TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - July 10, 2019

Patience & Faith

Today is July 10, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

In the mist of evil and suffering and injustice, Habakkuk reminds us that it is okay to be frustrated at our Lord. It is okay to wrestle with God with the situations that do not make sense to us.

Yet, at the same time, the book of Habakkuk reminds us that God is at work. That, even when we don't understand it, God is working for the good of those who love him.

As he did in the time of Moses, so he does with us via Jesus. And, when we read Revelation, we see a place prepared for us that does not have evil or suffering or injustice. Therefore, God calls us to be righteous and to live by faith, for God's revelation - though it may linger - will come; God's justice will come one day.

That's the wisdom of Habakkuk and that is our hope when we face evil and suffering and injustice in this world.

God's blessing upon you as you wrestle with our Lord and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of last Sunday's message: HERE
PowerpointShow of last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

---

Upcoming Events

• July 10 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study
  • ​7pm @ the Benedicts. Topic: “If God Why Evil: the Problem of Pain and Suffering.” 
• July 17 (Wed) – CPG Cell Group
• July 18 (Thur) – YMF Cell Group
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat

---

Prayer Requests

• Hollord Choi, Summer Missions to the Philippine, July 5-Aug 3 
• ​Justin Chai, Summer Missions to Japan, July 7-Aug 5

---

Important Summer Dates

• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat
  • $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 14
  • Forms found HERE. Scholarship is available. 
• Aug 2-4 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Retreat

---

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - July 3, 2019

Servant of God

Today is July 3, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

Apostle Paul was doing good work for the churches of Galatia. However, Jewish Christians wanted to force the new Gentile Christian converts to be circumcised, so they falsely accused Apostle Paul as a people pleaser.

In the mist of the good work that Apostle Paul was doing, his motivations were questions.

When Apostle Paul found this out, not only did he set the record straight, but he boldly re-states his identity and allegiance:

Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

In the mist of the good work we do as Christians, sometimes we fail to acknowledge the reason we do the good work that we do or sometimes we fail to take the opportunity to share our identity in Christ. Maybe it's fear or shame but we just hope that our actions speak of who we are.

However, Christians do not have a monopoly on compassion. We do not have a monopoly on doing good. We do not have a monopoly on healing. 

When the opportunity comes through our good work to set the record straight or to share our identity in Christ, we should take that opportunity. Like artists who thank their Lord and savior Jesus Christ when they win a reward or, like Apostle Paul who boldly claims who he is and why he is doing the good work he is doing, so should we.

God's blessing upon you as you wrestle with this challenge and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of last Sunday's message: HERE
PowerpointShow of last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

---

Upcoming Events

• ​July 7 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• July 17 (Wed) – CPG Cell Group
• July 18 (Thur) – YMF Cell Group
• July 10 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat

---

Prayer Requests

• Hollord Choi, Summer Missions to the Philippine, July 5-Aug 3 
• ​Justin Chai, Summer Missions to Japan, July 7-Aug 5
• Pastor Diana’s Vacation, Jun 23-Jul 10
  • Pray for her Korea Mission Trip with the PCUSA Team

---

Important Summer Dates

• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 7
  • $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 14
  • Forms found HERE. Scholarship is available. 
• Aug 2-4 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Retreat

---

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - June 26, 2019

Encountering Jesus

Today is June 26, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

In the gospel of John we see three encounters with the risen Lord. 

Mary first does not realize it is Jesus, but then shares the good news to others.
The disciples first were afraid, but then they were overjoyed.
Thomas first did not believe, but then confessed Jesus as Lord and God.

All these people first responded one way and then responded in a different way when they saw the risen Lord. To this, Jesus' response was: 

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And then John concludes his gospel.

It is John's hope that by writing his gospel we would encounter the risen Lord and that we would respond as those who encountered him physically. That, through the word, we would still confess Jesus as Lord and God, experience the joy of the Holy Spirit, and be compelled to share this good news with others.

The danger is that sometimes we encounter Jesus and we don't realize it. Sometimes we encounter Jesus and we are afraid. Sometimes we encounter Jesus and we don't believe at all.

Everyday we can encounter Jesus in a myriad of ways - through his word, through praise, through his people, through creation. The question and challenge John is asking is: 'What is your response?'

God's blessing upon you as you encounter the risen Lord this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of last Sunday's message: HERE
PowerpointShow of last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE

---

Upcoming Events

• ​Jun 24-27 (Mon-Thur) - VBS
  • June 27 (Thurs) - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to make  dinner for the students. Please come to the kitchen at 4pm.
• Jun 28 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Jun 29 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• June 30 (Sun) - Ministry Council Meeting
• June 30 (Sun) – KCM Mission Send Off Service
  • 6pm @ Cerritos Mission Church, 12413 195th St, Cerritos, CA 90703
• July 7 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• July 10 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat

---

Prayer Requests

• 1. VBS – Mon-Thurs THIS WEEK
  • Please pray especially for Director Anna, Pastor Edward, & Pastor Haein
• 2. Hollord Choi, Summer Missions to the Philippine, July 5-Aug 3 
• ​3. Justin Chai, Summer Missions to Japan, July 7-Aug 5
• 4. Pastor Diana’s Vacation, Jun 23-Jul 10
  • Pray for her Korea Mission Trip with the PCUSA Team

---

Important Summer Dates

• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 7
  • $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 14
  • Forms found HERE. Scholarship is available. 
• Aug 2-4 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Retreat

---

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JUNE 19, 2019

Practicing the Father's Grace

Today is June 19, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

This past Sunday Reverend Luke Choi preached on the first time God did not appear directly in Genesis, and that is in the story of Noah and his drunken nakedness found in Genesis 9.

While the youngest son reported the shame of his father, the other two sons, Shem and Japheth, covered their father's shame. This was an act of grace.

Just as God covers our shame in his grace so Noah's sons graciously covered their father's shame. And, in that act, they reflected God. God did not have to appear directly because his people were reflecting who he is. And that was the point.

Reverend Luke Choi's concluding statement:

"In this world where God does not audibly speak or make public appearances, the only thing that tells of his presence, besides the scriptures, is his people practicing his grace."

A challenge for all of us to correctly reflect the one we call Lord.

God's blessing upon you as you wrestle with showing more grace and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of last Sunday's message: HERE
Recording of last Sunday's praise: HERE 

---

Upcoming Events

• Jun 20 (Thu) – CPG Cell Group
• Jun 23-Jul 10 (Sun-Wed) – Pastor Diana’s Vacation
• Jun 24-27 (Mon-Thur) - VBS
• Jun 28 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Jun 29 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• June 30 (Sun) - Ministry Council Meeting
• June 30 (Sun) – KCM Mission Send Off Service
  • 6pm @ Cerritos Mission Church, 12413 195th St, Cerritos, CA 90703
• July 7 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• July 10 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat

---

Important Summer Dates

• June 24-27 (Mon-Thur) - VBS
  • VBS 2019 “In the Wild” Registration
  • 6/24-27 (5:30pm-8:30pm)
  • Registration: $30
  • Register on: tfpc.ticketleap.com/vbs2019
  
  
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat
  • $100 per person, $350 max per family by July 7
  • $120 per person, $400 max per family by July 14
  • Forms found HERE. Scholarship is available. 
• Aug 2-4 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Retreat

---

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JUNE 5, 2019

Praise the Lord

Today is June 5, 2019

Welcome to June and your mid-week!

Praising God in the good times is easy. God blesses us. Praise Him. He heals us. Praise Him. He helps us. Praise Him.

But what about the bad times? What about the failures? What about the tragedies? 

Well, in those times, we are still suppose to praise Him. 

Hebrews 13:15 tells us to 'continually offer a sacrifice of praise.' The word 'sacrifice' denotes cost, and it does cost us something to praise God in the bad times. Why would scripture ask us to offer that kind of sacrifice? So that we would remember the actions and attributes of God and find hope.

Think of all the praise songs and hymns you love and grew up with. Songs that talk about the love of God, of his faithfulness and compassion and forgiveness. Songs that talk of his great work, of his sacrifice and intervention and rescue.

When life shakes us, we need to remember the one who is the firm foundation.
When we feel broken, we need to remember the one who heals.
When all the world is against us, we need to remember the one who saves us from this world.

This is why we praise. This is why the last chapter of the book of Psalms says the word 'praise' 13 times in 6 verses. 

We need to praise the Lord because of who he is, what he has and will do, and, in doing so, find the hope and strength to move forward.

God blessing upon you as you offer your sacrifice of praise to the Lord and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Message: HERE
Copy of the PowerPointShow: HERE
Recording of the Praise: HERE
Peter Chu's Testimony of May 28-29, 2019: HERE

---

Upcoming Events

• June 5 (Weds) - All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study @ The Benedicts. 7pm. Topic: "How Did We Get the NT Cannon?"
• June 7 (Fri) - EM Praise and Prayer Night. 7:30pm @ EM Chapel
• Jun 11-16 (Tues-Sun) – Pastor Frank’s Vacation
• Jun 20 (Thu) – CPG Cell Group
• Jun 23-Jul 10 (Sun-Wed) – Pastor Diana’s Vacation
• Jun 24-27 (Mon-Thur) - VBS
• Jun 28 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Jun 29 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• June 30 (Sun) – KCM Mission Send Off Service
• July 7 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• July 10 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat

---

Important Summer Dates

• June 24-27 (Mon-Thur) - VBS
  • VBS 2019 “In the Wild” Registration
  • 6/24-27 (5:30pm-8:30pm)
  • Registration: Early 4/28-6/10 ($20), Late 6/10-23 ($30)
  • Register on: tfpc.ticketleap.com/vbs2019
  
  
• July 26-28 (Fri-Sun) – EM Family Retreat
• Aug 2-4 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Retreat

---