Why I Don’t Run a Ministry

Last updated on: November 25, 2013 at 10:55 pm by John Shore

Why I Don’t Run a Ministry 2013-11-25T22:55:38-08:00 John Shore

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Yesterday I was talking to a big deal ministry leader because that’s how important I am, and he said, “How’s that blog of yours coming along? Don’t you hate having to do that? It’s every day, isn’t it? I hate it when I have to do stuff like that, because then you have to turn everything you see, or that happens to you, into a little sermon. It’s like you can never just relax.”

So I thought, “You are such a dink.” But then I thought, “Wait. How come I don’t do that? How come I never try to think of little sermons based on stuff I see?”

So I’m gonna do that. Right now.

As I write this, I’m sitting at a Starbucks. So let me look around myself here, and see if I can scrounge together something I can use for a deep Godly observation/mini-sermon. Pretend like you haven’t read anything in this post before this: like it’s just starting.

Godly Reflections at a Starbucks

You know, Starbucks and God have a lot in common. They’re both everywhere, for instance. And they both help people wake up in the morning get gas spend their money stay focused and get motivated. And just like people come to God to get exactly what they want, people come to Starbucks to get exactly what they want. One of the great things about Starbucks, after all, is that you can order your drink so exactly how you want it that people waiting in line behind you roll their eyes at each other and make faces while you’re ordering. If visitors to Starbucks are looking for comfort, they might find it in the frothy cappuccino of a rousing hymn. If they’re looking for forgiveness, they just might find it in the soy nonfat double-shot latte of confession. In need of inspiration? Why, you just might find it in the venti Caffe Americano of a rousing sermon. Looking to just connect with God? Go WiFi!

[Wow. That was awful. Lemme try again.]

Godly Reflections at a Starbucks

This morning, as I sat in a Starbucks sipping on my iced venti latte that was creating so much condensation it was practically shorting out my computer, I looked about myself. And I noticed something. I noticed that almost everyone in the place was engrossed in one personal electronic device or another. Whether it was an iPhone, a notepad, a laptop, or … well, that’s about it … people were tuning out the world around them. What does it say about a society when its members overwhelmingly prefer one-dimensional electronic communicating to three-dimensional human interaction? It is from meeting, knowing, and loving others that we most fully discover who we are, what we need, where we belong. This whole culture has become a disgrace. I, for one, won’t even be almost surprised when God decides to wipe us all out with a giant fireball that will rush down from the heavens, and ignite …

[No, no. Slipped into unbecoming derangement. Fail.]

Godly Reflections at a Starbucks

As I sat this morning at my neighborhood Starbucks, I began reflecting upon the question of whether or not it’s time I cut back on caffeine. After all, does God need caffeine? Probably not. But who knows? Who among us can say with surety that God doesn’t wake up in the morning, and go, “Somebody get me Juan Valdez. Is he dead yet? He is, right? Bring him in here. I want some coffee.” But, again, probably not. God probably just snaps his fingers, and bam: coffee. I wonder if he takes cream in his coffee? Probably not. They probably don’t have cows in heaven. Not milking cows, anyway. They’re pretty heavy. I love cows. I’ll bet there’s only cows in heaven. If I was God, I’d instantly make every cow that ever died into a big giant cow angel. That way …

[Right. So I give up. This is why I don’t run a ministry. Well. One of the reasons.]

Previous Post

June 25, 2010

"Waffles?"

Next Post

June 26, 2010 Let's Try Blogging About Current Events!

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christian Issues Christian Spirituality Dear John En Espanol Everywhere She's Not Humor Look See Pastor Bob's Corner Personal Portuguese Relationships Russian Short-short story Smith Family Chronicles Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2024 August 2022 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 June 2019 December 2018 May 2018 May 2017 January 2017 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book comes immediately after the Gospels in the New Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Romans Hebrews 1 Corinthians Acts

Books by This Author Books by John Shore

See All Titles »