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.    

Colosssians 1.5-8, 29 describes…The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope. The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn’t diminish or weaken over time. It’s the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you’ve been hungry for more. It’s as vigorous in you now as when you learned it from our friend and close associate Epaphras. He is one reliable worker for Christ! I could always depend on him. He’s the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit.......To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me. MSG

We are born again into the faith but then we must grow in faith. The Word of God, the power of God, the Spirit of God, are not stagnant but increasing in the true Christian’s life. If we are not constantly moving toward greater Christlikeness there is something broken in our faith.

We would be gravely concerned if our toddler never grew beyond two feet high. So too we should be concerned if our appetite for Christ is not continuing to grow as we age in Christ. The fruit of our labor for Christ is to grow and become increasingly more mature. As the work of a child is of some value the work of a man should have great value.

Likewise, we should be growing stronger and stronger against sin and the flesh. The Spirit does not weaken in the man of God but gains strength for doing good and being good. As Christ grows in us His evidence of life should be increasingly seen and experienced through us. Holiness is to consume us.

All of this effort, this work for God and to know God, is to culminate in a greater evidence of God in our lives and through our lives that produces fruit for the glory of God by our lives. We participate in the disciplines that Jesus exemplified while His Spirit works in us causing growth in us and fruit through us that gives evidence of Jesus in us.

Living as Jesus did; loving, giving, serving, sharing, while seeking the Father in prayer and the Word, is the lifestyle of the Christian who is indeed increasingly growing in his resemblance to Jesus, becoming complete and mature in Him.

 Our Opportunities

1. Our first outreach luncheon since COVID is now scheduled. Mark your calendars for our zoom outreach on April 22nd. Our speaker will be Mr. Brian Moran. Brian is a NY Times bestselling author and is a highly sought-after international speaker and widely recognized leadership thought leader and productivity and execution expert. Begin now to pray and think how you can invite 1-3 unchurched men to join you for lunch at your office conference room to hear our CBMC speaker share his faith in Jesus the Savior. COVID constraints are not allowing us to meet in person but we can still do the work of an evangelist if we plan, think, and pursue the means for sharing Jesus with men. Join us at noon on April 22nd,  and register here. A zoom link will be sent you the day before the event.
   
   
2. Are you under 40? CBMC is launching it’s Young Professionals ministry team with an introductory meeting April 13th from 5-6.30pm at the Sandler Training office located at 6639 Centurion Dr. Ste. 180 Lansing, MI 48917. Learn more about YP here, and contact Mike if you are interested in attending. Seating is limited to 20 young professionals due to COVID constraints. Contact Mike 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

April 5, 2021 

Make Going To Court A Last Resort

by Jim Mathis 

In the 21st century, America holds a dubious distinction: It has become known for generating the most lawsuits of any society ever. This is evident by the many ads on TV, radio and billboards promoting law firms aggressively seeking new clients. Some people say the problem is too many lawyers, all eager to engage in litigation. However, the number of lawyers is not the core problem. The underlying issue is too many people unwilling to work toward a compromise or out-of-court resolution. Instead, they insist on having their own way, choosing to sue if they do not get what they think they deserve. 

Jesus Christ addressed this in a passage commonly called “the Sermon on the Mount.” In a few hundred words, recounted in Matthew 5-7, Jesus explained what it means to be His disciple – His student and follower. In clear, concise language Jesus tells how to live a life that honors Him and relies on the power we receive as we place our trust in Him.

Jesus first speaks of the benefits of generosity and the hazards of greed. He talks about murder and adultery; the power of forgiveness and not seeking revenge; and not being anxious or worrying. He makes radical statements about loving, rather than hating, our enemies. 

About the inclination to go to court to resolve disputes, He said, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison” (Matthew 5:25). In other words, we are to seek to resolve disputes with others without having to rely on government agencies to prescribe legal remedies for us.

This explains why Jesus including this subject in His Sermon on the Mount. It is within the context of forgiveness, humility, and not seeking revenge for perceived wrongs. We often find ourselves inclined to demand our own way, being unwilling to listen to others or negotiate a settlement that is acceptable to all. 

Another reason to avoid going to court is to avoid having the judgment go against you. As it says in Proverbs 25:8, “What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?” 

When I entered the world of business nearly 50 years ago, I had some prominent goals. One was to be totally honest and never to do anything unethical or illegal. Another goal was trying to resolve all disputes without ever having to sue anyone and also to avoid being sued. So far, so good. 

Genuine forgiveness admittedly may involve a temporary financial loss on our balance sheet. I have experienced this a few times. However, forgiving others for wrongs they have done can also provide freedom and release from anger and bitterness that could plague us for a long time. 

This does not mean we should not seek a proper resolution to conflicts. Jesus proposed an alternative approach: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Matthew 18:15-16). Taking these steps can help to save a lot of time and money – and heal broken relationships. 

© 2021. Jim Mathis is a writer, photographer and small business owner in Overland Park, Kansas. His latest book is The Camel and the Needle, A Christian Looks at Wealth and Money. He formerly was executive director of CBMC in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. 

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

April 5, 2021 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Have you ever been sued by another person, or have you ever found it necessary to take someone else to court to settle a dispute or correct wrongdoing? If so, what was that experience like for you? 

1. Why, in your opinion, are so many people prone to take legal action rather than trying to resolve conflicts outside of a courtroom setting? 

1. How do you think Jesus’ teachings about forgiveness, and even “loving your enemy,” apply within the context of people taking others to court? 

1. What does how we choose to resolve issues, whether through court procedures or in attempting to reach compromise outside of court, say about our faith – and our relationship with God? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Leviticus 19:17-18; Proverbs 25:9-10; Matthew 5:7-10,43-48, 18:21-35; Mark 12:30-31 

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