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. 

The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:25-26 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/jhn.12.26.NET 

We are born into this world with sin in our DNA. It is why infants and toddlers rebel against loving parents. It is why we have wars, murders, and every kind of evil. We cannot please God in our flesh apart from being born again by the Spirit, Who then empowers us to obey His Word and do His will in the world. When we are genuinely born again, we experience the war within our bodies between the ways of God and the ways of our sinful nature. 

The battle is between pleasing ourselves and pleasing God. God warns us that the person who lives to please himself, to ensure his happiness and gratification, is the man on the road to destruction, for he does not do the will of God or honor Him in the world. 

The person who studies the Word of God to do the will of God as Jesus did is the person who denies himself as Jesus did, dies to self as Jesus did, and does whatever Jesus commands him and is thereby honored by God as Jesus is exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords. This person seeks Jesus through the Word, prayer, and the church to follow Jesus where He is working in the world at seeking and saving the lost, for this is His will for us that none should perish but everyone to be saved, so He commands His people to go and make disciples. 

The Great Commission is the mission of every Christian, but only those who deny themselves, take up their cross, will follow Jesus to the humility of identifying with Him and for Him so that all people might come to believe in Him. As Jesus suffered publicly the shame and humility of dying naked for our sins, so too the born again must suffer the scorn and ridicule of men publicly for identifying with Him unashamedly as their Lord and Savior so that some might be saved. 

Our Opportunities 

1. Demonstrate your love for your friend. Bring them to the final Special Luncheon for this year on October 3. This is your most accessible opportunity to share the gospel with men in your sphere of influence. Commit to attending by purchasing your tickets today, then pray for men and invite them to participate to discover why a successful businessman believes in and follows Jesus. Go here for more information and to register.
   
   
2. Business Owners, don't miss your opportunity to learn more about how CBMC helps you through our Trusted Advisor Forums. Our first Trusted Advisor Forum commences Friday, October 27th, at 1:00 pm. We will meet at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, and we are now accepting membership applications for the first 12 members. These closed, monthly meetings help Christian business leaders craft strategies to handle tough issues with employees, customers, vendors, and competitors that incorporate best-in-business principles integrated with a Christian worldview. Email me if you are interested in attending this event. 

1. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday morning 8-9am at Panera Frandor 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

September 25, 2023 

10 Rules For Successful Farming – And Living

By Ken Korkow 

Although I enjoyed a successful career in real estate for a number of years, the influence of growing up on a farm has never left me. My family still owns a ranch in Pierre, South Dakota, U.S.A., and I return there often. In that relatively quiet agricultural setting, among cows, bulls, horses, and other livestock, I learned many important lessons. 

Among those are what I call the “10 Rules for Successful Farming – and Living.” I think you will be amazed and enlightened when you read them, so here are all 10 of them:

#1. Do your work when it needs to be done. #2. Do your work when it needs to be done.
#3. Do your work when it needs to be done. #4. Do your work when it needs to be done.
#5. Do your work when it needs to be done. #6. Do your work when it needs to be done.
#7. Do your work when it needs to be done. #8. Do your work when it needs to be done.
#9. Do your work when it needs to be done. #10. Do your work when it needs to be done. 

While I no longer work and live full-time on a farm, the 10 “rules” listed above continue to serve as a reminder and motivation for how I should approach my responsibilities every day. Looking at my daily “To Do” list, I often realize it contains more than I can possibly get done. And yet, I feel that everything on my list is important and needs to be accomplished. There are no optional or frivolous items on my list. 

The question is, then, how can I possibly get all of these important things done? Do I get up earlier than usual – and I rise early in the morning already – and work longer into the night? Experience has taught me this is not the solution. A better approach is to take everything I need to do to the Lord and trust Him to enable me to accomplish what must be done. 

Psalm 127:2 gives us this insight: “It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labors — for He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in [their] sleep” (Amplified Version). Work on a farm, work in an office, and work in the home – in each case, there will always be more to do than there seems time for getting it done. Relying on God, we find the strength and capacity to accomplish it. 

This does not mean we stay in bed or sit idly at our desk and expect the Lord to accomplish our tasks without our help. I have found much wisdom in the perspective offered by theologian Martin Luther: “Pray like it all depends on God, then when you are done, go work like it all depends on you.” He also said, “I have so much to do today, I will need to spend another hour on my knees (in prayer).” 

Many times I have been forced to spend extra time in God’s Word and prayer – and then go through the rest of the day striving to focus on the next ‘one thing’ as He directed. In taking this approach, I seek to be a ‘God-pleaser’ rather than ‘people-pleaser’ or ‘self-pleaser.’ This, I have learned, helps to take some of the pressure off, to reduce the stress of daily responsibilities. If I take the attitude that all I do ultimately is for God’s glory, I can be assured He will be with me and empower me to do what must be done. 

Colossians 3:23-24 expresses this clearly: “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” We are to work “as unto the Lord” in everything we do. May I (and you) finish this day well – for His glory and the benefit of others. 

Ken Korkow lives in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A., where he serves as an area director for CBMC. This is adapted from his “Fax of Life” column. Used with permission. 

.CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

September 25, 2023

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. What is your reaction to the “10 Rules for Successful Farming – and Living”? 

1. How do you typically approach a day when after looking at your schedule and deadlines, you realize there is more that needs to be done than you could possibly accomplish? Do you panic, grumble, and complain, or what? 

1. Do you believe prayer and trusting in God can reduce the pressure and stress of a demanding job? Why or why not? If you do believe that, can you give any examples? 

1. What does it mean to “work as for the Lord rather than for men”? Do you think adopting this attitude would make the work you do – and how you do it – look different? Explain your answer. 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 12:24, 14:23, 24:27; Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 4:9-12, 9:10; Colossians 3:17 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com