I love to take Hope on the Farris Wheel. It’s a tradition we started back in Fremont where she was born. High over the midway we are above the throng up in the night air. The smell of sausage and grilled onions wafts up to us. We laugh. She’s always pretty, but when she laughs […]
The Cross is Not A Ladder to God
07/28/2013 11:00 AM The Cross is Not a Ladder to God Ken Pierpont Series: Matthew’s Gospel Matthew 27:45-56
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 6) Quicksand and Fog
When we planned the North Manitou trip we planned only as much hiking as it would require to get to the west side of the island. Kyle and Chuk and I had such fond memories of it from our trip in 2001. None of us remembered the hike being difficult. We remembered the trail wide […]
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 5) Losing a Bet
Our trip to the Manitous will live for years as an unforgettable family tale, perhaps more so because it did not go at all as planned. While preparing for the trip, knowing that Kyle Kenneth, our oldest “grandbuddie,” would be with us, I thought of telling the great legend of the Sleeping Bear (you can […]
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 4) Porcupine for Dinner
You can’t build a campfire in the North Manitou Island backcountry. Fires are only allowed in the small village camping area near the dock on the east side of the island. Our first night on the island we were determined to get to the west side and compensate for the campfire restriction with a beautiful […]
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 3) Decorating With Maps
The morning of July 7th I woke eager for the week to begin. I taught the membership class in my study and then preached. When I finished I had lunch with the girls and then aimed my Jeep toward Grand Rapids. Chuk and Wes had left the night before. We would all meet in Grand […]
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 2) Night of Stars
We were determined to get to the dock in time to meet the ferry back to Leland. We were all dreaming of hot coffee, hot food, hot showers, soft beds and flush toilets. None of us wanted to be on the Island another hour. Our adventure had melted down because of an injury. It became […]
North Manitou Journal 2013 (Number 1) Pretty Clouds Make Ugly Weather
Early in July Kyle, Little Kyle Kenneth, Chuck, Dan, Wes, and I ventured out to North Manitou Island for a backpacking trip. North Manitou Island is a 11 miles out into Lake Michigan off the Lelanau Peninsula. The Lelanau Peninsula is the pinky of Michigan. Monday was a difficult day but that’s a story for […]
Goose Attack!
A Classic Re-post from 2004 I have always loved Canada Geese. I think they are beautiful birds. I love to stand outside on a cool autumn evening and listen to them honk by low overhead. I love to see their silhouette pass before an autumn moon. I’m not sure geese feel the same way about […]
Pulling off An Adventure
A Classic Re-post from 2002 If all has gone well we will be completing our 2013 North Manitou Manly Man Revival by the time you read this and we will be heading back downstate with stories to tell. A few weeks ago I noticed that half of my son’ summer college break was over. Sitting […]