Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

Alan and Gem discuss developing a personal rhythm of life. It’s a practice they both have worked on over the years in their own spiritual journeys. In fact, the ideas shared grow out of a training piece Alan has shared with hundreds of leaders over the years. It’s one of the ways we can rise up out of the hurried and compacted world in which we live into a place of greater perspective and freedom....

Alan Fadling talks with James Bryan Smith about his latest book, The Magnificent Story. We unpack what it means that the gospel of Jesus is good, beautiful and true here and now, not just someday. James Bryan Smith is the author of the trilogy: The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community. He is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita,...

Today we are going to talk about practicing the presence of God in the midst of our real, and sometimes busy, lives. First by looking at Psalm 84, then we’ll move into the Stages of Competence, and, finally, ending up with seven practical tips for taking 5 minutes to become present in the middle of a busy day. If you want to read the transcripts for this podcast, you can access the content here: [...

In this mini-sode, Alan shares a way of praying scripture that has become an important part of his spiritual rhythm. In a sense, it’s not just about “me praying scripture.” It’s also about God’s Spirit praying scripture into me. It’s a way of not only thinking about and studying scripture, but also letting scripture soak into my being—into our emotions, our intentions, our perspectives, our deep b...

BREATHE is a practice you can engage, for about 5 minutes, at any point in your day. It’s a helpful process of re-focusing and re-engaging. You can take a moment to breathe and to find some inner stillness in God’s presence. You can quiet your mind and heart for a moment and emerge refreshed and ready to move into your next task or conversation. It’s very difficult to be truly productive when you...

Today, I talk with Suanne Camfield, author of The Sound of Million Dreams: Awakening to Who You are Becoming. You’ll enjoy our engaging conversation on the themes of: Being, Presence, Comparison, Becoming, and Truth. This is the passage from Suanne’s book that made me want to talk with her: “…the stirring was a moment: an awareness of the holy in the midst of the every day that simultaneously brou...

Today we are talking about Solitude and Silence or what we call Unhurried Time with God. But this is not just a “you should do it” talk. We are going to share stories from our own lives. From early on in our own experience and one from within the last month. We share these with you so you can see how we started out. We were in our late 20s and were just beginning our process of solitude and silenc...

Curiosity is one of the most important qualities in a good leader. We’ve seen the fruit of that counsel in our life and work. Today we share a conversation that Alan enjoyed with Casey Tygrett about his new book, Becoming Curious: A Spiritual Practice of Asking Questions. As a spiritual director, I have a bias for asking good questions. I love what Casey has written here, and it was a pleasure to...

“As a holy listener …. I have to put myself out of the way, to become humble in the true sense of knowing my place in the order of God’s creation …. above, all, I must be reverent, for I am entrusted with something precious and tender.” (Margaret Guenther) This is the essence of spiritual direction. Enjoy a conversation between Gem Fadling and Beth Booram, who is a seasoned spiritual director. Her...

We’ve said before that at the heart of all we do is people. Where are the people? What do they need? How can we help them take their next step? One model we’ve used over the course of our lives is The Critical Journey by Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich. Listen in as Alan and Gem describe the six stages in a life of faith. It is so helpful to see where you are in your journey. It can help you feel...

In today’s episode, we share a recent phone conversation I (Alan) had with Pete Scazzero. We focused especially on his most recent book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader. It came out when I was writing the first draft of my latest book, An Unhurried Leader. I purposely waited to start reading it because I had a sense that there would be many points of resonance. I wanted to give voice to what was on...

Most of us know how to teach for information, but how do you lead a team or group for transformation? On this week’s podcast we will share with you our approach and our methods, drawing on our 25 years of experience. Here are a few bullet points from our conversation: ¬ The importance of preparing who you are. ¬ Spiritual leadership as hospitality. Holding space for others. ¬ Making space for spir...

Don't speed read the Bible if you want to sink into the friendship with God you can enjoy there. This podcast shares an unhurried way to engage scripture. In this podcast, I'll share a little personal story about my own daily engagement with scripture in my spiritual journey. I want to talk a bit about unhurried ways I’ve been seeking to come to the Bible in recent years. Last Spring, about 15 mon...

Gem shares a spiritual practice she's developed called, “SLOW.” It is an an acronym for STOP, LINGER, OBSERVE and WONDER. SLOW is a practice you can engage, in just a couple of minutes at any point in your day. It’s a helpful process of re-focusing and re-engaging. It’s very difficult to be truly productive when you feel scattered or hurried. Five-minute retreats can help you slow down, remember G...

“We need not have a position of influence to be a person of influence.” This isn’t a book just for people who are in organizational leadership roles. Leaders are influencers. God entrusts to each of us the privilege and responsibility to be persons of kingdom influence wherever he has planted us and in whatever relationships we find ourselves. One chapter is titled “Prayer as Primary Influence.” W...

Alan and Gem traveled to Chatsworth, CA and The Church at Rocky Peak. Alan took part in a conversational sermon with Pastor Dave Cox. Hear the heartbeat of Unhurried Living and get a taste of An Unhurried Leader . The Fadlings spent the first 8 years of their marriage and ministry at The Church at Rocky Peak. It was so fun to go back to visit and do a pre-launch of An Unhurried Leader . Enjoy this...

Is it possible to have a busy life that is also unhurried? Can our life with God and our work with God become more and more connected and fruitful? Listen to this week’s conversation with Dr. Carol Taylor, president of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, as we talk about what she’s learned in years of leadership. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertis...

Where do we find the abundant joy that Jesus promised to those who trust him? Do we work to acquire joy, or do we bring joy with us as we do our work? Listen to this week’s conversation with Jeff Spadafora of Halftime Institute as we discuss his new book “The Joy Model” to gain practical insights that will help you live a more joyful life. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inqu...

What are some of the dynamics in work or ministry that get us hurried in soul? How can we engage in the work God gives us from a place of abundance rather than from brokenness? This week's conversation with Doug Fields will help. Listen as we discuss insights he's gained from over 30 years in youth ministry leadership and training of other youth pastors. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaud...

In the midst of our busy lives and our full schedules, what does it look like to tend our souls well? This week's conversation with Mindy Caliguire, founder of Soul Care, will help you with practical insights and guidance to better care for your life and relationships even in the midst of a very active life. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunit...

What does being a person of influence in the spirit of God's kingdom look like? How can we lead in our lives, our families, our workplace and our churches in the way of Jesus? This week's conversation with Todd Hunter will provide some on-the-ground wisdom that will help you do just that. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com...

Welcome to the Unhurried Living Podcast! Unhurried Living exists to help people rest deeper and live fuller so that they can lead better. This is the first of eight episodes in Season 1. This season we’ll be talking with influencers such as Doug Fields of Download Youth Ministries, Mindy Caliguire of Soul Care, Jeff Spadafora from Halftime Institute, Carol Taylor, President of Evangel University,...

Welcome to the Unhurried Living Podcast! Unhurried Living exists to help people rest deeper and live fuller so that they can lead better. We’re sharing this mini-episode as an introduction to Season 1 of our podcast. In the eight episodes of Season 1 we’ll be talking with influencers such as Doug Fields of Download Youth Ministries, Mindy Caliguire of Soul Care, Jeff Spadafora from Halftime Instit...