Ken Pierpont's Blog, page 75
December 16, 2017
December 14, 2017
New Plans for the Red Jeep Journal in 2018
This evening I have an announcement to make. Mid-January, Lord willing, I will be replacing the Red Jeep Journal with a new newsletter. I will have more details within a month should God allow. The newsletter will come from our new home in Jackson County. Keep your eye on this space, which will change and have a new title soon to be revealed. The newsletter will be sent every week and will include fresh writing, photos, videos and podcasts episodes.
If you are interested subscribe to the Red Jeep Journal and mid to late January, the name will change and weekly e-mails will begin. Until then, Blessed Christmas.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage (for now)
Riverview, Michigan
December 15, 2017
Beautiful Places
A little over five years ago I met Woody Shoemaker. We were both pastors. Most recently he had pastored in the Flint Hills in rural Kansas. I had pastored in the lovely village of Fremont, Michigan. Our families both had relocated to downtown Flint, Michigan to take part in a ministry housed in a sixteen-story hotel. He headed up the college program and I was the director of the building.
While we were working together, Woody would stop by my office. I would brew coffee and we would talk theology, discuss the ministry, and compare notes. We enjoyed rich Christian fellowship. Our boys were best of friends. It was a great privilege, but it was an adjustment for both of us. We both loved the outdoors and the hotel was in the heart of the city.
We both found ways to adjust. He would visit his home in Kansas from time-to-time and ride his horses. I would get away to speak at camps and churches around Michigan. When he was gone I would keep an eye open for his charges. When I was gone he covered for me. When one of us would leave we would sincerely wish the other a season of refreshment.
Once when Woody had been away for a few days, his number showed up on my cell phone. When I answered there was noise on the line. It was the wind blowing over the mouthpiece on his phone.
“Ken?”
“Hey Woody, how are you?”
“I couldn’t be better. I’m sitting on a knoll and I can see for miles in every direction. I am on horseback. I have the wind in my face and the sun on my back. I can get a little reception here and I wanted to call and describe what I am doing.”
“Hey, Woody. I couldn’t be happier for you. Everything is under control here. Take your time. We’ll save some dirty jobs for when you get back.”
A few months later, travelling to a speaking engagement in west Michigan I scheduled a day on the Leelanau Peninsula and an afternoon hike out to Pyramid Point. The sky was clear, the lake was blue, and the islands were emerald green in the fresh air of spring. I stood high over the water and drank in the beauty. I called Woody and described the scene before me. He rejoiced with me and assured me that everything was under control.
Woody and his wife Gail and Lois and I would go out to eat from time-to-time. It was always lively, good, Christian fellowship when we were together. If I had known what that last year and a half would bring I would have gone out to eat with them more often.
We went our separate ways, Woody back to Kansas by way of Indianapolis, and Lois and I to a pastorate in Michigan. Gail got sick last year with cancer and just a few months ago went to heaven. She died gracefully, leaving a good testimony behind, a husband who loved her, three sons and three daughters who are walking with the Lord. The first thing I thought when I heard she had gone to be with the Lord was – I wonder how she would describe it if she could call us on the cell phone right now.
If she called I would want a full description and I would tell her that we will all get together one day and continue our long-suspended conversation.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
January 27, 2008
It’s Christmastime: Advent Series (Bethel Church Video)
It’s Christmastime: An Advent Series
Christmas is a Time for Hope
Chistmas is a Time for Peace
It’s Christmastime (Advent Series) Bethel Church Audio
During Advent I am preaching a four-part series called It’s Christmastime
It’s Christmastime and Christmas is a Time for Hope
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Christmas-is-a-Time-for-Hope.mp3
It’s Christmastime and Christmas is a Time for Peace
http://kenpierpont.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Christmas-is-a-Time-for-Peace.mp3
December 13, 2017
Christmas Love
Fred’s dad was a troubled man. Because of his alcoholism the family lived in poverty. It would be easy to allow someone to be defined by their worst quality, but it would be a mistake. Here is a tought-provoking story I read in Fred’s biography:
Perhaps my best Christmas was the one that seemed the worst until some years later when I learned the mystery of it. The Depression was at is worst; the family purse was empty. I had overheard Momma say to Daddy that there would be no Christmas. There was no way. And yet Christmas morning our shoe boxes, set in a row anticipating Santa, held their annual goodies; an apple in each a tangerine in each, raisins still on the stem in each, a box of sparklers in each, a packet of Black Cat fire crackers in each. We were in business. Merry Christmas? How did it happen? I had the answer about ten years later. Momma said Daddy used a pair of pliers to pull one of his molars. That molar had a gold crown, put there by an Army dentist during World War I. Daddy removed the crown and went to the town where he sold the gold for enough to provide things from Santa Claus. Daddy never spoke of it and as long as he lived I kept his secret.
By Fred Craddock from Reflections on My Call to Preach
December 9, 2017
December 8, 2017
Hope is Alive
Hope is alive in the world tonight
It’s Christmas time again.
The bell tower rings
The organ sings
And hope takes wings
It’s Christmas time again.
Hope is alive in the world tonight
It’s Christmas time again.
The home-fires glow
Joys overflow
And hope can grow
It’s Christmas time again.
Hope is alive in the world tonight
It’s Christmas time again.
Though much is wrong
We have a song
And hope is strong
It’s Christmas time again.
Hope is alive in the world tonight
It’s Christmas time again.
When heartaches wane
The King will reign
Hope will remain
It’s Christmas time again.
by Ken Pierpont
