Another Hallelujah

The Crucifixion of Jesus[youtube id="0HSYxDTWUVw"]

Mark 15: 21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [a] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[c] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[d] and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Word of God changes lives

titusIn the Book of Titus we read how the Apostle Paul has left Timothy in Crete to with a big to do list:

  • 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished
  • Appoint Elders in every town
  • Train Elders to be God's man
  • Rebuke those parties that need rebuking (Cretans and the Circumcision Party)
  • teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine
  • Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
  • Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
  • encourage the young men to be self-controlled
  • In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us
  • Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone
  • avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless
  • Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned

When Paul first leaves Titus with these men in this church, to the average eye, this would seem like a hopeless task.  But with God, everything is possible as we read in the following texts in Titus:

  • Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
  • Titus 3:3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone

discernment-1Remember this:  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Left on our own devices we can be overwhelmed, stressed and left hopeless, but with the Word of God we can see how Titus takes these men in Chapter 1 (those who are lost, liars, Cretans and evildoers) and we see the Word of God,  a Man of God and the Spirit of God changing these men to God's men!

The Word of God changes lives!

The Word of God can teach us!

The Word of God gives us Wisdom!  (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom).

Don't leave home without the Word of God.

 

Blessings,Dante

 

 

 

Completed Devoted

our-daily-breadWhat if we trained for a marathon race at 25 percent?  What if we committed to our partner 30 percent?  What if we paid taxes on only 30 percent of our income?  What if we spent very little time investing in our family and our marriage?  In all of these questions what do you think the likely end result would be?  Would it be a happy ending?  Would it be edifying?  Would it be worth it to change these questions to what if I gave it my all?I don't think very many of us would even remotely try to argue that results would certainly be much different.  All this being said to ask our question of where does our devotion truly stand with the Creator of this Universe?

Some key verses for you to ponder:

  • Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
  • 1 Samuel 12:24  "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
  • Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;
  • Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
  • 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
  • 1 Peter 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

 

If we were to honestly look at the daily journals of our lives (Our time:  How are we spending it?  Our Treasure: If we were to show everyone in our lives and our churches how God really matters, would our checkbooks show it?  Our Talent:  When we are saved, Scripture tells us that the Spirit gives us fruit, so how are we sharing that?)

Some of us need to take serious inventory of our lives:

  • Ask your spouse to list the top 5 things that are important to you (Where does God line up with that?)
  • Ask your children to list the top 5 things that are important to you (Is God even mentioned)
  • Take a look at your time (Where is God on that list)
  • Take a look at your treasure (What does our checkbook and spending tell us?)
  • Take a look at your talent (Are you using it for God's kingdom?)

My next post will be on prioritizing...

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

 

TOP 10 WAYS TO BUILD YOUR CHILDREN UP

top-10-mistakesTOP 10 WAYS TO BUILD YOUR CHILDREN UP:#10     TEACH THEM HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

#  9     TEACH THEM TO RESPECT THEMSELVES (AND THEIR BODIES) AND OTHERS

#  8     TEACH THEM GOOD STEWARDSHIP (OF TIME, OF TALENT AND OF TREASURE)

#  7     INVEST YOUR TIME IN THEM (THEY NEED MORE THAN QUALITY - THEY NEED BOTH QUALITY AND QUANTITY)

#  6     PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN, MAKE EYE CONTACT AND SHOW THEM THAT THEY MATTER TO YOU DAD

#  5     SHOW THEM YOUR FAITH:  MAKE THE BIBLE AN AUTHORITY IN YOUR LIFE, MAKE SERVING OTHERS A PRIORITY, MAKE YOUR FAITH REAL TO THEM

#  4     DATE THEM (TAKE THEM OUT ON ONE ON ONE DATES: IF THEY ARE YOUR DAUGHTERS THEN SHOW THEM HOW A LADY SHOULD BE TREATED.  IF THEY ARE YOUR SONS THEN SHOW THEM HOW TO TREAT LADIES AND BE A GENTLEMEN.

#  3     TELL THEM ABOUT GOD - READ THE WORD WITH THEM. PRAY WITH THEM, OPEN UP TO THEM.

#  2     LOVE THEM, KISS THEM, HUG THEM - DO NOT WITHHOLD LOVE WITH THEM.  EVEN WHEN THEY MESS UP - FORGIVE THEM AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN US.  SHOW THEM HOW TO APOLOGIZE AND TO FORGIVE (AND THEN SHOW THEM HOW LOVE DOES NOT KEEP SCORE, DOES NOT KEEP RECORD OF RIGHT AND WRONG.

#  1     TELL THEM ABOUT GOD.  ABOUT JESUS AND ABOUT HIS SPIRIT.  SHARE WITH THEM WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS AND WHAT JESUS HAS GIVEN US AS HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD - HIS SPIRIT.

 

Therefore confess your sins to one another

Lance and I were talking about raw, authentic and uplifting men's group and we shared how we see that in my men's group (Men of Faith) and his men's group (Fight Club) and the relationships Printthat are not only being formed, but are growing both spiritually and physically.  For Lance and I, our men's groups have never been about numbers.  Rather, they are about guys getting together in raw, honest and transparent ministry.  The thing about Lance that drove me to this website back in 2007, was his willingness to abase himself and be real with who he is and where he came from.  He is brutally honest (in a loving way) and tells me how it is.  We often say that we wish that each of us lived closer, but we do not!1st John 3: 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.  Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (His love).  9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  James 5: 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working..  19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

men-af_600x144Legacy Dads (and men)  if you are looking for a men's group in your church like this (and you don't have one) don't wait on someone else to affirm it.  Grab a few other guys (who you see are willing to be faithful in the word and prayer and an admitted sinner - saved by grace) and start worshiping together.  Start praying together.  Start reading the Bible together and talk about real life issues.

Remember the Cardinal Rule #1 - what is said in that group stays in that group.

Remember the Cardinal Rule #2- if a brother confesses and shares that you are now on holy ground.  Don't trample over that with your words and thoughts of how to fix that brother- BECAUSE YOUR SHOULDN'T.  If the Spirit is moving you to talk or walk with that brother - then grab him after the small group of sharing and ask if you can meet for coffee or lunch or a meal or to talk and tell him that you were truly moved by him.  If you build trust and a relationship that brother will likely give you the permission to speak into his life (then that is the time, not anytime before) to speak into him.

Remember the Cardinal Rule #3- Be relational.  Be transparent.  Share from your heart, share your sin, your failures and what God is doing in your life right now.

In all that you do, lean and trust on the Lord.

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

Get your worship on...

Anthem Lights:[youtube id="4iEgs0WKR-c"]

Chris Tomlin:

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Matt Redman:

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Matthew West

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How about the rest of your day now that you have things put into perspective?

Psalm 150:1New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise God in his sanctuary;    praise him in his mighty heavens

 

Blessings,

Dante

 

 

 

Lessons from Titus

titusTitus 2 The Message (MSG) 

A God-Filled Life

2 1-6 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.

7-8 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.

9-10 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters—no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.

11-14 God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.

15 Tell them all this. Build up their courage, and discipline them if they get out of line. You’re in charge. Don’t let anyone put you down.

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Where to begin?

  1. Always start with Jesus
  2. He is the Author of our Salvation
  3. He gave us His Spirit
  4. Verses 11-15 says it all -  11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
  5. Remember that it always begins and ends with Jesus

Once you have this down, then you can instruct the others!Blessings,

Dante

 

 

The Habit Poem

The Habit Poem habits wordleI am your constant companion.I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.I am completely at your command.Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.And, alas, of all failures as well.Those who are great, I have made great.Those who are failures, I have made failures.I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.Plus, the intelligence of a man.You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am a HABIT!

(Author unknown)

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My son has a very fast brain and also has central processing disorder and ADHD in that he has a hard time following through.  My wife and I have been working on giving him tools, by which he can survive later in life, to help him through daily routines.  My wife sent this to me last night via Facebook and we both had to sadly laugh as our son has all 9 (as even some of these things apply to us): DSM-IV-TR Criteria for ADHD, Inattentive Type A child must display six of nine of the behaviors listed below: 1.often fails to give close attention to details, or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities; 2.often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities; 3.often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly; 4.often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions); 5.often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities; 6.often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework); 7.often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools); 8.is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli; and, 9.is often forgetful in daily activities. - our son has all 9 of these by the way.

Even with some of his disorders he is a straight A student.  The problem, though, is that he can become disheartened or frustrated in his daily jaunts because he lacks the central ability to process. His brain is amazing.  His memory is photographic.  His heart and compassion and understanding of God's scripture blows me away.

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This got me thinking on our daily walks.  Without a healthy habit, without a good routine, how can we, as Legacy Dads, succeed in our mission  - we simply cannot.

Some good habits that we can learn from Jesus:

  • Put good habits to practice in your daily life (get into the word, pray, walk with other brothers and be honest and accountable - Galatians 6:7-10 and James 1:22-25)
  • As disciples of Christ, we simply cannot lack discipline (1 Timothy 4:7)
  • Avoid these 3 things (don't let them influence your daily healthy habits:  1) The World 2) The flesh and 3) The Devil)
  • Do not grieve the Holy Spirit - repent, confess, pray and listen
  • Worship and Quiet time need to be healthy habits in your life
  • Start fasting - it does the body good
  • Serve others and use the gifts to glorify God
  • Fellowship with other brothers
  • Give
  • Share the Gospel

Blessings,

Dante