We've attached so many well-loved traditions to Christmas, hung tinsel on it, if you will, that it is hard to find the gold beneath the tinsel without feeling that we've ignored something in our traditions that is important. Our traditions ARE important, but they are not THE important thing.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable 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.
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Sunday, December 25, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Just Joe
Sometimes, we get ourselves so involved in what is right that we can not see what is good. The story of Joseph shows us with startling clarity that righteousness often involves turning from the "right" thing in order to do the good thing.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Just Joe 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Just Joe 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.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
The Cost of Prophesy
What do Isaiah ben Amoz, John the Baptist, the Standing Rock Sioux and 3,000 Armed Forces veterans have in common?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Cost of Prophesy 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Cost of Prophesy 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.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
A big shout out of gratitude to Scott Rucker for his beautiful music kicking off our examination of miracles.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Miracles 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Miracles 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.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
And So It Begins
It's the first Sunday in Advent -- the beginning of the church's year. Happy New Year! Entering into Advent, though, is more than Christmas presents, holly and ivy. The church teaches that it is a time for repentance and reflection, which doesn't sound half so much fun as presents.
To see why, join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, And, So It Begins 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 see why, join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, And, So It Begins 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.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
A New Beginning
Some endings mark the secession of effort. Some endings mark the beginnings of effort, or a re-engaging of a commitment. On Christ the King Sunday, the liturgical year comes to completion. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, A New Beginning 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.
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 New Beginning
Some endings mark the secession of effort. Some endings mark the beginnings of effort, or a re-engaging of a commitment. On Christ the King Sunday, the liturgical year comes to completion. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, A New Beginning 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.
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.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Let's Not Do This Again
We have completed the most toxic Presidential campaign of recent memory, and the population is still miles apart. It is a time of great testing, and an opportunity to testify, as Luke reports in our passage. I cannot get my arms around a faith which requires only that a believer confess Jesus as Lord and is baptised, then has no further responsibility, beyond going to church when convenient, until death. We are called to testify, not in the orchards where the living is easy and the fruit plentiful, but in the desert, where we huddle divided one against the other.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Let's Not Do This Again 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Let's Not Do This Again 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.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Going from Hearing to Listening
Our current toxic political season has taught us much about how to bait and villainize our opponents, characterizing them as evil or apostate. We did not think this up in 21st Century America, but we may well have perfected it. In Jesus' time, His opponents lay in wait for him, hoping to ambush him in the same way we do on Facebook. How are we to relate to those who hold views different from our own?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Going from Hearing to Listening 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Going from Hearing to Listening 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.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Lost in the Woods
If you think of "lost" in terms of future damnation, you will understand salvation one way. If you think of it as a present-tense condition, you will understand the movement of the Holy Spirit in a different way.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Lost in the Woods 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Lost in the Woods 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.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Pretty Balloons
An old friend of mine is studying Buddhism. He told me of a fascinating conversation he had with his teacher, begun when he asked, "If attaining enlightenment is the goal of living, isn't that pursuit an attachment which can only block the path forward?"
His teacher thought a moment and replied, "There is a difference between attachment and focus." It made me think of the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in this week's Gospel passage from Luke. Listen in and see if I have a screw loose, or if I stumbled on to something.
Oh, and prepare yourself. I forgot myself and began singing a Leonard Cohen song during the benediction. There were howls of outrage from musicians everywhere.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Pretty Balloons 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.
His teacher thought a moment and replied, "There is a difference between attachment and focus." It made me think of the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in this week's Gospel passage from Luke. Listen in and see if I have a screw loose, or if I stumbled on to something.
Oh, and prepare yourself. I forgot myself and began singing a Leonard Cohen song during the benediction. There were howls of outrage from musicians everywhere.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Pretty Balloons 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.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Gunsmoke
The world of the western, in which many of us grew up, presented only a limited number of possible outcomes. Primary among them was that the bad guy had to get shot to death on main street, for only violence can effectively counter evil. That is the "real world" of the western.
In today's world, we see many argue that in our "real world" a man of sufficiently great celebrity can assault women without consequence. It doesn't matter if he has done so or not. The argument is that this is the "real world" in which we live. Is God's creation truly that foul?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. and see how the preacher got schooled on Facebook in this week's sermon, Gunsmoke 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 today's world, we see many argue that in our "real world" a man of sufficiently great celebrity can assault women without consequence. It doesn't matter if he has done so or not. The argument is that this is the "real world" in which we live. Is God's creation truly that foul?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. and see how the preacher got schooled on Facebook in this week's sermon, Gunsmoke 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.
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Our Way
I'm afraid I am a little focused on our political landscape, and I am disturbed by it. I can't tell if we are electing a leader for our future, or nominating an enemy to oppose. There is too much negativity. We're leprous, like Naaman. The question is: are we as wise as Naaman in finding a way to be healed, or are we so addicted to our drug of choice, redemptive violence, that we cannot see how we distort ourselves?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Our Way 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Our Way 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.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Sail On!
One of the most attractive ways to picture our relationship with God is something on the order of "Do good now, get better later". It's attractive because it means that all of God's blessings reflect your faithful adherence to God's commands. Would you be surprised to learn that this is entirely backwards, that you cannot earn God's favor? Bet your life you would! We poke around in everybody's least favorite parable, The Worthless Slave, from Luke to clarify our understanding.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Sail On! 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Sail On! 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.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Flags
Sometimes, as uncomfortable as it makes us, people of faith have to talk about real-life things. We have to talk about cruelty and hatred in public speech. We have to talk about politics. We're involved in the most divisive presidential campaign I can recall. Our nation was formed upon the idea that government must not speak to religion. Is the converse also true, that religion must not speak to government? I would say no, but I’d add the warning that when we do so, we must be very, very careful that we speak for God, and not just to our personal preferences.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Flags 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Flags 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.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Amazing Grace
Superficially, the parable
of the dishonest manager in Luke 16 appears to present the story of a manager who cheats his master and
is commended by Jesus for being a liar and a thief. How in the world
do I preach that? When you're in a position in which you have to hold
forth on something you don't understand very well, there are really
only two courses open: Bluff, or go find someone who DOES understand
and ask him. That's what I did, and I learned much.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Amazing Grace 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.
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.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Meshugaas
One of my favorite Yiddish words as a child was "mashugana". We thought it was an adjective so we spoke of things or actions being mashugana. The Gospel of Jesus is, by all human measure, meshugaas. It's crazy. How could we manage to live in the crazy world today and still follow Jesus' teachings? How did He? What? You think the world was less meshugaas in His time?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Meshugaas 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Meshugaas 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.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Plastic Jesus
When asked to sing, my response is "I don't sing. Since the injunction." Desperate times, however, demand desperate actions. Today, I sing of the cost of discipleship.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Plastic Jesus 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Plastic Jesus 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.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Reflection
When you think of your relationship with God, and God's relationship with you, how do you characterize it in your mind? Do you do good deeds to earn your way into heaven? Does God love you no matter WHAT you do? It's complicated.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Reflection by clicking HERE for text. (We had a technical problem with the audio today which is much too technical to explain and which had nothing to do with my being too daft to push the record button, I assure you.)
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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Reflection by clicking HERE for text. (We had a technical problem with the audio today which is much too technical to explain and which had nothing to do with my being too daft to push the record button, I assure you.)
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.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Beyond Words
Jesus called the leader of the synagogue a "hypocrite". In the understanding of the time, a hypocrite was an actor who performed in a mask, thus concealing his true identity and nature. That's exactly what is going on with people who are so busy being blameless that they have no energy left to be righteous. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, "Beyond 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.
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.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Two Kingdoms
My impression is that when church people speak of "the kingdom of man" they mean that group of people who do bad stuff for the sake of victimizing us, the citizens of the Kingdom of God. That way, church, lies madness, and, truly, the kingdom of man prevails whenever those thoughts are permitted to flower. Come and see why the Prince of Peace should say so shattering a thing as "Do
you think that I have come to bring peace to
the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!"
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Two Kingdoms 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.
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.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
A Breath in the Wind
Suppose, in your ambition to be a truly great player, you invested heavily in the best pads, the best helmet, the best shin guards. Suppose you dedicated yourself to maintaining this equipment in top-drawer condition, worrying yourself sick at every nick. Suppose, then, that you showed up for first practice to find everyone warming up in the batter's cage. Have you been playing the wrong game all along?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, A Breath on the Wind 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, A Breath on the Wind 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.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Mystery Meal
Coming to you this Sunday from Kings' Daughters and Sons Home, I took a look at a word whose meaning is so transcendent that 2,000 years of speculation have drawn us little closer to understanding its meaning. It appears in both the Matthean and Lucan versions of the Lord's Prayer and will lead you into some interesting speculation about the loyalty you unthinkingly accord to your tribe in this time of horrific hatred on both sides of the political debate.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Mystery Meal, 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Mystery Meal, 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.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Consequences -- Reading Amos in America
Do you get the sense from some of the TV preachers that God is happy with the way we do things and only sticks around to congratulate us? How do you feel about the bumper stickers you so frequently see reading "God Bless America"? What does that mean to you?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Consequences 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Consequences 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.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Lumettered Sayings -- Some thoughts on the Good Samaritan
Speaking this week from the beautiful pulpit of First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, Kentucky, the church in which I was raised and married, I found myself thinking about self-justification, the Good Samaritan, and a British monk of the fourth century named Pelagius.
Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, Ky. for this week's sermon, Lumettered Sayings 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.
Join the congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, Ky. for this week's sermon, Lumettered Sayings 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.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
The Chains That Bind Us
Archibald Macleish once said, "Religion is at its best when it makes us ask hard questions of ourselves. It is at its worst when it deludes us into thinking we have all the answers for everybody else". We, sinners all, are very prone to considerations of the sins of others, rather than the uncomfortable task of consideration of our own. Paul has some important information on how we are to treat transgressors.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Chains That Bind 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Chains That Bind 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.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
The Gospel Plow
When Jesus had "turned his face to Jerusalem", he was waling into the jaws of a trap that he perceived from the first. His commitment was to the job before him, and that job would cost his life. From the perspective of such commitment, how must God feel when we offer lukewarm commitment?
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.
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.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Poison
The attention of the world has been focused upon Orlando this week as we try to come to terms with the worst mass shooting in American history. The young man's offer of allegiance to some radical groups from the middle east has also focused us on what we are pleased to call "radical Islam", even though it now appears that the groups Omar Mateen was speaking of are hostile one to the other. It was as if, during World War II, someone had proclaimed his loyalty to both the Axis and the Allies. We are too quick to assume that we know who our enemy is, and much too quick to get self-righteous about it. It is the poison we feed ourselves.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Poison 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Poison 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.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sola Scriptura
What are the differences between the concepts of faith, tradition and religion? What are their shared commonalities? Why do we do thing things we do?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Sola Scriptura 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Sola Scriptura 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.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Voices
In our arrogance, I believe we would characterize the experience of Biblical prophets as signs of mental illness, rather than revelation. Question is: do you hear voices? What voices? What do they tell you?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Voices, 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Voices, 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.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
The O'Reilly Factor
Contemporary people seem to carry a great mistrust of authority, and that extends to the church organizations. We're seeing the rise of congregations unaffiliated with any denominational understanding. Maybe that's good. Maybe it's not. Conflicts with understandings of the Gospel go back a long way.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The O'Reilly Factor 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The O'Reilly Factor 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.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
The Bridge Inspector
What sort of world do you believe you live within? Is it a deterministic world devoid of meaning unless human effort imposes meaning, or a world with a structure that guides the human soul? It's an important question, for your answer to it will blind you to any evidence to the contrary.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Bridge Inspector 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Bridge Inspector 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.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
The Gift
A spectacular "found sermon" from the wonderful folks at RadioLab WNYC whose kind permission to use their story forms the heart of this story of the intervention of the Holy Spirit empowering a father to do what no human father could do on his own. I am humbled by the story of Hector Black and I hope you will be blessed by it. Because there is so much audio in it, it was not possible to have a text version.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5702269/The%20Gift.mp3
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Gift by clicking 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.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5702269/The%20Gift.mp3
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Gift by clicking 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.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
The Spirit of the Times
God never asks you do undertake that which you cannot do. God does require of you that you do what you can do. Are you doing it?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Spirit of the Times 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Spirit of the Times 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.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Signs
I think everyone of a certain age remembers the pop tune "Signs" from 1970.
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind.
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
Many people look to religion for a clearly set-out group of signs governing behavior, and there is room for such a thing, but it's not the greater part of a religious life. Jesus kept doing things that drove the religious people of his time crazy. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Signs 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.
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery, breaking my mind.
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?
Many people look to religion for a clearly set-out group of signs governing behavior, and there is room for such a thing, but it's not the greater part of a religious life. Jesus kept doing things that drove the religious people of his time crazy. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Signs 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.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
OMG!
I'm more embarrassed than I can say. I returned from church, hit the wrong button, and erased this week's audio recording. Then, realizing that it is 4th Sunday, I went to King's Daughters' and Sons Home to deliver it again, and record it there.
When I looked out at those dear faces, I realized that my sermon, having to do with what people say online, in particular, OMG for "Oh My God" was going to be a closed book to a congregation of that age. In an attempt to make it accessible, I tried to speak "out of my pocket". When I did that, a passing hillbilly bug bit me and infected me with the worst sort of Appalachian accents. Forgive me! Maybe just read the text?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, OMG 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.
When I looked out at those dear faces, I realized that my sermon, having to do with what people say online, in particular, OMG for "Oh My God" was going to be a closed book to a congregation of that age. In an attempt to make it accessible, I tried to speak "out of my pocket". When I did that, a passing hillbilly bug bit me and infected me with the worst sort of Appalachian accents. Forgive me! Maybe just read the text?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, OMG 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.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
You Have 12 Followers
This Sunday, we have a little something extra. One of our number, ArLynn Toavs, is greatly gifted as a singer, and opened worship with "His Eye Is On The Sparrow", leaving me in tears as usual, and since we were so blessed by his music, I've included the bell choir as well.
The question posed by our sermon this week is "Why does this one story about this one man have such power 2,000 years later?" He wasn't all that much of a news item then. Indeed, his Facebook would only have shown "You have 12 followers."
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable Christianity by clicking HERE for audio (and the music!) 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 question posed by our sermon this week is "Why does this one story about this one man have such power 2,000 years later?" He wasn't all that much of a news item then. Indeed, his Facebook would only have shown "You have 12 followers."
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable Christianity by clicking HERE for audio (and the music!) 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.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
The Restoration of Peter
Our ideas of justice center on punishment. God's way of justice is restoration. Why else would He have chosen Peter and Paul, a coward and a bully, to lead the new church?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, 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.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Suicide Bombers
Our world is under attack! Anybody who watches the news knows that, but we'd like to suggest two things: Be very clear who the enemy is -- it may not be who you think; and the most valuable thing to ask ourselves is "What can we learn from ISIS"?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Suicide Bombers 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Suicide Bombers 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.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
The Hinge
Something happened two thousand years ago so impossible, so outlandish, that no one would have believed it. Unless it was true and had been witnessed. He is Risen.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable 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.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
There Can Be But One
For something like a hundred years, God's people in Jerusalem had worshiped God by leave of the Roman Emperor. It was a political compromise that served both Rome and the Jews well. Palm Sunday marks the point in time in which Jesus brought this cozy arrangement tumbling down. We've turned it into a time for children to wave palms. Hear the darker side of Palm Sunday 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.
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.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
The Four Roses
The past four Sundays we have discussed Temptation, Submission, Purpose and Restoration. I thought a bit of a review might be in order before we tackle the current fear-driven political and social situation which is causing so much stress.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Four Roses 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Four Roses 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.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Restoration
We are enormously indebted to our villains. They make such flattering comparisons! Sometimes, I wonder what we would do without someone to feel superior to. I also wonder if that attitude has anything to do with the Gospel. This week, we speak of a convicted murderer of my acquaintance to see what light he might throw on our preference for comparative virtue.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Restoration 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Restoration 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.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Submission
During Lent we have been examining the call of a Christian. "Christian" isn't a title to be claimed -- it is an aspiration to which we submit ourselves. Max Lucado recently wrote, "... people make decisions about Christ on the basis of Christians and how we behave." To be a Christian is to abandon your best-loved notions of what is acceptable conduct and to submit yourself to His will.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Submission 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Submission 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.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Purpose
As we continue through the Sundays of Lent, we examine purpose this Sunday. What is the purpose of being a Christian in a time when people of faith seem to be coming in for more than their fair share of scorn? Tertulian said, "It must be believed because it is absurd." Susan Howatch said
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable Christianity by clicking HERE for audio or HERE for text.
“For the true radical is not
the man who wants to root out the tares from the wheat so as to make
the Church perfect: it is only too easy on these lines to reform the
Church into a walled garden. The true radical is the man who
continually subjects the Church … to the claims of God in the
increasingly non-religious world which the Church exists to serve.1
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Uncomfortable 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.
1Ibi
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Temptation
As we enter the first Sunday in Lent, we read of the Temptation of Christ from Luke's account. What need had Jesus of temptation and testing? Why did Luke include this very odd story, and what does it have to do with an ancient prayer named "Shema Yisra'el"?
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Temptation 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Temptation 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.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Transformation
Wikipedia tells us this about Leopold
and Loeb: Nathan Freudenthal Leopold, Jr. (November 19, 1904 –
August 29, 1971) and Richard Albert Loeb (June 11, 1905 – January
28, 1936), usually referred to collectively as Leopold and Loeb, were
two wealthy students at the University of Chicago who in May 1924
kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Robert Franks in Chicago. It was
described as the “crime of the century” and it was senselessly
evil – evil because a 14 year old boy lost his life, and senseless
because the motive for the crime was just that – senseless. Leopold
was particularly fascinated by Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of
supermen (Übermenschen) — transcendent individuals, possessing
extraordinary and unusual capabilities, whose superior intellects
allowed them to rise above the laws and rules that bound the
unimportant, average populace. Leopold believed that he was one of
these individuals, and as such, by his interpretation of Nietzsche's
doctrines, he was not bound by any of society's normal ethics or
rules. They kidnapped and killed young Bobby Franks to prove that
they were above society's normal ethics.
They were caught and convicted,
receiving sentences of life plus 99 years after an impassioned
closing argument by Clarence Darrow. In 1936, Loeb was attacked by
another prisoner and killed. Wikipedia continues:
“After 33 years and numerous
unsuccessful parole petitions, Leopold was released in March 1958. In
April he attempted to set up the Leopold Foundation, to be funded by
royalties from Life Plus 99 Years, 'to aid emotionally disturbed,
retarded, or delinquent youths'. The State of Illinois voided his
charter, however, on grounds that it violated the terms of his
parole.
Leopold moved to Santurce, Puerto Rico,
to avoid media attention and married a widowed florist. The Brethren
Service Commission, a Church of the Brethren affiliated program,
accepted him as a medical technician at its hospital in Puerto Rico.
He expressed his appreciation in an article: 'To me the Brethren
Service Commission offered the job, the home, and the sponsorship
without which a man cannot be paroled. But it gave me so much more
than that, the companionship, the acceptance, the love which would
have rendered a violation of parole almost impossible.' He was known
as “Nate” to neighbors and co-workers at Castañer General
Hospital in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, where he worked as a laboratory
and X-ray assistant. Subsequently he earned a master's degree at the
University of Puerto Rico, then taught classes there; became a
researcher in the social service program of Puerto Rico's department
of health; worked for an urban renewal and housing agency; and did
research in leprosy at the University of Puerto Rico's school of
medicine. He was also active in the Natural History Society of Puerto
Rico, traveling throughout the island to observe its birdlife. In
1963 he published Checklist of Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands. Leopold died of a diabetes-related heart attack on August
29, 1971, at the age of 66. His corneas were donated.
Old news, but it raises an important
question. Is the measure of our lives to be found in the mistakes of
our past, or in the promise of our future? Join the congregation of
Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. For this week's
sermon, Transformation 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.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
The Entertainer
Søren
Kierkegaard, the 19th
Century Danish philosopher and theologian once said:
People
have an idea that the preacher is an actor on a stage, and they are
the critics, blaming or criticizing him. What they don’t know is
that they are the actors on the stage; the preacher is merely the
prompter standing in the wings reminding them of their lost lines.
Smart man, Kierkegaard. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, The Entertainer 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.
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.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US
Where to you imagine God to hang out? In heaven? On earth? In our hearts? Really...where?
Due to the snow storm, there was no service today, so there is no audio recording. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Emmanuel, by clicking 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.
Due to the snow storm, there was no service today, so there is no audio recording. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Emmanuel, by clicking 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.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Milk and Bread
As we celebrate the birthday of our country's most significant prophet, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we have an opportunity to reflect on the the proper use of God's gifts. Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Milk and Bread, 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.
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.
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Baptism
Today's text is Luke's account of the baptism of Jesus. Why, we ask, had Jesus need of baptism? Maybe this will answer that question, and some of the other ones that present themselves as we think on our own baptisms.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Baptism 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.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Baptism 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.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Hear Here
When my daughter was just a little girl, she played Mary in the Nativity at First Christian Church of Ashland. As she admired the Christ child, I noticed she was moving the doll around. Later, I asked her what she was doing.
"There was a SPIDER in there", she exclaimed.
"A spider? what did you do?"
"I smushed it with the baby Jesus' head", she replied.
The story of the birth of Jesus can empower us do incredible things, like ride a camel for 500 miles, but only if we truly hear the story. If we fail to give the story our attention, really pour ourself into it, we can wind up smushing spiders with the baby Jesus' head, and not give it a moment's thought.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Hear Here 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.
"There was a SPIDER in there", she exclaimed.
"A spider? what did you do?"
"I smushed it with the baby Jesus' head", she replied.
The story of the birth of Jesus can empower us do incredible things, like ride a camel for 500 miles, but only if we truly hear the story. If we fail to give the story our attention, really pour ourself into it, we can wind up smushing spiders with the baby Jesus' head, and not give it a moment's thought.
Join the congregation of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, Ky. for this week's sermon, Hear Here 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.
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