Our Mission

 

To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.

1 John 4.17 warns, by this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.

Recently an acquaintance of mine died. This man was well known in the community. Many loved him but a few didn’t. He was very wealthy and successful. Gave quite a bit of money away though not much as a percentage of his wealth. Attended church regularly. Once I asked him if he was going to heaven, he answered that he hoped so then proceeded to call a friend who was ill to encourage him. Another good deed to his credit to hopefully put him over the threshold of the amount needed for gaining heaven.

Nearly everyone believes they are going to heaven but few do anything to guarantee their arrival. Amazing when you think about it. If the life to come is eternal and the life we live temporarily here on earth determines that destiny, doesn’t it make sense to do everything we can to ensure our final outcome? So many live so long hoping they are good enough to get to heaven. What is good enough?

The answer we give demonstrates who we recognize as God. Most of us define goodness by our own standard. We list things we don’t do that are bad and perhaps a few things we do that are good. Both lists we have determined ourselves with perhaps some common agreement by society. If we have determined that we are good enough to get to heaven then haven’t we made ourselves god? If God determines who lives forever with Him in paradise versus forever away from Him in hell shouldn’t we try and get that information so we can plan and thus live accordingly?

John says if we live as Jesus did we will have confidence on judgement day that we will enter heaven. How did Jesus live? He lived in unswerving obedience to God the Father. How did He live such an obedient life? He knew God’s commands implicitly and denied Himself completely in order to obey them.

How are we doing with knowing God’s commands completely and doing them perfectly? Do we really think we have lived good enough to get to heaven because we lived as Jesus did? There is a way that seems right to a person but in the end it leads to death.

If we believe in God and the life to come we would do well to seek God’s means for getting there rather than relying upon our own assumptions.

His Opportunities

  1. Develop your Relationship with God through regular Bible reading. Attend our seminar December 21st from 11.45-1pm at First National Bank 241 E. Saginaw East Lansing. Cost with lunch is $15. Register HERE

 

  1. Remember CBMC this Christmas. Please  DONATE now.

 CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com

 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

December 11, 2017

 Motivation and Thankfulness

by Robert J. Tamasy

 

When was the last time you heard a motivational talk? How did you react to it? Did it fill you with enthusiasm and inspiration? Did you find yourself filled with adrenalin, ready to take on the world?

 

Years ago, I was invited to attend a multi-level sales meeting when several men and women took the stage, speaking glowingly about their product and declaring how successful they had become. Looking around the room, I saw many of the attendees becoming fired up. They were so excited, I think some of them didn’t use the doors to leave – they seemed ready to run through walls.

 

I was not among them, but could understand the reaction. The stories they heard sounded convincing, and very motivating. The problem is, that kind of motivation rarely lasts. The emotional peaks it produces quickly fade as people return to the “valley” of the everyday workplace and its challenges.

 

How, then, can we find the motivation we need to not only establish and start pursuing worthwhile goals, but also to sustain the effort, persevering in the face of obstacles, setbacks and discouragement? A sad reality is that many people have the capacity to start well, whether embarking on a new career, starting a business, or taking on higher levels of responsibility and authority. But relatively few are able to stick with it to bring into fulfillment their lofty objectives. Where can we find the much-needed motivation?

 

Soon Americans and people in some other parts of the world will hold an annual observance called Thanksgiving Day. I would suggest, at least for those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, part of our motivation should be thankfulness. Thankfulness for God’s love, for what He has done for us, and for the privilege of being participants in the work He is doing around the world.

 

Here are some of the sources of thankful motivation we find recorded in the Bible:

 

Motivated by thankfulness for God’s love. The Scriptures teach we have been chosen to become members of God’s eternal family by His unconditional love. It also says the Spirit of Jesus Christ lives in every believer, empowering us to love others as He has loved us. As the apostle Paul wrote, “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

 

Motivated by being thankful for God’s calling. One of the amazing statements in the Bible is God wants us to serve as “instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13), people He uses to demonstrate and express His truths. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

 

Motivated to share it with others. Once we comprehend what God has done for us, and what a genuine relationship with Him offers, we should find ourselves motivated to share what the Bible calls the “good news of Jesus Christ” with others. “If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you…because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:13-15). 

 

© 2017. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob’s website is www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, and his biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com

 

CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com

 MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

December 11, 2017

Reflection/Discussion Questions

 

  1. Have you ever heard a motivational speech, listened to a recorded motivational message or read a motivational book? How long did the inspiration you received from that last? Why does external motivation often disappear after a short period of time?

  

  1. Do you agree that thankfulness can be a source of enduring motivation? Explain your answer.

  

  1. Whether you are preparing to celebrate a formal Thanksgiving Day or not, what are some of the things you are thankful for today?

  

  1. How should thankfulness to God – for what He has done in your life and continues to do – serve as motivation as you approach every day in the workplace? What are some of the challenges in maintaining this kind of motivation?

  

 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Psalm 100:1-5; Colossians 2:7, 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 12:28-29

 

 CBMC Central Michigan 6011 W. St. Joseph Ste. 401 Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com