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:
THE RELEVANCE OF THEOLOGY
Reflections on Martin Luther King Day Sometimes theology—thinking carefully about God—seems utterly irrelevant. Today, Martin Luther King Day, as I write this, is such a day. On this day, we think again of the dream that has been at the heart of who we are as Americans, a dream forever outside our grasp and yet…
READING THE BIBLE WITH JOY
Five Proposals for Discovering the Joy of the Bible I’ve lately been puzzling over the Bible. Not the Bible itself but the joylessness of its readers. Or would be readers. In the minds of many the Bible is a forbidding and severe book, a book of thou-shalt-nots. For others, an ancient self-help book that doesn’t…
HEROD, THE MAGI, AND CHRISTMAS 2025
When the Bible Speaks Directly to Our Time The scriptures sometimes jump off the page into the headlines, as if they were written yesterday. Sunday’s gospel reading was a case in point. For churches that follow the liturgical year Sunday was the second Sunday after Christmas. The gospel reading was the last half of the…
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.
13 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.
please put me on the list of people to receive your blog. Thanks, Roy Glover
rglo@umich.edu
Will do, Roy.
Please add me to the list and thank you! Joan Bode Broersma. Love the Mt. Baker photo!
So appreciate your review if Lynden. We’re very proud of our son Chris! As you probably know, we share the Lynden experience growing up. Greatly appreciate what this community gave us but your insights are right on target. Looking forward to reading more from you.