Good News Press
Sharing the good news of God’s Love through his Son to our local community and world! To Contact Us: (925) 368-5052
www.goodnewspress.us
January/February 2016 Plan of Salvation:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever shall believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
A Message From Good News Press
Top Bible Prophecy Stories of 2015 signs for today. I was called on the carpet by a seminary professor --a Baptist, no less -- for herIt's been an amazing year. If you follow any of the alding signs. He says there are no signs until the Tribulation. Nothing that is happening today is relBible prophecy sites, blogs, and media programs, evant. How tragic. What a disservice he is doing to you know they have been overwhelmed with stories that are foreshadowing the time the Bible calls his seminary students who will be ill equipped to deal with very dark headlines. the Time of Jacob's Trouble, also known as the Tribulation. So after sifting through hundreds, in fact, thousands of headlines in the last year, I have come up I know there are those who believe there are no with 18 stories Continued on Page 2 By Jan Markell www.olivetreeviews.org
2015 Top 10 Religion Stories of the Year Legalization of same-sex marriage voted No. 1 in Religion Newswriters’ 2015 Top 10 Religion Stories of the Year Poll 1) The U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage in a historic 5-4 decision in June.
2) Thousands of migrants, many from war torn Syria, pour into Europe by sea and land, stirring right-wing resistance in some countries and compassion fatigue even from countries that welcomed them. 3) ISIS expands its reign of horror in Syria and Iraq. It Continued on Page 3
The Christian message is often referred to as the "Gospel," which means "good news." Specifically, it is the good news about Jesus—who He is, what He has done, and what He offers. Essentially, the message is that Jesus was God in the flesh, that He came into the world to reconcile humanity to Himself, and that his salvation is freely offered to each person who will respond in faith. The Gospel message explains that salvation is only possible through the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. Through his sacrifice, Jesus paid the price for our sinfulness (rebellion against God), thus offering us forgiveness. Then through his Resurrection He conquered death, removing it as the penalty for our sin and replacing it with the offer of eternal life that is only available from Him to all those that place their faith in Him.
Good News Press - 2 About Good News Press Top Bible Prophecy Stories of 2015 Sharing the good news of God’s Love through his Son to our local community and world!
Partner With Us in Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to our Community! Good News Press is a Christian outreach publication in the San Francisco Bay Area. This popular high-quality, newspaper, informs and inspires believers, as well as plant seeds into the hearts of men and women that do not know Jesus Christ. Good News Press covers world, national, and local religious news and events, and features inspiring Christian articles and insights. It is available, both digitally online and in full-color printed format. Christian newspapers reach a targeted audience-specifically a family oriented, audience, with strong loyalties and convictions.
share the good news, and bring to them the love of Jesus Christ. We do that by bringing glory to God in this newspaper. • Urgency… We believe that these are Why Support Good News Press the last days and that Jesus Christ is • Fulfill the Great Commission! Help us tell our neighbors about the Good soon to return. News of Jesus Christ and reap eternal • Distribution Good News Press is distributed FREE all over the Bay Area. rewards. Good News Press believes You can find it in area grocery stores that this commission begins in our own backyards. There are more than 7 and businesses. Good News Press is produced by Million people in the Bay Area and a great number need to be reached. We Baron & Connie Woods and Family. want to reach these men and women, To contact us: info@goodnewspress.us.
Continued from Page 1 Obama. America will blend into global that I feel most represent the herald of government.
His coming:
1) Israel's worsening isolation. (Zechariah 12:3) The Left in America under Barack Obama abandoned her some years ago. With the defeat of Canada's Stephen Harper, Israel was left only with some evangelical Christians spread around the world. She has no superpower backing.
2) The "days of Noah" are back. (Matthew 24:37) Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6) Lawlessness is the order of the day. Evil is glorified. The White House was adorned with the colors of the homosexual rainbow and Hillary Clinton has a campaign ad with homosexuals engaged in debauchery as she celebrates their actions.
America is being given over to paganism. A few months ago the Hindu 6)
goddess Kali appeared on the Empire State Building in New York City. Twenty years ago this was unthinkable. It is now cool.
7) Israel is being prepared for the Antichrist. She is surrounded by enemies. She has Hezbollah, ISIS, Russia and Syria to the north and East and Hamas to the south in Gaza. Iran boasts daily that she will dump nukes on Israel. At some point she will cave to these threats and call on the Antichrist to make a peace treaty -- particularly in light of the loss of American support.
8) Gog is now on the move. If Magog is Russia, Vladimir Putin has re-built 3) The disillusionment with today's her from the days when Ronald Reagan politician is setting the stage for a "man reined her in. Russia is advancing in with a plan" who will not be a politician many places. All the Gog-Magog nabut who will have the answer to all the tions are aligning and are in the news: world's problems. We don't know his Iran, Russia, Turkey, Libya, and more. name. We know his title is AntiProminent Bible-players are moving christ. He may be the only one who can around as though they were on a chess stabilize the ISIS crisis being planned board. for a naive Western world. See Ezekiel 38-39. 4) The rise of strong delusion. (II Thessalonians 2:10-12). Simply put, God sends a strong delusion to those who choose not to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who take delight in mocking and rejecting Him, He will condemn, confuse their thinking, and cause them to believe fables. And they do! Islam is good and peaceful; guns are evil; climate change is more dangerous than jihadists; Israel is the bad guy and the Palestinians are the new heroes in the church today; ISIS isn't Islam; Muslim refugees are peaceful and will help the Western world. This is an "Alice-in-Wonderland" world. Christians don't fit. The Mad Hatter rules.
5) The further decline of America. She is not in the Bible in the end-times. Russia and Iran are the primary players in the Mideast now. America's influence for good is vanishing under Barack
Israel has been bombing the suburbs of Damascus taking out concealed 9)
weapons. The Bible foretells a time when Damascus will become a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 35:1) 10) Christians are mocked as never
before and Jews are fleeing to Israel at a pace not seen since post WW2. (Matthew 10:22) Only Islam is
glorified, honored, and protected. In the Iraq/Syria region, a Christian is slaughtered every 5 minutes, yet few show any concern. Christianity is being erased from the region of its birth. All of this intensified in 2015. 11) The technology giants want to sup-
press the truth and marginalize Christians. From YouTube, to Google, to Facebook, to Twitter, and more, the
continued on Page 6
Good News Press - 3 2015 Top 10 Religion Stories of the Year Continued from Front Page It claims responsibility for beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians, the burning alive of a Jordanian pilot, the deaths of hundreds on a Russian airliner, and deadly bombings in Beirut and Paris.
In the wake of the tragedy, many Southern institutions remove displays of Confederate symbols.
9) The #BlackLivesMatter movement draws support from faith-based groups, including Christians, Jews, 4) Anti-Muslim rhetoric flares in the Muslims and Unitarian Universalists, U.S. and Europe as some politicians amid increased scrutiny of police killcall for surveillance of Muslims and a ings of black suspects and racial isban on Muslim refugees, citing terror- sues in public universities. ism fears. 10) Pope Francis continues his re5) Pope Francis makes a historic visit formist agenda — ending a three-year to the United States where he greets supervision of U.S. nuns, speaking out crowds in Washington, New York and for the needy, streamlining the annulPhiladelphia, and speaks before Con- ment process and recommending a gress and the United Nations. more pastoral tone while upholding church laws on divorce and remar6) Paris reels from its second major riage. terrorist assault in 2015 on Nov. 13 as attackers linked to the so-called Islam- Other stories in this year’s poll, ic State kill at least 130 and wound listed by final ranking: many others at a concert hall, restaurants and other sites. 11) Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik kill 14 and injure 21 in 7) Pope Francis issues encyclical San Bernardino, Calif. Fears of vioLaudato Si on the environment, a call lence in the name of Islam also arise for replacing fossil fuels linked to as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez is global warming and lamenting a charged in the deaths of five U.S. serthrowaway culture. Meanwhile, reli- vicemen in Chattanooga, Tenn. gious leaders call for similar goals at the November Paris climate summit. 12) Rowan County, Ky., Clerk Kim Davis becomes a conservative Chris8) A white-supremacist gunman is tian hero for choosing jail over signcharged in the shooting deaths of nine ing licenses for gay couples, citing black worshipers in Charleston, S.C. “God’s authority.”
Good News Press - 4 Brightpeak Financial Lists Top 10 Money Mistakes to Avoid in 2016 spiritual nature of money, helping them live with more generosity, while still meeting other financial obligations. The Top 10 list from brightpeak focuses on several key areas, asking: Are you filing to take maximum advantage of company benefits? Are you aware of what those benefits can provide?
Christian Not-for-Profit Offers Suggestions for Building Suc- Are you budgeting realistically for cessful Financial Futures future expenses, both major planned purMINNEAPOLIS -- At this time of year, it's not hard to find a list of steps you should take to be healthier, happier or skinnier. But if improving the financial outlook for yourself and your family is one of your goals for 2016, don't miss brightpeak financial's advice about 10 steps not to take this year.
chases like furniture and new vehicles, and ancillary, minor costs like car tuneups, title renewals and tires? Are you avoiding the temptation to drift into increased credit-card debt, hoping to pay it off with future raises that may or may not materialize? Are you effectively utilizing the gifts God gave you and making sure your budget agrees with your generosity?
"The Top 10 list includes common mistakes many of us make," said Steffes. "They might seem like minor mistakes, but their cumulative impact can weigh down personal and family budgets. We hope the list helps families realize how changing a few behaviors can help them A not-for-profit that empowers Christians experience the joy and potential of living to live with financial strength and gener- with financial strength." osity, brightpeak financial offers sound budget-boosting advice that can help you To read the entire list, go to www.brightpeakfinancial.com/2016/01/to realize your goals of economic health. The faith-based firm wants to make you p-ten-financial-mistakes-avoid-2016. aware how the actions you don't take can have a substantial impact on your finan- With a range of publications, booklets and other financial products, brightpeak cial future, so it has posted a list of the can help Christians balance their finances "Top 10 Financial Mistakes to Avoid in while meeting their faith obligations. You 2016" on its website. can see those offerings at www.brightpeakfinancial.com. "A new year gives us the opportunity to refocus our values and priorities," said Lisa Steffes, CEO of brightpeak financial. brightpeak financial is a not-for-profit "Our Top 10 list helps Christians become that empowers Christians to live with financial strength and generosity. It is a aware of key areas where they can take action and become stronger financially." division of Thrivent Financial, a membership organization of Christians founded The brightpeak list describes how avoid- more than a century ago. brightpeak's ing common pitfalls can help individuals mission is to help families and communities thrive and become more resiliand families build a more sustainable, ent.www.brightpeakfinancial.com. successful financial future. With its unique understanding of faith-built decision-making, brightpeak offers Christians added insights into the emotional and Photo: According to brightpeak financial, it can be tempting to reach for credit cards to finance large purchases, but pulling them out too early and too often is a mistake that can affect financial health all year long.
Good News Press - 5 On Martin Luther King Day: Give someone the gift of forgiveness Martin Luther King Day, January 18, is the only federal holiday that marks the contributions of a private American citizen.
To honor the man and his philosophy of peace, many cities, and private businesses, honor the man whose philosophy of nonviolent, but pointed demonstrations, created civil rights laws and changed hearts. Just two examples: Philadelphia's MLK Day of Service has grown to over 125,000 volunteers since their first annual event in 1995. The MGM Resorts International holds training program teaching the value of respect, inclusion and the embracing of individual differences. They have invested over $3 billion in minority and women -owned businesses.
worst of us and some evil in the best of us." "The old law of 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind." "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"
"Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do You don't need to have that." billions or a business to honor Dr. King. You can ap"Forgiveness is not an ply some of his philosophy occasional act. It is a permanent attitude." in your life today. Dr. King said: "We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the
OreMi Mentoring Program - Oakland Looking for Male Mentors! Volunteers are supported in working with a foster youth 4 hours/month for one year. Call for Next training dates. Contact the OreMi Mentoring Program at: (510) 8342443, ext. 3033; oremi@fssba-
and not based on reality. There was no clearly defined goal and specific action plan. Why are New Year's "I will lose 10 pounds resolutions so hard to keep? monthly. I will exercise an You might actually be hour every day. I resolve to surprised that many people turn off my smartphone at claim to have kept their res- restaurant tables and during olutions. all family meals."
New Year! New Start! But don't overreach!
According to a Marist Poll, 59 percent of those who made a promise of any kind going into 2014 kept it but only for part of the year. That leaves about 40 percent who evidently did keep their resolutions. Men edged out women 64 percent to 55 percent. Why do some succeed and others fail? Behavior therapy experts say it's resolutions that fail are made casually
oak.org, or www.oremi.info.
Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-
relieving brace -little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1800-990-9572
Overreaching, too ambitious resolutions tend to fail; each time the stated vow is broken, resolve weakens. This year, be proactive. Make a plan. Think about the potential triggers for relapse and how you'll respond. Know why your goal is important and how it will improve your life. Be patient. Remind yourself of the benefits of achievement. Be accountable.
Watch Connie Woods Women’s Ministries! Now Appearing on KTLN (Cable 25) on Local Christian Television Sunday’s at 4:30 PM in the SF Bay Area ———————————————— Read Good News Press at: www.goodnewspress.us
Good News Press - 6 Top Bible Prophecy Stories of 2015 Continued from Page 2
From YouTube, to Google, to Facebook, to Twitter, and more, the gospel message is censored and evil is glorified. They are preparing the way for "Mark of the Beast" technology. This was on overdrive in 2015. This ministry came under the gun and was censored more than once. Stories reveal that Windows 10 actually spies on emails, credit cards, and more. 12) There was a cry for a global religion from Pope Francis to the Parliament of World Religions in Utah in late 2015. If the world is ever to be one, religions also must be united. Pope Francis revealed himself to be an apocalyptic figure in 2015. We cannot "pin the tail of the False Prophet" on him quite yet, but even conservative Catholics are troubled by this Jesuit Pope. In fact, this Pope represents Marxism, environmentalism, the new world order, global government, sustainable development, the Jesuit agenda, unity of faiths, a global constitution, a global court, and a departure from Catholic traditions. He is surely a harbinger of a global religion.
year. With stage-setting for fulfill-
ment of Bible prophecy during this Church Age winding up, it should be of no surprise that there has been tension on Mount Moriah. That may be the most contested 35 acres on the planet.
16) This was the year Bible proph-
ecy was mocked and attacked more than ever! Believers in our "blessed
hope" were called "End-time Eddies and Esthers." While this has always existed, now more and more prominent teachers are telling us not to waste our time on doom and gloom.
Liberal, Godless Europe imploded. Leaders like Germany's An17)
gela Merkel lost their minds, put their people at huge risk as terrorists took advantage of the "refugee" situation, and have made Europe a time bomb. The Antichrist will take advantage of this as well.
18) This was the year evangelicals
began accepting the gay agenda and some asserted that Allah and Jehovah are the same. The voices from
the religious Left encouraged this. The great end-time falling away has much of the church going over a cliff with results that cannot be 13) Globalism went on overrectified. Finding a solid church drive thanks to Barack Obama, the became a believer's biggest chalUnited Nations, Pope Francis, and a lenge in 2015. consortium of worldwide Leftists. John Lennon, who "imagined" Things are not falling apart -- they are falling into place. Can you hear all of this decades ago, would be the hoof beats of the four horsemen proud! of the apocalypse in the distance? 14) The push to make cash illegal intensified in 2015. The move to a cashless society won't happen over- I won't be silent about the signs of the times. If Jesus chastised the night. Instead, it is being implemented very slowly and systemati- Pharisees for not knowing the signs of His first coming, why would we cally in a series of incremental steps. All over the planet, govern- not be expected to be aware of today's apocalyptic signs? ments are starting to place restrictions on the use of cash for security reasons. 15) Israel's Temple Mount has
been a focal point for turmoil this
Wake up, look up, and rise up.
Good News Press - 7
A New Christian Search Engine A New Christian Search Engine Hopes to Encourage the Christian Community to Actively Search for and Support Christian Websites and Businesses
Romans Road To Salvation
Man was not deserving of God, we were not righteous but we all were sinners. But God loved us so much that while we were yet doing our Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and things, going our own ways, deep in come short of the glory of God." sin, Christ died for us. He bore the Every person who has ever lived on penalty for all of our sins. Earth has sinned and fell short of God’s expectations, except for the Romans 10:9,10 "That if thou shalt Lord Jesus Christ. confess with thy mouth the Lord Je-
sus, and shalt believe in thine heart Romans 6:23a "For the wages of sin is that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with death..." the heart man believeth unto rightWe were all on our way to Hell beeousness; and with the mouth confescause there is a price to be paid for sin. It is a physical and spiritual death sion is made unto salvation."
Confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, so that God can save you. He doesn’t care about what sins you have done in the past. He loves you Romans 6:23b "...but the gift of God is and wants to save you. Jesus Christ paid the complete price, taking all of eternal life through Jesus Christ our mankind’s sins unto himself on the Lord." cross. We have to no longer be slaves The good news is we can be saved to sin and death. from this death and separation from God. Eternal life is a gift from God Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall but only available through the Lord call upon the name of the Lord shall Jesus Christ. He is the only way. and eternal separation from God. This eternal separation also includes sinners being eternally lost and cast into the Lake of fire.
be saved."
Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Call on the Lord and ask him to save you. God wants to. He loves you!
sites and businesses, to please submit their website for inclusion in search results. Small and startup businesses are especially encouraged to submit their websites. Websites can be added to the database free of charge; however, submitters must first affirm their acceptance of Christ Jesus BRANDON, Fla., as Lord and Savior and anTrueSearch.today is a new search engine that hopes to swer a few Bible questions, before being permitted to encourage the Christian include their website in community to actively search results. Once a websearch for and support Christian and family orient- site is submitted, it generaled websites and businesses. ly takes a few days before the website begins to show up in search results on Says the website's owner, TrueSearch. "The world we live in is a reflection of what we value. People interested in adding We communicate to the a website to TrueSearch can world our value system visit www.TrueSearch.today and through the choices we make, be it what to have for click the 'Add a Website' link dinner, who to buy a car at the top of the page . from, or what to search for on the internet. Actively searching for and doing business with Christian companies communicates to the world that what we value above all is Christ Jesus and God's word. The world...businesses and individuals...respond accordingly, transforming the world to the Glory of God in the process." TrueSearch.today is a small, startup, Christian business. They are asking all Christian churches, and Christian and family oriented web-
Good News Press - Back Support Good News Press by Contacting Our Advertisers!