Sifting the Wind

You can hardly go around the block without running into a bumper sticker reading "God is good". Well, I suppose you could make that statement if you were as smart as God, but you're not, so you can't. When we attribute qualities to God, like being "good", we're saying that we have judged God's actions and in our wisdom concluded that God is OK with us.That can't be right.

That was the thinking, at any rate, of a monk who rejoiced in the name "Dionysius the Areopagite", or "Pseudo Denys"  as we know him. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte (and Pseudo-Denys, or what's left of him) by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

We invite all who wish to join us in this recording of our Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve to do so by clicking HERE.

 
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Up in Smoke

So a remarkably common set of experiences this week encouraged me to ask, "Do we really live in a random universe which only has meaning if we choose to give it meaning?" That and the text today from the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth made me wonder how we go about answering that question. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon, "Up in Smoke" (which is not really the hellfire and damnation sermon you are imagining) by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Fragile Glass

On a Sunday in Advent on which we should celebrate Joy, we find ourselves instead weeping for our brothers and sisters in Connecticut; fathers and mothers who must somehow look at toys, lovingly purchased for children who will never open them, husbands who must face the Christmas without their hero wives who laid down their lives for the children entrusted to them, first responders who must somehow process the grief they have witnessed.

During our prayer time for those who grieve my attention was drawn to our candles on the table. Wonderfully old-fashioned things, candles. Our modern world is no longer illuminated by candlelight. Instead, bright electric lights banish darkness into oblivion, allowing us to pretend that darkness does not exist. Although the smallest, most feeble candle can pierce the darkest night, it does not obliterate darkness. Instead, it drives it into the corners where, nevertheless, it can still be seen, always with us, always ready to close in upon a heart in which the light of Christ does not burn. Join us as we join the grieving parents of Connecticut by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Something Remarkable

We are all children of our times. We see the world through the eyes of our culture. Seeing the birth of the Child takes better glasses and better language than our culture provides us, so it's no wonder we are often misunderstood. Christians are like visitors to a country in which there is no snow trying to explain snow to the inhabitants in their own language, a language which has no word for snow.

Join us for this week's sermon, "Something Remarkable" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Advent

It's the first Sunday in Advent, and a time to be joyous. I could, personally, be more joyful if Iran wasn't spinning Uranium into Armageddon. I'd be more joyous if Syria hadn't bombed a playground killing ten children. I'd be a lot more joyous if the Taliban didn't think that shooting a 14 year old girl in the head was something to take credit for. How are we supposed to approach Advent in a world so clearly gone mad? Well, I'm glad you asked. We're going to tell you. Join us for this week's sermon, "Advent" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Christ the King

The Dalai Lama noted that all major religions share the same goals. He's right about that, of course, but that is not the same as saying that all major religions are the same. They are not.

So what makes this particular Abrahamic religion, Christianity, unique? Christ the King Sunday is the last day of the church year. Next Sunday we begin again our long journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, from manger to the Resurrection. What makes our journey unique? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, Christ the King, by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Hidebound

The Presidential election of 2012 was hideous. We found how much damage can be done by those in the media and politics whose only brief is to stir up hatred and contempt. We have sinned. I pray that we repent before more damage is done.

Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon from the Little Apocalypse of Mark titled "Hidebound" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

An Informed Faith

If you haven't gotten enough irony from last week's sermon where a non-creedal Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) preacher undertook to explain what a creed is, by all means tune in this week and hear a non-creedal Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) preacher actually DEFEND the use of creeds to remind us of the story to which we have given our hearts. Click HERE for audio or HERE for text. Do be aware that I extemporaneous-ized some of the sermon.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Creeds

The Rev. Dr. Richard Smith made an off-hand comment last Sunday when some mention of the Apostle's Creed was made that he wanted to hear me, a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) struggle through a sermon on the topic of creeds. The Presbyterian Church is Creedal. The DOC does not embrace creeds as a requirement of fellowship.

Well, Richard, here's your chance. Join us for this week's sermon, "Creeds" by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Defense Team

We finish the book of Job today, and the sermon asks a few questions that just may shiver the timbers of your belief. Everybody in this part of the world knows that God and Satan are in a titanic fight for our souls. I think it will come as a surprise to many that this understanding is called, "Manichaeism" after the Persian philosopher who formalized it in the third century. It's also called "Persian dualism". In this understanding, the "good" God, Ahura Mazda, struggles for the world against the "King of Darkness" -- Ahriman. The church branded dualism a heresy centuries ago.

In Job, there is no good god/bad god dualism. There is only God, and that jerks the rug right out from under the place we thought we stood so righteously. In Job, haSatan is completely under God's control, and permits the horrors which Job endured in order to aid a discussion in heaven. It's a harrowing book -- an uncomfortable book. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky as we seek to hear what God would have us know about our place within His Creation in our sermon, "The Defense Team" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Scratch My Back

It's prideful, but the church music department asked me to play the Offertory today, and I've included the "special music" on this recording. "Fast Eddie" Bowen encouraged me to reopen "The Ash Grove" an ancient piece of Welsh music, and I chose that for today.

The text is the next section of Job, and it asks us to examine our understanding of the covenant between God and man. Is it a barter covenant, or something else? And what do we mean when we stick a bumper sticker reading "God is good" on the back of our cars? Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Scratch My Back" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Bumper Stickers

Trying to capture your relationship with God on a bumper sticker, however popular that might be, is a terrible idea. God cannot be contained within human words. Acknowledging that, however, doesn't alter our human need to understand. This led Job to cry out to God for a hearing. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, "Bumper Stickers" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

A Carrot and Stick World

The book of Job is enormously old. It is also one of the most troubling and disquieting books in the Bible. It has remained a part of the Bible for as long as it has because of its central question: can man worship God without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward? This is, I think, a question that does not get asked all that often in contemporary Christian discussion. It needs to be, for Jesus, recall, was obedient unto death. If we are followers of Jesus, can we say less? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte for this week's sermon on the first two chapters of Job, "A Carrot and Stick World" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Purim

The Jewish celebration of Purim, which falls in the spring, is a pretty lively affair. It's sometimes called the Jewish Mardi Gras, so it's not real clear what the connection between Purim and the gloomy Puritans might be, but that's what this week's sermon is about. The Puritans managed to do some frankly awful things to each other and to the Native Americans because they were very confident that John Calvin's teaching "explained" God. Mordecai in the story of Esther was very clear that God is not to be explained, telling Esther, "For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter ... Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." Which leads me to think, "When something unlikely happens which we have prayed for, we call it a miracle. When something unlikely happens which we did not pray for, we call it a coincidence. Nevertheless, God has plans for us He hasn't shared with us yet, to do us good, and not evil." Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Promise

We had a Baptism today, the first in years! Ann Reed Stone, daughter of Keith and Holly Stone was baptized into God's promises and we, the congregation, promised her and God that we would always be with her. Unfortunately, the service exceeded the capacity of the recorder, and there is no recorded sermon. Click HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Cheraw Brickworks

We hear a good deal of discussion among contemporary Christians as to the nature of God. Bumper stickers all over proclaim that "God is Good!" and nobody ever questions our right to judge God in this way. Whatever would lead us to stand in judgment of God and proclaim Him to be anything? Where is our sense of awe? Why is it that so few Christians pay attention to Pseudo-Dionysius the Aeropagite? Maybe because no one ever teaches the thoughts of Pseudo-Dionysius the Aeropagite. Come join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY to learn that to seek wisdom, you must ask a woman by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Superficial Christianity

Sometimes, if a preacher is to be faithful to the teaching of the church, he or she must actually preach the teaching of the church. Nobody likes to hear that, so some left to day...discomforted. Today's passage is concerned with a meeting between Jesus and a Gentile woman referred to only as "the Syrophoenician Woman". It is a harrowing tale. The woman has a desperately ill daughter. Jesus has traveled into Gentile territory, and has gone into a house, so that no one should know He is there. The woman, however, hears of him, comes to the house, throws herself in the dirt before Him, and begs that her daughter be healed. What do you think Jesus did? He told her healings were for Jews, and called her a dog for asking.
How do you explain that?  The answer I offered made several people unhappy. Perhaps it will make you unhappy, too. I can't apologize for that, because the Gospel is about leading people to change, and change cannot be made without discomfort. Come join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Superficial Christianity" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Hoppy

I spent many a happy hour as a child in the Capital Theater, watching Westerns. It was a simple sort of world portrayed. The bad guys did bad stuff because wardrobe had issued them black hats; the good guys blew the bad guys down at high noon because that's what they do, and the townspeople swooned in gratitude.

We live in a world shaped by those westerns -- a world where people believe they are called to violently expunge people who believe differently than they from creation. Where in the world did we ever get the idea that what someone else believes is any of our business? Join us for this week's sermon, "Hoppy" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Abiding

Sometimes, things just don't go as you anticipated. I began the week as I always do, reading the Scripture on Monday, and beginning to prepare the Sermon for Sunday. This week, the text, John 6:56-69, began with these outrageous words:

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my
blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father
sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever
eats me will live because of me.

My focus was on preparing a sermon on the topic of abiding. I was stopped dead in my tracks by a dream on Wednesday night. The claim that a modern man suffers from dreams sounds old-fashioned and over the top, just as Jesus' words, to eat his flesh and drink his blood, sound outrageous.

Old fashioned or not, I did as the dream instructed, and taught contemplative prayer. There is much silence. Silence is a quantity much in absence in modern life. Come join us for "Abiding" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Elephant Soup

Sound bite advice, like "Buy low, sell high" never made anyone wealthy. Sound bite religious advice like "Do good stuff" never got anyone to heaven. If you insist on putting God off on a cloud somewhere, and keeping your relationship with Him at a similar distance -- when you die -- you will never know the wonder of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and what a loss! Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for this week's sermon, "Elephant Soup" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Oh My Son

When David dishonored Bathsheba and murdered her husband, the prophet Nathan prophesied that the sword would never leave David's house, and that others would sleep with his wives in the sight of all. That is what happened at the hands of David's treacherous son, Absalom, yet when Absalom was killed, David mourned "Oh, my son, my son, Absalom. Would that I had died instead of you. Join us at the city gate for this week's sermon by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Cain's Question

Cain set a precedent when God asked him where his brother was -- he did what people ever since who have been caught red-handed have done -- he tried to divert responsibility. He asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Today, I make the case that the rest of the Bible, from that point on, is commentary on Cain's Question. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Cain's Question" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Two Wolves

John Calvin and an old Cherokee were sitting around the camp fire, discussing theology. To their surprise, they held similar views.

"I'm going to write an enormous, multi-volume book so that scholars all over the world can study what we've been discussing."

"I will teach my grandson", the old Cherokee replied. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from the story of David and Bathsheba entitled "Two Wolves" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Ghost of St. Anselm's

Frances Chan believes that the contemporary church has lost its contact with the third aspect of the Godhead -- the Holy Ghost. Our discussions and understanding of our relationship to God center on God the Father and God the Son, rather than on God the Holy Spirit.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky and a shadowy figure named "The Ghost of St. Anselm's" as we explore more closely our relationship with God the Holy Spirit. Click HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Doing Church

Rev. Ed Huckleberry closes his emails with this thought-provoking observation:

Our job is not to do church well, but to be the people of God in an unmistakable way in the world.

 What do you think? Is church membership and attendance important, critical, optional? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Doing Church" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Gospel of Missouri

We throw words like "Messiah" and phrases like "Son of God" around with pretty fair abandon, but what does Mark really mean when he begins his Gospel with the words, "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God?"

The first readers of Mark's Gospel were no more clear on words than we are. Mark undertook his Gospel to "show"  them the meaning of the words. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for this week's sermon, The Gospel of Missouri by clicking HERE for text or HERE for audio.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Callahan Ridge

If I pick up an object, rectangular in shape, with many pages inside and bound along an edge, we can all agree that I have a book in my hand. But we'd be wrong to say that the noise that comes out of my mouth, "book", is the same thing as the object I hold. The word "Book" is a label we have agreed to attach to that object so that we can talk about it.

"God" is also a label we have attached to the Creator. Just as with the book, we'd be foolish to think that the sound that comes out of our mouth, "God", is the same as the Creator. Unlike the book, though, we must make an additional confession when speaking about God. We must confess that we do not understand that about which we are speaking. it is not possible for us to contain God in the box of our understanding. That's a tough lesson to learn. Come join us for a discussion of how we confuse ourselves with words by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Like Other People

One of the things that scares us universally is to find ourselves on the outside of our group. There is safety in numbers, and it is no wonder we seek so often and with such passion to be like other people, for in doing so, we will be accepted into the protection of the group. Those called to the name Christian, not to mince words, are not like other people, and that means they sometimes must do hurtful things. In this week's passage, Jesus rejects his own mother and family! Why would He do such a thing? Join us for "Like Other People" by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Uzziah, Isaiah

Pentecost is past and we now find ourselves living in a world which has been gifted with the Holy Spirit. We affirm each Sunday that we believe in the Holy Ghost, but it is very, very difficult to claim the Holy Spirit as the animator behind our actions in contemporary churches. It was ever thus. On the first Pentecost, some of the people in the crowd thought the Apostles were drunk. Whenever God moves, there is always ambiguity for those who seek it.

For those called to the name Christian, however, our duty, our calling is to proclaim the Holy Spirit as the motivator behind all we do. That's sometimes tough to do because it treads on our pride. Join us for our sermon this Sunday, "Uzziah, Isaiah" by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Dry Bones

Today is Pentecost, the celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that Jesus charged His disciples that it was to their advantage that He go so that the Advocate or Comforter or Paraclete would come and dwell with them.

That's a stretch for anyone. Why would it be to their advantage to trade a living Jesus for an Advocate that they cannot see? It's very hard to believe in things we can't see.

So, I prepared a nifty little sermon on trusting the testimony of the Holy Spirit and believing that the Holy Spirit will sustain and empower those called to the name Christian. I even asked how the congregation would feel if there was a Pentecost event right here, right now. You can read it by clicking HERE.

Service opened, I turned on the iPad for my sermon and found -- nothing. I had forgotten to load the sermon. I can't begin to describe the panic I felt as I looked out at a group of people who expected me to be clever, only to find my speech was gone. I was so shook I forgot to press "Play" on the recorder."

One of the passages I had made reference to was the story of Gideon in Judges 7.

2 The Lord said to Gideon, ‘The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, “My own hand has delivered me.” ³Now therefore proclaim this in the hearing of the troops, “Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home.” ’ Thus Gideon sifted them out;^* twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained.
4 Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘The troops are still too many; take them down to the water and I will sift them out for you there. When I say, “This one shall go with you”, he shall go with you; and when I say, “This one shall not go with you”, he shall not go.’ ⁵So he brought the troops down to the water; and the Lord said to Gideon, ‘All those who lap the water with their tongues, as a dog laps, you shall put to one side; all those who kneel down to drink, putting their hands to their mouths,^* you shall put to the other side.’ ⁶The number of those that lapped was three hundred; but all the rest of the troops knelt down to drink water. ⁷Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred that lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go to their homes.’

 I preach from manuscript and that manuscript has now been taken away. My clever words that I cleverly write every week were somewhere up there in the ether where I couldn't reach them. That manuscript is what I thought delivered me every Sunday, and here it's gone.

And so, I preached as it was given me, and it was fine. Tell me God doesn't have a sense of irony! Any other Sunday, this would have been a source of anxiety only. On Pentecost Sunday, I believe I have been schooled, church. I believe I have been schooled.

Deep Right Field

The Presbyterian Church of the United States confesses in the Westminster Confession:

By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.

Congregants are not often asked to deal with these fundamental questions of systematic theology, but it is important to know what your church teaches. The Bible is the story of the chosen, but what does that actually mean? Join us for this week's sermon on the frightening, dreaded topic of predestination by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Under the Bus

Mothers seem to lavish love upon children from an inexhaustible store. It is a good model from which we can think about God's love. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our Mother's Day sermon, Under the Bus by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

3B's

How do we measure the success of a contemporary church? Our Executive Presbyter, in discussing this problem suggested that the most common measurement was the 3 B's -- Buildings, Budgets and Butts. A church with a large budget, impressive buildings and lots of butts in the pews is counted as successful. Dr. Tozer, though, reminds us

"We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone"

Those are pretty  upsetting words to think about, but perhaps that is why we should. Join us for our sermon, 3B's, by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.

Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Name

The Reverend Larry Paul Jones, teaching a class on Revelation, once reminded us that "Jesus ain't your fishing buddy." What he meant is that we must be careful to keep our place in God's Creation, as God's creatures, in mind as we approach the Sacred. This week, we focus on what our Jewish brothers and sisters teach us about this as we walk through the 23rd Psalm in our sermon, "The Name". Click HERE for audio and HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Spin the Wheel

Suppose you were a first century Roman citizen listening to the occasional debates in the forum about religion? How likely would it be that you would hear very much about a religion followed by a bunch of heathens in Judea that don't even speak Latin, and precious little Greek? If you did hear from them, what would you hear that would be persuasive? I'm guessing nothing.

Non-believers today can easily dismiss the healing miracles, the Scriptures, even the Resurrection, but there is one miracle that always flummoxes me -- 300 years after eleven men hid under the furniture in a locked room, terrified because their teacher had been horribly killed, the Emperor Constantine sought Baptism.

The account of Jesus is outlandish. It is unbelievable. It is absurd. God became man and allowed Himself to be Crucified? Who's going to believe that?

But, 300 years later...

Click HERE for audio and HERE for text for "Spin the Wheel".


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Entitlements

The early church, as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, was organized along the lines of Haight-Ashbury in the 1960's. Without the drugs, and with more dying...This awkward passage gives us an opportunity to think about our attitude toward the things we fancy we own. The same Gospel which speaks comfort to those who suffer speaks sacrifice to those in plenty. What should we strive for in our relationship to the goodies that come our way? Join us for this week's sermon, "Entitlements" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.



Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Hinge Pin

The story of the Resurrection is so far removed from our time and understanding that it's been all "hollowed out" for many church goers. The narrative doesn't strike us in the same way "Old Yeller" or "Love Story" did. Somehow, it is up to us to reclaim that emotional connection if the story of Jesus isn't to fade into obscurity. Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from the shorter ending of Mark titled "The Hinge Pin" by clicking HERE for audio and HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Who? Me?

Holy Week begins with the most political action Jesus took -- the actual confrontation of the unjust Roman system which was draining Judea and its people. In a recent paper, two historians calculated the income distribution of Rome at its highest and found that Rome, with its slaves, was a more equal society that America today. How are Christians to react to that? ARE we to react to that? Bishop Tutu observed that in situations of inequity, to remain neutral is to side with the oppressor. Where are we, church? Join us for our sermon, "Who? Me?" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Beware the Granfalloon

To my great surprise, it turns out that my congregation didn't spend its adolescence reading Kurt Vonnegut like I did, so the terms Granfalloon, Bokononism and calypsos were pretty much a mystery to them. Turns out they never heard of Saint Simeon Stylites the Elder, either, but we made it through, just the same. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, Beware the Granfalloon on small church worship by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Book Club

Did you ever notice how, when people speak of the Bible, what they really are talking about is little fiddly bits of Scripture they have memorized? You don't often hear people recite a story from the Bible and then discuss what the narrative means. My feeling is that we are willing to give our hearts to narrative on TV or in the movies, but we somehow feel that's not quite appropriate for Bible study. Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky as we study two great books: Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" and Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment". All in 17 minutes in our sermon, "The Book Club" by clicking HERE for text or HERE for audio.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Cool Kids

And so, we begin Lent again, dirty faced Christians clip, clop, clopping along the rocky path with gravel in our sandals while all the cool kids whiz by on the blacktop in air-conditioned comfort. What is wrong with us?? Are we just naturally gloomy people? Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky for this week's sermon, "The Cool Kids", by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Whistling in the Dark

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. How do we bring this first bookend of Lent into our 21st Century, left-brained, analytic understanding? Are we so smart there's no room left in our understanding for the Transfiguration? And if so, what hope do we have of confronting the Resurrection? Join Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon on the Transfiguration and the need to confront it with integrity, titled "Whistling in the Dark" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Demons

Can it be said of contemporary America that we live in a civilized country? Listening to the political ads on television, I confess that I would not automatically answer, "yes". What I hear is a deeply polarized election season in which one politician can actually demonize another by hurling the word "moderate" at him. Moderate is bad? Tolerance, forbearance, forgiveness and respect are bad? The Internet permits each of us to hear only the political positions we prefer, thus emphasizing in our minds the righteousness of our cause and the Satanic fury of those opposing us. And so we demonize, then live in a world of demons of our own creation, wringing our hands that our world is so full of demons. We seem to have lost the art of dealing with our enemies with compassion. Two people who have the art are a slave girl in Syria, and a freed Slave in Ohio. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon from the healing of Naaman in 2 Kings, title "Demons", by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Birds on a Wire

We live in a time in which we know a great deal about the structure of the universe. We can squint back to the very beginning of time. We can perceive atoms and their interactions. We even know what causes the fizz in bicarbonate of soda. The one thing we have turned our backs on is the foundation upon which all the magnificence of the universe sits. We in the Christian tradition understand this foundational Alpha and Omega to be God. In popular imagination, though, speculating about God seems somehow fantasy-like. I can't think so. I think we are like birds, hunkered down upon a power line, unaware of the power and potential coursing beneath our feet. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte and see how Hamlet, his friend Horatio, and cow pats come together in our sermon, "Birds on a Wire" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Specialist

We often think of "call" as applying to ministers. A minister is "called" to this church or that ministry, but I think the term is more widely applicable. I think all of us are called to situations in which the individual called, and ONLY that individual, can successfully heal that particular wound in God's Creation. Such a guy was Jonah, called by God to preach a word of repentance to Nineveh, capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Jonah eventually did, and to everyone's surprise, the Ninevites listened. And they weren't even Jews! Join us for this week's sermon from Jonah 3 and Mark 1, entitled "The Specialist" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

Bob, the Brick

How do you view your place within God's creation, and your relationship to God? What do you think about suffering you have endured? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for this week's sermon, "Bob, the Brick" from I Samuel 1:1-10 and John 1:43-51 by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Baptism of Our Lord

Today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. And as soon as we start celebrating, we start asking questions. Why did Jesus need to be baptized? It's year B, so we are reading from Mark in the Revised Common Lectionary, and Mark doesn't give an answer to this question, leaving us to dig for it ourselves. I turned to Bart Simpson of the Simpsons for an answer after speaking with a bunch of idiots. Come see what I mean with our sermon, "The Baptism of Our Lord", by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text. Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.

The Commonplace

The two Gospels with infancy narratives, Matthew and Luke, go to great pains to demonstrate the awesomeness of the event. Stars move. Angels sing. Even Herod the Horrible is aware that something has rocked his world. We get caught up in the majesty and tend to forget how commonplace the event was -- the birth of a baby, to a young girl, far from home. This is where God acts -- in the commonplace -- because God's creation is the common place where the human and the divine meet. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, KY for our sermon from Luke 2 titled "The Commonplace" by clicking HERE for text or HERE for audio.


Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Kentucky, was built on the casting floor of a 19th Century iron blast furnace. We use "The Casting Floor" as an image for the power of the Spirit to form us. Visit us at http://communitypresbyterian.org.