Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 30
May 31, 2020
A Thousand Generations (Sermon) Audio
A Thousand Generations
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
May 31, 2020 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont, Lead Pastor
https://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5-31-20.mp3
May 24, 2020
You Lost Me (Sermon) Video
You Lost Me
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
Ken Pierpont, Lead Pastor
May 24, 2020 AM
You Lost Me (Sermon) Audio
You Lost Me
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
May 24, 2020 AM
Ken Pierpont–Lead Pastor
https://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/You-Lost-Me.mp3
May 21, 2020
He’s A Good, Good Father
When I was a boy it seemed that the adult men that I was around spoke in secret code that I couldn’t fully understand. It was like I was listening to someone speak in a foreign language. I understood only bits and pieces here and there.
Mostly I was left with a with a large hole of mystery in my heart about manhood. I would lie awake in my bed at night and try to imagine what they meant by what they said. I wondered if I would ever understand well enough to navigate life.
My father was never that way. On long rides at night he would decode life for me and explain humanity and manhood to me in simple, clear, lucid terms that even a confused young boy could understand.
When we did chores or ran errands he patiently answered my questions without making me feel foolish for asking. Every boy should have a man in his life like that.
James, the brother of Jesus, said something like this: “If you have questions about life ask God. He is very generous with His answers and won’t rebuke you for asking.”
May 17, 2020
When God Ordains A Rest (Sermon) Video
When God Ordains A Rest
Bethel Church-Jackson, Michigan
May 17, 2020 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
When God Ordains A Rest (Sermon) Audio
When God Ordains A Rest
Bethel Church-Jackson, Michigan
May 17, 2020 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
https://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/5-17-20.mp3
May 13, 2020
My Story Podcast Just for You
As many as a couple times a week I record a story from out on Bittersweet Farm. Today I did a couple. There are about 12 different podcast platforms you can us. Pick your favorite. Here is a link
May 11, 2020
When Rights Are Being Threatened (Sermon) Video
When Rights Are Being Threatened
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
May 10, 2020 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
When Rights Are Being Threatened (Sermon) Audio
When Rights Are Being Threatened
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
May 10, 2020 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
https://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/What-to-Do-When-You-Are-Concerned-Your-Rights-Are-Being-Threatened.mp3
May 4, 2020
Bittersweet Farm Journal (Number 82) Violets on the Forest Floor
Yesterday morning I preached from the corner of the roof of Bethel Church without my wool topcoat for the first time. It was 65 and sunny. My preaching spot during these unusual times is directly over my corner study. The Bethel parking lot is almost full of cars evey week. (There is still room for you). It was wonderful to be able to preach in the open air with the full sun on my head. The Cumings Family led worship (James, Ashley, and their daughter Charis). They are a great gift to Bethel. Charis, their oldest, has been accepted to study at Wheaton and will begin there in the fall. Her parents met at Wheaton.
Out on Bittersweet I’ve been enjoying the steady progress of spring from the south-facing porch. It looks out over a wooded hill. How it thrills my heart to see the leaves opening first on the bushes near the ground then on the tree–tender, light green. This is our third spring on Bittersweet. This week the forest floor is purple with violets of some kind. In fact patches all over our two acres are carpeted with these delicate violets. I think the Clarks planted beans in the north fields Sunday night and today.
Simple Gifts
I had a nap today with a grandson. He hated the idea. (He will love it when he reaches age). To help him we played a game.
“Let’s pretend we are cowboys on the open range. We worked all day and we found a little swail by a crook in river to make camp, build a fire to keep the cold and critters away, and bed down for the night.”
“Can you hear the coyotes?”
“I can.”
“Can you stir the fire a bit?”
“Got it,” he says.
“Great, let’s snuggle under this cover and keep warm.”
He snuggles. We sleep. Deeply.
It will be years before he understands the simple delight of an afternoon nap curled up under a nice blanket with a five-year-old boy.
It made me think. How many simple delights do I overlook every day, gifts from God, simple gifts:
like violets on the forest floor
dropping stones in a stream
hearing a new birdsong
watching bats over the meadow at dusk
having a long conversation with someone you love
hearing waterfowl overhead
walking along a lovely stone fencerow
looking on a blue sky
stumbling on just the right passage of Scripture at just the right time
hearing a kind word of encouragement from a friend
listening to the Ashoken Farewell by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Bonaparte’s Retreat by Aly Blain
Jules Massenet, Thais Meditation performed by Itzhak Perlman.
It’s almost nightfall out on Bittersweet Farm. It’s been a good day. My prayer for you and for me is that the Lord would give us the good sense to notice the simple gifts that lie all around us, things we would miss if they were ever taken away.
