What a wonderful, complex, even confusing fathering life I’ve got. That’s a good thing, a “legacy thing”.

I’m within an arm’s reach of 70, the new 50. I’m looking down the scruffy mountain trail I’ve ridden and looking ahead on the trail up yonder (yonder=cowboy for “Heaven”).

I love what I’m seeing. Except for the crap on the news. Yes, I do watch Glenn Beck and I read the disorienting news on my own, which I don’t like hardly nonatall. So, I get cranky over the future the world's and my nation’s current impulses are leaving for my grandchildren. And theirs. And so on…a dark legacy?

I’ve noticed that my own words can come back to me as encouragement or as shame. What was once fresh “meat of the Word” can become jerky, salty and barely tasty and hardly nourishing. I try to keep the Word fresh and my own words therefrom.

In outlining the themes for Generational Fathering, Matt and I found a prime motive in our relationship and for the book: preparing “our” children to withstand the chaos of the future. But there is more. To prepare them to lead…for the sake of the heritage, the nation, the Kingdom. Psalm 145:4 “Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts.”

Probably like you, I’ve become deeply frustrated—no, “angry” would be more truthful—by my helplessness to reverse, even slow, the downward spiral of my nation’s course. It’s a world out of my control. Imagine that. Then Hope from the Word, fresh meat, and my own words came back to me. I remembered why I care about Legacy Dads and Generational Fathering: Hope and destiny, shaping the future not being hammered by it.

“Oh me, oh my, what is to become of these precious little critters I’ve come to adore as if they were the very purpose of my life?” It was formed over the recent months as a serious plea to the Father. Know what His reply was? “That’s up to you, son,” as if God were, Himself, fathering me by prodding my blended passion for Him and for them. That’s because as I live out and peck away at the book that’s broiling to the surface through my fingertips, I am reminded of the cornerstone theme: We can leave monuments, hospital wings, statues in the town square…or we can bequeath to the Kingdom and the world living testaments to the grace, goodness, and mercy of God Himself. It’s about nurturing—training up—our sons and daughters—and theirs—in the way God has designed them as models of goodness and godliness. YES! We can shape the future in preparing our legacy children for it.

Pause for a second. Reflect.

That is a legacy that will multiply itself around the world. May thriving remnants diverge from your commitment and your actions. My own may not even remember it was Popi Gary (you may fill in your name here, legacy dad/legacy grand dad) who set the generational discipleship in motion.

But we will be watching…as will Matt and his son, Taylor, and Taylor’s children (and the others’) from the Eternal Perch, on and on and on. Wouldn’t that just be Heaven?!

Inspirational, if not heart-fluttering? It all hangs on intentionality and specific actions. Lots of ingredients mixed just right, like an award-winning stew. But, not alone. The Word of God, transparent fellowship, a desperate heart for God, delighting in and living out His story, His glory, for your life…these are cairns, markers on the trail, of a godly fathering life. All of that plus, “not alone.” That’s why we are dads. And why we have dads. And raise future dads. Not Alone. Fathered by God, fathered by our fathers and their fathers.

So, have you thought of inviting Dad, “officially” in to your fathering life? Grand Dad, have you offered? Something not “quite right” yet for that to happen? FIX IT !

Finding Wisdom

Men of our past once said:

"The first and almost the only book of deserving universal attention is the Bible.  I speak as a man of the world...and I say to you, "Search the Scriptures.""John Quincy Adams - 6th President of the United States

"The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions.  The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."  Calvin Coolidge - 30th POTUS

"The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount.  The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes form the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Mathew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul...If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State!"  Harry Truman - 33rd POTUS

Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and knowledge."  

How can we as Christ's Ambassadors sit back and allow the "enemy" those who are of this World contradict biblical principles and truth and light?  When you are an ambassador on Foreign Land you are on Sovereign Land of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Be bold and confident and follow the ways of wise men who fear the Lord and base life on Scriptures precepts and principles.

Tell me what you think on these things...

Dante

From one nailed scarred hand to Freedom

Life by the Spirit

 

Galatians5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do notlet yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 13 You, my brothers,were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinfulnature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up ina single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keepon biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by eachother.  16 So I say, live by the Spirit,and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinfulnature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contraryto the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do notdo what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.  19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred,discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21andenvy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, thatthose who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness andself-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong toChrist Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us notbecome conceited, provoking and envying each other.

IfGod is for us, then who can be against us? If we are justified through Christ and re-generated into new creatures, thatis, adopted as sons of God then why do we persist on being enslaved to the oldnature.  Why is their grumbling andfactions and the like?  What will it takefor us to unify each other as the body of Christ?  There are many questions that always seems tobe lessened by our own depravity; whatever that looks like by some.  We are all men and we are definitelyfallible, therefore, without using the Word of God as a way of reproof in ourlives then everything else we do is for naught. Let be more specific, without the Word of God as our benchmark, prayerand petition, and accountability and trust in and only of our salvation throughJesus Christ, then we are in error.  Wecannot say that something is from God if the Bible does not reproof it.  Let me explain it this way:  Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit totheir authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obeythem so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of noadvantage to you.  Jesus put it thisway:  Matthew 22:34 Hearing that Jesushad silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, anexpert in the law, tested him with this question: 36"Teacher, which is thegreatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it:'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang onthese two commandments."

Jesuspaid it all, once and for all, on Calvary. If you profess the name of the Lord as Savior, believed that he was bornof a virgin, died for our sins and rose again on the third day and confess oursins to Jesus and ask him to be Lord over our life, then you are saved.  Your transgression are forgiven and you aremade white as snow.  Also, we read inscripture that we become Sons of God.  Ourold sin nature is at war with our new self and we have to either choose to liveby the Spirit or to live a life that continues to require anothercrucifixion.  Why, to those of us thatcontinue to fall into the same sin, do you continue to crucify Jesus and askfor your sins to be pardon?  Is the fruitof the Spirit in your life?  Are youwalking by the Spirit, that is, is your life completely obedient to God and tohis Word?  Do the words Stewardship,Purity and Discipleship mean anything to your daily walk?  If the answer is yes, then you are walking bythe Spirit.  If you answer is some of thetime, then you need to clean house and repent, and if the answer is no, then Ihave to ask are you truly saved?

Are you allowing yourself to love your brother?  To love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?

Dante

Things that I have learned

This month will mark my 42nd birthday and also my youngest daughter's birthday who was born 47 minutes before my birthday.  Yes, that is correct my friends, she wants her day all to herself.  That being said, I was reading another blog and I saw on old post about things that have been learned through the years.  After reading Lance's last entry (welcome home my friend) I realized that God can fill a lot of places in your life and if you allow Him, He can fill everything in your life with Joy!  Here are some of the things that I have learned over the past several years:

Age 31 - Never say that you are never getting married, especially when God has other plans for your life

Age 32 - God is truly the greatest Architect that we have ever met (have you seen New Zealand and the Mountains within?)

Age 33 - When you give God the power over you finances and commit to him (at least) 10% he will meet you where you need to be met and will guide you to where you need to go. Malachi 3:10

Age 34 - When you make Stewardship a priority in your life the rest of the themes in your life come more into focus (see Lances previous blog and read the lists)

Age 35 - If you are fortunate enough to be blessed with the gift of parenting, it is at this point that you can truly grasp just how much God loves us, as we love our children (the birth of my oldest, my son)

Age 37 - When you trust God and give Him all that He asks, things in your life and priorities in your life change drastically - they move to a Kingdom perspective.  Also, when God blesses you with a little girl you quickly understand how important purity is...Colossians 3

Age 39 - Biblical Stewardship and trusting God with your finances allows you to bless others because scripture is fulfilled - God says, when it comes to tithing, to test Him and he will bless you more than you can believe (He Does, He is faithful and Almighty).  The birth of my third child forces me to realize how important a father's love needs to be in little girls lives.

Age 40 - Through trials, tribulations and pain, God teaches us to lean more on His understanding and less on ours.  Prayer, daily reading of Scripture and complete trust in "His will be done" changes anxiety and stress levels James 5:16

Age 41 - You can never read enough Scripture because there is always something new to learn and to be revealed through daily study.  I like what Pastor Adrian Rogers once used to say, "When you read, you read other books, BUT when you read the Bible, it reads you"

I am also learning that you can never learn to trust Him more nor can you expect to reach a level in your daily walk that doesn't continue to require more from you.  Love your brother as yourself and first and foremost love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.  On these two commands hang all the others.  The older I get, the more that I learn to ask God for the Wisdom.  Less of me and more of Him.

Dante

A Life Worth Living

Every man longs for adventure, from the time when we are boys.  Building forts, playing wargames and envisioning ourselves as lone crusaders or frontiersmen.  I really don't think this longing ever dies once we become men.  Some men never grow up and take on life's responsibilities, some men grow up too much and leave family and fun behind.  Some men try to suppress their longing and eventually feel lost and embittered.  I also believe every man longs for an epic challenge. Some task, goal or life changing event that allows a man to put his wits and skills to the test, in order to prove himself worthy and to let the man know that he has what it takes should the situation arise.  

I have trekked through the jungles of Central and South America, snow camped in the Arctic in -50
Degree temperatures, evaded wild elephants in the forests of Asia and had many cups of tea in the deserts of the Middle East.  My family has crossed the Smoky Mountains, the Italian Alps, basked in the beauty of Bavaria, survived the heat of the canoyonlands in the Southwest and discovered secret waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest.  Yet something still seems missing?

The Bible as well as many other religions and beliefs speak of the Law of the Harvest.  Karma, The Secret, the Law of Attraction or whatever else people want to market it as basically follow the same premise as the teachings of Jesus.  See here for more in depth:      

For men, the Law of the Harvest can be broken down into seven categories that we place our time and energy in.

Family  - Our marriage and children

Firm - Our Career, Job or vocation

Friends - Our friends

Faith - Our Faith and Spirituality

Fitness - Our health, eating habits and fitness

Finance - Our stewardship of money

Fun - Hobbies, activities, leisure

How we allocate our time and priorities, dictates what type of harvest we will sow.  If we place all of our time and energy into Family.  We will have a strong family but possible less firm or finances.  If we place all our time and energy into Firm, we may have less family, fun and friends. 

I think herein lies the dilemma.  

As men, we are still searching for the epic challenge.  We listen to society, friends and the media for cues of where to find the epic challenge then follow the rabbit hole down one of the Seven areas looking for the adventure. 

I think there is know right or wrong answer to this question as everyman is different and has to follow his inner calling yet a delicate balance of multiple areas allow the man to reap the greatest harvest.  I also believe that the areas can change over time and throughout a mans life.      

The true question is what areas reap the greatest harvest? 

For me it goes like this:  Faith, Family, Firm and then the rest in random order.  I try to sprinkle Fun over the top of everything just to keep it light and humorous.   

Again we have to begin at the end and reverse plan what we focus on.  What do we want our life to look like in the end?  What will our final eulogy speak of?  What will our legacy be?

Only we can decide this.  

- Lance

Obedience

Tonight at our Wednesday Night Fusion Service we had a time for the congregation to move around the Auditorium and to visit 6 to 8 prayer stations.  I was sitting at one of the six and had a lady walk up to me and ask for prayer on how to be obedient to God.

Obedience is a very tough word for anyone, let alone Christians.  Seriously, when the Word of God tells us to obey His word what do you really think that means? (Please send us comments - we want your thoughts). I asked her this relevant question:  "Are you reading the Bible daily and are you praying continually throughout the day (not every second of every minute of every hour of every day), but are you praying daily?

Scripture says the following:  Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

John 15:10 - If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

James 1:25 - But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will blessed in what he does.

The Word of God is very clear in this.  Obey the Lord and his precepts.  Allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in your temple (that is your body- if you are Saved) and not to be tormented by your sin.  Allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life.  Renew your mind and set your heart on things above.  

Seriously, please tell us what Biblical Obedience means to you.  What does that look like in your daily walk?  I want to know?  (Comments please)

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Worthy Is The Lamb

 

 

Hebrews12  1Therefore, since we aresurrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easilyentangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him enduredthe cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne ofGod. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that youwill not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have notyet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten thatword of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord'sdiscipline, and do notlose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those heloves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]  7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. Forwhat son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (andeveryone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not truesons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and werespected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Ourfathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but Goddisciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No disciplineseems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces aharvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.   12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms andweak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lamemay not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to beholy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no onemisses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble anddefile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau,who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he wasrejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessingwith tears.  18You have not come to amountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloomand storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that thosewho heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because theycould not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches themountain, it must be stoned."[c] 21The sight was so terrifying that Mosessaid, "I am trembling with fear."[d]  22But you have come to Mount Zion, to theheavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands uponthousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whosenames are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to thespirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a newcovenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the bloodof Abel. 25See to it that youdo not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refusedhim who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from himwho warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now hehas promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also theheavens."[e] 27The words "once more" indicate the removing ofwhat can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken mayremain.  28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom thatcannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably withreverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."[f]