MOSTLY GRAND RAPIDS (MI), MY HOMETOWN but ALSO ALL of MICHIGAN
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Friday, May 10, 2024
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
how LOW can they go ? 😡👎Michigan lefties want to make even the investigation of election fraud ILLEGAL.
how LOW can they go ? 😡👎
Michigan lefties want to
make even the investigation
of election fraud ILLEGAL.
"The Vigilant Fox 🦊 on X: "Michigan Senator Goes Viral After Dire Election Fraud Warning Senator Jim Runestad has taken the internet by storm after issuing a stark warning about a new bill in Michigan that should infuriate every American. Runestad warned that SB 603, being pushed by Democrats, will…
Very charitable, but they declined me😢✝️ "Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
I found the letter from 2003 . Now I remember the exact details: I was asking if they would be willing to donate a copy machine for the Pastoral Care Dept on the 10th floor at the Crystal Cathedral, which, believe it or not, they did not have one at the time. Any time the 10th floor staff needed to make copies they had to go down or up on the elevator, etc. I had just finished 4 years at Fuller Seminary & had started my own ministry and I was occasionally using the 10th floor as well.And RIch DeVos had shown appreciation for the positive thinking messages of Robert Schuller on the Hour of Power. I think he also appeared as a guest on one of the Hour of Power episodes - which I can't seem to find on the internet after a brief search-but having personally been there I remember the details. It may have actually been an evening service -, if so, it wasn't televised for the Hour of Power.And I don't remember if it was prior to me sending this letter in 2003 or ex post facto. I remember one detail very clearly: Rich DeVos promised to buy Robert Schuller a new limousine because his old one, which they used to pick him up from the airport, was "bottoming out" . A limousine sounds fancy and rich of course, but I think the original stretch limo was also donated, and it was nothing special. THe new limousine was a silver mini-Limo thanks to Devos.Anyways, they probably assumed that the Crystal Cathedral could afford to buy it's own copy machine for the 10th floor. And in 2003 they were probably right, even though dark clouds would start to gather in the next few years and ultimately the church would declare bankruptcy and close it's doors in 2013. I never knew it would end this way.I had no premonition apart from wondering at some point why the chairs in the Cathedral were getting so worn out and not being replaced? Anyways, I was there through it all, even at the court bankruptcy hearings in Santa Ana, CA.The Cathedral ministry actually has continued on a much smaller budget, at a few new locations (now in Irvine CA known as Shepherd's Grove) under the leadership of Bobby Schuller (Robert's grandson) and the Hour of Power can still be viewed online & on TV in some locations.Nonetheless, I still had my own income & savings from also working as a regular teacher and during seminary as a substitute teacher for the LAUSD and so I decided to buy the copy machine myself. I surprised the 10th floor with a gift.The company delivered it, but for some reason the 10th floor staff didn't accept it. They returned it. Maybe I hurt their pride. And a few weeks later they bought their own copy machine. Whatever.Interesting thing is we have a lot of common heritage as the DeVos family . Our family is of Dutch ancestory and Christian Reformed affiliations; as well as Grand Rapids Christian High, Holland Christian High, & Calvin College. It's a small world. Doug DeVos was a few years before me at Grand Rapids Christian High.Rich & Jay both attended Grand Rapids CHristian and a little bit of Calvin COllege too, I think. The DeVos family attended LaGrave CRC for many years - where my grandfather's family also attended. They had/have a cottage on Lake Michigan by Lake Macatawa as did/does my grandfather (Rest-in-Peace).I also worked at Pine Rest Hospital for a year after college as a Mental Health Worker mostly in the adolescent unit, which was named the Van Andel Center after Rich Devos founding partner Jay (who died in 2004; as well as his wife, Betty, Rest-in-Peace). I think the Devos Family has also made contributions to Pine Rest for the sake of Christian mental health treatment. And my father was a chaplain there for many years.Since 2003 I've continued to make small strides in doing Christian evangelical ministry in various ways. I've done formal mission trips, such as a summer in the Philippines with a CRC group; as well as disaster relief in Costa Rica with CRWM (world missions) after a giant earthquake caused substantial damage.But mostly I've done online E-vangelism (electronic evangelism: blogs, YouTube, Twitter X, etc ) as well as "street evangelism" (Gospel tracts), among many other things. All on a shoestring budget.My motto is "I'm not Johnny AppleSeed, but Johnny Mustard Seed" (based on Matt 17.20 which says "… Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you." I plant seeds - and hope & pray for good soil. Then I rely upon this Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 3: 6-8Best wishes to the DeVos family as well as their staff at their Foundation.Helen died in 2017, Rest-in-PeaceRich died in 2018, Rest-in-Peace-----"Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Monday, May 6, 2024
Sunday, May 5, 2024
"Did Joe Biden Turn Michigan Into a Lost Cause for His Campaign? " PJ Media
''The issue of illegal immigrants murdering people in Grand Rapids is now a national story that will not go away any time soon," Yob explained. "Suburban families, even as far north as West Michigan, are now finding out that the open southern border is in their backyard — and they don't like it. They are about to hear about it over and over again in the media."
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Some of the people I remember working with at Pine Rest Hospital
Some of The people I remember working with at Pine Rest Hospital include: Johnny King (he played basketball at Calvin as well), Belinda Clark, Frank Sisung ( the drummer who was married to the Boorsma Girl; what a character), Bonnie somebody, Denny somebody, Brent Gates, Matt Wynn (RIP), Kim Kooiker (& Kim's male cousin, former military guy, can't remember his name. He was apparently assigned to approve or not approve if I was good enough for Kim*), Nurse Bass ( i played football with her 2 younger brothers) , Morrie Dielman (attended 1st CRC), Teri Bierling, Jeff Genzink, Randy Herrema the psychologist . Among others.
*I met Kim at a required CPR class at the hospital. She also attended Calvin and was still attending Calvin at the time I think. I was already graduated ( The first time.) And we started dating, very slowly. And then her cousin showed up one day and wanted to talk with me and meet me at Denny's for breakfast. It was just sort of a social conversation but he apparently was assigned to make sure I was an okay person for Kim. And apparently he approved of me because we kept dating for a while.
However as much as I respected and liked Kim very much, I decided I was I wanted to be a missionary, or not wanted to be, but was called to be a missionary.
It was the hardest thing in my life to leave Kim, & not only Kim actually -there were other girls in my sphere of influence and potential marriage coming out of Calvin and Grand Rapids. Including Rachel. And others.
But I finally decided if I'm going to be a missionary. Or If I am going to follow God's call, I should say, I needed to leave Michigan, and none of the girls that I dated I don't believe they were willing to be missionary wives. Even if they were serious about being Christians, or churchgoers.
Most of them were Michigan girls, meaning they were born there and grew up there and pretty much as far as I could tell part of their identity was being a Michigander, and so the possibility of them leaving Michigan to be a missionary wife not only somewhere else in the country but in the world was close to zero.
Paul Schrader's "Hardcore (1979)" - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb ( partially filmed in Grand Rapids where he grew up
This movie is now on Tubi for free if you have not seen it. Definitely not for children 🚫. I personally didn't enjoy it very much other than seeing the Grand Rapids scenes and putting the historical pieces together, because it is a film by Paul Schrader who comes from my Calvin , Christian Reformed , Dutch Grand Rapids tradition .
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Very charitable, but declined me😢✝️ "Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Very charitable, but they declined my request for a startup donation as I was beginning my evangelical Christian ministry ✝️😢, even though i have extensive Grand Rapids & CRC history, including Calvin & GRC Schools .
I will post the historic denial letter when I re-find it
"Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years, $1.1B donated"
Monday, April 15, 2024
Monday, April 8, 2024
Friday, April 5, 2024
Nothing here about gambling "Board releases details about Boer resignation in response to due process concerns "– Calvin University Chimes
"The group who submitted the request does not assert Dr. Boer's innocence; their main request was for transparency and assurance that due process was followed in the complaint process, for the good of both Boer and the individual who reported the allegations...."
Hope college exclusive: Wiebe Boer was sending online gambling referrals “Calvin ex-president speaks on resignation scandal "
Hope college exclusive: Wiebe Boer was sending online gambling referrals "Calvin ex-president speaks on resignation scandal "
"Honestly," said Boer, "I didn't even know that sports betting was against the rules."
Boer loves to follow his favorite teams and "win a little pocket money." you can make more money by referring others."
The message on his phone read "Learn how to receive $100 in bonuses (up to $2000 per month) with BetMGM's Refer A Friend."
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Friday, March 29, 2024
"Trump to Address "Biden’s Border" in Grand Rapids, Michigan "
"Trump to Address "Biden's Border Bloodbath" in Grand Rapids, Michigan Speech Days After Previously Deported Illegal Alien Was Charged in Murder of Young Woman, Ruby Garcia "
Thursday, March 28, 2024
2017 : Calvin College's Steve Honderd voted the BEST college BB player in ALL of Michigan after Magic Johnson
He was an Eagle too, by the way.
Amazing "not even the hard-nosed tenacity of Scotty Skiles could slow the momentum of the former Calvin star. Our readers voted for Honderd, 2,202 to 1,186 — 64.99 percent of the vote — to be declared the BEST COLLEGE PLAYER in Michigan since magic Johnson. .."
Sunday, March 24, 2024
2022 "State lawmaker starts 'Grand New Party' PAC, says GOP 'too passive'"
#GrandNewParty 👍🇺🇲
2022 "group of MI Republicans initiative aims to elect conservatives & accused party leaders of being "too moderate" & "too passive" during a press conference Monday, six days after the GOP suffered historic losses at the ballot box"
Michigan State got eliminated by North Carolina in March Madness, 2024. TWICE. How could this be ⁉️
The Men & Women Spartans lost to Tar Heels.
How unusual of a coincidence is it that both the men and women play the same team in March Madness bracket.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Monday, March 11, 2024
re the Mystery of Wiebe Boer Resignation
3/11/24
The resignation of President Boer makes no sense because we do not know any details; giving rise to a wide variety of speculation amongst the Calvin people in my community. All we know is that it was "not sexual or physical" in nature; only that it was "unwanted" by the recipient.
So what was it ? We're all big boys and girls (aka adults). We need to know the details because we are the Calvin Community & Body of Christ. The Calvin administration does not "own" Calvin, and are not dictators. They need to be held accountable too!
People around me are speculating:
1)Did he threaten somebody with bodily harm?
2) Did he belittle somebody?
3) Did he violate PC or woke standards of the larger secular community, (needless to say, not all of such standards necessarily, & arguably, are in agreement with our Christian community)
4) Is this a false allegation by a begrudged person? (reports I read say President Boer partially denied it.)
5) And also disturbingly whether this is a "coup" by a person or persons in the administration in collaboration with the alleged "victim" of the unwanted communication to remove President Boer, due to their own self-serving reasons?
6) Among other things
I speak for myself and others in my nearby Calvin community who want to encourage the Chimes to do some investigative reporting on this matter for the sake of the entire large Calvin Community.
Thanks
Stan Van, Alum
Saturday, March 9, 2024
GR was the 1st USA city to put Fluoride in the tap water " No cavities? Thank this utility "
"At that time, 80 percent of first graders in the United States had an average of 14 cavities, Klinesteker said. By age 55, half of all Americans needed dentures..."
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
about Paul Schrader's movie Hardcore, that begins in Grand Rapids and ends in Hollywood (which is not Bellflower)
prefix: anybody from the Reformed tradition, and especially the Christian Reformed tradition (CRC), should at least be aware of the legacy of Paul Schrader (a calvin alumnus, maybe or maybe not graduated); and the 1979 movie Hardcore (even if it is not recommended for young people; nor would I recommend it in general except for the purpose of knowing the significance of it for the reformed community) ; and also there's a reference to Bellflower in it (which is where the Christian Reformed settled in southern California back in the day, and to this day there remains a few CRC's as well as the K-12 Christian school founded by the CRC, and still in association with the CRC. Furthermore, many Valley students go on to Calvin College; another reason for being aware of who is Paul Schrader and in particular this film entitled "Hardcore".
Above: my pic of Paul Schrader when I saw him at the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles years ago.
Ironically I grew up in GR (Grand Rapids, MI) but our family moved to Bellflower when I was in high school. Paul Schrader begins his movie "Hardcore" (original title was "The Pilgrim" in GR ..and the kids are headed to a young calvinist convention (something the Christian Reformed Church used to do, maybe still do, for adolescents of the CRC) with a big sign on a bus that says "Bellflower" on it. But before I recap the movie for those of you who haven't seen it (by the way, it is available, or was, on Tubi for free now, finally; & not for children by the way. See https://tubitv.com/movies/670431/hardcore ; by the way, last time I checked it is no longer available on Tubi ; maybe they mistakenly released it for free temporarily. Maybe I got lucky).
I guess I didn't see it because I hadn't made a point of it, and it hasn't been free until now. I'm not a "fan boy" of Paul Schrader just because of our similar backgrounds. If he creates good material I will applaud it. Otherwise, not. But when it popped up as a "new free movie" on Tubi I took the time to critically view it. You can also view the opening scenes on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3x46EkgGfc or https://rb.gy/29yjho
So this film was released in 1979 when I was 12 years old, and of course when I was a kid in the 70's in Grand Rapids it would not have been a movie my parents would have approved of, even if it was a Paul Schrader movie- or maybe especially because it was a Schrader movie. He was considered a rebel back then by the CRC- and may still be in some parts.
My parents never mentioned him, either intentionally or because he simply wasn't in their sphere. I only knew of him because of little things I heard or read here & there- maybe at my Christian school (GRCH) or later at Calvin College. I haven't gone back to research this aspect of Paul Schrader's life, but as best as I can recall there was some sort of controversy about Schrader when he was on the Chimes staff, and something about the college chaplain, and something about the code of counseling confidentiality etc etc, … ; and something happened that I won't speculate any further .. some say he got kicked out of Calvin; others say he graduated. Numerous stories abound and maybe we will never know for sure. Schrader himself may have started some of the rumors to add to his "rebel image". At this point, it doesn't really matter.
Even when our family moved from GR to Bellflower when I was in high school I didn't know anything specific about the movie Hardcore or any of his other movies. I don't even remember when I saw Taxi Driver, the movie he is best known for (probably, as he himself says; but some make an argument for "American Gigolo") .
Here's one quote I come across re Taxi Driver:
"In 1973, only five years out of Calvin College, Schrader wrote a near-perfect first screenplay, including revision, in ten days while living in his car following the demise of his first marriage, drinking heavily and attracted to pornography, guns, and suicide. No surprise, then, that Taxi Driver (1974) is not a cheerful work, displaying at length the badly tangled psyche of marine-vet Travis Bickle (De Niro), a New York cabbie who drives the night shift because he can't sleep anyway." https://www.booksandculture.com/articles/1999/julaug/9b4020.html
And of course I had never seen him in person nor even a picture of him. I mention this because much later in life when I was a young adult working in Los Angeles & exploring different parts, I started going to the UCLA Hammer Museum on a periodic basis (by the way, I also worked for a short time at UCLA as a chaplain in the medical center, and completed CPE there (Clinical Pastoral Education). Even though the museum is far too lefty for my taste, I would go there as a Christian evangelist and try to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ our Savior- if nothing else- leaving little Bible tracts underneath windshield wipers. My code of honor as an evangelist is that if a person rejects the gospel I can at least try to be influence or inspire them to be a good citizen.
And one day I noticed the Hammer Museum calendar saying that Paul Schrader was going to be there in person- so I made sure to mark the date to attend the free event. Of course, Schrader attended the UCLA for cinematography (or whatever they call it now)- and for this event he was showing a film and having a conversation with a museum person (& I think he was donating some of his "historic" materials to the UCLA archive).
So I arrived a little early and entered the lobby of the Hammer Museum, and there was an elderly chap sitting alone on a bench waiting for the event to begin and I just passed him by to find a seat in the auditorium. What I didn't know until the show started was that it was Paul Schrader himself sitting there.
I wished I had known what he looked like so I could have said hello and mention to him our similar pathways- ie we both grew up in GR, both attended GRCH & Calvin, both grew up in the CRC, etc. He originally intended to go into Christian ministry, while I actually did so; but also dabbled in show business myself (more about that later). It would have been a fun conversation.
Also, by the way, his late brother Len was involved in Hollywood film making, mainly as a writer- best known for his film entitled "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" - another film which I did not see until late in life- and for that matter- I didn't find it very compelling- and never actually finished watching it. It had a lefty agenda which I don't necessarily agree with- or find very entertaining either. But it did win an Oscar, for what it's worth. It stars the late William Hurt- and I noticed that Paul is currently married to Mary Beth Hurt- who as best as I can tell was originally married to William Hurt- but it ended in divorce (I think).
Another connection to the Schraders is that Len attended the University of Iowa writing program in Iowa City (coincidentally, I was born at the University of Iowa Medical Center when my dad was working his first full-time job as a CRC pastor- and my parents had interacted with Len on a few occasions).
Anyways, I attended the Hammer Museum event -watched his film about "Mishima" - listened to the interview- nothing particular memorable about any of it. Never got a chance to talk to him. With all of this as a prelude, let's get back to the Hardcore movie- as mentioned it begins in GR with kids sledding on a hill - like I did when I was a child - I think they show "Richmond Park" for the sledding scene (where I never went sledding- we would usually go to Brookside or Tower Park on the SE side).
They also show at least one Christian Reformed Church in the opening scene- I think it is Leonard Street CRC. This is the west side of GR- opposite of where I grew up. I would rarely come over this way on my own or even with my family - except for a few times when we might go to John Ball Zoo. I remember playing against "Westside" school in basketball when I was playing for Millbrook on the southeast side (I remember Bill Sall was their best player. Now he's the Calvin Coach. Small world). That's about it. Anyways, the point is that Paul Schrader was a "west sider."
Later in life I've explored the west side of GR a bit more, but we never attended the Christian Reformed churches on that side of town (our family attended 1st CRC, also known as Bates Street). Of course we had west side kids in our class at GRCH- all the Christian junior high students (from Ada, Millbrook, Sylvan, East Paris, Westside, Creston, etc ) eventually meet at the one main high school (some of these junior highs no longer exist, including mine). The opening scene also apparently shows Paul's dad shoveling snow and Paul's actual house (lots of actual real snow- makes me wonder if they filmed this after the famous blizzard of '78? I was living there at the time and remember it well. And it fits with the timing of the release a year later).
There's also a scene at a factory, and also at a home that says in fading paint "Van Dorn's Celery"- (apparently, celery farming was a thing in west Michigan for some time. See https://www.thehenryford.org/explore/blog/celery-in-western-michigan ) where they show some of the elderly folk talking about Reformed theology- all familiar topics to me
Later, there's even a scene where the main character - the father in search of his daughter in Los Angeles (played by George C. Scott) has a conversation with a young lady about "TULIP" - the reformed acronym for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistable Grace, & Perseverance of the Saints - to which the female character responds "Wow, you're more messed up than me", or something like that.
Why is the father searching for his daughter? Because somewhere after reaching Los Angeles, the daughter disappeared. And nobody knows what happened. So after hiring a private investigator who is only partially successful or honest with the father, the father decides to go to L.A. on his own to find his beloved daughter.
And here is where I need to mention some particulars about the movie that are misleading. Of course the bus says they are going to a convention in Bellflower which is indeed in Los Angeles county- but Bellflower is one of MANY suburbs & incorporated cities (88 in total) of L.A. county -and it is not necessarily in a "seedy" area as depicted in the movie.
From Bellflower to downtown is 18 miles. If a young person was going to L.A. to be LED ASTRAY (no pun intended, but it works well ie LA= Led Astray), Bellflower would not necessarily be the place to go. Bellflower was originally mostly Dutch farmers- in fact my dad, as the son of a CRC pastor, partially grew up there in the 1930's before moving to Holland Michigan.
He has photo album pics of wide open fields- dirt roads, lots of open space etc. Of course by the 70's it had become much more established, but still then and today is not near Hollywood nor the lefty craziness you might think (of) (sorry to end with a preposition). In the 70's and even still today it is a relatively mundane community - not a lot of exciting night life or theatres, etc.
For entertainment, people might go to Cerritos Mall; or venture all the way downtown or to Hollywood for special shows etc. Belfllower is surrounded by other suburbs such as Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, Downey, Paramount, and the list goes on. For sports, there's Angels Stadium in Anaheim, and Dodger Stadium near downtown, and all the other sports teams, but none are near Bellflower.
Perhaps Bellflower's biggest claim to fame today is the football team at Bosco Catholic High School. They are a regular top seed in the entire nation for high school football, and high prospects will travel or move to the area to attend Bosco- with high hopes of a college career and maybe even the NFL.
Originally, however, Bellflower (originally called Somerset) was a stronghold for the CRC- including Valley Christian Schools- associated with the CRC- which my grandfather (also a CRC pastor) co-founded back in the 30's. So the Bellflower sign on the bus is misleading.
If this CRC father's daughter went to Bellflower- to get "led astray" into pornography she would have had to travel on her own or be picked up by somebody - to the other side of L.A. (county, not city) - most likely San Fernando Valley (about 40 miles from Bellflower) - which is known to be more of a pornography -producing area. I am now imagining the snarky hyper-sexual punk out there reading this sarcastically saying suggestively, "How does he know it's a porno area? "
And the answer is: I study and read, and learn. Not from personal involvement in it. I also worked as a substitute teacher for the LAUSD for many years while going thru seminary and so I got to know the area from working at the many LAUSD schools in the area, and you learn as you go. San Fernando valley (not to be confused with the City of San Fernando in SF Valley) is comprised of many cities, from Glendale out to Thousand Oaks, and everything in between. Of course, there's also Burbank, Tarzana, Studio City, North Hollywood, etc
There's also the mainstream film industry in this area, including Warner Bros, Disney, as well as numerous other smaller film production companies. When I was still in seminary I bought a used station wagon a few decades ago- a beautiful Mercury Colony Park- & it just happened to be from a fellow who was a film producer living in Studio City and had used it to transport "suits" (ie film studio executives around the lot).
To put all of this into context: Grand Rapids to Holland MI (or Grand Haven if you prefer) (a drive I took millions of times to "grandpa's cottage" growing up in West Michigan) is about 30 to 35 miles, closer than Bellflower is to San Fernando. Basically, "the valley" is the other side of "the hill" – which Mulholland Highway traverses from the Bel Air area towards the Hollywood Bowl area ( I recently drove it with my elderly parents & my sister who was visiting from Michigan- showing them the sights-
Anyways, this leads me to another point: After my family moved to Bellflower, I still went back and forth to Grand Rapids as I attended Calvin College, and two of my siblings remained in West Michigan. And my grandfather on my mother's side still resided in GR - and ran a profitable butter business.
Anybody who knows a little bit of Dutch American and CRC history can easily figure out who I am from all the clues I've given. And people who knew our family -and made the association of us with my successful businessman grandfather (& his "mansion" in East Grand Rapids) -- assumed when we moved to southern Cal we were moving to a place like Beverly Hills - like a mansion or something. Because they also knew my dad was moving back to California to work for a successful televangelist Christian ministry- which evoked images of financial well-being, in the minds of some people.
However, Bellflower is NOT Beverly Hills. It's not a "bad neighborhood" necessarily but it's just basic middle-class houses - some areas nicer and more spacious than other- but some parts very close together- including lots of apartments. Our family moved to a nice 2-story home: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, big backyard, near a park, etc - also in an equestrian area- where some people had horses- and they would ride them on the nearby riverbed and on the streets as well. But it was NOT a fancy area that you might see in Sunset Magazine etc.
I say this because over time- we would have CRC friends visit from west Michigan (some of them "Eagle Knights" -ie who attended GRCH & Calvin like myself) and often they would come with certain pre-conceptions as mentioned only to find out we lived in an "ordinary" middle class neighborhood.
Some with less class would return to Michigan and tell snarky stories about where we live as if we ever pretended to be rich Beverly Hills people. WE never did. And still don't to this day (although I don't live in Bellflower anymore, my parents still do in the same house).
We are not and never were a "flashy" family, nor was my wealthy Grand Rapids grandfather (apart from the mansion, of course). My wealthy grandfather drove station wagons his whole life, and kept his Lake Michigan cottage fairly primitive. Even today the driveway remains unpaved. His son who took over the business is more of a flashy type- in terms of cars and boats. But those of us who moved to Bellflower were never the flashy types.
There were also a few "friends" who assumed I was going to be in the movie business myself because of the images and associations they had in their minds of me and my family (as mentioned my dad also worked for a televised ministry that periodically interviewed famous guests as part of the church service; including the occasional Hollywood celebrity who had at least a little bit of Christian conviction). And some thought I had "Hollywood looks" whatever that means. But I never had any dreams or ambitions of becoming a so-called "movie star".
One of these people I knew from Calvin showed up by surprise one day when I was still in Bellflower and she was shocked that it was nowhere near Hollywood and the film industry. And disappointed for that matter. She mistakenly thought I was part of that crowd. Sorry Audrey (& Eric). I never said I was, nor pretended to be (but that's another story for another time). Later, I did become a little involved in show business – but mostly for the sake of my Christian ministry- and trying to reach people in those circles with the good news of Jesus Christ (yes, I am an evangelical!)
CRC kids & families all over USA know about other CRC communities all over the USA from missionaries who visit their parish, & from reading The Banner, and for those who go on to Calvin, they meet fellow CRC kids (young adults). However, unless you're a rare bird, like me (or one of those CRC pastors who bounced around, or a family member of such a pastor) you probably don't personally know much of anything about that other CRC community.
I'm such a rare CRC bird that over time I searched out all the CRC locations in California – attending a few- but mostly just taking pictures of them for a blog. Later, I did the same in the Chicago area- primarily for the purpose of getting to know the physical locations of these Christian Reformed neighborhoods. Even as late as 2023 I'm still doing this- most recently around the greater Grand Rapids area- wow -so many CRC's and RCA's and even Protestant Reformed Churches- it's mind boggling. I sometimes ponder how much more we could do as the Body of Christ if we could find a way to unite!
As best as I can tell, the only reason Paul Schrader used Bellflower as a prop on the bus was apparently because he knew of it as a Christian Reformed stronghold. I wonder if he has actually ever been to Bellflower? And as far as I know they never filmed any of the California scenes actually in Bellflower, nor even in L.A. County. From what I hear, many, if not all, of the risque CA scenes are actually filmed in San Diego County.
Friday, March 1, 2024
Shouldn't Calvin University president Wiebe Boer be given a chance for Repentance ?
Should Calvin University president Wiebe Boer be given a chance for Repentance-Grace-Redemption before being forced to resign for some alleged "inappropriate communications" ?
Thursday, February 15, 2024
"Confirmed: Great Lakes Setting Record Low For Ice Coverage"
"the early parts of January, only 0.2% of the Great Lakes had any ice coverage, and Lake Michigan had almost none.
Read More: Confirmed: Great Lakes Setting Record Low For Ice Coverage | https://wfgr.com/ixp/690/p/2024-great-lakes-record-low-ice/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Read More: Confirmed: Great Lakes Setting Record Low For Ice Coverage | https://wfgr.com/ixp/690/p/2024-great-lakes-record-low-ice/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Prayers for Brian & Jen Kok
"I have loved being an entrepreneur for the past 25 years and it has offered me a chance to have more time for my family. My husband, Brian and I are college sweethearts and have gone on to build a family of 3, and in the past few years added two son-in-laws and a granddaughter, and three golden retrievers. .."
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
My childhood zip 👍"Promoting the Welfare of the City Through the 49507 Initiative" | The Banner
I got a BA x2, plus an M.Div
"Currently, less than a quarter of people living in the 49507 area have a bachelor's degree, compared to about 39% in Grand Rapids as a whole..."
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Friday, January 26, 2024
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
"WATCH: Coach Jim Harbaugh Makes Surprise Appearance At March For Life Just Days After Winning National Championship - "
"WATCH: Coach Jim Harbaugh Makes Surprise Appearance At March For Life Just Days After Winning National Championship - "
Sunday, January 21, 2024
" Lions advance to NFC title game with 31-23 win over Buccaneers"
"Jared Goff throws 2 TD passes, Lions advance to NFC title game @ 49ers with 31-23 win over Buccaneers"
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Michigan Sschmisshigan 👎"CATCHING THE FRAUD: Check My Vote Investigators Uncover FAKE MI Addresses
Michigan
Sschmisshigan 👎
"CATCHING THE FRAUD:
Check My Vote Investigators Uncover FAKE MI Addresses On Voter Rolls—One Address Has 19 Registered Voters—8 of Them VOTED In 2020 and 2022 Elections''
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/01/catching-fraud-check-my-vote-investigators-uncover-fake/
Monday, January 15, 2024
👍🏈Fun to see Lions QB Goff get Victory against Rams coach who dumped him 🏟️
Fun to see Goff get
Victory against
rams coach who
dumped him
"Jared Goff leads
Lions in
REVENGE WIN
over Rams"
Sunday, January 14, 2024
i was the attempted victim of a "honeypot trap" in college (calvin college of all places)
i was the attempted victim of a "honeypot trap" in college (calvin college of all places) ... being the son of a prominent pastor... these "friends" who were fake friends tried, but failed, to set me up, with the intention of "bringing me down" even though I was "nobody" at the time, only the son of a prominent pastor, and the grandson of a prominent businessman. THe trap failed, but it did have a chilling effect on me. I will tell more details about this later.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
I was there . I remember "Great Blizzard of 1978 Blasted Michigan 46 Years Ago This Month"
I remember shoveling the roof and then jumping off the roof into the piles of snow.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
why named beltline bar grand Rapids - Google Search
"The Beltline Bar was opened in 1953 by George Wilkinson. Beltline Bar was a fitting name considering 28th Street was commonly referred to by Grand Rapidians as "The Beltline." When Tony Rutkowski acquired the restaurant in 1964, the establishment only seated 42 people in a single 60' x 30' room..."
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Many years ago I sold my motorcycle to "Derrick Vreugdenhil - Maestro's Painting Contractors Ltd". | LinkedIn
Many years ago I sold my motorcycle to "Derrick Vreugdenhil - Maestro's Painting Contractors Ltd". | LinkedIn
Monday, January 8, 2024
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Thank you Richie Rich "Did You See Shaq Thank The DeVos Family on TV?"
*"After finding out about his jersey being retired Shaquille O'Neal thanked the DeVos family on TV, expressing his appreciation and saying,
"I wish the old man was still alive, Rich DeVos. He meant a lot to me and his family."
Read More: Did You See Shaq Thank The DeVos Family on TV? | https://wfgr.com/ixp/44/p/shaq-thanks-devos-family-on-tv/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Saturday, January 6, 2024
The Bad Axis 😠👎: Audrey,Steve,Eric,Winny, Rick, Brinks,DeVries,Kooyer, VanOen,
The Bad Axis 😠👎:
Audrey,Steve,Eric,Winny, Rick, Brinks,DeVries,Kooyer, VanOen,
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
TOTAL ENTRAPMENT 👎"The FBI-Tainted Whitmer 'Kidnap Plot' You've Heard Next To Nothing About"
"I On at least three occasions, according to testimony offered at trial, Chappel offered Fox a prepaid credit card authorized by the FBI with a $5,000 limit to help him buy guns and ammunition; Fox, despite being broke, declined each time..."
Monday, January 1, 2024
Sunday, December 31, 2023
"Yes, You Can Visit the Top of the Monumental Mackinac Bridge"
"The Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) holds a drawing once per year each August, and randomly chooses 25 non-profit organizations to receive a tower tour certificate to be raffled or auctioned for charitable purposes. The certificates can be used May 1st through October 15th of the following year and are good for two people. "
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Monday, December 25, 2023
Monday, December 18, 2023
Monday, December 11, 2023
C'mon Cal 🏀 gals. Time to RISE UP 💪 "Hope women's Basketball Extends Rivalry Win-Streak to 17 With Tenacious Defense"
"It all added up to a 52-32 victory over arch-rival Calvin University Saturday night in front of more than 1,400 fans at DeVos Fieldhouse, the Flying Dutch's 17th straight win in The Rivalry dating back to 2017..."
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
"Muskegon Voter Fraud: Video Interrogation of GBI Strategies Official Released, Verifies Prior Gateway Pundit Reporting and Indicts Michigan AG Dana Nessel"
"Muskegon Voter Fraud: Video Interrogation of GBI Strategies Official Released, Verifies Prior Gateway Pundit Reporting and Indicts Michigan AG Dana Nessel"
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Could this FINALLY be the year of the Lions ⁉️ "Lions rally to beat Bears 31-26
"NFC North-leading Lions rally from 12-point deficit late to beat Bears 31-26 on Montgomery's TD run"
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Saturday, November 11, 2023
In other words, EVERYBODY'S DOING IT, Not just Michigan :
In other words,
EVERYBODY'S DOING IT,
Not just Michigan :
"The employee said he shared with Michigan the documents, which showed the Wolverines' signs and corresponding plays, after his school faced the Jim Harbaugh-led program in 2022...
This person also passed along screenshots of text-message exchanges with staffers from a handful of Big Ten football teams with Michigan, giving the program proof that other conference teams were colluding to steal signs from the Wolverines..."
Friday, November 10, 2023
Wow "the University of Michigan football team must compete without its Head Football Coach remaining games
"As a penalty imposed on the institution, the University football team must compete without its Head Football Coach for the games remaining in the 2023 regular-season, effective immediately," the Big Ten said in a release...
Michigan responded to the announcement with a statement of its own, saying it intends to seek a court order "preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect."
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