Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

Have you noticed that there is a lot of anxiety out there these days? Whether explicit and obvious, or implicit and underlying, many of us are feeling anxious or stressed. But we follow Someone who is called the Prince of Peace. Maybe that could make a difference in how we deal with challenges, troubles, hardships that cross our path. Maybe peace could actually become our operating system. When we talk about an operating system, we mean the basic underlying software that helps a computer or a smartphone operate. Unless you're a tech nerd like I tend to be, you don’t think very often about the operating system of your device, that is, unless it stops working properly. When we call peace an operating system, we’re saying that it is possible to learn how to allow peace to be the underlying framework of our lives. Peace might even become something unconsciously trusted rather than frantically sought. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We can’t help ourselves. We are going to join the conversation on Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. If you haven’t seen the Netflix show or read the book, that’s ok. We’re going pass through the subject on our way to a deeper dive into why we’re tempted to cling to things and how letting go can help our souls. Marie isn’t teaching this directly, but I’m seeing people sink down further into these two questions: What do I really need? What do I really want? Most people live on such a surface level, purchasing items without thought. They collect “stuff” until they are overwhelmed not only outwardly, but inwardly. Pruning thoughtfully, one piece at a time, helps people dip down into the deeper place of true desire. And the term “spark joy” is one way to go there. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Living more faithfully into our following of Jesus involves saying the right “Yeses” and the right “Noes.” In a little less than a month, Christians around the world will be saying “No” in some particular way as they practice Lent. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about observing An Unhurried Lent together. Today, we’re talking about something that Gem and I are going to be doing together beginning in about a month. We’re calling it An Unhurried Lent. We’ll start by talking a little about Lent in general, then we’ll unpack the more specific idea of An Unhurried Lent. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A few years ago we spent a long weekend in a beautiful home on a vineyard. While visiting the Napa region of CA, we had the treat of being hosted by a master gardener. We ate beautiful food and drank amazing wine while seated at a picnic table overlooking the rolling hills and fruit-laden vines. We talked, laughed and shared all the way up to sunset. As you can imagine, it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I could go on forever about the beauty of the setting but what does this have to do with spiritual formation? As we strolled the vineyard and spoke with the gardener he educated us on the pruning process of the grapes and how to make the best wines. What I found fascinating was the most unremarkable part was where the vine met the branch. The familiar words from John 15:5 echoed in my mind. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus said, “You are the branch.“ Hmmm. I am the branch. Which means I’m not the gardener. I’m not the vine. I’m not the fruit. I am the branch. And a branch’s job is to simply stay attached to the vine. Simple. But not easy. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A new year full of plenty of new opportunities. However, with opportunities also come some common obstacles that can get in the way of making real, productive progress. That’s where we are headed today on the Unhurried Living Podcast. In this episode, we’re talking about four common barriers to leadership effectiveness. These aren’t the only four barriers to leading well, but they are four big ones. And these insights aren’t just for people with very visible leadership roles or positions. We see leadership as a much larger category than that. Leadership is about holy and fruitful initiative in life as well as in work. The four barriers are: Anxiety Fear Self-doubt Insecurity We will unpack these barriers using the following questions: What does this barrier look like in my life and work? How does it hinder my progress? What does it look like when I overcome or move through it? What is the alternative movement to each one? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A few months ago we were in Germany leading a conference for Navy Chaplains. And as I pondered and prayed about our time together a phrase came floating up from my memory banks: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” I had heard that phrase one time as I listened to a movie star talk about training for his role in an upcoming blockbuster. But what does “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast” have to do with looking ahead to 2019. Research revealed that Navy Seals (per navyseals.com) have understood this concept for decades with the dynamic of slow, smooth, fast--and also crawl, walk, run. Here's a brief excerpt to explain: “In The Way of the SEAL, we are striving to navigate that journey with increasing awareness and power. Once you set foot onto this path, you begin to find extraordinary results through doing ordinary things extraordinarily well—and it eventually comes naturally. That is mastery.” (Mark Devine) At Unhurried Living, we have taken on a similar way for ourselves and our work. Spiritual practices are the slow of “slow is smooth” that we practice so that when we work, we have access to a deep reserve from within. In our spiritual practices our souls are learning to become present...present to God, present to ourselves, present to others. Our souls practice remembering that God is with us. And we will have quicker access to this reality in times of need. Our work becomes the “smooth is fast” part. This is what we mean when we talk about Jesus being relaxed. When we are relaxed instead of anxious, we are more creative, more insightful, less constricted, less distracted. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Alan and I take walks a few times a week. And most of the time we have these amazing conversations that lead to me saying, “We should have been recording this! This could have been a podcast!” We’ve never recorded a walk talk, but in this episode we are sharing from a couple of those conversations about contentment and anxiety. And we frame all this in the practice of a year-end-examen. As you listen, be sure to download the FREE resource from Isaiah 61 at http://unhurriedliving.com/isaiah61 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A common approach to living the Christian life is to focus on our own faith, our own practices, our own faithfulness. The emphasis in the story of scripture always begins with God—God’s great faithfulness, God’s mighty works, God’s generous grace. Today, we’ll talk about a key question Jesus asks in the gospels that captures this inviting dynamic. One of my favorite words lately has been the word “invitation.” It feels good to be invited to a meal or a gathering by someone you like. Or, even better, by someone you admire! There is something very full of grace when someone else takes the first step towards us. This is the nature of grace. This is the way of God. Invitation is how Jesus approaches us. In today’s episode, we are talking about the story of Jesus and Bartimaeus in Mark 10, and how the question Jesus asks that is sheer invitation and changes how we look at grace. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to today's podcast on rest, a conversation with author and theologian, A.J. Swoboda. Our conversation stems around the idea of rest and how it is built into the very fabric of God's beautiful creation. Without giving too much away, here are four of of the nine questions A.J. and I discuss in this podcast. A.J.'s book is entitled “Subversive Sabbath.” In what ways is Sabbath a subversive practice? A.J., please share the story of your own experience of discovering and entering into the gift of Sabbath. In your own practice of Sabbath, what have been some of the boundaries you’ve observed (the “I won’ts”) and the engagements you’ve enjoyed (the “I wills”)? How might someone who has an unpredictable weekly work schedule practice Sabbath? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever felt embarrassed, humiliated or ashamed? That’s a silly question. We have all felt that way at one time or another. Today, we’re looking at the vulnerability that accompanies those dynamics and how Jesus himself can meet us there. When we think about this question of identity, we envision a simple dot in the center of a dotted circle going around it’s periphery. The dot at the center is our actual, simple identity as beloved sons and daughters of God. The dotted line that looks like something orbiting around that center point represents everything we attempt to make an identity of our own. We try to do enough, acquire enough, impress enough people. But it’s just going in circles. We hurry around, orbit after orbit, seeking for a sense of meaning and purpose “out there” in achievements, acquisitions and accolades. But the spiritual reality of finding our identity already in place in our friendship with God through Christ lies at the simple center of who we are. Being rooted in Jesus at the center brings us to a place of engagement with all the realities “out there”, but from a place of peace and stillness at the center with God. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.