December 2012

Volume 7 #12 Volume 7 #12

Wading River Baptist Church

P.O. Box 438, 1635 Wading River-Manor Road, Wading River, NY 11792 (631) 929-3512; 929-6022 www.wrbc.us office@wrbc.us

Christmas and the Cross

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
In preparing my most recent sermons and studies, I have been repeatedly confronted with one compelling truth: Christianity is all about the Cross. Of course it is about the Lord Jesus Christ, but nothing is more central to the Christian Faith than the reality of Christ crucified. This is a truth upon which it is especially important to meditate at the Christmas season. We are reminded of just how far we have departed from this perspective every year on the day after Thanksgiving when there is sheer pandemonium in the malls and box stores of America. Our national obsession with materialism has even become violent in many places. Why is there such a passion to spend money and competition to get bargains on the part of many people who really dont have money to spend? And especially this year in our region of the country, when we should be soberly reflecting on Gods providence in the recent violent storms and the horrific damage they left in their wake. Where is God in all of this madness? And theres one other observation that bothers me . . . many of our professing evangelical churches. This hit me forcefully some time ago when a woman I know, referring to a church in our community and their seasonal holiday presentations, said to me that this particular church puts on a good show. Thats disturbing, and yet for many churches today, Christmas is all about putting on a presentation that will outdo the rival church across town in the number of actors, the splendid scenery, the breathtaking special effects, the lavish music, and of course, the live donkeys, sheep, and camels! Its not really about Bethlehem, but about Broadway! With all of this in the background, Pauls words to the Corinthian believers struck me with unusual force this Christmas season. Paul opens his letter to the church in Corinth by rebuking the factionalism that was tearing the congregation apart (1 Cor 1:10-17). Four cliques had developed, one each centered on Paul, Apollos, Peter (Cephas), and the Lord Jesus. None of the three men, and certainly not our Lord, had anything to do with the sects that were using their names as labels, but the divisions were serious and needed to stop. Paul wastes no time in challenging them. As we read on in chapter one and into chapter two, we begin to pick up in Pauls words a sensitivity to the impact Apollos may have had among the Corinthians (Acts 18:24-19:1). Apollos was a Jew who had been trained in Alexandria, Egypt, a center of Greek learning. Apparently, he was skilled in classical rhetoric, reasoned with precision, and spoke with eloquence. These virtues catered to the secular Greek taste for rhetorical polish; the Greeks idolized those speakers who could put on a good show. Undoubtedly, there were those in the Corinthian church who had similar tastes, and tended to gravitate to Apollos as their favorite preacher and teacher. Paul, on the other hand, seemed to be self-conscious of his inferiority to Apollos in this regard. In 1 Corinthians 2:3, for example, he says, I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and later he would say of his critics: For they say, His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible (2 Cor 10:10). We dont know the degree to which Paul is being merely self-deprecating or whether in fact, he is describing himself accurately as others saw him. Regardless, overshadowing any self-consciousness is his passion to maximize the message and minimize the messenger, to underscore the substance and marginalize the style. And thus, Paul had no use for selfabsorbed orators and their impressive shows. Instead, he writes, when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Cor 2:1-5). In the first chapter, he said that Christ had sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void (1 Cor 1:17). What instruction can we take from Pauls words in these verses, especially at Christmas? Let me suggest the following: 1. Dont always look for the good shows. Paul did not try to put on a good showin fact, he knew that when it came to the exhibition of splendid oratory, he

couldnt compete. The point of his entire ministry, however, was not to compete about anything; that was why he so vigorously condemned the factionalism of the Corinthian church. His calling and his passion was to communicate a message of life to dying sinners. He cared nothing for style as long as the substance was clearly articulated. There is no virtue in hopping from church to church as some do at this time of the year in order to catch all the good shows, especially if they ignore the Cross, the heart of the Gospel message. Rather . . . 2. Always keep the main message the main message. That message is Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. This is particularly important at Christmas when the elaborate Christmas programs and exhibitions emphasize the Baby of Bethlehem and exalt vague notions of world peace divorced from any biblical context. As we all know, the early church never celebrated Christmas. Christmas was a later invention in which Roman paganism was given a thin veneer of biblical Christianity. Granted, the incarnation is a vitally important doctrine, and if that truth is explained prominently and clearly during our Christmas celebration, that is commendable. Shockingly, however, many Christians today could not tell you what incarnation means, much less explain it biblically! But never forget this: the incarnation as an isolated doctrine is a distor-

tion of biblical revelation. As one familiar Christmas song puts it, our Lord was Born to die that we might live, came to earth new life to give. That is the Gospel! The incarnation cannot be separated from the crucifixion. It was the gateway to the humanity our Lord had to assume in order to fulfill the Law in perfect obedience, and then offer His life as a substitutionary sacrifice for His chosen saints. The message of Christmas then is to look beyond Bethlehem to the person and work of our Lord: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The crucifixion needs to figure more prominently in our Christmas celebrations. 3. Always value the power of God over the ingenuity of men. The power of God, Paul tells us, is the foundation upon which our faith rests. That power defies human wisdom, and therefore the Christian message does not need to be delivered in persuasive words of wisdom. Rather, what matters is the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. A simple, Spirit-anointed testimony is far more effective than an emotionally stirring extravaganza with choir, orchestra, quality actors and singers, costumes, effective lighting, and all the other trappings of professional theatrical productions. The question must always be: was the Lord Jesus Christ glorified, and was His cross magnified? Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, assures us

that this is where the power is located! This Christmas song, which is not as well-known as it should be, says it all:
Do you worship the Babe in the manger, But reject the Christ of the Cross? Your redemption comes not by the manger, But the death of Christ on the Cross. If you worship the Babe in the manger, But ignore the blood of Gods Son, To you Christ is only a stranger, Til you trust the work He has done. The Babe in the manger was Gods only Son, Who came to the world to die. The Babe in the manger could never have done The work of His God on high. The Babe left the manger and went to the Cross To pay the wages of sin. Your way of forgiveness is not by the Babe, But the Christ who died for your sin. W. S. and Mildred Dillon

May you and your family enjoy a biblically-focused, Christ exalting, and Crosscentered Christmas! And best wishes for a joyful and fruitful New Year to you all! Pastor Ron Glass

A Month in Review
Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north . . . He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy (Job 37:9, 13). Day the day before added to the spiritual strength that brought all of WRBCs brothers and sisters safely through the storm. Caution was taken as many scheduled church events were either canceled or postponed. All bases of safety were covered, not to mention the long lines to gas up which lasted for weeks after the hurricane. May we praise the Lord for His love for us and how He kept us safe not only during Hurricane Sandy but also when a Noreaster arrived on the shores of a battered Long Island less than a week later, bringing this winters first snow. October 27, 2012 But before Hurricane Sandy arrived, the ladies of WRBC came together to support and encourage Silvia Albrecht with a baby shower planned by the deaconess committee of the church. As always, the deaconesses aced the event with beautiful decorations, yummy food, and some fun time fellowshipping. And what is a baby shower without a few challenging games? Of course, that is what Martie Best is best at. Martie always knows how to raise the level of comradeship in a warm, loving way. Silvias mother, Rosie Hofmann, offered some heartwarming, spiritual, and motherly words to her daughter in a devotional way as she herself recognized her role as the grandmother in waiting; such a sweet, sweet moment it was. It was a moment when all mothers and daughters in attendance felt the emotional connection. Most impressive were the gifts, so many of them beautifully crafted and homemade by the ladies of the church. The creative talents of Maureen Glass are

October 29, 2012 brought a reality check to the lives of millions of people in almost half of the United States when Hurricane Sandy cut a path of destruction through our area. As for the WRBC, it was a time of strengthened faith and many prayers, trusting our heavenly Father for His comforting care. Pastor Glasss encouraging words on the Lords

highlighted in the photograph below. There were the many ladies of the church who knew about Ruth Kerrs growing home business, Ruths Crafts, and commissioned Ruth to crochet cute little outfits and blankets as gifts, all of which blended together in ensembles designed to grow with the baby. There were many other homemade gifts, allowing numerous Wow! moments as declared by Silvia herself. As the world advances along the path of postmodernism, it is so comforting to be among a group of ladies that are holding on very tightly to some of the old-fashioned, family-centered ways of life as shared at this shower.

Caputo and her skill at the piano not only in her talent to play but in the way it encourages the seniors to step up their level of musical praise as everyone joined together in a time of hymn singing. The Trash to Treasure table, a table filled with unwanted items from the seniors homes brought in to exchange for someone elses unwanted items, was once again filled to overflowing. Most popular at this luncheon was the collection of really adorable stuffed animals of all sizes that were quickly snatched up by the seniors! Who knew?

Moses. Congratulations are in order for the new parents and to Grandfather and Grandmother Hofmann. Our prayers go out for many blessings on little Elijah Moses.

November 1o, 2012 After living through a hurricane and then a noreaster and experiencing electrical outages and long gas lines, 30 seniors put aside their concerns of these challenging days and came together for a Senior Saints Luncheon focusing on a thanksgiving theme of Giving Thanks for Families. The devotional speaker was Pastor Glass; his devotions followed through with the theme defining four levels of families: beginning with the immediate family; then the extended family; followed by the church family; and finally Gods family in Christ. An invitation was extended to those seniors without a home church to consider WRBCs family.

Most encouraging is the increasing number of new seniors attending WRBCs senior fellowship; two of them, Bruce & Nonie Maurice (see photograph below), were introduced to the Senior Saints by Harold & Gerry Cosgove and are intending to return to the next senior luncheon. The next Senior Saints Luncheon is scheduled for January 12, 2013, with a theme of Whiter than Snow and guest devotional leader, Chris Hallstrom. Mark your calendars.

November 21, 2012 A small group of Christian brothers and sisters met together on Thanksgiving Eve at WRBC to reflect and share the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Pastor Glasss message went straight to the truth of the Thanksgiving tradition as established many years ago to honor God and to thank Him for His blessings and His grace. Most definitely Thanksgiving was not just an economic system that allowed the Pilgrims to prosper but their devotion to God and His laws. The Pilgrims recognized that everything they had was a gift from God. And such it was as WRBCs group came before God with their thanksgiving and praise for the many gifts He has bestowed upon those at the WRBC.

A menu of home-cooked, healthy food consisted of vegetable soup, stuffed peppers, and an assortment of vegetables served by a volunteer crew in a perfected restaurant-style manner. It is with grateful thanks that they continue to serve in the way they do. Thanks to Marie

November 18, 2012 Peter & Silvia Albrecht announced the birth of their son, Elijah Moses Albrecht, arriving ten days early at the Stony Brook Hospital weighing 6 lbs 12 oz (photograph taken 12/02/2012). Both Peter and Silvias mother, Rosie Hofmann, had a sleepless night as they remained at the hospital at Silvias side until she delivered at 7:46 PM on the Lords Day. Peter was emotionally and visibly moved by the experience as he connected with his son, Elijah

November 25, 2012 Volunteers, some of them returning college students, joined the deaconesses of the church for the first 2012 Christmas event the decorating of the church. Not only did the church get decorated, but it was a time to gather in the kitchen to share the Thanksgiving leftovers; to share some time in friendship with the returning college students; and to share ideas for dressing up the church for Christmas.

attending these Bible studies anxious to participate in an open forum of discussion. If you have the desire to increase your Biblical knowledge, an open invitation is offered to join the group meeting on the Lords Day evening.

During the month of November, Bible studies have met at Chris & Jackie Hallstroms home for an in-depth study of the book of 1 Corinthians led by Pastor Glass. This Bible study brings new heights of understanding way beyond imaginable goals of learning. Most Sunday evenings, there are over 20 people

Another form of Bible study precedes our time of corporate prayer on Wednesday evening as again Pastor Glass leads a devotional time of study; since June 2009, we have been studying the Psalms. We encourage you to join the group to study the Scriptures, to pray together, and to receive midweek spiritual edification and encouragement. Finally praying that your Christmas holidays are full of love and the true meaning of Christmas: our dear Saviors birth. Joan Tyska

Missionaries of the Month Pastor Noel and Nora Faustinorio

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4). cal checkup with his American doctors. Lord willing, Pastor Faustinorio will be returning to the Philippines in December if there is a seat available on the airline. (His airline ticket offers a February return; however, Pastor Faustinorio is on standby for an opening to return in December.) But there are many concerns that Pastor Faustinorio left behind as he relinquishes his leadership temporarily to others in the church. This summer was a hard summer with heavy rains, floods, earthquakes and fires pushing the financial needs to the limit. Because of being so hard hit, the members themselves are lacking in their giving, which has brought financial issues to the foreground. Keeping up with the rent has been very challenging lately and WRBC needs to remain faithful in support of their work in the Philippines. the premises as it did this summer when it reached chest high. It was a time when the congregation came together voluntarily and cooperatively to fix the affected area.

Over 8,000 miles away on the other side of the world sits the Wading River Fundamental Bible Baptist Church in Lagro, Quezon City, Philippines. The pastor of this distant church is our brother in Christ and our dear friend, Pastor Noel Faustinorio. For now, Pastor Faustinorio has traveled that distance back to the United States from the Philippines for a medi-

One of their most recent projects has been to repair the water system and to work on the construction of the building in order to control water entering

But Pastor Noel & Nora Faustinorio stayed positive as Wading River Fundamental Bible Baptist Church celebrated their 3rd anniversary before the heavy rains came. Also in the positive column is their Christian School, with 27 children, 6th grade and younger, attending. We need to continue in prayers that the school will expand and that more men would come into the church in order to be able to develop stronger leadership within the church. Presently Pastor Faustinorios wife, Nora Faustinorio, is residing in New York in order to be close to their daughters, Jaaz and Jewels. WRBC is fortunate to have Nora and her two daughters as a part of the fellowship; on occasion, they share their musical talents during the WRBC Lords Day worship service. As much as we like having Nora with us, it is our prayer that Pastor Noel & Nora will be together to continue their mission at the Wading River Fundamental Bible Baptist Church in the Philippines. Let us continue to strongly support our dear friends. Joan Tyska

What is the First Step in Building a Birdhouse?

(and this is NOT a trick question!)
senses and our roles as Christians, both during the Christmas season, and the rest of the year, as well. The two main senses that most of us associate with Christmas are taste and sight. We tend to eat certain foods at Christmas that we dont even think about during the rest of the yearlike peppermint and eggnog and Christmas Cookies. And at no other time of the year does one ride along at night and see twinkling lights festooning nearly every house and business. Yes, Christmas is unique in its position as the worlds most popular holiday, regardless of how one celebrates it. Now I want you to read carefully a familiar passage in Matthew where Christ spoke these words to His disciples:
are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under peoples feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Mt 5:1316 ESV).
13 You

Most people will readily give one of two answers: (a) draw a plan, or (b) buy the materialsboth of which are incorrect. The first step in building a birdhouse is the decision to build one, i.e. forming the intent to do so. Intentionality is always the first step in accomplishing something, whether it is building a birdhouse, placing an order at Subway, or putting on a Christmas Tea. We first intendmake up our minds, so to speak to do it, and then we proceed from that point. As we enter the Christmas Season, see if you agree with this statement: These days the Christmas season seems custom-designed to appeal to our senses, in order to attract our attention, so as to captivate our imaginations, hoping to convince us to suspend our common sense, so that we will surrender our financial resourcesall in the pursuit of something that does not exist, which is the perfect Christmas. What I just described didnt just happen in a vacuum. It was and is an intentional effort by the retail industry to capitalize on the effects of sentimentality on our emotions. They know that Christmas is a time of memory-making, and that some of our fondest ones are of our own childhood Christmases, when we were flushed with the excitement of secretly shaking mysterious packages beneath a tinseled tree and giddy with anticipation of seeing bulging stockings over the mantle on Christmas morning. The crunch of a candy cane can instantly zoom us back in and the pungent smell of balsam and holly begs tender and bittersweet recall of long-ago family gatherings. Christmas carols trigger thoughts of the annual Christmas pageant of tiny angels with crooked tinsel haloes and fidgeting little shepherds in bathrobes and towel turbans, as the narrator intoned In those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Yes, Christmas is a time of many emotionsand retailers are well aware of it as they attempt to assail our senses in a thousand different ways. Sight, sound, taste, smell, and touchthey cover them all in their frenzied attempts to turn their bottom line from red to black. And, because our senses play such a vital role in our lives, it isnt surprising that there is a relationship between our

Time for another quizand again, these are not trick questions! True or false: In the passage I just read, Christ is telling His disciples (and us, by inference) that:
1. 2. We are to be salt and we are to be light in this world. By doing good works, our lights will shine, and we will glorify our Father in heaven.

Does it surprise you to hear that the answer to both questions is false? He never says BE salt or BE light. He says we ARE salt, and we ARE light! And note that He left no room for us to be able to choose whether or not we want to be salt and light, nor did He intend to. He said we are salt, and this interesting excerpt from the Salt Institutes website gives some insight into the importance of salt in our lives: There is much to learn about salt. Salt, sodium chloride, touches our lives more than any other chemical compound. The chemical properties and physical properties of sodium chloride

are a treasure to mankind. Salt or saltderived products are ubiquitous in our material world and the very cells of our bodies swim in a saline solution. We take for granted the salt crystals that make our foods safe and palatable and we give thanks for salts lifesaving properties when applied to slick winter roads. Most are unaware of the 14,000 known uses for salt, how its produced and our success in ensuring the environmental compatibility as it provides the foundation for the quality of our lives. Our Lord likens His followers to the compound that seasons, preserves, purifies, and sustains life. That is itself, pureas no germs can grow in it. Salt was so important in the temple rituals that God Himself instructed Israel with all your offerings you shall offer salt (Lev 2:13 ESV). In biblical times, entering into a Covenant of Salt meant binding oneself to another in utmost loyalty and truthfulness, even suffering death, rather than breaking the covenant. Are you beginning to see the analogy here? He says His disciples are the salt of the earththe one compound that touches more lives than any other! Next, Christ defined his disciples as light, which Webster defines as something that makes vision possible. Light! He says that His disciples/we are the light of the world, i.e. something that makes vision possible in the world. John 1 says: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (Jn 1:4-5 ESV). Have you ever thought about the fact that darkness cannot overcome light, but even a single candle can dispel a whole room of darkness? Have you ever considered that it is impossible to introduce darkness into a lighted room because darkness is simply the absence of light? In short, darkness cannot exist in true light! We must understand that Christ did not just pull some analogy out of the air when He said you are the salt of the earth, and you are the light of the world, but like every other word He spoke, He was being absolutely intentional about what He was saying! Look at what the psalmist penned hundreds of years before that day on the Palestinian hillside:

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him (Psalm 34:8 ESV)!

Oh, my friends, God is so intentional in His love for us and His provision for us. He has not hidden His wisdom from us, but has given it to us through His Word. David said taste and see that the Lord is good! In what tangible way can the world possibly taste the goodness of God? In what tangible way can the world see the goodness of God? Jesus said you ARE saltso BE what you are: Salt. And salt that is not salty isnt saltits sand, and fit only for people to walk on. He said you ARE light... a city on a hillvisible from all directions! So be what you are: Light! And dont fool yourself into thinking that you can hide the light rays emitting from you, because that is precisely what makes you light, and if you are not light, you are darkness for by its very definition darkness is the absence of light! In the words of a popular Christmas Carol: Do you see what I see? Beloved, He is not just giving us another job to do! No! He has gifted us with an exalted position to fill!the right to become children of God! His children--The King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Children! Romans 8 tells us:
And if children, then heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him (Rom 8:17 ESV).

We are the means by which the world tastes and sees that the Lord is good. We are salt and light in a world whose tastes are so jaded and whose vision is so blunted, that they dont even possess the ability to distinguish good from evil, sweet from bitter, and darkness from light. Christ isnt just telling us to DO something; He is telling us that we ARE something and that we should be about the business of intentionally reflecting what we already are in Him! The Word does not say if anyone wants to be in Christ he or she must become a new creation. The old must pass away; behold, the new must come. NO! The Word says if anyoneyou, me, one of our neighbors, the lady at the DMV who was cross with you, and even that kid that cut you off on the LIEif anyone IS in Christ, he or she IS a new creation. The old HAS passed away; behold the new HAS come! Read these amazingly prophetic words of Isaiah, written hundreds of years ago:
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see (Isa 29:18 ESV).

sidered an enlightened religious man who was totally blind to the fact that he was an enemy of the very God he professed to serve. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved Paul, struck him with physical blindness in order to show him his spiritual blindness. With both sights restored, Paul spent the remainder of his life trying to show others the way to dispel the darkness he was once in himself by proclaiming the light of the truth that he had been shown. Paul knew what it meant to live in darkness, and what it meant to be transformed from darkness into light. He never took that for granted, and never ceased to be humbled by the marvelous gift that he had received. Near the end of his life, he penned these immortal words to Timothy, whom he referred to as my child in the faith:
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Tim

Can you grasp what this means? Is it a trite to say that as children of a King we then are princes and princesses? Tell me, would you ever expect the Prince of Wales to have, as a goal in life, to cover his entire body with tattoos? Or, grant interviews to the National Enquirer? Sound ridiculous? Of course it does, because it IS ridiculous. In fact, it is simply unthinkable! Prince Charles was born a prince, and an heir to the throne of England. Because of this he intentionally lives and conducts himself in light of that position! Oh, that we would be intentional about living our lives in light of our position in Christ rather than running around thinking fearfully, I mustnt do this and I shouldnt do that because God wont like it. Perhaps we should be more concerned with considering whether our intended actions and inner thoughts would befit a prince or a princess of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in light of scripture!

Oh, friends, intentionality is the key that unlocks our potentialnot to grit our teeth and do what we should do, but to joyfully be who we truly are! Whats the first step in building a birdhouse? The decision to do it. What is the first step of making our lives, like Pauls, one in which we can truly say: the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20)? The very same intentionality, expressing itself in the conscious awareness of the fact that every encounter of our lives constitutes an opportunity for someone to taste and see the salt and light that we are, by the good works that we donot works we do in order that we CAN be that salt and light but works that we do because we already ARE that salt and light! Not taste and see that we are good, because in us, there resides no good. Scripture minces no words about that. There is none good, no, not one. No! Taste and see that God is good! And when they see that, THEY will give glory to our Father in heaven. As Paul reminded the Ephesians: at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light! The great apostle Paul spent the first half of his life as what he no doubt con-

4:1-8). My friendsbrothers and sisters in Christthe task before us is not a mandate to get busy and do what we ought to do, but a charge to responsibly assume a position we already possess and begin to live in light of that position. A truly transformed life requires a transformation of our understanding regarding our position in Christ, and this is what we must comprehend: He has not called us to do, for He has done it all. Rather, because He called us, we do. Martie Best

December Bible Quiz Questions

1) What is the science of interpretation called? 2) What is the meaning of Jehovah-jireh? 3) What is the meaning of Jehovah-shammah? 4) By what means is a believer made a legitimate child of God? (Hint: refer to Ch. 6 of Major Bible Themes by Chafer and Walvoord.) 5) What one condition has God imposed for a person to become a child of God? Bonus: The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. True or False? (Hint: refer to Ch. 10 of Major Bible Themes.) Felix Acerra Congratulations to Mike Pandolfini and Virginia Sylvester for submitting all five correct answers to the November Bible Quiz! Additional congratulations to Mike for also correctly answering Denniss bonus question!

November Bible Quiz Answers

1) Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6-7). 2) King Asa (2 Chronicles 16:12). 3) Queen Vashti (Esther 1:12). 4) Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22:10; 2 Kings 11:1). 5) Amnon (2 Samuel 13:6, 14). Bonus: An axe head made of iron (2 Kings 6:5-6).

The Birthday Corner

December 2nd Pastor Noel Faustinorio December 5th Bob Drummond December 8th Martie Best December 9th George Ehmann December 10th Ruth Kerr December 13th Kristen Hallstrom December 13th Denise Tolf December 16th Pastor Ronald Glass December 20th Stephen Chapman December 22nd Katelyn Glass

The Anniversary Corner

December 17th Peter & Silvia Albrecht December 18th Pastor Noel & Nora Faustinorio st Dennis & Joan Tyska December 31

December 2012
The Lords Day
Monday Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday Friday

Saturday 1 11:00 AM Ladies Christmas Tea

2 9:45 AM Sunday School Pastor Glass

11:00 AM Morning Worship Service

5 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalm 119 (Part 6) 12

7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalm 119 (Part 7)

6 8:30 AM
Ladies Prayer Joan Tyska (727-5998)

9:45 AM Sunday School Pastor Glass 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study (Piraino home)

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11 7:00 PM Board of Deacons

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8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

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9:45 AM Sunday School Pastor Glass 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service 6:00 PM Bible Study

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7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalm 119 (Part 8)

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8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

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9:45 AM Sunday School Pastor Glass 11:00 AM Morning Worship Service

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Christmas Day

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8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

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30 9:45 AM Sunday School Pastor Glass

11:00 AM Morning Worship Service

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PO Box 438 Wading River, NY 11792

Wading River Baptist Church

Our Purpose
1. To glorify God through sharing the good news of salvation by Gods sovereign grace through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. To nurture believers through a strong program of Christian education, youth ministries, and expository Biblical preaching. 3. To provide an opportunity for Biblical worship, service, and fellowship. 4. To extend our ministry throughout America and around the world through participation in home and foreign missions. WRBC is affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Association of America and the Conservative Baptist Mission to the Northeast.

For the Exaltation of God in All Things For the Proclamation of Faith in Christ For the Transformation of Gods People