Virtual Methodist

A reblogged monologue by Herod Antipas inspired by today's Gospel reading from the Lectionary in  Mark 6: 14-29 . Wrote it three years ago as per the lectionary cycle, but didn't use it until this morning... If I was being generous to fellow preachers out there I should have re-posted it a few days ago... But I didn't want to spoil the effect for the few members of my own congregation that occasionally stumble onto this blog. Why!? Why could the damned dipper not keep his nose out of my personal life? And why could Herodias not simply ignore him? What harm could he do once I’d locked him away? Yes, he went on and on about the immorality of our relationship, but what did she expect? He’s a religious fanatic… But if he is one of God’s prophets I don’t want his blood on my hands as well as my marital sins… But she didn’t care… She wanted his head on a plate… Literally. And she knew just how to get it… The same way she got me in the first place… I’ve always been a ...

I suppose this poem/reflection was a product of many thoughts colliding: a reaction against the idealised views of birth, especially the birth of Jesus in less than ideal conditions, the discipline of waiting in both advent and pregnancy, as well as the Jesus' phrase about being born of "water and Spirit" (John 3: 5) to Nicodemus, a conversation which also gave us the much-misused or misunderstood statement about being "born again/from above", as well as the verse in the first Letter of John: This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. 1 John 5:6 (ANIV) Born of water and blood He’s coming Joseph He’s coming… The waters break… And the agony begins. Through the water The people were saved. Through time of trial A place of promise was reached. Wait, my love… Wait, don’t push… The time is not right, But he is coming… Why must we wait? Why not now? Let’s take what is ours It’s the way of the world H...

Check out this link for a very practical reason for infant baptism... on this and a number of other blogs some people are somewhat distressed at the lack of respect shown for the sacrament of baptism... I just laughed. But that probably shows that I'm damned! Blessings