February 2016
By Albert Mohler (AlbertMohler.com) While America’s evangelical Christians are rightly concerned about the secular worldview’s rejection of biblical Christianity, we ought to give some urgent attention to a problem much closer to home–biblical illiteracy in the church. This scandalous problem is our own, and it’s up to us to fix it. Researchers George Gallup and Jim Castelli put the problem squarely: “Americans revere the Bible–but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.” How bad is it? Researchers tell us that
From Abandoned Baby To College Student
Page 8
it’s worse than most could imagine. Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group, 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. “No wonder people break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don’t know what they are,” said George Barna, president of the firm. The bottom line? “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.” Multiple surveys reveal the problem in stark terms. According to 82 percent of Americans, “God helps those who help themselves,” is a Bible verse. Those identified as born-again
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Christians did better–by one percent. A majority of adults think the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one’s family. Some of the statistics are enough to perplex even those aware of the problem. A Barna poll indicated that at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. We are in big trouble. Secularized Americans should not
Legislative Update from James Gallagher
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be expected to be knowledgeable about the Bible. As the nation’s civic conversation is stripped of all biblical references and content, Americans increasingly live in a Scripture-free public space. Confusion and ignorance of the Bible’s content should be assumed in post-Christian America. The larger scandal is biblical ignorance among Christians. Choose whichever statistic or survey you like, the general pattern is the same. America’s Christians know less and less about the Bible. It shows. How can a generation be biblically shaped in its understanding of human
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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 6,000 - 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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13 Christians Who Risked Everything to Defend Biblical Truth Part 3 of 3 (This is the last part of this series of articles on “13 Christians who risked everything” There are certainly many more among us who could be mentioned. Let us, the church, draw strength and inspiration from these examples of the next generation of heroes of the faith) By Samuel Smith, CP Reporter Christian Post (www.christianpost.com)
canceled the show after liberal activist groups pressured the network about the brothers’ open and conservative views opposing gay marriage and abortion. “The fear inside of us wanted to say, ‘Hey, it’s okay. We’ll stop tweeting. Whatever it takes, we’re going to keep the show because it will give us so much influence for Jesus,’” the book quotes David Benham as saying. “But that was Satan luring us out of the fight, something we weren’t able to let happen.”
state after they refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage ceremony in 2013 on the grounds that doing so would violate their religious beliefs. After refusing to provide cake to the couple, the Kleins were forced to shut down their shop due to harassment from LGBT activists. “We sold birthday cakes to homosexuals and probably a lot of other people whose lifestyles we disagree with, but we draw the line at marriage,” Aaron Klein explained. “We once had someone come in and wanted us to design a cake celebrating her divorce, but we refused. Marriage is sacred to us.”
said. Fortunately for the high school senior, an appeals court overturned the federal judge’s ruling and determined that prayer issued by students does not mean that they are “school-sponsored.”
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Things were going great for twin brothers Jason and David Benham in 2014 when they had established a successful business of flipping houses and were awarded a show on HGTV called “Flip it Forward.” In the first days of filming, the network
The Kleins, who owned the Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery in Gresham, Oregon, discovered this summer that standing up for religious convictions in today’s secular society can cost a pretty hefty price. The couple was fined $135,000 by the
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Angela Hildenbrand In 2011, an agnostic family filed a lawsuit that resulted in a federal judge banning speakers at Medina High School’s graduation ceremony from issuing any type of public prayer. Being that the Texas high school had a longstanding tradition of beginning graduation ceremonies with an invocation and ending with a benediction, student Angela Hildebrand was not going to let extreme opposition or the threat of jail time deter her from issuing her own prayer at graduation. “I had seen a copy of the ruling, and it was clear that anyone who violated it would be incarcerated,” Hildenbrand
In May 2014, the Sudanese Christian mother was arrested for apostasy because a court ruled that she should have followed the religion of her Muslim father. Ibraheem was given three days to renounce her Christian faith, but refused. She was then sentenced to death by hanging. “I am Christian and will remain Christian,” Ibraheem told a Sudanese judge. During her detention, she was shackled to a wall with iron chains and forced to give birth to her second child while her legs were chained together, which she claims caused her baby to be born with disabilities. Ibraheem was released in June 2014 by order of a Sudanese appeals court. “The situation was difficult, but I was sure that God would stand by my side,” Ibraheem recalled during an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly.
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HEART ATTACK By April James Has your heart been attacked by lies, hurtful words, or broken trusts like mine? Even so, I found I didn’t need to fear the love of God. He doesn’t say “I love you” one moment then smack us to the ground the next or verbally berate us. Jesus took the punishment we deserved so we could be in a loving relationship. Often our ability to feel loved is equal to our ability to receive love. When we have been hurt by those who were supposed to love us, or claimed to, it becomes difficult to trust even God; or be able to open our hearts to let him love us. Thus, instead of a love exchange we give adoration then stop short of receiving His in return. We are like a butterfly trapped in its cocoon. We have become a new creature having accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, yet not freely soaring in His love. Our mind tells us we’re loved but it doesn’t feel real to the heart. To fully know God, we have to be able to receive his love; after all – it’s who He is, He is love. When we leave the receiving of love out of the equation, we only have half a relationship, the striving half. This leads to a union that is not fully satisfying for either partner. Recovering from a heart attack is tough; forgiving from a wounded heart is difficult and one big step (this doesn’t mean confronting or reconciliation); yet unforgiveness clogs arteries and hardens the heart. Another starting place is receiving His love by faith, like we would a doctor’s prescription. Begin with expressing to Him how we love Him, even if it’s only a few words –
that’s alright. Then accept His love by faith, read aloud scriptures describing how God loves and cares for us. Example: Heavenly Father, I accept your love by faith, that you love me so much you sent your only son for me (John 3:16). I receive by faith that great is your love, which is higher than the heavens (Ps. 108:4), that you have loved me with an everlasting love; with loving-kindness You have drawn me (Jer. 31:3). I desire to know how much You love me, to feel your love and believe You when you tell me that you love me dearly (1 John 4:16). Lord, by faith I accept that you value me, have a great love for me, and desire to lavish me in love. I will not go by what I feel but believe, by faith, that you love me as your word says you do. Internally digest love scriptures daily like medicine. Keep some handy to use like nitroglycerine if pain starts. We may not immediately sense a change, but keep on accepting love by faith until the heart knows and experiences it directly from the God of love himself. May this be a year of intimately knowing God, not just about him!
INSPIRATION ••• A Cake Day ••• By Paula McBride “It’ll be a cake day,” the classroom teacher remarked as she handed me her lesson plan folder. “The kids are all good and the activities are fun. Enjoy!” And with that, she was off for a day of meetings, and I sat down to go over her plans. A cake day? What did that mean? I’d never heard the expression before, but I liked it. Cakes are special. Birthdays and other celebrations include something sweet—a cake—and people remember. Cakes make memories. I guess the teacher wanted me to have a special day, a sweet day, and a memorable day. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about cakes, and when there was a buy one, get one free offer for those little bundt cake things, I fell for it and bought two. My friends and I celebrated a brief break in the weather to sit outside and treat our taste buds to exquisite delight. Cakes represent joyful occasions. Imagine a bride and groom preparing to cut their cake. They hold the knife together and carefully glide it into the edible work of art. The guests clap and cheer. The couple link arms and feed each other the first bite while the guests cheer louder. I can see that a cake day would be joyful, too. Some people don’t like cake, and that’s okay. Cake is something we choose. We don’t have to take a piece if it is offered to us. So maybe we need to choose to make our day a cake day. The children of Israel had cake days every day for forty years. God sent them
little flakes of something so special they asked, “What is it?” Nobody seemed to know what it was, so they just called it “What is it?” which in their language is “manna.” The Bible says it tasted sweet, sort of like cake. At first, the people were excited, joyful, and grateful, but as time passed, they got tired of it and began to grumble and complain. But did God pull the plug on His provision? No, He continued to give and give and give some more. Just as He has throughout history and still does, even if our days seem full of chopped liver. The heart of the Father longs for us to be full and satisfied with His provision. Just as manna was nutritionally complete for the Israelites, God provides all we need in Christ. God loves us so much, He sent His Son into the world so the world can be saved through Him. We can choose whether or not to eat a piece of cake. We can choose to have special, sweet moments in our days or be completely grouchy. We can choose to be joyful or sullen. We can choose Jesus. But let me tell you. If you choose Jesus, every day can be a cake day!
Faith makes all things possible… love makes all things easy. ~Dwight L. Moody
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Ongoing Events
CROSSROADS CLOTHES CLOSET Crossroads Community Church, YC Shop at our - FREE Clothes given away! Open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm 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.
Con’t Monday
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FREE KARATE CLASSES First Baptist Church of Olivehurst Mon 5:30pm FREE karate classes taught from a Christian perspective. 743-1831 for info, Pastor Miguel.
FREE BIBLE COLLEGE CLASSES First Baptist Church of Olivehurst 1777 8th Ave., Olivehurst -Wed Mornings 10AM Starting in January 2015 you can earn an accredited bible college degree … all books are in public domain and you only need a tablet, computer or some type of electronic reader. We can print them out for a small charge. You will need a King James Bible to get started. fbco@ comcast.net for more information. ENROLL TODAY!
TUESDAY •ENCOUNTERING GOD 9:30 - 11:30 AM Every Tuesday Morning Embassy of Heaven Campus 1179 Eager Rd., Yuba City (Hwy 99 @ Eager Rd.) 530-671-3160 www.churchofgladtidings.com Our Tuesday morning meetings begin with a time of worship. Afterwards we rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us to minister to each other, encourage each other, and build our hunger and desire for the things of God. Childcare is provided.
SUNDAY •CELEBRATE RECOVERY Praise Chapel Church - Sunday 6:30 p.m. Join us for great worship and open share group. For more info call 530-923-7204
MONDAY KNIT & CROCHET WOMENS FELLOWSHIP First Baptist Church of Olivehurst 1777 - 8th Ave. - Mon 10 a.m. - Noon 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.
•SAMARITAN VILLAGE MONTHLY MEETING 3rd Tue of each month, 6:30pm This meeting is open to all who are interested in helping with an orphanage in Tanzania. For info call Victor Savage at 671-2219. •CRAFTSMEN FOR CHRIST The Bride Church 655 Colusa Hwy, YC Meets every Tuesday at 6:30pm Men’s fellowship around the word and worship. All in the Body of Christ welcome!
CELEBRATE RECOVERY Crossroads Community Church Mondays 6:30pm-8:30pm 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
•CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ALLIANCE LUNCHEON Every 1st Tue @ Noon Bonanza Inn, Yuba City Join us for Lunch, Fellowship and God’s Word! For info contact Dave Kugelman 530-632-9292
AWANA Wed 5:45-7:45pm during school year Evangelical Free Church 3785 Olive Hwy. Oroville For information please call 533-6866 Awana is a boys & girls club consisting of small group time, games, large group time. LIFE @ HOPE POINT Hope Point Nazarene 600 N. George Washington Blvd, YC Wednesday @ 6:30pm for kids, 7pm for adults 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. •DIVORCE CARE Wednesdays 7:00 - 8:30pm Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 500 1179 Eager Road, YC (Hwy 99 @ Eager Rd) Info: Duane Russell 530.777.8543 Divorce Care is a divorce recovery support group where you can find help and healing from the hurt of separation or divorce. Weekly meetings provide you with an ongoing “support team” as you deal with the issues surrounding your separation or divorce. You’ll learn how to deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.
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•STIRRING THE WATERS OF BETHESDA Friday, Feb 19th at 7:00 PM Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Info: Ed Han 209-298-6102 Praying through the night for the release of God’s healing power. Come and pray through the night or pick an hour to intercede for healing, miracles, signs and wonders.
The Christian Business Alliance Lunch & Fellowship, Noon to 1 pm at Bonanza Inn the first Tuesday of every month.
TUESDAY SATURDAY •BETHESDA HEALING WELL Saturday, Feb 20th at 10:00 AM Embassy of Heaven Campus - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, YC - Ed Han 209-298-6102 Gathering for a time of soaking in God’s presence and then spending time to receive focused prayer for healing. CELEBRATE RECOVERY Loma Rica Community Church- Moy Hall. Fri., 7pm. Call church office for more information 743-5435 •SATURDAY NIGHT SERVICE Word Of Life Church 1229 Buchanan Street, Marysville - 6:30pm Contemporary Worship led by Leanne Whitley & Robbie Jellsey Relevant & Anointed PreachingPastor Stan Reynolds
multiple days of the week •AHOP Ascending House of Prayer Every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 PM Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Road, YC (Hwy 99 @ Eager Rd) 530-671-3160 Praying and preparing for a new Jesus Movement, raising the Life of the glory of God in the face of Christ in America and in the nations. Come join us and experience the richness of His Love! •PRAYER Every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:00 PM Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City 530-671-3160 “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” (Matt. 21:13). The church today in is 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. •WOMENS CLOTHES CLOSET Twin Cities Rescue Mission Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m. - Noon 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!
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Special Events AUTHORITY TO HEAL Christian Healing Seminar Sierra Presbyterian Church, 175 Ridge Road, Nevada City Fri, Feb 6th 7– 9:30 p.m. and Sat, Feb 7th 9 – 4 p.m. The Bible speaks about the power of God in Jesus Christ to heal. In this seminar presented by Sierra Ministries you will become equipped in the biblical principles of Healing Ministry. This is a two day event, to register or for more information visit www.sierraministries.org. VALENTINE’S SPAGHETTI DINNER YOUTH FUNDRAISER The Father’s House – 10720 Live Oak Blvd, Live Oak, CA Saturday February 13, 2016 5:00 - 8:00 PM Hosted by LO Father’s House Training Zone Youth Ministry. They’re working to raise money for camp. Tickets $10 each. Dinner will be held in The Spot next door to the church. This romantic candlelit dinner includes: Spaghetti, Green Salad, French Bread, Dessert, Sparkling Cider and Coffee. No sweetheart required. GUMBO COOK-OFF Bethel AME Church, 115 5th St., Marysville Feb 27- 3pm “New Orleans Style” and other recipes, served with rice and salad, sweet tea and dessert. Cost is $25/per person. For info call 530-742-3393 or 530-315-1600.
ISAIAH 61 CONFERENCE March 14 - 18 Begins Monday 7pm Ends Friday 12noon Embassy of Heaven Campus/Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 200 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Info: 530-671-3160 info@churchofgladtidings.com www.churchofgladtidings.com 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 bondages of sin. FAITH CHRISTIAN REACH HIGHER RALLY Faith Christian School Gym, 3105 Colusa Hwy, Yuba City March 31, 2016 at 6:30 pm Come hear about the exciting BIG changes for the 2016-2017 school year, save your spot(s) for next school year and have a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. We will have alumni and current student testimonies, our pep band will be playing and many more exciting things for all to do and see!
CALENDAR Prayer Calendar for February 2016 2-Feb Local Schools- pray for students, staff, and teachers 3-Feb Marketplace Ministries-Opportunities to share at work 4-Feb Orphan children- Samaritan Village (see p. 3) and other orphanages 5-Feb Pray for the Unemployed and Underemployed 6-Feb Addicted, Rehab ministries- Feather River Mens Center, Joshua House, Celebrate Recovery 7-Feb A Woman’s Friend - Unborn children/Pregnant Women 8-Feb Marriages-Restoration and Strength 9-Feb Syrian Refugees- Pray for the displaced 10-Feb Adoptive families & birth moms 11-Feb Missionaries -Fruit, Provision 12-Feb Sex Trafficking - pray for victims 13-Feb Military, All armed forces & their families. 14-Feb The Ambassador Newspaper-Increased readership and Impact 15-Feb Teen Depression, Suicide 16-Feb Global Persecution-Safety/Courage of Believers 17-Feb Local officials and community leaders 18-Feb Middle East - For the peace of Jerusalem 19-Feb ISIS/Terrorism- pray for wisdom & strong leadership to eradicade it 20-Feb Homeless/Poor - Twin Cities Rescue Mission, A Hand Up, Salvation Army, REST 21-Feb Local ministries (see p. 3) 22-Feb Unity in and among local churches 23-Feb Christian Businesses-Ambassador Sponsors & others. 24-Feb Children and Children’s Ministries 25-Feb Singles, Single Parents, Divorce healing 26-Feb Caregivers of elderly and disabled 27-Feb First Responders-Police, Firefighters, EMT, TIP 28-Feb Hollywood- May God to touch influential people 29-Feb Local Pastors and their families
Free Home Market Value Analysis Call or email Intero Real Estate Services for a free, no obligation market value analysis of your home.
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CBA MARKETPLACE MONTHLY “Can’t we go just a little farther?” “REAL LIFE” - ANNA’S STORY The Scriptures tell us that “what the enemy means for evil, God means for good (Genesis 50:20).” How can that be? Imagine then, a tiny, helpless baby girl, abandoned in Tanzania in 1996. What happened to her is the story of God’s work to bless His children...even through adversity. Before baby Anna was born, and then abandoned, members of the Yuba Sutter community were praying and seeking God’s will to bless the abandoned children in Tanzania, Africa. Much prayer, much grass roots fund raising in the churches and people of our community – all in an effort to do God’s will and rescue and bless the “least of these” in far away Africa. In 1996, an orphanage to rescue orphaned and abandoned children was begun --- and – baby Anna was one of the first three babies to be saved. While the other two babies were adopted, Anna became Samaritan Villages’ first baby to grow up and call this loving, Christian orphanage “home.” In an environment where she was loved by Josephat (the coordinator/ father of the Orphanage) and the “mamas” who cared for her, prepared her food and taught her the songs and words of God, she thrived. She has been blessed to have sponsors who send the money each month for her care and schooling. In 2015 she graduated from Secondary school and is now enrolled
Anna in college studying to become an attorney. She has a loving personality … loving God, her Samaritan Village “brothers and sisters” and serves as a role model for them. She is the face, the hands and feet of Christ in a mostly non-Christian country. She is poised to “bring about Good”, to spread the Word in places most of us in the Yuba Sutter community will never be able to personally travel. All this has been, and is, possible because of you – the many people in our own community who love and trust the Lord and who support the work of Samaritan Village. If you would like to be part of this ministry, we have good news. We need you!! We need volunteers to join with us in this work. We meet monthly and also have many projects throughout the year that you can be part of. Please call: 530-671-2219 for details. We need your financial support so that this work can continue. We are a 501c(3) non-profit and your donations are tax deductible and most appreciated!
Samaritan Village Orphanage, Inc. P.O. Box 444 Yuba City, CA 95992 Tax ID#68-0214955 501c 3 “...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:40
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That quote comes from some of my younger grandchildren. I have nine with one more due on March 17th. The ones that are aged four, five and six are always pushing the boundaries on wanting to play further and further from our home. We live in the country and have a large yard but now the yard isn’t good enough. They want to go outside the front gate and play in the driveway. And now the driveway isn’t good enough and they want to play in the peach orchard in front of our house so we let them go two rows into the orchard. And yes you guessed it, they now want to go a few more rows further into the orchard. Regardless of the amount of space we allow them to play in, they are never satisfied and only want to go where we tell them they cannot go. Hmmm, sound familiar; Adam, Eve? They only had one rule, just one and they couldn’t obey it. Quite often as Christians, we like to criticize Adam and Eve for blowing it in the Garden of Eden. We somehow think that we would not have made the same mistake. However
the longer I serve God and the more I understand human nature (yes, my own as well) the more I realize that I would have done the same thing. We always want what we don’t have. That is why God gave us the 10th commandment; “don’t covet.” So, we must strive towards contentment in this life. We need to find the balance between desire and contentment. Desire without contentment leads to frustration and contentment without desire leads to complacency. Desire more of God and intimacy with Christ and be content with what He has blessed you with. 1 Timothy 6:6 – True godliness with contentment is great wealth. Here is the takeaway. Becoming godly or Christ-like does not happen by accident. It takes effort and intentionality. So if you find yourself lacking contentment, the solution is spending more time with Christ in his word, in prayer, in church and in fellowship with other committed believers. In other words, be happy in your own backyard!
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1: THE SCANDAL OF BIBLE ILLITERACY: IT OUR PROBLEM sexuality when it believes Sodom and Gomorrah to be a married couple? No wonder Christians show a growing tendency to compromise on the issue of homosexuality. Many who identify themselves as Christians are similarly confused about the Gospel itself. An individual who believes that “God helps those who help themselves” will find salvation by grace and justification by faith to be alien concepts. Christians who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that marginalize biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a diminishing fraction of the local congregation’s time and attention. The move to small group ministry has certainly increased opportunities for fellowship, but many of these groups never get beyond superficial Bible study. Youth ministries are asked to fix problems, provide entertainment, and keep kids busy. How many localchurch youth programs actually produce substantial Bible knowledge in young people? Even the pulpit has been sidelined in many congregations. Preaching has taken a back seat to other concerns in corporate worship. The centrality of biblical preaching to the formation of disciples is lost, and Christian ignorance
leads to Christian indolence and worse. This really is our problem, and it is up to this generation of Christians to reverse course. Recovery starts at home. Parents are to be the first and most important educators of their own children, diligently teaching them the Word of God. [See Deuteronomy 6:4-9.] Parents cannot franchise their responsibility to the congregation, no matter how faithful and biblical it may be. God assigned parents this non-negotiable responsibility, and children must see their Christian parents as teachers and fellow students of God’s Word.
Churches must recover the centrality and urgency of biblical teaching and preaching, and refuse to sideline the
teaching ministry of the preacher. Pastors and churches too busy–or too distracted– to make biblical knowledge a central aim of ministry will produce believers who simply do not know enough to be faithful disciples. We will not believe more than we know, and we will not live higher than our beliefs. The many fronts of Christian compromise in this generation can be directly traced to biblical illiteracy in the pews and the absence of biblical preaching and teaching in our homes and churches. This generation must get deadly serious about the problem of biblical illiteracy, or a frighteningly large number of Americans–Christians included–will go on thinking that Sodom and Gomorrah lived happily ever after.(For a short quiz on Bible knowledge see below)
1.Who wrote the first four books of the New Testament? 2. Who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament? 3. What two Old Testament books are named for women? 4. What are the Ten Commandments? 5. What is the Greatest Commandment? 6. What is the second Greatest Commandment? 7. What is the Golden Rule? 8. What is the Great Commission? 9. What was the test of a prophet, to know that he was truly from God? 10. To whom did God give the 10 Commandments? (Answers on Page 12)
Bible Quiz
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Bible Quiz - Questions & Answers 1.Who wrote the first four books of the New Testament? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John 2. Who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament? Most conservative scholars hold that the Pentateuch was written by Moses 3. What two Old Testament books are named for women? Esther and Ruth 4. What are the Ten Commandments? 1. I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 5. Honor your father and your mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife–or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:2-17)
5.What is the Greatest Commandment? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37,38) 6.What is the second Greatest Commandment? “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) 7. What is the Golden Rule? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) 8. What is the Great Commission? “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19,20) 9. What was the test of a prophet, to know that he was truly from God? He had to be 100% accurate in his prophecies. The penalty for a false prophet was death by stoning. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) 10. . To whom did God give the 10 Commandments? Moses. (Exodus 20)
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THE SHOW ‘LUCIFER’ MAKES THE DEVIL ‘CHARMING’ Jim Denison Denisonforum.org Lucifer premiered (recently) on Fox. As you might expect, the devil is the lead character. He decides to take a vacation, so he abdicates his throne in hell and flees to Los Angeles. There he opens a nightclub and ends up fighting crime alongside a police detective. It is appropriate that Lucifer’s nightclub is named “Lux,” which is Latin for “light,” since “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Not surprisingly, Lucifer is highly deceptive. Early in (the) episode, the devil tells a woman who fears she has sold her soul to Satan, “The devil isn’t that interested in your soul.” Then he claims that “God has nothing to do with your mess.” I was especially troubled by the show’s depiction of Satan as compassionate toward hurting people. Lucifer tells one troubled woman, “Pull yourself together. That’s it. That’s all I’m asking. You’re wasting your talent and your life.” He encourages a female LAPD officer who is struggling for recognition, “Ignore them. Trust yourself.” He becomes so empathetic that a demon tells him, “Humans are rubbing off on you. Stop caring. You’re the devil.”
Fox Network TV Series, Lucifer. It’s no surprise that one reviewer likens Lucifer to “your charming high school friend.” If all I knew of Satan was his portrayal in Lucifer, I would think that he wants the best for me. The truth is, Lucifer wants the worst for me—and for you. Satan is our arch enemy. His very name means “accuser.” Here’s what Scripture says about him: He is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). He is a “murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). He “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan is the greatest enemy you face. He is “the god of this world” who has “blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4; see John 12:31; 1 John 5:19). Every problem crippling humanity can be traced back to him, from our fallen world with its diseases and disasters (Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:22; 1 John 5:19) to the temptations you face today. Satan is worse than Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Osama bin Laden, or the leaders
of ISIS, combined. In fact, he inspires every atrocity you will read about today. Would you watch a TV show that makes Hitler a “charming high school friend”? The Bible instructs us to “submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Note the order: Submit to God, and you can resist the devil. You will face no temptation today you cannot defeat in God’s strength (1 Corinthians 10:13). But you must turn to the Lord before you can have his power. Self-sufficiency is spiritual suicide. Here’s the good news: If Christ is your Lord, you’re on the winning side. Jesus came “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). One day our enemy will be “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur” where he will be “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). What does it say about our culture that Fox thinks Lucifer will be a successful show? What does your answer say about the urgency of trusting and sharing Jesus today?
God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving to you. ~Rick Warren
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RESOURCES LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life Hillary Clinton: We Need to Send Even More Tax Money to Planned Parenthood By Steven Ertelt (LifeNews.com) Pro-abortion Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton thinks we don’t send enough tax money to Planned Parenthood, even though the abortion giant kills more than 320,000 unborn babies a year in abortions and has been caught selling the body parts of aborted babies. According to its own annual report, last year, while Planned Parenthood was seeing fewer patients and delivering fewer services, government grants and reimbursements to the organization rose from $528.4 million to $553.7 million—a 4.8 percent increase. “I’m obviously not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding because oftentimes it is both the first and the last resort for healthcare,” the White House hopeful said in an interview with Fusion posted on Friday. Clinton said in the interview that she was “very proud” to receive Planned Parenthood’s endorsement and that as president, the organization would be “one of my partners at the table”. Clinton would also push to repeal the Hyde Amendment, she said. Because when public funding for abortion services is banned by federal law, “the people who are going to suffer the most are going to be low-income women of color, that’s just the fact.” The newest annual report shows the number of abortions done at Planned Parenthood centers is 323,999, making it the largest abortion business in the nation. Over the weekend, Clinton again demonstrated her unyielding
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commitment to the Planned Parenthood abortion business, accepting their endorsement during a pro-abortion rally — reportedly saying she would be the abortion business’ president. “I will always defend Planned Parenthood and I will say consistently and proudly, Planned Parenthood should be funded, supported and protected, not undermined, misrepresented and demonized,” Clinton said. “As your president, I will always have your back.” The first order of business for Clinton and her friends at the abortion company is to force Americans to pay for abortions with their tax dollars by attempting to overturn the Hyde Amendment, which has protected Americans from funding most all abortions since the late 1970s. Upheld by the Supreme Court, the Hyde Amendment is now a target of abortion advocates who have moved from prochoice to pro-abortion — forcing Americans not only to accept unlimited abortions before birth but to pay for them. Clinton’s abortion position could not be more of a contrast to the position of most Americans. Gallup found a majority of Americans oppose all or almost all abortions. When asked when abortion should be legal, 55 percent of Americans oppose all abortions or say abortion should only be legal in a “few circumstances,” typically defined as cases such as rape, incest or if the life of the mother is in danger. Since those cases constitute, at most, 1-2 percent of all abortion cases, Gallup’s numbers confirm 55 percent of Americans oppose 98 percent or more of the 1.1 million abortions that take place annually in the United States.
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“Tax Tips” Brought To You By Ad Lucem Tax Services It’s tax time again and with the everincreasing complexity of the tax code, people want to know how to make tax time less taxing. In the following months I will be giving some common sense tips on tax topics. One of the most common questions that I am asked is that “I have income from a side job, do I need to report it?” The short answer is yes. Any income you make must be reported. Generally, there are two types of income, a person earned from side jobs. Income you earn as an employee is wages and your employer must issue you a W-2 for that income. W-2 income is taxable and your employer is required to deduct your social security, Medicare and unemployment taxes from it. These taxes are called payroll taxes. If your employer has not issue you a W-2 for your job, you should report the income on Form-4852. Compensation for other types of work is called non-employee compensation. If the amount of non-employee compensation you earned exceeds $600.00, the person or business that paid you must issue a Form-1099 Miscellaneous to you
for that income. Non-employee compensation is generally reported on Schedule C. On Schedule C, you report your income and then you deduct any ordinary and necessary expenses you incurred to produce that income. If your expenses exceed your income, your net loss is deducted from your taxable income. If your income exceeds your expenses, your net profit is added to your taxable income. In addition to income tax, you must also pay social security and Medicare taxes on your net profits. These taxes are called self-employment tax and you must pay them with your income tax as the person or business that paid you does not deduct them from your compensation. The current rate for this tax is 15.3%, 12.4% for social security and 2.9% for Medicare. “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:7-8
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RESOURCES
Legislative Update from Assemblyman James Gallagher On January 19, 2016, House Resolution 32 (HR 32) came before the State Assembly. HR 32 urged ‘the President of the United States and the United States Congress to express their support for a woman’s fundamental right to control her own reproductive decisions, as well as their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including the services provided by Planned Parenthood.’ My conscience would not let me be silent on this measure, and together with several of my colleagues we stood and spoke against HR 32. Below is an excerpt from my speech on the Assembly floor: “The fight for individual liberties and rights has been long and arduous but justice is nothing if not persistent. Certainly that has been the case with recognizing equal rights of women. From the suffragists who fought to secure the vote, to rights to property being recognized, to the more modern fight to serve in the armed forces and to ensure that if a woman does the same job and works the same hours she better receive the same pay. Some will try to use this resolution as a litmus test for women’s rights. They seek to use it as a political tool as way to divide us versus them. If this resolution were purely about
women’s rights I would stand with you in solidarity and support. As many of you know I have two daughters, 9 and 7. And you better believe I want them to have every opportunity my son has. I hope that God willing my wife and I will be able to raise those daughters with the same attributes as the women I serve with in this Assembly. But I cannot support this resolution. I cannot support it because of what’s missing. I cannot support it because it is seared on my conscious that another’s rights are also involved here – the rights of the unborn child. Roe v. Wade itself recognized that there must be a balancing of the rights of the unborn, and yet the law has never fully recognized or reconciled these rights. As a result, the law and justice is incomplete. We can no longer ignore these rights. Science and technology have revealed the truth – not just a fetus but arms, legs, a heart. A person. And now I speak to my friends in this great Assembly ¬— and I say friends instead of colleagues because of the relationships we’ve built here. I’ve heard your heart. Usually we have disagreements over the means, yet agree on the ends. We agree on the ends of justice and liberty and equality and better opportunities for our constituents.
I’ve heard your heart about trying to lift up the down-trodden, about trying to make visible the invisible, about being the voice for the voiceless. Just this morning I had the opportunity to tour a neonatal clinic and there I see with our modern technology, with all we have been blessed with in this country, we are working every day to maximize the health of the mother and the child. We are able to take these children born at 23 weeks and preserve their life. We’re using technology to maximize that. How come our policy is not? How come our law has not been trying to maximize the life and health of both the mother and child? Just last year this body recognized the right to die. Can this body now deny there is a right to live? Just because one lacks a voice doesn’t mean they lack a will to live. It doesn’t mean they lack rights. Can we be the voice for the voiceless here? We’re going to vote how we vote
James Gallagher today and it will probably be party-line, but what I would ask is for you to look into your own hearts and recognize the rights of the unborn. If you continue to ignore this fact then I submit to you that you stand on the wrong side of history. Because the fight for individual liberty may be long and arduous but justice is nothing if not persistent.”
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IN THE NEWS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED MAN FINDS JESUS, BECOMES PASTOR
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Saeed Abedini Freed From Iranian Prison After Three Years
Veronica Neffinger | Editor, ChristianHeadlines.com
By Ethan Cole Christian Post Reporter Christianpost.com
A man who was unjustly convicted of murder and spent 24 years in prison has turned his life over to God and become a pastor. Christian Today reports that Darryl Burton was sentenced to prison in 1985 for the murder of Donald Ball at a gas station in St. Louis. However, after writing hundreds of letters to lawmakers and attorneys who specialize in helping those who are wrongfully convicted, Burton was exonerated and had his sentence overturned in 2008. Before Burton’s conviction was overturned and he was released, God had some things to teach him. “For the first 15 years or so I was just trying to do everything in my own abilities,” shares Burton, who also said he grew up in church but walked away from God as a teenager. “Of course, I was really angry and upset and really frustrated about my situation and being wrongfully imprisoned. I said, ‘Well, I have tried everything but God, what do I have to lose.’ I just challenged Jesus — ‘If you’re real, show me. If you help me, I will serve you and tell the world about you.’”
Pastor Saeed Abedini has been released from prison in Iran after more than three years in captivity for his Christian faith. Abedini, a U.S. citizen who has attracted high-profile advocates for his release including President Obama and members of Congress, was released on Saturday along with three other detained Americans: Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian; former Marine Amir Hekmati, and Nosratollah Khosavi-Roodsari, The Washington Post reported. Senior U.S. administration officials also confirmed the release of the four prisoners, according to CNN. Abedini’s wife, Naghmeh, who has tirelessly campaigned for his release since his imprisonment, said in a statement, “This has been an answer to prayer. This is a critical time for me and my family. We look forward to Saeed’s return and want to thank the millions of people who have stood with us in prayer during this most difficult time.” Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, who has publicly advocated and prayed for Abedini’s release, posted on his Facebook Saturday: “American Pastor,
Daryl Burton Burton said he doesn’t blame God for his time in prison. “I think God used the situation the same way with Joseph when Joseph was thrown in the prison and treated by his brothers in a way that was not right. I never blamed God,” he said. Burton added that it took a while for him to realize God was calling him to ministry. Once he accepted that call, he enrolled in seminary and is now the associate pastor of the 22,000-member Church of Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.
Pastor Saeed Abedini Saeed Abedini along with the 3 other American prisoners have been released from Prison in Iran! This is an answered prayer! For years the hashtag has been #SaveSaeed Now, we can update it to #GodsavedSaeed” The four Americans were released by Iran in exchange for at least six people imprisoned by the United States and also ahead of the nearing implementation of the July 2015 historic nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had previously said that Abedini would not be released until
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Continued From Page 16: Saeed Abedini Freed... 19 Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. are granted their freedom. American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the legal group representing Abedini’s wife and family, noted that they first heard news that Saeed was released from his prison cell to Iran’s Central Intelligence agency late Friday night. It was not until Saturday morning that they were able to confirm that the pastor was really freed. “This is a major victory. We are incredibly grateful to the more than 1.1 million people who have joined us in fighting across the globe for Pastor Saeed’s freedom,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of ACLJ, in a statement. “We’re delighted this day has finally arrived,” Sekulow continued. “We have worked and prayed that this day would finally arrive. And now, Pastor Saeed can return home.” Pastor Saeed Abedini of Boise, Idaho, had served over three years of an eight year sentence in Iran for the supposed crime of endangering national security, but in reality it was because of his Christian faith. Abedini is a Muslim convert to Christianity and was in Iran
working on building an orphanage when he was suddenly arrested. He had endured physical, emotional and psychological abuse during his imprisonment, according to his family, but resolutely stated that he would not renounce his Christian faith to escape punishment. Naghmeh Abedini often shared that their two young children, aged 9 and 5, have missed their father terribly and it was difficult as a mother to endure her children’s pain. With news that Saeed has indeed been released, the family will finally be reunited after years apart. “We are grateful for the release of Pastor Saeed. The prayers of the Body of Christ all over the world have been answered,” reflected Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “This day of celebration should remind us to pray and work all the more for the multitudes still persecuted for their faith all over the world, including in Iran. We hope and long for the day when Iran, and nations like it, are free from those who wish to enslave the conscience at the point of a sword.”
Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. ~ C.S. Lewis We build structures and relationships to last.
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The Ambassador
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EDITORIAL AN UBER/MICRO SOCIETY By Jon Skillman There’s a new buzz-phrase out there. It started in academia and is quickly invading all aspects of society. The phrase is; “micro-aggression” (micro meaning small or a millionth part of).” At best, microaggression is a cruel joke… at worst… a serious attempt at stifling free speech. Here’s how it works: The meaning of whatever I say is at the interpretation of the personal bias of the listener. Nothing really new here, but wait there’s more: Say a professor asks a student; “Why are you taking this course?” meaning, what is your motivation or purpose for taking the course? But the student, because of race, gender, ethnicity or whatever might interpret the question to mean; “Why are YOU taking this class,” suggesting you, because of your gender, race, ethnicity or whatever are not really qualified for the class. This is deemed an act of microaggression on the part of the professor and the student files a claim of “being offended.” Back in the day, the student would have been advised to build a bridge and get over it…but no, now, the university reprimands the professor and shuffles him or her off to sensitivity training. When did we become such a bunch of sniveling whiners…so uber-sensitive (“uber” being a 2015 buzzword meaning, excessive, extreme or possibly, a taxi)? Where did this idea that we have an inalienable right not to be offended come from? Could it stem from the “Everybody gets a trophy” mentality? Hey! As a Christian, I’m pretty much offended every
time I turn on the TV or go to a movie… but hey, that’s “art” and artists have a license to offend Christians. It also seems that claims of microaggression are not available to Christians…we haven’t achieved the coveted “protected class” status that society bestows on every other group. Therefore, we remain fair game for uber-aggression from any and all. But that’s okay because Jesus warns us in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” And in Matthew 5:11, Jesus reassures us, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Do you remember the “Free Speech movement of the sixties? You know, when students at U.C. Berkley protested for the right to drop the F-bomb and others on anyone, anywhere anytime… the same movement that made every no talent standup comedian an instant comedic genius? Ahh…those were the days. Did you know that some “institutions of higher learning” are actually compiling lists of perfectly good words and phrases that are not to be uttered on campus? I find it more than ironic that academia spawned both the “Free Speech” movement and now this microaggression nonsense. The first allows the use of the most, vile of words while the latter forbids the use of perfectly good words and phrases. It just seems we haven’t learned a thing.
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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The Ambassador
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We Need YOU! Do you know that The Ambassador is distributed in over 400 locations including 70 churches as well as salons, restaurants, medical offices, Sutter and Yuba County Jails, laundormats and many, many other types of businesses? Some of our readers tell me that they see The Ambassador “everywhere” while many others say that they don’t see it around at all. This grieves me. I know that the Truth and Inspiration in this paper can and is used by God to comfort as well as convict those who read it. I know that our writers have a gift from God to communicate to the community. The only thing that limits the Lord (if He can be limited at all) is the ability to distribute the papers to more locations so that more people can be touched, inspired, and/or challenged by it. We have operated this publication for the past ten years (Praise God) with a very small network of faithful support and volunteer delivery crew. Our faithful distribution team has literally “spread the Gospel” for years. I cannot speak highly enough of the faithfulness of the few who have given their time, effort, and (gas) money to bring the Good News to the Yuba-Sutter-Butte area. When I said earlier that I was “grieved” by this, I mean that my desire is for so many more people to find a copy of The Ambassador and be blessed through our articles. Remember, we are not in the business of printing simply positive stories or warm human interest stories. There is the Readers Digest for that. Nor are we seeking to just report the day to day evil in the world. Our calling (as our front page tagline states) is to “Deliver the Truth that Sets People Free!” We seek to inform our readers about the enemy’s small victories in order to “call
Seth Halpern - Editor the troops” to pray and stand. We seek to bring hope in Christ through repentance, forgiveness, and obedience to His Word. There is no other local publication that seeks to bring God’s message to the marketplace and beyond. My desire is to get The Ambassador into the hands and before the eyes of every English reader in the Yuba-Sutter-Butte Community. With the proper resources, I would do the same in Spanish and Punjabi. I would love to see it in many, many more locations in the marketplace and even mail them directly to each home. That’s where you come in. In order to print more copies and deliver them to more locations (especially to mailboxes) requires a lot more resources of time and money. We love to get coupons in our mailbox. How much more significant would it be to get the Gospel into every home? I need you, dear reader, to help us to see that become a reality. If you would consider taking an hour or two a month to deliver copies of The Ambassador, and/or contribute $20 or more per month to help bring them into our neighbors mailbox, we would be greatly appreciative and would be honored to partner with you as Ambassadors for Christ! Please contact me at editor@ambassadornewspaper. com to learn more about partnering with us.
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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 Bonanza Inn the first Tuesday of the month from noon – 1pm.
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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.