When will I pull the pin?

This Friday I will record a video post to mark the ten-year anniversary of Tiny Bible Bits.

This blog, as of August, has just clicked over into its thirteenth year.

But, should they last forever?

Should they go for another decade?

If not, when should they fade into the abyss of the internet?

How should they be taken to the top paddock and out down like Old Yeller?

Frankly, I’m not sure.

I’m not sure, primarily, because the reasons for their beginnings have now passed.

I’m no longer driven to reach teens as a youth minister.

I’m no longer concerned about “my brand” in youth ministry.

So, should they be eliminated now?

Will this be my last post?

No.

For, I still enjoy posting on both.

And, while my circumstances have changed, I still like having a forum to post and share my musings.

And, particularly for Tiny Bible Bits, people still read them.

But, I very much doubt that I’ll still be posting when I’m in my retirement years.

Maybe neither will see out the end of the decade.

Probably not.

But, as long as I enjoy it, have time and have inspiration, I’ll go for a while longer.

Then they can join the graveyard of blogs and Facebook groups online…

We shouldn’t just pray for someone

A few weeks ago I recorded the prayer that was presented during church.

It was… ok.

Nothing too special. 

Just a few minutes in length.

This is how the prayers of the people are happening in my current church. I suspect we are not alone.

But, as I reflect upon my prayer and those I hear weekly, I feel that there’s a trap we keep falling into.

Praying FOR the person, not WHAT FOR the person.

Firefighters.

Doctors.

Nurses.

Teachers.

Missionaries.

Ministers.

Whoever…

We lift them up in prayer.

We rattle of a list starting with the phrase “We pray for (insert person or segment of the community).”

And then we move on…

The trouble is… I’m not sure this is an actual prayer.

It’s an acknowledgment.

What we should do - something I didn’t - is say what we pray FOR them.

Peace.

Endurance.

Strength.

Whatever…

This is an actual prayer.

This is an actual request. 

This is something that people can agree with.

Not just a vague prayer-thought into the spiritual ether.

Preaching should come at a cost for talented ministers

No one should do it all.

Which, surely, poses a problem for immensely talented ministers.

Of course, this means that I was never a threat of doing everything!

But, for ministers who can sing, act, preach, play music and are talented with technology - they could do it all - or at least everything or anything.

They could, in a single service, set up the sound, arrange what is to be displayed, lead worship, play a musical instrument, sing, lead the service and preach.

All on the one Sunday.

But, as I’ve previously written, they shouldn’t.

It would hurt the church they are called to serve.

It would hinder the congregation they are meant to empower.

It would, dangerously, create a culture of dependence.

So, what does the talented minister decide to set aside?

Do they, knowingly, lay aside their songwriting or guitar?

Does someone explain to them that they will, for the good of the church, need to restrict what they do in the future?

I’m sure, for some highly talented ministers, the desire to preach will result in the hibernation of something else they enjoy.

For, while some can do it all, they really shouldn’t. 

Jumping through the hoops

Technically, I could now teach in school.

Furthermore, as of around ten minutes ago, my application to be a full-time teacher as just submitted.

In my final (hopefully!) semester of my teaching degree, I’m within sight of my teaching journey actually beginning.

It’s exciting.

It’s nerve wracking.

It’s… unfamiliar.

For, I never went through this to get a job in ministry.

Sure, I had to apply.

And interview (way back in 2008 I already considered myself to be a ministry-interview pro).

But the hurdles to become a teacher, of which I still have many to go, are far longer and higher.

I wonder if the scrutiny for those in non-ordained ministry should be higher.

Sure, you don’t want to launch an inquisition when someone wants to help out with the crèche (and standards for working with young people have greatly ramped up over the last decade), but it’s curious that the rigours to teach an academic education are far greater than those expected to impart a spiritual/moral one…

Why the church must decide if they will advertise their vaccination statuses

I’ve got my first COVID vaccination and will get my second jab in a few weeks time.

When I got jabbed I wasn’t required to for my current job but, as a precaution, I got the shot in order to ensure that I could undertake my final teaching prac (which hopefully will include some face-to-face teaching).

If I still worked for the church nothing would change - I still would be vaccinated.

For me, backing up what I wrote on Tiny Bible Bits at the start of July, getting the shot is an act of goodwill and compliance for my family, neighbours, community and government.

If you want to label me a sheeple, knock yourself out.

But, as things reopen in Sydney and around the globe, will vaccination status become a church selling point?

Will churches advertise that every member of staff, or each volunteer leader within a ministry, has been double-jabbed?

Will this be something that people will look out for?

I imagine, for the vulnerable - the elderly or those with youngsters - the vaccination status of those in leadership will be a matter of concern.

But, what do you do if there is a holdout?

What If a staff member doesn’t get the shot?

What if a leader won’t get the shot?

Do they get stood down?

Frankly, I have no idea and, thankfully, it won’t be a problem I’ll need to juggle.

But, it is an impending situation that is arriving at the doorstep of every church and ministry. 

I genuinely hope that the institutional church will bring down mandates “from above,” otherwise, a lot of churches, ministries, ministers and leaders will be greatly out of their depth in navigating the situation - without a denominational safety net.