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.

Deuteronomy 10:12-17 NIV “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” https://bible.com/bible/111/deu.10.12-17.NIV

A beautiful and succinct description of God’s requirement of us even as He reminds us of Who He is and what He has done for us. Under the New Covenant, God’s current operating system with humanity is the continuation of His will for us that we love Him, serve Him, and obey Him. God in Jesus reiterated all these things and commanded us again to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Jesus said we love Him, we love God when we obey His commands, and He has commanded us to love our neighbor as ourselves by serving and sacrificing for them as He did for us in order to open their hearts, minds, and will to obedience to everything Jesus commands. Like Israel, God chose us to know Him and to do His will. While God loves everyone, the eyes of only some are opened to Him, the hearts of only a few truly love Him, the work is done by only a few who serve Him to see His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God will judge everyone in Christ Jesus, Who is the Living Word that spoke the world into existence and over which He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus will judge everyone by their obedience to His commands to repent before Him, believe in Him alone for their reconciliation with God, and obey His command to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching obedience to all of His words. Those of us who say we are Christians can measure the truth of our belief by our obedience to these words given in the Old Covenant but expected of us in the New Covenant as chosen and beloved children of God.

Our Opportunities 

1. The next special luncheon for sharing the gospel with your friends is now scheduled for June 5th. Our speaker will be Mr. David Tebben, owner of K&H Concrete Cutting. We will be meeting at One North Kitchen&Bar 1310 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823. Register HERE 

1. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday from 8-9 am 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

May 12, 2025

Balance For An Intentional Life

By Erenia Mendoza 

Modern life often pushes us into a frenetic pace for productivity. As a consequence, health, relationships, and spiritual well-being can be neglected. But those of us who are followers of Christ in the marketplace are called to strive for balanced living, reflecting the values of God’s Kingdom in all areas of our lives. The “8+8+8 rule” offers a simple model to help us achieve this balance: 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, and 8 hours for leisure and personal activities. With God at the center of these areas, we can live intentionally and with purpose. 

Work (8 hours). The Bible teaches us that work is a divine calling. In Colossians 3:23, we are reminded:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When we apply this perspective, work becomes a way to worship God, serving others with excellence and dedication. In our work, we seek to reflect the three H’s: Honesty (Proverbs 12:22) – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy”; Humility (James 4:6) – “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble”; and Humor (Proverbs 17:22) – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” These principles can transform the work environment.

Author Tim Keller wrote, “Christians should be fully engaged in work as complete people, dedicating their minds, hearts, and bodies fully to do the best work possible in the task at hand.” When we place God at the center of our work, everything becomes an expression of His grace and purpose in our lives. 

Rest (8 hours). God teaches us to rest. Rest is not just a pause, but a form of physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. In Exodus 20:8-10, the command to set aside time for the Sabbath reminds us:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…” Rest is a way to trust God as our provider and our sustainer.

Here, the three S’s can guide us: Silence (Psalm 46:10) – “Be still, and know that I am God”; Solitude (Mark 1:35) – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed“; and Sabbath(Exodus 20:8-10). Dedicate time to listen to God’s voice, reflect on His Word, and rest in His presence. 

Leisure and Personal Activities (8 hours). God created us to live in community, and this includes moments of leisure and interpersonal relationships. In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we are reminded: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Leisure and personal activities should include time with family, friends, and also with God. 

Here we can use the 3 F’s – Faith (Hebrews 11:1) – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”; Family (Ephesians 5:25) – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”; and Friends (Proverbs 17:17) – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” – help us stay focused on what truly matters, strengthening our relationship with God, others, and ourselves.

By following the “8+8+8 rule,” aligned with biblical principles and the 3 F’s, 3 H’s, and 3 S’s, we find a path to live more balanced and intentional lives. Balance is not a luxury, but a necessity to fulfill our purpose as we work with excellence, rest with trust, and cultivate God-honoring relationships. 

© 2025. Erenia Mendoza is the National Director of CBMC Brazil and a member of CBMC International’s Global Leadership Team. She also serves on CBMC’s Executive Committee for Latin America. Born in Nicaragua and raised in Brazil, Erenia built her career in the Entertainment industry, specializing in Distribution and Marketing for films and series. She has worked with and for major studios, including Sony Pictures and The Walt Disney Company, across Latin America. 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

May 12, 2025

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How would you define having balance in life?
2. How successful are you in achieving a measure of balance and a proper perspective about different areas of your life? Do you think that having a balanced life sounds like a good idea, but is basically wishful thinking? Explain your answer.
3. Why it is sometimes so difficult to achieve a proper balance of work, rest, and leisure and personal activities? What are some of the obstacles or threats to enjoying a balanced life?
4. What role – if any – do you think the spiritual dimension of our lives play in our desire and successful achievement of balanced living?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Exodus 35:30-31,35; Psalm 37:7, 46:10; Ecclesiastes 5:18, 8:17; Mark 6:31; Colossians 3:17 

Challenge for This Week 

If you realize your own life’s work/rest/leisure balance is not what it needs to be, it might seem difficult to find time to reassess how your days are being spent. However, if you do not start working to achieve the desired balance, it will never happen by itself. 

Try to schedule a time to meet with a mentor, trusted advisors or your CBMC group if you are in one to discuss where you are in this respect, and where you would like to be. Be willing to consider suggestions and advice. 

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