Words - the intro to a message on the importance of words and our role as storytellers, regardless of which words we choose.

2010-09-14T22:03:00.001-07:00

How To Be Alone..

2010-08-15T22:22:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

Just A Gasp, For A Second.

2010-07-20T23:00:00.001-07:00

I'm feeling a little same-same. I am working on a new project that is hopefully, going to bring out something new in my work. Hopefully. building temples nowheld together pieces of mewith threads and wordsi'm always thread, and moonand dark, in piecesand water runningwherever the waters run i'm always bloodbleeding or beatingalways too kindnever fleetingly more fiercethan when i'm kneeling

From My Design World.

2010-07-07T18:46:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you need to be able to have a good laugh at yourself and the joys of doing design work. Posted via email from Tash McGill

The Silent Language of Time.

2010-06-21T19:22:00.001-07:00

Please watch this - regardless of whether you are a youth worker, pastor, minister, social worker, marketer, comms writer. HT to Sy Young. Posted via email from Tash McGill

Shift & Return: Discipleship in Young Adults

2010-06-10T23:03:00.001-07:00

This is a thought on discipleship and journey with young people and young adults. For starters, I don't really believe in young adult or even college ministry being separate from youth ministry in a church context, or even youth ministry being altogether separate from regular community activities. I'm thinking that the future looks far more like embedded than it does integrated. But that's for

Heading Home...

2010-05-30T22:09:00.001-07:00

I have some faces and sights in my mind - these are from the last day in Haiti. See the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from Tash McGill

You're Supposed To Feel Something.

2010-05-29T21:33:00.001-07:00

We visited my favourite of the tent communities so far today. Not that we should have favourites. However, in February it was Marassa (which means twins, btw) #14 and #9 that stole the hearts of the team. I wrote yesterday about the desperation of their ongoing plight. Some of which is caused by their distance from the city centre, from any hub of activity, thus economic activity. But in the

Tent Communities.

2010-05-29T14:22:00.001-07:00

See the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from Tash McGill

Onè Respe.

2010-05-28T20:38:00.001-07:00

hanging like a dew dropof a concrete leafbroken back of a spineno tree to speak of but onè respeto a graveyard of stonesclutched to the surfaceof an unfaithful earth sphere now small sparrows of dark ruby skin cling to rubble and stones or it could be that dust clings to them so earth, flesh and sweat hold one another life embraces death and likewise death quivers in the flutter of fabric

Courage.

2010-05-28T18:17:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

Vendors Under The Ruins

2010-05-28T18:15:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

Mackenzie : Marassa #14

2010-05-28T18:14:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

Beethoven : Marassa #14

2010-05-28T18:11:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

Collecting Water : Marassa #9

2010-05-28T18:08:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from Tash McGill

A Series Of Moments In No Chronological Order, Called Today.

2010-05-28T17:38:00.001-07:00

A half-deflated soccerball is just about as precious as food. Boys are still boys and a game of soccer in a corner of tent city is almost a relief to watch. That something normal remains. As we drive past the airport and past the enormous UN presence, it's easy to understand why the people have such animosity towards them, the great towering fences and serious faces. Through the market area,

How Does It Go From Paradis To Hades?

2010-05-27T21:09:00.001-07:00

Tonight we sat in a debriefing - separate to the sharing of stories, I think as well it's good to share some of the struggle and questions we're left with. Fellow team member david hayward has written beautifully on it - when it comes to trying to discern trustworthiness among the leaders here. Tonight we talked at length about how broken Haiti really is and how long it's been that way. Many

Junio, With A Smile To Light Up The World.

2010-05-27T16:55:00.001-07:00

And this is Junio. Hard to say which of these precious ones captured my heart today.. I have saved them up to share with you over the next few days. Posted via email from Tash McGill

I Have Seen You.

2010-05-27T16:46:00.001-07:00

We set off this morning to travel only a few kilometres to an orphanage that AIM started working with just a short time ago. Yesterday they told us of when they first found the orphanage - they had served their last available food. One of the small boys was clutching a small container to his chest. They explained that he had saved half his meal for the next day, knowing that there was no food

Haiti : Life In Ruins

2010-05-26T14:58:00.001-07:00

Today driving through Haiti is like winding through a warzone. There are so many questions raised in being there "after", things I wish I knew about before. But instead of before there is only now. Now, the rubble is pushed back into piles just far enough off the road that the various vehicles can wind their way through. The debris of houses and buildings, some ok for return and others not,

Update : My Thoughts So Far..(whys & hows)

2010-05-24T17:30:00.001-07:00

So here I am in San Diego - connecting with friends here before Marko, Ed Noble and I leave to head to Miami, to meet with the other team members. If you haven't yet - head to www.facebook.com/churchtochurch to meet them. I'm excited to spend some time with them both in Miami and Haiti. ALSO - thanks for the tweets, DMs, Facebook messages and emails. I so appreciate them. Keep'em coming. It

Listen Up: Radio Interview with Doug Pagitt & Seth Barnes

2010-05-23T17:18:00.001-07:00

I'm in San Diego with Mark Oestreicher, who is leading this trip to Haiti along with Seth Barnes from AIM. This is an interview with Doug Pagitt- who is also on the trip with us and Seth. It's really worth listening to, in order to get your head around exactly how meaningful the connections we're trying to build on this trip are. It starts a little way in - but hopefully you get inspired about

On the plane ..

2010-05-22T23:50:00.001-07:00

I always get this feeling leaving these islands - excited and sad and hoping not too much changes while I'm away. I suspect that I will be changed this time. Last night as I was trying to sleep I kept remembering a time in 2004, when I was lucky enough to visit a group of prisoners - high ranking soldiers of the Fijian army awaiting trial for five years or more, for their under duress

Great Storytelling.

2010-05-19T22:45:00.001-07:00

My first editorial for the relaunched SP Magazine was titled "Great Storytelling" mainly because I am trying to live by the words "some people aspire to be great storytellers, others simply want to tell great stories". I want to tell great stories, not just be a great storyteller. I love finding them, watching them emerge and broadcasting them. I love seeing the stories that my friends and

My Own Domain.

2010-05-19T03:28:00.000-07:00

From now on - www.tashmcgill.com points to a posterous.com site.. and all the posts etc from there will be linking here.

Setting up to Embark

2010-05-19T02:39:00.001-07:00

Only a few sleeps to go before I take off for the USA again - this time to meet friends in San Diego before heading to Haiti. It's a massive mission from these small islands of Aotearoa to the islands of Haiti - but an opportunity that couldn't be passed up. Posted via email from Tash McGill

I Think I Want To Be Unchristian.

2010-04-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

unChristian & awake to senses. These are delicate words. Probably easy to be misconstrued. I expect they might be. Part of me wishes they will be. I think I'd like to be unChristian. It's such a messy word. The word itself is sharp like a knife but unlike a sharp knife, it tears and leaves crumbles, mess, ooze all around it. I probably find more sympathy with the Messianic Jewish community,

The Fringe.

2010-04-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Christian culture is near obsessed with the center. Words like mainstream and crossover drip off the tongues of A&R guys like diamonds. Influence is king. The idea of bands, writers, speakers, actors being part of the Christian community and the ‘influence’ they’ll wield on mainstream culture is like an elusive Holy Grail. All of it is about the center. This idea that if we move enough

PACIFIC SONG

2010-04-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Oh I can hear you at my door I can hear your roar But I’m not remotely closeTo caving in and heading home Still it’s not enough oh I need more Need to feel you on my skin again Oh I’ll slip in on the dawnNot too many nights from nowFeel you under my toesAnd on my skin againHome sweet sea and mountain While I’m here in the dark Stark black water on a pierI can stand out in the

Like A Gardener.

2010-04-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was having coffee with my frievnd James. He asked if I had ever been employed by a church and whether or not I enjoyed it. I was watching documentary show on TVNZ6 last night, called My God. It was an interview with a Catholic nun, so long in His service she had retired, some sixty years of life following her vows. At the beginning these things might have been unrelated, but

Two Years On.

2010-04-05T21:27:00.000-07:00

Reborn and shivering Spat out on new terrain Unsure unconvincing This faint and shaky hour Day one day one start over again Step one step one I'm barely making sense for now I'm faking it 'til I'm pseudo making it From scratch begin again but this time I as i And not as we Gun shy and quivering Timid without a hand Feign brave with steel intent little and hardly here It's been two years since

Reconciliation... in the making of a Story.

2010-03-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

Theology For Our Times.

2010-03-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

If I ask church leaders what they feel the most important theology of our time is to people today, I'm consistently surprised when they talk about salvation, end times, church leadership and doctrine issues. Here's my pick: There is Hope. You are part of this Story. Hold On.

2010-02-15T02:01:00.000-08:00

E hara taku toa, I te toa takitahi ēngari he toa taku tini (My strength is not from myself but from the strength of the group)Please follow Anne, Lars, Marko, Adam, Ian and the rest of the YMATH team for their on the ground stories, videos, messages and reflections on being in Haiti. Tomorrow morning at 9am EST they are hoping to help get aid to a tent city of some 5000 Haitians as yet

Standing Up For Anne.

2010-01-23T02:36:00.000-08:00

I want to you to do me a favour. I'm going to ask you to read something, then to respond and do something. It will only take you a minute and it won't cost you anything. 1. You should open up Anne Jackson's site and have a peruse, because I'm going to tell you a story (albeit a short one) and I want you to respond having a sense of who Anne is. Of course, you'll be building that impression

More On Gathering: Life-giving Movements vs History Making Events

2010-01-22T03:24:00.000-08:00

I'm aiming for a short post today. In the buildup to Parachute 2010 and coming out of my season at NYWC, my history with Eastercamp and other events in the spectrum - I'm thinking more and more about gatherings. The Tipping Point I loved encouraging, resourcing and inspiring youth workers with my work through Eastercamp - examining different expressions of community participation in experiential

Why I'll Possibly Never Meet Donald Miller.

2010-01-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

"When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are." - Donald Miller My mother is a really big fan of Donald Miller. She read Blue Like Jazz first, just before I was about to head overseas for a few months. She said something along the lines of, 'Is this really how your generation thinks? If people had written like this and talked like this in my day, I would've

Gathering Together.

2010-01-16T02:27:00.000-08:00

In late 2009, a friend of mine made some pretty strong statements about the future of conventions, conferences and gatherings in the Christian ministry world. I really like Mark Riddle and you can read his thoughts here. There are about 7 posts and you'd do well to read them all. I told him I was going to write a response and here it is. Not a theological positioning statement .. just a

Homeward Bound.

2009-12-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

Posts sitting in the drafts.... 1. A New Way to Gather Together. 2. Why I'll Probably Never Meet Don Miller. But for now... homeward bound for the six o'clock cos there's nowhere left to go i have climbed every hill on the path taken every detour still I'm unsatisfied and i'll be seeing you again for the first time in some months will you still want to know my name? and what I did today? where

Women In Youth Ministry..

2009-11-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

I originally posted this Women in Youth Ministry article at the Youth Specialties blog. But it's generated some interesting conversation, which I think is worth broadening the horizons on! So... here goes. Feel free to comment here or at the original post, but I'd love your thoughts, regardless of whether you're a man or woman in youth work! How Women in Youth Ministry Can (Totally, Effectively

Even When You Change, You Remain Who You Are.

2009-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

For those of you that peruse my sidebar from time to time - there's a special column there. It's called Thinkers. The reality is most of those folks, I consider to be friends regardless, but usually their blogposts are thoughts worth considering, whether in regards to faith, faith in praxis, music, travelling, people, community. They are my must-reads. I've posted them in a truly random order.

Oh, Cos You Know Me So Well..

2009-10-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

There are lots of things going on at the moment .. and lots of things I'd love to write about it, but the timing isn't quite right and the barometer is unsettled. I'm looking forward to time passing enough to be able to write about these things with the benefit of hindsight and discovery. However, I can write a few, momentary reflections on some things seen and heard lately...that may or may not

Forgive Thy Brother.

2009-10-04T18:31:00.000-07:00

Forgive Thy Brother - by Scott Erickson of The Transpire Project tonight with the moon full and low in the sky, blue finally to write about you, to talk about you, with love the way i used to, with hope and promise and joy finally i am sick of ache, weighted arrows in my shoulder harnessing my force, good or bad, from reaching you forced I am, into stepping close enough again

Shanty Towns & Trailer Parks.

2009-09-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

The Pacific Coaster from LA Union Station to San Diego takes about 3 hours, counting the time it takes to walk from the queuing platform to the station deck. Last month, I traveled out from a central part of the city to the outer reaches of LA, then on down the coast to my new home. It started with a queue, to pick up my ticket at Union Station. Once that was done, I walked and admired, in the

Blogging & Ill Discipline.

2009-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking recently, and possibly some might have noticed, the lack of regular posting here. There are lots of potential reasons...1. Too much going on to form coherent thoughts.2. Too many things that are inappropriate to talk about in this forum.3. Quality not quantity. This third, I can reference right away. I've noticed, in surveying some of what I've written in the last few years

Applications for Tour Guides Open.

2009-08-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Must have a creative sense of imagination.Pleasure is taken in the smallest things - small oddities and genuine experiences. Must not include "must-have" fast food. I don't believe you.Great stories & history will always inspire, especially if from your own experience.Sense of adventure and spontaneity a bonus.Just saying, I agree with my friend Jill, that the advice and recommendations of locals

In America, The Moon Is Upside Down.

2009-08-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Stones like theseare just like fuel undergroundYou stop my feetfrom floating up when I come downI go upand watch the world spinning roundBut I came downYou can't seethat I'm like dust on the groundThe wind picks upand then it blows me aroundI go upand watch the world spinning roundBut I came downFinding out the northern lightsOut Of The MoonLast year, I spent about (what felt like forever) 5

Leadership Blurbs (Plural).

2009-08-05T16:32:00.000-07:00

There's a torrent of Leadership blurb updates about to happen. #16 Leadership Is Asking Questions.“A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting.”“Judge a person by their questions, rather than their answers.” santizVoltaireAsking questions- leads you to

Noodle - The Aotea Poet.

2009-07-28T16:35:00.001-07:00

Years ago, there was a poet who wrote his one-off pieces in fine black marker on the inside of used soymilk cartons and sold them. He signed all his works 'Noodle*'.I had some favourites - two of them have sat in my favourite things pile for some time - because of their rich images and the words that describe this land of my birth. So here they are for you. Noodle disappeared. I'd like to know

Nga Manurere #1

2009-07-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

This is a poem that speaks of the beauty of this land, the song of the tui.. which you can listen to here. Song Of The TuiSuppose, sweet eyes, you went into a distant countryWhere these young islands are nothing but a word;Suppose you never came back again by Terawhiti:Would you remember and be faithful to your bird?And when they boasted there of thrushes, larks and linnets,Would you hold up a

2009-07-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

did you ever love me?ever really love me?for i loved youyou with all your older, wiser, always knowing bettercondemning all my youthful, ideal hopesconvincing me that you were righti subjugated all my life... for i loved you, i really loved you.i thought that we could grow together, surely somewherethere would be some moment where you saw meyou really saw me and believedthese things i knew and

All Truth Is Relative

2009-06-08T03:57:00.001-07:00

All truth is relative, especially the truth about your relatives.

Leadership Blurb #10

2009-06-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Leadership Is Mastering AtmosphereFor anyone to open their heart, they need the right atmosphere, and something to prompt them.Jung Chang For me, a landscape does not exist in it's own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere with gives subjects

Ode To Criticism.

2009-05-27T00:21:00.000-07:00

Pablo Neruda remains one of my favourite poets. Beyond the schoolgirl days of Sylvia Plath and Shakespearian sonnets - Neruda was writing so politically, so astutely of his time and space that it's nearly impossible to call him anything but a political writer. His prowess is equal only at times, to his immense failure - epic screeds of verse that never should have made publication, but in the

Leadership Blurb #9

2009-05-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Leadership is Hope.A leader is a dealer in hope." Napoleon BonaparteSome of the simplest quotes on leadership reveal the biggest truths.We look to a leader to give us hope; hope that they will lead us through our difficulties and into a better future.The best leaders do not hide reality from their followers but they are able to show them that despite the difficulties there is a way through.Moses

Music Meme from Marko

2009-05-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

hey, in celebration of Marko's birthday... this meme from his blog. I expect all you lurkers and fellow bloggers to tag in, no excuses, 'kay?Here's the rules.1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)2. Put it on shuffle3. Press play4. For every question, type the song that’s playing5. When you go to a new question, press the next button6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re

Leadership Blurb #8

2009-05-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

Leadership is Knowing What To Do With The Truth.Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing. - Warren Bennis, Ph.D. "On Becoming a Leader"Doing the right thing is much more complicated that what we like to admit.Doing the right thing usually means dealing in truth in such a way that Truth takes a leading role.Sometimes we don't like that because if the

Object Attraction.

2009-05-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be moving house soon. Granted, every year, I've wondered, for all six years I've been in my little cottage.. will this be the year it's finally time to move? It's been a glorious little home.So I'm ruthlessly going through my worldly possessions (it feels like there are a lot of them, but I'm putting a huge amount down just to the 37sq metres of living space.This little article here

Leadership Blurb #7

2009-05-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Leadership Is Failing Forward.“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” - Henry FordWhat can cripples people from becoming the leader they want to be is how they deal with failure.Failing forward is more than having a good attitude about your mistakes, and it's a step beyond simply taking risks. Failing forward is the ability to get back up after you've been knocked

Seth Godin, Tribes at TED.

2009-05-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

Great Discoveries, Thanks To Friends.

2009-05-11T01:04:00.000-07:00

Not only is this little film iconic in it's depiction of the pain and struggle of the creative process ... but I also think it depicts the true trajectory of what leadership in the 3rd church looks like. Mainly this is inspired from time spent with someone I consider to be the most progressive, insightful & biblical church leader I've ever known. Look for more on that story later on ... but for

Auckland, 4th Best City In The World.

2009-05-07T14:50:00.001-07:00

Leadership Blurb #6

2009-05-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

Leadership is following the peopleThe best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.Theodore RooseveltDon't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.George S. PattonGreat leadership in the 21st century will be defined by those

Everyone Is Faking It.

2009-04-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

I'm convinced of it. Everyone is trying to shoot above their game, to learn as they go on the sly from the ones they have convinced they know what they are doing. No one really knows what they're doing - surely the economic crisis is a sign. Cos even those that don't know anything about money, knew trouble was coming and we ended up there anyway. Will we say the same about the way out? Who knows.

Leadership Blurb #5

2009-04-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

Leadership is Communicating Responsibility."Next to doing the right thing, the most important thing is to let people know you are doing the right thing." John D. RockefellerBill Clinton talked about this process of responsbility being part of the essence of our God - created humanity.What exactly do we mean by responsbility?But this responsibility isn't just about somebody stepping up to make the

Things To Do In Celebration Of My Kiwi Identity.

2009-04-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Important things that I would like to do sometime soon or at least have done once...I'd love your thoughts - whether you were born here, live here or once lived here.1. Get a new tattoo, something that symbolizes the next phase of life, one year on from Eastercamp and moving into a new sense of who I am.2. Drive north to Cape Reinga and watch the sunset over the point.3. Get one of these. (The

Spotlight.

2009-04-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Can't hold on to it, must post this.

Great Interview with Mark Riddle - Youth Ministry, Staffing, Church A & B

2009-04-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, so a couple of weeks back, I posted a review of Mark Riddle's book, Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors. You can read that review here.Part #2 was Mark graciously agreeing to answer some additional questions that I had around the book. There's a blog tour on - you can find the details over here.ED. I really really encourage you to get a hold of this book - it's worth it.So - here's the interview

Love Is A Story Worth Telling.

2009-04-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

This movie looks great. Here is a random collection of things that I've stumbled across recently that I think is fascinating, entertaining or worth a mention...Stephen Christian - lead singer of Anberlin, but I think he really wants to change the world.The Washington Post On-Faith Panel is a strange juxtaposition of several different streams on spirituality - commenting on faith and politics.

Conversations At Intersections.

2009-04-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Conflict & HopeAnother Excerpt from Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope by Joan Chittister"A Native American tale tells of the elder who was talking to a disciple about tragedy. The elder said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one." The disciple asked, "But which wolf will win the

Parachute Music Festival..

2009-04-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a production junkie. Really, nowadays, most times I go to big shows... I'm going for the production, the lights, staging, the stagecraft and performance element. I know that it will sound better at home on my stereo, but the magic of the live show is awesome. This is a timelapse video of Mainstage at Parachute Festival 09, where I was worked with my good friend Jozsef, who was running the

Spoke Without Thinking.

2009-04-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

I love what Facebook does for scrapbooking and journaling people's lives. I especially love that I can see frequently updated photos of people that I have known and loved in my lifetime. But here's a little story for you...In today's updated photos, were some new shots from a girl who was never really an ugly duckling at all. In fact, she was always talented, incredibly outgoing and vivacious.

Sharing Knowledge : New School Leadership From Old School Discipleship.

2009-04-08T17:03:00.001-07:00

I wrote a leadership blurb recently talking about the concept of sharing knowledge, rather than hoarding it, as a method of building and developing your leadership and influence. It's a really important idea and a major ideological shift from boomer-type leadership strategy to egalitarian GenY-friendly model. So, increasingly, in business, church & community leadership this method of sharing

Leadership Blurb #4

2009-04-07T23:40:00.000-07:00

"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark TwainImagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived through the senses. It is the ability of the mind to build mental scenes, objects or events that do not exist, are not present or have happened in the past.It gives the ability to look at any situation from a different point of

Book Review : Inside The Mind Of Youth Pastors

2009-04-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Articles like this sometimes. But books like Inside the Mind of Youth Pastors by my friend (presumptious?) Mark Riddle are insightful and brilliant and practical and accessible. If you mistakenly thought this was some kind of long-awaited self-help book* for youthworkers (hey, now there is an idea for the YS bookshelves!), you would be off by a mile. But, it is in fact, a very helpful self-help

Thoughts On A Couple Of Things...

2009-04-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

I'm a naughty blogger these days - promising updates and failing to deliver, but this time I blame sickness.. so there are some of my thoughts reflections on the previous notes, just a couple of thoughts that stuck out, I'm holding them here. Globalization - we've been driven by a global economic market.* Interesting though, that while the global economy has led and driven western society to the

Nigel Pollock Session on 18 - 24s

2009-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

A week or so ago, I managed to squeeze in an early morning session at Massey University, with TSCF (Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship) led by Nigel Pollock, National Director, (personal blog).It was a session for those working with 18 - 24 year olds in campus or local church environments. Nigel's passion for faith engaging culture is evident, the thrust of his presentation being around

Leadership Blurb #3

2009-03-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

Knowledge is power = or so they say, esp. Sir Francis Bacon.But - I would counter, that it's what you do with that knowledge that measures your power or influence.Wisdom is considered a sign of weakness by the powerful because a wise man can lead without power but only a powerful man can lead without wisdom.You gain more influence, by sharing knowledge than what you do by holding on to it. That

This Is All.

2009-03-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

(hattip to rich johnson)or should I say http://www.twitter.com/richjohnson?

Time+Space+Distance=Wonderment (3 parts)

2009-03-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

On Time - History Is Sometimes A MirrorHistory and hindsight do amazing things for our sense of place in the world. In the context of current economic strife - I wonder many things. Certainly, we have been in similar places throughout our human storybook. But in different ways, this is a new time.I wonder that if we had not embraced the slow, and accepted a suitable pace for achieving much, then

The River.

2009-03-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

Love is deep. The Love is the deepest refuge and safe recluse I know. My home is in the river.to you my lovemy heart goes swimming on the deep oceanslife in the compassionate waydiscontent in your solitude;observing silences and tragediessmall delicacies and sweet words -they fall into the ears of young loversand my heart swims out to yours,on the tide with the ebb and the flowof the rise and

Strange Misperceptions.

2009-03-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I noticed a spike in general search engines for my name. That's why I love reporting features. But to keep me honest, I make sure that it's public and people can see it for themselves. This is not a vastly popular blog, although i know a few lurkers that hang around.But I figured out a possible reason when I was in Sydney. My friend Adam asked me to write a very short piece for a

Leadership Blurb #2

2009-03-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

This week's Leadership blurb was inspired by thoughts about relevance and leaders, how we are judged or awarded credibility. The centric thought came from this quote supplied by Jill Shaw's blog Conversations@Intersections."Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, there, depending on unreasonable people." - George

Leadership Blurb #1

2009-03-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Asher works at Life FM, my one-time, sometime employer when I get the radio buzz. Currently, I'm doing a series on leadership ideas and application, Tuesday evenings around 6pm. Mostly I'm doing what I do best - collating and collecting the ideas of others and soundbiting them!I'll post the little blurbs each week - and if you have ideas, feel free to throw them into the mix too! Here's

The Age Of Beauty.

2009-02-24T17:14:00.001-08:00

What amazes me about this montage is how singular the moments, brief flickers where each face holds her own, instantly recognizable identity, as the overwhelming dimensions of "beauty" hold centre stage.

Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

2009-02-24T16:28:00.000-08:00

"When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry" (Esther 4:1 RSV) Tungia te ururua, kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke.Burn away the overgrowth & let the flax shoots grow through. The Meaning Of The AshHistorically ash has been a symbol of repentance,

The Genius Is Not Us, But WIth Us.

2009-02-22T18:50:00.000-08:00

"Don't be afraid, don't be daunted, just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it. If your job is to dance, then dance! If the divine cock-eyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed for just one moment through your efforts, then olay! and if not, then do your dance anyway, and olay to you nonetheless!""Norman Mahler said in his final

Changing The Status Quo.

2009-02-22T17:08:00.000-08:00

Some Ideas From Seth That Feed The ProcessChangeIn down economies, the only thing that’s going to change things is changing things. This is hard for a lot of marketers who are used to defending the status quo, but it’s truly the best option.If you're not happy with what you've got, what radical changes are you willing to make to change what you're getting?The telephone destroyed the

Funny Mondays.

2009-02-22T16:13:00.001-08:00

Man Of The People.

2009-02-18T03:45:00.000-08:00

You really must peruse this gossip blog here.The reason why you have to read it is because I'm too lazy to re-type it. But in case you're wondering, the humour in the story about poor intrepid Gossip Girl Rachel Glucina... is simply the following. John Key (yes, we are Facebook friends) is Prime Minister of this fine nation. And that one of our leading ladies of the social pages and gossip

Airplane Service & Faithfulness.

2009-02-17T03:53:00.000-08:00

So, I was recently on a flight from Auckland to Wellington and back. What I was doing there doesn't matter yet but I'll tell you about it in a few days. Point being, it's been broadly publicised in my neck of the woods, how tight the domestic market for air travel has become.. blah blah, global recession etc etc. Read more here.So, when your product becomes similar in cost to the other

My Utmost For His Highest.

2009-02-16T02:27:00.000-08:00

The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative."Arise from the dead." Ephesians 5:14All initiative is not inspired. A man may say to you - "Buck up, take your disinclintion by the throat, throw it overboard and walk out into the thing!"That is ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes in and says, in effect, "Buck up," we find that the initiative is inspired.We all have any number of

A Youthwork Story I Haven't Heard Before..

2009-02-12T23:36:00.000-08:00

There aren't many stories that surprise me - but this one, from my friend in Wellington (who shall remain nameless for now) takes the cake of the strangest-to-date.They work in an area of town well-populated with gang members and various criminal activity. One member of a local gang has been involved with the church via the youth pastor for a few years now - helping out with Christmas decorating

People Of Narrative.

2009-02-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

We live as people of the Narrative. We're becoming more and more comfortable with this idea in many places, both secular and spiritual. Even our liminal spaces are becoming places where narrative unfolds with meaning, if not with action and movement. We need stories, but we need specific kinds of stories, especially as we develop leadership, thinking that cuts against the grain, as we walk

Tash McGill

Have You Rearranged Your Blog Feeds Yet?

Please update your links.

A Man At The Bar..

A Few Good Spots

New Beginnings..

I'm Back On Boogie St - A Thousand Kisses Deep

Words - the intro to a message on the importance of words and our role as storytellers, regardless of which words we choose.

How To Be Alone..

Just A Gasp, For A Second.

From My Design World.

The Silent Language of Time.

Shift & Return: Discipleship in Young Adults

Heading Home...

You're Supposed To Feel Something.

Tent Communities.

Onè Respe.

Courage.

Vendors Under The Ruins

Mackenzie : Marassa #14

Beethoven : Marassa #14

Collecting Water : Marassa #9

A Series Of Moments In No Chronological Order, Called Today.

How Does It Go From Paradis To Hades?

Junio, With A Smile To Light Up The World.

I Have Seen You.

Haiti : Life In Ruins

Update : My Thoughts So Far..(whys & hows)

Listen Up: Radio Interview with Doug Pagitt & Seth Barnes

On the plane ..

Great Storytelling.

My Own Domain.

Setting up to Embark

I Think I Want To Be Unchristian.

The Fringe.

PACIFIC SONG

Like A Gardener.

Two Years On.

Reconciliation... in the making of a Story.

Theology For Our Times.

Standing Up For Anne.

More On Gathering: Life-giving Movements vs History Making Events

Why I'll Possibly Never Meet Donald Miller.

Gathering Together.

Homeward Bound.

Women In Youth Ministry..

Even When You Change, You Remain Who You Are.

Oh, Cos You Know Me So Well..

Forgive Thy Brother.

Shanty Towns & Trailer Parks.

Blogging & Ill Discipline.

Applications for Tour Guides Open.

In America, The Moon Is Upside Down.

Leadership Blurbs (Plural).

Noodle - The Aotea Poet.

Nga Manurere #1

All Truth Is Relative

Leadership Blurb #10

Ode To Criticism.

Leadership Blurb #9

Music Meme from Marko

Leadership Blurb #8

Object Attraction.

Leadership Blurb #7

Seth Godin, Tribes at TED.

Great Discoveries, Thanks To Friends.

Auckland, 4th Best City In The World.

Leadership Blurb #6

Everyone Is Faking It.

Leadership Blurb #5

Things To Do In Celebration Of My Kiwi Identity.

Spotlight.

Great Interview with Mark Riddle - Youth Ministry, Staffing, Church A & B

Love Is A Story Worth Telling.

Conversations At Intersections.

Parachute Music Festival..

Spoke Without Thinking.

Sharing Knowledge : New School Leadership From Old School Discipleship.

Leadership Blurb #4

Book Review : Inside The Mind Of Youth Pastors