“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
~ Luke 2:10
It’s very interesting as time passes how we are able to look back on certain days and circumstances in life and realize how everything changed in an instant.
2020 will be one of those chapters in our life story that we’ll be telling our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
For me, while I’ve certainly shared in the pain with many others, maybe during this season of life more than any other, I have a greater appreciation and dependence on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The other day someone texted me an article that documented a handful of the global challenges that exist today. While the Coronavirus is currently getting a lot of attention, pandemic level health threats also include several strains of bird flu, swine flu, and Ebola virus. Throw in earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, fires, and climate emergency and soon a person can feel hopeless.
Now for the good news:
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “My towns will again overflow with prosperity” ~ Zechariah 1:17
PROSPER, v.t. L.prospero, from prosperus, to carry to or toward; to bear. To favor; to render successful. PROS'PER, v.i. To be successful; to succeed. ~Websters Dictionary
The Lord is using Northland men to help train and develop CBMC’ers across the nation.
Already this year Don and I have had the privilege of leading national peer advisory group facilitator training; Don with new Trusted Advisor Forum facilitators and I with Young Professional group facilitators. We’ll both be helping lead our second training sessions of the year in September.
Fargo recently hosted their first Business Series Luncheon event with over 40 attendees. Brainerd is in year #3 now of hosting quarterly Business Series Luncheons. These events feature a CBMC member sharing a bit of his own story of an intimate walk with Jesus along with some practical business principles. These have become our primary way of expanding our reach in communities we are already active in.
Northland Area Leadership Team member, John Harrison is taking the lead on growing our YP initiative - not only in the Northland as our volunteer leader, but nationally as well as he is a member of the CBMC USA National Young Professional Advisory Board. Teams YP#1 and YP#2 are currently meeting each month in the Twin Cities and we prayerfully expect to see growth of 2-3 additional teams in 2019.
North Dakota: For the first time in the 89-year history, we now have a CBMC group meeting in every major city in a state - North Dakota. Don Hoffert began his monthly excursions to Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, and Jamestown. We now have just over 100 business leaders in North Dakota alone that are at various stages of involvement with CBMC Northland.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”~C.S. Lewis
So therein lies the struggle.
Is Christianity simply a crutch for the weak minded or is it the key that unlocks the door leading to a sense of personal peace in the midst of life’s endless struggles? Is the story that unfolds as written in the Bible a hoax or one that provides meaning and a clear path to life after death?