Monday Morning Pastor

We hope you are ready for a fun and encouraging show this week. Doug and J.R. discuss some books they have been reading, and they share some laughs over some headlines from the Babylon Bee.

Doug and J.R. talk about the February blues and their disdain for Valentine’s day, groundhogs, and cheap chocolate deals. In short, February is hard, which means this is the season to return to your life giving list (check out the Steve Cuss season 2 episode 1 and episode 2).

Recorded back in December 2019, some of the things we talk about in the intro make you think we found a time machine and went back to Advent, but te interview with Bob Hyatt, however, is current, fresh, and amazing!

2:55 pm…. Doug and J.R. jump into a conversation about circadian rhythms and the importance of understanding your daily and weekly rhythms. They share practical advice about planning out your schedule, thinking about your energy level that helps you stay sharp in ministry, and even have space for interruptions.

Doug and J.R. are excited to be back behind the mics for the 3rd season of the Monday Morning Pastor. A huge shout out to Jennie from VA for encouragement and helpful feedback, thanks for making Monday Morning Pastor better!

Doug and J.R. finish 2019 with an episode on how to enter into 2020 with focus and purpose through setting goals. Don’t miss this last episode of 2019! This is not about productivity—but owning your growth for 2020.

What do you do for the Holidays? Doug and J.R. talk about the how they plan to rest in the week of Christmas. Also, we are excited to share a conversation with Rich Villodas.

Naming it has a way of taming it. With Christmas approaching quickly, Doug and J.R. name and discuss the pressure, internal conflict, and otherness most pastors experience during Christmas Eve and the other “Super Bowl” Sundays of the church calendar year.

Dallas Willard was asked, “what is the most important thing for a pastor to do?” His reply, Pray for the flourishing of other churches in your city.” This about sums up the work and calling of Dennae Pierre with Surge Network.

J.R. is excited to announce something that he has been passionately working on the last few months called the Hall of Tyrannus Initiative. In short the vision is “To fund the entire education for 100 pastors at Bible schools/seminaries in poor countries and regions of the world that are hostile to Christianity”.

J.R. and Doug are excited to invite the MMP tribe into this fruitful, honest, and deep conversation with the amazing Tara Beth Leach. From preaching to the cornfields as a teenager in her home town, to pastoring a church that struggled with a woman senior pastor.

This week Doug and J.R. decided to reboot an incredible conversation from season 1. Our guest is spiritual director, author, and friend Lacy Finn-Borgo. Have you heard about spiritual direction but are curious to find out more?

Doug and J.R. have talked about their mentors over the past few weeks and this week we get to listen in to a conversation between Doug and his mentor Branson Roberts.

What are you reading these days? Doug and J.R. spend some time talking about the books they are currently in and what helps them choose them. For those who live in Cincinnati, you are going to want to listen.

As Doug and J.R. wrap up pastor appreciation month, Doug invites J.R to share stories of his relationship with Eugene Peterson. J.R. shares personal stories, letters and meaningful moments he had with Eugene over the years.

Before we jump back into our conversation with Rev. Tom Smith, we talk about mentors and the role that they have had in our lives. This leads us to talk about the importance of formation that moves beyond our heart and into the practices in our lives.

Doug and J.R. can’t seem to get enough of the month of October. Doug is turning 40 in a few weeks and they talk about what it looks like to live well the second half of life.

October is pastor appreciation month and J.R. and Doug spend some time talking about where it comes from, the struggle it is for many of us, and the importance of affirmation.

We are excited to announce a new partnership that has developed for the MMP community. We are officially partnering with Missio Alliance! Exciting times are ahead for MMP as we get to be part of a bigger conversation with an amazing cohort of diverse thinkers and writers.

In episode 3 of season 2, Doug and J.R. have a conversation around the prayer of Examen and seeing God in both the good things and the tough things in ministry.

Have you ever experienced anxiety as a leader?  Part 2 of our conversation with Steve is crash course is Family Systems Theory, theology of anxiety, and Romans 6. So much of who we are as leaders has to do with us learning to navigate personal anxiety which is a journey of naming what is causing the anxiety at hand and learning to let go of it.

Doug and J.R. are back in the saddle after a great first season! Is there a better way to start than reflecting on the first season, talking about pumpkin spice, and looking ahead to what’s to come in season two?