April 2023 Ambassador Newspaper

by Randy Alcorn Eternal Perspective Ministries (epm.org)

“If there is no absolute beyond man’s ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions.”

—Francis Schaeffer

Of all truths in the universe, the most important is the truth of who Jesus is. After all, Truth is not merely an impersonal moral standard. It is a living Person who loved us so much He bears on His hands eternal scars because He rescued us.

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47,

NIV). The phrase “truly I tell you” appears 79 times in Scripture, 78 times spoken by Jesus. He is the Truth, and He tells the truth. We can fully trust everything He says. His promises are written in blood.

the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’

‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate” (John 18:37-38a, NIV).

What is truth? It is reality. When Pilate said of Jesus, “I find no basis for

Eternal life is not found by believing in just any god but by believing in the “only true God.”

False gods, both religious and secular, litter the landscape.

Truth Exists Whether Or Not Anyone Believes It

“’You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to

Teasers: Mental Health MinuteDepression and the Believer

By Dr. Mark McNear

a charge against him” (John 18:38b, NIV), he affirmed what he believed and what was indeed true: Jesus was innocent.

Truth-claims are exclusive. Jesus didn’t say He was a truth, but “the

Colorado Football Coach (Deion) Sanders Unabashed Faith

truth” (John 14:6). If someone says Jesus isn’t the primary truth, then either he’s wrong or Jesus is.

If we grasp this truth, we’ll undergo the ultimate paradigm shift: without Christ, any sacrifice we make is worthless. We are miserable without Jesus. Nothing we have can satisfy us. And even if it did, we couldn’t hold on to it.

When we hear Jesus tell us to take up our crosses and follow Him and say we should lose our lives for His sake, we’re tempted to think, “Then I will never be happy.” But in fact, Jesus is saying our short-term sacrifices for Him are

WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM

Adventure!Church

876 W. Onstott Frontage Rd., YC (530) 822-9216

Sundays: 9a.m. & 10:45a.m.

Website: www.acyc.family

Pastor!Greg!Mansur

Church of Glad Tidings

1179 Eager Road,Yuba City www.churchofgladtidings.com (530) 671-3160

Saturdays - 7pm

Sundays - 10am

Wednesday - 7pm

Hallwood Community

An "I Love You" Church

2825 Hwy 20, Marysville (530) 743-7961 hallwoodchurch.org

Stacey Hanson, Pastor Sundays Worship - 10:00 a.m.

Praise Chapel Plumas Lake

A Christian Fellowship Church

1662 Broadway Rd., Plumas Lake

Sundays - 10:30 a.m.

(530) 300-1458

Pastor David & Marci Dena Facebook: @pcplca

Word of Life Church

1229 Buchanan Street, Marysville wolmarysville.org 530-742-3724

Sun. 10am & 5pm & Wed. 6:30pm

Pastor Stan Reynolds

Agape Worship Center

504 J St., Marysville (530) 749-9248

Sundays @ 11:30am

www.agapewc.com

Cornerstone Church

700 Washington Ave.,Yuba City (530) 674-3087

www.cornerstoneyc.com

Sundays 8:30a & 10:30a

Virtual Reality Church

Sun. 1pm- Altspace VR

Hope Point Church

2727 Fir Street, Live Oak (530) 695-3996

Sundays - 10 a.m.

Pastor Sean Blount hpnlo.org

Praise Chapel Yuba City

398 Aylor Rd., Yuba City

Sunday - 10:30 am

Wed - Men's Bible Study - 6:30 pm

Thurs - Women's Bible Study - 6:30 pm (530) 870-0511

Pastors Chris & Angela Madsen

The Bride Church

1321 Peach Tree Lane, YC (530) 751-0505

thebridechurch.org

Sundays 8:45am & 11am

Craftsmen for Christ Tues 6:30pm

Legacy Baptist Church

1980 S. Walton Ave., YC

Sundays - 11am & 6pm Wednesdays - 7pm

Pastor Dan Callaghan

www.fbcyuba.com

Loma Rica

Baptist Church

11449 Hill Rd., Loma Rica

Sun. 9:30am - Prayer & Bible Study

10:30am - Morning Service (530) 743-9013

Worship•Evangelism•Discipleship

Samaritan•Village•Orphanage

Tanzania,•Africa

You

Call Victor Savage (530) 671-2219

TWIN•CITIES•RESCUE•MINISTRIES

••A•Place•to•Sleep,•Shower,•and•Eat-A-Meal

••Hear•The•Word•of •God•Every•Night

••Daily•Bible•Studies

••Noon•Prayer•Service•(Mon-Fri)

Hear the Word of God Every Night at 6:30p.m. Sharp!

Kevin Carlson,•Executive•Director 940•14th•St,•Marysville 530.743.8777

Calvary Christian Center

Plumas Lake/Olivehurst

4902 Powerline Rd, Olivehurst

www.facebook.com/cccplo

Sun. 10:30am&Wed.7pm (530)763-2756

"There is Power on Powerline!"

Gateway Calvary Chapel

808 8th Street, Marysville

Sundays 10 a.m.

Pastor Doug Hileman

www.gatewaycalvary.net

New Beginnings

Wesleyan Church

"Loving God - Loving People"

Worship - Sundays @ 10 am 616 C St. Marysville

www.ournbwc.com

C.A.N. Christian Assistance Network, Inc.

“Enabling Christ’s People

P.O. Box 3133 Yuba City, CA 95992

Coordinator's Telephone (530) 671-7344

INSPIRATION

By Paula McBride

What do you say when someone sneezes? If you are like me, you were taught from a young age to say, “God bless you” or “Bless you” in the same way you were taught to say please and thank you. It became a habit. Has the use of the word bless and all its forms become a casual add-on to express any and all good things that come our way?

Blogger Jake Thurston says, “ #Blessed is an internet sensation for anyone to proclaim the great things they have going for them for the entire world to see.” After giving numerous examples of decent or ridiculous things users are #blessed about, Jake goes on to say, “Despite most people’s good intentions, this simple hashtag actually reveals a construed reality of the human heart. This is because more often than not, #blessed really means #bragging. Culture has turned the definition of blessing upside down.” Where culture says blessedness is about how good you’ve got it, the Bible reveals that it’s all about how good God is.

In God’s vocabulary, blessed means to be the privileged recipient of God’s favor and to be fortunate and happy because of it. The Amplified Bible describes it as being happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation regardless of

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Did You Know?

Sheep are the animals mentioned most often in the Bible.

A man named Ben-Hur (son of Hur) was once an officer over Israel (1 Kings 4:7-8 NKJV)

In the day, Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3).

Zechariah 6:14 mentions a man named Hen.

The king of Babylon tried to foretell the future by examining liver (Ezekiel 21:21)

outward conditions.

The definition above describes the blessings that flow from God to man. I relate to these with thankfulness (not bragging) when I consider the green lights during my commute, the convenient parking space, protection from a near accident, and so much more. In addition, I am blessed with salvation, purpose, and the hope of eternity in Heaven. Again, there is so much more. Actually, when I give thanks to God for His blessings to me, I am blessing Him in return. We call this praise. We don’t praise in order to seek further blessing, but rather to thank God for the blessing He has already bestowed. The Psalms are filled with examples of the blessings that flow from man to God.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits” (Psalm 103:2 KJV) is one of them.

Other blessings flow from man

to man. In the Bible, they were offered as a greeting as when Jacob greeted Pharoah or Boaz greeted his reapers. Others were the benediction of a dying father. Importantly, they were pronounced by priests to a congregation. Now, when I say “bless you” to another, I really mean that I desire that person to be a privileged recipient of God’s favor. When I ask God to “bless” my loved ones when I pray, I deeply long for them to be fortunate and happy, even through tests and trials.

As we walk into the new season of spring, let’s renew our identity as privileged recipients of God’s favor, bless Him with praise continually, and extend blessing to others regardless of circumstances. If you need to post to social media, be sure to use #blessed “He is risen!” He is risen indeed, the greatest blessing of all.

THE AMBASSADOR

The Ambassador is a free, monthly publication promoting unity and revival among the local Yuba-Sutter area Bible-believing churches

The Ambassador has a circulation 3,700 - 5,500 and is distributed in local churches and businesses in the community.

When the angel of the Lord delivered a pestilence upon the land of Israel, he could actually be seen in the sky holding a sword in his hand (2 Samuel 24:15-17; 1 Chronicles 21:14-17).

King Solomon built God's temple in seven years but took thirteen years to build his own palace (1 Kings 6:38; 7:1).

Editor/Publisher - Seth Halpern Advisory - Dave Kugelman

Layout/Design - Teresa Davis - -

The Game Show Guy

By Rich Seiber

"Rich Seiber, Come on down. You're the next contestant on The Price Is Right."

Oh, how I long to hear those words. Especially lately. Since I have been unemployed for the last two and a half months, I have reinvigorated my fondness for game shows. My six-yearold son Parker and I have been enjoying game show reruns on the Game Show Network, GSN. One of his favorite phrases to say around the house is, "I'd like to buy a vowel please, Pat."

In that way, he is definitely his father's son. I have vivid memories of me at a young age. My Grandma would place me in my crib for nap time. But I didn't nap. Instead, I would invent and host game shows in my head. My favorite one was where you had to find words inside of another word. For example, if your word was "Grandma" you would get a point for "grand," and a point for "and," and a point for "ma," and so on.

My love for game shows didn't end there. When I was a senior in high school I was interviewed by our local metropolitan newspaper and asked what I wanted to be when I finished college. "He wants to become a television game show host" is a direct line from the article.

Well, that goal I haven't met...yet. But with all this free time on my hands I have returned lovingly to my longing for programs hosted by Regis Philbin and Alex Trebek. More than just the free time, though, I think when you are unemployed you tend to focus on the need for money. That is what game shows are all about. That quick fix and emotional high that money can provide. Shortly after I lost my job my family won $250 in a Little League raffle. At the time I viewed it as an answer to

prayer, a method that God was using to provide for my family. Since then I have been wondering and hoping that God will continue to use a form of winning as His way of provision -- hence the increased interest in game shows.

But "survey says" that's not likely to be the way it is done. The book of Proverbs is full of reminders to work hard and rely on your diligence to provide for you and your family.

Proverbs 14:23 says "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." One chapter earlier it says, "A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" (Proverbs 13:4).

So I can use a lifeline and phone all the friends I want but my final answer of provision is going to have to come from a job not Jeopardy.

When we expect game show or lottery winnings to provide for our needs and our family’s needs, we are living in fantasy land. God expects us to work hard and do our part to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. He can certainly provide in other ways,

and ultimately everything we have is from Him. But that doesn’t give us the

right or permission to be lazy. If you are unemployed, in humility, seek and pray hard for that new job opportunity. Or if you know of someone who is unemployed but honestly seeking to provide for themselves and their family, be a tangible source of encouragement to them. Send them a greeting card to cheer them up. Buy them a grocery store gift card. Or recommend them to someone you know who is hiring. Help them help themselves.

Rich Seiber is a speaker and writer. Special Needs dad, Hubby, Author of 5 books on Amazon. Love to watch NASCAR. Conservative, Christian. This essay is from my book More Autism and Awesometism: Devotionals From and About a Special Needs Family available on Amazon

The Ambassador Ministry

would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship

Yvette Adams

Sean Blount

Charles & Rita Collins

Donald & Concetta Cotter

LaDonna Curteman

Paul & Pam Duey

Dennis & Connie Gabel

Bob Gilbert

MaryAgnes Gobel

Rich & Joan Hackney

Allen Halpern

Tom Harris

April James

Cale & Merlene Judd

Clay Maynard

John Nicholls

Dale & Susan Nieschultz

Sarah Pryor

Mimi Robarge

Roberta Spear

Robert E. Stark

Jim Weintraub

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

CALENDAR

Ongoing Events

ROAD TO RECOVERY - Sundays, 7:00pm

Christian 12 Step support group

Crossroads Community Church - 445 B. St. Yuba City

GRIEF SHARE - Mondays at 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Praise Chapel Church 398 Aylor Ave.

A grief support program that meets weekly to help give encouragement after the death of loved one. Anyone can attend on any week because each class is "self-contained." For more information about GriefShare you can go to www.griefshare.org or contact the church at 530-870-0511.

PRAYER FOR THE NATION - Every Tuesday Night 7PM - 8:30PM

Church of Glad Tidings

1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com

GRIEF SHARE; GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP - Wednesdays, 6:00pm, For those dealing with the loss of a loved one. Crossroads Community Church - 445 B. St. Yuba City

EMBASSY HOUSE OF PRAYER - Every Thursday Night 7PM - 8:30PM

Church of Glad Tidings

1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com

"My house shall be called a house of prayer." (Matt. 21:13). The church today is in an all-out war against the evils of darkness. The body of Christ is called to step up and be aggressive in their prayer life.

FREEDOM NIGHT - 2nd Friday of each month

Church of Glad Tidings

1179 Eager Rd., Live Oak

www.churchofgladtidings.com

Join us for a night of worship, prayer, and freedom

BETHESDA HEALING WELL - 3rd Saturday of the Month 10AM - 12PM

Church of Glad Tidings

1179 Eager Rd (Building 200) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com

Come to receive prayer and be refreshed while soaking in an atmosphere of worship and praise. Sorry, No Childcare.

Do You Need?

Special Events

A WOMAN'S FRIEND - WALK FOR LIFE

April 29th, 10:00 a.m.

Gauche Park (421 C St., Yuba City)

HE SUFFERED FOR YOU (Cross Walk)

Good Friday, April 7th - 9:30am

Come join other believers from many churches as we carry the cross. We will begin at the Town Center Fountain in Yuba City. Everyone is encouraged to come and participate as we join as one body considering the magnitude of what Jesus suffered on behalf of mankind. Also, join with other believers in quiet worship and prayer. Free food. For info call: (530) 300-3371

All events at Crossroads Community Church, 445 B Street, Yuba City

April 7, 12:00 noon Good Friday Service, 1 hr.

April 9, 1:00 pm Easter Egg Hunt after church service

April 13, 5:00-8:00 pm, Joshua House Men's Center Crab and Shrimp

Feed, ticketed event

May 3, 7:00 pm, Greater Vision in Concert, free concert

EASTER KIDS PROGRAM-EGG HUNT

April 8th 1:00pm-2:30pm

Loma Rica Community Church, 11234 Loma Rica Road, Loma Rica

FREE EASTER EGG HUNT

Feather River Baptist Church 5400 Chestnut Road Olivehurst

Saturday, April 8, 2023, 11:00 AM

All ages welcome. Refreshments will be included. Prizes will be awarded. Please bring your own basket, bag or tote. The Easter Story will be shared at this event. Please join us for a fun filled day of Easter Blessings!

EE BAZAAR/YARD SALE

April 27th-29th. Thur & Fri 9am-Dusk, Sat 9am-12:30pm

Loma Rica Community Church, 11234 Loma Rica Road, Loma Rica

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

• Prayer List for April 2023 •

1-Apr Pray for the economy. Pray that workers return to their jobs and that the economy would stabilize.

2-Apr Pastors- That God would give them strength, courage and wisdom to speak the truth from the pulpit

3-Apr Pray for China that God would intervene and the leadership woud restore civil rights

4-Apr Revival- Pray that the college student revival would continue and spread to the nation!

5-Apr World Affairs- Pray about international activities that point to the Last Days

6-Apr The Persecuted Church around the world. Pray that believers would stand strong in the midst of brutal persecution

7-Apr GOOD FRIDAY- Let's remember the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin

8-Apr Human Trafficking- Pray for the freedom, healing and restoration of survivors and for traffickers to repent

9-Apr EASTER- He Is Risen!

10-Apr Global Revival- Pray that our global chaos would lead multitudes to repent and follow the Lord!!

11-Apr Homeless- Safety, health and provision- Twin Cities Rescue Mission, other local homeless ministries. Safety from summer heat

12-Apr Marriages- Pray that relationships would grow and families would seek the Lord together

13-Apr Race Relations- Pray for Race relations in our nation. Pray for understanding and collaboration between races and an ease of racial tension

14-Apr Local Ministries- Pray for continued financial support and volunteers to meet needs (see page 3)

15-Apr California- pray for our Godly representatives (including James Gallagher and Doug LaMalfa) to fight against liberal and harmful state policies.

16-Apr Disabled- that they would receive the assistance and support they need

17-Apr Mental Illness- Pray for those who dealing with Mental Health issues or suicidal thoughts

18-Apr Life- Pray that abortion clinics would be shut down that people would choose life for their babies.

19-Apr Fathers- Pray for dads to be the family leaders that God calls them to be.

20-Apr Discipleship- Pray that believers would seek to follow Jesus and become more like Him every day!

21-Apr President- Pray that God would show Himself to Pres. Biden and he would radically change his life and leadership

22-Apr Addicted- pray for those under the control of substances that they would surrender and get the treatment they need

23-Apr Health Care Workers and First Responders- Pray for physical protection and endurance

24-Apr Israel- Pray for safety from violence, and for the Peace of Jerusalem

25-Apr Restore America! Pray against the divisiveness and violence in this nation

26-Apr Pray for each of us to be bold by the Holy Spirit to speak and act in accordance with God's Word and His Way!

27-Apr Unity of Churches/Global impact- Pray for churches to unite and influence the world!

28-Apr Seniors and Elderly- Pray for renewed physical and mental strength.

29-Apr Pray for teachers, students and parents to work together for a positive and productive learning environment

30-Apr Pray for your neighbor- for opportunities to serve them, pray with them and share the Gospel with them!

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.

INSPIRATION

By Christy Boals www.gracefilledpurpose.com

We are all familiar with seeing this title in the subject lines of our email boxes. This means, in essence, regarding a former communication. It is a prefix that means something is happening again. With this beautiful Spring weather, and all of the green plants and flowers beginning to grow, I really began to think about these two letters.

There are so many words that begin this way: rebirth, redeem, restore, regrow. We even use quite a few of these words to describe what Jesus does in our lives once we receive Him and give ourselves to Him. They tell about the process He begins at our moment of salvation, to turn us from our old, sinful natures into thriving, new creations.

In the same way that the plants and trees do not stay dead and brown from the winter but are slowly changed day by day into the dark green of summer, we too are being slowly changed more and more into Christ’s image.

RE: RE- PENT

I have seen oak trees, that I was just positive were completely dead, be lush, beautiful green by summer. In the same way, no matter how “dead” our former lives may have made us feel, Jesus, by His mighty recreating power can raise us from the dead. If we allow Him to work in our lives, He promises to: reinvigorate, restrengthen, rejuvenate, remember, repurpose, rehabilitate, repair, reclaim, and renew us. And all we have to do is re-pent!

“Do not be conformed by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Romans 12:2

Kug’s Kolumn

Seth, owner, publisher and editor of this newspaper must find it amusing that I make strong recommendations that articles do not exceed about 250 words. Yet, when I am done writing my articles more times than not I am closer to 450 words. Not this time, Seth! (Oops, I am already over fifty words.) Please (after reading the entire edition of this issue) refer to the back page and check out the details of this year’s National Day of Prayer breakfast. I believe this may be the 20th annual prayer breakfast. As of this writing, we have already sold twenty-eight tables representing 224 people. With six weeks to go we may sell out. The beauty of this event is not so much the number of people

in attendance but the number of different churches and denominations in attendance. We become an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17: “that they become one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.” We gather in unity to pray for this great nation. Jesus Christ is our only hope and we need all Christians on deck to pray for God’s spirit to burst forth to bring about the revival that we so desperately need. Please join us May 4th at Adventure Church in Yuba City. This event is sponsored by the Christian Community Network.

Again, for more information, see the back page of this issue. (246 words, now 250!)

which meets each Tuesday at noon at various locations. Dave welcomes your questions or comments on this article at drkug@comcast.net

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 its presence and visibility

6. Subscribe for a friend or familymember (or yourself)

7. Find new locations- ask businesses that you frequent to take some papers, deliver and monitor them

8. Deliver a small route- 1 to 2 hours each month

9. Give financially as an Individual partner, business partner, churches/ ministries partner (every dollar helps to impact the community)

10. Talk to your like-minded Christian friends, family, business associates and church leadership, about helping as well.

If you would like to help, please contact Seth Halpern at 530-933-1385 or email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com

David Kugelman is the president of the Christian Community Network

LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life

Vermont- Another Sanctuary State for Assisted Suicide?

The following is a portion of the Publisher’s Note in the National Catholic Register, February 26, 2023 edition.

Legislators in Vermont are pushing for their state to join Oregon as the nation’s second "sanctuary" state for assisted suicide.

The proposed legislation would allow people from states where this lifeending practice remains illegal to travel to Vermont to kill themselves with the assistance of local medical personnel.

The premises underlying the bid to make Vermont the second destination state for "death tourism" are profoundly disturbing. For one thing, the idea that a state can be a "sanctuary" for assisted suicide implies that some measure of "holiness" is attached to killing people off medically - a belief that is becoming prevalent among euthanasia and assisted-suicide proponents.

For another, it transforms doctors and nurses who participate in these legalized killings from healers into death dealers, in direct violation of the "do no harm" principle of the Hippocratic Oath that has underpinned medical ethics in Western societies for more than 2,000

years. Even more fundamentally, assisted suicide is in total contradiction to the foundational moral teaching communicated by God to Moses in the Commandment: "Thou shalt not kill." Instead the message that's now being communicated is: "You're better off dead."

In his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope St. John Paul II prophetically described these contemporary moral dynamics as the culture of death. Americans who want to understand where this deadly mentality leads, in the area of assisted suicide and the related moral crime of euthanasia, need look no further than our northern neighbor of Canada.

Canada's national legal framework of so-called "Medical Assistance in Dying'' (MAID) encompasses both assisted suicide, by which individuals kill themselves with medication prescribed by doctors, and euthanasia, by which doctors or other medical personnel directly administer the lethal medication themselves. As elsewhere, the arguments in favor of Canada's legalization of MAID in 2016 were predicated on compassion, with the practice initially authorized to apply only to adults deemed to be suffering unacceptably in the final stages of a terminal illness.

But, instead, Canada which in recent decades has become something of

a canary in the culture of death coal mine soon became the international jurisdiction where assisted suicide and euthanasia are most readily available, and with the fewest checks in place. Virtually from its inception, reports surfaced of MAID being offered to patients who weren't terminally ill, and the stipulation that it should apply only in such cases was formally removed in 2021. Currently, any adult with a disability or serious chronic illness qualifies, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government planned to extend MAID even further this year to include people with mental illnesses as well. While that move has been delayed until 2024, due to a strong public pushback, the Trudeau regime clearly intends to press it forward as soon as that resistance has been overcome.

In this ever more permissive context, accounts are proliferating of doctors and other medical officials pressuring patients who didn't request MAID to agree to being killed and pressuring relatives to agree when patients are too incapacitated to make their own decisions.

Continue on page 14

Business Members

*Prime Business Member ** Premier Business Member

A&E Arborists Tree Care** - Eva Berlfein - (530) 790-5312

All Seasons Tree & Turf Care - Brian Naglee - (530) 682-9733

After Hours Notary - Bill Sluder - (530) 777-8667

Bantry Bay Graphic Arts - Jerry Gregg - (530) 701-1955

Country Veterinary Clinic - Jerry Long - (530) 674-1660

Collins Lake – Jacob Young - (530) 692-1600

Gaiser Pets** - John Gaiser - (530) 751-8155

Gateway Coin & Bullion- Kathleen Caldwell-530-763-4148

Hilbers, Inc.** - Kurt Hilbers - (530) 673-2947

Hillcrest Catering - Doreen Maher- (530) 674-3320

Holycross Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc* - David Holycross - (530) 751-7000

Jenine L. Tanabe, MD Dermatologist* - Jenine Tanabe - (530) 743-0301

JM Construction* - Jerry Munz - (530) 682-5316

John Burger Heating & Air Conditioning - Bryan Taylor-(530) 673-3137

Jon Trujillo - (530) 300-0329

Law O ces of Sheldon Hadley - Sheldon Hadley - (530) 743-4455

OmniRocket - Jason Miles - (425) 802-9852

Pleasant Grove Farms - Wynette Sills- (916) 955-1577

Proforma by Kug* - Dave Kugelman - (530) 742-2423

Shadd Janitorial Supply - Roger Shadd - (530) 673-0083

Showcase Real Estate - Maria Ball - (530) 701-1266

Trinity One Consulting LLC - Pamela Givans - (530) 713-5377

Church and Ministry Members

40 Days for Life - JC Carpenter - (530) 844-7379

Adventure Church of Yuba City - Greg Mansur – (530) 822-9216

The Ambassador Newspaper - Seth Halpern – (530) 933-1385

Band Together for Christ - LaDonna Curteman - (530) 933-5960

The Bride Church - Bob Ouzts - (530) 751-0505

Craftsmen for Christ - Brent Thompson - (530) 751-0505

Church of Glad Tidings - Beth Ward - (530) 671-3160

Faith Christian School - Jim Wallace – (530) 674-5474

Feather River Men’s Center - James Harrison - (530) 695-8096

Gideon’s Int’l - Bill & Paula Lindholm - (530) 682-4770

Hope 4 The Heart Relief Center - Stephanie Steele - (530) 870-6906

Liberty Bible Church - Larry Koen - (530) 329-5067

Lydia’s House - Sara Jellsey - (530) 300-5668

Mt. Hope Bible Camp - Bud Englund - (530) 579-8155

New Beginnings Wesleyan Church - Johnny & Chelsea Burke - (916) 706-9441

Operation Christmas Child - Connie & Dennis Gabel – (530) 695-1495

Praise Chapel- Chris & Angela Madsen- 530-870-0511

Prison Fellowship- Project Angel Tree- David Mariscal-530-434-5202

R.E.S.T.- Nick Anderson- (530) 635-2388

SAYlove – Je Stephens – (530) 682-5348

Serving Our Savior - George & Cheri Shaw – (530) 567-5282

St. James of Jerusalem Episcopal Church - Cal & Sharen Cornils - (530) 673-1790

Trinity Anglican Church - Colleen Johnson - (530) 763-2509

Twin Cities Rescue Mission - Kevin Carlson – (530) 743-8777

Western Farm Workers Assoc. - Juan Meleza - (530) 790-0980

A Woman’s Friend - Kristen Bird - (530) 741-0556

Yuba-Sutter Young Life – Christinah Uppal – (530) 682-1790

Individual Members

April CCN Weekly Schedule:

4/4 - James Harrison- Feather River Mens Center

4/11- Bud Englund- Mt. Hope Bible Camp

4/18- Cherie Stephens

4/25- Prayer

*Schedule subject to change

We hope you can join us!

For weekly updated detail emails, send an email to info@ysccn.org

Rachel Aleman

Sean Blount

Charles & Rita Collins

Tambra Courtright

Fredricka Dahlander

Sanna Dahlander

Dave & Rosemary Davis

Pam Ikerd

Danny McLaughlin

Maria Paras

Dave Peterson

Robert Stark

Holly Verhalen

Diane Weaver

Jim & Sybille Weintraub

Michael came to my office seeking help for the onset of depression in his life. He was a handsome man in his mid-thirties with a wife and two children. Michael seemed to have it all. He reported his family was terrific, he had a dream job, and he attended a church he loved. But Michael felt guilty for not feeling the joy that the Bible promised to those who followed Christ. In fact, over the last three months, he reported not sleeping well, gaining weight, struggling with concentration, and often crying for no reason.

It was clear that Michael was struggling with depression. His first question to me was, “Is this a spiritual problem?”

The guilt that Michael heaped upon himself for having depression was certainly not helping his mental, physical, or spiritual state of being. As we explored all the aspects of his life and his family of origin, it became clear that his onset of depression was due to a series of severe losses combined with the fact that there was a history of depression in his family. Michael shared that his grandmother [on his mother's side of the family] had taken her life. And his dad, who struggled

with depression when he was growing up, had been on antidepressant’s for a very long time, but was doing well.

Even though Michael had valid psychological and inherited neurological reasonings for experiencing depression, his greatest concern was that he was doing something wrong spiritually.

Sadly, many believers automatically believe that if they are depressed, they must not be trusting God enough in their lives. After-all, God’s faithful followers should never be depressed, right?

I’m not sure, as Christians, how we came to believe that depression is not a part of a godly person’s life. The Bible is filled with examples of God’s faithful – including prophets – who

faced depression at different points in their lives.

Jeremiah was known as “The Weeping Prophet.” King Solomon suffered from deep depression. Elijah suffered great anxiety and depression when Jezebel sought revenge against him. Jacob became depressed at the loss of his son Joseph and Job, after suffering great loss, said it would have been better had he never been born. King David, whom God said was a man after His own heart, was often troubled and battled deep despair. In fact, he wrote of his depression and troubles in the book of Psalms. And there are many others in Scripture that battled this ageold phenomena of depression, including

These biblical figures were all heroes of the faith – they followed God with all their heart, did mighty works, but also experienced failures, losses, and yes, depression.

In the same way today, Christians are not exempt from experiencing depression in their lives.

Though depression can have spiritual aspects, its roots can be biological, psychological, and sociological. Many times, depression is a combination of several factors. And like heart disease or other medical issues, depression can be complex. So, what does it look like to be depressed?

You may be depressed if you are experiencing mood changes, a loss of interest in things you have always found pleasurable, weight or appetite changes, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy, sadness and crying, difficulties thinking or concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, sleep difficulties,

Hannah, Naomi, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Esther, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Peter.

Bible Trivia Bible Word Search True or False

The women of Israel danced when Goliath was killed by David. Hannah made a rode every year for her son.

In 1 Samuel, Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship. The priest of Nod gave Saul's sword to David.

Saul massacred eighty-five priests in the town of Nazareth.

David's wife Abigail was also married to a man named Nabel. At night Saul visited a medium.

When Samuel was a boy, he was awakened out of his sleep by the voice of God.

Saul's bones were buried under a bridge at Jabesh.

Saul's sons were killed by the Philistines.

King Saul was critically wounded by Philistine arrows.

Six of Saul's sons were killed in battle.

Eli's sons were killed when the ark was taken.

The ark of the covenant was taken into battle with the Philistines by Eli's sons.

Dagon was the god of the Philistines.

Samuel, a judge and a prophet, built an altar to the Lord at Ramah.

Samuel's home was in the city of Ramah.

Kish was the father of King Saul.

Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man.

Paul told Timothy that Christians should lift up a symbol of the cross in prayer.

Answers Page 17

“He received 39 stripes because 40 was known to kill a man. They wanted him alive. They held handfuls of his beard, and hair and pulled it out by the roots. They wanted him alive. They kicked, punched, and spit on him for hours. Until there wasn’t a single spot on his body not covered in blood. They wanted him alive. They shoved a crown of thorns down on his head so harshly it stuck in his skin. They wanted him alive. After hours of being beaten, mocked, whipped, flogged, and tortured they made him walk with a cross. They made him carry it. A rough piece of wood with splinters digging into fresh wounds. They wanted him alive. They wanted

him to feel every ounce of pain they could bring. He had to feel it in order to heal us. Crucifixion was historically one of the cruelest most tortured deaths a human could face. Hours upon hours of torture. Torture most of us can not mentally think of because the cruelty isn’t normal. It isn’t something our minds can comprehend. We celebrate Easter with pastel colors, happy children hunting with pastel colors, and chocolate. Truth is there was absolutely nothing happy

about the day Jesus died. It was cruel, bloody, and nasty. He could have stopped all of it. He could have called every angel in heaven to demolish every person standing and shouting “Crucify Him!” He didn’t. He knew in order to have a Sunday you have to have a Friday. He knew in order to have joy you have to carry your cross. He felt everything that day. He felt how heavy your life was when you were staring down the barrel of a gun wondering if the man you called

Answers Page 17

husband was going to shoot you. He carried the weight of the burden you have felt since your spouse died, and life just doesn’t seem right since. On that cross he held the rapist and murderers, the sinner and the saint. He leveled every playing field and said ALL of you are worth it. He knew he had to carry the cross. He never promised the cross you carry in this life would not be heavy. His wasn’t. His promise is that Sunday is coming no matter how heavy Friday is. You can conquer anything because HE IS RISEN!

"They Wanted Him Alive"

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9: Right to Life

It should go without saying that this deplorable model isn't something that U.S. states like Vermont should be inclined to emulate.

Unfortunately, progressive minded state governments are instead following the lead of the Trudeau regime, in terms of failing to acknowledge the accelerating spiral of abuses that are always associated with legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide.

True compassion is manifested through comforting the terminally ill and others who are at risk of opting for suicide, caring for their needs, and communicating by these actions of love that their lives remain invaluable despite the difficulties they are enduring.

"The request which arises from the human heart in the supreme

CONTINUED

confrontation with suffering and death, especially when faced with the temptation to give up in utter desperation, is above all a request for companionship, sympathy and support in the time of trial," St. John Paul II wrote in Evangelium Vitae. "It is a plea for help to keep on hoping when all human hopes fail.”

Above all, we must strive always to see the face of Jesus in the faces of those who are suffering, appealing to us to provide them with the solace and love that they deserve. Only in this way can we hope to rebuild a more life-affirming culture in our nation.

See full Note at: www.ncregister.com

FROM PAGE 12: Mental Health Minute

feelings of excessive guilt or shame, and suicidal thoughts or preoccupation with death.

Michael, like his dad, benefited from counseling and an antidepressant. He was willing to both reach out for help and follow through on his treatment. It is important to realize that everyone is different, treatment will vary.

How about you? Have you been struggling with depression? I encourage you to reach out for help. The Lord has placed us in community for a reason – we need one another. And friend, if the heroes of our faith were prone to depression, consider yourself in good company. There is no need to feel guilty or to feel as if you have failed God. I can assure you, that with God's help, I have seen hundreds of people find relief

and hope. And you can find it, too.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Dr. Mark M. McNear is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, maintaining a private practice in New Jersey. He has over thirty years of experience in clinical work. A graduate of Northeastern Bible College, New York University, and Oxford Graduate School, Dr. McNear just released his memoir, Finding My Words: A Ruthless Commitment to Healing Gently After Trauma, through Renown Publishing.

a means to an end, and that end is true and abundant life: “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39, NIV).

Theologian John Brown wrote, “He who believes the truth enters on the enjoyment of a happiness which is of the same nature, and springs from the same sources, as the happiness of God.”

Have You Had A Heart Transplant?

Scripture is full of disheartening diagnoses, including that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV).

But the Great Physician must tell us this hard truth so we can say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10, ESV). The Physician also promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees” (Ezekiel 36:26-27, NIV).

Words that at first may sting us deeply don’t mean we’re without hope, only that we cannot cure ourselves. But God has provided the cure: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

Eternal life is not found by believing

in just any god but by believing in the “only true God.” False gods, both religious and secular, litter the landscape. “Jesus prayed, ‘Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent’” (John 17:3, NIV). The only true God is the one who sent the only true Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus gives us more than eternal existence. He gives us eternal life: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6, ESV).

This great truth all hinges on the person and work of none other than Jesus.

God’s Best And Most Perfect Gift To Us Is Jesus Himself

“All things were created through him and for him…and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17, NIV).

If everything that comes into our lives is Father-filtered, how can we be anything less than optimistic? Our optimism is based squarely on realism: Jesus is real, atonement is real, resurrection is real, Heaven is real, and

the Gospel really is “good news.”

William Temple wrote, “The only thing of our very own which we contribute to our salvation is the sin which makes it necessary.” And Scripture tells us that apart from Christ, we were “dead in [our] sins.” This sounds like bad news since a corpse can’t raise itself from the grave.

Salvation is a gift: we contribute absolutely nothing. When Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, He did the work, not Lazarus. Salvation depends on God’s mercy and His faithfulness to His promises.

Faith saves us, and we stay saved because of the sustaining, persevering work of God in our lives. The “good news” includes the fact that we needn’t live in fear of losing our salvation: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28, NIV).

Our source of comfort is the truth that not only will we be with the Lord in Heaven, but also that we’ll be with each other. In Heaven, God will delight in His children’s love for each other. As we walk and talk and laugh together, He’ll take as much pleasure in it as we do.

Colorado Football Coach Sanders’ Unabashed Faith

By Steve Rees Assistnews.net

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, now at the helm of the University of Colorado Buffaloes football team in Boulder, is a man of great faith, like the 1990 National Championship winner and Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney.

The central figure of a four-series documentary titled “Coach Prime,” Sanders credits God for his success in the National Football League as a two-time Super Bowl champion, as a Major League Baseball World Series player, and as a winning college coach at Jackson State University, before landing at CU.

In the Amazon docuseries, “Coach Prime” talks about his trust in the Lord through a life-or-death ordeal in 2021 when blood clots threatened his leg’s amputation.

His leg was not amputated, but he lost two toes.

An NFL kick returner and defensive back with a career 53 interceptions, Sanders says the Lord was with him throughout the health scare.

“That was one of the most trying times of my life,” Sanders says in a recent morning show interview about the series and his college-coaching

success. @DeionSanders

An athlete proud of his physical attributes, Sanders recalls conversations with God about life, telling Him: “I know darn well you didn’t bring me this far for this.”

Trusting God without doubting, wavering or succumbing to fear during the trial, Coach Prime’s faith sustained him through life’s biggest challenge so far.

Yet, seeing his adult children at the hospital was as much a test for Sanders as it was for his family.

“When you’re on your back looking up, you’ve got to remain consistent with

who you are and what you believe,” says Sanders. “That was a trying time but we made it through,” he says.

Suffering serious injuries in an NFC playoff game between his Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers in 1997, “Coach Prime” knows what another professional football player is facing on his road to recovery.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field from a serious heart condition as players knelt in prayer around him on January 2, and as a stunned world audience looked on.

“He’s going to be alright. I trust God that he is,” Sanders says.

He sees God working for Hamlin’s good, and for the good of our spiritually and politically divided nation. He believes the nationally televised injury that produced millions of prayers for a professional football player is a sign.

“Did you see how we came together as a country?” Sanders asks.

“(Hamlin) wasn’t Black, White, Hispanic, Asian; he was someone we all care about. We’re still together.

“It shouldn’t take tragedy for us to come together as a people. That’s what I’m on right now. I want all of us to come together and sing Kum Ba Yah,” says Sanders.

An eight-time Pro Bowl player over 14 NFL seasons, Sanders was physically and spiritually saved after a suicide attempt and an emotionally painful divorce in 1997.

Sanders writes about depression and repentance in his book, Power, Money and Success: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.

A Christian song about overcoming adversity with God’s love, “Conquerors,” by artist Kirk Franklin is part of Sander’s attempted-suicide testimony, driving his sports car off a steep cliff.

Continue on page 17

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16: "Colorado Football Coach..."

“I hesitated for no more than a second or two, built up my nerve, and then put the accelerator to the floor and shot over the edge of the cliff to end it all.

“That beautiful, custom-made sports car blasted into midair and seemed to hang there, suspended for a split moment in time, before it nosed down and started its crazy downward plunge,” Sanders writes in the book.

Sander’s mentor, friend and pastor, T.D. Jakes, of Potter’s House in Dallas Texas wrote the forward for (Power, Money and Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life: Sanders, Deion: 9780849937767: Amazon.com: Books)

Sanders credits his debut coaching successes at Jackson State, a historically black university in Mississippi, to the Lord, as well as special teams coaches and players.

Sanders seeks to develop players who are smart, tough, fast, disciplined and who possess good character. “We’re implementing old-school principles that will produce professionals, not just professional football players,” Coach Prime says.

Credited with transforming Jackson State’s languishing program into backto-back championship teams, Sanders says he already misses Mississippi.

“I’m going to miss so many people at that university, among the city, who were a blessing to me, my kids, as well as the program.

“If it wasn’t for Jackson State, then I wouldn’t be here,” Sanders says.

Criticized by some for leaving a historically black college/university (HBCU) for the Pac-12 and Colorado, Sanders is unfazed.

“That was ignorant. You’ve got to understand the people who are criticizing you. I never listen to my critics because my critics have critics.

“You’ve got to understand there are a group of persons that is not progressive. They don’t want to work, to subdue, to dominate. They’re just sitting there idle, pointing fingers.

“My crowd is people who have kids, get up ready to go to work, who try to make ends meet. They get turning water into wine,” says Sanders.

Of his wife Tracey, Sanders says she is a blessing. “Trust me, she adds so much to me. People either add, subtract, multiply or divide; Tracy adds and helps me multiply,” he says.

Source: https://www.assistnews.net/ colorado-football-coach-sandersunabashed-faith/

True - 1 Samuel 18:6-7

True - 1 Samuel 2:18-21

True - 1 Samuel 20:16-17

False - 1 Samuel 21:8-9

False - 1 Samuel 22:18

True - 1 Samuel 25:3

True - 1 Samuel 28:8

True - 1 Samuel 3:2-10

False - 1 Samuel 31:12-13

True - 1 Samuel 31:2

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15: "The Truth About The Truth."

“If God Is Your Co-Pilot, Swap Seats!” (Max Lucado)

Psalm 86 tells us that we must learn the ways of God in order to walk in the ways of God. Jesus said, “Come to me…Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).

Walk in God’s truth, and then you’ll be in the position to receive His daily guidance. A.W. Tozer said, “Practice the truth and we may with propriety speak the truth.”

All human claims to greatness and sovereignty are pretensions. When Herod took credit for godlike powers, he breathed his last, while the Godbreathed Word grew.

A crowd, seeing someone jump to

Just For Laughs...

After starting a new diet, I altered my drive to work to avoid passing my favourite bakery. I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and, as I approached, there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed...

13:

escape a skyscraper fire, could vote unanimously to suspend the law of gravity. What difference would that make?

We can’t negotiate God’s truth any more than we can negotiate gravity. Have the courage to ask Christ to show you what He really wants for your life—not what others want for you, but what He knows is right for you. Listen to His Word for the answers and call upon Him to show you the truth and empower you to live it.

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.

"Lord, it's up to You, if You want me to have any of those delicious goodies, create a parking space for me directly in front of the bakery." And sure enough, on the eighth time around the block, there it was! God is so Good!!

From Pg 13: Word Search Answers

From Pg

Bible Trivia Answers

Instinct, Motivation and Truth Time

By Jon Skillman

One of my daily devotionals (Our Daily Bread) spoke of a man and his family going on safari in Kenya. The man told of watching a variety of animals coming and going from a small lake situated in a rather arid landscape. The animals, of course, came to quench their thirst by drinking of the lake’s life sustaining water. As he observed the scene before him, he began to draw an analogy between this watering hole and what he described as our “Divine Watering Hole,” the Bible…the life sustaining water of the lake, to the Bible’s living water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan woman at the well. John 4:5-30.

Having watched a lot of nature shows I know that the lake draws all animals to its water, including some who have motives above and beyond simply getting a drink. Predators know that if they just hang around the watering hole, they really don’t have to hunt, their prey will simply come to them. Not only that, they will place themselves in their most vulnerable stance in order to get a drink…a stance that is not the best starting position to make a run for it. To make things worse, the prey’s escape options are limited by the lake itself. Oh! And one more thing, danger may be lurking within the very water that sustains them.

Unlike the animals at their watering hole we, as Christians, are at our strongest when drinking from the “Divine Watering Hole.” And unlike animals, who act out of instinct and are governed by the laws of nature, we, hopefully, act out of faith under the laws of God. It could be said that animals are guided naturally, we are guided supernaturally.

Beyond instinct, we are given a variety of abilities, among which are the ability to think, reason and reach logical conclusions. Unfortunately, these abilities are sometimes overruled by what is known as, free will, and free will provides us the ability to really mess things up. Free will opens the door to a multitude of options and motivations, some of which we may not truly understand. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”

Proverbs 16:2. This should cause us concern and we should honestly question our motivations before acting out. Why, because our most powerful motivator is self…which poses yet another question; “Is there any freedom from our bondage to self?”

The answer is yes…and it is found in John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

And one of the main truths of the Bible is…it’s not about me or you!

It’s all about Jesus!

The Ambassador accepts opinions and editorials (op-ed's) as long as they are well-written and less than 450 words. Op-ed's will be published purely at the discretion of the editor. If you would like to submit your op-ed, please email it (written in MS Word) to editor@ambassadornewspaper.com.

The deadline for submission is the 15th of the month for the next issue.

I think every one of us is preoccupied with “time” in some way. Whether we hurry and stress because of a pending deadline or dread the seemingly neverending wait for test results, it is an unavoidable reality for human beings. God alone is above and beyond the dictates of “time”. There is no past or future for the Sovereign One, only the Now.

We mere mortals, however, need to contend with the harassment of time. Not that it is always our enemy; It is sometimes kind to us. In fact, there is both a healthy and unhealthy way to approach our past and our future. As to our past, we can look back with fondness and thankfulness for our childhood or younger years OR we can ruminate around the haunts of traumatic experiences. Depending on how your story developed, you can have a healthy perspective on the past or you can “Live” in the past. That is a problem whether it was so good you cling to it and nothing today can match the previous experience, or if regrets, unforgiveness, or trauma is involved, that too can become an obsession producing triggers in todays relationships.

On the other hand, the future can be exciting or bleak. The positive thought of new adventures can produce a glorious anticipation of what tomorrow holds. On the flip side, the anxiety and worry about future peace, protection, and provision can cause many to “waste today’s energy on tomorrow’s possibility”. The truth is that no one but God knows what will happen tomorrow. We can plan for it using wisdom but that doesn’t guarantee anything! This is particularly difficult for me as someone who likes to have the future planned out! How about

you?

In the end, the reality is that we only have today. Yesterday is gone, whether it was good or bad. Tomorrow isn’t here yet and we can only prepare for it to a certain point. Join me in consciously desiring to loosen my grip on yesterday and rest in the Lord’s plan for tomorrow.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Phil 3:13b-14)

So, don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matt 6:31-34)

Seth Halpern - Editor

Chaplain (Colonel) Mike Shellman served as the Command Chaplain for the Joint Task Force & Military District of Washington for the United States Army from 2020 until his retirement in 2022. He led the Joint Religious Operations Center providing religious support in the National Capital Region, to include Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. Much of his military career was spent in serving in Special Operations. He deployed sixteen times in proving religious support to military personnel in combat zones. In response to his calling, Chaplain Shellman was the first chaplain deployed in the Global War on terrorism. Chaplain Shellman has numerous awards and decorations to include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal (5 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), as well as the Combat Action Badge; the Ranger Tab; Master Parachutist Wings; and multiple Foreign Jump Wings. Mike is married to the former Cheryl Weniger of Normal, Illinois, they have together three married daughters and four precious grandchildren.

Full Bu et Breakfast • Thursday, May 4, 2023 • 7:00-9:00 a.m.

Adventure Church . 876 W. Onstott Frontage Rd., Yuba City

Sponsored by Yuba-Sutter Christian Community Network

Tickets $25 . $160 table of 8

Tickets available at Adventure Church of Yuba City, Shadd Janitorial, and Gaiser Pets

For more information contact: David Kugelman at 632.9292 . www.YSCCN.org

Guest Speaker

Chaplain Mike Shellman