Cheers to 2008! Looking forward to 2009!

Hope you guys had a Merry Christmas and spent some quality time with your loved ones. I want to take this time to thank you guys for a great year at LSFG San Jose. We've have grown so much both physically and spiritually. Looking forward to more memories in 2009!

Here is a recap of the announcements from our last meeting along with new huddles and cooking rotation groups.

Calendar of Events for 2009:
1/7: Huddles
We are starting off the new year with one last meeting with your current huddles group. New huddles starting 2/4.

1/14: Resume Bible Study at Berina Lair

1/21: Activity

1/28: Bible Study


New Huddles Groups: Names with an * are quarterbacks.
- Tak*, Ben, Justin, Leo
- James*, Sam Chen, Ansel, Arthur
- Vincent*, Jeff, Sam Kao, David Chen
- Yukari*, Bonnie, Marina, Kiki

Cooking Rotation
- Tak, Marina <-- January 14
- Kiki, Sam
- Bonnie, Jeff
- Yukari, Ben
- Justin, James
- Vincent, Ansel

LSFG Core Vision for 2009: We'd like to grow a new small group thing coming year which means we all need to be more intentional about inviting and praying for friends. Please have some target members in mind and we will share in our upcoming meetings.

See you in 2009!

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

We won't be meeting for the next two weeks because of the Christmas and New Year's holidays but we hope you have a very safe and loving break.

We'll see you again on January 7, 2009.

the LSFG leadership
(aka the TRiaD)

the straight and narrow

This week James and Ansel cooked up some mighty good beef stew. Thanks for the warm and hearty dinner, guys!

Matthew 7:13-14:
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

This week we discussed the topic of "the narrow gate". It's eye opening to think, "wow, not everyone will find the road to salvation". This includes people who call themselves, "Christian". This is reiterated further down in verse 21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." What does this mean?
--Don't take your salvation lightly. Follow His commandments. Carry your cross. The path won't be easy and there will be plenty of distractions. Don't be worldly during the week and then "christiany" on Sunday at church and at small groups. Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk.

So much pressure!

Tak and I will be cooking the first San Jose meal of 2009! What pressure. We need to come up with something good. I'm taking suggestions!

Matthew 7: 7-12 Ask, Seek, Knock

Tonight was Texan steak night for food. We filled up people's stomachs with food and the Kong's house with smoke! But it was yummy! hehe.

The study was on Matthew 7: 7-12:

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

A lot of questions were asked-- primarily about how He provides. Sometimes our prayers are answered and we are satisfied -- we pray that we get into college, we pray that we finish college...--and after a lot of struggle we find that we got into college and are done! Straightforward, right?

Our prayers are sometimes not answered the way we expect it (or want it). We pray for God to bring those who we love to know Christ. We pray for healing of the very sick. And sometimes, this doesn't happen. Did God fail to answer our prayers? No. He knows what must happen for Him to be truly glorified.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 1:1)