Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 63
June 19, 2018
Real Faith is Visible and Active (James 1:19-21) Video
Real Faith: The Epistle of James
Real Fatih is Visible and Active (James 1:19-21)
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
June 17, 2018 AM
Ken Pierpont
Real Faith is Visible and Active (James 1:19-21) Audio
Real Faith: The Epistle of James
Real Fatih is Visible and Active (James 1:19-21)
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
Ken Pierpont
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Real-Faith-is-Visible-Active.mp3
June 18, 2018
The Hermit of North Pond
This week a read a book about a man who lived for 27 years alone in the Maine woods without ever having a conversation with a single human being. He survived by stealing from cabins in the off-season while the owners were away and looting a camp for children with disabilities. Finally, one dark winter night, with the use of surveillance developed by homeland security, he was caught.
One winter I spent a week alone in a snow-blanketed cabin up in Leleneau County reading and resting, praying and thinking, meditating and writing. It was a delightful time with the Lord, but when it was done I was eager to dust the nearly one-foot of snow off my car and return to the people in my life. Not this guy. He lived for twenty-seven unbroken years in unbroken, self-imposed isolation.
I’ve been musing on this some. The man they called the Hermit of North Pond waited until people were away and broke in and stole food, batteries, toiletries, clothing, and thousands of books and magazines, but he avoided any human contact.
How much richer would his life have been if he had spent his time and energy nurturing relationships with the people around the North Pond in Maine instead of stealing from them in the dark of night? Maybe they would have willingly shared with him.
How many winter evenings by the warm fire did he miss sleeping out in the cold alone? How my summer afternoons could he have spent fishing with the locals or swapping stories at the general store or volunteering for the camp which serviced children with disabilities? How many people could have benefited from his gifts and his intelligence and his help? How much richer his life could have been if he had balanced solitude and stillness with friendship and community and listened and loved and shared and talked and prayed and served among others.
He never knew the love of a woman. He never enjoyed the laughter of children. He never experienced the joy of watching their antics as they grow. He never sang with others or danced or played games or told stories. What a stark existence it must have been. He never listened to wise old men or learned from women of long experience. He never even let his family know he was alive.
To survive alone in the wilds of Maine for almost three decades makes a good story, but it seems like a very sad life. A life of isolation and no helping or being helped… that is not the way were were made to live and thrive and flourish as human beings. God designed us to live life in community with one another. We are at our best when we are helping others or encouraging them, using our gifts for the common good and the glory of God and the Kingdom that will never end.
We were not designed by our Creator to avoid people except when we can use them—to take what we can get giving nothing in return—not even a warm conversation or a sincere expression of thanks.
Bethel is a community. It’s a very special community because it is a cluster of families and individuals devoted to living the Jesus way. We have entered into covenant with one another to love, listen, share, give, help, and allow others to help us.
It can be a harsh and lonely world out there. It gets down-right ugly sometimes, but the Jesus way is a beautiful way. The closer we get to the way of Jesus the more magnetic our fellowship will be to others.
Peter, one of the apostles, wrote in his epistle; You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. (1 Peter 1:22 NLT)
June 11, 2018
Bailey’s Bike (James 1:12-18) Video
Series: Real Faith
Bailie’s Bike (James 1:12-18)
Bethel Church-Jackson, Michigan
June 10, 2018 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
Bailey’s Bike (James 1:12-18) Audio
Series: Real Faith
Bailie’s Bike (James 1:12-18)
Bethel Church-Jackson, Michigan
June 10, 2018 AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Real-Faith-Resists-Temptation.mp3
June 9, 2018
What Are You Becoming?
Most of us are tempted to be judgmental and critical—to examine other people’s sins more than our own. It starts out as a bit of an indulgence—just yielding to a little innocent temptation to drop a word of criticism and cynical barb—a little witty jab into the conversation. It feels good and it draws a laugh from shallow people.
Before long it becomes a way of life, we are characterized by it. By the time a few decades have passed that critical spirit has lined our face and darkened our eyes and people are eager to avoid us.
Do not yield to this sin—yield to the impulse to love and kindness and mercy and when you are old there will be joy in your eyes and people will gather around you for a life-giving word.
June 7, 2018
Firstfruits of His Creatures
This guy is such a regular on Bittersweet Farm I should give him a name. He calls out all through the day from daylight to dusk. He has an unusual song for an Oriole–very clear, loud, and distinct. One of these days I’m going to get a good, clear, sharply-focused shot. But for now this photo gives you a little idea of what a colorful creature of God he is.
I was studying the Epistle of James today for my message on Sunday, meditating on the thought; “…of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kid of firstfruits of his creatures…” I love his creatures that live with us on Bittersweet Farm.
June 4, 2018
God’s South-Facing Window (James 1:1-11) Audio
Series: Real Faith
Title: God’s South-Facing Window
(James 1:1-11)
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
June 3, 2018AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Real-Faith-Gods-South-Facing-Window.mp3
God’s South-Facing Window (James 1:1-11) Video
Series: Real Faith
Title: God’s South-Facing Window
(James 1:1-11)
Bethel Church–Jackson, Michigan
June 3, 2018AM
Pastor Ken Pierpont
May 30, 2018
The Preaching of Charles Kenneth Pierpont
Charles Kenneth, Cecilia, Lalea, and Aspen Gail
Our son Charles is the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church in lovely Portland, Michgian. Portland is a city on the Grand River between Lansing and Grand Rapids. Chuk has been asked by Senior Pastor Gary Coleman to preach one Sunday evening a month. We are deeply grateful to pastor Coleman for his coaching and encouragement to Chuk and his family. Clearly the Lord led them together. Here are the sermons Chuck has preached to the church at FBC Portland this year.
The God of the Mountains A sermon preached by Charles Kenneth Pierpont at First Baptist Church of Portland, Michigan on Sunday morning, May 28, 2018.
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/05-27-18-AM-GOD-OF-THE-MOUNTAINS.mp3
Good Citizens; A Sermon by Charles Kenneth Pierpont preached at First Baptist Church in Portland, Michigan on Sunday evening, April 22, 2018.
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/04-22-18-PM-GOOD-CITIZENS.mp3
Joy. A sermon preached by Charles Kenneth Pierpont at First Baptist Church of Portland, Michigan on March 18, 2018
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/03-18-18-PM-FIND-JOY.mp3
Spiritual Quality of Life; A Sermon by Charles Kenneth Pierpont preached at First Baptist Church of Portland, Michigan on Sunday evening, February 18, 2018
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/02-18-18-PM-SPIRITUAL-QUALITY-OF-LIFE.mp3
The Fellowship of the Gospel. A sermon preached by Charles Kenneth Pierpont at First Baptist Church of Portland, Michigan on Sunday evening January 21, 2018
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/01-21-18-PM.mp3
The Fellowship of the Gospel, A Sermon preached by Charles Kenneth Pierpont on Sunday morning April 2, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Portland, Michigan
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/02-25-18-AM-PHILIPPIANS-1.mp3
