I've served as a pastor for over 30 years in churches as small as 4 1/2 (my wife, two pre-schoolers, and one on the way) to churches that approached 2,000 attenders. The locations have included the far west, the midwest, the south, and the southwest.

A sampling of responses to the question, "How well do you think Charles did?" would include...

• He was great. I'm sad he moved.
• I'm glad he left.
• His preaching really inspired me.
• I just wasn't getting fed.
• He really cared about people.
• He was distant and unavailable.
• He had great leadership skills.
• He's no John Maxwell.

If you've served in ministry for any time, you've probably asked yourself this question, "How well am I really doing?" If you've not asked that exact question, I'm sure you've secretly asked yourself some pretty probing ones that made you feel guilty.

I'm beginning a blog series on Guilt-producing questions pastors secretly ask themselves and I'd like your help. I've listed a few questions below that those in ministry probably ask. What do you think? What would you add to this list?

1. Why do I sometimes want to skip church on Sundays?
2. Am I spending enough time preparing my sermons?
3. Why do people really leave my church?
4. I love my wife deeply. But if I think another woman is attractive, am I crazy? Or worse, am I sinning?
5. Why do I feel like I don't measure up to the expectations of ... the board, my staff, my spouse or ...? Is it their problem or mine?
6. Am I spending enough time with my family?
7. Do I pray enough?
8. Does owning nice things like a nice house or a new car or enjoying things like a fancy vacation diminish my example? Is it wrong to have or experience what others in my church have?
9. Why do I often feel anger inside toward people?
10. ????

What guilt producing questions do you think pastors secretly ask themselves? I'd love to hear from you as I begin this blog series.