What does your Bible say about you?

Dear Legacy Dad Readers,If Lance and/or I were to ask you what you Bible says about you?  How would you answer?  If we were to ask you what is your Bible speaking to you?  What would your answer be?  Could your defend your faith?  Could you give a kind, but reasonable answer to a non-believer?  The older I get (almost 50), the more I realize that the closer you get to God (through His word) the more you will see Him in your life and the less of you.  The less that you spend time with God (through His word), the more that you look like the world.  The latter of this is considered lukewarm by Jesus Christ.  Hear what He has to say to us in the Book of Revelation on being lukewarm:

Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV) 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

If you are going to be serious about the Legacy Dad Process and being a true disciple of Jesus Christ there are some must haves:

1. Be honest and transparent - on your sin, name it, confess it and ask other men to walk with you and to hold you truly accountable
2. Read the Word (The Bible) Daily - this is your roadmap to living God's way and not the world's way
3. Pray regularly
4. Have the Word be an authority in your life - just don't read the book and memorize it - live it, breathe it and do what it says!

Moving from Milk to Meat:

Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV)

Warning Against Apostasy11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 6 (ESV)

6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,[a] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[b] having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

When you read God's word accurately and maturely you are not only just reading it, you are letting it read you, sharpen you, and change you in ways that are pleasing to God because the world will see less of your worldliness and more of God's righteousness.  Does that mean if I do this, that I will live without sin?  Of course not, there is only one man on this earth that lived sinless and was crucified for our unrighteousness so that we could be with Him and His Father in Heaven.  Do you believe in God?  Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?  Do you believe that if others do not believe in Jesus that they will spend an eternity in Hell - a place that was created for the Devil and his angels?

If you believe this to be true, but you are not living as a disciple should live, then you are guilty of sins of omission - holding back what God has in store for you?  The plans that He has for you and the places that He intends for you to go?  For some that may mean a mission field of your family and relatives, for others it may mean to be an actual missionary, an Elder, a Deacon, a lay leader, a mentor, a coach, a worship leader, a singer - are you using your gifts and talents to worship God in every aspect of your life? If not, why not?  If you are calling yourself a Christian and yet you are not under the authority of God's word, then do you not see the hypocrisy in that statement?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Can you teach the word?  Can you reproof others with the word?  Can you train others?

If you answer no to any of the above questions, then would you be willing to be teachable?  Mentored?  Coached in the way to go?

If you can honestly say that you are not learning and gleaning from the word of God, then Lance and I do not need to say anything else on that because it is the condition of the heart and not of the hand and or eyes that are reading it.

Food for thought,

D

Be The Church

Those of you who know me personally or follow my posts know that I have a love/hate relationship with God's Church.  I love God and his people but every time I get too involved in local churches and ministry, I'm often left scratching my head and wondering how our modern churches are nothing like the Early Christian Church and the New Testament.  Personally, I've been involved with, led, and work with others who are involved with grass roots, unconventional ministry models. These ministry groups often reach people who would normally never come to church and have led many current believers to deeper relationships with Christ and authentic discipleship.

However, some local churches today are often very skeptical to allow these types of ministries as they are seen as radical and unconventional. When I talk about challenging Christians to live their faith daily and to be held accountable in an effort to grow spiritually, many pastors shy away as this may hurt some people's feelings. Translation - "We don't want to challenge or push people to grow in their faith. We just want a nice, passive congregation."

What these leaders don't understand is that many people today have grown disillusioned with the "Sunday Show".  Before I continue with this rant, here's some contextual background on this ongoing discussion -   Dear Church, Are We Off Course? , Why We Need The Church, What Our Church Really Needs.

[shareable]Essentially, I see a flaw in our modern church ministry methodology and I don't believe it matches the Early Christian model.[/shareable]

First, let's look at Scripture and what God has said, then let us compare that with our modern American churches.

Would you be surprised if I told you that the Greek word "kuriakos" or church only show's up in the New Testament twice?  Both times it is used, it is referring to meaning something that "pertains to, or belongs to, the Lord." The actual word in Greek used for God's people or His gathering of people is "ekklesia" - which correctly translated means a "body or gathering of select people." - this word ekklesia appears in the New Testament approximately 115 times and was recorded as the exact words Christ spoke when talking about His people and His following.

So Matthew 16:18 more accurately could be stated:

"Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my gathering of called people, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it" - ESV

So why does this matter?  Words have meaning.

In 325 A.D., The Roman Empire adopted Christianity and unfortunately the Roman "Christian" Church was more Roman than Christian and started making some changes to Christianity for the benefit of Rome.  Years later many of "The Reformers", were all involved in civil government, such as John Calvin who set up the civil government in Geneva. The pope, who was the head of the Catholic Church, was kicked out of England during the time of King Henry VIII who proceeded to take jurisdiction over the "church" and implement government style changes. By the time the King James Bible was written in 1611, it was very important for the English Monarchy to retain control of the "church" therefore, King James made fifteen specific edicts pertaining to the Biblical translations of the KJV, and one of those edicts (edict number three) stated that this Bible was to use the word "church" in the translation and not the word "gathering." This was King James' specific edict for an important reason - King James had no jurisdiction or control over a "gathering" of God's people, but he did have control over the "church" or the physical buildings used for worship in Christianity.  Hmm...

Smart old King James knew that by using the word "church", he could bring God's believers under the jurisdiction of man. Furthermore, King James' version of "church" were defined in ways that we don't even find in Scripture and most certainly not what Jesus spoke of using ekklesia. Christ did not define his ekklesia to be under man's jurisdiction because if God created it, then He is the one who should control it.

Now you're saying, "Okay, so King James switched some words around to control the Church. Lance what does this have to do with Modern Christian Ministry and Methodology?"  Everything.

Matthew 28 is the Great Commission and states:

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In the above Church Model illustration, who usually has all the authority?  Who are usually the ones mainly involved in making disciples? Who does thebaptizing? Who does the majority of the teaching?

Doesn't this model seem more like King James' version of the "Church?"

In the Ekklesia Model illustration, average believers like you and me use God's word and have His authority to make disciples, baptize them, and everyone teaches each other based on the discernment of God's word.  If everyone is actively reading God's word and interpreting it properly, there is no room for heresy or false teachings as everyone is reading directly from the source.

Now let me ask you this, which one of these models is currently being used for the amazing growth of Christianity in Asia and Africa?  Which one of these models was used to raise up 128 Million believers in Communist China? Which one of these models more closely resembles Christ's guidance to His early followers? Which one of these models to we see used over and over again in the New Testament?

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas "have turned the world upside" and were "acting against the decrees of Caesar" or the establishment of their day.  

Throughout the New Testament, Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy weren't "church builders" - they weren’t telling the people to find some building where they can be separate from everyone else in town. They weren’t telling the people to hire a seminary trained minister who can parse Greek and then install a coffee shop in their new building. They weren’t telling the people to act like good Christians, meet for a few hours on the weekend, have concert style worship, and then go home and get on with their lives until next Sunday. No!

They were building gatherings of believers who heard of all that Christ did, repented of their sins, and chose to follow Him. Many times, this meant a serious life decision that could have dire consequences but they chose to follow the Lord regardless of the earthly costs.  They often met in the homes of fellow believers or patrons but not a specific "church building" as this would enormously hinder their interaction and ability to influence the community around them.  Often, the entire occupants of homes became believers after hearing the Good News.  (Acts 16:15,Acts 16:33-34, Acts 18:8)

Also, very few had any formal training in ministry, they simply shared the story of Christ and let the Holy Spirit move in the people.

Yet every time I bring this question up to someone in vocational ministry, I'm told that "we follow the "church model" because that's what's taught at seminary."  Yet every single year, more and more church buildings close their doors, less and less people attend services on Sunday's, and more and more vocational pastors are calling it quits.

Why do we continue to use this ministry model that is not even Biblical? Why are we more concerned with buildings, programs, and "Sunday Entertainment" then growing our flocks spiritually?  Why are we relying on our pastors to do all the teaching, baptizing, and discipleship?

You may read this post and think that I'm saying we should do away with institutional churches, salaried pastors, and Sunday services but that is not what I'm saying.  I'm challenging Christians to look at the modern Christian Church and compare that with Christ's early gathering of followers. I'm challenging Christians to stop relying on pastors and vocational ministers to do all God's work.  I'm challenging pastors and ministry leaders to examine their discipleship models and see how many people are growing spiritually.

We don't need a building.  We don't need a Seminary degree. You and I are called upon to make disciples. Our missions field is our neighborhood, our workplace, our friends, our communities.  God has called on us to Be The Church.

One of my friends recently started a small group at his home.  He started with five people based on the ekklesia model above and then started inviting others, mostly non-believers or people who no longer attended Sunday "church". He now has over 40 weekly participants and has had more people accept Christ and has conducted more baptisms than the average local church does in 2 years. He's rough around the edges, not perfect, and is does not have a seminary degree.  Be he has a calling, a missions field, and a passionate love for Christ. He doesn't go to church, he is being the church.

-Esse Quam Videri

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Lance and I would like to wish all of you legacy dads a very happy fathers day!  Thank you for being willing to step up and to get out of the boat making a difference in others' lives.  Whether you are a dad, grandfather, spiritual father (coach, mentor) we want to thank you for taking the legacy dad approach.

This past weekend, some legacy dads and myself took all of our kids (minus a college student) on a weekend camping trip.  Imagine just for a moment:  4 Dads, 11 kids (ranging from 4 years old thru 13 years old) and no moms.  We came, we saw, we ate, slept and conquered.  These men are in my small group and we have grown into a very solid community who are walking together and doing life together.

All of these dads have a lot to offer.  They are all gifted and natural born leaders who are on a journey of faith and living in the American way of life.  Trying to live a life worthy of God and also trying to leave a legacy for their wives and kids.  These guys are true grit and we would do anything for each other, including giving their shirts off their back if the other was in need.  One of the four dads is ending a nine year stint as a Deacon in our church (one who has a heart of an Elder and I cannot wait to see him move into that role down the road)  The other two amaze me, because although they are "new" in their walk and prayer lives, they are gifted with leadership talent beyond belief.

I am thankful for these brothers because they mean so much to me.  I am thankful for their wives because they mean so much to us.  I am thankful for their children because they are fun to watch and to see them grow and to see the way that they look at their dads.  I pray for these brothers daily that they would continue to stand up against the ways of this world, to get out of the boat of complacency and to walk out onto the water of faith and see what God has in store for their lives.

To all of our readers, thank you for being faithfully committed to making a difference in your life, your families lives, your church lives and in your community.

Blessings,Dante

Launching Our Children Well

I started this journey and website over 12 years ago, back when my children were 6 and 5 years old.  Quite simply, I wanted to raise children who had Godly character, engaged the world, and used their lives to have an impact for God's kingdom.  I haven't been actively posting on Legacy Dad the past year because, quite frankly, I've been in the trenches, engaged in raising teenagers, and preparing to launch them into adulthood.  In my opinion, this is a critical time in my children's lives and the decisions they make will have more long terms implications. However, the road has not always been easy and things have not always gone as planned...

To start, we currently live in the Northeast part of the country and things are culturally a lot different then we are used to.  For starters, where we live, the average couple does not start having children until their mid to late 30's.  This means that in our home town and in our church family, we have almost no peer support as most couples our age are just starting their families. Largely, we have had to rely on older couples who have kids our children's age or "empty nesters" who have already launched their children. Granted, we have been truly blessed by the couples who have walked with us but peer support has been largely missing for the past 5 years.

Next, we purposely chose not to shelter our children from the world but to raise our kids "in but not of the world." We've had to raise our children in a culture and in schools that preach "work hard at academics and sports, get a good college education, make a lot of money, and buy big houses and boats to make you happy."  It's a very self-centered, what's in it for me culture.  Traits like serving ones country or community, giving back by volunteering time, talents, or money, and pursuing a vocation or career that impacts people for God rather than making a buck are largely absent or in some circumstances even deterred.

Thankfully, God had a plan in all of this and our church family and our children's experiences allowed them to see through this shallow and empty culture to persevere.  Yes, our children were exposed to things like peers using drugs and alcohol, depression, and even suicide.  They've seen friends consumed in the world and end up in trouble with the law or worse.  But, they also got to see behind the curtain of the upper-middle class lie - kids who had the big houses, the latest phones, vacations to Europe, and everything handed to them were many times more unhappy, depressed, and treat people with a sense of pompous entitlement.  Instead of assimilating and being influenced by this culture, our children rejected it and wanted nothing to do with The Success Illusion.  They witnessed and experienced first hand all that the Bible (and mom and dad) have taught them over the years.

Parenting teenagers is an entirely different style of parenting.  Teens often look and think that they are adults, therefore they want to make their own decisions.  Directly trying to tell your teens which college they should go to or what vocation they might be happiest in often has the opposite effect.  Ultimately, teens want to have a say and make their own decisions.  Therefore, if you wait until they become teens to start letting them make decisions, you could end up with some setbacks.  This is why I have preached for the past 12 years to start allowing children to make decisions and have responsibility early.  In the teen years, you move from Director to Coach or Mentor. You have to be clever and find ways to plant ideas and seeds in your teens but ultimately allow them to make the decision and go the direction they want to.  Sometimes, this means letting them fail or deal with natural consequences.  Too many parents these days are micromanaging their kids lives up until the day they drop them off a college. Sometimes even longer?

Our oldest just graduated and heads off to college this fall yet he is still not sure what he wants to major in or pursue for a vocation.  My encouragement to him is to pray, explore some areas and take some classes to see where his passion lays.  Over and over again, I have told my kids to follow their hearts and God's plan for their lives and they will never be wrong.  Don't choose a career or path just because it has a big salary or fancy title.  Pursue what you love based on your calling and gifts and find a way to advance God's kingdom and have an impact on the world.  This being said, both of my children are looking at careers and vocations that will have them working and helping other people and possibly working overseas.  They both feel that helping people, fighting injustice, and building community are more important than salaries and titles.

Bottom line, nether one of my kids will be attending Harvard or becoming neurosurgeon's.  They probably won't develop the next startup app that goes IPO and makes a billion dollars. However, they are both actively engaged (in their own separate ways) in deepening relationships, helping other people, and pointing others to Jesus Christ and his undeserving, amazing grace.  While they sometimes slip and have setbacks, more often they rely on the foundation of Christ and Christian values to guide and lead their lives and everyday actions.  While they are both spreading their wings and venturing away from our nest, my wife and I are confident and secure that they both are listening to God and allowing the Holy Spirit to move and guide them in their endeavors.  By this measure, we have succeeded as parents.

"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

-Emerson

Are you making other disciples?

Luke 6English Standard Version (ESV)

The Beatitudes

²⁰ And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

²¹ “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

²² “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! ²³ Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

²⁴ “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

²⁵ “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

²⁶ “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Love Your Enemies

²⁷ “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.²⁹ To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic^[b] either.³⁰ Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ³¹ And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

³⁹ He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. ⁴¹ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

⁴³ “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Build Your House on the Rock

⁴⁶ “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: ⁴⁸ he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.^{[c] 49} But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

---

Currently I am walking with 4 other brothers daily via text and friendship and conversations over coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We are sharing daily life struggles and encouraging and comforting and urging one another to live worthy of God.  I love these brothers.  I am also walking with 3 men and their wives in our small group that meets every other week (we are taking the summer off as we usually do.

That being said, I texted my brothers this this morning, "A disciple of Jesus will go and make other disciples fully training others to reflect Jesus and to show His love in all that we do keeping God's word as an authority in his life!"  "I love you brothers!  Let go of that which ensnares you today and ask God to take your burdens!  Let the Word dwell in you richly!

This has hit me tonight that I feel the same way about my brother Lance and you, our Legacydad readers!!!

Blessings,D

False Teachers

1 Timothy 6:5English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain

2 Timothy 4:3-4English Standard Version (ESV)

³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound^[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Acts 20:28-30English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,^[a]which he obtained with his own blood.^{[b] 29} I know that

after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

1 John 4:1-6English Standard Version (ESV)

Test the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.⁴ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

"Today’s church cannot remain faithful if it tolerates false teachers and leaves their teachings uncorrected and unconfronted."  -Albert Mohler

VIDEO:  FALSE TEACHERS BY SHAI LINNE (TEST THE SCRIPTURE IN THIS)[youtube id="KJmcEAwazD0" height="353" width="574" marginbottom="15"]

Note:  Legacy Dad posts this video for you to test the Scriptures in order to see if you agree with Shai Linne about who and what is False Teaching).  In all that you do, test the Scriptures.  Test and pray and ask God to use His word to guide you to the truth.

Blessings,Legacydad

Happy Memorial Day

John 15:13 (ESV) "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." 

On behalf of Legacy dad we would like to thank you to all the brave military who have sacrificed for this great country.  For those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty with integrity, perseverance, bravery and valor and have won and lost loved ones through and through - thank you for all that you have done, do and will continue to do.  Thank you to the families who have sacrificed and who still risk this day for our freedoms.

Blessings,

www.legacydad.com

What's my Hill?

As I was perusing Facebook this morning and catching up with some work emails, I noticed this commencement speech from Matthew McConaughey and liked what he was saying to the graduating class at the University of Houston and say that "life should not be a popularity contest.  Be brave, take the Hill, but first ask 'What's my Hill?  So me, how do I define success?  For me it is a measurement of 5 things: 1) Fatherhood, 2) Being a good husband, 3) Health (mind, body and spirit), 4) Career and 5) Friendships.  These are what is important in my life right now."Everything in culture talks about self and what is best for me and how I express myself and my identity in such a narcissistic society that the world is spinning further and further away from biblical truth:

• 1 John 2:15-17 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
• Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
• Ephesians 5:11 ESV / Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
• James 4:4 ESV / You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
• Titus 2:11-12 ESV / For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

So let's test what Matthew said to Scripture:

Being a good father:

• Psalm 127:5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
• Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
• Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
• Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
• Psalm 103:13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
• Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Being a good husband:

• Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
• 1 Peter 3:7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
• 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
• Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
• Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
• Ephesians 5:21-32 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. read more.

Having good Health (body, mind and spirit)

• Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
• And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
• Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true and everyone should accept it.” 1 Timothy 4:7-9 (NLT)
• A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones. Proverbs 14:30 (NLT)
• Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Proverbs 3: 7-8 (NLT)
• Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
• You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. Psalms 63:5 (NLT)
• He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers yeah strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will fall give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)
• Don’t be impressed with your all wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you’ll gain renewed health and vitality. Proverbs 3:7-8 (NLT)
• Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Take your choice of wine or milk-it’s all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! Isaiah 55: 1-2 (NLT)
• The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well watered garden like an ever-flowing spring.Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)
• You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. Exodus 23:25 (NLT)
• A cheerful heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick. Proverbs 17:22 (TLB)
• As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Psalms 119:143 (NLT)
• Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25 (NAS)
• Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NAS)
• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NAS)
• So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Having a good career:

• Colossians 3:23 ESV / Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
• Proverbs 13:4 ESV / The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV / For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
• Philippians 4:13 ESV / I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
• Proverbs 14:23 ESV / In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
• Philippians 2:14-15 ESV / Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
• Proverbs 16:3 ESV / Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Having good friends:

• John 15:12-15 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
• James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Proverbs 12:26 One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
• Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
• Proverbs 14:6-7 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
• Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
• Luke 6:31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
• Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.
• Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
• Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
• Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
• Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Being a legacy dad and the process therein is never about being and living a perfect life because we could not and that would be really worldly instead of godly.  Being a legacy dad means that you are not walking this walk alone by just talking about it to others, it means that you are choosing the pathway that God calls you to take.  A legacy dad yields and subjects himself to the authority of scripture at all times (even when we blow it).  A legacy doesn't just remorse his sin and moves in, that is, feels bad about his sin and/or mistakes and keeps on doing it.  Rather, a legacy dad finds true repentance, that is, he feels the conviction of the Holy Spirit (your words, actions and/or deeds are contrary to scripture - acknowledge them before God) and make amends with those who you have wronged.  True repentance is acknowledging and confessing your sin to God and going the opposite way of that sin.  By having others who walk with us in community we put that sin in the light and the darkness can not exist in the light.  Being a legacy dad is setting a course for your family to follow and to show them Christ everyday in your actions, words and deeds.  When you screw up (sin) and when you do not show legacy dad traits, this doesn't disqualify you from being that legacy dad, rather, by acknowledging your wrongdoing or wrong path, it provides a true biblical guide in showing your kids true repentance, the act of reconciliation and restoration.  These are good things to model for your wife and kids and grandkids and to others within your everyday influences.

Let us take inventory of our lives.  If we could go back to our boyhood self and speak to that boy what words would you give him?  What pitfalls would you tell him to avoid?  What friendships would you tell him to run from?  What would you tell him about faith, church, wisdom, biblical application for him to follow?  What does that look like?  Maybe we need to write that to our boy hood self.  In doing so, take inventory as to where you are as a man.  Confess what needs confessing.  Change what needs changing.  Give to God what belongs to God.  In all that you do, acknowledge God and He will make your paths straight.

You and I can do this!  We can do this because we are not alone.  God gave each of us that profess and bear the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior His Spirit.  Even when we don't know what to say or do, Pray!  Pray for God and His Son and His Spirit to guide us and instruct us in the way that would should go!  This means that if you are not reading the bible daily how can you find the true path of biblical leadership in your home, church, work and community?  You cannot!

Blessings,D