Brother Buzzkill

I don't want to be Brother Buzzkill, but we tend to get so excited about Christmas and our family traditions that we lose sight of the underlying story, which refuses to remain in the manger where we are content, but leads to the cross. We owe it to ourselves to be a bit more careful about that which is entrusted to our care. This week, coming to you from the gathering room at King's Daughters' Home for Seniors.
-->

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Brother Buzzkill 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.

Nailing God

Elie Wiesel said, “Whenever an angel says ‘Be not afraid!’ you'd better start worrying. A big assignment is on the way.” Mary is about to have her hands full. 

 

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Nailing God 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 Plow

"

By acknowledging that we and the structures we create are good, bad, and salvageable—all at once—we are freed from the temptation to demonize those who do evil. We can love our enemies or nation or church or school, not blindly, but critically, calling them back time and again to their own highest self-professed ideals and identities."¹

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Gospel Plow 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.

1The Powers That Be (Theology for a New Millennium) (Walter Wink)

"

The Nature of our Notions of Nature

We gain our perspective on the world we live in from the stories we tell ourselves. This Sunday, with the rioting in Ferguson, New York and other places in the forefront of our minds, we will look at two stories ancient people told themselves and how those stories still affect us.


Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Nature of Our Notions of Nature 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.

To Be Announced

If you ever want to start a heated discussion, raise the question of when and how the end times will come about, get some popcorn and a comfortable chair, sit back and watch the show. No matter how many times Christians are told that speculations about the end time are none of their business, we persist. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, To Be Announced 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.

Shifting the Shekels

The Bible as a whole is pretty rough on rich people. That's hard for Americans to hear because we live in a time and place of insane riches. It is said that the table wine at the Palace of Versailles often froze in the glasses. By contrast, we can change the temperature in the bedroom with a smartphone without leaving the couch.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Shifting the Shekels 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.

In My Opinion

Here's something to trouble yourself with. Has our American commitment to the freedom of worship operated on our minds in such a way that the religious faith of millions of people is now viewed as "just a matter of personal opinion"? Have we become people who say "The Lord can do no good, and will do no harm"? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, In My Opinion 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.

Nonsense!

People of a religious turn of mind often speak of "the ways of the world" by which, I have noticed, they often mean "things other people do". That won't do. It won't do at all. What we call "the ways of the world" are also known as a "worldview", and my 18 month old grand daughter is learning the worldview of the society into which she was born. She has to, if she is to communicate and live with people who surround her, but she also needs to be sceptical of the things her worldview teaches her, because there is much nonsense in it. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Nonsense! by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text and find out what the Massachusetts Bay Colony's greatest and most damaging contribution to the American worldview was.

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 Echo Chamber

Anyone with a passing familiarity with Facebook and the other social media sites is aware that we tend to pick sites that agree with what we want to believe, and to exclude voices that disagree. That's human nature for you. We are most comfortable living in an echo chamber that affirms than we are living with a demand to transform.  Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Echo Chamber 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.

Measuring the Messiah

Today is Reformation Sunday, the day we remember Martin Luther's act of nailing his 95 theses to the church door, kicking off the Protestant Reformation. The church, as it sails through history, tends to accumulate accretions from the culture through which it sails, and when it does, it gets less responsive to the will of God. At times like this, someone has to come along and scrape the barnacles off its bottom. The question is: if Jesus returned to us now with a word of correction, would we know Him?

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Measuring the Messiah 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 Coin of the Realm

If God chose to speak to the whole world through a 17 year old Muslim girl, would you listen? What are your ideas about the solution to the violence in the Middle East? What do you imagine God's solutions would entail? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Coin of the Realm 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.

Strong Leader, Wrong Leader

The fear of the Lord is a phrase that has passed its prime. We don't think that way much any more, but maybe we should. Our world is filled with churches offering the oddest sorts of theologies! The church leader is the one caught in the middle when the church wants one thing and the congregation would much prefer a more comfortable interpretation. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Strong Leader, Wrong Leader 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.

Too Righteous for her Own Good

I think that we have forgotten over the past two thousand years what an annoyance and a thorn in the side Jesus was to the "nice" people of Palestine -- the law followers, the get-me-through-the-day people, those who had made a career of their religion. Certainly, today's Christianity rarely seems to be an annoyance to the business-as-usual types of our day. We have come to a comfortable faith that demands that the church Elders be careful to monitor the heating and air conditioning settings so all are comfortable.

Often we substitute our own comfort levels for righteousness and come to worship them idolatrously. We are so satisfied by the way we meet our needs so perfectly that we get too righteous for our own good. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Too Righteous for Her Own Good 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

Punkin Vine

I'm going to get letters. Angry letters. Hurt letters. I'm going to get letters because of this sermon. I'm sorry if it makes you mad or hurt, but remember what does your God require of you but to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God? Oh! And don't throw things at me!


Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Punkin Vine 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.

Entitlement

I was speaking with a lady at the hospital the other day. She said she was a Baptist and jokingly asked if that was all right.  The other lady with us, who was not a Baptist, replied, "They're all the same. Do the right thing and you get to go to heaven."

REALLY??? So...it's like a contract, then? (fist bump) done deal, God? Do the right thing and God is bound to pay off.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. as we welcome Rev. Ann Pitman of First Presbyterian as liturgist for this week's sermon, Entitlement 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.

Getting Even

When we were kids, questions of right and wrong were presented to us in simplistic terms that kids could understand. It was right to treat elders with respect and to help your smaller siblings. It was wrong to throw your pureed carrots on the wall and throw a hissy fit.

Adults soon learn that right and wrong are seldom that clear. In any violent conflict, there will be equities on both sides. So, if both sides have credible claim to having been injured by the other, the only one who could blame them for getting even is the one who rejected the entire concept of getting even.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Getting Even 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 Devil's Worship Space

As we watch the Middle East collapse into brutal violence, there are calls for the use of American military force to quiet the violence. Jesus once asked how the devil could cast out the devil. We might ask the same question of our certainty that violence and destruction can be cast out by violence and destruction. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Devil's Worship Space 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 Lord and Woody Guthrie

We have a lot of comfortable Christians in America. America is, in the context of the rest of the world and all the world's history, a comfortable place to be. What does it mean to a comfortable Christian to suggest that he or she take off their shoes and stand on ground that's likely to hurt your feet? How sensible is that? The Lord and Woody Guthrie, however, see it differently.   Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Lord and Woody Guthrie 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.

Unseen Hands

Think of history as an infinitely large field of dominoes, each standing on end. Our large plans shake the dominoes and inevitably cause damage, but the unseen hand of God, working through an astonishing cast of nobodies, knows the precise domino to topple to cause the rest to fall into God's plans. The first gift of wisdom is humility.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Unseen Hands 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 Apology

I am so very sorry, but the heavens opened up and flooded our home this weekend. I'll do my best to get Sunday's  sermon posted by tomorrow.

Pastor Stewart

Evolution

No...not that kind of evolution. How do you think about Jesus? Was He a magical sort of creature dropping miracles behind him like a wealthy man with a hole in his pocket, or was he a fully human man? That was the decision the church reached in 451 C.E., that  Jesus Christ is “fully human and fully divine, one person in two natures, without confusion and without change, without separation and without division.” What does that mean, that Jesus was "fully human"?

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Evolution 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.

Unlikely People

Big doin's at the Chapel of St. Arbuck! They've done a complete restoration, inside and out, and as you might have anticipated, it was not without conflict between the Archbishop and the Sexton. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. to learn all about it in this week's sermon, Unlikely People 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

It's kind of a catch-22, this business of being a Christian. It may take a life-time to read the covenant written upon your heart by God who has a task for you and only you, yet most people today fancy they don't have time to read their email, let alone something as subtle as God's urgings. So, they either disengage from church altogether, or settle for slapping a bumper sticker on the back of their Buick.  Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. 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.

It All Started...

Gaza and four little boys playing on the beach. Gaza and a village. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, It All Started... 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.

Mama Cat's Sermon

OK...BIG confession time. I posted an article on Facebook demonstrating that the children crossing our southern border illegally are fleeing terrible violence in Honduras, San Salvador and Guatemala. It generated a long discussion from many parts of the political spectrum and made me think long and hard. Much of that discussion, and my thoughts, wound up in this week's sermon. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Mama Cat'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.

Satan's Self-Righteous Stew

Lord Jesus Christ
Son of God
Have mercy on me
A sinner

The sinner's prayer offers each of us a chance to confess with Paul that when we try to do good, we find that evil is close at hand. As we contemplate the disorder and tragedy in Iraq and Syria and try to form a national policy to engage the combatants, confession of our inability to do the good we wish is the most needed component of the discussion. Had our leaders begun their deliberation with this prayer, would they have been so quick to believe in weapons of mass destruction? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Satan's Self-Righteous Stew 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.

Fire In Your Bones

The prophets, Jeremiah in this case, spoke of a compulsion to speak the word of the Lord which felt to them like a fire in their bones. Is this an image that the contemporary church evokes?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. as we consider the case of SGT. BOWE BERGDAHL in this week's sermon, FIRE IN YOUR BONES 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.

Win Your Wings

A very long time ago, airlines gave plastic wings to children who had flown so they could pin them on their shirts and tell the world of this wonderful thing that had happened to them. I don't know if airlines still do that or not. This Pentecost we discussed two ways to think about the pilot: as here and now, in the plane with us although behind a locked door, or distant and far removed operating our airplane as a drone and intervening only to perform occasional miracles. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Win Your Wings 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.

Zhuangzi

Taoism is one of the world's oldest ways of looking at things. Master Zhuang was a very early writer in this tradition. One of his most famous stories was that of a dream he had that he was a butterfly. Come join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. in getting Taoism all over a nice Presbyterian church for this week's sermon, Zhuangzi 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 Chosen

Calvinist thought is built around the idea of the chosen -- that God chooses some to do his work in the world. The Talmud offers a similar idea in the notion that the world is sustained by the righteous in the same way that Sodom and Gomorrah could have been saved if ten righteous people had been found there. The idea is similar to the Jewish story of the Pillars of the Universe, and we looked at a beautiful poem by Mikael Horowitz titled "Thirty Six Sentences on the Lamed-Vovniks" https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5791033/Lamed-Vovniks.pdf

This week, we watch Paul at the Areopagus  and hear from Jesus' Farewell Discourse. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Chosen 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.

My Garden

Christ directed his followers to spread the good news to all the nations. When we find that the nations aren't much interested in what we have to say, when we realize how irrelevant we are to those to whom we bring this good news, we're inclined to sigh about "the people today". We're much less likely to entertain seriously the possibility that the good news we are offering isn't perceived as good news at all. The god we present is seen as a children's tale, and I'm not so sure that I disagree. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, My Garden 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.

Entertaining Angels

Donald Sterling stepped in pretty deep goo this week. It made me think of just how dangerous the idea of a punitive God taking notes "up there" is, and how differently the world would appear were we to confess that God makes his residence here; He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Entertaining Angels, 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.

Three Little Words

Doubting Thomas gets a bum rap, I think. We listen to his story once a year, and draw from it the idea that doubt trumps faith. That's just not so. Thomas was being told a tale by the other Disciples which demanded proof. Their friend, who was killed in a very public way raised from the grave? Of course he was sceptical. I would be, too. Exceptional claims require exceptional proof.

But what if I told you that Thomas' problem wasn't doubt but faithlessness? Would that change how you feel about the story? Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Three Little Words 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 Stone

Our "knee-jerk" reaction to obstructions in our path is commonly anger and frustration. Mine is, anyway. I want to find a way around an obstruction, or, failing that, a way to detonate high explosives under the obstruction. God's obstructions, however, are sometimes there to focus our attention. Such it seems to have been for me as I say good riddance to a week filled with obstructions. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Stone 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.

Here-And-Now

When was the last time you became frightened of the demands of your faith? Being a Christian in America seldom puts your life at peril as in other parts of the world and other times in history. It's Palm Sunday, so we will speak of one of those times and places, an event we have converted into a cute children's parade because it's too terrifying to look at it straight on, as an intentionally political act whose only outcome could be death. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Here-and-Now 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.

Big Fish, Little Fish

The text for this Sunday is the raising of Lazarus. It might not be immediately obvious how the music of Queen and George Harrison fit into the raising of Lazarus, so you'll just have to join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Big Fish, Little Fish 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.

Musical excerpts:
My Sweet Lord (C) 2009 Umlaut Corporation/EMI Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 2009 EMI Records Ltd
Bohemian Rhapsody from Night at the Opera, (C) 2011 Hollywood Records, Inc.

The Wrong Tool

The scientific method of observation, proposal of hypothesis, testing and refutation has carried us into a world which amazes me. Mankind has left his footsteps on the surface of the moon and weighed the mass of planets circling suns so far from us that humanity was still running naked in the jungle hitting rabbits in the head with rocks when light from those stars left.

And yet, we live in a world in which we have retired into communities of shared belief from which we do little but glare at one another. It's not just the Creationist museum in Northern Kentucky throwing sticks and stones at all of biology and geology; it is also those within the scientific community returning the favor at people of faith. This will not do.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Wrong Tool 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.

Witness

I told my teacher this week that I needed to meet with him to get a tune-up on my theology because this Sunday, the topic of my sermon is hydrogen. The element. To find out what this might have to do with the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, click HERE for audio or HERE for text.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Witness 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.

Pick Up Sticks

It's a purely human characteristic to wish to be viewed favorably by our fellows, but is blamelessness the same as righteousness? History teaches that very often God's call to righteousness demands the sacrifice of our individual blamelessness in the eyes of our community. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Pick Up Sticks 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.

Live Toads

The most famous temptation story in the Old Testament is that of Adam and Eve, but what the temptation actually was may not really have been what you thought. For one thing, there's no apple. For another, there's no Satan. What else might be different?

I also want to thank Gail Rous for playing for us today. Jeanette and Paul Beasley were travelling. Gail played the piano and I led singing. This is usually a cringe-worthy exercise because I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Something happened this Sunday. I didn't leave it in the recording because it wasn't exactly a good thing -- just much less horrible than it might have been, and I was in tears. These things happen.When the congregation lifted its voice...well, you had to be there.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, "Live Toads" 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 Four Horsemen

The Book of Revelation introduces us to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, none of whom are good news. The Four Horsemen we will talk about this Sunday are a different bunch but still bad news, for they are the myths we tell ourselves about ourselves so that we don't have to confront our limitations. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Four Horsemen 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.

In Defense of Human Dignity

When we think of the needs of others, we are accustomed to think of things such as food and clothing, but the central need of all is to be valued as a human. God has granted each of his children the gift of human dignity, and Jesus addressed this in his Sermon on the Mount, although we are not accustomed to hear it in that way. Come join the congregation at King's Daughters' and Sons Home to hear why "turn the other cheek" does not mean that a Christian must be a doormat in this week's sermon, In Defense of Human Dignity 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 Rubber Band Man

When the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful, it puts us in  tension when we face up to the fact that we need to haul ourselves outside and do what needs to be done. But if we do not respond to that tension, we'll spend all our time in bed and die of bed sores. God sets before us life and prosperity, death and adversity, but to make the right choices we have to embrace the tension God places within us.

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. to find out what THAT has to do with rubber bands in this week's sermon, The Rubber Band Man 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.

Make It Right

When we Christians speak of our relationship with our God, we sometimes forget that God has a relationship with others, too, and that we are called to mirror His love for those who suffer. This Sunday, I lost my mind and decided to put on a play, with the help of my son-in-law, taken from the 1982 movie, "The Year of Living Dangerously". We now know why I'm never nominated for a Tony, but listen for Billy Kwan's words, "Add your light to the sum of light."

Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. to find the connection between an Indonesian photographer, a 22 year old movie, a Canadian contractor and our text from Matthew in this week's sermon, Make it Right 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 Circle Game

Joni Mitchell had a hit in 1970 called "The Circle Game" about the circle of seasons and the circle our lives follow. I think of the circle game in terms of the way we include and exclude people from our circle of love and compassion. "Life", said Kermit the Frog, "is a series of meetings and partings." So it is, as we welcome people into our circle, and, sometimes, find them leaving.  Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon,The Circle Game by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.

(For those not native to Ashland, "Avondale" was the poorest, most wretched part of the town. It was primarily African-American.)

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.

Four Tough Fishermen

Jesus gathered his team, starting with four tough fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James and John. A fisherman at the time was a strong man who caught his fish in heavy nets. Jesus needed strong men on his team, because he had set his foot on a path which would lead to changing the world, and the world just HATES being made to change. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Four Tough Fishermen 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.

Doing your own Homework

I've often said that the reason King James Bibles are so often bound in soft leather bindings is as a reminder that we are not to use them as weapons. Nonetheless, so much Bible quoting today seems to be just that -- embrace some point of view which pleases you, then find a Bible passage to swat those who disagree with. We have too many Bible quoters and not enough Bible studiers; too many self-proclaimed experts and too few humble listeners. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Doing your own Homework, 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 Bishop's Complaint

Our churches in contemporary America are such peaceful, safe and non-confrontational places that I wonder if John Calvin's assertion that
“We are consecrated and dedicated to God, that we are not our own, but the Lord’s”  still enjoys any currency in our churches? The Bishop wonders, too. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, "The Bishop's Complaint" 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.