We have settled into our home nicely, we have been here for a little over a year now. We have found a church home and our son will be attending school there in the fall. My wife is doing well in her career and my daughter is going to be an 8th grader next school year.....OMG. So life for our family is going quite well. I look around and it seems like most families in our area are doing quite well. Just look at everyone in the public square, buying dinners out, getting new toys, buying new vehicles, and heck even going to church. This I think is something I tend to address in this post. I don't intend to address or critique how other families are going about life but I am going to critique my own family. I am doing this that puts me right in crosshairs, as to not seem like I am putting those around me down rather lifting them up.

Preface

As a husband, father, and son I know I fall short to be the best of the best at times. Heck maybe 90% of the time, but that is beside the point. See Christ in me is one of two things, 1. He is my vibrant source of energy and life that drives every fiber of my being, 2. Or He is a cliche and someone I default to when I "need HIM most". I can honestly say that the later of the two is the place I find myself more often. With this in mind I have to ask myself, what kind of example am I setting for those closest to me? My wife, my kids, my family, my friends, and even my neighbors.

The Bay Area

We live in what is called the Bay Area, and we live in a place where people have plenty. I mean you should see the cars people drive, the toys men buy for themselves, etc.. I mean I even have a media room, and I never thought that would ever happen. My point in this section is to see where I fit in, as a Christ follower in our current community. What am I doing to make those around me better? Am I simply living as everyone around me so consumed by stuff that I put God on a shelf? I can tell you for me, myself, and I that this is me. I get wrapped up in "stuff", and "stuff" that really has no bearing whatsoever on my eternity or my place in the annuls of History. (BREAKING NEWS: THEY WON'T BE WRITING BOOKS OR MAKING MOVIES ABOUT THIS GUY) I have constantly fought the demons of materialism, of self love, of envy, and of many other things. I don't want to be haunted by them anymore. So I have looked and tried many methods in my own life to get rid of these things. When I have taken the time to invest in God, I have been successful, when I rely on myself I fail and fail miserably.

Objects in Mirror are Closer than they Appear 

The above paragraph was not intended to knock anyone or anything in my area, it was simply a picture of what I see in my own eyes. We started attending a church here in town about 8 months ago, and our attendance has been spotty at times and consistent at others. This church is literally in our front yard, and we looked at many churches before this one. It was almost like, it's way to close, it's way to convenient, and yeah it's probably not for us.  Well as it turns out we have enjoyed it, Samuel has connected somewhat through VBS and he will be attending school there as well. In our family searching for a church is tough, namely because of me, as a former Youth Pastor ( I would say that I still minister through teaching and that's why I refer to a friend of mine named Paul in class weekly) I find it hard to find "the right church". I think now I see the struggle, as a youth pastor I would ridicule families who couldn't find a church home. Well, now that I am that guy looking with his family I fully understand. It is tough to find a place to fit in, I know the goal and object of our desire is to WORSHIP GOD. I also have seen first hand how some churches can be unwelcoming, to broad in there approach to visitors, and even unintentionally overlooks those who come in for the first time. With our current church this has never been the case, and I thank God for this church. Another thing that spawned our connecting with this church is the pastor. He has a book called: The Legacy Path and I am reading that right now. It is blessing me richly and encouraging me to move forward to the deeper recesses of my faith, rather than wade in the kiddie end of the pool of faith.


My Legacy Path Discovered 

I have always had a sense of pride when it comes to having a family, but I can't say that I have been the best example of providing the Right kind of legacy, or should I say the Christ-kind of legacy. I can sit and talk a mean game when it comes to my faith, I can defend it quite well (depends on who you talk to). I have always said give me a crowd of 10,000 people and I will preach, but give a month to live out that faith and I am not sure how well I would do. My legacy is on ME, not on anyone else. I say that because God is wanting, and waiting for me to act in faith. He isn't a genie hoping I will summon him so he can grant my wishes. He is the perfect creator who seeks to hear me utter his name in worship through my life. Not because he lacks anything, but he wants to see his creation become all that he made me to be.  I am learning new things, and as I embark on my 40's here in a couple months, I have been thinking more and more. How am I helping my family GROW, how am I encouraging my family, what are things I can do to lead them to a vibrant relationship with the ONE TRUE GOD?
Here is something I have figured out, nothing is possible without God, and all things are possible with GOD. Yes it screams of cliche christianity but it's true. In the world we live in rapidly changing and pulling away from God.
We now live in a world, where former evangelicals are calling the Bible "Old and outdated", where people are living as "THEY FEEL", where groups of people are being slaughtered for their faith as the world says, "AWWWW, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL", where evil seems so prevalent and the Power of God seems diminished, one can ask Where is God in all this? I can say this, GOD NEVER CHANGES, it's the people of God who choose to run from sound doctrine, run from Biblical principles, and who seek to have their own wills satisfied.
I have to ask myself this question: IF ALL I HAD WAS JESUS WOULD THAT BE ENOUGH?

Let me conclude with this: God never sat us down and asked us what we thought about His divine justice. He didn't take a poll with Adam and Eve, he didn't ask Abraham what he thought, consult Gideon as to how he should move in the land, wonder if Mary's reputation would be tainted by the virgin birth, didn't consult Saul before changing his life, or give John an out before being beheaded. He simply executed his plan in a way that Glorifies himself. We must be careful, so we don't operate in this mind set.
God's word is not up for debate, God's Word is not for sale or for rent, God's ways don't change because the modern world rejects it. God remains the same, while we go as the wind blows, God remains. Please if you call yourself a follower of Christ don't let the World squeeze you into it's mold. and do not be conformed to this [a]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [b]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [c]acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Peace and Blessings<><,
 Rev. B.E. Chancey