Offensive Grace

When Christians pause to consider horrible acts, like the Boston bombings, we are pulled in two directions. On the one hand, we are angry and we hunger for justice. We have been attacked and we wish to respond in kind. On the other hand, God has taught us that we are to respond to evil with good, blessing those who persecute us. Come see how this plays out within the context of Peter's initial outreach to the Gentiles of his time by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

One other thing. Kathy's great aunt Bea, the matriarch of the Jewish side of our family, passed away on Shabbos. In her honor, I closed the service with the great Jewish prayer, Sh'ma Yisrael. My most contrite apologies to Cindy Harris for my abominable pronounciation.

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 Hunt for Heaven

One of my least favorite bumper stickers is the one that says, "Honk if you love Jesus". Can that POSSIBLY be an adequate explanation of the events in Jerusalem sometime around 30 c.e.? Since my answer is pretty obviously "No", I made up my own bumper sticker and gave it to the congregation. It reads, "If you love Jesus, pursue compassion. Any fool can honk."

The other thing to know is that I shared with my congregation the loving service of our great-aunt's companion, Brenda, who is seeing to her as she leaves this world. She is doing so selflessly and lovingly. She is the best example of compassion that comes to mind right now.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for "The Hunt for Heaven" by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

The Restoration of Peter

Our ideas of justice are founded more on our insecurities and our fears than upon God's example of justice. We prefer to identify and then exclude "bad guys" from our midst, while God's plan encompasses restoration and re-integration. Join the Congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky for "The Restoration of Peter" 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 Tape Measure of Truth

Sometimes, a great, happy, joyful wonderful thing happens. Our congregation contains at least one real life hero, a man who lives his life in a wheelchair as a result of an injury he received while protecting his community. Because he is dependent on others to transport him, we haven't seen him in six months. The corporation which looks after his needs is not compelled to transport him to church, and we can't. So when a stranger interrupted my sermon, I didn't know what to expect until he asked how to get a wheelchair in.

I thought to edit out what happened, but I am so excited to have Vince back with us, that I left it in. Join in our happiness by clicking HERE for audio, or if you'd prefer just the 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.