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V o l um e 4 # 7
Wading River Baptist Church
P.O. Box 438, 1635 Wading River-Manorville Road, Wading River, NY 11792
(631) 929-3512; 929-6022
www.wrbc.us wrbc4Christ@hotmail.com
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Missionary of the Month
In a time when the economy is threat- by faith and to experience the reality of
ening jobs of all kinds, Joe Holman feels Christ in their lives. Their ultimate dream
his job is most secure knowing there are so is to radically impact the country of Bolivia
many needing to hear the Word of God, and then the entire continent of South
especially there in Bolivia, the poorest America, touching the lives of at least
country in Latin America. 200,000 people weekly throughout South
America.
It has only been a little over two years
(May 2007) since Joe and Denise Holman Their ministry will include hosting
headed to Cochabamba, Bolivia, with their conferences, broadcasting across the inter-
10 children and big dreams to mission net, writing books, publishing articles util-
throughout all of South America. izing email to seek to communicate truths
across every medium that they can find.
Joe and Denise Holman Most interesting is their blog site with their
day-by-day activities both in the mission
This is a family that plays an active field and in their personal life:
part in the mission field no matter what
age. Just one example was the pageant this Joe-Holman.blogspot.com
TheHolmansInBolivia.blogspot.com
past Christmas when all ten of the children
helped to reenact Jesus’ birth; including Also pray for areas in their personal
baby Mercy portraying baby Jesus. lives. They have had encounters with ta-
rantulas, snakes and scorpions. Their son,
Jacob, was in a motorcycle wreck but was
not seriously hurt. Joe’s dad, Jack, found
out that he has terminal cancer. Denise
had a miscarriage earlier in the year; a son
Since arriving in Bolivia, Joe and De- named Jordon. Please continue to pray for
nise have welcomed a new member into the the health and safety of the Holman family.
family – Mercy Darlene Holman born Sep- Pray for language acquisition. Pray for
tember 19, 2008, weighing in at 10 lbs 4 oz them as they reach out to abandoned chil-
and 23 inches long. Being that their oldest dren and orphaned kids, donating money
son, Seth, is now living in northern VA, to help provide them with food, clothing
working in DC and saving up for college, For the first time, their finances are in and shelter, and assisting them with shop-
Mercy’s arrival replaced Seth’s spot at the the red and thus they are in need of prayer ping. Pray for them as they fulfill their
dinner table. It will not be too long before to return to full support. Being that Bolivia vision to reproduce missionaries; their goal
there will be another vacant spot as their is so poor, they need to reach out to finan- is for at least 100 people to enter into full-
son, Jacob, is making plans to attend cial partners like the WRBC to support time, career missions work. It is true that
Moody Bible College in order to check out them with their monthly needs. the Holmans dream big but so is their love
the music and youth ministry there. He for Jesus.
has already led worship in their church in Pray that the Holmans can stay on
Cochabamba and is now playing in two track with their dream. Their dream is to ― Joan Tyska
worship teams. help pastors and leaders know God better
and to equip leaders to live in grace, walk
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continued from page 3
ing his family in front to allow a moment of eran but a veteran decorated with a medal ner in a most professional manner. 5 chef’s
Fatherly pride. given to him by the French; a medal he hats to the Hallstrom and Piraino girls!!!!
wore at the luncheon remembering the
Don’t think we need to go into more
landing 65 years ago that day.
detail to declare the luncheon a wonderful
Other declarations made were to the success and a most blessed place to be for a
Fathers and Grandfathers with the largest few hours that blessed day. We even ac-
number of children. American flags were quired a new piano player, Reeva Bellard,
given to those who qualified with Ray Fitz- who led the seniors as they chose their fa-
gerald having the most with 12 children, 4 vorite hymns. (Not to replace Marie
biological and 8 foster. (The Fitzgerald’s Caputo but to help Marie when she is not
home was a certified foster home for a available.) The luncheon was a time to
time, bringing in babies to care for.) share, a time to laugh, a time to get to
know each other better and a time to wel-
Cannot forget our kitchen crew; espe-
come seniors from the community outside
cially Kaitlyn, Kristen & Kara Hallstrom &
the WRBC. If you are a senior, or even
Shannon, Sarah & Linea Piraino, when it
The declarations were many but one in approaching your senior years and would
came time to serve the dinner of BBQ
particular stood out. Being that the lunch- like to come to the next luncheon, set aside
pulled pork sandwiches with sides of cole-
eon fell on D-Day, the veterans were all August 8 (tentatively set) and we will wel-
slaw and potato salad. The original crew of
recognized for the time they served. But come you with open arms.
Jackie Hallstrom, Mina Piraino & Vicki
one veteran, Dino Volano, caught the inter- Valentine were called out of the kitchen ― Joan Tyska
est and admiration of the seniors. Not only leaving the back up crew in charge. The 6
was Mr. Volano a Normandy landing vet- young girls continued to serve up the din-
Conditional Forgiveness?
A Review of Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2008)
Several years ago, I preached a series compelling. Brauns defines forgiveness as at this point that Brauns is very helpful, at
of sermons on the subject of forgiveness in “a commitment by the offended to pardon least to me. He explains that the reason
which I took the position that an offended graciously the repentant from moral liabil- why we should not forgive the unrepentant
person could not forgive the offender with- ity and to be reconciled to that person, al- is that it is a violation of our innate sense of
out the offender first confessing his wrong- though not all consequences are necessar- justice. We often react to an offense by
doing and seeking the forgiveness of the ily eliminated” (p. 55). saying, “It’s not fair!” That’s our God-given
person he had wronged. I based this on sense of justice speaking, and to forgive
Forgiveness is more than just a feeling,
passages of Scripture which teach believers where there is no conviction, confession,
and thus Brauns rejects what he calls
to forgive others as God forgives us: if and repentance, violates that sense.
“therapeutic forgiveness”—forgiveness de-
your brother sins and repents, forgive him
signed to make the offended party feel bet- So what are we to do in such a case?
(Lk 17:3-4); if we confess our sins, then
ter. Even though sometimes those against Brauns perceptively and wisely counsels us
God is faithful and righteous to forgive our
whom sin has been committed must be to commit the offender to God’s justice (pp.
sins (1 Jn 1:9). Some questioned my posi-
willing to overlook faults (“love covers a 142-150). But then here’s another potential
tion, but I have continued to stand by it,
multitude of sins,” 1 Pet 4:8), forgiveness is problem: if I do not forgive an unrepent-
although virtually alone—or so I thought
not merely “getting over it,” and often re- ant offender, am I not in danger of holding
until I read Unpacking Forgiveness by
quires humble confrontation. In the ab- a grudge and becoming bitter? In an excel-
Chris Brauns, who pastors the Congrega-
sence of a satisfactory response from the lent discussion of this dilemma (chapter
tional Christian Church of Stillman Valley,
offender, church discipline (Mt 18:15-20) 13), Brauns gives us helpful advice on con-
Illinois. In this book, Brauns takes a com-
may have to be implemented. quering bitterness, and again, God’s justice
prehensive look at the biblical doctrine of
and providence figure prominently in the
forgiveness, and comes to the conclusion The strongest part of the book comes
solution. In fact, I found this to be the
that forgiveness is indeed conditional. in the second half. On the one hand, what
most helpful chapter in the book. There is
if I refuse to forgive (chapter 10)? Brauns
This book clearly reflects the heart of a never an excuse for bitterness! This is fol-
responds that you had better be concerned
pastor. It is not scholarly, and the author lowed by another helpful chapter entitled,
that you are not a believer at all! On the
uses effective anecdotes and illustrations. “How Can I Stop Thinking about It?”, in
other hand, how should I respond to those
At times, he is a bit frivolous, but the wise which the author shows how the battle
who refuse to repent? In chapters 11-12,
reader will excuse that in the interest of against bitterness must be won in our
the author sets out three principles to
absorbing his message. Brauns takes a minds. The book concludes with an ap-
guide the offended Christian: (1) resolve
while to get going in this book; the early pendix which poses several other com-
not to seek revenge; (2) proactively show
chapters are a bit tedious. As the author monly asked questions on the subject of
love; and (3) don’t forgive the unrepentant,
gets into the heart of forgiveness, however, forgiveness and gives brief answers to each.
but leave room for the wrath of God. It is
his discussion becomes more focused and continued on page 5
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continued from page 4
One curious omission in Brauns’ dis- offenses by giving them to the Lord and very long-standing bitterness in my own
cussion of forgiveness is any significant refusing to harbor them in our minds any heart. Thus, I commend this book to every
explanation of the meaning of the Greek longer. Christian who has struggled with the prob-
term “forgiveness” in the New Testament lems of forgiving, being forgiven, unre-
I believe that this book will answer
(he mentions it only briefly in an appen- pentant offenders, and bitterness (and who
some questions you have had for a long
dix). That word (aphiemi) literally means hasn’t?). You can’t put someone else’s sin
time, but for one reason or another may
“to let go,” and in the course of overcoming out of your mind? Then you need to read
have been afraid to ask. In reading Un-
bitterness, this is the key. Although we this soundly biblically based book. You
packing Forgiveness, I found myself hav-
may not be able to forgive unrepentant might just find new victory and joy in your
ing to pause and do some sobering self-
offenders, yet, following the example of the life!
evaluation. At one point, I spent some
Lord Jesus (Lk 23:34), we can let go of
extended time in prayer dealing with some ― Pastor Ron Glass
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July Bible Quiz Questions June Bible Quiz Answers
1) Who built the ark of the covenant, mercy seat, and 1) Gershom and Eliezer (Ex 18:3-4; 1 Chr 23:15).
cherubim?
2) Land of Ham (Ps 105:23, 106:22).
2) Name two judges not included in the book of Judges.
3) Candace (Acts 8:27).
3) Who was the brother-in-law of Moses?
4) Hannah, wife of Elkenah (1 Sam 1:12-13).
4) Who was the father-in-law of Moses? Give both of his
5) Ham, son of Noah (Gen 9:18, 9:22, 10:6).
names.
Bonus: Pope Gregory III.
5) How many sons did David have?
Bonus: Name the branch of theology dealing with sin.
― Felix Acerra Submit the Bible reference and correct answers to:
wrbc4Christ@hotmail.com. The correct answers will be
announced in the next newsletter!
July 2009
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 7:00 PM 2 8:30 AM 3 4
Prayer Meeting Ladies Prayer −
and exposition of call Joan Tyska
the Psalms (727-5998) for
exact time/place
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PO Box 438
Wading River, NY 11792
Our Purpose
1. To glorify God through sharing
the good news of salvation by God’s
sovereign grace through faith in His
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.