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. 

Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”” Mark 14:37-38 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/mrk.14.37-38.NET 

The powerlessness of the Church over these past sixty years to grow the influence of the gospel can be attributed much to our lack of prayer. The culture is now more gentile than Christian, the result of our failure to consistently obey Christ and teach obedience to all as He commanded. While many still claim to be Christian, their flesh is weak, so they live inconsistent devotion and obedience to Jesus. 

The most significant lack of prayerfulness comes in our boldness to witness before men their need for a Savior, which is why our culture is so gentile. Like Peter, we deny Jesus by saying nothing of Him to others and living lives reflective of our culture’s values rather than the holiness God requires of His people. Our minds are filled with the knowledge of the world but absent of the knowledge of God’s word. 

We live and look like gentiles surrendered to the will of our flesh rather than led by the Spirit, Who is energized by our prayers to live powerfully in His people to accomplish His purposes through us. Let us take the challenge to pray consistently for one hour so that we would live like Jesus. Few of us could engage in such a practice without sleeping like the disciples. But if we humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear our prayers, forgive our sins, and heal our land. 

Do we truly love our God? Then let us engage Him in fervent prayer that we would no longer live self-centered lives but would join Him in seeking and saving the lost to make disciples of all people, proven by our obedience to all of His commands. 

Our Opportunities 

  1. Meet other Christian businessmen in Lansing on February 14th to be encouraged in living out our faith in the marketplace. CBMC's Coffee Connections meets from 7.30-8.30am at Alaiedon Collective. Register here, the event is FREE

  2. Join us for prayer and Bible study every Friday morning 8-9am at Panera Frandor

  3. The first outreach of the year is scheduled NOW for March 21. 2023. Check out this link recently aired on Channel 10 TV describing part of what we will hear at this luncheon. Register here to reserve your spot. Buy a table and bring as many unchurched men as possible to hear why they need Jesus to enter eternal life.

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

February 13, 2023 

Making Decisions According To The 24-Hour Rule

by Rick Boxx 

Terry Looper, author of Sacred Pace, was speaking at our organization’s Summit conference. He admitted that early in his business career his desire to please people caused him sometimes to make poor decisions. In his attempt to make others happy, he occasionally would arrive at rash decisions that he would later regret. 

After experiencing the consequences of this a number of times, Looper eventually implemented a simple rule that would enable him to avoid such bad, poorly reasoned decisions. He said he refused to decide on any important matters until he had waited 24 hours. 

Looper said he learned that by withholding a decision for 24 hours, it gave him a means for stepping away from the pressure of the situation. It also gave him time to carefully consider the request. 

We could apply this principle to practically any situation in which a decision is necessary. These could include such things as major purchases, signing contracts, important hiring decisions, changing jobs, extending a loan to someone, becoming deeply involved in a project, and countless other circumstances that could have a long-term impact on you and those close to you. 

Very few decisions are so urgent that they cannot be postponed for 24 hours. This can remove emotions and impulses from the equation. Sometimes an opportunity seems too good to pass up, but after waiting we might realize that it was not as good as it seemed. Delaying a decision also gives needed time to consider factors we might not have initially taken into account, or to reconsider important details from a variety of perspectives. Making decisions on the spur of the moment rarely provides that luxury. 

The Bible, in many ways the best book on business ever written, has much to say about the importance of making careful, well-considered decisions. Here are just a few examples: 

Avoiding the hasty decision trap. As Looper observed, there is often a temptation to quickly arrive at decisions to please others. But over the long-term, making decisions you will later regret is pleasing for no one. “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows” (Proverbs 20:25). 

Avoiding the embarrassment of a reversed decision. We might not want to disappoint people by making a decision contrary to their wishes, but it is even more disappointing to have to go back to them and admit you cannot hold to your original decision. Jesus taught, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,” ‘No.” For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). 

Avoiding the disgrace of being unable to complete the commitment. Often our decisions are well-intended; we initially believe we can fulfill obligations that we make. Unfortunately, if made in haste they may too late prove to have been unwise. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). 

Decision-making can be a difficult process, especially when there is a lot at stake. Decisions should be made with careful deliberation to avoid future regrets or other repercussions. This also provides time to pray and seek God’s wisdom before proceeding. If you tend to make rash decisions, try Terry Looper’s 24-hour rule. 

Copyright 2023, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

.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

February 13, 2023 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. What is your decision-making process like, typically speaking? 

2. Think of a significant decision you made that you later regretted. Do you think you spent a sufficient amount of time before arriving at the decision? Why or why not? 

3. Do you consider yourself to be a people-pleaser? What are some advantages – and disadvantages – of always trying to please people with our decisions? 

4. Have you ever tried anything like the “24-hour rule” to govern your decision-making? If so, explain what that has been like for you. If not, what difference could it make in the decisions you make and how you arrive at them? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Genesis 11:4-9; Psalm 37:3-7; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3,9, 20:24, 21:2, 24:27, 27:12 

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

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