The R.I.S.E. Journal

Reflections for men becoming who they were made to be

You know you were made for more. More strength. More presence. More goodness offered to your wife, your children, and the world entrusted to you.
The RISE Journal exists to accompany men in the slow, honest work of becoming.

It is shaped by the RISE Framework—a four-movement path of masculine formation designed to help you locate yourself clearly, and take your next faithful step.

These are not personality types or spiritual rankings. They are movements of growth men return to again and again across seasons of life, marriage, fatherhood, and calling.

You may recognize yourself clearly in one movement right now—or feel drawn between two. That is not a problem to solve. It is part of formation.

The aim is not to rush ahead, but to begin where you truly are.

The RISE Framework for Christian Men

Recognize

Seeing yourself clearly and naming what you truly desire

This is often the first movement for men who feel stuck, restless, confused, or quietly dissatisfied.

Recognize is about waking up—learning to tell the truth about who you are, what you want, and where you have gone passive, numb, or disconnected.

Initiate

Moving from insight to embodied action

Initiate is for men who see what needs to change—but hesitate to step forward.

This movement explores leadership, courage, and the costly decision to act even when there is risk, resistance, or no guarantee of affirmation.

Sacrifice

Offering your strength without disappearing inside responsibility

Sacrifice is about learning how to give of yourself without resentment.

This is where responsibility deepens, and where many men either mature, or quietly break.

Enjoy

Receiving life, rest, and joy as a man fully alive

Enjoy is not a reward for hard work. It is part of faithful masculinity.

This movement helps men recover delight, pleasure, and play without guilt, numbing, or escape.

If you’re unsure where to begin, trust your first instinct—or take the orientation quiz to help clarify your next step.

From the Archives

Formation unfolds over time. Explore the full body of work below.