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Saturday, July 24, 2010 – Daily News – 3B Religion Faith&Worship Identificational repentance versus retribution Red Bluff would like to thank the follwing sponsors for their generous donations to our Ecuadorian Dinner and Silent Auction Red Bluff Auto Electric Rio Skin and Body Works Main Street Auto Spa The Final Touch Salon The Gold Exchange Amundson Fitness N. Wright Bell Carter Cassidy’s Auto Lube Barbara Luzzadder Dandylions Children’s Shop Tom Frantz Paint Mart The Big Picture Tehama Tire Napa Auto & Truck Parts Lucky Chinese Burger King Sevillano Links Golf Western Truck Parts & Equipment Disneyland Resort Kimberli Frantz Great America Amusement Park Bell Carter Need 2 Speed Hawes Ranch Supply Countryside Cafe Alicia Valencia Oasis Fun Center Montana Morrison Round Table Pizza McDonald’s The Dallas Cowboys Water Works Park Growney Motors Reflections Salon Red Bluff Art Gallery Alsco, Inc. M & M Ranch House Mr. Pickle’s La Corona Restaurant Prime Cinemas North State Starter and Alternator Exchange William J. Moore. DDS Gerrie Pavon The Cutting Edge Salon Lisa Thompson Durango RV Resort Baskin Robbins Luigi’s Pizza Libby Coates Tim Frantz Plum Crazy Salon Bill Knight Flower Boutique & Gifts Wilcox Oaks Golf Club Karen Moras R & R Furniture Camby Weston Strawberry Weber Peking Restaurant Pronto Market Chrissie Clapp Katrina Botell Curtis Wong, MD Open Systems Imaging Lee-Anne McClellon Your contributions will go to enrich the lives of the children at For His Children Orphanage in Quito and Latacunga, Ecuador. Thank you so much for your support! This is the first in a two-part series on repentance versus retribution. Several years ago I was invited to a gathering of First Nations tribes in Shasta County. They were making a treaty with each other and asked me to speak on behalf of the majority church. When I stood before them I found myself reading Micah 6:8 – "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I added that we of the Church had often failed to walk out that simple instruction in our dealings with Native people. I asked that they not judge God by the bad behavior of some of His people. I pledged to live toward them in terms of that scripture from that day on. Many came up to me after I spoke to thank me for what I had said, and to say that they would live toward me and mine in the same way as God helped them to do it. What happened at the tribal gathering is an example of what is called identifi- cational repentance. It is an act of repen- tance undertaken on behalf of others. It cannot be done – it should be noted – with no connection to the heart of the repenting person. I know my own heart was once hardened against the people I knew as Indians; when I repent for my own people of European descent I am also repenting for myself. But the act of identificational repentance goes beyond my personal repentance, and its impact – when God has called it forth – reaches to the heavens themselves. Some Christians have a problem with the concept. They know that Christ paid for all sin on the cross, but they imagine that we can only repent for our own per- sonal sin. They need to read the Old Tes- tament books of Isaiah (Ch. 6); Nehemi- ah (Ch. 1); and Daniel (Ch. 9) for open- ers. They can then move on to Hosea and Jeremiah; they can spend some time in the psalms. The Old Testament is chock full of prophets and other holy men who recognize God’s call on their lives to be icons of the repentance – the turning away from the personalities we have cre- ated for ourselves and toward the per- sons God has intended for us to become – to which He calls His people. From that perspective the true awe of Jesus’ act of repentance on the Cross – "Not my will but Thine," He said – becomes clear and evident. Every time we offer ourselves as ambassadors of reconciliation we make an act of identificational repentance. Unfortunately, the enemy seeks to coun- Jim Wilson GodTalk terfeit even this – and with devastating effect in our time. The counterfeit also has a name – it is identifica- tional retribution. It is all about making a representative scape- goat of someone because we identify them with some group or people against whom we have a grievance. Sept. 11, 2001 was a massive event of identificational retri- bution. That is to say that violent men who believed they had a grievance against the American government decided to make passengers on a group of airplanes answer for that grievance. They held innocent civilians – and police, fire and rescue workers – accountable for sins they believed committed by others. It is the polar opposite of identificational repentance. The one makes people accountable without their consent; the other accepts a free offer of accountabil- ity. The one isolates a group for punish- ment; the other enters into community for the sake of reconciliation. The one partakes of death; the other ushers in new life. This form of retribution expresses itself in ways that may not involve phys- ical death, but it always partakes of the culture of death. When we hate the members of an ethnic group, a political party, or a Christian denomination – and let’s remember that God equates hatred with any form of rejection – we engage in identificational retribution for some injury we attribute to some member or members of that group – whether real or imagined. The bottom line is that the folks we hate are rarely present when our hatred slakes its hunger for blood. We take it out on whoever we can find to designate as a stand-in for the ones we really want to strike. It is not rocket science to see that God honors the one and grieves over the other. It is just as self-evident that iden- tificational retribution is the flip-side of repentance. Jim Wilson leads PrayNorthState — a regional ministry of prayer, proclamation and reconciliation — and can be reached at praynorthstate@charter.net or at 941-3470. His radio programs are heard weekly on KBLF Red Bluff, at AM 1490. Tehama County Church Directory HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS 816 Walnut St. - Red Bluff ABUNDANT LIFE FELLOWSHIP — 21080 Luther Rd. — Pastor J.E. Heitman 528-2499 — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM Red Bluff.... ANTELOPE HOME FELLOWSHIP(SBC) — Berrendos School — 401 Chestnut St 200-4112 — Pastor John Bohrer — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY — 1321 Nelson Dr., Red Bluff. — 527-8541 Pastor Rudy Cepeda — WORSHIP — Sunday 1:00PM & Friday 7PM BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD — 625 Luther Rd. — 527-0445 Pastor Ron Fortenberry — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM CALVARY CHAPEL — 12375 Paskenta Rd. — 527-8219 Pastor Gilbert DeLao Jr. — WORSHIP — Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1605 Park Ave. — 527-3036 Evangelist Gary Dent — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6:30PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Antelope-545 Berrendos 529-2506 — Bishop James Beeman — SERVICES Begin Sunday 11:00AM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Red Bluff-545 Berrendos 527-7012 — Bishop Earl Wintle — SERVICES Begin Sunday 9:00AM COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH — 598 Round -Up Ave. 527-4203 Pastor Dr. Paul Wright — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM & 6PM CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF GOD — Hwy. 36, Jorgenson 527-9210 — Pastor Roy Duggins — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM & 5PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH — 501 Pine St. — 527-4361 Pastor Bruce Cloutier — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH — Hickory & Madison — 527-4688 Pastor Dan Woolery — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM FIRST CHURCH OF GOD — Jackson & Luther — 527-5717 Pastor Rod Thompson — WORSHIP — Saturday 6PM & Sunday 10:15AM FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE — Johnson & Hickory — 527-3361 Pastor Jesse Morris — WORSHIP — 10:30 AM FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH — 585 Kimball Rd. — 527-5083 Pastor Tom Turner — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — 525 David Ave. — 527-5754 Rev. Kate O’Leary— WORSHIP — Sunday 9:30AM GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, IND. FUND. — 12830 Glasgow Dr. — 527-2964 Pastor Jeff Eldred — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM LAKE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHURCH — Lake Club — 347 6970 Jim Bredow, Pastor — WORSHIP — Sunday 8:30AM-10:15AM LUTHERAN CHURCH, ST. PAUL — Jefferson & Elm — 527-3414 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke — WORSHIP — Sunday 8:30AM & 11AM NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH — 1625 Johnson St. — 527-8134 Pastor Vern Milliken — SERVICE — 10:00AM NEW HOPE FOURSQUARE CHURCH — 925 Walnut St. — 528-0642 PastorS Steve and Linda Priest — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM — Youth, Thurs. 6:00 PM NORTH VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH (Ind.) — 345 David Ave — 527-0543 Pastor Mark Roberts — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:50AM NUEVA VIDA — 11841 Hyw 99W — Red Bluff — Spanish-speaking Pastor Freddie Villasenor — WORSHIP — Sunday 11:00AM Red Bluff.... OPEN VISTAS AWARENESS CENTER — 900 Walnut St. — 529-9285 Rv. Tresha Wing — SERVICE — Sunday 10:00AM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — Jefferson & Hickory St. — 527-0372 The Rev. Beth Whittier, Pastor — SUMMER SERVICES at 9:30A.M. PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD — 370 Kimball Rd. — 527-6346 Pastor Mike Cox — WORSHIP — Sunday 11:00AM RED BLUFF COWBOY CHURCH — Hampton Inn, Round-Up Room Pastor Coy Huffman — For infomation call 209-559-9965 RED BLUFF GOSPEL ASSEMBLY — 836 Washington St. — 529-9909 Pastor John A. Partsch — WORSHIP — Sunday 1:30PM - Wednesday 7PM SABBATH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN — 705 So. Jackson St. — 529-1890 Pastor Ron Largent — WORSHIP — Saturday 10:45AM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH — 515 Main St. — Father Joyle T. Martinez MASS — Saturday 5:15, Spanish 7PM — Sunday 8:30AM, 10:30AM, Spanish 12PM THE SALVATION ARMY — 944 Walnut St. — 527-8530 Majors Frank & Susan Severs, Pastors — SERVICES — Sunday 10AM & 11AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH — 720 S. Jackson — 527-3733 Pastor Jon Spoolman — WORSHIP — Saturday 10:45AM SHEPHERD HOUSE OF PRAYER — 601 Monroe St. 529-5350 — Pastor Brent Kohler — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH — Jefferson & Elm — 527-5205 Rev. Maryly Adair — Sunday 9:30AM, Holy Eucharist Rite II SUNRISE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP — C.B.A. — The corner of Cedar & Jackson — 527-6818 Pastor Byron Shaw, Pat Hurton — WORSHIP — 10:50AM — Bible Study 9:30AM TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL — 8529 Placer Rd., Redding 243-5726 — For service dates & times — 529-9246 TRINITY LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH — 20920 Hampton Rhodes Drive — 528-8668 Pastor Tim Chambers — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM - Wednesday 7:00PM TRUTH TABERNACLE — 285 Gilmore Road, Red Bluff — 527-5533 Pastor Sam Howard — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM - Sunday School 9:30AM UNION SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH — 1256 Walnut St. Bidwell School Cafeteria — 840-6177 Pastor Robert M. Wheatley — WORSHIP — Sunday 3PM only UNITED CHURCH OF GOD — 645 Antelope Blvd. Suite 13 — 824-3657 Elder Dick King — WORSHIP — Saturday 12:30PM VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP — 738 Walnut St. — 527-2449 Pastor Steve Igarta — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN CENTER — RHEMA Bible Church 435 Round Up Ave. — 527-9065 — Pastor Michael Ragsdale — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM ZION CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES — 836 Washington St. 529-1836 — Pastor Joshua John McKim — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM Bowman... COMMUNITY CHURCH — Bowman Rd. & Landes — 347-6130 Pastor Mark Lugg — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM This directory sponsored by: Los Molinos.... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — Sherwood & Josephine 527-3490 — Pastor Kathleen Smith — WORSHIP 11AM MILL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH — HWY 99E and Taft St., 384-1564 — Pastor Carl DeBiase — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM SPIRIT OF LIFE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD — 25235 Orange St. — 824-0659 Pastor Randy Cosby — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Corning... BELIEVERS CHURCH OF GOD — 783 Solano St. — 824-6502 Pastor Dan Steigmn — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM BETHEL CHURCH — 1520 East St. — 824-0175 Ron Cottingham, Pastor — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1418 South St. — 824-3603 WORSHIP — Sunday — 10:30AM CHURCH OF CHRIST — 1440 Yolo St. — 824-4333 David King, Minister — WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM & 6PM CHURCH OFJESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — Marguerite & Blackburn — Bishop A. Daniel Drum — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM CORNING FOURSQUARE — 404 5th Street — 824-5776 Rev. Sue Duffy WORSHIP — Sunday: adults 9:15, 10:30 AM — Tues.10AM prayer meeting FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH — Marin & Pear Sts. — 824-0989 Pastor Joycel — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM & 6PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH — 506 Colusa St. — 824-3490 Pastor Chris Fissori — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:15AM — Sunday School 9AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH — 1421 Marin St. — 824-5739 WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — 824-5535 — Marguerite & McLane Pastor Howard Sanborn— WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM HARVEST CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH OF GOD — 1006 6th St. Corning 824-2091 — Pastor Michael Sharp — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH — 824-5879 — 814 Solano St. Father Juan Manuel Ponce — MASS — Sunday 10AM, 12:00PM - Spanish MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH — 341 Solano St. — 824-5530 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM NEIGHBORHOOD FULL GOSPEL CHURCH — 901 South St. — 824-2323 Pastor Ken Killinger — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:50AM & 6PM NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY CHURCH — 824-3426 Pastor J.R. Gonzales — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:00AM - Sunday School 9AM OLIVE BRANCH BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP — 565 1st St. — 824-3661 — SERVICE — Sunday 10:30 AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH — West & Butte — 824-2153 Pastor Jose Torres — WORSHIP — Saturday 11AM ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH — First & Marin Sts. — 824-4979 Pastor Maryly Adair — CHURCH — Sunday 11AM TRUTH TABERNACLE — 1308 Solano. — 824-4586 Pastor Ed Schaefer — WORSHIP — Sunday 2PM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — 824-5841 — East & Solano Pastor Ray Watkins — WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM AUTO ELECTRIC INC. 1055 Main St. - Red Bluff 527-5170 Vina... VINA COMMUNITY CHURCH — 5th & D Street — 839-2340 Pastor Larry Peterson — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Cottonwood... ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER — 19019 Gaspoint Road — 347-9208 Pastor Doug Hamblin — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM ASSEMBLY OF GOD — Gaspoint Road — 347-3313 Pastor Bob Whitman — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:45AM & 6PM FOURSQUARE CHURCH — 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH — 11220 Hwy. 99E — 527-2329 Pastor Kathleen Smith —WORSHIP — Sunday 9AM El Camino... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH — Hwy. 99W — 385-2314 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Curie — WORSHIP — Sunday 9:30AM SHADY REST FULL GOSPEL CHURCH — 7211 Hwy. 99W 385-2155 — Pastor Andrew Dalson — WORSHIP — Saturday 7PM Gerber... BAHA’I FAITH OF TEHAMA COUNTY — 22870 Reno Ave., Gerber 385-1091 FAITH HOPE LOVE MINISTRIES — 21941 Chard Ave. 385-1431 — Pastor Ina Driggers — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM GERBER BIBLE FELLOWSHIP — 301 Samson @ Ventura 385-1718 — WORSHIP — Sunday 10AM Las Flores... LAS FLORES FULL GOSPEL — 9662 San Benito Pastor Rev. Elroy & Martha Lake — WORSHIP — 10:00AM Wed. 6PM Manton... MANTON COMMUNITY CHURCH — Forward Rd. — 474-5156 Pastor Michael Stiener —WORSHIP — Sunday School 9:30 Sun. 10:45 Platina... ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA MONASTERY — Begum Gorge Rd. Abbot Herman — LITURGY — Sunday 8:30AM Rancho Tehama... COMMUNITY CHURCH (Non-Den.) — 585-2526 WORSHIP — Sunday 11AM CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES — 585-2975 Pastor Don Luke — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM/6:00PM Tehama... ASSEMBLY OF GOD — Third St. — 384-2603 Pastor Walter Bright — WORSHIP — Sunday 10:30AM 11:15 AM & 6PM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH — 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D — MASS — Sunday 8:00AM - English RED BLUFF