Welcome This brand new site is devoted to helping you discover and share practical insights and truths that will bless your life and your posterity. That's your legacy. It's a mission of a lifetime that will reap more than you sow.
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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?
I believe a true ‘legacy’ is built on the foundation of truth itself 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.
Five Major Principles of Legacy
Character grows from the seedbed of truth and inevitably stirs our desire to pass along what we’ve learned through the education of others.
Education is a life-long process of increasing transformation out of darkness into light. One of the most primary domains of education surrounds all the aspects of what constitutes our health and wellness, both materially and spiritually.
Health and Wellness enables us to be creative and productive so we can generate varying manifestations of wealth that can affect generations to come.
Wealth is a powerful tool that enables us to influence others. When grounded in God and truth your wealth must be cherished as a ‘trust’ that is managed with God’s kingdom purposes in mind.
Influence is enabled by all the previous ‘pillars’ that Providence has built into our lives and should clearly be an effective ‘platform’ to establish a society-wide acknowledgment of the truth that is constantly at war with the deceptions and darkness that constantly tries to hide it.
Pop Culture has Obscured Legacy Consciousness
Looking at our culture and our generation today, everywhere I turn I see deception and distortion in all the areas of our legacy. Truth is thought by many to be ambiguous, changeable and 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 has become more about ‘buying’ power than leading others to discover the truth.
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 and all these really important things are ‘invested’ in the light of a multi-generational perspective.
The Personal Challenge
Will you be pro-active with your legacy? Will you seek to maximize the influence you will have on your generation by taking the truth to heart and engaging the challenges of a distorted view 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.
The Biblical Mandate
“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
The History and Legacy of Thanksgiving?
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” —Psalm 100:4-5
Who do you suppose are the people represented in this painting? 
First Pilgrim Thanksgiving
A thankful heart is a content heart. More than that, I give thanks to God for all the sacrifices of those who have gone before me and even protect me now to make possible all that we experience in our lives (my life) today.
Would you like to know some of the The History and Legacy of Thanksgiving?
The article about the history and legacy of Thanksgiving Day is introduced and linked just below the following comments… I hope you like it… dp
If we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, and not just on Thanksgiving Day, but all through the year.
Here are a few key thoughts you can use to become more thankful:
Time. Set aside time every day to be quiet and to reflect. We live in the fastest-paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we tend to go full speed and rarely slow down. Let’s pause at a private time of day to free our minds from the tyranny of the urgent.
Thought. Deliberately think of the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, how often do we reflect on what we already have? Take some time each today and everyday to think of one or two things you have that you typically take for granted. Then take a moment to give thanks to God for them. Maybe try writing a list of those things each day and share the whole list with a loved one at the end of the week.
Generosity. Be generous toward someone with less. Repent of any envy you have toward someone with more. Envy breeds jealousy rather than contentment. How can we break that cycle? Be generous to someone less fortunate than you. Offer to help someone do something that will help them prosper in the future like applying for a job or learning a new skill. Go volunteer at a food bank – do it during the year, not just on a holiday. Do you think that will remind you of how good you really have it?
Ask. Ask a friend: “What are you thankful for?” It might be amazing to hear the answers. What a special bond of friendship could develop with your friend when you focus on such a simple question.
Acknowledge. Lastly, tell at least someone you love: “I’m thankful you are in my life.” Let’s face it… We rarely take time to express to those close to us what their life means to us. Why not take a moment today to write them a note? On Thanksgiving Day, why not put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you’ll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.
Of course, we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn’t it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let’s do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune. Continue reading
by Dennis Petersen
 Iceland Volcano 2011 We all know that there’s hardly a person in the literate world today who hasn’t been at least a bit confused by all the conflicting opinions about “global warming,” “climate change, “carbon emissions” and all the hullabaloo raised in the media and politics about this topic. It certainly has a bearing on everyone including followers of Christ. And frankly, the serious tone that is often presented can be a real “downer” for any of us who are trying to keep an optimistic and positive attitude. And I know we can get deep in all the boring science that 90% of people have difficulty grasping, but why not have a simple, down-to-earth way to make people think how utterly ridiculous the whole controversy really is?
Here’s a one minute attempt to do just that…
In any significant battle between nature and people guess who wins?
Professor Ian Plimer could not have said it better!
If you’ve read his book you will agree, this is a good summary.
What Effect Did Iceland’s 2011 Volcanic Event Do to our Climate Change Recovery Efforts?
The volcanic eruption in Iceland, since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet – all of you.
Of course you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress – it’s that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans, and all animal life.
I know, it’s very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of: driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kid’s “The Green Revolution” science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cents light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs…well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.
The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere in just four days – yes – FOUR DAYS ONLY by that volcano in Iceland, has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time – EVERY DAY.
I don’t really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in its entire YEARS on earth. Yes folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year – think about it.
Of course I shouldn’t spoil this touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keep happening, despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.
And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.
Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you on the basis of the bogus “human-caused” climate change scenario.
Isn’t it interesting how they don’t mention “Global Warming” any more, but just “Climate Change” – you know why? It’s because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.
And just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme – that whopping new tax – imposed on you, that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer. It won’t stop any volcanoes from erupting, that’s for sure.
But hey, relax, give the world a hug and have a nice day!
 Dennis Petersen and grand daughter 2011 “Without a clear understanding of the beginnings of something, you cannot understand it’s purpose. Without a clear understanding of purpose, you cannot fully realize the truth of your legacy.”
Over 3 decades ago the truth of Isaiah 58:10-12 really hit me. If you read it I’m sure it has been deeply meaningful in your own life. The ‘fast’ that God chooses for us is to essentially set other people free to live the life their Creator desires for them. Only the truth can do that.
A few years ago I was gripped by the concept of ‘legacy’ and how our generation seems to have lost the sense of being a bridge from the heritage of our past to the divinely intended destiny of our posterity’s future. That’s where your sense of legacy connects with so many truths that have been distorted by many influences in modern culture.
My heart resonates with the principles of Legacy summarized by the respected business trainer Jim Rohn. He wrote:
“…actions are great, but the important stuff is what lies underneath—the principles. Here are what I consider to be the principles that we must commit to if we are to leave the legacy we desire:
Life is best lived in service to others. This doesn’t mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. 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 consider only their own interests. People are looking out for No. 1, but the way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others.
Love your neighbor even if you don’t like him. It is interesting that Jesus told 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 actions. And what you will find is that when you love them and do good by 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. Do not do it. Do what is right all of the time, no matter what the cost.
You must risk in order to gain. In just about every area of life you must risk in order to gain the reward. In love, you must risk rejection in order to ask that 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 leave for others.
You reap what you sow. In fact, you always reap more than you sow—you plant a seed and reap a bushel. What you give you get. What you put into the ground then grows out of the ground. 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 to sow it.
Hard work is never a waste. No one will say, “It is too bad he was such a good, hard worker.” But if you aren’t they will surely say, “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 the 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 teach more and to learn more. Keep going and growing that legacy!
These are core principles to live by if you want to become the kind of person who leaves a lasting legacy.”
This article is excerpted from Jim Rohn’s Twelfth Pillar of Success: Legacy, part two of The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan.
Think of the joy of helping people, young and old, to apply these timeless principles into their lives while discovering the truths that set them free in some of the most practical areas of modern life!
Dennis Petersen
contact me at dennis@reclaimingyourlegacy.com
Reclaiming Your Legacy
Helping others Discover Life-transforming Truths
Changing the Course of History by Establishing Individual Success
by Dennis Petersen
 You have probably seen evolutionary charts like this… but you might not have seen how to expose the faulty arguments behind them. Those arguments have deceived many students into thinking the Genesis record is unscientific. In reality, all a person has to do is ask some logical questions to reveal the utter foolishness of evolutionary assumptions.
You’ve heard educated evolutionists insist that it took a loooooong time… and that it was undirected by a Designer or God so it all happened by random chance… and of course, simple things got more complex - that’s evolution in a nutshell isn’t it?
Did you get that? The 3 absurd assumptions of evolution we’re talking about here are:
Extraordinary Time
Random Chance
Increasing complexity
Don’t forget this key piece of the discussion.
The two major evolutionary fallacies that are required to get us to this point are covered in another chapter or article. What are they? They are the absurd answers given by evolutionists to the questions: “how did the universe get here?” and “where did life come from?” You’ve heard those answers I’m sure. Here they are:
The Big Bang
Spontaneous Generation
And don’t forget the simple questions you can use to reveal the ‘emptiness’ of those two supposed ‘scientific’ causes for the two most significant ‘effects’ that can lead anyone to a realization that there has to be a Creator.
#1 – Did you ever see an explosion cause an increase in the orderliness and complexity of anything?
#2 – Can you even imagine how to put life into chemicals, even if they are cleverly arranged into all the organs and systems of a now-dead corpse?
What’s really at the bottom of evolution teaching?
What is seldom mentioned to unwary and impressionable young students today is that evolutionists believe in bigger miracles than Christians ever dreamed of. They even admit it on occasion. And the reason their misguided faith is really nothing less than sheer gullibility is because their miracles had no adequate cause to perform them. Nature and common sense demonstrate scientifically that any result or ‘effect’ requires an adequate cause. By definition, the Creator of the universe that exists independent of natural substances is the only adequate “cause” for the universe and life.
But, evolutionists are religiously committed to their insane ‘faith’ because they don’t want to acknowledge the reality of their Creator. Don’t forget that. That’s why the apostle Paul says in his letter to the Roman Christians in the first century: “..just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind…” (Romans 1:28).
Answering the Evolutionist Arguments
So how do we expose the 3 absurd assumptions of evolution? And do it in a gracious and sensible way?
Continue reading Can you Expose the top 3 absurd assumptions of evolution?
By Dennis Petersen — “Can you really trust the whole Bible to be true?”
 A truly lasting legacy is the confidence you have in the truth you know and your courage to walk it and talk it. So what does Genesis and God’s account of creation have to strengthen our faith in God today?
A vital weapon in our spiritual arsenal is the waste-belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14) but it takes work to obtain it and more work to maintain it in the face of popular deceptions. We know the world is super confused. People are anxious about daily challenges. Do we really need to help them deliberately seek and gain the truth?
Remember that Jesus said, “if they do not believe Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone were raised from the dead.” (Luke 16:31) Since Moses wrote the Genesis account of creation, do you suppose the truth of it will be deceptively distorted?
What are some Bible texts that remind you of the controversy over the truth?
- 2Timothy 4:4 “And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
- 2Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
- 2Timothy 2:25 “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth…”
- 2Thessalonians 2:10, 12 “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. …That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
In my book, Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation, there are some profound statements about the Bible being trustworthy for our rock solid foundation in the truth. But that truth is indelibly tied to real history and real observable evidence… That’s why I keep pounding on the Biblical concept of “prove all things.”
Why are topics like creation and the flood really important for people to reclaim their Godly legacy now? Probably no other Biblical writer says it better than the apostle Peter. In 2Peter 3:3 he says: “…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
Surprising to many of us who have been programmed all our lives to believe in evolution’s mythical millions of years-long fairy tale, the facts actually reveal that the universal use of a 7-day week is tied to the reality of the literal seven days of the creation week that actually happened less than seven thousand years ago.
“Oh, come on… you can’t be serious.” (I can just hear some people reacting now.) But what if I could show you – really show you graphically – all sorts or factual reasons why the Bible makes more sense on this than the modern myth of evolution as declared by all those who spurn the truth of Genesis? Will you take me up on it?
Well, let me direct you to the video version of the slide show “When Did It All Begin.” It’s the lead listing in a new web resource at: www.FreeCreationVideos.com. And when you share this link to my free videos website I’ll send you a powerful new eBook at no cost: “Is the Bible Really without Any Errors?”
I promise you… when you get your mind around this one and really satisfy your determined questions about when it all began… you’ll know more than most college professors ever dreamed could demolish their empty arguments for myths like the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago and all the rest of that evolutionary make-believe.
Yes, the evidence abundantly agrees with the truth of Bible history, right from the first verse.
In six days God created the heavens, the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
Prepare yourself for some major ‘renewing of your mind’ as you ‘prove all things.’ Go now to www.FreeCreationVideos.com .
Dear Friend,
 “I believe there is a day coming in 2011 that will change your life in ways you can’t even begin to imagine right now.”
Just in case you still know someone who believes there is an “economic recovery” happening as touted by the mainstream financial media, you should check out Porter Stansberry’s End of America video, where he makes a compelling case that inflation is already here, and hyperinflation, severe social unrest, and government imposed financial restrictions are just around the corner.
This straightforward slide show presentation (below) by the founder of a successful financial research company confirms all the other reports I’ve read recently and puts the message in terms that convey what makes real sense.
As he says, “…most Americans will not know what to do when commodity prices – things like milk, bread and gasoline – soar. They won’t know what to do when banks close… and their credit cards stop working. Or when they’re not allowed to buy gold or foreign currencies. Or when food stamps fail…
In short, our way of life in America is about to change – I promise you. In this letter I’ll show you exactly what is happening.”
I’ve taught for decades the scriptural observation that “my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” What is really sad is that there are so many who will not bother to get educated about basic economics enough to realize the cause and effect reality that is confirmed by history and is about to change our world more radically than a 9/11 attack or a hurricane Katrina.
Please click on this link or the link below to watch and hear the slide presentation that could literally save your financial future if you’re willing to take serious actions. And if you can’t listen now… put it on your calendar to listen in the next two days and save this letter where you can not miss it.
You will appreciate the fact that you have been pointed to this information while 95% of the people around you every day don’t have a clue where to turn when things begin to get really desperate in the next few months.
In the next few weeks I will be referring you to valuable resource connections that will give you insights you will need to know about the economic decisions you will be making in the near future .
Be sure to logon to our Legacy Insider Subscriber Team at www.ReclaimingYourLegacy.com
Dennis Petersen
Author of Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation
President – Creation Resource Foundation – Creation Resource Publications
P.O. Box 570, El Dorado, CA 95623 – USA
visit our website at www.CreationResource.org
here is the URL for the audio/video report mentioned above: http://www.stansberryresearch.com/pro/1011PSIENDVD/LPSIM122/PR
Perhaps the best way to view this audio and written report is with illustrated drawings at http://www.stansberryresearch.com/pro/1011PSISBBVD/LPSIM232/PR
you can also see it at YouTube at several sites… just search “end of America Stansberry”
the written report is at: http://www.stansberryresearch.com/pro/1011PSIENDVD/LPSIM122/PR when you click to leave the page where the video is… just hit ‘cancel’ when you get the warning window about leaving.
 Dennis & Grandkids Every once in a while (like daily) we need to be reminded that our life is brief and must be kept in the perspective of the generations to come.
I’ve decided that nothing is going to keep me from doing my very best to spend time with my grand children. God only knows what good investments of my time, joy and instruction will have a deep impact on their choices and decisions for decades to come. Since I did not have the privilege of really getting to know either of my grand fathers (my closest one died when I was only two), and had little interaction with my father while growing up, I absolutely delight to play games, read stories, and go on outings with my grand kids whenever we can be together. Thank you Lord for the blessing of enjoying a glimpse of the delight you must have with your own children.
What is our legacy?
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Prov. 13:22
“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
Psalm 78:4-8
 Dennis by Dennis Petersen
When was the last time you discovered something unexpectedly pleasant?
Is it fair to say that “before you can ‘reclaim’ something you have to discover that it is there to be found?”
Sometimes our daily experiences are so far removed from great discoveries that we tend to doubt that such discoveries are even possible to us personally. Many of us today know what it means to be so busy with day-to-day duties that we almost forget to ‘smell the roses’ along our journey of life. But when was the last time you had one of those surprising “A-ha” moments? You know – the kind of discovery that was right under your nose but you just never saw it until the moment that some might describe as an ‘epiphany’ or a ‘revelation.’ The “light” went on.
Continue reading The Epiphany of Discovering a Lost Legacy
by Dennis Petersen
 Dennis Petersen and grandson I’ve accepted the invitation of Sacramento radio Station KFIA (710AM) to host a half hour weekly radio program called “Reclaiming Your Legacy” and build a worldwide website outreach around all the resources that will be featured there under the banner, “Reclaiming Your Legacy.” I choose that name because I truly believe that a lot of the problems, ignorance and apathy we see today are directly linked to our general lack of knowledge in the many areas of life that create our ‘legacy.’
I believe that when “lights go on” individuals are ready to take hold of the legacy that is theirs and be in better position to succeed in the greatest mission of their lives. I’m asking you to continue reading and join me in equipping others to reclaim their God-given legacy.
Continue reading Reclaiming Your Legacy – the mission of a lifetime
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