Month: September 2015

Find a Mentor

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Jesus Apprentice , , ,
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 ESV

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In a conversation with several business men and women, the question was asked “what is the one thing you would do differently if you could relive life over again in the business world?”   My reply startled some of the them and made others quickly reevaluate their situation. For my answer was simple; “to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead in all my business undertakings.”

Even though I surrendered to Lord Jesus at 17 years of age, my understanding of how business, ministry, and faith integrated was almost non-existent.  I did not understand how my “business life” could be a ministry that glorifies God and serves others for the common good. At the time church pastors were not teaching about it and there were very few resources that addressed the idea. It has taken many years, much prayer, and sacrificial work searching to discover how this integration works. I often consider that if I had a mentor, how different things might have been.

That is why I now encourage men and women today to diligently seek-out spiritual business mentors willing to coach them on how to fully integrate all aspects of life that leads to the most adventurous journey rooted in Jesus Christ. Ask your pastor to refer someone. Ask someone in your congregation that you know is both success in business and has a heart for God. There are many who talk about faith in business, but there are few in comparison who “walk the talk.”

When you find that mentor, you will find an advisor and a spiritual guide who will assist you through the many challenges and opportunities that will come before you. They are not to make your decisions for you. They are there as a sounding board because they have already gone through the battlefield of spiritual warfare in the marketplace. You will find a mentor will increase your learning curve and move you faster toward achieving your dreams while staying true to God’s purpose for your life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Boasting

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

boast 2

Like Jeremiah before him, the apostle Paul boasted not in his accomplishments, achievements, or personal attributes. Instead he boasted in Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:31). He even wrote in chapter 13 that boasting is one of the attributes not consider an act of love.

In 2nd Corinthians 11:30, Paul writes that if he must boast about himself, he will boast about his weaknesses. For as he explains in 2 Corinthians 12:9, he will gladly boast about his weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon him.

If you see a person who loves to boast about himself, you can quickly identify who is his god. Whenever a person bows down before himself, he places himself as a godhead. History proves how dangerous such a person may become. Eventually, (s)he may learn when the end of this life comes that self delusional human gods also come to an end. Meanwhile, many a person will have suffered in the hands of a boastful fool. For only a person void of the Spirit boasts about himself (Jude 1:16,19).

There is only one God. Worship Him. For without Him, we are only dead men walking. Like Jude writes, focus on your relationship with Jesus Christ. Boast about Him. He will present you blameless before him with great joy. Let humility cloth you. Let Jesus praise you.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Rich, Richer, Richest

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

rich 1

How much do you need to be considered rich? How much would you need to be consider richer? And how much would you need to be considered the richest? Than more importantly, how much do you really need?

In the western culture, we are quickly evaluated on the value of our toys. To acquire a house, purchase a car, or simply to take a 2 week vacation in Monte Carlo takes a certain amount of wealth. Yet how come when we generally speak about being rich we associate it with material prosperity?

God loves both the rich and the poor. You can’t make God love you more by being richer or poorer. In fact, being rich or poor may prevent you from drawing closer to God. The writer of Proverbs 30:8-9 states: “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

Most of us would agree that life is easier with riches then without. Whether we are speaking about money, food, shelter, and clothing, the more or better quality, the more comfortable life becomes. On the other hand, what about love. There are those who would trade-in all their personal wealth for one person to love unselfishly.

There are those who would trade-in all their wealth for a healthy body that allows them to experience full activity of their bodily functions. My mother would continually preach to her children and friends that without good health, you are limited in what you can do on a daily basis.

As we age, most of us look back at life and realize that the most important relationship we truly wanted was never the one we wholeheartedly pursued. It generally takes many years of hard knocks, broken dreams, and hurtful relationships to arrive at the realization that to know God is the primary purpose of life.

When the Triune God becomes the center of ones being, one truly experiences more than physical wealth, health, or whatever can provide. To know Him, not theoretically or as an idea, but as a being with loving passion, righteous character, life-giving values, and meaningful purpose, makes one fall in love each and every day. When one set’s his heart and treasure for a deep, abiding relationship with the divine creator, one truly comes to know what it means to be rich, richer, and richest in the Kingdom of God.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!