TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Commitment & Consistency

Today is September 12, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

In the book of Deuteronomy we see Moses at the end of his life teaching about the importance of two principles in regard to us and God: commitment and consistency.

Over and over again Moses pleads to the people to love the Lord with everything and to follow all of his commands. At the same time he stresses that this commitment can't be only for 2 hours every week. It needs to be there in the morning. It needs to be there at night. It needs to be there when you're working and when you're at rest; in your neighborhood and in your community.

His purpose: for us to claim the promise of God to be blessed in order that we might be a blessing. That his what a committed and consistent life to God gives. 

This past Sunday I played a video of Wanda Goines reciting one of her poems. A link of it can be found HERE

Although I have preached on the topics she mentions, it hits differently because she has the weight of a 92 year life behind her voice. Same truth; same biblical principles, yet different impact because of the voice and context in which it is shared.

Truth through VBS may affect a child differently then the same truth from Mom and Dad. Truth experienced from Skid Row Missions may affect a person differently then a message from me about compassion. Sometimes we are more open to truth being told through our cell group members than our own spouses. Sometimes the truth spoken via a poem from another sister in Christ is exactly what our heart needs to hear.

And that is the blessing when we, as a community, live a consistent and committed lifestyle dedicated to God. 

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

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Sept 12 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study. Topic: The Moral Argument for the Existence of God
• Sept 13 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group at 6:45pm
• Sept 15 (Sat) - CPG Board Game Night. 6pm-9pm at Elim Cafe
• Sept 16 (Sun) - Pre-School Joint Worship with Parents, 11am @ Pre-School Chapel
• Sept 16 (Sun) - PV Cell Group
• Sept 23 (Sun) - Children Joint Worship with Parents, 11am & Children Chapel
• Sept 28 (Fri) - Skid Row Prep
• Sept 29 (Sat) - Skid Row Mission
• Sept 30 (Sun) - Youth Joint Worship with Parents, 11am @ Youth Chapel
• Oct 7 (Sun) - World Communion Sunday. Joint Worship with KM
• Nov 30-Dec 2 (Fri-Sun) - Joint Mexico Mission with KM
  • Training begins Oct 28 (Sun)

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Genesis 12:3 - "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - September 5, 2018

Good Servants

Today is September 5, 2018

Welcome to September and your mid-week!

This past Sunday I was away on vacation and so Pastor Esther from SBMC preached and she preached from Luke 19:11-28; the parable of the 10 Minas.

Every time I read this parable I think of stewardship; of what God has entrusted me with. Pastor Esther's title was 'Good Servants' and I wonder, reflecting on the parable, if I am a good or wicked servant.

With the academic year beginning for our children and the last quarter of the year starting, let us recommit that we would be good stewards; to be good servants with the time and energy God has given us today.

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

- Frank

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Announcements

• Pastor Haein Jeong JDSN has just joined our TFPC Staff as the new Elementary Pastor. Lots of love to our interim pastor, Pastor Judie, for covering for the past year. If you see Pastor Jeong, please welcome him.

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Upcoming Events

• ​Sept 8 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group Hike with Mike! 
  • Be at church by 9am to carpool to the hiking area. Lunch will be provided afterward.
• Sept 9 (Sun) - Adult Korean School Registration Ends
  • Where to register: Lobby of the Main Sanctuary
  • Class Period: Fridays from 6pm-7:30pm starting September 14-Dec 14.
  • ​Cost: $75
• Sept 12 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study. Topic: The Moral Argument for the Existence of God
• Sept 13 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group at 6:45pm
• Sept 15 (Sat) - CPG Board Game Night. 6pm-9pm at Elim Cafe
• Sept 16 (Sun) - PV Cell Group
• Sept 28 (Fri) - Skid Row Prep
• Sept 29 (Sat) - Skid Row Mission

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 1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 22, 2018

Heavenly Joy

Today is August 22, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

When James writes for us to 'consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds...' (James 1:2), he is writing from an eschatological perspective. That means he is writing from a heaven perspective; from the perspective of what will happened at the end of all things.

So, to understand the words of James, we need to have a correct view of heaven; a correct view of eternity for Christians.

And what is that view? Will our spirits be transported out of our bodies to an angelic realm of light? Where time and space no longer exist? Where we wear only white robes with wings and halos? Is that God's plan? Some foreign, inhuman, unfamiliar, static, unchanging, reality where we just play the harp on a cloud for millennia after millennia? 

Doesn't that sound boring to you? 

Well, if that is what you think then, from the perspective of movies, you would be right. However, from the perspective of the bible, you would be wrong.

Do you think that God's original plan for us as found in Genesis 1-2 was forever foiled by Satan? Do you think that God's plan of redemption for us does not include the earth?

If you read Genesis 1-2 and compare it with Revelation 21-22 you will see the truth of our eternity. We will not be spirits or ghosts but will have new bodies restored to splendor; imperishable and raised in glory and power. Where we will once again be given dominion with intended stewardship of the earth. Where there will be no sin or death or shame. Where there will be time and space and food and work. Where the curse is lifted and we will see the face of God.

While God may be infinite, we will still be finite meaning we will have eternity to learn and discover God and all of his creation. Cities and streets and homes and rooms and trees and fruit are all mentioned in heaven, and I believe it is we who will build and farm and cultivate those things.

Eternity is therefore both familiar yet innovative, nostalgic yet adventurous. God's original plan restored.

Therefore, with that understand, consider it pure joy when you face trials here in this broken world. Why? because, if you believe in that eternity, then the trials of this broken world will only help to increase your hope of that future and will give you joy; pure, heavenly joy. 

God's blessing upon you and I look forward to see you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Media

• Freshman Welcome Beach Party: HERE
• EM Family Retreat: HERE - courtesy of YouLim; HERE - courtesy of Tiffany

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Upcoming Events

• Aug 24 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep. 6pm at the Kitchen
• Aug 25 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission. Van leaves at 6:20am and will be back by 8am
• Aug 26 (Sun) – Ministry Council Meeting
• Sep 1 (Sat) - Back to School Blessing
• Sep 1 (Sat) – Hike with Mike!
• Sept 2 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
  • September 1, Saturday, 9am. Hiking at the newly renovated Harbor Regional Park. Meet at the parking lot close to the park office. Hike along the shoreline of the fresh water lake to view many types of water birds. Kids and stroller friendly hike.
  • September 8, Saturday. CPG will Hike with Mike. More information coming soon.
• Sept 8 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group Hike with Mike! 
• Sept 12 (Wed) – All Generations Cell Group Apologetics Study

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1 Peter 1:6-7 - "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 15, 2018

Who God Is

Today is August 15, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

In Mark 8, Jesus asks his disciples who do people say that he is. After hearing their response he then asks the disciples who they thought he was. 

For people on the outside, they had one view of Jesus. For those in relationship with Jesus, they had a totally different view. 

The question is, what is your view of Jesus? What is your view of God? 

Do you see him as Santa Claus? A rewarder of those who do good?
Do you see him as the government? Someone you need to pay 'taxes' to in order to make sure things go in order?
Do you see him as father time or mother earth?  As the seven dwarfs or the characters from the Hundred Acre Wood?

What is your view of God?

Well, if you read your bible, you will see an all powerful, all knowing, all places God. A great and glorious and beautiful God. One who is holy, light, righteous, just, and good and, at the same time, is love, merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and faithful. The God of the bible never runs out, is dependable, and whose desire is for you.

This is who God is. Is this your view of God?

With summer coming to an end and school fast approaching, let us take pause and remember who we worship is. Let us be still and know who God is and be encouraged by the truth of his attributes as revealed in his word.

God blessings upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday. 

- Frank Kim

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EM Family Retreat Pictures

• HERE - courtesy of YouLim
•  HERE - courtesy of Tiffany

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Upcoming Events

• Aug 16 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group. 6:45pm in the Fellowship Hall
• Aug 18 (Sat) - CPG Freshman Welcome Beach Party! 2pm at Dockweiler State Beach
• Aug 19 (Sun) - PV Cell Group
• Sep 1 (Sat) - Back to School Blessing

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Psalm 131 - My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - August 8, 2018

Community Fruit

Today is August 8, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

At the family retreat the guest speaker preached from Ephesians 3 through Ephesians 4:16. In his four messages he talked about the foundation of what a biblical community is. It is a community founded on the work of God through Christ, centered within each individual's relationship with Christ, and shown outwardly by love and unity - the last command of Christ to his disciples.

This past Sunday we finished off the book of Ephesians and focused on how to accomplish this unity and love.

• We talked about how we are to speak in love; how we need to not let "...unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs" (Ephesians 4:29)
• We talked about how we are to act in love; how we need to "[f]ollow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love" (Ephesians 5:1)
• We talked about how we are to prepare ourselves to love; how we need to put on "the full armor of God" (Epheisans 6:13) and "keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18)

Through it all we reminded ourselves of the foundation first - of the work of God and the relationship each of us need to cultivate with Christ. Community is not something that is forced. It is the fruit that comes from having a right relationship with God. The more you are able to grasp how how and wide and deep and long the love of God is, the more you will be able to show that love to others.

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

- Frank Kim

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EM Family Retreat Pictures

• HERE - courtesy of YouLim
•  HERE - courtesy of Tiffany

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SBT Thailand Summer Missions Report

• Caroline arrived safely from missions and is currently on her honeymoon. You can read her 'Mission Report' HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Aug 11 (Sat) - Hike with Mike!
  • Hiking at Friendship park in San Pedro. Best view to Catalina island and LA harbor. August 11, 9am. Meet at 1850 w 9th Street San Pedro. Drive up to parking lot up on hill. 
  • Also, those interested in ‘Conquer the Bridge 2018’ on Labor Day, please talk with Mike Lyu on Sunday. Conquer the Bridge 2018: run/walk over Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro (5.3 miles). Expected to be a 2 hour brisk walk over the most scenic bridge in California. Registration at conquerthebridge.com. Ask Mike Lyu for any questions.   
• Aug 10-12 (Fri-Sun) – Youth Summer Retreat
• Aug 16 (Thurs) - YMF Cell Group
• Aug 18 (Sat) - CPG Freshman Welcome Beach Party! 2pm at Dockweiler State Beach
• Aug 19 (Sun) - PV Cell Group

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Ephesians 3:17b-19 - "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."