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. 

“But he said to them, “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was dead calm.” Matthew 8:26 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/mat.8.26.NET 

Little faith means little courage in the things of God. Great faith means great courage in the matters of God. How can I increase my faith to be more courageous for God? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This is perhaps the most significant explanation for why Christians fail to publicly identify with Jesus or carry out His commands in the marketplace. 

Little time spent in His word and more time pursuing pleasure and treasure creates men disobedient to God and disinterested in seeing His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our Christian marketplace leaders must become like Jesus described in Philippians 2. As He did not consider equality with God something to maintain, these men must become the lowest of men, not seeking selfish gain, not seeking power or prominence, not seeking greater income, but seeking justice, righteousness, and holiness in our laws and ways. 

All Christians must saturate themselves with God’s word so that we become courageous doers of His word even as we speak courageously of His word. If we want to see more of God in our world, we must become more courageous for God in the world. Courage is a result of faith. How great is our faith? How great is our courage for Christ? How much are we taking in God’s Word? 

Our Opportunities 

1. Business Owners, don't miss your opportunity to learn more about how CBMC helps you through our Trusted Advisor Forums. Our first Trusted Advisor Forum commences Friday, October 20th, at 1:00 pm. We will meet at the St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, and we are now accepting membership applications for the first 12 members. These closed, monthly meetings help Christian business leaders craft strategies to handle tough issues with employees, customers, vendors, and competitors that incorporate best-in-business principles integrated with a Christian worldview. Email me if you are interested in attending this event. 

1. 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

October 9, 2023 

Quiet Desperation, Or Joyful Anticipation

By Robert J. Tamasy 

Back in the mid-1800s, essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau made a statement that has become familiar to many of us, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” In Thoreau’s extended quotation, he said, “What is called resignation is confirmed desperation…. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind.” 

Not the most uplifting observation, right? But more than 150 years later, it still carries a ring of truth, doesn’t it? This “quiet desperation” he cited seemed to become more acute for many people just a few years ago during the global pandemic. Daily routines were disrupted, people lost jobs, quarantines and lockdowns heightened the sense of isolation. What we knew as ‘normal’ was turned upside-down. 

Perhaps you know someone whose life fits the description of “quiet desperation.” Or maybe you have felt that way yourself at times. We respond to change in different ways, but when life’s uncertainty sometimes borders on chaos, it is understandable if desperation becomes a good word for describing our state of mind. The pace of change is ever-escalating. Workplace demands are more complex than ever. If we find ourselves in a downward emotional spiral, is it possible to find joy in the midst of all the despair? 

The answer is yes if we believe the timeless teachings and truths of the Bible. The Scriptures give us numerous examples of people who were delivered from desperate circumstances by God: the Israelites, enslaved in Egypt for many years but freed and then led by the Lord into the Promised Land; David, facing deadly opposition before and after he became king; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, saved from a fiery furnace; Daniel thrown into a den of lions. 

They all could have given in to despair, yet God transformed their desperation into joy. Thousands of years later, God has changed. Situations we face each day may be different, but as the Bible affirms again and again, “quiet desperation” need not define the hearts and minds of those who know and follow the Lord – even in the marketplace of the 21st century. Here are some assurances it gives to us: 

Joy is found in the unchanging Word of God. We face a barrage of bad news every day, tempting us to wonder if all hope is lost. Scottish-born pastor and author Alistair Begg writes, “the path toward lasting happiness is not just rejecting deceitful counsel; it also involves embracing the beauty of truth.” “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). 

Joy follows God’s correction. Sometimes the difficulties we face are of our own making, and the Lord uses those for needed discipline. But He remains faithful and His love for His people never fades, “For His anger lasts only for a moment but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). 

Joy can overcome opposition. People we work with are not always pleased when we stand up for our faith. We might even encounter aggressive opposition and ridicule. But so did Jesus Christ. He said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). 

© 2023. 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. 

.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

October 9, 2023

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Had you previously heard the quote from Henry David Thoreau about people leading lives of “quiet desperation”? What is your reaction to that observation? Do you believe it remains true even today? Why or why not?
2. Can you think of a time when you yourself might have qualified for the “quiet desperation” description? If so, what were the circumstances – and how were they resolved?
3. When you find yourself feeling discouraged, even if not in the throes of despair, how do you typically respond? Do you turn to trusted friends and colleagues for encouragement and support? Have you found that reading the Bible has been helpful at such times? Explain your answers.
4. In what ways do you think a faith anchored in God can help in enduring difficult, even desperate times, whether they come about in the workplace or in one’s personal life and pursuits? Have you ever experienced a time when despite troubling circumstances, you found that your trust in the Lord enabled you to discover “joy (or rejoicing) in the morning”? If so, what impact did that have on you? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Acts 5:40-42; Romans 5:1-5,11, 12:10-12; James 1:2-8; 1 Peter 4:12-13 

CHALLENGE 

We may find ourselves tempted to suffer alone when going through times of adversity, but we all can benefit from the encouragement, support and when necessary, wise counsel of others. Who do you have that you can turn to when you feel discouraged or on the brink of desperation? What steps can you take today to establish that kind of support group when it is needed? 

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