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.

Psalm 81.10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

We all want God to bless us. God wants to bless us. What is the blessing of God? The truest blessing, the greatest blessing is the blessing of God Himself. A relationship with God that is personal, near, real, intimate, that is our greatest blessing. Is this the kind of blessing we really want?

Do we want God or do we want things that we wish God would provide? God’s Old covenant with Israel is like His recorded manual for raising children. Children are only takers, they are not givers. The occasional hug and kiss is nice but they really look to parents for everything and are always asking for everything. This is ok, for they are utterly and completely dependent upon their parents for survival.

Godly parents train their children to become adults, people responsible for themselves and capable of being responsible for their own children. The New Covenant, modeled through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the manual for living as an adult. While adults still receive blessings they are mostly givers not takers.

As Jesus came to serve not be served so now the Church exists not to receive a blessing from God but to be a blessing from God. We give our lives to others so that others can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ just as we have. In Christ we are to live as mature adults, no longer infants in our knowledge or obedience to God.

Until we return to our Father in heaven, we now receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit Who comes to equip us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and to lay down our lives so that others can hear the gospel and receive their salvation. Our greatest blessing today is to be used by God to see His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Our greatest blessing is the Holy Spirit, God Himself, Who lives within us to empower us to do His will on earth as it is in heaven.

Our Opportunities

1.     A mission opportunity is available to you every third Wednesday of the month at the new Rescue Mission Drop-in center. We are looking for one or two men a month to share their story of God’s work in their lives for about 20 minutes from 10-10.20ish. Interested in encouraging the homeless by sharing what God has done in your life? Next opening, November 20. Email Mike to sign up.

2.     Our final outreach luncheon for the year is Thursday, October 17th at the View from 11.45 -1pm. If you have not shared your relationship with Jesus with anyone this year, or even if you have, this is your best opportunity to change the eternal destiny of your unchurched friends through the testimony of a man whose destiny has been changed by Jesus Christ. Mark your calendars, start praying for men and register here.

3. Third quarter needs help, please support CBMC today. 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

September 23, 2019 

Life Is Usually Best With Others

by Jim Mathis 

On a Sunday early this year, my wife and I went to church. At our church, worship could best be described as a party for God. We always have a great time. Even though each service officially lasts only an hour, typically we are there for at least three hours, drinking coffee, talking with old friends, and meeting new ones. This seems to be part of what the Bible means when it says,“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). 

Later that afternoon I went to my seasonal job with a tax preparation company. Since it was the day for professional football’s Super Bowl, business was slow, but we have an international office with some brilliant, funny, immigrant tax professionals. We had a good time and the hours went by quickly. 

After that I went to a Super Bowl watch party put on by our homeowner’s association. I probably would not have even watched the game if I had been at home, but hanging out with the neighbors, talking and enjoying each other’s company made for a good evening. 

Being a natural introvert, I need a few hours by myself to regroup after spending an entire day being around people like that, but I can say without a doubt that “life is better together.” The good times are better – and the bad times are not so bad – if we share them with neighbors, co-workers, church family, friends and relatives. 

In the Scriptures we read a lot about the virtues of being with other people, not only for socializing but also for accomplishing important work. Here are some principles it teaches that have universal application: 

Together we can share the load. It has often been observed that two horses pulling together can move multiple times the load that one horse can pull. The same often applies for us in the workplace, especially when the project we undertake is especially challenging. “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 that man who falls and has no one to help him up!… Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

Together we can work to improve our skill levels. Even the most talented individuals can benefit from interacting with others. We can reinforce one another’s strengths, make suggestions for improvement, and even point out one another’s blind spots. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). 

Together we can shoulder responsibilities that one person cannot bear alone. Moses had been given the responsibility of leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. Before long he realized he was incapable to resolving all of their problems and addressing their conflicts. In response, God appointed elders – other respected leaders – to take on the lesser responsibilities and free Moses to deal only with the most important issues that arose. We would be wise to seek similar assistance when needed. “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me”(Numbers 11:14). 

Looking at my calendar, I can see that this is going to be a good week because I have four times scheduled to get together with friends for breakfast, lunch, or just to talk. Life is best when we treat it like a team sport. Live it – and work it – with friends wherever you find them. 

© 2019. Jim Mathis is the owner of a photography studio in Overland Park, Kansas, specializing in executive, commercial and theatrical portraits, and operates a school of photography.  He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. 

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

September 23, 2019 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How would you compare a person who is introverted with a person who is extroverted? Someone has defined an extrovert as some who draws energy from people and needs to be around them, while an introvert is someone whose energy is gradually drained by being with people. Do you agree with that? Why or why not?
   
   
2. Which do you tend to be – more extroverted, or more introverted? How do you find that trait being manifested in your life?
   
   
3. Do you agree that even if a person is shy, or an introvert, they still need to be with people, willingly interacting with them not only socially but also in working cooperatively? What can be some of the pitfalls of not spending time with people?
   
   
4. In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Do you think He was referring to companionship, or does this principle apply to other areas of life? Explain your answer. 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Exodus 18:18; Mark 6:7-8; Acts 13:2-5; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Timothy 2:2 

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