Praise the Lord, I saw the Light

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 ESVJames 5:19-20English Standard Version (ESV) 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.

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The man singing to the right of me went home to be with the Lord.  He was a sinful man who was saved by Grace.  His life touched many of men and he started a group that called themselves the band of brothers.  As we began to visit him in hospice I had a chance to talk heart to heart with this man and to tell him that he was a different man then when he and I first met - he was God's man!  I saw these brothers and their wives and friends not only taking care of this man, who was in hospice, but I saw a man that impacted many lives who provided for him, his home and his son (to find legacy parents after his death).  These band of brothers showed me that what legacy dads is trying to instill in all of our blog readers that this journey we are on - is real.

TERRENCE A. PIERCE GRIFFITH, INTerrence A. Pierce, 55, of Griffith, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday March 31, 2015. Terrence was born on October 13, 1959 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is survived by a son, Elijah, of Griffith, a brother, James Pierce of Illinois, a sister, Valerie (James) Dawson of New York, an uncle, Richard Pierce of Fort Wayne, a cousin, Stephanie Pierce of Indianapolis and numerous brothers and sisters in the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents: James and Velma Lee Pierce, and a brother, Grant Pierce. Terrence was a graduate of Horace Mann High School and Ivy Tech College, a career veteran of the United States Air Force, and was employed in the Human Resources department at Community Hospital, Munster. Terrence was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ, and a devoted and loving father to his son Elijah. He was active in mens' ministry, praise and worship music, and prayer ministry. He was a brother and mentor to all who knew him, and everyone was blessed by his joyous, confident, and steadfast faith. A memorial service for Terrence Pierce will be held Friday April 17, 2015 at Faith Church 100 West 81st Ave. Dyer, IN; 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Brett Dood officiating. A gathering of friends at the church will be on Friday from 9:00 till 10:30 a.m. time of service. Interment at a later date will be at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL.

When it is all said and done, what will people say about you?  Are you a man of Faith?  Are you God's man?  Will you leave a legacy dad?

Blessings,

Dante

For more songs from our church click here

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Legacy Dad!We hope that you and your families have a great and wonderful 2016.  As we have put 2015 to rest and look back for a moment, for some of us it could have been a great and prosperous year.  For others it could have been a year full of trials and tribulations and for others it could have been a year of loss - job, relationship, death of a loved one.  And for others it could have been a combination of others.  In either of these cases, what is going to be different about 2016 for you and your families?

Every New Years Eve, my family and I get together with some dear friends and celebrate New Years Eve with food and fun and celebration.  We laugh and share and watch our kids grow each year.  One of the things that my wife and I bring to this yearly ritual is a delicious Carrot Cake from a dear friend of ours that owns a bakery business.  Looking at the one piece that is cut from this unbelievable cake started me to think about this post.

When the cake is complete and we see its finished product it is beautiful and ready to share with the world.  That is, when God grows us into his work and we see more and more of his ingredients (the work of the Holy Spirit in us) we see the world notice something that is no longer of the old flesh (the old sin nature) and instead we see His love through each of his disciples.

When we start to make this carrot cake, we cannot just go out and lump all the ingredients together and stick it in the oven and expect the frosting to be perfect.  We have to train ourselves and point the cake into the direction that God wants it to grow.  Proverbs 22:6 says it this way:  (ESV) 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.  According to Tony Evans, the Goal of a Christian parent is to raise the next generation in such a way that they reflect the rule of God in their lives.

Dr. Tony Evans defines Kingdom Parenting as "intentional overseeing the generational transfer of the faith of our relationship with God in such a way that children learn to operate under God's rule.  That is, that if we are doing it God's way (as parents) then we see a transfer from one Christian generation to another.  He goes on to say whoever owns the family owns the future.  There is spiritual warfare in parenting, that is why God tells us to be fruitful and multiply.  The culture wants our children very badly, that is why we have to fight for our family.  Nehemiah 4:14 (ESV) 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

At the end of this year we had the long-awaited Disney's Star Wars release and the line that is in there that is applicable to this blog entry is, "Did you feel the awakening in the Force."  This got me thinking some more to ask this question of you:  Do you feel the Holy Spirit calling on your legacy dads (and moms) not to miss God's will for you life?  Do you feel the pangs of parenting (Godly parenting) that calls us to make our faith real to our children?  Do you feel the Holy Spirit laying on your hearts to take His Son (Jesus Christ) and His Word seriously?

Yesterday in our Men's Group, Men of Faith, one of my leaders challenged the men on taking God's word in our lives seriously.  He challenged us to start out this year in community with God and to seek His will in our lives daily.  He then played this video by John Piper:

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Here are some things to ask yourselves for 2016:

• Is my life reflecting God's will?
• Am I in relationship with God?
• Am I in His Word daily?
• Would others watching my life and its action call me a friend of God, an acquaintance of God or a foe of God?
• Would my time, my talent and my treasure point others to God?
• If not, why not?
• Fill in your question here ______________?

As for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord.

Blessings and Happy New Year,

Dante

Dare to be God's....disciple

If you are like me and believe in the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) and believe that God sent His only Son to die for me then you have to ask yourself some serious questions:

• Why am I here?
• What is my purpose in life?
• Is the statement, To God Be the Glory, really applicable to my life
• What does God require of me being a disciple?
• Is Salvation a one time gift that doesn't require any further repentance?
• Why am I asking these questions?
• Is Salvation a works based faith?

Each one of us has been born on this earth with a purpose and if we know the Lord Jesus Christ then we have been given spiritual gifts to honor God. In all that we do, whether of this world, in this world or apart from this world should be to the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.  You ask, does this mean that God is in all, above all, from all and in control of all? Simply answered, Most Definitely!

Ecclesiastes is a very good book that puts life in perspective (Read it and see).  At the end of it all, life is but a mist, and if we do not do everything in life to worship and honor God, then we miss the whole purpose of why we are put on this earth.

Take for instance, Christmas (by the way good blog on when was Jesus born - click here), we celebrate the virgin birth of Jesus Christ being born a virgin (Mary) and lived out his life and then died for our sins.  The love story doesn't stop there - it goes on to say that he also obeyed God the Father's will to die for our sins and to be raised again and He now sits at the right hand of God.  Because of this sacrifice all of our sins (repeating that) ALL OF OUR SINS of the past, the present and the future have been bought for with a price and paid for by Jesus's one time sacrifice for us.   What does he require of us in return:

• To Admit that we are sinners
• To Believe that Jesus did all that for us and more
• To Confess that we are sinners that need Jesus's sacrifice to cover our sins once and for all
• To live a pure and holy life (Colossians 3)
• To be a living sacrifice (Romans 12)
• To love our brothers (and sisters)
• To give without expecting to get
• To serve without expecting to serve
• To forgive without expecting to be forgiven (by others on this earth)
• To be a witness about God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives
• To live a real life of a disciple, not that of a hypocrite (or pharisee)
• To be ready to hear God
• To be in relationship with God
• To be a friend of God

Why are we here?  What is our purpose?

James 1:27English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.  

Who is our orphans - I would say not only actually orphans in this world, but I would say any man, woman or child that does not know Jesus Christ would be considered an orphan in my book.

Who is our widows - take care of those who lost loved ones and are grieving and have no family to take care of them

To avoid this world - (refer back to Romans 12, Colossians 3 and The Book of James).

Merry Christmas,

Dante

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]

 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

 you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

As Lance and I you hopefully all of you reflect the birth of Jesus this week, here are some things for you to reflect on this week:

The Bible is all about Jesus (and his love story for us)

• God is an awesome God
• The Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit)
• They want relationship with you and I (more than just knowledge of)
• Are we completely relying on Jesus this Season (in our Sukkahs?)
• What does it take to love our brother and our sister and our neighbors
• Is our church body are family?  If not, why not?
• ^{Isaiah 9: 6} For to us a child is born,  to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - which name is God being to you this season?

Blessings,Dante

This Christmas Season

Isaiah 9 New International Version (NIV)9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

² The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darknessa light has dawned.³ You have enlarged the nationand increased their joy;they rejoice before youas people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoicewhen dividing the plunder.⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them,the bar across their shoulders,the rod of their oppressor.⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battleand every garment rolled in bloodwill be destined for burning,will be fuel for the fire.⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peacethere will be no end.He will reign on David’s throneand over his kingdom,establishing and upholding itwith justice and righteousnessfrom that time on and forever.The zeal of the Lord Almightywill accomplish this.

However and wherever you celebrate this Christmas season you could find yourself in a season of joy, peace, patience, trial and or tribulation.  For some it could be the celebration of new life or baby to come.  For others it could be missing love ones, or the recent death of some one.

As I continue to read the Bible, and the old I get, the more that I realize that we really don't read the Bible, that is to say, the Bible reads us.  How we live, how we love others and how we yield to the Spirit that is within us remains our path through life to finish well.  What I continue to realize is that there is not a single thing that we go through that Jesus does not understand or has not gone through on account of our sins.  He loves us, even to a death on a cross.

This season, ask yourself who Jesus is to you.  Is He:

• Wonderful
• Counselor
• Mighty God
• Everlasting Father
• Prince of Peace
• King of Kings
• Lord of Lords
• Light
• Jehovah
• Emmanuel
• Jehovah-Yahweh
• Adonai

Who is Jesus to you?  Do you know Him as Savior?  As Wonderful, as Counselor as Mighty God?  As a legacy dad, as a disciple of Christ - we want you to know and believe that God loves you more than you and I could ever imagine.  He wants more from you and I then for us just to know Him - He wants a relationship with you and I.

Blessings,

Dante

Be the Church

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Ephesians 4:4-7 (NIV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Romans 8:26-28 (NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

We are called to one body.  The body is then made up of different parts, all of which are fully equipped to do God's ministry in community.  I think someone over time culture has influenced some thoughts on the church being brick and mortar and a specific place to worship.  I think somewhere western influence has evolved into a lazy pattern of what God's disciples really are called to do.  Not all churches have succumbed to this westernization, rather, some bear the fruit of the Spirit and are growing and thriving churches.

The example of the first really health and flourishing church is found in the book of Acts:

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Why do we need to continue to go to church:

• Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching
• Colossians 3:16 (NIV) 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
• Romans 10:17 (NIV) 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
• Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Be the Church (in your home, your work, your community and your church)

• Devote yourself to the Pastors teaching (the Elders)
• Fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ
• Devote yourself to breaking bread with all the believers and to prayer
• Come together (as believers did in Acts)
• Give to those in need, don't withhold what God has graciously given you
• Continue to meet together regularly
• Continue to meet with each other outside of church (building community with each other as we are the family of Christ)
• Praise God together

What does God require of us?

• To confess and know His Son as Savior
• To believe and humble are ourselves
• To trust and to obey
• To love one another
• To serve and to go out unto the world
• To be in the world BUT not of the world
• __________(Fill in your blanks)
• __________
• __________

Blessings,

Dante

Do not be anxious

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (ESV)Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Some things that we can do to alleviate stress and anxiety:

• Start your day with prayer
• Pray throughout the day
• Read Scripture daily
• Memorize Scripture
• Walk with others (in true accountability)
• When in doubt pray

In all that you do, acknowledge God and He will make your paths straight!

Blessings,

Dante

Making the difference:

This past weekend, at my church, we concluded the justice series in which our Pastors (7 multi-sites) and more counting in other countries taught on God's justice.  Our senior pastor concluded these takeaways from the series:

• Justice is God’s nature.
• Justice is human beings co-laboring with God to bend or restore God’s world back to God’s created plan.
• Justice is every Christian’s calling and responsibility.
• Justice is more than a cause, protest, blog post or event.
• Justice is nearby because injustice is nearby.
• Justice is messy, yet not to be avoided.
• Justice is giving every human being, from inside the womb to the tomb, dignity, honor and respect.
• Justice is ministering to those who suffer injustice whether it be on our daily path or at our table. (Think Mephibosheth/Good Samaritan)
• Justice acting requires sacrifice of time, resource and life.
• Justice begins with God changing our heart.
• Justice is our response to God’s act of justice in Jesus’ life suffering, death and resurrection for us

Yesterday afternoon, in our small group, we talked about the Justice series and I played a video from, I am second series and we discussed in our group things that make a difference.  Because our group is a special group and we have all agreed what is said in that group stays in the group, I cannot share what each person is doing, but I can tell you the things that would make a difference in each of our wheelhouse:

At Home:

• We can show our spouse the love of Jesus
• We can show our kids the love of Jesus
• We can show our grandchildren and distant family members this love

In our community:

• We can reach out to our neighbors by serving them
• We can love our neighbors by listening and doing for them without expectant return
• We can love our neighbors by being good listeners to them and getting to know them

In our work place:

• We can show our co-workers (and employers if you are not one) integrity, honor, perseverance and love
• We can be ethical in our decisions and actions
• We can be tolerant and peaceful in how we act with others

In leading my small group I have to admit that I was in a desert place as others were not able to attend due to needs or whatever their case may have been (not their problem, but mine) and I have to say how blessed and surprised I was by what the Spirit did in that small group - He overwhelmed me.

The two other husbands, in some of their stories and recommendations, made tears come to my eyes in their love and generosity toward others.  I love where they are in their walks (raw and uninhibited by others) and honest with their thoughts and emotions.  They are not impostors, they are real men!  In Scripture it says in Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV) 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I know what we discussed and how I want to make a difference one little thing at a time.  The beauty of this Sermon series and our small group is that it doesn't always have to be a big thing, rather, it sometimes just requires us to do the little thing(s) for our neighbor.  So you ask, "Who is my neighbor?"  and we say, Seek and you will find!

Blessings,

Dante