...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

March 2012

Pastor’s PageI Don’t Think I Can

Pastor’s PageI Don’t Think I Can

Spiritual Fitness:Still Standing

“The Ultimate Question”

Celebrating TRBCMatie O’Brien-Cole

Big Influences in Our Lives

Hymn Sing

Inspiration Point:Letting Go

What is the BenevolenceOffering All About?

In This Issue:

What’sYour

Story?

Do you remember that children’s storybook, The LittleEngine that Could? It was about a little train attempting to pullthose very heavy freight cars over the mountain. It would sayto itself, “I think I can, I think I can.” The story taught us self-confidence, hard work and refusal to quit. It’s a great story andits lesson has permeated American culture.

However, even after a person has succeeded in a particulartask, it does not remove that little voice inside that says, “I don’tthink I can.” Sometimes the voice says similar things like,“Beginner’s luck. You won’t be able to do it again”, or “I’mscared”, or “I’m not as good as they think I am”, or “If theyreally knew me, they would choose someone else.” What I’mtalking about is self-doubt.

I watched the funeral for Whitney Houston two weeks ago. Iwas struck by the words of her fellow actor, Kevin Costner,concerning Whitney’s confidence in her abilities. Here was amusician who at the time was unquestionably at the top of hergame and, by every definition of the word, a superstar. Yetshe still fought that voice inside that said, “You’re not goodenough.” You would think that by the time a person reaches acertain level of accomplishment, that the little voice would bequite faint or even gone (side note – maybe it’s just politicianswho collect up all the unused self-confidence [I digress]). Butthat voice, for many, stays and stays. I suppose a certainamount of self-doubt can be healthy, maybe even motivating.But too much can be counter-productive and debilitating. Whit-ney Houston’s self-doubt can be an inspiration to us all – ifyou’re thinking that people at the top have all (Continued)

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Pastor Page (continued)

the confidence (and that is why they are at the top), you’re wrong. The fact is thatmany people accomplish great things even in the midst of great self-doubt.

For the follower of Christ, we have an advantage over the unbeliever when itcomes to this lack of self-confidence. Now God gives everyone a gift, skill, ability,knack – whatever you want to call it. He wires people a certain way for His purposes.Our responsibility before Him is to simply take what He has given us and use it forHis Glory. We don’t have to be as proficient as someone else. We don’t have toreach some benchmark that the world defines as success. We only have to offer it toGod and leave the results to Him. You see, God is the Author and Finisher of ourfaith (Hebrews 12:2). Whatever we have been given, whatever we do, whatever weaccomplish is ultimately all about Him. It has been said that in the theater stage oflife, as we perform (live out our life), the only one whose applause matters is God’s.We live for the applause of One. Do you know how freeing this is? We are set freefrom playing the comparison game. We are set free from having to hang our self-worth on our ability to meet the world’s standard of success. We offer what we haveto the Lord with sincere effort and leave the results to Him.

This was the sin of the unprofitable servant in Matthew 25. He probably knew thathe could not do what the two other servants could do (they received five and twotalents, respectively, to invest). His self-doubt and fear of failure so crippled him thathe took his one talent and hid it in the ground. He was too scared to open apassbook savings account to even collect interest! We all identify with him. Somedo not even like this parable because it seems that the master is way too harsh. Butto me the answer is found in Matthew 25:15.

"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,to each according to his own ability;”

I think the parable is teaching us that God has at least one customized gift foreach of us according to our unique ability. He rightly expects us to put that gift togood use and not hide it. To hide it is to deny our Maker’s gift and proclaim that weknow better than God. This action is not just self-doubt and fear gone awry, but is infact an affront to God and is declared to be wicked. That is a sobering thought. Let’sconsider afresh that while a lack of self-confidence might forever be with us, GodHimself has expressed His confidence in us. He has sent us His Holy Spirit to boot!With the help of His Spirit we can turn “I don’t think I can” into “I know He can!”

Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief!

Pastor Bill

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What is the Benevolence Offering All About?by Pastor Bill

Every month at the conclusion of the Lord’s Supper observance, our churchtakes a “benevolence offering.” In some churches this may be called a“deacon’s fund.” The church body entrusts the handling of these funds to thedeacon team. The purpose of this fund is to respond to needs within and evenoutside of the congregation. Generally these are urgent needs such as grocer-ies, utilities or medicine. Each request is handled individually. In our church, atleast two deacons or the pastor and a deacon must approve the release ofbenevolence funds. This enables us to respond quickly. The stewardship ofthis fund is known to the entire deacon team. All of the monies are collectedand accounted just like the regular offering (there is no jar of money in a lockedcabinet). Because of the personal nature of the circumstances, specific detailsare not made public to the congregation.

The amount in the fund goes up and down as needs dictate. It is not thedesire to have tens of thousands of dollars in the account (a problem we havenever had). Nor is there a desire to keep the amount low by seeking out wor-thy causes. The Lord seems to put need and provision together at the righttime. We are grateful to a generous people who give month after month. It is ablessing to come along folks in their time of need and offer some assistance inJesus’ name. We want to assure you that there is careful stewardship withevery dollar in that fund. If you miss that offering on the second Sunday of themonth, you can always mark an envelope clearly “benevolence” and give it atany time. Thank you again for your continued contributions!

TRBC Deacon Team:

Marc Dyer, ChairmanSteve Vorrius

Winston BuckrideeJim Wilson

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Inspiration PointLetting Goby Jim Wilson

My parents loved antique shops, auctions and flea markets. They had a fascinationwith old things. They loved finding and refinishing old furniture and making it shine.Maybe it was because they grew up during the Depression and had a great apprecia-tion of the value of things. Maybe being surrounded by old things helped themremember their childhood and helped them stay young. Maybe old things were justbetter made and could be trusted to last longer. To them, antiques were comfortableand familiar. It was fun to browse through stores of stuff and walk out with memoriesof their own past.

And, I got into it, too. There was a neat auction house in Stormville, NY that weused to go to when I was growing up. I remember bidding on and buying a collectionof old maps. I bought a bowler hat that once supposedly was owned by P.T. Barnum.And somewhere along the way, I started collecting straight razors and old radios.

We like to hang on to things that are old. Maybe they’ll be worth something someday.

I thought about that while preparing a recent Sunday School lesson based onColossians. Instead of holding on to the old things from their past, Paul told membersof the church at Colossae to let them go and to think instead about the things ofheaven.

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing todo with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, fora greedy person is an idolater, worshipping the things of this world. Becauseof these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things whenyour life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger,rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other,for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Puton your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator andbecome like Him. - Colossians 3:5-10 (NLT)

Some of us may like holding on to parts of our past, the way some people hold ontoantiques. But, unlike antiques, old, bad habits we hold onto will never grow in value.Just the opposite. Let go of who you used to be. New is better - the newness you getwhen Christ is at the center of your life. Placing Him at the center, and keeping Himthere, is a decision we make and keep making each and every day.

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Who are you?Come to our musical,

“The Ultimate Question”,and find the ultimate answer!

Saturday, March 24th7 p.m.

Bring Your Friends!

I know who I am.I am Yours. And You are mine.

Jesus, You are mine.

Jesus, our Savior, He’s the reason we sing.The answer is clear; you belong to the King.

God has given His promises; He loves you so.He’s given His Word, for He wants you to know.

For you are a winner because of the cross.God has written it down; it’s all in His Book.

You’ve just got to know where to look.

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Upcoming Sermons on Parables - Stories with Intent

March 4Stories About Lamps

Luke 8:16-18; 11:33-36

March 11Narrow Door of Salvation

Luke 13:22-30

March 18Forgiveness & Gratitude

Luke 7:36-50

March 25Pharisee & Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14

Remember, you can listen to sermon archives here at www.trbc4him.org

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray abouteverything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for allHe has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, whichexceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guardyour hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

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All are Invited to aHymn Sing

Saturday, March 17th

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Fellowship Hall

Each family is asked to bring somefinger food to share

(Such as cheese & crackers, veggies & dip, cut-up fruit,rolled-up cold cuts, mini pizzas, etc.)

Hot & cold beverages will be provided

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MilestonesMarch Birthdays and Anniversaries

Birthdays

March 2 Tim SalisburyMarch 2 Christine VoorheesMarch 3 Jerry NezlickMarch 4 Jim VoorheesMarch 5 Jeff LawrenceMarch 7 Sue Spies

March 8 Matthew MannsMarch 9 Dennis ByrneMarch 9 Craig Di FioreMarch 13 Luke Di FioreMarch 16 Beth OttosonMarch 23 Karolyn BuckrideeMarch 30 Tricia Curran

Anniversaries

March 25 Paul & Ann Marie Rimondi

If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, or if youchoose for it not to be listed, please contact Jim Wilson.

April Question of the Month:

What does Easter mean to you?

Please give your responses to Jim Wilson or e-mail them toCapebum@aol.com by March 25th.

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

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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.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I ________ you in the womb I knew you, before you were____________ I set you apart; I appointed you as a _______________ to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:16 I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickednessin _______________ me.

Jeremiah 5:19 As you have ___________ me and served foreign ___________ in yourown land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.

Jeremiah 6:16 Ask where the good way is, and _________ in it, and you will find_________ for your souls.

Jeremiah 7:28 This is the nation that has not __________ the Lord its God or respondedto _______________.

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Spiritual Fitness:Still Standingby Jim Wilson

You can’t keep a good clown down.

Somewhere back there in my childhood, I remember Bozo; one of those blow-upbop-bag clowns with extra weight in the base. Every time you hit it, it wouldbounce back for more. It was a great way to improve eye-hand coordination andtake out kid frustration at the same time.

Now, years later, there are many days I feel like Bozo, hit day after day. I alwaysbounce back, but sometimes it takes time. There are times that I cannot bounce backwithout God’s help.

Faith can be like that extra weight in your base. It is faith that keeps us coming backfor more. No matter what life dumps on us, we keep bouncing back. And, lifedumps all kinds of things our way. Discouragement. Pain. Loss. Difficult people.Turbulent times. Second thoughts. Sorrow. Anger.

Faith brings hope. And, hope lets us get up again.

As Christians, it’s not as though we strive to get knocked down. But, we shouldstrive to get back up. With God’s help, we can.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evilcomes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done

everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

Let others see Christ in you and in the way you live.

“Preach the Gospel at all times ... and when necessary, use words.”- Author Unknown

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Question of the Month

The Lamplighter Question of the Month for March was:

“Who has had a big influence in your life, and how so?”

Thank you to all who responded.

Don Williams - Raymond Rose, boys’ Sunday School teacher when I was ages9-12. He taught me to take the Bible seriously, to study it and know it as God’sWord.

Claire Heilmann - I attended church all my life, following all the rules andfollowing blindly. I didn’t read or understand the wonderful Bible. My soninfluenced me by bringing to me the beautiful Word of the Lord. My life thenchanged!

Sheryl Morales - My Sisters-in-Christ have had a significant influence on me. It isas we “do life” together that they have inspired me, corrected me and encouragedme. This is the Body of Christ, the miraculous gift He gave us.

Christy Caruso - In addition to my Mom, the person who comes to mind as havingthe greatest spiritual influence on my life is my Aunt Delores (my mother’s sister).Not only did she share God’s Word with me and give solid biblical counsel, she“walked the talk” - ALL the time, in EVERYthing. I thank God every day for myAunt Delores!

Janet Wilson - Loving parents, very committed/active in church. They alwaysencouraged us to do our best. Mom, organized and Dad, creative. Both musical.Sunday School teacher gave me a cross necklace, which made Christ very personal.One grandfather inspired me to play piano and my other grandfather encouraged meto be a teacher. Choir director at college prayed with me to accept Christ.Jim: thoughtfulness and hard work. Jen and Steve: selfless love and responsibility.My students, Sisters-in-Christ and Pastor Bill continue to help me grow in the Lord.(Continued)

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Who Has Had a Big Influence on Your Life? (continued)

Gene Reynolds - My dad, Frank. He taught me how to be a great dad andhusband through his examples of hard work, discipline, love and sacrifice. So far, Ithink I am a good dad and aspire to be a great dad and husband, thanks to hisexample.

Liam Page - Jesus. He is everything to me. Of course, He created me.

Pastor Bill - Well, I will write about my beloved soul mate Bernadette sometimein the future. Space will absolutely not permit it here. So let me talk about my dad,Charles Parker Page. Only in adulthood would I come to more fullyappreciate his influence and example. My father laid to rest his 38 year-old bride(my mother, Irene Doris [nee] May) on his 40th birthday. The rearing of fivechildren (Charles, Jr. 15, Paul 13, Patty 9, Bill 7, David 3) would now fall to him.How on Earth he did not turn to the bottle/abuse/neglect is beyond me! We werenot followers of Christ at the time. We had no church family. My father was ablue collar factory worker who got up every day, tied his boots tightly and went towork. He didn’t know how to hold a grudge. He was a gentle man. He never quit.When I was younger, I did not think that my father compared well with other dads.His car was not new. He did not wear a suit to work. We didn’t go onvacations. Our house was not as nice as others’ homes. Our clothing was second-hand quality at best. Later I came to realize that he gave me intangible things thatultimately would prepare me for life. His example is what I believe helped me tonot quit in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts when Bernadette and I planted the GraceBaptist Church. I believe his example is helping me to parent my own fivechildren at this time. The only thing that ever got my dad stoked was when one ofmy older siblings would talk about quitting school (high school). Dad knew theimportance of education. He knew he lacked those opportunities and wantedbetter for his kids. Well, I think I can say grades 1-12 and 9+ years of college didnot teach me as much about how to live life as did the humble example ofCharlie Page.

Thank you, Dad. You were not a man of many words, but your example spokevolumes. (Continued)

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Celebrating TRBCMatie O’Brien-Cole

“I have a heart for people, especially the underdog”, says Matie.Matie O’Brien-Cole was born in the Bronx, but grew up in Long Beach, a barrier reef

on Long Island. “It’s always my heart’s desire to get back to the ocean”, she says. “I’mjust very close to God there, because I’m also close to my father there.”

Matie is the youngest of eight children in her family. “I have three older brothers andfour older sisters; one of them I lost about two years ago. Eileen was like a second Momto me. She was very gifted, very talented. She was a tremendous influence on my life. Ofall the people in the world, she was the one who loved me the most.”

She grew up in what she calls a “very Christ-centered home”. Her dad was a biblicalscholar who studied to be a Catholic priest. Her mom was an English teacher. “Probablyif I had to pick out a family scripture that I grew up with that we lived out, it was Matthew25:35, that whole idea of ‘When I was hungry, you fed me.’ That was so ingrained in us.”

The year before Matie was born, her parents lived in Cape May Courthouse. “Theywere the first people in New Jersey to homeschool. My father built a little schoolhouseand the state prosecuted them. At one point, the prosecutor said something in Latin to thejudge and then the judge said, ‘Mr. O’Brien, you wouldn’t understand that.’ And he re-sponded, ‘Oh, yeah?’ And from then on, my father, a biblical scholar, defended himself inLatin for the rest of the trial. It turned out that my parents won.”

Matie lost her dad when she was 11. “I think the sea is my connection to my dad”,because she remembers the way he used to walk along the ocean when she was a child.

A Christian counselor for almost 25 years, Matie began her journey with the Lord whenshe was apprenticing as a midwife in 1982. “I had the honor of working with someonewho was a believer. So I would go to births with her. She eventually prayed with me andthat’s how I became a believer.” Matie later went to nursing school to become a certifiednurse midwife, something she describes as a tremendous passion of hers. “Then the Lordsaid, ‘Spiritual midwife’”, and that’s how she got started in Christian counseling. “I lovewhat I do. It’s a natural gift that I have in terms of conversation and being with people. Ilove the fact that I am privileged to really present the Gospel to people and bind up the bro-kenhearted (Isaiah 61:1), as His vehicle.

Her vision is to one day operate a safe house by the sea. “I would love to run a bed andbreakfast, the tea and the scones, just making people comfortable.” She envisions it as “aministry where people who are going through divorce or going through difficult times orillness or a death or separation can have a place to come and rest and recuperate and be bythe sea, soak in God and be nurtured back to health in a Christ-centered atmosphere. Thesea is so good for that.”

The ocean is where, Matie says, she’s at her best.

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Who Has Had a Big Influence on Your Life? (continued)

Jim Wilson - The biggest influences on my life have been Jesus, Janet, Steve andJen and my parents. But others have had a profound impact as well. When I wasgrowing up, my pastor’s son died tragically. I remember Dr. Davidson’s sermon thefollowing Sunday and his pleading words, “Spend time with your kids.” His faithunder fire spoke more to me than a lifetime of sermons. He taught me that faith isnot just for Sundays, it’s for life.

Juanita Sumner - My mother, a humble but strong lady who put her faith to workon a daily basis. She had the responsibility of eight children and one grandchild tonurture and guide us to accept Christ and to serve Him joyfully. She was kind,loving - giving everyone the benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to redeemone’s self.

Web Video of the Month

Check out this link for a fun, thought-provoking video. Copy this into yourbrowser. You’ll like it. If you have any favorites you’d like to pass along, pleaselet me know. -Jim Wilson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxIfO8e5MZ8

Dear Heavenly Father,When others let me down, thank You for the

blessed assurance that You won’t.I can always trust You.And I do.In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

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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.

March 4 Robin Di Fiore & Katelyn DyerMarch 11 Lisa and Danielle DyerMarch 18 Madeleine & Samuel FarrellMarch 25 Janice & Justin Guy

Thanks to all of you!

Deadline for April Lamplighter:Sunday, March 25

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

March Nursery Schedule