when God’s promised Son and creation’s desired Messiah had much more in the category of satisfaction.  So Jesus adjusted their pursuit.

The miracle working, ‘new Moses’ told them, “You are looking for satisfying food for your bellies (immediate), but I am here (sent from God) to give you food beyond just today’s manna, and beyond your immediate physical hunger … I am here to give you food that satisfies the temporal and continually feeds you in your current plight (lower life), and for all of eternity.”

In our short-sightedness of this lower life (spiritual blind), we get the impression that He was upset with the vague, self-centered belief.  But He is adamant in proclaiming a new world order (new covenant) through Him and prepared by Father God.  When you read John’s narration with kingdom eyes, you understand that Jesus - this ‘new Moses’ – was passionately desperate to introduce the awesome reality of a new life satisfied only – and completely – by Him.

Like Jesus’ first ministry miracle (changing water into wine; John 2), the ‘new Moses’ purposefully performed the feeding miracle as a prophetic statement of Himself, and the Father’s kingdom – as He did with the abundant wine at the wedding party.

Jesus was declaring in His miraculous action, “Bring me your small faith found in a small lunch, I will increase your faith and satisfy your eternal hunger in Me.”  Unlike the provision of the old covenant’s ‘miraculous manna’ in the wilderness (remembering that Moses’ manna lead provision was not to be collected, or stored, it was day-to-day), Jesus was introducing a new ‘personal provision’ of abundance.

This ‘new, better Moses’ was proclaiming, “Take all you need, eat all you want and be completely, eternally satisfied in Me.”  For in the new covenant, this ‘new, prophetic Moses’ is more than a temporary fill to our belly’s daily hunger.  For in the great I Am, mankind finds its eternal sin rescue, soul nourishment, heart’s hunger satisfied … and a complete rest from the lower life’s continual appetite for more.

His argument was a sound moral concern; he felt that Starbucks’ political (cultural) support of homosexual marriage as a major corporation called for a targeted boycott by Christians nationwide.

I kindly responded in this manner …

There are so many earthly battles to physically fight in this lower life; until Jesus returns and begins to operate as the world’s perfect, righteous judge I believe we (Christians) are better served in personal prayer and evangelical passion.  In sum, I don’t want to be personally distracted with matters such as business boycotts.

Allow me to encourage you, my immediate response is just like yours; I hate sin … first, the sin that is still evident in my own heart and life, and then the sin that continues to capture and enslave so many in every day life.

I also agree with you, God owns all truth.

When we are asked to answer with ultimate truth, our answer is ultimately easy:  “for God said.”  In this fight for righteousness surrounding human sexuality, God has said and we believe in His Word and His truth – He made us male and female.  One of the many reasons that God made us male and female was for each other in a lower life (creation) family covenant that, when operated righteously, examples His great love for, through and to us as His beloved.

When we begin to incorporate the ‘incorporated,’ things start to get messy.

As it relates to entities such as businesses, companies and organizations, God still wants us determined to reach each life with the compelling, powerful, eternal truth of His redemption plan through Jesus Christ.  Our hope as Christians, even as we recognize that legal and social battles are being waged in our society, is that as we magnify Jesus Christ in our midst that He will draw all men unto Himself. God is in control and His truth, personal will, and ultimate plan will be revealed for all mankind to see.

To challenge a bit today; I am certain that Jesus would ignore business boycotts.  Instead, He would eat, drink and personally visit each person within (leading) the business – no matter their product, current political persuasion and cultural dilemma.  He would not sin (which means, He would have a coffee), but He would fully love, clearly communicate and powerfully share the truth of God’s plan to each person.

Let me reassure you, I believe in the sanctity of marriage, the righteousness of God’s created human sexuality and the power of the gospel, the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ Word to break through the our earthly rhetoric (arguments), legal battles and cause His kingdom power to reign in the midst of the everyday lower life struggle.

I want to leave no doubt; to our Abba Father, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ (The Word) and the God glorifying, powerful Holy Spirit I surrender myself today.

In this earthly fight I see many great spiritual battles (orchestrated by our adversary) between flesh and blood.  To engage as Christians, we must choose to place the whole armor of God upon ourselves, pray in the Spirit and then stand, with no retreat to the truth (Ephesians 6).  But we also must know that this battle is ultimately the Lord’s … and our effort needs to be encamped in obedience to God by faith, allowing Jesus to work through us to those He loves and desires in the midst of this life’s great battles.

Let’s not lean upon our own strength, our intelligent legal arguments (understanding), or even neatly orchestrated boycotts to win this spiritual battle.  Our goal is eternal salvation found in Jesus Christ and power of the Holy Spirit.

I do stand with you in prayer surrounding the Supreme (lower life’s) Court’s decision, and I stand with you in faith … no matter the outcome; God is in control and His truth, righteous judgment and ultimate plan will be revealed for all of mankind to see and know … if not today, in time …

But today, I want them to see the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in me, for He is my hope and in whom I glory.

Thank you for your bold faith in Jesus and His righteousness.

Tozer is the easiest to deliver, for he wrote his answer too eloquently to dare paraphrase.

When asked about the reasons behind God reaching to mankind through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, the famous theologian powerfully described the eternal condition of mankind and the radical reach of a loving, Creator God.

“The whole work of God in redemption is to undo the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and to bring us back again into right and eternal relationship with Himself. This required that our sins be disposed of satisfactorily, that a full reconciliation be effected and the way opened for us to return again into conscious communion with God and to live again in the Presence as before.”

Consider the amazing patience and steadfast determination of Father God to effort our safe return to Himself, and to completely (articulately, prophetically) communicate the truth throughout centuries of time.

The other famous name is Nicodemus.  He was a high ruler of the religious in his day.  He was enamored with Jesus, so much so he sought Him out for a heart-to-heart, Rabbi to Rabbi in the dark of the night.

John the Evangelist tells us of Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus in his letter’s third chapter.  We read that Nicodemus asked of Jesus, “Nobody can do these signs and miracles – which you do so easily – unless he (you) have been sent of God.  Tell me, are you from God?”

Jesus then decides to rock the ruler’s world.

The Lord simply states, “I tell you the ultimate truth, unless you are willing to be born again you will not be able to see the kingdom of God for yourself.”  After Nicodemus questions Jesus about a return to natural birth, the Savior says, “Unless you are born of water and Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus was perplexed, as He was tripping over the words “born again.” And as a ruler of Jews, he became so disheveled he lost track of God’s promise of Spiritual (Spirit regeneration) rebirth in the prophetical works of Isaiah in chapter 44:3 and  chapter 19:21; something a Jewish ruler should know, and know by heart!

Nicodemus’ determination to visit Jesus to see clearly the Master’s ways turned into a darkened place of earthly, temporal trusts and clouded religious confusion.

Jesus plowed forward and shared with Nicodemus that He had come directly from heaven to deal with man’s sinful plight.  That in Him, mankind would be able to place their faith and find forgiveness, redemption and a rebirth in the cleansing water and power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

So, why Easter?

Because God had a plan, a completely communicated path (prophetical navigation) to reach you by the Word of God, through the work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness, redemption and the placing (born again from above) of His Spirit in you for all of eternity.

So you can know the whole work of God in Jesus’ redemption has undone the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and He is more than able to bring you back again into a right and eternal relationship with the Father, for His glory and purpose to you, and through you.

I love this revelation; the angels ‘mysteriously marvel’ when we stand in faith, when we trust God by faith and obey Him through faith, (1 Peter 1:12).

Bible theologian Wayne Grudem states it this way, “When we are discouraged and think that our faithful obedience to God is witnessed by no one and is an encouragement to no one, we can be comforted by the realization that perhaps hundreds of angels witness our lonely struggle, daily “longing to look in” at the way Christ’s great salvation finds expression in our lives.”1

Imagine a warring host of angels marveling when we stand with them on ‘that side of eternity,’ and we’re asked to explain, to the angels, what it was like to live a life in total faith and dependence upon God while in the fallen flesh and decay of creation.

Imagine the amazing stories we will be afforded to share?

I can’t wait to see each angel marvel, to watch the story of our faith ‘fuel their flight’ as we talk of God’s amazing wonders performed for our transformation.

Imagine that moment in time (eternity’s time) where you will be found ministering to angels as you share your earthly life’s faith in Jesus Christ; the point in time where we are given the opportunity to instruct angels as to Jesus’ amazing grace, powerful redemption and the explosion (dynamism) of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling inside of each of us.

Imagine their questions; “Tell us what you were feeling when God sent us to be by your side during those trials. It must have hurt, how did you overcome? What were you thinking when you told yourself no, only to say yes to the faith you placed in God? And what did it feel like to have faith and watch Him – without really seeing Him – move the mountains, heal the pains and produce His will inside of your heart, mind and soul?”

Wow … what an eternal role reversal; a confirmation that one day all the angels will be positioned lower than us, (1 Corinthians 6:3). We will actually be ministering to angels because of God’s love, Jesus’ work, and presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in each of us while wrestling inside of a fallen creation.

Whatever you are facing – know this – by faith in Abba Father through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and empowered by His inspired Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you can walk through all of the pain, you can journey through all of life’s tribulations, and you can be steadfast as each mountain is removed.

And then in eternity, when you are asked: “How where you able to walk through life’s trials?”

… Angels will rejoice.

1 Grudem, Wayne A. “Angels.” Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity, 1994. 405-06. Print.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this type of exercise should be featured as your next small group, seeker-sensitive, ‘party ice breaker.’ For Christians, a sincere dialogue focusing on our responsibility involving our own death is nothing more than a reasonable discussion of discipleship and spiritual stewardship.

Allow me to comfort you with five biblical realities that relate to a Christian’s death and the theological encouragement it is for all of us. My goal is a slight paradox; I pray that you gain great peace and personal encouragement in discussing one of life’s most unpleasant topics: death.

Start by knowing this; death is (was) a punishment that has been dealt with by Jesus Christ. (Genesis 2:17, Romans 8:1).

It’s true that the penalty for our sin is death, but that penalty no longer applies to those who are found in Christ as redeemed believers living by faith and righteousness with a wonderful Savior inside of Graceland. For Christians, death is but a doorway, a simple passing from this (temporal) life into an eternal life delivering us immediately into heaven and eternally with our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The reality of death was/is unintended, but fully known by God as a by-product of a fallen creation and decaying world (1 Corinthians 15:26).

In God’s sovereign wisdom, He has not applied all of the benefits of Jesus’ redemptive work for us all at once. He has chosen to gradually apply the revelation of His eternal plan, universally redemptive benefits and His righteous realities to us (for us) over time. [1]

Similarly, as we have recently experienced in Newtown, Connecticut, God has not removed all evil from the world; we still live in a fallen world that includes physical death for believers, our family and our friends. The comfort is that was/is not God’s intention, and He has made provisions to redeem us from this curse as well.He

The most encouraging news is that death, for the Christian, completes our sanctification (Hebrews 12:6, 10-11).

Death is a complement; death actually completes our sanctification in Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation. A sincere grasp of ‘death discipleship’ knows that our salvation has prepared us for our temporal death, and provided for our complete sanctification for the short life “here,” and the eternal life “there” in Jesus Christ. [2]

Death immediately delivers us to Christ’s presence (1 Peter 2:21).

God allows us to experience a ‘walk up’ to death, versus taking us immediately to heaven. Once we do pass from this life into eternal life, we are immediately with the Lord. Until then, through our lives, unto death, we experience a closer union with Him. And our daily walk (“walk up”) is an example to others of His great love, grace and redemption.

Finally, (and directly important to my ministry as the Chief Development Officer at William Jessup University), death is one of the most amazing stewardship opportunities for the Kingdom of God. Death provides the Christian numerous opportunities for furtherance of the gospel and God’s Kingdom reach (Acts 20:24).

It’s often that I meet with a WJU donor who expresses his desire to plan for a ‘parting gift’ to be delivered to the University upon their death. Many begin their dialogue explaining a deep desire for obedience; nothing more than faithful believers preparing for their death by embracing an opportunity to make a planned gift(s) to the ordained work of William Jessup University.

As one donor recently stated, “After I take care of my family, my loved ones and my church, I want to be praiseworthy, thankful and determinedly evangelical through a stewardship decision that builds the mission of WJU.”

By making planned gifts today from your life’s financial assets and blessings, you can reach, reward and resource the next generation of Christ-centered graduates at William Jessup University. Individual planned gifts from estates, revocable, or irrevocable trusts and direct asset gifts continually resource Jessup’s Christ-centered mission and vision into perpetuity.

This decision is best associated with Jesus’ parable of the talents: understanding that all we own, we have actually received from God … and He has gently instructed us to be determined multiply its value for the purpose of His Kingdom, His glory and Christ’s great, good and amazing gospel.

I encourage you with Paul’s words to the church in Corinth, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Have you prepared your talents for your immediate loved ones, your church family’s mission and the amazing opportunity that a portion of your life’s stewardship could be used for in building the mission of William Jessup University? If you are interested in discussing such an endeavor, please, give me a personal call so we can determine what the Lord has placed upon your heart and how I can best serve you and your personal stewardship, for your immediate family, your church and – if possible – the continual work and mission of William Jessup University.

December is the last opportunity to take full advantage of your charitable tax deductions?

Washington is preparing to overhaul the tax code, by reducing and capping charitable deductions. This adjustment is encouraging many charitable, philanthropic donors and investors determined to give now – before the end of the calendar year arriving at midnight on December 31, 2012.

Today, I simply want to alert you to an immediate (and ending) opportunity regarding the current (higher) tax benefit regarding your donations made to tax deductible opportunities like WJU’s “University Fund (student scholarships),” and to respectfully ask you to make a ‘sizable year end gift’ to William Jessup University.

There are no politics to be played here; the decision to reduce charitable deduction rates is a bi-partisan decision.

Washington has been unrelenting in its attempts to limit the charitable deduction. During the presidential campaign both the president and the Republican challenger indicated that itemized deductions – including all charitable contributions to WJU – would be at risk in coming tax years.

The proposal has surfaced five times in the past three years. In a very telling comment, the May 2011 Congressional Budget Office “Options for Changing the Tax Treatment of Charitable Giving” report referred to charitable contribution deductions as “subsidies” because the costs represent foregone revenues to the federal government.

The proposed plan would limit the value of itemized deduction to 28% for couples with incomes of $250,000 or more and individuals with incomes of $200,000 or more. Recent studies have shown that a cap on the charitable deduction could result in loss of charitable giving of $2.9 billion to $5.6 billion each year.

Washington is also asking higher income earners to pay more in taxes come next year.

The new proposal states that every household with more than $1 million in annual earnings would be required to pay at least 30% of its income in taxes. This provision is known as the “Buffett Rule,” because of the complaint by the investor Warren Buffett that he pays less in taxes than his secretary does. The increased taxes ultimately reduce the amount that people who are millionaires and billionaires give to charity.

December is your last opportunity to contribute to the University Fund and invest through William Jessup University and receive your current, maximum tax deductions that have been offered since 2001 with the “Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001,” often referred to as the “Bush-era tax cuts.”

All of these changes, and their uncertainties, encourage one thing: major philanthropic donors, annual and capital partners considering (currently pledging) William Jessup University gifts might want to consider making those contributions now (this December), rather than waiting for Washington’s changes come 2013. I encourage you to consult your personal tax and wealth managers.

Two options for December through the WJU Development Office this December.

To make your tax deductible contribution to the University Fund (student scholarship fund) before December 31, 2012, please follow the secure process by visiting our secure online giving page. You can also mail your donation by using the WJU address at the close of this missive.

If you would like to discuss any major donations, pledges or endowments gifts, please contact me personally by calling (916) 577-1800.

Thank you for all you do to support William Jessup University, as we continue to “Transform Tomorrow … Today.”

Allow me to be simple and to the point; if you have a net worth of $1M or more (or as a couple, $2M or more), and you act now, you could forever remove the threat of estate tax. But if you don’t act by the end of the year, you will miss a historic opportunity.

The 2012 estate tax exclusion and gift tax exclusion are both $5,120,000 – way higher than they have ever been, but unless Congress and the President act before the end of the year both will fall to $1M come January 1, 2013.

If you would happen to die with more than $1M after December 31, 2012, every dollar over $1M will be taxed at 55%. If you would pass with a $2M estate, your children will get $1,450,000 and the government will get $550,000.

But here’s your big chance: If you ‘gift assets’ out of your estate before December 31, you can remove up to $5,120,000 (double that for married couples) from your taxable estate.

Don’t think this opportunity is only for the extremely wealth.

If you have assets that will appreciate – like real estate, business interests, or other investments, you should take advantage of this historic opportunity to remove assets and all future appreciation from your taxable estate.

I know what you are thinking – ok, I get it, I should remove assets from my estate to avoid a future estate tax, but I will need those assets. Can I gift them, and still benefit from them? The answer is YES.

A lifetime exemption trust, sometimes called a spousal lifetime access trust, can remove the asset from your estate and give you indirect access to the income.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create an irrevocable trust which names your spouse and children as beneficiaries.
2. Your spouse can be the trustee and direct the investments and distributions.
3. Transfer assets to it before the end of the year.
4. Your spouse, as trustee, can distribute income from the trust to her and deposit it in your joint account – which means you will have access to the trust income, even though you gifted away the assets.

Your spouse can also create a lifetime exemption trust which names you and your children as beneficiaries. However, this second trust must be drafted very carefully with different provisions than the first one to avoid the reciprocal trust doctrine. If the IRS determines the two trusts are identical, it will pull the gifted assets back into your estate.

This is just one of many gifting strategies available through the William Jessup University Development Office and our Planned Giving Attorney Clark Allison.

If you would like to leverage this historic gifting opportunity, the time to act is now; planning will most likely take several weeks to complete and time is running out.

Give me a personal call at the WJU Development Office (916-577-1800) and I can personal help in scheduling an introductory conversation with Mr. Allison.

Your stewardship will protect your assets from the government’s high taxes, secure your spouse and family economic futures and directly benefit William Jessup University as a named beneficiary with this type of irrevocable trust.

Please give me a personal call today if I can be of any assistance in this option. And thank you for who you are, and what you do to serve others through William Jessup University.

He was naked, overseeing a remedial task of naming animals, and in full confidence of who he was.

Oh, what sin has corrupted. Isn’t it amazing how we men struggle find our identity in what they do, rather who we already are?

If it wasn’t for the car we drive, the title attaching itself to our name on the business card, the amount of money we make, things we store in our idol garage, or the people we hang out with inside of our lifeboat, we men might not have an identity to speak of.

My past year has had its turn of events. A corporate decision of termination of my career direction caused me to stumble upon the fact that I was finding way too much of my identity in ‘what I did’ for a living.

The result caused me to be emasculated to the core. My ego was sabotaged by the corporate decision to remove my tenure of contributions due to a choice involving economics for the future. All that loyalty, effort and accomplishment washed away due to projected numbers on a piece of paper.

I was no longer desired by ‘the job’ I did, and I was emotionally shipwrecked.

Strange as it may sound, I’m now ‘happy that it happened’, but still struggling to overcome the ordeal. For I am a complete ‘Ragamuffin’ man in God’s fallen creation, needing His grace each step of the way.

I was encouraged, as I stumbled upon God grace in Adam’s plight.

Here was the ultimate, created man in a sinless environment; naked and content to name animals for the Creator Himself. If you ask any ‘real man’ today, he’d say, “Uh, not only do I want to name the animals, I want to design them – because I want the full recognition.”

What made Adam sit there – naked? He didn’t know it; he was too focused on God’s identity in him and for him.

Naked Adam sitting naked on a rock and overseeing anything for God made his day fulfilling. We men laugh at his assignment; can you imagine, asking a man to sit naked on a rock and come up with names for animals that parade in front of him. What lunacy and waist of talents.

Yet, the more we laugh, the more it turns to sorrow. After Adam was finished with the livestock inventory, things began to turn for him – and the rest of manhood.

When Adam and the needed addition (Adam needed her), called Eve, sinned, identity became a commodity for mankind. As God was taking His usual stroll through the garden, He called out to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” They appeared from their hiding, wearing fig leaves’ and personally ashamed.

The first thing that Abba said, “Who told you that you were naked?”

What an amazing verse, who told you that your identity is not found in me? Who has deceived you that you run from your source of contentment to wear simple leaves hiding your physical identity from Me and others? I made placed identity, as I made you. What has robbed you of your self-esteem, confidence and complete identity in Me?

From this moment on, Adam’s (man) self-fulfillment fell from identity in God to identity in what he does.

Amazingly, God takes the animals that Adam was once naming and uses them to cover his nakedness. Aside from the theological and prophetical applications here; we see Abba Father take what Adam did in being as an “animal namer” and use it to physical cover him in a new naked society full of sin.

What was meant to symbolically cover Adam from his sin demise and confusion, Adam made into empty self-identity. As if to say, “I was once the ‘animal namer’ in God’s garden, see, here is my resume.”

Ever since, the struggle for men (women too) and our identity has been in what we do, have, know, have done, make, wear or perform. We have lost the powerful contentment of sitting naked on a rock with God’s purpose for us pleasing us every moment of every day.

When each day arrives at night’s quiet, we hunger for the altar of authentic.

When we consider our fathering tasks, we cry with our failures. When we consider our love offering to our wives, we grow cold of emotion, it’s never perfect enough. When we think of all the times we perform for the masses, knowing it is an animal covering and nothing more, we call ourselves cowards.

We spend our days reading our impressive identity ‘press releases’ and evaluating our mutual relationship ‘respect-meter’. We now spend more than a fair amount of our lives looking for the stage of performance, and secretly longing for a naked appearance before God on a simple rock alter.

My encouragement; “get naked men”, find the rock altar and God’s identity in naming the animals in your life again.