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. 

and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned  — those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness. But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13 CSB https://bible.com/bible/1713/2th.2.12.CSB 

Christians have been so long bombarded by lies from the media, academia, and the government while ignoring God’s truth, the Bible, that most are deceived about what is right and what is wrong. When our churches promote lifestyles that conflict with God’s word and God’s people accept those teachings, they live deceived lives and jeopardize their souls. 

Christians have no reason to believe academia and its advocates in media funded by the government for telling us the truth in science, social studies, or ethics. These sources reject the Bible and ignore the One True God, so they manufacture a creation narrative, a purpose narrative, and a future promise. They teach as fact the evolution of man, self-gratifying behavior, and a god who promises heaven to people without regard to their obedience to its commands. 

These lies keep people from the truth but gratify their sensual desires, with many who call themselves Christians participating in these beliefs. God has given us His true word, the Bible so that we can know Him and what He commands us to apply to our lives so that we might be holy as He is holy. The Holy Spirit fills all those but only those who seek God in Spirit and Truth by coming to Him in repentance for disobedience and desire to now obey everything Jesus has commanded. 

The person who loves God obeys His commands and feeds upon every word that proceeds from His mouth, which is recorded in the Scripture. 

Our Opportunities 

1. CBMC National Men's Conference October 3-5 in St. Louis, MO. Plan to join and meet new brothers who love the Lord and serve Him in the marketplace across America. Mark your calendar busy for those dates, and then register here. Also, plan to join the bus from Michigan to attend this event. For an additional $200, we will ride in comfort with the men from Michigan to St. Louis. A great adventure awaits. I hope you will join us.
2. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday morning 8-9am 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

July 22, 2024

Investing Time To Care, Listen, And Connect 

By Robert J. Tamasy 

Having spent the entirety of my career in communications – first as a newspaper editor, then magazine editor, director of publications and communications, and book author and editor – the art and complexity of communicating have always fascinated me. We employ myriad means for conveying our messages. 

Communication has evolved in new, innovative ways most of us could never have imagined just a few decades ago. For centuries, thoughts were conveyed orally, then written by hand. The invention of the printing press revolutionized communications, putting words and ideas on paper. With the advent of the telegraph and telephone, people for the first time could communicate across long distances. Radio and TV brought immediacy to information and ideas that needed to be expressed. Then computer technology turned communications on its head, bringing us things like email, instant messaging, websites, search engines, blogs, podcasts, social media, and video conferencing. 

Even with these many advances, however, the essence of communicating has remained unchanged. During my years of teaching business communications, I offered a simple way to define communications: “The successful exchange of meaning.” That is, the “Sender” (individual desiring to communicate a specific message) and the “Receiver” (the person to whom the message is directed) mutually understand what is being communicated. This holds true whether communicating to millions or to one person. 

Leadership consultant Tim Kight recently passed away following a long battle with cancer, but his wisdom continues to influence people in many ways. He often talked about interpersonal communications and its challenges. For instance, he said, “Invest the time to care, listen, and connect. When you care, you seek to understand. When you listen, you create the personal connections that enable high levels of communication and collaboration. When you connect, you share ideas and perspectives, and you make better decisions.” Following this advice, we accomplish the successful exchange of meaning.

In the Bible we discover many truths for communicating with and relating to others in positive, beneficial ways. Here are just a few of the principles presented in the Word of God: 

Recognizing the impact of our communications. Words can encourage, motivate, heal and inspire. They also can cause great harm if used carelessly. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). 

Listening intently shows how much we care. Often in conversations people do not listen; they merely wait for the other person to stop talking. Cultivating the skill of listening demonstrates genuine care for the other person. “He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame” (Proverbs 18:13). 

Respond appropriately. After we have heard what the other person has to say – not only the words but also the heart – we can thoughtfully respond in meaningful, understanding ways. “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word” (Proverbs 15:23). 

Treating others as we wish to be treated. The so-called ‘golden rule’ of putting the interests of others first is a sound principle to follow as we strive to communicate effectively with others. “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31). 

© 2024. 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. 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

July 22, 2024

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. If someone were to rate or evaluate you as a communicator, how do you think they would respond? Do you think you are able to communicate effectively most of the time? Why or why not?
2. What are some of the communications problems you encounter over the course of a typical work week? When those problems are not properly addressed, what are the results?
3. How important do you think it is to “care, listen and connect” in your everyday communications? What challenges might prevent you or others from being able to do this consistently?
4. Which of the four principles from the Bible related to the communications process seems most significant to you? Explain your answer. 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 10:19,32, 12:14, 13:3, 15:1-2,4, 16:13, 17:28, 20:12, 22:11; Philippians 2:3-4 

Challenge for This Week 

As you proceed through the coming week, strive to be conscious of your interactions with others – what you communicate to them and how, and what they communicate to you and how you respond. How often do you think you succeed in the “successful exchange of meaning,” and how often does the possibility of misunderstanding arise? Consider asking a good friend, mentor or advisor about how they perceive your communication skills. Do they see room for improvement? If so, what suggestions might they have for you?  

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