22: Know Yourself

09/29/21 • 69 min

On today’s show, Chong and Dan begin with some special news (which explains why we're a bit late with this one). We then reflect a little bit more on the topic of slack, which really resonated with our listeners. From there, we delve into the practical matter of "knowing yourself" - how do you know how you are going? Dan and Chong discuss four sources of information:

What your body tells you
What your mind tells you
What your conscience tells you
What others tell you

NOTE: We are conducting a short survey to better understand and serve our listeners. Please access the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/IGFsurvey2021 Thanks very much for your help!
Connect with us

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Show notes
We’re back! (3:19)

Follow-up: thank you to our listeners for the Slack episode reception
Chong’s reflections on slack in the era of three kids

Knowing yourself (11:22)

General vibe in listener feedback and culture that we’re not going so well
How do you know how you are going?

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing
What your body tells you (17:05)

We are embodied beings - signals include tiredness, pain and hunger
Look after your own body, and show grace to the physical state of others

What your mind tells you (28:10)

What does your mind dwell on
Worry and anxiety - looking to the past (“if only”) and the future (“what if”)
The inner voice / core beliefs

What your conscience tells you (44:08)

Your moral sense of right or wrong
Like pain - don’t ignore your conscience, it might be telling you something important!

What others tell you (55:16)

Valuable because we can have our own blinders
Requires giving people permission and willingness to be vulnerable

Conclusion (1:03:32)

Stop hiding, stop running, stop covering up - be real with how you are going
It’s OK to not be OK
Honour your body
Don’t neglect your relationships (A faithful friend, who can find?)
Go deeper - what are your core beliefs?

What your body tells you
What your mind tells you
What your conscience tells you
What others tell you

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
We’re back! (3:19)

Follow-up: thank you to our listeners for the Slack episode reception
Chong’s reflections on slack in the era of three kids

Knowing yourself (11:22)

General vibe in listener feedback and culture that we’re not going so well
How do you know how you are going?

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing
What your body tells you (17:05)

We are embodied beings - signals include tiredness, pain and hunger
Look after your own body, and show grace to the physical state of others

What your mind tells you (28:10)

What does your mind dwell on
Worry and anxiety - looking to the past (“if only”) and the future (“what if”)
The inner voice / core beliefs

What your conscience tells you (44:08)

Your moral sense of right or wrong
Like pain - don’t ignore your conscience, it might be telling you something important!

What others tell you (55:16)

Valuable because we can have our own blinders
Requires giving people permission and willingness to be vulnerable

Conclusion (1:03:32)

Stop hiding, stop running, stop covering up - be real with how you are going
It’s OK to not be OK
Honour your body
Don’t neglect your relationships (A faithful friend, who can find?)
Go deeper - what are your core beliefs?

Previous Episode

21: Cut Some Slack

On today’s show, Chong and Dan follow up on the topic of building by addressing one of the barriers to it - lack of capacity. We begin by surveying the cultural and economic landscape, where “efficiency” reigns. Dan gets real by sharing about how the pursuit of efficiency is impacting his personal life. We then dive into the antidote to efficiency: slack. What does it mean to have slack and what does the Bible have to say about it? Dan and Chong then ride their respective hobby horses - ministry and finances - in applying slack to our own lives.
NOTE: We are conducting a short survey to better understand and serve our listeners. Please access the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/IGFsurvey2021 Thanks very much for your help!
Connect with us

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
Efficiency, efficiency everywhere (5:11)

Productivity in the Industrial Age and the Internet Age
The dark side of pursuing efficiency and cutting costs - “costs” can be a good thing
Dan’s personal lament

What is slack (18:44)

Slack consists of excess resources that are not spent in the present, for future benefit
Importance of slack - allows us to adapt and grow; enables us to handle the inevitable ups and downs of life; helps us to prioritise what is important and effective

Efficiency is the Enemy
Slack in the Bible (28:47)

Rhythm of build and rest in the Creation account - efficiency as “build” gone awry - Genesis 2:1-3
Gleaning - don’t gather up every single crop, but leave some for others - Leviticus 19:9-10
Jesus took his time - to rest and pray (Luke 5:15-16), and to help the least of these (Mark 5:21-43)
Fulfilling the greatest commandments requires slack - Matthew 22:36-39

Applying slack to our lives (41:46)

Church and ministry - people are the most inefficient part of ministry, but they are the very substance of ministry
Finances - major financial commitments can wipe away slack and cripple your spiritual life; be careful!

Conclusion (57:00)

A good litmus test for whether you have slack in your life - do you have time for your family; do you have the capacity to love those from whom you stand to gain nothing

Next Episode

23: You Belong With Me

On today’s show, Chong and Dan commemorate an important milestone - after 10 years, Dan has completed bible college! The main topic of our show is “belonging”. We reflect on what is special about this word - it is passive (we don’t “do” it), and it is always in relation to something or someone else. Belonging is also a core part of our identity. Therefore it is no surprise that in our individualistic culture, there is a “crisis” of both belonging and identity. What is the “solution”? Dan boldly claims that true belonging cannot be fulfilled by this world, but rather granted by God.
Music by: Julian Wan

Connect with us

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ingoodfaithfm
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ingoodfaithfm
Email - [email protected]

Show notes
Dan finished bible college! (1:54)

Reflections and quick-fire questions
Huge personal lesson: everyone is walking their own path, you cannot plan for life

Meditations on belonging (7:11)

You can’t “do” belonging
You belong only in relation to other things - family, place, nation, etc.
To belong is a fundamental aspect of human identity
To belong is to have an obligation to others

The modern crisis of belonging (26:00)

(Young) people who are lost - we all feel it
Self-sabotage - showing up is hard, so we don’t do it, therefore sacrificing our long-term identity
External obstacles in modern life

What is the solution? (45:46)

We can’t get belonging just by trying harder
Dan gets preachy - only Christianity offers true belonging through a God who sent his son into the world to find us

Conclusion (56:06)

Parable of the Prodigal Son - belonging that is lost and found again, by grace
Merry Christmas - please tell a friend about our show and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts :)