Bruce Staley

Recently my wife emphatically reflected out loud,  "We are spoilt!" I wholeheartedly agreed. We were sitting at table following our evening meal. The past three years had been difficult. My recovery from heart bypass surgery hadn't been all plain sailing.  However, we had received wonderful support throughout. It had come from all quarters, the medical professionals, family and friends. My wife went on to ask, "Why us?" I thought afterwards I could have responded with, "Why not us?" However, I didn't but responded with the thought that we had been spoilt so that we could spoil others. I had in mind the passage in Ephesians where the Apostle Paul writes, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us." Ephesians 1:7‭-‬8 NIV In difficult times we had experienced the lavishness of the riches of God grace and we in turn could help others experience s...

Counting Your Contentment Cash was the final sermon topic of our Pastor for Children and Families before she concluded her ministry at one2one Church of Christ. I was taken by the profoundness yet simplicity of Kay's presentation based on Philippians 4:11-13, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Previously each of the children in  the children's ministry were involved in constructing a duct tape wallet the making some contentment cash for their wallet. The cash was cards and the children were invited to write on the back of the cards the things they were thankful for. Remember the words of Jesus when he explained that the kingdom of God belongs to little ch...

Church boring? How can an encounter with the majestic, awe-inspiring, living God ever be considered boring? God is not dull and following Jesus is a daily adventure. The problem may lie with the setting, the style and content of our worship. However, it may also lie wthin ourselves. We need to engage our minds, in fact our whole person needs to be involved in the worship experience, all of our senses, sight, touch, sound, smell and taste. When you worship come expectantly into God's holy presence. “Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool,..." Psalm 132:7 All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:9‭-‬10 NIV I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2 NIV Acknowledgments: R C Sproul, Meeting With God , for the inspiration for this post. Andrew Thomas, Photographer,  for ...

Our Discovery group recently concluded it's deliberations on the the Old Testament book of Jonah. It's an amazing story resulting in a whole city, the city of Nineveh, seeking God's forgiveness. In a recent post, Disruptive Grace, I wrote, "The disruptive grace of God has not been and is not confined to biblical times. The Spirit of God continues to bring disruptive grace today. People's lives are dramatically changed, individual people, communities and nations around the world are radically and fundamentally changed." And while Jonah is another biblical example of God's disruptive grace a read of Steve Addison's, Movements that Changed the World , will quickly give you a historical view of the movements of the grace of God up to the present day. During these movements individuals, communities and nations are influenced by the Spirit of God and remarkable change results. God said to Jonah, "And should I not have concern for the great city of Ninev...

Day Six: My August Interlude for 2017 has come to an end and I return home to Ballarat -it's purpose of personal rest, relaxation and reflection has been fulfilled. During my daily wanderings, from my base in Torquay, along the surf coast from Lorne to Barwon Heads I have been inspired by my observations. Listening has been a constant companion -listening to the voice of the God of creation, the one true God, the Rock of my salvation. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its w...

The word disruptive conjures up images of hooligan sports fans, or drunken revellers spilling out onto the street in the early hours of the morning displaying behaviour without consideration  for the harm they may inflict upon persons or property. Disruptive technology maybe another thought, and the disruption it brings to accepted business practices such as Uber and the taxi industry. Years ago the advent of the quartz movement and digital technology brought seismic upheaval to the Swiss watchmaking industry.  See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartz_crisis There are many examples of disruption where the pattern of the past has been cast aside.However, take a few moments to ponder the disruption brought by the amazing grace of God. God's grace is disruptive. It brings change of seismic proportions to the patterns of behaviour of individuals, communities and nations. In biblical times Zaccheaus the grasper became the giver, Paul the persecutor became the preacher, the n...

Day Five: Lord, what a morning! A walk before heading to Barwon Heads again for lunch... The river... The boardwalk... From Rocky Point... A safe haven... On the track again... The promise of spring... Barwon Heads where the river meets the sea... Steps to the Bluff... Til tomorrow...

While I have known Andrew for a number years I have only recently started following his daily blog. He roams within a fortytwo kilometre radius of his home city, Ballarat, taking remarkable photographs. Some recent photographs of two of his favourite destinations... Early morning at Lake Wendouree... Aerial view of Lal Lal Falls... Why fortytwo kilometres? Andrew reckons that if his car breaks down he could  still run home! Recently Andrew completed a major project, publishing a photographic record of all fiftynine national parks , to coincide with the centennial year of the USA National Parks Service. His book, The National Parks of the United States: A Photographic Journey, is now available online through Amazon.com. Andrew's work reveals his passion for capturing the light and shade and colour of a moment, or the majestic grandeur of his surroundings, or the detail in his glimpses of nature. The Apostle Paul claims, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible quali...

Day Four: I had hoped to walk from Point Impossible back to Torquay on the Surf Coast track this morning. See http://www.surfcoastwalk.com.au/ However, there was water over the road into the Point. Instead, not to be denied, I drove to Brimlea and walked along the coastline to the Point. On my way... Far... Near... And... On to Barwon Heads for lunch... From Barwon Bluff... The bridge at Barwon Heads... I've placed this post under additional categories. They all apply personally for I am seeking God during my August Interlude of rest, relaxation and reflection. Til tomorrow...

Tim Shaw became the face of Demtel International and popularised the saying, "But wait, there's more...," for the Australian TV viewing audience. In recent posts I have described my experience with Discovery Bible Study groups and have encouraged others to start a discovery group. But wait there's more! Discovery Bible Study is one tool, or strategic action, in a whole disciple-making or church planting movement.The disciple-maker is open to meeting God-prepared people, people who are seeking and hungry for the gospel or people who have already received  Christ as their Saviour and want to learn how to share the gospel. Discovery Bible Study, with it's obedience-based  methodology, becomes the instrument for reproducing disciples, who reproduce other disciples. "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." John 14:21 NIV Again a quick se...

Pop-up food venues have become popular. Food trucks and stalls are popping up, and down, all year round. Food vendors congregate, set up tables and chairs, and in no time people arrive to whet their appetite and enjoy conversation with like-minded others. Sharing food is so often conducive to meaningful conversations. Food addresses our physical hunger and eating with others can satisfy our social needs. Important as these experiences are to our wellbeing Discovery Bible Study groups go beyond that to address our deeper spiritual needs. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  ” Matthew 4:4 NIV People, who are searching and spiritually hungry, come together to feed on the Word of God in a Discovery group. They encourage one another and seek answers to the question, "Having read this passage how then shall I live?" They are open to the Spirit of God and are prepared to step out in obedience when t...

"You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love." Jonah 4:2 Following the Chosen series of studies our discovery group has moved onto the theme of Discovering God's Compassion for a Lost World based on the four chapters of the book of Jonah in the Old Testament. We have continued to use the three step Discovery Bible Study method, Look Back, Look Up and Look Forward. This method allows the Spirit of God elbow room and I have observed His influence upon each of our weekly sessions. Across the course of the last eighteen months the discovery group has been a wonderful tool for encouraging discipleship - following Jesus. There has been a growing appreciation of the Scriptures, and a growing appreciation of the importance of being obedient to the Spirit of God revealed through the Scriptures. As such I have observed the willingness to share leadership and invite others to join the group, and a deepening desire to extend the opportunity, in the f...

In her book, Time to Think, 1999, Nancy Kline lists ten components of a thinking environment, Attention - Listening with respect, interest and fascination. Incisive Questions - Removing assumptions that limit ideas. Equality - Treating each other as thinking peers, Appreciation - Practising a five-to-one ratio of appreciation to criticism. Ease - Offering freedom from rush and urgency. Encouragement - Moving beyond competition. Feelings - Allowing sufficient emotional release to restore thinking. Information - Providing a full and accurate picture of reality. Place - Creating a physical environment that says back to people, 'You matter.' Diversity - Adding quality because of the differences between us. Almost forty years before, in 1961, Taylor Caldwell wrote her novel, The Man Who Listens, where eighty year old John Godfrey fulfilled his dream of constructing a place, a physical environment, which said to people who entered, 'You matter.' With const...

Reblog of a recent post by my friend Paul at granosalispaullocandro.wordpress.com   It has been said that even as an exercise in itself prayer has psychological benefits. It can be a means of releasing the tension that result from worry and fear. Yet we are assured from Scripture that prayer is not merely a subjective exercise like reciting a Buddhist mantra rather it is the placing of our situation, needs and fears in the hands of God. Looking at the story of Hannah in the early chapters of the book of Samuel, we see an example of the change fervent prayer brings to situations. For a woman to remain childless in those days was treated as a reproach and an inferred some sin in the life and God’s displeasure. Hannah although she had the devotion of her husband still had to contend with Peninah’s ridicule and reproach. The stigma of her society at that time was difficult to cope with. Her visit to the tabernacle and fervent prayer to the Lord was such the Eli the priest accused her of dr...

Our Pastor, Mark, concluded the More to Life preaching series by explained clearly our choice to either commit to receive Jesus for the first time, to renew our commitment to follow Jesus, or deepen our commitment to follow Jesus. It was a moving experience to see the large number of people who chose to demonstrate their commitment by walking to the front of the worship centre and hanging their commitment cards on one of the tree branches arranged at the front. The following Tuesday our Discovery Bible Study group also concluded the series with Choice as the theme for the final study. Glenn, Wade and Bob joined me, and Bob at the end of the session expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the preparation of the study material. I have been privileged to observe the changes in people. Throughout people have been deliberate in extending invitations to others to join in. They have been prepared to share leadership responsibilities, they have prayed enthusiastically and...

The More to Life series mentioned in my post, http://brucestaley.com/2016/01/19/more-to-life/ , has begun! Last week by way of introduction it was Discovery Bible Study Reloaded and we examined Matthew 7: 24-29, the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders. Lots of laughter when someone  recalled a children's song of long ago and got the group to join in. https://youtu.be/Eu5bBDRpzPM This week was the first study, Life, in the series. John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." No singing this time but lots of excitement. Names were quickly entered on our Pray4five cards. And more excitement for me when my young friend, Praveen, from India, agreed to lead the group next week. Podcasts of the weekly sermons are available at www.churchone2one.org Not only reloaded but reinvented into a Discovery Discipleship Movement. We shall what see what God has in store.

In the Epilogue to his excellent book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God , Rob Bell draws our attention to the Apostle Paul's thoughts in Philippians 1:6, "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.", and highlights the powerful progression in the words 'began', 'good work' (a work in progress) and 'completion'. All of this is God's initiative, bringing to completion that which he has begun. When we look at creation, there was God in the beginning. He is bringing it to completion. When we look at God's salvation plan, there was God, in Christ, working it out, working it through to completion at the Cross, and God placed his seal of approval on the finished work by raising Christ from the dead. IMAGINE, the same power that God used to raise Christ from dead is at work in you NOW, bringing to completion that which he begun in you when received Chri...

Some time ago I completed a daily reading series by Charles Swindoll, Come Before Winter... While each reading was thought-provoking one reading in particular held my attention. Apprehension... One explanation of apprehension by Dictionary.com describes it this way, anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil. Further reading of Dictionary.com includes the following synonyms, alarm, worry, uneasiness and suspicion, all implying an unsettled and uneasy state of mind, and again apprehension is an active state of fear, usually of some danger or misfortune. This undefined uneasiness or feeling of uncertainty, misgiving or mistrust has the potential to cripple or immobilise, to hold us back. "What frustration is to yesterday, apprehension is to tomorrow." ...Swindoll The admission by the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:22, "And now compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.", has an air of ...

Stephen Covey died in 2012 as a result of complications arising from a bicycle accident. Stephen was considered the pioneer of the self-help genre that aimed at helping people live more productively. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, which was published in 38 languages and sold over 20 million copies was his most notable publication. I have a couple of copies of Seven Habits on my bookshelf at home along with a copy of First Things First which Stephen co-wrote with Roger Merrill. Stephen Covey https://g.co/kgs/aLNuu In Seven Habits Stephen mapped out his seven habits paradigm with each of the habits in sets of three moving a person from DEPENDENCE to INDEPENDENCE and finally to INTERDEPENDENCE. He recognised that personal effectiveness is greatly improved when we acknowledge and give credence to the part others play in our effectiveness rather than adopting the motto of Frank Sinatra's song, "I Did It My Way." Our greatest effectiveness is achieved however, whe...

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...