Once upon a time, there was a King who had a beautiful but disobedient wife.  Once, when he threw a big party for his friends, he asked her to come so he could show her off. When she didn’t show up, the King got mad and started thinking about getting another wife.  And so…

If you want to hear the rest of the story you have to pick up your Bible and read the book of Esther. Without spoiling the story for you, I will tell you that Esther is a story about someone who dared to let people know who she was despite putting herself in the path of danger.

What difference would it make in our lives if people really knew who we were? I suspect that, for most of us, it would not put us at risk of losing our lives, as it did for our heroine Esther, but still there could be other consequences to deal with. Have you ever been in a situation where you really did not want people to know who you were? I admit sometimes it is much easier to be a casual observer to what is going on around us than to stick our necks out and speak out. Let’s say you are at work and people are saying hurtful things about a particular group of people based on their race, ethnic background or gender. Do we just nod in tacit agreement and join in the “ain’t it awful” game that is being played out before us or do we step forward and dare to disagree with the status quo?  This scenario is played out every day at work, school and sadly even in our churches. If we are serious about our spiritual lives taking a priority then we, too, need to say who we are—followers of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ disciples were arguing about who is the greatest in the kingdom and Jesus takes a young child in his arm and says to them, Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me (Mark 9:37). Now you need to remember that in ancient days children were not treated much better than the dogs on the street. They were completely at the mercy of other adults. Who are the “children” in our culture today and how are they being treated? More importantly, are we welcoming them and inviting them in to both our lives and the Church? There are those out there today that would probably go along with any plan that excludes these “children” and it is important that we have the spiritual strength to declare who we are. Now, I invite you to read the exciting book of Esther for what Paul Harvey says is “the rest of the story.”

United – a community for one!

Christians are known for many things, but unfortunately being united is not one of those things.  It seems that, now more than ever, there are divisions within our churches, that people are making such a big deal out of, that we often forget to proclaim the cause of Christ to a world in need, because we are so busy dealing with so much division.  Just take a look around.  Have you ever wondered why there were so many different churches just in our community of Cedar Springs?  We have the Baptists, the Methodists (United and Free), the Reformed, the Independent Bible, the Wesleyans, the Church of God, the Full-Gospels, the Evangelical Frees, and the list could go on.
Each of these denominations and different churches are a result of division. To put it plainly, church leaders couldn’t agree on what the Bible taught about certain subjects, and so instead of just agreeing to disagree, they divided.  It’s sad, but true.  Now, each of these churches plays a vital role in our community, and my intention is not to put one above another. My intention is to simply point out that the unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17:20,21, is unfortunately not present among the body of Christ as a whole.  This is not uncommon; most communities across America are experiencing this same problem. Usually church leaders are known more for their disliking of other church leaders and their disagreement over other doctrines, than they are known for their cooperative effort to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Well, it’s not going to be that way in Cedar Springs! The Cedar Springs Ministerial Association believes that there are way too many things that unite us, and it would be a shame to spend all our time bickering about the things that we disagree on. On August 29, we are going to have our 2nd annual community worship service.  We have set aside this Sunday as a Sunday to unite. We will be holding a morning worship service in downtown Cedar Springs at Morley Park.  The service will begin at 11:00 and will be followed by a free community picnic and a praise and worship concert afterwards.
The purpose of this event is for the body of Jesus Christ to come together for one Sunday and praise His Holy Name. We simply want to lift high the name of Jesus, because after all, He is what it’s all about! I want to encourage you to consider being a part of this event, and if you know someone who doesn’t know Jesus, bring them along and we’ll introduce them to Him. As children of the One and Only True God, let’s join together and make a statement, we are united – a community for one!

Pastor Kevin Reed
Grace Evangelical Free Church
4714 13 Mile, Rockford

Deuteronomy 12:5 says, “But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God shall choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.” The place the Father chose for the manifestation of His Son to mankind was a humble stable in a small town, Bethlehem. Personally, I believe the Lord chooses a place that will test the hearts of people. Will we humble ourselves and come to an undesirable place in man’s eyes where the Lord has chosen to establish His name and reveal His glory?

According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a city gate was “a massive wooden door in a city wall through which traffic passed… these gates were opened during the day to allow the city’s citizens to come and go. But they were generally closed at night as a safety measure. In the event of attack, the gates were closed and barred to keep out the enemy… Because of their central location, gates were often spoken of in the Bible as symbols of power and authority. God promised Abraham that his descendants would possess the gates of their enemies (Genesis 22:17).”

In Genesis 28:10-17, we are given the account of Jacob’s encounter with God while on the way to Bethel. Verse 11 tells us that he came to “a certain place” where he decided to stop on his journey. That night he had a dream in which he saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder that was set on the earth and reached up into heaven.

At an unexpected place on his journey, the Lord reveals Himself to Jacob in a dream. To his surprise, he is shown that where he is sleeping just happens to be the chosen place of the Lord’s gateway. It would be His house (which Jacob would call Bethel), His dwelling, His avenue for ascending and descending between heaven and earth. It would be in this place where a way would be built up (symbolized by the ladder) for the Lord to come down upon.

You see, the gate, or gateway of the Lord is the place through which He chooses to come. The Bible says that when His Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). Often man will try to bring this through forceful coercion in the flesh at a place of his own choosing.

The gatekeepers are those who have been entrusted by God with the power and authority to open or close the “gate,” Jesus Christ, for others. If their hearts have closed off the way of the Lord within them, it will be closed for others as well. If the world doesn’t see Jesus through His chosen ones, they simply will not see Him. He comes through the open doorway established by His obedient servants. These gateways of the Lord are specific locations where He wills to come through, blessing those who will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to come and enter in. In Biblical times, the one who controlled the gates controlled the city. Spiritually speaking, it is the same today.

To possess the gate speaks of occupying by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place. At the place the Lord tells us, we are to seize the enemy’s gates, expelling the demonic guards and taking possession in the name of Christ. The blessing of possessing is ours through faith in Jesus.

There is a place in Cedar Springs where God has chosen to establish His name. It is an unexpected place where man will once again have to humble himself and come. Only those who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear will, like Jacob, have its location revealed to them. Some will try to claim this well for their own. The Lord will openly deal with their rebellion.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come. (For more revelation on this subject see chapter 14, “Gates And Gatekeepers,” in my book “The Resurrected Bride” at http://capstone-ministries.com/books.html.)

Tim Bauer, Capstone Ministries

How are you today? Others ask us this question all the time. In fact, we ask ourselves this question daily. For some, today may be a great day, and for others, one of difficulty. The other day my father reminded me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt that said, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, but today is a gift, that’s why they call it ‘present.’”  Everyday is truly a gift. I think the psalmist David felt that way when he said, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24-NIV)  For a few weeks now, I have pondered this verse. For those who attend church, this is often a popular quote.  In fact, we often quote it like a mantra at a pep rally or say it like a chant at a ball game. We use it to encourage one another, but what does it really mean?

To me it speaks of three things, a day, a deity and a decision. First, the day it speaks of is today. David reminds us that we have been given a gift called a “day,” regardless of what our day may hold. If you are like me, you have all kinds of days. Days filled with many things like joy, sorrow, challenges, and even surprises. Yet, I am reminded that regardless what my day holds, it remains a gift. Notice he says, “This is the day.” He also speaks in the present tense. It’s a reminder that yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery, so let’s live in today. So many people live in the past or dream about their future, while failing to enjoy today.

Secondly, David says the day was created by a deity.  He is saying the very day we are living in is no accident. It was one the “LORD has made.” David was acknowledging that there is a creator. One who made the heavens and earth. He reminds us that there is one greater than ourselves who is in control. Therefore, if he created the day, He is in control of the day.  In essence, David is saying, If God made the day for me, then He is also is in control of it. He knows every detail. He knows the joy, the sorrow, the challenges and the surprises. He knows what we need because he provided the very day in which we are living. The greatest challenge for us is weather we will give up our control. We create so much stress in our day because we fail to give up the control of it. It is a day provided by our God for a purpose. So, seek to thank God for your day, and determine to find His purpose in it.

Lastly, David tells us we have to decide what we will do with each day. He says, “let us rejoice and be glad in it.” He reminds us that we have a choice in the matter. We can choose to rejoice and be glad, or we can choose to be sad and mad. It’s up to us. God created us with a free will and the choice is ours. We all know this is easier said than done, but the key is found in David’s recognition of God. If we really believe there is a God, and that He created the day were living in, and that He really is in control, then the only choice we should make is to “rejoice and be glad”!  Wow, what freedom to know that, despite our circumstances, there is reason to rejoice and be glad. So, I hope the next time you hear this quoted or,  are struggling with your day, you will find comfort in this verse. Today if you hear His voice, rejoice and be glad, for this is truly the day he has made!

Pastor Craig Carter
North Kent Community Church
1480 Indian Lakes Rd. NE
Sparta, MI 49345

Jesus loves you

The love that God, the Creator of all things has for mankind seems beyond human perception. God created man and placed him in a perfect environment. However, man rebelled against God and sinned, thus sin has entered into this world since the disobedience of Adam. The Bible says all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death.”  The question then arises, “Ye serpent, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Hell?” (Matthew 23:33).

The answer is found in the Word of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:36).  Because God loves us so much, He sent His only begotten son to take on the sins of the World. This is the importance of God being born of a virgin, not taking on the seed of an earthly man. By shedding His innocent, sinless blood on the cross we are redeemed.  The shedding of blood is an act God uses to redeem, thus Christ was the unblemished Lamb of God, and the final sacrifice that needed to be made as His blood was shed on the cross.

This redemption does not involuntarily fall on man. This redemption is a choice God has given to us. He cannot force us to take it. One of the biggest misconceptions is that God sends people to Hell. Hell was created for Satan and his angels, not man. It wasn’t until sin entered the world that man was appointed to go there. However, God loves us so much that He did not want to see us go to Hell, therefore he sent His son, Jesus Christ, to be that bridge back to God. Therefore, if we ask Christ into our lives He saves us from going to Hell, thus God has not left us to go to Hell, we have the choice as to whether or not to send ourselves there.

Jesus loves you, and wants to be there to connect you back with God. The Bible let’s us know that the only way to the father is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This is done by repenting and confessing the sins in your life to God. Tell Him you want to live righteously and follow His word and want to be apart of His eternal Kingdom. By doing this you are free from your debt of sin and will live with the Father eternally in Heaven forever. Jesus loves you and the Bible tells us all so!

In my almost 30 years of walking with the Lord, as with so many other Christians I know, there have been many peaks and valleys, like a roller coaster

One thing that used to be of concern to me was God’s timing. And yes I know in my heart that sooner or later, God is going to come through, but I don’t think I’m alone in sometimes thinking that it would be great if God would just show up and fix things. It isn’t that I doubt God’s power, after all, I believe just as God told Job, “I am God and Job is not!”

There are times in our spiritual journey that we tend to get anxious even though we are told (by God’s word) not to. Times that it feels like we are all alone. The Psalmist gives us the remedy for these times when things get us down; “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14).

Waiting on the Lord is not a passive activity. Waiting means to actively seek God to supply what is needed to handle our situation. We believe in God and his word, yet we tend to believe that if only God knew what we know in our circumstances, he would act immediately. One of the amazing things about God is that we’re never waiting on God to show up; he is an ever present help in the time of need.

There is the waiting of the single person who seeks to find the one who God has planned for their life, the childless couple whose prayers seem to go unanswered year after year. The waiting of so many folks today longing for employment, but it doesn’t come.

Also, those who are suffering illness and longing to be well and return to a normal healthy life; and the spouse who feels trapped in a hurting marriage that seems unlikely to change. Waiting on God can sometimes be difficult and could be a challenge to our faith. But, waiting on God is extremely important to our growth as a Christian. We read in Psalms 37:7: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.”

Think of Noah, 120 years building the ark God commanded him to build. Think of Jesus’ disciples waiting for him to right all the wrongs, then he was crucified. Abraham and Sarah waited for God’s promise, David waited for God’s promise; what if they hadn’t waited for God’s timing?

Waiting is a crucial part of our lives.What this does though is to bring us to the question, “Why does God make us wait?” It just seems that an all-loving God could answer our prayers immediately and give us some relief.

The truth is that what God does ‘in’ us while we wait is even more important than whatever it is we’re waiting for. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed. (Romans 5:3-5a).

Waiting isn’t something we just have to do until we get what we want; waiting is a key part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be. God wants the very best for us, and that we should be careful to ask of the Lord what will benefit and bring glory to him, not just to get things that will only bring pleasure to us. As we continue our walk with God, remember Isaiah’s words:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Pastor Dick Nichols

Cedar Creek Community Church

2969 14 Mile Road, Sparta

A turning point in the friendship of Denver Moore and Ron Hall, recounted in Same kind of different as me, came when Denver commented on the style of fishing called “catch and release.” He said it really bothered him because “we eat what we catch…in other words we use it to sustain us.” He continued, “So, Mr. Ron, it occurred to me: If you is fishin for a friend you just gon’ catch and release, then I ain’t got no desire to be your friend.” Ron felt like the world halted in midstride and fell silent like a freeze-frame scene on TV. Suddenly Denver’s eyes gentled and he spoke softly: “But if you is looking for a real friend, then I’ll be one. Forever.”
In many ways, we are disappointed by the failed commitments others make to us, and the commitments that we fail to keep. We catch and release friends along the way. Sometimes we transfer that disappointment and lack of dependability to God. The ancient writer, Teresa of Avila, observed that our difficulties in prayer come from “Praying as if God were absent. Many of our difficulties in daily life are probably the result of living as if God were absent” (The Tree of Life, 212). Doubting God’s commitment and presence with us may mean that we hesitate to move ahead in prayer, service or deeper friendship with God and others. It’s at this point that we can be reminded by God’s grace that a primary name for Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. That means God’s got our back, front, and middle; past, present, and future because we are caught and kept in friendship by the Holy Spirit. And in this embrace we are sustained and set free to love. May God bless you and keep you in real friendships this summer and forever.

Pastor Jeff Williams
Courtland-Oakfield United Methodist Church
10295 Myers Lake Avenue, Rockford

Our friend Audra and  God’s front door

Goodbye Audra. We are sorry you’ve had to go! You have been a beautiful daughter and sister, a wonderful friend, a fantastic student, an accomplished musician, and a great school-day “taxi-driver” (the sisters will miss that).
When the news spread last Thursday night, it ruptured a well of emotions deep beneath the surface in the order of a gulf oil spill. Shock. Grief. Fear. Disgust. A freak accident had taken one of our own and, as the tragedy was spilling into all our lives, we pulled our children a little closer. An entire community of friends and neighbors shook their heads and clutched their mouths, unable to contemplate a mother or father’s next move in the face of this catastrophe. In those moments, all our thoughts and prayers and laments carried with them the name “Brownell.”
For one week we have shared ourselves in grief with Scott, Diane, Danae, and Elena in the loss of their dearest Audra. To the family I wish to say: We have lost sleep, lost our appetites, and lost a daughter together. Stories we have shared of the unique person she has been make us smile. The realization that we can no longer tell new stories makes us cry. However, a village such as ours marches together. We stand shoulder to shoulder to offer, with all the breath in our lungs, our songs of sympathy and support. We stand heel to toe, as far as your watery eyes can see, to give our embrace to your weary shoulders. It takes no rehearsal to do such a thing. Quite simply, we are here for you.
We share not only common concern, but also common complaints and common questions. If you are like me, one of your first reactions was to stage a protest at God’s front door. I was angry on the Brownell’s behalf. Nothing about this makes any sense from where we are.
I learned a few years ago that God loves honest questions; in fact, He welcomes them. Why else would God give to His own family a name that means “Struggles With God” (Israel)? God invites us to wrestle with Him. Far from betraying a doubting heart, questions prove one’s love, demonstrate one’s faith, and display trust. Moses argued with God at Sinai (Exodus 33). Abraham disputed God’s very motives (Gen 18:25). Even Jesus found Himself in a place of despairing doubt (Matt 27:46). Perhaps these are good places to be in life, for there we find good company. So, I decided to go; that is, to God’s doorstep.
“What is God doing?” I sputtered. “Is He in control, does He care, or is He just careless? How does this in any way display His wisdom, or grace?” Though I wanted to know in that moment which of those was true, I suspected that it is one of the devil’s favorite tricks to get people to focus on one truth to the exclusion of another. No thought I had entertained seemed fitting for the God I thought I knew, and the more I tried to limit Him to either, the more He slipped away altogether.
As I brooded over my protest, I grew deeper in my conviction that it takes more faith to ask than it takes to fear knocking at God’s door in the first place. But, I also realized that I was coming to His gate with empty hands. He certainly owes us no answers, and we need not use ultimatums. Furthermore, as Athol Dickson says, “It will take faith to be ready for whatever answer comes, and faith to persevere with more questions if the answer is not understood.”
I stood resolutely and hollered for Him to let me in. In my confusion, I hadn’t seen what was already underway. As the eyes of my heart focused, I recognized that God was standing out at the gate, with Scott, Diane, Danae, and Elena beating on His chest, from within the embrace of His arms. He had run out to meet them, weeping bitterly as they came to Him. He told them of how Audra had been so concerned for them in their sorrow and fear and regret, and that she wanted them to know how much she loves them. She knows so much of what we do not, and she assures us that He will renew all things. He was to let them know that while she longs for the day of resurrection, as everyone in Heaven does, she is now more certain of its coming than ever before. And when that day arrives and we are more alive than ever, we will all share the joy of His presence together, without ever hearing another “goodbye.”
Thank you, Audra!
Until the day we see you again, PEACE to us all.

Chad Wight, The Journey Church

The summer brings about a lot of family reunions where memories of the past are brought to mind and new memories are made. This summer is no different, except for those who may have recently experienced the loss of a loved one or possibly the poor economy has gotten a hold of you. But family reunions go on no matter what is happening in one’s life and the economy will not turn around overnight. We are going to have our ups and downs. We cannot get around that in this world. The biggest thing we all must remember is: God is ultimately in control of events that go on in this world.
Then we read the passage of scripture that is found in 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”  This scripture should make anyone shake in their boots if they are not a child of God. But wait a minute pastor; you just said that “God is ultimately in control.”  He is; however, children of God are not of this world. John tells us in the verses prior, in 1 John 5:3b-5, “And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Remember my initial statement about things happening around us but life goes on?  Children of God, believers in Christ, those Saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus, are safe.  Not because of anything we have done but because of what Jesus has done.

In the Gospels, Jesus prays for believers and part of that prayer is John 17:15, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” You see, Jesus asked God to keep us from the evil one. So, if you’re a child of God, even though Satan roams the earth looking for those to devour, God is protecting you.

Please know that if you are not a child of God, you can be. You can be protected from the evil one. Romans 10:13 says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Are you saved?  Have you called on the name of the Lord?  Romans 10:9 & 10 reads: “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

If you are a child of God, then you can rest assured that the evil one is on limited time as John wrote in John 12:31, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” Satan is going to be out of here! We as believers must remember we have a great protector. Things will happen, but remember God is with us and will never leave us or forsake us.

Pastor Doug DiBell
Solon Center Wesleyan
15671 Algoma, Cedar Springs

Eight and a half years ago, my wife and I, and our youngest son, Bennett, moved to Cedar Springs to pastor Pilgrim Bible Church. A few weeks ago I accepted the call to pastor a church in Connersville, Indiana, and we moved last week. As it was my turn to write the pastor’s article, I felt that I should take the time and express my appreciation to all of you for the wonderful years we have spent in your community.
We have enjoyed pastoring a great group of people at Pilgrim Bible Church. They have been so kind to us; supporting us and encouraging us and working with us in so many ways. They are people who love God and we formed lifelong friendships with many of them. We have cried together these last few days as we have parted and we wish them the very best in the days ahead.

We have enjoyed being a part of the Cedar Springs community as a whole. I have had the privilege of serving on the Library Board with Joanne Furhoff and the other board members, and, as a consequence of that, I have worked with Donna Clark and her staff at the library. These are all wonderful people and I appreciate working together with them. I also served for sometime on a committee looking to build a new library in Cedar. A new library is such a need here and I hope that things come together to make this a reality. Thank you to the city officials for being easy to work with. I also was privileged to serve on the Alpha Family Center board for a while. Lorrie Shelton and her staff are to be applauded for their work on behalf of the most vulnerable in our community.

Thank you to the Ministerial Association for allowing me to be a part. Craig Carter and the fellow pastors are doing a fine work in lifting up the name of Jesus and leading our churches to greater fellowship and discipleship. Thanks to Judy and the Post for providing a column each week for the pastors to express their hearts to the community.

Thank you to everyone who has been so kind and friendly. Cedar Springs is a wonderful town and I am thankful that I was able to spend these years here. We just wish all of you God’s very best. We are taking away a boatload of good memories and friendships. Hopefully our paths will cross again sometime, somewhere.

Pastor Knox Bullock
Pilgrim Bible Church
West Pine Street, Cedar Springs