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. 

Those who shed tears as they planwill shout for joy when they reap the harvest. The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.” Psalms 126:5-6 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/psa.126.5-6.NET 

Who weeps at the sin of our nation? Who despairs at the rampant immorality occurring in our country? The violence seems to grow in proportion to disregarding God and His ways. What is the solution? What should the response be from the people of God? What is God’s answer? It is the gospel. It is the presentation of the power of God for salvation which is the message of God’s love, life, and promise for all people through Jesus the Savior. 

The Christian who weeps must share the gospel. The Christian who truly cares about the brokenness of humanity will share the only healing for humanity, Jesus. People separated from God are also concerned about the problems in our world. They, too, want hope and a future. The Christian must share the only hope that leads to an eternal future of life, peace, joy and love with God and all those who have ever loved Him. 

CBMC is the businessman’s best and most straightforward means for sharing that message of hope to the lost in the world through the hearing of a testimony from a Christian businessman. Who are we praying for to come to saving faith in Jesus? Who will we ask for lunch to hear how they might be saved? Who are we shedding tears for their salvation? What will we do to see them saved? 

Our Opportunities 

1. Business Owners, don't miss your opportunity to learn more about how CBMC helps you through our Trusted Advisor Forums. 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. An informational meeting will be held on May 24 from 8-9 am at Taste Coffee in Okemos. Email me if you are interested in attending this event.
   
   
2. Your next best opportunity to share the gospel with businessmen in the marketplace is June 15. Our speaker is Mr. Bill Garlick, CIO of LCC. We will be meeting at a NEW LOCATION. Learn more and register today here

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 15, 2023 

Adversity: An Opportunity To Grow

By Autsin Pryor 

As a financial advisor for more than 40 years, I have witnessed many shifts in the economy, sometimes happening very rapidly. When economic factors make sudden changes, many investors feel a very uncomfortable emotion – fear. It is hard to feel confident about investments when factors outside our control wreak havoc on the financial markets. 

Even those who worship Jesus Christ can feel distress when adversity strikes, whether it affects our finances or other areas of our lives. Most Christians, at one time or another, would like to ask God why He allows pain and disappointment to touch His children. Perhaps His answer would be: “Those things happened because I was answering your prayers, to give you what you asked for!” 

As you consider adverse events in a typical day, can you imagine God saying to you: “You prayed that you could become mature, didn’t you? I’m teaching you how to depend on me more.” “You prayed for more faith, didn’t you? I’m giving you a chance to trust me more.” 

“You prayed that you might know Me better, didn’t you? I’m helping you to seek Me more.” “You prayed that you might glorify me with your life, didn’t you? I’m refining you more.” 

When our prayers contain such “spiritual” requests, we can have confidence we are praying according to God’s will. We expect Him to grant us qualities of the Christian life we are seeking. But subconsciously we might also be thinking God will answer them with a kind of supernatural lightning bolt. Something like Him saying, “Well, bless your heart, dear child, here’s all the faith, love and Christlikeness you will ever need.” Zap! But it does not usually work that way. 

Do you want to mature in your Christian walk? Then expect some suffering. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5). 

Do you want to have your faith strengthened? Then expect your faith to be tested. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). 

Do you want to know God better? Then expect to give up the things of this world that are holding you back. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him…. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:8-10). 

Do you want to receive His praise for your life? Then expect to go through trials. “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7). 

Austin Pryor has more than 40 years of experience advising investors and is the founder of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter and website. He’s the author of The Sound Mind Investing Handbook which enjoys the endorsements of respected Christian teachers with more than 100,000 copies sold. Austin lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife Susie. 

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 15, 2023

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. What is your typical response when the economy unexpectedly turns downward, and it appears your own finances will be adversely affected?
2. In general, how do you respond to adversity, not only financial problems but also in other areas of your life – professional setbacks, health issues, conflict in the home, sudden emergencies?
3. Do you agree that God can use – might even orchestrate – difficult times in our lives because He has a greater purpose He intends to accomplish? Explain your answer.
4. How do you think faith and adversity are connected? Can you give any examples of this from your own experience? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:3-7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11, 33:3, 32:40-41; Daniel 4:35 

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