Ben has a thoughtful review of The Passion of the Christ.

Carolyn and I may have a chance to see the movie later this week.

Kevin A. Pierpont
Higgins Lake Baptist Church
2/29/04

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

When you think of wealthy people, who comes to mind? Bill Gates? Warren Buffett? Maybe Mel Gibson?—who’s movie the Passion of the Christ took in $23.6M¹ on opening day and is selling out in theaters everywhere this week.
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I received an email today from a friend I’ve not heard from in a long time. I’ve always admired His writing. Now that he has a blog there will be more of it to enjoy. There are only a few bloggers I read as often as I can and already I’m finding Mount Virtus will be at the top of my list. As a committed Christian and a political conservative Ben says well what I wish I could find words for. You must visit Ben DeGrow’s site—and tell him I sent you.

I’ve expressed my thoughts on the movie the Passion of the Christ but I want to point you to the thoughts of Chuck Swindoll from todays broadcast on Insight for Living. After today that link will point to the current broadcast but more audio and reading from Chuck Swindoll can be found here. Swindoll has also written the book, Behold the Man, that can be used as an evangelistic tool to help answer the questions of your friends after they’ve seen the movie.

This Wednesday a movie will begin showing in theaters that has received unprecedented coverage and criticism. Many will gather to see The Passion of the Christ. Some think this movie will draw many to trust in Christ. Some think the film is religious fanaticism. Unfortunately many will be moved by it but will not be moved by the movie to accept Christ. There will be those who could care less but will see the movie because of all the media attention. There will be many, after seeing the film who will still be unaware of their need for the salvation that Christ offers. There will be many who are unmoved by the gospel presentation and the horrible death of Jesus Christ.

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Have you ever found yourself waiting in front of one of those automatic doors like the ones at the grocery store that have a sensor that opens the door when it senses someone is there? Or maybe you’ve pressed the handicap access button to keep from having to open the door yourself. I saw a lady at the post office do that the other day. She pressed the button and stood in front of the door waiting for it to open but nothing happened. She pressed the button again, still nothing. She then grabbed the door and flung it open in disgust and walked in.

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It’s been a year - a very good year! My family and I have been at Higgins Lake for a year. It’s hard to believe. It seems like it’s only been a couple of months. I’ve been pastoring here for a year and what a privilege it has been. The folks at Higgins Lake Baptist Church have been gracious to us and shown their love in many ways.

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Fight The Good Fight – 1 Tim. 6:12-16
Kevin A. Pierpont
Higgins Lake Baptist Church
2/8/04

Can there be such a thing as a good fight? Have you ever been in an argument with someone and you walked away saying to yourself, “That was a good fight!”?

I remember being picked on a lot when I was a youngster in grade school. I was in a fight or two as a result of those confrontations – I guess you couldn’t really call them fights, they were kind of one sided. I was too scrawny to defend myself and even though I was quiet and shy my mouth still got me into trouble – you could say my mouth would write checks my body couldn’t cash. They usually started and ended with one punch to my stomach with me doubled over gasping for air. Once, I remember my “friends” convinced me before school one morning that I should try on a pair of boxing gloves and go for a round with another kid my age. That fight consisted of one punch to my nose, which immediately bled. I don’t ever remember walking away from those clashes saying, “Now that was a good fight.” I suppose the other guy may have—but not me!
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A few weeks ago our whole family went to a weekend ministry conference at the Character Inn in Flint, Michigan. My older brother, Ken is the administrator of the Inn and had invited us for a special weekend and promised we’d enjoy ourselves. We did enjoy ourselves but at one point we wondered if we were in for an unpleasant stay.

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Higgins Lake Baptist Church
Kevin A. Pierpont
2/1/04

A country preacher decided to skip services one Sunday and head to the hills to do some bear hunting. As he rounded the corner on a perilous twist in the trail, he and a bear collided, sending him and his rifle tumbling down the mountainside. Before he knew it, his rifle went one way and he went the other, landing on a rock and breaking both legs. That was the good news. The bad news was the ferocious bear charging at him from a distance, and he couldn’t move. “Oh, Lord,” the preacher prayed, “I’m so sorry for skipping services today to come out here and hunt. Please forgive me and grant me just one wish … please make a Christian out of that bear that’s coming at me. Please, Lord!” That very instant, the bear skidded to a halt, fell to its knees, clasped its paws together and began to pray aloud right at the preacher’s feet. “Dear God, bless this food I am about to receive …” (Author Unkown)

That’s a humorous look at a perilous situation. Imagine for a moment yourself hiking on a trail on a warm and sunny day. You are enjoying the beauty of God's creation that surrounds you when suddenly a bear crosses your path. What is your first instinct? Are you going to just stand there and face the danger that awaits? Or are you going to run as fast as you can, making every effort to get away from the danger the bear poses for you? The boys tell me if you come across a mountain lion you look it straight in the eyes and open your jacket to look as big as possible and yell at it as loud as possible. If you come across a bear you make yourself as small as possible and try to ignore it. Whatever you think you would do your natural instinct is probably going to be to flee.

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