Doing the Stuff

With scant regard for how much notice you’ve had - it’s the last episode of Doing the Stuff.Thank you for tuning in! We’ve hope you’ve been encouraged, had your thoughts provoked, and maybe-possibly been helped somewhere in there too, to do the stuff. Tune in to this final episode as Mark and Andy as they look back on the journey that’s been, and give some parting words for what’s ahead!

You know what a boat is, but can you sail? You might know about God, but do you know God? This week Mark and Andy talk about why Doing the Stuff is about ‘doing’, and not just knowing. We’re in a relationship with God, not just following a moral code. But how do we get away from the platitudes, and actually get to know our God? How do we experience him and do the day-to-day alongside him? Tune in for the penultimate (nothing to do with stationary) episode of Doing the Stuff, and get walking with God.

They’re back! Mark and Andy sit down at the microphone to begin Doing the Stuff for 2018. First topic off the ranks is soccer. Soccer clubs, that is. A general run down on communities as a whole, really. How do we do community well? It looks like there’s a lot to do with expectations: What am I wanting to get out of it? What am I going to invest into it? How far into this community am I willing to go? Along the way Mark and Andy talk the trinity - God being in community with himself. The early church and how it freaks Mark out a bit, and also how to say ‘no’.

Andy's coined a new word. Mark's dabbling in psychology. They're both talking about terraforming, but aren't 100% about what it really means. When you think about next year, do you feel in control? Is it going to happen to you, or are you going to make it happen?

It's a tough one, it's life-changing, but sometimes we need to quit. It could be a bad thing you're desperate to get out of, but it could also be a trade-off between two great things. Point is, knowing when to leave is hard. Thankfully, Mark and Andy are here to help us out. Well actually, God's showing us a path he's laid before us.

We're fast approaching the end of the year, and also the reflective season here at Doing the Stuff. This week Mark and Andy talk 'Kronos', 'Kairos' and other Greek words as they reflect on our decisions to change. Lets walk in the work God's prepared for us to do.  

What if I fail? What if I look like an idiot? What if it all goes wrong? Fear. The destroyer of dreams, the opposite of truth, the frightening combination of both snakes and clowns… Fear is inevitable, but how do we overcome it? Mark and Andy talk about the role of truth to defeat fear.

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.

Imagination can feel a bit… childish, but you can’t build what you can’t see. This week Mark and Andy talk about the role of imagination in our Doing the Stuff lives. How do you foster creativity, what does vision look like, and why engage in dreaming? Changing the world, building a business, growing a church, creating anything(!) requires dozens of decisions every day. We thankfully have God to partner with on our imagineering process.  

We’re in a hurry. Everyone’s busy, and busy all the time. There are big decisions to be made, worries in the back of your head, and no end of the things to do. We’re stressed. When do we get off this horse? Stress is hurry sickness. Or at least, it might be a good way to think about, says Mark. Meanwhile, Andy dabbles in some beginner neuroscience, limbic systems and frontal cortex whatnot. So how do we rid ourselves of stress, and get some space? Naming what you’re feeling, speaking it, writing it down - praying, singing! Allows us to stop simply ‘reacting’ and actually make a good decision on how to deal with it. It might not be for the faint hearted! But it’s really, kinda necessary.

“We’re qualified, and believe it can be done.” This week Mark and Andy have another listen to the John Wimber sermon that started it all, back in episode one. What holds us back from doing the stuff? Andy compares us to the burning bush before Moses. Like the bush that is on fire but does not burn, God brings us life rather than consuming it.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Do I have what it takes?” We constantly face new challenges and situations, and inevitably we ask this question. Will I succeed or fail? Mark and Andy tackle this question, how it follows us around, and how it can paralyse us with fear. One answer, of course, is you don’t know until you try. But is that the only answer? Where does God fit in the picture, and does success even matter?

If there's not enough risk in our lives, every so often, we inject it ourselves! We get the feeling that things just aren't quite right, and then sabotage what we would otherwise think of the status quo. Mark and Andy talk about the ten year itch - how to identify it and what to do about it.  

In this episode, Mark and Andy ponder the intersection of thinking and doing and the driving force behind both. Our society values right thinking and right doing, but so much of our behaviour is automatic - good and bad. So, what’s going on under the hood of your car? What drives you?

Everyone has beliefs, and they’re changing and growing all the time. Some of them are big and important, shaping the direction of our entire lives. Some beliefs are less significant: whether pineapple belongs on pizza… But how do our beliefs change? And how does it impact our identity? Mark tells us about his ‘Beliefonomics’ concept, which map the belief journey from unbelief, through reconsidering, stress, hunting, truth and finally to belief.

Oh yeah, it’s the men’s retreat episode! What if you’re part of a community, and you’ve decided to do the stuff? A whole weekend bonding with the blokes, talking and investing in your spiritual life? Sounds a bit, um, confronting? Well, here’s what you need to know before you plunge into the big event: Mark and Andy’s (not very serious) tips for surviving the men’s retreat. It might be awkward or hard at times but despite this week’s tongue-in-cheek attitude, make no mistake, talking about life matters.

This week Mark and Andy get philosophical with the question: What are you looking forward to? Andy read an article that suggested that the key to happiness is having something to look forward to. But what if we’re looking forward to the wrong thing, and what happens when you arrive?

Mark ponders mystics. Andy sees a seed hopper. God can often use methods of communication that we’re not familiar with. And without the benefit of hindsight it can be easy to miss what he’s saying and how it fits into the bigger picture of your life. What is God saying to you on your journey? Based on God’s track record he might just interrupt and give directions. Are you praying for your metaphorical seed hopper?

Grief is confronting. Feelings of pain, loss and sadness - that you can’t just put a lid on. The experience is different for different people. The amount of time the journey takes, and the intensity too.  There’s an understanding that you need to ‘let it happen’. But how do you deal with it? What do you say? When will this relent? How does God fit in this picture? The questions are many, and the conversations often few. Andy and Mark wade through grief like treacle, as they talk about being real in the face of loss.

God shows up, whether we deserve it or not. This episode, Mark and Andy are talking about Jacob, and the relative comfort or comfortlessness of sleeping with a rock for a pillow. Jacob has hit rock bottom - rejected, homeless, hungry. And God visits him. Jacob's stone pillow becomes the pillar of the house of God. God is with us when we cry out, but also when we don't. Our moments of failing and stress become right in God's presence.

This week Mark and Andy head into metaphor-land to answer the question: What’s stopping you from growing? It seems that worn out tires, herniated discs and life fatigue could have one really important thing in common...

It's sometimes a woolly topic, but personal growth is a thing. So how do you do it?How do you measure it? Why is it important? Emotionally, spiritually, physically, education...ally? We're all going to have different ways we grow best, but becoming more and more into the person God has made us is part of what we're called to. Mark and Andy talk about the different types of growth, why failure can lead to growth, listening to 800 audiobooks, and of course growing around the middle.

If there's any lesson to be learned from Star Wars (and believe us, there's many) it's that there's something special about the 'high ground'. Higher ground has an advantage and gives perspective. We've heard of course of someone having a moral high ground. But sometimes it feels as though the world has the high ground over us.... We can feel defeated, overcome, and vulnerable, without any way forward. Should we jump? Can we? I can't leave my current job because I don't have the skills for the one I want. I'd like to do this, but what's the point if there's someone better than me? Mark and Andy talk high and low ground, where to sit at a feast in a yurt and lessons to be learnt from Jesus, crucified on a hill.

Most people would say they'd rather do anything else than public speaking, but sometimes we're up on stages that may not always look like one. Let's face it, we're not all Bono. Maybe it's in a family or work setting. A platform on the internet, an expression of creativity or position of authority. Where is your voice and influence heard? And what should you do with that? Perhaps it's because Mark has been crutch-ridden with a busted ankle, he's been thinking back on his trip to America which culminated in a U2 concert. Andy's been talking to his kids about being famous... How do we use the stage, that is our life? Do we hold back, afraid it might not work out, not one hundred percent confident of the foundation which we are on? Andy and Mark talk about how to steward the stage well, setting out to do what we've been called for - taking example from the King who took the cross, rather than crown.

Mark and Andy are out this week, so let's take a look in the pool room, for an episode from last year... 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.

There is stuff driving us like a golf club. A lot of it we actually don't have much visibility over - it's underground. Our motives, our fears… Buried under busyness and perhaps our aspirations… Mark and Andy are talking that stuff: the subterranean agenda we all carry. It can be lethally hidden but what if it's uncovered? How does that happen and how will you look it in the eye?

The American road-trip of Doing the Stuff continues. A conversation in a park in San Francisco sparks a chat about fear and what to do about it. Confidence may well be fear’s opposite. But confidence in what?

Mark’s in America. Andy’s in Australia. A new report on belief in Australia suggests that for more than 1.5 million people a Christian is as far from relationship with them as America is from Australia. 45% of adults don’t talk about religion, yet the main prompt for people to think about religion is through conversation. How did we get here? How do we change?

Hurling opinions at each other can become more than a pastime in this day of trolls and angry middle-aged men. Yet that impulse to speak up is good. Mark and Andy put on their paracletes and talk advocacy. It’s that noble calling that brings out the best and brightest bits of our humanity. But how do you do it right? We reckon there are some particular people in this world waiting for your answer.

You know the feeling. Life gets tough and you want a priest. After all, don’t they have a hotline to Heaven? We love talking to “spiritual” people about our life’s direction or big questions because it’s easy, they’re usually good at listening, and we can avoid the biggie - talking with God Himself. Mark and Andy revisit one of the Bible’s iconic moments when Jerusalem’s temple curtain was torn in two. God busted out of the Holy of Holies, giving us access to Jesus without needing a priest in the middle. The trouble is, we can be tempted to stitch up the curtain again. So, what’s the conversation you’re not having?

Mark and Andy are out this week, so let's take a look in the pool room, for an episode from last year... 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.

Am I allowed to say this, well... No offence, but... What's okay to say? It's good to be mindful of others, but sometimes avoiding offending someone can be like tip-toeing through a minefield. Where does forgiveness fit into all this? Are you still holding on to an occasion when you've been offended? Mark and Andy break down 'offence' of all kinds, and chat where to go from here. Also, listen in to hear about Andy's Russian relationship ending misspeaks.

This world’s a noisy place. And as you suspected, as a constant, it’s not doing you many favours. So we’re talking non-noise. You know, silence. According to studies, it’s got some wildly medicinal benefits. In fact, when you think about your mission this is probably critical. But how do you work it into life? Yes, it may well be time to get those noise cancelling headphones but there’s also the inner chatter. How do you quieten that or should we even try? Sounds unrealistic? Hear Mark - Qualified Busy Person - give his take on it. Spoiler: as a minimum you should probably listen to less podcasts and more Simon and Garfunkel.

As our society pushes harder and harder to fine-tune life, loneliness stares down our best efforts. In fact it’s killing us. Mark and Andy take a look under the hood at the problem of loneliness. It’s a problem that’s not going away and seemingly has the simplest of antidotes. So why can’t we crack it? Maybe it has something to do with what we’re putting on our life dashboard, so to speak. Maybe we should all just be playing a little more ping pong. When the fit hits the shan, who are you going to call? (No, the answer is not Ghostbusters)

Buckle in, because the seatbelt sign is on for this week’s episode of Doing the Stuff. Andy shares (for free!) his ultra-secret strategy to beating the drag of jet lag after long plane trips. Apparently it’s got something to do with circadian rhythms. But if that’s not enough of a draw card, Mark and Andy also coin the phrase... ‘life-lag’. Let the dictionary read: life-lag, the feeling of being out of sync with the world around you. How can we feel present wherever we’re at, rather than being overwhelmed and always needing to catch up on something? It’s very easy to get swept along by external forces, how can we be in more control about our approach to a day?

Identity. Turns out how we think about ourselves has a lot to do with the story you tell about yourself. What’s your life story? How do you tell it?  How much do you edit your life story? Is it okay to leave that bit out?  Does your story go from bad to good? Or do you only see things getting worse...? Is it a story of your own making, or of other things just happening to you? If you believe you’re unable to influence your life story, you may not try and turn things around when things aren’t easy breezy. In the end, what do you have that you didn't receive? Mark and Andy talk about story guilt, self-efficacy, and being part of a larger, more profound story. And that one's all about redemption.

Mark and Andy are out this week, so let's take a look in the pool room, for an episode from last year... Ever listened in on yourself praying? MO is modus operandi - a particular way of doing something. Here, it’s the framework you use to think about God. How you address God might be a good way to start thinking about what your MO is. But the problem is, getting stuck with one MO with God - especially if it's not based on who God really is - puts a big limit on your relationship. We’re putting him in a box. We can get stuck feeling we need to please God - forgetting that the call is instead to put our trust in him. God’s not just our ticket to heaven, he’s not just a loving father, and not just our saviour either. Tune in to Mark and Andy’s chat, as they discover just how compelling it is to be ever learning about God’s character.  

Let’s get down to the serious stuff. Contemporary dads are spending more time with their kids than previous generations. Playing with toys, doing craft, reading and time in the park are all worthy activities - but not scary. Mark and Andy tackle the big question for dads in their middle age - just how far will you go for your kids? What if your daughter or son wants you to, say, dance with them in a ballet studio? With a tutu? Where’s your line? Just how far will you go? Embarrassing dads, listen up, and let us know. Are you letting your kids raise you?

It’s a candid look at personal motivation this week, as Mark finds himself wondering why his energy and drive has apparently disappeared so early in the year. Andy in his helpful response takes us back to reflect on mimetic desire, and being aware of what or who we’re following. It’s challenging to look at what really gets you out of bed? What goals are you chasing, or perhaps what’s holding you back from going further? If, like Mark, you find yourself in February and wondering when you’ll finally hit the ground running in 2017 then listen in for a few clues about what to do next. Here’s a none-too-obvious hint to get you going: what would Jesus do?

Doing the Stuff is back for 2017 and it’s been such a long holiday it feels like a sabbatical. Not that Mark and Andy are complaining. In this first episode we look at why as a kid you were only happy with your Lego house until you saw your friend’s truck. And today why you are probably more jealous of your best friend than you like to admit. Rene Girard is our guide. It's a deep dive into mimetic desire, conflict, sacrifice, jealousy and scapegoats. It’s heavy stuff but perfect for reflecting on the big things in life, like the eternal sacrifice of Jesus. And it could even be useful for little things, but we’ll leave that up to you. Dig in!

Torrent. Inundation. Drinking from a firehouse… It’s been a big year. Rather than flicking quickly to the next year we thought we’d have a crack at some reflection. But how? 2016 was huge. How do you pick through it, gleaning the good stuff, the lessons, the keepers, noticing where God’s at work and not let the headlines dissipate the important. Mark and Andy DIY a 2016 sieve, a set of questions to help you digest the year that was. They stick to them, sort of. Join us for the last huzzah this calendar year. Play along at home. We look forward to seeing you on the other side!

‘Tis the season to be jolly… and stressed, right? There’s nothing like deadline pressure to focus the mind and bring about lots of stress-inducing situations. This week Mark and Andy help alleviate your worries with some well-timed catharsis. Introducing Mark and Andy’s Handy Guide to the 12 Pains of Christmas! Sit back, relax and enjoy knowing it’s not just you. We’re all facing very similar dilemmas, and sometimes you just need a bit of a laugh before carrying on.

Let’s get down to business - it’s time for the bible episode! This is a story about our bible reading habits, or lack thereof. But Mark and Andy aren’t out to name and shame - this isn’t the guilt trip episode. The question is whether we’ve become just a little too casual. If you’ve been a Christian for a while, there’s a good chance you’re pretty familiar with many of the bible’s big stories. Familiarity can breed contempt, right? Well, that doesn’t change the fact that we need the bible at a deep soul level. So how do we wrestle with the internal dilemma - you’d like to read more, but find it tough. Maybe you’re out of practice? Mark & Andy offer a few handy tips on what to do next and make bible reading a life-giving, sustainable part of your day.

The world’s full of angst, worry and confirmation bias. People are blaming Facebook, Google and the media. It’s all their fault, right? What if reality is a little more nuanced? Mark and Andy are fascinated by the idea that we all live in cultural bubbles. We view life through different lenses and it’s colouring the world more than we realise. It’s a bit like that old saying - ideology is like bad breath, it takes someone else to notice. And just like bad breath, entrenched ideologies can start to stink after a while. Our thought life affects relationships, mental health, physical health and our ability to imagine a different future. So, what’s next? Listen to the show for a few clues. Hint: actually listening to a different point of view is a great idea.

How judgemental are you? One of life’s big dilemmas is we’re hard-wired to make judgement calls. First impressions count - we make instant judgements based on a first glance, what people say, or what they believe. The trouble comes when we begin obsessing over long-held beliefs, refusing to concede there’s another valid perspective or opinion. Ironically, our freedom to hold opinions can become a mental prison that locks us up in unforgiveness and negative emotions that have lasting consequences. Mark and Andy wrestle with their emotions, judgements, and even get a bit clever. Andy’s dissection of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral offers hope. How do your judgements line up with experience, scripture, tradition, and reason? Are you ready to challenge your thinking?

They say church appeals to women more than men. Is that right? And if so, how do we respond? This week Mark and Andy rant about an enduring, and if we’re honest, pretty controversial topic. It raises lots of good questions. Like, does the church appeal equally to men and women? What would it mean if the church worked harder to appeal to men? Would we see a more “aggressive” church that talks about beer, footy and V8s? What about solutions - do men need to change? Or does the church need to change? And here’s a kicker, what if they’re the wrong questions? What would Jesus do?

Faith, work, relationships, big decisions - are we doing this or not? Making decisions can hard. There are some significant life questions that we just don’t know the answer to - we can see both sides, and the decision just doesn’t come easy. This week, Mark and Andy talk in or out, decision making, deadlines, and the difficulty of talking with others about our conundrums. Whilst Andy doesn’t know whether we should do this topic at all, he does know talking a walk in the bush gives him the space to decide. Sometimes fence sitting, and self reliance is overrated. Listen in for Mark and Andy’s struggle and insights on making decisions, ceasing anxieties, and taking God into the dilemma.

They say there’s no such thing as a dumb question. Are you sure? Mark and Andy talk this week about the engaging with big questions, creating a question-asking culture and why you should always take a mint when someone offers. Does fear hold us back from asking questions - in the fear of seeming silly - and answering questions - in case we don't like them? Mark notes that Jesus always led with questions, and Andy shares how he got through his high school maths class. Is the quality of your life, determined by the quality of your questions?

We’re in a hurry. Everyone’s busy, and busy all the time. There are big decisions to be made, worries in the back of your head, and no end of the things to do. We’re stressed. When do we get off this horse? Stress is hurry sickness. Or at least, it might be a good way to think about, says Mark. Meanwhile, Andy dabbles in some beginner neuroscience, limbic systems and frontal cortex whatnot. So how do we rid ourselves of stress, and get some space? Naming what you’re feeling, speaking it, writing it down - praying, singing! Allows us to stop simply ‘reacting’ and actually make a good decision on how to deal with it. It might not be for the faint hearted! But it’s really, kinda necessary.

“What changes when you get married? #everything.” After the warm fuzzies of the ‘being a dad’ episode, wanted to follow up by talking all things marriage. Mark shares about the start of the relationship with his wife-to-be, leaving messages on paddle-pop sticks. Also how they deal with challenges, the importance of always growing, being in community and asking for help when it’s needed. How do you keep the flame alive? “Keep talking, all the time. There’s just no shortcut for communication.” And learn their love language! Find out what’s important for you as a couple, and make it happen. Listen in for more.

Are we seeking God? Or are we just using God as another way to lifehack our problems? Lifehack is defined in the urban dictionary as: A tool or technique that makes some aspect of one's life easier or more efficient. We “hack” everything now. Efficiency is the new god of a highly competitive marketplace. It is all too easy to see Christianity as another option on the shelf. But is that actually Christianity? We all want to do something good, we all want get in touch with the deeper realities of life, we all want significance - isn’t God just another of a plethora of streams to drink from? No. It’s about a highly inefficient, indulgent, all encompassing relationship with a God who decided he’d be best known through sending his Son as a Palestinian Jew... Jesus says if you love your life you will lose it. Lose your life for him and you will find it.