Upcoming Activities

March 24th, Prayer Activity for LSF San Jose and Santa Clara groups.
Meet at Yukari and Ansel's house at 7:00 then eat at Chipotle at 7:30. Afterwards we'll have Prayer Activit at Yukari and Ansel's.




LSF Cancelled during the first week of April because....
Good Friday service is on April 2nd.




Easter Sunday Service, April 4
Crowne Plaza Hotel @ Union City



LSF Cancelled April 28th because....
Iron Chef competition amongst small groups on May 1st

Lessons on James

Our latest lesson was on James 2: 14-26:

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^a]">[a]? ²¹Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"^b]">[b] and he was called God's friend. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

++++

Our actions should be an overflow of our heart. While we are saved by our acceptance of Jesus dying on the cross as our Awesome God, let us not be "useless" Christians. The next time you are given the opportunity to live God's Word, by all means, LIVE IT!

++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks always for the cooks for feeding our physical bodies!




Even after a long day of work, they keep on smiling.... At least one of cooks is ;p
Fellowship.
After feeding the body.... we feed the soul. Sharing and prayer.

^{1 John 3:16-20:
16}This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? ¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ¹⁹This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Happy 2010~!

Hello friends!

I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year's. Welcome to 2010!

This year we'll be reading devotionals as part of our Bible study. It's called:

Devotional Classics, Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups
by Richard Foster and James B Smith
We'd appreciate $5 for the book. Marina will be collecting the payments.
On our study last week, Jan 6th we read and discussed the first chapter which was a piece from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity". It's a good read so check it out!

Annoucements:
LSFG San Jose Huddles (Wed, 13th): We'll be either eating out or ordering in at the Kong's place. In any case, after dinner we'll conduct Huddles at the Kong's place. See you there!
Worship training (Sunday, Jan 10th) : If you want to belt it out for Jesus (or play it out for Jesus) Please contact Vincent Mo for sign ups.
Prayer on Mondays -- Justin will be hosting the weekly Prayer sessions as usual. Come by and pray for our loved ones or let us know what you need. :) Please see the weekly emails for the dial in information.
Christian Foundations Classes: Originally geared towards those getting baptized this is also open for those who want to learn the foundations of the Gospel.
Snow trip (Feb 6th weekend): Danny Kai Cheng is the organizer. Please sign up if you're interested. It's should be fun!
Children's Ministry: We're still looking for helpers for Sunday school and Friday baby sitting during the Family Ministry. Please contact Jenny Chien or Elena Liu for more info! We'd love to have you!
Impact Team: Impact Team is looking for more volunteers to create some movement in our community. Contact Bonnie Mo or Will Li for more!


God bless you!

Announcements

Here are the announcements~!!!

LSFG San Jose
There will be no small groups on December 23rd and 30th since it's Christmas or New Year's week.

Sunday, January 4th, 2010
Church service will not be held at Crowne Plaza. Instead, we will be visiting another church. Stay tuned for an email with details.

February 2010- LSCC Snow trip
For those interesting in hitting the slopes LSCC will have it's annual snow/boarding/skiing trip in February of 2010. Contact Justin Chien if interested. It's a good time to get away from it all, fellowship with brothers and sisters, and show your skills on those hills!

Changes / Growth

Hello LSCC'ers!

There's been a change in our South Bay group. Jeff and Justin have decided to head up with the start of a Santa Clara group. This change and the transition is not always easy, but we hope it will allow the San Jose group to have room to grow once again and let us continue to support each other as our brothers step out from their comfort zones.

May God watch over Jeff and Justin in LSFG Santa Clara, and may God continue to build leaders and new members into the San Jose group!

LSFG South Bay!

Retreat this weekend!

Hey Everyone,

Just a reminder that we wont be meeting for small group tonight. Instead, we'll be meeting this weekend in Santa Cruz for our LSCC Retreat! Here's some info below for this weekend.


Retreat Location: Sequoia Retreat Center (11445 Alba Rd Ben Lomond, CA 95005)
Arrival Time: Friday 10/23 @ 7pm
Things to pack:

- Sleeping bags/Own bedding (sheets and blanket)
- Pillow

- Towel
- Toiletries

- Bug spray
- Comfortable sturdy shoes for walking/hiking
- Jacket (check weather)
- Bible
- Journal
- Books "Jesus with Dirty Feet"
- Own devotional materials
- flashlight with fresh batteries

- layered clothing (check weather and pack accordingly)
- Ear Plugs if you're a light sleeper
- Alarm Clock
- Water bottles (Siggs, Nalgene, Camelbak, Contigo!)

- Games to play with the others (board games, card games...)

Directions from San Jose

• Take Highway 17 toward Santa Cruz
  

• Exit at Mt. Hermon Road and turn right at the signal onto Mt. Herman Road.
  FYI: Google maps and navigation systems will take you via Bear Creek Road – while it is possible arrive via Bear Creek Road it is a longer drive.

• Take Mt. Herman Road 4.5 miles through Scott's Valley, on through the hills down to the town of Felton.

• You will come to a "T" with a signal at Graham Hill Road. (If you go straight you will be in the parking lot of a park.) Turn right onto Graham Hill Road.

• Turn right again onto Highway 9 (next signal).

• Continue north through Felton and on to Ben Lomond.

• Go straight through the 4-way signal in Ben Lomond.

• Go 0.5 mile and turn left onto Alba Road. Be careful not to turn too soon or you will end up on Hubbard Gulch Road. Hubbard and Alba are close together.

• Go 1.5 miles to The Sequoia Retreat Center sign on your left. Enter the next left.

• Follow the signs to Check In, park and walk to The Welcome Center for check-in.
  
  
  

Drive safe and see you all there!

Pot Pies & Putt Putt!

Thanks for everyone who came out and joined our activity! It was awesome to play with everyone and hang out outside of the bible study context. For those who couldn't make it, we missed you and hope you'll are feeling better!

ANNOUNCEMENT: We're having large group bible study at Crowne Plaza next week.
When: 10/7, Wednesday @ 7:30pm
Where: Crowne Plaza
Dinner will be served so be ontime!
Please don't show up at Berina Lair otherwise I'll know you didn't read this!!

Here are some photos from our activity... Enjoy!

The Putt Putters

Crazy Eyes!

Surprise! blinding flash!

Shot on goal... oops, wrong sport. ;)

Work it Asah! Work it!

Pretending to pass gas...

Actually passing gas.... Yes, this is the winning team...

ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!

Our next meeting on September 30th will be at!!!!!!

Marie Callender
751 East El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408-245-3710
@7:00PM

then, onto some friendly competition at:
Golfland
855 E. El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
time TBD--after dinner (8:30???)

See ya'll there!!!

Colossians 3:18-21 Wives, Husbands, Children and Fathers.....

18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

In this study we learned about God's design for families! This was a design created to preserve unity in the family, expanding again on the topic of unity in the church. Some interesting points that were brought up:
In verse 18 the word, "subject"-- this word shows us that the action is voluntary rather than obligatory. Women have the option to submit to their husbands...should they or shouldn't they?
Verses 18-21: A good point that a fellow brother brought up-- women seem to get riled up at verse 18 and men at verse 19 and they get mad at the opposite sex-- but you know what? This is what God personally asked of the wife, and personally asked of the husband. If you're going to get riled up, take it up to the Boss!

Lots of good stuff!

This was noted earlier in the NT in the good book of Ephesians. And you know, when something's repeated in the Good Word, you KNOW how important the topic is!

Ephesians 5:22-39 (New International Version)

Wives and Husbands
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[b] 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Last study... There's a memory verse!!

Our last study was on Colossians 3: 15-17:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father..

Following our last study which spoke of us putting on our new identity in Christ, these last set of verses teaches us that we need to KNOW the word by heart. This allows us to live it out.

With that, make sure to remember our memory verse:
Colossians 3: 17:
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father..

Colossians 3:10-14 Putting on our new identities

Colossians 3:10-14 (New Living Translation)

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,[a] circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized,[b] slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
++
Our latest discussion was on casting off our old self and putting on the new. God promises us a love that is unconditional--where our identities do not matter, except that we are followers of Christ. Clothe yourself, fellow brothers and sisters, with love! Love others like He loves us!

Announcements

LSCC Retreat !

October 23-25, 2009 @ Sequoia Retreat Center
There will also be retreat activities on Thursday, Oct 22nd (optional)

Here's the link to register for the retreat. http://lscc.weebly.com/retreat.html

Please submit payment by writing a check to LSCC or paypal Vincent Mo at veensantmo@gmail.com
$100 before Aug 31<-- BEST PRICE!!!
$120 before Oct 1
$150 before Oct 23
**SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE so if finances are an issue please talk to Bonnie.
Note that your application is not yet complete until you submit a check or paypal before each deadline.

Please contact Bonnie if you have any questions about the retreat. Hope to see you there!

Happy Birthday to Jeff & Congrats to the Shaws!

Happy Happy Birthday Jeff!

Congratulations Ansel & Yukari! Welcome back from Kauai!

We'll be having bible study this week so see you tomorrow at 7:30pm!

Aug 5th - Colossians 3

Our next study we will continue our study of Colossians!

Do you still remember what the previous chapters were about?

Last week's study, Colossians 2:16-23, was about freedom from human regulations. Christ alone is sufficient! Don't get swept away in rituals!

A preview of Wednesday!
Chapter 3 verses 1-4!

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

July 29

Last week we had a big turnout to help Ansel and Yukari make their wedding programs. It was a lot of stamping, cutting and organizing. Thanks so much for those who came out!

Dumpling Making Party

Here are some pictures from our Dumpling Making Party courtesy of Justin! Enjoy!

Ben is working hard for his food.

Nancy's giant dumpling. Can you tell which one is bigger?

Flying saucer pot stickers.

Farmer's Market Trip (June 14th, 2009)

Hey SJers,

If you're interested, Anne and I will be heading to the Mountain View Farmer's Market on June 14th when we're planning to have a wildcard service for Sunday. It's an opportunity to be in the company of fellow believers on Sunday and to see who our local growers are and try to put into practice some of the things we learned at Freedom Summit about being responsible consumers.

Here are some details about the Farmer's Market:
http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/comm_services/recreation_programs_and_services/community_events/farmers_market.asp

It's open from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. We're planning to head over around 10:00AM. If people are interested, we could meet ahead of time and grab some breakfast before heading to the farmer's market.

Let me know. 408-206-0911

Jeff

Col 1: 15-20 and homework!

We continued our study in Colossians learning about God's supremacy and what we need to understand from that.... That He is more than just "our homie"-- He is our supreme God, all powerful, most Holy, our Savior!

Colossians 1:15-20 (New American Standard Bible)

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

+++

Homework for this week: Be Christ-like for one day and write down your thoughts throughout that day. Report back at the next small groups! :)

Freedom Summit

Hey Guys,


Freedom Summit from Freedom Summit on Vimeo.

Our May LSFG activity is going to be attending the Freedom Summit conference. You should've heard an announcement or received an email about Freedom Summit, which is a conference on slavery and human trafficking coming up in May.

Date: May 15-16, 2009
Location: Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mountain View, CA

If you are interested in attending, please contact Bonnie, Will, Dan or Justin.
There is more information at the Freedom Summit website.

Sky High - Friday, April 17th

Hello LSFG San Jose!! As announced in your Fellowship groups, we’ll be having a Pebbles activity FRIDAY, APRIL 17^th.

Details:

7:20pm – Meet at Sky High Sports: http://www.jumpskyhigh.com/index.asp :: $10 per person, free for newcomers

7:30pm – Parking Lot Picnic of Chicken McNuggets & Tacos

8:00pm – Enter Sky High

8:45pm – Puke out nuggets

10:00pm – End of event, possible dessert outing

Please CHOOSE:

A) Bringer – A bringer invites friends and will host them throughout the event. Bring a max of 2-3 friends so you can handle the load. Intro them to people who would have similar interests and would get along.

B) Clinger – A clinger will CLING to new people that bringers have brought. Your job is to pick a new person or two and really try to hang out and get to know them throughout the event. Goal is to get this person’s phone number or e-mail.

E-mail Jeremy (jeremy.c.chien@lmco.com) with your choice and if you’re a bringer, please tell him how many friends you’ll be bringing.