April 2016
By Seth Halpern, Editor Many people assume that there are two Gods in the Bible: There is the angry God of the Old Testament who sets unattainable rules and laws and then doles out harsh consequences for not meeting them. They see the God who smites people, seemingly at will, and even kills entire communities and nations with their women and children. Who would want to serve a God of Wrath like that? Then the New Testament ushers in the Loving God, who even first appeared as a sweet baby. He grew up to be a gentle, loving, and forgiving person who didn’t judge the prostitutes, lepers, or the down trodden, and lowest
Noah’s time, God had enough of man’s of society. sin and corruption and did away with This is how the Bible might be seen the entire human race apart from Noah’s at quick glance. However, a deeper family. In look will show that God “Although, you can’t earn both of those has not changed and He is both Loving AND your salvation or God’s love, s i t u a t i o n s , God made Holy (which brings about his wrath), which if you are not seeking to please a promise, has remained the same Him in response to His love for to Adam, it since the beginning. would be that you, then you should examine After creation, when a redeemer Adam and Eve sinned, whether you’re in the family of would come, to Noah, God’s holiness could a rainbow not allow them into God.” showed that his presence without a God would never flood the earth again. covering for that sin. They were also Later, the family of Abraham was driven out of the garden and would eventually see death-the end of life. In blessed and promised provision,
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protection and the hope of a redeemer. The Law given to Moses required the Jewish people to follow rules in many areas of life and worship. The rules (or Law) was given to keep them separate from the pagan cultures so that Israel would remain “Holy” and His Chosen people. Even the dietary laws were established in order to keep the people heathy. Yes, God showed His power and might and did so to provide and protect His people at times. He also demonstrated that He was not to be taken lightly and some were taught a harsh or even fatal lessons. Throughout the Kingdom of Israel,
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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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INSPIRATION By April James Louis Armstrong sang a song titled “What A Wonderful World”. You may look around and say “seriously, do you not see the news covered with crime, terrorism, reports of disasters, heart breaking stories, and gloomy predictions?” It’s a wonderful or bleak and dreary world, depending on how we choose to look at it. Proverbs 11:27 “If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!” This is a day the Lord has created. You and I are a child He also created and purposed to be in this day. He has plans for us to walk out; our surrendered heart and yielded spirit is what he waits for. As we take his hand, trust in him and let him lead, it can be an exciting journey with our senses opened as never before, our eyes seeing fresh and new things, seeing old things in new ways. We will understand what previously escaped us. When we yield to his presence as we begin each day, then it shall be a day as no other, there is no hum-drum life in his presence, it is vibrant, exciting, full of life, hope, and possibilities. It is not looking at life through rose colored glasses but looking at life through the eyes of the Lord; shifting our focus onto things that could be, looking beyond the exterior to what lies beneath, to the possibilities. What has God put inside someone else that is just waiting to be recognized, to have our encouraging words spoken causing it to bloom and take flight. What treasure is hidden under the dirt the world has
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thrown on top of it? A treasure just waiting for someone with eyes to see, who will release a fresh breath of life giving words across a wounded spirit allowing the hidden gems to sparkle and shine in the light of God’s love. This is a wonderful world; let’s choose to see through new eyes the possibilities in it. Let’s brush off the tarnish caused by sins exposure, with words of hope and life. I see trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom, for me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world. I see skies of blue, and clouds of white, The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself What a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of people going by. I see friends shaking hands, sayin’, “How do you do?” They’re really sayin’, “I love you.” I hear babies cryin’. I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know And I think to myself What a wonderful world Songwriters: George David Weiss, George Douglas, Bob Thiele
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By Jon Skillman Every now and then, I come to the realization that I’m not where I should or want to be…and more important, not where God wants me to be. This usually happens when I unknowingly step in, what I call slowsand. Unlike quicksand in which you are acutely aware you are sinking, slowsand pull you back into the world at such a gradual rate it is virtually imperceptible…tiny baby steps that inch me away from God. Well unbeknownst to me, I had been mired in slowsand for the last couple of months or so and my perceptions and attitudes toward certain people had been creeping toward ungodly. The first indication of this hit me while preparing an article for the April issue of the Ambassador. I had finished the first draft of what I thought was pretty good piece, and while I read it over I thought to myself; ‘Oh this is brilliant, edgy, biting and…wait a minute…this is hateful, mean and divisive. Where in the heck did all this come from? Being up against a deadline, I quickly wrote a disclaimer, filed the edges a bit and had my trusted proofreader give it the once over. She gave it a shoulder shrugging two thumbs sideways critique and against my better judgment, I sent it off. Well, Seth Halpern, being the good editor he is, confirmed my trepidations and
asked me to rework it to tone it down. Sometimes it stings a little but I always thank God for good counsel. Anyway, my concerns about the article were soon overcome by concerns about how I, a confessing Christian, became such an angry and hateful doofus? In hindsight, being an opinion writer brings with it a certain amount of negativity. Writing about lifestyles that go against God and those who condone them puts me in an adversarial stance. Taking a stand against those who threaten my religious freedoms and a government that has turned it back on God tends to make me a little testy. I lost my focus on God, and left to my own devises, I became angry and hateful…two things God really frowns upon. 1 John 2:9 tells me “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.” Yikes! I was in the dark because I had turned away from the light. Jesus tells me my anger towards another will bring the same judgment as if I had actually murdered them (Matthew 5:21,22). This experience has taught me several important lessons. Stay focused on God. Hate is a very poor witness. Anger makes me mad, and beware of slowsand. I Praise God for the grace given me through faith in His son Jesus Christ, and I thank Him for good Christian counsel.
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INSPIRATION
Testimony of God’s Grace • From Client to Director A Story of God’s Work on Both Sides of The Salvation Army Depot! My Name is Ricky Dwayne Millhollin Sr. I am blessed to be the father of 6 beautiful children and 5 adorable grandchildren. I have also been blessed by the Lord with a wife of 28 years, Bobette, who has stood by my side through some of the toughest times I have ever faced. I am a lifelong resident of Yuba and Sutter Counties and have felt the sting of homelessness, addiction, and despair. 10 years ago, I was at the lowest point in my life. I was homeless, jobless, and had no hope for the future due to the vicious cycle that my addiction to methamphetamine had me trapped in. On February 2, 2006, my family and I entered the doors of the local Salvation Army Depot Family Crisis Center. I was a broken and defeated man of 37 and I had nowhere else to go. My marriage was on the brink of divorce and my oldest daughter had left home at 14 to live with relatives because of the lifestyle her mother and I chose to live. That first morning, as I walked into the dining hall and saw my four youngest children and my wife eating a hot breakfast, I felt so humbled and lost that I immediately walked to the men’s restroom, leaned over the sink and looked into the mirror. Quietly I
prayed, “Lord Jesus, I don’t know how to get out of this way of life. Please Lord, show me what you would have me do to become the man You want me to be.” I stood there, stooped over the sink, silently crying and pouring my heart out the God. From that moment on, I began to earnestly take the direction that was suggested by those who ran the program and the Pastors, Captains Darren and Courtney Stratton. The love that was shown to me and my family still amazes me to this day and I poured myself into being of service to The Salvation Army and those who they serve shortly after I graduated in late June of that same year. I was blessed to be given the opportunity to work for The Salvation Army as Shelter Support and from there, over the last 10 years, I have strived to better myself to be of use, not only to The Salvation Army, but more importantly, to those we serve in the Yuba/Sutter area. I went back to school while I worked fulltime for The Salvation Army and acquired my AA in business. Then, I completed a BA in Ministry with a focus on Leadership and Ethics. Presently, I have completed all but one class for my Masters in
Business Administration before I am able to cross the stage and receive my degree! The grace, love and support that God showed my family and me through the program at The Salvation Army Depot Family Crisis Center continues to inspire me. I want to thank the previous Captains and Pastors Darren and Courtney Stratton, Tom and Kimberly Stambaugh, and our new officers, Carlos and Gildete Souza, for being great blessings to me to continue to be all that God has called me to be! We all have a calling and a purpose in life. We only need to open our hearts and souls to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to begin to feel that gentle nudge into the right direction. Today, after 10 years of sobriety and dedicated service, I have the distinct pleasure of being the Director of Residential Programs for The Salvation Army Depot Programs in the Yuba/Sutter area. I boldly stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves; To serve those who are caught up in addiction, alcoholism, or who have just lost their way and cannot see a way out of the situation they are in. I see daily the commitment and earnestness of those in our community who want to serve those in need and
feel proud to be able to stand beside them in the trenches and battle for those lost souls! God has blessed and continues to bless my life every day and it all started at a little place the locals call ‘The Depot’. The building may be old but the work that is being done there is a new beginning every day for those in the most need. Thank you for your time and may God bless you all! National Salvation Army Week is just around the corner (May 8-14) and we are celebrating 25 years at The Depot Family Crisis Center! We invite you to join us for our annual Progressive Dinner the night of May 10, starting at 5:30 pm: visiting each of our programs, hearing success stories, and having a delicious dinner along the way! RSVP is required and sponsorship opportunities are available. Please call Chaya Galicia at (530) 216-4533 for more information.
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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.
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. 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
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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. 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! 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 530632-9292
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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.
Join us from noon to 1 p.m. at the Bride Church the first Tuesday of every month for a time of encouragement, fellowship & prayer with the Christian Business Alliance All Are Welcome!!
TUESDAY SATURDAY BETHESDA HEALING WELL Saturday, April 16th 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 A NIGHT OF TALENT, A RESTORATION RAILROAD FUNDRAISER Hope Point Nazarene Church, 600 N. George Washington Blvd, Yuba City Friday, April 8th, 7-9 PM Join us for A Night of Talent, featuring local musicians and artists, local art for silent auction, raffle items, and a cake auction. Tickets are $15 and can be pre-purchased at Crosspointe or at the door. All proceeds benefit Restoration Railroad’s fight against human trafficking in Yuba-Sutter. 5K FAMILY FUN RUN/WALK Southridge Golf Course in Sutter April 17, 8:00 am - 10:00 am This is a family event for young and old alike. Strollers are welcome. Single registration is $25.00 and includes a t-shirt and bottle of water. The cost for a family registration is $40.00 and includes 2 t-shirts and 2 bottles of water. Registration opens at 7:00 am and run/walk will start at 8:00 am. Pancake breakfast served at 10:00 am. Registration form available at www. acselementary.org FAMILY TROUT FISHING DERBY TO BENEFIT YS YOUNG LIFE Collins Lake Saturday, April 23rd. 7am to Noon A fun, family-friendly fishing derby to support Y-S Young Life. Derby fees are only $20 per adult & kids are free (ages 15 & under). BBQ lunch is included for all derby participants. Lots of prizes for adults & kids. For info & derby applications, visit www.collinslake. com or (800) 286-0576. 1ST ANNUAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER FOR REST (REGIONAL EMERGENCY SHELTER TEAM) Sat Apr 23rd 9.00am - 3.30pm Blackburn Talley Park, Yuba City Jumphouse, face painting, children’s activities 2:30 p.m. Color Guard from BAFB flag salute, National Anthem Volunteer Recognition, Championship Game FIRST Pitch - Kathryn ‘Tubby’ Johnston Massar - first girl to play in Little League in 1950! Want to have your activities and events bold and highlighted in the Ambassador? Become a Sponsor and help support this ministry. Contact Seth @ 530-933-1385 or editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST Thursday, May 5 7:00 - 9:99 AM Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 100 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Tickets $18 ea or $130 table of 10 Info: Dave Kugelman 530-632-9292 Guest Speaker: Shannon Grove, Assemblywoman 34th Assembly District. Buffet Breakfast, BAFB Color Guard. Tickets available at Crosspointe Christian Books and Glad Tidings. WALK FOR LIFE & DIAPER DERBY Saturday, May 7th at 9:00 AM Ellis Lake, 12th and D Streets, Marysville Imagine a sleeping baby dreaming peacefully. Now, imagine the life that baby could lead if given the opportunity. You’re invited to come Imagine Life–– The Walk for Life is a great way to support the women and children who come to A Woman’s Friend. You are saving lives through your participation! A HAND UP MINISTRIES Annual Tri-Tip Fundraiser Friday, May 20 at 6:30pm Embassy of Heaven Campus Church of Glad Tidings - Bldg 100 1179 Eager Road, Yuba City Tickets $20 ea or $180 table of 10 Info: 530-613-2859 Guest Speaker: Joan Costa Smith - Teen Challenge Pioneer. Raised in an abusive environment and turning to a life violence and drugs, her life went spiraling out of control. But God had other plans for Joan’s life. Come hear her amazing testimony and how her life was turned around and how Joan is now helping others
Prayer Calendar for April 2016 2-Apr Marketplace Ministries-Opportunities to share at work 3-Apr Orphan children- Samaritan Village (see p. 3) and other orphanages 4-Apr Pray for our nation and the upcoming election 5-Apr Pray for the Unemployed and Underemployed 6-Apr A Woman’s Friend - Unborn children/Pregnant Women 7-Apr Marriages-Restoration and Strength 8-Apr Syrian Refugees- Pray for the displaced 9-Apr Adoptive families & birth moms 10-Apr Missionaries -Fruit, Provision 11-Apr Sex Trafficking - pray for victims 12-Apr Military, All armed forces & their families. 13-Apr The Ambassador Newspaper-Increased readership and Impact 14-Apr Teen Depression, Suicide 15-Apr Global Persecution-Safety/Courage of Believers 16-Apr Local officials and community leaders 17-Apr Middle East - For the peace of Jerusalem 18-Apr ISIS/Terrorism- pray for wisdom & strong leadership to eradicade it 19-Apr Homeless/Poor - Twin Cities Rescue Mission, A Hand Up, Salvation Army, REST 20-Apr Local ministries (see p. 3) 21-Apr Unity in and among local churches 22-Apr Christian Businesses-Ambassador Sponsors & others. 23-Apr Children and Children’s Ministries 24-Apr Singles, Single Parents, Divorce healing 25-Apr Addicted, Rehab ministries- Feather River Mens Center, Joshua House, Celebrate Recovery 26-Apr First Responders-Police, Firefighters, EMT, TIP 27-Apr Local Pastors and their families 28-Apr Hollywood- May God to touch influential people 29-Apr Local Schools- pray for students, staff, and teachers 30-Apr Caregivers of elderly and disabled
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CBA MARKETPLACE MONTHLY ••• Are You Leaking? ••• I live in the country and several winters back there were multiple days of freezing temperatures. As a result, I had several outside pipes burst that flooded different areas of my yard as well as one of my out buildings. The amount of water flowing from the broken water lines was so significant that it was very obvious that I had a problem. Needless to say, I was upset because of the time and expense it would take to fix the problem. However, broken water pipes that flooded my yard was not as bad as my new problem. Somewhere in my yard there is an underground water leak
that was (until recently) undetectable for several weeks (if not months). I only became aware of this when I noticed a steady increase in my PG&E bill from my pump running more than it should. The slow leak created more problems (and expense) than the major water lines that broke years ago. Why? One problem became evident in a few hours while the other took several weeks. I realize you don’t really care about my water pipe issues but here is the point. I have been impacted by reading a daily devotional for years. It is “My Utmost
for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers. He uses a phrase called “spiritual leakage.” I would define it as a gradual falling away from a close, committed and obedient relationship with Jesus Christ. It happens over time and is so gradual that the negative effects of that condition are not recognized until months or years later. When someone commits some grave sin and the consequences are obvious, it gives us a quick opportunity to repent and to get back on track immediately. Assess your relationship with Jesus Christ today. Be honest with yourself.
If you are leaking spiritually, fix it by recommitting yourself to Jesus Christ. Read the Word, pray, go to church, hang out (not exclusively) with other committed followers. Warning, if you do not fix your spiritual leak, it will get worse. The good news is God loves you and will be your spiritual plumber!
Jim Denison (denisonforum.org)
many feel about gay marriage. Of course, the issue is not that simple. Many civil rights leaders reject the linkage of racial issues with gay rights. And many companies that defend gay marriage have their own civil rights issues. For instance, Disney has been accused over the years of human rights violations with regard to working conditions in factories that produce their merchandise. And the NFL is embroiled in a controversy regarding its support for players at risk of cognitive damage. Nonetheless, the crusade against those who defend biblical marriage is only going to intensify in coming years. We can expect strategies such as Disney’s, which are intended to provoke a public backlash against us. What used to be orthodox Christian faith is fast becoming “religious extremism.” Two: We should choose now to defend biblical truth, whatever the cost. The time to decide that we will endure persecution for Jesus is before persecution begins. Challenges don’t produce character—they reveal it. Walt
Disney noted that some men make difficulties, while difficulties make some men. Jesus promised, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11). To live a life God can bless, decide to stand for God’s word and will. The price of today’s obedience is an investment in eternal reward.
Francis Schaeffer was right: “If you are a Christian looking for an easy ministry in a post-Christian culture where Christians are a minority, you are unrealistic in your outlook. It was not to be so in Jeremiah’s day, and it cannot be so in ours.” But the good news is that Jesus stands with those who stand for him. In light of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, can we do less?
The Walt Disney Company is threatening to stop filming in Georgia if the state’s governor signs a bill that would protect a pastor’s right not to perform gay marriage ceremonies. The bill would also “protect property owners which are religious organizations against infringement of religious freedom.” Disney owns Marvel, which has shot major films at Pinewood Studios outside Atlanta. Such a boycott would be a significant loss for the state. The NFL is also threatening to bypass Atlanta as a Super Bowl destination if the religious freedom bill is passed. What does this news mean for those of us who support biblical marriage? One: We can expect opposition to escalate. Many who oppose legislation such as the Georgia bill consider same-sex marriage to be a civil right. If a bill was proposed allowing pastors to refuse African-American weddings, I would be the first to oppose it. That’s how
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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
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Church: Gateway Calvary Chapel in Marysville Denomination: Calvary Chapel Years in current position: 6 Years in ministry: About 30 Family: Married to Chris for 36 years, with three daughters, their husbands, and 6 grandkids with one more on the way. Life Verse/passage: Now that I’m older, it is Psalm 71:17-18—“O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. Favorite book (other than the Bible): That’s a tough one. My favorite Biography would have to be The General Next to God, the story of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. Vertical Church by James MacDonald tops my list of pastoral reading.
Inspiring Person/Role Model: David Wilkerson. He knew how to hear from God and act on what he heard, come what may. “Human” (embarrassing) moment: A couple of years ago I attended a Christmas Caroling service at the Community Center up in Oregon House. We had lived in the foothills (Dobbins) for a number of years, and I always look forward to having a reason to drive back up there and see some old friends. The Community Center was a fairly recent addition to the area, and I was sort of wandering through the building being impressed with the nice facility they had built. At one point I stepped into the Men’s Room, which happened to be empty at the time. I glanced around and received a big shock. To my amazement, they had decorated the Men’s Room with pink tile! Now, I had lived in the foothills long enough to know that most of the guys up there pride themselves on their manliness. And so I’m standing there wondering whatever possessed these
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Pastor Doug & Chris Hileman rugged, outdoorsy guys to use pink tile in the Men’s Room. Looking around a little more, I spotted something else that wasn’t right. There were some very important Men’s Room plumbing fixtures missing. What were these guys thinking when they built this place? Uh-oh…It finally dawned on me that this was not the Men’s Room after all. Needless to say, I ran out of there as fast as I could. Fortunately, as far as I know, no one saw me enter or exit the Ladies Room. And to my great relief, I discovered that the actual Men’s Room
did not have a single piece of pink tile in it. Something unique/unusual you may not know about me: I have special x-ray vision that enables me to see through the bridge of my nose. (Actually, I don’t. But I thought I did when I was a kid. I think I figured out what was really happening by the time I was 8 or 9.) Message to the Community: There is no reason we can’t see the Lord Jesus
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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The The Voice Voice of of the the Christian Christian Community, Community, Serving serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Sponsor Spotlight
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9: PASTOR PROFILE do something breathtaking in our area. Something so powerful and farreaching that thousands upon thousands of people will be won into the Kingdom of God as a result. Jesus said the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. That means the potential is there, but we have to do our part for the harvest to be effective. The part we all must play as individual Christians is rather straightforward. Just three things:
• Seek first His Kingdom wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. Ministry is an activity that is intended for every believer. It is where much of the joy and power in the Christian life is experienced. We need to understand that, and act on it. So be encouraged— God has plans for this area, and that means He has plans for you. So take a little more time to seek Him regarding what specific part you might play in all of this. Doors always open for people who do the aforementioned three things. Why not be one of them?
• Be where we are supposed to be. • Do what we are supposed to do.
Business Name: LegalShield Years in Business: LegalShield- 40 yrs/ Myself as an associate- 2 yrs Slogan: “Total Access, Total Freedom” Years in Yuba-Sutter Area: 28 Hobbies: Writing
Music,
Skiing,
Hiking,
Favorite Quote/Verse: “The only thing it takes for evil to prosper is for good men and women to do nothing”Edmund Burke Inspiring Person: Lydia Prince, Grand Chief, First Nations of North America
The Ambassador Ministry
would like to thank the following people for their Individual Sponsorship
Kathy Baum Bob Gilbert Marty Brown Rich & Joan Hackney Warren & Lucy Campbell Tom Harris LaDonna Curteman Allen Halpern Chuck David April James Christine Emerson Sandi Juri Rita Galusha Sue Kochi
Clay Maynard Jim McCarty John Nicholls Carrie Pederson Wendell Prine Mimi Robarge Jeff Royce
“Hot Button”/ Passion: 1. The testimony of Jesus Christ going forth through His Body. 2. My family. 3. Ensuring God’s future for my grandchildren. Home Church: Embassy of Heaven
Stephanie Steele Why do you support The Ambassador? I support everything in the community whose goal is to build and unite our community and share the testimony of Jesus Christ in a life giving and proactive way. Message to the Community: Christ in us is the only hope for our community, and our nation and its people. Let’s let our light shine, and let that hope be seen!
God is within her she will not fail.
Psalms 46:5
God Bless Each Of You For Your Support Of This Ministry And Our Community •••
If you would be interested in supporting The Ambassador as an Individual Sponsor ($20/month) please contact Seth Halpern at: editor@ambassadornewspaper.com or call 530-933-1385 or visit us online at www.ambassadornewspaper.com
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David Holycross Helping families honor the lives of those they love since 1998
Yuba City
www.holycrossmemorial.com | (530) 751 - 7000 | License #FD1653
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The Valuable Benefits of a Spiritual Education By Dr. Ron Harden, President, EPIC Bible College and Graduate School The purpose of education is to produce a change in life for the better. That powerful statement proves that education is more than just the assimilation and amassing of facts and figures. It should improve our own life, the lives of others directly around us, as well as the lives of others around the world. A spiritual education, by its very nature, has the same betterment principle in it! From our learning, we find that there are basically
four educational elements involved, typified for us in the life of Jesus. From Luke 2:52 (Contemporary English Version ): “...Jesus grew strong , became wise. God was pleased with Him and so were the people!” What this is saying to us is that real education is imbedded in four realms: mental, moral, spiritual and social. Mental is something that involves education that has direct input from the Word of God. Partially developed education would be like a bodybuilder that has not fully developed in all areas. Maybe the athlete’s legs and
arms are strong and in good shape, but the athlete has neglected to develop the torso! Real education needs to impact our heart morally and our hands socially. What we bring into ourselves is what will affect what comes out of us and impact others. We have to use our “social legs” to “walk the talk” and impact the lives of others for the better. REAL education affects my worldview-both what I do as well as how I do it. My spiritual relationship with God comes out of my education and understanding of who He is and how He loves and cares for
Dr. Ronald Harden
President & CEO, Epic Bible College each of us so much! My love for God, and His love for me SHOULD impact what I am doing to help improve the lives and spiritual condition of my fellow human beings. That’s really where “the rubber meets the road!” My mental frame of mind will always affect me morally. My spiritual understanding of God and His purpose for my life will always have direct social impact on how my life here is designed to help others. It’s all connected in God’s great plan and we each represent a small piece. A spiritual education is a conscious effort to begin and continue on this amazing lifelong journey. Isn’t it time for you to take that inspirational first step to your spiritual education? Dr. Ronald Harden is President and CEO of Epic Bible College and Graduate School, located at 4330 Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento, www.EPIC.edu., one of the region’s Top 25 colleges and universities and among the Top 10 U.S. faith-based colleges in the U.S., now offering both undergraduate and graduate degree programs with online and standard classroom options.
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The Ambassador
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!”
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COMING SOON For Updates, Contests, and Job Opportunities:
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The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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Collins Lake Trout Fishing Derby to Benefit Young Life! On Saturday, April 23rd Yuba Sutter Young Life will host our inaugural Trout Fishing Derby at Collins Lake from 7am – Noon. Pre-Registration costs $20 for adults and, kids 15 & under are free. The cost increases by $5 on the day of the event. All DFW fishing limits & laws apply, including the requirement for state fishing license. Entry fees for Collins Lake are also additional. You can download a registration form at: http://download. collinslake.com/Young_Life_Derby_ Entry_Form_2016.pdf All participates will receive a free BBQ lunch at weigh-in. Adults will compete for cash prizes and kids will compete for non-monetary prizes. You can also participate in a raffle for several other prizes and, you can join a $10 side pot for the biggest fish, with 50% of the pot going to the winner. There will be several more raffle prizes on the day of the event but, here are some of the raffle prizes that you could be eligible to win: • $50 gift certificate to Marcello’s restaurant in YC • Two nights at Collins Lake in a rental RV trailer, donated by Rockin’ RV Rentals • Donovan Creason BBQ Gift Packages • Lunker Larry has donate a half day
starts with adults who go to kids, on their turf and in their culture, building authentic friendships. Young Life leaders log many hours with kids. They listen to their stories and learn what’s important to them because they genuinely care about their joys, triumphs, and heartaches. In Young Life, we believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically influenced when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them and because their Young Life leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose. guided fishing trip • Pro Fishing Guide Scott Feist has donated a guided fishing trip for 2 • Pro Fishing Guide Mike Wills has donated two guided fishing trips (1 for a single person and one for a group of people). • Photographer Mark Anthony-Carter donated a family photo shoot. • $75 gift basket from The Crave to help your fish taste delicious, donated by The Ambassador. To keep up with the latest fishing derby news and raffle prizes visit: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1679608875630842/ All proceeds from this fundraiser
will go towards Yuba Sutter Young Life. Young Life has been impacting the lives of high school students in the Yuba Sutter area for over 40 years. If you are unfamiliar with Young Life: We don’t start with a program. It
To learn more about Yuba Sutter Young Life you can “like” our facebook page, visit our website (yubasutter. younglife.org), or call/text Brad Distad at 530-635-5881.
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The Voice of the Christian Community, Serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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FACEBOOK INSPIRATION
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. Current members: A-1 Carpet Cleaning - (530) 673-3634 - www.a-1clean.com George Barlow - The Crave - (530) 790-0792 Kathy Baum - Operation Christmas Child - (916) 747-2212 Ron Brasier - A Hand Up Ministry - (530) 671-1360 Marty Brown - KCYC-LP FM - (530) 674-5296 Kathleen Caldwell - City of Live Oak - (530) 695-2112 Fred Cox - Richard's Tree Service - (530) 673-7993 LaDonna Curteman - Band Together for Christ - ladonna.curteman@gmail.com Chuck David Carol Dodds - A Woman’s Friend - (530) 741-9136 Stephen Elliot- Ad Lucem Tax Services - (530) 329-8685 Trey Fulton- Church Alive- churchaliveyc.org Dennis & Connie Gable - Operation Christmas Child - (530) 695-1495 Rita Galusha Steve & Cash Gilliss - Crosspointe Christian Books - (530) 673-6188 Pamela Givans John Guth - Guth & Changaris, A Prof Law Corp - (530) 674-9841 Seth Halpern - Ambassador Newspaper - editor@ambassadornewspaper.com Kurt Hilbers - Hilbers Inc - www.hilbersinc.com Arlene Hite - Bridges to Housing - (530) 755-3414 David Hobbs Painting - Cont. Lic#880562 (530)742-2428 David Holycross - Holycross Memorial - (530) 751-7000 Bill Jens - Yuba Sutter Healthy Marriage Project - (530) 671-6069 Al Jolley - Teen Challenge - (530) 300-0712 Cornell U. Kay - Integrity Chamber of Commerce - (916) 969-0205 Dave Kugelman - Proforma by Kug - (530) 742-2423 Bill & Sonja Lindholm- RVOC - (530) 329-8361 Clay Maynard - Consultant - (530) 790-6611 Jim McCarty - Trinity Living Systems - trinityls@yahoo.com Jerry Munz - JM Construction Co. - (530) 682-5316 Maria Paras Ernie Phelan - Intero Real Estate Svcs - (530)-790-7000 Ronda Putman Roger Shadd - Shadd Janitorial Supply - (530) 673-0083 George Shaw- Serving Our Saviour - (530) 671-3303 Robert Stark - Retired Auditor/Controller - stark@otnusa.com Dwayne Tanabe - Taylor Accountancy Corp - dktanabe@yahoo.com Jenine Tanabe - Jenine L. Tanabe, MD Dematology - (530) 743-0301
For weekly reminders, updates, or to join email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
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The Ambassador
Some people want to be with God and his Son Jesus when they leave this world; others don’t. You can tell who is who easily enough. Those who want God and Jesus in their lives now are the ones who want to be with them in eternity. In the end, both groups will get what they really want. They’ll get what they’ve chosen. God wants you to choose him. He wants you to know him and to live forever as his beloved child, as a full member of his glorious heavenly family. He loves you and wants you to love him. You don’t have to love God, but you should. Not just because he’s God, but because he’s good – truly good. So good that he willingly paid an incomprehensible price to redeem you – to save you from your sins, to make you his child, and to give you glory and immortality instead of the judgment we
all deserve. He sent his eternal Son, Jesus, to take your place in judgment so that he might remain just while declaring you “not guilty”. Jesus died for you, but the story doesn’t end there. God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion, just as Jesus had foretold, thereby confirming that he is the Savior of mankind whom God had promised to Adam and Eve—the one whom all the prophets of old had foretold. This is good news! Jesus conquered death to live forever, and not just for himself. He conquered death for all who trust in him. And this is why God has now commanded that all people everywhere should repent of their sins and believe in his Son Jesus, trusting in him as Lord and Savior. Have you trusted in him? There is no more important question in all the world.- Cale Judd
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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FACEBOOK INSPIRATION The older you get the more it takes to fill your heart with wonder, and only God is big enough to do that. Not only is He big enough, but He is also near enough. How do you find that wonder? May I suggest to you, dear friends, that it
is not in argument, nor is it in mere dogma. There is a clue to meaning in our experiences—that clue is in relationships. The centerpiece of history is Jesus Christ Himself, and you will find unending wonder in a relationship with Him. - Ravi Zacharias
Newcastle Yuba City
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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.
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RESOURCES One of the most common investments that people have is a real estate rental. It is also one of the most common issues to complicate a return. If you rent out a house or a room in your house, you will need to report the rental income you received and deduct the expenses you incurred to rent out that property. These are reported on Schedule E of Form 1040. Some of the most common expenses claimed on a rental house are mortgage interest, real estate taxes, management fees, repairs, insurance, and any utility costs not paid by the renter. While the claiming of these expenses is optional, one expense, which is not, is depreciation. Depreciation is the method of allocating the cost of a tangible asset, like a house, over its useful life. Businesses depreciate longterm assets for both tax and accounting purposes. When you convert an asset, such as a house, into a rental or use in a business, you must depreciate it. You figure the depreciation on the lower of your adjusted basis (The purchase cost plus any improvements to the asset minus any “allowed and allowable depreciation”) or the fair market value of the asset at the time of conversion. The useful life of a rental house is
generally 27.5 years for tax purposes. Depreciation “allowed” is defined as depreciation actually deducted when filing your taxes (from which you received a tax benefit). Depreciation “allowable” is depreciation you’re “entitled” to deduct, but didn’t necessarily deduct for tax purposes. The reason you need to claim this deduction is because your taxable gain on the sale of the rental house is the sales price minus the adjusted basis
WINDOW COVERINGS, INC. BLINDS SHUTTERS SHADES COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL CARL & MELODY BOUCHER PH (530) 755-3474
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minus sale expenses. Thus, if you do not claim the depreciation you’re entitled to deduct, you must still reduce the property’s basis by the full amount of allowable depreciation! But few, other than accountants and tax professionals, know about this issue. “It is well with the man who deals
generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.” Psalm 112:5. You should keep a record of the income you receive and the expenses you paid. Generally, you should keep these records for up to three years in case you are audited or need to file an amended return. In addition, you should keep a record of what you paid for the rental house (usually the HUD-1 or loan settlement statement) and the costs of any improvements until the house is sold. Stephen A. Elliott: I am an Enrolled Agent with Ad Lucem Tax Service and I have over 12 years of income tax experience. We have affordable rates. If you need help with filing your federal or state income tax return, give me a call at (530) 329-8685.
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LIFE MATTERS presented by Yuba-Sutter Right To Life Forgiveness After Abortion
By Heather Pugh He is Risen, Hallelujah! The good news of the selfless sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection three days later is that we no longer need to be shackled to our sinful nature. Past or even current sins can be forgiven and all we need do is be truly sorry for them and ask for forgiveness! But sometimes we feel that what we have done is so awful that we do not deserve to be forgiven. We feel that God could not possibly forgive us for what we have done. Judas Iscariot fell headlong into this feeling of despair when he took his own life after betraying Jesus with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver. But God’s love for each and every one of us is so all-encompassing that it covers any and all sins. Especially those we keep hidden, those that wake us up at night in a cold sweat, those that haunt us, and those that fill us with a sorrow so permeating we are no longer able to see light. God forgives you! This is truly good news! The hardest part may be in forgiving yourself. If you have had an abortion, there is forgiveness and healing. God does love you.
There are many resources for postabortive women to find healing and to restore their relationship with God, their spouse, and themselves. A Woman’s Friend has “Lives Set Free!”, which is an abortion recovery program available to both men and women. Call 741-0556 to find out more or to make an appointment. Project Rachel has weekend retreats (the next one being May 1-3) which guide you through the healing process. Call 1-888-HOPE-790 to find out more information. Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion is a book written by Dr. Theresa Burke. It can be purchased through Amazon. Silent No More Awareness is a Campaign whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion. Their website is SilentNoMoreAwareness.org. Pray and share your story with your minister, priest, or trusted friend. Please don’t suffer in silence. And please know and believe with every fiber of your being that you are loved by God. He will forgive you, if you but ask.
RESOURCES 10 Ways You Can Help The Ambassador Ministry 1. Pray with us and for us to not only sustain but to grow in impact. Pray for our health and for spiritual protection 2. Read it yourself – You will be enriched by reading it. 3. Share a copy or an article with someone- you will have someone in your life benefit from an article in every issue, cut it out and send it to them, or send them the whole issue 4. Leave a copy of The Ambassador when you’re having coffee or a meal or waiting for your car. Use it like a tract. It may be less intimidation. 5. Monitor The Ambassador at your church: assure their presence and visibility 6. Subscribe for a friend or family member (or yourself)
7. Find new locations- ask businesses that you frequent to take some papers, deliver and monitor them 8. Deliver a small route- 1 to 2 hours each month 9. Give financially as an Individual partner, business partner, churches/ ministries partner (every dollar helps to impact the community) 10. Talk to your like-minded Christian friends, family, business associates and church leadership, about helping as well.
If you would like to help, please contact Seth Halpern at 530-933-1385 or email editor@ambassadornewspaper.com
• Church Bulletin Bloopers •
• Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. • Potluck supper, prayer and medication to follow. • Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. • Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be give to the church secretary.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1: GOD OF WRATH OR GOD OF LOVE? God sent prophets to warn the people that their sin would bring disaster. He always sought to bring the people back to Him. Why? Because of His Love. All the while, God provided a way be right with Him and enjoy His love and provision. Man usually rebelled and then suffered for it. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God told them “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” That has always been the heart of God. Just as people often think of the God of the Old Testament as the God of Wrath, they envision the New Testament God once of Love. It is true that “God is Love”. It says so in 1 John 4:7,8 . Jesus did show grace to the lepers, demon possessed, prostitutes and others abandoned by society. However, He also used scathing words towards the religious leaders. Let’s not forget that He told us that to follow Him, we would need to take up our “cross”. The cross is not appealing. It represents death. He was speaking of death to self, which is our own will and any desires that are not part of God’s will. Ananias and Sapphira, two “believers” gave some money to help
the church- but they didn’t give all that they said they did. They lied to God. They were both killed by God! It was to show that you don’t “mess with” God! He is Righteous and will not be made a fool of or mocked (Gal 6:7) Later in the New Testament, we are told that God will not allow people into Heaven who continue to sin without confessing and repenting before God. In His love, He provided a sacrifice, the only sacrifice that would once and for all pay for the entire cost of our sin. It is like the sentence handed down to the criminal by the judge. Except in this case, Jesus “does the time”. Up until that time, God instituted a system of animal sacrifice that would bring temporary forgiveness. Yet, now by giving up His only Son, Jesus, there would never be further need for forgiveness. Jesus death on the cross was not simply to demonstrate the horrible end of a wonderful man and profound teacher. It was the fulfillment of God’s plan from the beginning. It was the plan that was promised as early as when Adam sinned. Why the need for a sacrifice? Why couldn’t God just overlook the sins of mankind? Because of His Holiness and Righteousness. Nothing sinful can be anywhere near God. Only complete purity can be in His presence. We could never get there
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on our own. So, because God is Holy and Just, His justice requires payment for the sin. The only payment that would satisfy that would be the purity of a perfect sacrifice. This is why God the Father had to offer Jesus His Son, who willingly gave His life for us. All of our sins have been paid for by the blood shed of Jesus on the cross. Many years ago, it was much more common to hear about the God of Holiness and Wrath in our churches. The Fear of God was taught, possibly to the neglect of the Love of God. In fact, in the 18th century a prolific preacher, writer and theologian named Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. People responded by confessing their sins and repenting. It helped to usher in the revival of the First Great Awakening. Today, it is rare to hear these kinds of messages from pulpits. They would be seen as legalistic and certainly not “seeker-friendly”. We have nowadays all kinds of marketing and fun activities to bring people to our churches. There is nothing wrong with people enjoying one another in the Lord. The point is that it used to be the truth of God’s Word (even the seemingly difficult passages) that turnrf hearts to God. Today, many churches (not all) rely on a feel-good, empowering kind of messages because they want people leave feeling good
about themselves and more importantly to come back next week. This is a shame because there are some megachurches that you can watch on TV speaking a message of love, that is devoid of truth. Yes, God is Love but He is also Holy, Righteous and Just. The “Love-only” message tells people that God is ok with whatever you do. That’s simply not true. Although, you can’t earn your salvation or God’s love, if you are not seeking to please Him in response to His love for you, then you should examine whether you’re in the family of God. Now, if we want to be in the presence of God in this life as well as the one to come after we die physically, we need to believe that Jesus paid that price. Then, we need to repent of our sinful ways that don’t please God. Galatians 5:24 says that we are to “Crucify ourselves” meaning do what Jesus did on the cross, but do it to our selfish, ungodly desires. As the saying goes, “We are not Free TO Sin, but Free FROM Sin” We no longer are bound to the sinful nature. God has always loved us. A human father disciplines his child to correct him out of love for his child. He doesn’t give everything the child wants or he will grow up spoiled and disrespect his father. So it is with God. Yes, He is One and the same God- The Holy God of Wrath and the Wonderful God of Love!
• Church Bulletin Bloopers • • Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. • The Low Self- Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7:00. Please use the back door. • Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
The Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
WWW.AMBASSADORNEWSPAPER.COM
March 7, 2016
Seth, I just wanted to thank you for your newspaper – The Ambassador. What a wonderful representation of the Christian community brought together in unity and purpose within the Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties. Previously, I had lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and would often visit my brother and sister-in-law and family here in Yuba City. And while visiting I would discuss my thoughts and dreams regarding a potential retirement location. On one of these visits, they drove me all around Yuba City and Sutter showing me the many different neighborhoods, stores, and outdoor places like parks, rivers, Sutter Buttes, and wild life preserves. I saw many things that I like to do and enjoy. But most of all, my sister-in-law gave me a copy of the Ambassador. Wow ! Your newspaper is a great way to connect, encourage, and showcase the many Christian resources and events in the area. I knew after reading the Ambassador that I would find many like-minded people to connect with in worship and service to our Lord Jesus. Thank you for your work in publishing the Ambassador each and every month. Yours truly, Rita Galusha Happy Yuba City Resident
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EDITORIAL Beware: Praying or Preying? From the “Are you kidding me?” files comes a story of Benjamin Rogovy who created and ran the Christian Prayer Center which has amassed 1.3 million Facebook likes. The CPC prays for people who are in desperate need …and charges them! But the worst part is, are you ready… it’s all a fake! That’s right, unsuspecting people in need of prayer contact the “prayer center” and give them between $9 and $35 to offer prayers for them. But it’s all a scam. Rogovy uses a fake name for the “pastor” of CPC and another name for the director. All the while Rogovy has been bilking people out of 7.5 million dollars! More than 125,000 people made over 400,000 transaction with the fraudulent business. To lend credibility, Rogovy posts fabricated testimonials of phony people who got jobs, healings, and other answers to prayer. It’s absolutely sickening! Well, he’s been found out and now has to pay it all back. Frankly, that’s the least of his problems. I would not want to be in his shoes when judgement day comes. But what of the poor, desperate victims. Ok, maybe they’ll get their money back (or maybe not). To me, more significant than the money is the heartbreaking and tragic biblical ignorance that would lead someone to pay for prayer. Sure, there are plenty of TV evangelists who will imply that God will bless you more if you send in money, but to really believe that a genuine prayer to God would cost
Seth Halpern - Editor money?? Maybe I’m not outside my comfort zone enough, but the people I’ve seen who needed prayer (even unbelievers) would think to go to the nearest church or even open a Bible. It’s scary to me that some people in this nation would be so unaware of our God and our faith that they would think they have to pay for it. Perhaps they just believed the fake testimonials and thought it would be faster and more convenient to pay a little bit to get their prayers answered. I had several simultaneous feelings when I read this story: Anger (or righteous indignation) toward the scammer; sadness and even frustration that innocent people could be so gullible; and personally convicted that maybe I don’t speak the truth enough and talk to hurting people enough to where they wouldn’t have to resort to paying for God’s free help. I’m wondering if this would have happened and grown to be so large if the church (us) would be doing a better job of offering hope to those who need it.
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 Voice of the Christian Community, serving Yuba, Sutter, and Butte Counties
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