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.

James 3. 17 describes Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.

We believe wisdom means knowing things; God equates wisdom with doing His things. we seek wisdom so that we make the right decisions; God gives wisdom so that we do the right things. We want wisdom so that we don’t lose time, money or possessions on earth; God gives wisdom so that we will not lose eternal life with Him. We look for wisdom from successful people; God gives wisdom in the Scriptures.

James says wisdom begins with a holy life and culminates in getting along with others. This ties the first and second commandments together. A holy life is a life obedient to God’s commands and reflects His nature; God is holy and His people are likewise to be holy.

The second commandment is like the first: love our neighbor as ourself. The Father desires His children to love one another, to like one another, to cooperate with one another for accomplishing His purposes on earth. Most of the commands of God facilitate our getting along with others if we will obey them.

Both holiness, obedience to God, and love for neighbor, wisdom, requires dying to self so that the will of God and the good of others can be made primary over our own selfish desires. The followers of Jesus take up their cross and die daily so that they can make first priority the will of God and the reconciliation of humanity to Him through Jesus the Savior.

All of this made possible through the empowering of the Holy Spirit so that we can identify with Jesus and be kind to others, everywhere, all the time!

His Opportunities

1. CBMC is trying something new in 2018: Monday Manna live. 10.00am Mike will explain today’s scripture in person. Catch it here
   
2. Next Special Luncheon is this Thursday, May 24. Discounted pricing is OVER but you can still register Here.
   
   
3.  CBMC is looking for more ministry partners in 2018. Join the Team Today.  COMMIT 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

May 21, 2018

Are You A Tourist Or An Ambassador

by Robert J. Tamasy

Most of us have enjoyed being tourists, visiting new cities, even another nations. I have not been as well-traveled as some people, but have appreciated opportunities to visit nearly a dozen other countries. Being a tourist can take us to places we might have only heard people talk about or have seen in photos.

I vividly remember my time in several Hungarian cities, for example. My grandparents had immigrated from Hungary, so it was interesting to see “the old country” firsthand. I also enjoyed going to Germany, including the city of Giessen, my birthplace. Nobody there remembered me – not surprising, since I left for the U.S.A. when I was only a year old – but it was fun retracing my personal history a bit.

As tourists, visits are usually brief, and our commitment level is very low. We arrive to look around, maybe take some photographs, sample local cuisine, and perhaps buy souvenirs. Then we return to our homes. Contrast that with the role of an ambassador, someone who takes up residence in a foreign land for a span of time, representing his or her own native country. They have specific roles and responsibilities, acting with the authority entrusted to them.

I mention this because 2 Corinthians 5:20 offers a challenging description of all who follow Jesus Christ, including the marketplace. It declares, “We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” To me, this says whether I am in a private office, conference room, making a sales call, finalizing a contract, or even traveling, my role is that of an ambassador for Jesus, representing Him to anyone I encounter. Whether I am interacting with supervisors, coworkers, customers, or suppliers, I am not only representing my organization but also Jesus Christ, as His ambassador.

Being an ambassador is a duty not to be taken lightly. Through our actions, as well as our words, we demonstrate for others what it means to be one of Jesus’ followers. It is a sobering responsibility, as 2 Timothy 4:5 states: “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” This is written to all who profess to be “born again” through Christ, as He said in John 3:3. It does not sound like instructions directed to mere “tourists.”

But in a practical sense, what does it mean to be “Christ’s ambassadors”? We find part of the answer in the second part of 2 Corinthians 5:20, which says, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” If we are “satisfied customers,” persons who have experienced the peace, joy, forgiveness, grace, love and mercy of God through Christ, we have an obligation and responsibility to share what we have learned with others so they can experience that as well.

There is more. In another passage from the Bible, we read, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). We work to earn a livelihood; utilize our skills, talents and gifts; and to experience vocational fulfillment. However, we are also called “God’s fellow workers,” given the privilege of co-laboring with Him in carrying out His plans and purposes in this world.

As Christ’s ambassadors, He desires to work through us to demonstrate what it means to live according to His principles and the biblical truths that guide us each day. This is no task for a tourist!

 © 2018. 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 books, includingAdvancing 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

May 21, 2018

 Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. What does the term “ambassador” mean to you? In what ways does being an ambassador differ from being a tourist?

1. As you approach each new workday, would you describe yourself as an ambassador for Christ, or as more of a “tourist”? Explain your answer.

1. When the Bible says we are to be “Christ’s ambassadors,” what do you think that means in a practical sense? What are some of the challenges – or obstacles – to being able to fulfill that role effectively?

1. Have you ever thought of yourself in terms of being “God’s fellow worker”? What difference does it make – or would it make – to regard yourself in that way?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Ecclesiastes 12:13; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3: 23;

2 Timothy 3:16-17

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