Bruce Staley

Since early 2015 we have met to have a cuppa, read the Bible aloud and respond to five questions, what do you like about this story or passage, what does the story tell us about people, what does the story tell us about God, what does the story tell us about and finally who needs to hear this story. Ace took the lead and suggested, because it was a long reading, we could each read a section of the passage of Scripture assigned for the morning, Jesus, the Bread of Life, found in John 6:25-58. The previous week we had read the story of God's provision of manna found in Exodus 16:1-12. With two green teas, three cappuccinos and one flat white ordered Ace started, and moving anticlockwise the others followed each reading a section, Arthur next, then Rob, then me, followed by Shane finishing with Mohamed. While it was Mohamed's first time in attendance he didn't hesitate, and with some help from Shane's completed his reading admirably. It was Ace, who had extended the invita

Some time ago a young lady, Ella, who had been attending our local church was referred to me by the Coordinator of our Children's Ministry.  She was very interested in the internship program the church was introducing the following year. I was the project coordinator. We agreed on a time to discuss her interest. Ella told me her story and expressed her interest in the children's ministry. I explained how we envisaged the internship program operating and the requirements of the candidates. During the conversation, while Ella proved herself to be a very good candidate, I had this sense of uncertainty in regard to her personal relationship with God. So before we finished I asked, "Ella, can I run something by you?" After a short pause I then went on to ask, "Ella, let me ask, has anyone ever sat down with you and explained from the Bible how you can know God personally and be sure of your relationship with him?" From time to time at church I sense the need to m

Some time ago I planted a flowering gum. I had purchased two but one died in the pot before I was able to replant it. The onset of hot weather, at the start of the Australian summer, was too much for the replanted tree and the leaves instead of a healthy green turned brown. Seemingly it had died too. I was disappointed. I'm not sure whether it was my disappointment but I delayed pulling it out. One day I had the task of pulling it out on my list of gardening jobs. I collected the fork from the shed, stepped on the garden bed where I had planted the tree and was about to drive the fork into the ground at the root of the tree when, thankfully, I noticed tiny new buds appearing on the branches of the tree. I was pleasantly surprised. The tree had obviously taken root and, although the leaves had turned brown, it was alive. It had survived. I never cease to be amazed by the resurrection story. Christ seemingly dead was alive! Similarly, I am thrilled when the new life of God breaks thr

From Steve... Searching for Houses of Peace in Leicester Early in July around 70 people went out looking for “houses of peace” around our home city of Leicester. When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem he sent out 72 disciples to prepare the way. They went, taking nothing with them except the offer of prayer and the good news. They went looking for “houses of peace”. Homes that welcomed the messenger and the message (Luke 10:1-11). This is what happened in Leicester when we put Jesus’ instructions in practice. On our first night Michelle and I walked up and down a whole street in an Indian area visiting every home. Many people were out. Most people we met thanked us for asking, but didn’t want us to pray for them. It was hard work. At the last door we met Prema, a young professional woman from India. We asked her if there was anything we could pray for? Please come in she insisted. She was suffering from back pain and wanted us to pray for her. Half an hour later we left promising to vi

From my friend Paul... Good morning friends! I had an interesting drive to Camperdown yesterday, in and out of squally storm patches with rain and sleet and wind. But at one point there was a clear patch, with a big, clear rainbow right in front of me, painted against an immense dark storm front up ahead. All the colours were so sharp and bright and clearly distinguishable in a broad band across the road ahead. And I was thinking to myself, "Should I stop and get a picture? That's the sort of thing people like to see on Facebook." And so I deliberated for maybe a kilometer and by the time I had made up my mind the colours had faded, started to go fuzzy, and then within seconds it was gone. And I was back in the storm front, with windscreen wipers going like the clappers. And it occurred to me that God's will for our lives can be very much like that. Every so often we gain a clear view of it. God wants us to see all the glorious promises he has for us, just like when H

From Steve.. Pray for the Leicester Mission week Last weekend we trained seventy people in our home city of Leicester. We taught them how to connect with people, share the gospel and train new disciples. On Saturday afternoon everyone went out in pairs praying for people on the streets and asking, "Are you near or far from God?" and "Would you like to be near?" I met a Nigerian couple with a Muslim background. We had a great conversation and plan to get together and talk again. So many others had similar experiences. From July 6-11 Christians from around Leicester and Britain will gather for a week of Mission. Each morning there will training. In the afternoons and evenings we will go out into the community searching for “houses of peace.” When Jesus sent out his disciples he told them to look for God-prepared people who would open their homes to the messengers and their message (Luke 10). We’ll be going out with a small gift of cookies and an offer to pray for any

Life has its challenges, some we manage relatively easily, others, "giants", significantly impact our lives. The story of David and Goliath recorded in 1 Samuel 17 has several lessons worthy of our consideration. * Giants reveal who we, bring to light our character. * Victories are won in the training. Our life training is preparation for our challenges. * Faith practiced in the lesser battles equip us to overcome. Even with these lessons in mind we can still face doubts and failure, and the "if only" question is on our lips. If only I had more faith? This leads us to a greater lesson. * REMEMBER THE SIZE OF GOD So often we look at the giant then look at ourselves and see our inadequacy. Listen to the words of 1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV, David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. [46] This day the Lord will deliver you

Another post from my friend Paul... Many years ago a man named John Bunyan was in jail, locked up for the way he had openly been expressing his Christian faith. He was just a poor simple tradesman but in that jail he penned a short book that has become legendary and has encouraged countless Christians to 'stay the path ' that leads to righteousness. The book is all about staying on the path the Lord has set out for us instead of being led astray. This concept comes straight from the bible and is reiterated many times. And it is of vital importance to young adults, who represent the largest 'drop off ' group in the church, with up to 80% walking away from their faith. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13-14, "Broad is the road that leads to destruction... But narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." How do we stay on the narrow path? Both Isaiah 2:3 and Micah 4:2 tell us, "The Lord will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.&

I greeted Anne when she arrived just before the start of the Sunday evening service. It was the second time I had met Anne. A few weeks earlier I had met her in the reception area to the church offices. Anne was leaving after attending a Woman2Woman craft activity. It was good to see Anne again at the evening service. I was attending because my daughter was conducting the baptism of a lass, who was a member of the youth group. After the service,  a friend, Amie, told me she would be conducting her first Discovery Bible Study Monday lunchtime in the food court in Central Square, and Anne, and another lady, would be joining in. Monday morning I sent this text, "Hello Amie, You, Anne and Marg are in my prayers for your first DBS in Central Square today. Praise God, he is always at work drawing people to himself, through our Saviour Jesus. Bruce" Monday afternoon I received this message, "Thanks Bruce. Anne came and we did knowing God  personally and she accepted Jesus as Lo

Last Saturday afternoon when I arrived at the local Swim and Survival Centre the grandchildren were well into their long distance swims. I stayed for a while to chat to my son-in-law and my daughter, who arrived a little after me, before heading off to see Hamish, who lived nearby. Hamish and his family had been attending church for several months and recently I asked, "Would he be interested if I could explain to him from the Bible how he could know God personally?" to which he answered, "Yes!" It had taken a few weeks to negotiate a convenient time however, Saturday was the day and Hamish welcomed me warmly into his home. We settled into the lounge room with a coffee prepared by his lovely wife. I explained that before I shared God's story from the Bible I would like to tell my own story about knowing God personally. On this occasion I was prompted to start with a photograph I have on my smartphone of my immediate family. I introduced my wife, our two daughter

Hi friends. Pardon the length of this one. Just back from State Youth Games. As I reflect on the weekend I think for me it was a mixture of greatly encouraging, slightly disturbing and deeply enlightening. I have come back motivated more than ever, focussed on just one thing: enabling and equipping people with the powerful word of God. We have such riches in people at our church. Such great hearts of love, such open hearts to God,such committed hearts to each other. And that is such a massively wonderful privilege to be part of. The sense of nurture, belonging, acceptance, community- there is nothing else like it, the family of God. But that is not enough, if we are to fulfil our purpose in the world, our commission under the guidance of the saviour and master we serve. We must take in his word as it has been delivered to us, for "the gospel is the power of God for salvation " (Romans 1:16). And we must learn to handle that word correctly, just as Jesus taught his disciples t

Earlier this year I started a Discovery Bible Study for my friends. We meet at Piper's by the Lake, 10.30 am every Tuesday, for coffee. Some of my friends aren't available each week because they work shifts. So I've kept the structure simple. Come whenever you can, enjoy good company, read the Bible together, have lively discussion, improve your English and invite others. I chose the venue. Piper's by the Lake, deliberately. It is one of the common meeting places in Ballarat where people enjoy a coffee or a  meal. In other words I wanted our Discovery Bible happening in the "marketplace", not a local church or a home. Recently a second group started in Central Square, another marketplace in Ballarat. This group started reading the Seven Stories of Hope while our group recently started a series on the parables. Last week we read Luke 15, which contains the stories of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. After the reading we address five questions, &q

In one of my posts in July 2014, Meg told her story and mentioned she and her husband, Shane, wanted to get married again. They were married in 2007 in a registry office in Japan. Now  they wanted to be married in a church. Today, Saturday 28 February, I attended their re-commitment ceremony. It was a special day. Their pastor invited the guests to stand and to the music of Steve Grace's, Marry Me Again , Shane and Meg entered the chapel with their three delightful children, Nina and Mae on either side, and Taiki held safely in his father's arms. Shane looked very smart in a new suit, Meg was radiant in a lovely wedding dress and the children were all dressed for the occasion. I was very emotional. It was ten months since I baptised Meg following her acceptance of Jesus as her Saviour and I had watched her grow in her understanding of her new relationship with her Heavenly Father. Not only was a I privileged to pray a prayer of dedication during the ceremony but I knew I had be

In an earlier post, January 2014, I mentioned that I had transplanted several pups from a bromeliad that my brother had given me. But, alas, I have to report the transplants failed! I reported my failure to my brother an d he explained that the pups I had cut off were too small. Fortunately another pup appeared, so I left it attached to the original plant until it had grown larger before cutting it off and transplanting. The good news is that it has taken and is happily growing in its new pot. While the original bromeliad, given by my brother, has continued to produce pups, those I cut off too early withered and died, and the pup I left attached longer has not only survived but thrived. Again my experience with the bromeliad reminded me of the Parable of the Sower told by Jesus in Matthew 13. Jesus wants to reproduce disciples many times over across the nations. We need to be about the business of sowing the Good News of Jesus so that God can produce the harvest. However, there will be