Pastor David Vander Meer 

Rockford Springs Community Church

5815 Fourteen Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341

II Corinthians 5: 21: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Now there is a statement for Christians to get their arms around!

Easy now, don’t charge me with heresy too fast. Not for a minute am I saying that we do not need the death of Christ, for it was through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross that the believer’s sins were paid for. The perfect, just, wrath of God demanded and required sin to be atoned for. We understand this. Justice had to be served. But we could not withstand the wrath of God. We could not pay the penalty from our rebellious acts of sin against our creator’s laws. But Jesus could, and did. As a sacrificial lamb He took my sin and shame. And so, He died.

The death of Christ won for the believer forgiveness. Standing now before God, the Christian can know that he is forgiven. Just as far is the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. What a great gift God gives His people. Forgiveness.

But I said that not only do we need the death of Christ, we also need the life of Christ.

Let’s go back in time to when there was just Adam and Eve in the garden, the physical parents of us all. Everything was just great. They walked with God and they talked with God in open fellowship. But then, as we all know, they chose to rebel against God and chose to take what they were told not to take. They became unrighteous, unholy, and unacceptable before the holiness of God. But not only did their sin affect their own hearts, it affected all of humanity that was born as their descendants. So now, all humanity is born unrighteous. From this corruption of unrighteousness, we then act out our fallen nature and sin. Something has to change, there has to be a change in my unrighteousness. Someone has to change my nature and make me righteous. The righteousness we need is the very righteousness of God.

Here again, Jesus saves us. Adam brought us unrighteousness. But Jesus brings us righteousness. Adam chose sin. Jesus chose obedience. Adam rebelled. Jesus submitted.

For those that believe in Christ, they enter into the spiritual family of God by faith. Their sin is transferred to Jesus and the righteousness of Jesus is transferred to them. They are righteous, and forgiven, because of the life and the death of Jesus Christ. What a joy to be right with God, what a relief to be forgiven, all from our savior, Jesus Christ. This is the central theme of the Gospel, the Good News of the Bible. I trust that this righteousness of God is yours through your personal faith in Jesus Christ. He lived, and He died, to save. AMEN

Rev. David Vander Meer, Rockford Springs Community Church | 5815 Fourteen Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341

My uncle just died. It may be that you knew him. He was best known as Uncle Charlie, of the Children’s Bible Hour, later known as CBH, and now, Keys for Kids. This man just loved kids and loved to tell them about his best friend and savior, Jesus. When my wife and I visited him on the day before he passed away, he shared with us his favorite verse.

The verse is Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Uncle Charlie believed in the power of Christ to bring change in a little boy or girl’s heart. Adults’ too. This is why, from 9 years old to 84 years old he was involved in this ministry of sharing the power of Christ. He did not put confidence in himself to change hearts, but in Christ’s power to change hearts. He knew this power of Christ was brought to anyone who personally believed in Him and surrendered to His will.

But what made Uncle Charlie keep going all those years was the persistent power of Christ that not only began the work of changing a person but also could finish the work. Change can take time, and effort, and sometimes the need to work through failure. But in this text, Paul the apostle relied on the persistent power of Christ to change the believers in a town called Philippi. Uncle Charlie learned to trust the power of Christ to do the same in his world. And we need to trust Christ to change hearts in our world, too. Today, thousands of adults, who once were children, have been touched by the power of Christ through Uncle Charlie’s confidence in Christ.

We are planning to celebrate the grace of God in Uncle Charlie’ life on Saturday, March 16, at Calvary Church on East Beltline, at 1 pm.  We sure would be honored if you came and sang with us: “Boys and Girls for Jesus, this our earnest prayer.”   

Pastor David Vander Meer

Rockford Springs Community Church 

5815 Fourteen Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341

When the Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples how to pray, in Matthew 6: 9-15, he guided them through what we have come to call the Lord’s Prayer. Every phrase is rich in meaning, every sentence is personal and relative to our lives, and every sentence is God centered and Christ exalting.  

Note the prayer again:

⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread,
¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (ESV)

But the sentence that shocks us like jumping through a frozen Michigan pond is the sentence: “¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Oh, we want forgiveness, and desperately need it… but we do not want our forgiveness compared to how we forgive others. And, as if that is not enough, the Lord immediately follows up the prayer with a comment directed specifically at this petition for forgiveness by adding this comment: “¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (ESV)

We are like a boxer reeling on the ropes after being hit by not just one punch, but by a volley of punches. We reel on the ropes, not just theologically, but also experientially.

Theologically we know that we are forgiven on the basis of the righteous life and death of Jesus Christ. His work is acceptable to God, and not mine. So clearly the action of forgiveness on our part towards others is proof of salvation, not the achievement of salvation. But that being said, how vital is this proof for without it we may indeed stand condemned, and not saved.

Forgiving each other is not an option.

The requirement of forgiveness towards each other is not removed due to any excuses I may draft up.

But we might as well as admit it. We cannot forgive without God’s help. Our hurts, too often, run too deep. Our tendency to carry a grudge is so strong. Our memory of what was said calls up the damaging event over and over through the night. Releasing the offender is not in our nature.

And so the Lord teaches us in this text to pray. We pray, and plead, and petition our God to help us. And when the joy of forgiveness comes through the resurrecting power of Christ, we worship him for the release it brings us of evil. To not forgive is evil. We know that. And Christ has the power to break the grip of evil in our lives. How wonderful it is to come to our Lord and ask of Him to do that which He has done for us. As Jesus said, pray then like this.

Hometown Happenings articles are a community service for non-profit agencies only. Due to popular demand for placement in this section, we can no longer run all articles. Deadline for articles is Monday at 5 p.m. This is not guaranteed space. Articles will run as space allows. Guaranteed placement is $10, certain restrictions may apply. You now can email your Hometown Happenings to happenings@cedarspringspost.com please include name and phone number for any questions we may have.

Original Play at the Kent Theatre

May 25,26: Cedar Springs Players presents “Murder on the American Express” and original play by Scott Phillips. May 18, 19, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m., May 20 at 3:00 pm at the Kent Theatre. #20,21

CS Historical Society’s Memorial Cemetery Walk

May 27: The Cedar Springs Historical Society is holding its 18th annual Memorial Cemetery Walk on Sunday, May 27th, at 2 pm to honor veterans of all wars. This years’ veterans will be Alfred Sliter, Civil War; Samuel Armstrong, Spanish/Philippine American War; Russell VanDore, World War I; Mark Wheeler, World War II; Don Miles, Korean War; Carl Straub, Vietnam War. Biographical and historical information will be presented at each gravesite. The Glen Hill Post of the American Legion honor guard will assist at the presentation. We will leave from the museum in Morley Park at 1:30 and return there for refreshments. In case of severe weather warnings we will cancel the event. In case of rain we will do the presentations in the museum. #20,21b

FREE Movie at Kent Theatre

May 29,30: En Gedi will present a FREE movie at the Kent Theatre, God’s Not Dead 2, on Tuesday, May 29th and Wednesday, May 30th both at 6:30 pm. The Christ-centered movie tells a story about high school history teacher Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart) who is asked a question about Jesus in class, her response lands her in deep trouble. The ensuing epic court case could expel God from the classroom and the public square once and for all. God’s Not Dead 2 is a powerful call to action. #20,21b

Senior Lunch at Pine Grove Community Church

May 30: Pine Grove Senior Café would be honored for All Seniors age 60 and over to come celebrate our Veterans both those who are still here with us and those who have given the utmost; those who live on in our memory.  We would be honored to share a meal and memories with you as our guest.  We ask our guests who are Veterans to wear your colors.  Guests who wish to display memorabilia may do so.  At Noon Wednesday May the 30th in our Family Life Center on the North West corner of M-82 & Beech. #21

Reader’s Theatre at CS Library

May 31: Join the FUN with Actors del Arte Ensemble for their FREE popular Reader’s Theatre, Thursday, May 31st at 7 pm to be held in the Cedar Springs Library’s Community Room. The Actors will, present “Blade Runner” by Phillip Dick, based on his 1968 book, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” a work of science fiction. Two of his other books were made into major motion pictures. #21

Classic Car Hop

June 1: Rockford Springs Community Church, 5815 – 14 Mile Rd. (about 2.5 miles east of US131) will host a Classic Car Hop on Friday, June 1st (Rain date is June 8), from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Cruise on over! Load up the family truck, van & grocery getter with your family friends and neighbors! Join us for great food and fellowship while you check out some cool classic cars, street rods and antique autos. Free will donations. Proceeds to benefit RSCC Youth Group trip to the RYS Convention in July. For more information call 616-696-3656. #21,22p

Sand Lake HS Alumni Banquet

June 9: The 126th  (1892-2018) Annual Sand Lake High School Alumni Banquet will be held on Saturday, June 9th at Resurrection Lutheran Church, Sand Lake. Social hour at 5 pm and dinner at 6 pm. The cost of the meal is $13.00. Open to anyone who attended Sand Lake Schools. Please RSVP by June 2 by calling your reservation in to Dave Groner 616-557-3098. #20-22p

Red Flannel Queen Pageant

June 10: Attention all young ladies living in, or attending school within, the Cedar Springs School District, including homeschoolers, who will be in the 11th grade in the 2018-19 school year. There will be a MANDATORY parent meeting for any young lady who would like to participate in the 2018 Red Flannel Pageant and her parent(s). The meeting will be Sunday, June 10th at 2 pm at the Springs Church (135 N. Grant St.). For more information or if there is a concern that you can’t make the meeting please contact pageant director Kaleigh Goehler directly at redflannelpageant@gmail.com. #19-23b

Geraldine A. Schriever age 79 of Cedar Springs, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018 and is now resting in the arms of Jesus. She was born October 26, 1938 in Ellsworth, Michigan the daughter of Gerrit and Henrietta (Potter) Hoeksema. She was a member of Rockford Springs Community Church for many years. Surviving are her daughter, Loriann Meno; grandchildren, Maranda (Ken) Aalsburg, Matthew Cowling and Tiffany Meno; sisters, Nancy VanDyke and Evelyn Knapke; brothers, James, Gary, John, Marvin, Vern, Wesley and Fred Hoeksema; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hendrick; son, Scott; granddaughters, April and Emily; brother, Robert Hoeksema. The visitation and service was Tuesday, April 3 at Rockford Springs Community Church, 5815 14 Mile Road, Rockford. Pastor David Vander Meer officiating. Private interment Blythefield Memory Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church. 

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Pastor David Vander Meer

Rockford Springs Community Church 

5815 Fourteen Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341

When the Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples how to pray, in Matthew 6: 9-15, he guided them through what we have come to call the Lord’s Prayer. Every phrase is rich in meaning, every sentence is personal and relative to our lives, and every sentence is God centered and Christ exalting.

Note the prayer again: ⁹ Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (ESV)

But the sentence that shocked us at Rockford Springs Community Church like jumping through a frozen Michigan pond is the sentence: “¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Oh, we want forgiveness, and desperately need it… but we do not want our forgiveness compared to how we forgive others. And, as if that is not enough, the Lord immediately follows up the prayer with a comment directed specifically at this petition for forgiveness by adding this comment:“¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (ESV)

We are like a boxer reeling on the ropes after being hit by not just one punch, but by a volley of punches. We reel on the ropes, not just theologically, but also experientially.

Theologically we know that we are forgiven on the basis of the righteous life and death of Jesus Christ. His work is acceptable to God, and not mine. So clearly the action of forgiveness on our part towards others is proof of salvation, not the achievement of salvation. But that being said, how vital is this proof for without it we may indeed stand condemned, and not saved.

Forgiving each other is not an option.

The requirement of forgiveness towards each other is not removed due to any excuses I may draft up.

But we might as well as admit it. We cannot forgive without God’s help. Our hurts, too often, run too deep. Our tendency to carry a grudge is so strong. Our memory of what was said calls up the damaging event over and over through the night. Releasing the offender is not in our nature.

And so the Lord teaches us in this text to pray. We pray, and plead, and petition our God to help us. And when the joy of forgiveness comes through the resurrecting power of Christ, we worship him for the release it brings us of evil. To not forgive is evil. We know that. And Christ has the power to break the grip of evil in our lives. How wonderful it is to come to our Lord and ask of Him to do that which He has done for us. As Jesus said, pray then like this.

Rev. David Vander Meer

Rockford Springs Community Church

5815 14-Mile Rd. • 696-3656

At Rockford Springs Community Church we have an adult Sunday school class that meets after our morning worship.  What I have grown to really appreciate as their pastor and leader of the class is everyone’s willingness to struggle with real life questions.  We try to take on topics that are relevant to our lives even though sometimes they are difficult issues.  Our goal is not to just share our own opinions but to determine what God’s Word, found in the Old and New Testament, says about a given topic.

Please join us as we seek to share with the Cedar Springs community our humble study on the topic: “The Separation of the Church and the State.”

We have concluded that the scriptures teach the following…

God is the author of three institutions: the government, the church, and the family; and uses them, among many other things, to maintain safety for individuals and communities so they can thrive, to promote good order, and provide justice.  God delights to bring us good laws so that we will be blessed.

We found that these three institutions bring blessing to each other, and to the society they were intended for, when there is collaboration and not alienation.

God, in His good providence, communicates His way for His creation to function through His Word.  His Word, when obeyed, brings order, joy, and liberty to a society.  But when ignored a society heads towards chaos.  We have seen in history where societies moved away from the teaching of God’s Word and stepped into this kind of chaos.  To restore order societies have turned to human authorities to decide what was right and wrong but in so doing ended up only limiting or even forfeiting freedom.  We thought of Hitler, or even the current leadership in North Korea as examples.  Think of other dictatorships, socialist control, or communistic dominance. So, the primary function of the church, in its relationship to government and society, is to communicate God’s Word so that God’s created world knows good law and is blessed, and liberty is promoted.  Other governments that have sought to remove the voice of God have less liberty, not more.

Another truth we discovered is that the voice of the church must not be separated from government since all creation is damaged by sin and hence needs the authoritative voice of God to bring about morality.  Who will decide morality if not God?  The only other answer is Humanity.  But Humanity is not able to since it is morally broken in the core of its nature.  We need God’s true standard like a carpenter needs a true ruler.

The United States of America has a history where the voice and work of the Christian church has brought blessing.  But we saw in our study that at times this was not true.  Where this was not the case we admit that the problem was not God and His Word, but rather the failure and sin of Christians to faithfully communicate and live out God’s Word.  For this we are sorry.

And finally we believe that everyone must be subject to the government, pay taxes, hold its representatives in honor and respect, obey them in all things that are not in conflict with God’s Word, and pray for them that the Lord may be willing to lead them in all their governing.  Hence instead of separation there must be support for the government from the church.

Therefore, we believe that the government would be blessed to hear and obey God’s Word to bring the greatest blessing and liberty to her people.  And we believe that the voice of God through His church should influence the conscience of our government.

We hope that our attempt at dealing with this question is of some help to our community as we wrestle with such an important issue.

May the Lord bless our Cedar Springs government, and the United States of America.

Pastor David Vander Meer

Rockford Springs Community Church 

5815 Fourteen Mile Rd NE, Rockford, MI 49341

Let’s not be silly…He is neither. But He is our Father, Almighty.

From the very beginning of the New Testament church, the believers in Jesus Christ declared their belief in God as their Father, and as the Almighty. This beginning statement of belief is found in what came to be known as the Apostle’s Creed. This concise creed speaks of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and helps Christians verbalize what they believed about each part of the Godhead.

I have been impressed by the fact that when the early believers wanted to tell the world what they believed about God, they started by using two words: “Father,” and “Almighty.”  On the one hand, they understood their position to be intimate and generated by God so that they would be close to Him and safe. Yet, they also held Him in proper awe because of His breath taking power and infinite strength. Clearly this is how God reveals Himself in texts from the Bible such as when Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6 with the words: “Our Father,” and as Paul writes to the Romans in Romans 8: “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (ESV).  This personal relationship with God, is recognized by the believer, as a relationship that God caused to happen by His grace.

This close personal relationship comes as a shock to the believer for at least two reasons. One, because God, in His nature, is holy which no human matches; and two, because of His almighty power that protects the holiness of His being. Verses like in Job 11: “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?” And Psalm 90 that asks the question: “Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?”  These verses leave us with a fear to enter the presence of His greatness and power.

But perhaps Psalm 91 brings these two truths together in proper unity: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” The ultimate protection we have from the wrath and power of God is God Himself. Jesus Christ became for us our protector from the almighty and the provider of our relationship with the Father.

And so the Christian says, “Thanks be to God, for what the Father desired (our salvation), the Almighty was able to provide. The believer is comforted by the tender touch of his Father that cares enough to wipe away every tear, and confident in the power of God to hold back every evil that could separate him from the love of God.”

And so we say today: “I believe in God the Father, Almighty.”

Hendrik J. Schriever, 80 of Cedar Springs passed away on Monday, March 16, 2015 and is now resting in the arms of Jesus. He was born August 15, 1934 in Bosward, Netherlands the son of Hendrick and Marie (Brands) Schriever. He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 – 1959. He was a welder and steel worker for 60 years working for Haven Bursh, Valley City Sign, Couturier Iron Craft, and Industrial Resources. He had been a deacon and elder at Pioneer CRC in the 1990’s. Surviving are his wife, Geraldine “Gerri” whom he married on June 3, 1960; daughter, Loriann Meno; grandchildren, Stacie (Ken) Aalsburg, Tiffany Meno, Matt Cowling; brothers and sisters in the Netherlands, Bert, John, Nuy, Willameana, and Rieka; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Scott; two granddaughters, April and Emily; and two sisters. The family will greet friends Friday from 10:00 am until time of service at 11:00 am at Rockford Springs Community Church. Pastor David Vander Meer officiating. Interment Blythefield Memory Gardens, Belmont. Memorial contributions may be made to Rockford Springs Community Church.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Dennis E. Sosnowski, 70, of Cedar Springs, was called to his heavenly home on Monday, March 16, 2015. Dennis was born May 23, 1944 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Stanley and Rosemary (Huckleberry) Sosnowski. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, family outings, cooking and watching TV. Surviving are his wife, Vivian; children, Scott (Lisa), Rick (Lynda), Jeff (Welarchie), Angela and fiance, Walt Honeycutt; grandchildren, Jennifer, Amanda, Marica (Zach), Cody, Michael, Haley, Wyatt, Ashley (Mike), and Tyler; 6 great grandchildren; brother, Pat (Dawn) VerDuin; sister, Jill (David) Mancewicz. The family will greet friends Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. The funeral service will take place Saturday 11:00 am at Rockford Springs Community Church. Pastor David VanderMeer officiating. Interment East Nelson Cemetery. Memorials to Children’s International or Love a Child.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Richard W. Bradshaw, 63 of Cedar Springs, died Thursday, April 7, 2011 at his home. Richard was born February 11, 1948 in Muskegon, MI the son of Desmond and Roselle (Evans) Bradshaw. Surviving are two children, Tyrone Bradshaw of Grand Rapids, Tammy (Dennis) Goodspeed of Cedar Springs; one granddaughter, Ashley Cook; 1 great granddaughter, Sophia Cook; brothers and sister, Danny, Desmond and Anita. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda K. Bradshaw in 1996 and a daughter, Anita Bradshaw in 2008. The family received friends Tuesday from 10:30 until time of service at 11:30 at the Rockford Springs Community Church, 5815 – 14 Mile Road, Rockford, MI 49341. Pastor Dave officiating. Interment Solon Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Rockford Springs Community Church. Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.