Learning To Love

15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not dimputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5: 15 - 19 NKJV

Jesus caused quite a commotion that day He instructed all who were listening the true act of forgiveness.  As He stood on that Mount of Olives in the midst of many who were yet stuck in their old covenant thinking, Jesus told us how to approach our enemies.  With an eye for an eye?  Hardly, for Jesus had something more pure in mind for those who chose to hear His words that day.  Bless those who curse you, pray for your enemies {Matthew 5:44}.  I can imagine the startled glances among those old covenant Jews who still firmly held to the laws of their fathers.  Of course, it is that same look of disbelief people today give when we ourselves are asked to forgive our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us.  We today have that seperation between the old and new covenants, but at times we like to stick close to those old rules.  If someone is treating us badly, it seems that our very first response is to ruffle our feathers, puff out our chests and assume we are going into battle.  Over what?  Over a missed parking space?  Over 5 minutes of lost time in a 24 hour day?  Come on, man!  I admit, I have been as guilty as anyone else when it comes to blessing and praying for my persecutors, but the call of Christ summons me to do just that.  Grudgingly, I often retrace my steps with my head hung low as I once again humble myself to forgive those who have wronged me.  Funny, as a young christian I often felt as if I was being disarmed whenever someone would mention those words of Jesus.  You want me to do WHAT?  As I look back now, in those instances it became more about me and less about the will of Christ.  My pride, my ego, my flesh sought to override the will of Jesus.  This is a dangerous undertaking indeed.  For one must wonder, why is it that Jesus gave us such instructions?  Well, I believe that this can be explained in one simple word...Love.  The apostle John illustrated this in 1 John as he tells us that he who does not love does not know God, for God is love {1 John 4:8}.

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39“But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40“If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44o“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46“For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47“And if you greet your pbrethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the qtax collectors do so?
Matthew 5: 38 - 47 NKJV

So, how is it that we cut through all the crap and learn to love once again?  I mean, you've seen what's out there, right?  The jerk who cuts you off in traffic, that egomaniac who thinks his opinion is the only one that matters?  Yeah, we've all seen them AND experienced them.  Could it be that God brings people such as this into our lives that we might learn to love again?  Would we learn to love the way Christ Jesus wants for us if not for those difficult people in our lives?  Probably not.  As I said, in the past my very first reaction to someone who wronged me was to prepare for battle.  That person was going to see things my way or else!  However, inevitably those words of Christ Jesus and the knowledge of who I truly am often bring me back to reality.  For the law of an eye for an eye has ultimately been abolished by Jesus at the cross.  The fact is, I believe that all who have accepted Christ Jesus into their hearts truly do know how to love.  To pray for those who persecute us and bless those who wrong us is something that will ultimately come naturally for those who are in Christ, for this is our true identity.  We who know God know love, for He first loved us.  Indeed, we also know how to show this love to others.  Through us the world around us will see the love of Christ.

~Scott~

Safe In The Knowledge

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of aGod! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3: 1 - 2 NKJV

I think back on my childhood every now and then and I recall certain points with fondness and others not so much.  I'm sure that this is the way it is for most of us.  For growing up is not something we can purchase or make go quicker, but something we all must experience.  Indeed, our journey in Christ Jesus is much the same way.  For we have our "Childhood" phase as well as that point when we put away our childhood things and lean on our understanding of Jesus as adults.  As we think back, we can almost certainly remember who our parents were, who our family and friends were.  The question then becomes, how did we KNOW that our parents were ours?  Well, we knew that we knew, for even a child has that knowledge of who their mother and father are.  To a child, there is no question, there is daddy and there is mom.  This knowledge is instinctful in us.  There have even been studies done that suggest that a newborn ALREADY knows the sound of its mothers voice immediately upon birth.  How can this be?  Well, that unborn child has shared time with its mother as it developed inside of her for 9 months.  Now, you can't tell me that a newborn child will not have a connection with its own mother.  Indeed, that child KNOWS in its heart the sound of his mothers voice.  Spiritually speaking, is it possible that we also know our Fathers voice?  I believe we do.  As we are secure in our knowledge of who our parents are, I'm convinced that we also know who our heavenly Father is.  As the apostle John tells us, we rejoice in the fact that God loved us enough that we should be called children of God.

11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dthrough His Spirit who dwells in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,e Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 11 - 17 NKJV

One question which was asked this morning was, where does this knowledge come from?  For if we say we have not the knowledge that we are sons of God, why do we so often refer to Him as our "Heavenly Father?"  I believe that we all have the inborn knowledge of our holy sonship, just as a newborn has the knowledge of who its parents are.  As the apostle Paul tells us, it is because of this knowledge that our own spirit cries "Abba, Father!"  That knowledge of our holy family tree is instilled in us.  Can we also say, then, that the very knowledge of the truth of Christ Jesus is also in us from a young age?  Perhaps, but it has taken many people quite some time to come to that realization.  The fact that we often see ourselves in the physical and not the spiritual sense also has a huge effect on our realization of who we truly are.  John tells us that it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but that when our heavenly Father is revealed to us that we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  I believe that this is confirmation that we are not only His children, but that we were created in His very image {Genesis 1: 27}.  Our spirit, His son, knows our Father dearly.  We are safe in this knowledge.

~Scott~

Sons

10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dthrough His Spirit who dwells in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,e Father.” 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8: 10 - 17 NKJV

One of the things I've often mentioned before are my struggles with the realities of Christ Jesus when I still a young christian.  Don't get me wrong, I was happy in my new life, but words such as "Father and son" were pretty hard for me to deal with.  Of course, coming from a single parent home while growing up, one can imagine just how foreign a concept it may have been for me to consider myself a so of God.  Yet there it was in scripture, I was indeed a son of the Most High.  One of my good friends in church had a habit of refering to God as "Daddy," and this also floored me a bit.  Until that point, I had never heard someone refer to God as Daddy, to me it seemed giving God less impirtance than He surely deserved.  Like I said, I was young in my faith still.  For those who have gone through or are going through the very same thing I submit the apostle Pauls letter to the Romans.  For here Paul tells us that we are not only children of our heavenly Father, but heirs to Him as well.  Of course, this flew in the face of what I had always believed.  This was new territory for me.  How could I, a sinner, ever think of being a son of God or even an heir?  Anyway, wasn't the title of Son of God already taken?  This truth of Jesus had yet to take hold in me.

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of aGod! Therefore the world does not know bus, because it did not know Him. 2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3: 1 - 3 NKJV

The major hurdle I had to overcome to realize this truth of who I really was in my heavenly Father was that I was no longer a sinner.  For Christ Jesus had paid that debt at the cross.  However, this was the message I kept hearing as a young christian from the pulpit.  Now, I could sit here and toss all the blame for my failure to realize the truth of Jesus at the church, but that wouldn't be all too truthful.  For the scriptures haven't changed all too much over time.  The very same scripture I refer to today has always been there.  In the fullness of time, the truth of my true identity was revealed to me.  I am not simply a sinner saved by grace, but a son of my loving Father in heaven.  My life and inheritance are in He who created me.  Not only that, He also ordained that I would live my life AS HIS SON who is within me.  This is the truth of Christ Jesus which Paul revealed in Galations 2:20.  That "Old Scott" which I once walked in has been put to death with Jesus.  My REAL identity does not belong to my earthly family, but to the family of God.  For I am indeed His son.

~Scott~

Who Will Tell Them?

8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” 14How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Most christians I have talked to recall pretty fondly the aproximate time that they accepted Jesus into their hearts.  For me, it came when I was attending my last church.  I rememeber that day pretty well as it was my mentor Dennis who was the one that baptised me.  As he had for many men before me, he not only introduced me to Jesus, but to the very truth of my savior in me.  There have also been jailhouse conversions, death bed confessions and last minute acceptance of the love which Jesus has for us all.  Whatever reason one may have for seeking or being led to Jesus, there has always been someone who will guide them.  I recall watching the various Billy Graham crusades when I was younger.  My favorite part of these gatherings was the altar call near the end of the broadcast.  As the voices sang "Just as I am," thousands would come forward in acceptance of Christ Jesus.  I've often wondered, what would have happened if Billy Graham had not heard his calling to preach when he was young?  How many would gone through life without knowing Jesus but for this man of God?  Obviously, I would say that God chose reverend Graham to lead His flock back to Him the same way that he led Dennis to lead men to Christ.  Again I ask, if not these men of God, then who will lead us?  Who will tell us of the truth of Jesus?  For if indeed "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved," who is it who will tell them of our heavenly Father?  

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” dAmen.
Matthew 28: 16 - 20 NKJV

Many christians point to Jesus' "Great commision" which we find in Matthew 28 as evidence of the desire of Jesus that we spread His gospel to all the nations.  However, over time I believe that the intent of this passage has gotten lost in translation.  For it is interesting that one of the definitions of the word disciple in the time of Christ translates to "Follower."  Are we then to not make disciples of Christ, but followers?  Again, we call the small circle of men who surrounded Jesus His disciples, for they were His followers.  Many a sermon, program and study have been utilized by countless churches over time to preach and teach the value of discipleship based on the great commision.  However, I submit that men such as Billy Graham and Dennis have done more to create disciples and men for Christ Jesus than any church program ever will.  Did the disciples of Christ follow a program or a study?  NO, they simply shared their lives with Jesus as He traveled and taught the gospel of peace.  Again, sharing time and life experience with someone may well be much better than any discipleship program.  Which brings me to the very question I used to open this post with.  Where would millions of people be today if not for men such as Billy Graham or Dennis?  Would the truth of Christ yet be proclaimed by another?  As the scripture tells us, how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard?  The truth of Jesus has not changed, for He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So, who will tell them?

~Scott~

Desires Within

20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galations 2: 20 NKJV

As he so often does, Dennis dropped a question on me yesterday.  The discussion, as usual, was based on the truth of Christ Jesus in us.  This, of course, is a common topic for us.  But this was different.  My last post reflected on the John Elderedge book Wild At Heart and how I thought that Eldredge had been in error in his revelation of the nature of a man.  While I still believe that Eldredge dropped the ball as far as the truth of Jesus in us, I feel that he was definately on to something.  Allow me to expand on this thought.  If we, as christians, accept the truth that we now live as Christ Jesus who is within us, do we also accept what comes with that realization?  For if Jesus indeed dwells within us, then that which we feel, sense and think will definately be connected to Him.  So, what of the thought and desire for adventure, danger and the rescuing of the maiden which Elderedge refers to in his book?  Are these thoughts and desires from Jesus?  I believe that one thing we need to ask ourselves first is what is our true identity?  Is our identity based on the spirit or on the flesh?  Well, if indeed Christ is in us, then I submit that our true identity in Him is based on the spirit of Christ.  Now, that does not mean that those fleshly desires which we often come across will not continue to come around now and then.  For our flesh is very easily influenced by outside factors such as the world around us.  So, how is it that we determine if those inner desires we so often feel are of Jesus or our easily influenced flesh?  Well, I believe that we ourselves have that ability to determine just what Jesus wishes for us.  For we now share our lives with Him, we have that intimate connection.

2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dthrough His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8: 2 - 11 NKJV

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8 that we are not of the flesh but of the spirit...if the spirit of God dwells in you.  If indeed Christ Jesus is in us, then we have the spirit of God within us.  Therefore, we are of the spirit.  So, what of those desires which John Eldredge mentioned in his novel?  Does Jesus indeed desire an adventure?  Does He desire a beauty to rescue?  Does Jesus have a battle to win?  More than one of these desires of a man which Eldredge mentioned we may very well share with Christ Jesus who is in us.  We can ask that ages old question, do my desires cling to His will for us?  For once we affirm in our hearts what the will of Christ is for us, then we come closer to seeing just what the desires of Jesus are.  We know, obviously, that one of the desires of Christ Jesus was to bring glory to the Father.  Do our desires ultimately bring glory to God?  That desire for a battle to win, for adventure or for a beauty to rescue, are we to say that these are indeed Gods will for our lives?  One thing I am quite certain of, is that our heavenly Father gave us these desires when He created us.  Where will they ultimately lead we who follow these desires?  Perhaps Eldredge was not as far off the mark as I thought he was.

~Scott~

Our Problem With Authority

So I call up my preacher

I say: "Gimme strength for round 5"

He said:"You don't need no strength you need to grow up, son"

I said: "Growin' up leads to growin' old and then to dying, and dying 

to me don't sound like all that much fun!"

~Authority Song - John Mellencamp~ 

There was a saying back in the sixties which said, "Don't trust anyone over 30."  Over time, this phrase has evolved into, "Never trust authority."  That, unfortunately, is where we find ourselves today.  A nation of people who believe with all of our hearts that it is we ourselves which shape our own destiny.  This could not be further from the truth I'm afraid.  For to hold this line of thinking is to ignore our heavenly Father who not only created the earth and the universe, but gave us life as well.  We do well to trust in our hearts of the creation story of our Lord, but in our arrogance we've dropped the ball.  I say arrogance because it is we ourselves who have given God a back seat in our own desire to be in control of our life.  We decide our circumstances, our actions dictate our lives...I...I...I!  Tell me, where is God in this line of thought?  Dennis has a good analysis of this line of thinking, that there indeed is NO independent self.  There is only one true self, and that is God Himself.  Everything besides that ultimately falls under His control.  Our lives, the trees around us and all which surrounds us, all are a direct result of the one true self...God.  Telling someone that they are not ultimately responsible for their lives or the world around them can bring some resistance.  It did for me.  I was like everyone else, with a deep seated knowledge that I was my own independent being who decided my own destiny.  How far I was from the truth.  For it is our very flesh which will bring us to believe that "We got this" and falsely lay claim that  we ourselves control our lives.  It is this very same arrogance which compells us to question the authorities around us.  

13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and cconveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or eprincipalities or fpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossions 1: 13 - 18 NKJV

As the apostle Paul tells us in Colossions 1, it is Christ Jesus who is before all things and for whom all was created.  In Jesus all things consist.  Now, this might just deflate more than a few egomaniacs out there who hold fsat to the belief that it is we ourselves who control what happens to us.  It is this very same independent self thinking which led satan to rebel against his creator.  Satan thought that he himself would be more important than God.  How did that work out for him?  If we hold on to this line of thinking that we ourselves are our own independent self, then it won't be too long before reality smacks us in the head.  If we are truly independent, then why is it that we require something in order to survive?  For we all need food, water, shelter and a hospitable environment in order to survive.  Would a truly independent being need such things?  Yes, we can grow our food, and build our dwellings, but then what?  Don't we end up yearning for rain to give us water we need to survive?  Who is it that brings that rain?  Indeed, there are many who hold fast to the belief that they are truly a independent self while praying to God to provide for them, go figure.  We do well to realize that it is God Himself who is the one and only true self and all else revolves around Him.  That authority we cannot question.

~Scott~ 

Identity Of A Man

9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies dthrough His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8: 9 - 11 NKJV

We have talked alot lately of our "True identity" in our weekly group discussions.  Indeed, the topic of the Male identity has been the subject of many christian books, videos and Sunday sermons.  One of my favorite books, Wild At Heart by John Eldredge has been celebrated in christian circles for exemplifying the true spirit of the men among us.  But is this adventure seeking, danger flouting individual which Eldredge tells us about what truly defines us?  I would say it isn't.  While I applaud Mr. Eldredge on tapping into the adventurous spirit of all men, I also think that he left out a vital component which defines us.  Although I enjoy this book alot, I have always thought there was more to us than just running from adventure to adventure.  There is Christ Jesus.  It is here where I feel that Eldredge kind of dropped the ball in his description of the male spirit.  While it is true that we, more than our female counterparts, seek more of the adventure and danger of life, this is definately not what ultimately defines us as men, as Christ men.  The apostle Paul himself touches on this in Romans 8 as he tells us that we are not flesh, but spirit.  THIS is what defines who we are as men.  For our bodies, our flesh are mere coverings for that true identity within us.  If this were not so, wouldn't Paul have given more importance to the flesh which we all see in ourselves and others?  Instead, Paul tells us here that we are ALL in the spirit.  So, the question then becomes, which spirit is it that defines us?

1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the acourse of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2: 1 - 10 NKJV

In Ephesians 2, Paul illustrates each of the two spirits which may define us as men.  Please keep in mind, however, that it is indeed the spirit of Christ Jesus which is our "Default" setting, as were all created in His very spirit image.  What then of this "Spirit of the power of the air" which Paul tells us about here?  Well, make no mistake, this is the very spirit of our enemy satan.  As Paul tells us, we all once walked according to the course of this world we live in and were dead in our trespasses and sins.  That is, until our heavenly Father, through His love and mercy, made us alive once again in the spirit of Christ Jesus.  However, Paul also talks of the sons of disobedience, who continue to walk in the spirit of the power of the air as we once did ourselves.  Yes, there are those who yet have not recognized their "True" identity, their original spirit identity.  We see them every day among us.  We who have accepted Christ Jesus no longer know such things.  For our identity now lies with Jesus, this is what now defines us.  It is not our sins, environment or sense of adventure which ultimately tells us who we are, but the spirit of Christ Jesus who is in us.  I believe that John Eldredge could have titled his best selling book "Wild at Heart In Christ."  Just as we cannot deny a mans desire for danger and adventure, we also cannot deny his true spirit identity.

~Scott~