Someone recently asked me, "Chris, do you have any hobbies"? I thought a little bit and then I responded, "No, I don't have any hobbies, but I do have ministries."
As I spoke those words, I realized that this response sounded a bit pompous. After mulling it over a few days, I determined that the activities of my life could be categorized as: "ministries", "diversions", and "disciplines".
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Ministries 
Ministry is at the center of whatever I do. At this moment in my life, everything really flows together. I take joy in preparing sermons. I look forward to returning to my friends in Africa. I take pleasure in teaching students from my Greek Bible. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because of the life that God has blessed me with. I am in my church office seven days a week -- at least for a few hours, not because I have to be there, but because I feel God's presence when I am doing His work.
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Diversions I would call "diversions" those things that I enjoy doing that are not ministry related. I don't indulge in many diversions. I don't watch TV and seldom go to movies. I do spend about a half-hour a day reading the newspaper and working the puzzles. I listen to books on tape. That's fun. I just acquired three canaries and their songs divert me when I'm home. I enjoy occasional visits with my family and I like to talk on the phone with my two sons. But truly, I love to fill my days with God's work. What could be better?
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Disciplines There are a few things that I do on a regular basis that require discipline. I try to exercise five times a week: three mornings at 24-hour Nautilus and two long runs on other days. Sometimes I slack off. I need more discipline. Under this category of discipline, I would also place the morning devotions that I share with Kim. We are on our second cycle through a regime of daily Bible reading. We miss an occasional morning, but this time of Bible study and prayer is an important beginning to our day.
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