Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 160

Mind-Shifts

We had a beautiful day at Evangel yesterday. Though it was almost the last Sunday of summer we had a great attendance and a spirited service. In the evening we had a large attendance for our children's musical Go, Go Jonah. After the evening service we had an Executive Deacon meeting. After the meeting a couple men hung around outside in the cool evening air and we talked a little about how to move the church forward.

I think God is stirring something. We prayed together and went home. This morning I woke up early-my mind bursting with ideas.

I wonder if moving forward as a church is going to require a untied effort to go back… As I see it the only way to really move forward is to move back to simple discipleship. Instead of tireless efforts to sustain programs that have elements of discipleship in them–why not return to training, inspiring, and encouraging people to participate directly in face-to-face discipleship ministry. Why not encourage one-on-ones, groups two or three, quads of people seeking God, small groups for evangelism and discipleship? Shouldn't we take a long, hard look at some of the programming and events we labor to maintain and ask if they are effective tools in making disciples?

I've been reading a thought-provoking book by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. Some of the thoughts are summarized by Justin Taylor and Tim Chester here.

Read-through the summary points of The Trellis and the Vine. What do you think?

The Paralytic Forgiven

Message: The Paralytic Forgiven

Text: Matthew 9:1-8

Series: Matthew's Gospel

Date: August 28, 2011

Place: Evangel Baptist Church–Taylor, Michigan

Speaker: Pastor Ken Pierpont

Jesus…or Pigs?

It is interesting to notice what the various gospel writers include, what they leave out and what they emphasize. When you study Matthew's version of this story, the central truth of the passage becomes very clear.

The message is a litte over 30 minutes long. I hope you get a chance to listen to it. Let me know what you think.

Message: Jesus… or Pigs?

Series: Matthew's Gospel

Place: Evangel Baptist Church–Taylor, Michigan

Text: Matthew 8:23-34

Speaker: Pastor Ken Pierpont

With Christ in the Storm

Message: With Christ in the Storm

Text: Matthew 8:23-27

Series: Matthew's Gospel

Speaker: Pastor Ken Pierpont

Date: August 14, 2011 AM

Place: Evangel Baptist Church–Taylor, Michgian

What's Your Excuse?

Message: What's Your Excuse?

Text: Matthew 8:18-22

Series: Matthew's Gospel

Place: Evangel Baptist Church–Taylor, Michigan

Date: August 7, 2011 AM

Speaker: Pastor Ken Pierpont

Trouble on the Kokosing Gap Trail

Classic re-post from 2002

"You need to get more exercise," they said. But when you weigh as much as I did that's not as easy as it sounds. And on a perfectly innocent-looking day a few years ago it landed me in trouble.

I had talked my then thirteen year old son Kyle into a bike ride with me. We were biking the Kokosing Gap Trail in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. It was a beautiful path along a river built on an old railroad right of way. Most of the trail ran through a cool tunnel of shady trees. Kyle was riding his mountain bike. I had borrowed an antique brown single-speed girl's bike from my wife. Bad idea.

We started at the trail head in Mount Vernon and rode to Gambier. The village of Gambier is the home of an old Episcopal College. It sits on a hill above the river. The shady streets are lined with old stone college buildings and tasteful homes. The college bookstore was a favorite spot for us. We stopped there for a cold drink before making our way back down to the trail.

The next village was Howard. We pedaled under a high stone arch where Route 36 passes high over the trial. The trail runs away from the river through corn and bean fields between Howard and Danville where the trial ended. We planned to turn around there and make our way back. It would be fun to brag that we biked the whole trail. But that was not to be.

It was about a mile from the end of the trail we ran into trouble. More accurately I ran into trouble. The bike I was riding was old and rusty and the chain broke. We were miles from the car. I needed some exercise but I didn't want that much. I di

dn't know what to do. It was a few miles to the nearest phone. No one was home at the time even if we did get to the phone. If I called a friends they would mock me forever for riding my wife's old bike and breaking the chain. I'd rather they find my body and figure I died in some heroic struggle.

Suddenly an idea came to me. When you weigh over 250 pounds you have a big waist and when you have a big waist you have a long belt. My belt was long enough that it would function well as a make-shift tow line. Kyle was willing. I handed him one end of the belt, I took the other and he towed me all the way back to the car. It was really a nice ride. I didn't even have to steer. I sat upright and took in the view.

Kyle is a robust twenty-year old in peek physical condition now but at the time he hadn't had his growth spurt yet. I'll hand it to him. He didn't let up all the way back to the car.

While we were putting the bikes back in the van he said; "Hey, Dad. Why didn't you ride and pull me?" I smiled. Maybe I was fat, but I wasn't stupid.

When you are out there miles from home on the trail it's nice to know you are not alone if you get into trouble. That's why it's a real good idea to travel in twos as often as you can.

I'm pretty sure Solomon never rode a bike be he understood the value of a friend when you get in a fix. He said it like this; "Two are better than one. for if they fall, one will lift up his companion, but woe to him who is alone when he falls." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV)

Ten-Star Book Review

Read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is the true story of Louis Zamperini. It is a page-turner with an amazing plot-twist toward the end. She is a very gifted storyteller.

I found it interesting to notice that Laura Hillenbrad was once a student at Kenyan College in Gambier, Ohio near where we ministered for ten years.

Danny Boy Returns to College

Daniel (third son and sixth child) took off a couple weeks to join us for vacation and travel with me to speak at Camp Barakel. This morning he loaded his car to head back to Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids for his second year in college. He is preparing for the ministry. He will play soccer again this year and he is planning to serve a ministry internship at a church his grandfather founded almost 50 years ago.

It is impossible for me to express the joy he brings to his mother and I. The young man is a delight to my soul and the pride of his mother. We are overjoyed to see him pursue ministry, but it is hard to watch him go.

The Stray Dog

On June 25th (2011) Lois and Hope and I met Heidi and Austin in New Buffalo, Michgian for the afternoon. It was a beautiful day. We walked the beach and up to a dune. Standing there, overlooking Lake Michigan, Heidi smiled at Austin and then said to us; "Mom and Dad, I think this is a good time to tell you… we are going to have a baby!" We celebrated by having dinner at the Stray Dog.

Last week I got permission to talk about it publicly. I've always dreamed about the day our Heidi would have a little Heidi…. or a little Austin….

A Place for You

Because we are so familiar with the Bible, it is sometimes tempting not to read it again. Never yield to that temptation. The Bible is a living book and it is always fresh. It is new with promises and warnings and instructions every day—custom-made for only-God-knows-what we will face. When you open your Bible with an expectant heart sometimes a phrase will just leap into your life.

That happened to me one morning when I was reading one of the most familiar passages of the New Testament. John 14:3… "…I go to prepare a place for you…"

My parents have faithfully served the Lord all my life, day after day and week after week. I've never seen anyone with more devotion to Christ and his cause. They were not afraid to face hardship and make sacrifices in the service of Christ. Some of my best life lessons were the result of my parent's resolve to serve Him no matter what.

My second year of college was one of the most difficult of my life. It was the year Dad and Mom put our family into great hardship because of their resolve to serve the Lord. Dad never had a more impressive title but his salary was very modest. He was the academic dean of a small Bible College in Michigan.

I went back to college in Missouri and the rest of the family moved to Michigan into a small townhouse. It was very, very modest. To complicate things my sister and brother-in-law were displaced for a few months and they moved in with mom and dad in an already-cramped living arrangement.

As soon as classes were dismissed in December I eagerly made my way home for Christmas. When I crossed into Michigan it began to snow on cue like an old movie.

I found my parent's strange place, in a strange state, in a strange city, in a strange neighborhood. It is disconcerting to have to drive up and down the street looking for your home—where you have never been before.

I was greeted warmly. Dad apologized for the cramped quarters and showed me to a place he had made up for me in the crowded basement. For Christmas break I would be sleeping on a sofa stored in the basement surrounded by stacks of boxes.

I lay in "bed" that night struggling with discouragement. I had no place of my own. Even with my family around me, it was hard to feel like you belonged anymore.

When God released my parents from that ministry they moved back to our beloved Ohio. There was really no way to describe the joy we had in going back… even moving back to the home where we had previously lived. It was a very, very happy trip.

When springtime came and classes were over I aimed my VW for Ohio. I didn't need a map. I knew the way home. From far away I could see my brothers playing with the dog in the yard, watching for me. It was long before cell phones and with all the variables of a twelve-hour trip, they had to spend the afternoon and evening out there to be sure they would be able to greet me when I drove in.

There were hugs and tears and laughter. Mom made my favorite meal that night. The house smelled like home. There was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. There were plates piled with goulash. There were stories, one overlapping another.

What lives in my memory even today was when Dad showed me up-stairs to my room. I had a room of my own in the upstairs of the farmhouse. My stereo was there. (Stereos were really, really big back then). My bed and dresser were there. My books were there. My things were hanging on the wall. My clothes were in the closet. My shoes were lined up on the floor. My belongings were there. Beneath an open window was my bed. On the bed was my quilt.

After an evening snack, we watched the evening news and then we all made our way to bed.

I climbed the stairs to my room. I crawled into my own bed and lay awake enjoying the luxury of that last few minutes before being overtaken by sleep. The air moved the curtains. Outside were the sounds and scents of nighttime in the country. I drifted into peaceful sleep in the place my father had prepared for me…just for me.

Jesus said; I go to prepare a place for you… The place He prepares for me will be custom-made with me in mind and nobody knows me like He does. I don't even know myself as well as He does.

Most of all, He will be there. We will be in the best of places—in the best of company in the place he is preparing for us. "…that where I am you may be also…" (John 14:4)

Ken Pierpont

Granville Cottage

Riverview, Michigan

August 1, 2011