Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 125
July 25, 2014
Log-Chain and Sunshine; Storytelling Podcast #12
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July 24, 2014
Getting the Name of Jesus Into Play
When Chuk (our second-born son, third-born child) was working with Starbucks he came into work one morning a co-worker named Latif, a tall, handsome young man from a Muslim family had a story for him.
He told him that early that morning a customer drove up and ordered his coffee and then said, “I want to pay the bill for the car behind me, too.” Then he added; “Please just tell him that Jesus loves him.”
When the next car pulled up to the window he passed on the message, “The car ahead of you paid for your coffee this morning and he wants you to know that Jesus loves you.”
Latif was eager to tell Chuk because he knew of his love for Jesus.
Being a witness can be simple and fun. Attach the name of Jesus to acts of kindness and good-will to others. Leave people with a smile on their face. Do something to nudge everyone you meet every day just a little closer to Jesus, and get the name of Jesus into play. It is a powerful name.
Ken Pierpont
In Winona Lake, Indiana
July 24, 2014
July 19, 2014
Is Your Name in the Book; Storytelling Podcast #11
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July 14, 2014
Haka War Dance
The New Zealand All-Blacks Rugby Team has a unique way of intimidating their opponents before a match. They use a version of an ancient Haka War Dance. It’s a dark and intimidating ritual.
Before a match in England one day something unusual happened the All-Blacks started their war dance and the entire stadium burst into a hymn–actually a spiritual. Tens of thousands of English spectators began to sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot–and they sang it so loud they drown out the intimidating war cry.
Our Enemy is a master of spiritual intimidation. There is a cry of suffering and groaning going up all over this world and it has been getting louder and more intimidating over the centuries–but one day when the Sunrise of Eternity dawns and Jesus comes in power and great glory the thunder-song of heaven will come to earth and all over God’s New Heaven and New Earth the song of singing saints will drown out the groans of the fallen earth–glory be to God…
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
July 14, 2014
Haka War Dance
Haka War Dance drowned out by a hymn.
July 12, 2014
Sunset on Summer; Storytelling Podcast #10
In this storytelling podcast I read the last chapter of Sunset on Summer from the Evangel Pulpit at the close of an evening message. Sunset on Summer, Simple Stories of Faith and Family is available for only 2.99 in digital form. You can order a printed copy or digital from Amazon, or an autographed copy directly from me. Write me at ken@kenpierpont.com
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July 11, 2014
One Question
It’s continually tempting to have a moralistic view of the Bible and to believe that we are accepted by God based upon our performance. The temptation to put ourselves on a performance-track with God is a deadly, damning temptation that attacks us over and over again. Today I stumbled on a video of Brennen Manning talking about the love of God. He said;
“I am convinced that on the judgment day the Lord Jesus is going to ask us one and only one question; “Did you believe that I loved you, that I desired you, that I waited for you day after day, that I longed to hear the sound of your voice?”
“Do you see why it is so important to lay hold of this basic truth of our faith? We are only as big as your concept of God. We often make God in our own image and he turns out to be as fussy, rude, narrow-minded, legalistic, judgmental, unforgiving and unloving as we are.”
“The God of the Word revealed in Jesus Christ comes right to you and says; “I know your whole life story. I know every skeleton in your closet. I know every moment of sin, shame, dishonesty and degraded love that has darkened your past. Right now I know your shallow faith, your feeble prayer life, and your inconsistent discipleship and my word is this: I dare you to trust that I love you just as you are and not as you should be because you are never going to be as you should be.”
Do you really believe God loves you and cherishes you just as you are? I believe that genuine believers will answer to God at the Judgment Seat of Christ and that unbelievers will face Him at the Great White Throne Judgment at another place and time, but Manning’s point is still valid. People of true and genuine saving faith are those who believe that God through Christ has loved and accepted them on behalf of Jesus—not their own merit or performance.
Hear the voice of Jesus today: “Do you really believe that I know everything there is to know about you and love you with an unwavering and eternal love? Do you believe I love you?”
“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) “I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor power, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
Are you convinced?
July 7, 2014
You Don’t Have to Know the Way Home
Last night we gathered for a communion service in the evening. I preached on what to do about unanswered questions. I showed the people that God often conceals things from us for a time. He doesn’t always tell us what He is doing. He doesn’t always tell us where He is leading us. He doesn’t always tell us how to do what we are called to do. He doesn’t always tell us why He does what he does. He doesn’t always tell us when things will change.
I taught them that the best way to deal with the things we don’t know is to think about what and who we do know. During times of doubt or uncertainty the best thing to do is remember that God’s word can be trusted, God’s plans for his children are good, God finishes what he starts, and someday all that is unknown will be known by those who know the Lord.
I taught them that the answer to what we don’t know is a deeper knowing of God who knows all things. God wants us to search out a matter and to learn his ways, but when we have pockets of unknowing, nagging uncertainties, we do not need to despair.
We don’t need to know all the answers
if we know the Omniscient, all knowing God.
We don’t need to know how
if we know the Omnipotent, all powerful God.
We don’t need to know where
if we know the Omnipresent, everywhere present God.
We don’t need to be a slave to trends
if we know an Immutable, unchanging God.
We don’t need to know the future
if we know the Alpha and Omega…
We don’t need to know when or how or why
if we know Who.
After communion I told them this little story. I don’t know the source of it, but it has been a comfort to me for years:
Once a little boy was taking a walk with his grandfather on his farm. It was toward evening and the sun was low in the sky. They walked a long way that evening.
Suddenly the little fellow said, “Grandpa, I want to go home.”
“Why, son. Aren’t you enjoying the walk?”
“Yes, but I want to go home now.”
“Why,” his grandfather repeated.
“I’m scared.”
“Why are you scared?”
“I’m scared because I don’t know the way home.”
The grandfather knelt on one knee in front of the little boy and took his face gently in his hands.
“Son,” he said, “As long as you are with me you don’t need to know the way home. All you have to do is take my hand. I know the way home.”
Later this week check www.evangelbaptist.com for a podcast of the message.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
July 8, 2104
New Perspective; Storytelling Podcast #9
Sometimes a little walk can clear your head. Before you go listen to the new weekly Stonebridge Podcast. I call this one New Perspective.
July 4, 2014
Things Dad Didn’t Teach Us
When I was a boy we lived in Ohio and I was a Cincinnati Reds fan. A family in the church treated us to a Reds game at Riverfront Stadium on the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was an unusual treat for all of us. My sister Melony would have been in High School. I was in Jr. High. That means my brother Kevin must have been about seven.
At the game our host bought us all some peanuts in the shell. Soon there was laughter from down the row. We looked down to see Kevin, my seven-year-old brother eating the peanuts—without shelling them. He had never had them before and he didn’t notice that other we removing them from the shell before eating them. We all had a good laugh at his expense and taught him how to shell the peanuts before he ate them.
When we returned home we told the story to Dad. He reaction was different then ours. He began to cry. “I’ve never taken my son to a baseball game. I’ve never bought him peanuts in the shell. He didn’t even know how to eat them.” For some reason Dad felt he had neglected his training.
The other day Hope and I were with friends at Comerica Park enjoying a Detroit Tigers game. I was explaining the game of baseball to her and I got to thinking about all the things my Dad taught my brothers and my sister and I while he was neglecting teaching us how to eat peanuts-in-the-shell.
He taught us to work hard
He taught us to be honest
He taught us to tell the truth
He taught us to rise early and deliver papers, rain, shine, cold or heat
He taught us to take initiative to shovel walks and mow laws and sell things door-to-door.
He taught us to be tenderhearted with others
He taught us to notice the needs of others around us
He taught us the books of the Bible
He taught us memorize Scripture
He taught us theology
He taught us to throw and catch baseball
He taught us to play football in the back yard with the family
He taught us patriotism
He taught us educate and civility
He taught us respect for the flag and the love of our country
He taught us to change tires and change oil
He taught us to tie a tie and lead singing and explain the gospel.
He taught us to be a gentleman
He taught us to treat older people with dignity and younger people with patience and interest.
He taught us to mow the lawn and clean the garage
He taught us to talk and live clean
I could go on for pages simply listing the things that Dad was there to teach us, but somehow he neglected to teach my little brother how to eat peanuts in the shell.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
July 4, 2014
