In this week’s episode of the continuing Edge lockdown podcast on Wholiness, we explore the complex subject of ‘Crisis’ and in it MIchael talks with another wonderful member of the Edge family, Tania White, who works in mental health. One of the unavoidable aspects of our lives is the reality that at some point we will all encounter crisis. And if it’s not our own, it’s crisis among those who we know and love. Whether it be about relationships, health, accidents, mental wellbeing, jobs and careers, even faith crisis... all sorts of unexpected occurrences arise that can throw our world into a tailspin. So what happens in our bodies and brains when we hit crisis, whether it be acute (short-term) or chronic (longer-term)? We explore some practical strategies and also talk through the place of our spirituality as a potent resource for anchoring and nourishing us through the midst of complex life events.

In this episode of the Edge lockdown podcast we continue our series on Wholiness by tackling the delicate, challenging and universal experiences of grief and loss. Wholiness is not about everything being shiny and perfect; instead it’s about our full humanness, including those parts of the journey that are layered with loss. In this episode Michael and Katharina talk through some different ways we experience and respond to grief and loss (including our common sense of loss in light of the current pandemic). In light of this they reflect on ways of navigating the journey of grief, the presence of the divine to us, and the possibilities of friendship in these moments and experiences.

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast, Michael talks with Blair Franklin and Cath Gibson about the idea and practice of generosity. We discuss the impact generosity has on both ourselves and others, as those seeking to live our lives in tune with what it means to be the image of God. In particular we discuss the connections between generosity, contentment and empathy, explore the obstacles to living generous lives, and look at some practical steps away from a scarcity mindset toward an embrace of what we already have to give.

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast, Michael and Clint discuss the idea of manaakitanga. As human beings integrated within an interdependent world of connections and relationships what does it look like to embrace ways of being that serve to affirm and enhance the mana of others? How do we take up a duty of care for those around us and the world in which we live? In particular, we discuss the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and examine the way that manaakitanga is found embedded within this story, leading to transformative outcomes for everyone involved.

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast, we continue our Wholiness series by having further conversations with members of our Edge whānau around decisions and actions toward more sustainable lives. In this episode Michael talks with Moni Hogg about some of the big changes she’s making in her life around purchasing (or not purchasing!) goods and pursuing a life of minimalism. Michael also talks with Jireh and Andrew Stitt - a father/son combo - about their sustainable decisions (initiated by Jireh) around food, transport and navigating the complexities of that change.

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast we continue our series on Wholiness, and this time Michael talks with Clint Gibson and Sophie Austin about how our sense of humanness and wholeness is connected to creation itself. We talk about what shapes their approaches to ecological thinking and behaviour, how they put it into real-life, everyday practice and the challenges that emerge as we seek to live differently in the world.

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast Michael talks with Rod Begbie, one of the pastors of Fitzroy North Community Church in Melbourne. They talk about:

- why we often have such difficult or complicated relationships with our own bodies, seeing them as something to be ignored, controlled, driven, or blamed & shamed.

- how can we cultivate a healthy relationship with our own bodies, and how does our spirituality & faith help us in that journey?

- the connections between our own bodies, the body of Christ, and the world as God’s body, exploring the implications for our sense of wholeness not only as individual selves, but as those exploring community with others and in a healthy relationship with the earth itself.

- vulnerability and disability

- the body and the importance of play

In this episode of the Edge Kingsland lockdown podcast, Michael has a wide-ranging, insightful and enlivening conversation with Shirely Pastiroff - counsellor and mindfulness trainer - about navigating the complexities of contemporary life. They talk about:

the inherent wholeness and image of God that resides within each person

the impact of technology on our modern lives

what happens to the brain/body system when we live in a prolonged and heightened state of stress

negotiating the world of constant accessibility and demand

the problems and potentials of spirituality/faith

practices that help us tune in to the present and discover our whole, and yet vulnerable, true selves

You can find out more about Shirley Pastiroff, her work and resources at https://renewyourmind.co.nz/

In this lockdown edition of the Edge Kingsland Wholiness series, Michael, Clint & Katharina discuss the world of busyness that we find ourselves in, and some practical ways of navigating life with a sense of groundedness, connection and peace.

In this episode we begin a new series on a Theology of Social Justice. We examine the central narrative of the Old Testament, how it shapes up a radical view of God, and the way that harmful ways of being in the world (often called ‘sin’) are not just personal but structural. Liberation and salvation are therefore not just personal and individual, but call us to act in ways that transform the structures and systems that give rise to suffering.