GRIT: MEN'S CONFERENCE

Dear Men,If you are looking for a place where men came come together and share life together and grow together and to see what God wants for your life as a disciple, then this Men's Conference is for you.  If you have been looking for a men's group where you can come as you are and look forward to meeting other men who are right where you are or meet other men who are where you want to be, then this conference is for you.

Featured Speaker: Lance Putnam from Legacydads.org.

Worship Night - Friday, October 13, 7 - 9 PM

There will be sandwiches and chips and beverages provided at the beginning of the event.

Breakfast - Saturday, October 14, 8 - 11:30 AM

There will be a full breakfast served to all men.

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Dear Ladies,

Imagine if your husband invested some time into figuring out how to be the best husband, best father, and best man he could be? So why not buy your husband a ticket for this event that will be talking about running the race and finishing well.  For men to be the men that God calls them to be, the husbands that God want them to be and the father that leaves a legacy for his wife and children to follow – would that be something that you are interested in?  Then don’t wait – sign up online at www.wearefaith.org/GRIT and register your husband and his friends today.

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Sign up here

Note:  If you have a party of 9 or more please call the church for a group discount (219) 864-0300 and ask for Dan and/or Becky to sign up your group.

We hope to see you all there.

Blessings,Dante

Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:25-32New International Version (NIV)25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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It is easy to offend and even easier to be offended if you allow it to.  It is easy to let anger seep through your every fiber and turn cold especially to those who we love (or should love).  It is hard to press on and overlook an offense.  It is even harder to forgive the offender.  

In our marriages, legacy dads, how easy is it for you to explode (on your wife?  kids?  animals?) how can we require love and respect and then take it away in a single outburst of anger?  How hard is it to turn off this outrage?  This bitterness?  This frustration?  Do you use your love as a tool to barter for what you want?  Meaning, do you withhold it waiting and hoping to receive that which you desire?  Or do you withhold it because you are hurt, bitter and angry that love and respect is being held away from you?  How do we end this vicious and ungodly practice?

Men, take a stand!  Be the spiritual leader of you house.  Humble yourselves before God and confess that to which you have offended our Holy God.  Do not proclaim to the world (or your house) that you deserve to be the leader and to command respect that you haven't given for a year, years and even decades), instead, turn away wrath with kindness.  Turn away anger and bitterness with love and gentleness.  Do not look for affirmation from those to whom we offended, rather, look to God for His kindness and mercy.

Take inventory on this awesome chapter:

• Do you lie?
• Do you sin in your anger?
• Do you speak inappropriately?
• Do you grieve the Holy Spirit in your walk (or lack of a godly walk)?
• Do you hold onto bitterness, rage and anger?
• Are you kind and compassionate?
• Have you forgiven others like God has forgiven you of oh so much?

If you read any of this and it pierces your heart and the Holy Spirit is convicting you - REPENT!

Ask God to draw nearer to you and humble yourself before Him.

To God Be the Glory!

Blessings,

D

Finish Well

Dear Legacy Dads,When you see that term in Scripture what does that mean to you?  Does that mean to finish well going to Church on Sundays?  Praying before meals? Giving a tithe every Sunday?  Does it mean to separate your dreams and goals from God's will for you life?  Does it mean that you are in control Monday thru Saturday and that you will give God Sunday from 6am to 11:59 before Sunday NFL kickoff?

When we die, for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, what do you think that will look like?

A high-five by an Angel at the Gates of Heaven with an eternal membership to Glory?

A pat on the back saying way to live the life the way that you wanted to live it?

Nice job, you gave it your best ditch effort?

What if it was more?  What if there was an account that needed to be given with what we did with God's time, with the talent that He gave us and with the treasure that He blessed us with?  What if, just what if we had to account for  that?

Would this be something that would make you take stock of your life?  What you are doing with your finances?  How you are spending?  What you are spending on?

Would this change the way that you spend your time?  Where are you focusing on God's Kingdom instead of your own.  What you are doing with this time?  Is it wasted or is it fruitful.  If all of my time was to burned away during this account - meaning all that was measure based on God's litmus test versus all the time that I wasted on me or others that did not build and edify His Kingdom?

What about my talent?  Would you use what talent God gave you to glorify His name?  Or are you using your talents to build your name?

What about your treasure?  Is your checking account God's?  Is your credit card purchases honoring God?  Or is everything that you have honoring you?

Before you say to me, "come on Dante, why are you being so serious?"  Ask yourself this, "What if I, as a Christian, truly have to give an account of my time, my talent and my treasure.

Food for thought,

Blessings,

D

Family Devotion Time

Dads/Moms/Mentors/Coaches,The legacy we leave for generations to come is imperative for their longevity and God's plan for Kingdom building.  That being said, how many eyes, ears and mouths are in your direct influence?

• Your wife
• Your kids
• Your grand kids
• Your neighbors
• Your neighbor's kids
• Your church
• Your youth group
• Your community
• Your mission

Whether we like it or not, others are watching us:

Hebrews 12:  International Version (NIV)

"12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Our jobs (as Dads/Moms/Mentors/Coaches) is to comfort, encourage and urge our children (youth) to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ.  We are called to protect, nurture and guide them in their journey toward adulthood.  They deserve every God-given right to enjoy a normal and healthy life.  Oh what sin has done to this wretched world:

• Divorce
• Broken Homes
• Sexual Abuse
• Sex Trafficking
• Slaver-
• Broken-ness

These are all things that try to tear God's plan apart.  We read in Ephesians 6 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  We need to believe in that we are God's workmanship - His Masterpiece.  God does not make mistakes.  Regardless of what those in this world say about us, it should not matter, God has made each of us for His purpose.

Watch this video:

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Does God make mistakes?  Does God have our best in His Plan?  Of course He does.  Philippians 2:

Do Everything Without Grumbling12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

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This past week, my family and I watched this video and discussed who we are in God's kingdom.  Tell me, if you do not believe that, then how in God's green earth do you expect future generations to believe that?  What's holding you back from fully trusting God?

Blessings,Dante

Dear Younger Me

Dear Legacy Dads, If you are anything like me, at some point or another, you have thought about your past and what you may have done differently or what you would have kept the same.  I often think about the good (mostly like to remember the good) but often I find myself thinking about some of the sin stuff too.  That is, thinking how I wish I could have told the "younger me" the pitfalls of these decisions and how they would impact me years or even decades beyond those ill-gotten decisions.

If you have time, go to Youtube and search for Mercy Me, Younger Me 

There is a part of the song by Mercy Me that shows this:

• Dear younger me
• It's not your fault
• You were never meant
• to carry this beyond the cross...

I think for you and me, looking back (for an instance) is not a bad thing.  That is, to say, that it helps to remind us of where we came from and the decisions that we made.  It helps me to thank God for being faithful even when I was not.  It helps me to avoid those pitfalls that left devastation and disappointment in past decisions (sins).  I thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus, who paid it all and who nailed all of those sins (past, present and future) to the tree.

Romans 8 is a good reminder for me:

Life in the Spirit - 8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Heirs with Christ - 12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[f] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory - 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

God's Everlasting Love - 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I have to be honest for a moment here and tell you that I hate historians who try to re-write the past or takeaway artifacts that were set to remind us of past mistakes and or victories.  Those who do not tell history the way that it should be remembered - through the eyes of truth - no matter the story teller, should be removed as citizens and be enslaved in their own lust of agendas. If you ever meet someone who is like this, pray for them and lead them to God's word.  Because Jesus is the truth and the truth shall set you free.

So back to my younger self, I often think of some things that I would have done differently if I knew that it wouldn't change my outcome to where I am at today - with a wife and three kids who  love me and adore me and make me want to be a better husband and dad not because of what they do or how they do it, but because I want to do those things to please God and to make them feel loved.

What I would say to myself back then:

Dear younger me,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Blessings,

Dante

Setting the Spiritual Bar High

Dear Legacy Dads,We read in Thessalonians that, we as spiritual fathers, are to comfort, encourage and urge you to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ our Lord.  That being said, I have noticed some things as I watch in season and out of season our men leading their families.  I see men of all creeds leading their kids recklessly in sports (Football, Baseball, Soccer and you name it) in coaching, training, lessons and all sorts of travel leagues.  I see dads who work so hard for the American Dream that they never forget to file all of their expenses entertaining and traveling to nurture their clients and grow their businesses, but the one expense that should be their greatest focus gets lost in the filing:  Their wife and kids.  I see some dads who are so active in the community and social clubs and everything outside of the home, but their number one priority (that is, their actual top investment:  Their family) is completely ignored.  I see some dads so completely engulfed in everything that matters to them and ignoring their wife and children, why?  Because they simply do not prioritize God's decree on a legacy dad's number one mission:  Their family!!!

Do not take this first paragraph as an indictment or insult, rather, take it as a major generational gap of proper training from one generation to the next generation.  To put it in layman's terms:  Our fathers have forgotten to pass down the very fabric of letting their faith and trust in God not only be taught, but more importantly caught from generation to generation.  Call it laziness, or call it ineptness, but somewhere along the line the church decided to retreat and believe in the "american dream" can be achieved by Government and the church (Ekklesia) has been usurped in its God-given role.

That being said, in all that Lance and I ever say, please test these things against Scripture to see if what we say is consistent through God's word:

• Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) 6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV) 6 "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
• 2 Timothy 3:15-16 (ESV) 15 "and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"
• Philippians 4:6 (ESV) 6 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
• Ephesians 6:4  (ESV) 4 "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

In these Scriptures, there is no absolute that your child(ren) won't be lured into worldliness or to turn from the ways of the Lord, BUT we, as godly parents, can decided this day who you and I will serve.  Either we choose to live for ourselves (the world and its desires) or the Lord.  We can give our children and their children a "leg up" in future generations by making our faith real to them.

What does this look like:

1. Be in the word daily (how can you be a relevant disciple if you are disconnected to God's word daily?)
2. Pray continually (as needed)
3. Be real with your kids (when you sin, own it, confess it and repent).  This doesn't mean to be remorseful of sin in that you acknowledge it and feel bad about it AND then keep on repeating the insanity of just remorse and not true repentance.  True Repentance is confessing this sin to God, acknowledging it to God and going the opposite way of removing this sin from your life.  Having accountability in your life to help you through it and to be real with your wife and kids about the struggle.  It means that if you wronged someone else in this process that you make it right in where you will not harm others or those around them in seeking forgiveness.
4. Let the Word of God have the ultimate authority in your life - that is in your stewardship (time, talent and treasure).  In the decisions you make in and outside of church, that the word of God is present at all times and the final authority of all of your decisions.
5. Have real conversations with your wife and kids (don't just tell them how to live and what to do as a Christian, as a disciple) live it, breathe it and die by it.

Finally, in all that you do:

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV) 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Blessings,Dante

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

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.”

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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