Happy Tuesday Harvest!
Once again the heavy machinery and workmen are hard at work on the retaining wall downstairs in the new parking lot. At this pace they should be done VERY quickly- take a look this coming Sunday and I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

As I mentioned this last week, the Gideons International are going to be joining us March 14th for a presentation of God’s work through their ministry. Please welcome them! Since they will be doing a presentation during the Sunday School hour as well, please be on time and usher others into the Sunday School room at 11:30 AM!

Here, again, are the notes and the announcements.

Byron

Rest In Peace
Live Like a Song: Psalm 122

3 Applications from Psalm 122:

1. Church Ought to be a Happy Place! A place that we’re glad to come to, even when it means that we face some painful realities. We should be happy to connect to God, His people, and a clear view of reality.

2. We need to Wonder at the Work of God. The Psalmist expresses marvel at how God puts the people of God together in unity despite their diversity.

3. We need to Work toward the Principle of Peace. Enjoying fellowship and God’s work comes as we work toward not disturbing the peace that God gives to believers. It takes sacrifice!

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take stock of your ministries here at Harvest South Bay. How are you contributing to the Body here? What is your attitude toward that contribution? Do you look forward to ministering to others?

2. How can you work harder at making your time at church spiritually productive for others? Have you been praying with and for people as we were challenged to do at the beginning of the year?

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Take a look out the window and see the progress of the retaining wall! Constuction has been delayed due to rain but completion of the project is not far off. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is still short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of the parking lot as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.
Communion Sunday!
Today is communion Sunday! Going forward we will partake of communion every last Sunday of the month. Prepare your hearts and anticipate the table of the Lord.

Baptism
As has been shared in the past, we are planning a Baptismal service. Please contact Byron if you are interested being baptized.

Sure!
Live Like a Song: Psalm 121

The Environment of the Psalms:
There was always the temptation of polytheism for the Old Testament believer since the mindset was to guard oneself by paying homage to more than one deity. If one deity was either angry or let you down, at least another who you worshiped would be on your side. We are idolatrous in the same way when we invest our security in different sources, whether education or money, popularity or personality.

3 Applications from Psalm 121

1. Have no other Saviors: Don’t rest secure in anything else except for Christ.

2. Fear no other gods: Don’t be afraid that anything in life can overpower our God: He is omnipotent.

3. Trust God for Salvation: Trust that God is both good and powerful, that He will save us.

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take some time to identify your major goals in life: the things you spend serious time devoting energy and thought to. Examine how these have become your source of security or help supplanting God. Reaffirm your confidence and security in God.

2. Examine your fears about life, the sources that hold you back from living fully for God. Recall God’s power over your other sources of fear in the past and how He has proven Himself faithful and sovereign.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Construction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.

Hello Harvest!
It’s exciting to look out my window and see the progress of the new “basketball court.” It will be such a great change to come to church and not have to worry about having our cars damaged since the new basketball court will afford us so much more room for our cars to maneuver as well! Remember to keep your kids safe out on the blacktop while construction is occurring!

Here are the note and announcements for this week. Also, keep an eye out since I will be trying to send out daily morning devotions during Tuesday-Friday sometime soon. I had planned on doing it sooner but many life changes prevented it happening for a bit!

Byron
Harvest South Bay: February 14th , 2010
Mad at the World
Live Like a Song: Psalm 120

The Nature of the Psalms (and studies therein):
The Psalms are first and foremost SONGS- they were meant to resonate with our hearts and help us to sing to God the different emotions that we experience in life. They affirm truth about God and about our own inner state and are meant to be memorized, sung, hummed (when we have a tune!) and made a part of our experience. These Psalms that we are studying, the Psalms of Ascent (PS 120-134) were sung on the journey to Jerusalem during the three national festivals: Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles.

3 Applications from Psalm 120

1. It’s Okay to be Frustrated!: Believers do not belong to the world and so it is okay to feel frustrated at how the world does things.

2. It’s Okay to Complain: We are not to push down and extinguish our emotions, but let God know about them. Then, as we complain to Him, He changes our hearts, addresses our issues and helps us through the frustration that we have with the world.

3. Trust in God’s Deliverance: We need to go to God and trust in Him as our savior in all circumstances instead of placing our hope in other sources to fix our lives.

Weekly Application Exercises:
1. Take some moments to understand what you most complain about in life: whether at work or school or within your family. Let God into your complaint and ask Him for strength, wisdom and grace in that situation.

2. Memorize Psalm 120:1-2 in order to remember God’s deliverance. Apply God’s deliverance by asking for His help in your everyday struggles to grow in Christ.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully supplying refreshments thus far!

Parking Lot Construction
Construction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.
Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) Joint Meeting (Feb 21 11:30)
Per the request of the EFC South Bay SPC (Strategic Planning Committee), a meeting to discuss Harvest’s future, Byron’s ordination and any other church matters is scheduled on Sunday, February 21 with the Harvest Leadership Team. Please pray for the discussion and outcome.

Hey Harvest South Bay!
Quick check! How many people sat and prayed with someone after the GA meeting? After Sunday School? Well, there’s one more way to follow through on this Sunday’s application: praying with someone SOMETIME this week in a casual setting!

As many of you know, our family will be away for the weekend in sunny (actually the forecast is for rain) Solvang. We’ll catch up with you and see you all NEXT week!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                January 31st , 2010

Will Empowered
Live Big: Ephesians 6:10-20

The Passage:
A. Overall Motive: Be Strengthened

B. The Armor

1.  Belt of Truth          2.   Breastplate of Righteousness (God’s Imputed Righteousness)

3. Shoes of Peace (the preparation of the Gospel of Peace)

4.  Shield of Faith          5.   Helmet of Salvation         6. Sword of the Spirit

C. The Activator: PRAYER!

Follow Through Applications

1. Realize the Nature of the Battle

2. Rely on God’s Strength (How?)

A. Ask for God’s Strength (Admit our own weakness)

B. Rely on God’s Defenses (affirm what He says in His Word about the Armor)

3. PRAY

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Pray with a fellow believer outside of a church structured time of prayer.

2. Spend some time meditating on changes God would have you commit to this year. Express your dependence to Him in prayer concerning each change that needs to happen in your life.

Announcements!
Prayer Ministry every Sunday @ 9AM
Sunday Morning prayer meetings are starting up weekly. Come join us in the Sunday School room to pray for our church and our community.

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. We are currently short only ~$400.

Annual General Assembly Meeting Join us today after service for our annual general meeting with the rest of EFC South Bay. We will vote on the new year’s budget and approve other items of business! We need you there for a quorum!

Refreshments Sign Up
The new sign up sheet is in the foyer! Sign up to do your part and thanks to all who have been faithfully suppying refreshments thus far!

Haiti Earthquake Relief
The Republic of Haiti was hit by a severe earthquake on January 12th, and the EFCGA is seeking to raise funds for disaster relief. Collected funds will go towards: 1. Financially helping Taiwanese/Chinese immigrants in Haiti who are in urgent need 2. Supporting the re-building of Taiwanese/Chinese churches in Haiti 3. Identifying opportunities to provide a caring center or to build a local EFC church in Haiti. This ministry will be handled by the North American Eastern Regional Assembly. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please write the check out to “EFC” and designate “Haiti Disaster Relief” on the memo line.

Parking Lot Construction
Contruction has begun and will continue throughout the month of February. Please advise your children to be careful during this period. Also, the project budget is short $10,000. Please prayerfully consider giving toward the finalization of this project as it adds to the ministry and welcoming nature of our church.

Good Morning/Week Harvest South Bay!
You may have noticed that these posts haven’t been as consistent this year. I’m hoping to be more on the ball as Christine and I clear up our long term childcare needs and form a new groove for 2010. Thanks for your patience!

Thanks everyone who is being so diligent at providing snacks during Sundays! I can speak for everyone when I say that everything has been top notch!

See you all this Sunday!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                January 24th , 2010

Who’s The Boss?
Live Big: Ephesians 6:5-9

2 Commands

1. The Command for Slaves: Obey!

2. The Command for Masters: Be Considerate (Do to them the same).

Workplace Applications

1. Change Masters: we need to now consider Christ our motivation.

2. Redefine Excellence: doing our job well means intending well toward those who it is directed.

3. Serve with Integrity and Faith: we need to act fully in integrity and trust that God takes care of the results- just as Christian masters had to give up threatening their slaves and trust that God would be the ultimate arbiter in their relationship.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Commit on Monday to an hourly attitude check: on the hour, every hour revue your attitude at whatever vocation you are at (student, employee, employer) and whether you are actively serving Christ. End the day with an evaluation of how this practice changes your perspective on people that are difficult or work that might seem menial.

2. Spend some time meditating on how God would have you change your behaviors at work or school so as to reflect the character of Jesus: how does He call you to be different, even though it might seem inefficient or ineffective in the eyes of the world?

Hi Harvest!

Once again, Christine and I and our whole family would like to thank you for your prayers and support during this difficult time as her dad is in the hospital. Please continue to pray this week for his health and healing as he battles the bleeding in his lungs. We thank God for His great strength and comfort, but most of all that dad is greatly at peace in the presence of Christ.

Byron

Prayer Ministry every Sunday @ 9AM
Sunday Morning prayer meetings are starting up weekly. Come join us in the Sunday School room to pray for our church and our community.

Harvest Christmas Celebration
Dec. 19th 6:30 PM
Save the date and join us! Willis and Linda Shu have graciously opened their home to our church for our annual Christmas celebration. Food, fun, and a time to focus on our Savior! Make sure  to respond to the Evite and let Martin know if you would like to be added!

Special Missions Offering
The Board has approved to set up a special offering for Mike and Nancy Tseng to provide for them two round trip air tickets for two of their parents to go from LA to visit them. If you like to participate in this offering, please specify in the memo of your check: “Mission Gift”. If we receive more money than the actual expense, the surplus will go to the church’s general mission fund.

Lunch Offering
Our church’s Sunday lunch has been traditionally supplied by families sponsoring one, two or more weekend’s per year ($350 per weekend). The offering is now open for church members to sign up. In the past we received most lunch offering from Taiwanese congregation but we would like to encourage families/members in both the English and Mandarin groups to participate more. To sign up go to:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=ttB7YbGBz9XNeVMVDyEyB-Q

EFC/HarvestSB Christmas Banquet Sunday, 12/20 6:00-9:00 PM
6-7PM - Banquet
7-7:30PM (Program Preparation)
7:30-9PM Christmas Program
Short message: 10 - 15 mins
CYM program: 20 mins
Taiwanese Cong program: 10 - 15 mins
English Cong program: 10 - 15 mins
Mandarine Cong program: 10 -15 mins

Harvest South Bay

December 13th, 2009
Truth, Be Told
Live Big: Ephesians 4:17-32
Background (Eph 4:1-3)

Our Goal: Preserve the Unity of the Spirit
One Application:
Speak Truth to One Another

3 Dimensions:

1. Speak of Right Ethics

2. Speak of Right Speech

3. Speak of Right Attitudes

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Reflect on the last time that someone “spurred you on” to become more Christlike. How can you take that experience and replicate it in helping other Christians grow by keeping them accountable to their commitment to God?

2. In what ways can you be seeking out effective accountability? Make a short list of people you would like to see help you grow spiritually; how can you welcome them to confront you more honestly and more often in your areas where you need the most help?

Good Morning HSB!

… and welcome to the ADVENT SEASON! YAAAAYY! Don’t you love the season of Christmas!
Here are the notes and announcements from last week. I also want to let you know that you’ll soon be seeing MORE messages from this feed because starting next week I’ll be writing quiet time material for everyone from Tuesday through Friday to jump start that spiritual discipline for our congregation. It won’t be a lot of reading or stuff to slog through: it will hopefully give you a jumping point for your prayer life and Bible reading though!

See you week after next since you know that I’ll be away for a wedding this Sunday!

Byron

Operation Christmas Child
Praise God that He provided 53 shoebox gifts through our church to needy kids worldwide! Please pray for the boxes and their recipients as well as the international effort to reach children for Jesus.

EFC Winter Retreat
Dec. 31-Jan. 3
Registration is open for those interested in attending the EFC Winter Retreat at Pine Summit (Big Bear).
http://www.efcchurches.org/wr/2009

Welcome Baby Emma/Food Tree!
Now that Baby Emma is born, let’s help her parents take care of her! An email is circulating concerning the Huang’s food tree, please sign up or inquire with Mabel Yu.

Prayer Ministry every Sunday @ 9AM
Sunday Morning prayer meetings are starting up weekly from Dec. 6. Come join us in the Sunday School room to pray for our church and our community.

Harvest South Bay                November 29nd, 2009

All Grown Up
Live Big: Ephesians 4:1-16

2 Dimensions of Unity

1. Unity of Peace: God desires us to display the character of Christ toward one another.

2. Unity of Principle: We share the same core truths of the Christian faith.

2 Applications

1. Make Unity a Priority: Be transformed in character toward each other.

2. Remember the Process of Maturity: Before church growth or kingdom growth comes spiritual growth.

Weekly Application Exercises
1.Take some time before the Lord to present yourself, your personality and your character to God. Commit to becoming more humble, gentle, patient or tolerant in some concrete way as He guides.

2. Examine how you think of Harvest South Bay and our congregation in terms of the concept of growth. Reassess and reorganize your perspective around personal and corporate spirituality. Purpose to help our body “grow up” in the coming year.

Good Morning Harvest South Bay!
Missed you all last Sunday whilst preaching down the street at Bread of Life! Hope all went well (I’ll be online listening to you Danny!).

Here are the weekend’s announcements. See you all next Sunday!
Byron

Operation Christmas Child
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 2009 National Collection Week is November 16-23.  Begin to collect empty shoe boxes and gift items (school supplies, toys, hygiene items, hard candy, mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips). Our big “wrap party” is Nov. 20 before the boxes get taken to the dropoff. For more info, contact Stephanie Liu.

10/10 Room
Many thanks to all who helped in setting up the storage room (Chris, Julie, Carsten and Annie) for our “10/10” program. Remember, bring any unused items so that someone else might benefit. Also peruse the room to see if there is anything you might put to good use!

EFC Winter Retreat
Dec. 31-Jan. 3
Registration is open for those interested in attending the EFC Winter Retreat at Pine Summit (Big Bear). Early registration ($175) is due Oct. 18 and can be done online at:
http://www.efcchurches.org/wr/2009
Welcome Baby Emma/Food Tree!
Now that Baby Emma is born, let’s help her parents take care of her! An email is circulating concerning the Huang’s food tree, please sign up or inquire with Mabel Yu.

Danny and Lillian Care Package
The Tokudome’s are coordinating the delivery of a care package to Danny and Lillian in China. Here’s the little list!
1. Baking powder
2. chocolate chips (mini or regular size)
3. Sauce packets (specifically chili, sloppy joe, alfredo, stew seasoning, ranch dressing), the ones that are powder and come in packets…all you have to do is add simple ingredients you get can here! So great for guests!
4. muffin cups
5. any baking mixes (like for cookies, brownies, muffins, breads)
6. bottle of Vitamin C
7. kids vitamins
8. Anything related to the specific holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter)…for cooking, for decorating, for setting the table, for the house, for crafts
9. Kids stuff: Sidewalk chalk, Good Markers, Construction paper
Contact Makoto and Amy for more details!

Prayer Ministry every Sunday @ 9AM
Sunday Morning prayer meetings are starting up weekly from Dec. 6. Come join us in the Sunday School room to pray for our church and our community.

Good Morning Harvest South Bay!

I hope you’re looking forward to our very own Dr. Danny Lee sharing from this pulpit this coming Sunday! I always enjoy his clear and challenging exposition of God’s Word.

As Stephanie Liu said this last weekend in her announcement, November 20th at 7:30 PM will mark a Operation Christmas Child wrap party. If you have any more questions about shoeboxes or any of the contents that ought to go in the shoeboxes, let her know.

Byron

Operation Christmas Child
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 2009 National Collection Week is November 16-23.  Begin to collect empty shoe boxes and gift items (school supplies, toys, hygiene items, hard candy, mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips). For more info, contact Stephanie Liu.

10/10 Room
Many thanks to all who helped in setting up the storage room (Chris, Julie, Carsten and Annie) for our “10/10” program. Remember, bring any unused items so that someone else might benefit. Also peruse the room to see if there is anything you might put to good use!

EFC Winter Retreat
Dec. 31-Jan. 3
Registration is open for those interested in attending the EFC Winter Retreat at Pine Summit (Big Bear). Early registration ($175) is due Oct. 18 and can be done online at:
http://www.efcchurches.org/wr/2009

Welcome Baby Emma!
Welcome Emma Grace Huang into the world! Born Tuesday, Nov. 3rd at Little Company of Mary, she’s a healthy happy baby. Congratulations Richard, Yvonne, Joshua and Jacob.Harvest South Bay                November 8th, 2009

First Class Condition
Live Big: Ephesians 2:11-22

Background : Ephesus a Gentile dominated church. Gentiles Christians had an admiration for the Jewish holiness and discipline, but may have counted themselves as not included in having to aspire to an exceptional lifestyle.

Two Motives for Living a Life of Godliness

1. We are Not Second Class Citizens: God shows us that we are no longer held at a distance from Him to evoke a deeper appreciation for His calling.

2. We are Called to Live First  Class Lives: Paul reveals the new unity that God has won through Christ’s death not to address a schism in the church, but to encourage Gentile Christians to live worthy of their new calling.
Weekly Application Exercises
1. Imagine for a moment if you were suddenly installed as the full time pastor of Harvest South Bay. Would you feel you ought to change your current lifestyle or spiritual habits, and if so, in what ways? How might this reflect on a possible “two-tier” understanding of Christian behavior and expectations?

2. Recount the many blessings from God that we’ve studied in the past month in our study of Ephesians. Reflect on how your life would be different without those blessings. Take time to thank God for the different dimensions of salvation which He has provided.

Hi Harvest South Bay!
Many thanks to Reni who organized and everyone else who participated in the Carnival this last Sunday (Joe especially!). May God use the contacts we made that day to expand His Kingdom!

Here are the announcements and notes from last week’s service!
Byron

Operation Christmas Child
The Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child 2009 National Collection Week is November 16-23.  Begin to collect empty shoe boxes and gift items (school supplies, toys, hygiene items, hard candy, mints, gum, t-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips). For more info, contact Stephanie Liu.

EFC Winter Retreat
Dec. 31-Jan. 3
Registration is open for those interested in attending the EFC Winter Retreat at Pine Summit (Big Bear). Early registration ($175) is due Oct. 18 and can be done online at:
http://www.efcchurches.org/wr/2009

The Undead
Live Big: Ephesians 2:1-10

Background (Eph 1:15-23):
The people of Ephesus lived in fear of the supernatural and were highly superstitious. This is the motivation for Paul to ask God to open their eyes to the power of Christ: that Jesus was seated above every name that is named, especially the demonic forces that were familiar to the Ephesians.

Two Reminders of our Identity In Christ

1. We are Not Dead Anymore.: We are now made spiritually alive. We need to come to a realization of our life with Christ so that we no longer live as if we were dead: afraid, lacking communication with God, powerless.

2. We are Alive With Christ.: The main point that Paul wants to drive home when calling us “alive” is that we are now seated with Christ  in the heavenlies- we share the power that Christ has in being seated above all powers that oppose Him.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Ever take a personality test of any kind? What were the results? How often do you think about what those kinds of tests say about you and who you are? Memorize Eph 2:1 (simple!) and Eph 2:4, 5 (harder!) and reflect on them when pondering what God says about who you are.

2. Catalogue what forces keep you from being bold for Christ. If Christ has seated us above our fears, how will that impact our behavior this coming week?