It's Monday morning. We hurry to get ready and run out the door to work. We are lucky if we squeezed in a few minutes of prayer and reading our Bible before breakfast. Church--if we went--seems like a world away as we hit the ground running. The weekend and time with our family is over. Now, it's on to other things. Gotta get to work. Time to face today's to-do list. Unread e-mails blink waiting to be answered. We dive into a day of appointments, phone calls, meetings, and putting out fires. We are in a different zone now. We are at work.
Much of our Christianity today suffers because it has failed to bridge the divide between these compartmentalized worlds we live in. We develop dual modes of living. We have one set of software for the domestic life of church and home, and another for work. The problem is not that we are two-faced, but that we are double-minded. In the "God zone" of church and home we feed our soul, worship to catch a glimpse of God, connect with family and friends and give our time and money to advance His kingdom machine, the church.
Entering the "work zone", however, we put on a different thinking cap. We are now in the hard-ball world of making a buck. Time to produce. God is about as relevant to what we do Monday-to-Friday as a locker room prayer is to a football game. At best it helps foster good sportsmanship. The game, after all, is just a game and work is just work. What has God got to do with it? What I do 9 to 5 has nothing to do with anything remotely spiritual. It's just what I have to do. At least I try to play the work-game Christianly. But, fundamentally, the hard reality of my "work zone" has a different bottom line than the "God zone" of my life.
The spiritual disease behind this schizophrenic way of living begins in our view of God Himself. A holistic vision of one's life begins with a glimpse of the wholeness of God. A. W. Tozer in his Christian classic, Knowledge of the Holy, explained how God is one with Himself: "The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of his parts, but of the absence of parts." Tozer went on to write that, "All of God does all that God does. He does not divide himself to perform a work, but works in the total unity of his being." God sees your life as one piece because His life is one piece. He is involved in all we do and, therefore, he cannot divide our lives up the way we do. It would violate the unity of who He is. In His way of thinking there is no disconnect between Sunday and Monday.
We think the key to well-rounded living is a question of balance when really it is about an absence of parts. Does all of you do all that you do? Or do you divide yourself on Monday morning accepting a partition between your soul and your work? Such a distinction may feel Christian. It may even be promoted by what we hear is valued as "spiritual" at church. Ultimately, however, it is not Biblical or consistent with the character of God.
Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com
With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)
When performance evaluations are handed out in heaven, bonuses will go to those who made themselves useful to God outside the walls of the church.
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. The church is ordained by God as His instrument for the training and equipping of His people, and as such, it will always have a role in His kingdom. Those who suggest it's time to do away with the local church swim against the Scriptures, which give it an honored place in God's plan.
Still, for most of us, the work God assigns us is outside the walls of the church. That means, for most of us, what we do on Monday morning matters as much to God as what we do on Sunday morning. In fact, those among us who believe we can live our lives apart from God on Monday through Saturday and then make up for it by keeping Sunday holy, or by using Sunday as a palate cleanser to erase the taint of our weekday actions, will be sorely disappointed by God's response.
Where you are when you read these words is where God expects you to do His work. Passages like Isaiah 58, Micah 6 and James 1 make it clear God is impatient with religious gestures not backed up by real-world actions.
If you're disgusted by the human condition, imagine His view of things. If you're flustered by an inability to get workers motivated, imagine His view of Christians who do their work half-heartedly. If you're disappointed in coworkers who sit and complain about the boss, imagine His disdain when it's His children doing the complaining.
God expects His people to equip themselves to be useful to Him by being useful to His creation. He expects us to reflect His character in our relationships with customers, coworkers and vendors. He expects us to be outraged by injustice, and to do something about it. He expects us to be concerned by poverty, homelessness and disease, and to do something about it. He expects us to see the gloomy destiny of those who don't know His Son, and to do something about it.
That we don't like our jobs, or aren't being challenged by them, or aren't being adequately compensated for them may be issues He chooses to address (or not), but He never tolerates them as excuses for dishonoring Him by giving less than our best effort.
Fasting, quiet times, church attendance, teaching Sunday School, reading the Bible; all of these are important aspects of our relationship with God. But they are not ends unto themselves, but rather ongoing training tools for the real work He calls us to: the places we go to work. When God goes looking for us, those are the places He expects to find us, with right hearts, doing our work as if He were supervising our efforts directly (Col. 3:23).
Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com
There are many reasons for dissatisfaction in a workplace. Some can be attributed to the employer, and some to the employee. The only one we have control over is ourselves. We can choose to be dissatisfied, working for just a paycheck, or we can determine to make a difference.
Debbie, a friend of mine, was telling me of a conversation she had with an executive at a very large company that she knew from church. As this executive complained about her job, and the bureaucracy with which she was constantly struggling, Debbie began challenging her friend.
"God has obviously given you skill to rise to the level you have, and He wants you to maximize that skill and knowledge. You can't do that if you are known as someone unhappy," Debbie shared. "You are not working for that company, but instead you are working for the Lord."
According to Debbie, after a short conversation and some redirection, this executive left with a renewed passion for her job, and the realization that she had a purpose and a call to fulfill, and it was more important that just drawing a paycheck.
God made you unique, and not only gifted you with special talents and knowledge, but he knew in the beginning what work he prepared for you to do. Ephesians 2:10 teaches, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Isn't it awesome to realize that it doesn't matter if that work is as the CEO of a large business, or cleaning toilets in a restaurant! If God made you for that task, it's important. Do it with all your heart, and remember for whom you really work.
Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com
Have you struggled with prayer? Does prayer seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don't possess?
Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God - listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and how to apply them in your life.
What Does the Bible Have to Say About Prayer?
The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is found in Genesis, chapter 4.
What is the Correct Posture for Prayer?
There is no correct or certain posture for prayer. In the Bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:45), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18; Matthew 26:39), and standing (1 Kings 8:22). You may pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud -- however you are most comfortable and least distracted.
Should I Use Eloquent Words?
Your prayers need not be wordy or impressive in speech.
Why Should I Pray?
· Prayer Develops Our Relationship with God.
If we never speak to our spouse or never listen to anything our spouse might have to say to us, our marriage relationship will quickly deteriorate. It is the same way with God. Prayer - communicating with God - helps us grow closer and more intimately connected with God.
· The Lord Instructed Us to Pray.
One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord instructed us to pray. Obedience is a natural by-product of discipleship.
(See also - Matthew 7:7 and 1 Timothy 2:1)
What If I Don't Know How to Pray?
The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer when you don't know how to pray.
It's been 17 years since I gave my life to Christ, and I can tell you, the Christian life is not an easy, 'feel good' road. It doesn't come with a benefits package guaranteed to fix all of your problems, at least not this side of heaven. But I wouldn't trade it now for any other path. The benefits far outweigh the challenges. But, the only real reason to become a Christian, or as some say, to convert to Christianity, is because you believe with all of your heart that God exists, that his Word-the Bible-is true, and that Jesus Christ is who he says he is: "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:16)
Becoming a Christian won't make your life easier. If you think so, I suggest you take a look at these common misconceptions about the Christian life. Most likely, you won't experience sea-parting miracles every day. Yet the Bible does present several very convincing reasons to become a Christian. Here are six life-changing experiences worth considering as reasons to convert to Christianity.
Experience the Greatest of Loves:
There is no greater demonstration of devotion, no greater sacrifice of love, than to lay down your life for another. John 10:11 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." The Christian faith is built upon this kind of love. Jesus gave his life for us: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).
In Romans 8:35-39 we see that once we've experienced Christ's radical, unconditional love, nothing can separate us from it. And just as we freely receive Christ's love, as his followers, we learn to spread this love to others.
Experience Freedom:
Similar to knowing God's love, absolutely nothing compares to the freedom a child of God experiences when released from the heaviness, guilt and shame caused by sin. Romans 8:2 says, "And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." At the moment of salvation, our sins are forgiven, or "washed away." As we read God's Word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we are increasingly set free from sin's power.
And not only do we experience freedom through forgiveness of sin, and freedom from sin's power over us, we also begin to learn how to forgive others. As we let go of anger, bitterness and resentment, the chains that held us captive are broken through our own acts of forgiveness. Simply put, John 8:36 expresses it this way, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Experience Lasting Joy & Peace:
The freedom we experience in Christ gives birth to lasting joy and abiding peace. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
When we experience God's love and forgiveness, Christ becomes the center of our joy. It doesn't seem possible, but even in the midst of great trials, the joy of the Lord bubbles deep within us and his peace settles over us: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
Experience Relationship:
God sent Jesus, his only Son, so that we could have relationship with him. 1 John 4:9 says, "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." God wants to connect with us in intimate friendship. He is ever present in our lives, to comfort us, to strengthen us, to listen and to teach. He speaks to us through his Word, he leads us by his Spirit. Jesus wants to be our closest friend.
Experience Your True Potential & Purpose:
We were created by God and for God. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We were created for worship. Louie Giglio, in his book, The Air I Breathe, writes, "Worship is the activity of the human soul." The deepest cry of our hearts is to know and worship God. As we develop our relationship with God, he transforms us through his Holy Spirit into the person we were created to be. And as we are changed through his Word, we begin to exercise and develop the gifts God has placed within us. We discover our fullest potential and true spiritual fulfillment as we walk in the purposes and plans that God not only designed for us, but designed us for. No earthly accomplishment compares to this experience.
Experience Eternity with God:
One of my favorite verses in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has "set eternity in the hearts of men." I believe this is the reason we experience an inner longing, or emptiness, until our spirits are made alive in Christ. Then, as God's children, we receive eternal life as a gift (Romans 6:23). Eternity with God will far exceed any earthly expectation we can begin to imagine about heaven: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com
Specializing in buyers, sellers & investors in the upstate of SC. I follow the principle of service, not excuses. I will always tell you what you need to hear not what you may want to hear.
Growing up in Charleston, SC, I spent much of my free time hanging around the beach (hence the catchy name for my web site!). While I was getting my B.S. from the College of Charleston, I was afforded the opportunity to travel overseas for the first time to the former USSR for three weeks. This began to open my eyes to the greater world around me. While at college I was also an active cyclist, a middleweight boxer and a member of the tennis team.
After college, there was a year in law enforcement with the North Charleston Police Department and then I was lured into the jewelry business. I managed several stores around the country (Phoenix, Memphis) for a large chain and eventually landed back in Charleston where I opened my own jewelry store. After several years of doing that my like took a different turn as the Lord called me into full time ministry. My family and I moved to Harrisonburg, VA where I received my Masters in Pastoral Ministry and then proceeded to pastor two churches; first in Richmond, VA and then right here in Greenville. One of the highlights during that season was the opportunity to lead over 18 medical mission trips to various locations around the world, including Italy, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I have continued doing custom jewelry work on the side as well all these years. March of 2006 saw me leave the full time ministry and help my wife with her expanding business, Barefoot Annie's Coffee Shop in historic downtown Simpsonville.
A short while later a friend invited me to try my hand at the Real Estate world. After graduating from the Wyatt Institute of Real Estate here in Greenville, SC, it was time to jump in with both feet! This is absolutely one of the most enjoyable careers I have ever had, as things began to take off quickly. It is truly a joy to be right there in the mix with others as they are looking for the perfect house or helping them to sell there current one and move onto to a new season of life.
Many days you can find me out showing homes to prospective buyers or getting another ones home ready to sell. When the time allows it, you may also find me in my denim apron creating or repairing a piece of jewelry. We also have four wonderful children that are a joy to spend time with. They are all grown now, as the youngest daughter just got an apartment with a girlfriend recently. Many special friends that the Lord has brought into our lives round out the picture as well.
The photo is of my wife and I at Tybee Island, GA a couple of years ago.
Professional Affiliations
I specialize in buyers, sellers and investors in the upstate of South Carolina.
"Michael has been so helpful to me the last year. He was able to sell my home, a small parcel of land and then find me a smaller home in a very difficult part of the downtown area that i had really hpoed to get into. He's not just my realtor, but he and his wife have become good friends as well. He even came out one day when my car battery was dead and gave me a jump start!" Miss Dorothy, Simpsonville S.C.
You Earned Our Trust!
"Terry & I just want to thank you for all you've done to help us buy our house. You were extremely helpful, professional and patient with us...We felt so comfortable working with you. You very quickly earned our trust. If/when we decide to sell this house, we know who we will call. We will also recommend you to anyone looking to buy or sell." T & D simpsonville, SC
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