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.      

1 Corinthians 3.1-4, 18-20 observes, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way?...........Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It’s written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. MSG

What do you think, is this an apt description of the Church’s current state for the most part – unspiritual? Do we act like infants who are selfish rather than engaging the work of God with all of our energy and resources? Are we only looking to God for the things we want after exhausting our own efforts failing at achieving them?

It appears we prefer pleasure and power over performance and sacrifice for the glory of God on earth as it is in heaven. It seems we have been unwilling to be God’s fool choosing instead the world’s wisdom so we can fit in better. The fruit of this lifestyle can be readily seen in the lack of morality and Christian virtue in our culture.

Our congress, more than 80% of whom claim some type of Christian belief, are even now passing or seeking to pass laws in violation of God’s word. They seek to pass laws muzzling God’s word lest it offend some who oppose God’s word. What sort of Christianity is this? Does this type of Christianity please our God or honor the Savior Who lived and died among us as one of us?

The resurrection of Jesus proves He is God and Judge. His judgement will be based upon His promises and commands recorded in His word. The fools for Christ will receive life eternal but those who claim to know Him but worked against Him, or even ignored Him, will most likely be condemned apart from Him, forever.

We must stop being infants seeking our own way. We must embrace God’s word, join our siblings in obeying it and pray to God for more of Him in us so that more of Him works through us by the power of the Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead. 

Our Opportunities

1. The survey results are in and you said you wanted to meet with other Christian men.  CBMC offers prayer teams, young professional teams, and business owner teams. If you are interested in participating in any of these offerings contact Mike at mwinter@cbmc.com.
   
   
2. Celebrate Good Friday with CBMC. In partnership with Redemption Fitness, CBMC is sponsoring the Passion WOD. Be reminded of Jesus’ lashings through jumping rope 200 times, remember His cross by carrying 95pds 800 meters, participate in His death and resurrection by completing 100 burpees. Join us, anytime between 10.30am and 12pm, April 3rd at Redemption Fitness in Holt,  with an unchurched friend so they can hear the gospel presented upon completion of this workout using these exercises as our means to share what Jesus did for us. Register 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

February 22, 2021

Perspectives From Time And Experience

by Jim Mathis 

Observing my 72nd birthday several months ago caused me to pause for some reflection: I have seen the earth make 72 laps around the sun. Seventy-two years ago, I did not know which end of a camera to look through, how to hold a guitar, how to ride a bike, or even how to feed myself. When I was born, I could not even walk or talk. All of those skills I have acquired with much effort over the years. 

But the process is unending. I could not hold a spoon 72 years ago, yet I am still learning about nutrition and discovering new foods and cuisine. I had to learn to ride my bicycle to the end of the sidewalk before I could consider going on a 550-mile ride. Life is about learning and growing: 

Much has been written about the changes that have taken place in our world over the past seven decades. Technology has changed virtually everything we can touch. Instead of dwelling on the changes, however, I pondered some important things that have not changed. Here are some of my observations: 

Integrity still counts. Being honest and fair in our dealings has been the bedrock of society for thousands of years, ever since humans began interacting with each. As Proverbs 10:9 observes, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” 

We are community creatures. We were made for each other. Attempts to isolate ourselves or build walls always end in disaster. This applies to individuals, organizations, and nations. We all have different experiences, skills, and personalities. We all need to work together, bringing our own gifts to the table, to have a thriving society and a decent world to live in. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work…. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

We cannot be everything we want to be, but we can be more than we think we can. Twenty years ago, I spent time with famed music teacher, Jeff Newman. He said something I have never forgotten: “Talent is the word used by people who don’t want to work to describe those that do.” The Scriptures state it this way: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23). 

Who we are is determined by: who our friends are, the books we read, the music we listen to, and the TV shows we watch. It is not where we were born, or even innate abilities. It is about how we shape our minds. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). 

We can run a good race even starting at the back of the pack. The color of our skin, the quality of our schools, and the character of our parents may determine how we start in the race of life, but in a long enough race and with good coaching, those things do not matter much in the final outcome. Auto racing shows us the pole position may not always be the best place to start. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5). 

God wants us to see as much of His beautiful world as we can. Travel and experiencing other cultures, I have learned, is the one thing that breaks down prejudices, bigotry, ignorance, and small thinking. Seeing the world through the eyes of others makes a tremendous difference. The Bible gives this excellent advice: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). 

© 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

February 22, 2021 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. . Regardless of how old we are, life can teach us important, even universal truths. What are some of the enduring lessons you have already learned in life? 

1. What are skills you had to learn early in life – such as the simple things of walking, eating, and bicycle riding that Mr. Mathis cites – that have enabled you to do things you wanted to do later in life? 

1. Why is it, despite the many technological and social changes we see and experience around us, that some things never seem to change? Do you think there are some aspects of the “human condition” that are unchangeable or immutable? Explain your answer. 

1. In this “Monday Manna,” Mr. Mathis includes some Bible passages that affirm his observations? Can you think of any Scripture passages that have become especially significant for you over your lifetime? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 11:3, 13:6; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 10:24-25, 13:8 

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