Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/567089
Aswintergivesway to the flowering Almond Tree, and the Ground Hog leaves its den, I am re- minded of those so- called Idiot Christians of long ago who came out of their fear-locked place of safety filled with such a faith in their Risen Jesus that they would rather die than deny Him. It is true we have seen the religious die in the pursuit of their religion. Simply observe the dy- namite-laden vehicles of those claiming to be war- riors in a holy war. But look closer and you will see their "martyrdom" is not as much an act of bravery as a self-desire to somehow get to heaven in the one sure way their holy book assures them that the door is open. They do not die because someone calls on them to deny their faith in order to live. They die for their own glorifi- cation. On the other hand, we see the followers of Je- sus…. Once bewildered and afraid, they now pro- claim the Jesus skillfully executed on the cross by professionals, is literally and bodily alive. When threatened with death if they didn't deny Him, when promised with the simple offering of incense to the ruling powers of the day they would have life, they chose instead a mar- tyr's death rather than deny Jesus. I find it fascinating that in the Acts of the Apos- tles, written by Luke, phy- sician to the Apostle Paul, around 63 AD, he re- cords an event when Je- sus' Apostles were under arrest, standing before the same Sanhedrin (Jewish Court), as did their Cruci- fied One. Those in positions of authority commanded them not to teach in "His Name!" There would be no talking about Jesus as Savior, Lord, Christ. The threat was clear to them. What would they do? Had they stolen the body, now would be the time to fess up. Their life was on the line along with those of their loved ones. So what happened? Un- like the night of Jesus' ar- rest when they ran for their lives, they did not run; they did not hesitate. They stood their ground and like the so-called shot heard 'round the world at the birthing of a new na- tion, their words ring out to this day "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and for- giveness of sins. . ." Acts 5: 29-31 Clearly, they had no doubt regarding the resur- rection of Jesus Christ. Based on the fulfil- ment of Old Testament Scripture, the message of the first followers of Je- sus and the conviction of the Martyrs, we too are called upon to obey God rather than men. Where do we get the idea that meekness is equivalent to some sort of mousey de- meanor? We are called upon by the Apostles to fight the good fight of faith. Not with bombs strapped to our mid-sec- tion, but by that which Paul calls the Sword of the Spirit, namely the Word of God. As our nation slides into the abyss of moral mean- inglessness and those who lead are the first to slip the words of Hermann Sasse, who wrote in the shadow of Nazism, "We come out of a time in which the Church was understood as a place of rest in a rest- less world." He noted that Christians of the previ- ous generation had for- gotten Jesus' words that He had not come to bring peace but a sword. (Mat- thew 10:34) They wanted a church where they could save their souls and live undisturbed by the noise of the world. But they for- got the call of the Church to make a difference in our society as salt and light in Christ, offering hope and meaning and direction not only for eternity but for now. No longer does the Church enjoy a privileged place in the United States. Long honored virtues have been dismissed and reli- gious conviction has been sequestered in the public square. Our Lord Jesus made His good confession be- fore Pontius Pilate when He did not deny but con- fessed that He was the King whose kingdom is not of this world. You see, the question is not "What will the world think?" or "How will our 'intolerant' stance be evaluated by the media or acquaintances?" but "What will the Lord who judges the living and the dead have to say?" He promised that He would never deny those who ac- knowledged Him. How much better to have the approving Words of the ever living Lord than the temporary taunts or dis- pleasure of men! When all is said and done, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last." —C.T.Studd In July 1982 the Rev. Dallas Dubke became Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church Red Bluff and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Corning where he has served for the past 30 years. A Michigan native, his interests include wrestling, Judo, chess, mountain climbing and biking. He is married with four children. GODTALK Emerging from the closet — Christian style Rev.Dallas Dubke By Melissa Murphy mmurphy@thereporter.com @ReporterMMurphy on Twitter "The disciples did as the Lord said, they cast Annette into the sea" — John 21:6. Wait, what? It's a joke based on the di- rection of Jesus for the dis- ciples to cast their fishing net on the right side of their boat after a night of fishing came up empty. This is just one of hun- dreds of cleaver Christian cartoons that Fairfield res- ident Gary Garcia has il- lustrated and published in two books titled, "Goodness Garacious." Find the second book online at garygarcia. tateauthor.com. Thepurpose—toprovoke laughterandthought,aswell asareasontoopentheBible. "When I read the Bi- ble things just pop out at me," he explained. "I like to bring out the points that are glanced over." Each cartoon also has the biblical reference included. The retired 69 year old said coming up with the witty cartoons that are more for adults helps him retain what the Bible says. "When someone men- tions a parable, I think of a cartoon," he said. "It helps me remember." While he's a very tal- ented artist, Garcia opts for drawing cartoons be- cause they're quicker and easier to complete. Garcia, who has been drawing since he was a child, said he continues to draw all the time. "This is a gift God gave me that he wants me to pur- sue," he said. "I have other, secular, cartoons, but I stopped drawing those a long time ago. I felt like I should be doing something worthy of the Lord. "If someone opens a Bi- ble because of me, then I'm a happy person," he added. Raised in the Mission District in San Francisco, Garcia said he used draw- ing as a way to relax, to ex- press himself and to "keep the creative juices flowing." "When I see that smile from someone after they've seen one of my cartoons, I know I'm doing something right," he said. "How I think of them, I really don't know. I'm trying to use it for good. People find them relatable." His first book opens with this: Jesus is pictured walking away between two bulls. "There he goes with his 'pair-a-bulls!'" Get it? "Pair-a-bulls" or parables. ART ChristianCartoonist finds humor in Bible COURTESYOFTHEARTIST A sample of Gary Garcia's Christian cartoons. Tehama County Church Directory 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 857 Washington St., 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 Sean Story • 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 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 807 Lincoln 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 • 11:00AM Worship • 9:30AM Sunday School 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 TEHAMA COUNTY'S MERCY PLACE FELLOWSHIP, bilingual 836 Washington St., Red Bluff • 2:00 PM Sundays • 262-9474 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 & 5PM - Wed. 6PM 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 Capay... COMMUNITY FRIENDS CHURCH • 4th & Moller Ave. • 865-2806 Pastor Toni Brown • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30AM 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. • 824-9989 Rev. Russ Ziegler • 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 • 471 Marguerite Pastor Julie Horne • WORSHIP • Sunday 11AM 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 Cormac Lacre • MASS • Sun. 10AM, Spanish 12PM INDEPENDENT LUTHERAN CHURCH OF CORNING Houghton Ave. between Solano and Yolo Worship: Sunday 11:00 am • Pastor Dennis Wyman • 526-4736 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 SONLIGHT WORSHIP CENTER 1520 East St. • 824-0175 Pastor Lenny Duval • WORHSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM & Wed. 6:30 PM ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 820 Marin St. • 680-0353 Rev. Diana Lueckert • CHURCH • Sunday 10AM Cottonwood... FOURSQUARE CHURCH 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM & 6PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH 11220 Hwy. 99E • 527-2329 Pastor Catherine Joseph • 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 • 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., 310-4990 Rev. Kenneth & Pamela Auld • 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 Stage Coach Rd. • 585-2961 Rev. Richard & Della Tucker • SERVICES • Sun. 10:30AM, Wed. 6PM Tehama... ASSEMBLY OF GOD Third St. • 384-2603 Pastor Walter Bright • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D • MASS • Sunday 8:00AM - Bilingual Vina... VINA COMMUNITY CHURCH 5th & D Street • 839-2340 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 Your Ad Could Be Here Call Daleen at (530) 737-5046 Your Ad Could Be Here Call Daleen at (530) 737-5046 FAITH » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, September 5, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B4