WORDS & SWORDS

Sometimes kids say say some unbelievable things.  For instance,  when I got home from work today I had my "to do" list which included a trip to Lowe's and the local door store.  I got all my errands done, but I ran out of time to complete my projects tonight, partly due to the fact that I took all of my kids with me and left my wife home alone with our new puppy.  However, one interesting thing is what came out of my son's mouth as we were driving back home.  He said, "Daddy, do you remember when you and mom told me about sticks and stones and how words actually do hurt?"  I said, "Yes, Trey I do."  Trey, "Well daddy, did you know that if you move the "S" in Words, then you have SWord, and they can cut deep."  Daddy, "Very profound, Trey, very profound." 

So what does Scripture say about our words (sword):

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21)

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36).

"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:37).

^"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6 ESV)

What I find interesting is how we, as legacy dads, can navigate through our day and realize how vile and ignorant conversations can be in this world.  You don't believe me?  Turn on the TV, listen to the Radio, search the blogs (especially during an election year) and most of all look at Social Media and realize just how serious your words (sword) can be.

Imagine if for just one day everyone around us could hear these things being said and done to other people that we loved.  Imagine even more if in the course of that day, that we found ourselves being the one that said those things.

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

From the poem by Frank Outlaw:  The 5 Watches:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Dante

Act of Valor

Let me start this post out by saying that this week was a very rare gem for me.  I was asked to catch up with a brother from church that I have not walked with for a very long time.  He has had some ups and downs and has been restored in our body and I am proud to watch his spiritual growth in our church.  We had dinner before seeing the movie, Act of Valor.  We talked a lot about our kids and ministry and where are lives are taking us.He asked me what he could do for me.  I didn't see that question.  Actually, I was expecting more of just a catch up kind of evening.  I will say that I knew that he was walking and getting actively involved in some other ministries in our church and that was a very good thing.  My response to him was that he was already doing it.  He made some mistakes (we all do), he repented (we all need to) and he has been restored.  Now his life is bearing fruit of the Spirit.  He has a humility that I cannot explain, but I can tell that he truly gets what Christ did for him (for me and you).  He reinforced a very strong passion of Lance, Gary and myself:  To finish well and to reach men at their core and to serve in such a way, When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.”  (quote form Lance's Post).

After dinner,  we went and saw the movie (see trailor) Act of Valor, which is a movie about Navy SEALS.  The movie was nothing less then great.  You can pick on some aspects of the movie but things that were made abundantly clear from the beginning where character traits that we strive for legacy dads to bear witness to and live out daily:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship, Perseverance, Loyalty, Duty, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Grace, Justice, Humility, Humilty, Mercy, Discipline and of course, Valor.  I have to believe that some, if not all, of these men fear God and believe in Jesus Christ.  They would be remiss to be so giving in their sacrifice to their friends and family and country and not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Some of the things said and principles shared in the movie can make one believe that they do believe in God (I hope and pray so).

Last night was another special night for me as I met with an Elder from our church and a man that is very involved with me in our men's ministry and we are working on some discipleship training.  Both men, that I met with these past two nights, have a sense of maturity (humility) that is great to see.  The one from Tuesday is just starting to grow deeper in his faith and maturity and the one from last night has come through a very long year and a half of a desert place.

I am celebrating these two men this week.  I believe in them and their walks and am proud to be involved in serving with both of them.  As we work through this discipleship process, our prayer and hope is that other men will move in a posture that can bring them to a place of worship, service, stewardship, purity and of course, being a man of God and a disciple of Christ.

To God be the Glory,

Dante

Discipleship 201

If you have read any of my posts and/or seen any of my references about Men of Faith (our men's group at my church) then you would know how passionate I am about seeing spiritual growth in peoples lives.Our men's group, since my co-leader and I have taken the leadership role about 5 years ago, has seen spiritual growth in positive ways.  We have witnessed men getting connected:  To their families, friends, church and daily walk with the Lord.  It is humbling and exciting to watch this process and to be a witness to the Holy Spirit in men's lives - Wow!  

We are moving to the next step in men's ministry and that is to grow more disciples (grow those that are connected).  We are calling it MOF 201 (the Road to Emmaus).  In Luke 24:13-33, we read about two of Jesus' disciples walking on the Road to Emmaus when they encounter Jesus.  They are prevented from recognizing him in the beginning, but later, when the Scriptures are revealed to them, their hearts our burning and they see Jesus as who he was and is and forever will be.  This same passion, a passion for the life of a disciple, is what we hope to have ignited in men's lives as they partake this journey with us in the future.

I have been doing a lot of reading (both in the Word and through others who came before and left a great road map to discipleship) and continue to find that we each have to take our own journey because our lives have a different story (some with similar backgrounds), but we each have our life story that needs to be told. That is, we have a part in God's plan as his disciples - so what are we going to do about it?

When it comes to God's Holiness (Our Purity), the things God owns (our Stewardship) and what God calls us to do (his disciples)...what does Scripture have to say about this!

Do any of our legacy readers have anything to say about this?  Please send me a note if you do.  This blog is about our journey together?  Accountability?  Burdens (Carrying each others)....please chime in...

Dante

Some Accountability in our life....how serious do you want to answer...?

Do you have to say “NO”  to any of the questions below?  If so, share what you are dealing with in your life and how we can pray for you and keep you accountable:

• Are you walking intimately with God and spending time consistently with Jesus?
• Are you loving and serving your wife/family/friends/community church in a way that honors the Lord and brings joy to their heart?  Would they agree with you?
• Are you making time to love and raise each of your children in a way that blesses the unique way God made them and helps them grow to be more like Jesus?
• Are you guarding your heart by avoiding books, magazines, TV shows, videos, web sites, phone lines or anything else that contains explicit sexual images or content?
• Are you honoring your relationships (marriage vows and covenant( by upholding clear and responsible boundaries in your relationships with women other than your wife?
• Are you handling your personal and church finances in a way that honors God?
• Are you making time to care for your own health and body through regular exercise, good eating and appropriate sleep?
• Are you connecting with non-believing and non-church people in a way that allows you to engage in personal evangelism and model it for your congregation?
• Are you living a life that models a healthy balance in marriage, family, ministry, recreation, and spiritual growth?

So what do you want to do in 2012?

What kind of man do you want to be?  Father?  Spiritual Leader?

Let us know,

Dante