August 2016
Jim Denison Denison Forum on Truth and Culture Denisonforum.org Pokémon GO is the most popular mobile game in American history. The app instructs players to use their mobile devices to catch Pokémon characters in the real world. It has sent multitudes of people into streets, parks, and malls looking for such creatures. More than twenty-one million people play the game every day in the US. I’m old enough to remember when Blockbuster stores rented video games and VHS tapes. Now Blockbuster stores and VHS tapes are no more. We could never have imagined then the technology
Falling Down Jeanne Dukes Page 5
we take for granted today. One reason for the popularity of Pokémon GO isthat it provides a distraction from a world that grows more frightening by the day. Security is tighter than ever for the Republican Convention in Cleveland. According to this morning’s New York Times, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the seventeen-year-old Afghan who attacked passengers on a German train before he was killed by police. After the
shootings in Baton Rouge and Dallas, police officers across the country are patrolling in pairs. A psychologist noted in The New York Times, “With the frequency of shootings and terror attacks there is a sense of anxiety that’s building in people, a sense of vulnerability and powerlessness.” In the face of such crises, it’s hard to take the long view. What happens today seems more important than what happened yesterday or will happen
“One reason for the popularity of Pokémon GO is that it provides a distraction from a world that grows more frightening by the day”.
Pastor Profile Lee Roberts Page 13
Revival in Iran Page 17
tomorrow. The current challenge seems to be more of a challenge than anything we’ve faced before or will face again. But that’s seldom true. From 1960 to 1993, violent crime in America increased by 560 percent. It has since dropped to half that level. We are understandably worried about Islamic terrorism. But I grew up in a time when we lived every day with the very real possibility of nuclear war. Bernie Sanders focused his campaign largely on the problem of economic inequity in America, a challenge for which much progress remains. However, according to the Pew Research Center,
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INSPIRATION
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Dirt Clods For Jesus
Have you ever had ugliness sneak up on you? One morning, I was at a ladies gathering at church. This was an open, Spirit-led gathering and we ladies were free to speak or share as we felt led. As each lady made her way to the front to share a dream, inspired word or a scripture that they felt spoke to them, I started having really ugly thoughts. Things like “Oh, here she goes again. She’s always got something to blab
about!” or “Blah, blah, blah, no one even gets what you’re talking about” or this gem “Ugh, not HER again! She thinks she’s so spiritual!” Now mind you, these are wonderful ladies whom I like and they like me. I was disturbed by these negative, ugly thoughts that were coming at an ever-increasing pace. I was seething and saddened at the same time. I didn’t understand, nor did I like what I was feeling and thinking. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I wanted to run out of the room! Instead, I dropped to my knees. I was so disgusted with the ugliness inside me. I started crying pretty hard and while situated upright, on my knees, with my head up and my hands hanging limp at my sides, I was pleading with Jesus to take these thoughts from me! I didn’t want them, I didn’t like them and asked Him to PLEASE TAKE THEM FROM ME!
All of the sudden, I had a vision in my mind’s eye, squared off, like a movie screen: I was in the same position as I was currently postured, my POV (Point of View) was through my eyes and I was sitting about 5 feet away from the feet of Jesus!! My view was from about His knees down and I saw a long white robe, thick and lush and the tips of his sandaled feet sticking out. I looked down and saw 3 or 4 large, cantaloupe sized, dirt clods, roll from out of my body, one by one! As I watched each of my dirt clods roll towards Jesus, I was astonished to see that at the instant each huge ball of dirt made contact with Him, they instantaneously became the most beautifully wrapped gifts! The presents were the same size as the clods and each one was exquisitely wrapped with the most beautiful wrapping paper and a thick beautiful ribbon that wrapped around each box on all sides that was tied
in a big, beautiful, luscious bow. I don’t remember much after that and it was such an intimate moment that I didn’t tell anyone about it for a long time. One day, I was at a ladies gathering in someone’s house and we were going in a circle sharing stories. All of the sudden that story popped into my head and I knew it was time to share it. Retelling it, was when I realized that when we choose to give our dirt to Jesus, He receives them as beautiful precious gifts!! In case you missed that; Jesus views and receives the ugliest parts of you as a gift when you freely give them to Him. Wow. Tamera is a former Roller Derby “Queen” who enjoys an unusual life in Christ while hauling freight with her husband, Todd. You can follow her journey at her Facebook page “Trucking is Glamorous”.
••• Calling ••• By April James
Shhhh, can you hear Him? Is He speaking to us? Could He be saying… Hold on, I’m calling you. Are you ready? I sense an excitement within you, a longing, a desire, all for Me. When you’re ready to step out from where you are, there is more than you have imagined waiting
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and I’ll be there to go with you into the new adventures of life, whether it be in your own neighborhood or beyond. It just takes a willing heart and feet. You won’t regret saying yes, granted it may not be all thrills and easy, but it will be worth it. You were meant for more than an ordinary life. The “more” comes when you join in colabor with Me. Doors and windows will open you have not seen before, divine encounters and opportunities await you. Trust me, take my hand, let us begin – one step, one “yes”, at a time. Ever wonder what the Lord’s call to the great adventurers in the faith from the past sounded like? Was it a whisper? Did it sound like thunder or deep waters? Did the earth move beneath their feet or just within their spirit? Did any grow faint and
need to be strengthened by ministering angels before they could proceed forward? How many argued before saying yes? I’m certain each of their experiences was unique, individually theirs, and compelling; just as He is individually calling us today to co-labor with Him, to step out from living just an ordinary life and begin to live an extraordinary one that defies our imagination. For God, who by his mighty power at work within us, is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes (Eph 3:20 TLB). Being an Olympic year, athletes are “going for the gold”, should we as believers in Christ not also run this life’s race as if to win the prize, to go
for something more than ordinary? Paul prayed for our spiritual growth in Eph 3:14 – 20. What if we were to turn his prayer into a personal prayer for ourselves that God, out of his glorious, unlimited resources, would give us the mighty inner strength of his Holy Spirit, that Christ would be more and more at home in our hearts, living with us as we trust him. That our roots would go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and are able to feel, understand, and experience how long, how wide, how deep and how high his love really is; and so at last be filled up with God himself. The Lord knows the plans he has for us, for our future, for our good, for hope. Shhhh, can you hear Him? He is calling us!
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INSPIRATION He Is Perfect
Falling Down
actions and words of others. Wounded in soul, spirit, or body, we fall into the abyss, ruminating the injustices with, “Why me, Lord?” Self-pity can become a sweet ally, luring us into perpetuating the pain by not letting it go. We unknowingly cling to the very same darkness we want to escape. Micah 7:8 is one of my favorite verses: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” As I often think of it to encourage myself when facing difficulty, this actually addresses “my enemy”. Who is my enemy? Ultimately, the kingdom of darkness. So, even if a human hurled accusations and threw me into the pit of despair, if it puts me in darkness, then there is an evil entity in the mix. When I arise, I am standing against that enemy. DISTANCE
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By Paula McBride “It’s a perfect day to go camping,” you say, but the kids don’t think so. “It’s too hot (or too cold),” they grumble. “Camping is boring. I want to stay home and play with my friends!” Or the bride’s mom says, “This wedding gown will be perfect!” and the bride says, “It’s too fancy (or too plain). The coach thinks, “That is the perfect pitch”, but the umpire calls it low and outside. What do you think is perfect? The ten fingers and ten toes on your perfect first grandchild? The candlelight dinner on your tenth anniversary? The car your parents gave you on your sixteenth birthday? Perhaps it’s the calm water on the river where you are fishing. So many things in life seem perfect. Or do they? We toss the word “perfect” around much like we do the word “love.” It’s meaning gets watered down with casual, sometimes flippant use. “Perfect,” the teenager mutters when things don’t go his way. If something is really perfect, it can be weighed on an objective scale, like a spelling test when all twenty-five words are spelled with legible accuracy. In this case, there is an unchangeable balance of standard and performance that can be measured. Three elements are described in
Scripture as perfect: the works, the ways, and the words of God. Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.” A few books later, in II Samuel 22:3 we find an echo, “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless.” God set the standard for just how far the ocean can go when it meets the shore. In faithfulness, He keeps the cycle of tides going in a way that can’t be explained. He set the earth at just enough distance from the sun to sustain life. He weaves infants in their mother’s wombs and wakens plant life in the spring. God’s works are perfect. His ways are perfect, too, even when they hurt. Persecution caused the early church to spread into other lands. Corrie and Bessie Ten Boom were housed in flea-infested quarters during their time in the concentration camp. That kept the Nazis out, and the women were free to preach Christ to those suffering. Many who are deeply afflicted have turned their trials into testimonies because they trust the perfect ways of God. The standard is God’s righteousness, and He performs by shielding all who take refuge in Him (the rest of II Samuel 22:31). It is a miracle of God’s works and ways that His word has been preserved. Many
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By Jeanne Dukes Whenever we fall down in life, regardless of why we slip on the proverbial banana peel, it’s no accident that lying flat on your back affords a one-eighty view of the sky. It’s a sure sign that it’s time to look up. God has already been waiting for us, and as He mercifully promises in Psalm 145:14: “The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” DECISIONS Sometimes, we purposely or haphazardly make wrong decisions. We fail, so we fall. But, the very worst thing we can do is stay there. By far, the greatest failure is not getting up. As Bob Carlisle so succinctly sang in “We Fall Down”: “We fall down, we get up, And the saints are just the sinners Who fall down and get up.” Sometimes, it’s easier for us to rise up-even in pure defiance--when an opposing force has caused distress than to dust ourselves off and stand after a personal mistake. Condemnation always tries to leave a mark. Yet, our determination to “get up” should celebrate the overriding grace of our loving Father: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) DEFEAT We have all suffered the undeserved
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CALENDAR CROSSROADS CLOTHES CLOSET Crossroads Community Church, YC Shop at our - FREE Clothes given away! Open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm 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.
SUNDAY CELEBRATE RECOVERY Praise Chapel Church - Sunday 6:30 p.m. Join us for great worship and open share group. For more information call (530) 923-7204.
MONDAY KNIT & CROCHET WOMENS FELLOWSHIP First Baptist Church of Olivehurst 1777 - 8th Ave. - Mon 10 a.m. - Noon 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 FREE KARATE CLASSES First Baptist Church of Olivehurst Mon 5:30pm FREE karate classes taught from a Christian perspective. 743-1831 for info, Pastor Miguel.
Ongoing Events TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
ENCOUNTERING GOD 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Every Tuesday Morning Embassy of Heaven Campus 1179 Eager Rd., YC - (Hwy 99 @ Eager Rd.) 530-671-3160 - www.churchofgladtidings.com Our Tuesday morning meetings begin with a time of worship. Afterwards we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us to minister to each other, encourage each other, and build our hunger and desire for the things of God. Childcare is provided.
FREE BIBLE COLLEGE CLASSES First Baptist Church of Olivehurst 1777 8th Ave., Olivehurst -Wed Mornings 10a.m. Starting in January 2015 you can earn an accredited bible college degree … all books are in public domain and you only need a tablet, computer or some type of electronic reader. We can print them out for a small charge. You will need a King James Bible to get started. fbco@comcast.net for more information. ENROLL TODAY!
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.
AWANA Wed 5:45-7:45pm during school year Evangelical Free Church - 3785 Olive Hwy. Oroville For information please call 533-6866 Awana is a boys & girls club consisting of small group time, games, large group time.
CRAFTSMEN FOR CHRIST The Bride Church - 655 Colusa Hwy, YC Meets every Tuesday at 6:30p.m. Men’s fellowship around the word and worship. All in the Body of Christ welcome!
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LIFE @ HOPE POINT Hope Point Nazarene 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC Wednesday @ 6:30pm for kids, 7pm for adults 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. DIVORCE CARE Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30pm Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 500 1179 Eager Road, YC (Hwy 99 @ Eager Rd) Info: Duane Russell 530.777.8543 Divorce Care is a divorce recovery support group where you can find help and healing from the hurt of separation or divorce. Weekly meetings provide you with an ongoing “support team” as you deal with the issues surrounding your separation or divorce. You’ll learn how to deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.
TUESDAY SATURDAY BETHESDA HEALING WELL Saturday, Aug. 20th at 10:00 AM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, YC - Ed Han 209-298-6102 Gathering for a time of soaking in God’s presence and then spending time to receive focused prayer for healing. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Loma Rica Community Church- Moy Hall. Fri., 7pm. Call church office for more information 743-5435
multiple days of the week PRAYER Every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:00 p.m. Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City - 530-671-3160 “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” (Matt. 21:13). The church today in is 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. WOMENS CLOTHES CLOSET Twin Cities Rescue Mission Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m. - Noon 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!
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NATIONAL NIGHT OUT First Lutheran Church, 850 Cooper Ave., Yuba City Tue. Aug. 2 from 5:30-8:30 pm Come on out to FLC’s National Night Out, Meet others in the community, and grab a hot dog and a snow cone. We’ll have a bounce house for the kids, Christian Music, and Reuben the Comfort Dog. FREE BARBECUE LUNCH FUMC (First United Methodist Church)– YC 3101 Colusa Hwy, YC Every Monday, 12 to 1 pm through Sept 26 (except for Sept 5) Got Lunch Plans? If not, enjoy a BBQ lunch, hamburgers or hot dogs, on our patio at no cost to you. BACK TO SCHOOL DINNER & BLESSING FUMC – YC 3101 Colusa Hwy, YC Tuesday, August 9th from 5:30 to 7 pm Take time to enjoy dinner and be blessed as the new school year commences. There will be school supplies available at no charge for those who attend. TDS SCHOOL OF DELIVERANCE Tearing Down Strongholds Begins Mon, Aug 15 at 9:00 AM Ends Wed, Aug 17 at 9:00 PM Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd., Yuba City 530-671-3160 Registration/Info: www.tdsministries.org Tearing Down Strongholds School of Deliverance is an intense 3-day course designed primarily for those involved in or feel God may be calling them into the deliverance ministry. Freedom comes as truth enters the heart and mind. Facilitated by Jess Parker.
Special Events
REST MINISTERS & LEADERS LUNCH St. Isidore Catholic Church, 222 Clark Avenue, YC, Gymnasium Blg. Thur, Aug 25, noon to 1:30 p.m . Join us for lunch and hear about the ministry of REST. This free lunch is for leaders who are currently supporting REST and for those leaders who are new to REST. REST, Regional Emergency Shelter Team, provided over 2700 beds and meals to homeless families and women last season.
FIRST ANNUAL “LIVE GENEROUSLY” EVENT 10th St. (between E & D St.), Marysville Sat Aug. 27th, 9am – noon If your organization helps people in our community and has an idea for a fundraiser, this event is for you! It is a day to have fun and acquire donations and volunteers. Please contact Janell Green (530) 632-1592 to reserve your free booth and apply for your action team grant. PRAISE IN THE MOUNTAINS Western Gateway Park Penn Valley (Just 10 min south of Grass Valley) Sat. Sept 3rd , 1 to 8 pm The 25th Annual Praise In The Mountains. The Longest Running FREE gospel concert. Six Gospel Bands, Jump Houses, Food, and 100 are of FREE drawings for prizes. FREE Grand Prize $1,000 drawing at 8pm. “TO TANZANIA WITH LOVE” Crossroads Community Church, 445 B St, Yuba City Sun, Sept.11th, 5pm - 8pm Benefit for Samaritan Village Orphanage Wonderful evening featuring recording artist Leon Patillo Free Dinner and Concert. Love Offering will be taken to benefit the orphans at Samaritan Village Orphanage, Tanzania, Africa 5:00 pm Dinner/ 6:00 pm Concert
Prayer Calendar for August 2016 3-Aug Marketplace Ministries-Opportunities to share at work 4-Aug Orphan children- Samaritan Village (see p. 3) and other orphanages 5-Aug Pray for our nation and the upcoming election 6-Aug A Woman’s Friend - Unborn children/Pregnant Women 7-Aug Local ministries (see p. 3) 8-Aug Marriages-Restoration and Strength 9-Aug Heat! Pray for the elderly, homeless and others sensitive to scorching heat 10-Aug Adoptive families & birth moms 11-Aug Missionaries -Fruit, Provision 12-Aug Back to School- Pray for students, teachers, and parents for smooth transition 13-Aug Military, All armed forces & their families. 14-Aug The Ambassador Newspaper-Increased readership and Impact 15-Aug Teen Depression, Suicide 16-Aug Global Persecution-Safety/Courage of Believers 17-Aug Local officials and community leaders 18-Aug Middle East - For the peace of Jerusalem 19-Aug ISIS/Terrorism- pray for wisdom & strong leadership to eradicade it 20-Aug Homeless/Poor - Twin Cities Rescue Mission, A Hand Up, Salvation Army 21-Aug Pray for the Unemployed and Underemployed 22-Aug Unity in and among local churches 23-Aug Christian Businesses-Ambassador Sponsors & others. 24-Aug Children and Children’s Ministries 25-Aug Singles, Single Parents, Divorce healing 26-Aug Addicted, Rehab ministries- Feather River Mens Center, Joshua House, Celebrate Recovery 27-Aug First Responders-Police, Firefighters, EMT, TIP 28-Aug Local Pastors and their families 29-Aug Hollywood- May God to touch influential people 30-Aug Sex Trafficking - pray for victims
3RD ANNUAL BAND TOGETHER FOR CHRIST Sat, Sept 24th- 5pm–10pm. Faith Christian High School soccer field, 3105 Highway 20, Yuba City A collaborative effort of Christian volunteers, businesses, churches and Christ centered non-profits aimed at bringing people to Christ. Four local bands will perform and Christian recording artist Lincoln Brewster will headline. Family event, food available, free entrance, parking $5, prize drawing, loads of fun. An attendance over 3,000 is expected.
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INSPIRATION By Josh Vanassche During one of my annual employee appraisals I confidently asked my supervisor what rating I was going to get. ‘This will be easy!’ I thought. ‘I’ve worked so hard that I know that I deserve the top rating!’ I was so sure of my accomplishments that I decided to write my appraisal ahead of time just so he could see how good I was! I was desperately seeking his approval. However, my supervisor’s answer wasn’t what I expected: “I’m not sure what you’re going to get,” he said dryly. “But, I doubt it will be the highest rating.” My heart dropped and my stomach tightened. ‘Are you serious!’ I exclaimed to myself. My attitude instantly changed for the worst and I had thoughts of quitting working so hard. ‘Just accomplish the bare minimum to keep me out of trouble’, my prideful, emotional brain told me. Why should I work so hard for this person? Have you ever felt the same as me at work? Maybe you want to stop working so hard at home because you feel unappreciated by your spouse? I’m sure there have been times where you wanted to give up your good work ethic and let your boss or spouse have a piece of your mind! Let me share with you what God
has to say about our work: “As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Eph 6:6-7). God wants you to be thankful in your toils; to worship him by being your best at what you do, regardless of how you’re treated by your supervisor, spouse, or anyone else. When Christ entered your life, he purchased your life. You now work for Jesus, not yourself, your family, or your employer. When you work enthusiastically for the Lord, others around you benefit because you allow God’s love to shine through you like a lamp. Believe me, people will see it! God loves you and wants to use you as a tool to glorify himself. Because of your thankfulness to God you can work with enthusiasm and joy because you appreciate that He has blessed you with a job or a family, and that everything you do pleases him because you do it for him! Next time you feel the urge to quit or your attitude changes for theworse because you feel wronged or unappreciated, ask yourself, “How can I serve you best, Lord? What can I do to glorify you? How can I show you my appreciation for the responsibility you have given me?” Reminding yourself of your blessings and being thankful for the
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ability to serve God in everything you do will allow you to continue to perform at your best, no matter what! Working for praise from the Lord never fails. Working for praise from people or personal pride fails. 2 Corinthians 10:18 says, “When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.” Imagine if all of us had this attitude!
There would be higher quality of production; we’d be better supervisors, and we’d have a better community overall! We’d also be less stressed because we wouldn’t be looking for press! Instead, we’d show God’s glory through us and show the world evidence of His existence. For the next workweek pray for strength, wisdom, and an opportunity to glorify Jesus in all you do!
FREE Christian Music Festival Featuring Lincoln Brewster
We are excited to announce that Lincoln Brewster will perform at this year’s Band Together for Christ Christian Music Festival. With the announcement of this nationally recognized Christian recording artist, festival organizers are anticipating an attendance over 3,000 people. The purpose of the Band Together for Christ Christian Music Festival, to bring people to Christ. It is a collaborative effort of Christian volunteers and businesses, churches and Christ centered non-profits who are
dedicated to making a positive impact on individuals and the community by offering an entertaining event with the powerful message of Christ. In order to make this a free event for our community, we are looking for donors who understand the purpose of the festival to help cover event expenses. There are some great sponsor benefits for your generosity and donations are tax deductible. To sponsor, contact LaDonna Curteman at BandTogetherForChrist@ gmail.com or (530) 933-5960
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INSPIRATION
How Is Your “Joy-Meter”? By Dr. Ronald Harden, President,
EPIC Bible College and Graduate School
Nehemiah 8:10: “Go, and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” In this second editorial, of several which are focused on “Joy,” we’ve learned that the Biblical state of being, known as “joy,” is best defined as, “the assurance that produces peace, in the midst of external or internal difficulties.” The key to joy is found in our ability to focus. How is your ‘Joy Meter’? Are you attempting to walk and live in joy based upon how all the different circumstances around you that can move you up or down emotionally, like the old-fashioned audience applause meter? When things seem good and loud, we are UP! When things are quiet or not
easy, we are DOWN. The true state of joy is something that goes far beyond what can be accomplished by our own feelings or perceptions. In fact, one of the things we have to do, in the midst of all of the difficulties, perplexities and adversities going on in our world today, is to just take a moment to focus. We must focus our attention on the good, focusing beyond ourselves and the limited scope of our view of the situation that can trouble our heart and burden our mind. In focusing on good, our mind and words work together to voice positive statements. “It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life…I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” Philippians 4:7, The Message I do not know any truly joyful people
who are self-centered or self-focused. Even the last part of Nehemiah 8:10 shows how important it is to share with others and not just keep joy to ourselves. This produces a “merry heart that does good like a medicine!” We’re not suggesting that the Bible is taken like a pill, but I would suggest that it is certainly an excellent supplement for the debilitating effects that comes from the chaos of things in the world today. To have real joy is to focus on good, not on ourselves, and in the midst of that, the Lord will help us. God does not say all of the things that happen to us in this world are good, because he has given us all a free will to choose, And, sometimes people make horrific decisions that cause great harm. God says He will use these awful things ultimately for our good. You’ll be surprised about how much real peace in joy you’ll experience as you turn your attention to being good-focused, not self-focused. It’s so pivotal in where and how we choose to focus our thoughts, words, actions and attitudes.
Dr. Ronald Harden
President & CEO, Epic Bible College Dr. Ronald Harden is President and CEO of Epic Bible College and Graduate School, located at 4330 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento, www. EPIC.edu., one of the region’s Top 25 colleges and universities and among the Top 10 U.S. faith-based colleges in the U.S., now offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs with online and standard classroom options.
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The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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“Life Matters” presented by Y-S Right to Life ••• HELP WANTED •••
By Heather Pugh Yuba-Sutter Right to Life Secretary 40 Days for Life first began in College Station, Texas in 2007. It was so successful in saving lives of innocent children that it quickly spread across the United States and subsequently around the world. Yuba-Sutter Right to Life has participated in some fashion in this worthy life-saving effort since 2009. We also maintain a monthly presence, along with the Woman’s Friend mobile clinic, at the Planned Parenthood in Yuba City which performs chemical abortions (also called RU-486) at great risk to the mother.* BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! Yuba-Sutter Right to Life is seeking 3 or 4 people to work together to oversee the local campaign that will begin September 28th and run through November 6th. The local presence
during these campaigns typically begins at 9am and ends at 5pm Monday through Friday. Yuba-Sutter Right to Life will pay the registration fee and provide the signs and brochures. If you are interested in being instrumental in saving the lives of unborn babies and their mothers from a lifetime of heartache and regret, contact Maureen at 673-1437 or email maureen@ysrtl.org.
40 Days for Life fast facts:
Since 2007, 40 Days for Life has... • Saved 11,796 lives • 133 abortion workers quit • 73 abortion facilities closed • 700,000 individual participants • 18,500 churches participated • Will be held in all 50 states • Held in 36 countries Visit www.40DaysForLife.com for more information.
*Common side effects of chemical abortions include heavy bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and painful uterine contractions. About 2% of women who have a chemical abortion hemorrhage and
more than 1 in 100 require hospitalization. An Iowa woman took RU486 and lost nearly ¾ of her blood and likely would have died without emergency surgery. At a minimum, the RU486 procedure involves two drugs and three trips to the doctor’s office over a two week period. For 4-5% of women, the pills don’t work, making them return for surgical abortions. www.nrlc.org
*In 2011, the FDA reported at least 14 women have died after taking RU486 and that there was a total of 2,207 reported adverse effects after using the drug (612 required hospitalizations, 339 experienced blood loss significant enough to require a transfusion, 256 experienced infections, and 48 women experienced “severe infections”.
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The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
NAME:
Lee Roberts
POSITION:
Pastor
CHURCH:
Gray Avenue Christian Church
DENOMINATION:
Non-Denominational
Christian Church
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: YEARS IN MINISTRY: FAMILY:
COMMUNITY
Wife: Carolyn
LIFE VERSE:
39
15
LEE ROBERTS
Kids: Moorea, Kaela, Janessa, Scott, Kara
Life verses are like Lay’s Potato Chips... You can’t have just one!
Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-
surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” FAVORITE BOOK:
Which ever book I happen to be reading at the moment, and
right now it’s Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar.
INSPIRING PERSON: Woodrow Phillips was President of San Jose Bible College, and in my early 20’s he had a DEEP impact on my life. I STILL think of him, often. SOMETHING UNIQUE YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME:
Years ago Clint
Eastwood elbowed me out of his way as he approached a vegetable platter. I guess I made his day!
MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY:
Paul said it best...
“Let us not become
weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give
up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10
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 George Barlow - The Crave - (530) 790-0792 Kathy Baum - Operation Christmas Child - (916) 747-2212 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 LaDonna Curteman - Band Together for Christ - ladonna.curteman@gmail.com Chuck David Carol Dodds - A Woman’s Friend - (530) 741-9136 Stephen Elliot- Ad Lucem Tax Services - (530) 329-8685 Trey Fulton- Church Alive- churchaliveyc.org Dennis & Connie Gable - Operation Christmas Child - (530) 695-1495 Rita Galusha Steve & Cash Gilliss - Crosspointe Christian Books - (530) 673-6188 Pamela Givans 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 Arlene Hite - Bridges to Housing - (530) 755-3414 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 Al Jolley - Teen Challenge - (530) 300-0712 Cornell U. Kay - Integrity Chamber of Commerce - (916) 969-0205 Dave Kugelman - Proforma by Kug - (530) 742-2423 Bill & Sonja Lindholm- RVOC - (530) 329-8361 Clay Maynard - Consultant - (530) 790-6611 Jim McCarty - Trinity Living Systems - trinityls@yahoo.com Jerry Munz - JM Construction Co. - (530) 682-5316 Maria Paras Ernie Phelan - Intero Real Estate Svcs - (530)-790-7000 Ronda Putman Roger Shadd - Shadd Janitorial Supply - (530) 673-0083 George Shaw- Serving Our Saviour - (530) 671-3303 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
For weekly reminders, updates, or to join email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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CBA MARKETPLACE MONTHLY It Is Better To Be A Dumb Christian Than A Smart Atheist! Attention getting headline? I hope so. Ponder this question; is Christianity in America healthy or unhealthy. The tougher more personal question is this; Is your life as a Christian healthy or unhealthy? Only you and God know the answer to that question. (Since I know that I need to improve as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have to believe that you need to as well). With that stated, let me get to my main point. Since when did church for many Christians become optional. In Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) the author says, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” The reason I ask about your spiritual health is because I believe that many Christians are spiritually malnourished and quite often the reason is neglecting CONSISTENT church fellowship. Christians skip church for a variety of reasons, some are legit and some are not. I don’t have enough space to list many
of them. But many followers of Jesus who intentionally miss church will never consider having their kids miss school. Now you get the point of my headline. If you have to pick missing church or school, pick school! The following paragraph (in italics) is simply Bible commentary on Hebrews 10;25. Take time to read and meditate on both the verse and the commentary and then pray about the importance of taking time out of each week to worship God and thank him for numerous blessings in your life! To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the day when Christ will return, we will face many spiritual struggles, and even times of persecution. Anti-Christian forces will grow in strength. Difficulties should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in attendance.
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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Baby Victor On Friday, July 22nd we received the news that a new baby boy has been admitted to Samaritan Village! The little boy, estimated to be about 8 months old, was given the name “Victor” by our Orphanage director Josephat. Baby Victor was brought to a hospital by a woman who left him with someone there while she went to purchase medicine. However, after six hours the woman had not returned to get the baby, and a search could find no one to claim the baby. Authorities then brought him to Samaritan Village. Baby Victor arrived with a high temperature and cough, but is being treated by the nurses at Samaritan Village and is expected to recover. Baby Victor has joined a wonderful
family of brothers and sisters, “mamas” and nurses who will love and care for him at Samaritan Village. He will be taught about his heavenly father Jesus and will receive all the care he needs to grow and reach his full God given potential. The goal of Samaritan Village is to reduce the number of abandoned children and help prevent the deaths of children in Tanzania, Africa by providing care for those whose parents have either died or abandoned them and who have no relatives responsible for their care. Our annual “To Tanzania with Love” concert fundraiser is one of the ways we partner with the Yuba Sutter community in this work. This year, the event will be held on Sunday, September 11th at Crossroads Community Church, 445 B Street, Yuba City. The event will begin at 5:00 pm with a free dinner and will continue at 6:00 with a free concert headlined by Leon Patillo along with local choirs and praise dancers. Please plan to join us for this celebration! You will learn more about this wonderful, life-saving work and have the opportunity to join with us to minister to “the least of these.” For more information, please call Joan @ 530-755-2588
Samaritan Village Orphanage, Inc. P.O. Box 444 Yuba City, CA 95992 Tax ID#68-0214955 501c 3
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Continued From Page 5 - “Falling Down” Sometimes, we don’t feel a crash to the cement before we realize we’ve fallen back and are sitting in the dark. God seems distant, but He hasn’t moved. He designed us for a relationship not only centered on worship, trust, and obedience, but loving communion. Waves of complacency drag us out with the tide to the lukewarm sea. Life becomes a chore and the weight of the world presses us down. Passion for God can even get lost in the over-focus of serving the church or worthwhile
causes. But, Jesus is compelling us to get up: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) When we simply abide in His presence, we are in the light. Even when we watch out for those banana peels, trials will still come. But, when we fall, the ongoing cultivation of faith in our hearts can increasingly help us embrace an eternal perspective, allow God to heal our bruises, and help us get up again.
Continued From Page 5 - “HE IS PERFECT” corrupt regimes tried, and are still trying, to eradicate the Bible, but like sparks that fly from piles of burning sacred books, God’s word ignites human hearts all over the world. The standard is unquenchable truth, and God, through the Spirit, uses Scripture to lead us to salvation, to be the lamp for our daily path, and to strengthen and encourage us for the days ahead. Most
of all, God’s word tells us who He is. He is the ultimate balance of standard and performance, perfect in all His works, ways, and words. When things seem out of balance, let’s remember our unchangeable God who has all things under control and lean hard into Him, our Rock and our Shield. He is perfect.
The Ambassador Ministry
would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship
Kathy Baum Jim McCarty Bob Gilbert Marty Brown John Nicholls Rich & Joan Hackney Carrie Pederson Warren & Lucy Campbell Tom Harris Wendell Prine LaDonna Curteman Allen Halpern Mimi Robarge Chuck David April James Jeff Royce Christine Emerson Sandi Juri George & Cherie Shaw Rita Galusha Sue Kochi Clay Maynard
God Bless Each Of You For Your Support Of This Ministry And Our Community •••
If you would be interested in supporting The Ambassador as an Individual Sponsor ($20/month) please contact Seth Halpern at: editor@ambassadornewspaper.com or call 530-933-1385 or visit us online at www.ambassadornewspaper.com
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 3.
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RESOURCES
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Unchurched, not Unreachable Your Friends Are More Open Than You Think Eric Metaxas Breakpoint.org Your unchurched friends are not unreachable. How do I know? They’ve said so themselves. We’ve all heard the statistics about the growth of the religiously unaffiliated in America—the sociologists call them the “nones”—those who don’t belong to any church or denomination. We’ve seen the effects of a secular worldview displacing America’s Judeo-Christian consensus, with the decline of religious liberty, respect for life, and marriage. On top of all this, some of the churches best known for doing evangelism are declining, with fewer and fewer of their members sharing the good news of Jesus. In our guts we can feel the cultural ground moving beneath our feet, and it’s unnerving. It’s no wonder that evangelizing our unchurched neighbors can seem like a daunting task. More and more of them are downright hostile to the things of faith, right? Wrong! That’s not my opinion—it’s straight from a new online survey of 2,000 unchurched Americans from LifeWay Research and the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. The survey reports that nearly four in five of those who haven’t
been to church in the last six months— except for weddings and funerals—say they don’t mind talking about faith if it’s really important to a friend. Not only that, but 47 percent say they will discuss religion freely if the subject comes up. Nearly another third say they’ll listen without responding. Remember, we’re only talking here about people who don’t go to church! Unfortunately, even tragically, only a third say someone has actually bothered to explain why they should be a Christian. “Unchurched folks are not being overwhelmed by Christians talking about their faith,” says Scott McConnell, who’s the executive director of Lifeway Research. “If faith is important to you, then your friends will be interested in hearing about it.” What else did the survey find? While only 35 percent say they would attend a worship service at a friend’s invitation, that’s still a big number. Also, 62 percent say they would attend a church meeting about neighborhood safety, 51 percent would participate in a community service event, 46 percent would take part in a sports or exercise program, 45 percent would go to a concert, 45 percent would show up for a neighborhood get-together,
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25 percent would go to a recovery group, and 24 percent would go to a seminar on a spiritual topic … at a church. While we’d like for these interest numbers to be much higher, that’s still a lot to work with. But we have to face the fact that most people are not sitting around waiting for our four-point gospel outlines. We’re going to have to be both creative and patient. According to the survey, a full 43 percent say they never wonder if they’ll get to heaven after they die; one in five can’t remember the last time they thought about it. On the plus side, however, 70 percent agree “there is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life,” and 57 percent say that finding “their deeper purpose” is “a major priority.” Friends, we’ve said this before, but if we really want our unchurched neighbors to receive Christ by faith—or even go to church with us—we’re going to have to get personal. Only about 20 percent say
they would accept an invitation to attend a service from a church member at their door, a TV commercial, a postcard, or an ad on Facebook. But by contrast, 51 percent said that a personal invitation from a friend or family member might get them to go. There’s a lot more statistical cud to chew on in this survey by Lifeway Research and the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, so come to BreakPoint. org. We’ll link you to it so you can read it yourself and share it with your pastor and small group—and we hope you will. Let us not forget the centrality of the Gospel in the life of the church, and in the life of your unchurched neighbors, whether they know it or not. As David Shibley says in his great new book on evangelism, Entrusted, “The screaming need in our day is to again make Jesus Christ and His gospel paramount.” Amen to that!
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM Iran: Christian Revival Sweeping Country Despite Persecution
IN THE NEWS Undercover Journalist Who Revealed Planned Parenthood’s Sale of Fetal Tissue is Acquitted of All Charges
Veronica Neffinger, Editor ChristianHeadlines.com
Veronica Neffinger, Editor ChristianHeadlines.com
Iran is experiencing a Christian revival despite the Christian persecution that exists there, reports ChristianToday.com. Gathering together to worship the Lord is prohibited in Iran, but that isn’t stopping God from working. Many believers are connecting with a Christian community online. “The main church is my house, and through the Internet I connect to everybody,” said one believer named Reza. “That’s why it’s become like an Internet church.” Through the internet, believers connect to churches in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Malaysia via Skype. Reza said that many of the Christian converts came to Christ after they had a vision or dream. He shared that he himself had a dream of Jesus calling him, saying “Come to me.” “And in all of my life, He was helping me and I didn’t know who was this person,” Reza said. ‘Suddenly Jesus Christ was over there and He said, ‘Come to me.’ And I came to that side and He accepted me.” In 1994, there were about 100,000 believers in Iran. Currently, the number of Christians in the country has risen
Undercover journalists David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, who are responsible for the controversial undercover Planned Parenthood videos, have been acquitted of all charges. Daleiden and Merritt were acquitted of misdemeanor charges back in June when a judge ruled that they were not guilty of attempting to purchase fetal body parts after they pretended to be employees of a fictitious company seeking bodies of unborn babies for experimentation in order to expose Planned Parenthood’s alleged sale of fetal body parts. Now, according to LifeSiteNews.com, Daleiden and Merritt have been acquitted of the felony charges brought against them, which included using a fake ID to gain access to a Planned Parenthood clinic. Daleiden, who is the founder of the Center for Medical Progress, the organization sponsoring his undercover journalist activities, released this statement after getting news of his acquittal: “Planned Parenthood tried to collude with public officials to manipulate the legal process to their own benefit, and they failed. A year after the release of
to about three million, despite the fact that persecution against Christians has also increased, and Iran is ranked ninth on Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution. Many of the Christian converts are leaving Iran for Turkey where persecution is less severe. In Turkey they hope to gain refugee status and eventually emigrate to other countries. Reza urged Christians around the world to pray for believers in Iran: “And I’m just begging, really, from the other believers, from other sisters and brothers from all over the world, to pray for Iran and to all the people of Iran to find new God and be familiar with God, with Jesus Christ,” he said.
the undercover videos, the ongoing nationwide investigation of Planned Parenthood by the House Select Investigative Panel makes clear that Planned Parenthood is the guilty party in the harvesting and trafficking of baby body parts for profit.” Daleiden went on to call the dismissal of the charges against him and Merritt “a resounding vindication of the First Amendment rights of all citizen journalists, and also a clear warning to any of Planned Parenthood’s political cronies who would attack whistleblowers to protect Planned Parenthood from scrutiny.” If convicted, Daleiden and Merritt could have faced up to 20 years in prison.
The Ambassador
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EDITORIAL RELIGION DOESN’T = FAITH By Jon Skillman I don’t remember how I came across it, but I found myself reading a very sad letter written by a reader of the Atlantic Magazine, a very progressive and humanistic publication that seems to delight in casting Christianity in the worst possible light. The letter entitled, “Losing my religion,” told of how the writer was raised to be “a devout Christian” and how she had been a member of a Southern Baptist Church from the time she was in diapers until she turned 19. She wrote of attending church on Wednesday evenings and twice on Sunday. She went to camp in the summer and retreated in spring and fall. She went on mission trips, memorized Scripture and vowed to remain pure until marriage. But then she began to feel disillusioned and confused by certain aspects of her faith. She thought “it would be malleable enough to change with me.” Uh-oh, she must have missed the part that God doesn’t change…even if we do! She knew then her religion was “unsustainable in its current state.” She was, “highly judgmental of the lack of critical thought and didn’t want to be associated with something so unabashedly anti-intellectual.” Hmm… let’s see…this is happening around the age of 19…yep! Godless Public schools, common core and critical thinking are working out just fine. But the final blow, she writes, was when she discovered the church was spending
twice as much on landscaping than Benevolence. “The church was nothing more than a social club.” Unfortunately, in many cases, this is true. She continues, “The things I was taught as a child did great damage to me and hindered my development as a self-actualized human being.” Ah the sweet refrain of humanism…selfactualization. Then from her reading during her twenties she concludes, “Religion does not have a monopoly on morality and ethics, and perhaps, just maybe, we would all be better off without it.” I’m going out on a limb here, but I don’t think she was reading the Bible. Perhaps, just maybe, the church failed this woman. Now before you cast that first stone, please hear me out. Nowhere in this letter (and it was quite lengthy) was there any mention of God or the name Jesus. There was nothing said of salvation, and the only reference to a relationship was not with Christ, but, “…my relationship to religion.” She had placed her faith in religion not in Christ. She either missed the whole point of the church…or the church missed the whole point of discipleship. This woman believes she did all the right things to become religious, but she and the church did little for her to become a Christian. I fear she not only lost her religion, she also lost her way…and that is the sad part.
The Ambassador accepts opinions and editorials (oped’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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The Ambassador
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Jesus “Covers” Me! Sometimes the cover story comes to me easily and other months it takes a while. This issue, was the most difficult time that I can remember. I don’t know why. Perhaps, it was because there was SO MUCH going on in the world. Republican and Democratic Conventions and the sad realization that either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will be leading our nation beginning next January. Or the string of terrorist acts including Orlando and France. Or the racial “war” between the police and “Black Lives Matter”. There has been such a glut of news- horrible news that even the 24 hr news networks are probably finding it difficult to keep up. After searching countless articles for hours on end, I became exhausted and grieved. The Ambassador was never meant to be a source for mainstream or daily news and I’m very glad for that. I was trying to find a way to deal with all the atrocities going on and the political confusion of this next election and I finally just gave up! My purpose has always been to bring the light of Christ into the darkness of our world’s sinful state. Unfortunately, this time I got a little overwhelmed by it all and although I know that Jesus is
Seth Halpern - Editor the answer to every problem, it seemed too dark of a world to bring even His presence. I’m glad that God doesn’t see it that way! He will always light the darkness how matter how deep, not matter how dark. I may have been temporarily overwhelmed but Praise the Lord, Jesus isn’t! Our cover story about Pokémon Go just goes to show that though in the world we will have tribulation, God will take us through it if we focus on Him. Sometimes we need to take a step back from Fox News and CNN and take a deep breath of the Holy Spirit! More bad news will likely greet us in morning because this world is not our home, so look up to the Heavens for Hope, guidance and the ultimate realization that He’ll get us through it until He brings us Home to Heaven.
Continued From Page 1 - “Pokemon go...” poverty in the US has fallen from twentysix percent in 1967 to sixteen percent in 2012. The poverty rate for AfricanAmericans has fallen by fifty percent. We often hear that America has become more secular than ever before. However, a recent survey reports that thirty-two percent of atheists, agnostics, and people who have no religion believe in life after death. There is indeed a “God-shaped emptiness” in every soul. Here’s my point: Every generation has its challenges, and every generation
can choose to face them with or without God. Our Lord wants to use the crises of these days to show us the folly of selfsufficiency. He wants to draw us from our problems to his providence, from our fears to his omnipotence. His word is clear: “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Is God building your house today?
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The Ambassador
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