October 2021
By Seth Halpern/Editor We love choices. I know I don’t like to be limited to small (or no) selection of items on a menu or in a grocery store. I’m not looking for just tortillas. I’m looking for Mission Tortillas and not the regular ones- only the Carb Balance Flour Soft Taco sized tortillas! How about you? Do you like to have a selection so that you can make YOUR Choice? A friend of ours who lived in Kazakhstan noted that the grocery stores had what she needed but there was no choice- only 1 kind of whatever she needed- eggs, bread, mayo. I’m not sure that they even had tortillas in Kazakhstan but I’m willing to bet that they didn’t have Mission Carb Balance Soft Taco Flour tortillas!
Yes, we American’s love our choices whether it’s tortillas or milk or clothing or anything else. We also love our rights. Rights and choices are very closely related. It’s about Freedom, which is an extremely high value among Americans. We want (and fight for) the right to parent our children the way we see fit. We want the right to
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Remember to honor your pastor for the calling and hard work they do for us and for the Kingdom of God. Check out the “Pastor Appreciation” notes throughout this issue. what we eat and drink as well as How we eat and drink it- (think fast food, soda and straws). After all, we are adults. We can vote, we can serve in
“A Letter from A Woman’s Friend” Page 9
the military. We should be able to live our lives the way we want without rules on our personal lives mandated by the government. Of course, there are some things that should not be ok, such as crimes or abuse against another person (or animal). That’s why even though we want our rights, we usually agree that it must not hurt another. This is where we
get into the sticky issue of abortion. If you don’t believe that a growing baby in the womb is “another” person, you may want your “right” to do as you
please with your body. However, with modern science, it’s hard to dispute the fact that “another person” is growing in the pregnant woman’s body. At any rate, the term “pro-choice” comes from that same desire for rights and choices for our lives. Now we have “vaccine mandates” being thrust upon us. For many, their livelihood may be hanging in the balance. Some say this is a good thing in order to protect the masses. Many, many others are pushing back as a violation of our rights. They can’t take away my choice to NOT vaccinate, right? This is seen as a government power grab and over-reach. The issue
Continue on page 16
“Tough Questions for Christianity” Page 15
The Ambassador
1
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
SPONSORS 770 N. Walton Ave. Suite 100 Yuba City CA 95993 (530) 673-2947 hilbersinc.com
License #547970
Serving our neighbors since 1957
We build structures and relationships to last.
Certified Arborist
Become a Business Sponsor
The Ambassador Newspaper Ministry Seth Halpern, Editor
Call Seth @ 530-933-1385
530-933-1385
editor@ambassadornewspaper.com \
Buttes Pipe & Supply Co.
Caldwell's Custom Countertops,Inc.
Christian Business Alliance
(530) 821-5845
“Building up Christians, Lifting up Christ” We meet at the Bride Church the first Tuesday of the month from Noon – 1pm.
"Your Complete Plumbing Supply Store"
Formica & Solid Surface
www.buttespipe.com
Lic.# 749735
Crosspointe Christian Books & Gifts
Dave Greenetz Construction, Inc.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18 •
(530) 673-6188
www.greenetzconstruction.com Remodeling Lic.#452975
HILLCREST CATERING & BANQUET HALL
Galligan & Associates
(530) 345-2401
646 Plumas St., Yuba City
Doreen Maher
(530) 682-9602
Loma Rica Office Yvette Adams Auto - Home - Farm
530.674.3320 events@hillcrest.catering "Oh, taste and see..." Ps. 34:8
LINDA'S Soda Bar & Grill 668 Plumas St., YC (530) 673-8140
(530) 743-6081
Monroe Transmission Don Monroe - Owner 1397 Colusa Hwy.,Yuba City
M-F 6am-3pm,Sa-Su 7am-2pm
(530) 751-2238
Shadd Janitorial Supply
Shaw & Associates, Inc.
(530) 673-0083
950 Tharp Rd, Yuba City| (530) 674-1150
"Food so good you'll think we stole your Mom!
Roger Shadd- Owner 226 Bridge St.,Yuba City
Wealth Management Taxes|Accounting |Payroll www.ShawAssociatesInc.com
(530) 632-9292
Dr. David A. Bradley
Optometrist 1160 Live Oak Blvd.,Yuba City
Northern California's Family Fishing & Camping Destination (530) 692-1600 www.collinslake.com
Country Vet Clinic, Inc.
Gaiser Pets
James Gallagher
714 Plumas St.,Yuba City
(530) 751-8155
(530) 673-8440
"Not Your Ordinary Pet Store"
Jenine Tanabe M.D.
JM Construction Co.
Dermatology 414 G St.,#204.,Marysville 450 Queens Ave,Yuba City
Jerry Munz - Owner
(530) 682-5316
(530) 743-0301
jerry.jmconstruction@gmail.com Lic.# 420765
Pleasant Grove Farms
Proforma by Kug
Ed & Wynette Sills Family
Giving thanks to God always, for all things. Ephesians 5:20
Dave Kugelman Promotional Products
www.PleasantGroveFarms.com
(530) 632-9292
Sperbeck's
Sun's Roofing
Landscape & Design
Mike Sperbeck - Owner 1316 Woodward St.,Yuba City
(530) 673-8334
Please Consider Using the Following Businesses. They Keep the Presses Rolling!
(530) 575-2359
sunsroofing@gmail.com lic# 1013517
Jerry Long, DVM & Associates 4839 E. Butte Rd.,Live Oak
(530) 674-1660 www.Countryvet.net CA Assembly Member3rd District
(916) 319-2003
LANDA & SONS Glass Service, Inc
Windows, screens, mirrors, showers, table tops
2069 Live Oak Blvd, YC
(530) 673-8812 LIC #1040466
Russell & Boals Painting, Inc. Voted Best Yuba/Sutter Painting Services 2014
(530) 237-7076 Lic.# 496656
Westside Pizza
5835 Clark Road, Paradise (530) 762-4920 Phil & Irene Knight "It's All About The Pizza!"
MARYSVILLE - YUBA CITY 2
The Ambassador
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Adventure!Church
Agape Worship Center
826 W. Onstott Frontage Rd., YC
504 J St., Marysville (530) 749-9248 Sundays @ 11:30am www.agapewc.com
Saturdays @ 6p.m. Sundays @ 9a.m. & 11a.m. Website: acyc.family
Pastor!Greg!Mansur
Cornerstone Church
The Father's House
700 Washington Ave.,Yuba City (530) 674-3087 www.cornerstoneyc.com Sundays 8:30a & 10:30a Virtual Reality Church Sun. 1pm- Altspace VR
10720 Live Oak Blvd., Live Oak
Hallwood Community
Hope Point Church
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 A Christian Fellowship Church
Worship - Sunday 10am Prayer - Monday 6pm
(530) 695-1864 Call for Midweek Info.
www.FHLO.net
2727 Fir Street, Live Oak
(530)-695-3996
(530) 751-0505
1179 Eager Road,Yuba City www.churchofgladtidings.com
thebridechurch.org Sundays 8:45am & 11am Craftsmen for Christ Tues 6:30pm
Saturdays - 7pm Sundays - 10am Wednesday - 7pm
First Baptist Church
Gateway Calvary Chapel
Sundays - 11am & 6pm Wednesdays - 7pm
Sundays 10 a.m. Wednesdays 7 p.m. (Online)
www.fbcyuba.com
www.gatewaycalvary.com
Loma Rica Baptist Church
New Beginnings Wesleyan Church
916 Plumas St., YC
Pastor Dan Callaghan
11449 Hill Rd., Loma Rica
hpnlo.org
Worship•Evangelism•Discipleship
Pastor Sean Blount
Praise Chapel Plumas Lake A Christian Fellowship Church
(530) 923-7204
(530) 434-2562
www.praisechapelyc.com
Church of Glad Tidings
Sundays - 10 a.m.
1662 Broadway Rd., Plumas Lake
Pastor Chris Madsen
The Bride Church
1321 Peach Tree Lane, YC
Sun. 9:30am - Prayer & Bible Study 10:30am - Morning Service
398 Aylor Ave., Yuba City
Sun 10 a.m. - Wed 7 p.m.
MINISTRIES
Sundays - 1 p.m. Pastor David & Marci Dena
Facebook: @pcplca
(530) 743-9013
(530) 671-3160
808 8th Street, Marysville
Pastor Doug Hileman
"Loving God - Loving People"
Worship - Sundays @ 10 am 616 C St. Marysville www.ournbwc.com
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!
Word of Life Church 1229 Buchanan Street, Marysville
Kevin Carlson,•Executive•Director 940•14th•St,•Marysville 530.743.8777
wolmarysville.org
530-742-3724
Sun. 10am & 5pm & Wed. 6:30pm
Pastor Stan Reynolds
C.A.N.
Christian Assistance Network, Inc. “Enabling Christ’s People to Change Communities”
Samaritan•Village•Orphanage Tanzania,•Africa
You CAN help save the lives of children in Tanzania!
P.O. Box 3133 Yuba City, CA 95992 Coordinator's Telephone (530) 671-7344
Call Victor Savage (530) 671-2219
A WOMAN’S FRIEND
The Ambassador
3
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
INSPIRATION
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
- The Key to the Treasure by Paula McBride “We lost everything,” the anguished homeowner laments. We shift uneasily in our overstuffed chairs viewing our large-screen TVs as the newsman interviews yet another victim of fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, or war. If our hearts don’t break over the suffering of our fellow human beings, we need to do a serious self-examination. These people have been shaken to their very foundations. Yes, their foundations--the structures built to take the abuse of nature against buildings and provide safety for the people inside. When an owner thinks, he might like to keep the foundation of his home, there are mountains of inspections, paperwork, and costs above and beyond what he is already facing. Many times, it’s easier to let the debris removal contractors haul it all away. When we realize that the most efficiently engineered physical foundation can fail, there’s a place inside us that reaches for a stability of soul that is built by the divine architect, our triune God. Isaiah speaks of Him when he writes, “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure (33:6). Never in our times has a sure foundation been more needed. In a man-made foundation, any shift
or damage in the soil can weaken it. With our heavenly architect, by His very character, we know He can never change. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today and forever.” God is perfect; He cannot be made better or develop into a holier being. There is no need for Him to change. This sure foundation is a rich storehouse. Salvation is given freely to those who trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no name under heaven…by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Wisdom is available for the asking. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault” (James 1:5). Knowledge is richly available, too. “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out” (Proverbs 18:15).
So, what is the key to this treasure and the acquisition of a sure foundation? Bible translators call it the ‘fear of the Lord.’ It’s a phrase used throughout the entire Bible meaning awe or great respect. In many cases, the fear of the Lord keeps us from evil. That’s part of the treasure of our sure foundation. We are free from that which would bring us down. Additionally, the fear of the Lord is a gateway to great benefits such as riches, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4). God is our sure foundation, but we wouldn’t be much good as a flat slab. We need to let God continue to build as the fear of the Lord is worked out in our lives through diligent Bible study, fellowship with other believers, and service to others (perhaps victims of tragedy). We should fill our churches, support our pastors, and gratefully share the key to the treasure, a sure foundation for our times.
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 5,000 - 6,000 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. View expressed in The Ambassador do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors or advertisers Editor/Publisher - Seth Halpern
4
The Ambassador
-
Advisory - Dave Kugelman
-
Design - Teresa Davis
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
INSPIRATION
Executing Ideas
steal our dreams away from us. In other words, he wants to execute our ideas. There are many ways this can happen. Sometimes it comes from negative feedback from another person. I might be excitedly sharing a thought with someone and they point out a flaw. All of a sudden, I am no longer that enthusiastic. It might even come from myself and the false beliefs I hold in my own thoughts. It might come from comparing myself to someone else. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “comparison is the thief of joy.” However it happens, these negative things fly at me like arrows aimed at my dreams. That is where the battle comes in. If I go about my day unprepared for these kinds of attacks, I am not going to make
it very far following my God-given calling or vision. I do not mean that we have to be fearful, just aware. The best defense is to take control of our thoughts quickly. When a negative word comes in from someone or even ourselves, we need to give it to God as fast as possible and replace it with truth. This takes practice, but the good news is that these attacks tend to become less frequent as we get better at deflecting the arrows sooner. Then we can get back to the creative work God has put in our hearts and accomplish our ideas. “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:45
lic#452975
by Christy Boals www.gracefilledpurpose.com My oldest son commented to me the other day about an exploit of one of his siblings, “That was a horrible idea, executed perfectly!” Unfortunately, with the number of children I have, we get many bad ideas that are done very well. When all my children were young, I would say it was a good day if nobody threw up. Now it is a good day if I don’t have to go to the emergency room or speak to any person in authority! (Not that my kids are bad kids, just very active and creative.) While my children are learning wisdom in choosing good ideas over bad ideas, I find myself defending ideas. In the larger community of my family this can look like reminding a child, (firmly) that everyone has a right to their own opinions and thoughts. In my own life, this is a much more insidious battle that I have to diligently wage every day. From the very beginning God shows Himself to be a creative being, full of ideas. He created us in His image, so naturally we are also creative and full of ideas. Of course, our mutual enemy, Satan, is very determined that we should not be inventive or imaginative, and so he comes in to
KITCHENS + BATHROOMS DECKS + ADDITIONS REPAIRS + SIDING ALTERATIONS GRAB BARS WHOLE HOUSE FANS LEAF GUARD FINISH CARPENTRY
682.9602
www.GreenetzConstruction.com
The Ambassador
5
CALENDAR Ongoing Events ROAD TO RECOVERY - Sundays, 7:00pm Christian 12 Step support group Crossroads Community Church - 445 B. St. Yuba City 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 LADIES BIBLE STUDY - Tuesdays 5:30PM Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 500, Rm 206 - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com Join us for Ladies Bible Study as we dig deep into The Word. Check out our GT Calendar for events at www.churchofgladtidings.com 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 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. GT LIFE RECOVERY & SUPPORT GROUP - Every Friday 7-8:30pm Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd (Building 500) - Live Oak, CA 95953 (530) 671-3160 - info@churchofgladtidings.com GT Life Recovery is a Christ-center program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind. It is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling our life. 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.
6
The Ambassador
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
• Prayer List for October 2021 •
1-Oct Afghanastan- Pray that God intercedes to protect the people (especially Christians) from the Taliban 2-Oct Pray for the eradication of Covid-19 and its variants!! 3-Oct Pray for the vaccines to be effective with only minor side effects! 4-Oct Race relations in our nation- Pray for understanding and collaboration between races and an ease of racial tension 5-Oct 40 Days for Life- Pray for impact during this campaign. 6-Oct Unemployed/small business- Pray for financial stability and resources 7-Oct Veterans- Let's pray for, honor, and thank all of those who served our country in the military 8-Oct Restore America! Pray against the divisiveness and violence in this nation 9-Oct Seniors and Elderly- Pray for renewed physical and mental strength 10-Oct Mental Illness- Pray for those who dealing with Mental Health issues or suicidal thoughts 11-Oct First Responders- Pray for safety, protection and strength 12-Oct Israel- Pray for safety from violence, and for the Peace of Jerusalem 13-Oct Singles, Single Parents, Divorced , Widowed- pray for those experiencing loneliness and overwheliming burdens 14-Oct Revival- Pray that our global chaos would lead multitudes to repent and follow the Lord!! 15-Oct Unity of Churches/Global impact- Pray for churches to unite and influence the world! 16-Oct Marriages- Pray that relationships would grow and families would seek the Lord together 17-Oct President- Pray that God would show Himself to Pres. Biden and he would radically change his life and leadership 18-Oct Local Ministries- Pray for continued financial support and volunteers to meet needs (see page 3) 19-Oct California- pray for our Godly representatives (including James Gallagher) to fight against liberal and harmful state policies. 20-Oct Sex Trafficking- Pray for the freedom, healing and restoration of survivors and for traffickers to repent 21-Oct Local city/county leaders- Wisdom for leading our community back to "normal" 22-Oct Discipleship- Pray that believers would seek to follow Jesus and become more like Him every day! 23-Oct Schools- Pray for the students, teachers and staff to continue to focus on learning during difficult times 24-Oct Father's and Household Leadership- Pray for dads and single moms or grand parents to be the family leaders that God calls them to be 25-Oct Homeless- Safety, health and provision- REST program, Twin Cities Rescue Mission, other local homeless ministries 26-Oct Addicted- pray for those under the control of substances that they would surrender and get the treatment they need 27-Oct Health Care Workers- Pray for physical protection and endurance 28-Oct Pastors- That God would give them strength, courage and wisdom to speak the truth from the pulpit 29-Oct Disabled- that they would receive the assistance and support they need 30-Oct Economic Recovery- for the ability to recover and for businesses to reopen 31-Oct Halloween- Pray for physical and spiritual safety.
Pastor Appreciation "Pastors Doug (Hileman) and Seth (Halpern) , Thank you for all you do to help us move deeper into the Word.” Charles & Angie Johnston- Gateway Calvary Chapel
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
CALENDAR
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Special Events
COVID CONFERENCE October 14-16, 2021 Hosted at: Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Road, Live Oak www.churchofgladtidings.com/events We're bringing together the best and brightest doctors, attorneys, elected officials, journalists, and activists to stand united to protect your health freedom. C.A.N. (CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE NETWORK) APPRECIATION LUNCHEON Hope Point Nazarene Church, 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC Wed. October 20th, 2021 11:30 AM - 1:30 pm The Board of Directors of Christian Assistance Network cordially invite you to our Appreciation Luncheon. We will be featuring Guest Speaker and Musician, Pastor Dan Damon . Dan will perform several songs that he has written. Pease RSVP by Friday Oct. 15th to our C.A.N. Office at (530) 671-7344 Contact Person, Sarah Pryor, (530) 632-8817
CRAFTER'S HARVEST MARKET CRAFT FAIRE October 23, 2021 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Hosted at: Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Road, Live Oak Info: CraftersMarkets2021@gmail.com Come join us for a fun day and browse our vendor for unique, artisan items for your home or Christmas gifts! All proceeds benefit the Transitional Living Center (TLC). A faith-based program centered on helping hurting people and supporting them in their unique and varying needs as they build a new life in society and Christ. ISAIAH 61 CONFERENCE October 25 - 29 Begins Monday at 6 pm Ends Friday 12 noon Embassy of Heaven Campus, Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Rd., YC 530-671-3160 Register online: www.churchofgladtidings.com The Isaiah 61 Conference on spiritual warfare and deliverance by Pastor Dave Bryan. This conference has been taught all over the world. The Isaiah 61 Conference was birthed from an intense desire to see the full benefit of the work of salvation take place in our lives. To see the work of hell defeated and to see all God’s people walk in freedom from the bondage of sin.
Pastor Appreciation "Pastor Dave (Bryan), yours and Cheryl's inspiration to be involved in all 7 mountains of society for the Kingdom of Heaven has impacted untold lives in several countries--thank you, PTL ‼️” - Chuck David- Church of Glad Tidings
HARVEST FEST 2021 Gray Ave. Church, 1524 Gray Ave, YC October 22nd, 6pm-9pm Join us Friday, October 22nd for an alternative to Halloween. We'll have games, candy, hot dogs, and more. It's all FREE! Appropriate costumes are encouraged! See you there!
THANKSGIVING SERVICE Agape Worship Center, 504 J St, Marysville Tue, Nov 23rd, at 7pm Come join us for a Thanksgiving Celebration! Bring your friends and family! For info, call 530-749-9248 31ST ANNUAL WESTERN ROUND UP AND BBQ DINNER Crossroads Community Church, 445 B St. Yuba City Saturday, October 16th, 5PM Join us for some down-home fun. Western worship and preaching followed by out of this world BBQ.
11TH ANNUAL REST LUAU YCHS Multipurpose Room Saturday, November 6, 2021 5pm Fundraiser dinner to provide shelter and meals for homeless women and families. Dine-in and To-go. $20 Adults, $10 Children under 12. Contact 530-683-2274 or restdirector.ys@gmail.com for ticket info
JOSHUA HOUSE FALL FUNDRAISING DINNER Crossroads Community Church 445 B St. Yuba City Thursday, October 21st
Pastor Appreciation “Thanks be to God for faithful shepherds like Pastor Dwight Bratcher of Branch Ministries in Linda! Always willing to listen, to counsel, to pray, and always bringing excellent preaching and teaching of the uncompromised Word of God! We are blessed to have him as our leader.” Sandi Juri
“We are excited and blessed over our pastor's (Jason Poling) love for the Word of God and his love for his church body. He has a tremendous support system with a staff and elder board.” Bill & Paula Lindholm -Cornerstone Church
Professionals Dedicated to Protecting and Preserving Your Growing Investment Serving Our Neighbors Since 1957
TREE (530)
AGAPE WORSHIP CENTER 11TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY 504 J Street Marysville (530) 749-9248 October 2, 2021, at 5:00 pm. Come join us as we celebrate 11 years of ministry and appreciate our Pastor, Carlton D. Ashlock. Dinner served afterward
SERVICE
, INC.
673-7993
www.richardstree.com
Certified Arborist Tree Trimming Cabling & Bracing Tree & Stump Removal 24 Hr Emergency Service Arborist Reports
10% DISCOUNT WITH THIS AD Fully Insured for P.L. & P.D.
Workmen's Comp.
Lic. Contractor #608859
The Ambassador
Senior Discounts
7
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life "Joe Biden Launches Campaign to Make Sure Texas Babies Will be Killed in Abortions"
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to not block a Texas law banning abortions, Joe Biden has launched a full federal government campaign to ensure that unborn babies in Texas will be killed in abortions. As LifeNews.com reported, pro-lifers won another victory for life when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against a request from pro-abortion groups to temporarily block enforcement of the pro-life law, meaning it will stay in effect for the time being. Biden condemned the pro-life law with his own statement celebrating abortions. {Recently} Biden called the Supreme Court decision an “unprecedented assault” on abortion. “By allowing a law to go into effect that empowers private citizens in Texas to sue health care providers, family members supporting a woman exercising her right to choose after six
weeks, or even a friend who drives her to a hospital or clinic, it unleashes unconstitutional chaos and empowers self-anointed enforcers to have devastating impacts,” Biden said in a statement. “For the majority to do this without a hearing, without the benefit of an opinion from a court below, and without due consideration of the issues, insults the rule of law and the rights of all Americans to seek redress from our courts,” Biden added. “Rather than use its supreme authority to ensure justice could be fairly sought, the highest Court of our land will allow millions of women in Texas in need of critical reproductive care to suffer while courts sift through procedural complexities.” But the more worrisome portion of Biden’s comments is his pledge to mount a full federal government campaign to make sure babies are aborted.
Pastor Appreciation “As someone who works with all the Pastors, Fathers, Deacons, & Seminarians, I just wanted to thank you all for your faithfulness to this community! All of you are the most courageous, amazing, and heartfelt people I have ever met. I enjoy working with all of you and wanted to show my appreciation for all the things you all do for this community!” Kristen Bird - A Woman's Friend
8
The Ambassador
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Bible Trivia "King Ahab"
2021 BANQUET LETTER Dear Friends, Greetings to you!
What a year it has been! Undoubtedly, you are feeling the concerns and challenges of the unfolding events of our day. Some would say they have never witnessed such division and uncertainty in our nation, and even within the church. Our prayer for all of us who call Jesus our Lord and Savior, is that our Lord will be our strength and our one sure source of hope, and that he will go before us and his love will guide us in all our steps. While the world may appear spinning out of control, here at A Woman’s Friend we are seeing the Lord’s blessings flow. More than ever, women are coming to us. Giving us opportunity after opportunity to speak God’s love and purpose into their lives. Ultrasounds are done daily, saving countless lives, and sparing so many women a lifetime of regret. With all that good news about what is happening at the Center, we regret we will not be having our annual banquet. We would really love to see you! Every year, we so look forward to being with you and bringing to you firsthand the stories of saved babies and redeemed lives. With Covid cases on the rise, and much uncertainty, we weighed the options and the risks, and prayed.
Truly, we will miss being with you, and we pray the Lord will bring us all together again soon. Nonetheless, we want to update you with the exciting news that the ministry’s impact here in our community continues to grow, despite the challenges of COVID. In 2021, we are on track to see more women and perform more ultrasounds than at any time in our 35-year history. With that news, we want to give you the opportunity to help raise the funds our banquet would typically bring the ministry. Your support is needed now as much as ever. Covid has not slowed down A Woman’s Friend. We are witnesses to the miraculous! Rita” came to A Woman's Friend for a pregnancy test. She was anxious, and unsure about the thought of being pregnant. The nurse read her pregnancy test as positive. Then Rita’s client advocate shared her own personal testimony of abortion, gave Rita resources and prayed with her. In response, Rita declared that she wanted an abortion and was heading in that direction. However, Rita made the comment that twins run in her family. Then Rita went on to say: if she learned she was having twins she would know they were a sign from God and would not abort. Rita scheduled an ultrasound for the next
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
1.
Who was Ahab's father? a). Asa c). Jeroboam b). Tibni d). Omri
2.
How long did Ahab reign over Israel? a). twelve years c). twenty-two years b). twenty years d). thirty years
3.
What overview of Ahab's character is given in the Bible? a). He pulled down the Asher poles that his father had erected in the groves b). He did evil in the sight of the Lord c). He did more evil in the sight of the Lord than any king before him d). There is no overview of his character given
4
After Ahab married Jezebel, what god did he worship? a). Baal c). Asher b). Ashtaroth d). The moon
5.
Which prophet said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word". a). Jeremiah c). Elisha b). Elijah d). Micah
6.
What was Obadiah's reson for not wanting to tell Ahab that he had found Elijah? a). He though the spirit of the Lord would carry Elijah away, and Ahab would slay him. b). He hated Ahab and didn't want the king to know. c). Ahab had promised him a reward, and he didn't want to cause strife in the court of the king by receiving it. d). We are not told.
7.
When Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword, what was her response? a). Jezebel thought Ahab was joking b). Jezebel was greatly grieved. c). Jezebel was relieved that the prophets were dead - she didn't like them anyway. d). Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah threatening to take his life.
8
How did Ahab react when Naboth refused to sell him his vineyard? a). He was furious and in a rage. b). He was heavy hearted and displeased. c). He was mildly dissatisfied. d). We are not told.
9.
Which prophet did God tell to go and meet Ahab as he went to ttake possession of Naboth's vineyard? a). Jeremiah c). Elisha b). Elijah d). Micah
10. What was unusual about the death of king Ahab? a). He repented when the prophet spoke to him and God added fifteen years to his life b). Worms consumed him while he still lived. c). He had disguised himself as a regular soldier, but was still killed in the battle by random arrow. d). He was pushed out a window and struck the ground dead
Answers on Page 15
The Ambassador
9
5835 Clark Road, Paradise, CA (530) 762-4920
www.westsidepizza.com/locations/paradise 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:
Business Members ---------------------------------
ACIP Energy - David & Michelle Vincent - (530) 777-ACIP After Hours Notary - Bill Sluder - (530) 777-8667 Caldwell’s Custom Countertops, Inc. - Kathleen Caldwell - (530) 821-5845 David Greenetz Construction - Dave Greenetz - (530) 682-9602 Elite Group - Pat & Doreen Maher - (530) 713-9420 Gaiser Pets - John Gaiser - (530) 751-8155 Ed Han - “The Aflac Man” - (209) 298-6102 Hilbers, Inc. - Kurt Hilbers - (530) 673-2947 Holycross Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc - David Holycross - (530) 751-7000 Jenine L. Tanabe, MD Dermatologist- Jenine Tanabe - (530) 743-0301 LSD Creations - Sanna Dahlander- (559) 366-2872 Proforma by Kug - Dave Kugelman - (530) 742-2423 Richard’s Tree Service - Fred Cox - (530) 673-7993 Shadd Janitorial Supply - Roger Shadd - (530) 673-0083
Ministry Members ---------------------------------
A Woman’s Friend - Kristen Bird - (530) 741-0556 Adventure Church of Yuba City - Greg Mansur - (530) 632-1779 Agape Lighthouse Church - Letty Wilson - (530) 682-2488 Band Together for Christ - LaDonna Curteman - (530) 933-5960 CaliforniasForLife.org - Wynette Sills - (916) 955-1577 Cornerstone Church - Jason Poling - (530) 674-3087 Faith Christian School - Amanda Meyer - ameyer@fcs-k12.org Operation Christmas Child - Connie & Dennis Gabel - (530) 695-1495 The Ambassador Newspaper - Seth Halpern - (530) 933-1385 Twin Cities Rescue Mission - Kevin Carlson - (530) 743-8777
Individual Members --------------------------------Rachel Aleman JC Carpenter Rita Collins Chuck David Fredricka Dahlander Assembly James Gallagher
John Guth Bill Lindholm Clay Maynard Vic Savage Robert Stark Diane Weaver
For weekly reminders, updates, or to join email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
10
It’s all about the pizza!
The Ambassador
COLOSSIANS
October is... Pastor Appreciation Month Thank Your Pastor for their love, support, leadership, prayers, teachings, and so much more!!
Attention Christian Business Owners/Managers There are many choices for promoting your business
The local daily newspaper - Coupon magazines - Local community magazines
There are many ministries to support to build God’s Kingdom Homeless ministries - Pro-life organizations - Christian recovery programs
There is one choice that allows you to do both. We call it … ADvangelism! Promote Your Business while building up the Kingdom of God The Ambassador allows you to let the Christian community (and others as well) know about you, At the same time supporting the ministry of The Ambassador to encourage, inform, challenge and connect the local Body of Christ We distribute in more than 300 churches and businesses in Yuba/Sutter/Butte Counties (residential delivery beginning soon!)
ADvangelism- “the business deduction with eternal rewards!”
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.
The Ambassador
11
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
I’ve Made So Many Mistakes in My Life…How Can I Ever Be Free from All This Guilt? by Randy Alcorn Millions of people, both in society and in the church, are suffering under a crushing weight called guilt. Maybe you’ve had an abortion or advised someone else to have one. Maybe you’ve lied to a friend or stolen something and never made it right. Maybe you’re addicted to alcohol or pornography or drugs or spending more than you have. Maybe you’ve hurt someone and never sought their forgiveness and now you can’t forgive yourself. It could come from a thousand different things, but if you feel hopelessly lost under this pressure of guilt, this message is for you. It’s counterproductive to try to eliminate guilt feelings without dealing with guilt’s cause. Only by denying reality can you avoid guilt feelings. You need a permanent solution to your guilt problem, a solution based on reality, not pretense. The good news is that God loves you and desires to forgive you for your sin. But before the good news can be appreciated, we must know the bad news. The bad news is that there’s true moral guilt, and all of us are guilty of many moral offenses against God. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Sin is falling short of God’s holy standards. It separates us from a relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus died on the cross as the only one worthy to pay the penalty for our sins demanded by God’s holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21). He rose from the grave, defeating sin and conquering death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 54-57). When Christ died on the cross for us, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word translated “it is finished” was written across certificates of debt when they were canceled. It meant “paid in full.”
Because of Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf, God freely offers us forgiveness. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Salvation is a gift: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This gift is not dependent on our merit or effort, but solely on Christ’s sacrifice for us. God offers us the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, but it’s not automatically ours. In order to have the gift, we must choose to accept it. You may think, “But I don’t deserve forgiveness after all I’ve done.” That’s exactly right. None of us deserves forgiveness. If we deserved it, we wouldn’t need it. That’s the point of grace. Once forgiven, we can look forward to spending eternity with Christ and our spiritual family (John 14:1-3; Revelation 20:11-22:6). You can look forward to being reunited in Heaven with your loved ones covered by Christ’s blood (1 Thessalonians 4:1318). God doesn’t want you to go through life punishing yourself for the wrongs you’ve done. Your part is to accept Christ’s atonement, not to repeat it. No matter what you’ve done, no sin is beyond the reach of God’s grace. He has seen us at our worst and still loves us. There are no limits to His forgiving grace. And there is no freedom like the freedom of forgiveness. You need to become part of a
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Country Veterinary Clinic “Beautiful Country Setting for Quality, Personable Medicine”
Country Veterinary Clinic 4839 E. Butte Road Live Oak, CA 95953 Phone: (530) 674-1660 www.countryvet.net
12
The Ambassador
Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:30pm Sat: 8:00am - 12:00pm Sun: 4:00pm - 6:00pm (for lodging pick-up only)
After Hours: (530) 674-1660
David A. Shaw and Susan P. Growney. Securities offered through HD Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member: SIPC, Advisory services are offered through H.D. Vest Advisory ServicesSM, 6333 North State Highway 161, Fourth Floor, Irving, Texas 75038, (972) 870-6000. Shaw & Associates is not a registered broker/dealer or registered investment advisory firm. Official voting results based on Appeal-Democrat online public survey conducted in July, 2018.
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Continued From Page 9: "2021 banquet letter" day. That night Rita’s client advocate cried out to the Lord asking for Rita to be pregnant with twins. The next day Rita returned to the Center. The nurse performed the ultrasound. When the screen showed two beating hearts, Rita was deeply moved. It was a very emotional moment and she knew God had spoken. Rita kept her word and is gladly expecting her twins!
“For God so loved the world . . .” are the opening words of John 3:16, one of the most famous passages in the entire Bible. These words are extremely powerful, reminding us that God—seeing our condition— has a passionate desire to have a relationship with each of us. The love God showed us through Jesus is why we are here at A Woman’s Friend. We’re not here to chastise our clients or frown on their lifestyles, nor are we here to debate them on the issues of the day. Instead, our mission is love, God’s love. God’s love is characterized by both truth and compassion. These two work together to form a bond, leading to the Cross of Christ, where burdens are laid to rest and the door to salvation is held wide open. This love desires to be a road sign on life’s highway, pointing to Jesus Christ and the life, even eternal life, He offers. With love as our motivation, hearts are touched. Those who come in our door are often anxious, even desperate. Yet, when they see and feel love, they find something they want—and need—so much: hope for their situation. That is why we are seeing lives saved and changed. By any standard, 2021 will go down as a successful one for this ministry. This year the sheer number of women
Word Search
who have come to us for help grew beyond our expectations. And with this, more abortion minded women are coming to us. Most of them will decide to carry their baby, after speaking with the client advocate and seeing the beating heart on the ultrasound. And we believe the deciding factor was—you guessed it—love. Thank you for your key role in everything accomplished here. As you know, we receive no government funding. Your financial support, together with other Christians in our community, provides the finances that allow us to continue God’s work here. To say we appreciate you is an understatement! Because of this, we ask you to consider a special gift at this time. Every gift will make a difference and every gift will bring us closer to accomplishing great things in 2022. Consider this an invitation to join us— and the entire board of directors—in making a special gift to A Woman’s Friend. Our banquet is an essential fundraising event. It is our hope and prayer that with this letter you will prayerfully consider your on-going support for the Clinic, even as you would were we all at the banquet together.
Answers on Page 15 Newcastle Yuba City
916-663-4116 530-751-2238
In His Service, Sheldon Hadley President, Board of Directors Kristen Bird Executive Director
9093 Old State Hwy Newcastle, CA 95658
1397 Colusa Hwy Yuba City, CA 95993
The Ambassador
13
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Satanic Temple Argues New Texas Heartbeat Law Infringes on Its Religious Freedom by Amanda Casanova ChristianHeadlines.com The Satanic Temple is arguing that the new Texas heartbeat law, the law that bans most abortions in Texas after six weeks’ gestation, infringes on the group’s religious freedom. According to The Christian Post, the Massachusetts-based group The Satanic Temple says the Texas law imposes an “undue burden” on its “satanic abortion ritual.” “The Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (TRFRA) provides a mechanism to seek an exemption from any law that restricts the free exercise of religion. Because S.B. 8 imposes an undue burden on the ability of TST members to undergo the Satanic Abortion Ritual, the first step in defending the rights of its members is to seek an exemption under TRFRA.
If the state declines to provide such an exemption, TST can then seek judicial relief from the law,” the Satanic Temple said in a statement on its website. The Texas Heartbeat Bill bans most abortions in the state after six weeks by allowing private citizens to take civil
The Ambassador Ministry
would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship
Lucy Campbell Charles & Rita Collins Donald & Concetta Cotter LaDonna Curteman Chuck David Paul & Pam Duey Dennis & Connie Gabel Bob Gilbert MaryAgnes Gobel Rich & Joan Hackney Allen Halpern
Tom Harris April James Cale & Merlene Judd Sandi Juri Clay Maynard John Nicholls Dale & Susan Nieschultz Sarah Pryor Mimi Robarge Roberta Spear Robert E. Stark Jim Weintraub
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
14
The Ambassador
action against anyone who “performs and induces an abortion” or “knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for or reimbursing the costs of abortion through insurance or otherwise.” In a letter to the FDA, Matthew A. Kezhaya, an attorney for The Satanic Temple, asked that the group be granted a religious exemption from the law as well as access to mifepristone and misoprostol – abortion-inducing drugs – without a prescription as part of its “sacramental” abortion ritual. “TST’s membership uses these products in a sacramental setting. The Satanic Abortion Ritual is a sacrament which surrounds and includes the abortive act. It is designed to combat feelings of guilt, doubt, and shame and to empower the member to assert or reassert power and control over their own mind and body. The REMS
prescription requirement substantially interferes with the Satanic Abortion Ritual because the Government impedes the members’ access to the medication involved in the ritual,” the letter said. Kezhaya added that the religious exemption would be similar to the granted use of peyote in some Native American rituals, which is protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “The battle for abortion rights is largely a battle of competing religious viewpoints, and our viewpoint that the nonviable fetus is part of the impregnated host is fortunately protected under Religious Liberty,” said Lucien Greaves, spokesman and co-founder of The Satanic Temple. The new Texas law went into effect on Sept. 1, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled against it. Last week, District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble temporarily granted Planned Parenthood clinics in Texas a request from being sued under the new law. The temporary order is mainly aimed at lawsuits that could come from nonprofit group Texas Right to Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion organization. Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
Pastor Appreciation “Thank you Pastor Bill Gibson of Faith Tabernacle for not just preaching the Bible but living it as well. You lead by example. You are a wonderful leader who is always willing to pray, counsel and give tough love. You do what God leads you to I love you and your sweet wife, Trudy. I'm thankful your my Pastors! -Teresa Davis
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIANITY
Real questions from real people about God and the Christian Faith
Hasn’t the New Testament Changed? by Josh McDowell A common misconception is that the text of the Bible has not come down to us the way in which it was originally written. Accusations abound of zealous monks changing the biblical text throughout Church history. This issue is of the utmost importance, since an altered text would do grave damage to the credibility of the story. As F. F. Bruce says, “The historical ‘once-for-all-ness’ of Christianity which distinguishes it from those religious and philosophical systems, which are not specially related to any particular time, makes the reliability of the writings which purport to record this revelation a question of first-rate importance” (The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? p. 8). Fortunately, the problem is not a lack of evidence. There are three different types of evidence that are to be used in evaluating the New Testament text. These are the Greek manuscripts, the various versions in which the New Testament is translated, and the writings of the Church fathers. The New Testament was originally composed in the Greek language.
There are approximately 5,500 copies in existence that contain all or part of the New Testament. Although we do not possess the originals, copies exist from a very early date. The New Testament was written from about A.D. 50 to A.D. 90. The earliest fragment (p. 52) dates about A.D. 120, with about fifty other fragments dating within 150–200 years from the time of composition. Two major manuscripts, Codex Vaticanus (A.D. 325) and Codex Sinaiticus (A.D. 350), a complete copy, date within 250 years of the time of composition. This may seem like a long time span, but it is minimal compared to most ancient works. The earliest copy of Caesar’s The Gallic Wars dates 1,000 years after it was written, and the first complete copy of the Odyssey by Homer dates 2,200 years after it was written. When the interval between the writing of the New Testament and earliest copies is compared to other ancient works, the New Testament proves to be much closer to the time of the original. The 5,500 copies are far and away the most we have of any ancient work.
Many ancient writings have been transmitted to us by only a handful of manuscripts (Catullus—three copies; the earliest one is 1,600 years after he wrote; Herodotus—eight copies and 1,300 years). Not only do the New Testament documents have more manuscript evidence and close time interval between the writing and earliest copy, but they were also translated into several other languages at an early date. Translation of a document into another language was rare in the ancient world, so this is an added plus for the New Testament. The number of copies of the versions is in excess of 18,000, with possibly as many as 25,000. This is further
evidence that helps us establish the New Testament text. Even if we did not possess the 5,500 Greek manuscripts or the 18,000 copies of the versions, the text of the New Testament could still be reproduced within 250 years from its composition. How? By the writings of the early Christians. In commentaries, letters, etc., these ancient writers quote the biblical text, thus giving us another witness to the text of the New Testament. John Burgon has catalogued more than 86,000 citations by the early church fathers who cite different parts of the New Testament. Thus we observe that there is so much more evidence for
Con't From Pg 9: "King Abah" Answers
Con't From Pg 13: Word Search Answers
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
1. Omri 1 Kings 16:28 2. twenty-two yrs 1 Kings 16:29 3. He did more evil... 1 Kings 16:30 4. Baal 1 Kings 16:31 5. Elijah 1 Kings 17:1 6. He thought the spirit.. . 1 Kings 18:7-12 7. (b)..Jezebel was relieved... 1 Kings 19:1,2 8. (b)..He was heavy hearted.. .1 Kings 21:2-4 9. (c)..Elijah........ ...... .1 Kings 21:17,18 10. He had disguised himself... 1 Kings 22:34,35
Pastor Appreciation
Pastor Appreciation
“I really appreciate pastor Dave Bryan’s heart and the boldness Holy Spirit has given him to speak the Truth unapologetically as well as his attempts to wake those who slumber. He is a Shepard I am grateful to have in my life!” LoveWarriorJC – Church of Glad Tidings
“Dear Pastor Jason (Poling) and Pastor Todd (Kuennen) at Cornerstone Church: We appreciate your leadership, vision and your heart for the church and the community. Thanks for all the time and energy you devote to helping others. Sincerely, The Andersons”
The Ambassador
15
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Continued From Page 1: "Choices" is one of personal rights. There is also a tremendous amount of vitriolic talk about Democrats and the liberal Left, by the Republication and conservative Right. I am not arguing in favor of any party, here, but rather to consider right and wrong rather than right and left. We are a nation divided as I have never seen before. The division is clearly a political one. Each of us is undoubtedly on one side of the political aisle or the other. As Christians, not simply in name only, but true followers of Jesus Christ, we are members of one another and devoted to the one who Saved our Soul. Therefore, our devotion should not be to a political party or to a government entity. We are sojourners (1 Pet 2:11), with a mission to bring home as many as possible. Yes, we are temporary citizens of this nation and have civil rights and responsibilities as Americans. Yet, we render to Caesar (or US Govt) what is theirs and render to God what is His! (Mk 12:17) This includes our heart, our soul, our mind, our strength as well as our worship. When we render our lives to Christ, we give up our personal rights (Gal 2:20) as Christ did for us. This means different things to different people. Many followers of Christ need a heart
S E OIC
CH change (Ez 36:26). Pride needs to change to humility, Self needs to yield to serve others to the glory of God. We need to be Heaven-minded and have an eternal perspective. This world will pass away but His words will never pass away (Mt 24:35). If our words, attitudes or actions are a stumbling block (poor witness) to our perceived “enemies”, then we have done damage to the Kingdom of Heaven. Getting back to “choices”, how we interact with others, friend or foe, is a choice we have to make. God’s word has much more to say on the matter of how we interact with others than how we should stand against the powers that be. Lest anyone think that I am suggesting being weak-willed or cowardly, let me remind
you that Jesus laid down his life for us to the glory of God. It wasn’t the easy thing to do. On the contrary, it was the most difficult choice He could have made. Though He was entitled to Divine Rights, He emptied himself of that in order to do what was Right for you and me. That’s what we are called to do. Following Christ comes with a great cost. Do not think otherwise. (Phil 2:6-8, Mt 20:28, Gal 2:20) The last choice I want to address is the choice of following Christ. The question “Have you received Christ?” may be a little misleading. Some can “Receive” Christ and be unchanged. I “receive” mail every day but unless I make a conscious Choice to open it and respond, it is meaningless. I want
to go beyond the semantics here and be very clear that our greatest choice in all of life, is to choose Christ, and to make the Choice (there’s that pesky word again) to follow Him. If you haven’t yet, this is the first and most important question. If you are interested in your Rights and Freedom of Choice, then you need to know that NOT choosing Christ gives you the miserable future of eternity without God (Jn 14:6). It is a Choice and your Right to say No to the One who creates and sustains us but I believe with all my heart that it is a very bad choice. It is an eternally bad choice. My sins and yours separated us from God not because He is mean or angry but because He is Holy and no sin can be in His presence (Is 59:2, Rom 3:23, Rom 6:23). We could do nothing to change that but God Himself made the Choice to send Jesus (God’s only Son) to enter the world on our behalf. As both completely man and completely God, He came to teach and live a model life with no sin but most importantly, He came to die a horrible death in our place in order to pay for the sins of all mankind and thus allow us into the presence of God (Jn 3:16). Three days later, Jesus was resurrected and now
Continue on page 17
Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. Helping families honor the lives of those they love since 1998 486 Bridge St., Yuba City (530) 751-7000
16
The Ambassador
David Holycross FD1653
www.holycrossmemorial.com david@holycrossmemorial.com
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Continued From Page 16: "Choices"
Continued From Page 12: "...Guilt" A good church will teach the truths of the Bible, and will provide love, acceptance, and support for you. If you cannot find such a church in your area, contact EPM and we’ll gladly do what we can to help. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of fifty-some books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (epm.org)
Continued From Page 15: "...New Testament..." the reliability of the New Testament text than any other comparable writings in the ancient world. F. F. Bruce makes the following observation: “The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning.” He also states, “And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt” (The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? p. 15). Sir Frederic Kenyon, former director and principal librarian of the British
Museum, was one of the foremost experts on ancient manuscripts and their authority. Shortly before his death, he wrote this concerning the New Testament: “The interval between the dates of original composition (of the New Testament) and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established” (The Bible and Archaeology, pp. 288-89).
is in Heaven with the Father, waiting for each of us who make the choice to live for Him. I have made that choice. I hope you will also. He has not made me perfect yet in this life, but He has restored my relationship with God. If
you have made that choice- the choice to follow and serve Him, please contact us at The Ambassador (contact info on the front page) or one of the churches listed on page 3. God bless you!
Pastor Appreciation “Our pastor is Sean Blount at Hope Point Nazarene Church in Live Oak. We appreciate him so much. He loves the Lord and knows God's word so well. He faithfully teaches us God's truth. He comes up with new ways to minister to our needs.” Dennis & Connie Gabel
“Pastor Greg Mansur of Adventure Church has stood strong in the face of trials, while striving to maintain a transparent and forgiving attitude toward those spreading malicious nonsense. The Church is on the move. Bless this man, his family and congregation!” Dan Crawford
We build structures and relationships to last.
and License #547970
therapeutic community, a family of Christians called a church. You may feel self-conscious around Christians because of your past. You shouldn’t. A true Christ-centered church isn’t a showcase for saints but a hospital for sinners. The people you’re joining are just as human and imperfect as you. Most church people aren’t selfrighteous. Those who are should be pitied because they don’t understand God’s grace.
Partnering together to save millions in the design and construction costs for Christian schools and churches nationwide.
530-673-2947
The Ambassador
17
HEADER OP/ED CBA MARKETPLACE MONTHLY
Persecution Training… Really?
Sadly, many people who accept Jesus Christ will walk away from Him because they enter the relationship with unrealistic expectations. Quite often, the falling away is a result of a misleading or incomplete explanation of what it means to follow Jesus. Jesus himself said that we need to “count the cost” before making that life altering decision. Two of my daily devotions deal with the plight of persecuted Christians. I also meet twice monthly with two other men to pray for the persecuted church. (Read Hebrews 13:3) Christian persecution is on the rise. I pray for them because it makes a difference and I pray for them knowing that someday (I personally believe soon) will need others to pray for us here in the US. I also read a monthly publication from the Voice of the Martyrs and was shocked to read about a woman whose village was attacked, and she lost a child as a result. Here is the kicker; She said that she was able to continue faithfully following Jesus because of persecution training. The following statement is from an organization that reports on and ministers to the persecuted church. In the face of this growing threat, ICC (International Christian Concern) has stepped in to provide Indian Christians with what we call Persecution Preparedness Trainings.
These six-part trainings are designed to help Christians avoid, mitigate, and better manage instances of persecution. Let that sink in for a bit. Persecution Preparedness Trainings. This training helped a woman who lost her child to not walk away from Jesus. Wow! How often do we hear of Christians who fall away because they feel God let them down? Here are two verses that make it clear that persecution is a reality for those who identify with Jesus: Mark 10:29–30 (NIV84) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields— and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV84) In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… Understanding that persecution may be around the corner may keep us from walking away from Jesus if it does come. Right? So, despite what happens to us, let’s never forget that no matter what we go through, Jesus promises to go through it with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Amen to that!!!
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
Pastor Appreciation “Pastor Chris & Angela Madsen are always encouraging their congregation and everyone with the Word of God. They have blessed me greatly as I minister to others.” Dan Shields- Praise Chapel
18
The Ambassador
The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
Honor Your Pastor As you may have seen from the cover and the notes throughout this issue, October is Pastors’ Appreciation Month. Those called to the ministry of shepherding the flock and leading their congregations have a difficult and often unappreciated job. They are usually underpaid, overworked, and criticized while often sacrificing personal and family time. The expectations placed on them are often an unattainable standard as they try to preach like Charles Spurgeon, think like C.S.Lewis, evangelize like Billy Graham, counsel like Steven Arterburn, visit the sick, attend congregant events, all while doing the things that others won’t do around the church facility. They face the regular criticism of disrespectful members and try to please but inevitably learn that they can’t help or please everyone. Many people think that they work one day a week, but in reality, there is rarely a day off. My perspective on this has changed dramatically since February of 2020, when I was ordained and became a pastor. Though I am a part-time Associate Pastor, I can see now, a lot of what full-time (or “senior” pastors) go through. They are responsible for a lot of things they don’t want to be involved in. But it comes with the territory. Most of what I do is in the backgroundplanning, strategizing, and organizing. Yet, CHURCH, involves People, and that is what pastoring is about. As I’ve been learning, during this past year and a half, through personal experience as well as reading, conversing, and
Seth Halpern - Editor listening to other pastors, Pastoring/ Shepherding is NOT easy. Pastors also have to adjust to a changing world. Covid really changed the role of the church and the pastor. By the way, being ordained weeks before the Covid outbreak in our nation, was a challenge in and of itself. Just to clarify, I am a very part-time pastor. The Ambassador is still a fulltime ministry. So, most of what I am describing is not something I deal with on a daily basis. But I want to encourage and even urge you to consider those who have accepted the call to deny themselves in order to minister to your needs. This month (and every month) please thank and honor your pastor. Listen to them, submit to their spiritual authority, learn from them even if they correct you, bless them by giving them time with their families. God will be pleased! “Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other." 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-13
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.
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
MARKETPLACE
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
IMPACT THE COMMUNITY
AUTO
BUSINESS SERVICES
FINANCIAL/TAXES
211 Teegarden Ave - Yuba City
HILLCREST CATERING & BANQUET HALL Doreen Maher
SHAW & ASSOCIATES,INC.
allensauto@comcast.net
events@hillcrest.catering
ALLEN'S AUTO BODY Owners: Kevin & Karri Clark
(530) 671-1057
MONROE TRANSMISSION Owner: Don Monroe 1397 Colusa Hwy - Yuba City
(530) 751-2238
Promote Your Business Here! BUILDING/REMODELING
530.674.3320
"Oh, taste and see..." Ps. 34:8
PROFORMA BY KUG Dave Kugelman Promotional Products www.proforma.com/kug 530-632-9292
HEALTH
JENINE L. TANABE
REMODELING
“Voted•Best•Yuba/Sutter•Painting•Service•2014”
HILBERS INC.
CONTRACTORS & ENGINEERS 770 Walton Ave Ste.#100, Yuba City www.hilbersinc.com 530-673-2947
Let_Us Help_You Advertise Your Business
530-237-7076 lic.#496656
Morning Star Pest & Termite Control 530-216-0215 General Pest Control Termite Control • Rodent Control
Richard’s Tree Service 530-673-7993
Certified Arborist www.richardstree.com Lic. 608859
We Saved This Space For You! PETS
Country Vet Clinic, Inc 4839 E. Butte Rd, Live Oak "Treating all creatures Great and Small" Jerry Long, DVM & Assoc.
Contact•Seth•at The•Ambassador•Newspaper (530)•933-1385
HOME MAINTENANCE
RUSSELL•&•BOALS PAINTING,•INC
682.9602 - lic.# 452975
950 Tharp Road., YC www.ShawAssociatesInc.com (530) 632-9292
MD DERMATOLOGY 414 G Street, Suite 204 Marysville 743-0301
DAVE GREENETZ CONSTRUCTION INC. www.greenetzconstruction.com
Wealth Management Taxes/Accounting/Payroll
LANDSCAPING
"Marketplace Ads Should Not Be Considered as an Endorsement of the Ambassador as To The Spiritual Commitment of The Advertiser. The Ambassador Does Not & Cannot "monitor" Spiritual Commitment of its Advertisers."
The Ambassador Newspaper Ministry - Seth Halpern, Editor
editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
-
(530) 933-1385
-
www.ambassadornewspaper.com The Ambassador
19