Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 51
January 27, 2019
Bittersweet Farm Journal (Number 29) When “Love” Isn’t Loving.
My “Landing Library” is just outside our bedroom door on the landing. Here I will keep my most cherished books.
Friday night and Saturday I completed a project that has been on my heart for a year. I assembled bookcases to house my most treasured books from my favorite authors on the stairwell landing on the second floor of the little farmhouse on Bittersweet. Just outside the door to the room where I write I can now have a small library of about 500-600 books. That should be just right for long, cold, quiet winter nights.
Snow fell overnight. A light powdery blanket, about four or five inches of it. It was a beautiful drive to church this morning. The trees arching over the road were outlined in bright white snow. That always has the effect of stimulating worship in me.
It’s now Sunday afternoon as I write. It’s cold–very cold but the days and getting longer and the sun is lingering longer over the woods south of the house. I finished plowing and I’m savoring the warmth and quiet of the house. Actually at the moment I’m enjoying the rare treat of sunlight falling right on my writing desk this afternoon. Hey, I’d love to hang out more, but I need to go fill the bird feeders before dark.
When “Love” is Unloving
I have a friend who is very dear to me. For a number of years he was involved in a practice which the Bible specifically says; “God will judge…” Those who practice this sin, the Scripture says; “The Lord is the avenger of all such…” To persist in this sin, the Scriptures say; “…and such will not inherit the kingdom of God…”
In frequent conversations with my friend I would show him love and personal interest. We would meet and we would talk about things that mattered to us, things we had in common. There was never a time that I would meet with him that I would not gently remind him what God had to say about what would happen if he continued in this sin. I was gentle and kind. I didn’t badger him, but I warned him. I taught him the truth.
Because I loved him, I was faithful to warn him. If I did not tell him what God said, it would not be love—it might be sentimental feeling, but it would not be genuine love.
I once heard Jay Kessler, the head of Youth for Christ say, “Love will never participate in another’s folly.” In other words it is not really love if we endorse things that God forbids.
If I know the bridge is out and I smile and wave and blow you kisses, I am not showing love to you. A failure to warn you of the danger ahead would not be love, it would be immorality worst kind.
This does not mean that every time I spend time with someone who is far from God I need to rebuke them or badger them. This does not mean that I need to shun them. Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus looked beyond the surface matters and showed love and warmth while he asked questions that probed down into the secrets of their hearts. And doing so He often set them free from their sin and the judgment that was sure to follow. (Read John 4)
Last week pastor Leo, former pastor at Bethel, preached while I was at Camp Barakel. He said it this way; “Sometimes it isn’t kind to be nice. Sometimes being nice is unkind.” Sometimes being nice is not being loving. Sometimes to love someone you need to warn them, disagree with them, even sometimes rebuke them.
Paul told Titus that sometimes he would need to rebuke the people sharply. (Titus 1:13) Sometimes he would need to rebuke with all authority and let no-one disregard him. (Titus 1:15) This might not be seen as loving, but sometime loves requires hard things.
Turn At My Reproof
Years ago I had a difficult conversation with a young man about this very thing. I was careful, but I tried to be clear and warn him that the way he had chosen to live was not pleasing to God and it would not end well for him. He listened. We talked for hours over an open Bible. He went on to live a life pleasing to God. He married and raised a beautiful Christian family. He was a leader in his church and business community. He was loved and respected.
He died unexpectedly at the age of 60. I preached his funeral. There were over a thousand people there who loved him and respected him, people whose lives were touched by him and deeply enriched.
The book of Proverbs says “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:23, ESV)
This young man listened humbly to correction, turned to the Lord, God poured out his Spirit and his blessing on him. Everyone who knew him could see it.
Don’t say you really love someone if you will not warn them of danger. That is not love, it’s something else.
Ken Pierpont | Bittersweet Farm | Summit Township—Michigan | January 27, 2109
Healthy Talk and Healthy Teaching (Sermon) Video
Series: Titus; The Little Red Book of Church
Sermon: Healthy Talk and Healthy Teaching (Titus 2:1-2)
Pastor Ken Pierpont | Bethel Church | Jackson, Michigan
Health Talk and Healthy Teaching (Sermon) Video
Series: Titus; The Little Red Book of Church
Sermon: Healthy Talk and Healthy Teaching (Titus 2:1-2)
Pastor Ken Pierpont | Bethel Church | Jackson, Michigan
Healthy Talk and Healthy Teaching (Sermon) Audio
Series: The Little Red Book of Church
Message: Healthy Talk and Healthy Teaching (Titus 2:1-2)
January 27, 2019 AM | Bethel Church | Jackson, Michigan
January 20, 2019
Bittersweet Farm Journal (Number 28) Prayers Hanging Silver on the Night Air
Back Home
It’s good to be home out on Bittersweet. As soon as I got home I put away my things and plowed a little snow. It was good to get some brisk air in my lungs. It’s warm inside now and it’s peaceful here tonight.
I’ve just returned home from a trip up into the northern lower peninsula to speak to Fathers and Sons at Camp Barakel. Chris Knoblock and Luke Cyrus did music in the East Side Chapel where I spoke four times. Paul Gardner led chapels. My brother Nathan led music in the West Side Chapel. J. J. Sherwood, Lead Pastor at Five Points preached to teens this weekend on that side. My brother Kevin and his family are on resident staff, so now speaking at Camp Barakel is a bit of a family reunion. 2019 is my 21st year speaking at Camp Barakel.
It was cold outside but the fellowship was rich and warm. There a big fires roaring everywhere. Young men cut wood all summer to fuel the fires all winter at Barakel. After chapels and around mealtimes there were many conversations about the chapel talks. The older I get the more I enjoy conversations about the things of the Lord with people who love the Lord. I wish I could describe the gospel-rich warm Christian atmosphere there. As easily as words come, the gospel songs, prayers, conversations, chapel times are so spiritually enriching to me that it is impossible for me to describe them.
At night in my pine-paneled speaker’s quarters I lie under the warmth of my covers and pour out thanksgiving to God for such a place where Christ is so beautifully exalted.
Walking in the Light
Last week I posted this on my FaceBook site. Some of you may have seen it. I wanted to send it along with the Bittersweet Farm Journal this week.
Thoughts in preparation for speaking to men and sons:
I’ve been innocent and I’ve been guilty.
I’ve been blackmailed when I was guilty …and slandered when I was innocent.
This one thing I know. There is power and freedom and fellowship and great joy when you learn to make a life-long habit of walking in the light.
Live honestly and humbly and openly before God and others.
When you walk in the light the Accuser himself has no power in his cosmic blackmail and you need not live in bandage to any man. Jesus will be your older brother and defender.
When you walk in the light the blood of JESUS Christ cleanses from all sin and He is our Advocate when we are guilty.
An Inside Look
Last weekend I spoke for a Father-Son Retreat at Camp Barakel. My preaching is without a manuscript. I preach from abbreviated notes, but I sometimes write out pieces of what I’m going to say ahead of time. Friday night men and sons came from all over the state and other states and I opened the session with something that sounded something like this:
We are here to deepen our fellowship with the Lord… We are here to deepen our fellowship with those we love. Maybe some of you are here to open your heart to God in a new way. This is a good place for these things…
We are in a wonderful place to deepen our fellowship with the Lord and with others that we love.
Henry VanDyke wrote that the Bible is an “outdoor book” most of what is recorded in the Bible happened out under an open sky.
Jesus was an outdoors-man… He was strong enough to walk for many miles over rugged terrain. To learn his men followed in his dust. The walked with God—the Christ.
Jesus’ great discourses were outdoors on the steps of the Temple, in the open market, on Olivet, and other mountains, perhaps the great peak of Arbel overlooking the broad vista the Sea of Galilee and down the Jordan River valley.
Jesus spent much time training his men and teaching people and healing people and casting out demons -out with the sun on his head and the wind moving the trees—out on the open lake, or in the mountains or on the banks of the river.
He still meets with men in such places, maybe He will meet with you
if you turn our heart toward Him.
The moon is waxing toward full this weekend. Did you know that when Jesus—the one who spoke the moon and stars and worlds into existence— was on earth and had nowhere to lay His head sometimes he spent the night out on Olivet under the full moon…
You know the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above is a display of his handiwork.
Jesus lifted up his face to his Father and prayed with his men in the outdoors. Maybe this weekend you will see the breath of your prayers hanging silver on the night air.
Maybe you will have some time for what David Hansen likes to call “A Long-Wandering Prayer.”
When Jesus walked on earth he often shared meals with his men. On one beautiful occasion in a post-resurrection appearance he called his men to join him for breakfast around a fire of coals glowing on the shore. It was there that he called to their hearts and simplified what it meant to follow him with a simple question repeated three times: Do you love me? We will share meals this weekend.
Jesus sang hymns with his disciples. What a delightful thought—Men, secure enough in their fellowship to join their hearts together in song. We will do that this weekend. I pray with all my heart that you will do it with all your heart.
Rich is the son who has a father who isn’t afraid to lift up his voice in heartfelt praise to His creator. Happy is the man who’s son has sworn allegiance to Christ and seals it with holy vows and hearty singing.
This weekend we will gather here in the sacred and consecrated place between the fires four times. Christ will be among us. For those with ears to hear He will speak to us and to hear Him with our hearts is to be transformed.
And there is a great pleasure in that for men who have developed a taste for it. [ill] In a letter to a friend C. S. Lewis descried the long conversations with Christian friends that resulted in him becoming a follow of Christ. At the end of the letter he said something many of us will experience this weekend: “…is there any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire…”
All these things to men whose hearts are tender will be means of grace for us this weekend.
And we want to be aware when we are smelling the tang of wood smoke and listening to the cold in the winter forest and sharing a meal that Christ is among us.
When we quiet our hearts and listen to his word, when we pray, when we sing, when we testify, when we indulge in the pleasure of rich Christian conversation about things that really matter and really last—Jesus is among us and drawing near…
And men who are in fellowship with Him are more likely to be in fellowship with those they love. A strong fellowship with God strengthens our fellowship with those we love…
So tonight let’s center our hearts on the thought of fellowship.
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Ken Pierpont | Bittersweet Farm | Summit Township, Michigan | January 21. 2019
January 18, 2019
Cosmic Blackmail
I’ve been innocent
and I’ve been guilty.
Walk in the LightI’ve been blackmailed when I was guilty …and slandered when I was innocent.
This one thing I know. There is power and freedom and fellowship and great joy when you learn to make a life-long habit of walking in the light.
Live honestly and humbly and openly before God and others.
When you walk in the light the Accuser himself has no power in his cosmic blackmail and you need not live in bandage to any man. Jesus will be your older brother and defender.
When you walk in the light the blood of JESUS Christ cleanses from all sin and He is our Advocate when we are guilty.
January 17, 2019
January 16, 2019
Winter Mercies
This winter scene was captured on a winter morning on the property of Camp Barakel by Steve McCormic.The sacrament of a south-facing window.
A half-moon high in the starry sky shining down though bare tree branches.
A doe silent in the tree-line alternately eating and lifting her head to watch me.
The breath of my prayers hanging silver on the night air.
These are winter mercies… For which my heart is deeply thankful.
What to Do When You Are Grieved by the World Around You
Maybe you don’t fight traffic to get to work every day like you used to. You are still busy but you have more time now than you did.
You love the Lord and you don’t want to be harsh or ugly about it but you are concerned with how our culture is moving away from God. Sometimes what you see makes you worried or afraid. Usually it just breaks your heart. You remember times when things didn’t seem so bad.
The pain of it hits close to home. It involves people you love deeply. It keeps you awake at night. It burdens you.
Sometimes you are frustrated, burdened, that it seems there is little you can do about it. You are concerned for beloved family members who don’t seem to have a deep love for God and desire to please Him.
You don’t have the influence you once had. There are things you used to be able to do you just can’t do any more. You feel like younger people often patronize or disregard your warnings, concerns and council. Those who should listen to you really don’t.
What should you do? Here are a few pastoral suggestions:
1. Be an example. Show the people in your life what it looks like to delight in God and love others. Show and Tell, but mostly show. (See Titus 2)
2. Pray. When you need what only God can give, pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray without ceasing. Pray often and believe that God works through prayer in his own time and in his own way. Pray. (James 5:16) “…the prayer of a righteous person has great power…”
3. Don’t despair. Be joyful. “…put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” (Isaiah 61) God will accomplish His purposes. Trust Him. Don’t turn cynical or ugly and impatient. Don’t yield to discouragement. “…greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world…”
4. Speak into the lives of people when the Spirit prompts you to do so, but spend a great deal of time listening. Try to understand deeply. Speak and write words when you are sure they are well-timed and wise. Watch for readiness and openness before you speak. “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26, ESV)
5. Above all love. This is powerful. It never fails. It is greater than eloquence and sacrifice and heroic acts… simply love and never stop loving. (1 Cor. 13)
Start With the Men (Sermon Video)
Titus: The Little Red Book of Church
January 13, 2019 AM
Bethel Church | Jackson, MI
