Doing the Stuff: Recent Episodes
Mark and Andy
Doing The Stuff is a podcast about going somewhere. It’s about where you are right now, where you want to be in the future, and the space in between. Join Mark & Andy for real conversations about wrestling with the stuff of life - the tension, worries and doubts that hold you back.
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.
We’re all looking for something. We all want things. And when we’ve been looking and wanting for a while, we get it.
C.S. Lewis wrote that ‘all find what they truly seek’.
Let’s say a career is your ultimate goal... you will experience the eventual emptiness of it. So how do you work out what you’re seeking? Look at what you’re reaping!
When the fundamental thing you’re seeking is challenged, will you fight back, or flee from it?
Can you walk into the space God created for us? A space of grace, to be moulded and shaped and to be made more like him.
What do you think of, when you think of peace? Maybe it’s a time without war. Maybe it’s getting away from work and seemingly endless things to do. Maybe it’s a comfy hammock next to a white beach...
Mark and Andy want to challenge this notion that peace is somewhere you’re not right now, that you need to get rid of things or ‘empty yourself’ to get to it.
Peace is a doing word! So how do we do the peace stuff?
Consider shalom. It’s a hebrew word for peace, but it also means ‘everything flourishing and right’, it means abundance and fullness of good things. Let’s allow God, who holds the world together in peace to work in our lives, give us perspective and restoration.
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.
Being a Dad is awesome. But the pressures of being a good parent can be an area of paranoia, especially for men. Being a parent is hard. Your kids do things to make you angry, we do things to let them down - are we doing a good job at this Dad gig? Is it even possible?
What does a good Dad look like? The question was put to Andy’s kids - and the results are in! Mark and Andy have some thoughts too - will your kids really ‘thank you later’ if you’re working hard for the money but not for a relationship with them?
It’s time to face the fact that there’s no substitute for time with your kids. And no, FaceTime doesn’t count, we don’t care how big your phone screen is. Don’t forget time with your partner, time with God and taking time for yourself.
Tune in for this and more, and let’s do the Dad stuff well.
If our lives are stories we’re living in, what are the narratives running through yours, and how well does it really work? Is the narrative of your life...
The career story - working your way up a corporate ladder or studying hard to get towards that elusive role. Or perhaps it’s the family story, sowing your energy into security and opportunity for your kids.
How about today’s crowd favourite - experiences! Where will you travel to next? How will you keep moving through that bucket list? Even the religious story is ultimately similar, doing good and doing ‘right’, in the hope of later payoff.
At the end of the day, these stories are all broken - they do not satisfy - and the evidence of which is all too apparent.
Aware that it could sound like a Sunday school lesson - is the Jesus story actually what we all need?
Mark and Andy chat about a better narrative to live out, and it turns out we might not be the protagonist after all.
There is a porn epidemic in our society. More to the point, there’s a porn epidemic in the church. It’s dangerously warping our attitudes, breaking marriages, and ultimately destroying lives. Few talk about it, so let’s break this down:
Porn, like all other addictions is a substitute for something real. We need intimacy and connection - our hearts are screaming at us! But instead we feed them junk. Fact is, Jesus is the only one that can really offer what our hearts long for. The problem? Porn is a click away. Jesus sometimes feels a lot less accessible.
We need to get serious about this, practically and spiritually. Be vehement in your opposition; get your filters sorted, talk to someone you trust, give yourself grace, and tell God you want and need Him.
Duty, religious activity, and bad habits can kill your spark. That passion, drive, focus and energy in life you once had as a kid, the thrill of learning something new is gone. Instead, we’re stuck in routines, and we don’t know why we’re doing what we’re doing. It’s a big problem in the way we do church and work, but can appear in any area of our lives.
It happens to everyone, and our Doing the Stuff duo are on the case to work out why. Mark talks about washing the dishes. Andy talks in an irish accent, because, why not.
Perspective. Maybe the problem is that our field of view is shrunk to the size of the individual tasks. We’re so quick to take the meaning out of moments - we need to put the significance back in!
Find the bigger picture/story, no it’s not a waste of time. Hope is real. We are headed somewhere. For God hasn’t given us a spirit of timidity. Let’s get the spark back.
You’ve heard this mantra. “Break free from your constraints, let it go, be whatever you want to be, your only limits are those you set yourself!” Well, it’s time for honesty, folks. Let’s face it, this just isn’t completely true.
We’ve all got limits, and they shape us. The number of hours in a day, sickness, and even our genetics are limitations. Just look at Andy. He’ll never make it to the NBA, no matter how often he practices.
So what’s up with the lie of limitlessness? It ruins expectations, makes us frustrated, super competitive and occasionally we taste failure.
Sound all a bit too sad? Fear not.
Mark and Andy discuss the upside of picturing a life of limits. Can we be okay with that? It’s a counter-intuitive conversation but accepting our limits can bring on times of growth and unexpected blessings.
Check out this show to discover the delight of knowing your limits and understanding a limitless God.
Is it possible there’s only one great story in the world? And is it possible we’re living in that story as illustrated by the Star Wars narrative?
The short answer is yes! It’s called the monomyth, and it’s reflected in the different seasons we all experience in life. The good season, the bad season and the times when we’re really confused about where next.
Here’s Mark and Andy’s thesis: if you’ve got a better understanding of what season you’re in, and what’s likely to happen next in your own personal Hero’s Journey, you’ll probably make a better decision.
Clearly they lean on gratuitous Star Wars references to illustrate the point, and keep themselves amused.
And here’s an insight worth listening for: seasons are good because they help us become seasoned! Make sense? Seasoned food is complex and tasty, just like Yoda’s cooking.
To doing the stuff listen, you will. Hmm?!
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 men in lycra.
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.