I have a similar feeling toward a good friend of mine that’s a health/nutrition instructor. I would NEVER drink a Coke in her presence! I don’t want her to know I ever consume Coke. She is completely fine with it and doesn’t for one minute judge people for what they eat or drink. She just does what’s best for her and let’s the rest of us do as we wish. But, that doesn’t stop me from making sure there are no McDonald’s wrappers in my car before I go somewhere with her!

I think that the interesting situation for me has occurred because of my transition to being a pastor. I know that I have been treated differently by people that knew me before I was called to ministry. I wonder if people expect me to be super spiritual. I am still a normal person who is learning to be more like Christ every day. I also want to be myself and not some plastic Christian who gives the appearance that life is always perfect.

I’d add that if any Christ follower, pastor or not, has a question about saying something publicly or privately, he/she should ask themselves, ‘Does this subject/thought/comment/language please the Lord?’ You can’t go wrong with that one!

I appreciate your encouragement. My mission field is no more difficult than others. I think that God is teaching me not to rely on "transfer growth." The people we are reaching are generally unchurched. We aren't attracting the "wandering sheep" from other congregations and I suppose that's good. We must remain focused on the lost in our community rather than becoming transfixed on numbers.

I do think that being bivocational helps me stand on the same level as my congregation. I can identify with their daily activities and I'm very sensitive to the issue of burning out our people. If I have a difficult time managing activities at church then my congregation does too.

Amen to the feelings of isolation. I feel alone even when surrounded by a wonderful people and a core group that cares about me. I suppose it's the unique investment that church planters have in the church. I have a hard time putting down my church work.

I agree that mentoring is critical, but have found it difficult to find people who have the time to truly help. I'm passionate about learning from others and will continue to network with other men of God who can share wisdom with me.

Thanks for your input! May God bless your life and ministry as you seek Him!

God can give you a prophetic voice that calls other church planters to rethink their paradigms and the things that are "assumed." I think here of Newbigin's mostly excellent book Gospel in a Pluralistic Society.

A couple of specific thoughts. In my experience as a pastor–generally speaking–and as a soon-to-be suburban church planter, "limits" and "downsides" almost always bring a greater potential reward/Gospel payoff. As men of God, where others see a failure, we can see, with eyes of faith, opportunities.

I've been a pastor in a rural context before and looking back, I had a lot of preconceived ideas about what rural ministry should or could look like. Your situation is even more challenging in that you're working bivocationally. But, for rural folks, do you find that gives you a greater degree of spiritual leverage in some people's lives?

On mentoring: I think pastors in general deal with isolation and feeling alone/lonely. Most of us could use a mentor to speak into our lives–even more, to listen. The telephone can be a tool available if you have men to fill those shoes. For me, the hardest part is saying, "I need help."

One other thought: here's a great website that offers free and discounted prices for NFP organizations for software packages: http://techsoup.org/.

Great work, good thoughts. Godspeed, brother.