Hate versus Love, Anger versus Peace, Jesus versus the world

Often you hear the phrase, "Hate the sin, love the sinner."  I think this statement can be watered down to the point that it also becomes a passive aggressive statement.  Let's be honest, sometimes when we really hear this phrase it is meant to exalt the speaker in the sense that they are righteous and holy while the sin(ner) that they are looking down on is indecent and despicable and unloved.  I mean how can someone be continually involved in sin and not turn and repent and continue to do that over and over.  Are they really saying that?How about comments like, "I can be mad at you because I have righteous anger."   Or  how about this, "You know, that person is an EGR" (EGR = extra grace required).  I think if we truly interpreted scripture in the way that Jesus wants us to, after all, He is the Word, wouldn't we want to hit the very mark that Jesus calls all of His disciples to?  As we read through the New Testament there are a few things that become abundantly clear as we read:  1) Jesus is the Messiah foretold of in the Old Testament 2) Jesus is the Savior 3) Jesus is the Son of God 4) Jesus loves us 5) Jesus is the toughest on the religious leaders of the day.  In some circumstances you could say that he was ruthless with these leaders of the temples.

When these religious leaders were referred to as whitewashed tombs, that pretty much sums up the skinny:  Don't be religious instead be intentional with what God gives each and every one of us.  To put this in another way, those of us that proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Savior have a duty and a responsibility to use the gifts and talents that God gives each and every one of us for His Kingdom and not our own.  He calls us to be Holy and to be merciful and above all to put on love (not hate) to serve (not to be served) to witness (not to be closed-minded and put off).

Some truths:

• Love your neighbor as yourself (there is no room for hate here)
• Love your enemies (show them kindness, turn the other cheek)
• Do not hate your brother/sister(s)
• In all circumstances, lead on God and not your self or your own ideology
• Test everything (use Scripture, Prayer as your barometer)
• In all things, let the word of Christ dwell in your richly and seek the peace of Christ
• Jesus was radical.
• Jesus did not mince words
• Jesus was or was not - you have to make that choice
• None of us can come to Jesus by ourselves, unless God the Father, wills us to Him (this is hard for some, but biblically true)

Maybe for some of you, you feel convicted by some of these thoughts and words, maybe others feel the effects of being judged and condemned by others.  Whether be it mental health, family issues, or things beyond our control.  May be we are even a product of our upbringing and we want to break these chains and be a new link in a healthy legacy.  A legacy worth Legacydads that we are all striving to become.  It's never too late and it is never over.  We believe in a God of second, third and infinite chances.  He is patient and kind and He loves us so much that He gave His only Son for us.

This is radical.  This is difficult, but with complete trust and surrender - all things are possible.

What about it?  Can you free yourself to forgive?  Can you free yourself from condemning?

Thoughts,

D

Awesome weekend: Joy and Excitement

Dear Legacy Dads,It has been a while since I posted, not because I do not want to, rather, life has been somewhat busy.  This past weekend was pure excitement and joy for me.  First of all, my son, decided to finally make a profession of Faith and now is a new member at our church.  He really has been saved since about 3 (he truly gets his salvation), but I didn't want to pressure him, instead I wanted him to own his faith.  So he went through our Church Class to become a member and this weekend he brought me joy.

I am not sure about your goals and dreams, but my wife and I have a top priority and that is leading the type of life where our faith is real and our kids really want to own it.  Our prayers have been that they will all come to know the Lord as Savior.  So far, we are two out of three and I couldn't be happier.  The youngest is very smart, and may even be able to comprehend her love toward Jesus, but I am waiting on her (not what I want).

The coolest part of this weekend is just how much he internalized the moment.  I was so excited that he was called to be called a son of God and now to have a community of believers walk around him as he grows in wisdom and discernment.  This was a very humble moment for me and I am still so thankful that the first of three has made a profession of Faith.

My in-laws made the trip out to attend this service and I was just so excited by the Legacy of Faith that was present.  My mother-in-law and father-in-law raised girls that love the Lord, love their husbands and teach their children scripture and purity - it is an amazing thing to watch and I am so thankful that God keeps all of his promises (even when we don't).

He is a God of second and third and so many chances because He loves us so much that He gave us His only Son.  With all this joy in my life that came from this event and the weekend of worship and praise, I didn't think I could get any more excitement until she walked into my room and I paused and took a picture.

I am not sure about you (who have daughters) but I can tell you that I would sacrifice my life and for any one of my kids and that I want them to enjoy their lives and to love their spouses and to love the Lord with all their mind, body, soul and strength.  My middle child walked into my room and showed me a glimpse of my future (Excitement) and to be perfectly honest (as a father) some concerns:

• Am I being the dad/father that I need to be?
• Am I teaching my girls what to look for in a man?
• Am I treating them like I should be (the way that I want their husbands to treat them)?
• How can I be more intentional in my parenting and influence?
• What else do I need to be doing?
• Am I giving them enough of my time (hugs, kisses and quantity of time)?
• Are my wife and I parenting as well as we should be?
• I only have just under 10 years left to truly parent with 100% influence? What's next?How can I get others to help me along this process?

When it is all said and done, I would like to achieve a few things in my life:

1. To lead a humble and content life
2. To leave a legacy for my wife and kids and men that follow
3. To leave a love that can never be replaced (except by my kids spouses and their new lives together)
4. To have my tombstone say that I did it right
5. and most important to hear the words from our Lord, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

What about you?Blessings,

D

Discipleship: Genesis through Chronicles (Part 1 of 5)

Do you find yourself often wondering what God's will is for your life?  Questions like is what I do relevant to God's Kingdom?  Is what I am doing now where God wants me to be?  Am I the father that God wants me to be?  Am I the husband that God wants me to be (my wife wants me to be)?  Am I the dad that my children and God need me to be?  Do I love the Lord with all my heart mind, body and strength (does my checkbook and actions prove that)?

So many things matter to men and we are very deep minded creatures.

In Proverbs 20 verse 5 states, "The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out." (NIV)

As I was reading through the first fourteen books of the Bible, I was very keen to what discipleship would look like through the "OLD" testament.

I found these things to be true, accurate and confirming by the Holy Spirit:  As disciples of Christ we are to:

1. Master Sin (even in anger):  Genesis 4:6-7; Leviticus 19:18
2. Master Finances (Give God a tenth of our time, talent and treasure):  Genesis 20:20-22
3. Obey God Completely:  Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 15:22
4. Bless Others:  Numbers 6:24-27
5. Keep His Word:  Numbers 30:2
6. Do not fear any man, instead fear God (which is the beginning of wisdom):  Dueteronomy 1:17
7. Love the Lord (with all of your heart, soul, strength) Deuteronomy 6:5-9
8. Study and meditate on God's word:  Joshua 1:8
9. Serve wholeheartedly:  Joshua 24:15; Joshua 14:14
10. Know your charge (what are my marching orders):  1 Kings 2:2-3
11. Sing & Praise God Always:  1 Chronicles 16:8-10

God isn't asking his disciples to just be fans - he want followers.  He wants men who want to know His Son as more than the God Man, instead He wants us to know him as friend.  Life is hard enough with its daily jaunts and stresses and questions in life.  Instead of pursuing what we think is best, why not pursue the maker of the world and to build community with Him.

Thoughts?

D

With Accountability comes great responsibility

Accountability should be at the core of every bible believing ministry - no excuses.   Accountability means the state of being accountable, liable and answerable to those who are before you.  Before we go any further into this blog ask yourself this question, If Hebrews 13:17 tells me to submit to authority, then what does that mean for me if that authority has no accountability on Earth (because they most certainly do by our heavenly father)?  Ask yourself what does that mean for me if the person who I report to doesn't follow any code of accountability?You can Google just about any major mega-church and find gossip and lack of accountability in some of the most respected institutions of Growth and spread of the Gospel - what went wrong?  I have some thoughts on this and if any of these current or former leaders read this then my prayer is that truth (in love) will resonate and allow them to hear the Holy Spirit comfort them, encourage them, and urge them to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ.  I will not claim to have all the right answers nor can I say that what I may suggest in the post is the way that everyone should go.  What I will say is to test what Lance and I say through these posts - test them with Scripture and examine them closely and pray on what we say - if they pass this examination and test - well, then, the rest is up to you.

First and foremost, I want to say that whatever I may say, Lance may say, a preacher or elder or teacher or business leader may say - if it is not about Jesus Christ being the first and the last - then it is very unfruitful in the ways of building disciples of Jesus Christ.  Jesus doesn't want fans - he wants followers.  That means that each and every one of us, who profess the name of Jesus Christ as Savior, we were bought with a price.  Our lives no longer belong to us or our wants, they belong to God.  What we do in this life is how we honor him with our stewardship of His time, talent and treasure that He gives each and every one of us who belong to Him..

Some questions, that we as members of bible believing churches can ask leadership who have accountability:

• What is their fruit?
• Who are they accountable to (a church board?  a board of Elders?  A consistory?)?
• As I test what they say, teach and witness to, does it hold true to Scripture?
• Is it about Jesus, reaching the disconnected and growing the connected?

What is their fruit?  On a piece of paper draw a line down the middle of the page.  On the left side write the subject:  Fruit of the Sinful Nature and on the right side write the subject:  Fruit of the Spirit?  Your list should be based solely on what Scripture says in Galatians Chapter 5.  The Apostle Paul gives the Church a stern warning in this before he gives us the list of each fruit in Galatians 5, "13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."

Who are they accountable to?  If your church leader(s) do not have biblical accountability in their lives, in their work and in their daily regiments, I want to caution you.  In my church, we have a Consistory, which consists of the three offices of the Church:  The Pastoral, Elders and Deacons who oversee the Church.  The Management Team in some churches is set up to "manage" the daily operations of the Church, while the Elders are called to take care of the Spiritual well-being of the church and to make sure that the word of God is preached and to care for the flock.  The Deacons are called to take care of the needs of the church and the pastoral is called to teach and preach and feed God's sheep through the Word of God.  We have accountability and we encourage each other to live a life worthy of Christ.  We gauge each other on the fruit that we see.  Sometimes we disagree, sometimes we can even argue, but as long as the word of God is consistent in our lives, then we can agree to disagree letting the truth of God's word reign in our lives.

Examine & Test:  Do we/they pass the test?  2 Corinthians 13:5-9 (ESV) 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for."  One of the things that makes me cringe, as an Elder in our church, is when individuals say that this is what God is saying to them and what they should be doing (Please don't take this wrong, because we both know that the Holy Spirit dwells in those who are followers of Christ and the Holy Spirit guides us in the ways that we ought to go.  We also believe that God talks to us through His Spirit, His Word, His preaching and teaching and when the Fruit of the Spirit is pouring over that direction).  What I am talking about here is when someone says that God is telling them something and nothing that I just previously mentioned lines up with that.  One of the things that I see most men struggle with (including me) is submission and obedience.  Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) "17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."  Before you believe that you are giving us leaders a "blank check" read this from Jesus's brother, James 3:1-2 (ESV) Taming the Tongue, “3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Leaders will be judged at a greater strictness (by whom, you ask, He who will judge all of us - Jesus Christ).

There are two leaders that I really respect and I have come to really appreciate their preaching and teaching.  I appreciate how they challenge each of us to be better in their walks.  I appreciate how they love the church and the body and how they love Jesus.  Are these men perfect?  By no means, they are all mere men and they sin every day (trust me - we all do).  So, than, if they do not have accountability, a board of Elders and Deacons and a Consistory to hold them in that accountability, then what are we to do for the body?

On the other side of this, are those who have been hurt, misguided, victimized and or maligned by lack of this accountability.  Does this allow us, who profess the name of Jesus Christ, to blog about, tear them down, print nasty and bitter words?  What is the fruit in this?  What does this say to the lost (the World) who is watching?  Does that make them want to follow Christ and his teachings?  Does that make them want to believe in the Word of God and the power of His Spirit to overcome the worst of sins in each and every one of us?

Are these words that are printed, recorded and redistributed loving one another?  Are they made to build up the church and to edify its members?  Are they there to love our neighbor as ourselves?  I would like to gently say - NO!  These words are from the pit of hell (not the person writing them or the individuals who have been made victims or the like).  I am talking about the very essence of these words - they are from the pit of hell.  How can I say this?  How can I know this?  How can I believe this?  Please re-read Galatians 5, Ephesians 4 and the very word of God.

These blogs, these news stories, these videos are bearing the fruit of the sinful nature (discord, disunity, factions and the like).  Any fruit that bears the fruit of the sinful nature IS FROM THE PIT OF HELL!

Now that I have probably made some of you uncomfortable, some hurt and some confused, let me re-direct you back to the point of this article - ACCOUNTABILITY.  The last point about accountability is this:

Is it about Jesus? (are we bearing his fruit?  Are we reaching the disconnected?  Are we growing the connected?)  Are church has a few core mission statements and one of the biggest is that it should always be about Jesus (from beginning to the end) and the other that we use a lot is:  Reaching the Disconnected and Growing the Connected.  I love this because Jesus first loved me in all my broken-ness.  His father (God the Father) loved me so much that He gave His only Son for me.  And if that weren't already enough, when He rose again (Jesus the Christ) and now sits at the right hand of God, He gave His Spirit to each one of us who confess His name.  Talk about love!  Talk about forgiveness!  Talk about the great story ever told.  If you are in a church (which we are called to be in community as God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are in community.  This is healthy and this is the body of Christ.  Therefore, we are to build each other up, to teach each other how to use our gifts.  We are to edify each other in truth with love.

No matter how bad the offense, the leader, the lack of accountability I can clearly promise you (through the very word of God) that every tongue will confess and every knee will bow.  I can promise you that those are teach and lead and direct God's sheep in the wrong direction - will be held at a higher level of judgement.  All of this belongs to God.  I can also tell you this, without any doubt, that God IS IN CONTROL.  No matter the right or the wrong, God is still in control.  His plans will succeed and he will never fail.

What if we go through these very trials and tribulations to build us up and to test our faith in order for God to use us for greater things for His Kingdom.  Can we pass the test?  Can we forgive as Christ has forgiven us?  Can we love the Lord our God with all of heart, mind, body and soul and just like this commandment, can we love our neighbor as our selves?

This is the Gospel.  This is the truth.

If you are a leader and have no accountability then repent, turn from these ways and make it all about God.  Love!  If you are a follower or a member of a body of the church, then submit and obey and trust that God is in control.  Ask the right questions to those who truly have biblical accountability because when do ask these leaders they will pray, reflect and repent because it shouldn't be about them, rather, it is always about God and His Kingdom.  If you find yourself speaking for God and no one else confirms this, nor scripture nor the fruit of the Spirit THEN REPENT, turn the other way and love!  Love one another thus fulfilling the command of Jesus.

If you are a leader and a denomination that says that you have accountability and you and your church are trying to justify sin (that is clearly listed and labeled truth in Scripture) then REPENT and turn away from these wicked practices.  God will forgive and his church will restore you as we are called to do.  If you are a member and you are living in sin and/or trying to justify sinful (hypocritical) behavior then REPENT and turn away from these evil practices.

When the body comes together in unity and loves one another, NOT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL can prevail.

Thoughts?

D

Top 10 ways to be more efficient with your time

In every day jaunts of life, we find work, friends, family, commitments becoming more taxing as we get older.  The demands of sports and leisure activities seems to be speeding up instead of slowing down.  For some of us, we like this kind of pressure and for others we become quickly overwhelmed.  As for me, in my house, it depends on the subject:  Things that I love to do are easy for me to be fully active and things that I have to do or may be required to do for family sake may have a different approach (just being honest here).  That being said, I find myself sometimes letting my life lead me instead of me leading my life.One of our pastors put this quote up on Facebook today,

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.” Charles Spurgeon

This got me thinking about leaving your legacy.  So here it goes:

My top 10 ways to be more efficient with your time:

1. Make a priority list - mine (a daily battle) is to put God, Family, Church, Work and community in that order and to understand what my role is as Husband, Father, Elder and Leader means
2. Make a to do list - each day make a list of things that have to be done, would like to be done, and little things that would be the gravy (note:  The key here is if it doesn't get done - don't panic)
3. Follow through - follow through on what you say you are going to do (and do it)
4. Limit your Media - limit the TV, social media and computer time (this is one area where i realize that a lot of time is wasted
5. Encourage others - put positive people, influences (the word of God and Prayer), habits in your life.  The old adage of what goes in comes out (aka Garbage in = Garbage Out) having negativity around you and negative people can be draining.  You might have a better chance by hanging a 500 pound weight around your neck and trying to swim to shore from 5 miles out.
6. Set Goals - Set goals for yourself, for you and your wife (work together on vision, dreams aspirations and make them realities) Short term goals are now to 1 year, medium term goals are 1 to 5 years and long term goals are 5 to 10 years.  Revisit these goals and tweak them as necessary and as life's circumstances evolve.
7. Read the Word daily - there is so much truth in this Bible and by doing such we yield to the Holy Spirit who molds us into what God wants us to be
8. Exercise - this is key and critical to efficiency.  When the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus's day tried to trap him, they asked him, "Rabbi, what is the greatest commandment"  Jesus simply responded to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, body soul and strength and the second is just like the first:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  By being emotionally, spiritually and physically fit - you can pave the way to better efficiency with your life.
9. Pray continuously - I have already listed this, but let me say it again, pray continuously by asking the Lord to reveal to you the things which you need to do, to let go of and to rid yourself daily of in order to be the man (or woman if you are reading this) that God wants you to become.
10. Comfort, Urge and Encourage - comfort, urge and encourage others around you to live a life worthy of God.  By creating a positive and Godly community around you, love will shine and efficiency will be one of its fruits.

What are some of your top 10?  And why?

Blessings,

Dante

Are you a good listener?

The old adage of, "I know you can hear me, but are you really listening to me...." seems to be a recurring theme among men that I talk to both in life and in ministry.  The real problem here is that when you strip back the layers it really isn't just one-sided - rather, it takes two sides.Countless relationships find communication problems that start out small but end up monumental.  Others seem to let the little things pass them by and then realize over several years that these "minor problems" have become major and in some cases even ending relationships.

Why?  What is the root cause and how does it happen so quickly (look at the previous blog post and realize that we all have an enemy who roams the earth looking to devour - especially those who walk with God.

How to be a good listener:

• Step 1:  Be a good friend and listen to what the person (wife/husband/friend) is saying without interrupting or hearing what you want to hear and interjecting along the way
• Step 2:  Remember that God gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth - I really think that this was for a reason:  Don't just hear, but listen to what is being said.
• Step 3:  Do not be quick to judge.  Be slow to speak and slow to become angry
• Step 4:  When you decide to work on being a good listener, then put down the phone, the texts, and turn your eyes upon the one who is talking to you.  This instantly shows them that they have your attention and respect.
• Step 5:  If you have distractions that you cannot control (phone, tv, computers, etc.,) remove them or mute them.
• Step 6:  Body language - make sure that you are giving them every sign and body movement that you are engaged and that the world (at this current juncture) could end and that the only thing that matters is them.
• Step 7:  Along the way, without being rude, cocky, ignorant or whatever could be deemed negative, ask the person to clarify when in doubt, or say something along the line of, "If I am listening to you correctly, I believe that you are saying...., or that you mean.... - and then ask them to clarify and then continue.
• Step 8:  Be intentional with your new-found listening skills and ask relevant and insightful questions in regards to the person, the situation and the subject.  This will have positive impacts for both you and the talker as both are feeling validated.
• Step 9:  Don't force the conversation.  Even if you know that they are holding back or not ready to fully open (and even if you know what could be said next - Don't say anything)  by listening and being a good listener, then you will show that you can be trusted (with listening) and that sooner or later that person may decide to open fully up to you.
• Step 10:  Regardless of the level of conversation, do not devalue it or make it seem like it is not relevant.  Whatever the topic or the issue or the conversation show the person (spouse or friend) that they matter, they are relevant and you do care about what they are saying
• Step 11:  Do not make light of it.  Do not discard it and do not blow it off.  If it is important to them, no matter what the subject, then value that person by valuing what is important to them regardless of your own feelings or knowledge
• Step 12: Pray before you talk, during and after for God to lead you the way that you should go.  Listen for the Spirit to guide you to either encouragement, comfort or urging of that person.

Men, whether we like it or not, God has intended us to be the Spiritual leaders.  That is a big necessity that is lacking in a lot of cultures.  Where are the men with integrity, honor, valor and the like?  Imagine if we all worked on being a better listener at home, school, work and community (and church) - what would that look like to those around us?  How do you think people would respond?

What are some of your steps?

Let's hear from you,

Dante

When we get this, the rest makes sense

In John Chapter 8, we read about Jesus talking to leader of their time, those who did not know Him and accept Him as Messiah, and we understand Jesus' very point in what is wrong in society today:   Galatians 5:¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy,^[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

John 8:42-4

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Understand this:

• The Devil is a liar
• The Devil is a murderer
• The Devil does not understand truth
• When he lies he is speaking his native tongue
• The Devil is a liar
• The Devil is the father of all lies

No matter what we think, say or do, we have to convince ourselves that Jesus truly means what he says about one of His Angels - the fallen Angel Lucifer - he is a liar.  Therefore, anything that is of God's plan, Satan wants to destroy.  God said to us in Genesis - Be fruitful and multiply!  The devil says divorce, quite, hate (murder) those that you know you should really love.  God says that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, body and strength and the second is like the first:  Love our neighbor as ourselves.  The Devil says that we are to love self and hate others.  He wants us to gossip, slander, malign and be captured by our very lusts and pleasures in life (after all society tells us so greatly how much we need it).

Sometimes we hear people say things like:

• I cannot wait to die and go to hell and be with my friends who love the world
• You Christians are boring, what do you know about pleasure
• Don't be so rigid, live a little
• How can a God of love cast people into Hell and the Lake of Fire?  I don't want to serve a God like that...

Sometimes we hear and see Christians shrink behind God's truth and our freedoms that our forefathers understood what is so important to us in this Country of ours the United States of America:

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, set forth the priceless rights or freedoms that all Americans may enjoy. A brief summary of these great freedoms is given here.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

The first right, or freedom, guaranteed in the Bill of Rights is freedom of religion. This right is guaranteed in the First Amendment. Freedom of religion guarantees to all Americans the right to practice any religion they choose, or to practice no religion at all.

Congress is forbidden to establish any religion as our nation's official religion. Congress cannot favor any one religion over others or tax citizens in order to support any one religion.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The right to express your ideas and opinions when you speak is called freedom of speech. Freedom of speech also means the right to listen to the thoughts and opinions of others. This freedom guarantees that Americans are free to express their thoughts and ideas about anything. They may talk freely to their friends and neighbours or speak in public to a group of people. Of course, no one may use his freedom of speech to injure others. If a person knowingly says things that are false about another, he may be sued in court by the person or persons who believe they have been harmed by what he said.

Americans are free to express opinions about their government or anything else. They are free to criticize the actions of the government and of government officials. In a dictatorship, where the nation's government has all the powers, the people have no right to speak like this. They do not dare to criticize the actions of the government. If they do, they may be imprisoned. But all Americans enjoy the freedom of speech, which is guaranteed in the First Amendment.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

The freedom to express your ideas and opinions in writing is known as freedom of the press. This freedom is closely related to freedom of speech and is also guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Freedom of the press gives all Americans the right to express their ideas and thoughts freely in writing. This writing may be in newspapers, books, magazines, or any other printed or written form. Americans are also free to read what others write. They may read any newspaper, book or magazine they want. Because they are free to read a variety of facts and opinions, Americans can become better-informed citizens.

FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

Another priceless freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment is freedom of assembly, or freedom to hold meetings. Americans are free to meet together to discuss problems and to plan their actions. Of course, such meetings must be carried on in a peaceful way.

FREEDOM OF PETITION

The freedom of petition is the right to ask your government to do something or to refrain from doing something. The First Amendment contains this guarantee, also. The freedom of petition gives you the right to write to your Congressman and request him to work for the passage of laws you favor. You are free to ask him to change laws that you do not like. The right of petition also helps government officials to know what Americans think and what actions they want the government to take.

THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS

The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees Americans the right to bear arms. In the early years of our nation, Americans needed weapons in order to serve in the militia, or volunteer armies, that were established to defend our states. The militia provided protection during emergencies, too. Many Americans also believed that without weapons they would be powerless if the government tried to overstep its powers and rule by force.

"NO-QUARTERING" RIGHT

The Third Amendment states, "No soldier shall, in times of peace, be quartered in any house. . . ." Under British rule, the colonists sometimes had to feed and house British soldiers against their will. As a result, Americans wanted this practice forbidden under the Bill of Rights.

THE RIGHT TO EQUAL JUSTICE

The Bill of Rights contains many rights that are guaranteed to persons accused of a crime. Amendments Five, Six, Seven, and Eight are all concerned with these rights. Our nation places great importance on these rights in order to guarantee equal justice for all Americans.

A person must be indicted, or formally accused of a crime, by a group of citizens called a "grand jury" before he can be brought into court for trial.

A person accused of a crime is guaranteed the right to know what law he is accused of breaking.

A person accused of a crime has a right to a prompt public trial by a jury of his fellow citizens.

An accused person cannot be put into prison and kept there for weeks or months while awaiting a trial. He has the right to leave jail, in most cases, if he can raise a certain sum of money, or bail, as a pledge that he will appear at his trial.

An accused person has a right to a lawyer to represent him in court.

All the testimony and evidence against an accused person must be presented publicly in court.

The accused person has the right to call any witnesses to appear if their testimony will help him.

The accused person cannot be forced to testify or give evidence against himself.

If the accused person is found guilty, he cannot be given cruel or unusual punishment. If the accused person is found not guilty of a serious crime, he cannot be tried a second time for this same crime.

THE RIGHT TO OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY

The Fifth Amendment guarantees Americans the right to own private property. No person may take away anything that we own. Nor can the government seize our land, money, or other forms of property without cause, or without paying for it. The right to own private property is one of America's basic freedoms. Our free economic system is based upon this right.

THE RIGHT TO ENJOY MANY OTHER FREEDOMS

To make doubly sure that Americans should enjoy every right and freedom possible, Amendment Nine was added to the Constitution. This amendment states that the list of rights contained in the Bill of Rights is not complete. There are many other rights that all Americans have and will continue to have even though they are not mentioned in the Bill of Rights. Among them are the following.

Freedom to live or travel anywhere in our nation

Freedom to work at any job for which we can qualify

Freedom to marry and raise a family

Freedom to receive a free education in good public schools

Freedom to join a political party, a union, and other legal groups

As a final guarantee of our rights, the Tenth Amendment set aside many powers of government for the states. This Amendment says that all powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution, nor forbidden to the states, are set aside for the states, or for the people. This provision leaves with the states the power to act in many ways to guarantee the rights of their citizens.

SUMMARY

Government is the authority or power that people establish to help them run their affairs.

Governments serve many important purposes, but the most important one is that government makes it possible for people to live and work together. Government provides us with rules of conduct we can follow. Government makes it possible for people to live by known laws, and helps provide many services that citizens acting alone could not perform themselves.

Our nation's government is based on the American Constitution. This Constitution, together with its Bill of Rights and other amendments, provides us with a workable plan of government. The Constitution also guarantees to all Americans many priceless rights and freedoms.

Our nation's government is based upon the approval, or consent, of the people who are governed. It is a federal system in which certain powers are given to the national government and other powers are left to the states and to the people. Certain powers are shared by both federal and state governments. In both federal and state governments, powers are separated and balanced among three branches of government.

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Understand this:  The Devil wants to destroy the very essence of God's will for our lives - to have an abundant life and to be saved by His Son - Jesus Christ.

• Love the Lord
• Let Go and Let God
• Repent, turn and serve God
• Seek first the Kingdom of God
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Don't forget, the devil wants to destroy every good and righteous things in your life.

Blessings,

D

Stewardship of Time - Managment

My friends would consider me very organized and on the ball.  They would say that I am either very anal retentive and or OC (and not the D - obsessive and compulsive).  The way that people have described me to others are either you will take him (really love him) or you won't -there is no in between.  I can say that God has matured me in many ways, from an aging father and deceased mother to a husband and father of 3 beautiful kids to a flourishing ministry and work life.  He has humbled me in maturity with the responsibility that He has trusted me in.  Sometimes I wake up and take inventory and cannot believe that I get to live this life.One of my biggest stresses are "to-do lists".  Without them, I would be lost, with them I can sometimes be overwhelmed (what about you?).  The problem with these lists is that I sometimes make them an idol (meaning I cannot disconnect my brain from these lists and thereby I sort of let them rule my mind):

Colossians 4:5 (ESV) 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Psalm 90:12 (ESV) 12 So teach us to number our days  that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Why do we worry about what gets done and doesn't get done?  Why do we let that become an idol in my life?  How can we change my thought process into less of my time and making more intentional things in my life be about God's timing?  Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.  It is easy for any of us to get lost in translation and so much harder when we try to cope by worldly standards - our problem (we do not belong to the world for we were bought with a price).  Therefore,

Step 1:  Change our logic?

• We are not our own, we were bought with a price.  Therefore, I am not my own god (small "g") instead I am a child of God.  Therefore my time no longer belongs to me - it's HIS!

Step 2: What matters most?

• Prioritize our lives (God, Family, Work/Church and Friends)

Step 3: Prioritize what matters most:

• Are we building relationship with God or just knowledge of Him?  He wants more for us then to just know Him - He wants our friendship
• Are we serving God with our Time, Talent and Treasure (don't worry about talent and treasure, yet, we have to get the time part going in the right direction)

Step 4:  Don't sweat the big things (Mathew 6 on worry), instead focus a one degree change on tackling the little stuff

• This allows us not to be overwhelmed
• This gives us some value in that you are accomplishing some things
• The Bigger Things that are on our list seem to get small once the little stuff starts getting accomplished

Step 5:  Prayer continually

• This Step should really be wrapped in between and woven throughout all previous steps and steps to come
• This Step should be our guide for God's will and not our own

Step 6:  Find accountability

• Join a men's group
• Join a Bible believing Bible study
• Find brothers who can help
• Confess to our brothers and first and foremost to the Lord

Step 7:  Take inventory on the changes made

• Is it making a difference
• How are others around us reacting
• Is God moving in our life

Colossians 3:15-16

English Standard Version (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.

Have a blessed day,Dante