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. 

John 8.31-47 explains, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free……” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin……. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free……….The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God. NASB2020

The Word of God enlivened by the Spirit of God explained by the Church of God is the means of God for communicating the person and work of God so that men might know God and walk freely in His ways. Why is it so hard for men to spend time daily in the Scriptures?

It is these Scriptures, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that transforms men into the image of God as they live in community with His church for serving and witnessing to the world Who the One True God is. The sin that is so prevalent among us, the powerlessness of the men who attend church, can be directly correlated to the emaciated spiritual lives of God’s people.

The Holy Spirit is given by God for revealing to us and acclimating through us, the living Jesus Who occupies the hearts and minds of His people through His Word by His Spirit for the purpose of building His kingdom upon earth as it is in heaven. As we know God’s word, we will become increasingly like Him by doing His work in the way in which He worked when He lived among us as the Living Word of God Who takes away the sins of the world. 

The Christian life is empowered by the Word of God, proclaimed by the Church of God so that the work of God is accomplished. Are we in the word, are we connected integrally to God’s church and are we doing God’s work in the world of seeking and saving the lost?

Our Opportunities

1. Our first luncheon is scheduled for May 12th. Download a flyer and register here, then pray fervently for men to join you on May 12th to hear our speaker and come to saving faith in Jesus the Lord.
   
   
2. Opportunities abound within CBMC for meeting with other men. Prayer Groups, CEO groups and young professional groups only need YOU to make them happen and to help you fulfill your ministry in the marketplace. Contact Mike today to join or start a team. 

1. You can partner with us here: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing 

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 21, 2022 

Caught In The Loop Of Negativity?

By Robert J. Tamasy 

A song from years ago complained, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” These days, we could make a similar observation that if it wasn’t for bad news, we wouldn’t have any news at all. We don’t need to be reminded about the negativity spawned by the global pandemic. The mass media have seemed to revel in reports of deaths due to COVID-19, along with the countless cases of people being hospitalized with the virus. The old news mantra, “If it bleeds, it leads,” has taken center stage. 

But that has not been the only cause of the negative environment in which we live. In many parts of the world, economic turmoil has reigned. Supply shortages of common goods have frustrated many of us. Threats of war in several parts of the world have created high anxiety. Violence is on the increase, as are suicides, drug abuse, and domestic strife. The list goes on. 

The temptation is great to plunge into great despair, with the constant barrage of bad news causing us to believe that all hope is gone. But this temptation offers no positive outcome. So, how can we avoid it? 

Leadership consultant Tim Kight recently seen that applies directly to this question. He said, “If you dwell on the negative, you simply feed your frustration or fear, which leads to bad decisions, which causes you to be even more anxious, angry, or afraid. It is a ‘doom loop.’ Press pause and interrupt the doom loop. Redirect your focus from the negative to the productive.” 

Have you become caught up in a loop of negativity, or as Kight terms it, the “doom loop”? It has affected all of us to some extent, but there are ways of avoiding concentrating on the endless stream of bad news. We find sound advice in the Scriptures: 

Develop a healthy mindset. We can allow our minds to become consumed by the continual stream of bad news and information, or we can make the conscious decision to focus on more positive, productive things. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God” (Romans 12:2). 

Concentrate on positive, uplifting things. It has been said that you cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). 

Refuse to dwell on evil and negative ideas. We live in an information age, and much of the information we see and hear can be destructive, rather than helpful and uplifting. We can choose to cast aside counterproductive thoughts and ideas. “Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). 

Choose faith rather than doubt. Even when circumstances look bleak, trusting in God can direct us to hope, a sense of earnest expectation and confident assurance in the face of discouragement. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). 

© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. 

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 21, 2022

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How have you been dealing with the constant bombardment of negative, unsettling news? 

1. What do you think of the observation that allowing ourselves to dwell on the negative can put us into a “doom loop,” a loop of negativity that leads to frustration, fear, anger, and bad decisions? 

1. In what ways can we combat the negative environment in which we have been living for so long? How can we cultivate a healthy, positive mindset to guide our actions and everyday decision-making? 

1. Do you agree that a sincere, well-grounded faith in God, in His sovereignty and divine control over all circumstances, can enable us to overcome the loop of negativity that seems to plague so many people? Why or why not? What are challenges to trusting God in times of great discouragement and despair? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 23:1-6, 100:1-5; Proverbs 12:25,16:24, 25:25; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

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