Things are changing fast. I am sailing away at a clip from my youth into uncharted waters they call “mid-life.” I am finding it bittersweet. I used to have so many plans. I still do. But now along with the plans I have memories like treasured photos of children who have grown up or places that have grown sacred.

One memory that will never fade from my mind took place on Labor Day our last year all together under one roof as a family. The next summer our first born son Kyle would leave for a year of missionary service and then it would be off to college a continent away.

We had spent the day together in the yard working in the herb garden, grilling out, reading, talking, and sipping lemonade. We played a little touch football, Mom standing guard with a water hose to make sure no one trespassed into her flower beds. Toward evening we all agreed to drive to Grand Haven and watch the sun set on Lake Michigan.

In a resort town like Grand Haven the whole atmosphere changes after Labor Day. When we arrived it was cool and fall-like. The sun was falling steadily into the lake. We strode quickly trying to reach the lighthouse before the sun disappeared. As we walked the sun touched the horizon and then steadily sank from sight. Walking along more than once I heard someone say, “That was over so fast.” Everyone had gathered and waited to see the last sunset of summer and they were talking about how quickly the sun had set. All I could think about walking out toward the sunset with my precious first-born son was about how quickly the sunset on summer had come.

The whole family gathered at the foot of the lighthouse on the end of the pier and watched the sky turn golden-orange. A few boats growled into the harbor for the evening. A ship sat out on the horizon moving imperceptibly slow going who-knows-where. Gentle waves lapped the rocks. Occasionally a bigger wave spouted up in spray and mist. The wind swept strong over the point and we all stood close to keep each other warm. There was a sweetness in the air. My heart grew tender and alive to the world around me.

My mind went back through the years with my son. They passed swift as a summer- short as a sunset. We went to a few ball games together. We camped out together a few times. Together we gazed into a few campfires. Together we floated a few rivers. We went fishing a few times. We washed the car together a few times. I taught him to tie a tie, shake hands, and drink his coffee black. I taught him the books of the Bible. I taught him to ride a bike and a few days later I taught him to drive. Together we laughed and cried. We loved a couple of dogs together, together we buried them, and together we hurt. Together we tried to understand the mysteries of life and love. A few times we walked together under a full moon in awe at the wonder of God’s world. Together we sang and prayed and worshipped God. And soon, for the first time, we would go on– but not together. The reality of it settled in on me that night on the pier.

As the purple of night pushed in on the pale blue and orange twilight we turned and made our way back. Kyle was holding his little sister Hope. She was giggling over his shoulder at her mother when suddenly she said “Momma” for the first time. Lois was delighted and her eyes glowed. Hope looked back with the same lively brown eyes. One child ready to go make his way in the world was carrying another just learning to talk.

When we reached the boardwalk we all turned and saw the lighthouse and pier lights blinking red against the dusk. A string of white harbor lights lined the catwalk. The afterglow of the sun cast the lighthouse and the pier light in a sharp black silhouette. Stars appeared in the growing darkness overhead. Lovers held one another or walked hand-in-hand. Fishermen packed up their gear and sauntered toward shore. Children climbed on the rocks. Everyone made toward shore along the lighted walkway.

In an hour we had watched the sun set on summer and turned toward autumn with a life-long memory in our hearts. I felt the pain that always comes with love and my soul whispered; “Breathe deep, walk slow, hold tight to those you love, the sun is setting and it will be over so fast.”

Whenever I think back on that evening I hear the words again and again, “That was over so fast.”

 (I wrote this a few years ago around Labor Day. A version of this story is the final chapter in my book; Sunset on Summer. I thought you would enjoy it this weekend).

Last night the Evangel Blue Team played softball. My son Dan plays on that team. It was a beautiful evening to be outdoors. After the game we stood around talking for a while. I noticed that the moon is waxing full. It should be completely full this weekend. When the humidity is low, when the temperatures taper down a little, and when there are just enough clouds scattered in the sky to give it color—I don’t want to be inside.

Isaac walked out in the open air in the evening to meditate after his mother died and he was waiting on God for a wife. God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden in the evening—in the cool of the day. It was a time of fellowship—of friendship with God.

Our goal here at Evangel is to live in fellowship with God and help others enjoy fellowship with Him—now and forever. I hope you and your family are a part of that. It is sweet as a summer evening.

One of the yuckiest things ever is gossip—bad gossip when people talk about other people in harmful ways. But there is the natural kind of “did you know” conversation that moves ideas forward, and restaurants, and even churches. When the “word on the street” is good, that is good gossip and it is more powerful than any advertisement anyone can buy. 

This week at Evangel things are ramping up for our annual Community Celebration coming up, VBS, and the Teen Bash.  Talk all about it. Send e-mails, chat with friends, jaw over the back fence, use the phone, post on Facebook, do some righteous gossiping. You never know—it might just make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s powerful stuff we are dealing with here at Evangel. Just this week and every week I have listened to the stories of people whose lives were changed by the ministry of this church. Spread the word.

Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Pastor’s Study—Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Michigan
August 1, 2008
www.kenpierpont.com

Here is something to think about in preparation for our services this Lord’s Day: Are you holy? Do you believe you are holy? Would people who live with you say you are holy? Would your husband, your wife, your sons and daughters, your mother and father say you are holy? Would people who work with you in the world say you are holy? Would God say that you are holy?

I understand that there is a positional holiness—a holiness before God that is judicial. This is a holiness that is imputed to us through Christ’s death, but what I am asking is this; what evidence of personal holiness is there in your life that people can see and hear and feel and sense? Are you a holy man? Are you a holy woman? Are you a holy young person? Is it even possible that we are holy before God, but there is no evidence of holiness before men?

This is the question that came to my heart this morning and humbles me low before God; “Are you holy on all your conduct?” This is how the Spirit moved Peter to put it: …but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1 Peter 1:15-16) 

In 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 Paul draws rich promises out of the scriptures of a special intimacy between us and our heavenly father when we are set apart and do not touch unclean things. The next verse has come to my mind this week over and over again; “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) 

Am I a holy man? Would people who don’t even know the Lord ever day about me, “He is a holy man” Would they ever say of me as they said of Daniel; He has the Spirit of the Holy God in him? (Daniel 4:8, 9, 18)

O, God your heart must be broken over the lack of holiness in the professing church. Break my heart over the lack of holiness in my own life and work within me perfecting holiness in the fear of God in me. In Jesus’ holy name,  Amen.

Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Pastor’s Study—Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Michigan
July 25, 2008

 
Lois and I saw the sign that read “fresh peaches” and we stopped. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. It was. They were large peaches fresh from Georgia. I cut one with my pocketknife and we ate it in the shade of the tree, juice running down our arms. We bought a basket of them. I never ate peaches so soft and so sweet. The children gobbled them like candy. They were gone by sundown the next day but we have kept them in our memory for many years.

A soft, sweet, ripe, Georgia peach is a wonderful thing. Just the other afternoon in my study, while I was allowing myself the luxury of reading a short biography of Charles Simeon, I remembered the afternoon of the peaches when I read this story:

“The most fundamental trial that Simeon had—and that we all have—was himself. He had a harsh and self-assertive air about him. One day, early in Simenon’s ministry, he was visiting Henry Venn, who was pastor twelve miles from Cambridge at Yelling. When he left home, Venn’s daughters complained to their father about his manner. Venn took the girls to the backyard and said, “Pick me one of those peaches.” But it was early summer, and “the time of peaches was not yet.” They asked why he would want the green, unripe fruit. Venn replied, “Well, my dears, it is green now, and we must wait; but a little more sun, and a few more showers, and the peach will be ripe and sweet. So it is with Mr. Simeon.” (The Roots of Endurance, John Piper)

 Rain, rain, and shine, sun. Make me ripe and sweet while there is still time.

P.S. I met Craig Underwood for breakfast this morning. He was driving through South Carolina this week and guess what he brought me? You are right. Without knowing anything about this story, he brought me peaches.

Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Pastor’s Study—Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Michigan
July 12, 2008

Our teens are on their summer missions trips this week. One group is in Florida, the other is in New York. Pray that God will work in them and through them, and keep them safe. (We don't have photos of the New York group yet).

Pastor Ken Pierpont

 
There are thousands of young Americans in foreign lands this Independence Day trying to insure our continued freedom and help others who are struggling for the same. Their lives are in danger. They should be in our prayers today. Within our own land there are many confusing and critical voices, but most Americans seem to agree that we need help to turn our economy around. The Bible is not silent on the matter of what makes a nation successful. It is the blessing of God.

No amount of money, no financial rearrangement can substitute for the blessing of God on our nation. Do you ever remember slowly and thoughtfully reading Deuteronomy 28? Today maybe you could find a few quiet minutes under a shade tree to open your Bible to Deuteronomy 28 and read the promises and the warnings to the nation of Israel.

Let’s all spend a few minutes considering what it would mean to our country to have the blessing of God once again. After the fireworks breathe prayer for our country and the brave people who are defending it tonight.

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God..  (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) 

Pastor Ken Pierpont
Campton, Kentucky
July 4, 2008

On a couple of occasions in my youth my parents made major sacrifices in order to expose our family to the fellowship and heritage of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. We tented our way to Kansas City one year. We stayed at a crowded camp ground. Every morning our family emerged from the tent—Scofield Bibles in hand, wearing dress clothes and we were off to the sessions. In the evening we hurried home and jumped in the pool. One day thunder storms knocked down our tent and soaked all of our possessions while we were away for the day at the conference. That was an adventure.

One year my dad and I drove to Winona Lake, Indiana for a day of the conference in our powder-blue VW bug. Dad and I spent the day enjoying the historic conference grounds, the fellowship, the book store, the music and the preaching. I remember Roger Mill’s message that night from 1 Peter on love. I remember what the group from BBC sang that night. There was another teen in the service that night named Ken Pyne. We would not meet for years. The meeting was in the old Billy Sunday Tabernacle with a sawdust floor. Darkness came quietly in during the meeting. We all spilled out onto the lawns in the cool night breeze blowing in off the lake. Dad and I drove home talking all the way about the ministry and the things of the Lord.

My parents were and still are devoted to the ministry of Christ over every other thing. They didn’t spend much money but when they did it was always investing in things of eternal significance. Like the household of Stephanus, they “addicted themselves to the ministry…” (1 Cor. 16:15 KJV)

I am happy in the service of the King!  

Pastor Ken Pierpont
Ankeny, Iowa—Attending the GARBC Annual Conference
June 27, 2008 

 Here is a note from my journal this morning: 

We are attending the annual conference of our fellowship of churches, the General Association of Regular Baptists. Last night Dan and Wes were a part of the teen sessions.

John Greening and Ken Floyd immediatly inquired about our girls Kentucky Tour when they saw us, even though they were busy with preparations for the conference. There was a warm spirit of fellowship on the campus of Faith Baptist Bible College last night.

I sat with pastor and Mrs. Pyne, and Joe and Nancy Miller. After a sweet time of worship in prayer and music, John Greening, the National Representative of the GARBC preached a powerful message on the cross from Hebrews 2:10-18. To me, this was the highlight of his message:

“We are floating facedown in the cesspool of our own sin. The life is gone from us. Jesus, in his humanity, wades into the cesspool of our depravity and sacrifices himself to rescue us. He pulls us to shore, puts his mouth on our lips and breathes his life into our dead spirit. Then he begins the process of washing us from our sin.” -John Greening

-Pastor Kenneth L. Pierpont
Attending the GARBC Annual Conference at Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa

This week was a powerful week of activity and ministry. The teens participated in Neighborhood Gospel Outreach, teaching children's clubs. In the afternoon they did service projects and in the evening they gathered friends for "Cola Wars." It was a good week. I was thrilled to be associated with a group of people who work so hard to train young people and help others discover life in Jesus. I had was asked to speak to the young people at the end of each evening. They listened attentively. 

Sunday I will continue my series of messages in the morning on Straight Answers to Honest Questions. In the evening we will have a  baptism and preach on The Little Red Book of Church: How to Build a Godly Church in a Godless Culture. 

We have a summer-full of activity planned including Teen Leadership, VBS, summer camps, children's choirs, and active programming for the whole family. Let us know how we can help you.

--Pastor Kenneth L. Pierpont

The Study