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.

Romans 4.5,7-8,25 describes, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification. NASB2020

This is the good news, this is what separates Christianity from all other religions, this is why, no matter the circumstances, Christians declare God is good. The saved, the people who are going to heaven, the people who will live forever on the new earth with God and all those who have ever loved Him from the beginning of time, are those who had faith in the work of God and not in their own good works.

The goodness of God is that He makes right those who are ungodly, He justifies them, which means God declares them good. Not because they lived perfect lives but because He appropriated to them the perfect life lived by Jesus. Furthermore, He punished Jesus on the cross for the ungodly life people lived, the Christian exchanged his disobedience for Jesus' obedience.

It is not being good according to our own definition of goodness that makes a person right with God, it is God declaring a person right based upon His requirement of goodness that only Jesus lived and only Jesus can transfer to us by our faith in His willingness to make that transfer. Most people want to ignore God and make their own way to heaven. This is impossible for it further disobeys God by ignoring His grace and mercy He wants for us through the work of Jesus.

How do we know this is all true? The resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from the dead proves His death on the cross paid for our sins. His resurrection guarantees His promise to those who have faith in Him that they too will rise from the dead to join Him in heaven and upon the new earth to live forever in His goodness, joy, peace, love, abundance and beauty.

It is faith in God's work, on the cross and the resurrection that makes a person right with God and not a person's own good deeds whatever they think they may be. 

Our Opportunities

1. Opportunities abound within CBMC for meeting with other men. Prayer Groups, CEO groups and young professional groups only need YOU to make them happen and to help you fulfill your ministry in the marketplace. Contact Mike today to join or start a team. 

1. You can partner with us here: 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

February 7, 2022 

What Is Holding You Back?

By Rick Boxx 

Occasionally someone will call to talk with me about struggles in their business that puzzle them. They have a good product, possess skills needed for their business, and feel called to what they are doing, but cannot seem to prosper. They are managing to survive but have found themselves unable to thrive. 

Because I have been there in my own business experience, I can point them in a direction that might feel uncomfortable, like looking in the mirror. Many businesses have the necessary ingredients for success, but something continues to hold them back. Sometimes it is fear, reluctance to take calculated risks necessary for further growth and development. Other times it is a lack of self-confidence, or listening to the echoes of discouraging, even demeaning words they have heard in the past. 

Negative self-talk can be a formidable foe in trying to build a business. However, I think it would be safe to say that every person who has ever achieved success – whether as an inventor, innovator, visionary, or leader in any sphere – has had to overcome both fear and memories of past failures. 

We have the classic examples of the Wright brothers, often ridiculed for their idea that it would be possible for humans to fly, and Thomas Edison, whose success inventing the incandescent bulb came only after failing hundreds of times. If they had listened to their detractors, or lost confidence because of past failures, they would have stopped dead in their tracks. 

Just as trying to drive a car by staring in the rearview mirror, continually looking backward in life can severely affect our ability to move forward. Jesus Christ was speaking to some of His followers about the importance of single-minded commitment to following Him. He said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). It is hard to keep to a straight path if we are constantly looking to see what is behind us. 

So, how can we turn what we know to be a good product, along with the skills we possess and our passion for what we are doing, into success? I think another passage from the Bible gives us the answer. Romans 12:2 offers this prescription, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” 

The world around us is very eager to tell us that we cannot succeed, that what we are trying to do is foolish and doomed to failure. We might carry with us memories dating back to our childhood, memories of harsh, mean-spirited declarations that convinced us that our hopes and dreams would always be unattainable, forever beyond our reach. 

Don’t wallow in your past. We need to dispose of such mental “garbage.” And the best way for doing this is to ask God to help in renewing your mind, enabling you instead to line up with how He sees your potential. Focus on what He says about you and what He desires to do, both in you and for you. 

Writing about many adversities he had to overcome, the apostle Paul stated, “I can do everything through [Christ] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). He also wrote, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). If you believe the Lord has called you to a particular enterprise or cause, trust Him to provide what you need to succeed. 

Copyright 2022, 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 7, 2022 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Would you say that you are on schedule for achieving the goals and objectives you have set for yourself and your business, or do you feel that something is holding you back from realizing the success you desire? Explain your answer. 

1. Have you – or someone you know – ever struggled with negative thinking, things such as fear, a lack of confidence, or memories of comments from other people that convinced you that you would always be destined for failure? How has that affected your ability to move forward, to eagerly confront the challenges lying in front of you? 

1. Romans 12:2 speaks of not conforming to the world, but being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What do you think this means, and how can we put this into practice? 

1. What do you think is the role of trusting in God, His direction and provision in our ability to succeed in our chosen endeavors? Do you believe He wants to be actively involved in our decisions and the actions we take? Why or why not? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:4-7; Proverbs 3:5-6, 12;25; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11, 33:3; Luke 14:25-30 

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