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The Peripatetic Preacher

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2021-01-08T18:17:21-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Baptism of the Lord 1st Sunday After the Epiphany January 10, 2021 Genesis 1:1-5 “God and Baptism”

Last updated on: January 8, 2021 at 6:17 pm By John C Holbert

Since the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus always follows barely two weeks after his birth, one can readily conclude that those managing the lectionary readings are purveyors of infant baptism. Those traditions that eschew such a practice, most particularly our Baptist sisters and brothers and those denominations that follow in their wake (sorry! I could not resist), surely would resist such a celebration, but probably do not use the lectionary much in any case. Baptism is about water, of... Read more

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2021-01-04T14:34:41-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“O, Villain, Villain, Smiling Damned Villain” The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: January 4, 2021 at 2:34 pm By John C Holbert

Thus spoke Hamlet, after his ghostly father has revealed to him that his brother, Claudius, has murdered him, making the foul deed appear accidental. Claudius then, smilingly, has married Hamlet’s mother. This very well known Shakespearean trope is an appropriate entrée into today’s subject of villainy, past and modern. I am writing this essay only two days before the church’s celebration of Epiphany, that day when the magi appear out of the East, following the mysterious star, and come to... Read more

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2020-12-30T19:21:32-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Where is Wisdom Found? The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 30, 2020 at 7:21 pm By John C Holbert

Among the Bible’s more enigmatic words is “wisdom.” It has a very broad range of meanings, which include: skill or ability, as those who are good at certain acts like woodworking, shipbuilding, weaving, even magic, etc.; cunning, as when even tiny creatures show their ability to survive against much more powerful predators—in human beings there may be good cunning (2 Samuel 14:2, the wise woman of Tekoa)) or bad cunning (2 Sam.13:3, Jonadab); practical actions, as a wise person knows... Read more

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2020-12-30T16:19:42-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Resolutions of a Christian 2021 The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 30, 2020 at 4:19 pm By John C Holbert

As the year turns, I have always found the making of resolutions grand fun, usually because looking back on what I said and comparing it with what I actually did sends me into gales of laughter. I inevitably do not lose those 15 pounds, do not spend more time doing home repair, do not learn better cooking skills, improved German, more computer abilities, (fill in the blank) and on and on. So, what you are about to read may have... Read more

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2020-12-29T16:09:22-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

COVID Silver Linings? The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 29, 2020 at 4:09 pm By John C Holbert

I admit that I am hesitant to write anything positive about the now 10-month-old pandemic that has claimed over 340,000 US American lives, well over 1,000,000 global lives, and has sickened over 2,000,000 US Americans. And due to the horrendous surge of the virus in November, December, and certainly on into the New Year, these numbers will surely climb significantly. Behind each of these grim statistics lie real human beings and their loved ones and friends; few if any have... Read more

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2020-12-28T14:05:01-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Genuinely New Thing The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 28, 2020 at 2:05 pm By John C Holbert

I have always been completely confused about the Revised Common Lectionary’s committee choice year after year for a Hebrew Bible text for Jan.1. It is inevitably Ecclesiastes (Koheleth) 3:1-13. In earlier essays in my now rather lengthy series as “The Peripatetic Preacher,” I have commented about that odd choice of texts, trying unsuccessfully to determine just why it has been made over and again. Today, I admit my inability to solve that conundrum, but I will say rather briefly why... Read more

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2020-12-23T15:15:11-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Beginning Again in 2021 The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 23, 2020 at 3:15 pm By John C Holbert

I need not add to the assaults against poor 2020 that have been leveled by nearly everyone; it has been a grim year indeed with pandemic and racial reckoning and a strangely-haired president who just cannot find reality long enough to recognize and accept defeat. Fortunately, we are on the cusp of 2021, a year most of us imagine will be significantly more hopeful, given vaccines in arms and a rational team in the White House. I sense that 2021... Read more

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2020-12-21T14:47:17-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Gift and Challenge of Diversity The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 21, 2020 at 2:47 pm By John C Holbert

Back in the 1980’s the United Methodist Church, the denomination with which I am affiliated, decided to create a new hymnal. The one in use at that time was well over 25 years old, and much had changed in the world over those tumultuous 25 years. As most church groups do, and as the UMC most especially does, it formed a committee to examine the needs for a new songbook for the church. Along with the myriad decisions that needed... Read more

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2020-12-17T17:36:30-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

All I Want For Christmas… The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 17, 2020 at 5:36 pm By John C Holbert

For those of you of a certain age, the conclusion of my title is “my two front teeth,” a very cheesy and very popular song back in the day, sung by an adorable little boy who has lost, as kids do, his front teeth, thereby making it impossible for him to say clearly “Merry Christmas.” That song is very problematic in our time, a time when we all should be very careful not to mock anyone with any kind of... Read more

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2020-12-16T13:53:38-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Christmas History/Christmas Poetry The Peripatetic Preacher

Last updated on: December 16, 2020 at 1:53 pm By John C Holbert

Not a single person reading this essay has failed to have the experience of the mash-up Christmas pageant. You know the one: the living crèche is crammed into the nave of the church, tiny cows lowing, little sheep baaing, the angel hovering precariously above the stable, lovely Mary, humble Joseph sitting by the wooden manger, adoring the child, either a real baby or a bright-eyed doll, while three kings in regal crowns kneel with their gifts of chocolate golden coins,... Read more

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