Bruce Staley

Your Invitation to Live Through Depression The final session at the Men's Camp was presented by Dr David Pierce. More about David and his work can be found at http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/researcher/person9226.html

Your Invitation to Live Through Depression The final session at the Men's Camp was presented by Dr David Pierce. More about David and his work can be found at http://www.findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/researcher/person9226.html

Your Invitation to LIVE through Difficult Times In Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul writes, “ And we KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purposes.” The Apostle Paul is not speaking from purely head knowledge rather this is a declaration of fact, firsthand experience time and time again. Allow me to bring you several stories about living through difficult times. 1. Victor Frankl Frankl was a determinist raised in the tradition of Freudian psychology, which postulates that whatever happens to you as a child shapes your character and personality and basically governs your whole life. The limits and parameters of your life are set, and, basically you can’t do much about it. Frankl was also a psychiatrist and a Jew. He was imprisoned in the death camps of Nazi Germany , where he experienced things that were repugnant to our sense of decency that we shudder to even repeat them. His parents, his brother...

Your Invitation to LIVE through Difficult Times In Romans 8:28 the Apostle Paul writes, “ And we KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purposes.” The Apostle Paul is not speaking from purely head knowledge rather this is a declaration of fact, firsthand experience time and time again. Allow me to bring you several stories about living through difficult times. 1. Victor Frankl Frankl was a determinist raised in the tradition of Freudian psychology, which postulates that whatever happens to you as a child shapes your character and personality and basically governs your whole life. The limits and parameters of your life are set, and, basically you can’t do much about it. Frankl was also a psychiatrist and a Jew. He was imprisoned in the death camps of Nazi Germany , where he experienced things that were repugnant to our sense of decency that we shudder to even repeat them. His parents, his brother...

YOUR INVITATION TO LIVE ON THE GROWING EDGE John 10:10; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:1-5; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:29; Philippians 4;13 Living on the Edge? If you’re not living on the edge then you are taking up too much room. People get involved in extreme sports to experience the adrenalin rush. This is an invitation to experience the deep-seated JOY of knowing God's involvement in your live each day. Rather than the adrenalin rush that comes through DOING or HAVING it is a deep down joy that comes from BEING ! Living on the Growing Edge is the title of a book I read some years ago. The author, Bruce Larson, recalls meeting a remarkable teacher, “…o ne of those gifted people who realises that she is not teaching subjects but persons. In her classroom young people not only mastered learning skills, but began to understand themselves and life. This teacher was able to consistently encourage her students and help them excel. Her method, a concept...

YOUR INVITATION TO LIVE ON THE GROWING EDGE John 10:10; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:1-5; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:29; Philippians 4;13 Living on the Edge? If you’re not living on the edge then you are taking up too much room. People get involved in extreme sports to experience the adrenalin rush. This is an invitation to experience the deep-seated JOY of knowing God's involvement in your live each day. Rather than the adrenalin rush that comes through DOING or HAVING it is a deep down joy that comes from BEING ! Living on the Growing Edge is the title of a book I read some years ago. The author, Bruce Larson, recalls meeting a remarkable teacher, “…o ne of those gifted people who realises that she is not teaching subjects but persons. In her classroom young people not only mastered learning skills, but began to understand themselves and life. This teacher was able to consistently encourage her students and help them excel. Her method, a concept...

An Invitation to Live My friend Mark conducted the third session at the Men's Camp. He used the same groups that had been arranged for the previous session. Activity #1 Read 1 John 3:1 Discuss together your understanding of this verse and what it means to be a child of God. Activity #2 Prayerfully consider the four invitations listed below and highlight how you think Jesus may be inviting you to respond. What is Jesus inviting you to learn ? Matthew 4:18-20 How is Jesus inviting you to rest ? Matthew 11:28-30 How is Jesus inviting to risk ? Matthew 14: 5-31 What is Jesus inviting you to change ? Matthew19:16-22 Activity #3 Join with 1 or 2 others and pray for each other.

An Invitation to Live My friend Mark conducted the third session at the Men's Camp. He used the same groups that had been arranged for the previous session. Activity #1 Read 1 John 3:1 Discuss together your understanding of this verse and what it means to be a child of God. Activity #2 Prayerfully consider the four invitations listed below and highlight how you think Jesus may be inviting you to respond. What is Jesus inviting you to learn ? Matthew 4:18-20 How is Jesus inviting you to rest ? Matthew 11:28-30 How is Jesus inviting to risk ? Matthew 14: 5-31 What is Jesus inviting you to change ? Matthew19:16-22 Activity #3 Join with 1 or 2 others and pray for each other.

Your Invitation to Be Secure This is the second session of the Men's Camp. After a brief introduction the campers were divided into groups of five. In true Aussie fashion the groups were named after Australian birds and animals, dingo, kookaburra, magpie, emu, platypus, kangaroo, koala and wombat. Each group was then provided with the following instructions. Leader We are going to take a few minutes to get acquainted. In order to do this we are going to ask ourselves several questions. The questions aren’t ‘loaded’. They simply provide a way for us to get to know each other in a short time. Step 1 The leader can get the ball rolling by reading out the first three questions and proceeding to answer them first. Then each person around the circle can respond to the questions. (i) What is your name? (ii) Where did you live between the ages of seven and twelve years? (iii) What stands out m...

Your Invitation to Be Secure This is the second session of the Men's Camp. After a brief introduction the campers were divided into groups of five. In true Aussie fashion the groups were named after Australian birds and animals, dingo, kookaburra, magpie, emu, platypus, kangaroo, koala and wombat. Each group was then provided with the following instructions. Leader We are going to take a few minutes to get acquainted. In order to do this we are going to ask ourselves several questions. The questions aren’t ‘loaded’. They simply provide a way for us to get to know each other in a short time. Step 1 The leader can get the ball rolling by reading out the first three questions and proceeding to answer them first. Then each person around the circle can respond to the questions. (i) What is your name? (ii) Where did you live between the ages of seven and twelve years? (iii) What stands out m...

Family I'm very appreciative of my family. I am very proud of our two daughters, our son-in-law and our two grandchildren. Our son-in-law enjoys photography. His work can be found at http://www.redbubble.com/people/poolej The above is an example of his work.

Family I'm very appreciative of my family. I am very proud of our two daughters, our son-in-law and our two grandchildren. Our son-in-law enjoys photography. His work can be found at http://www.redbubble.com/people/poolej The above is an example of his work.

YOUR INVITATION TO LIVE This posting is the first in a series of study sessions conducted during an ESA Men's Camp held at Norval Conference Centre in Hall's Gap among the magnificent Grampians mountain ranges, Victoria, Australia, over the weekend, 13 - 15 June, 2008. My wife recently celebrated a major birthday. 100 invitations were sent out and 75 people were able to join our family to celebrate the achievement of her milestone. It was wonderful day spent with family and friends over lunch in the function centre at Narmbool, a farming property owned by Sovereign Hill and located between Ballarat and Geelong. The central theme of the gospel, the good news, is invitational. Across the course of this weekend I want you to LISTEN to God’s invitations. His invitations are personal. They are extended to you personally. He desires your company, and just like the invitations to my wife's, a response, an action, an RSVP is required. Let’s get the ball rolling by r...