January 2018
t ’ n f o l e D s r u o Y Be
by Greg Morse (desiringgod.org) She struck terror in all who met her. Her voice, like an agitated hive of bees, stung all who came in range of it. Her words were sword thrusts (Proverbs 12:18). Her tongue broke spirits (Proverbs 15:4). Her speech wielded the power of death (Proverbs 18:21). All who saw her braced themselves. Her philosophy was identical to a past roommate’s who, after eating too much Chinese food, would smile and say, “Better out than in.” Her incivility must rumble out — no matter the discomfort it caused everyone else in the room. And none could take offense because, as everyone was fond of reminding themselves, “That’s just how she was.”
An Open Letter to Harvey Weinstein Page 13
To complain about her was to complain that water was wet and rocks were hard. Gravity was what it was; she was who she was. Her personality, in this view, was an inflexible disposition, a scientific inevitability, something she couldn’t help. To mutter against her was to grumble against biology. And well-mannered was not who she was. Politeness was not at the core of her. Rumor had it, she was born this way.
Don’t Be Yourself “Just be yourself,” “keep it real,” and “keep it 100” are life slogans for many in our day. And when they are, authenticity often takes precedence over courtesy, self-actualization triumphs over selfdiscipline, and the self — whoever it may be — is to be John 3:7 celebrated and never censured. And subtly, we can adopt this philosophy in the church. Even though every imperative in the Bible
“Jesus doesn’t say, “Just be the true you.” He says, “You must be born again”
7 Tips to Read the Bible in One Year
Page 15
The Radical Jesus Agenda Page 18
protests against it, every identification of sin condemns it outright, every discussion of holiness and God’s judgment warns against believing it, we too excuse sin tendencies as our personalities. Oh, her? She’s just strong-willed and independent. That’s why she doesn’t submit to her husband. Him? Don’t worry, he isn’t trying to be inhospitable and cold towards everyone. He’s just shy and introverted. Yeah, he doesn’t lead spiritually, but don’t fret. He just doesn’t go deep — that’s not who he is. Why isn’t she growing in her knowledge of God’s word? Because she
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CROSSING OVER by April James As we cross over into the New Year with resolutions, plans, and intents in hand it may seem like we are facing the Jordan river, crossing over into something new; as we are still (silent) before the Lord we can almost sense Him saying, be strong and very courageous, there are times that are going to be tough, they will not always be easy or necessarily pleasant at the time, yet you will be able to rejoice in the outcome of what I do and how I use you. Be strong and of good courage for I am with you. Don’t back down in the face of opposition, stand your ground, stand on My word, quiet your inner thoughts so you can hear what I am saying, see what I am doing, then let Me speak through you (give you the words to say). Take courage, I’m with you not against you when you are walking in My will. Can we say as Joshua did when there was a choice to be made after crossing over, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”? In the New Year, can we let our words be full of life, hope, and encouragement, spoken with genuine care and concern for the individual (even when they are different than us)? Can we use words that lift them up and not bring them down? Can we use words where the
by Jon Skillman
only thing being torn down by our words are the works and plans of the enemy as we release truth, expose the adversaries’ plans, and love others with the love of the Lord? Let’s not fear what others will think as we share what the Lord would have of say. He’s got our back and He backs up His word. We do not need to fear what is ahead; fear is of the enemy to try and stop us. We need to go forth but not go it alone, we need go with the Lord guiding us through; He knows the way, the pitfalls, and undertows. We make better decisions when we choose to do life with Jesus be at the center of all we do; as we go with the Lord his banner of love flies over us. As we cross over into the New Year, let’s be strong and very courageous, choosing not to be silent or serve other gods. As God was with Joshua, so he will be with us. www.BeyondTheSilverCoin.org
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Most Wanted Our local paper runs a weekly column titled, “Buttes Most Wanted.” This column lists three or four individuals who are wanted on a variety of warrants. The listings include name, age, description, charges and a photo that only the DMV could duplicate. When I read an offenders name I think back to when my wife and I named our sons. Did we ever imagine seeing our sons’ names on a most wanted list? No…and praise be to God, we haven’t. I might have dreamed of seeing them up in lights or on academic achievement lists or recipients of prestigious awards but definitely not on this list. What a heart break it must be to those who named the ones staring blankly from the page before me. After reading their description and the charges against them, I gaze into their photograph and ask; “What happened? How did you come to this place and time? Was it your upbringing, your environment, your circumstances, poor life choices or what? Your picture tells me nothing…there is no spark in your eyes and no light from your face… only the shadow of hopelessness. What happened to all the potential and promise of your birth?” I find myself telling these individuals
they need to surrender to the authorities and pay their debt to society. But there is no change in their expression and I realize I’m talking to an image that cannot hear me. I hear my wife sigh and the dog leaves my lap and moves to a distant chair. At that moment I’m struck by a “Well Duh!” revelation. Hey! These folks are on God’s most wanted list too (as are we all). If they surrender to the authority of Christ and are made right with God, they will be judged not guilty in His Court and convicted to pay the consequences for their crimes against the state. But how do I get this message to them? Another “Well Duh!” moment rings my bell. Pray! It really pains me when I finally realize, prayer should be my first response and not my last resort. After all, He knows where they are and how to reach them. So I pray that God will place godly people in their lives just as he did in mine. I pray they will be told that God loves them and no matter what they have done, they are not beyond His Grace. And if they will turn from their sins and put their faith in Jesus, their eyes will sparkle with hope and their faces will glow in righteousness. So now, when I see those blank faces on Butte’s Most Wanted List I no longer wonder, question or pity them…I simply pray for them!
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• • • What’s Done For Christ • • •
pages, but now into the shredder they go. As one year of my life turns to confetti, I reflect on two lines of a poem written by pioneer missionary, C.T. Studd. “Only one life, t’will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Now the sound is pop-pop-pop as I insert the pages for 2018. Those little squares are visibly empty. With what will they be filled? How will you fill your agenda for the coming year? The poem reminds us that we have only one life. Many movies have themes where the character goes back in time until they get a situation right. We don’t get that. One life. Let’s make it count for eternity. Let’s live life doing things that count and spend
time doing things that make a difference in God’s kingdom. Because “t’will soon be past.” Even if we live out our entire lives, the time is short to God. If, instead, God calls us home unexpectedly we need to be ready. My friend who lost his wife in March wrote these words in his Christmas letter:
“I challenge you to never let the sun set with you being angry with a family member or anyone for that matter. None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. We get upset with the ones we love over the most trivial things when we should be cherishing every moment we have with them like it is our last, because it very well could be.” “Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Colossians 3:17 reminds us “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The reason we occupy this planet is to glorify God and praise Him forever. Let’s make the new year count for eternal purposes and put into action the words of Paul in I Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” May your empty agenda soon be filled with activities that matter to God.
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by Paula McBride Ri-i-i-p! That’s the sound of me pulling the pages out of my agenda so I can replace them with the pages for 2018. Have you done that task yet? When I realized a whole year of my life was destined for the shredder, I took one final look through the pages. Like Ecclesiastes 3:4-6 says, there were times of dancing and mourning, weeping and laughing, and embracing. In January, there was a time to dance as we celebrated my sister’s late-in-life marriage. At seventy-four, God allowed her and her eighty-three-year-old groom to turn the weeping of widowhood into a time of laughing at the way God brought them together. In March, there was a time of weeping as I joined the family of a dear friend who was tragically killed. In May, there was a time of laughter as we congratulated my daughter on completing a master’s degree. In February, April, June, and October, there were times for embracing when I visited my mission children in Baja California. Of course, November and December were full of dates for parties and potlucks. In between those dates were the routine days of substitute teaching, helping with children’s ministry, and visiting shut-ins. I can see God’s faithfulness in the scribbled
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Ongoing Events SUNDAY AWANA CLUB Sundays 5:30-7:00 pm. Check in is at 5:15 pm. Grace Baptist Church - 1980 S. Walton Ave. (Bogue & Walton) Awana is an amazing children’s program for ages 3-grade 6. Our club runs from September to May. Come join anytime. Kids memorize Scripture, play games and learn lots! Call 530673-6847 for information.
MONDAY KNIT & CROCHET WOMENS FELLOWSHIP Mondays 10:00 a.m. - Noon First Baptist Church - 1777 8th Ave. - Olivehurst Practice your yarn craft or learn a new one with us. Knifty Knitters are welcome. Bring your own project or work on a charity item that we donate to those in need in the community. Email yarncraftersforchrist@hotmail.com for info. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Mondays 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m. We are a Christ-Centered recovery group that provides a safe place to share your struggles,experiences, victories, and hopes with others who are also going through to Christ Centered recovery. For more info call 530.755.4149. Follow us on Facebook @ Celebrate Recovery Crossroads Community Church
TUESDAY CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ALLIANCE First Tuesday of Every Month, Noon - 1:00 p.m. The Bride Church - 1321 Peach Tree Ln, YC Join us for a time of fellowship, prayer & encouragement. All are welcome! FREE KARATE CLASSES Tuesday 6:00 pm - FREE karate classes taught from a Christian perspective. First Baptist Church - 1777 8th Ave. - Olivehurst, 530-701-5131 for info, Pastor Miguel. CRAFTSMEN FOR CHRIST Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Bride Church - 1321 Peach Tree Lane, YC Men’s fellowship around the word and worship. All in the Body of Christ welcome! SAMARITAN VILLAGE MONTHLY MEETING The 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30p.m. This meeting is open to all who are interested in helping with an orphanage in Tanzania. For info call Victor Savage at 671-2219. FRIENDS FOR SURVIVAL SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM - 715 King Ave., (off Clark Ave.) Yuba City_ Support for people who lost loved ones to suicide. Contact person, Becky Reimers (530) 454-7698, ffs.ysc@gmail.com PRAYER FOR THE NATION - Every Tuesday Evening @ 7PM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Church of Glad Tidings- Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Info: Stephanie Steele 530-870-6906 www.churchofgladtidings.com Join us as we intercede for our region and our nation
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WEDNESDAY AWANA Wednesday 5:45-7:45 p.m. during school year Evangelical Free Church - 3785 Olive Hwy. Oroville Awana is a boys & girls club consisting of small group time, games, large group time. For information please call 533-6866. LIFE @ HOPE POINT Wednesday @ 6:30 pm for kids, 7:00 p.m. for adults Hope Point Nazarene - 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC Join us for Life@Hope Point - groups for Nursery through High School ages and classes for adults Parenting, How to Study your Bible, more so contact the church office at 671-1130 for more details.
FRIDAY LIFE RECOVERY meets every Friday night at 7:00 PM (except the last Friday of the month) in the social hall of Loma Rica Community Church. Contact Church Office at 743.5435 for more information. TUESDAY
SATURDAY
BETHESDA HEALING WELL - Saturday, Jan 20th at 10AM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Bldg 200 - 1179 Eager Road, YC You are invited to come and receive special prayer for divine healing or prophetic guidance. Our prayer teams will pray with you for your needs. For more info.,Ed Han 209-298-6102
multiple days of the week WOMENS CLOTHES CLOSET Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00 a.m. - Noon Twin Cities Rescue Mission- 940 14th Street, Marysville We now have a womens clothes closet at the mission! It is free and available to everyone. We accept donations Monday - Sunday of women’s men’s, and children’s clothing! CROSSROADS CLOTHES CLOSET Open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm -Shop at our - FREE Clothes given away! Crossroads Community Church, YC PRAYER VIGIL FOR LIFE! Yuba-Sutter Right to Life is hosting peaceful, prayerful vigils in front of the Yuba City Planned Parenthood. All you need to participate is one hour and the desire to pray for LIFE. Please contact Heather Pugh at 751-9349 for date and time if you are interested.
Check Out The New Ambassador Calendar Of Events! Learn About Events For The Local Christian Community -- All In One Place! Visit www.ambassadornewspaper.com and click on the “Ambassador Calendar”
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Special Events Yuba Sutter MOPS Playzeum Trip Playzeum in Yuba City (1980 S Walton Avenue) - sponsored by Gateway Calvary Chapel Tuesday, Jan 9th @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am Yuba Sutter MOPS will kick off New Year with FREE field trip to Playzeum in Yuba City. All moms w/ kids 11 & younger welcome. Please RSVP on facebook under the group “Yuba Sutter MOPS,” event “Playzeum Trip” to give us an idea of how many to expect. MARK VIRKLER SEMINAR How to Hear God’s Voice Friday, Jan 12th, 7pm, Saturday Jan 13th, 9am Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, YC Info: 530-671-3160 www.churchofgladtidings.com Register at ChurchofGladTidings.com. Registration is free. Mark will also be speaking in the weekend services - Saturday evening at 7pm and Sunday morning at 10am. FCS Homecoming 2018 FCHS Gym: 3105 Colusa Hwy, YC Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, 4:30 – 9:30pm All FCS family, friends and alumni are welcome! Basketball Games, Pep Band, Cheer, Alumni Prize Drawings, Sports Hall of Fame Inductions, Homecoming Court Coronation, Booster BBQ – a fun night for the whole FCS family! Wear blue and gold to show your Lion Pride! fcs-k12.org FCHS Alumni Day FCHS Gym: 3105 Colusa Hwy, YC Saturday, Jan 27. 10am - 4pm All FCHS Alumni are welcome to attend! 10am: Co-Ed Alumni Volleyball and Basketball games will begin in the FCHS Gym. 1pm: Alumni Fiesta Lunch with guest of Mr. Herrera (in his final year of teaching). RSVP online for lunch and pre-pay by Jan. 20 at www.fcs-k12. org
I Will Sing To The Lord For He Has Been Good To Me. Ps 13:6
TIJO THOMAS Supernatural Encounter 2018 FEB 9 - 11 Friday 7pm, Saturday 7pm, Sunday 10am Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Info: 530-671-3160 www.churchofgladtidings.com Tijo is recognized as a remarkably gifted teacher of the Word of God, with an extraordinary act in the gifts of the Spirit. Kindergarten Roundup: Free Kindergarten Readiness Night Open to the Community Faith Christian Elementary School 2620 Colusa Hwy, YC Tuesday, Feb. 27, 6:30-7:30pm You may be asking: “How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten? What factors contribute to my child’s readiness? How can I help my child prepare?” We’ve rounded up great resources for YOU! Come receive expert tips and a free Kindergarten Readiness Tool Kit. fcs-k12.org Ongoing activities SHE MATTERS GIRLS CONFERENCE 2018 6-12th grade Girls Conference Fri Feb 9th 5:30pm - Sat 10th 1:00pm Hope Point Church of the Nazarene, 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC “True sisterhood isn’t a clique, it’s a team.” We are daughters of the king, sisters in Christ, and we are in this together! We are proud to announce the following team for the conference: Tara Armstrong,Founder of She Shifts Culture, Malia Seavey from Bethel School of Worship, Hannah Payne, Co-Star of the Netflix original “13 Reasons Why”, and our very own newly elected female Mayor, Preet Didbal. Mark your calendars for February 9th (5:308:30pm) & 10th (9am-1pm). This event costs $35 per person online or $45 at the door. The price includes all meals & a t-shirt. Meals provided by Clark Avenue Coffee, Sunflower Market, and Hope Point Nazarene Church. You can register & pay at www.hopepointnaz. org/shematters today!
Prayer Calendar for January 2018 2-Jan Pray for God’s blessing on our nation this new year! 3-Jan War-torn nations- pray for peace and protection especially for civilians 4-Jan Military, All armed forces & their families. 5-Jan Global Persecution-Safety/Courage of Believers 6-Jan Missing Teens & children- pray for protection and found safe 7-Jan Middle East - For the peace of Jerusalem 8-Jan Children and Children’s Ministries 9-Jan Homeless/Poor - Twin Cities Rescue Mission, A Hand Up, Salvation Army, REST 10-Jan A Woman’s Friend - Unborn children/Pregnant Women 11-Jan Orphan children- Samaritan Village (see p. 3) and other orphanages 12-Jan Christian Businesses-Ambassador Sponsors & others. 13-Jan Missionaries -Fruit, Provision 14-Jan Singles, Single Parents, Divorce healing 15-Jan MLK Day- Pray for race relations and equality in our nation 16-Jan First Responders-Police, Firefighters, EMT, TIP 17-Jan President Trump- God’s Wisdom in decisions & communication 18-Jan Hollywood- May God to touch influential people 19-Jan Sex Trafficking - pray for victims 20-Jan Pray for dads to be Godly leaders in their home and give thanks for those who are! 21-Jan Addicted, Rehab ministries- Feather River Mens Center, Joshua House, Celebrate Recovery 22-Jan Seniors and Elderly- pray for their needs to be met and care for them 23-Jan Homeless- Pray for shelter from the cold- Pray for the REST Ministry 24-Jan Teen Depression, Suicide 25-Jan Local officials and community leaders 26-Jan State lawmakers- Pray for Assemblyman James Gallagher and others who represent us 27-Jan Local Pastors and their families 28-Jan Adoptive families & birth moms 29-Jan Struggling Women- Pray for Lydia’s House, Twin Rivers Crisis Center, Casa de Esperanza 30-Jan The Ambassador Newspaper-Increased readership and Impact 31-Jan Unity in and between our local churches For suggestions to the Prayer Calendar, contact editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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CBA MARKETPLACE MONTHLY Post-Christmas Christmas Article Approximately five years ago Seth (Ambassador publisher) and I had a coffee mug printed with the following question on one side; “Are you Ready?” on the other side it had the following verse: Hebrews 9:27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. We distributed these at the CBA meetings and to family members and friends to act as a reminder of the significance of being ready for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. I am writing this article on December 23rd which is why this has a Christmas theme linked to it. I pondered waiting until next year but thought my 60 yearold memory might fail me by then. So, my hope is this concept might impact you as it has impacted me. Let me ask you this to see if you come up with the right answer before I give it to you. (Don’t cheat) What is the number one question that people ask regarding your preparation for Christmas? Here it is: Are you ready for Christmas? Am I right? (of course I am) – As I pondered this repetitive question the other morning during my prayer time, I believe God planted the better question to ask and that
is… ARE YOU READY FOR CHRIST? Honestly, this is so crucial for each of us to ask ourselves and to be intentional in asking this question to others. The world is becoming more unstable and people are looking for answers. Jesus is the only hope for you and the only hope for everyone else. We need to be ready for his return and we need to be intentional in being a witness so others will be ready too! So here are two verses to reflect on as we start a brand new year (and maybe something to consider how we respond next Christmas when others ask us if we are ready for Christmas. Happy new year! Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as each
person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. 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
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LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life Nine Pro-Life Books You Should Read by Kristi Burton Brown The #1 Book Out There Award goes to Why Pro Life? by Randy Alcorn. This is an incredibly easy-to-read, yet appropriately detailed and informative book. It’s thin and small, so anyone can read it. It’s even available in an audio-CD format. I’ve talked about this book before, and I highly recommend that you grab a copy. When I was the spokesperson for Colorado’s 2008 Personhood campaign, Randy Alcorn mailed us copies of this book for free so we could hand them out. I rate this an absolutely invaluable resource! Third Time Around by George Grant (free online copy) is a wonderful history of the pro-life movement. I’m going to guess that most of you had no idea the movement started so early or in such interesting ways. I certainly had no clue. If you’ve ever been curious about the Christian church’s involvement (or lack of involvement) on this issue over the centuries, if you’ve ever wondered about what early pro-life heroes did, if you’ve ever wished for a basic history of the movement…this is the book for you. A Perfect Persecution by James R. Lucas. Can I say amazing? This book is a heart-stopping thriller of a novel. It
takes the reader into a not-so-difficultto-imagine world where the pro-choice position has taken over the U.S.A. (Now, I didn’t say I believe this will ever happen—I don’t! But it’s not hard to imagine what kind of a world that would be.) The really cool thing about this novel is that it is believable. It’s not a sci-fi, pie in the sky, fake world book. It’s the real thing. Don’t pick up this book unless you want to be more motivated than ever to stand up for innocent life. Make Me Your Choice by Cheryl Chew is written by a mother who had two abortions. She shares–through multiple personal accounts–the impact of abortion on women’s mental, physical, and emotional health. She believes
abortions also negatively affect women’s relationships, their life purpose, and the world as a whole. And she certainly speaks from experience. This book is an insightful view from a woman on a women’s issue. Gianna by Jessica Shaver and True to Life by Janet Folger are two books about two wonderful women. One miraculously survived an abortion attempt because she was “too far along” to die; one survived a car bombing attempt; both are pro-life activists. If you’d like to get into the mind of pro-lifers, these books are the way to do it. Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions? by Randy Alcorn. (You can download this book for free.) Ah yes, the
question that never goes away. What’s a pro-lifer to do about birth control? What’s the pro-life position on birth control? Get your questions answered with this simple and informative book. If you haven’t guessed it yet, I really love Alcorn’s style. I find it incredibly helpful and very convincing. Why Can’t We Love Them Both by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke. This is the classic pro-life book, recognized and loved by many in the movement. This book appropriately portrays pro-lifers’ concern for women and their babies. This book goes to the very heart of the movement in many ways and is a must read. The Miraculous World of Your Unborn Baby by Nikki Bradford is designed to be read by pregnant women, as it advises them of the changes going on in their body and their baby’s body during the pregnancy. However, this book is a great science resource as well, and it definitely gives a “window to the womb.” Truly, it’s a miraculous world in there! LifeNews Note: Kristi Burton Brown is a pro-life activist in her home state of Colorado, a pro-bono attorney for Life Legal Defense Fund, and a stay-at-home mom. This column originally appeared at the Live Action blog.
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The Christian Business Alliance would like to invite you to our midweek meeting. Rich Fellowship, Powerful Prayer, Refreshing Presence of God! We meet at the Bride Church the first Tuesday of the month from noon – 1pm. Current members: A-1 Carpet Cleaning - (530) 673-3634 - www.a-1clean.com Rachel Aleman - Century 21- 530-813-2253 Ron Brasier - A Hand Up Ministry - (530) 671-1360 Marty Brown - KCYC-LP FM - (530) 674-5296 Kathleen Caldwell - Caldwells Custom Countertops - (530) 695-2112 Fred Cox - Richard's Tree Service - (530) 673-7993 JC Carpenter Rita Collins LaDonna Curteman - Band Together for Christ - ladonna.curteman@gmail.com Chuck David Stephen Elliot- Ad Lucem Tax Services - (530) 329-8685 Dennis & Connie Gabel - Operation Christmas Child - (530) 695-1495 John Gaiser - Gaiser Pets - (530) 751-8155 John Guth - Guth & Changaris, A Prof Law Corp - (530) 674-9841 Seth Halpern - Ambassador Newspaper - editor@ambassadornewspaper.com Kurt Hilbers - Hilbers Inc - www.hilbersinc.com David Hobbs Painting - Cont. Lic#880562 (530)742-2428 David Holycross - Holycross Memorial - (530) 751-7000 Bill Jens - Yuba Sutter Healthy Marriage Project - (530) 671-6069 Janet Johnson Dave Kugelman - Proforma by Kug - (530) 742-2423 Bill & Sonja Lindholm- RVOC - (530) 329-8361 Clay Maynard - Consultant - (530) 790-6611 Maria Paras Michael Schubarth- Church of Glad Tidings- 530-363-5752 Roger Shadd - Shadd Janitorial Supply - (530) 673-0083 Wynette Sills - CaliforniasForLife.org. - (916) 955-1577 Robert Stark - Retired Auditor/Controller - stark@otnusa.com Dwayne Tanabe - Taylor Accountancy Corp - dktanabe@yahoo.com Jenine Tanabe - Jenine L. Tanabe, MD Dematology - (530) 743-0301
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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
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Some of the tale nted per formers creative in light the ater's "ripple e ffect"
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The local daily newspaper - Coupon magazines - Local community magazines
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There is one choice that allows you to do both. We call it … ADvangelism! Promote Your Business while building up the Kingdom of God The Ambassador allows you to let the Christian community (and others as well) know about you, At the same time supporting the ministry of The Ambassador to encourage, inform, challenge and connect the local Body of Christ We distribute in more than 300 churches and businesses in Yuba/Sutter/Butte Counties (residential delivery beginning soon!)
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40 QUOTES FROM R.C. SPROUL R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) went home to be with his Savior on Dec 14, 2017 at the age of 78. He was one of the greatest Christian thinkers of our generation. The former pastor of St. Andrews Chapel and founder of Ligonier Ministries was also a prolific author who had a way with words. His wisdom can also be seen in the popular video series “The Truth Project”. Below and throughout this issue are some of the profound thoughts of R. C. Sproul . “There are only two ways of dying. We can die in faith or we can die in our sins.” “We are secure, not because we hold tightly to Jesus, but because he holds tightly to us.”
To know that God knows everything about me and yet loves me is indeed my ultimate consolation.”
“As soon as we think God owes us mercy, we’re not thinking about mercy any more.”
”There is no greater state than to get up from your knees knowing that God has forgiven every sin you’ve ever committed.”
“When there’s something in the Word of God that I don’t like, the problem is not with the Word of God. It’s with me.”
“If God is not sovereign, then God is not God.” “When God says argument is over.”
something,
“You are required to believe, to preach, and to teach what the Bible says is true, not what you want the Bible to say is true.”
the
“A god who is all love, all grace, all mercy, no sovereignty, no justice, no holiness, and no wrath is an idol.”
“God does not always act with justice. Sometimes he acts with mercy. Mercy is not justice, but it also is not injustice. Injustice violates righteousness. Mercy manifests kindness and grace and does no violence to righteousness. We may see nonjustice in God, which is mercy, but we never see injustice in God.” “People in awe never complain that church is boring.” “I’ll retire when they pry my cold, dead fingers off of my Bible.”
R.C.SPROUL “If ever a person had room to complain of injustice, it was Jesus. He was the only innocent man ever to be punished by God. If we stagger at the wrath of God, let us stagger at the cross. Here is where our astonishment should be focused. If we have cause for moral outrage, let it be directed at Golgotha.” “No matter how much injustice I have suffered from the hands of other people, I have never suffered the slightest injustice from the hand of God.”
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
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IN THE NEWS
An Open Letter to Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer and Other Abusers and Their Victims
by Dr. Ted Baehr Dear Harvey, Matt and Others: Exposing the abusers and the abused has been extremely painful while taking up a lot of news these days. Justice and truth must prevail. In the interest of stopping the abuse, and giving recompense to the abused, however, there’s a deeper issue that’s been avoided, and that issue is that there’s a solution to the abuse and being abused, and that solution is the power of God’s grace. There are many other suggestions people have to solve these problems, but all of them fall short. Even the American Association of Psychiatry has admitted that nobody’s been healed by psychology or psychiatry, but there have been many who have been transformed by God’s grace. This doesn’t make them any better, but it does provide the answer to the cycle of bad behavior, which is part of the human condition. I grew up in the entertainment industry and rejected all things that had to do with organized religion. I had a sterling career at universities and was involved with a lot of self-destructive behavior, including drugs and promiscuity. Somebody actually challenged me to analyze and rebuke the Bible. While trying to do just that, I encountered a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and all of the bad
Con’t From Page 12 “40 QUOTES FROM R.C...” “God answered Job’s questions not with words but with himself.” “The Christian life is a life of nonconformity.” “Not only does Christ take our sins, our debts, and our demerits, but he also gives us his obedience, his assets, and his merits.” “If there is no sanctification, it means that there never was any justification.” “If we despise the justice of God, we are not Christians.”
behavior stopped. I didn’t even reflect on how quickly and totally it had stopped, until my Hollywood and Broadway star father mentioned in his 90s how difficult he had been before he met Jesus Christ seven years after I did. Suddenly, I recalled how easy it was to give up my destructive behavior when I met Jesus and was filled with His Spirit. This option was something I never wanted and didn’t seek, and I doubt if you or any other unrepentant sinner wants it or is seeking it either. However, as the justice gets more intense for the abused and the ones who abused them, you may want to consider the one real truth that
may set you free and transform your life. As Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly” (ESV). Ted Baehr is Founder and Publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry, as well as a noted critic, educator, lecturer, and media pundit. His life’s purpose is to be used of God to redeem the values of the media while educating audiences on how to use discernment in selecting their entertainment.
“The only kind of God we can love by our sinful nature is an unholy god, an idol made by our own hands.” “There are no draws with God, no split decisions. When we wrestle with the Almighty, we lose. He is the undefeated champion of the universe.” “The justice of God is always and ever an expression of his holy character. . . . What God does is always consistent with who God is.”
Continued on page 14
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IN THE NEWS
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- The Tragedy of Christians Slandering Other Christians by Frank Viola Several years ago, Michael Hyatt (former CEO of Thomas Nelson) responded to a rumor on his blog. In the post, Michael wrote, “According to the most recent rumor— which I’ve now heard twice—we [Thomas Nelson] are planning a layoff for June 19th ... There is absolutely no truth to it ... If you hear this rumor, I would be grateful if you would help me short-circuit it. You can tell ‘em it’s not true, and you heard it directly from me.” I recall when this rumor was circulating and was saddened (and surprised) at how many Christians believed it without going straight to Michael to see if it was true or false. Here’s another example that’s much more national. In 2012, I came across a website alleging a sex scandal involving President Obama. The “story” first came out in 2008 just before the primary. It was shown to be baseless and quickly faded away. Then it resurfaced again in 2010. (The original story was removed by the source after staying online for 4 years.) Another site purports alleged “proof” that Obama is a Muslim terrorist in disguise. Again, a baseless rumor. And another alleges that Obama is gay, has sexually harassed males, and abuses drugs. Again, baseless. Note: I don’t agree with many of Obama’s policies. But these accusations are scurrilous, vicious, outrageous, and just plain slimy. There’s no good evidence to support any of them. That’s why they’ve never gained traction. However, because they are written intelligently, they persuade the uninformed (a characteristic of effective libel). In 2013, Rick Warren was personally attacked, judged, and lied about by professing Christians. In the 2016 USA Presidential election,
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Senator Ted Cruz was accused by The National Enquirer of having affairs with five women. The story was quickly debunked as “fake news.” Despite this,
lesson from a BIG mistake I made. It was a first-class screw up that still haunts me till this day. I listened to slander about a fellow
Con’t From Page 13 “40 QUOTES FROM R.C...” “When we sin, we not only commit treason against God, but we also do violence to each other. Sin violates people. There is nothing abstract about it. By my sin I hurt human beings. I injure their person; I despoil their goods; I impair their reputation; I rob from them a precious quality of life; I crush their dreams and aspirations for happiness. When I dishonor God, I dishonor all people who bear his image. Is it any wonder, then, that God takes sin so seriously?” “The problem we face is that the word holy is foreign to all languages. No dictionary is adequate to the task.”
many people believed and spread the lies. We live in a very dark world where rumors abound. Gossip abounds. Slander abounds. Even in the “Christian” community (so-called), tragically. Slander is a serious sin, and according to Paul, slanderers will be barred from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). I have good friends and people whom I respect who have been lied about on the Internet, and I’ve quickly come to their defense wherever I’ve seen such lies (as I did with Rick Warren). Point: Anyone who has profound influence is going to have detractors and enemies. And some of them will go on a personal “smear” attack using distortions and fabrications. Just look at the things Jesus and Paul were accused of during their day. History tells us the same thing about John Wesley, Watchman Nee, T. AustinSparks, and just about every other servant of God who was turning the sod on important issues during their time. Many years ago, I learned a valuable
Christian and I believed it. Thankfully, I repented when I found out the truth, but I still feel remorse over it when it comes to mind. Last year, I wrote a post about it. The post hit a chord with many people. It’s about a lesson I learned from failure that I’ll never forget. Rule of thumb: If you read something negative about another person, especially a fellow Christian, take it with a grain of salt. Tilt toward not believing it. Just as you would want others to do if it were you being smeared (Matthew 7:12). If you’re concerned, go to the person directly to hear their response. There are always two sides to any story (at least). And unfortunately, some people desire to defame others, usually out of jealousy, so dishonesty abounds. Frank Viola is the author of more than 20 books, a speaker, and a consultant to writers. You can find him at http:// frankviola.org.
“God has entrusted to us the ministry of the Word, not its results.” ”The cross was a glorious outworking of the grace of God, by which the Father commissioned the Son to make full satisfaction so that sinners might be saved with no sacrifice of God’s justice.” “A Substitute has appeared in space and time, appointed by God himself, to bear the weight and the burden of our transgressions, to make expiation for our guilt, and to propitiate the wrath of God on our behalf. This is the gospel.” “If I want the words of eternal life, there’s only one place I can go to get them—to the One who gave his life that we might live.” “Nobody was ever saved by a profession of faith. You have to possess faith.” “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 15
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FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Seize the Opportunity by John Imler from The Ambassador (January 2010) We have all wished for the opportunity to do things over, feeling assured that we would do them differently or get them right the next time. Life can get frustrating with all of its challenges and required decisions. Perhaps you have felt like the writer of Ecclesiastes, just as I have, when he penned the words, “Everything is meaningless” (Ecc. 1:2). We are at the beginning of another year on the calendar of our lives. It is a time when many of us will make resolutions to change certain aspects of their lives or, in a sense, to start over. As I consider the New Year, it seems to me that my number one resolution should be to daily become more conscious of my Creator. As I read through the book of Ecclesiastes, I see the same questions and frustrations most of us experience expressed by the teacher in his own search for the meaning of life. I also find his words of wisdom worth noting as he summarizes it all in Chapter 12:13-14: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will
bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Jesus Himself declared this same truth in Luke 10:27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself.” There is within all of us a God given sense of right and wrong and, when we are conscious of God in our daily lives, the Holy Spirit will, as Christ promised, “teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). So, Seize the Opportunity for a new beginning. 2010 (editor’s note: or 2018) is the first year of the rest of your life. May you have a new consciousness of your Creator in your daily life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Remember, how much of the Bible we read is not as important as how much of its truths and principles we remember to practice in our daily lives. (Luke 8:11-15)
Love the LORD, all his faithful people! The LORD preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong Psalms 31:23-24 and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Con’t From Page 14 - “40 QUOTES FROM R.C. sproul” “The grounds of your justification are the perfect works of Jesus Christ. We’re saved by works, but they’re not our own.” “Without the doctrine of justification by faith alone, the gospel is not merely compromised; it’s lost altogether.”
“We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.”
7 Tips to Read the Bible Through in One Year by Ron Edmondson Ronedmondson.com Are you up for a challenge? How about reading the Bible through this year? I’ve heard so many people who would love to read the Bible through in a year, but never completed the task. It’s nearly impossible for the pastor to preach through all of it, so you are going to miss something unless you study on your own, but most believers haven’t read all the Bible. Some of the best nuggets of truth I discovered on my own, reading through the Bible in a year. Here are 7 tips for reading the Bible through in a year: 1. Pray – Ask God to give you the motivation and strength to accomplish this goal. You can’t read the Bible like any other book. You need God’s Spirit to help you. 2. Pick an easy to read version – Currently I’m using the Holman Christian Standard. (Editor’s note: the New Living Translation or The Message are other options). 3. Find a plan – You could simply read three chapters a day and do fine, but I have found having a printed checklist helps keep me disciplined. It may seem mechanical to some, but it will keep you on task. You Version has many plans to follow. There are more than you can imagine. The key is to find one. I like the balance of reading some Old and New Testament each day, but choose one that works for you. (Personally, I’ve chosen the ESV Study Bible plan available through YouVersion at www.bible.com)
4. Find a place - Choose the time and place that works best and that you will most likely stick with through the year. I find mornings work best for me. I travel frequently, so I can’t have just one place, but when I’m home, I have a certain chair. I’m moving this year to the dining room table, because I know I’ll be less distracted. For me, I need to turn off everything else and simply concentrate on the Bible reading. 5. Document your reading – I’ve found I get more out of my reading if I journal along the way what it’s saying to me. Even if I don’t understand it completely, writing the questions I have down helps me process them later and eventually something else I read seems to help answer my questions. 6. Discipline yourself – It will likely take you on average about 15 minutes per day to complete this. Once you’ve done it consistently for 30 days or so, you’ll be well on your way to having a habit formed. 7. Catch up when needed – If you miss a day, don’t sweat it…and don’t quit. Spend a little extra time and play catch up on what you missed. Of course, if you do this too many times you’ll eventually give up, so the key is discipline, but extend grace to yourself as you move through the year. Also, if you didn’t start on the first, start on the 2nd, or the 22nd, and go through the same time next year. You can begin today. There’s no legalism here… just encouragement! You can do this! Keep the goal in front of you and follow through. This time next year you’ll be glad you accomplished your goal.
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continued from page 1 - “Don’t Be You” just isn’t a reader. Why does it seem like he flirts with every girl he meets? Don’t read too much into it. He just has a playful personality — that’s just the way he is. This unassailable sense of self is contrary to biblical thinking. Our personality must bow to God’s standards, never vice versa. Wives, submit to your husbands, whether you’re strong-willed or not. Introverts, be hospitable and kind, even if your inclination is to stow away for time alone. Husbands, lead your wife and wash her with the word, even if you’d prefer to just keep it light and casual. Christian, meditate on the word of God day and night, even if you haven’t read any other book since high school. Romeo, restrain yourself from engaging women’s hearts, even if you find it easy to engage with the opposite sex. “You Must Be Born Again” Ever since the fall, being yourself is the opposite of what God desires. Since the fall, our authentic selves are unsurpassed in self-absorption; they hate God by refusing to treasure him above all things. Therefore, the authentic you is worthy of death. And this is the scandal of the gospel. It tells each man, woman, and child —
whether criminal, “good,” religious, or otherwise — that they must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). It tells us that the unregenerate man who is “keepin’ it real” is keepin’ himself in constant threat of God’s wrath and only increasing his condemnation (Romans
3:7). Be Something Greater And Jesus died on a cross so that we can be born again. He bore the wrath of his Father while we were “just being ourselves,” and sent the Holy Spirit to make us new creations in him. And the
“Whether Mr. Rogers or Gandhi or Stalin,being the “true you” does not produce the righteousness that God requires.” 2:4–5). Whether Mr. Rogers or Gandhi or Stalin, being the “true you” does not produce the righteousness that God requires. We all need God’s righteousness freely offered to us in Christ (Philippians 3:8–11), and we all need to be new creations of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5). Jesus doesn’t say, “Just be the true you.” He says, “You must be born again” (John
Spirit dwells inside of us who are born again to cause us to increasingly walk out who we already are. This new us is a better us than we could have imagined. We are not made to image the ideal versions of ourselves, but to reflect the image of God himself. God ordained our salvation to make us look like his Son (Romans 8:29) — a being who, if you saw now, as Lewis writes, “you would
be strongly tempted to worship” (Weight of Glory, 45). So, “just be yourself” is only good advice when it means “be that person: the new you in Christ.” Paul returns here again and again in his epistles: At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8) In other words, Paul tells Christians to be who we are in Christ. We walk as children of light — not to become light, but because, by a work of our almighty God, we already are. We live as new creations with new affections and joys because, by the Spirit’s regenerating work, we already are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). And we become more like who we already are when we stare at Christ and seek to be what he is (2 Corinthians 3:18). We do not gaze within and become more of what we see inside, but we gaze without to see him — and to others who look like him — and, by the Spirit, mimic what we see (Philippians 3:17). Don’t be yourself. Be something higher. Be who God predestined you to be. Be who you are in Jesus. Greg Morse is a content strategist for desiringGod.org and graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He and his wife, Abigail, live in St. Paul.
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- - - - Then Don’t Do That - - - by Christy Boals I think my all-time favorite child-ism is when they tell me, “It hurts when I do this!” My inevitable answer, “Then don’t do that!” The lack of logic in children can be funny sometimes. As we get older the lack of logic can become painful though. How many of us do the same thing in relationships? It hurts when I get in this kind of relationship. Or, it hurts when I use something, (busyness, food, substances) to cover up what is really going on inside me. Or, one that is very familiar to me, it hurts when I try to control everything. Maybe we shouldn’t be in the relationship; maybe we need to stop and give God the circumstance that is causing discomfort; and maybe we should give control to God.
It is hard work to get out of an emotional rut. It takes a lot of courage to stop doing the familiar and try something new. The fear of trying and failing can be absolutely paralyzing. Sometimes we can’t seem to make a change until what we are currently
doing hurts so bad that we just have to stop. I am a control freak by nature, (my sinful nature) and I work every day to give that part of me over to God. Some days I am more successful at it than others, but
the great thing is God’s grace is new for me every morning, in fact it is new every minute. There is a story about a person walking down the street and falling into a hole. The next day they walk down the street, but walk around the hole. The next day they decide to simply walk down a different street altogether. I hope this is where we can all get to in our lives, making a positive, conscious decision to try something different even though it might scare us to death. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:1819 www.GraceFilledPurpose.com
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would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship
Rich & Joan Hackney Marty Brown Tom Harris Warren & Lucy Campbell Allen Halpern Rita Collins LaDonna Curteman April James Chuck David Sue Kochi Dennis & Connie Gabel Clay Maynard Bob Gilbert
John Nicholls Carrie Pederson Mimi Robarge Jeff Royce Mike Sherman Robert E. Stark
God Bless Each Of You For Your Support Of This Ministry And Our Community •••
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Finding Freedom in God’s Perfect Peace 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 4.
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EDITORIAL The Radical Jesus Agenda by Greg Stier - dare2share.org I hear a lot of talk among conservative Christians today about “the radical liberal agenda” that is dominating our culture. This agenda is filled with leftist Democrats, unfair and imbalanced MSNBC reporters and pro-gay Starbucks cups controversies. As a matter of fact I’m sick of hearing about it. Now don’t get me wrong. I am very conservative, both politically and theologically. I like Reagan, Republicans and imputed righteousness. But I am not going to expend my energy fighting the radical liberal agenda. Instead, I’m going to invest it in pushing the “radical Jesus agenda.” What is his agenda? To love God, love others and make disciples! When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was he answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” Matthew 22:37-39. This basically means love God with everything you have and then take your love for him out on everyone else. Yes, this especially includes those you vehemently differ with politically, philosophically and morally! The radical Jesus agenda is to love your enemies and hate your own sin. The radical Jesus agenda is to be a visible, visceral demonstration to the world that we love others no matter what...no matter if we differ with their politics or lifestyle choices. Our love for others has no qualifications, exceptions or asterisks because our love is rooted in God (1 John 4:19.) This doesn’t mean that we refuse to
Love One Another --
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vote our convictions. This doesn’t mean that we don’t stand for truth. But it does mean that we do so humbly, lovingly and gently. It means we are characterized by an open hand, not a clenched fist. And the radical Jesus agenda goes even farther than loving God and loving others. It also includes making disciples! In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” A key thrust of the radical Jesus agenda is winning people over, not to our politics, but to our Savior! It is making disciples, not to follow us, but to follow our King! How do we do that? We pray for, care for and share the Gospel with those around us. We keep lovingly pursuing them until they are ready to say yes to Jesus and the hope that only he can offer. Here’s a video we produced to show what a prayer-care-share lifestyle can look like: Let’s stop, in the words of Thoreau, “hacking at the leaves of evil” and let’s start “striking at the root,” Let’s do this by sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone no matter what. And, even if they keep on rejecting it, let’s keep on loving them with the love of Jesus. Let’s love God, love others and make disciples. Now that’s a radical agenda!
As I Have Loved You. John 13:34
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chameleon This past Christmas we played a new game with our family called “Chameleon”. The point of the game is that everyone but one person knows the answer. The one who doesn’t, attempts to blend in and make others believe that they know the answer- hence, the “chameleon”. Then, everyone tries to guess who’s the “chameleon”. It is a lot of fun and a new favorite game. However, I couldn’t help noticing some spiritual parallels. There are spiritual chameleons all around us. We see them in our churches and even prayer meetings. These are people who want to “blend in” with the Body of Christ, but they do not know the Lord. The Bible refers to them in passages such as Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 7:21 (a simple Google search of “What does the bible say about Fake Christians?” will yield dozens of verses). Sometimes these “chameleons” are fairly innocent or naïve and simply don’t know what it means to truly be a Christian. Other times, sadly, they are used by the Enemy to infiltrate the true Body of Christ. Years ago, when I met someone who was friendly, I asked if they were a “believer”, or “Christian” or if they “believed in Jesus”. I know what I meant, but I realized that they didn’t. They would say “oh, yes” enthusiastically but after a little further interaction, I realized that we were not of the same spiritual family. Cross jewelry, bumper stickers and even attending church doesn’t
Seth Halpern - Editor make someone a Christian. There are a lot of Christian buzz words and rituals that anyone can pick up. The only way to truly be a Christian is to know and receive the grace of God the Father and forgiveness of our sins through (only) the sacrifice of Jesus. Then the Holy Spirit can transform us into the image of Christ as we spend time with Him regularly. All the rest- helping the homeless, forgiving those who hurt us, loving the unlovely- that all comes as a result of the love of God transforming us. Some of us are naturally positive, helpful, happy people. Others of us are not naturally that way. If the Spirit of God is not what’s causing the motivation for the Glory of God, then it is simply empty works and God receives no Glory and the person receives no salvation! The board game is a lot of fun, but our eternal destiny is no game at all! So, examine yourself (2 Cor 13:5) to see if you truly know the Lord or are merely a “chameleon”!
The Ambassador accepts opinions and editorials (op-ed’s) as long as they are well-written and less than 450 words. Oped’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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MLK DAY MON • JAN 15 1PM & 6PM
Free Childcare At MOPS we hang out, drink coffee, & enjoy laid-back activities, while our kids are looked after by experienced children’s ministry staff!
Tuesday January 9th, from 9:30 - 11:30 free Playzeum trip. Space is limited. RSVP via facebook at Yuba Sutter Mops Monday January 22nd from 9:30 - 11:30 at Gateway Calvary Chapel.