The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
We are therefore Christ’s Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20)
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
May 2011
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It’s STILL Legal to PRAY in America...for now
Seth Halpern Editor
You may have read the headline and thought “of course it is”. However, the way things are going in other nations including England and other parts of Europe, we cannot get too comfortable. For a bit of history, let’s remember that not too many decades ago the Bible was a primary textbook in public schools. Until 1962, each school day began with prayer. In recent years, lawsuits are bringing the removal of the ten commandments from our courtrooms. Traditional marriage is now simply an “optional” form of matrimony in several states. Up until very recently, you could share your opposing perspective on homosexuality or Islam in an open dialogue. Now many consider it “Hate Speech”. So much for freedom of speech! More and more organizations, both private and public (including the military) impose policies to disallow prayers offered “in Jesus name”. We have slowly but surely given away many of our rights as Americans. Yet, for now, we still have the right to gather for prayer in this country. Therefore, we MUST use that right by coming together to pray for our nation, state, and communities and their leaders. We live in a largely secular nation today. Regardless of surveys showing that more than 70% of Americans identify themselves as “Christian”, the reality is that less than 10% live a life committed to the God of the Bible. Our most prominent religion is the religion of self where the individual is on the throne. Despite the desire and design of our founding fathers, we have shifted away from the worship of God to the worship of man. Our idols are celebrities, and there is more loyalty and unity for our sports teams than for our churches. God is seen by most as either a cosmic Santa Clause or a cranky old warden. Prayer is wishful thinking or some
60th Annual National Day of Prayer Event Schedule th May 5 , 2011 7:00 -9:00 AM NDP Prayer Breakfast With Special Speaker Ken DeVore @ Church of Glad Tidings Hwy 99 at Eager Rd. Ticket Supply limited Contact Sponsor and host: Christian Business Alliance Dave Kugelman 671-3160 6:00 PM Community Prayer And Worship Meet at the Fountain Square In Yuba City Off of Plumas St. Hosted by: Pastor Balbir Subhkaram House of Prayer Church 933-6045
12:00 – 12:45 PM Prayer for Civic Leaders at 3 locations! City Hall in Yuba City 1160 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City Pastor James Anderson Cornerstone E F Church 674-3087 Sutter County Hall of Records nd 466 2 St, Yuba City Pastor Tim Kurtz Fusion Christian Fellowship 821-2224 Yuba County Board of Supervisors 915 8th Street, Marysville Pastor Mike Hunt Riverside Restoration Center 415-3369
The theme for this year is
“A Mighty Fortress is our God” and is based on the verse from Psalm 91:2 which states: “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
innocuous sentimental chatter in times of tragedy. This, I’m afraid, is the place we have become. There is plenty of blame and accusation to go around. Unfortunately, that does not stop the problem nor change the course of our society’s demise. Only coming to the Almighty God in prayer can make that change. Legislation, as important as it is, may temporarily stop a leak of immorality, but cannot change the direction of the water flow. We need to come together in prayer for our neighbors, communities, state and nation. Arguments, petition, boycotts, and other exhausting activities cannot move the hand of the Almighty as can prayer. continued on page 9 - PRAYER
Sponsor Spotlight:
Jan Duke. . . pg. 12
WHAT’S INSIDE Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 2 Ministry Resources. . . . . Pg. 3 Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4 - 5 Media/Entertainment . . . Pg. 7 Resources . . . . . . . . Pg. 9 - 10 Community . . . . . . . Pg. 11 - 12 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 15
The Ambassador
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