What do I do?

It's an interesting question, "what do I do?" I'm sure its a question people sometimes ask, and can I be honest (I always am), its a question I sometimes ask of myself! Of course, I'm a Christian Pastor, a Baptist Minister, which in and of themselves carry with them many suggestions, job descriptions - biblical, but not always, of what people expect of me. If we take the bible alone, then some of the job specs are clear - preach, teach, encourage, pastor, watch over, disciple, evangelise, train and equip! Oh, well thats fine then! Trouble is, ministry is far more than that. Add to it administration - of which there is a lot, the 30 odd emails that I get each day, the need to stay organised, and planned. Then there is the school stuff I do, then the Ministers meetings that I have to attend, then all the stuff I do for Regional Baptist Ministry and then National Baptist Ministry. And then all those loony community and outreach ideas I come up with, then all the church ministry meetings I have to attend and prepare for so that I look as though I'm organised and know what I'm talking about! Before long, its crazy. To make no mention of the stuff i do around the church site like check and repair equipment, test fire alarms, move chairs. And then what about prayer and reading the bible, and what about my own family and marriage and home DIY and home finances and cars and garden? And what about me and doing the stuff I want to do, and staying fit and the hobbies that keep me sane and give me a life beyond the ghetto? In the end, its often all too much. I'm stuffed and find it all to easy to give up and be discouraged. Thats why I crave my monday day off and my saturday family time, and why I hate going out more than 3 nights a week. And most of all I just want someone to say "you're doing a good job, well done!" Well, its back to ministry then ....

Cuts and the Big Society

Speaking as someone who couldn't wait for the demise of the last Government (can I say that as a Pastor?) I now find myself in something of a dilemma! The cuts (and lets face it, there is a new one every day now) which are very necessary seeing as the country nearly went bankrupt, are now potentially hitting at the key community policy which is the flag ship of Cameron's philosophy - "The Big Society!
Hey, we liked the idea. It was said that not many understood it mind you! But it rang bells with me because thats exactly what we are about with the Christian Gospel. In fact we are at the heart of "big society" and were there before Mr Cameron even dreamt up the title. The church has always been doing the big society! We are connecting, caring, pastoring, reaching out and loads more. Who knows, if the cuts keep coming, we may be the only ones left doing it! Or will we? Actually the cuts are beginning to effect us now too. If the government is careful, this could be one spectacular home goal. But I guess we shall keep doing what we have always done - which is to be Christ at the heart of our communities. we will continue to be the "Big Society". But that doesn't mean we can be take advantage of - government please note!