Wednesday, August 11

From the Heart of the Pastor

The Church – Famine (Amos 8:11)
“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, ‘When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord’” (Am. 8:11).
Your beloved nation is experiencing a spiritual famine. The foundational problem is not in the failure of a nation, but the failure of the church. Scores want to attend to this by addressing the form of church services, but the problem is not in the Sunday practice of churchianity; rather, it is in the deadness of the hearts of those within the church and particularly those leading the church.
Some innovators believe that if they can move away from the authority-image of the preacher, the vaulted learning of the pulpit and the aristocratic white starched shirts and ties they will arrive at the remedy – they are wrong. You can remove the history of the church, the biblical traditions of the church and the ebenezers to the help the Lord has allowed in the past and you will birth a continuing downward spiral in scriptural Christianity. The problem is in the hearts of the churched rather than the structure of the church.
Though biblically thoughtful churchmen are aware of the cultural meltdown attending their increasingly anti-Christian society, well-intentioned evangelicals have adopted worldly weaponry in their failing attempt to provide a remedy. They are failing to recognize that the modern church is fostering a religion requiring little risk, moderate standards, undemanding entry into membership, limited involvement in the lives of the members and no disciplining of the members. God’s church needs a tidal shift in its perspective coupled with an awakening to the Bible being the only means to a genuine Christian consensus.
The tame church preceded the trite society. The church became indistinguishable from the society; so the society became colorless in its Christlessness. Its humanistic rationalism, feministic naturalism and therapeutic existentialism are fostering its floundering insipidness. As the church in America sanitizes itself from the inspired, inerrant and infallible word, it shall discover its waning influence over the ways of its people (II Ti. 3:16f.). The uninfluential church is robbing a great nation of its greatness.
God has determined to do His work in this land through His church (Eph. 3:10). The scantiness of holy authority is the product of generational slumbering. Perhaps the season has arrived for God’s people to once again think and live generationally rather than just for this moment in time. Perhaps God is preparing His people to cease their tasteless innovations, lay aside their golden calves and look to imitating Him (Eph. 5:1).
Every life is an experiment. Most lives are spent in trading away commitments for comforts; avoiding sacrifice by refusing economic challenges; exchanging dreams for conformity to what is common and classifying defeat as victory. Myriads of churchgoers claim the name Christian, but they are merely evangelical in their disobedience (which does in no way militates against the heinousness of their sin!).
God is calling for His people to access His Spirit so that He through them might bring about a revolutionary, reformational, generational, societal awakening. Only then shall the church of the living Christ be positioned to capture its former glories. Nevertheless, churchmen once again must acknowledge that a sovereign holy God has in His providence placed you here in this place at this time in His history to make an eternal difference.
Do you believe that you were born for just such a time as this? Are you willing to have a conversation with yourself and the holy Christ about where you are in influencing this land for the manifestation of His glory?
Take the pulse of the complexion, movement and direction of your life. Look ever so precisely and thoroughly at the lifestyle you have adopted, the ambitions you are pursuing and disciplines you are employing. Are your thoughts exploring the heavens, your conversations challenging the culture and your goals eternal?

Tuesday, August 10

New Coldwell Banker University Courses - Register Now!

Spotlight
New Coldwell Banker University Courses - Register Now!
SFR Course: Coldwell Banker University is now offering the NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure (REBAC SFR certification) course online. The first class of the three session program will be offered August 10, 11 and 12 at 2:00 PM ET each day.
The fee is $29 for Coldwell Banker associates in Professional Development Subscription (PDS) companies and $59 for others (this course is over $200 through other providers!) After completing the online course, three free webinars must also be completed on the NAR site in order to apply for certification.
Registration is available on the Coldwell Banker University website, just search for SFR in the course catalog. Registration deadline is Sunday, August 8.
BreakThrough and BreakOut classes are now available to all Coldwell Banker companies. These courses, offered by Real Estate Champions, are coaching programs designed to dramatically improve real estate skills, strategies, techniques and disciplines to increase leads volume and the conversion rate of your leads. Take advantage of this great opportunity now!

Monday, August 2

Lake Murray Real Estate


Lake Murray is the midlands premier waterfront playground, with over 50,000 acres of fresh water with depths exceeding 100 feet, plus plentiful sand beaches and islands on which to whisk your cares away, it simply does not get any better than this. Lake Murray home sales have decreased with the economic downturn making this the best time in years in invest in waterfront property. Lake Murray homes have historically been a safe haven for investment the key is now as it has always been, simply do not pay too much. I have a unique knowledge and insight into Lake Murray homes and their valuation, my affiliation with custom lake builders and homes sales track record allows me the opportunity to make you the buyer aware of the best possible investment opportunities on Lake Murray. Please visit my site www.troyott.com and email me your parameters regarding price point and amentites and I will email you comprehensive listings on Lake Murray today so we can get started with your home search. Lake Murray Country homes are now within the reach of almost anyone so do not miss your chance, please call me today. 917-1893 www.troyott.com

Columbia SC Homes and Bargins


Columbia Sc Homes for sale have taken quite a hit since the tax incentive ended April 30th, 2010. Smart Buyers however are taking full advantage of this lull to cheery pick the best bargains among Columbia SC homes. Our market is unique nationally with the lowest average home sales price in the nation, $134,000, couple this with a population center with of well over 250,000 people and a major university downtown with 30,000 under grads and the largest military training depot in the country and you have the recipe for one hell of a value market. One principle roadblock for Columbia SC home sales continues to be the inability of potential out of state buyers to sell their primary homes located in other markets where home sales have really suffered, like California, Arizona, Nevada, and the entire Northeast and Midwest area of our country. Columbia home sales will invariably increase as these out of town buyers are able to unload their primary homes and take full advantage with their remaining equity of the best buyer market in the country. Columbia homes are my speciality whether it is investment, primary, are secondary purchase you need an advocate who will take care of you throughout there entire process, making sure your interests are protected and served in full, look no further. Call or email me today.

Mortgage Info for Lexington and The Columbia Market


Lexington, SC homes present a remarkable buying opportunity at present. With interest rates at historic lows and given Lexington, SC homes proximity to the premier recreational lake in central South Carolina this is a win win for the potential home buyer. David Cain dcain@goldengatemortgage.com 803-261-9267 cell can be your financial resource for your new Lexington, SC home purchase. He is the best at what he does and will undoubtedly save you money on your next home purchase. Lexington, SC homes are within 15 minutes of downtown Columbia with some of the finest public schools in the state, plus the national Home Builders Association's top award for community of the year has gone to the Saluda River Club in Lexington, SC for the last tow years running. The quality of life found here is very hard to beat, given it's proximity to Columbia and the Blue Ridge mountains just two hours to the west and the East coasts best beaches just two hours to the east. Lexington, SC homes are for everybody with prices starting in the low 100's to multi million dollar homes on the Lake Murray this is truly a one of a kind location. Call or email me today 803- 917-1893 cell www.troyott.com and I will make that new Lexington SC home a reality for your and your family.