I always admire a man who knows how to choose and tie a good tie. To me a good-looking knot is an aesthetic treat. I always think more of a man who is careful to put a crisp dimple in his neckwear. It makes me feel confident that he has other things in order in his life as well.

We are still taking reservations for the Family Enrichment Weekend coming up March 7-9 at the Character Inn If you would like to attend print a registration form from the www.kenpierpont.com web site and send it in right away and we will reserve you a room or two. If you have questions give me a call at 810-239-1234 or send me an e-mail at ken@kenpierpont.com.

We spent the weekend at Headquarters in Oak Brook for our Directors meeting.

God delights in using things others think are insignificant. The stories of the Bible emphasize this over and over again. He used a ruddy shepherd boy to slay a blasphemous giant with a few stones and a crude sling. He used a donkey to speak a word of rebuke to a wayward prophet. He chartered a big fish to deliver a reluctant missionary to his appropriate mission-field. He called a teenaged mother to nurture the Messiah. I think he is still doing this. …

I like to write happy stories about good things but life isn’t always happy. God is always on the throne but the sun is not always shining here in this broken world. This is my Father’s world but if you look close you see that it has some very ugly sin-scars. I was reminded of this a while back.

As I write this it is the Lord’s Day and we are enjoying sunshine here in Flint, Michigan. The older I get the easier it is to understand why older people like to head for sunny places whenever they can. I love Michigan though, and I’m glad to be here in Flint. It is my mission field and when I know I am doing what God called me to do there is sunshine in my heart.

This week at the Character Inn we hooked up the television for the evening and gathered the Inn staff and Verity students and staff in the Parkview Restaurant to watch the State of the Union address. We made popcorn and served soft drinks. Nearly everyone in the building assembled. After the address we closed the evening in patriotic singing and prayer for our country.

In the spring of 1987 we moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio to pastor a little village church. The church custodian was a widow named Dorothy Hall. Dorothy was a servant like Dorcas in the Bible. (Acts 9:36-42) She was a true friend to me and to my family. She would ask us what foods we liked and fix them for the family. Almost every Wednesday evening of our pastorate she fixed us a full evening meal even though it was hard for her to stand …