Just A Guy In The Pew Podcast

"The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." - Pope Benedict XVI You don't have to look around long to see that the world needs Catholics that are willing to boldly live their faith. Unfortunately, many of us can often find ourselves retreating back into the comfort and safety of those like us. While there is nothing wrong with surrounding ourselv...

"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about" We all have had confrontations with strangers, co-workers, and even family and friends that haven't always gone the way we would like. Oftentimes, these interactions can leave us upset and we can move quickly to anger, premature judgments, and resentment towards the other person. As Christians, we are called to be better than that. We...

Join us for a special episode this week as John welcomes his friend Hani for an interview about living as a Christian in the Holy Land. Experiencing the kindness of a pilgrim as a young child, he now devotes his life to leading pilgrims to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and the land in which he lived and ministered. With a passion for connecting the New and Old Testaments, Hani invites us in...

All is gift! Join John and Victor this week as they discuss the power of receiving everything-trials and sufferings included- as a gift from the Lord. As St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). The Lord desires to use every moment of our lives to draw us back into union with...

Happy New Year! At least that's what we all want it to be. Many of us, though, fail in our resolutions and quit before we even get started. Ever wonder why? We listen to the wrong voice, that's why. The one that shows up to convict you of your mistakes and throws your past failures in your face. That voice is the voice of the Evil One. So how do we move past it and start moving forward? By "forget...

See what love (1 John 3:1) "The one who holds the world in being was lying in a manger...The heavens cannot contain him, but a woman carried him in her bosom...May he make us into children of God, since for our sake he was willing to be made a child of man" (St. Augustine). This is our God. This is the God who reveals His power through humility, love, and mercy. Join John and Victor as they share...

Remembrance is at the heart of the Christian life. When we forget who we are and Whose we are, we often fail to see the great gift of our lives and the abundant blessings we have received. Join John and Victor as they challenge us to focus not simply on the material gifts of Christmas, but on The Gift of Christ and his saving power in our lives. Found in this episode: -the necessity and simplicity...

The great mystery of Christmas is commemorating the historical event of the birth of the Messiah and simultaneously the preparation of the second coming of Christ. As St. John Paul II said, "Our whole life should be an 'advent', in vigilant expectation of Christ's final coming." Preparation and expectation. How we live our everyday lives matters. Join John and Victor as they address the temptation...

Where are your eyes? In the midst of the storms of life, we are often focused on the winds, the waves, and the darkness, tempted to cling to someone or something other than the Lord. Join John and his dear friend, Fr. Malachy, CFR, as they follow the example of St. Francis in focusing not on the confusion and disunity of the world, but on Jesus alone. Because Francis allowed himself to be changed...

In this special episode, John welcomes back to the pew his close friend Fr. Malachy Joseph Napier, CFR. In recent weeks, both Fr Malachy and John have struggled with the same issue: believing that they have to do it all themselves. Listen in this week to hear how on two separate journeys, both men were brought back to the truth of who God is and what he wants for us. God delights in us and desires...

"God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." ~ Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel Join John and Victor this week as they discuss the great power of the sacrament of Confession. "The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with him in an intimate friendship" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1468). Intimate an...

"If we don't have a relationship with one another, then we're missing out on the greatest gifts of life, which is friendship." On this week's episode John welcomes David Hall, one of his closest friends, to discuss the importance of authentic friendship. The two of them discuss the need for genuine connections and the impact it can have on a man's life and his faith. They share personal stories of...

"Be a Gift." John is joined this week by his friend, Damon Owens, international speaker and founder of Joyful Ever After, a nonprofit to help you get the marriage you want from the marriage you have. The men discuss Damon's work of speaking, teaching, and living a life formed by St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, a masterpiece that unveils the answers to our deepest questions of life, love,...

"If your life depends on the affirmation of others, then it can be easily destroyed by the rejection of others." On this week's episode John and Victor talk about the pain of rejection and the choice we have in how to handle it. We all have, or will face the rejection of others at some point in our lives. We are not alone in experiencing rejection though. Jesus experienced it more than anyone in h...

"God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination." - St. Augustine This week on the show, John and Victor discuss how important it is to own up to your sins. They dive into the impact of blame, guilt and shame and how it can become overbearing. They also discuss how God does not want us to wallow in our pity or our sins. Finally, they talk...

On this special episode John is joined by his good friend, Deacon Jeff Drzycimski. Together they discuss the importance of accompaniment and relationship within the church. John speaks about his love of walking with others through ministry. Deacon Jeff also explains how it's our responsibility to share Jesus' love with others so that they can truly become part of the body of Christ. Lastly, John t...

“Every one of us is longing for Him.” This week John is joined by his good friend Bart Schuchts, founder of Church on Fire. In this special episode, John and Bart have a powerful conversation about what we are all searching for: God. Tune in as they discuss their love for God the Father and how important it is to be intentional with our Faith. Bart also shares his opinion on the needs he sees for...

“Allow God to love you as a father so that you can learn how to love your children.” John hosts solo on this week's episode and he discusses the importance of God the Father’s love and how essential a father’s love is. He tells us to allow us to accept God’s love. He talks to us about his personal experiences with his father and his experiences as a father. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of...

“It's the love of Jesus. It's the love of the Father, being able to see us beyond our wounds.” Dr. Bob Schuchts, founder of The John Paul II Healing Center, joins John on this week's episode following the healing the whole person conference in Memphis. They discuss the impact of Jesus' love and how he can heal us. They also talk about healing in scripture such as Romans 7. Finally, they discuss th...

“Refuge is a place to feel safe and a place to go and to just rest. Jesus found that place in his Father always. “ John hosts solo on this week's episode just after Labor Day. He talks about the importance of finding a spiritual and physical space to rest. He discusses how easy it is to get caught up in life's stress and business. Additionally, he discusses how the Bible illustrates how people fin...

“We spend our time trying to avoid hell instead of trying to get to heaven. “ On this week’s episode John and Victor talk all about intentionality within the faith and being able to be purposeful. They discuss how hard It can be to pay attention to what God puts in front of you. Through scripture, John discusses how sin can distract us from the true purpose of life. Lastly, they discuss the import...

”We’re tormented by our wounds.” John and Victor are back hosting for this week’s episode! In this episode, they talk about the vicious cycle of sin and how hard it can be to get out of bad habits. They discuss how hard it is to ask for constant forgiveness from yourself and God. In addition, they emphasize the effects of spiritual wounds and imposter syndrome. Lastly, they discuss the impact of G...

“Be attentive to that joy and that peace.” A special guest, Seminarian Bryan Roberts, joins John on this week’s episode. They discuss the importance of ministry and the journey towards priesthood. John emphasizes the power of the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of marriage, in revealing God's love. Finally, they discuss the courage required to fully commit to the priesthood and the role of...

“Jesus comes to give us his peace.” Victor and John are back hosting together on this week's show! This episode discusses the importance of prioritizing family and finding peace in decisions, as well as the importance of making choices that align with one's conscience, family, and God. They discuss the importance of trusting in the Lord and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life. They urge us...

“Going and helping somebody find healing and restoration is the greatest and most fulfilling superpower you could ever have.” On this week’s episode, John is hosting solo. He discusses how Catholicism is centered around bringing healing and restoration to those who are afflicted and brokenhearted. Through stories from the Bible like Isaiah 61, John shows us how Jesus assists the afflicted, binds u...