Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/349217
Godhasgiven no more beautiful gift than the sexual union He makes possible between a husband and wife. It is the fullest ex- pression of "having one's back" — un- derstood as total commit- ment. There is good and credible evidence the Jews invented romantic love as expressed in their prac- tice of kissing and mak- ing love in the frontal po- sition, making possible the intimate engagement — looking one another in the eye — we associate with "knowing" in the Bibli- cal sense. Sexual union is also the way we give birth to children whose purpose is to provide an opportu- nity for sacrificial love as much as to reproduce our species. This approach to union is unique to human- kind. God clearly intended this as His gift from the beginning. A proper trans- lation of Genesis 2:18 reads literally, "one who can look him in the face," as egalitarian a term as anyone could ask for the status of a wife; "help- mate" is simply not it. Meanwhile, Genesis 2:24 depicts God declaring a man leaves his parents and becomes one flesh with his wife. Jesus calls this foundational in Mark 10. Only then is sex the gift He intends. Tragically, we have not been content to walk out God's plan, and California leads the nation in walk- ing out the tragedy. Many studies — conducted by major secular universities over the past four decades — show marriages stur- dier and stabler when the couple marries prior to co- habitation. Others show children far less at risk for poverty, crime, or addic- tion when raised in tra- ditional families. Stud- ies touting the benefits of raising children in alter- native households have been debunked as junk science by studies actually em- ploying the scien- tific method and painting a picture much more grim. Although there are times when a marriage cannot endure the strains placed on it, and the one entrusted with the chil- dren does the best and of- ten successful job possible against odds, there is no alternative model in which adults and children consis- tently thrive than the Bib- lical one. Yet we keep try- ing to do the same dys- functional stuff while expecting a different re- sult for ourselves and our children. California plays host to the worldwide pornog- raphy industry. Between eighty and ninety per cent of pornography pro- duced worldwide comes out of the greater Los An- geles area — ironically a place named for the angels of God — and its use is as common in the Church as outside it. Pornography is by definition an appeal to the absence of cove- nant relationship in which only the pleasure associ- ated with sexual union is entertained. The peo- ple on both sides of the screen are treated as ob- jects — pieces of meat in essence — and even Chris- tians tend to deny the de- struction this wreaks on authentic relationships, al- though numerous studies document the reality. Add that to the social tendency for engaged couples to fo- cus more on the wedding than the marriage in their preparation times and it is small wonder our state leads the nation in divorce and marital dysfunction. What can we do as people of repentance? For openers we could check out Ephesians 5:21-25 in God's Book. The world was grounded in sacri- fice from the beginning. (I have made my case for this in previous blogs and will doubtless do it again here- after.) Verse 21 calls on hus- bands and wives to submit to (read sacrifice for) one another out of reverence for Christ. The rest speaks to how wives and husbands can accomplish this mu- tual submission within their respective spheres — and nothing more nor less. There is no subordination in marriage; only mutual submission leading to mu- tual joy, if we accept the counter-intuitive precept God gives. We are indeed called to repent in this season of spiritual drought lead- ing to physical drought. Repentance is not about beating ourselves up over our own behavior, much less that of others. It is about re-focus on God and on the life He offers to us. The people of God who ob- serve the lifestyle of repen- tance as the privilege it is will look first at how they can be better spouses and parents according to the Biblical model. They will re-discover the joy of cove- nant engagement with one spouse viewed as a person and not as an object. And we will beg God on an on- going basis to lead the rest of us Californians back to Him and to His ways. Re- pentance is about seek- ing abundant life from its Giver through practical acts. And we can start by celebrating that — while there are sexual sins and they are rampant in our state — there is no neces- sary connection between the one and the other. Au- thentic sex is anything but sin. JamesA.Wilsonistheau- thor of Living As Ambas- sadors of Relationships and The Holy Spirit and the End Times — available at local bookstores or by e- mailing him at praynorth- state@charter.net. GODTALK God Talk: Sex and sin — no necessary connection Jim Wilson Evangelist Alfred Me- dina, a man after God's heart, will be minister- ing at Neighborhood Full Gospel Church of Corn- ing at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, July 20. Medina is a ex-drug dealer affiliated with the Mexican mafia, shot three times and left for dead and lives today for Jesus. Orga- nizers say all who hear him will be blessed. The church is at First and South streets, Corning. For more information, call 824- 2323. There is also Sunday school for all ages at 9:30 a.m. DEAD & ALIVE... Evangelist to minister in Corning Seattle based, award win- ning guitarist Josh Snod- grass will be performing a free concert at First Bap- tist Church at 6 p.m. Sun- day, July 20. Snodgrass' instrumen- tal guitar performances range in style from blue- grass to blues and he plays traditional gospel hymns as well as contemporary wor- ship songs. His energetic and beautiful arrangements demonstrate the vast possi- bilities of the acoustic gui- tar as an instrument. "I've had the great op- portunity to study the work of some of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world," he says. "I've tried to take the techniques I've learned and add something new." Josh originally learned to play guitar at the age of six from his father. After playing in church during his childhood years, he be- came the lead guitarist of the gospel bluegrass group The Smoothgrass Boys, which gained notoriety in 2002 during the folk music revival. Later he learned a rare technique, called hy- brid picking which allows Snodgrass to play the mel- ody, bass line and rhythm all at the same time on an acoustic guitar. His guitar playing is frequently com- pared to Tommy Emman- uel, Chet Atkins and Phil Keaggy and he is one of the most gifted and entertain- ing guitarists in the North- west. First Baptist Church is at 501 Pine St. in Red Bluff. There is no admission fee, a free will offering will be taken. CONCERT JoshSnodgrass is an award- winning guitarist based out of Seattle who will perform Sunday at First Baptist Church. His instrumental performances range from blues to traditional hymns to contemporary worship songs. COURTESY PHOTO JOSH SNODGRASS Guitarist to perform TehamaCountyChurchDirectory RedBluff.... ABUNDANTLIFEFELLOWSHIP 21080LutherRd.•528-2499 Pastor J.E. Heitman • WORSHIP Sunday 11AM & 6PM ANTELOPE HOME FELLOWSHIP(SBC) Berrendos School 401 Chestnut St • 200-4112 • Pastor John Bohrer • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:30AM APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY 1321 Nelson Dr. • 527-8541 Pastor Rudy Cepeda • WORSHIP • Sunday 1:00PM & Friday 7PM BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD 625 Luther Rd. • 527-0445 Pastor David Blythe • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM CALVARY CHAPEL 12375 Paskenta Rd. • 527-8219 Pastor Gilbert DeLao Jr. • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 am CHURCH OF CHRIST 1605 Park Ave • 529-3063 • Evangelist Gary Den WORSHIP • Sun. 11AM & 6:30 PM • Bible Study • Sunday 10AM & Wed 7PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Antelope 545 Berrendos • 529-2506 • Bishop Phillip Smith • Sunday 11AM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Red Bluff 545 Berrendos • 527-7012 • Bishop Jim Wilhite • Sunday 9:00AM CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS 12881 Baker Rd., Open Daily 9-11am Pastors Brad & Susan Harms•WORSHIP•Sunday 2PM•Bible Study Thur 2-4pm COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 598 Round -Up Ave. 527-4203 Pastor Dr. Paul Wright • WORSHIP • Sunday 9AM • PRAYER • 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 • 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 Don St. John • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 525 David Ave. • 527-5754 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Cure • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM FREEDOM CHURCH 601 Monroe St. • 355-2284 • Pastors Pete & Bev Williams • WORSHIP Sunday 10:30AM • YOUTH Thurs. 7PM GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, IND. FUND. 12830 Glasgow Dr. 527-2964 • Pastor Jeff Eldred • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM & 6PM GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RED BLUFF 22630 Antelope Blvd. 530-727-7344 • Pastor Carl Miller • WORSHIP • Sun. 11:00AM • Antelope School LAKE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHURCH Lake Club • 347 6970 Jim Bredow, Pastor • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30-10:15AM NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH 1625 Johnson St. • 527-8134 SERVICE • 10:00AM NEW HOPE FOURSQUARE CHURCH 645 Antelope Blvd, Suite 13 528-0642 • Pastor Christopher Church • WORSHIP • Sun.10AM • Youth, Thurs. 6 PM NORTH VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH (Ind.) 345 David Ave • 527-0543 Pastor Scott Camp • Sunday 11:00AM • northvalleyredbluff.com NUEVA VIDA 11841 Hyw 99W • Red Bluff • Spanish-speaking Pastor Freddie Villasenor • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM OPEN VISTAS AWARENESS CENTER 900 Walnut St. • 529-9285 Rv. Tresha Wing • SERVICE • Sunday 10:00AM OUT OF THE BOX MINISTRIES-COWBOY CHURCH 585-3070 22812 Antelope Blvd. –– Wednesday 7:00PM –– Sunday 10:00AM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Jefferson & Hickory St. • 527-0372•Rev. Beth Hoyt 9:30AM Worship • Childcare Provided PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD 370 Kimball Rd. • 527-6346 Pastor Mike Cox • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM RED BLUFF COMMUNITY CHURCH 1920 Park St. Pastor Stan Kolbert • SERVICES • Sunday 9:30AM • 282-2248 SABBATH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN 705 So. Jackson St. • 529-1890 Pastor Ron Largent • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:45AM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 515 Main St. • Father Sherwin Colaste MASS • Saturday 5:15, Spanish 7PM • Sun. 8:30AM, 10:30AM, Spanish 12PM THE SALVATION ARMY 944 Walnut St. • 527-8530 Major Kit Wetter, Pastor • SERVICES • Sunday 10AM & 11AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH 720 S. Jackson • 527-3733 Pastor Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:30AM ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-3414 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30AM & 11AM ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-5205 Rev. Maryly Adair • Sunday 9:30AM, Holy Eucharist Rite II SUNRISE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP GARBC Corner of Cedar & Jackson 529-6884 • Pastor Chris Hurton • WORSHIP • 10:50AM • Bible Study 9:30AM TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 8529 Placer Rd., Redding 243-5726 • For service dates & times • 529-9246 TRINITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 20920 Hampton Rhodes Dr. 528-8668•Pastor Loren Browning • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:45AM - Wed. 7PM THE ROCK CHURCH OF RED BLUFF 285 Gilmore Road • 527-7234 Pastor Vik Hylen•WORSHIP • Sun. 10AM & 6:30PM - Wed. 7:30PM - Mens Prayer Sat. 9AM VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 738 Walnut St. • 527-2449 Pastor Steve Igarta • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN CENTER RHEMA Bible Church • 527-9065 435 Round Up Ave.• Pastor Michael Ragsdale • WORSHIP • Sun. 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 Corning... BELIEVERS CHURCH OF GOD 783 Solano St. • 824-6502 Pastor Dan Steigmn • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM 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 OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Marguerite & Blackburn • Bishop Scott Davis • WORSHIP • Sunday 10AM CORNING FOURSQUARE 404 5 th St. • 824-5776 • Sr. Pastor John Gehrung 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 GOOD NEWS LIGHTHOUSE 1520 East St. • Pastor Ben Rorie WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM • Bible Study 10AM • 824-0175 , Cell 701-9292 HARVEST CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH OF GOD 1006 6th St. 824-2091 • Pastor Michael Sharp • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH 824-5879 814 Solano St. • Father Juan Manuel Ponce • MASS • Sun. 10AM, Spanish 12PM 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 Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 11AM ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 820 Marin St. • 680-0353 Rev. Diana Lueckert • CHURCH • Sunday 11AM Capay... COMMUNITY FRIENDS CHURCH • 4th & Moller Ave. • 865-2806 Pastor Toni Brown • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30AM Cottonwood... FOURSQUARE CHURCH 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH 11220 Hwy. 99E • 527-2329 Coordinating Pastor Nancy Pharis-Cure • Clay M Pastor Chris Bauer • WORSHIP • Sun. 9AM El Camino... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Hwy. 99W • 385-2314 Pastor Nancy Pharis-Cure • 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 385-1091 Prayer meetings Fridays 7:30PM Brickyard Creek Apartments 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 Los Molinos.... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sherwood & Josephine • 384-2656 Coordinating Pastor Nancy Pharis-Curie•CLayM Pastor Ray Watkins • 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. 340-2873• Pastor Anthony Roman• WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Manton... MANTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Forward Rd. • 474-5156 Pastor Michael Stiener•WORSHIP•Sunday School 9:30 Sun. 10:45 Paskenta... PASKENTA FLOURNOY BIBLE CHURCH 13140 Round Valley Rd. Sunday 10:30AM • 833-0557 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 Br ight • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D • MASS • Sunday 8:00AM - English Vina... VINA COMMUNITY CHURCH 5th & D Street • 839-2340 Pastor Larry Peterson • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS 816WalnutSt.-RedBluff FD 652 Thisdirectorysponsoredby: TEHAMA ESTATES A Retirement Community for the Active Senior Citizens 750 David Ave. - Red Bluff - 527-9193 Hospice Gift and Thrift Store Thank you for ongoing support – M. – F. 9 – 5 • Sat. 10 – 4 Riverside Plaza Main Street 530.528.9430 Your Ad Could Be Here Call Daleen at 527-2151 ext.101 FAITH » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, July 19, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A8