We’re on a life’s mission of sharing insights, influencing learners to disciple their children
By Dennis Petersen
As a father walks with his son down the mysterious and crooked paths of life, one of the most valuable discoveries along the way is that both of them are learners with each step in their journey of choices to receive or reject the truths that will lead them each to their providential destinations.
It’s easy to realize that we all live in a very broken world … filled with broken people … suffering varying degrees of brokenness and dysfunction. Few of us have the rare privilege of being coached from birth by a mother AND a father who also grew up in a God-fearing family who lived close to God’s earth, watching how His natural creation worked – learning what was once called common sense, humane decency, and the grace and peace of the Master Teacher of Divine Righteousness and Eternal Truth… Jesus our Lord.
That’s why Reclaiming our Legacy is a righteous goal. And, of course we’re talking about a righteous legacy… one that was ultimately received by any of our early ancestors who discovered God’s Kingdom and surrendered their lives to our Redeemer, God’s Son, Jesus, the Messiah. We acknowledge that our generation is in a mess. But we have a truly heavenly road map… and it’s filled with hope. It’s more like a blueprint to guide us in the rebuilding of a lost master plan for life… life as it was meant… by Our Creator… to be lived. And that’s because it was His idea to have a family… a family of sons and daughters… And those children are designed uniquely to be eager to discover and learn all the wonderful insights that would give them the wisdom and skills to train up families of their own. And then, those families would grow in the Master Designer’s love and understanding just how life was meant by the Creator to be lived.
I know that for many people, this sounds like a dream… a fantasy that is just too far-fetched and unreachable for most humans to even grasp. But that’s why the legacy designed by our Creator and Savior, needs to be reclaimed.
The Radio Show and podcast called Reclaiming Your Legacy began in 2010 after a totally unexpected and surprising invitation. In fact, it was so surprising that it didn’t take too long for me to discover that the whole idea was truly providential. That means God was orchestrating something that I had no clue about. I could never have imagined, let alone planned, what God was directing for a new chapter of my own life and ministry. So, before I share with you some of the concepts that the Lord led me to discover about this new added responsibility of ministry, called Reclaiming Your Legacy, let me give you a little background.
When the Lord redirected my life in 1973 to attend a small Bible school in Canada for a year, I was the Curator of a small local historical museum. Years earlier, after earning my Bachelor of science degree, and working in a couple of different history museums, I had the privilege of being recommended for a full scholarship to earn a Master’s degree in History Museum Administration. That too was providential. And for the next several years, I really loved working in my career of interpreting history for museum visitors through designing and building intriguing displays and exhibits, as well as recruiting volunteers to help with the many facets of museum work.
You might ask, how did I go from leaving a creative and educational career in museums to becoming a Bible teacher and author of several books on the topic of biblical creation science, and now, presenting this radio show called Reclaiming Your Legacy?’ Well, that’s a good question. And without going into all the details at this time, I have to say that it was a wonderfully providential journey of following the Lord’s paths through one experience after another that eventually led me to write the book called Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation and also begin the ministry called the Creation Resource Foundation, over 40 years ago. Thirty editions of that book have been in circulation for over 40 years now. And through all of that time, I experienced God’s remarkable guidance to present many multi-media seminars in hundreds of places in North America and other countries as well.
So, over the years, because of my experience in teaching in churches and schools on many aspects of the Bible and science and history, I was occasionally invited to be interviewed as a guest on various radio programs. That included several programs that were produced and recorded on the familiar Christian radio station in Sacramento, KFIA. It was only an hour away from where my wife and I lived for the biggest portion of our lives when we were raising all four of our children.
So, one day, after finishing an interview at the radio station’s studio, the program director for the station then, asked me if I’d ever considered hosting a radio program myself. That was about as obscure as any thought that I could have imagined at the time. … So, I asked her, “how would I even figure out how to do something like that?”
She told me, “Well, first you need to find a sponsor.” And that meant, of course, a business that could afford to pay for the weekly broadcast time of $200 a week. That seemed like too big of an impossibility to even really begin to dream that it might be realistic or an idea that I should pursue. And I didn’t have a clue where to start anyway. So, I prayed. And as I thought about it for the next few days, I continued praying and still had no clue what to do or where to go to possibly find some direction.
Well, Saturday morning came. Without really even thinking about finding an answer to my prayer, I was reminded that the monthly men’s prayer breakfast at our church was planned for 8am. So, I showed up and just happened to sit down at a table beside a friend I’d known for over 30 years but hadn’t seen in many moons. We enjoyed good conversation, catching up with one another a bit. He asked me what’s going on with my ministry mission. I told him about the radio station, inviting me to host a weekly radio show. He didn’t have anything to say, and then the morning speaker was introduced to begin his 20-minute devotional testimony. After the meeting was closed and we all started clearing and putting away the folding tables, my friend leaned over to me and quietly told me, “Hey Dennis, I think my company would be able to sponsor your radio show. We have an advertising budget that we really don’t use and we could handle the amount they’re asking you for.”
I was floored. I told my friend, I’ll be in touch with him as I find out what else I need to do. The next piece of the puzzle was to find somebody who had some experience with radio broadcasting to kinda help me get started doing this new project that I knew absolutely nothing about. Well, would you believe that just a couple of days later I invited the only friend in town who I knew had some radio hosting experience to have breakfast with me at Dennys. We had a really good conversation. I learned that starting with a co-host for my radio show might be a good idea. So, I asked if he would be open to be my co-host. Here comes another providential surprise. My friend graciously accepted the challenge. We’re both volunteers … and for the next three years he and I spent a whole afternoon every week driving together to the radio studio an hour away and recording or live-broadcasting a fresh show for our local listeners.
Eventually, I was able to host the show alone. By the end of our fifth year, I learned how to record the show from my ministry office at home, where I’ve done all the research, writing, and prayer preparation, as well as the posting of the transcript and audio recording to the podcast on our website. It’s a sizable mission every week, with no paycheck. And our original sponsor has graciously been able to cover the air time cost ever since.
The pre-recorded show is broadcasted on AM radio station KFIA in Sacramento, 710 on the AM dial, on Tuesdays at 3 pm. It can also be heard simultaneously on www.KFIA.com > Listen Live. The blog and archived broadcasts are accessible at www.ReclaimYourLegacy.com.
So, What’s it all about? Why did I call this new mission “Reclaiming Your Legacy?”
It really boils down to several purposes that I’ve sensed the Lord using me to do over many years of my life.
- Building the bridge from our heritage to our posterity – how do we connect that gap?
- Exposing widely believed cultural lies
- Uncovering hidden Truths that set people free from destructive deceptions
- Developing Discernment
- Establishing our Godly heritage
- Discovering the Road to Wellness
- Regaining principles of Godly Wealth – building to establish God’s Covenant
- Restoring Righteous influence in a society of escalating failed leadership
- Revealing the Rest of the Story seldom heard in newspapers and most classrooms
What are the precepts? Each of these deserves at least a whole chapter if not a whole book.
- Foundational Truths are self-evident. Things like what America’s Founders spelled out in the Declaration of Independence and Romans 1:20 … where we read “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”
- Reality Education is often hidden. Instead of simply being taught what to think to memorize the correct answers for Friday’s exam, true education is built on how to think by asking questions and being guided in how to search for the answers with personal investment of energy and thought.
- Biblical Perspectives produce Personal Success. That’s why the Angel of the Lord told Joshua, as he was about to miraculously cross the Jordan River into Canaan, that the way to “have good success” was what? To speak God’s word, meditate on God’s word, and do God’s word faithfully and without pause.
- Practical Solutions are plainly sensible. When a person who is in tune with God’s Holy Spirit finds and hears a wise solution to a challenging problem, it’s like having a spotlight directed on a previously darkened pathway. The way makes sense. It’s perceivable. You don’t have to hesitate about it. To quote Isaiah (30:21) “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it…”
- Logic comes from Logos. And Logos is the name John used in the first verse of His gospel to identify the One Who is not only the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, but the Creator Himself. So, in following Jesus, we discover the ways of God that are often quite different than the ambiguity and often confusion of the ways of man’s natural thinking. And that’s why, as Romans 12:2 instructs us, rather than fall into the mold of the world’s natural way of thinking, the child of God needs to be daily in the process of being transformed by the refreshing, renewing and regenerating of a heavenly-focused mind-set. And eventually, that way of thinking becomes our new nature… Supernaturally natural … putting on the “new man which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph 4:24
- Universe comes from One Word. Uni means ‘one’ and verse means ‘word’ … so isn’t it interesting how the Creator’s Word that spoke the universe into existence is the One Source of everything we need to fulfill the missions that the Creator has designed for each of us in our lives?
Why Should Anyone Reclaim Their Legacy?
Reclaiming Your Legacy is a Bible-centered pathway to help learners restore a personal and community vision of peace that God’s wisdom has established for the five pillars of purpose in life.
Our goal is to provide a clear and Godly road map for ambitious and “meek” (coachable) people to “inherit” their portion of the “earth” that our Creator has intended in His kingdom. Now that doesn’t mean that we inherit it as if it’s ‘ours.’ It means it’s our domain to ‘steward.’
“The meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:11
What are the five “Pillars of Purpose in Life?”
- Finding, embracing and manifesting divine character in the earth. Micah 6:8
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” That sure is a lot about character, isn’t it?
- Understanding the knowledge, the truth and the skills to inspire others and help set them free to fulfill more of their unique calling that our Creator has made them to be. Proverbs 3:13-16
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” Now what is that? That’s all about understanding and knowledge that has to do with our calling – our guidance for what we’re going to be about – our mission in life.
- Discovering the principles and resources to enable divine health in every area of life. 3 John 2
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” I call that central to our very existence. As we grow in character and in finding our calling, godly wisdom inevitably brings us to discovering just how vital this third pillar of life’s purposes are.
And that brings us to the fourth pillar of God’s purposes for our life in reclaiming our legacy.
- Discovering the divine principles of success – success that leads to wealth and prosperity. Proverb 8:18, 21 says…
“Riches and honor are with me (Heavenly wisdom from God), Enduring riches and righteousness… My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver… That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.”
Now, there’s a lot to unpack in that. But we have to realize that God intends us to manage the wealth that He brings us in our lives, whether it be a little or a lot, so that we can be effective in reclaiming our legacy and in teaching our posterity to reclaim their legacy as well.
Now, that brings us lastly to the fifth pillar of reclaiming your legacy…
- Reestablishing divine influence in every sphere of life. Salt preserves. Light removes darkness, exposing the path to peace. Matthew 5:16, Isaiah 58:12, Psalm 112:1-3
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matt 5:16 Isn’t that about influence?
“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isa 58:12 NASB95 Isn’t that also about influencing others?
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” Ps 112:1-3 NKJV In other words, there’s an ongoing legacy of influence to each successive generation.
when we see that ‘meek’ people are ceaseless learners, actively implementing the wisdom and knowledge accessible by the Creator to those who pursue insight and discernment, THEN it is apparent WHY He accomplishes His purpose in His creation through those who actively take on their Divine role of ‘salt & light.’ They see it as a divine ‘stewardship’ … as a special assignment … as a mission, really.
Who Even Wants To Reclaim Their Legacy?
By Dennis Petersen
Legacy is one of those words that are stuffed with meaning, but our generation has almost forgotten what the word even means, so why should anyone want to ‘reclaim’ it?
What do you think of when you hear the word? If I were to ask you, “What do you think is your legacy?” what would you tell me? Is it the economic ‘inheritance’ you leave to your family? Is it some of the intangible qualities of your life that you think others might remember you for? For some, it might be a tradition or an institution that was shaped by their participation. Whatever it is, it’s made up of lots of things that cross the ‘bridge’ of your life from all that went into your heritage to all that is received by your posterity (the next generation). Is it something worth consciously reclaiming?
What is the ‘Foundation’ of your legacy?
I believe a true ‘legacy’ is built on the foundation of truth itself. And it and supports several essential ‘pillars’ that leave an undeniable benefit for those who follow your lead. At least five major principles of life contribute to our legacy and they each strengthen one another.
Character grows from the seedbed of truth. It inevitably stirs our desire to pass along what we’ve learned through the training and coaching of others. Good character doesn’t happen by accident. And, like the thumb on your hand, it touches each one of the four other pillars of your legacy.
Understanding and Knowledge is a life-long process of increasing transformation out of darkness into light. Like our index finger, the knowledge and understanding that we learn, points us in the direction that determines a major part of our legacy. One of the most elementary domains of our education surrounds all the aspects of what constitutes our health and wellness, both materially and spiritually.
Health and Wellness, like our middle finger, is central to all we touch in life. It’s what enables us to be creative and productive. That way we can generate varying manifestations of wealth that can affect generations to come.
Wealth is a powerful tool. It enables us to influence others in so many ways. When grounded in God’s wisdom and eternal truth, your wealth must be cherished as a ‘trust.’ And that’s why it’s not hard to think of it as the metaphor associated with your ring finger. The gold ring on my left hand is a constant reminder of the covenant I made with my wife for life. And it’s managed with God’s kingdom purposes in mind.
Influence is enabled by all the previous ‘pillars’ that Providence has built into our lives. Our little finger might seem insignificant, but like our influence on all the people in our lives, it can remind us of just how much our influence can help shape those who receive of our legacy.
Today’s Mainstream culture barely recognizes the concept of legacy’
Looking at the culture of our generation today, everywhere we turn we see deception and distortion in all the areas of our legacy. Truth is thought by many to be unclear, changeable and even irrelevant. Character is so compromised that it seems normal when we don’t even trust ourselves. Education is so corrupted and ‘politically correct’ that the basic life skills are marginalized and history is ‘rewritten.’ Health and Wellness is failing badly as nature is ignored in favor of synthetic ‘remedies’ and even synthetic foods.’ Wealth is perverted by forgetting the purpose of it to establish Godly influence in human lives. And influence itself has become more about ‘buying’ power than leading others to discover the truth.
It’s Time to Rediscover and Activate Legacy Thinking.
I believe that we live in a generation that is rediscovering the timeless reality that we all pass on a legacy. Rather than just living day to day for the fleeting pleasures of here and now, a legacy-minded man or woman deliberately considers life as a gift not to be wasted. All these really important things that God invests in us are ‘investments’ that we can consciously invest in others in the light of a multi-generational perspective.
Will you be pro-active with your legacy? Will you seek to maximize the influence you’ll have on your generation by taking the truth to heart? Can you think how you might engage with the challenges of all the distorted views of these five areas of life? If so, you’re bound to have opportunities to stretch yourself as early as tomorrow. And once you’re stretched, you’ll never be the same. The legacy you leave will be increasingly appreciated by those whose lives you influence.
If you like listening to podcasts like Reclaiming Your Legacy, you can use your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and hear all our programs on demand for free. Then you won’t miss out when I post a new episode. Visit ReclaimYourLegacy.com and share the transcripts with friends. While you’re there, if the Lord impresses you to help financially to continue the mission we’ve talked about today, just click on the donate button on the website. There are several ways to give with no extra fees for processing your donation. Whether you make a one-time gift or can join our regular support team, your response to His direction in your heart is deeply appreciated. When each of us does our part in the battle, our Lord gets all the glory and accomplishes His goals in His time. We take seriously that we are appointed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)… and I thank Him for your partnership in this mission to equip God’s family and reclaim their divine legacy.
Bonus
Where are you going with your legacy?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… these are the self evident truths that America’s Christian-thinking founders saw, as given to us by our Creator. But what does God’s scriptural wisdom guide us to discover about finding the keys to that happiness that everyone wants?
If your Legacy is to be measured by the impact your life will ultimately make on the lives of those who outlive you and carry your influence to a generation you will not see, consider some really profound precepts that I’ve collected over the years from thoughtful people I greatly respected …
Timeless Legacy keys for your daily priorities
Life is best lived in service to others. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive for the best for ourselves. But it does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers and friends.
Consider others interests as important as your own. Much of the world suffers simply because people are so consumed with their own interests. People are looking out for No. 1, but the way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others. Do you think that quality is just the thing that defines the difference between babies and mature humans? We dote over little babies in their innocent demands for constant attention… but not if they’re living in an otherwise normal 20-year-old body.
Love your neighbor even if you don’t like him. Did you ever notice that Jesus tells us to love others, but he never tells us to like them? Liking people has to do with emotions. Loving people has to do with sacrificial actions. And what you’ll find is that when you love them and do good for them, you will more often than not, begin to like them.
Maintain integrity at all costs. There are very few things you take to the grave with you. The Number One thing is your reputation and good name. When people remember you, you want them to think, “She was the most honest person I knew. What integrity.” There are always going to be temptations to cut corners and break your integrity. Refuse to do it. Do what’s right all of the time, no matter what the cost.
You must risk in order to gain. In just about every area of life, the honest person discovers that you have to take risks in order to gain rewards. In love, you must risk rejection in order to ask a person out for the first time. In investing, you must place your capital at risk in the market in order to receive the prize of a growing bank account. When we risk, we gain. And when we gain, we have more to share with others and leave for those who live beyond our time.
You reap what you sow. In fact, you always reap more than you sow—you plant one tomato seed and reap a whole bushel of tomatoes. But you have to plant in faith that your seed will grow. The kind of thing that you give is the kind of thing that you get. If you give love, you will receive love. If you give time, you will gain time. It is one of the truest laws of the universe. Decide what you want out of life and then begin finding ways of sowing it.
Hard work is never a waste. No one will ever say, “It is too bad he was such a good, hard worker.” But if you aren’t they will surely say, or at least think, “It’s too bad he was so lazy—he could have been so much more!” Hard work will leave a grand legacy. Give it your all on your trip around this earth. You will do a lot of good and leave a terrific legacy.
Don’t give up when you fail. Imagine what legacies would have never existed if someone had given up. How many thriving businesses would have been shut down if they quit at their first failure? Everyone fails. It is a fact of life. But those who succeed are those who do not give up when they fail. They keep going and build a successful life—and a legacy.
Don’t ever stop in your pursuit of a legacy. Many people have accomplished tremendous things later on in life. There is never a time to stop in your pursuit of a legacy. Sometimes older people will say, “I am 65. I’ll never change.” That won’t build a great life! No, there is always time to do more and achieve more, to help more and serve more, to learn more and to teach more. Keep going and growing your legacy!
These are core principles to conscientiously live by, day by day, if you really want to become the kind of person who leaves a lasting legacy.”
Keep these Scriptures close by as reminders of your Five Legacy “Pillars” of Purpose
- Character: “He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you buy to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
- Understanding-Knowledge: “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, and its gain than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” Proverbs 3:13-16
- Health-Wellness: “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2
- Wealth: “I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion… Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness… to endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” Proverb 8:12, 18, and 21.
- Influence: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
“You will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Isaiah 58:12
“How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house.” Psalm 112:1-3
A few more Scriptures to remind us about God’s intention for our legacy…
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
“But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3
“If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success” Ecclesiastes 10:10
I found a remarkable passage in the book of Psalms about legacy.’
“We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
Psalm 78:4-8