...doing the work He is doing in the world...

1340 Terri l l Road Scotch Plains , NJ 07076 908 -322-7151

Terrill Road Baptist ChurchPastor William C. Page

May 2014

Pastor’s PageHungry, But Happy

In This Issue:

Pastor’s Page:Hungry, But Happy

A Music Noteby Sheryl Morales

How Well Do You Knowthe Bible?

Inspiration Point:Choices & Decisions

VBS UpdateRegister Now

Things We LearnedFrom Our Mothers

Up-ReachIn-ReachOutreach

On April 25 & 26, our young people participated in WorldVision’s 30 Hour Famine. It is a fundraising effort in support ofthose trying to end world hunger and poverty. During the 30hour famine, kids go without solid food and participate ingames and Bible study to raise awareness of the need aroundthe globe. Our teens ate lunch in school on Friday and brokethe fast on Saturday at supper. Let me tell you, if the future ofour country were dependent only on the young people ofTRBC, then I would have few worries. These teens areAMAZING. They made this pastor proud.

They performed marvelously all on an empty stomach. Doyou get a little cranky or impatient when you are hungry?Well, I saw none of that! On Saturday morning, weparticipated in a service project in conjunction with the Townof Fanwood’s observation of Earth Day. Over a hundredvolunteers were there to fan out across the town to clean uplitter in the parks and public grounds. I asked one of theorganizers which clean-up site was the least desirable, theone no one really wanted to do. He said, “The train tracks.” Isaid, “That’s the one we’re signing up for.” Now we know whyno one wants to go to the train tracks! (Don’t worry, two NewJersey Transit employees were with us with radios to makesure we were safe). We were not cleaning the actual tracks.We were pulling the nastiest stuff from the stream of waterthat flows (or should I say, stagnates) on either side of thetracks. All I saw and heard was a willingness to work togetherand get the job done without a single complaint. This washour 22 and 23 of a 30 hour fast. I wish you could have seenwhat I saw. You would be proud, too. (Continued)

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Pastor Page (continued)

In our Bible study we learned something of true worship. Israel was goingthrough the motions of worship (even fasting), but they were totally missing theheart of God -

NLT Isaiah 58:5-7 “You humble yourselves by going through the motionsof penance, bowing your heads like a blade of grass in the wind. You dressin sackcloth and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting?Do you really think this will please the LORD? No, the kind of fasting I wantcalls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressingthose who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. Iwant you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poorwanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and donot hide from relatives who need your help.”

We learned that true worship to God involves right actions toward othersespecially those who are in real need. This is not an option or an “add-on.” Jamestold us -

KJV James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father isthis, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himselfunspotted from the world.”

If I were writing that verse, I probably would have flipped the order thinking thatpersonal purity was primary. The sentence order is intriguing. I think that God hasa very soft spot for the vulnerable. We can’t be serious Christ followers and turn ablind eye to those in need. 30 Hour Famine helped to remind us of God’s heart,and raise awareness of the needs around the globe. Our young people raisedhundreds of dollars in this effort.

A special shout-out to Jessica Staines who stayed overnight and participatedfully with us. She participated several years previous as a student and nowreturned as an adult to assist. We could not have done it without her help!

Everything that was accomplished was worth a little hunger…by late Saturdayafternoon we were hungry, but happy!

Blessings,

Pastor Bill

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On Missions

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go andbear fruit – fruit that will last.” John 15:16

Restoration, Change.Jesus can transform countless failures into victories when we offer our lives to Him. The

apostle Peter is the perfect example. Peter shifted from denying Christ three times tobecoming a bold proclaimer of the Gospel, preaching on the day of Pentecost and until hisdeath.

When have you lingered over the fire of self-centeredness and taken your eyes off Christ?Has Jesus restored you like He did Peter? Jesus invites all of us to lay our failures down andbecome “fishers of men.” Let’s accept that invitation and join Him. Jesus is able to inspire awilling heart and direct a waiting heart.

For May – ask to be a blessing to someone each day this month.Betty Williams and Connie Salisbury

Global PartnersDreams Reveal Truth in Central Asia

In Turkey, Ahmet and his family live in a village in the high plains. They are farmers,struggling to survive from one harvest to the next. But the Light of the world is breakingthrough the darkness in their family and village. Ahmet visited us one day and shared aboutthree dreams.

“The first night you were in my dream, and you gave me a large, old key,” Ahmet said.“When I visited you next, you gave me the whole Bible! Before that I only had the NewTestament. I think God was telling me that you were going to give me a key to help meunderstand the whole message. From the second dream, I remember the word lire. Does thisword mean anything to you?” he asked. I told him that in French, lire means “read”.

“Oh! So I get the key from you and read it!” Ahmet exclaimed. “Well, in my last dream, Isaw a lot of sheep, but I do not know what it means. Is there anything in the Bible aboutsheep?” Ahmet and I read several Scripture passages about sheep, and he seemed tounderstand.

“He is giving me the key, and He wants me to read it and feed His sheep!” Ahmet said.Praise God for this farmer’s newfound faith. Pray for him, his wife and daughters, and

their village, asking that the Light would continue to penetrate the darkness and that theywould shine forth like stars in the universe.

From a missionary with the Central Asian peoples

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A Music Noteby Sheryl Morales

As any of you know who have been at Terrill Road for Sunday worship service, we do amixture of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. I'd like to explain a bit about whatgoes into making song selections.

It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 16:1). Salvationbegins when you say "yes" to Jesus, and it continues until He calls you home. The Gospelis not just something that unsaved people need to hear -- we who have been redeemed byHis grace also need to hear it -- over and over and over again. Not only do we need to bereminded of His greatness, but 'proclaiming' is also God's work for us: Peter tells us thatwe have been saved "that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out ofdarkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9).

"People come into church proclaiming all sorts of things with their words andactions. Through close-fisted giving some are asserting how much their own personalwealth matters. Others, by their complaining, declare that their personal comfortmatters. Teens in the latest fashion may be proclaiming that being cool matters. Othersconfirm through their frowns that their musical preferences matter. But we want each ofthem to leave proclaiming this: The Gospel of Jesus Christ matters." (Worship Matters,p. 130, Bob Kauflin)

In America, we are blessed at this time in history with so many Christian songs. Thereis grace in this season for many "new songs" to spring forth - some lend themselves tocongregational singing, while others are more suited to personal listening. The discernmentthat I pray for is to select songs that proclaim the Gospel and the excellence of God byincorporating scripture and scriptural truths in the lyrics. There are many songs which arenot unscriptural, but when compared with the lyrics of other songs, they do not do as gooda job of exalting Jesus and preaching the Gospel as others do.

Quite a few of the songs we do have come from people within the body who havesuggested a song which is meaningful to them. When people mention a song to me, I canlook for the accompaniment track or sheet music for that song and see if it can be done as asolo or a congregational song. This is a beautiful part of being in the body of Christ. Afterall, in our personal worship at home six days a week, the musical choices are all ourown. When we join together in corporate worship, we can sing the songs of our brothersand sisters as well.

So, while we do try to have a mixture of older songs and newer songs, it's really moreabout the substance of the lyrics than the style of music. May He give us grace toproclaim the Gospel through song as well as through the Word preached, to the glory ofHis name!

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How Well Do You Know God’s Word?

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,so that through endurance and encouragement of the

scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

Fill in the blanks, then check your NIV Bible to see how you did.

Hosea 1:2 “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him,‘Go, take to yourself an ____________ wife and _____________ of unfaithfulness,because the land is guilty of the vilest _________ in departing from the Lord.’”

Hosea 1:3 “So he married ______________. She conceived and bore him a son.”

Hosea 1:4 “Then the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Call him __________, because I will soonpunish the home of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to thekingdom of __________.”

Hosea 1:6 “Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the Lordsaid to Hosea, ‘Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of_________, that I should at all __________ them.”

Hosea 1:7 “Yet I will show love to the house of _________; and I will save them -not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by ___________.”

Hosea 1:8-9 “After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Thenthe Lord said, ‘Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your________.’”

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Register Now for VBS!

Registration is now underway for this year’s exciting Vacation BibleSchool at Terrill Road Baptist Church. It will be held from June 23-27,9 a.m. to noon each day. It is open to all children who have completedkindergarten through 6th grade.

This year’s program has a fun-filled secret agent theme, “AgencyD3 – Discover, Decide, Defend”. During the week, children will becomeagents who will study the evidence, follow the facts, find the proof anddiscover the truth about who Jesus is. With the help of Rocket Pack Jackand Agency D3 leaders, agents will learn to apply 1 Peter 3:15 to theirlives.

Prepare for adventure! “Agency D3” VBS starts with a daily briefing atheadquarters. Later, agents will be cleared to search inside the evidencevault and the map room and will embark on exciting missions using secretgadgets, while getting help from the communications hub and snacks fromthe break room. Agency leaders tailor each study, activity, drill and gadgetfor each age group.

VBS Director Madeleine Farrell is calling all agents. “Come discoverthrough study, games, crafts and more just what God has in store for you!”

“Agency D3” VBS is free, but registration is necessary. For easyregistration, go to the Terrill Road Baptist Church website at trbc4him.orgor for more information, call the church office at 908-322-7151.

Don’t miss out on what is certain to be a fun, exciting and life-changingweek!

June 23-279 a.m. to Noon

“But in your hearts set apart Christas Lord. Always be prepared to

give an answer to everyone who asksyou to give the reason for the hope

that you have.”1 Peter 3:15

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Dear Heavenly Father,I praise You for who You are. You are

love. You are just. You are mercy. You arefaithful. All the time. Thank You.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

We Love a Parade!

Once again this year, TRBC will be participating in the FanwoodScotch Plains Memorial Day Parade. It’s always a great time of fun andfellowship, filled with smiles. This year’s parade along Park Avenue willbe Monday morning, May 26th. Each year, we hand out thousands ofpieces of candy, each piece including an invitation to VBS.

Come join us and bring your smile!

“Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercyof the Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

Jude 21

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MilestonesMay Birthdays and Anniversaries

Birthdays

May 7 Jack SwiftMay 8 Bonnie NezlickMay 10 Aaron CasterlowMay 15 Tom AtkinsMay 17 Cori Spies

May 20 Connie SalisburyMay 22 Gene ReynoldsMay 26 Eryn GulbinMay 28 Perry CiprianoMay 31 Linda Swift

Anniversaries

May 1 Craig & Robin Di FioreMay 18 Karen & Bill ThomasMay 27 Peter & Nancy DeSarno

June Questions of the Month:

One month, TWO questions:

What is one important life lesson that you learnedfrom your father?

And, what advice do you have for this year’sgraduates? They are Jessica Staines (who graduated inDecember), Karolyn Buckridee, Carina Page and Cori Spies.(If I am missing anyone, please let me know)

Please give your responses to Jim Wilson or e-mail responses tojwilson195@aol.com by Sunday, May 25th.

Thank you in advance for your responses. We will all be blessed by whatyou have to share.

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Inspiration Point:Choices & Decisionsby Jim Wilson

We face choices all the time. What to wear. What route to drive. What show towatch. What movie to see. How late we can afford to stay up.

Food choices. I’ve heard it said that we make more than 200 choices a day about foodalone. What to eat. How much to eat. When to eat. Where to eat. How to eat.

Choices are all around us. Sometimes they are fairly inconsequential. Sometimes, wewon’t remember today’s choices by the time we get to tomorrow. Sometimes we won’tremember them an hour from now.

But some choices we face and the decisions we make can have consequences yearsfrom now, decades from now. Some choices make all the difference in how we spend therest of our lives.

When I was in grade school growing up in White Plains, I remember my music teacherRuth McDaniel and I remember being just about the only boy who would sing in school.I chose to join the glee club. It was fun and it was memorable. When I was a teenager, Idecided to join the choir at the First Baptist Church. I was 16. I learned a lot aboutmusic. I remember my first solo as a teen - it was “O God Have Mercy” by FelixMendelssohn. My experience in that choir carried over to college. As soon as I unpackedat Syracuse University as a freshman, I joined the Hendricks Chapel Choir on campus.We sang on Sundays during the worship service, had a winter and spring concert eachyear and went on tour throughout the northeast. My junior year, I was smitten with anincoming freshman in the choir. She was an alto. Her name was Janet Parker. The nextyear, I auditioned for voice lessons with a professor at the Crouse School of Music, withJanet Parker accompanying me on the piano during my audition. I remember the song Ichose - it was “O God Have Mercy” by Felix Mendelssohn. Jan and I have beenaccompanying each other ever since.

Here’s my point: Many of the decisions we make are important. If I had not chosen tobe in the glee club in elementary school, then I would not have wanted to be in the choir atchurch, then I would not have joined the choir at Syracuse University, then I would nothave met Janet. Without those choices and subsequent decisions, my life would not bewhat it is today. I would not have the wonderful family I have today. God directed thosechoices and, when I look at Jan and Jen and Steve, I could not be more thankful.

Here’s another one: When I was young, my family was friends with a dairy farmfamily in Houghton, NY, the Babbits. One of their sons was a ham radio operator. Tome, it was fascinating to watch and listen as he spoke to people all over the country.Years later, I got a ham radio license of my own back in the late 1960s. (Continued)

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Choices & Decisions (continued)

As a novice, I was WN2MDM. It was Morse code only, but I talked to folks all overthe U.S. and even overseas. Later, I got an upgraded license in high school,WB2ZCH, which let me use a microphone. It was great! I chose to take a journalismcourse which included my writing a weekly newscast and delivering it over the schoolPA system. That ultimately helped lead to a four-decade career with NBC News.

If I had not chosen to pay attention to that Babbit boy and his ham radio, I wouldnot have wanted to get a license myself and my career path would have gone someother way. I thank God that He not only directed my path, but my decisions.

Some decisions we make in life are good ones. Some are bad. And some decisionshave consequences that last a lifetime.

One decision that we make will last for eternity. And, that decision is about Jesus.Is He the Lord of your life, or are you? That one decision will determine more thanyour career or your family or your future on this earth. It will determine your eternityand where you spend it.

Make the right decision and, if you have not done so already, do it today. There isnothing more important.

Your will, or His?It’s your choice.

Web Video of the Month

One particular time-lapse video really caught my attention this past month and Iwanted to share it with you. This will take your breath away!

It shows God’s beautiful creation in a very unique and amazing way.

http://www.phototips.biz/2014/03/the-mountain-most-popular-time-lapse-on.html

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Question of the Month

The Lamplighter Question of the Month for this month was:What is one important life lesson that you

learned from your mother?

Thank you all for your responses.

Norma Byrne - "The hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules theworld", is the refrain from a poem in praise of mothers, by William RossWallace written in 1865. True then, still true today. My mother was aforthright and honorable woman who taught by example. The mostimportant thing I learned from her is that you don't need money to behappy. She taught me the importance of housekeeping - everything frombasic cooking and cleaning, gardening, needlework, even how to balance acheckbook, and the meaning of "a penny saved, is a penny earned".

Christy Caruso - My mother, Barbara, has shown me many things in my lifethrough her example. Like, putting others above your own needs and wants;seeing the best in people; looking to Jesus for help and guidance; how to bethe best mother in the world. However, one thing that came to mindright away when asked "what have I learned from my mother?" What I'velearned is that there is one person in this world who will love meunconditionally, stand by me no matter what I've said or done, be my biggestfan, always be there for me to offer advice, encouragement, a hug, or just alistening ear, and give me guidance and her opinion without judging me. Ilove you Mom. To quote a song, "You are the wind beneath my wings".

Jessica Pratt - An important life lesson my mother had taught me: She'salways right!!! Don't tell her I said that! (Continued)

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Lessons from My Mother (continued)

Juanita Sumner - What’s in a name? A name identifies how we are knownby other people. My mother stressed the importance of having a good name.This, of course, meant having integrity and being honest in all of ouractivities. She quoted Proverbs 22:1, which says, “A good name is rather tobe chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”She was a wise mother!

Tricia Curran - That mother does know best. I was adopted. My birthmother and mother have each given me life (and continue to give me life) intheir own ways. I thank God for both of them, and they have their ownspecial place in my heart. I have known my birth mother since 1994, and sheand my mother get along very well. The Lord works in mysterious ways, butI can see how He has blessed all of us.

Spring Casterlow - I learned that love and laughter go a long way. Shewould say that so many people have a tough life and we don't know what it islike to be them. She stressed the importance of being kind and generous.Nothing is ours. Not our time. Not our money. Nothing. Yet what we dohave should be shared with those around us and some of the best things arefree...like smiles, laughter and hugs. Life is too short to have a day go bywithout telling someone they are loved! She did this through acts of love.She would sit for hours and wash, cut and style the hair of all the ladies in mytown...for free. She knew they didn't have the money so she did it for them.She took in the sad and lonely and fed everyone, and still does. I used tothink that this was a terrible thing because it took so much from my sister andme, but in actuality it gave me more than I could ever take in and it taught mehow to love. She shared Christ with me before I could ever meet Himmyself. What a gift she is! Love you Mommy! (In honor of my mother,Jocelyn, and in memory of my Grandmother Jessie.) (Continued)

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Lessons from My Mother (continued)

Matie O’Brien - Persistence/i.e. endurance! My mother spoke that tome and encouraged me to go after something I wanted at a young age.She was definitely not a "helicopter mom"... Far from it! (LOL). I alsowitnessed her pursuing a task or cause that she believed in to its end.You kind of didn't mess with "MOEY The Great", especially when shewas on a roll.

I'm not sure this gift of persistence was a chosen attribute, or more ofa learned and necessary survival skill. My mother was a celebratedcollege athlete who graduated from St. Elizabeth's College in NJ in 1928.She was also a widowed mother of eight kids, ranging in age from 11 to25.

To this day, there are times I have definitely wanted to exchange thisgift for a sweeter, softer one, but obviously the Lord ordained for me toreceive and keep it.

Hebrews 12:2 reads, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author andfinisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured thecross..." Dave Dravecky , a Christian Major League Baseball player wholost his pitching arm to cancer writes, "I am helped to endure my trialswhen I considered how Jesus endured His own. He endured for the joyof completing the Father's will for Him. By considering Jesus, we too,can take heart and endure"

Thank you Mom. We’ll celebrate when we meet again in heaven!Loving you eternally! -Matie

Trudi Karpel - An important life lesson that I learned from my mother is“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31). Itry to apply this in my life each and every day. As Christians, if weremembered this verse we all would be so much happier. (Continued)

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Lessons from My Mother (continued)

Janet Wilson - Mom was my first piano teacher. I hated to practice andshe was very patient with me! It was not open for discussion though – Iwould continue with piano through high school. I chose to continuewith music through college and beyond. I don’t think I’ve usedanything else more in my life – and in many different ways. When Imoved on to another teacher in Jr. High/High School, Mom drove me tolessons every week and made sure I practiced. Still today she sits,listens and encourages me as I play. She taught me the importance ofcommitment and perseverance. Thank you, Mom! (Also, for any ofyou who have received articles or comic strips from me, you can thankher for instilling this in me. Oh, and birthdays? Holidays? She taughtme how to make them fun, special celebrations!)

Jim Wilson - My mother taught me to enjoy simple things. The beautyof a sunset. The joy of a bird feeder on the back window. A leaf.Picking blueberries. A sand dollar along the shore. A heart-shaped rock.All of it, God’s creation. She taught me to take the time to stop and takeit all in. She taught me to value life. She taught me to be honest. And,Juanita Wilson taught me how good it is to be gracious.

Thanks, Mom. I miss you.

Happy Mother’s Day!MAY

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Phone: 908-322-7151E-Mail: Terrillrd@aol.comWebsite: TRBC4him.org

Terrill Road Baptist Church is a Bible-believing

Church where people connect with God, each

other, and influence our world for Jesus Christ.

My thanks to everyone whocontributed to this issue.

-Jim Wilson, Editor

Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m.Sunday Worship Service 10:45 a.m.

Phone: 908-322-7151E-Mail: Terrillrd@aol.com

Church Website: trbc4him.org

Scan this into your smart phone forinstant access to TRBC’s website.

Deadline for June Lamplighter:Sunday, May 25th

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