I am a Guest blogger over at Will Rochow’s blog today, Rethinking Faith and Church.
The post is called “Back Burner Ministry” and starts with this:
Most followers of Jesus eventually feel like they have been “put on the back burner.” I suspect Moses felt like this while he was tending sheep for 40 years in the desert. Most of the prophets felt this way when they did their best to speak the Word of God, and only got mocked, jeered, and imprisoned in return. I’m pretty sure Saul (Paul) felt this way also after his conversion when he spent 14 years in Tarsus.
Maybe you are in a similar situation. You are in the boondocks. In the sticks. You feel like you are a nobody.
Head on over there to read the rest of the post!
Oh, and here are the guidelines if anybody wants to write guest posts for my blog.
Jeremy,
Loved your post, but cannot get my comment to post at Will’s blog with either my blogger or wordpress ID. I just love the insoght you have into what is going on in the Church and I agree that God is moving toward a more organic and less planned event style of church.
I like to think of guys like you and Tim N. who have inglorious jobs, like prison chaplain and bus driver, and yet are moving the church forward more than those who do have the book deals and speaking engagements.
Your Brother,
FedEx,
President,
Men of Praise Motorcycle Ministry
Well, I don’t know about “more” but we are all in this together, and I love what you are doing through your motorcycle group!
FedEx,
I’m sorry that you were not able to post a comment on my blog. I’m not sure why that happened. However, I do appreciate the visit.
Being a biker myself, I also have a warm spot in my heart for your ministry.
Blessings,
Will
Jeremy – great post and great reminder!
The organization of churches I’m a part of (Great Commission Churches) has a conference at the end of every year. I went to this conference expecting God to speak to me in some very powerful ways about how to build his kingdom in 2012. Instead, he brought me back to the basics…focus on your relationship with me first, and your family second.
I’ve been corresponding by letter with a couple prisoners for the last 6 months or so, and I have to agree with what you said. Prison ministry is NOT back burner. I’ve been stoked about one guy that I’m writing, who is not only growing in faith but growing in boldness. He’s getting involved in a program to share his testimony to other prisoners.
This blog is something we could all benefit from reading – both those of us who are ‘running the race’ so fast we miss the forest from the trees, and those of us who are feeling dejected and useless.
Thanks for the comment, Brian. Those letters mean a lot to the guys in prison. Keep writing them! It is a way to encourage them as they seek to follow Jesus in a difficult place, and put their life back on track.