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 Peter 1.5-6 describes, (we) through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” Shielded by God’s power, what a promise for the Christian. From what is His shield protecting us from? It is not trials, suffering or all kinds of grief. These are the things that cause us to identify more with Jesus and for which God’s wrath will prove just against all those who have rejected His provision of salvation, Jesus the Savior of the world.

What then is God protecting? He is protecting our faith, the assurance of our salvation. These trials and griefs we suffer can cause people to fall away, they are used by demons and men to ‘prove’ there is no God or at least no God Who loves us and watches over us. These are lies. As the Son of Man suffered, so too will the children of God suffer. Those who cause God’s people to suffer are accumulating their wages for suffering in all eternity in hell. Yet God has not left His people as He did not leave Jesus, the Son Whom He loves, when men persecuted Him and placed Him upon the cross for our salvation. The only moment the Father forsook the Son was the very moment our sins were transferred upon the Sacrifice for all humanity.

God is with those, by His Holy Spirit, Who are His, guiding, directing and comforting them in all their various trials so that they come forth as pure gold, shining forever, reflecting the glory of God in the face of Christ for all eternity. We are indeed protected by God the Father, not from trouble, but from the loss of our faith, from the ultimate consequence of sin, the wrath of God and the judgement to come.

Our Opportunities

  1. Don’t let the Coronavirus keep you from giving. Help us win and disciple business men through your donations at: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing
  2. Our second CBMC zoom call for encouraging one another is scheduled at a new time for your convenience. We will hold a special CBMC zoom call for all interested parties on Friday May 22 at 8.30am. Our agenda will be to:
  1. Share an encouraging verse you have been praying or experiencing through this shutdown
  2. Share a prayer request you have
  3. Share how you have experienced God in a new or fresh way during this shutdown. Join Zoom Meeting
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88558856550?pwd=RG1zR0ttdXhqcCt5UlB6VDQvN2Uxdz09

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

May 18, 2020 

What Is Your Reference Point?

by Jim Langley 

The North Star, the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, is the star most visible to the naked eye. It has been used for centuries to show travelers on land and sea astronomical true north for navigating whatever path they choose for a journey. It works for everyone: If we use the North Star as a reference point by night, we can easily remain on course as we travel. In a similar manner, a compass can help in staying on course during the daytime. This might be new information to some, because these days we typically utilize electronic navigational devices for determining the shortest and fastest distance from Point A to Point B. 

We would be wise to start with a reference point in all aspects of life. Virtually everything we do in our personal and business lives draws upon a reference point. It serves as the basis for how we conduct our daily affairs. It helps us determine what direction we choose for the many life decisions we make. But how do we select our reference point? Basically, is it worldly or eternal? Whether we realize it or not, we all address life from a secular or a spiritual platform. So let me ask: What is your reference point? 

For directions in our everyday life journey, we cannot rely on any electronic device to show the way. We need a moral compass we can trust implicitly. For me, for many years that moral compass has been the Bible, the inerrant Word of God. I have found answers to all of life’s questions within the 66 books contained in its Old and New Testaments. I go to God’s Word daily, since it helps me navigate my personal journey. 

Earlier in my life, I trusted in my own judgment, based on what I saw going on around me. I watched the world and did my best to follow others whom I considered successful in their fields of expertise. But when I received Christ as my Savior and Lord, I realized trusting in the patterns and values of this world would be unprofitable in most aspects of life. Since then, my journey has been filled with joy and peace. Things I once strived for have become far less important. My focus now is close relationships and pleasing God in all I do. 

In 1988, Harvey B. MacKay published his classic sales management treatise, Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive. This book, updated in 2005, remains a valuable resource to small and large businesses alike, for succeeding in one’s chosen business endeavor. For the most part, the useful principles he presents are not new; many of them can be found in the Bible. Frankly, I would much rather go directly to the book of Proverbs for advice in how to live my business and personal life. Since it has 31 chapters, there is a chapter set aside for each day of the month! 

I prefer reading the words of King Solomon, the author of Proverbs, who is considered the wisest man in history. He uttered more than 3,000 proverbs, according to historical accounts. In Proverbs 1 alone, we find 33 verses presenting valuable truths that can certainly benefit all who read them. In verse 7 we are told, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” There are no shortcuts to gaining wisdom. God’s Word needs to be applied one day at a time. As we read it, we discover that success is not what really matters, that the people around us are as important as we are. 

I suggest that God’s Word and His Holy Spirit be your reference point, your “North Star” for maximizing your life here on earth. Do not be fooled by the world’s reference point, which only leads to eventual destruction. We need an eternal perspective for all we do – and for all we can become in Jesus Christ! 

© 2020, all rights reserved. Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his relationship with God. His goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. A long-time member of CBMC, he started writing “Fourth Quarter Strategies” in 2014. 

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

May 18, 2020 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

  1. Can you locate the North Star on a clear, cloudless night? Have you – or someone you know – ever used it as a reference point for travel? How is it helpful? 
  1. Have you noticed that over the years, what is considered right and what is considered wrong in every area of life – including the business and professional world – seems to change? Why do you think that is? Do you think the idea of having a single, consistent reference point for how we live our lives, both professionally and personally, is realistic? Why or why not? 
  1. What do you think of the idea that we should use the Bible as the reference point for how we approach our lives, including our work? How does this apply to you personally? 
  1. Who do you know that does use the Scriptures, the Word of God, as their “North Star” for how they approach every area of life? What about them, if anything, stands out to you? 

NOTE: For more about what the Bible says, consider the following passages: Psalms 25:1-5; Proverbs 2:1-5; Ecclesiastes 12:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; James 1:5-8 

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

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