Kia ora e te whanau
Monday 1st. I’ve just returned to Auckland, having completed a whistle-stop tour of Northland. I’ve enjoyed wonderful hospitality from all those I met. I hope I was able to offer something in return. While on the whole our CVs in the north are small, yet there are signs of hope, and ‘green shoots’ popping up in unexpected places. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of recognising what we currently have and seeing how that can be built upon.
One of the facts that is inescapable as one travels the north, is the sharp contrast between grinding poverty and comfortable / extreme wealth. It can’t be ignored, nor can it be unseen. Coming from the relative comfort of Canterbury it is somewhat confronting.
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
The leadership skill nobody talks about: Self-editing
This is one I wish I did more of. From time to time I catch myself with, “No, I don’t think I’ll say any more – it wouldn’t be useful”. But not often enough. Chamorro-Premuzic advocates for the need for a reflective self-awareness that keeps our emotions in their place and allows us to be fully present for, and working in the best interests of the team – whether as the formal leader or not. He offers some useful tips to help us hold a realistic view of ourselves and stay grounded. The article can be engaged with here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91435919/leadership-skill-nobody-talks-about-self-editing
The Three Brain Triggers That Make Your Words Impossible To Forget
While intended for the leaders in business, it’s as applicable to church leaders and preachers in helping us to communicate in ways that help people remember what we have said. How often have we come out from listening to a sermon that we though interesting in the moment, yet have trouble remembering anything of substance, even 15 minutes later? The article can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianehamilton/2025/10/04/the-three-brain-triggers-that-make-your-words-impossible-to-forget/
Scientists Discovered that 15-Minute Walks Could Save Your Life
How many of us find that most of our days we’re stuck sitting in a chair. The statistical evidence in the article for the positive effects of a modest level of daily walking exercise on our rates of mortality is shocking. It seems it doesn’t take much to make a significant difference. The one catch, is that the walk needs to be reasonably vigorous – a stroll won’t cut it. The article can be accessed here: https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/scientists-just-discovered-that-15-minute-walks-could-save-your-life/91264263
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 7th of December is titled ‘100% is Easier Than 98‘ dealing with the call to repentance by John the Baptist and focusses on the Gospel reading of Matthew 3 vs 1-12. The homily can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOeuU1wACks
Trevor Hoggard continues with the 2nd set of Lectionary readings. His texts for Sunday the 7th of December are 1 Kings 18 vs 17-39, Psalm 11, and John 1 vs 19-28. Trevor’s sermon can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXqyrvisNU8
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of 4 Theologians / Practitioners around the Gospel lectionary text for the coming Sunday. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/ . The latest ‘Conversation’ is for the coming Sunday based on the lectionary Gospel of Matthew 3 vs 1-12. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0hAfbLCMs