A man looking at his phone while reclined and smiling

Our Blog

Grow in your faith and professional life.

ALL ARTICLES

  • Seek His Face, Not His Hand

    Seek His Face, Not His Hand

    “When we seek His hand first, we often miss His face. When we seek His face first, we see His hand at work.”

    I attended a weekend retreat in January as a way to hear from God, get quiet with Him, and start my year with some clarity. Of all the things that were shared during our praise and worship time, the concept above landed hard for me.

    I am a hand-seeker. As much as I have tried to avoid treating God as a cosmic vending machine, I still find myself resisting the pull to seek His hand first. When I’m not careful, my morning prayers begin with, “Help me move this mountain.” “Deliver me from this situation.” “Provide for me in this area.” “Protect me from this.”

    The one word that weaves through all of those prayers? Me.

    I want to be careful here as I unpack this. Scripture is clear. God wants us to ask him for the things that matter to us most, the big things and the small ones.

    “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” – Matthew 21:22

    “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” – 1 John 5:15

    “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” – John 16:24

    The Word is clear. Asking is Biblical, and we have a heavenly Father who is waiting for us to ask Him for things. Asking is an act of humility, responding to God for help and acknowledging that we are not in control. It is the ultimate form of release.

    The challenge is this. Too often, all we do is ask. Too often, we let our prayer life dry up, and then we ask in desperation. Too often, we seek God’s hand but forget to seek His face. We forget to acknowledge WHO we’re asking, and whose hand we’re seeking.

    It’s been three weeks, and I am working hard to seek His face first. I am spending time in worship as I pray, reminding myself with scripture of who God is. An example of this comes from Psalm 145. From verses 3-11, this is the God we serve…

    “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    his greatness no one can fathom.

    One generation commends your works to another;

    they tell of your mighty acts.

    They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

    They tell of the power of your awesome works—

    and I will proclaim your great deeds.

    They celebrate your abundant goodness

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

    The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

    slow to anger and rich in love.

    The Lord is good to all;

    he has compassion on all he has made.

    All your works praise you, Lord;

    your faithful people extol you.

    They tell of the glory of your kingdom

    and speak of your might,”

    This is the face of the God I serve… a Father who is abundant in goodness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love. He is the one who deserves my worship, praise, and adoration.

    That doesn’t mean I’m not seeking His hand or asking for His help in my life. I still have so many areas where I desperately need His power to flow… as a husband and a dad, in my business and my finances, as a son and a brother, in my health. His hand meets all of my needs, and I serve a God who moves mountains, delivers me, provides for me, and protects me.

    When the pressure mounts, it’s easy to become desperate for His hand. When we hit that spot where there’s nowhere else to turn, His hand is the only thing left. God, extend your hand to me and save me before it all falls apart. My need is about to be exposed. Save me by your hand. You are my last resort.

    Therein lies the problem.  I can’t approach His face and His hand in the wrong order, and I can’t see Him as my last resort. As a Christian man and leader, it’s essential that I approach God with the reverence He deserves, and that my connection with Him begins from a place of worship. I’ve learned over time, sometimes the hard way, that when I seek His face first, his hand follows.

    That’s my call to each of you reading this. God is waiting for you to seek His face.

    Need a place to start? Begin with Psalm 145, and then work through the Psalms. Pray the Psalms back to God, worshipping Him in the words of His own book. Scripture will reveal His face to you, and you’ll find daily reminders that the Father loves you in ways you can’t comprehend.

    – John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

  • My Word of 2025: Not One That I Wanted

    My Word of 2025: Not One That I Wanted

    I’ve never been someone who had a word of the year, or heard God “give me a word.” That said, whenever people would bring up “their word,” I would get a little wound up about it. If they heard from God and got a word, and I wasn’t hearing the same, I would get a little chippy with them. Maybe I was jealous or felt left out, but the question was always the same. Why wasn’t I getting a word? And, if I wasn’t getting a word, why was God giving them out to everyone else?

    A word of warning… Be careful what you wish for.

    About two months ago, it started. It would come up in conversations. I’d hear it in blog posts. Someone would recommend a book, and I’d see it there. It would be the topic of a sermon, and then I’d hear it in a podcast. All of a sudden, one word kept showing up everywhere, and I couldn’t get away from it.

    What was it?

    Release.

    Hindsight being twenty-twenty, I assume that this word has been circling me for a while. My wife would tell you that I’m not always a great listener. Perhaps God had been telling me to release for years, and I was missing the message? Maybe he chose this time, right now, to yell it a little louder?

    Either way, I feel like God has given me this word. It would be easy to attribute it to something more random or to say that I made it up in my head because it’s the word I wanted to hear. I get that, but here’s the reason I think otherwise.

    I can’t stand this word.

    This word that God has given me, “release,” is not a word I would have picked or chosen on my own. Maybe He could have given me “gather” or “conquer” as my word. I would have liked those better. How about “victory” or even “worship?” Again, those would have been easier to onboard for me.

    “Release” is a more challenging word for me. The whole concept of releasing is tough. I’m an entrepreneur who craves control in every area of my life. I live in a cause-and-effect world. I do my work and cause things to happen, and then the effects come. Results drive everything I do, and often, I like to think I am the creator of those results.

    That’s where “release” comes in. I feel like it is God’s reminder to me that I am not the creator of my results. I am a steward of my business, my team, my finances, my family… and nothing more. I am called to show up in all of those areas and expected to do my part of the work. And then, (here’s where it gets challenging for me), I am being called to release it.

    I’m being called to release the business I lead. I am being called to release my finances. I am being called to release my marriage and my kids who are now off at college. I am called to release my health.

    Releasing isn’t an excuse to be lazy. On the contrary, it’s pushing me to do my part and be a good steward. As long as I do that, I can live in confidence that God’s in charge of the rest of it. My protector, my provider, my healer, my Savior, my everything… He’s got it all under control.

    So, with that in mind, my journey for this new year is one of release. I’m not entirely sure how it will go or what God is about to teach me, but here’s one thing I do know for sure… Whenever I share this story of release, everyone I share it with has an area that this concept of releasing resonates. No one has told me yet that they don’t have something they need to release. At our core, we all have an area of our life where our internal control freak is holding on too tight. We grip too hard.

    So, my question for you is this…

    Will you join me this year on this journey of release? Will you look for that one area where you need to let something go, and will you give it to God?

    I have no idea where this will take us, but I have confidence that God’s got it.

    So, let’s release it and see what happens.

    John Gamades, Author

    WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    Conquer: Daily Devotions for the Christian Man

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,

  • When Jesus Shows Up at Work: Lessons from the Shepherds

    When Jesus Shows Up at Work: Lessons from the Shepherds

    What happens when Jesus meets you at work?

    The shepherds were at work when they encountered the angels. They were in the fields tending their flocks—engaged in the ordinary, routine tasks that defined their days. In the midst of their work, something extraordinary happened. From out of nowhere, an angel appeared with a message that changed their lives forever.

    And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

    –       Luke 2:8-12

    The Savior had been born, and the shepherds were invited to witness His arrival.

    “​​So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

    –       Luke 2:16-18

    From the fields to the manger, this moment of transformation is a powerful reminder of how Jesus meets us in the everyday. Just as the shepherds were called out of their routine to experience the miraculous, we, too, are invited to encounter Jesus in profound ways, even in our professional lives.

    The Ordinary of Our Work

    We spend our days managing spreadsheets, leading our teams, jumping between calls, and serving customers. We’re not shepherds, but our work often feels routine. We’re in the “fields” of modern life. The demands of deadlines, goals, and responsibilities leave little room for awe or reflection. Too often, we lose sight of how God can work through even our most mundane tasks.

    The shepherds’ story reminds us that no part of our work is too insignificant for God to use. The fields were the shepherds’ workplace, and that’s exactly where the angel showed up to them. The same holds true for us—our workplaces are not separate from our faith journeys. They’re connected more than we know.

    Stepping Toward the Manger

    When the shepherds heard the angel’s message, they immediately left their fields and flocks to see Jesus. Their willingness to step away from their work to go and be with Jesus speaks volumes. So does the fact that God chose them to hear this message. The shepherds were everyday workers, yet they were chosen to stand in awe at the manger.

    Think about your work life… We often hesitate to step away from the urgent for the important, but the Christmas story calls us to make room for moments of awe, worship, and transformation. It calls us to pause—amid deadlines, meetings, and projects—to reflect on the miracle of Christ’s birth. When we do this, we experience the extraordinary in our ordinary.

    Living Transformed Lives

    After visiting the manger, the shepherds returned to their fields, but they were changed. They glorified and praised God, carrying the joy of their experience back to their workplace. This is the heart of the Christmas story: It’s an encounter with Christ that transforms us and brings meaning to our lives.

    This year, as we celebrate Christmas, let’s take a cue from the shepherds. Take the time to pause amid the chaos of work to reflect on the miracle of Christ’s birth. Allow His presence to transform your perspective on work, shifting it from routine to worship. Let’s carry the joy of the manger into our offices, to our meetings, and through our businesses, glorifying God in all we do.

    To each of you this season, Merry Christmas!

    –       John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

    , ,

  • Seek Him First (Not Second, Third, or Last)

    Seek Him First (Not Second, Third, or Last)

    When I first started reading my Bible and trying to have a morning quiet time, I didn’t really have the tools to do it well. Frankly, no one had ever equipped me to have a quiet time. I had no tools.

    Truth be told, my early quiet times were an exercise in checking the box. I’d open my Bible, read some passages, and end up with little or no idea what God was trying to tell me. In fact, by 8:00 AM, when I rolled into the office, I couldn’t recall what I had read. Nothing stuck.

    Then, in a men’s study I was in, some men fed into me and coached me on what to look for while reading my Bible. One of the things those men taught me was to look at the words I was reading more carefully. As a writer and author, I know how much words matter. As a reader, I had been going too fast to catch some of those words God was giving me… until I slowed down.

    Fast forward to this morning. During my quiet time, God put Matthew 6:31-33 on my heart.

    “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

    Specifically, God gave me two words this morning…

    “Seek first.”

    Looking at Matthew 6:31-33, we are told to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” When we do that, the other things we’re worried and anxious about will fade away. The Word tells us our challenges will be taken care of as long as we approach them in the right order.

    Too often, though, I approach things in a different order. As a man who still likes to believe I am in control, I include God second, third, or at the end when all else fails. I set my goals, define what my day will look like, check in with my assistant, and review our numbers. Then, when I feel like I have everything locked down, I pull God into the conversation, almost as an afterthought. 

    I just came back from a trip into the mountains. After days in the backcountry with mountains on the horizon every day, I realized that I have a handful of personal mountains in front of me right now… mountains that I need to include God in first… mountains that will require God to be more than just an afterthought.

    In Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

    I want my mountains to move. They’re big, and if I am going to be honest, I cannot move them on my own no matter how hard I try. Looking at Matthew 6:31-33 and 17:20, there is a clear correlation between the size of my faith and seeking God first. If my faith is real, and I truly trust God to move my mountains, I will make him my go-to… not a last-ditch alternative.

    I will seek Him first.

    Men, that’s my challenge for each of you today. Whatever mountain you’re facing, set aside your desire to control it. Seek God first, not last. Then, having faith in his love and ability, let Him move the mountain for you. Let’s get this in the right order as we lead our businesses, families, churches, and communities.

    Encourage one another in this, celebrate God’s hand in moving our mountains, and seek Him first together.

    John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,

  • Are you part of the 49% of Christians who don’t plan to vote?

    Are you part of the 49% of Christians who don’t plan to vote?

    CBMC Team,

    I recently read from a Barna study stating that 49% of Christians in America don’t plan to vote in the upcoming election.

    This number startled me, and it got me thinking.

    As president of CBMC USA, I get the privilege of traveling around the world and seeing how people from other countries live and listening to how they view the USA.

    You may find this hard to believe based on media reports, but one thing I hear time and time again is how they admire the United States and wish they had the same political and spiritual freedoms that we have in our country.

    Last I checked, God is still sovereign, and He will still be on His throne on November 6th regardless of who wins. There are many verses that support this, but I like the clarity of Col 1:16 “For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

    So, the question that I have been wrestling with is what are we to do regarding this election?  If God is in control, then I guess I don’t have to do anything – right?  But then why does He give us free will?  Del Tackett, creator of the Truth Project, describes God’s great meta-narrative as this: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Engagement and Restoration.  As you may have already figured out, we are somewhere between the redemption of the world (Jesus on the cross) and the restoration of the world (Jesus comes back to reign).  We are in that time and place in which God is using us in His plan for the restoration of the world.  He uses us to share our faith with those who don’t know Him.  He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to go and make disciples.

    But what does He say about voting for a candidate that doesn’t line up with all my views and whom I don’t even like all that well?  Unfortunately, He doesn’t!

    Let’s be honest, both presidential candidates are broken people like the rest of us.  I am sure that you have local and state officials that are also broken people hoping to get elected to govern our broken, imperfect world.

    It has become increasingly difficult to discern the truth.  Our trust in the media has never been lower.  Here is an interesting little factoid: 50 years ago, there were approximately 50 companies controlling the media and the messages we heard.  Today, that number is 6.

    As I mentioned at our recent National Men’s Conference in St. Louis— Biblical Worldview Matters!  People’s worldview determines how they will lead, and how voters will vote on very important issues.

    Romans 13:1 says we are to submit ourselves to the governing authorities because God establishes these authorities.

    But what if we don’t like them as people?

    I think we all will be held accountable for our actions and if you just can’t vote for someone, I think that is your right.

    However, I think there is a bigger issue with the 49% not voting in this election.  I think they aren’t separating these broken people from the policies that they and their party stand for. 

    These are complex issues.  In the past, we often relied on the media to do some of the thinking for us.  We can no longer do that, today we must think on our own.

    A friend of mine suggested that we start a third-party movement called MATA – “Make America Think Again”. 

    As Christians, we must recognize issues and candidates that conflict with God’s design. We must understand their positions and compare them to the ultimate authority of God’s Word when thinking about the sanctity of human life, parental rights, freedom of religion and speech, and protecting children.

    I am not telling you who to vote for. What I am praying for, however, is that we would all lean in and engage. God can use us in this season as we exercise our right and privilege to vote. Let’s prayerfully approach the ballot box and trust God with the results, knowing He is always on His throne (Isaiah 6:1).

    Lean in and join the 51% and vote!

    David Meyers

    CBMC President

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,

  • Abide: How Staying Connected Transforms Everything

    Abide: How Staying Connected Transforms Everything

    During a recent Bible study, we spent some time looking at John 15, specifically verses 4-9, which included the word “abide.”

    “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” – John 15:4-9, ESV

    I want everything in those verses for my life. I want to bear fruit. I want to be able to ask my Father for help and trust He has my back. I want to live as a disciple and be in His love.

    For that to be a reality, I need to abide.

    I often catch myself rushing past verses like this – the kind of verses I’ve heard since grade school multiple times over. I‘ve slipped into an all-to-common, “yeah, I already know this” mindset. That’s where I was sitting before this recent Bible study, and then one of the guys I was with made us all dig a little deeper…

    What does it mean to abide?

    The NIV translation puts it like this, “Remain in me.” The Message version says, “Live in me.” The word “abide” has other meanings as well. Those include accept, stay, wait, stay, dwell, be held, kept, and be present.

    “Abide” is a reminder for us to stay connected.

    One of the guys I was with at that Bible study painted the picture clearly. Truth be told, I don’t know a lot about vines. I do know about trees. In Minnesota, they’re everywhere I look. So, imagine a branch on a tree. Cut that branch off the tree and throw it on the ground. How long will it live once it’s laying on the ground, separated from the tree? How long will the leaves stay green before they wither and die?

    They may stay green for a while, but that will be short-lived. We all know what’s going to happen to that branch.

    The branch needs to be connected to the tree to live. That tree, or the vine, provides everything the branch needs to live. Create a cut that separates the branch from the vine, and the branch will quickly die. It cannot live without the vine. The vine is the source of all the nutrients and energy the branch needs to survive and produce fruit. Even a small cut between the branch and the vine will weaken the branch and open the door for disease to creep in.

    The branch is entirely dependent on the vine. It has to abide. It has to maintain its connection.

    The branch has to understand that it is 100% dependent on its connection to the vine.

    That, my friends, is where I fall short every day. Yes, I believe that Jesus is the vine and that He is the source of everything I need in this life. Yes, my ability to produce fruit is dependent on staying connected with Him.

    At the same time, I battle with pride and my desire to control my output. When I need something, I am more apt to lean into my “make it happen” mindset. I am tempted every day to control my output and provide for myself rather than trusting in the vine to provide all that I need. The lie is always there. “You’ve got this. You don’t need the vine.”

    It’s easy to forget to abide.

    Since that Bible study, here are three questions I’ve been asking myself:

    1. Do I believe that the vine has everything I need?
    2. Can I produce fruit if I am disconnected from the vine?
    3. If the vine has everything I need and I cannot produce fruit apart from it, what am I doing to protect my connection to the vine?

    I would challenge each of you to ask yourself these same questions.

    Think about that branch and the tree again. The branch never forgets that it is connected to the tree. It never looks for ways to separate itself from the tree. The branch knows its growth and life are tied to the tree and does everything it can to maintain that connection.

    Brothers, we are branches, not vines. Remember that, and then do everything you can to stay connected to the vine. Do everything you can to abide.

    Jesus has all you need. “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.”

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,

  • Taking On The Struggle to Eliminate “Busy” In Our Lives

    Taking On The Struggle to Eliminate “Busy” In Our Lives

    “Busy.”

    Ask most of the guys you know how their week is going, and that’s the answer you’ll get.

    It’s an all too common response that many of us wear like a badge of honor. So many things that need to get done, to-do lists that stretch on forever, and the feeling of getting pulled in multiple directions at once. Men are trying to show up well at work, be good husbands and fathers, stay checked in on their older parents and extended family, serve in their churches and communities, and grow their relationship with the Lord.

    All good things… but you can’t do everything.

    Therein lies the problem for most men, myself included.

    In his book Intimacy with the Almighty, Charles Swindoll captures it like this. “Most of us say yes to too many things. Most of us do not plan well enough ahead or think through our schedules to leave time for leisure and rest. Most of us have too many things on our plate to get done in the allotted time.”

    Sound familiar?

    As I explored this chapter on simplicity, Swindoll must have been hanging out in my office and my home before he wrote this. Those words capture how I’ve lived much of my life. Simplicity has never been my natural state. I’ve kept myself busy, always convinced I was doing “good things.”

    Swindoll goes on, asking the following questions:

    1. Are the good things keeping you from the great?
    2. Are too many things draining your energy, leaving you exhausted?
    3. Are the activities outside your home stealing time from those within your home?

    “Yes, yes, and yes.” Each question reminds us that “busy” comes at a cost.

    The greatest cost for me personally has been my relationship with God. When things get busy, my morning quiet time with the Lord is the first thing to go. I find myself lacking time to pray and get quiet to listen to what God has for me. In essence, I am shutting God out.

    Busy becomes an idol. My need to be busy reflects my struggle to control my outcomes and “make things happen.” Simplicity, on the other hand, makes room for God to come in. It’s me releasing my control and letting God partner with me.

    When I do this, my answers to Swindoll’s questions change…

    1. I am experiencing God’s best, what is truly great, not just good.
    2. I am living my life on purpose, energized by the right things.
    3. I am focusing my energy on those within my home first.

    More importantly, I am taking back my time and energy to spend it with God. Making quiet time and prayer a priority, my relationship with God begins growing again. When I listen, I can hear Him speaking to me. Wisdom flows, and I experience more clarity around what is truly important instead of the “busy” things that so easily distract me.

    Intimacy with the Almighty begins with creating space for simplicity in your life. That’s my call to each of us today. Spend some time looking around and doing a personal assessment. Where is “busy” stealing from you, and how can you start to take some of that time and energy back?

    John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,

  • Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

    Do Not Be Anxious About Anything

    As men try to be better husbands, strong dads, leaders where we work, and contributors in our communities, there are so many open doors for anxiety to creep in. From career pressures and financial stresses to relationship struggles and trying to be “enough” in all our roles, feeling anxious, stressed out, and overwhelmed is more common than any of us talk about – which is likely why God gave us the verses below. He knew what we’d encounter in this life. The world offers us many ways to release our stress. Here is God’s alternative…

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    –       Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

    Going through a challenge recently, I spent some time peeling these verses back section by section…

    “Do not be anxious about anything,”

    The verse starts with a call to release our fears and concerns, the things that weigh heavy on our hearts, to God. This includes the things we’re afraid of, our concerns, restlessness, and the things that keep us up at night or wake us up early in the morning. If you’re anything like me, a recovering control freak to my core, letting the anxieties go is a challenge. If I’m not anxious about these things in my life, who will be and how will they ever change? We’ve been tricked into believing that staying anxious will somehow “fix” the things we’re anxious over. It does the opposite, and is one of the lies the devil uses to keep us distracted.

    “but in every situation,”

    This next section is interesting. We’re not called to release our anxiety in some areas but hold onto it in others. Instead, the word “every” implies that letting go of our anxiety totally and completely is commanded in all areas of our lives. These “situations” come in many forms, from things going on professionally to raising our kids and leading our families… In each form, without exceptions, we are called by a Father who loves us to let go.

    “by prayer and petition,”

    How do we let go? Through prayer and petition. God doesn’t leave us hanging here, not knowing what to do next. He tells us clearly to pray. Often, this is the last place we go, our last resort instead of the first. Instead of lifting our challenges up to Him, we lift them up to ourselves and stand in one place, holding them or trying to fix them on our own. Come to the Father and let him know where you’re at. Communicate your fears and anxiety to Him, and share with him what’s on your heart. He already knows but is waiting patiently for you to include him in your life.

    “with thanksgiving,”

    Over my life, I have come to realize that gratitude is an essential element of a fulfilled life and a powerful part of my Christian walk. When I stop long enough to think about all the things God has already done for me, especially amid a challenge or something I am anxious about, I am reminded of all the times and ways God has already come through for me.

    “present your requests to God.”

    We are prompted here to ask God for what we need, especially in times of distress or challenges. He tells us to pray and ask for the things we need for ourselves and the people around us. We sometimes find ourselves worried that God is too busy to hear what we need or that He’s going to reject our asking because we haven’t invested much time connecting with Him. At the same time, we can feel like our need is too insignificant and that God only has the time and energy to address the big stuff. None of those concerns are true. We have a Father who wants to hear from us, is not bound to limited time and energy, and wants us to ask for His help.

    “And the peace of God,”

    This is where the tables begin to turn. When we pray, present our requests to God, and meet Him with thanksgiving, we are promised that we will experience the peace of God. What kind of peace is this? Keep reading…

    “which transcends all understanding,”

    It’s a peace so great that you won’t be able to express it or understand it. It exceeds anything you could compare it to. It’s an over-the-top peace that the rest of the world lacks and that we often miss out on because we’re so focused on fixing things on our own. But, when we give up the things that make us anxious and hand them over to God, the freedom and calm we experience will allow us to walk through any fire without fear or restlessness.

    “will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    That peace that transcends understanding is a powerful force – a guardian for our hearts and minds. The Word tells us that the devils prowl about, looking to steal, kill, and destroy. Knowing we are protected, we can stand in confidence. When pressure and anxiety rise, God comes to put them down, protecting both heart and mind.

    …

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

    It’s my hope that these verses are a source of peace and strength for you, the same as they’ve been for me. This life comes with challenges, and there are opportunities every day to elevate our anxiety, putting it on a pedestal. Instead, when those opportunities show up, lean into this word for your life and put God on the pedestal.

    John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

    , ,

  • In Your Challenges, Remember.

    In Your Challenges, Remember.

    There are moments in our lives when trouble comes. From relationship challenges to prodigal children to job loss and the challenges of being a leader… the Bible is clear. Our Christian faith does not guarantee us easy lives or protection from suffering.

    A friend of mine summed it up this way for me years ago. “You’re either in a storm, you’re coming out of one, or there’s a storm coming.” He may have come up with that or aquired it from someone else. Either way, it’s a truth we all live with. There will always be storms.

    Reading through the beginning of Psalm 77, we quickly pick up on the fact that the writer is in a storm…

    “I cried out to God for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
    When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
    at night I stretched out untiring hands,
    and I would not be comforted.”

    -Psalm 77:10-12 NIV

    Been there. I have felt that way, and likely, so have you. We’ve all had moments where the pressure gets heavy – where we finally break down and cry out for help. Personally or professionally, possibly even both, we find ourselves in the valley. The only place to look is up, so we seek God’s hand.

    Sometimes, the response we receive from God is fast and clear. Help comes quickly, and the Lord’s response is obvious. Other times, like the psalmist, we wonder if God hears us. We wonder if we’re being ignored, if we’ve been forgotten, or if God is withholding his love from us.

    “Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
    Has his promise failed for all time?
    Has God forgotten to be merciful?
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

    -Psalm 77:8-9 NIV

    In these moments, when the wondering creeps in and our confidence is shaken, the psalmist provides us with a strategy for resting in Him even when we don’t see him. As a leader and a business owner, I’m a guy who loves strategies. Give me a strategy and a plan to follow, and I’m in. This one doesn’t disappoint…

    One word: Remember.

    “Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
    I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
    I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’”

    -Psalm 77:10-12 NIV

    Remember. When the challenges are getting heavy and God’s responses feel light, think back to those times when He showed up for you. Remember the miracles and blessings that He’s already done. Consider how He has worked in your life.

    That’s a strategy we can lean into.

    They say hindsight is 20/20. Remembering is our opportunity to tap into hindsight, looking back on God’s hand in our lives and all the times He’s carried us through the struggles. It’s spending some time acknowledging all the challenges we’ve faced and how He has consistently shown up – never late, always on time.

    When the psalmist calls us to remember, consider, and meditate on His works, it reminds us to control where our thoughts take us. Instead of letting our minds lead us down negative paths, it’s a call to refocus on the positive and to set our mind on things above, specifically on a God who loves us and will never forsake us.

    The storms will come, and they will go. Consistent in the middle of the storms is the love of a Father who stretches out His hand over our situations and does mighty deeds.

    Remember that today, and take the time to remember how He’s proven that in your past.

    …

    John Gamades, Author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men

    CBMC Webmaster

    , ,

  • Weir Using Technology to Reshape Ministry: C3 Teams Zooming, ‘Owl’ Turning Heads

    Barry Weir is one busy guy. In addition to running his computer services company, each month he participates in eight different CBMC Connect3 meetings thousands of miles apart. They span from Miami, Fla. to Kapolei, Hawaii, with Houston, Texas and Phoenix, Ariz. in between. Not to mention four C3 teams in California.

    If you’re wondering how Weir manages such a full schedule or what he’s doing with his frequent flyer miles, he does most of it from the friendly confines of his office in Yorba Linda, Calif. He literally “zooms” from one meeting to another, assisted by the wisdom of an “owl.”

    We’d like to forget the COVID-19 pandemic, but it had a few notable benefits. Among them was the emergence of virtual meetings, enabling people to connect remotely by using Zoom and other video conferencing tools. With businesses forced to change how they did meetings, demand for these resources exploded.

    Weir, whose decades-long career has emphasized staying on the front edge of computer changes, quickly saw applications for CBMC ministry. His expertise helped a number of CBMC groups to continue meeting virtually when in-person gatherings weren’t possible.

    In addition to Zoom software, his company was already marketing the Meeting Owl Pro, a fish-eye camera developed for virtual conferences. It switches focus between speakers around a table, showing the last three on a large screen at the end of the table. With eight microphones and four speakers, and remote participants on the screen, “it brings people in. They all have a seat at the table.”

    Even though the pandemic has ended, many C3 teams continue to meet either virtually or as “hybrids” – some participants attending in person and others remotely. The rationale, Weir explained, has gone far beyond social distancing and health concerns.

    “From my Friday C3 team, two of our men relocated their homes during COVID, one moving 16 miles away. In Orange County traffic, that’s a two-hour drive each way. The other moved 35 miles away. Since there’s no CBMC in their immediate areas, they continue to join our group every week.”

    Another benefit has been extending the team’s reach far beyond California’s borders. Ron Weber was actively involved with the group. After moving to Phoenix, he was able to stay connected with the C3 team via Zoom and now is helping to rebuild the CBMC ministry in that area. Last year he launched a weekly Mountain Time Zone C3 team.

    Weir started joining a monthly “Coffee with Courage” Zoom meeting after he met Steve Solomon, a CBMC staff leader, while in Boca Raton, Fla. visiting with family. “I wanted to learn a new way to lead a C3 team,” he said.

    Mike Jones, a member of a C3 team and Operation Timothy leader in Santa Ana, Calif. for years, stayed connected to them virtually after he moved to Texas. At his invitation, Monty Boyle joined Santa Ana’s Zoom meetings. Within a few months Boyle gathered some men to start rebuilding the CBMC ministry in Houston. “I joined with them as a wingman and encourager as they launched,” Weir said.

    There’s even an international flavor, with men from South Korea, Bangladesh and Nigeria periodically logging on to the weekly Zoom meetings of the Santa Ana C3 team. “Virtual keeps them connected,” he said, “and if they gather two or three other men, they can start their own C3 teams – and we can help.”

    Why expend the effort to connect with so many different CBMC groups? Weir said it’s because he’s sold on the impact Connect3 teams have on individual men, facilitating their spiritual growth, providing much needed encouragement, and giving them a vision for the ministry God has for them in the marketplace.

    “Every week in our C3 team we review CBMC’s vision: the Power of One God, the Value of One Man, and the Leverage of One Team,” he said. “We can’t emphasize that enough.

    “In a Connect3 team we can go through every element of CBMC’s excellent ministry curriculum: Being a Marketplace Ambassador; Operation Timothy; Living Proof Adventure; and Becoming a Spiritual Reproducer. These are tools we need to effectively represent Jesus Christ where we work and where we live.”

    Weir has deep roots in CBMC. “I’ve grown up around it. My father, John Weir, was active in CBMC when we lived in New Jersey, and while I was attending Westmont College in the mid-1960s, I started attending CBMC meetings in Santa Barbara, Calif. I was selling advertising for the student newspaper, but felt ill-equipped to talk to a 50-year-old businessman about the important things in life. CBMC enabled me to invite a guy to an outreach meeting where he’d hear a peer give his testimony, and I knew guys there would follow up on him.”

    After college, Weir served as a pilot in the Navy but maintained his affinity to CBMC. While stationed in Pensacola, Fla., he met future CBMC President Ted DeMoss and other leaders, and helped start and restart CBMC groups as a naval officer in Norfolk, Va.

    After the Navy, his business career took him to northern California. There Weir met men like Jim Brady and Roger Erickson, “giants of the faith in CBMC who became significant mentors in my life.” As a member of the CBMC group in Oakland, he helped restart another group in Walnut Creek.

    After his company transferred him to Southern California, he found only 10 CBMC groups there actively engaged in the twofold mission of evangelism and disciplemaking. However, he saw the ministry begin to grow as more men embraced the vision.

    “One reason I got involved with CBMC in the first place was learning about how to tell other men about Jesus Christ, helping them mature in their faith, and encouraging others in how to do it.”

    That undergirds Weir’s philosophy in leading Connect3 teams. “I think it’s important to give various members an opportunity to lead a piece of the meeting. This way we can see their skills and ability, and also see groups multiply as new leaders emerge. It’s a great way to develop guys and see their passion for ministry grow.”

    For more information on the use of the Owl for virtual and hybrid CBMC meetings, contact Weir at [email protected].

    To get connected with a CBMC team near you, visit https://www.cbmc.com/membership and sign up.

    CBMC Webmaster

    ,