Day forty two

When we were in Lockdown in 2020 I bought a camcorder and started preaching to the camera. I did a couple of talks in my Barton church and then I did the rest in my greenhouse. You can find them all if you scroll down far enough. Every weekend I would talk either once or twice - Saturday and Sunday. I used themes and talked without preparation. I went through the whole of Ecclesiastes among other things.

Then I had a sabbatical - 13 weeks off. And I preached 8 times in an independent church and once in an Assemblies of God church. I didn't like being away from preaching for long.

It's now been 6 weeks and I haven't missed it or felt the desire to go back to it.

So what does that mean for the future?

Or is it just because I'm ill?

I don't know.

If all goes to plan I should be back in February, having been off for 3 months - the same length of time as a sabbatical.

But it isn't a sabbatical.

I always thought I would know when it was time to quit, but I didn't expect this.

I haven't had any new ideas since I have been off; I haven't had any thoughts about where my ministry is focussed now.

I started out with counselling and from there to Bible teaching, then evangelism and church planting. But for the last few years I haven't had a focus. I started a Foodbank and drop-in, but for the rest of the time I wasn't getting anywhere.

So, over Christmas I will have to do a lot of thinking and praying about what I'm going back to.

Of course, the pain hasn't been diagnosed yet, so who knows if I get to go back.

I have a lot to consider!