Ken

In about 1982 we met Bernice Grinnell. She was a member of our church. Her husband died. Shortly after that, she had a hip replacement surgery and had to stay in a rest home for a while. We visited her. I took Kyle along with me when I visited her. He was just a little tiny boy about two at the time. [Read more…] about Bernice Grinnell

Sunday night Kyle Kenneth watched his first Lake Michigan sunset. He doesn’t know this but it is deep in his genetic makeup to love an evening like this. Kyle (Dad, Kyle) said the day was sweet as a bag of Starbursts. That boy has a way with words, doesn’t he?

Today we drove to Angola and spent most of the day at a State Park just talking. We had a pizza picnic, drank some sodas and took more pictures of wee Kyle. The boys flew a kite. Holly and Heidi worked. Chuk should have finished moving into his new apartment in Sister Bay by now. It’s back to work tomorrow. I hope your Memorial Day was sweet as a bag of Starbursts.

Bob called me a couple years ago and told me a story that reminded me of how powerful and important the church can be in the lives of people.

He had just returned from a men’s retreat in Michigan sponsored by his church. There was an outdoor bonfire and testimony time on Saturday night at the close of the retreat. During the bonfire a man stood and began to weep. He said; “I can’t believe I even came to this retreat.”

He was invited by a friend on Friday and was at the retreat on Friday night. Through tears the man told how he had discovered that his wife had been involved in an adulterous relationship behind his back for two years. He had obtained a gun and intended to take her life. That very day a friend invited him to the retreat.

Behind him another man stood and embraced him and shared that he had gone through the same thing. The men of the church gathered around and prayed for him.

You may not think you need church or people, but don’t forget that there are people there who need you. People need you much, much, more than you realize. Your presence, your listening, your touch, and your time are much more powerful than you may ever know.

Joe Aldrich said; “Bake bread, pies, cookies, or muffins. Fix garbage disposals or toilets, help people with their homes or projects, celebrate with them, grieve with them. Done in the name of Christ such actions become spirit-empowered weapons which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

They say it will be a beautiful weekend, warming and sunny. I hope you are able to take advantage of the long, holiday weekend to strengthen your relationships with those you love. And I hope you will join us and keep your eyes and your heart open to those around you who need you more than you know.

Pastor Ken Pierpont
The Study – Evangel Baptist Church
May 23, 2008

“Bake bread, pies, cookies, or muffins. Fix garbage disposals or toilets, help people with their homes or projects, celebrate with them, grieve with them. Done in the name of Christ such actions become spirit-empowered weapons which are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”