Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 131

Luke Cyrus in Concert at Evangel

I often hear people grieve over young people who have not chosen to embrace the faith of their parents. It always pains me when I hear it, but there are young men and women all around us whose faith is deep, whose love for God is sincere, and whose desire is to live lives of Christian devotion.

After speaking at a Senior High retreat this winter, I sat down with Luke Cyrus and some other young men who lingered after chapel and while the fires burned down to embers, past midnight, we talked about the things of the Lord. Luke was there to help lead the young people in worship. It was rich and fulfilling fellowship. I trudged out into the cold and up the hill over ice and snow to my quarters warmed in my heart by the fellowship and conversation.

Many have somehow missed the beauty of Jesus in their Church experience somehow, but Luke is not one of them.

This afternoon I booked him to come to Evangel the Sunday after Easter to do a full concert. I’m thrilled to have him here. I am going to pray that his faith is infectious.

Here is Luke’s web site.

Stranded!

Wednesday is a long day without a break. I start early and end late. Last week I wrapped things up at the church at about 10:30 p.m. Hope was still with me. We had cancelled AWANA and the busses didn’t run but we held a Mid-week service. Now the meetings were over and everyone had gone. The temperatures through the day were in the single digits. We looked forward to getting back to our warm home. We walked out to the Jeep. The parking lot was empty, garrisoned with piles of snow pushed back around the edges of the lot.

We cleared the snow from the windshield, crawled in the car, and started the engine. I could back up and drive out or I could drive forward and plow through a pile of snow in my Jeep. It was risky but it looked like fun. I gunned the engine. Hope squealed. The Jeep lunged toward the bank of snow. We burst into it. Snow flew up all around us. We almost made it through, but underestimated the density of the snow pile. The Jeep ended up astraddle the snow pile. Stuck. Tires spinning. Nothing moving. Stuck.

I called Chuk. He was at work. His boss Oz jumped in his car to come help push me out. We couldn’t move it. We dug and dug to no avail. I told Oz to go home. I would call Lois. I hated to get her out in the cold after she was safely home. In just a few minutes her little green bug pulled into the lot. I pushed. She drove. I drove. She pushed—with little effect. About the time we considered giving up and leaving my Jeep stranded atop the snow pile she gave a hopeful lurch. By rocking for a while we finally crawled off the pile. Relieved we aimed our cars toward home and warmth and rest.

I regretted my silly stunt and apologized to Hope. She said, “That’s OK. It was fun.”

Arriving at our warm cottage I sank gratefully into my chair. I expected Lois to reprove me for doing something so foolish and making her get out again late on a cold winter night but the reproof never came.

When you have been married thirty-five years love isn’t always like thunder and fireworks. A warm sense of secure love sneaks up on you at times when you don’t expect it. That’s what happened last Wednesday night.

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michigan

February 5, 2014

The Basque People

Today I had a fascinating Skype conversation with a young man named Nate Eastman. A few years ago Nate met some believers from his small town in Northern Michigan. They played basketball together. His friends were believers. Soon they invited Nate to a Bible study. As the men studied the Gospel of John a chapter at a time, Nate became of follower of Jesus Christ.

A friend (Jon Ford) gave Nate a recording of a biographical sketch by John Piper about the life of Adonirum Judson. “Listen to this and you just might sell everything you have and be a missionary some day,” He said. A about six months ago Nate and his wife decided to sell everything they had and go to France to reach the Basque people in the Pyrenees Mountains of northern France for Christ.

There is nothing in the world more exciting or more significant than the mission of Jesus. There is nothing as satisfying as devotion to that mission.

I’ve posted a talk he gave to his local church. When you have a bit of time, you should listen to it and get in touch with Nate. He is a fine young man who has clearly been deeply touched by God and stirred up for the mission of Jesus and the glory of Jesus.

Here is a link to the Eastman’s site

Defying and Deifying Men

January 29, 2014- Lately I have been grieved and disappointed to discover the failures and weaknesses of Christian leaders who have been a great blessing and help to me in the past. It can be confusing and painful. We live in a time of spiritual tumult when it is tempting to adopt a Christian celebrity or personality and lean on them inordinately for spiritual support. There is a temptation to identify with them or with their camp or party for a sense of spiritual security or strength. I’m afraid I have been vulnerable to it, as well. This was a problem in Paul’s day. He rejected celebrity. (1 Cor. 1:12-13) We must, too.

Re-post from May 13, 2003

Reading William Gurnall one day I came across a powerful statement on the attitude we should have toward esteemed Christian leaders. I have always found it helpful. Men and women of exemplary life are some of God’s greatest gifts to the church. One of the ways of walking in holiness is imitation of worthy men and women. There is only One, however, who is worthy of worship. Read on for the quote from William Gurnall.

“Enslave not thy judgement to any person or party. There is a spiritual suretiship which hath undone many in their judgments and principles. Be not bound to, or for the judgment of any.

…live by thine own faith, not another’s. Labour to see truth with thine own eyes. That building stands weak which is held up by a shore, or some neighbour house which it leans on, rather than on a foundation of its own.

Let not authority from man, but evidence from the word, conclude thy judgement…

Quote Scripture rather than men for thy judgement. Not, so saith such a learned holy man; but, thus saith the holy Scripture.

Yet, take heed of bending this direction too far the other way; which is done when we contemn the judgment of such whose piety and learning might command reverence. There is sure a mean to be found between defying men and deifying them.

It is the admiring of persons that… makes many cry ‘Hosanna’ to error and ‘Crucify’ to truth.

Call none father on earth; despise none, adore none.”

-William Gurnall

“The Christian in Complete Armor”

http://www.ccel.org/g/gurnall/

Who do you want to be like? (Proverbs 13:20)

“He who walks with wise men will be wise…”

Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you

Luke 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

Philippians 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

2 Thessalonians 3:9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

1 Peter 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Acts 20:28-38 This is why older, godly Christians are so important in a Christian fellowship.blockquote>

Here is how the process works:

1. the behavior is modeled

2. the behavior is imitated

3. I accept by faith that the behavior is God’s will

4. I trust the enabling power of the Holy Spirit

5. I repeat the behavior

6. I continue over a prolonged period of time

7. I am among brothers and sisters who support the behavior

8. Over a period of time it becomes the behavior I deeply desire. (Affections)

“…A Companion of fools will be destroyed.”

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, not even to eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

My Tweet and Status Collection

The following is a collection of some of my tweets and Facebook posts in 2013:

This was about how I like to introduce sermons: I don’t like to start my sermons with: “Brothers and Sisters, today I would like to show you three things about the power of prayer.” I’d rather start like this: “When I was a boy there was an old man with a wrinkled face who worked in Gibson’s Hardware.” …pulled from a lecture by Thomas Long on narrative in preaching.

This went with a picture of Leland, one of our grand-buddies: Little boys with boots and mittens and their breath hanging in little clouds over their heads.

From our OH-MI Conference this fall: Singing Ten Thousand Reasons With hundreds of Pastors and Christian workers next to Jonathan M. Pierpont. Just praising God to the top of our lungs. Funner than a roller coaster!

With a pic of Kyle with an awesome beard: This is our first-born. Kyle Pierpont I could not grow a beard, but I married into a family blessed with thick dark hair. The result of this union has grown some impressive facial hair. This may have been compensation for having to look like a poster-child for Bob Jones University growing up. Now he looks like D. L. Moody! Can’t tell you how much I vicariously enjoy this beard. Patriarchal.

After Church: Baptized four this morning. Preached on Heaven. Dale McBride sang. Choir was spot-on. Great crowd. Great day to be a pastor. My heart is full and I am preaching this evening on Real Faith from James. Evangel Baptist Taylor, Michigan

Selective Moral Indignation: When congress convenes to consider what they are going to do about innocent children dying in Syria, let’s pray that they will also consider what they should do about the innocent American babies who have been slaughtered since Roe v. Wade.

Just a note at the end of the day: Two very clear answers to prayer today. Before I sleep I want to give public thanksgiving to God.

Hannah was about to marry: Our Hannah Pierpont is about to marry Dale McBride So I’m thinking about that today and remembering and crying and praying and thanking God for his kindness once again.

Another about Hannah: Should be studying right now, but I keep thinking about Rudy who will be Mrs. Rudy McBride on her honeymoon next week at this time… Oh, my. — with Hannah McBride.

Word Fun: My parents always coached me to exude alacrity especially when I was going somewhere in public. That was good advice.

After a great talk with my neighbor: Just had a delightful, two-hour gospel conversation with a dear neighbor. Watching fireflies blink over the lawn at dusk.

With a picture of a little honey bear dispenser: Learn from this guy. No matter how hard you squeeze him nothing but sweetness comes out

I asked for prayer one day: If you want to pray for me pray that when I am tempted to over-indulge in food I will instead indulge in Christ. Give me a Hunger for God.

Without God the greatest pleasure is as temporary as the life of a fish out of water. With God are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11)

Our love hunger is so great only God can satisfy it.

Jesus, who is my life, said if you want to find your life you must lose it. This is repeated six times in the gospels.

What does your attitude say when you enter the room? Here I am!” or “THERE you are!”

Want sadness? look for people to love you. Want joy? look for people to love. 2 Corinthians 12:15

This status is my custom going north into the Mitten or coming home from Up North: Crossing the Zilwaukee Bridge. Comin’ home.

Lots of Christian workers in the family: Today Dad is preaching in South Litchfield. I am preaching at Evangel. My brother Kevin is preaching at Higgins Lake. My brother Nathan is leading worship in Kalamazoo. My brother-in-law Jim is preaching in Bear Lake. Our son Kyle is preaching in South Bend. Our daughter Holly is teaching Sunday School. Our son Daniel is preaching in Hudsonville. May Jesus Christ be Praised.

The worst things “happen to me” when I forget that Christ is my life… (Colossians 3:4)

Summer’s here. It’s the longest day of the year. Now each day grows shorter. Life is short. Think eternity! ..number your days (Ps. 90:12)

Preparing a sobering message on Christians and Alcohol for this Sunday evening — at Evangel Baptist Church.

Horrifying revelation! Went hospital calling without my wallet! No parking card! NO COFFEE! I feel like a penniless vagrant.

“I don’t think it is enough appreciated how much an outdoor book the Bible is. It is a “hypaethral book,” such as Thoreau talked about – a book open to the sky. It is best read and understood outdoors, and the farther outdoors the better. Or that has been my experience of it. Passages that within walls seem improbable or incredible, outdoors seem merely natural. This is because outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders… ” -Wendell Berry.

“Grace is not a license to sin. Grace is given to overcome sin. Mercy is given when sin overcomes us.”

Man describing to his granddaughter how he became a millionaire: “It was really quite simple. I bought a pencil for a penny, sharpened it, and sold it for two cents. With this I bought two pencils, sharpened them, and sold them for four cents. And so it went until I had amassed $10.24. It was then that your Great Aunt Selma died and left us $10 million.”

Eschew using cumbersome terminology when a less pretentious vocabulary would suffice

Thabitia Anyabawile, from Grand Camen, opens floor for Q&A I want to ask “Can I come and fill your pulpit when you are on vacation”

Just sang Behold Our God with 1000 pastor brothers. Awesome.

This evening I feel like I finished a Marathon! For the first time in my life I finished preaching through every book of the Bible. I started Sunday evening April 18, 2010 and finished a little over three years later on May 12, 2013. Each Sunday night that I was in the Evangel Pulpit I would preach a flyover of one of the books of the Bible.

This evening I just finished a flyover of Revelation and I am exhausted and joyful to have accomplished a study of every single book of God’s Word. My voice is tired but my spirit is refreshed. You can follow the link below if you would like to hear it. It is about 50 minutes long.

You can watch Chuk and Holly sing live tonight on WLJC from the mountains of Kentucky from 7:00-8:30 this evening.

Here were some tweets/Facebook messages a sent while waiting for a train out by New Boston:

I love tweeting about things I love while waiting for a train.

I love the sound of train whistles at night

I love the time of the year when the Red Buds open along the Lower Huron River.

I love quiet, fragrant spring evenings on the porch.

I love having breakfast with my kids and talking about their lives.

I love trips to the Ohio Amish Country with my life-long companion, Lois.

I love my quiet study where I can study the Bible and worship and pray for hours.

I love that moment when the audience grows still while I am telling a story….

I love quiet, unhurried prayer walks.

I love long drives in my Jeep, Red River George.

I love listening to the church sing on a sunny Lord’s Day morning

I love being a Herald of God

I love my fine bike Traveller. (I need to love her more often).

I love reading on the porch.

I love regimentals

I love clusters of daffodils

I love Starburst Jelly Beans

I love indie book shops

I love it when the train finally moves.

Editing a paper for Daniel I read; “On occasion, when my father wanted to do something kind for my mother, he would make the boys do the dishes.” hmmm

Walking into my study from the car I turn my collar up against the cold rain that has been falling all night. The birds are singing valiantly this morning, but that is probably because they don’t listen to news radio. The WWJ weather-man has just announced that there is a possibility of snow this evening and tomorrow morning. If the birds listened to the radio they might find it hard to sing. Yet I admire them and pray that God will give me a hopeful, cheerful spirit today as I impatiently long for sunny spring days.

We cannot defeat hatred, ignorance, and bigotry with more hatred, ignorance, and bigotry. Only light and love overcome darkness and hate

CAUTION: In our eagerness to be relevant we can pervert the message of the church, distort her purpose and prostitute her mission.

“This is an interesting planet. It deserves all the attention you can give it.” Reading Gilead by Marilynne Robinson on my day off.

Jesus, I’ve loved you as long as I can remember with growing love and deeper repentance. I will love, serve, and enjoy You forever.

OK. I’m going to confess a secret addiction. If I ever need motivation on Mondays I go on-line and watch Baptismal services. Wow.

Never let the ugliness of this fallen world distract you from the Beauty of Jesus! Have an eye for His Beauty and you will see it even here.

When you get a litter older you realize it’s the little things that matter… like remembering where you parked your car at Wal-Mart!

Three times, over breakfast Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” I try to tell him I love Him every morning over breakfast. He’s been so good to me, this God of the second-chance.

“A sermon does not have to be eternal to be immortal.” Witty Warren Wiersbe

We are not so much a product of our environment as we are a product of how we respond to our environment.

Satan loves to shrink our world down to the size of our latest problem. We need a vision of the greatness of God.

When people look at us do they see the beauty of Jesus or the ugliness of self-righteousness? (Matthew 23)

Someone’s burning leaves. It looks like winter, feels like spring, and smells like fall this evening. Pure Michigan.

There is something very natural and powerful about the relationship between men and water. Five Pierpont men traveled into northern Michigan this weekend, one of our favorite places on this earth. We stopped for a quick picture near the “holy waters” of the AuSable River.

Listening to people who survived the Great Depression has taught me this: Hard times can be good times if we stick together.

No soft drinks over 16 oz in NYC. Health risk. OK when will they ban liquor?

Hope you enjoyed a selection of my 2013 Facebook Statuses and Tweets.

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michigan

January 27, 2014

Log-Chain and Sunshine

“Dad. I need a hand. My car won’t start.”

“Where are you, Chuk?”

“Corner of Sibley and Allen.”

“Be right there.”

Immediately I think of my Dad. He is always good but he is at his best in situations like this. He loves a rescue operation. He springs into action eager to help.

My mind goes back to May of 1980. Lois and I are trying to get from Troy, Ohio to Springfield, Missouri. I’m driving my little Plymouth Duster, pulling U-Haul’s largest trailer packed with all our earthly goods. Lois is following in our Bug. We are trying to get back to college. I want to prepare for ministry. In Effingham, Illinois the Duster’s transmission gives out. We’re hundreds of miles from home and hundreds of miles from Springfield. I have about 300.00 in my wallet. Disheartened, I go to a phone and call Dad.

“Check into a Hotel and we will be there,” He says.

We try to sleep burdened with worries and asking God, “Why, Lord. We are trying so hard to serve you. Why?”

It what seems a short time and a loud knock at the door wakes us from sleep. We open the door. Dad is standing there with my little brothers Kevin and Nathan. Kevin is eleven. Nathan is eight. They are smiling. Dad has a log-chain draped over his shoulder like a scarf and he says; “Well. what are you waiting for? Let’s get going.” He hauls our car and trailer on a log chain all the way back the way we came stopping for laughter, prayer and breakfast. Soon were home again in Ohio where we will start over in the Village of Cedarville.

It’s always been that way. That’s the kind of Dad I have. That’s the kind of Dad I want to be.

I grab my coat and keys and try to get to Chuk as quickly as I can. I could hear the discouragement in Chuk’s voice. I need to show up quick and bring the sunshine with me. I drive along using my limited mechanical knowledge to troubleshoot what might be wrong with Chuk’s car.

In a few minutes I take him to work and I get some quiet time in my warm Jeep thinking and waiting for the wrecker to arrive. Within an hour the tow-truck shows. I greet the driver. He is a no-nonsense guy who makes short work of hooking Chuk’s car. I say, “This car belong to my son. I wanted to help him. My Dad was always there to help me.”

He stops and looks at me. “Mine too.”

“Is he still living?” I ask.

“No, and I miss him every day.”

My Dad lives just an hour and a half away. He’s there for me whenever I need him. It’s a powerful thing to know that when life is giving you trouble you have someone in your life who is not just burdened with a sense of obligation, but joyful and eager to show up for you and do what needs to be done. I have a Dad like that. I want to be a Dad like that. When my kids are in trouble I want to show up quick with a log-chain and some sunshine.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he taught them to pray thinking of God as a Father eager to help his children. Millions upon millions of Christians begin their daily prayers with “Father in Heaven.” Trouble or no, that’s the way to start any day well.

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michgian

January 20, 2014

Five Scriptures for When Life is Hard

John 16:33 in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

2 Cor. 1:8-10 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Psalm 50:15 call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will glorify me.

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 27 Look to God for help. Make intimacy with God your chief goal. (4) Seek the face of God. (8)

Life is Hard

For most of us life is a struggle in multiple ways. Marriage can be a struggle. Parenting can be a struggle. Finances can be a struggle. Health and aging are hard. Relationships can be hard.

How can a person flourish spiritually and find joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, and spiritual strength when life is such a struggle.

I am preparing a series of message that I will share at Evangel Baptist Church in Taylor, Michigan on Sunday mornings in January and February. If you cannot attend you can listen to them on the podcast within an few hours after they have been preached at Evangel.

Please consider sending an invitation to those who are experiencing hardships and struggles. As always, these will be “Bible-in-hand” messages.

My Bible Reading Plan

Here is my Bible reading plan.

Buy a new Bible. This is one of the fun parts of the plan. You get a new Bible every time you read through the Bible. Eventually you will have a collection of different versions and styles.

Try to Read some every day. You know an average reader can read the whole Bible in a year at a pace of just twelve minutes a day! Learn to not skip days. If you do just jump back in and pick up where you left off.

Buy a set of highlighters. Highlight passages that stand out to you and keep moving. Don’t get bogged down but try to mark something on every page. This will give you a nice colorful Bible that becomes a treasure to you. Mark up that Bible, but keep moving.

Move the Ribbon. Don’t worry about missing a day, just move the ribbon when you read simply keep the ribbon moving. Read as a “fly-over.” Jot down questions and just keep going. You will be surprised who the Bible answers it’s own questions and how when you have a question in the back of your mind you will pick up an answer from a Pastor or friend, or a radio broadcast or internet site.

Date your accomplishment.When you finish a book take a small pen and date your accomplishment. This will motivate you to keep going.

Talk about it with others who care about your spiritual growth. It helps to have a bit of friendly accountability to keep you moving.

Don’t worry about how long it takes to read though the Bible. I have used this method to read through the Bible in 18 months and I have used it to read through the Bible in less then tree months. Once I read through a nice little pocket NIV New Testament in about a week with this same method. (It is the one pictured)

Let me know what you think or if you are going to try my plan this year.

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michigan

December 27, 2013

Half-Praying on a Snowy Day

It’s the day after Christmas. This is the time of year we begin to think about or goals and aspirations for the new year. I woke up early thinking about that. What shall I attempt and what shall I aspire to in the the new, short year of 2014? I have my own spiritual, physical, personal, and ministry objectives bouncing around in my heart and half-think and half-pray for an half-hour before I shuffle toward the shower.

While I groom I listen to a message my John MacArthur that was helpful to me a few years ago about what a pastor is supposed to do. It is a powerful, tightly-reasoned, biblically-rich message and it gets me thinking. You can watch the message here.

An inch of beautiful, powdery snow fell last night. I need to get the remnants of our Christmas celebration out to the road for pick-up this morning so I grab a shovel to “plow” it off the drive and make a path to the road. The cold air and physical stimulation help me think about the new year and the priority of holiness.

While I shovel it occurs to my heart that all my meaningful goals are rooted in the goal of progress in sanctification. My personal goals, my ministry goals, even my physical goals cannot be achieved without progress in personal holiness, without progressive sanctification. It’s all really about holiness. The idea has the ring of truth to it. That should be the trajectory of my heart and soul in 2014–toward holiness–growth in Christ-likeness through the means of the Scriptures (John 17:17), prayer, and relationships with other devoted believers.

If I grow in holiness I will be happier, healthier, more productive. Even if we face challenges this year they will not overcome us if we see how they contribute to our spiritual progress.

Praying for you to have a Happy, Healthy, Productive and Holy New Year.

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michigan

December 26, 2013