Little Jimmy...

There was a family that had a story even before the marriage began.  That is, they were one of  “those” families.  The man and the woman were engaged to be married when she was found pregnant.  What shocked the community was that instead of putting her out (like she deserved) this man married her and did not know her until she bore this child.  She claimed she was a virgin impregnated by God through the Spirit – what kind of story is this?  As time would have it this boy was born and they gave him a name that meant God is Salvation.  Soon this family had other sons and daughters.  They grew in numbers and in outreach.  There was talk that when this child (the one that was born out-of-wedlock) was at a wedding he turned water into wine – some say that this was his first miracle before his Ministry began – a fascinating story that will have to be told another time.Today I wanted to tell you about his little brother Jimmy.  Really everyone else called him James, but I know him as little Jimmy.  It would seem like the family didn’t always like this child born of a virgin, but as time grew they began to see that something was different.  Little Jimmy had discernment, meaning he could tell truth from fiction any day of the week.  That is, he knew a fake when he saw one.  As his old brother, “J” grew in wisdom and stature and in miracles and so on, little Jimmy remained home with his mom and dad and other brothers and sisters.  Clearly, “J” was a big fan of his little brother.  I would even imagine that as the two grew up they encouraged each other and pushed each other to greater heights.  I would be willing to suggest that even though “J” was likely talked about (like the rest of their family) that little Jimmy didn’t care about what the others said, because he knew that his big brother was the real deal.  Not through miracles nor through the way he was with people, but because he knew that no matter what, his big brother was there for him whenever he needed him.

You see, little Jimmy went from nothing (as the world would see it) to a mega church leader overnight.  He was the authority in the Apostles lives.  He ruled over the first church with compassion and with a heart of making your faith real.  You see, Jimmy had a mentor who he would die for – because he did.  He knew this mentor was more than a brother – he was Salvation – he is the Word of God.  Little Jimmy was excited and even caused controversy in the later churches by suggesting that faith without works is dead.  Some people criticized him, but Little Jimmy scoffed back and said show me by your works and not just your belief.  He even had the courage to suggest that even demons believe in God, but they don’t have works.  Little Jimmy wrote a book that is in the Bible today.

Many say that Christianity isn’t real, that Jesus wasn’t the Son of God, BUT little Jimmy would beg to differ.  After all, he was likely thrown from top of the temple only not to die and was stoned and clubbed to death thereafter without recanting his testimony about his big brother.  It doesn’t take anyone to say that they just believe, but it takes a real disciple to believe in the healing and saving power of his big brother – Jesus Christ.  You see, Little Jimmy knew by either trial and/or tribulation that God has a plan for each of us.  We are to count it as pure joy when we face these trials and tribulations.  Little Jimmy can speak from authority – he was the leader of the first church and he died for his belief in his big brother – because he knew that his big brother, Jesus, was the real deal and worth dying for.

It is one thing to believe, it is a complete different thing to die for your beliefs.   Again I say, they took this man and brought him to the top of the temple and through him off thinking that would kill him.  Historians believed that he didn’t quite day and on the ground he prayed for those that afflicted him.  He was then stoned to death by the Pharisees that were watching from the ground.  Right before he died, he was supposedly hit over the head which would be the fatal blow.  Little Jimmy was forever forward known as James the Just.

Things we learn from Little Jimmy:

• Don’t fear trial and tribulation.  When you are in those situations look on it as pure joy that your faith is being tested
• If you lack wisdom and understanding, don’t give up, pray for it from God the Father
• Persevere for you will be blessed
• Every good gift is from God above
• Don’t just hear the word (of God) do what it says
• Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry
• Pure religion is this:  To visit orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep yourself from being corrupted by the world
• Do not show partiality to anyone, whether rich or poor or lowly or high in stature
• Love your neighbor as yourself (he got this from His big brother too)
• Faith without works is dead, you cannot just say you believe in God, even the demons do and shudder, you must have good works in you (if the Spirit of God is in you – then good works would automatically flow from you)
• Control yourself, your anger, do not give into it for it will send you to hell if you do (or at least others will feel like you are or that you want them to)
• If you lack, it is not because that is God’s will, it is because you do not ask (contentment is the secret to life)
• Do not speak evil against anyone
• Do not be confident in tomorrow nor hold good from today
• Do not put faith in riches and things of this earth, instead put them in Jesus – Savior of the World
• Do not grumble, instead be patient
• Pray often, if someone is sick call the elders to pray and anoint them
• When in doubt pray more often
• If your brother wanders from the word (truth) the brother who brings him back will save his soul and cover a multitude of sins

I do not know about you, but little Jimmy is one of my favorite people in God’s Kingdom.

Thoughts?

Dante

Top 10 Signs that you are a true disciple of Christ

Often you will hear a man of God say to you that if you really want to know where Jesus stands in someone's life - open their checkbook.  Other men say that when you look on a person then you should see more of Jesus and less of that person to see a true disciple of Jesus.With that being said, What are the top 10 Signs of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?

1. The disciple shows his/her love for Christ (by keeping his word and commandments close to his/her heart - not just hearing the words but doing what they say).

2. The disciple abides in this love of Christ (signs of peace and of patience and of true kindness)

3. The true disciple bears the fruit (Read Galatians 5)

4. The disciple is in fellowship with the Spirit, the Word and daily meditates on the word paving God's pathway for the disciple every day

5. The disciple bears witness for what God has done for him (sent His only Son to die for our sins - Jesus is the way, the truth and the life...)

6.  The disciple is a friend of Jesus, that is, the disciple just doesn't know who Jesus is, rather, the disciple calls Him friend

7. The disciple believes in the power of prayer.  Prays continually and trusts that not their will be done - but God's will be done.  The Lord gives and He takes away but blessed be His name

8. The disciple bears joy in all situations (even through trial and tribulation the disciple will exude pain and suffering and emotional suffering, but will ultimately find the joy of the Lord)

9. The disciple exudes the truth behind Romans 12 and Colossians 3

10.  The disciple is humble and repents when necessary.  The disciple is able to discern good from evil and flees the course of evil at all times.

What are your some of your top 10?

Blessings,D

Blurred Clarity

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted and there is good reason (or excuses) behind this fact.  The past few months, I’ve been searching and praying, wondering what God has in store next for Legacy Dad and our vision.

Often I feel like this whole thing is a waste of time.  I feel like my words fall on deaf ears or my words are constantly met with resistance.  Even though in my heart, I feel what I am doing is true, I could jump on any Christian parenting website and be criticized to death by naysayers.  I often wonder if parents are just too proud to change and admit that maybe, just maybe I’m right about a few things or am I just delusional and wrong?

When I teach parenting conferences, I often see plenty of heads nodding but wonder how many go home and really commit to lasting change?  I offer free parenting resources worth hundreds of dollars and no one wants them?

After a while, even if you’re the most positive person, this weighs on your heart and makes you question your efforts.

One of the biggest comments I’ve heard from men and pastors is that there are very few parenting resources for men.  I’m also astonished when I hear that when it comes to parenting, most men defer their leadership role to their wives and simply take a ride in their wife’s purse rather than being the spiritual leader God has called us to be.

Further disconcerting is the statistics that when men don’t lead, families and our children suffer.

93% of families will follow when the father takes an active role in his faith and walk with Christ.  When fathers are not active in their faith, 60% of children stop attending church or leave the faith altogether even if their mother still attends regularly.

Maybe that’s the point?

Focus on the men.  Change the man, change the family?

- Lance

The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth so help me God:

Imagine a courtroom where you and I and a whole multitude of individuals are going through a judgement.  Imagine that there is one judge who is so bright that the human eye cannot see and so awe-inspiring that we cannot gaze upon that judge without feeling like we would die - let's call that complete holiness.Now let's imagine in this giant courtroom that we see mighty looking creatures that are around a book who has a man who looks very familiar looking through that book.  His gaze is very piercing and he has this clear and precise glow about him reminding us of a lamb and a lion - his hands and feet are worn with a scare that were clearly pierced for transgressions.

Now imagine in that book are written names who have said with their mouths, their tongues and their confessions:  "That is the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God."  Now imagine that those that their names are not written in that book are called out for all of their transgressions, all of their lies and all of the things that separate them from this eternal heaven - sending them to a fiery lake of fire that was intended for the devil and his fallen angels.

Now imagine that the attention focuses on you and all eyes both from humans, angels and the throne are bearing down on you, then the voice speaks, "Do you know my Son?  Is your name written in the Book of Life? If you answer yes and your name is written in that Book - Praise God! Praise Him for his Son, His Spirit and His Holiness that abounds throughout all of the earth to see.

Suppose your answer is, "I don't know" or even worse, your name is not there?  Then what?  Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day,‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

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Jesus Christ IS the Whole Truth:  John Chapter 1

Jesus is nothing but the truth (actually he is everything AND the truth): John 14:6

So help me God: Proverbs 3:5-8

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If you know God's Son - they you have the whole truth.  Your theology is given to you through His Word, through His Spirit and through our worship praising Him.

If you believe in His Son and he calls you to be his then praise be to God our Father!

The Apostles Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church*, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*meaning the universal Christian church--all believers in Jesus Christ

===

What is your theology?

Where will you go when you die?

How can you be sure?

Thoughts?

D

The Cleanse Diet with a twist

Last Friday night, my wife and I (at her urging) decided to start an eight (yes count them - 8) day cleanse, which for those of you who are not aware of this (click here) and realize that you are starving yourself for a week.  Don't take that the wrong way, there is protein shakes, protein snacks and vitamins and pills and so on, but for the most part you are lacking fruit, grains, cabs, coffee and fill in your blank.  So here is where I am at so far (diet ends Saturday - woo hoo):Day 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8:  Lean Smoothie (their product), with vitamins and their global blend; Morning Snack (protein with green veggies); Lunch: Lean Smoothie w/vitamins; Afternoon Snack (protein with green veggies) with vitamins and mix; Dinner:  Lean Smoothie w/vitamins and accelerate;  Before Bed:  Tea with two pills (called the "Flush")

Day 3, 5 and 7:  Wake up and drink 8 oz water; Breakfast:  Lean Smoothie w/vitamins and accelerator; Morning Snack:  Protein Meal w/Green Veggies and vitamins; Lunch:  Protein Meal with whole grains + vitamins; Afternoon Snack:  ALmonds, Peanuts/Sunflower Seeds (raw & unsalted); Dinner Take 2 Cheat pills with Protein Meal + Green Veggies  Bedtime:  Hot Green Tea with 2 pills

Spiritual Cleanse was as follows:

Day 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8:  Read the word everyday; pray for those who need prayer and for those who afflict me; use teachable moments for my kids

Day 3, 5 and 7:  Meditate on what is going in (mentally, physically and emotionally) and reflect on what is coming out (heart, soul, body, mind and strength)

Scripture used:JamesGalatiansI, II and II John

Psalms

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I am on Day 6 and after surviving Sunday with great food temptations I have moved to a place of shear gratitude in the sense of how thankful I am for the life that God has given me.  This isn't about prosperity of what he's given me or health that is in this season of my/our lives; nor is it about just the good in my life - because - if we are all honest:  This world isn't easy.  This world (for those who follow Jesus) is promised to bring us trials and tribulations - and it has.  What I realize is that whatever life brings me (he gives and takes away) I will be singing blessed be His name.

I still have Friday and Saturday to finish this, but I will write more on this topic.

Have any of you done either?

Blessings,

D

Worry & Procrastination....

We apologize that we haven't updated LD in a while, but as always the case out with the old and in with the New Year has LegacyDads really busy.  Between our kids, our ministries and our work not to mention all the demands of being husband/dad, you can all probably relate to this.  Somehow, I had the grand illusion that as our kids got older the less we would be required to do - boy do I have that wrong.Which leads me to this post:  Worry & Procastination

I was reading this article about the tops sins of men (particularly in America) and was struck that the Barna Suvery did not put the "Big Ones" in the top 2 slots, rather, they put Worry and Procastination (aka laziness and idleness and slothfulness) on the top two slots.   When I really ponder to think on this, I think that for men in America that is really true.  Let's be honest, if we truly took stock of our lives (in other words pick yours:  Your bills/filing, your investments, your Garage, your closet, your computer, your to-do lists, your empty promises to your wife and kids that begin with either, "okay", "in a minute" or "i will get to that next week") if these fill in your blanks then you have related to me - if we didn't cover them then please comment on this so I can add that to my likely list.

Seriously, since my mom died over 2 years ago, I have seen my dad (who could do it all - litterally) take a back seat to everything and let the world pass him by.  This means that I have the estate to manage, the propterty that is unsold to manage and the tax and bills and so on that go with it.  On top of that add to my daily jaunts in life:  God, Family, Work and every day life and you can hopefully empathize with me on this subject.   Life is hard enough, especially in a world that seems to take unbiblical paths in managing debt - you cannot spend your way out of a crisis without consequence.   My wife and I are working on some house projects which leads to me to realize that some times we just have too much stuff - what are we teaching our kids.  The name of this game in 2014 is back to the basics - I mean yes, I have my passions and my hobbies and my media tablets that assist in this process, but as for my wife and I and our family - we will be taking a much more biblical pace to 2014.

My role as a husband and father is supposed to be the spiritual leader of my household.  To raise and train up our children to love the Lord with all the heart, strength soul and mind.  To fear him who can sepearate bone from marrow.  To love him with reckless abandon.  To have a real and loving relationship with Jesus Christ and to share the Gospel to our world the best that we can (sometimes just letting our actions and service do the talking as much as we can).  The second is to teach them to be independent and confident.  Not to be insecure and not to worry and stress out about things that we can never control and/or change the outcome.  We need to teach them to use their gifts and stewardship of time talent and treasure to serve God's Kingdom and not our own.  This is a task that does not sleep, does not wait and has a limited time before they are no longer under our tutilege.  All of this being sais is that there will be a reckoning in each and everyone of our lives - the Judgement Seat of Christ.  For those of us who call him Savior and are written in the Lambs Book of Life - we will be robed in white and we will be judged on what we did for God through His Son and Spirit to further his kingdom.

Worry - why?  What does it profit me to gain the whole world and lose my own soul.  Why worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

Procrastinate - well that is my cross to bear these next few months - time to step it up!  After all, Pastor Matt Chandler said at #ActLikeMen, that a bored man in the house is a very dangerous thing - who has time to be bored (I am usually exhausted by bedtime).  Instead, I am making an effort to live the life that I want to teach my children:I will be accountable to God with my talent, with my time and with my treasure:

• God comes first
• My quiet time and daily reading comes second
• I will serve my wife and kids to the best of my abillity - before this I will let go and let God have them (he can take care of things much better than I can!)
• I will listen for his prompting and leading
• I will not worry (when I do - I have accountability that will shred that from me)
• I will not procrastinate any more (Lord - hear this prayer!)

What are some of yours?

Blessings,

Dante

How will you measure your life...

This past week I received an email from someone who I respect very much in the work force and who plays a good mentor in a lot of young peoples lives.   There is an article that was sent in an email about how those of us that can have input in the way we do life could make a difference in other peoples lives.   If you click on this link:  How will you measure your life, then you can read the article in its entirety.   This article prompted me to make this our topic this weekend in our men's group this Saturday morning.  Click on this for the Power Point that I will be presenting:  How will you measure your lifeAs we begin 2014, I wanted to challenge each of us with a few thoughts in life - in the way that we do every day.  Whatever your background, whatever gifts, your talents and/or your treasure, what mark you leave in this life depends on how you define all of your efforts with Jesus Christ.  Whether you are rich, poor, well fed or hungry.  Whether you are blessed in good health or suffering in trial and tribulation.  Whether you are lonely or questioning why God has you were you are at - there is only one choice to make:  How will you measure your life?  How will you define who you are?  What legacy will you leave for those who come behind you?

Legacy Dad is more than just about Lance and I and our writings - it is deeper than that.  It is about God's truth in our lives.  It is about making a difference as husbands, fathers, mentors, friends and disciples of Christ.  What mark will you leave?  How will people remember you?  What you do everyday - is that making a difference for your life or for God's Kingdom?

Here are some challenges for 2014:

• Be humble in all circumstances
• Love and live life like it could be your last day on earth
•  Know your priorities
• Ask this question - "what matters most in my life...?
• Be responsible for your personal walk (in life, in discipleship, in spiritual growth and so on)
• Put accountability in your life
• Be accountable (no matter what)
• Pray, read God's word and listen for at least an hour a day (morning or noon or night - whatever works)
• See where God takes you in 2014

In all you do - Coram Deo!

Blessings,

Dante

Reflecting on end of last year’s Bucket List

Last year, on Saturday 12-29-12 I entered the following bucket list post for my look into 2013.  Here is what I said:James 4:13-16 ESV “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

Every one of us will have an appointed time to die and after that we will all face judgement from our Lord Jesus Christ.  This very fact got me thinking about a bucket list for 2013.  It is not so much as planning to die, but things that I really want to focus on in the next 12 months to come.  Things that I think are seriously important:

My Bucket List for 2013:

1.       Read thru the Bible in a year (I am currently 2 months behind, but getting closer)

2.       Lead 12 people to Christ (at least one a month) (I know of 4 for sure and not sure how many more this side of heaven)

3.       Love my wife and family more and serve them more – (Check)

4.       Buy a homeless person dinner  (FAIL, however, we did support a family that was in need during the holidays)

5.       Spend more time teaching, loving, training and hanging with my wife and three kids (Check)

6.       Mentoring (Check and triple check)

7.       Take random road “day trips” with my family (Check)

8.       Train and run for my third marathon (Check)

9.       Eat better, exercise more and make the wise choices (I will give myself a C+, without the Marathon it would have been a “C-“)

10.     Read more with my wife (give myself a C+)

11.     Grow deeper friendships (feeling blessed with this thanks to Men of Faith and Lance, of course)

12.     Apply biblical truth every day to my life, my wife’s life and my children’s life (more family devotions). (One of my accountability partners put the rubber to the road on this one with me by challenging to hold my integrity to my every day life application – thus fulfilling this challenge)

What are some of yours?

Blessings in 2013,

Dante

—-

Happy New Year,

Dante, Lance & Gary!!!

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The hardest part about this website is that Lance and I (and Gary who is now home with Jesus) have to look at this website as a constant reminder of accountability.  That is, our wives, friends, and family are reading this.  They see us daily and can call us out on this and they can even challenge us to live lives more worthy and to be even more accountable in life.

So as 2013 comes to a close, I have a few challenges for you:

• The demands of life are inescapable, therefore, measure your time more carefully and prioritize what’s most important:  God, Family, Church, Work and Community
• The pressures of life are, at times, overwhelming, therefore, measure your friendships and accountability more closely (if people were to look at your life and social calendar and check book on a jumbo screen at your most favorite sporting event and or Times Square – would they say that God matters most?  That Jesus shines through?  That the Holy Spirit guides us each day?
• The family unit is exhausting (a lot of the time), therefore, live like it is your last day, love like it is your last day and serve like you love Jesus on your last day
• Maybe you are divorced, single and/or widowed, therefore, stop trying to serve self (what’s in it for me) and allow God to fill those places by serving His will and His Kingdom and His plans for your life (He does have plans for each of us)
• Maybe you are married and embittered or frustrated or in a rut that you cannot get out of (like a dog chasing its tail), therefore, turn to God’s will for your life.  Center your life, your marriage, your job your everything-ness on Jesus Christ.  Make him your center point and see what 2014 brings you.
• __________________________________, therefore, ________________________________ (fill in some of yours)

I will leave you with this to begin 2014 with:

Lamentations 3  (ESV) Great Is Your Faithfulness

3 I am the man who has seen affliction     under the rod of his wrath; ² he has driven and brought me     into darkness without any light; ³ surely against me he turns his hand     again and again the whole day long. ⁴ He has made my flesh and my skin waste away;     he has broken my bones; ⁵ he has besieged and enveloped me     with bitterness and tribulation; ⁶ he has made me dwell in darkness     like the dead of long ago. ⁷ He has walled me about so that I cannot escape;     he has made my chains heavy; ⁸ though I call and cry for help,     he shuts out my prayer; ⁹ he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones;     he has made my paths crooked. ¹⁰ He is a bear lying in wait for me,     a lion in hiding; ¹¹ he turned aside my steps and tore me to pieces;     he has made me desolate; ¹² he bent his bow and set me     as a target for his arrow. ¹³ He drove into my kidneys     the arrows of his quiver; ¹⁴ I have become the laughingstock of all peoples,     the object of their  taunts all day long. ¹⁵ He has filled me with bitterness;     he has sated me with wormwood.  ¹⁶ He has made my teeth grind on gravel,     and made me cower in ashes; ¹⁷ my soul is bereft of peace;     I have forgotten what happiness^[a] is; ¹⁸ so I say, “My endurance has perished;     so has my hope from the Lord.” ¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my wanderings,     the wormwood and the gall! ²⁰ My soul continually remembers it     and is bowed down within me. ²¹ But this I call to mind,     and therefore I have hope: ²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;^[b]     his mercies never come to an end; ²³ they are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness. ²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,     “therefore I will hope in him.” ²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for him,     to the soul who seeks him. ²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly     for the salvation of the Lord. ²⁷ It is good for a man that he bear     the yoke in his youth. ²⁸ Let him sit alone in silence     when it is laid on him; ²⁹ let him put his mouth in the dust—     there may yet be hope; ³⁰ let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,     and let him be filled with insults. ³¹ For the Lord will not     cast off forever, ³² but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion     according to the abundance of his steadfast love; ³³ for he does not afflict from his heart     or grieve the children of men.