Why I continue to follow after God's design for legacy in His house

It was just an average parent teacher conference at our school when the single mother sitting across from me did something unusual. As we were discussing her son she began to cry, not with tears of discouragement, but tears of appreciation. She was thankful for the way God used the families in the church and the school to help turn around the troubled life of her and her son. Their story is another confirmation of why I believe in and pursue God’s design for legacy (one generation connected with, caring for, and helping the next generation into the things of God).

When the church attempts to embrace and walk in His design for legacy, we see His house become a home that helps restore families and lives as it says in His word.

Psalms 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. (6) God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

Chris is a local police officer who first encountered Lucas as a troubled young man from a difficult family situation who was heading in a bad direction. Lucas’ father had never been in the picture and his mother was attempting to do the best she could on her own. Chris drew near to Lucas and began to offer friendship and mentorship for his life. With very few positive role models in his life Lucas began to respond to Chris’ friendship.

Lucas and his mother were about to lose the meager living accommodations they had. Eventually as they realized the difficult situation Lucas and his mother were in, Chris and Stacy felt prompted by God to offer a place to life for both of them. More important than that they provided a sense of caring and family which was in contrast to harsh life they were experiencing. They moved into Chris and Stacy’s home. Through the love of God being expressed in practical and spiritual ways they walked together Lucas and his mom through the ups and downs of life. Other “older spiritual brothers” in the church also began to connect with Lucas and though their friendship valuable care and input was ministered.

Lucas ended up enrolling in our school and has become a young disciple of Jesus. Over time the rough outward crust of sin that had marked his life began to come off. He gave his life to Jesus and now has a tremendous zeal towards God and against injustice mixed with a tender heart that cares for people. He has a very diligent work ethic that stands out to all who are around him. Lucas will be graduating this year and we are excited to see what God does in his life. If the church will reach out with the care of God and pursue God’s design for legacy good things can happen.

While it is impossible for any church to save the whole world, we can pursue God’s design for legacy and make a difference in the lives of some. This reminds me of a story I once heard. The story is told of a man walking along a beach the morning after a storm had passed through. The sand was littered with starfish that had been washed ashore. Down the beach he noticed a young boy picking up starfish and throwing them into the water. As he approached, he asked what the boy was doing. The boy didn’t hesitate as he explained that the sun was coming up and it would kill the starfish if they didn’t get back into the ocean. The man laughed and said, “There are thousands of starfish on miles of beach, you can’t possibly make a difference.” As the boy picked up another starfish and threw it back into the ocean he said, “Well, it sure will make a difference to that one.”

The fruit of legacy tastes really good

I recently experienced a testimony of what the amazing power of God can do through people who have a multigenerational perspective.

Suzanne and her children came into the church about 15 years ago, wounded, heartbroken, and devastated. Her husband had an affair which lead to the dissolving of the marriage and eventually he moved out of state. As anyone can imagine the spiritual, emotional, and financial hardships created by such a catastrophe were immense.

As a single mother who wanted the best for her family in spite of the difficulty, Suzanne knew she needed God and some stability for her family. She had hopes that the house of God would help. Our church was just starting to catch God’s heart regarding legacy (the generations walking together to seek God’s ways established from one generation to the next). We were beginning to see that because of this design for His house, as God said in Psalms 68, it would become a healthy place for people with devastation in their families. Psalms 68:5-6 NASB A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. (6) God makes a home for the lonely

Suzanne became caught up with that vision, knowing that the design for God’s house would help her family. She enrolled two of her children (the youngest daughter and son) in our church school and ended up becoming a teacher there.

I watched those kids grow up on God’s house over the years and it was incredible. I watched the young man begin to be embraced by men in our house who saw him as a spiritual son. Older men would spend time with him and draw him together with other young men close to his age and they became a small band of spiritual brothers.

While they all had their struggles growing up they didn’t have to walk through them alone. They had brothers to share their burdens with and older men who would provide the wisdom, perspective, and faith that no matter what they were facing God would get them through it.

As this young man began to grow and mature he made sacrifices to stay with God’s house and the school (he could have played HS athletics in a public school and done very well). He ended up becoming a leader in our school and helped other younger men grow in the things of God. He and his peers became quite a spiritual force, like David’s mighty men. They all went through struggles, failures, and victories staying faithful to God and finding encouragement in each other and those ahead of them in the Lord.

As this young man got into college he continued to pursue God and became a leader among our college students. He also became a very good student graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and was a finalist in the Outstanding Senior award for the University as well as the President of the Nurses Christian Fellowship.

During his college years he continued to seek the wisdom and advice of those older than him. One of the young girls he grew up with became a very good friend. He began to sense that she was the one God wanted him to have as a wife. He was very careful to seek counsel and advice from the generations ahead of him as well as his peers. She eventually agreed to a courtship and marriage. In preparation, this young man met diligently every week with an 83 year old spiritual grandfather who gave him Godly advice about marriage. He also walked through courtship and pre-marital preparation with this young lady and another couple who were about 15 years older than them. This couple had their share of disappoints and victories and shared out of God’s Word and their lives valuable perspectives on marriage.

God worked a miracle in his natural family while he was still in High School. His dad returned to the Lord, repented to his family, married a wonderful Christian lady, and now helps lead various groups in his local church in Florida. There was tremendous healing and when his dad now visits his home town he joins with his former wife, his children, and his new wife and kids to worship with the House of God. It is a tremendous testimony of God’s healing and restorative power.

Just last week I had the privilege of walking my second daughter down the isle and giving her to this young man in marriage. And the 83 year old spiritual grandfather helped officiate the wedding ceremony. I cannot tell you the thankfulness, comfort, and joy I had in God. It was amazing to see how God used His multigenerational design for His house to heal, restore, and prepare my future son in law and daughter for marriage. What a comfort to know the good things that have been deposited in their lives by many of God’s people. Is a multigenerational focus on legacy in God’s house a good thing? You had better believe it! The fruit is great and it only strengthens my resolve to work to see God’s house live according to this design.

Just Released: The Lost Treasure

I just got done with my second book: The Lost Treasure, Reclaiming the INheritance of the Church.

In our current culture the idea of family is in turmoil. It has been abandoned, broken, redefined, reformed, and broken again, resulting in generations adrift in the waters of confusion and hopelessness. There seems to be a wider gap in the generations than ever before. Out of this uncertainty, foundational roots which promote stability and identity are not being passed on as an inheritance.

What has been the church’s response? Instead of leading the way with the light of God’s alternative, many churches have been so concerned with preserving the last generation they have lost touch with the next. Young people are leaving churches in record numbers feeling there is nothing there for them. The biggest mistake any church can make is becoming one generational.

The Biblical perspective is that the church is to be multi-generational. Every generation is to be connected to and concerned with the generations behind and before them. If the church fails in this area, instead of being a spring board launching people forward, it becomes a road block that must be avoided in order for people receive their spiritual inheritance.

The Lost Treasure reveals the Biblical design for a multi-generational church. It deals directly with sins of the older generations “spiritually retiring” and the younger generations “spiritually rebelling,” and offers solutions to both. If we discover and reclaim this treasure, the church can become the answer to the current cultural crisis.

Importance of Relational Theology

Hi Everyone. When God created man "in Our image" in Genesis we must understand that His image has everything to do with Relational Theology. God is a Triune Community. The Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit lived and related together as one long before mandind came on the scene. When They created mankind in Their own image it was the image of community and relationships. That is why the Bible places so much emphasis on them. For God's people to reflect the community of the Godhead then we must walk together relationally. Unfortunately, the church is often the place where there is a tremendous breakdown of relationships. I hope that the truths in this book can somehow give vision to help God's people reverse this trend.

Just Released: Relational Theology

I just got done publishing my first book: Relational Theology, Recapturing Powerful Relationships in the Church.

Why do some people seem so spiritual and "put together" on Sunday morning but hide a personal life of relational turmoil? How can a person attend church week after week and still feel like a stranger? Where does a person find help for dealing with inter-personal problems besides sweeping them under the rug and tip-toeing around on egg-shells?

Answers to these relational issues and others are clearly spelled out in this easy to read doctrinal study on living real life in the church today.

Most of the problems in church today stem from relational issues. While disagreements in beliefs sometimes come into play, underlying relational tensions cause the majority of the problems. This is why almost half of the New Testament letters contain exhortations and instructions on how God's people are to treat each other. In fact, the majority of the Bible is revelation about how to relate correctly with God and His people.

Relational Theology addresses these topics with straightforward and applicable principles from God's Word. Jesus prayed in John 17:22 that the relational harmony that exists in the Trinity would be lived out among His people. This book is designed to stir us to capture the important relational elements found in God's Word that is often missing in the church today. If God's people will endeavor to embrace and walk in the truths contained in this book, we will go a long way in becoming the testimony in the earth that God desires and the world needs.

Order your copy of Relational Theology today! Click here.