Mark Conner Special Events

The Christmas Season

FB736775-30CF-4303-A419-8E731F241309

It’s the Christmas season! People are carefully selecting gifts for their loved ones, the air is filled with the sound of Christmas carols, bright Christmas lights sparkle each night, and many are looking forward to some time off with their family and friends.

For people of faith, this time of year is a reminder of God’s amazing love for the world demonstrated by sending his only Son as a baby – born to be the long-awaited Saviour of the world. Yes, Jesus came to bring peace, love and joy to a fallen and broken world. He still does, if we will only open our hearts to receive and then pass it on.

For some people, Christmas can be a time of grief as they are reminded of loved ones or things they have lost. Just over 10 years ago, my wife’s mother, affectionately known as ‘Oma’ (German for grandmother), passed away very suddenly after a battle with cancer. We were devastated. Then ten days later, our three teenage children and two of their friends were involved in a serious car accident. All of them spent New Year’s Day in the emergency ward of a hospital. What an incredibly traumatic time it was for our family and everyone involved.

These words from the Old Testament book of Lamentations (3:20-23) were meaningful to me at the time:

“I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” NLT.

Whatever your year has been like, with all of its joys and it’s pains, it’s ups and it’s downs, it’s laughter and it’s tears, my prayer is that you will have a meaningful Christmas and a relaxing holiday season. Know that you are deeply loved by God. He is with you and in him you have all you truly need.

Merry Christmas.

[Image above: Nativity, He Qi, ink and gouache on rice paper]

Mark Conner Web/Tech

Mark Conner’s Web Site Update

Website-refresh

Just for your awareness, my web site is undergoing an update at the moment. Soon there will be new graphics, new pictures, and my BLOG and web site will be integrated into one location. As the renovation continues, here are a few things that are new – all accessible via the Main MENU on the front page:

  1. My speaking schedule, outlining the places and events that I am speaking at.
  2. Various services that I am now making available – including coaching, consulting and speaking.
  3. A link to my resources including this BLOG, the books I have written, and links to various messages available on video, as well as some worship music (audio and video).
  4. A Contact Form for anyone wanting to make enquiries.

More changes are coming.

Until then, enjoy!

Mark Conner News

What’s New?

As this web site continues it’s renovation, here are a few things that are new – all accessible via the Main MENU on the front page:

      1. Mark’s Schedule, outlining the places and events that he is speaking at.
      2. Various Services that Mark is now making available – including coaching, consulting and speaking.
      3. A link to Mark’s Resources including his BLOG, the Books he has written, and links to various messages available on video, as well as some worship music (audio and video).
      4. A Contact Form for anyone wanting to make enquiries.

More changes are coming.

Until then, enjoy!

Mark Conner Think About It

Personal Impact

InflTake a moment to think about the person who has had the greatest positive impact on your life. I’m sure someone is coming to your mind right now – maybe it is a teacher, a coach, a team member, someone from your family, or a friend. Now ask yourself why you chose them. What was it about them?

I’ve done this exercise with hundreds of people and the results are always the same. It’s very rarely talent, achievement or knowledge that impacts us the most. It is always the character of the person – qualities such as their care, their personal interest, their integrity, their passion, their example, or their persistence.

This should be a big lesson for us. After all, your greatest impact will be WHO YOU ARE, not what you do or what you know. Sure, skill, success and education are worth pursuing BUT they will not be the cause of our greatest influence.

As you go through your day and mix with the people around you, think about the kind of person you are. The good news is that you can become a person of impact by developing the same qualities that influenced you.

Impact … Think about it. 

Mark Conner Think About It

Leadership

Lead

There is a lot of talk today about leadership and management. Both are important but what is the difference?

There is a story I heard many years ago that really helped me:

There are this group of people cutting through a jungle. The managers are there co-ordinating everything – the rosters, machete sharpening, the drinks breaks, mosquito spray, sun lotion, first aid. It’s all happening. The leader is the person who climbs a tree, looks around and shouts, “Oops, wrong jungle!” But the managers say, “But, we’re making such great progress!”

You know, you might be moving along really fast … but if you are going in the wrong direction, it doesn’t help.

It’s so easy to be ruled by the clock – how fast we are moving. Every now and then we need to take out a compass – and check our direction.

Management is very much about efficiency (“doing things right”) while leadership is about effectiveness (“doing the right things”).

Is it time for you to climb a tree? What direction is your life going, your team, your family, your business, your career?

Leadership … think about it.