Doing The Stuff

Here’s a familiar dilemma. We love the idea of work, but sometimes we just don’t want to do it, even if we like our jobs. And if we don’t like our jobs, well, that’s just The End! Mark and Andy unpack what work is good for, and what our best attitude towards it might be. Andy also unpacks his new lunchbox, but that’s another story. What significance is the relationship between faith and work? How can we invite God into the situations that frustrate us? Maybe the answer to our work-woes are found in trust and porpoises. Purpose, I mean. Tune in to this episode and find the redemptive edge to your work life, and even be a part of God’s bigger picture of reconciliation.

When we try and control what we’re not made to control, we lose control of ourselves. This week, Mark and Andy shares stories of mysterious cheques, converting to Kazak time, and putting pink bows in lions’ manes. We want to control our lives. We get emotional when we can’t. But are we setting ourselves up for failure? Sometimes the things we try the hardest to control we end up crushing. Maybe an open hand is the better outlook. Casting our minds back the beginning of it all - the role we’ve been given by God is not one of control, but of care and stewardship. Can we surrender the outcome of the things we’re most concerned about to God?

For a so-called ‘tolerant’ society, we’re becoming increasingly less tolerant. There’s a swelling tide of populism and nationalism around the world, founded on opposing alternative viewpoints. How do we avoid the us-and-them mindset? We don’t know how to disagree well; and it leads to us dividing ourselves into what we believe, which is kept private, and what is rational and publically ‘acceptable’. It’s the age old sacred-secular divide. Mark and Andy point out - we are but one person! How do we walk this public/private line - to maintain integrity, but be appropriate in different contexts? Seek the common good. What does it look like to put down our guns, and not fight battles that aren’t ours?

The year is 1955 (or 1985) and George McFly utters those immortal words: “You are, my density.” Hang on. We’re not breaking down the difference between density and destiny... Mark and Andy talk destiny and potential. Apologies if your cliche siren is firing, but we want to nut this out. (Sorry-not-sorry?) “Improve yourself! Be all you can be! Reach your potential!” Is potential the golden calf? Something we created for ourselves to live up to, sink everything in pursuit of, but can never get to. Are we just setting ourselves up for failure? Let strivings cease. Destiny brings security in the knowledge of God’s love. Infinitely better, so let’s stop feeding the ego and surrender to it.

Start with some middle aged men and mix in a handful of unresolved issues. Add some frustration at how the world works, a healthy serve of hunger, and a dash of impatience. Finally, cook until you sense that golden out-of-control feeling. The result? Well, surprisingly enough it isn’t very tasty. This week, Mark and Andy tackle grumpy old men. The topic, that is. We didn’t hurt any real grumpy old men. Promise. So where does this grumpiness come from, and is it justified? Conventional wisdom says we should embrace our emotions, but what about anger, frustration and even rage? And are our emotions a reliable method of directing our behaviour? Perhaps an answer lies in what the Apostle Paul called the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Obviously, they’re tough to just switch on. Fact is, we’ve got to head further up stream, to the headwaters, where God is working at our hearts. Caution: this episode contains references to middle-aged

This one’s for the cynics: Cynicism is easy. Changing culture is far harder. So how is it done? Even from over here in the studio - hey, over here! - Mark and Andrew reckon they can see beyond a culture that disappoints and into something better. More importantly, they can see something lying deeper in you. What’s that you say? Cue that Lion King soundtrack, and let’s get started. We bump into things in our culture that we just don’t like. The way things are done around here is just too ingrained to fix, right? No amount of opinion articles, loud rants or inaudible grumbles work. Cynicism feels superior but we know in our bones it’s hollow. Why? Because we were created to create. So how do we truly change culture? Rather than throw rocks back at the rock-throwers or feed the trolls; culture change comes through creating new culture. Listen in for all this and more - for blessed are the cheesemakers.

Men in their 40’s are at risk. In danger. And not the kind of danger that harks back to Indiana Jones. After all, only a few of us manage to run from giant boulders while clutching an ancient golden artefact and still look awesome. Here’s the thing. The stats say blokes like us are not happy. The suicide rate for Australian men over 40 is higher than ever. Many of us are not doing well, and what’s worse is we don’t talk about it either. Maybe we don’t know how? It’s a big deal, and a pretty serious conversation. Mark and Andrew chat about how to find new life amidst a mid-life crisis. On the lighter side, they wonder why there’s a strange coincidence between reading The Economist and depression, and how you can be comfortable in your own skin.

Contentment and striving. We don’t talk about it much, but it’s there. We give it other words like being happy, finding fulfillment or working hard. Either way, conventional wisdom says we shouldn’t do that. Stop buying things because they won’t make you happy. Instead, focus on experiences! You’ll remember experiences forever and be more content with yourself and the world around you. Right? Err, not really. There’s another angle and it looks a lot like gratitude, giving, volunteering and our spiritual life. Mark and Andrew look at what it takes to find true contentment, to stop comparing, and avoid becoming an ancient greek man rolling a boulder up a hill for eternity. Really. Oh, and there’s a random beer reference that made us happy.

Where have all the true leaders gone? Mark and Andy brave the wilds of jargon land to find out. Is the problem a global one, or a personal one? The premise we test out in our conversation is that if we you to get somewhere, or get something done, leadership is needed in some form. So maybe it's time to get off the bench? The trouble is there’s stuff that holds us - all of us - back. We might be cranky, still blaming people for stuff, or just not quite able to muster the courage to lead others or ourselves. Andy hits on the transformative initiative, a totally different way of approaching the leadership paradigm. Instead of blaming others, how about we respond positively. Instead of arguing, try listening. Where there’s disappointment and hurt, try forgiving. If you have an enemy, can you love them? It’s the Jesus story, and it’s at the heart of leadership.

We’re back in the studio for round two and this time Andy’s wearing headphones. On the table is a biggie: what really bugs us about getting older? Many of us have life goals, to-do lists, and milestones we’ve missed. It might be that you didn’t join a rock-band, haven’t travelled or haven’t met that special someone. They’re overt, and sometimes subconscious, expectations we have when reviewing life’s journey. So what’s our response. Shame, or guilt? Can we escape feelings of comparison and regret? And what do Kazak dentists and desert stranded sea-lions have in common? We’ve got a few suggestions: focus on grieving well, and not doing this life thing on your own.

You’ve stumbled upon ‘Doing the Stuff’ - the product of a long incubated dream, and a chat over lunch that “would have made a really interesting podcast.” What do we do with tension in our lives, and where does it come from? How do we have hope? And why does Andy keep dropping the word ‘liminal’? It’s very impressive, but what does it even mean? In their first studio foray, Andy Starr and Mark Jones introduce themselves and talk about what this podcast is all about. They chat about the gap between where you are right now, and where you feel you want to be. Thrown in for good measure are some wise words from John Wimber. So listen in on this pilot episode, join the conversation, and let’s go somewhere, be someone and do the stuff.