February 2012 Volume 7 #2 Volume 7 #2

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

A Bad Bet: The Seduction of Gambling

Part 2: Money vs. Morality
I have very grave concerns about this notion. I have a particular aversion to the government relying on human weakness as a source of revenue. Connecticut State Senator Andrew Roraback on intrastate and online gambling legislation
Click the mouse, lose your house. These were the words of an opponent to proposed legislation in Connecticut that would legalize internet gambling, as I heard them on a recent news broadcast. Clever, but true. Faced with huge budget deficits, particularly caused by pension and medical insurance obligations coming due, state and local governments, who are forbidden by law from deficit spending and who understand that raising taxes is political suicide, are looking for every conceivable source of revenue; and the one that consistently appears to be most lucrative is legalized gambling. In December 2011, the U. S. Justice Department issued a ruling on the Wire Act allowing states to profit from online lottery and gaming revenue. Connecticut already has two huge casinos, in one of which (the 185-acre, 1,200room Mohegan Sun casino and resort) 30,000-35,000 people gamble every day. Nonetheless, the state is considering going online both with number drawing and virtual scratch games. They are also considering implementing online poker. Governor Malloys argument is that there is a lot of money at stake, and the state should get whatever it can. The question is: is such thinking morally justified? New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has announced that he wants his state to be the online gaming capital of the world. Massachusetts is about to enter the gaming market. Here in New York, in his second State of the State Address (January 4, 2012), Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed the legalization of casino gambling. This would involve an amendment to the state constitution allowing non-Indian casinos to operate in the state. That in spite of the fact that 68% of economists surveyed believe that legalized casino gambling is economically regressive, and even sociologically destructive. 1 In a move to economize, Cuomo is also proposing to roll the State Racing and Wagering Board and the New York State Lottery Division into a new commission named the New York State Gaming Commission. 2 Again, is there a moral dimension to all of this proposed expansion of legalized gamblingor is it purely a matter of economics? In the first article in this series, we surveyed the epidemic of gamblinglegal and illegalin America today. 3 Admittedly, its hard to argue with the statistics. Gambling produces revenuelots of it. But in all the excitement over finding new income sources, some other very important considerations are overlooked. Thats why we must look beyond mere statistics and think carefully about the morality of the gaming enterprise. It comes down to a competition between money and morality, and yet those who express moral outrage over gambling today are ridiculed as hopelessly out of touch. So lets look beyond the economics. First, it appears that the legalization of gambling is not driving, but is driven by, public morality. In a world where the middle class feels increasing trapped by economic immobility, and where many are unemployed or underemployed, gambling is a vehicle of hope. In other words, there is a popular demand for accessible games of chance with the promise of getting rich quick. Perhaps more benign, others view gambling as a means of recreation. The problem, however, is that what begins as recreation can easily end in addiction. Consequently, state governments end up exploiting the vulnerabilities of their citizens, and in so doing, engage in character destruction. It is defiance of the principle enunciated in the Preamble of the United States Constitution, that government is to promote the general welfare of the people. Particularly at risk are those citizens on the lower end of the economic spectrum. State-sponsored gambling is actually a method of taxing people without calling it such, and the financial burden is born by those least able to afford it. What do the states ultimately do with the money? A relatively small percentage goes to the stated beneficiaries, usually education. Far more of the proceeds go to the administration of the gambling bureaucracy, to prizes, and to promotion and advertising. The states therefore engage in public predatory financial practices that they outlaw for private financial institutions. Simply put, then, governments are tempting their citizenry to sin. Those citizens therefore become victims of their own governments, falling prey to such lures as free alcohol, big-name entertainers, cheap hotel accommodations, advertising, and easily accessible credit. The issue of adver-

tising is itself a profound moral question. As Rex Rogers writes, State-sponsored gambling advertisements promote everything but rational inquiry. 4 In fact, a person doesnt have to hear very many media ads to realize that government and the gaming industry have conspired together to throw morality and ethical propriety out the window. Gambling is no longer a vice, just harmless entertainment, catering to the innate human desire, the itch to be rich. 5

Think of the casinos themselves. They calculate everything for maximum exploitation: the glitz, the free food on the casino floors, the absence of windows and clocks (to suspend the consciousness of time), the closing of hotel pools early in the evening, and the elimination of movie channels from hotel televisions; and for the high rollers, limousines, corporate jets, palatial suites, maids and butlers, free call girls and prostitutes, and liquor, liquor, and more liquor! The immorality of all of this temptation and indulgence is obvious. It is unfettered sin.

The harm that comes to the vast majority of gamblers who lose at gaming is obvious, but even those who win must contend with the fallout of increased wealth: long-lost relatives and charitable organizations begging for hand-outs, domestic turmoil, including messy divorces, a loss of privacy, and a mountain of legal and tax headaches. Can it be morally acceptable to facilitate putting people into this position? In our next article, we will examine the biblical implications of gambling, but at this point, consider the human and social ramifications. As Rogers points out, Gambling diverts people from useful labor. Money changes hands but with no exchange of material goods or services. Business, however, rests on the principle of fair exchange, value for value. 6 Sound, profit-producing business practices require rational thought, planning, skill, and patience. The result is not only revenue for the producer, but also ideally benefits for the consumer and perhaps even for the community at large. For the risk-taker, gambling almost always produces poverty, not wealth. When it becomes epidemic in a society, it impoverishes it. Gambling is money squandered, not invested. 7 Rogers perceptively observes that, by virtue of its parasitic nature, gambling thrives on human weakness. 8 Almost nowhere else in American society is predatory behavior considered acceptable. The result of this exploitation is the corporate loss of self-respect throughout the community. People choose luck over work. Virtues such as planning, thrift, saving, investment, perseverance, and self-denial, all elements of our historic American work

ethic, are set aside in favor of the promise of instant self-gratification. In the final analysis, therefore, both government and the gaming industry have much for which they must be held accountable. Fundamentally, they have exploited the worst elements of sinful human nature in the interest of greed. They have blinded the citizenry to the noblest of human virtues and glamorized the most insidious of human vices. Meanwhile, the public has become their willing partner. Consequently, any thoughtful and unbiased observer must conclude that in the contest between money and morality, morality is the loserevery time. Pastor Ron Glass Next month: Betting and the Bible. Confronting Gambling with Scripture.
1 New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, Albany Update (January 9, 2012). 2 New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom, Albany Update (January 23, 2012). 3 Once again in this article, I have drawn extensively on Gambling: Dont Bet on It, by Rex M. Rogers, president of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan(Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005) . It is one of the best books on the subject from a biblical perspective. 4 Rogers, Gambling: Dont Bet on It, p. 96. 5 Ibid., p. 97. 6 Ibid., p. 99. 7 Ibid., p. 100. 8 Ibid., p. 101.

Missionaries of the Month Samuil & Ella Likhtman

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20). As we ponder the Scriptures pertaining to biblical prophecy, we cannot help but turn our attention to Israel, the special nation of God that He selected for holy service. Despite the fact that Israel as a nation has rejected Christ, they remain His chosen people and we stand alongside them to strongly support them both financially and with prayer. Most blessed are Samuil & Ella Likhtman as they find new avenues of service there in Petach Tikvah. As they witness to the unsaved, they have held evangelistic services for unbelievers. Those who did not yet know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior received the Good News, along with Bibles, evangelical literature, and DVDs. Samuil & Ella are asking for prayer for those that attended. a conference center owned by the Baptist Convention in Israel, has suggested that such patients stay at the Village so they can be witnessed to with their love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Samuil & Ella are asking for prayer for Gods will to be accomplished as this project is carried out. The Likhtmans are looking to use their website (www.lightoflife.co.il) more and more for evangelism. They have updated the site with new material. Samuil & Ella are asking for prayer for wisdom with this work. Israel is more and more becoming a destination for people from the former Soviet Union to come for the treatment of various cancers. The leadership of Baptist Village, The Art of Fellowship, a course of studies with practical application for the spiritual growth and strengthening of rela-

tionships in the congregation, has been on the prayer list. Samuil & Ella ask for prayer that this course continues and for successful completion by those taking it, in order that they will apply the knowledge learned. Some changes have been made in the Childrens Biblical studies program. Samuil & Ella ask you to pray for

Gods leading of these lessons. Also pray for the children, their parents, and the teachers. Samuil & Ella ask that we continue to pray for their services; their leaders; and for all the believers, churches, and evangelistic ministries in Israel.

With all their needs for prayer, Samuil & Ella want you to know that they do not forget to pray for their praying friends back in the states, along with their ministries and congregations. May we hold Samuil & Ella Likhtman close to our hearts in prayer, never forgetting to pray for them and for the lost Jews of Israel? Joan Tyska

Getting Acquainted with Alicia Otton

It is not surprising that the book of Ruth from the Bible would become a fine reference for a Christian woman of today with passages defining Ruths exemplary character and thoughtfulness, especially toward her mother-in-law, Naomi. In getting acquainted with Alicia Otton, we begin with revealing her favorite verse, Ruth 1:16, taken from her favorite book of the Bible: And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God (Ruth 1:16 KJV). It is without a doubt that Ruth is a beautiful book of the Bible allowing a reference to one of WRBCs own, Alicia Otton, daughter of Vicki Valentine. As you will see, Alicia has an exemplary character of thoughtfulness toward others; but special is her love for and the thoughtfulness that she has toward her mother. When Vicki and Alicias stepfather, Steve Valentine, began attending the WRBC in 2002, Alicia was still in high school; she began attending the WRBC at that time, developing her first roots in the faith. Even though there was a time when Alicia went off to college to establish her career, she has returned to the WRBC and, together with her husband, is attending church alongside of her Mom & Step-dad. But let us look back into her young life and see what has brought her to her profile of today. Alicia was born May 15, 1986, in Smithtown, NY. Her father, Anthony Fierro, now Director of Facilities at Nassau BOCES, and her mother, Vicki (Fierro) Valentine, a computer graphics professional, were overjoyed at the arrival of their newborn baby. But shortly after her homecoming, Alicia developed pyloric stenosis and had to go back into the hospital with surgery at around nine weeks of age. The condition is something that Alicia never outgrew; but with the successful surgery, her recovery certainly has been a blessing of Gods. while earning a B.S. degree in Biochemistry. One of her jobs found her teaching in the very school that she was attending while earning her degree. It was shortly after graduation that Alicia found employment with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as a patent examiner, a job that is still current. While she was busy with her education, Dan Otton, a young gentleman whom Alicia had met through friends while in high school, was paying close attention to her achievements and waiting for the right moment to take their relationship to another level. On May 30, 2010, Dan & Alicia were married; they moved back to New York state the next year. It was at this time that the Ottons bought their first home together in Mt. Sinai, providing the first fellowshipping encounter with the WRBC as the WRBC Moving Team helped them move into their new home. This great showing of kindness to Dan & Alicia touched their hearts and brought attention to Alicia this great display of how she believes a church should be. Alicia & Dan have only been with us for a short time; but in that time, we have learned of her kindness and willingness to share. Her skills in cooking have already been recognized by WRBC as her food creations have made their way to many of our luncheons, coffee hours, and dinners. With that said, it is a great indication of how she loves being in the kitchen cooking and baking. She also is great at decorating and lately has taken on crafts as a hobby. Spending time with the family is high on her list of priorities (as well as time with the church family). Without a doubt, this is a busy lady with a full agenda. Most likely her free time to relax with a book would find her falling asleep, book opened on her lap. She is beautiful through and through and her love abounds. Anyone having as special a relationship with her mother as Alicia has is most certainly a person of exemplary character and thoughtfulness. Joan Tyska

The family continued to grow; 14 months later Nick Fierro arrived, giving Alicia a little brother. Short lived was this little family as Alicias parents grew apart and separated. A few years later, a new family came together when her mother, after an unsuccessful first marriage, married Steve Valentine, a maintenance mechanic for Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York. By the time Alicia was 10 years old, she truly became big sister to another brother, Garrett Valentine. Alicia from a young age was a wellrounded little girl becoming involved with an assortment of activities above and behind her intellectual savvy. She was a girl scout for a short period of time; took ballet lessons; excelled as a tennis player, as well as in a couple of other sports. Once Alicia mastered her times-table (a most frustrating task for Alicia when in grade school), she seemed to be able to master anything she put her mind to. Being class president and valedictorian only confirms this as she graduated top of her Rocky Point High School class. With the limited free time Alicia had in school, she was quite capable in expanding her well-roundedness into the musical realm. She mastered the violin and viola well enough to be recognized by NYSSMA, The New York State School Music Association. Also to add to her musical accomplishments: Alicia played in the All-County Orchestra and in the Long Island String Festival. After graduating from high school, Alicia earned a full scholarship to American University in Washington, DC. In spite of having scholarships, Alicia worked three jobs

Classics to Contemplate

The Empowering Life of Christ

From Every-Member Evangelism by J. E. Conant, Part 3
Editors Note: From time to time, we hope to bring you excerpts from largely forgotten works on the spiritual life, works from previous generations that need to be read and pondered today. Judson Eber Conant (1867-1955) was a Bible-teaching evangelist and prolific Christian writer who produced numerous volumes on evangelism, including Every-Member Evangelism (1922). He firmly maintained that the believers reckoning upon his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection was vital to fruitful witnessing: It is not we who win the lost by the help of Christ, it is Christ Himself who does the soul-winning through the lives and lips of yielded disciples. Conant also pastored churches in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Massachusetts. Parts 1 and 2 of this chapter from EveryMember Evangelism were reprinted in the October and November 2011 issues of The Beacon, respectively.

Now some reader is asking, How can one enter upon such a wonderful life as this? We will therefore seek the answer. II. The Method of Entering the Crucified Life Christ said to His disciples, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men (Mt 4:19). He says the same thing to us with added spiritual emphasis. We are to follow Him all the way to the cross in order to become fishers of men. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master (Mt 10:25). He blazed the path, He set the pattern, and He himself is the power to follow. We shall think first of following Christ to the cross, and then of fellowshipping with Him in the cross. 1. Following Christ to the Cross How may a Christian follow Christ to His cross? By dying to self in the same spirit in which He died for the lost. He went to the cross in order that He might be able to save. We must die to self for the same purpose. There is a uniqueness in His cross that we cannot share. As the sinners Substitute and Saviour He is absolutely and eternally alone, being forsaken in the hour of His crucifixion even of His Father. But as the controlling principle of life, the cross is for every Christian, and we not only can but must follow Him here if we are to be made fishers of men. We must therefore die to everything but the will of God, that thus Gods will may come to be done in others through the

service of our yielded lives. We must not surrender to God in order that we may be happy. It is true that the crucified life is the only really happy life on earth, but if we seek to enter the life that we may be happy, we shall never enter. Our whole purpose must be, not our own joy, but the salvation of the lost. THE SACRIFICIAL AND SELFISH PRINCIPLES There are only two fundamental principles of life to choose between. One is the sacrificial principle and the other the selfish. And these principles are mutually exclusive. When one dominates the life, the other is driven out. We can never become fishers of men if our lives are dominated by the selfish principle, and the sacrificial principle means the cross. One of those great passages where this truth is unfolded is the story of the events surrounding Peters great confession of Christs deity (Mt 16:13-25). You recall that after asking the disciples what men were saying about Him, doubtless to get their thought centered on himself, He asked them, But whom say ye that I am? Then came Peters confession, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, after which Christ lifts the veil a bit concerning the things that are before Him, and indicates the disciples relation to them. Then a most significant thing occurs. From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples how that He must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Why did Christ speak of His coming death at the time when His deity was first recognized and confessed by His disciples? Why not at some time earlier or later? Why just then? It seems as though He must have done it in order that the disciples might be able to associate His death with His deity in their thought of Him, and might always be able to recall that the sacrificial principle lies at the very center of Gods being, and is the spring of all His relations with created moral intelligences. The cross was always potential in the heart of God before it became actual in the death of His Son. Christ was the Lamb of God slain in His purposes from the unbegun beginning. What more natural, therefore, than to connect His

death immediately with the disciples recognition of His deity? Then Peter, you recall, rebuked Him and said, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But Christ turned to Peter and said, Thou savorest not the things that be of God [the sacrificial spirit], but those that be of men [the selfish spirit]. THE PROGRAM OF THE CROSS Then He unfolds both the program and the product of the cross. If any man will come after me, He said, let him do three things. Let him first deny himself, second, let him take up his cross, and third, let him follow Me. This is the program of the cross. Look at it a moment. Let him who would come after me deny himself. What does this mean? Does it have reference to those periods of self-denial that we frequently practice? Far from it! It does not mean denying things to self at all, but denying self itself. It means, let him deny his self. But how can a man deny his self? Precisely as Peter denied his Lord. He said, I dont belong to Him; I am not one of His company; I have nothing to do with Him. And in exactly this same way we are to say to self, I dont belong to you; I want your fellowship no longer; I will have nothing more to do with you! We are to turn our back on self for good. We are from that moment to make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom 13:14). The second thing is take up his cross. This is where many miss the meaning. Some are so hopelessly mixed on the meaning of the cross that they get it mixed with their burdens and their thorns in the flesh. We sometimes hear some earnest but confused Christian woman say that her cross is an unsaved husband! It may be a grievous burden to her, or a thorn in the flesh that her husband is living a godless life, but it is never her cross. It is those who have this conception that talk about their crosses. There is no such thing. The word crosses cannot be found in the New Testament. There is but one cross. What does it mean for a Christian to take up his cross? What is his cross? There is only one way to reach the meaning, and that is to find out what the cross was to Christ. For what it was to Christ it will be to us.

It was the instrument of death to Him. It must also be the instrument of death to us. But death in what way? Death to what? Death to the self we have just denied. Then the third thing He tells us to do is, Follow Me. Here again many earnest Christians are confused. They have the idea that the cross is a burden of some sort that we are to shoulder and carry about with us all the rest of our lives, for Christ tells the disciple to take up his cross and follow Him, and are we not to follow Him through life? This is where the idea comes from that the cross is a burden. But nothing could be farther from the Masters meaning. Study His thought a moment. Where did He go with His cross? For we are to follow Him with our cross to the place where He went with His. He went up with His cross to the place of death. So if we take up our cross and follow Him, where shall we go? To the same place. To the place of death. We can not fail to see that Christ meant this and nothing else, when we put all He said together. Notice just what He said. If any man will come after Me, let

him deny himself [his self], take up his cross [the instrument of death to make the denial of self effectual], and follow Me [to the place of death to self]. But some one reminds us just here that Christ told us to take up our cross daily. There is no difficulty here. When we have once accepted that power of the cross into our lives which brings into our experience our crucifixion in Christ in a transaction that is to be once for all, we are then to allow the cross to manifest its power in us daily that we may be daily kept in the place of death, that the life of the risen Christ may work in us and through us unhindered. Now if this exposition of these verses is not correct, then you will have to explain the meaning of the very next verse; for Christ says immediately, Whosoever will save his life [from the cross] shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life [on the cross] for My sake shall find it. THE PRODUCT OF THE CROSS Notice those words, shall find it. This is the product of the cross; and it comes only by following the program of the cross. It is a life yielded to the cross and therefore found again.

Found again how? How can a life that is given up to death on the cross ever be found again? Christ explains how it is found again in most striking fashion on a later occasion when He says, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24). That is, to follow the selfish principle and save the life from the cross is to lose it; but to follow the sacrificial principle and die on the cross is to find it in a vastly multiplied form. This is precisely why we must follow Christ all the way through death to self before we can reach the ground where multiplication and fruitage take place. This is what it means to follow Him that we may become fishers of men. Now to sum up the cross principle, it is to lay down a life which may not in itself be wrong, but which, if we live, we shall live alone, in order that, laying it down, we may take it up again in ever-increasing fruitage. This is following Christ to the cross. To be continued in a forthcoming issue of The Beacon.

Month in Review
December 24, 2011 - As we take our focus off the Albrecht-Hofmann wedding, our attention is now diverted to another couple from WRBC announcing their engagement. To Sean Feliciano and Shannon Piraino, who have made wedding plans for the end of the summer 2012, we offer our deepest and most loving congratulations! January for sure began slowly with travelers returning from holiday vacations; college students returning to their studies; and getting back to familiar schedules of worship, fellowshipping, and scheduling of many new activities. Church was back to its normal schedule after the Christmas holidays with Pastor Glass returning to the study of Isaiah and the Judgment of Babylon, described as the deposed queen in Isaiah 47. If there would be a good way to begin the New Year it certainly would be in church being nourished by the Word as we anticipate maturing in Gods Word during 2012. January 14, 2012, was a day of many blessings as the seniors attended the first senior luncheon of 2012. The theme was friendship, focusing on the friend we all have in Jesus. Decorations were that of a winter scene limiting the snowflakes to those of the decorations and not to the weather, so perfect for the seniors to come out in. Split pea soup and ham spread sandwiches preluded the devotions led by Chris Hallstrom. Each a blessing in itself; but Chris Hallstroms devotions, Jesus, Friend of Sinners, was a special blessing suggesting that Jesus is a Friend to all sinners, setting the example for us. Also special was Diane Pandolfini dressed for the occasion as a snowman with a carrot nose and a top hat, blending in with the decorations. The attendance was upso were the new friends. and its infamy and the tragic decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court in its ruling in Roe v. Wade back in 1973. It was at this time that the justices decided 7-2 that the practice of abortion in America was a right protected by the Constitution and thus legal throughout the United States. As the date was acknowledged, so were the 50 million preborn babies that lost their lives to this decision with the encouragement to pray for a reversal.

January 22, 2012 WRBCs Sunday morning service acknowledged the date

January 22, 2012, was a sad day as any day is saying good-bye to good friends. Ray & Carol Fitzgerald have always been faithful in opening their home to the church family for devotions, bake-offs, Bible studies, or holiday gatherings; but on this occasion, it was a day of remembering these occasions and sharing a fitting finale

as the Fitzgeralds take flight to a new home in Arizona.

and sisters could offer. As everyone gathered together in the Fitzgeralds home for the last time, new memories were shared over a cup of coffee and brunch organized by the deaconess committee. One by one, everyone made their presence known to Kathleen, Carol, and Ray with sweet words exchanged and many hugs shared. A moment of laughter emerged when yours truly opened a bottle of tonic water for Kathleen. This resulted in a fountain of bottled-up carbonated liquid to spray into the air, wetting down not only myself but Kathleen, Florence Acerra, and especially Mike Pandolfini in his Sunday suit. Ooops!!! Another one of those remember when moments that we all so love to share.

2012: to pray for their safety on that day. May God be with them especially for the five hours they will be in flight late afternoon through evening hours? May God offer comfort to Kathleen as she travels and resettles in a new environment and with new care?

But for a short time, 39 people came together in the Fitzgeralds home to celebrate the friendship in a most joyous way. Kathleen Fitzgerald has always been an inspiration to many that have known her from the good ole days when she was able to be in church. But as she became house bound due to her physical health, her prayer warriors continued to grow as she remained the strong symbol of a faith built on the Lord Jesus Christ, thus allowing new members, sight unseen, to support her in a most loving way.

Best of all are the memories we have in pictures that we can continue to carry with us. We have included a few that stand out as somewhat special and dear to the heart.

January 29, 2012, was our first Winter Family Film night as friends and family of WRBC came together for a pizza supper in the fellowship hall followed by the showing of the movie, Milltown Pride, in the sanctuary. Milltown Pride is a story centered on baseball during the years of Prohibition and, just as with all of the Bob Jones University films, contained a strong presentation of the Gospel and of issues of the Christian life.

Hopefully there will be two more dinner and a movie nights open not only to the church but to the community as well to accommodate the winter indoor time of fellowshipping. Also looking forward into the month of March, another Senior Saints luncheon is being planned. It will be a Hats Off to Godly Seniors luncheon. It is suggested that all seniors planning to attend wear their favorite hats, remembering the days of etiquette of hats. Looking forward to seeing you all maybe even some new faces. Until next month may God bless you with His caring love. Joan Tyska

This fellowship offered an opportunity for some to get acquainted with Kathleen for the very first time and to come around her with the love only Christian brothers

A final request is made as we bid a fond farewell to the Fitzgeralds as their plane takes off on Tuesday, February 7,

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25).

February Bible Quiz Questions

1) Who prophesied Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a colt, betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and being pierced? 2) Which people searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so? 3) What was the name for ancient Jerusalem? 4) Who drove a tent peg through Siseras temple while he slept? 5) What was Hebron originally called? Bonus: Which did Jesus say was the second greatest commandment in the Law? Felix Acerra

January Bible Quiz Answers

1) Asenath (Genesis 41:50-52; 46:20). 2) On top of Mount Hor (Numbers 20:25-28; 33:37, 38). 3) The angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-31). 4) Elizabeth (Luke 1:13-17). 5) Nine hundred and sixty nine years old (Genesis 5:27). Bonus: Ahaz (2 Kings 16:3) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1-6).

Congratulations to Mike Pandolfini, Dennis Tyska, and Virginia Sylvester for submitting all five correct answers plus the bonus for the January Bible Quiz!

The Birthday Corner

February 3rd John Piraino February 4th Janice Manges February 4th Janet Perry

February 2012
Wednesday
7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

Sunday

Monday Tuesday

Thursday Friday 2
8:30 AM Ladies Prayer Joan Tyska (727-5998) 8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

Saturday 4

9:45 AM Sunday School The Training of the Twelve (Discipleship) Doug Heuzey, Teacher 11:00 AM Worship 6:00 PM Bible Study at Hallstroms (886-1334)

8 7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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9:45 AM Sunday School (Discipleship) 11:00 AM Worship 6:00 PM Bible Study

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14 7:00 PM 15
Board of Deacons Meeting

7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

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9:45 AM Sunday School (Discipleship) 11:00 AM Worship 5:00 PM Fellowship Supper and Winter Family Film Night II

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7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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8:30 AM Ladies Prayer

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26 9:45 AM Sunday School (Discipleship)

11:00 AM Worship 6:00 PM Bible Study

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7:00 PM Prayer Meeting and Exposition of Psalms

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