October 2017
by: John Stonestreet & G. Shane Morris (breakpoint.org) With so much devastation in the news, it’s hard not to ask God, “Why?” Here’s some help for responding to questions about natural disasters and God. Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, massive earthquakes in Mexico, wildfires across the western United States. The string of natural disasters in the last few weeks has left many wondering: Where is God in the midst of all this suffering, loss of life, and destruction? It’s a question nearly as old as time. As the Greek philosopher, Epicurus asked, Is God able to stop suffering but not willing? Then He isn’t all-good. Is He willing, but not able? Then He isn’t all-powerful. In both cases, He’s not really God.
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And Voltaire, the French philosopher, famously argued in a poem that the All Saints Day Earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 made believing in an all-good, allpowerful God untenable. T h a n k f u l l y, many Christians have tackled this tough question. In fact, Colson Center Senior Fellow, J. Warner Wallace offers a few of his thoughts in an upcoming column at BreakPoint.org. First, Wallace points out that “natural disasters” aren’t always entirely, well, natural. Human freedom and planning
leads to homes and cities being built in places susceptible to earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. Sometimes corners are cut on building materials or construction in order to save money. These choices can put people in harm’s way when nature turns dangerous. And second, calamity often reveals the very best of human character, as opportunities abound to love those in need. In the early centuries of Christianity, pagan hearts were softened toward the Gospel when Christians ran toward great plagues and
“Our hearts cry out that this world is not the way it’s supposed to be.”
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disasters, rather than away. In the same way, Christians today provide the bulk of relief in the wake of the recent hurricanes. These disasters are terrible, but the displays of neighborly love are beautiful. And finally, our visceral reaction to the tragedy and suffering caused by natural disasters, far from disproving an all-powerful, all-loving God, is actually strong evidence for His existence. C. S. Lewis admitted in “Mere Christianity” that as an atheist, he thought the injustice in the world was an airtight argument against Christianity. But then he wondered: “How had I gotten this idea of just and unjust?” His argument depended on evil and
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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 of 5,500 - 7,500 and is distributed in local churches and businesses in the community. ?The purpose of The Ambassador is to pursue the great commission of Christ by making disciples and to encourage, inform, challenge and connect the local body of Christ. ?We believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible as the written word of God. We believe that God exists as One, in three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ?We believe that the atoning work of Christ (His death) on the cross and His resurrection is the ONLY means of salvation and the only way to Eternal Life in Heaven. ?We welcome editorial content from anyone wishing to promote the mission of The Ambassador. All articles and advertisement content is subject to the approval of the editor. Views expressed in The Ambassador do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors or advertisers
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• • • Helping the Helper • • • by Paula McBride Mr. Rogers would say the media got it right. “During a catastrophe,” Mr. Rogers’ mother taught him, “there will always be helpers on the sidelines. When you look for the helpers, you know there’s hope. The best way to deal with hard times is to always look to the helpers in life to give us the hope we need.” So, the media is getting it right when they focus on the brave men, women, and youth who served and are still serving those areas reeling from catastrophe. Every story and every graphic photograph symbolizes hope that broken lives will be restored and a better day is coming. Whether or not we have experienced life-threatening physical crises, we all have been swept away in a torrent of sin and lifted to safety by the Ultimate Rescuer, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been buried in the wreckage of a sinful world and pulled free by the scarred hand of the Savior. As we are made new in relationship with Him, we are called to be His helpers, His rescue team in this lost world. You might say we are called to help the Helper. What examples can we find of helpers helping helpers? Consider Moses as he helped the Israelite army fight the Amalekites in a most unusual way. As
long as he held his arms up, the Israelites were winning, but if he lowered his arms, the enemy began to win. Moses became tired, and his arms began to droop. His brother, Aaron, and Hur sat Moses down on a stone, and each held up one of Moses’ arms. They continued until the Israelites routed the Amalekites (Exodus 17:12). The book of II Kings tells us that a woman from Shunem helped Elisha by providing him a place to stay when he traveled through her town. He in turn helped her by promising that she would have a son. The cherished son was born, but died as a small boy. The woman ran to Elisha to tell him the tragic news. Then
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Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, was called on to help further by running ahead to the little boy and laying Elisha’s staff across the boy’s face. When Elisha and the mother arrived soon after, Elisha prayed to God, and the boy returned to life (II Kings 4). An unlikely helper may be found in the
steward who was in charge of Daniel and his three friends as they faced eating the non-kosher foods of Babylon. He agreed to a ten-day trial of vegetables and water, and Daniel and his friends proved to be more robust than the others. Later Daniel was a significant helper to his captors. These Biblical helpers point to Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve. He helped the blind see, the lame walk, the demon-possessed find freedom. He fed the hungry and encouraged the weary. In all these things, we are called to follow Jesus because Christ suffered for us, leaving an example, that we should follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21). Every day we will be called to help. Not water rescues or search parties, perhaps, but tasks suited just for us. Let’s look for helpers, be the helpers, and help other helpers. In doing so, we will be following the footsteps of Jesus and offering His hope to the world.
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INSPIRATION
- Memories by April James Memories are a special gift from the Lord. They help us know where we came from, keep us grounded and help us gain our bearing. They keep us from having to re-learn every day that fire burns - as well as warms, and what the distance is for each. Without memories, we would not have a testimony of how God blessed us or brought us through a testing. Life’s experiences, good and bad, make up the fabric of who we are today. We may wish to change some things but then we would be someone else. The Lord purposed our birth order, designed our chromosomes and genes, and planned when we would take our first breath. He thought extensively about us as He knit us together in our mother’s womb. Being perfectly created and living in a perfect world is, well, perfect. Memories formed in a perfect world are wonderful and bring delight. Yet today we live in a world where sin is found, where not so perfect life experiences leave us with memories of pain, betrayal, the sting of loss, along with feelings of fear, doubt, anger, hopelessness, and brokenness. We become the walking wounded, crippled, and emotionally (if not physically) scarred. We go through things the Lord never
Bible Facts
Of the 55 verses in Malachi, 47 are God speaking. This is the highest percentage of any Old Testament prophetic book. Our word “excruciating” comes from the Latin word “cruciare” meaning “to crucify.”
intended for us to endure in a perfect world, nor wants us to carry in the world we currently live in. He invites us to give our burdens to Him and have our minds renewed. We are in a world abounding with negativity, victim mindsets, and get even type attitudes. Romans 12:2 encourages us to not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. As we bring memories of our hurts, disappointments, and our negative beliefs and feelings about ourselves, others, life, God, etc. to the Lord he gives us revelations, exposes lies Satan has told us; then as we align with God’s truth we come into a new way of thinking, peace replaces pain. The circumstance of what happened does not change, but how it affects us in the present does. He can graciously bring us to a point of
truly forgiving from the heart the wrong actions of others. Forgiving doesn’t mean the perpetrator is getting away with something or that what was done was right; wrong is wrong. However, forgiveness releases us from carrying the heavy weight and burden of collecting the debt and turns the collection and judgement over to the Lord. In exchange, we receive freedom from the fowlers’ snare that once held us. In having a new mindset, we receive peace of heart and mind; we can then use the precious memories of what the Lord has done to help others who have traveled the same path. Is bringing our minds to the Lord to be renewed easy – sometimes; is it difficult – sometimes; let’s face it – pain hurts, and we like to avoid it, it’s part of selfpreservation. Is it worth it – absolutely!
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Ongoing Events SUNDAY AWANA CLUB Sundays 5:30-7:00 pm. Check in is at 5:15 pm. Grace Baptist Church - 1980 S. Walton Ave. (Bogue & Walton) Awana is an amazing children’s program for ages 3-grade 6. Join this new Club as it begins! Kids memorize Scripture, play games and learn lots! Call 530-673-6847 for information.
MONDAY KNIT & CROCHET WOMENS FELLOWSHIP Mondays 10:00 a.m. - Noon First Baptist Church - 1777 8th Ave. - Olivehurst Practice your yarn craft or learn a new one with us. Knifty Knitters are welcome. Bring your own project or work on a charity item that we donate to those in need in the community. Email yarncraftersforchrist@hotmail.com for info. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Mondays 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m. We are a Christ-Centered recovery group that provides a safe place to share your struggles,experiences, victories, and hopes with others who are also going through to Christ Centered recovery. For more info call 530.755.4149. Follow us on Facebook @ Celebrate Recovery Crossroads Community Church
TUESDAY CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ALLIANCE First Tuesday of Every Month, Noon - 1:00 p.m. The Bride Church - 1321 Peach Tree Ln, YC Join us for a time of fellowship, prayer & encouragement. All are welcome! FREE KARATE CLASSES Tuesday 6:00 pm - FREE karate classes taught from a Christian perspective. First Baptist Church - 1777 8th Ave. - Olivehurst, 530-701-5131 for info, Pastor Miguel. CRAFTSMEN FOR CHRIST Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Bride Church - 1321 Peach Tree Lane, YC Men’s fellowship around the word and worship. All in the Body of Christ welcome! SAMARITAN VILLAGE MONTHLY MEETING The 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30p.m. This meeting is open to all who are interested in helping with an orphanage in Tanzania. For info call Victor Savage at 671-2219.
AWANA Wednesday 5:45-7:45 p.m. during school year Evangelical Free Church - 3785 Olive Hwy. Oroville Awana is a boys & girls club consisting of small group time, games, large group time. For information please call 533-6866. LIFE @ HOPE POINT Wednesday @ 6:30 pm for kids, 7:00 p.m. for adults Hope Point Nazarene - 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC Join us for Life@Hope Point - groups for Nursery through High School ages and classes for adults Parenting, How to Study your Bible, more so contact the church office at 671-1130 for more details.
FRIDAY LIFE RECOVERY meets every Friday night at 7:00 PM (except the last Friday of the month) in the social hall of Loma Rica Community Church. Contact Church Office at 743.5435 for more information. TUESDAY
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BETHESDA HEALING WELL - Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10AM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Bldg 200 - 1179 Eager Road, YC You are invited to come and receive special prayer for divine healing or prophetic guidance. Our prayer teams will pray with you for your needs. For more info.,Ed Han 209-298-6102
multiple days of the week WOMENS CLOTHES CLOSET Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00 a.m. - Noon Twin Cities Rescue Mission- 940 14th Street, Marysville We now have a womens clothes closet at the mission! It is free and available to everyone. We accept donations Monday - Sunday of women’s men’s, and children’s clothing! CROSSROADS CLOTHES CLOSET Open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm -Shop at our - FREE Clothes given away! Crossroads Community Church, YC PRAYER VIGIL FOR LIFE! Yuba-Sutter Right to Life is hosting peaceful, prayerful vigils in front of the Yuba City Planned Parenthood. All you need to participate is one hour and the desire to pray for LIFE. Please contact Heather Pugh at 751-9349 for date and time if you are interested.
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FRIENDS FOR SURVIVAL SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT GROUP 4th Tuesday of the month, 6:30 PM - 715 King Ave., (off Clark Ave.) Yuba City_ Support for people who lost loved ones to suicide. Contact person, Becky Reimers (530) 454-7698, ffs.ysc@gmail.com PRAYER FOR THE NATION - Every Tuesday Evening @ 7PM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Church of Glad Tidings- Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Info: Stephanie Steele 530-870-6906 www.churchofgladtidings.com Join us as we intercede for our region and our nation
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Special Events RUMMAGE SALE FUMC – YC, 3101 Colusa Hwy, Yuba City Saturday, October 7th from 8am to 1pm Everything under the sun can be found at this rummage sale including furniture, clothes, jewelry, books, toys, household items, and holiday decorations. Donations accepted from October 1st - 5th. DINNER AND CARNIVAL FUMC – YC, 3101 Colusa Hwy, Yuba City Friday, October 13th from 6 to 8pm Looking for a FREE event for the whole family to have fun together? When was the last time your family was able to have dinner together? You can do both at our Dinner and Mini-Carnival. Inside our facility, there will be various carnival games set up to test your skill. MT. OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH PANCAKE BREAKFAST Mt. Olivet Baptist Church2284 McGowan Pkwy, Olivehurst, October 14, 2017 9am-11am Pancakes, eggs, sausage or bacon, juice or milk. $6.00 per person. Purchase breakfast and you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a copper skillet. The drawing will take place around 11am TENT REVIVAL “UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY” 398 Aylor Ave. October 15th – 22nd / Weekdays 7pm and Weekends 6pm A joining of local churches to show Unity in the body of Christ. Calvary Christian Center of Plumas Lake, Church Alive, Praise Chapel, Abundant Living Church, Victory Outreach, Last Disciples and more.
A WOMAN’S FRIEND ANNUAL BENEFIT BANQUET Church of Glad Tidings October 20, at 6:30 pm A Woman’s Friend is excited to announce our 2017 Annual Benefit Banquet speaker! Assemblyman James Gallagher. James Gallagher defends life every day at the California State Capitol, where he has represented California’s Third Assembly District since 2014. For tables or tickets call 741-9136 JOSH SNOTTGRASS CONCERT Grace Baptist Church 3646 Oro Dam Blvd. East Oroville www.orograce.org Oct.27th, 2017/6:30pm. Come and bring the whole family for some great music, All the while meeting new people and making new friends HARVEST FESTIVAL Grace Baptist Church 3646 Oro Dam Blvd. East, Oroville Oct.31st, 2017 5:30pm till 8:00pm Join us for some fun this year and bring the whole family. We will have games, food, and a lot of candy to give away. Come to enjoy and meet new friends, laugh, and see everyones creative costumes. See you there! www.orograce.org OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (SHOEBOX GIFTS) NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK, NOV. 13-20 Thank you for packing shoebox gifts to send God’s love to children around the world! For more info. call Dennis Gabel 6951495 or go to samaritanspurse.org/occ Local drop-off locations to bring your packed shoebox gifts -
Prayer Calendar for October 2017 3-Oct Children and Children’s Ministries 4-Oct Pray for race relations in our nation 5-Oct North Korea- for diplomacy to ease tension 6-Oct Military, All armed forces & their families. 7-Oct Global Persecution-Safety/Courage of Believers 8-Oct Missing Teens & children- pray for protection and found safe 9-Oct Middle East - For the peace of Jerusalem 10-Oct ISIS/Terrorism- pray for wisdom & strong leadership to eradicade it 11-Oct Homeless/Poor - Twin Cities Rescue Mission, A Hand Up, Salvation Army, REST 12-Oct A Woman’s Friend - Unborn children/Pregnant Women 13-Oct Struggling Women- Pray for Lydia’s House, Twin Rivers Crisis Center, Casa Esperanza 14-Oct Christian Businesses-Ambassador Sponsors & others. 15-Oct Missionaries -Fruit, Provision 16-Oct Singles, Single Parents, Divorce healing 17-Oct Orphan children- Samaritan Village (see p. 3) and other orphanages 18-Oct First Responders-Police, Firefighters, EMT, TIP 19-Oct President Trump- God’s Wisdom in decisions & communication 20-Oct Hollywood- May God to touch influential people 21-Oct Sex Trafficking - pray for victims 22-Oct Pray for dads to be Godly leaders in their home and give thanks for those who are! 23-Oct Addicted, Rehab ministries- Feather River Mens Center, Joshua House, Celebrate Recovery 24-Oct Seniors and Elderly- pray for support and protection from heat 25-Oct The Ambassador Newspaper-Increased readership and Impact 26-Oct Teen Depression, Suicide 27-Oct Local officials and community leaders 28-Oct State lawmakers- Pray for Assemblyman James Gallagher and others who represent us 29-Oct Local Pastors and their families 30-Oct Adoptive families & birth moms 31-Oct Halloween - Pray for safety especially for children; pray against demonic influence
Cooper Ave. Baptist Church, 804 Cooper Ave. Yuba City Mon-Fri. (Nov. 13-17) 5pm-8pm. Sat. (Nov. 18) 10am-2pm, Sun. (Nov. 19) 2pm-7pm Mon. (Nov. 20) 10am-Noon
Hope Point Nazarene Church, 600 N. George Washington Blvd., Yuba City Mon-Sat. (Nov. 13-18) 2pm-5pm, Sun. (Nov. 19) 1pm-4pm Mon. (Nov. 20) 10am-Noon
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INSPIRATION Two Students’ Forgiveness of Attacker Reminds Us of God’s Grace safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Stories like this one catch our attention because such a gracious reaction is not a natural human response. For us, the natural response is to retaliate—to take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, as Jesus points out in Matthew 5:38. But, thanks to our God of grace who has shown us the true beauty of forgiveness through the sacrifice of his Son for our sins, our reactions don’t have to be limited to violence and anger. Rather, we can follow his example and respond with grace. As the Apostle Paul writes at the end of Romans 12: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17, 21). Thanks to the transformative power of Christ, we can join our Savior in the great work of overcoming evil with good. And that is why the world can witness incredible instances of grace like the one demonstrated by the Boston College students toward their attacker in France. Leah Hickman is a 2017 graduate of Hillsdale College’s English program. She has written pieces for multiple Hillsdale College campus publications as well as for BreakPoint.org, ChristianAnswers. net/Spotlight, and the Discover Laura Blog. Read more by Leah at aworldofgrasspeople.blogspot.com.
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Bible Quiz - Questions
1. Name three Israelite kings. 2. Who built the ark? 3. Where did Jesus grow up? 4. Who lived in Ur and moved to a country he did not know? 5. What happened first? Murder of Abel or the great flood? 6. Who commanded the sun and moon to stay still? 7. For which type of tree was Lebanon well known? 8. How did Stephanus die? 9. Where was Jesus taken prisoner? 10. Which biblical book tells of David and Goliath? 11. Name three soldiers mentioned in the bible. 12. In which book of the bible to we read about Haman?
13. Which 3 books of the Old Testament begin with the letter “M”? 14. Which Roman was in charge of cultivation in Syria at the time of Jesus’ birth? 15. What happened first? Preacher Paul on the Areopagus or the execution of Jacob? 16.What does Jahwe-Schammah mean? 17. How much bread and fish was available to feed the 5000? How many baskets were left over? 18. What is the name of the storm winds which can hit Crete? 19.How many wonders did Elijah and Elisa perform? 20. When was Passover celebrated? Day and month.
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In the news, we hear plenty about the violence and anger constantly entangling our globe. Rarely do acts of violence and anger seem to elicit much else than more violence and anger. But, in the case of the Boston College students who were attacked in France this weekend, the world gets to witness a refreshing exception to the rule. While on a study abroad tour in Europe this Sunday, a group of Boston College students faced an unexpected detour to the hospital when a woman attacked them with acid in a French train station. Although no one received major injuries, one student reported in a Facebook post that some of the acid got into her eye as well as one of her friends’ eyes. Rather than speaking out in hatred toward their attacker, two of the students—Courtney Siverling and Michelle Krug—posted gracious statements on their Facebook pages, asking for their friends and family to pray for their attacker. Courtney writes, “I pray that the attacker would be healed from her mental illness in the name of Jesus and receive the forgiveness and salvation that can only come from Him.” She then went on to quote Psalm 91:2, which reads, “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of
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I love the Word of God. It gives clear direction in life. It brings comfort in times of sorrow. It brings correction when we veer off course. Most importantly, it gives us a clear picture of who God is in the life of His Son Jesus Christ. In general, American Christians neglect His Word while others around the world are desperate for it. Ponder that for a moment. In addition to reading God’s Word on a daily basis, I like daily devotions. I have a few but my favorite (for now) is “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. The reading from August 28th really impacted me this year, even though I have read it at least a dozen times over the last 12 to 15 years. He says, “When a man is born from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve that life or nourish it. Prayer is the way the life of God is nourished.” (I would add that equally important to that spiritual nourishment is the daily reading of God’s Word) And he goes on to say,
“It’s not so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that prayer changes me and I change things.” Reflect on that for a moment. (now reflect on it a little more) Wow! Prayer (and the Word) are the foundational tools that God uses to change us. And the greater the investment that we make in our relationship with Him, the greater the return. I am far from perfect, but I have been changed by Him and as a result I make better choices in every area of my life especially in my relationships. Sometimes we need miraculous intervention that only God can accomplish. But I would argue that most often, if we surrender our will to Him, He will change us and we ultimately will change the situation. For example, only God can change our hearts so that when we are offended or treated unjustly, we will make that choice to forgive. (That wasn’t always the case in my life) So, let God change you through personal prayer (and His Word) and be amazed at who you become and what you can change to benefit your life and the lives of those around you!
COMMUNITY Con’t From Pg 8 - “Answers For Bible Quiz” 1. (Saul, David, Solomon) 2. (Noah) 3. (Nazareth) 4. (Abraham) 5. (Murder of Abel) 6. (Joshua) 7. (Cedar) 8. (Stoned to death) 9. (Gethsemane) 10. (Samuel) 11. (Joab, Naaman, Cornelius) 12. (Esther)
13. (Moses, Micah, Malachi) 14. (Cyrenius) 15. (Execution of Jacob) 16. (God himself/Ezekiel 48,35) 17. (7 x bread and several small fish, 7 baskets/Matthew 15,3) 18. (Euroklydon/Acts. 27,14) 19. (Elisha performed exactly twice as many as Elijah. Deliverance 2. Kings 2,9) (20. 14th day of the 1st month)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive them their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
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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Pastor Appreciation Month: 5 Ways to Say Thanks of a church member. But I have a few church members who go out of their way to tell me the good about my children. One sincere compliment about one of my three kids makes my day.”
by Thom S. Rainer Here are a few tips on how you can speak your pastor’s love language. With apologies to Gary Chapman for playing on his well-known Five Love Languages theme, I asked 24 pastors how a church member might speak to each pastor in his own love language. Though 24 persons don’t constitute a massive survey, I was amazed at the consistency of the responses. To fit the theme of five, I determined at the onset that I would only report the top five responses. To my surprise, there was an obvious break between the fifth and sixth most frequent responses. Thus, the five love languages were a natural fit. So how can you speak a love language to your pastor? Here are the pastors’ top five responses in order of frequency. I offer a representative response from one of the pastors for each of the five. Express Your Gratitude
Books. “I have a limited family budget, so I can’t just go out and buy a bunch of books. But I sure do love books. One year a deacon gave me a $200 gift card to a Christian bookstore. I was ecstatic! Now the church gives me a $300 book allowance each year. I know it’s not much for the type of books I get, but I sure am grateful.” Encouraging notes. “I treasure every word of affirmation I get. It helps to soothe the pain of the criticisms. I keep all of my notes of encouragement in a box, and I sometimes read many of them at one time to remind myself how blessed I am. I particularly appreciate handwritten
David Holycross Helping families honor the lives of those they love since 1998
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notes. I know the church member took time to write that to me.” Time guardians. “My most encouraging church members are those who try to help me protect my time. They do everything they can to make sure I have enough time to prepare for my sermons and spend time with my family. They’re able to speak to other members about my time constraints in a way I am not.” Compliments about children. “There are times I feel sorry for my three kids. They’re good kids, but they aren’t perfect. They live in a glass house, and any wrong move they make usually gets the attention
Defenders. “You know, I deal with critics, and I realize that in any leadership position, there are those who will judge. My greatest hurt takes place when my supporters remain silent in the face of intense criticism toward me. They’re more afraid of rocking the boat than speaking the truth. But I have one church member who always speaks a defending word for me unless he thinks I’m wrong. Then he speaks to me privately. I could use a dozen church members like that.” Church members, do you speak any of these love languages to your pastor?
I Will Sing To The Lord For He Has Been Good To Me. Ps 13:6
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COMMUNITY
LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life • • • • EVERY CHILD • • • •
By Heather Pugh, Yuba Sutter Right to Life Secretary Glen Campbell died today (August 8). The news said he was the youngest of 12 children and grew up in a home without running water or electricity in a small town in Arkansas. His father was a sharecropper. Today’s political ideology would have you believe there is absolutely no way any of those children could possibly grow up to have more than a meager existence living off welfare and the state. Abortion would have been touted as the only solution and the parents would have been pressured into aborting their children rather than giving them life long before Glen was conceived. Perhaps even sterilization would have played a role in cementing a smaller family size and the hope of a brighter future for the first few children born to the couple.
A world without “Rhinestone Cowboy”, “Wichita Lineman”, or “Galveston”. We wouldn’t know what we were missing. But God would. This got me wondering about other famous people from large families and those who impacted the world who were adopted, rather than aborted. Who are they? Some well-known people born to large families include Celine Dion (the youngest of 14), Stephen Colbert (the youngest of 11), Mel Gibson (6th child of 11 children), Martin Sheen (7th child of 10) and comedian Jim Gaffigan who is the youngest of 6. Celebrities born to teenage mothers include Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Jamie Foxx, Dr. Dre (Beats headphones, anyone?), Wynonna Judd, and last but by no means least, Jesus Christ.
A list of influential adoptees would contain Steve Jobs. Can you imagine a world without iPhones? Marilyn Monroe was a ward of the state. Faith Hill, Babe Ruth, Malcolm X, Debbie Harry (of Blondie fame), Nelson Mandela, Edgar Allan Poe, Louis Armstrong, and Dave Thomas (the founder of Wendy’s) round out the list. That is some list. How many entertainers or entrepreneurs or social activists have we lost to abortion? How many people have died from illnesses that would have been cured if the discoverer of the cure had not been aborted? How much suffering is this world enduring because those who would bring about positive change and healing were snuffed out? Every child deserves a chance to make a difference. Every child is worthy of life. Every child is worthy of love.
EVERY. CHILD. Let’s not judge teenage or unwed mothers. They are brave for giving their child life. Let us instead trust in God’s plan. ALL children are God’s hope for our future. They are a gift of promise. Accept the gift and live the promise. Assistance for unplanned pregnancy A Woman’s Friend, 961 Live Oak Blvd, Yuba City (530)741-0556 Alternatives Pregnancy Center, 1111 Howe Avenue Suite 610, Sacramento 95825 (916)880-4040 Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home (916)395-9370 Adoption Information Lifetime Adoption call or text 1-800-923-6784
WILLIAM HOON GARDENING
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What We Need Most by Kevin DeYoung The Gospel Coalition (tgc.org) The biggest need in your life, and in mine, is to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. I’m convinced that more evangelism, more prayer, more fruitfulness, more holiness will flow from the fountain of our lives only when we start drinking more deeply of Christ. If you want to be more merciful, look upon Jesus who cried out at the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” If you want to be more loving, look upon Jesus who ate with sinners and welcomed repentant prostitutes and tax collectors into the kingdom. If you want to be purer, look upon Jesus whose eyes are like flames of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
If you want more courage in the face of lies and injustice, look upon Jesus who drove out the money changers from the temple with a whip. If you want to be stronger in the midst of suffering, look upon Jesus who did not revile when reviled and submitted himself wholly to the will of his Father. If you want to grow in grace, look upon Jesus who reinstated Peter after he denied his Lord three times. If you want more tenderness in your life, look upon Jesus who took the little children upon his lap and blessed them. If you want to display the diverse excellencies of God, look upon Jesus who came from the Father full of grace and truth. Our main problem is not lack of time or resources or the annoying people in our lives. Your main problem and my main
problem is that we do not see enough the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We are not amazed. We do not stand in awe. We are not rendered speechless in his presence. Too many of us are toying around with gimmicks and looking for quick fixes and miracle cures. Too many of us are digging deep inside ourselves for the change we want. Too many of us spend all our time
tinkering with sports and the internet and home repairs while neglecting the one thing that is most needful--to sit at the feet of Jesus, to see him in the preaching of the Word, to gaze upon him in the Scriptures, to slowly meditate upon the pages of the Bible, to spend uninterrupted, unhurried time with the Lord. This is what we need.
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The Ambassador Ministry
would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship
John Nicholls Rich & Joan Hackney Kathy Baum Carrie Pederson Marty Brown Tom Harris Mimi Robarge Warren & Lucy Campbell Allen Halpern Jeff Royce Rita Collins April James George & Cherie Shaw LaDonna Curteman Sandi Juri Mike Sherman Sue Kochi Chuck David Robert E. Stark Clay Maynard Christine Emerson Josh Vanassche Jim McCarty Bob Gilbert
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
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Con’t From Pg 1 - “...STORM”
suffering being objectively bad, not just inconvenient. But if we’re merely subatomic particles, then no arrangement of those particles can be morally better or worse than any other. Our hearts cry out that this world is not the way it’s supposed to be. And atheism can only reply, “Sure it is.” But we know better. The world is broken. It’s not functioning according to God’s original design, and Christianity places the blame on humanity’s rebellion against the Creator. But the Christian message doesn’t end there. God assures us that He’s with us in the hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires. In Jesus Christ, He entered the world’s brokenness and joined our suffering, crying out with a very human heart as He Himself tasted death on our behalf: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The question that Jesus asked here points to the only answer to Epicurus’ question, because Jesus is the only God Who is all-good, all-loving, and knows
what it means to feel the brunt of evil and suffering. As Edward Shillito wrote in his poem, “Jesus of the Scars”: The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak; They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne; But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak, And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone. Remember that the Suffering Savior is now the enthroned King. Suffering and death do not have the last word. Sin is a defeated foe. All will be made new again. And so, in light of that Truth, or better yet because of the One who is Truth, we can give our best answer to the question of suffering by following the example of our Savior, and His Church throughout history, by running toward the disasters with love, with help, with grace, and with the Gospel.
FROM THE ARCHIVES... Jesus Wept -- John 11:35
Have you ever wondered why Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus? Jesus must have known what was about to happen. He must have known that he was about to look into a dark tomb that reeked of Death and call forth Life. He must have known that in just a couple minutes Lazarus would come hopping out of the tomb into the light. He must have known that Mary and Martha would be joyously freeing Lazarus from his grave cloths. He must have known that Lazarus would walk again, sing again, laugh again, dance again… He must have known! So, why did he weep? Jesus wept because death, brokenness, and pain are heartbreaking regardless of the outcome. He saw his creation in pain, so he wept, he prayed, and then he took
action to restore Life. This is the Jesus I have the privilege of exclaiming to high school students! He cares, and he restores Life! As our local Young Life Leaders walk through the halls of our high schools they see the pain and difficulties facing our young friends, and they are heartbroken… so we take action! We win the right to be heard on the topic of Jesus by building authentic friendships with kids, and we ruthlessly trust in Jesus to call Life out of the dark tombs in our friend’s lives. Thank you so much for helping us share this message with the adolescents in the Yuba Sutter Area! Yuba Sutter Young Life Area Director, Brad Distad
Con’t From Pg 14 - “What we need most” Let us plead with God that we might behold his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Implore him for eyes to see. Pray persistently and passionately to know
him more. Because there is no growing apart from gazing, and no becoming like Christ without beholding him in his glory.
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- - - - The APPLE Bible Study Method - - - Many of us want to read the Bible and grow deeper in faith, but struggle with how to read and understand the Scriptures. Today I’d like to share a simple method I use: the APPLE Bible study method.
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The APPLE Bible study method This practical Bible study method is based on the acronym APPLE. As you read a passage or chapter of Scripture, use each letter to help you understand and dig deeper into the verses. APPLE stands for… Attributes of God Promises of God Principles for Life Lesson Learned or Sin to avoid Example to Follow
A- Attribute(s) of God After reading the passage one time through, go back and look for the attributes of God found in the verses you just read. It’s a joy to discover the magnitude and depths of God’s character revealed in Scripture! In our example, Psalm 103: 1-5, it’s revealed that God is holy, forgives, heals, redeems, satisfies and is merciful. How beautiful to see His perfection unfold in this sweet Psalm!
Follow along as we put the APPLE Bible study method into practice with Psalm 103: 1-5. First, read the entire passage of Scripture you wish to study.
P- Promises from God Once again, skim the passage to discover the promises God has made to His children. The Psalm above reminds us that God has lovingly promised to forgive our sins, heal, redeem our brokenness, lavish us with love and mercy, satisfy the depths of our souls, and renew our weariness. As we mature in faith and mediate on His Word, these promises alter our lives and change us to the core. It’s in understanding His promises where we learn to faithfully trust
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit,
Him in all situations. Thank you, Lord for the gift of your promises! P- Principles for Life As you begin this next step, look back at the passage and search for life principles hidden in these verses. Revisiting Psalm 103:1-5, we see that God calls us to praise Him whether we’re rejoicing in His blessings or praying for healing. No matter what comes our way, our job is proclaim the name of the Lord as Holy. Also, we’re charged with remembering His promises and clinging to them in all situations. L- Lessons Learned or Sin to Avoid Reviewing the passage yet another time, look for lessons you can learn from the verses. You may even wish to ask: Is God trying to get my attention about a particular area in my life? What situation(s) do I need to give over to God as a result of reading this passage?
What is God trying to teach my through this text? Rereading Psalm 103:1-5, I personally learn that we are to remember and mediate on God’s promises. When I focus on Him and not the size of my problems, I lay aside fear and peacefully trust Him no matter the outcome. E- Example to Follow Looking over your text one final time, ask yourself how you can follow any example found in this Scripture. We want to be doers of the word, not merely hearers. Consider the following questions: What is an example of godliness in this passage? Ungodly? Is there an area in which I need to take action as prompted through this passage? What practical way can I implement the theme of these verses into my life?
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Continued From Page 16 - “...Apple Bible Study...”
The practical message I gain from Psalm 103:1-5 is one of trust and praise. God IS faithful, and in those moments when I’m overwhelmed and paralyzed by fear, I can praise His holy name. Worshiping through prayer and reflecting on His faithfulness are two practical strategies I can use throughout the day to combat fear and stress.
bellow to start your journey toward a deeper understanding of the heart of God through the APPLE Bible study method.
Starter passages for the APPLE Bible study method Now that you’ve seen how simple it is to dissect a passage this way, it’s time for you to give it a try! Use the passages
So, grab your Bible and dig in, as you search for a deeper understanding of the heart of God. I can’t wait to hear how the Lord grows your faith as you embark on this new study method. Enjoy!
Psalm 16: 7-11 Psalm 46: 1-3 Isaiah 40: 28-31 Matthew 11: 28-30 1 Peter 1: 3-6
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.
The Christian Business Alliance would like to invite you to our midweek meeting. Rich Fellowship, Powerful Prayer, Refreshing Presence of God! We meet at the Bride Church the first Tuesday of the month from noon – 1pm. Current members: A-1 Carpet Cleaning - (530) 673-3634 - www.a-1clean.com Rachel Aleman - Century 21- 530-813-2253 Ron Brasier - A Hand Up Ministry - (530) 671-1360 Marty Brown - KCYC-LP FM - (530) 674-5296 Kathleen Caldwell - Caldwells Custom Countertops - (530) 695-2112 Fred Cox - Richard's Tree Service - (530) 673-7993 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 Dennis & Connie Gable - Operation Christmas Child - (530) 695-1495 Rita Galusha Steve & Cash Gilliss - Crosspointe Christian Books - (530) 673-6188 Pamela Givans Adrian Graves - Solar City - 530-329-1698 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 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 Ronda Putman Roger Shadd - Shadd Janitorial Supply - (530) 673-0083 George Shaw- Serving Our Saviour - (530) 671-3303 Wynette Sills - CaliforniasForLife.org. - (916) 955-1577 Robert Stark - Retired Auditor/Controller - stark@otnusa.com Dwayne Tanabe - Taylor Accountancy Corp - dktanabe@yahoo.com Jenine Tanabe - Jenine L. Tanabe, MD Dematology - (530) 743-0301
For weekly reminders, updates, or to join email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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EDITORAL PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY By Jon Skillman Did I miss it? Has California actually seceded from the union? Are we no longer under the protection of the U. S. Constitution? I ask these questions because there’s a gaggle of bills flying under the capitol dome that seem to be a tad unconstitutional. So what’s new, you may ask. Well Assembly Bill 569 is a prime example and one of the latest attempts to curtail religious freedom. AB 569 claims to be an antidiscrimination bill when in fact, it discriminates against religious organizations, schools, businesses and churches. So again…what’s new? This bill bans the enforcement of any codes of conduct or ethics regarding, but not limited to, abortion, adultery, premarital sex and contraception. In other words, Christian organizations, churches, schools and businesses cannot enforce the tenets of their faith. Is this not a violation of the first amendment guarantee of free expression of one’s religion? Reverend Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of The California Council of Churches, (CCC) supports the bill because of “the diversity of his group along reproductive rights.” Obviously, his group is conforming to the patterns of this world and is not biblically led. James 4:4 warns, “…don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be friends of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James is not talking about the created world… he
is referring to the ways of man. And, God, speaking through Isaiah explains, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...” Isaiah 55:8. Schlosser further states, “Any legislation that limits people’s ability to make their own moral decisions is harmful to religious freedom.” I’m confused…is this a contradiction? Anyway, Reverend…where in the Bible are we told to define and make our own moral decisions? The CCC website proudly proclaims it to be a progressive organization intent on “social justice.” They are proponents of all things LGBTQ+ and are joined at the hip with the progressives in Sacramento. The churches under the umbrella of the CCC have been led (through false teaching and doctrine) to abandon God in favor of the world. They promote perversion, sodomy and the invasion into the sanctity of the womb. These are the churches that enable an increasingly godless society to pass laws like AB 569. They are the churches who use Christ rather than follow Him. These are churches that preach only His love and grace but ignore His justice, judgment and wrath. These are not true Christian churches because Christ is not truly represented. If your church is preaching social justice over the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is not solidly grounded in Biblical teaching and morality, you are being misled. Flee for your spiritual life!
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.
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Caltrans vs Soley Creek Revisited My editorial in the July issue was titled “Caltrans vs Soley Creek”. It was about our experience at Indian Valley Outpost Resort. I told how the noise of Caltrans equipment paving the parking lot intruded into the peaceful and beautiful surroundings. I wrote of my initial frustration but then the peace of God’s presence that overtook the noise of the machines. My article was meant to testify to the goodness of the Lord. Unfortunately, it greatly disturbed one reader who made a series of calls to me about it. The caller’s concern was Caltrans paving private property using public funds. This is an understandable concern and I would have promptly addressed that concern had I initially had the details of her issue. Cal Trans DOES NOT pave private property unless there are extenuating circumstances. Caltrans sent an official explanation to the caller which includes the following quote: “This paving repair work, referenced by The Ambassador newspaper, was to repair damages caused by Caltrans construction operations for emergency roadway repairs. The heavy storms this past winter caused excessive damage to many of our State Routes located in the mountain areas. The paved area located in front of the IVOR was used as a staging area for trucks and equipment used to haul excess roadway slide material. This material was being hauled to an approved nearby disposal site. Because damage to the paved area in front of the IVOR was caused by Caltrans operations, we had the responsibility of repairing these
Seth Halpern - Editor
damages.” I’m not sure what The Ambassador has to do with Caltrans decisions but the caller was so incensed by the editorial that she contacted our supporters in an effort to shut down The Ambassador! I know that what God started and sustains, He will not end because of an angry caller. However, I am somewhat inspired by this caller’s passion. She is/was passionate and determined and persisted in her cause (which seemed to keep changing). It caused me to think that if someone can be so passionate and willing to use time and effort on something that is not “life or death”, should we as followers of Christ, who have the Truth of the Gospel - that without faith in Jesus Christ, we will not see Heaven - shouldn’t we be more passionate and more willing to sacrifice in order to get this message out? It was a convicting and challenging thought for me and for our community of believers in Christ. Please think about it. There are many who are passionate for a cause that is a less significant at best or at worst an absolute lie. There is no excuse for an apathetic or complacent believer in the One who gave His all to save us!
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SHUTTER-UP
Window Coverings (530) 755-3474 Blinds* Shutters* Shades Lic. #890713 BUSINESS SERVICES
PROFORMA BY KUG Dave Kugelman Promotional Products www.proforma.com/kug 530-632-9292 HOME MAINTENANCE
A-1 Enterprises
CHIMNEY & DRYER VENT Cleaning Time! Call us to schedule yours. (530) 673-3634 Contractor’s License # 728636
BUTTES PIPE & SUPPLY CO. "Your Complete Plumbing Supply Store"
(530) 673-8501 www.buttespipe.com
IMPACT THE COMMUNITY HOME MAINTENANCE
LANDSCAPING
RUSSELL•&•BOALS PAINTING,•INC
Richard’s Tree Service 530-673-7993
lic.#496656
Certified Arborist www.richardstree.com Lic. 608859
Yuba City Pest Control
WILLIAM HOON GARDENING
530-870-2620
“Voted•Best•Yuba/Sutter•Painting•Service•2014”
P.O. Box 2, Yuba City, CA 95992 Ph. (530) 755-2555 Fx. (530) 755-4672 "Quality Service Guaranteed"
“We can help free up your weekends!”
530-788-5899
Country Vet Clinic, Inc 4839 E. Butte Rd, Live Oak "Treating all creatures Great and Small" Jerry Long, DVM & Assoc.
REAL ESTATE
Intero Real Estate Services (530) 790-7000 www.interopride.com donnaphelan@interopride.com Great People. Great Agents
General Yard Care & Maintenance
OTHER
PERSONAL CARE
Indian Valley Outpost Resort
Excellent Massage Care “A Touch Like No Other"
SUPPORT "LOCAL" CHRISTIAN BUSINESSES
PETS
Brenda Banducci 530-701-4847
Camping-Restaurant-Store On the Yuba River Tahoe National Forest
530-289-3349
317 D St, Marysville
eXfuze Seven+
botanical supplements: acai, fucoidan, goji, seabuckthorn, noni, gac, mangosteen Robert E. Stark
674-0345, stark@otnusa.com
JENINE L. TANABE MD DERMATOLOGY 414 G Street, Suite 204 Marysville 743-0301
MarketPlace Ads should not be considered as an endorsement of The Ambassador as to the spiritual commitment of the advertiser. The Ambassador does not and cannot "monitor" spiritual commitment of its advertisers."
Promote Your Business Here!
The Ambassador
19
Opening Night Tickets $10! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Valid on select seating only. Market prices subject to change based on supply and demand. Savings may vary by purchase date, performance and price level. Additional charges may apply.
1704294
GOLDEN 1 CENTER DisneyOnIce.com DisneyOnIce.com
NOV 2 – 5