monday morning pastor

a chance to start over

 

One aspect of a life spent in ministry is that in many ways each week begins with a clean page.  Yes, there are ongoing aspects of ministry that build one of top of the other.  Still, in so many respects, the work begins anew every week. 

No matter if you are a city pastor or a country pastor, a well-known pastor or one just getting started, you get six days to do the work of a pastor before next Sunday.  Hopefully you will get a day off, but in the ministry that is not a guarantee. 

While all this is not exactly earth shattering news, it is cause to celebrate because it means you get another chance to begin again this week.  Each week you make decisions about the pastor you are becoming. 

Every pastor obviously begins his day by getting out of bed.  From there forward we will all do a thousand things differently.  Some will go jogging, some will get their two cups of coffee first, some will go straight to the shower, some will go to a room and do Bible study, while others will roll back over in bed because it's their day off.

If that describes a few things we might do first thing we get up, imagine how many different things we will do once we get to the office.  Consider all of the things to be dealt within a given week.  Where will you start?  What will be the order of the things you do?  If everyone has a routine, what will be yours?

Have you ever noticed that pastor you think so highly of, how he seems so polished and ready for any occasion?  How did he get that way?  How does he get so much done?  Where did he get his routine? 

Today, celebrate the fact that no matter how things might have gone on Sunday, that Monday offers a day to begin again with six whole days to prepare before next Sunday.

Until then, thank God for His calling and for that place where He has you serving!

Make Your Monday Rock! | Pastor Pete's Blog

Most people despise Mondays and I know this is certainly true for the clergy as well.  For ministers Mondays can be exceptionally difficult and lonely days in ministry.  The majority of pastors feel overwhelmed, under-appreciated and spiritually dizzy nearly every day of the week, but Mondays can for many be the climax of such feelings.  After a long day on Sunday the Devil loves to attack God’s faithful warriors on Monday.

via preacherpeter.wordpress.com

how to get monday morning off the ground

Pastors expend lots of energy on Sundays.  They end the day worn out physically, mentally and emotionally.  Some would say, "Then go to bed early!"  However, that is easier said than done.  We are often too tired and keyed up to go to bed.  Often times we are so relieved to have the day's pressure off of our shoulders that we kind of give ourselves late Sunday evening as a reward to do some things we have been wanting to do.  Often it is to lay back and enjoy a few programs on television.

The next thing we know, the alarm clock is going off.  It is time to get up and start the week at the church office all over again.  You might want to consider going in an hour later to begin your day.  Psychologically you are rewarding yourself for a day full of good work the day before. 

Here are some things you might try to get Monday off to a better start:

Begin by anticipating your Monday morning on Friday afternoon.  Fight the temptation to race away from a messy desk.  Clean up your desk and leave yourself a to-do-list to make Monday morning a little more tolerable.

Begin with prayer.  If you have not had your quiet time at home or elsewhere, take care of the phones so you can pray and read your Bible.  All of Monday will be better once you have done those things. 

Start some soothing music

monday mornings are tough on pastors

Monday mornings are tough on everyone in ministry.  However,  I believe they are toughest on pastors. 

Over the past ten years it has been my privilege to be in a position to help pastors.  The uniqueness of my role allows me to stay in touch with pastors and receive calls from those who choose to seek me out for counsel and prayer. Generally, those who do, do so because of a trust relationship that has been built over time.  In this way they allow me the privilege of acting as their pastor in their times of need.

I have answered many a Monday morning phone call from a discouraged pastor on the brink of resigning his church or leaving the ministry all together.  Something happened the day before that acted as the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back."  Suddenly all hope of going on as pastor in that church has vanished.  The pastor can hardly speak and is suffering from a night without much if any sleep.

What do I do for a pastor in such a condition?  I listen.  I let him tell me the whole story with all it's twists and turns.  I say little mini prayers, inaudible, several times as I listen.  More times than not the pastor at the end of telling his story will say he feels better and adds he guessed he just needed to get some things off his chest.  He says it helps to talk to someone who knows what it is to be a pastor.

That may be exactly what you need to do.  Make friends with a pastor in the area that you relate well to.  Build trust enough to listen and pray together at least once a month.  You'll be surprised by the relief you feel just knowing that you have a friend to talk to and pray with who has experienced the kinds of things you have.

Monday mornings!  They can sometimes be really tough.  Reach out to a friend who will listen and who will pray for you.  You will be so glad you did. 

the pastor and summertime

It’s here again.  It is the time of year to go camping, fishing, swimming and vacationing.  The operative word is “Go.”  We want ourselves and our church members to have the joy and reward of taking vacations and those trips to see family during the summer months.  

HOWEVER, that can lead to a few problems or should I say challenges for the pastor:

1. During the summer those less committed to giving a tithe at church will often spend those monies on themselves and their trips instead.  Pastors may want to remind their members of the importance of maintaining faithful giving throughout the summer months.  Learning to be consistent in giving is a process and should be mentioned throughout the year.
2. With so many gone on several summer Sundays, the pastor will often second guess himself and his own effectiveness in ministry.  We try and warn young pastors of this each year.  However, no amount of warning quite prepares you for the Sunday when the bottom falls out that first time.  Even seasoned pastors are susceptible to feelings of gloom when everyone seems to be gone during the summer.  
3. It is easy to become negative and project those negative feelings and attitudes on others.  We have all had the experience of things getting the best of us and letting “the ones who are there” have it with both barrels. Big mistake, but thankfully forgivable.

Summer is the time when we must be convinced of the value of “one.”  Although you may envision preaching next Sunday’s message to a packed house, be reminded that God is interested in each one individually.  Someone in attendance Sunday will be blessed and helped by your words no matter what the total number in attendance and no matter how much is in the offering plate! 

 

a good pastor has a strategy for monday mornings

Brian Croft is the senior pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  Recently he wrote about how to deal with that Monday morning hangover that all pastors seem to experience.

Croft writes,

"It is the mental, emotional, and spiritual crash that takes place the next day (Monday) as a result of pouring your heart and soul out in the proclamation of God’s Word to God’s people the day before.  Personally, it has affectionately become known as, “The Preaching Hangover.”  There is no easy remedy, medication, or quick fix that can prevent it.  There are, however, several practical efforts I make every Monday that are tremendously helpful to fight through the fog." 

Here are 4 for your consideration:

Pray and read Scripture.  I know this seems like a “no brainer” for a pastor.  The fact is sometimes on Monday morning…I don’t feel like it.  Yet, this is still what gives life to our weary souls and we must make ourselves continue to engage, even if we are struggling to want to think about anything, even God and God’s Word.  I find pushing through the fog by reaching for the bread of life is what gives a helpful kick start as we begin the weekly grind again.

Know your limitations.  Many pastors take Monday as their day off.  For those of us who choose a different day off to spend with our family, we have to proceed with Mondays carefully.  I am in no condition to deal with any heavy, thought-provoking, emotional counseling or conflict situations, at least until after lunch.  You may be different, but the “hangover” affects us all in some way that requires discernment as we plan the day.  Be careful you don’t put yourself in a position in your day that requires you to make a big decision when you are not nearly as sharp as you need to be to make it.

Exercise.  I exercise 4-5 times a week, but if there is a day when it is especially important to do so, it is Monday.  If you only exercise 1 day a week, I recommend it be Monday.  It hurts…many times more than normal following a Lord’s Day, but a good 30+ minute cardiovascular workout is exactly what I need to help shake the preaching hangover. 

Assign achievable tasks.  The preaching hangover is by no means an excuse to be a sluggard and unproductive.  Give yourself attainable tasks and make sure you push through to achieve them.  If it is your day off, make sure you are working hard to perk up and engage with your family so your wife and children do not get your “sluggard day.”  If you are trying to be productive in the office, but have a hard time studying for very long as I do, schedule other tasks that are within your frame of mind to accomplish.  For me, Monday is full of checking emails, simple administration, running errands, and meeting with folks that I know will be more light, encouraging, and less likely to be a blind-side confrontation.  You may be able to handle more than I typically can.  Just make sure they are tasks that are reasonable for you to accomplish in the day.

I hope in some way these suggestions will trigger ideas that will be of help to you in clearing the cob webs of the ”preaching hangover.”  Just remember, when you do have to face a long, weighty, conflict full Monday because the needs of the congregation demand it…God’s grace is sufficient to walk through it.

feeling down

Common to the life of every minister are those moments when you are feeling down.  Everyone has such days, but it is hard to be down for very long as a minister.  Too many people are counting on you not only to "not feel down" but to "feel up" all the time. 

The responsibilities of weekly church ministry simply do not allow the time necessary for the minister to be down.  Sunday is coming!   People need a visit, the bulletin is waiting your sermon titles and a man is sitting in your office reminding you that the last pastor didn't do it that way. 

There is no time to be down!  Maybe during the summer months you can be down, but not now.  Sunday's coming.

Yes, Sunday is always coming for the minister.  As a result, he must look for a quick fix or at least a large, extra-wide Band-aid patch that will stick all the way through Sunday evening’s activities.  While we have all put them on, quick fixes and patches are only meant to be temporary.  Left untreated, the minister and or their ministries usually either explode or implode.  Either one ends up being destructive to both minister and church. 

If, as a minister, you find the above to be written as if someone was reading your mail, you may have a problem than needs some outside help.  You may already know you need help but can't see how that could happen with your current schedule and limited budget.

There is good news!  God always provides ways and means to help us deal with our injuries and to help us heal.  It begins by letting someone know what's going on.  Will you let someone in on your pain?  Won't you call someone and talk to them about those things which are hurting you?

I hope and pray you do!

monday morning pastor welcomes runway followers

 

Welcome!  If it is your first time to visit monday morning pastor, I hope you will like what you find and will come back again and again.  You may have been directed to this site from the blog The Runway.  All of my blog content is in the process of being transferred to this site.

This blog is written to be of particular interest to those who serve as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That being said, many things that will be shared here will be of a nature that could be of help to all Christians as they seek to be consistent in their Christian living. 

However, the blog is unapologetically written for those of you who pastor a church, be it in a formal setting, in someone's home or under a highway bridge.  This site is designed to be a help and an encouragement to pastors.

Currently, I am encouraging the reading of good books.  Our lives are complicated.  We feel as if there is less and less time for accomplishing the basics.  We know we need to read more than just to get sermons.  We know we would be well-served by reading things for our own enrichment.  We sense a coming storm that calls for a good knowledge of many different disciplines.  We know the world is quickly approaching a time when our faith will be questioned and scrutinized like no other time in recent history.  But, still we say, "I can find little to no time to read."

So, a big issue facing the pastor today is one of time. You will either discipline yourself and make time your servant or you will be counter punching your way through ministry all your life.  We will want to spend some time thinking through those critical disciplines.

Hopefully we will be able to discuss many topics relevant to the world of a pastor. 

For one thing, we need to decide whether or not we are going to contend for this generation of young people and young adults.  Or will we cut them loose and be content to shepherd a graying flock until the last one one out turns off the lights.

We need to have some very serious talks about where things are headed and consider before it is too late those things we can do to become more relevant to the communities in which we live.

If all of this sounds like something you would like to read and be a part of, check this site often and recommend it to your other friends in the ministry.  All are welcome!

(The pastor pictured above in my nephew, Paul Stohler, named after my wife's father)

it's another monday

Monday mornings.  Everyone has Monday's to face but ours are a little bit different.  While most face a tough physical element ours is both physical and spiritual.  Will we muster strength and re-enter the battle again?  Or, will we surrender and get out of this vocation all together? 

I asked a pastor one time about taking Mondays off.  They were especially hard for him and I thought maybe changing days off would help.  He replied, "I don't want to feel this bad on my own time!"  Of course, it was a joke but the line rings true even so.

Next time we will look at some good ways to beat the Monday blues.  Until then, be looking for that pastor to call and take out for coffee.  Invest time and energy to build a relationship with him.  You will need him one day and he will need you.  Start the process today.