December 2021
as a shepherd (Mark 6:34) and likening elders of a church to shepherds (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11).Therefore, it is unlikely that the reason why the angel of the Lord went to the shepherds first was to reveal God’s heart for the vilest
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The angel could have first made the announcement to prominent religious leaders or wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem.
of sinners. Why, then, did the angel of the Lord go to the shepherds first? Most likely, the revelation to the shepherds parallels and reinforces the lowly circumstances of the birth and the
The Stories Behind Popular Christmas Carols
manger with no room in normal human habitation. The angel appeared not to the rich and powerful or to the particularly righteous and religious, but to lowly shepherds, to average people who would be receptive to the message…
“
Steve Burchett It was to “shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8) that the angel of the Lord first announced, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (2:11). Why did the angel go to the shepherds first? Was it to make the point that Jesus came to save the worst of society? According to Andreas J. Kostenberger and Alexander E. Stewart, attributing wickedness to shepherds as a class is found in Jewish texts, but these were written after New Testament times (The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation, 147). Additionally, the New Testament uses shepherd imagery in a positive way, even describing Jesus
(T)he message to the shepherds points forward to an accessibility that depends not upon one’s status (religious or socioeconomic), position, wealth, or prestige. The birth of this child was good news for all! (147-8)
The angel could have first made the announcement to prominent religious leaders or wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem (some of whom were eventually saved—such as Joseph of Arimathea [Luke 23:50] and Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10]). Instead, the angel of the Lord went to “insignificant” shepherds who were going about their ordinary lives. Unto You! If you fall into the “normal, nonelite” category of people, here’s “good news of great joy” (v. 10): Jesus came to save sinners just like
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Are There Legitimate Objections to the Virgin Birth?
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INSPIRATION
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- Whispers of the Heart By April James Since my husband passing two and a half years ago, life has taken some interesting twists and turns, with surprises along the way. As I’ve learned to be more dependent on God, I have found Him not just faithful to His promises but aboundingly so. He also remembers the whispers of the heart. Like many others, COVID restrictions cancelled all my travel plans with family and friends. Earlier this year, as I began again to make travel plans, they were once again abruptly interrupted, this time by two words from the Lord “ministry school”. Ministry School? It was like - Lord, do you know how old I am? I know, silly question to ask Him. I didn’t really ask but I thought it, laughingly. It was amazing how travel thoughts instantly faded away. All of a sudden, I was giddily excited at the prospect of ministry school while at the same time concerned about being unavailable for family or missing a grandchild’s birthday party; being away from my church family who are so dear, and ministry things there; and having the talk with pastors about leaving. I also had concerns whether or not I
would be able to keep up with other students who were my children or grandchildren’s age; and what about my cat and houseplants, Plus, I’d never left home and moved somewhere where I knew no one before. Yes, my concerns might sound silly to some while others
can identify with them. It’s amazing how tangled we get with things, but as I considered not going there was this feeling that I couldn’t put a finger on, it was if I had to no matter the sacrifices. In all the transition, planning, praying, the application process, and so forth – once more the Lord was aboundingly faithful
in everything. He worked things out in unimaginable ways; amazing how He cares about things that concerns us. I was a little apprehensive the day of my phone interview and wondered how long it would be before I would find out if accepted. At the end of call I choked up and tears escaped, I couldn’t believe – I was accepted to start in the fall. When asked what led me here (to school), I would reply it was the Lord’s idea, how He changed my plans. Then last week while listening to one of the speakers, the Lord reminded me how a couple decades earlier while at a conference and hearing about the ministry school, I had said I would like to do that. It was a fleeting desire long ago dismissed in the midst of raising a family, a job, and other life pursuits. However, the Lord had not forgotten the whispers of my heart, in His perfect timing He said – I am giving you that which you desired. Che Ahn stated “When you are following God, He will lead you where you thought you could never go!” What are your God dreams?
THE AMBASSADOR ? ? ? ? ? ?
The Ambassador is a free, monthly publication promoting unity and revival among the local Yuba-Sutter area Bible-believing churches. The Ambassador has a circulation of 5,000 - 6,000 and is distributed in local churches and businesses in the community. The purpose of The Ambassador is to pursue the great commission of Christ by making disciples and to encourage, inform, challenge and connect the local body of Christ. We believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible as the written word of God. We believe that God exists as One, in three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that the atoning work of Christ (His death) on the cross and His resurrection is the ONLY means of salvation and the only way to Eternal Life in Heaven. We welcome editorial content from anyone wishing to promote the mission of The Ambassador. All articles and advertisement content is subject to the approval of the editor. View expressed in The Ambassador do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors or advertisers Editor/Publisher - Seth Halpern
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The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Where Is Baby Jesus? By Christy Boals www.gracefilledpurpose.com Despite the fact that the baby Jesus came to earth to seek and save those who are lost, He regularly gets Himself lost at our house. We are always on the hunt for the wayward Savior. Sometimes He slips down between the couch cushions. On occasion He has been found under furniture. One year He disappeared for almost the whole Christmas season. He has been vacuumed up twice, and shockingly, ran over by the Christmas train more than once. (He is just too tempting of a victim, being bound in swaddling clothes!) I suppose it is not too surprising that Jesus can get lost in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. Even those of us who have chosen to follow Him can find ourselves putting Him aside, losing Him in the cracks of our busy lives and letting our relationship with our Savior gather dust on a shelf. I think the question we need to ask ourselves this Christmas is, “Where is Jesus?” Do I have Him front and center in my life? Have I ever invited Him into my life at all? This is the perfect time of year to seek Him, to accept the gift of salvation that He came into the world to give.
Just like our toy baby Jesus, who always pops back up, Jesus has a way of continuing to show up in our lives and give us chance after chance to receive Him and accept the forgiveness and love He offers. Knowing that someday our chances will come to an end, makes today a great day to find Jesus! “For the Son of Man, (Jesus) came to seek and to save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Matthew 27:22 “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 3:16
INSPIRATION The Bethlehem Story
by Pam Ford Davis Do today’s children know the Christmas story? To be sure, most know the North Pole story. They need to know the Bethlehem story. “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke
2:3-7 KJV).” Little ones believe in Santa, his elves and the reindeer. Will they believe in the Savior, Christ the Lord? “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
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CALENDAR Ongoing Events ROAD TO RECOVERY - Sundays, 7:00pm Christian 12 Step support group Crossroads Community Church - 445 B. St. Yuba City Grief Share - Monday January 13, 2021-April 11, 2022 at 6:30-8:30 Praise Chapel Yuba City 398 Aylor Ave. Grief Share is a grief support program that meets weekly to help give encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, friend or any loss. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concepts for healing from your grief. For more information about GriefShare you can go to www.griefshare.org or contact the church at 530-870-0511. LADIES BIBLE STUDY - Tuesdays 5:30PM Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 500, Rm 206 - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com Join us for Ladies Bible Study as we dig deep into The Word. Check out our GT Calendar for events at www.churchofgladtidings.com PRAYER FOR THE NATION - Every Tuesday Night 7PM - 8:30PM Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com GRIEF SHARE; GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - Wednesdays, 6:00pm, For those dealing with the loss of a loved one. Crossroads Community Church - 445 B. St. Yuba City EMBASSY HOUSE OF PRAYER - Every Thursday Night 7PM - 8:30PM Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com "My house shall be called a house of prayer." (Matt. 21:13). The church today is in an all-out war against the evils of darkness. The body of Christ is called to step up and be aggressive in their prayer life. BETHESDA HEALING WELL - 3rd Saturday of the Month 10AM - 12PM Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com Come to receive prayer and be refreshed while soaking in an atmosphere of worship and praise. Sorry, No Childcare.
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Ongoing Events GT LIFE RECOVERY & SUPPORT GROUP - Every Friday 7-8:30pm Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 500) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com GT Life Recovery is a Christ-center program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. It is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling our life.
Special Events HOPE – Christmas Concert 2021 First Baptist Church of Yuba City 916 Plumas Street Yuba City December 12 at 6:00 PM Join us for a very special Christmas Concert! We will begin Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. Come celebrate Christmas with us with a service filled with singing, laughter and a message of HOPE from Pastor Dan. Merry Christmas, from all of us at First Baptist Church of Yuba City! Craft Fair Feather River Baptist Church 5400 Chestnut Rd, Olivehurst December 4th from 8 AM until 12 Noon Feather River Baptist Church is hosting a Craft Fair on December 4th from 8 AM until 12 Noon. Free to vendors. The contact number is 530742-2227. Drive-Thru Nativity Loma Rica Community Church_ 11234 Loma Rica Road (Across from Gold Eagle) December 4th & 5th 5:00PM-8:00PM Both Nights
Miracle of Christmas Drive-Thru Crossroads Community Church, 445 B St. YC Friday December 10 thru Sunday December 12, 6-9PM A Christmas tradition for many in our community. Drive-through our parking lot as you are transported back to the life of Jesus. Christmas Eve Services Loma Rica Community Church_ 11234 Loma Rica Road (across from Gold Eagle) December 24th- 2 Services 5:00PM & 6:30PM New Year’s Eve Concert with Tribute Quartet Crossroads Community Church 445 B St. YC Friday December 31st, 8PM
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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1-Dec 2-Dec 3-Dec 4-Dec 5-Dec 6-Dec 7-Dec 8-Dec 9-Dec 10-Dec 11-Dec 12-Dec 13-Dec 14-Dec 15-Dec 16-Dec 17-Dec 18-Dec 19-Dec 20-Dec 21-Dec 22-Dec 23-Dec 24-Dec 25-Dec 26-Dec 27-Dec 28-Dec 29-Dec 30-Dec 31-Dec
• Prayer List for December 2021 •
The Persecuted Church around the world. Pray that believers would stand strong in the midst of brutal persecution Pray for the eradication of Covid-19 and its variants!! Pray for the vaccines to be effective with only minor side effects! Race relations in our nation- Pray for understanding and collaboration between races and an ease of racial tension Pray for the economy and the shipping standstill. Pray that workers return to their jobs and that shipments would resume LIFE- Pray that abortion clinics would be shut down that people would choose life for their babies Homeless- Safety, health and provision- REST program, Twin Cities Rescue Mission, other local homeless ministries Restore America! Pray against the divisiveness and violence in this nation Seniors and Elderly- Pray for renewed physical and mental strength Mental Illness- Pray for those who dealing with Mental Health issues or suicidal thoughts Veterans- Pray for all those who served our country and their families to get the assistance they need Israel- Pray for safety from violence, and for the Peace of Jerusalem Singles, Single Parents, Divorced , Widowed- pray for those experiencing loneliness and overwheliming burdens Revival- Pray that our global chaos would lead multitudes to repent and follow the Lord!! Unity of Churches/Global impact- Pray for churches to unite and influence the world! Marriages- Pray that relationships would grow and families would seek the Lord together President- Pray that God would show Himself to Pres. Biden and he would radically change his life and leadership Local Ministries- Pray for continued financial support and volunteers to meet needs (see page 3) California- pray for our Godly representatives (including James Gallagher) to fight against liberal and harmful state policies. Sex Trafficking- Pray for the freedom, healing and restoration of survivors and for traffickers to repent Local city/county leaders- Wisdom for leading our community back to "normal" Discipleship- Pray that believers would seek to follow Jesus and become more like Him every day! Schools- Pray for the students, teachers and staff to continue to focus on learning during difficult times Fathers and Household Leadership- Pray for dads and single moms or grandparents to be the family leaders that God calls them to be Merry CHRISTmas! Unto Us A Savior Is Born!! Addicted- pray for those under the control of substances that they would surrender and get the treatment they need Health Care Workers- Pray for physical protection and endurance Pastors- That God would give them strength, courage and wisdom to speak the truth from the pulpit Disabled- that they would receive the assistance and support they need Economic Recovery- for the ability to recover and for businesses to reopen New Year's Eve- Pray for safety and wisdom for all, especially First Responders
CALENDAR 10 Ways You Can Help The Ambassador Ministry 1. Pray with us and for us to not only sustain but to grow in impact. Pray for our health and for spiritual protection 2. Read it yourself – You will be enriched by reading it. 3. Share a copy or an article with someone- you will have someone in your life benefit from an article in every issue, cut it out and send it to them, or send them the whole issue 4. Leave a copy of The Ambassador when you’re having coffee or a meal or waiting for your car. Use it like a tract. It may be less intimidation. 5. Monitor The Ambassador at your church: assure their presence and visibility
6. Subscribe for a friend or family member (or yourself) 7. Find new locations- ask businesses that you frequent to take some papers, deliver and monitor them 8. Deliver a small route- 1 to 2 hours each month 9. Give financially as an Individual partner, business partner, churches/ ministries partner (every dollar helps to impact the community) 10. Talk to your like-minded Christian friends, family, business associates and church leadership, about helping as well.
If you would like to help, please contact Seth Halpern at 530-933-1385 or email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life Mike Pence Calls on SCOTUS to Overturn Roe: "It is Our Hope and Prayer" to End Abortion Vice President Mike Pence expressed strong hopes that the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade in the coming months and "restore the sanctity of life" to unborn babies. Pence spoke to European leaders recently about his hopes during the Budapest Demographic Summit, a conservative political conference in Hungary, ABC News reports. He lamented the societal breakdown of the family, calling it "a crisis that strikes at the very heart of civilization itself." Pence warned of "the erosion of the nuclear family marked by declining marriage rates, rising divorce, widespread abortion and plummeting birth rates." After praising the falling abortion rates in Hungary under conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Pence said he hopes and prays that the same will happen in America, according to the report. He pointed out that President Donald Trump appointed about 300 conservative judges to federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court refused to temporarily block a Texas pro-life lawthat is saving as many as
100 babies every day from abortion. Trump's three appointees were part of the majority ruling. Follow LifeNews on the MeWe social media network for the latest pro-life news free from Facebook's censorship! "We may well have a fresh start in the cause of life in America," Pence said. "It is our hope and our prayer that in the coming days, a new conservative majority on the Supreme Court of the United States will take action to restore the sanctity of life at the center of American law." On Dec. 1, the high court is scheduled to hear a major abortion case out of
Mississippi, one that could erode Roe v. Wade and allow states to protect unborn babies from abortion again. The case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization involves the question of whether states may prohibit abortions on unborn babies before viability. Currently, Roe and a later abortion case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, prohibit them from doing so. In July, Pence and his organization Advancing American Freedom filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to reject Roe and restore protections to unborn babies under the law. "Forty-eight years ago, our Supreme
Court turned away from the timeless ideal that we are 'endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights that include, first among them, life," Pence said at the time. "By calling for Roe and Casey to be overturned, Advancing American Freedom and its partners seek to protect the right to life and to restore respect for the sanctity of life. Life is winning in America, and we must not rest until we restore a culture of life in America." In 1973, the Supreme Court forced states to legalize abortion on demand when it ruled on Roe v. Wade. The ruling made the United States one of only seven countries in the world that allows elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Since then, nearly 63 million unborn babies and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of mothers have been killed in supposedly "safe, legal" abortions in the U.S. Though abortion rates have been falling, nearly 1 million unborn babies continue to be aborted annually in the U.S. The Supreme court was scheduled to hear a major abortion case out of Mississippi. www.LifeNews.com
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CULTURAL CONFUSION A Quick Course in Modern Philosophy how creation has become imperfect through the failure of Mankind to be in relationship with the Creator and to follow God’s plan for redeeming both Mankind and also creation, the natural world. Naturalism gives rise to the idea of Mother Earth being the center of all, a kind of deity. In the religion of Naturalism, human beings take care of “god” instead of the other way around.
As the culture in the United States is being swept to and fro by modern political and social powers, it is incumbent upon thinking adults to know something of the philosophic positions which are influencing not only cultural thought but also legislation and court decisions. What follows are fairly succinct definitions of terms so Christians may be informed and able to discern the root philosophies influencing social thought today. Humanism is a philosophy which puts human beings at the center of all. God is not at the center of life and culture. In fact, God does not exist. Religion is a myth, a deception, a crutch to give human beings a sense of not being alone and hopeless. Humanism emphasizes the value and basic goodness of all human beings. People have the ability to rationally solve human problems without God’s guidance. In contrast, Christianity affirms the value of all human life but teaches human beings are not basically good and that they need God to change their hearts, meaning their orientation and motivations. God’s Word, the Bible, provides moral framework and
specific strategies for addressing and solving human problems. The Bible tells us how to know God and invite God into our daily lives. Humanism says Christianity wrongly tells us we are bad people. If Christianity would stop beating down our self-image and selfworth by saying we are selfish sinners, our natural goodness would emerge. The concept of Sin is designed to cast doubt on basic human goodness, so humanists believe. If we would all agree we are basically good in character, then we can throw off such silly concepts of needing God to save us. Our natural goodness then would make everything right in the world. It can be plainly seen there is an inescapable root conflict of belief
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in between Humanism and Christianity. Atheism is a simple philosophy which doubts the existence of God. Human beings are individually and collectively on their own to face and figure out life. Thus, Atheists are essentially Humanists. Aldous Huxley, a wellknown atheist, ultimately expressed his frustration in not being able to create a single moral thought without finding himself aligned with existing religious thought. The intellectual problem for the atheistic position is that one would have had to travel to all corners of the universe to know if there were no God. No one to date has done such extensive travel. Naturalism is similar to Atheism. It says everything arises from natural causes and thus all issues of life can be addressed and solved without spiritual or supernatural resources. Naturalism assumes all that is natural is good in design and purpose. Christianity affirms the natural world is good because God created it and said it was good. Naturalism, however, fails to recognize what the Bible teaches about
Secularism recognizes religious systems and spiritual realities but insists they not have any expression in the institutions of society meaning government, education, and science, to name a few. This desired separation, however, is largely artificial because social matters are rooted in values. All values are rooted in religious understandings. Thus Secularity, as it is also called, attempts to establish moral values apart from Judeo-Christian influence. Lacking foundation in religious understandings, Secularism attempts to establish morality by way of “majority rule”. For example, same-sex relationships are deemed normal simply because the idea has been declared to be so by those controlling the values of the day. Similarly, abortion is lawful because the US Supreme Court said it was in the case of Roe v. Wade in 1973 by a 5 to 4 decision. It may be easily seen that the practice of establishing morality and law simply on the basis of popular opinion leads to vacillating moral code which fluidly flips depending on majority rule. Rev. Dan Prout Sierra Ministries International www.sierraministries.org/
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The Stories Behind Popular Christmas Carols by Jessica Wolstenholm Can you imagine a world without Christmas? What about Christmas without carols? At one time in America, that’s exactly what happened. In the 1600s, some influential Christians didn’t like how “commercial” Christmas had become, so the colony in Massachusetts banned celebrating the holiday, and that ban lasted for over twenty years. [1] It’s hard to imagine a world without Christmas, especially one without our favorite carols. But it’s easy to recognize that not everyone celebrates Christmas for the same reason. We should be thankful, then, that we have Christmas carols to remind us why we celebrate and to help us praise God for keeping his promise to send a Savior to his people–the same Savior whom we celebrate today. Here are the stories and meanings behind four of the world’s most loved Christmas carols! Angels We Have Heard on High Do you know what was one of the hardest, smelliest, and most dangerous jobs in Jesus’ time? If you said “shepherd” then you’re right! Shepherds worked long hours and slept outside. They chased away dangerous animals and thieves, had to find water for themselves and the animals, and
have sent Jesus’ birth announcement to kings and queens all over the world, but instead, he sent it to shepherds. Singing this carol encourages us to praise the God who keeps his promises, and who cares about everybody, whether they are shepherds or kings or you or me.
nursed the sheep back to health when they were sick. [2] Even though their job was hard, shepherds didn’t always get a lot of thanks. But God cares about everybody–shepherds included–and that’s part of why we read in Luke that he sent his angels to shepherds to announce the birth of Christ! These particular shepherds were guarding the sheep at night when an angel appeared and told them about Jesus. Then, more angels appeared, and they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” The Savior God had promised was coming–and that meant good news for even the smelliest of shepherds! In Angels We Have Heard on High,
we sing the story of the shepherds and we sing the song of the angels, “Glory to God in the highest.” [3] Although we don’t know who wrote this carol, we do know that the song was originally French, written in the 18th century and translated into English around 1862. [4] The carol speaks of hearing the angels’ song echoing in the mountains, and then questions the shepherds about why they are so happy. Then it answers, and begs those who hear to come to Bethlehem to see King Jesus, about whom the angels were singing. The carol then invites us to imagine Jesus, lying in a manger, the Lord of heaven and earth whom even his earthly parents ought to worship. God could
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing For an occasion as important as the birth of Jesus, one song just isn’t enough! Charles Wesley–who wrote almost 9,000 hymns–wrote his own song about Jesus’ birth. [5] His original version started with “Hark, how all the welkin rings,” but thankfully for us, his friend George Whitefield changed it to what we sing today. [6] The song starts by calling us to listen to the angels singing about Jesus’ birth. Hark basically means “listen up!” and herald angels are messengers from God who have a really important message (as if anything they say isn’t important). While “Angels We Have Heard on High” tells the story of the shepherds, Wesley’s hymn starts there but goes on to say who Jesus is, and to marvel at the mystery of God being born as a tiny little baby. So, who is that newborn that the
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David A. Shaw and Susan P. Growney. Securities offered through HD Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member: SIPC, Advisory services are offered through H.D. Vest Advisory ServicesSM, 6333 North State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, Texas 75038, (972) 870-6000. Shaw & Associates is not a registered broker/dealer or registered investment advisory firm. Official voting results based on Appeal-Democrat online public survey conducted in July, 2018.
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Bible Trivia
Word Search
"John the Baptist"
1. Who was John the Baptist's father? a). Thaddeus b). Joseph c). Zechariah d). Malachi 2. Who was John the Baptist's mother? a). Mary b).Elisabeth c). Martha d). Rachel 3. What kind of clothes did John the Baptist wear? a). Camel's hair b). Sheep skin c). Buffalo hair d). Woven cloth 4
John the Baptist was how much older than Jesus? a). 2 years b). 1 year c). 6 months d). He was younger
5. The relationship of Jesus to John the Baptist was: a). Brother b).Cousin c). John was Jesus' Uncle d).Jesus was John's Uncle 6. John the Baptist was put in prison for declaring that Herod had broken what Law? a). Lying b). Murder c).Violating the Sabbath d). Adultery
7. What is the name of the river in which John the Baptist baptized people? a). Euphrates b).Nile c). Jordan d). Tigris 8. Who asked Herod for the head of John the Baptist? a).Herodias b).The daughter of Herodias c). Sapphira d). Candace 9. When Jesus heard that John the baptist had been arrested, where did he go? a). Jerusalem b). Nazareth c). Galilee d). Bethany 10. Which of these did Jesus say about the John the Baptist? a). This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face. b). Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. c). From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and violent take it by force. d). All of the above.
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ANSWERING SKEPTICS Are There Legitimate Objections to the Virgin Birth? There are possibly other ways which God could have chosen to send His Son into the world, but the fact is the way He chose to do it was through the virgin birth. The Gospels record that Mary and Joseph did not have sexual relations until after Christ was born, and he “kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:25, NASB). The New Testament also relates that Joseph was known not to have fathered Jesus and that most people had assumed Mary had an illicit relationship with someone. Even though the virgin birth is given as a historical fact and certain things made the virgin birth essential, many still voice loud objections to its occurrence.
The main problem that people have with the virgin birth is that it is a miracle. Scripture does not treat this event as an ordinary occurrence but rather as a supernatural act of God. The miracle of the virgin birth should not pose any special problem if one grants the possibility of miracles. Why, we may ask, is the virgin birth any greater miracle than say the feeding of the 5,000 or Jesus walking on water? If an all-powerful God does exist, who spoke all creation into existence, a virgin birth would not be beyond His capability. A common objection to the virgin birth is that it is a biological impossibility, which was accepted by people ignorant of these things. C. S. Lewis made some pertinent observations in this view: “Thus you will hear people say, ‘The
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early Christians believed that Christ was the son of a virgin, but we know that this is a scientific impossibility.’ Such people seem to have an idea that belief in miracles arose at a period when men were so ignorant of the course of nature that they did not perceive a miracle to be contrary to it.” “A moment’s thought shows this to be foolish, with the story of the virgin birth as a particularly striking example. When Joseph discovered that his fiancée was going to have a baby, he not unnaturally decided to repudiate her. Why? Because he knew just as well as any modern gynecologist that in the ordinary course of nature women do not have babies unless they have lain with men.” “No doubt the modern gynecologist knows several things about birth and begetting which Joseph did not know. But those things do not concern the main point—that a virgin birth is contrary to the course of nature. And Joseph obviously knew that” (Miracles, New York, Macmillan Pub. Co. Inc., p. 48). Some have attempted to account for the virgin birth by tracing it to Greek or Babylonian mythology. They argue that the Gospel writers borrowed this story
from the mythology of their day. This view does not fit the facts, for there is not any hero in pagan mythology for which a virgin birth is claimed, and moreover it would be unthinkable to the Jewish mind to construct such a story from mythology. Many deities among the Greeks, Babylonians, and Egyptians were reported born in an unusual manner, but for the most part these beings never actually existed. The accounts are filled with obvious mythological elements which are totally absent from the Gospel narratives. They are reports of a god or goddess being born into the world by sexual relations between some heavenly being and an earthly woman, or by some adulterous affair among the gods and goddesses. Dr. Thomas Thorburn comments appropriately, “All these various stories of supernatural conceptions and births, which we meet with in folklore and the history of mythology, have this one point in common—they serve to point not so much to the similarity as to the complete contrast and dissimilarity which exists between the Christian birth-
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CON'T FROM PAGE 14: "ARE THERE LEGITIMATE..." story and the tales which are current in various pagan circles” (Thomas James Thorburn, A Critical Examination of the Evidences for the Doctrine of the Virgin Birth, London, 1908, p. 158). Thus, when we closely consider the objections to the virgin birth, we
become more convinced that it did indeed occur just as the historical record in the Gospel states. Josh McDowell- https://www.josh. org/resources/apologetics/answeringskeptics/
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If you would like to experience the peace and transformed life that God can provide through Jesus Christ and you are willing to commit your life to the only one who can truly set you free from your sin, you can pray to the Lord right now and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Because of what His Son, Jesus, did by dying on the cross, your sins will not be held against you by God anymore. You can experience freedom for the rest of your life on earth and then have a life in Heaven with God for eternity. God’s part of the deal is already done. Your part is to confess your sins, repent (or change your ways) and believe that He is Lord. If your life is out of control, let Him take over control. For help, questions, or more information, contact us at The Ambassador or any of the churches listed on page 3.
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Continued From Page 1: UNTO NON-ELITE PEOPLE IS BORN A SAVIOR" you! While remaining fully God, he became fully man—that’s the only way he could be our “Savior” (v. 11). Like any human baby, he was born bloody, crying, squirming, needing regular feedings and plenty of sleep. Three decades later, he died for sinners and rose victoriously over the grave. Peter wrote, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Have you been delivered from sin’s grip on your life? What you need this Christmas isn’t a sentimental experience highlighted by a family gathering, sugary treats, and the giving of presents. You don’t even need an angel to tell you about Jesus, nor countless angels flooding the sky around you, “praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with home he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:13-14). You only need Jesus, this one who came to save farmers, teachers, factory workers, fast-food employees, tellers, the unemployed, even pastors—normal people like you and me. Unto Others? Luke tells us what happened once the angels departed: (T)he shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and
Con't From Page 5: "The Bethlehem Story" clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:8-14 KJV).” Once upon a time...
Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (vv.15-16). When they found Jesus and his parents, the shepherds “made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child” (v. 17). Who did they tell? Not only Mary and Joseph, but other people as well (v. 18). They couldn’t keep to themselves the truth about the identity of the baby in the manger. Here’s what I’ve noticed about the Christmas season: opportunities to share the truth about Jesus increase. Think about it—what neighbor wouldn’t like a batch of chocolate treats? You could give them a New Testament (or other evangelistic resource) on top of the package as you deliver it. And have you noticed that stores still play Christmas carols? As you are waiting in line, you might start a conversation with the person next to you by asking, “What do
you think about this song? Are you okay that it’s about Jesus?” Be courageous! The Lord is with you. And here’s a motivating reality: Jesus came to save non-elite people. Like your neighbors. Like that person next to you in line. Tell them about him. They might be more interested than you would have imagined to hear about the “Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v. 11). Copyright © 2018 Steve Burchett. Permission granted for reproduction in exact form. All other uses require written permission. Find more free articles at www.BulletinInserts.org, a ministry of Christian Communicators Worldwide: www.CCWtoday.org
Pam Ford Davis Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com h t t p : / / w w w. f a i t h w r i t e r s . c o m / member-profile.php? Article Source: http://www. faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
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Con't From Page 12: "The Stories Behind Popular Christmas Carols" angels sang about? Wesley explains that he is the king who will bring peace between God and sinners, and that even though he is adored by even the most important and impressive beings in heaven, he was pleased to become a man “veiled in flesh” on the earth. Wesley imagines Jesus as a frail little baby and yet calls us to “Hail” (which is like cheering for somebody) him because he is the Prince of peace who brings light, life, and healing to all. The hymn’s final stanza sings about the work of Christ as the second Adam, which erases the image of Adam (representing sinful man) and stamps us with the image of Christ. [7] Singing this hymn not only celebrates Jesus’ birth, it also reminds us of the larger picture of what he did with his life, death, resurrection and ascension. Joy to the World Some of our favorite Christmas carols aren’t actually carols at all–they’re hymns! One of those hymns is “Joy to the World,” written by Isaac Watts as
a paraphrase of Psalm 98, about “The Messiah’s coming and kingdom.” [8] But why do we sing a hymn based on an old psalm at Christmas? Because that’s what the psalm says to do! Psalm 98 is all about singing a new song to God, who promised to “judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.” Ultimately, God fulfilled that promise by sending a king unlike any other king, who would save people from their sin and sadness–that king is King Jesus! So when we celebrate
From Pg 13: Bible Trivia Answers
From Pg 13: Word Search Answers
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Zechariah Elisabeth Camel's hair 6 months Cousin Jordan Adultery The daughter of Herodias
(c) (b) (a) (c) (b) (c)
9. Galilee 10.. All of the Above
(c)
Learn
Luke 1:11-20 Luke 1:13 Matt 3:4 Luke 1:26-28 Luke 1:36 Matthew 3:5,6
(d) Matthew 14.4 (b) Mark 6:21-25 Matthew 4:12 (d) Matthew 11:9-14
From Jesus
Christmas, we’re celebrating when God kept his promise with the birth of Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And what does “Joy to the World” tell us to sing? We sing about being there in the moment of Jesus’ birth, and announcing that the King that God promised is coming. We sing that we should prepare our hearts for him, and that because Jesus is king the whole creation should sing. This new king brings joy and he will remove sin and sorrow, and then he will let his blessings flow like a river “Far as the curse is found.” That means that wherever there’s sin, Christ our King will fix it, and he will rule over his creation with truth and grace, and all the nations will sing about his righteousness and love. Although this is a great hymn to sing year round, it’s also a great one to sing at Christmas because it reminds us of the joy that Christians should have as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen If you never thought a comma could
be confusing, then think again! Shouldn’t the comma in this song title come after “you” instead of “merry”? That would be true, except that sometimes words can change meanings over time. For example, “cool” used to mean “sorta cold” but now it can also mean “awesome” or even “unfriendly.” Similarly, the word “rest” used to mean “keep” and “merry” is another way to say “joyful,” so the title of this carol really means something like “Gentlemen, may God keep you all joyful.” [9] Although nobody is sure who wrote this song, the way it was written makes it sound older than it probably is. Since it was printed in 1833, [10] people have changed a few words here and there to make the song sound better until we have what we sing today. “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” reminds us that nothing should steal our joy because we know that God sent his Son to be born as a child who would save us from Satan’s power. It then recounts the story of angels appearing to the shepherds announcing the birth of Christ and telling them to search for the Savior who would “vanquish all the friends of Satan” (that means all the sin and bad guys). With news like that, the shepherds rejoiced, left their sheep, and “went to Bethlehem straightway.” When they arrived, they saw Jesus in a manger with his mother Mary kneeling at his side, and they began to worship him. The carol ends by calling us to sing praises to the Lord and to embrace each other “with true love and brotherhood,” remembering that the true meaning of Christmas outshines all other worries and brings us lasting comfort and joy.
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Have a Merry Intentional CHRISTmas! Some of those closest to me think I go a bit overboard when it comes to how I want to recognize and celebrate Christmas. Let’s just say that I am not a fan of anything that detracts from the real meaning of Christmas, which includes the Christmas tree. If you want to know my opinion about that, you will need to email me or personally ask me. But my negative feelings of how the Christmas tree detracts from Jesus, pales in comparison to Santa Claus detracting from the true meaning of Christmas. And yes, I have heard the standard justification from many Christian parents who promote Santa with their kids but will often say, but they know the true meaning of Christmas. That may be true, but what captures the attention of children is the fascination of Santa and the gifts that they will receive. Going beyond that, even older children can be distracted from the real meaning because the focus is on what they will receive. With that said, please understand that I am not saying that my way is the right way. But I do want to emphasize that as followers of Jesus, the way we celebrate Christmas has to be recognizably different from those who do not follow Jesus. The next thing that I am going to tell you may result in some hate email but here goes. My wife and I do not buy any gifts for our children or grandchildren for Christmas. What?? It’s true. We started several
years ago. We told our grandchildren that we would make their birthdays exceptionally special with more gifts or a more expensive gift because their birthday is about them, but Christmas is not about them, it is about Jesus. They may not understand now but we want them to remember that their grandparents did everything they could to break from tradition and to do a better job recognizing Jesus on His birthday. (Yeah, yeah, I know he wasn’t born in December). We also will have one or more of the grandkids read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. We have some cards that we pass around that ask some important questions about Christmas and other important topics. To me, to say it is about Jesus and only spend a short amount of time recognizing Him, doesn’t make any sense. The real St. Nicolaus would be saddened to know that his fame (altered as it was) would detract people from Jesus Christ. Saint Nick was a committed Christian from a young age and was known for his generosity and orthodoxy. He was persecuted and arrested and spent time in prison for his uncompromising faith and proclamation of Jesus Christ. To top it off, his whole purpose in life was to point people to Jesus. Maybe, take some time and look up the details on Santa Claus and share it with your family. Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!
David Kugelman is the president of the Christian Business Alliance which meets each Tuesday at noon at various locations. Dave welcomes your questions or comments on this article at drkug@comcast.net The Ambassador accepts opinions and editorials (op-ed's) as long as they are well-written and less than 450 words. Op-ed's will be published purely at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to submit your op-ed, please email it (written in MS Word) to editor@ambassadornewspaper.com. The deadline for submission is the 15th of the month for the next issue.
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Christmas is a 5-letter Word Recently, on our Ambassador Facebook page, I asked readers to describe what Christmas means to them in four words or less. Most of the answers referred to family, love and, of course, Jesus. However, there was a oneword answer that caught me by surprise: Depression. I really shouldn’t have been surprised because the Christmas season has long been known to see an uptick in suicide attempts and busy hotlines. I would guess that most of us know that Christmas is not “Merry” for a great number of people. Loneliness, depression, grief, financial pressure, family conflict and health problems dim the colorful lights for countless folks in every community. I guess what surprised me about this reader’s answer was the fact that she was honest. Many of us simply play the part of joy and “Merry-ness” because that is what’s expected and encouraged. The reality that the last two years has brought with tremendous loss of life, finances and more is not usually welcome in this season. So, how are we supposed to help people dealing with these realities in the midst of Christmas trees, parties, and lights? For starters, let’s place the focus back on what Christmas is all about. No, not Black Friday deals, Christmas cards, parades or even family. Christmas is all about CHRIST! Santa, reindeer, presents, and stockings have overshadowed the true Christmas story and led our world to a different emphasis. Jesus IS Christmas! His birth,
Seth Halpern - Editor His life, His death, and His resurrection are what Christmas needs to focus on. My heart breaks for this reader and the millions that are represented by her answer. When Christmas joy is based on anything besides Jesus, it is on unsteady ground. Circumstances can change in an instant. Jesus doesn’t. Yes, we should point people to Jesus rather than this temporal world. But how we do that is key. Let’s not tell people to simply be happy in Christ and remind them of Heaven. While there is a place for that, let’s not forget to live like Jesus and weep with those who weep. Hug in silence those that need a hug. Words of advice are not always the balm we think it is. And, please, please never devalue someone because they are not joyful when you are joyful. Their life, background and experience may be much different than yours. I pray that you have a Merry Christmas! If you are not one whose Christmas will be Merry, please know that you are not alone. If you know someone who could use a friend this Christmas, please be that friend in Jesus’ name.
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Morning Star Pest & Termite Control 530-216-0215 General Pest Control Termite Control • Rodent Control
4839 E. Butte Rd, Live Oak "Treating all creatures Great and Small" Jerry Long, DVM & Assoc.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT HERITAGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Residential • Multi-Family • Commercial 890 Richland Road, YC
530-673-8696
Frontdesk.YubaSutterRental@gmail.com www.YubaSutterRental.com
YUBA SUTTER COMMUNITY TASK FORCE
Connecting People, Resources,& Ideas
Stephanie McKenzie
(530) 217-8562
yubasutterctf@hotmail.com
Other KNITTING & CROCHETING LESSONS Mondays 9:30am - 12:30pm at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 150 Ford Ave • Gridley Leave Message for Liz at
(530) 828-3258
Contact•Seth•at The•Ambassador•Newspaper (530)•933-1385 "Marketplace Ads Should Not Be Considered as an Endorsement of the Ambassador as To The Spiritual Commitment of The Advertiser. The Ambassador Does Not and Cannot "monitor" Spiritual Commitment of its Advertisers."
The Ambassador Newspaper Ministry - Seth Halpern, Editor
editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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(530) 933-1385
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www.ambassadornewspaper.com The Ambassador
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