Stirrers and Saints: The Podcast

30. Faith at Work: Life Planning

Do you have your life planned out? What will you be doing 1 year from now, 5 years, 10 years...?
Have you planned anything at all, or are you winging it?
Plan too much and you might struggle when the curveballs of life get thrown your way, but if you don't plan at all then you might just end up nowhere at all. Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail, and if you aim at nothing then that is what you just might get.
In this episode, Brian and Aaron discussed life planning and stressed the importance of being intentional in thinking about our futures and how our lives can have a positive impact.
What will you do with your life?
Things to think about this week:
Identify your strengths and consider what might be disqualifying characteristics. 
Determine what chapter you are currently in.
Come up with a life mission statement.
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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29. Faith at Work: A Chat with Bec Oates about Values

How do you know what you value? Why do they matter? How do we figure all of this out?
Values may go stated (words like 'courage' and 'integrity' and 'innovation' plastered on staff room walls) or they may be hidden, lurking beneath the surface of every decision we make. Quite often, our values only become evident when something happens that conflicts with those values we didn't realise we had. And sometimes they simply shape the culture of our workplace or the particular way we do things. But we all have them. 
In this episode, Brian and Aaron chat to Bec Oates (the incoming CEO of Tearfund Australia) about values. Bec brings a wealth of experience from her work with NFP's and running her business. She shared three values: Integrity, Justice, and...you'll have to listen to found out the third, but it's a surprising one!
Things to think about this week:
What do you value?
What values would someone see when they look at you?
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
Find us on Instagram and Facebook and say hi!
And if you would like to support us buy shouting us a coffee (to keep us caffeinated up!) follow this link: buymeacoffee.com/centreforfaithandlife 

28. Faith at Work: A Theology of Work

Work is supposed to be good. To go to work, to toil and labour, is to reflect the creative and productive character of God. It brings purpose and meaning, and allows us to make the world a better place and be custodians of God's good creation.
But work, for so many, does not inspire. It's a drain and a dread. They knuckle down and get on with the workweek just looking to get home or for Friday evening to come around. 
So how can work be good? Why is it not good for so many? How can we make it purposeful?
Brian and Aaron chat through these questions and talk, theologically, about the nature of work.
Things to think about this week:
How can you make sure that you good some good sleep?
How can you - in whatever position or role you currently occupy - make you workplace a positive and redemptive place?
How can you ensure the smile of God?
If you could do anything, and money was no issue, what would you do?
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
Find us on Instagram and Facebook and say hi!
And if you would like to support us buy shouting us a coffee (to keep us caffeinated up!) follow this link: buymeacoffee.com/centreforfaithandlife 

27. Faith at Work: Faith in the Market Place

Christian faith is not limited to Sunday mornings. Indeed, it stretches into every part of our lives, including our work. The Christian church has had a major impact on Western Civilisation and how we do work, and its values have permeated into many of today's "secular" organisations. As leaders today, it's vital that we think about the values - both stated and implicit - of the organisations we lead and work within.
This episode is the first of eight exploring the topic of "Faith at Work" and Brian sits down with Aaron to discuss what it means to be a faithful Christian within your workplace - wherever that is. 
Things to think about this week:
What are the values of your organisation?
What is the theological architecture of your workplace?
Who are the people around you?
What can you do?
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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26. Reflections on Season Two: Some Favourite Moments

Join Brian Harris and Aaron Chidgzey as they re-listen to some of their favourite moments from season two and reflect on the helpful and insightful leadership lessons. They discuss what it means to care for people without being intrusive, creating a culture and inspiring vision, being set apart and working with others who are also set apart, the importance of making mistakes, and remaining hopeful about the future.
This is the last episode of season two, so keep in touch with Centre for Faith and Life on Facebook and Instagram, and the CFL website, to stay in the loop about what's coming next. Exciting things to come!
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
Find us on Instagram and Facebook and say hi!

25. The Leader as Sculptor: The Science of Creativity, and the Creator as Culture Maker

Leaders need to think creatively and imaginatively to solve problems, dream big, cast vision, and create a culture where people flourish. And the good news is that everyone can be creative! 
But how is it done? And is it possible to get better at it?
Aaron Chidgzey sits down with Brian Harris and special guest, musician and cafe manager extraordinaire, Jett Harris, to talk about this important and inspiring topic. What ensues is an encouraging, uplifting, and practical conversation that will help any listener feel more confident in their creativity. 
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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24. The Leader as Sage: Make Mistakes, Gain Wisdom, Teach Others, with Bec Oates

Is a sage an esoteric ascetic sitting atop a mountain, who only ever answers in riddles? Or is a sage the one who speaks the loudest and never thinks they're wrong? Perhaps (though probably not for the second one), but most of the time, a sage is someone who understands their own limitations, is willing to admit to their mistakes, and is constantly reflecting and evaluating and growing.
That's the sort of person we think most people would like to follow.
In this episode, Brian Harris is joined by Aaron Chidgzey and Bec Oates to chat about it what means for a leader to be a sage. A leader must at least be seeking to grow in wisdom and be someone who passes that wisdom on to others. They experience and learn from life and teach their followers. Bec offers some incredible wisdom here, about what it means to be wise.
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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23. Confessions of an Amateur Saint: A Chat with Mandy Smith

What does a 'professional' leader look like? Probably the same as what a 'perfect' Christian looks like: inauthentic. There is significant cultural pressure to professionalise our leadership, but this often comes with a cost, and that cost is our ability to effectively point people toward God.
In this episode, Aaron Chidgzey sits down with Jen Argue and guest Mandy Smith, pastor, leader, teacher, and author of the upcoming book 'Confessions of an Amateur Saint: The Christian Leader's Journey from Self-Sufficiency to Reliance on God'. Mandy urges the Christian leader to embrace vulnerability and authenticity, to learn be comfortable with discomfort, and return to a trusting dependance on God. 
The book is available for pre-order Amazon and Koorong. 
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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22. Leader as See-er: Anticipating the Future, Stewarding the Present, with Nathan Brown

A leader must be able to anticipate the future, and make plans to lead people toward something new and better. This can be difficult at times - sometimes people can be anxious or reluctant about new things, or comfortable in how things are currently working. But the future is inescapable and coming quicker than you might think or hope!
Jon Bergmann likes to talk about the future, and chats with Aaron Chidgzey and guest, Nathan Brown, CEO of Christian Media and Arts Australia, who also like to think and talk about the future. This conversation is filled with AI, chatbots, and technology, but mostly how to faith in God and have hope that, no matter what, God will present with us always.
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
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21. Ethics and Leadership: A Chat with Ethicist and Theologian, Dr. Michael O'Neil

Leadership is about making decisions. Indeed, the human experience is about making decisions. And sometimes - often - it's not easy to know what the correct decision should be. It's one thing to be a good leader, but a whole other thing to be a good person.
In this episode, Brian sits down with Aaron and friend, Dr. Michael O'Neil to discuss ethics. Michael is a lecturer in theology and ethics, and the conversation covers a lot of ground, from medical ethics to social ethics, leadership to the role of the church in society. One that will surely get you thinking and reflecting!
A Centre for Faith and Life Production. For more information, visit centreforfaithandlife.com 
Find us on Instagram and Facebook and say hi!