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. 

“Moses said, “You have been consecrated today for the Lord, for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.“” Exodus 32:29 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/exo.32.29.NET 

What holds people back from serving God wholeheartedly is loving men’s praise and approval more than God’s praise and approval. God with us in Jesus the Savior stated plainly that we are unworthy of Him unless we love Him more than our spouse and family. The Levites became the priestly class in Israel because they loved God first and most, as evidenced by their willingness to slay family and friends who were reveling in their worship of the false calf god. 

This willingness to be against those they knew and loved most to be for God, Whom they loved more than the people around them, set them apart as God’s chosen representatives before Him and the people of Israel. As Christians, we must set ourselves apart from the opinions and approval of family and friends to follow Christ if they won’t follow Him with us. Even Jesus’ brothers mocked Him, for they did not believe in Him, but that did not deter Him from doing the Father’s will for Him. Christians should not be obnoxious toward friends and family who deny Jesus, but neither can they compromise obedience to Jesus before friends and family by thinking, speaking, and doing the same things the pagans do who reject Jesus as Savior. 

Being different means being singled out, often including some form of persecution. The people of God will suffer for aligning with God even more as the world rejects God. 

Our Opportunities 

1. Join us for prayer and Bible study every Friday morning 8-9am at Panera Frandor
   
   
2. If you missed our luncheon with Mike Garland, you missed a great opportunity to share the gospel with your unchurched friends in the marketplace. You can see what you missed here

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

March 27, 2023 

Calculating The Impact Of Caring Coaching

by Jim Langley 

Over the course of my life, I have often considered a career in coaching. I have enjoyed helping someone with their golf swing, since I have a good grasp of the fundamentals of the game and play fairly well. I also wondered about coaching baseball – but realized I had been away from the game for too long. Then God guided me in a very different direction, to use my individual coaching skills to help friends and colleagues get back on track in their personal and business lives. 

Whether working with an individual or team in a sport or engaging in someone about their personal life and career, effective coaching requires observation skills and an ability to perceive the person’s unique needs and potential. It also requires a student’s willingness to learn and apply principles being taught. 

For example, a golf professional may face the unenviable task of making needed changes to the golf swing of a student who has been hitting the ball improperly for years. He must coach to overcome the golfer’s tendency to revert to old habits. Similarly, in personal coaching, the coach must also help the student learn to change old tendencies that can inhibit personal growth. 

A Christ-based coaching program I completed several years ago was of great benefit, but I learned that no amount of sincerity will bring success if the individual is unwilling to make the needed changes for personal growth. In seeking to coach others, what has worked best for me is coming alongside people exhibiting a true desire to improve in some aspect of their lives. 

I guide them through a simple approach for pursuing goals, taking them from Point A to Point B. Once Point B has been reached, it becomes a new “Point A” and the students determine the new “Point B” they wish to achieve, empowered by God’s Spirit. My job is to get out of the way, monitor progress, encourage them, observe their results, and thank God for what has been accomplished. The Bible offers many examples of life coaching. Here are some principles the Scriptures present about this important strategy for personal and professional growth. 

We sharpen each other. While the role of a coach is to help another person, both individuals can experience growth as they interact with one another over time. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). 

We strive for a change of heart. In life coaching, we first look for a changed attitude. Once the heart changes, the person becomes more motivated to learn, grow and understand themselves better. King David candidly prayed, “Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). 

We draw strength from one another. Ultimately, our Personal Coach is God’s Holy Spirit, but we need to have others to call upon for good counsel during challenging times. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). 

We pass on what has been modeled for us. One goal of life coaching is to equip others to become effective coaches for others. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). 

© 2023, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. He is a long-time member of CBMC. 

.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

March 27, 2023 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. When you hear the word “coaching,” what comes to your mind? What do you think is the difference between coaching and mentoring, if any? 

1. Have you ever spent time with a mentor or a life coach? If so, what has that experience been like – both good and bad? 

1. What are the potential pitfalls of refusing to seek out or even accept coaching, whether for personal or professional purposes? 

1. Why do you think the heart – one’s attitude or motivations – is so important in having a successful coaching relationship? 

NOTE: For more about what the Bible says about this topic, consider the following passages: Psalm 51:10-12; Proverbs 8:1,6-11; 15:21-24; 27:9-10; John 14:15-17; 1 John 4:19-21  

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