Current Thoughts

I like to brew my own coffee from The Melting Pot in Rockford, Michigan. It’s the very best I have ever had. When I ran the Character Inn in Flint it was the house coffee. People raved about it. But if I am ever in a rush and want a quick drive-through gormet coffee, this little shop is convenient. It is just one mile south of the church, right on my way. It’s a lovely little shop, isn’t it? Bearclaw Coffee is pretty good stuff on a winter day. The workers there were cheerful, too. Cheerfullness is like caffeine for the soul. Hey, Caffeine for the Soul, I like that.

Cheerfulness is Cafeine for the Soul

Prosperity in 2008
By Ken Pierpont

A mile south of the church is a business called Bear Claw Coffee. I spoke to the owner the other day. I asked him how business was. Last year was his first year in business so it was an expensive start-up. He is hoping that 2008 will be a profitable, prosperous year. I hope so too. I want them to be around for a long time. Yesterday when I looped through to get my morning “joe” they handed my cup out the window with a little Tootsie Roll on top of it. Nice touch. They don’t do that at Starbucks.

I wish for you real prosperity in 2008. There is no genuine prosperity without spiritual prosperity, no matter how many pounds you loose, no matter how much money you make.

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3) For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. (4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 Jn 1:2-4 NKJV

I hope they sell a lot of lattes and coffees at Bear Claw and I hope they are there for years to come. I enjoy a warm exchange and a strong, black coffee to warm me in my Jeep on the way to the study. If you think of it, pray for me that I will prosper spiritually in this New Year. Pray that I will be able to influence the good people at Bear Claw to prosper in every way. May God prosper you and yours too and make the Stonebridge a part of that.

Four of the bookcases are done. This evening I filled them with books.

This is the outer study. The library is in the inner study.

Here you can see both.

The wonderful people of Evangel Baptist Church have provided me with everything I need to study, and pray, and prepare messages and teachings to feed, teach, and encourage the flock. Sometimes I will write the Stonebridge here–sometimes at home. I thought you might to want to be able to “imagine” the place where I study, and pray, and write.

Chuk has been asked to be the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church in Sister Bay, WI. He will move there the first of the year. I will miss him. He has been the “son of my right hand” for the last six years, since his oldest brother, Kyle launched out to missionary work, college, marriage, and ministry. First Baptist is on the beautiful Door Peninsula. Lois and I drove by this church on our anniversary trip in September.

The Bob Thayer family was driving thorugh Pierpont in northeast Ohio and knew I would be interested in this photo. Some day I want to be the honorary mayor of this town.

Sunday we were welcomed to our new church. What a happy day. We are all moved in to our new home in time for the Christmas season. The people are so friendly. The music is so beautiful. It is a very joyful, exciting time.

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. the Evangel Adult Choir and Children’s Choir will present a concert of Christmas music. Wondrous Gift. The church is beautifully decorated for Christmas. The Lord has even sent a manageable dusting of snow, so it really looks like Christmas around here.

BOOKCASES

Some of the retired men are building in floor-to-ceiling bookcases in my study at the church to house my library, so you can imagine how thrilled I am about that. It would mean so much to me if you would pray for me. It is a big, wonderful, humbling, job. I love being a pastor. The people here have been without a Senoir Pastor for about two-and-a-half years, so we feel very special and we have a very real sense of dependance on the Lord.

This is a photo of case #1. You can see a copy of Sunset on Summer there. If you want me to send you some of my new book for Christmas giving, let me know. Why go out there and fight the traffic when you don’t have to.