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.

Acts 10.1-3 describes, a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.

Cornelius was a rock star. He was a warrior for both men and God. That’s what most Christian men desire to be: strong before men, holy before God. Cornelius was great not because of his position before men, which was considerable. Cornelius was great because of his position before God.

First, like Abraham, he led his family to worship God. This is the first role of a father: to lead his children to Jesus. This is a work of both modeling a personal pursuit of Jesus as well as teaching our children to go and do likewise. The best fathers know God personally and labor intentionally to help their children do the same.

Second, his character was solid, Cornelius was a good man. This means he did the right things in the right way causing people to rejoice and not fear though he was strong. What we do and say is very important but relationally, how we do and say things are just as important. The good man does the right things in the right way.

Finally, Cornelius, and maybe most importantly, was humble before God which is why he spent part of his day praying – habitually. This means Cornelius didn’t pray just when he needed something or was in a tough spot, but like Jesus, he sought God because he loved the Father. These are the kinds of prayers God loves, the kind that seek Him for Who He is and worship Him for how great He is and not just petition Him for what He has.

Oh Lord, the non-Christian, at this juncture, Cornelius, is a better man than most of us. Please change us God and make us men in whom You take great delight, like the warrior Cornelius.

His Opportunities

1. Join me August 9-10 for the global leadership summit. The Global Leadership Summit 2018, is an annual premier training event. It is expected to draw some 400,000 church and business leaders from around the world to conference sites in more than 550+ locations around the U.S. and many more internationally, where talks from world-class leadership experts will be beamed live via simulcast. If enough men wish to attend we can get a group discount, or form your own corporate group. It is being held at Trinity Church in East Lansing. More details HERE, let me know if you plan to attend as part of a CBMC group.
   
   
2.  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

August 6, 2018

Equipped For Good Work

by Robert J. Tamasy

When people learn I am a writer, they often say, “Oh, I could never do that. Writing is so difficult for me to do.” This makes me chuckle, because I feel the same way about practically any other line of work. I admire people with mechanical skills, such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians or all-purpose handymen (or women). I cannot imagine how CPAs and bookkeepers do the work they do. Individuals who excel at public speaking amaze me, and gifted leaders who can inspire and mobilize those that report to them have my great respect.

We are all different, drawing from a unique “toolbox” of gifts, skills and experiences. That is one reason we need each other – working together, we complement one another’s abilities. Have you ever considered, however, where our innate talents, skills and preferences come from?

I began writing early in my life. Although I did not regard it as a career possibility until about two years into college, it has always been an enjoyable part of my life, something about which I grew more and more passionate. The interesting thing is, I never decided one day, “I think I am going to pursue writing, rather than becoming a mechanic, or a doctor, lawyer or scientist.” It was like writing was “hard-wired” into my being, an integral part of who I was – and am today.

My conclusion about where we get our innate abilities is simple: God bestows them to us as He sees fit. Some people are natural salespeople; others have special management strengths, while others are uniquely equipped to become engineers, teachers, nurses or architects.

Psalm 139:14 says of God, “For you created my inmost being…. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I believe that includes the talents and specific gifts that sometimes manifest themselves in early childhood, like a musical prodigy or a mathematical genius who can solve complex equations long before many young peers even know how to read.

But this special equipping of the Lord does not stop at the womb. It continues throughout our lives when we are sensitive to His leading and obedient to His call. Consider:

Using our gifts fulfills God’s will. How we use our unique talents and abilities is not just for our benefit, but also fulfill God’s will for our lives – as well as His perfect, eternal intentions. “Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him”(Hebrews 13:20-21).

Our skills are part of God’s plan. Our distinctive vocational capabilities were bestowed within the context of God’s greater purpose, enabling us to serve Him and others most effectively. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”(Ephesians 2:10).

Our skills should be used according to God’s Word. The work we do, and the abilities we employ, are best utilized within the context of the truths and principles God provides in the Bible. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

© 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 other books, includingAdvancing Through Adversityby Mike Landry. Bob’s 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

August 6, 2018

 Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. When did you decide to pursue the kind of work you are currently doing? How did that come about? Do you consider it in line with the capabilities with which God has equipped you?

1. If you could choose any line of work, would you continue doing what you are doing at this moment? Why or why not?

1. What would you say are the unique gifts, talents and abilities that you possess? Would you agree they were God-given, even if you have put forth the effort to develop and refine those skills? Explain your answer.

1. If we can agree that the distinctive traits and skills we have did originally come from God, what difference should that make in how we pursue our work?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:

Proverbs 14:23, 21:5; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Romans 12:11; Colossians 3:17,23

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