EMMETT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
July 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 121:1-8 1I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? 2My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; 8the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 94:18-19 18When I said, "My foot is slipping," your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. 19When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
Psalm 66:9-12 9he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. 10For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
Psalm 73:2 2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
Psalm 73:23-24 23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Psalm 37:31 31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.
Psalm 17:5 5My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
Dearly Beloved,
Donita Perrigo asked me to help her find a verse about "I will not let you slip", somewhere in Psalms. As I explored, I found the verses above. I believe she was looking for Ps. 121:3; "He will not let your foot slip - He Who watches over you will not slumber." The verses are especially meaningful to our family right now. Yesterday, Ashlynn, our granddaughter, had a frightening experience. She was riding her bike in the crosswalk on her way to her aunt's house when a car that was stopped at the intersection hit her bike! It knocked her down, but she was able to walk away from it with just a a sore leg and a sore face! Her mom has a picture of the car's left wheel stopped on top of the bicycle. The driver didn't see her. It was fearful for Ashlynn and the driver. It was frightening to learn about the accident and to realize how fragile our lives can be!
As I read these verses this morning, God brings life's events into perspective for us. God is not only our Creator, but our daily Helper (121:1). The LORD watches over us and our families (121:3-5). He is on duty as a Protector even when we can't be. He doesn't sleep and He is is capable of being everywhere present!
This does not mean that we will never face trouble, hardships, accidents, illnesses, conflicts, or surgeries. You will notice that in Ps. 94:19 he shared that he has experienced great anxiety within himself. Ps. 66:10 reveals that God tests and refines us. Ps. 66:11 acknowledges that God brought them into prison and laid burdens on them. Ps. 66:12 admits that the LORD allowed them to go through fire and water. Asaph's spiritual feet nearly slipped from envying the ungodly (Ps. 73:2-3). So our lives are not meant to be smooth and easy with no near death experiences.
God allows us to be placed under pressure and to feel the weight of it impacting us. In those times, our faith in the Lord is tested. Do we recognize His sovereignty and goodness? Do we cry out to Him in our anxiety when our foot is slipping? Like the psalmist, can we testify that the LORD's love supported us and His comfort brought joy to our soul (Ps.94:18-19)? Can we see that when we go through trials, that the LORD is with us, holding us up so that we do not fully lose our footing (Ps. 73:2, 23)? Sometimes we may not feel His presence when the pressure is building, but when we look back, He reassures us that He was present, carrying us through the hardship (like the Footprints poem/story). We are encouraged to entrust our lives and the lives of our loved ones into the hands of our God who is sovereign, strong, good omnipotent, loving, wise and protecting!
Shepherding you in Christ’s love,
Lance
P.S. July 18 was Ashlynn's birthday. Some girls who participate in the pageant competition with Ashlynn surprised her on Sunday with a new bicycle and helmet!
I AM NOT SCARED ANYMORE
MICHELLE'S STORY: THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A WAY OUT
I've been told I have been depressed for most of my life, but I've never been able to hold the depression and anxiety back with medication. It was a big empty place in me, just full of emotions that would flash past me and attack me from any side possible to make me feel less than a good person, less than a good mother, things like that.
It was during one of these episodes two years ago that I thought, 'Oh yeah, here it comes.' And it came, hard and swift. This time, my doctor had me reevaluated, and that's where they found out I had bipolar disorder. Bipolar requires a totally different set of drugs to keep it in check, so it made sense that the ones I had been taking before didn't work.
Even so, my mental illness just overtook me. Struggles with my ex-husband, worry about my kids, I couldn't find work, the job that I did find, I just couldn't manage to do consistently enough to keep it, it all kind of came to a head.
With no job, I knew that eviction would be next, and that terrified me. Where would we go? What was I going to do with my daughter?
The Human Conflict
Being a human is a wonderful existence,
And holds many emotions.
We list just a few:
We are loving, but sometimes hateful.
We are giving, but sometimes selfish.
We are truthful, but sometimes we tell lies.
We are honorable, but do not always do the honorable thing.
We are intelligent, but do not always act like an intellectual.
We are strong, but have many weaknesses.
We are human, but do not always show it.
Note from Ben Steiner
Ben's wife, Jessica, was recently hospitalized after the birth of their child due to a severe infection. Lance informed him that we prayed for them in church on Sunday and Ben responded:
"Thank you so much! I often think of all the wonderful people I met there. The Lord brought me to your church at one of the most difficult times and the love they poured out on me is a love I’ll never forget. When Jess is better we’ll come on a Sunday! 🙏"
Fellowship via ping pong
A big "THANK YOU!!!" to Dave (the minister of fun) and Pam Hodges!
While shopping in Bi-Mart one day, they spotted a great deal on a Ping Pong table. They thought it would be fun to set it up at the church for everyone to enjoy. So after getting Pastor Lance's approval, they brought it to the church and set it up in the Fellowship Hall for all to use.
Little did they know that it would take a great deal of time and effort to set it up, even though it said "easy set up" and "no tools required". As it turned out, Lance discovered that a factory installed part was on backwards. Jerry had to go get TOOLS to remove it and put it on the correct way.
(Click on the pictures below to enlarge them)
Easy Setup???
Team Work!
Time to Play!
Jim Foster's "Return to Vietnam " Story Continues
Jim still plans to continue his search for a couple of girls that were hired to clean barracks and to actually meet Lee's wife face to face ( Lee, who was about 12-13 years old, was hired as an interpreter. He has passed away but Jim was able to locate his wife with the help of a tour guide). He is planning another trip to Vietnam hopefully in March of next year.
The Kontum Club by Luke Vidic
IRASBURG — As the sun slowly melted over the Green Mountains, on a sunny corner of Irasburg Common, three old friends met for dinner. The two westerners and a lifelong Albany native relived moments of their lives — lives united in war.
Days ago, Jim Foster, of Emmett, Idaho, packed up his car and began driving east. His first destination was Benson, Minnesota. There, he collected his friend Ken Kirschbaum, and together the pair headed for Vermont. They were coming for a small reunion of friends, and had one more man to find.
Here, in the Northeast Kingdom, they found Carl Pray.
On Thursday, June 17, at Tatro’s food truck on the Irasburg Common, the trio met for dinner: Mr. Kirschbaum, with hair and teeth white as untouched snow, Mr. Foster, with a bag of complimentary Idaho potato pins in his pocket, and Mr. Pray, with a devil’s tower hat and a pocketful of Camel cigarettes.
It was during those nine years away from home that he met the friends who would drive halfway across the country to see him. And it was in those nine years that he left the quaint and the quiet for the chaotic and cacophonous.
In 1961, Mr. Pray enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was headed for southeast Asia during the height of the Vietnam War.
He spent his first years in Korea and Japan. He worked on freight planes, ferrying supplies and more. Then, in 1970, he was sent from the outer fringes of war into Vietnam itself.
Kontum airfield was his new home. The airfield at Kontum became a staging area for many branches of the military, including two greenhorn enlistees: Mr. Kirschbaum and Mr. Foster.
“Ken and I had met prior to that,” Mr. Foster said. The two twenty-somethings had first met in airdrop loadmaster school at McChord Air Force base in Tacoma, Washington. “And then lo and behold,” said Mr. Kirschbaum. “We ended up in Kontum.”
“About eight of us Air Force people were stationed there at Kontum airfield,” said Mr. Foster.
“The biggest deal in Vietnam was getting hit with rockets twice a day,” Mr. Pray said. “Usually about nine o’clock in the morning and one o’clock in the afternoon. You’re scampering on your knees, you need to find a bunker — somewhere to hide after the bell. I’d say after five or six months, it just wears on you.”
When the bombs weren’t falling, the Kontum club was flying supplies into and out of the airfield. That work was non-combative, but Mr. Pray described it as a weight that was hard to shake off. He described planes filled with body bags. Hundreds of body bags.
Worst of all, he would listen to President Nixon’s press conferences in which the President would announce that only two soldiers died that day.
“And I was in the air training station in Japan and I’m looking at a hundred-fifty dead,” said Mr. Pray. He said he shipped about 5,000 GIs home.
“You almost hope you get killed and get it over with,” he said. “You feel the whole system is screwed up.”
He was 26 years old when he joined the military.
Return home
“It was good coming back here,” Mr. Pray said. While his hometown of Albany changed during the years he was away — not always for the better — it was better than his time in Kontum.
After the war, he worked in an auto body shop with his brother. That kept him employed for a bit, but he would eventually move on to millwork, then work as a machinist — which he would maintain for 17 years until retiring — and finally a five-year stint as a mailman.
Mr. Foster returned to Idaho and cut meat in retail stores for over 20 years, then switched to work with a lumber company before retiring. During his retirement, Mr. Foster took the opportunity to return to Vietnam. He went expecting disdain and humiliation from the locals, but was instead treated like any other tourist.
“Everybody was friendly and glad to see me — it was good.” He plans to return next year.
Mr. Kirschbaum continued to serve in the military after returning from Vietnam. After another year and nine months at Malmstrom Air Force base in Great Falls, Montana, he married, his first son was born, and he bounced around a handful of western states. He and his family eventually moved to his hometown of Benson, where he started a concrete construction business. He would stay in the business until he retired.
Retirement has been near perfect for Mr. Kirschbaum, who has loved the time he’s spent hunting and fishing with his grandchildren. The one fearful moment came when he received the news that he had developed cancer.
“I thought I was in trouble there for a while, but so far, two and half years from chemo and radiation, I’m [cancer] free.”
There is no proven connection between the chemicals used during the war and Mr. Kirschbaum’s cancer, but it isn’t the only medical issue he’s faced since leaving Vietnam.
“When I was 35 years old, I got a hypothyroidism, and now they're saying that Agent Orange is where it came from.”
Mr. Pray remarked that Agent Orange, which has since been linked to numerous health problems, was liberally used in the Kontum area.
“Kontum was famous for that,” he said.
All three of the veterans said that Veterans Affairs (VA) has handled their medical care well. Mr. Kirschbaum said he spent seven months in treatment for his cancer, which was totally covered by the VA.
Even with the trials of war and its lasting effects, each of the veterans was proud to have served.
“I’m very proud to have served our country,” Mr. Kirschbaum said.
The club
The group of friends lost contact after the war. Each returned to his own corner of the country, and, for a time, that was seemingly that. With time, the urge to reconnect led Mr. Foster to begin hunting down his old friends.
“About 30 years later I start wondering where these guys are at,” Mr. Foster said.
“He’s the one that kept this together, he would either call or write letters,” Mr. Kirschbaum said.
“The only thing I had about Carl was his name and Vermont. And I started searching, and the first I called was Carl.”
This was the first time the trio has met since the war. Mr. Foster made the trip to Vermont once before, but Mr. Kirschbaum was in chemotherapy at the time and couldn’t come.
Another two could not attend either. “I got one in Tennessee, and one in Texas, but I can’t get them to travel,” said Mr. Foster.
The group enjoys sharing stories from time to time, briefly recalling wartime moments by saying, “Hey remember when,” or, “were you there when this happened?” Mostly they’re simply interested in catching up and spending time together. The little club isn’t so much a support network as much as a common group of friends.
They’ve participated in Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) meetings for many years, and appreciate the work that organization does. The gentlemen did remark, however, that younger veterans don’t seem as interested in participating as the older ones do.
Following their stint in Vermont, Mr. Kirschbaum and Mr. Foster are headed to Maine. Where, precisely, is unknown. They plan to reach the coast and go north for a while. Mr. Foster may argue with the locals over whose potatoes are better: Idaho’s or Maine’s. On the whole, though, according to Mr. Kirschbaum, “We don’t really know where we’re going.”
After last week’s gathering, they hope to meet again. Ideally, with more than three out of eight, although Mr. Foster calls that a good percentage, all things considered.
I never knew how strong I was until I had to forgive someone who wasn't sorry, and accept an apology I never received.
Click on the links below to view the YouTube videos of Matthew West's song "Forgiveness" and the story behind the song. These were shared in the church service on June 27, 2021.
Camps
Cathedral Pines
Fall ACTS Camp
Bring the family, youth group, church group, or just yourself to help with winterizing and maintenance projects at the camp and Easley. Skilled labor is always appreciated, but no expertise is needed. Everyone can help!
There is no cost. Cabins and food are provided. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Click here to register or go to https://www.cathedralpines.org/ for more information. Students can earn up to $30 credit towards Fall & Winter Camps.
Registration for summer camps at Cathedral Pines is closed
Shiloh Bible Camp (https://www.shilohbiblecamp.com/)
- 4th - 6th Grade Girls, July 25 - 31, 2021 ($225)
- 4th - 6th Grade Boys, August 1 - 7, 2021 ($225)
Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Plum Sauce
Original recipe yields 2 servings
- 1 pork tenderloin
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 3 fresh thyme sprigs, or more to taste
- 2 firm plums, pitted and each cut into 4 wedges
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cold butter
Directions
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).Generously season pork tenderloin with salt and black pepper.
Step 2 - Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Cook tenderloin until browned on all sides, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer tenderloin to a plate.
Step 3 - Sauté onion with a pinch of salt in the same skillet until just softening, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shallots, reduce heat to medium, and cook and stir until shallots and onion are golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes.
Step 4 - Stir thyme into onion mixture; place tenderloin over onion mixture, and set plum quarters, skin-side down, around pork tenderloin. Transfer skillet to preheated oven.
Step 5 - Cook until pork is slightly pink in the center, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer pork and plums to a plate.
Step 6 - Place skillet over medium-high heat and pour water and balsamic vinegar into onion mixture. Bring mixture to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 5 to 10 minutes; remove from heat. Whisk butter into mixture until melted and sauce is shiny. Pour sauce over pork and plums.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
370 calories; protein 37.4g; carbohydrates 22.5g; fat 14.5g; cholesterol 103.6mg; sodium 182.4mg. Full Nutrition
Chuckles
In Sunday School, they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs.
Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny what is the matter?" Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife".