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. 

Galatians 1.4-5 reminds, I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!  MSG

My sins, my living against the ways of God revealed in the Word of God, must be paid, they must be accounted for because God is holy, He is perfect, and He is just. We love revenge. We enjoy the bad guy in the movies getting his just reward for his evil deeds. We want to see the guilty punished and good restored in the land. 

This desire for justice is inherent to our nature because it is inherent to our God. We are made in the image of God so we understand intuitively this need for justice, that all things should be made right. Man cannot bring about ultimate justice because every man is unjust in the eyes of God. All of us sin. All of us do evil in the eyes of God Who is holy, righteous and perfect. 

The consequence for sin, the destiny for all of us, is judgement to hell to be separated from God forever in suffering and torment. But God so loved the world that He came to save the world. He made us because He wanted us and He wants us forever, all of us. In coming to our world, God in man became a sacrifice for all men. Living perfectly from birth to death, He, Jesus, could offer Himself as a sacrifice for all humanity. One man, Adam, brought sin into the world, one man, Jesus, took the consequence for sin from the world. 

But we must come to Jesus in repentance, in humility, with the desire to be reconciled to God. This is the will of God for all humanity. The means of our salvation is Jesus, His work accomplished, His offer available, pardon for all we have ever done against God. The message of this work, of this grace of God, of this salvation, is ours to share. We must let everyone know, we must implore all people, to be saved, to be rescued, to be reconciled to God through Jesus the Savior. 

If we truly love God, if we truly love people, we will share God’s work done through Jesus with all men so that all men might be reconciled to God.

Our Opportunities

1. Our next special luncheon is scheduled for October 7 with MSUFCU chief legal counsel, Steve Owen. Download the flyer to invite your friends and register to attend HERE.
   
   
2. CBMC is focusing on prayer during the month of September. Register here to watch encouraging videos, download a study guide, and join fellow believers in prayer for the marketplace in September.

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

September 27, 2021 

People – Problems, Or Possibilities?

By Robert J. Tamasy 

“Business would be so much easier – if it weren’t for the people.” Have you ever heard this, or thought something like it yourself? If so, you’re not alone, because the vast majority of problems we encounter in life and work have something to do with people. However, eliminating people is obviously not an option – and why would we want to? 

Author and business executive Max DePree wrote, “People are the heart and soul of all that counts. Without people, there is no need for leaders. Leaders can decide to be primarily concerned with assets…or they can go beyond that and capitalize on the opportunity to leave a legacy which provides greater meaning, more challenge, and more joy in the lives of those whom leaders enable.” 

A company might be focused on products, but it requires people to design and make those products. If a company specializes in services, it requires people to provide those as well. Each of the individuals we work with every day is unique, with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, personalities and quirks, but we could not get anything done without them. 

As DePree stated, rather than complaining about the issues people can present, we would be wise to constantly consider how we can take advantage of opportunities to leave an enduring legacy through them. By helping them to discover greater meaning and joy in their lives through their work, we can make a profound difference, not only in their lives but also in the lives of everyone around them. 

How can we do that? How can we ensure that our primary focus is on the people we work with and for whom we have responsibility? The Bible gives us some sound principles to follow: 

Keep careful watch. Just as a diligent farmer seeks to protect the welfare of the animals that generate his livelihood, those in authority should remain alert to how the people on his or her staff are faring. “Be sure to know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds…the lambs will provide you with clothing and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your and your family…” (Proverbs 27:23-27). 

Treat others as you would want to be treated. When asking, ‘How should I direct others?’, a better question might be to ask is, ‘How would I want them to direct me, if we were to trade places?’ “And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them” (Luke 6:31, Amplified). 

Put people first. We can easily become consumed by goals and objectives, the “bottom line.” But for workers to perform at their best, they need to know they are cared for and valued. “Do nothing out of 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). 

Set the example by serving. In many working environments, the staff are expected to serve the “boss,” but one of the greatest motivating factors is demonstrating that the one in authority is willing to serve those who work for him. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). 

© 2021. 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 www.lansing.cbmc.com

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

September 27, 2021 

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How would you describe yourself in terms of relating to other people? Are you extroverted, eager and even needing to be around people? Or are you more introverted, dealing with people when necessary but feeling comfortable when you are not with people?
2. What are some of the challenges you face in dealing with people on a daily basis? Do they present any particular frustrations as you approach each day’s demands and responsibilities?
3. Think of a time when someone you reported to made you feel especially valued and needed. What kind of the impact did that have on you, especially in how you perceived your job and the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction you derived from it?
4. Why is it often difficult to put people first – to serve them – rather than to expect them to serve you? How perceptive do you think you are, in terms of recognizing and responding to needs or hardships they might be dealing with?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 3:13-15, 11:17, 13:20, 16:24, 17:17; Matthew 5:38-47; Luke 6:37-42

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