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.

Mark 13.33, 35-36 commands, Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. Therefore, stay alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— so that he does not come suddenly and find you asleep. NASB2020 

What does it mean to be 'asleep at the wheel?' It means to not do what you are supposed to be doing. It means to miss the very thing you were assigned to make sure you didn't miss. God warns us to be alert, to stay awake and not to be found asleep at the wheel upon His return and inspection of us as His people. What does it mean then to be alert and not asleep before God?

It means to be busy about His business so that we are caught in the 'act' of faithfulness when He returns unexpectedly. The faithful work we are to do is to love Him and to love our neighbor the greatest act of love being the sharing with our neighbor the gospel so that they can live forever with God instead of condemned forever in torment away from God.

Practically this means we should be daily in the Bible, finding ourselves learning from our God so that we can better obey our God. It means participating with other children of God in the daily worship of God so that He rejoices upon His return to find His children gathered praising, praying, and encouraging one another in love and good deeds toward the bringing of His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. Think how wonderful it is when you find your children playing well together upon your return home from an evening out with your spouse.

Being alert means helping our neighbor, our co-worker, our relative to have faith in the One True God for their eternal salvation. Sharing truth with them from God's scriptures even while praying for them to receive and believe that Jesus is the only way, truth and life that leads to life eternal with God and without condemnation from God.

To be self-absorbed in our own families, work, and play is to be asleep at the wheel of God's assignment for us the result of which could be the missing of His welcome into His eternal dwelling places. 

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 14, 2022 

The Powerful Impact Of Our Attitude

By Sergio Fortes 

Having enjoyed a rewarding career in commercial aviation for a quarter of a century, advancing from supervisor to director, I learned an important truth: People in aviation are passionate. Here in Brazil, we joke that it is like “cachaça” – our country’s very popular brandy derived from honey or sugar cane. For many people, aviation provides a unique intoxication all its own. 

Because of my involvement in the aviation industry, I began working with my professor of international law, also a journalist and pilot, setting up a consultancy specializing in aeronautical problems. I learned much from him, including one lesson that I will never forget: the airplane has and needs ATTITUDE. Some confuse it with “altitude,” because in English the words sound similar. And obviously, altitude is also fundamental for flight. But the professor taught me about attitude, not altitude. 

Attitude is the orientation of the aircraft in relation to the wind, and based on relative positions of its nose and wings on the natural horizon. Without the proper attitude, the pilot cannot keep an aircraft in the air. It will fall. To face turbulence, the plane needs attitude. 

To face life’s challenges, we also need attitude, especially in times of crisis. Life is not a straight path, but a succession of good and bad circumstances to which we must respond. What makes the difference for those who face challenges and come out victorious is determined by their attitude. Taking the aviation metaphor one step further, we are the pilot of our life – the commander of our business, our project, our enterprise. Uncertainties, losses, abandonments, misfortunes, failures and frustrations will come sooner or later. What will keep us standing, confident and continuing to fight, is our attitude. 

In the Bible, the apostle Paul referred to this, expressing his attitude in an extraordinary way: “On all sides we are oppressed by difficulties, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed because we don’t know why certain things happen to us, but we are not desperate. We are persecuted but not abandoned. We are brought down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). 

Later, he would confirm what he had learned about the importance of having the right attitude, whatever circumstances were that he was facing: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have it all. I have already learned the secret to live contentedly in any circumstance, whether with a full stomach, hunger, plenty or need” (Philippians 4:12). Paul’s ability to always assume the right attitude was an important factor in establishing one of the vibrant first-century faith communities in Philippi. 

Paul and his friend, Silas, provided a powerful witness of faith that inspired many. However, there also were consequences for them. The social impact of their teachings quickly affected illegal and unethical economic interests. Conflicts arose, which prompted the authorities to take action. After being harshly treated and flogged, Paul and Silas found themselves imprisoned. Their attitude shaped what came next.

Even though they had many reasons to complain and feel defeated, they chose another attitude: to pray and praise God in spite of their circumstances. Their prayers and attitude had maximum magnitude on the Richter scale, causing a literal earthquake in the prison. Knowing the harsh Roman law, their jailer decided to kill himself, assuming the prisoners under his charge would escape. Paul intervened, however, convincing the other prisoners not to flee. This led to the jailer embracing Paul’s and Silas’s faith. 

We cannot always choose our circumstances, but attitude is a choice. What has been your attitude towards life’s circumstances? What has been your attitude towards the challenges of your business? Still early in the new year, what is your attitude towards the challenges you will surely face? The attitude you take will make all the difference! 

Sergio Fortes is a mentor and consultant in logistics and corporate strategic business. As a member of CBMC in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, he has coordinated the translation of Monday Manna into Portuguese for more than 20 years. He is committed to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ – to make disciples. 

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

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. If you know anything about aviation, or flying, what is your understanding of the importance of attitude? Have you ever heard the term before? What is your understanding of the difference between attitude and altitude? 

1. Shifting the aviation analogy to everyday life, how does attitude affect how we respond to everyday circumstances – particularly adversity? 

1. What factors do you think influence the kind of attitude we carry with us? Is it possible to change our attitude to adjust to changing circumstances, as a pilot must change a plane’s attitude to adjust to flying conditions? Why or why not? 

1. How can faith – not only in ourselves and our abilities, but also in God and His involvement in our lives – affect our attitude as we go through a typical day? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 23:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6, 15:22, 16:3,9, 19:20, 20:24; Jeremiah 29:11-13, 33:3  

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