Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

The theme of today’s episode is grief, and especially grief related to traumatic loss. As a culture, we’re not very comfortable with or even very good at grieving. But we are facing a great deal of loss, maybe more chronic than traumatic, but loss nonetheless. I think today’s conversation may help you in ways you didn’t expect.About three years ago, our guest, author Mel Lawrenz, got a text from his wife that their thirty-year-old daughter, Eva, wasn’t breathing and was being taken to the hospital. That day, Mel and his wife experienced the death of that adult daughter. As Mel tried to find his way through this unimaginable loss, he began to share his experiences and thoughts with a circle of friends. They began to tell him that what he was sharing was really helping them, so here three years later those thoughts have become a book, A Chronicle of Grief.I’ve really appreciated what I’ve read so far. It has especially helped me realize that I am grieving losses related to COVID19 quarantining, political instability, and the generations-old grief of my brothers and sisters of color. What Mel has written about is for us today. Mel Lawrenz trains an international network of Christian leaders, ministry pioneers, and thought leaders through the Brook Network. He served as senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for ten years and now serves as Elmbrook's minister at large, teaching in North America, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He holds a PhD in the history of Christian thought from Marquette University. His books include Spiritual Leadership Today and Life After Grief.Connect with Mel on social at:Instagram @mellawrenzFacebook @mel.lawrenz.7Twitter @MelLawrenz Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sungshim came to America from Korea at the age of 29. Being an immigrant and struggling with emotional deficits from her childhood left her isolated and insecure. Her search for God and her self-discovery process in her training and relationships opened her to God’s love in new and deeper ways till she was overwhelmed with the beauty and abundance of life in God’s kingdom. Along the way she developed a way of interacting with God called “Immanuel Journaling”. This tool was introduced in the book Joyful Journey and has helped many people into a profound experience with the God’s love. Sungshim and her husband John, also an MFT and a pastor, minister together. She offers bi-lingual psychotherapy and spiritual friendship to pastors and others with a special focus on Korean Americans.Connect with Sumgshim:Twitter @LoppnowRelateInstagram @loppnow.relationshipcenterLoppnow Relationship Center  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Way of Presence: The Empowering Reality of God-With-Us launches September 8. Today, I'm sharing here a conversation with my friend and fellow author, Casey Tygrett, about the book and its life-giving message. Casey Tygrett is author of the recent Christianity Today award-winning book As I Recall, was able and willing to join me in a conversation about my new book.  I know you'l appreciate how Casey helps get at the heart of what I’ve sought to say through this new book project. Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life is more than just a theological fact about him. It is a vital and organic reality. I walk with Jesus as the way. I see myself through the eyes of Jesus as the truth. I live my every moment in communion with Jesus as the life. The Way of Presence will help you enter more deeply into this living reality.Check out another Unhurried Living podcast with Casey Tygrett on his book "Becoming Curious".Connect with Casey on social at:Instagram @cktygrettFacebook @cktyrgettauthorwww.caseytygrett.com Connect with Alan on social at:Instagram @AlanFadlingFacebook @AlanFadlingwww.unhurriedliving.com  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our guest today is Marlena Graves, author of The Way Up Is Down. In her own words: “…we’ll explore ways in which God is calling you and me to surrender continually to being emptied and then filled with his abounding grace. We’ll soon discover that this is the process whereby saints are made. This is the selfless-way, the God-shaped life.”For writer, pastor, and activist Marlena Graves, formation and justice always intertwine on the path to a balanced life of both action and contemplation. Marlena is a writer and adjunct professor. She has also worked at Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC). She holds an MDiv from Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York, and is a graduate of the Renovaré Institute. She has been a bylined writer for Christianity Today, (in)courage, womenleaders.com, and Our Daily Bread.  She also authored A Beautiful Disaster: Finding Hope in the Midst of Brokenness. She's married to her best and three daughters.Learn more about Marlena and follow her on social at:http://marlenagraves.com/Facebook @marlena.gravesInstaGram @marlena.gravesTwitter @MarlenaGraves Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Many of you who listen to this podcast are leaders in business, church, nonprofit and other organizational settings. Others of you may not have a leadership title, but you live a leadership life…a life of influence. Today’s episode is going to help a lot. I’m talking with Jerome Daley, author of the book Gravitas: The Monastic Rhythms of Healthy Leadership about where spiritual depth and authority in leadership come.These continue to be challenging days for Christian leaders. Gem and I have had to be quite nimble in our own work as our travel and speaking calendar evaporated in one week back in March. Your life and work have probably changed pretty dramatically as well. In today’s episode, I’ll be exploring how the classic commitments and disciplines of monastic spirituality can especially serve us in these times. I’m not talking about something detached from the hard realities of life. I’m talking about a way to lean into Reality (capital “R”) in the midst of what’s happening around us. Let me tell you a bit about Jerome Daley before I share our recent conversation: He is an executive coach, retreat leader, and spiritual trainer who is passionate about helping men and women thrive, in their inner life and outer leadership. With 30 years in people development, Jerome strengthens leaders in the journey toward true identity and vocational calling. Making his home in the mountains of North Carolina, he and his wife Kellie are parents of three grown children. His great delights are taking spiritual retreats, drinking good wine, backpacking in the mountains, and playing with his grandson.Connect with Jerome at:Website: www.thrive9solutions.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/iThrive9Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromedaley/Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jerome-Daley/e/B001K8AU3SSide note, to connect with Jerome for an appointment, you have the pleasure of talking directly to him.  He uses the phone to connect / schedule interviews versus email! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Summer is another beautiful soul that Gem has met on Instagram. Last year Gem and Summer had the treat of meeting each other in person at a conference in the Midwest. Summer is a caring and wise listener and teacher and we can’t wait for you to learn from her today.Summer is an Anglican priest, spiritual director, homeschool mom of three, and still madly in love with her high school sweetheart. She comes alive listening to people’s hard and holy stories and setting the table for them to spend time in the Presence of God. Her mission? Sharing tools to help people go from anxious to resting in God.Neuroscience, attachment and spiritual practices – this is where we’re headed today on the Unhurried Living Podcast.Links to the books and resources Summer mentions in this episode:Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode--and into a Life of Connection and Joy by Aundi KolberWiden the Window: Training Your Brain and Body to Thrive During Stress and Recover from Trauma Hardcover by Elizabeth A. Stanley PhDThe Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe by Dr. Stephen W. PorgesAnatomy of a Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships by Dr. Curt ThompsonMindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation by Dr. Daniel SiegelEvery Breath We Take: Living in the Presence, Love, and Generosity of God by Dr. Terry WardleJoyful Journey: Listening to Immanuel by Dr. E. James Wilder III, Ms. Anna Kang, Dr. John Loppnow, and Dr. Sungshim LoppnowPDF for Immanuel Journaling by Summer Joy GrossConnect with Summer:Her website http://athirstforgod.com/InstaGram @revsummerjoyFacebook @SummerGross and @ThePresenceProject Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We are living in a season where “us and them” thinking can be very tempting. Political differences, racial tensions, generational and even religious differences can push us to build thick walls we think will protect ourselves and keep bad things out. But reality is always bigger than simple “us and them” categories.Today, I’m talking with my friend, J. R. Briggs about his new book, releasing Sept. 8, titled The Sacred Overlap: Learning to Live Faithfully in the Space Between. In it, he communicates a refreshing vision that embraces tension and calls us to live in radical love and faithfulness between the extremes that isolate and divide people. Dr. J.R. Briggs has four passions around which his work focuses: Following JesusEquipping and investing in hungry kingdom leadersGrowing fruit on other people’s treesCreating good kingdom mischief.In short, his calling is to partner with people who are called to follow Jesus while they lead others. In 2011 he started Kairos Partnerships, an organization committed to serving hungry kingdom leaders through leadership coaching, consulting, speaking, teaching, equipping and writing. He is affiliate faculty member in practical theology at Missio Seminary and guest instructor at Friends University in the Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation program. Connect with J.R. on social media at:Twitter @ kpartnershipsInstaGram @jrbr.iggsFacebook @jrbriggs1Side note...J.R. is a former minor league baseball mascot!  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In my second book, An Unhurried Leader, I wrote a chapter based on Paul’s story of the thorn in his flesh that, no matter how many times he prayed, God did not remove or resolve. As leaders, there are things about us that we want to see changed. But sometimes, instead of changing what is unpleasant or difficult for us, God chooses instead to be graciously and lovingly present to us in the midst of what doesn’t change. Instead of resolution, God offers us transforming presence.Today, I’ve invited my friend, Steve Macchia, to talk about a book he wrote a while back titled Broken & Whole: A Leader’s Path to Transformation. I’ve been grateful for Steve’s work and our friendship for some time now. His life and his leadership are a beautiful example of the fruitful way of humility empowered by grace. Let me tell you more about Steve Macchia. In addition to being the author of at least ten books, Steve is founding president of Leadership Transformations and is the director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Before that, he served for 14 years as president of Vision New England. Connect with Steve and Leadership Transformations via the following:Facebook @leadershiptransformationsTwitter @LeadershipTF_Instagram @ItisSteve Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Editor and spiritual director Cindy Bunch calls us to self-care through greater compassion for ourselves. She helps us pay attention to the frustrations that bug us in order to identify negative thinking about ourselves or others. As we do so, we can discern what we need to let go. This allows us to lean into the things that bring us joy. Each chapter of her book, Be Kind to Yourself, is filled with spiritual practices and creative exercises for reflection and celebration. So, be kind to yourself. And discover new opportunities to embrace joy. Cindy is associate publisher and director of editorial for InterVarsity Press, where she acquires and develops books on spiritual formation. She is a trained spiritual director and lives with her husband in the Chicago area.Cindy would love to connect with you socially at:Facebook @Cindy-BunchInstagram @Cindy.BunchTwitter @cindybunch Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In her new book, Soul Care in African American Practice, Dr. Barbara L. Peacock illustrates a journey of prayer, spiritual direction, and soul care from an African American perspective. She reflects on how these disciplines are woven into the African American culture and lived out in the rich heritage of its faith community. Using examples of ten significant men and women―Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Darrell Griffin, Renita Weems, Harold Carter, Jessica Ingram, Coretta Scott King, James Washington, and Howard Thurman―Barbara Peacock offers us the opportunity to engage in practices of soul care as we learn from these spiritual leaders. If you've yearned for a more culturally authentic experience of spiritual transformation in your life and community, this book will help you grow in new yet timeless ways. Barbara L. Peacock (DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is a spiritual director, author, teacher, and preacher. She is the founder of Barbara L. Peacock Ministries, a ministry committed to developing disciples through prayer, spiritual direction, soul care, mentoring, and teaching. Connect with Barbara on social media at:Facebook @barbara.peacock.35Twitter @bpeacock888Instagram @peacock9807 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.