In loving memory
Richard M. Reed
October 9, 1933-January 4, 2004

Not how did he die, but how did he live?
Not what did he gain, but what did he give?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not, what was his church, nor what was his creed?
But had he befriended those really in need?
Was he ever ready, with word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not what did the sketch in the newspaper say,
But how many were sorry when he passed away?

It’s been eight years, but we still miss you and think of you everyday.
Love, your family

By Ronnie McBrayer

Many people begin their walk of faith, and everything goes as they expected. Out of genuine conviction, they attend church, learn from the Scriptures, volunteer, serve, give, and become “productive, committed, faithful, Christians.” But somewhere along the way things go terribly wrong.
The orderly, stalwart faith that used to “work” for these true believers becomes a muddled mess. Yes, they once taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, chaperoned the youth group, chaired the Stewardship Committee, and had bullet-proof answers to all questions of faith. But then, all at once or over an extension of time, their faith splintered into a million tiny pieces. A divorce. A child falls deathly ill and heaven seems silent as a stone. An accident leaves the once healthy college student broken and mutilated. The circumstances come in variegated form, but the impact is the same.
It is more than a crisis of faith, more than theological bump in the road; it is an unraveling that robs people of their confidence and comfort. The once unshakable believer descends downward into the blackness of doubt. Adding insult to injury, sometimes the only thing the church or we ministerial types can say in those moments is, “Pray more. Just believe. Let go and let God. Try harder.” Not only is this insensitive, asinine advice, it simply won’t work. Those who have hit this kind of barricade feel so dismantled, that to keep doing what they were doing—only with more enthusiasm—is impossible.
Here is your choice: You can harden your heart and sweep the shards of your faith into the dustpan, giving up on God completely; or you can pick up the broken pieces, with bloody hands and heart, and reassemble faith on the other side of doubt. No, it won’t be the same faith you once had; it will be dramatically different. It won’t be an improved or updated version of the beliefs you formerly held; it will be a new construction altogether. This reassembled faith will not provide you with all the answers to all your questions; instead, it will help you to see the world, God, and people differently.
So if you find yourself crushed against what feels like the concrete and steel of disbelief, with not a drop of faith left, I understand. Don’t throw it all away just yet. In the breaking, you might find that faith has a new beginning.
Ronnie McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, speaker, and author. His books include “Leaving Religion, Following Jesus” and “The Jesus Tribe.” Visit his website at www.ronniemcbrayer.net.

Pastor Ryan Black
Cedar Springs Christian Church
340 West Pine Street, Cedar Springs

The New Year is often a place for fresh starts and new beginnings.  We look to make improvements in our personal lives for the good of ourselves, family, and those we love and care about. We set new goals and make pledges that include diet and exercise, better organization, spending more time with family, careful stewardship of financial resources, accountability and ridding ourselves of bad habits, just to name a few.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with setting and pursuing these goals. In fact, accomplishing these goals will more than likely improve your standard of living here in this world.
While these are great examples of ways to better our lives, there is one goal that I challenge everyone to take a hard look at as we start off this New Year. What I’m speaking of is improving your spiritual life and creating a better and stronger relationship with your Lord and Savior. I’m not speaking solely about increasing the number of times you go to church, although it is highly encouraged. I’m referring more about taking the time to pray (speak with God) daily along with studying your Bible, the Word of God. Take the time to know Jesus Christ at a deeper level. Look at it as building a personal relationship rather than just a religious commitment.
There are many out there who have a strong and confident relationship with God.  There are others who do not have a sound spiritual background and have not come to know or understand who Jesus is.  On the other hand, maybe some have grown up with a Christian background but somewhere along the road they have drifted away from it and no longer feel that strong connection with God. No matter where your level of spirituality is, each and every one of us can benefit from a fresh encounter with God.
What better time than now, at the start of a new year, to begin this fresh and exciting journey?  If you are at the point in your life where you are ready to make a personal commitment to follow Christ, all you have to do is reach out to Him now in prayer. He is listening and waiting to come into your heart and help you live a better life.
We invite you to visit any of the wonderful churches that we have in our Cedar Springs community in order to benefit from the spiritual guidance, the Christian fellowship and the encouragement they offer. A fresh start and a new beginning with God may be the best opportunity for personal improvement you could ever make. Who knows, a revitalized encounter with God may just be the catalyst you need to help you achieve some of those other resolutions as well!

Mrs. Betty (Hoekstra) Burg, age 79, of Cedar Springs, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. She was the most loving wife, mom, grandma, and great-grandma. Betty loved working in her flower beds, watching the birds and squirrels out of the feeders that her husband made. She enjoyed watching ice skating. Betty was the “best” cook and baker, everything from scratch, a true “Betty Crocker.”  Betty especially loved listening to her great-grandson, Ivan when he played his cello, especially the “fast songs” and loved watching Tom and Jerry with her other great-grandson, Audun. Her family has many memories of horse back riding, camping, and the downpours of rain. We are so proud of the fight she put up. Leaving behind are her husband of 61 years, George Burg; two daughters, Deb and Mike Coalter, Kathy and Bob Woodward; two grandchildren, Jacob and Michell Woodward and Lindsey Woodward and Mark Lee; two great-grandchildren, Ivan Woodward and Audun Lee; brothers, Richard Hoekstra, Gerald and Caroline Hoekstra, and Kenneth and Charlotte Hoekstra; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Juanita Wease and her parents, Gerrit and Ora Hoekstra. Honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place. Those planning an expression of sympathy in memory of Betty are asked to consider Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI 49301. Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Memories remind us that we have loved and been loved,
That our lives were touched by someone special!
We lost you 15 years ago, we LOVE and MISS you so much!

Love always,
Your children, grandchildren, entire family and friends!

Robert & Marie Engle

Love, all your kids, family and friends!

Pastor Dick Nichols
Cedar Creek Community Church
2969 14 Mile Road, Sparta

A new year is much like running a foot race. In order to begin a new one, we need to put the old one behind us, because we can only participate in one at a time.
New Year’s is the time we like to make resolutions that we hope will make our future much better than the past we just left. There are always things we know we can do better; or maybe things we shouldn’t do at all; or maybe there is something we need to change to help us be more at peace in our personal lives.
Most people. whether they go to church or not, know the “Golden Rule.”  Let’s give it a try. Please complete the following sentence: “Do unto others as you __ __ __ __ __ __.” (Answer at bottom of article).  This is a part of our American culture, yet many people have no idea that it came from Jesus’ teaching. Following it, though, is another story.
We read Jesus words in Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (New International Version).
We each have our own circumstances in life, where we should apply the Golden Rule, but just to help us better understand the application, let’s look at just one illustration today: forgiveness. Jesus talks to us about forgiveness in Matthew’s gospel in chapter 6, verses 14-15: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (New International Version).
God is the God of relationships, and in order to begin a new year, we must first make peace with our past and the relationships that have been broken through a lack of forgiveness. Thank God that because of Jesus Christ and the fact that he is reaching out to us in love, whatever has happened to us in the past can be put behind us. If something happened to you in your youth or in your past or in some other relationship and it continues to hurt in your heart, then that resentment, that hurt, that brokenness is to some degree controlling your life, like a heavy burden that weighs you down.
The bible talks about how to get yesterday off your back. To paraphrase scripture, “forgive and you will be forgiven, if you don’t, you won’t.”  In Romans 12:18-19, the apostle Paul wrote; “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘it is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (New International Version).
From this we can see the purpose of God’s command to forgive others. The burden of unforgiveness is like carrying a 50-pound bag of garbage around all of the time. January 1st is one day, like any other day of the year. When we resolve to do what we can to ease this burden on New Year’s day, and then carry that same resolve into the next day, and the next day, and the next etc., we will find the truth of God’s word.
Now, if we will apply this same principle to other circumstances in life, just think of what your future in following Jesus could hold. Part of this good news is that this golden rule can be applied starting today, and then again tomorrow and so on,  and others did the same, can you even imagine what kind of world we might live in? May the peace of Jesus Christ dwell in you.
(Answer: fill in the blank:  “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”)

In Loving Memory of our dear Mother and Grandmother, Blanche Naffziger, who passed away January 7, 1999, thirteen years ago.
Loving you is easy, I do it every day,
Missing you is a heartache that never goes away.
I sit and wonder why the Lord chose to call you away.
I think He saw you needed rest.
He only takes the best.

Sadly missed by children and grandchildren

Jerry L. Magoon, age 64, of Sand Lake, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 2, 2012. As a young boy, he helped his father top cedar trees and sell them to area farmers for fence posts. Jerry owned his own successful logging and concrete business. He enjoyed hunting and had two really nice “coon hounds.” He had been a member of the Union Ironworkers. Jerry is survived by his children, Matthew and Christina Magoon, Todd and Jennifer Magoon, Tonya and Matthew Myers; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers and sisters, Mrs. Inez Hough, Mrs. Patricia Seymour, Mrs. Lillian Dines, Marie and Alan McClary, Clare and Lore Magoon, Jim and Verna Smigiel, Betty and Steve Hilbrands, Jerald Magoon, Joyce and Ron Paige; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Kenny, his parents, Clare and Gerda Magoon, brothers, John, Carl, and Jim, and his sisters, Susan Porter, and Elsie Utter. The Service of Praise and Thanksgiving for the gift of everlasting life through Jesus Christ for Jerry will be Friday at 12:00 (noon) at Pierson Bible Church with Pastor Thomas Sluys and Pastor Kim Hough officiating. Interment in Algoma Twp. Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Needs of the Family. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the Pederson Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Arrangements by The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Mrs. Lena I. Westover of Cedar Springs went home January 1, 2012, to be with her husband of 59 years, Mr. William L. Westover.  Lena was born on January 12, 1908, in Solon Township and lived the majority of her life in the Cedar Springs area.  She received her teaching certificate from Western State Teachers College in August of 1931.  Lena later completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Michigan University.  She was a school teacher for more than 30 years and retired from Sparta Public Schools in 1970.  Lena was very active throughout most of her life.  She was a member of the Foxville Friendship Club and in later years she enjoyed activities such as bowling, line dancing, gardening, quilting, crocheting, and spending time with her grandchildren.  Lena touched the lives of many and will be forever loved by her family and friends.  Lena is survived by her children, Gladys (Matt) Neithefer of Jenison, Shirley (David) Caldwell of Cedar Springs, and William, Jr. (Jan) Westover of Panama City, Florida; grandchildren, Irene (Ron) Steadman, and Michael (Gail) Dunbar, of Grand Rapids, Charles (Valerie) Dunbar of Cedar Springs, Allison (Dave) Collins of Lansing, Douglas (Mary) Caldwell of Jackson, and Jane (Randy) Hazel of Lake Orion; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.  Lena was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Westover, in 1987.  The service for Mrs. Lena Westover will be Thursday, January 5, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pederson Funeral Home with Pastor Mark Love officiating.  Interment at Crandall Cemetery.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Alzheimer’s Association, GMC – West MI Chapter, 2944 Fuller Ave., NE, Ste 101, Grand Rapids, MI  49505 or Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding Ave., SE, Ada, MI, 49301.  Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home from 2-4:00 and 6-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Arrangements by the Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com