"Safe" Pastoral Hobbies and Pastimes

[Dr. Bob]

There are a lot of young ministers who feel "challenged" to be "appropriate" in their leisure time. I remember as a young pastor playing softball on our city team. Every team in the league was for a city but sponsored by a bar. Ours was self-funded, though after a game our team (except me) would all break out a keg. This hobby actual was brought up at a church business meeting for "clarification" by someone weaned on dill pickle juice.

But for nearly 50 years I have been "careful" about what I do for "fun" in my hobbies, NOT bringing reproach on the Lord or His Church I pastored. Think I've had a few that made people jealous and others that made them scratch their heads over "that crazy preacher".

SO . . . what do YOU do as a hobby, for fun or just leisure activities? AND have you ever had your actions questions?

Pix - 1963 became a Civil War Re-enactor. Difficult when pastoring to be gone over weekend events or battles; but some years I was a college dean/prof without weekend preaching and others as state mission where I could schedule time back at Gettysburg, Shiloh or Antietam.

 

[Dr. Bob]

My son in NAMB (that's Southern Baptist home missions for your information) inner-city missionary and one of his hobbies is SMOKING. He has an apron that says "Smokin' Preacher" and plays it up. His people LOVE his butt rubs that make melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork sandwiches.

 

[JonC]

There are a lot of young ministers who feel "challenged" to be "appropriate" in their leisure time. I remember as a young pastor playing softball on our city team. Every team in the league was for a city but sponsored by a bar. Ours was self-funded, though after a game our team (except me) would all break out a keg. This hobby actual was brought up at a church business meeting for "clarification" by someone weaned on dill pickle juice.

But for nearly 50 years I have been "careful" about what I do for "fun" in my hobbies, NOT bringing reproach on the Lord or His Church I pastored. Think I've had a few that made people jealous and others that made them scratch their heads over "that crazy preacher".

SO . . . what do YOU do as a hobby, for fun or just leisure activities? AND have you ever had your actions questions?

Pix - 1963 became a Civil War Re-enactor. Difficult when pastoring to be gone over weekend events or battles; but some years I was a college dean/prof without weekend preaching and others as state mission where I could schedule time back at Gettysburg, Shiloh or Antietam.View attachment 1522

Being a Union Soldier is not necessarily a “safe” hobby…depending on location, of course.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Being a Union Soldier is not necessarily a “safe” hobby…depending on location, of course.

1963-70 I was union (1st Minnesota)
1971-88 I was confederate (5th Texas, Hood's Brigade)
1988-today I am "galvanized yankee" (confederate underneath but forced to wear blue coating; 3rd US Volunteer Infantry, Company I)

 

[TCassidy]

Hmmm. In the early years I enjoyed Aerobatic flying (I had a great little Champion Citabria, and I had been a military pilot).

When that got too expensive ($700/month for hull insurance), I sold my toy and went back to my teen aged love of motorcycles. 27 different motorcycles over a 45 year period. Member of a motorcycle club and rode motorcycle rallies in the mountains east of the city of San Diego.

I was also a member of a driving club that did road rallies in sports cars in the mountains east of San Diego.

Along beside the above I have loved to shoot. I own several firearms and spend at least a couple hours every week at the range shooing both pistols and rifles. My son-in-law goes with me (he too owns several firearms, him being a 24 year military veteran). We are presently collaboratively teaching his sons, my grandsons, to shoot.

I am an NRA certified pistol instructor.
An NRA certified Range Safety Officer.
A State of California Department of Justice Certified Firearms Safety Instructor.
I teach: Firearm safety classes.
Rifle and pistol shooting skills classes.
Reloading ammunition classes.
Safety in the Home and Home Defense methods and skills.
Safety outside the Home and Self Defense methods and skills.
Firearm retention methods and skills.

Okay. Time to go to the range.

 

[annsni]

Hubby's hobby is sailing. He used to ski too but then he severely broke his foot and can't ski anymore. So we have the boat. We bought it when we still had money and there is no debt for it. My MIL gives us a lump sum of money each Christmas to help us keep the boat which is a great blessing. We do our family vacations on it and it absolutely helps hubby's soul.

Then to match up with his boating, my hobby involves horses (so what could be two very expensive hobbies!).

 

[Deacon]

Rather cold and rainy for the Church's Revolutionary Militia during the parade today.

Rob

 

[Rolfe]

Airplanes, sail boats, guns, and skiing. Good thing hobbies do not qualify for ministry. I would have had to become a Preacher. *laugh*

 

[JonC]

Airplanes, sail boats, guns, and skiing. Good thing hobbies do not qualify for ministry. I would have had to become a Preacher. *laugh*

I just do the pulpit supply thing....and not too often. My hobbies include fishing with a $15 Wal-Mart rod and a bucket of worms. On those special occasions I may buy minows (that way it at least feels like I'm getting a bite even when I am not).

 

[TCassidy]

Well, some of us managed to earn income not related to our ministries.

Of course, if I mention interest and dividends earned on capital investments the people from the "Usury" thread will come over here and pounce on me.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Since jr hi I have loved hard rock. Hiking up the 14's in Colorado, serious technical climbs (I have my own ropes, 'biners, et al). Led teens on wilderness camping trips on 18 summers. It is the best "camp" - it's not a place, but the spirit of the group and one-on-one time mentoring.

 

[Dr. Bob]

And most of all now that I am "older" and have only half of one leg functional, my wife and I "cruise" twice a year. It is not that expensive (less than most land trips of late) and offers the world AND ten meals a day We are "away" and unable to be reached for 8-18 days and the wife (a doctor with her own clinic) LOVES this freedom from the evil phone.

Our ship is in the background of the pix.

 

[Salty]

I dont know if you consider this a "hobby" but once a month, I teach the Defensive Driving Course.
Actually, I am able to make money off of it as well.
JonC said he enjoys fishing - but that would drive me crazy - just sitting there - I have to be doing something.
(even when I used to go to the laundromat - that would drive me crazy) BTW Jon - if you like fishing - that's great - just not for me.
In addition, I have a SW radio and it is fun trying to pick up world stations. I also have a CB radio - but apparently, I am only one of a very small number that have one.

 

[OnlyaSinner]

I just do the pulpit supply thing....and not too often. My hobbies include fishing with a $15 Wal-Mart rod and a bucket of worms. On those special occasions I may buy minows (that way it at least feels like I'm getting a bite even when I am not).

Love to fish, though almost never with worms. In 1999 or 2000 I bought a $17 Zebco spincast reel to put on the yard-sale telescoping pole I'd bought for $1 in the late 1980s - probably $2.50 in today's dollars. I've got an LL Bean "starter" flyfishing outfit that was a Christmas present 30 years back, and my icefishing traps were made by my dad using a pattern from a circa-1960 Field & Stream, five in 1961 and four more 25 years later when my daughter got interested. Dad also gave me all my go-to hunting guns, two centerfire rifles (.30-06 pump, 6.5x55 bolt), shotgun (Ithaca model 37 circa 1950; after dad's passing my older brother had dibs on the Parker 20) and Mossberg .22 bolt which may be the oldest of all. Between those, the garden, and singing, there's plenty of fun.
Note: While I occasionally preach when our pastor is away (leaving for a month of ministry in South Africa next week), I've had no formal - as in college - pastoral training.

 

[rlvaughn]

My main hobbies are genealogy and cemetery research (in general and especially looking for abandoned ones). Some of this combined goes into work on Find-A-Grave. Never fished too much, except as a kid, and haven't hunted much since I got married. Used to trap fur-bearing animals when I was in high school, but gave that up soon after I got out.

I also am active in Sacred Harp singing conventions, which some people consider a hobby. I consider it spiritual worship and therefore not a hobby.

 

[CertainSound]

I play Monopoly with real houses.

 

[Vizio]

I love whitetail deer hunting. My family has not had to buy beef the last few years because I shoot 8-10 deer each year, along with my teenage daughter.

We've recently moved, though, and we will not likely have access to the same amount of hunting...so I will likely develop some new hobbies. I've been eyeballing that DIY foundry I've seen on youtube, and I want to start doing some metalcasting, and possibly forging.