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End Of Year Giving
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As the BLE ministry continues to do God's work in the marketplace, we ask that you prayerfully consider including us in your end of year giving plans and partnering with us financially.
See below for How You Can Help.
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Visit Our Archive
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Did you not receive past ministry moments and want to see what you missed?
To read previous articles, find recommended links and catch up on BLE news, check out our e-newsletter archive by clicking here.
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Testimonies
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God is doing powerful and life changing work through this ministry. To read some of these remarkable stories, click here.
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Free Materials!
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Looking for tips on Biblical decision-making? Need a reminder of the benefits of one-on-one time spent with God? How about practicing God's presence?
You can access FREE materials on each of these topics by visiting the materials page of the BLE website.
Just click here!
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Small Group Studies
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Investing vs. Spending Your Life
Marketplace Excellence
Christian Work Ethic
Heart and Soul of Effective Leadership
God's Plan for Husbands
Financial Principles
Click here for more information.
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BLE Staff
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Phil Tolbert
Executive Director
phil@bleonline.org
Steve Stoner
steve@bleonline.org
Suzanne Westrum
suzanne@bleonline.org
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Looking Towards 2010
A BLE Ministry Update from Executive Director Phil Tolbert
This past year has truly been a blessed year for the BLE Ministries. Once again, God has been faithful to meet our needs as a ministry and we look forward to 2010 with eager anticipation of where He will lead us next. We believe that God wants to be glorified by a growing, cohesive group of business and professional people being equipped as effective ambassadors for Christ in the workplace.
God has given us a very ambitious agenda and ministry plan for 2010. While the ministry accomplished a lot this last year, there is still much to be done as we focus on providing training and resources to both churches and Christians in the workplace. BLE continues to serve the workplace community as it has for nearly 25 years through Bible studies throughout the city and is currently involved with 22 local companies which encompass a wide range of business enterprises. Additionally, there are over 20 small groups available in San Antonio for studying the BLE curriculum along with opportunities for mentoring, discipleship and training. Through these two complementary approaches, approximately 7,000 business people are currently being impacted by the BLE vision.
Of course this ambitious agenda does provide a challenge for us to have the necessary resources to move in the direction we believe God is leading us. We ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with our ministry in providing financial support as we do God's work in the workplace.
Billy Graham has been quoted as saying, "I believe one of the next great moves of God is going to be through believers in the workplace."
Please join us and be a part of what God is doing.
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Equipped and Ready - A BLE Testimony
Featuring BLE Small Group Member Ben Graham
Six am is not a favorite meeting time for most people, but Ben's small group meets at this time each week with almost perfect attendance from each member. It has nothing to do with breakfast bribes but rather a commitment from each man to make studying Scripture and engaging in prayer and fellowship a priority.
Ben began attending this BLE small group three years ago when a former co-worker invited him to the study. Since then, the core group of members has relatively stayed the same, a testament to the strength of the group and their dedication to learning together and being a community of brothers in Christ. Since joining this group, Ben has grown more content with both his personal and professional life, and been challenged to bring God into the workplace.
"It has helped me put things into perspective on what is important and what is the right Christ-like decision to make versus what is best for myself," he says.
He also knows that his personal journey is a lifelong walk where he will be given many opportunities to improve his relationship with God as well as minister to others around him.
"God has equipped me to be ready to witness or serve when the right time or situation presents itself."
Through his small group, Ben has learned to focus and stay accountable on his spiritual walk. His weekly study of BLE materials is something he looks forward to attending, ready to confess his failures as well as sing God's praises alongside his brothers.
There are no plans to change the six am start as each member continues to dedicate his time to this weekly gathering. And the commitment is indefinite. They will continue together on their journey, meeting each week to grow spiritually as a group.
For more encouraging stories of God at work in the marketplace, click here.
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Finding Financial Peace
by David Ballard, CFP and ChFC, BLE Board President
 Have you noticed a change in attitude toward money and personal finances by yourself and others around you? How many of your family and friends have cut back on their regular spending, are eating at home more frequently, or are forgoing that sacred morning latte for a home-brewed cup of good old coffee? How many suddenly find the Texas coast to be this year's vacation destination versus the Caribbean? How many of us are simply asking the question "Just how much more stuff do we really need?"
Prudence versus splurging. Patience versus gratification. Living within one's means. It would be great to think that many in our country have embraced the concept of fiscal discipline on their own, but the truth is that for many it was forced upon them by economic reality. Whatever the reason for change, the evidence is all around us.
In my experience, people's success or failure, in financial terms, has little to do with their level of income. More importantly a person's financial success or failure is often determined by attitudes and behaviors towards money. I have observed people that the world would consider to be "rich" struggle to support a lifestyle that exceeds their level of income. At the same time, I have observed others, with modest incomes, donate to charities in higher percentages than those with higher incomes, set aside money for their important goals in life and who have a sense of financial peace from living within their means.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." I believe that the phrase "Whatever you do" at the beginning of the passage includes how we handle our money. The phrase "work at it with all your heart" indicates that it requires hard work and commitment on our part. God wants us to be good stewards of all the gifts he has entrusted to us and that includes our money.
So as Christians what should we do to become better financial stewards? Pray for the Lord's guidance. Get help. Have a plan. Start tithing and be sure that you are investing not only for the long term, but also for eternity. Be disciplined. Forgo the transitory pleasure of spending for the genuine value of giving and saving. Relish life's real gifts - helping and serving others, opportunities for your children, security for yourself and spouse, and the freedom that your new attitude provides. And never forget, God has promised to meet all of our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).
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