Bittersweet Farm
Re-post from last Thanksgiving…
Our first-born was here for Thanksgiving Eve. I gave him the pulpit. He brought a brief Thanksgiving message. It was a meaningful message–worth a listen. You can hear it right here:
At Thanksgiving in 1998 we lived in Fremont, Michigan. I sat down one evening a keyed in a few of my thoughts. I never published them. It was interesting to read them now, twelve years–twelve years later. Here they are in case you are interested:
Things are peaceful around the parsonage these days. We fill the place with our seven children and there is always plenty of activity.
Kyle is working every evening for the Knuvers on the dairy farm. He likes to listen to public radio from Inerlocken while he does he chores. Last week we went out to see him at work and found him plowing with a big John Deere Tractor turning over dark soil on a beautiful autumn evening with the sun casting long shadows across the mellow fields.
Last night we all loaded up the truck and went to the library for a couple dozen picture books. The girls are sitting in front of the fire now reading to each other. Sometimes in the fall when the Buckeyes are doing so well we are tempted to cave in and buy a TV but when the children read a book or two a day I know we made a good decision to not have one.
Monday night made a quick trip south. The moon was new and rose over the ripening corn and rusty oaks in the eastern sky. It sat like a lumminous ball just above the trees in the purple sky at dusk as a beautiful autumn day gave way to evening.
Lois, Heidi, Kyle, me, Daniel, Charles, Wes and Hannah all have birthdays between September and December.
In late October Charles and I took in the Michiagan Association of Regular Baptist Churches Annual Conference in Flint. The fellowship, preaching, and music were all great and it gave us a chance to spend a day with Mom and Dad who drove up from Jonesville for the day on Tuesday.
The last leaves of autumn were blowing down as we made our way back across the state home.
(The Painting is by John Sloane)
I try hard to be humble. But is my wife an amazing picture-taker or what?
Our daughter lives with her husband in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. She arranged a holiday trip for the girls (and Tweez) to the Windy City to see the Christmas parade and watch the lighting of the city. I remember this fondly from when I was a student at Moody, a few blocks away. I never dreamed back then what my life would be like today. I never dreamed walking those same streets thirty years ago that I would have such a family and they would return to the same places were I strolled as a young man awed by the mighty city.
You can see all the pictures here.
Reposted from 2003.
We have had a wonderful week at the Character Inn. The Verity students are arriving from around the country to begin their new term of study. The staff are returning from their holiday. Friday we were preparing for my brother Nathan and his family to visit when I got word that a very special family was stopping by for a visit. Helen and Reinhold Barth, their daughter and two granddaughters wanted to tour the Inn.
I was thrilled. Helen Barth was my mother’s favorite singer. When I was a little boy mom would often play Helen Barth’s recordings as I went to sleep at night. She was my mother’s vocal role model. She recorded over 20 albums and sang for years on WMBI in Chicago. Now she and her husband Reinold are in their eighties. He has been a pastor since his late teens. When he was only eighteen he started Dawagiac Bible Church. It was there a few years later that my own Grandmother Shipley was saved.
I met the Barths at the door and greeted them warmly. I convinced them to stay for the evening meal and to remain over night. I offered to let them sing for their keep. They accepted. After dinner we gathered around the baby grand in front of the fireplace and Mrs. Barth told of her conversion and she sang for us. She sang with deep conviction and an anointing from the Lord. Even in her eighties she has a beautiful voice and radiant countenance. She has unusual sincerity of expression.
She sang Constantly Abiding and my little brother Nathan played for her. Her daughter borrowed Chuck’s guitar and sang with her two daughters. What a beautiful evening. In the morning after brunch we talked her into singing again. Then we talked about the goodness of God through the years, how he leads and provides.
I watched the young people as Helen Barth gave her testimony and as she sang. I wondered if they could possibly appreciate what they had just been privileged to hear. I wished that my mom could be present to see what was happening.
There are so few today with such a radiant testimony. There are so few with such depth to their message. There are so few who do more than entertain. There are so few that have the hand of God upon their life, the mark of God on them, and the breath of God in their message. Reinhold and Helen Barth, their daughter and granddaughters are such people.
While I am writing about the Character Inn, please plan to attend our Family Enrichment Weekend, March 7-9 2002 here at the Character Inn. Cost is only fifty dollars for a room and ten dollars each for meals . Children two and under are free. If you have a large family and you need more than one room we have a special rate for you.
Kenneth L. Pierpont
ken@kenpierpont.com
The Riverfront Character Inn
Flint, Michigan
January 6, 2003
[If you would rather listen to this than read it, click on the player below. Let me know what you think.]
We had powerful services at Evangel yesterday. Powerful. One of my favorite parts of the services yesterday happened quietly in the evening service.
Krista sang in church last night. She is a good girl—really a young woman. Her song was a good song. She did it well. She has obviously had vocal training and experience. She was a singer with Life Action Ministries for a few years. Her song was thoughtfully chosen. Clearly she had given it a great deal fo thought and rehearsal. She was prepared. My favorite part of her song though was watching her parents. They sit in the front row every week. I mean right in the front row—going were no Baptist has ever dared go before. I glanced over at them a few times during the song. Mom had a happy, pleased look on her face. Dad beamed through the whole song.
Krista finished and folk amend and clapped and she gracefully returned to her seat. The speaker of the evening took the pulpit. For a minute I cherished this thought: How simple it is to bring joy to good parents. You serve the Lord and they are pleased and grateful and happy beyond words. It’s just that simple.
For years it has brought me great joy to know that in serving the Lord I am bringing great joy to my earthly Father and my mother. And imagine—a smile on my Father’s face.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
November 15, 2010
Wesley had been working on some original lyrics. I enjoy listening to it for a couple reasons: The Lord Jesus has stirred up my son’s heart to follow Him and I notice the creativity and thought in the lyrics. Some ideas were things I know he has heard me preach for years. If you are not devoted to changing the world, the world will change you…
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