Peripatetic Pastor
Reflections from Clay Libolt
Picture of Mt Baker
Dear readers, my posts are divided into five streams available in the menu at the tops and bottoms of the pages. The latest addition is a page from the “Theses on Denominational Life” posts. I also have pages from my Biblical Reflections (biblical studies of various sorts), Thoughts and Reflections (one off musings), Riffs on Genesis (studies of the Genesis materials), and the original posts in response to the report of a denominational study committee on human sexuality with which I began this blog. As always, the latest posts also appear on the home page. I hope in all of that you will find something that fits your fancy. Thanks for reading.
Clay
The latest posts:
BREATH
I have been meaning to write this piece for some time, but other topics keep coming in the way. And cultural events like the Barbenheimer movies, movies which frame a mood in America, a taking stock of the ebbing era of American power. In their own way, both Barbie and Oppenheimer deal with the loss of innocence, happily so…
THE PERVERSITY OF PERFECTION
The Nicodemus Problem The church has a Nicodemus problem. Perhaps you remember the fraught dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. Nicodemus, introduced in the story as a Pharisee and one of the “rulers of the Jews,” politely approaches Jesus as a miracle worker, presumably leading up to some theological question or challenge, but…
THINKING THE FAITH: “WITHOUT RESERVATION”
“Without reservation” The church order of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in a supplement to Article 5 includes some instructions about what one should consider when signing the Covenant for Officebearers. The Covenant, for those of you who are not familiar with the CRC, is a document that office holders in the denomination are required…
Introduction
I am a retired pastor living in the Pacific Northwest (and sometimes in Arizona). Actually, I’m intermittently retired. Since my retirement, I’ve served as interim pastor four times in three churches (one twice) and once as a high school principal. I have launched this website and the accompanying blog because I love the Bible and because I believe what’s best about the Bible is often lost in the theological welter of our age. I bring to this task and to this love not only seminary training (Calvin Theological Seminary) but a Ph.D. in Ancient Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan. You may at first find my approach to the Bible different from the approach you were taught–more literary, more embedded in ancient culture–but press on. There is much to be gained and little to be lost by reading the Bible in this way.
9 responses to “HOME”
Just found your blog. I’m in.
Put me onl your list of people to receive your blog.
Daniel, at the bottom of the blog page, in the middle of a lovely picture of Fairhaven harbor, there’s a place to insert your email and sign up.
Clay
Thank you for sharing your reflection on Genesis 3. It helps me understand elements of the story that have always puzzled me in typical explanations from my tradition.
First time to read your blog. Found it on an FB post of a friend. Thank you for writing. Looking forward to reading more of your blogs. Keep well and God bless!
Good stuff and at a needful time
Finally, honest, thoughtful, and researched conversation about the Bible and those connected to it. Thank you!!!!
Will you be reporting from Synod 2023?
Don, as you have figured out by now, I did not write for The Banner this year.