Barry Briggs, Senior Pastor

The Springs Church

135 N. Grant, Cedar Springs

Everybody wants to know the answer to the question, “What happens after I die?” In a recent survey, from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, they found that only 59 percent of Americans believe in Hell, compared with 74 percent who believe in Heaven. Even a well-known pastor, at a large church in Grand Rapids, wrote a book recently suggesting that Hell—as it has been traditionally understood–d oesn’t exist.

Those who challenge the notion of a place of eternal torment wonder, “How could a loving and gracious God send someone to Hell?” And, when the question gets framed like that, it does seem at odds. But what if God doesn’t send people to Hell? What if people choose to go there? What do I mean?

Hell is total separation from God. 1 Corinthians 16:22 (NCV) says, “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be separated from God—lost forever!” The choice is ours. If I don’t want God in my life now, why would I want to spend eternity with Him? Why would I say I want to live without God on earth, but I want to live with God in Heaven? That doesn’t make sense. God says, “You get to choose. If you don’t want Me in your life, I’ll stay out of your life—forever.” We can choose to accept Christ and live with Him forever, or we can choose to reject Christ and be separated from Him forever. So God doesn’t send people to Hell, they choose to go there.

What is Hell like? Think about this—if Hell is total separation from God, then it’s the exact opposite of everything God is. We know that “God is love.” That’s His nature. So what is it like to live completely separated from God? There’s no love there. God is light, so Hell is complete darkness. God is good, so there’s absolutely nothing good in Hell. God is life, so that means it is eternal death. God is gracious, that means there’s no grace there. You don’t want to choose Hell.

One of the big myths about Hell is that Hell is going to be a big party for all the people who like to party. Hell will be no party. For one thing, no one will see anybody else in Hell. It’s total separation from God and everybody else. There are no relationships in Hell. There are no friends in Hell. It’s total aloneness. It will be like being by yourself, in a pitch dark room, with no windows and doors, for all eternity. There’s no way in or out. In Hell you are alone and afraid, for all eternity, because there is no love.

Sometimes you hear these guys preaching about Hell on television—the hell, fire and brimstone preachers—and they’re yelling and they’re sweating. When you listen to them you think they want people to go there. What’s with that? I don’t want anybody to go to Hell. And God certainly doesn’t want anybody to go to Hell. Jesus doesn’t want anybody to go to Hell. That’s why He died on the cross.

So how do I avoid Hell? Colossians 1:21-22 (NCV) tells us. “At one time you were separated from God. You were His enemies in your minds, and the evil things you did were against God. But now God has made you His friends again. He did this through Christ’s death in the body so that He might bring you into God’s presence [that’s Heaven] as people who are holy, with no wrong, and with nothing of which God can judge you guilty.” The key that unlocks the door to heaven is friendship with God. If you become a friend of God in this life you will remain friends forever. If you are not a friend of God in this life, you will not be friends in the next.

Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 (NLT) “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear Me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.” Friendship with God is the key that unlocks the door of heaven.  Jesus is standing at the door of your heart right now. He is knocking. He is calling to you. If you open your life up to Him and let Him in, He promises to open the gates of Heaven and let you in. Why don’t you take a moment to do that right now?

Oaklee (born in OK City) Yaffa (pronounced “Yah-fah” which means “beautiful” in Hebrew) born to Joshua Clark and Amber Aldrich on Sunday, April 8 at 6:45pm, weighed 8lb 4oz and was 20.5 inches in length. She is a healthy girl and the first grandchild to Dan and Donna Clark of Cedar Springs. Her grandmother, Char Aldrich, resides in Morley, Michigan. Donna, daughter Daneille Borntrager, and Char were all present for the birth.

25th Anniversary

Robert and Shelli (Hanna) Hall will celebrate their 25th Anniversary on April 25th. They celebrated early with a cruise to the Bahamas. Their daughter Nicole will graduate from GVSU, son Joshua is attending Ferris State. The family will celebrate with a dinner at a later date.

January 9, 2012

In celebration of her life a memorial service will be held on April 28th at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sand Lake.

Heaven became brighter April 13, 2012 when our Heavenly Father called his beloved daughter, Betty Jo (Sicard) Stults, of Cedar Springs, age 73, home. She joins her parents, Roy and Mamie Sicard, her son, James, granddaughter, Emajean Rector, her brothers, Thomas, and R. David Sicard. Betty is survived by her children; Cynthia Batchelor, Cheryl and Gregory Fisk, June and Eugene Rector, Jr., Timothy Stults; 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren plus the anticipated arrival of a great-granddaughter; brothers and sisters, Sarah and Harry Joslin II, Rachel and Roger Klinge, Goldie and Elwyn Joslin; John Sicard, Sandra and Richard Thrasher, and Michael Sicard; nieces and nephews. The service for Betty will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at the Pederson Funeral Home with Pastor Jennings Johnson officiating. Interment in Elmwood Cemetery. Relatives and friends met with the family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Mr. Carl E. Lewis (Retired MSP), age 67, of Cedar Springs, passed into the loving arms of his Savior, surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 12, 2012. He celebrated 48 years of marriage with his high school sweetheart, Ellen Lezovich Lewis. Carl was a dedicated Michigan State Trooper for 25 years, serving the Rockford, Iron Mountain, Lakeview Post, retiring from Rockford in 1997. His greatest achievements was being a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and a Christian role model to many. Carl is survived by his loving wife, Ellen; children, Rex and Michele Lewis, Douglas and Sheryl Lewis, Stacy and Anthony Bishop, Carla and Kirk Sissell, and Lisa Lewis; 11 beautiful grandchildren; brothers and sister, Harold and LaDonna Lewis, Evelyn and Duane Carr, and Clyde and Sharon Lewis; Ellen’s family, Mary Wall, Cathryn Mulholland, Dora Lezovich, and Thomas and Kathy Lezovich; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Marion (Atkin) Lewis; sister, Wilma Lloyd, and his brother, Roy Lewis. The Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Lewis was offered on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church with The Rev. Tony Russo presiding. Interment was held in Bethany Catholic Cemetery in Morrice on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The Scripture/Rosary Service was prayed on Monday evening at the funeral home at 8:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Our Lady of Consolation Memorial Fund or Food for the Poor. Relatives and friends met with the family at the Pederson Funeral Home on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday. Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Irwin Bassett, Jr. 86 of Grand Rapids, MI, died Sunday, February 26, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona. He will be dearly missed by many friends and members of his family including his children, Bradley (Marge) Bassett, Cynthia (David) Maxson, Patricia (Jaye) Cole; grandchildren, Kelly Maxson, Mark Maxson, Janaka Edwards, Jennifer Cherry, Damon Cole; great grandson, Jackson Cole. He was preceded in death by his wives, Barbara and Beverly; and a son, Mark. Irwin will be remembered at a memorial service on Saturday, April 28 at 1:00 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. The family will greet friends beginning at 12 noon. Pastor Mary Ivanov officiating. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs. Following the service, please join Irwin’s family and friends at the Cedar Springs United Methodist Church for a luncheon and celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the American Lung Association or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Friends of Bob Maxwell are invited to celebrate Bob’s 80th birthday on Sunday, April 22nd from 2 – 4 pm at Algoma Township Hall, 10531 Algoma NE, Rockford (SW corner of Algoma and 13 Mile Rd.) No gifts please.

Brooke Durst and Jeremy Wong were married on the bride’s birthday, March 11, 2012, at the Collegedale Community Church in Collegedale, Tennessee. The couple met at Southern  Adventist University where they both graduated with a BA in Religion. They currently reside in Kettering, Ohio where they are active in ministry.  Parents of the bride and groom are Doug and Cheri Durst of Rock Spring, Georgia (formerly of Cedar Springs) and Alan and Lian Wong of Sellersburg, Indiana, respectively. Attendants included  Heather Henning, sister of the bride and Michael Paskewicz, cousin of the Bride along with many other friends. Arryanna Rodrigues-Torres was a most lovely flower girl! The bride wore an ivory satin gown and red shoes to honor the Chinese tradition symbolizing joy and happiness. The groom was presented with a cowboy hat as he was welcomed into the Durst family. The wedding was live streamed and can be viewed at brookeandjeremy.info.

Vows of marriage were spoken on September 10, 2011 at Beth Haven Baptist Church in Sheridan by Erika Ann Moody and Marc David Walker. Parents of the bride are Richard and Ruth Moody, of Escanaba. The groom’s parents are Dennis and Sue Walker of Cedar Springs. Maid of Honor was Janelle Goodreau. Braidemaids were Becky Sarauer, Kim Parks, Holly Walker and Denise Ruwersma. Flower girl was Madilyn Ruwersma. Best man was Paul Ruwersma. Groomsmen were Jeremy Austin, Jeff Vandenburg, Michael Moody and Kevin Walker. Ringbearer was Levi Ruwersma. Ushers were Tom Green and Mike Hodgkiss.