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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 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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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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Ministry in the Marketplace
by Phil Tolbert, Executive Director
"Isn't this the carpenter?
Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of J ames, Joseph, Judas and
Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Mark 6:3 Consider
that in the New Testament of Jesus' 132 public appearances, 122 were in
the marketplace. Of 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context.
Of 40 miracles in the book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace. Jesus
spent his adult life as a carpenter until age 30 before he went into a
preaching ministry in the workplace. And 54% of Jesus' reported
teaching ministry arose out of issues posed by others in the scope of
daily life experience. Work,
in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible
- more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise, and
singing combined. God created work and He is a worker. "My father is
always at his work to this very day, and I too, am working" (John
5:17). Do
not minimize your daily work as anything less than a holy calling. Remember that Jesus represented God in the workplace as a carpenter. He
has called you and me to represent God in our work as well - in fact, not
just represent Him but be His Ambassadors. (2 Cor. 5:20) BLE was founded on this principle. Today BLE continues to equip, encourage, and empower believers to be God's Ambassadors. As this new year and decade begin, may we all become more intentional in being the best Ambassadors we can be.
If you would like join or start a BLE Small Group in your church or work, click here to request more information.
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Faith at Work - A BLE Testimony
Featuring BLE Small Group Member Dayton Hoffman
As a business person, how often would you think of making friends with those in direct competition with you? How about engaging in Bible Study with them and sharing prayer requests, struggles and praises related to your job? Dayton does just that. It may seem an unlikely small group for him to join but he finds the diversity in professionals and similar business backgrounds to be instrumental in his spiritual growth. Not all the members are his competitors, but all those who attend have become friends and use the bi-weekly studies as an opportunity to engage in real, sincere conversations about the struggles and miracles they each face in their day to day responsibilities and how they can make their faith a part of that. Dayton knows God repeatedly gives him openings to share his faith with his co-workers through his actions and his everyday dealings with them. In fact, he credits Scripture with broadening his perspective to allow him to have a greater impact on others and to embody God's love and commandments. "It is doing the little things that are noticed like being responsive, not willing to put aside morals or values and doing what is right for people. God has put me in the positions that I am in to be able to share my faith with others through adversity or success," he says. A small group member for nearly five years, Dayton has also seen the lives of the other members grow deeper in relationship with Christ while maturing their faith and their commitment to living out the values set forth in Scripture. Dayton knows that it is only through that faith and devotion that he can handle the pressures and diverse circumstances he faces in his job. Read more ...
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Know or Believe?
 Imagine
you were going skydiving for the first time. Your heart would be racing
as the instructor gives you final instructions before you jump from the
plane.
You ask an important question, " Are you sure this parachute will work?"
Now, which answer would you prefer your instructor to give: "I believe it will work" or "I know it will work."
The
word belief implies question. By definition there is a degree of
uncertainty. Think about it: if you believe with certainty, then you
wouldn't say, "I believe," you would say, "I KNOW."
To
know is to be certain. There is no question in knowing. There can be no
doubt found when you KNOW something. Take time to analyze your internal
dialog and perspectives. Do the words you use imply empowerment or
disempowerment? I'm reminded of a story I once heard about a community.
This was a test between believing and knowing.
The story goes like this...
Several
years ago, a small farming community was experiencing a terrible
drought. The leaders of the community called a prayer meeting in hope
of everyone attending and holding a group prayer for rain.
One
man was in attendance with his small son. As everyone was praying, the
small boy reached up and tugged his father's shirt to ask, "Daddy, what
is everyone doing?" The man explained that everyone was praying for
rain and then went back to his prayer.
The
boy looked around for a few more minutes and was puzzled. He tugged
again on his dad's shirt and asked, "Daddy, if everyone is here to pray
for rain, why didn't anyone bring an umbrella?"
Think about it...
Do you believe you can reach your goals or do you KNOW you can?
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