Kia ora e te whanau
The Methodist Conference is about to begin. It concludes on Saturday. Biennial conferences are ‘in-person’. Each alternate year is on-line. This is such a year. The Methodist Church has mastered the art – these events are very well run.
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
How embracing the ‘Empty Boat Theory’ can help you keep anger and anxiety in check
I’m going to start with this one. It’s easy to paint oneself as a victim – that a particular action was taken specifically to hurt me. How dare they! Yet, more often that not the ‘other’ wasn’t thinking about me at all – to bless me with either healing or harm. This little article offers us with an image when faced with the temptation to rage at our assumption that someone intends us ill. It can be accessed here: https://www.upworthy.com/empty-boat-theory-explained
How To Spot A Truly Brilliant Leader — The Psychology Behind Their Edge
This article could be read like a checklist – where am I making the grade, where am I failing? And what can I do about it? The author offers some useful tips. It can be accessed here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonwalker/2025/09/18/how-to-spot-a-truly-brilliant-leader–the-psychology-behind-their-edge/
Tips on stepping back from screens and starting a new hobby
Notice how we’re so locked onto our screens? How could we not (notice)? Does it bother you? Does it bother you how much time you spend, eyes locked onto a screen? The amount of time I spend in this activity bothers me. And I know it’s by design – the poohbahs at Facebook, YouTube etc are razor focussed on getting us to give their sites as much attention as possible to continue to drive up their revenues. The article does not address this – it does, however, offer some suggestions on how we can start de-coupling by looking for alternative ways of spending our leisure time. It can be accessed here: https://apnews.com/article/finding-a-hobby-screen-alternatives-ef4c9320e1ede4a0b3ce04f5f4b149dd
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 16th of November is titled ‘Live Ready’ and focusses on the Gospel reading of Luke 21 vs 5-19. On his attention being drawn to the magnificence of the temple Jesus points to its ultimate demise, and offers commentary on the (yet future) circumstances around that, and the implications for his followers. It can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni83Tk4_8hE&t=8s
Trevor Hoggard continues with the 2nd set of Lectionary readings. His texts for Sunday the 16th of November are Malachi 4 vs 1&2, Psalm 98, and Luke 21 vs 5-19. Trevor’s sermon can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftmI1WD9urA&t=601s
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 Luke 21:5-19. It can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLEC0b1lSlg