EMMETT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
March 2021
Discover Christ's Transforming Love
126 S. Hayes Ave. Emmett, Idaho 83617
Lance Zagaris, Pastor
Pam Hodges, Worship Director
A Word From the Pastor
Psalm 2
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 2 or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. 3 Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands — 4 if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe — 5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. 6 Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God, decree justice. 7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. 8 Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. 9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure — you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. 10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. 12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword.
Dearly Beloved,
In the first three verses of Psalm 2, the psalmist recognizes that the kings of the earth are angry with the Lord and His Anointed One (His Messiah). They view the LORD’s reign over the earth as a terrible bondage, where they figuratively speak as if they were cruelly restricted by the Lord in chains and fetters. They refuse to follow His leadership any longer. They will not submit to Him and His ways! They have gathered courage to stand up to Him and they have been conspiring with other nations to revolt. In verse 1, the psalmist asks: Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The psalmist believes their raging schemes will all be useless in the end. Don’t they see Who God is?!! Don’t they recognize His absolute authority as King of kings and Lord of lords?!! Don’t they know that all the power they can muster up to go against Him cannot begin to match the power He has by just speaking the word of His command against them?!!
God allows ungodly people to falsely accuse Him of wrongdoing. He permits them to proudly assert their wills against Him. He gives them the freedom to assemble together to conspire and rage against Him. In the NT, God allowed the Son of His love to be falsely accused of blasphemy, to be arrested, mocked, spit upon, brutally whipped, nailed to a cruel cross, and publicly hung in disgrace between two criminals. For all His power and authority, the LORD shocks us with what He tolerates from us as humans! When we see and hear the ungodly defy the Lord and His people, we often become angry, anxious, and fearful. It feels like God is not truly in control of the circumstances.
But when we return to Ps. 2, verse 4 tells us a different story: “The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them!” The King of heaven laughs at their murderous threats! The gathering of the armed forces that frighten us doesn’t cause the fear needle to move in His Person. He scoffs at them. Remember when Jesus was suffering and they mocked Him and said if You are so close to God, why doesn’t He save you? If you are Who You claim to be, why don’t you call down the angels to deliver you? Jesus, could have, but it wasn’t God’s plan. But in the future God will reverse the tables and He will be the One scoffing the scoffers and He will eventually use His sovereign authority and power to come against the ungodly. They will be no match for Him! He is confident about the outcome! When He speaks to them in His anger, He will transform their rebellious, angry, arrogance into terrified cowards (2:5). “I have installed My King on Zion” (6). No one can stop My will from occurring! “I will declare the LORD’s decree, He said to Me, ‘You My Son, today I have become Your Father’ (7)”! When Jesus came to earth, He declared that He was the One the Father referred to here as His One And Only Son, the One Who Would Be installed By the Father as His King to establish His kingdom.
As Jesus died on the cross, the sign above Him said “King of the Jews”. They killed the One whom the Father declared to be His Son and installed as king, but God used their mocking cruelty to His Son to save the world from their sins. It appeared to be weakness, but Christ’s death was a demonstration of God’s love and power and holiness. And when God caused Jesus to be raised from the dead, He overturned their murderous rebellion! In Ps. 2:8-9 the LORD promises to make the nations of the earth His Son Jesus’ inheritance. And He declares that His Son will break them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery!
In 2:12, the psalmist urges people to kiss the son! Don’t mock Him or mistreat Him. Don’t rebel against Him, but humbly submit to Him. Revere Him. He receives sinners who humbly repent, returning from sin, kissing the Son, and following Him with a servant’s heart of obedience. Those who take refuge in Him are content. But beware, you who find yourself on His opposing side, for His anger may ignite at any moment. You don’t want to experience this side of God!
Shepherding you in His Love,
Lance
Resuming Junior Church and Nursery!
With the COVID-19 case numbers going down and people getting vaccinations, we are exploring options for resuming Jr. church and the nursery potentially as soon as April!
Your ideas, thoughts and assistance is always encouraged and welcome!
While at some point in the near future we hope to resume Sunday School classes, no Sunday School will be offered at this time.
Please contact Lance or any of the CE Board members if you have questions, want to discuss ideas or are interested in serving in the nursery or helping with Jr. Church.
We intend to continue with precautions to make our setting safe. Sanitizing efforts will be taken in rooms being used. Pews are roped off to help us comply with 6 feet social distancing. Offering plates and communion cups are not passed around but are stationed at the entrance/exit doors to the sanctuary.
We are excited to be able to worship together and hope by opening up Jr. Church and the nursery more families will be able to attend services. We recognize not everyone will feel comfortable to join us at this time; and that is understandable and acceptable.
If you are unable to join us, you are encouraged to watch/listen to the service on the church website at www.fbcemmett.org, or the First Baptist Church of Emmett Facebook, or YouTube-FBC Emmett. Audio of each message will still be posted on the church website and CD’s or DVD's will continue to be available upon request.
Valentine's Dinner 2021
Those that attended in person played games using their artistic skills. It was a great meal and great fellowship!
We are grateful to Robin Humphries and Jennifer Gragg for the beautiful decorations and thoughtful prizes (Patty Chapman helped with the prizes). We are also thankful for Dave and Pam Hodges leading us in the game of Pictionary!
Spring Forward!
Sunday, March 14, Daylight Saving Time begins! Before you retire to bed on Saturday night, be sure to set your clocks forward 1 hour so you don't miss church!
Running from God’s Will - (Pastor Greg's Daily Devo)
But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.”
When the Lord called Jonah to go and preach to the city of Nineveh, Jonah tried to go in the opposite direction. The most ungodly people imaginable lived in Nineveh. They were known for their cruelty, their hardheartedness, and the way they treated their enemies.
Also, the Ninevites were the avowed enemies of Israel, and Jonah was a patriotic Jewish man. He didn’t want to go to his enemies and bring a message of hope to them. Or, maybe he didn’t want to go to Nineveh because he was afraid he would be rejected.
Whatever the reason, Jonah tried to go in the opposite direction. He was running from God’s will for his life.
I wonder if you’ve felt called by the Lord to do something. Maybe the Lord has prompted you to start a Bible study on your school campus. Maybe the Lord has been leading you to share the gospel with a neighbor. Maybe the Lord has been directing you to commit your life to serve Him in the place that you’re in right now.
And maybe you’re saying, “I don’t want to do it. That’s not part of my career plan.”
But here’s what you need to know. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. God isn’t looking for qualified people. Rather, He’s looking for people who will simply say, “Here I am. Send me.”
And really, what God is looking for more than anything else is availability—not so much ability but availability. He’s looking for someone who will say, “Lord, I want to be the person You’ve called me to be.”
God will give you the strength to do what He calls you to do, when He calls you to do it—not before and never after. He will give you what you need when you need it.
Journey to Iraq- Minorities & Christians in Iraq
International Ministries' (IM) Global Servants Dan & Sarah Chetti, are missionaries FBC supports. They are the first International Ministries global servants in the Arab world. Dan is an Adjunct Professor at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. Dan’s current focus is promoting strategic Arba ministries in seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa, called “Enduring Love”. Sarah has pioneered a ministry among foreign migrant women working as maids in Lebanon. She visits and ministers at three prisons, advocates for the rights of maids, fights human trafficking and runs an Integrated Centre for Migrant Domestic Workers, called, Insaaf: Justice and Compassion of Jesus. Sarah’s journals are available on the IM website. Due to the sensitive nature of Dan’s Enduring Love newsletters, they are not posted online.
Journey to Iraq is a five-episode series that invites you to see the reality, challenges, and dreams of the Iraqui nation that has continuously been immersed in turmoil. While many have fled, there are Christians who continue to live amidst these difficult situations.
Episode 2 reveals Iraq's multicultural reality and the hardships that many Christians are still facing in the country. While minorities in Iraq have been in Iraq for centuries, they received most of the brunt in the ISIS occupation. (Click here to watch the video of Episode 2: Multiculturality in Iraq)
Visit www.enduringlove.org for more information.
Kenny Keene - Testimony
In a former life I was a professional boxer, I chased fame and fortune. You know, the usual story, retired at age of 30. My last fight set the record at Qwest Arena for the most people ever to attend an event. I won the fight! It was on Nov. 12, 1999. The Governor proclaimed it Kenny Keene Day in the State of Idaho! There was a sign on the county line greeting people: “Welcome to Gem County, Home of Kenny Keene”. I had title belts wherever I would go in the Treasure Valley. People would recognize me from being on TV, radio, in the newspaper and magazines. After the fight on the way home, I got a police escort. As I rode back I noticed the fulfillment of my life I was chasing was not there. I was empty, just like coming home from fighting the Russian boxer.
When I was a little boy, whenever I was sad, I would always sit on the end of the bed with my chin resting in my hands and my mother would come in and say, “What’s wrong little boy?” and I would tell her. Through my life I realized I would revert back to sitting on my bed. One day my wife Megan came into the room and I was sitting on the bed; I had never told her about when I was little. She asked, “What’s wrong little boy?” I looked at her and I said, “I am going to reinvent myself!”
This would lead to opening a couple businesses and a comeback to boxing, trying to fill the emptiness in me and to have people look at me as a successful person. I wanted them to be impressed.
My focus was really trying to impress people because I really cared what people thought about me - except God. Whoa, how did God come in this story? Oh yeah, God. I forgot to mention God. Of course, that is the way it’s always been in my life since I was 20, when I started coming to First Baptist Church. I have always kept God in my back pocket. I always believed, went to church, hung out with the church crowd. I chose life on my terms. I wanted to be Christian, but I had to live life and enjoy it. I would read the Bible and do Bible studies. It was like I was reading the Bible in third person. I would wonder how people could do bad things against God when they know that it is wrong.
So, at 46, I found myself working nights at St. Al’s as a security guard in Eagle, Idaho. I realized that for 26 years I had always questioned my salvation. I would always say next year, next year. I read an article that said if you question yourself about salvation, there’s a good chance you’re not saved. This really struck me because my answer was, I am not saved. So, I began to read the Bible, looking for a loophole to get into heaven. I would leave crib notes of verses on my desk during the nights I worked so I could continue the next day. A guy, Michael Scherer, worked the day shift at the hospital. He would relieve me. I would just say Hi and Bye to him. I really didn’t know him or really want to know him. One day I came to work a little early and sat in my car. He walked out to my car saying, “Hey Kenny, can I talk to you?” I got out of my car and we started walking. Mike asked, “What’s all these notes about Bible verses?” I said, “Mike, are you saved?” and he said “Yes, I am, Kenny. Do you go to church Kenny?” “Yes, I go to First Baptist Church.” I told him I get so much anxiety about this stuff.
I got his background in Christ within a few questions. Then I said, “Mike I am going to Hell.” He replied, “Kenny, why do you say that?” I said, “Because I am not saved. I believe in God. I believe what God says, but if I believe, why do I do continue sinning? I read the Bible about the things people do in the Bible. I do the same things, if not worse. I do not feel remorseful all the time. I read about the wide and narrow paths and I realize I am on the wide path.” Mike looked at me. He did not tell me I’m saved. He said, “Why do you keep reading and searching?” “I don’t know”, I said. He said, “Keep doing it. There is a reason why you are reading Matthew 7”. So, I began reading, searching, praying, looking. I would go on runs with Al Cinnamon and we would have these conversations. I would tell him of what was going on. He would tell me this is amazing stuff. You need to write this down, and I would tell him, “I got all right here”, pointing to my head. But I should have written it down. I forgot parts of it.
I would go over to the Zagaris’ house and ask questions and tell Lance how I felt. One night Jolene Zagaris said to me, “You are experiencing conversion.” I had never heard the term. I continued to talk with Mike. Even though I had these conversations I still felt I was not saved. One night while reading I began to sob. I realized that I wasn’t going to find a loophole for salvation. I (wanted to) give up. I was stuck on the wide path. I wasted my life for what I thought was living life. “What a waste! I am going to hell!”
As I was sobbing, I looked up at the computer screen I was reading. I started reading a verse: Matthew 15:24 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
I read it again. It was a verse I read 200 time before. It had never sunk in. Now it did. To deny myself was no loophole! Its what you do, just like all the verses in the Bible.
I read a little more. Then said, “Boy, I am glad I am saved!” Right then I had salvation. I was reborn. I can’t really describe the things that happened at that moment. If I could, you probably wouldn’t believe me, but I don’t care. I don’t care if anyone believes or doubts what I said because I know I am saved. It was nothing I did, who I was or what I’ve done in life. It was God. Only God can save you! And when it happens, its an immediate impact on your life. Yes, you will still sin, and when you do, it’s like a knife in the side. Then you repent and move forward because the Son has already taken the punishment.
I hope this article helps anyone who struggling. Remember: Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.
Afterwards, Mike and I got sent back to the main hospital on Curtis. We worked separate shifts but would run into each other occasionally. One night at home I was having severe pains in my heart. So, I told Megan, “we better go to the hospital.” So, we went to Eagle and then was sent to the main campus of St. AL’s by ambulance. As I was wheeled in, all the security team and the nurses were in ER. They formed a line and as they wheeled me in, they were saying, “Come on Kenny! You can make it!” I thought “This is great!” All these people heard what was happening. I went into the trauma unit. They ran numerous tests and luckily it was not a heart attack. It was a pericarditis, which mimics a heart attack. Actually, the doctor said my heart was in great condition!
As I was sitting in my room waiting to be released, I saw a hospital chaplain talking to my wife outside the door. I could tell it was a deep conversation. Oh man, I thought they found something wrong; I am going to die. Why is the Chaplain at my room? They were out there quite a while. Megan came in kind of teary-eyed. She said, “Kenny, I wasn’t supposed to tell you this.” “What? What?”, I said... “what’s wrong with me?” Megan said Mike died just 2 hours before you came into the ER. Mike had a heart attack and died. He was younger than me. I began to cry, then stopped and said, “Mike is in heaven. I’m happy for him. I’m glad God put Mike in my path! God Saves!
Kenny Keene
P.S. The security staff and nurses formed the line to cheer me on because they didn’t want to lose two security guards on the same night!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
The purpose of life is not to be happy; it is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."
Do You Have a Story to Tell?
I hope you enjoy reading the personal articles about various church members in the past and future newsletters. I have truly enjoyed getting to know the individuals featured and hearing their stories.
Do you have a story to tell? Or do you know of someone who has a story that needs to be told? Maybe the Lord spoke to you at a particular time in your life, or looking back, you see how He helped you through a situation. I'd be happy to set up a time to interview and/or capture those stories for the newsletter.
I believe each of us has a story to tell and each story can touch somebody else regardless of it's "wow" factor. We try to be "good Christians" and sometimes that results in hiding the pain, stories and real-life battles we go through. But often, it is those stories that brings other's to know the Lord. Maybe your story will touch even just one person.
As a music lover, songs speak volumes to me... like Matthew West's new song The Truth Be Told. (click on the song title to link to the song or click here to see the lyrics)
I also came across this post and wanted to share it - 10 Christian Songs That Tell A Story by Elise Cleary
I look forward to hearing from those of you who are willing to share you stories!
Kathy Osborn
FBC Secretary/Treasurer
Webinar: Parenting LGBTQ Kids
DATE: March 23, 2021
Time: 8:30-10:00pm EST
Primary Audience: Parents and others with LGBTQ loved ones
Cost: $20/screen
Our most requested webinar! We get more questions from parents with LGBTQ/SSA kids than any from anyone else. In this webinar, Preston will host a conversation with two different parents and their LGBTQ or same-sex attracted Christian kids and talk open and honestly about how they have navigated their relationship. They’ll discuss the pros and the cons, the things they did well, and the things they didn’t do too well. The goal is to give out much wisdom from lived experience to others trying to navigate their relationship with their own LGBTQ/SSA kids or loved ones. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
https://www.centerforfaith.com/programs/leadership-forums/webinar-parenting-lgbtq-kids
If God Said It, He’ll Do It
“But Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened.” Romans 4:20 (TLB)
I was heading to the kitchen for my pre-dawn cup of coffee when his words cut though my half-awake haze: “Hi, Mommy! Thanks for taking me to the park today.”
As rain pattered on the roof and thunder rumbled low somewhere in the distance, I questioned if I’d heard his words correctly.
God's There Along the Way
I never really felt my life was all that bad.
I was fairly happy with the feeling that I had.
And so it took some time for me to truly know
Just exactly how much I could really grow.
I was not really searching for anything more.
I had no idea what exactly was in store.
But God reached down from above and took hold of my hand.
And then I felt a happiness that was hard to understand.
All those many people who had tried and tried
To tell me of His wondrous love, they surely had not lied.
They often tried to sell me on Someone I couldn’t see.
But I just sat and wondered, “How could it really be?
How could there really be Someone up there to guide me
When all my thoughts and feelings were jumbled up inside me.”
And finally it hit me just what they were trying to say.
And finally I realized there was another way.
No longer need I worry with problems great or small.
No longer need I hurry in my quest to conquer all.
God was there to stand beside me along my troubled way.
God was there to guide me, through the night and through the day.
And this is how I found Him, or should I say He found me.
Because truly I was not searching to change the heart in me.
I did not understand when people tried to share.
I did not understand, or maybe didn’t care.
But now I know what’s there for me, and it’s out there for you, too.
God’s strength will bring you sunshine and will always pull you through.
So no matter what the pressure is that I face from day to day.
No matter what the temptation is, God’s there along the way.
So maybe what I’ve experienced can’t compare to what you’ve been through.
My life has been fairly short and my troubles have been few.
But something I am sure of is God’s love for me and you.
And another thing I’m sure of is that faith will pull you through.
Amy Lynn Bordeaux
America For Christ Offering 2021
America for Christ (AFC) Offering 2021 campaign— “For the Purpose of Equipping Saints,” based on Ephesians 4:11-13—focuses on our discipleship and leadership empowerment ministries, which nurture the faithful followers who find their call and life’s work as the hands and feet of Christ.
For the month of March, FBC will be taking America for Christ Offering. Envelopes are located in the pews or you can note "AFC" on your check or envelope.
Corned Beef and Cabbage I
Ingredients
- 3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
- 10 small red potatoes
- 5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
- 1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
Directions
- Step 1
Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
- Step 2
Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
- Step 3
Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:
839 calories; protein 49.6g; carbohydrates 68.9g; fat 41.3g; cholesterol 147mg;
Chuckles
A five year old boy sat and listened attentively to his Sunday School teacher. When she asked what Jesus said to his disciples at The Last Supper, the youngster answered. "Get on this side of the table if you want your picture taken!"
Birthdays and Anniversaries!
Birthdays:
March 03 ......... Austin Humphries
March 05 ......... Larry Dealy
March 09 ......... Rocky Smith
March 10 ......... Kelly Ayres
March 11 ......... Sally Sturman
March 14 ......... Frances Granger
March 16 ......... Doug Strunk
March 19 ......... Lexi Humphries
March 20 ......... David Shriver
March 28 ......... Lonnie Moats
March 31 ......... Justin Church
Anniversaries:
March 08 ......... Jeff & TaCole Chapman
March 14 ......... Nate & Teri Campbell