genesis: i am thankful
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IFGF Pinole Monthly Newsletter ifgfpinole.orgTRANSCRIPT
I F G F P I N O L E M O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R
I Am Thankful
Pastor Sugi’s Notes on Thanksgiving • Matters to Thank by Frederick Kennedy
Pastor Jeffri’s Corner • Blessing in Disguise by Leonardo Saerang
Let’s Pray for November by Joan Wirolinggo
Care Group of the Month: Frontier • In-House Foodie Review: Ran Kanom Thai
Event Highlight: Thanksgiving Retreat SF x LA by Christian Liong
1 1
2014
It’s November!
Autumn season is in full swing and we will start
feeling stronger wind and chilly weather. At the
same time, it is also a period to prepare our hearts
for the coming holiday season, starting with the
celebration of the Thanksgiving Day. So accordingly,
we have chosen the topic “I Am Thankful” for this
month’s theme. How do we appropriately celebrate
Thanksgiving? Of course, by being thankful in our
heart, first and foremost to God, who is the source of
all blessing. But is there anything else we need to do,
more than just an inward attitude of thankfulness?
I believe there is! And that is why we choose the
topic — so together we can learn and apply God’s Word
regarding thankfulness in our lives. Let’s celebrate
this Thanksgiving Day with our hearts focused on
Jesus, with our actions ready to reflect our heart of
thankfulness. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from
the big family of IFGF Pinole.
Blessings,
Pastor Sugi Hendric
Testimony:Matters to Thankby Frederick Kennedy
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S tepping out of my comfort zone is the last thing I
would do when adapting to a new surrounding.
On New Year’s Eve, I set foot at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport. It was a devastating day for me.
I wasn’t prepared to leave to the United States, but the
plane was already waiting for my presence. I had to leave
my brother back in Jakarta, my mother with me, and
my dad waiting for me to transit in Hong Kong. The next
two months swing by very quickly and before I knew
it, my mother was already boarding her flight back
to Indonesia. There are many things to be thankful
for in this world. All of them are blessings from God
whether it be good or bad to you.
I was listening to one of my mentor’s sharing about Romans 8:28.
What I understood from the verse was that everything happens
not to us, but for us. If the good happens like you expected, then
God have rewarded you. The key things in life to be thankful for
are friends, family, and God Himself.
To be thankful for those that are close to me. Without them,
I wouldn’t be able to survive each day. They are the ones who are
there when I need them the most. They are the ones who give me
a shoulder to cry on. They are the ones who pick me up when I
fall. They are the ones who are willing to share the burden with
me. I am thankful for the community I’m surrounded with –
the people that I can reach out to and talk to. I am thankful for
CG Hoper and Favor.
To be thankful for those that are giving me moral support.
Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. The confidence
that they have given me, the opportunity to even be here in the
US. Although we are one-third world away from each other,
I believe that this is their decision to send me here. I believe that
whenever I succeed, they will be proud. I believe that whenever
I fail, they will be there to lift me up. I am thankful for my family.
To be thankful for our Savior – He who have created me to
be in this world. I believe that whatever I’ve done, it’s for my
own good. Whatever happens in this world, if it’s not like what
you expected, it’s a teaching from Him. It’s a declaration
of what He wants to tell you. It’s a punishment for what
wrongdoing you have done. I am thankful for God. I believe
that all things happen to us for a reason, to be a better good in
the future. God has His ways of shaping us, molding us,
teaching us, and through the things that happen in life, is
one of His ways. To know and react what He has done is one
thing, but to be thankful and understand it, is another thing.
PASTOR JEFFRI’S CORNER
Worrying is never the solution. It drains our emotional tank, and yet never give us a solution. Try being
thankful instead – knowing that He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will
never leaves us nor forsakes us. READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:6
Blessing
In Disguise by Leonardo
Saerang
This Summer
has been a
rough one for me;
tangled in a web of
struggles, juggling
between work visa,
job search, and
personal issues had
worn me out to my
maximum capacity.
When I refl ect back,
however, I can’t help
but be thankful, because when I thought
I was alone, He had never left my side.
Before I continue, let us take a look at
the life of Jacob (Genesis 37- 41). As the
youngest son who had been promised
all the greatness through his dream,
surely he must have high hopes but
for all we know, his life was a roller
coaster. From being the favorite son,
a transformation struck him where he
went through a series of tribulations
from being betrayed by his own
brothers, sold to the head of Potiphar’s
household, framed and jailed for two
years to the position where God wanted
him to be. Perhaps this was how I felt
this summer. I feel that my life has
its ups, and inevitably there will be
moments of downs.
As a person who likes security, I do
not appreciate these cycles of ups and
downs. However, when we scrutinize
Joseph’s life, which is far worse than
mine, and his
journey towards
God’s plan, there
is one thing that I
believe that made
him achieve it: the
Lord is always with
Him (Genesis 39:2,
21). Even in the pit
of darkness, God’s
grace and favors
was suffi cient. And
you know what; he is also with me and
with you too!
Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for
I am with you; do not be dismayed, for
I am your God. I will strengthen you
and help you; I will uphold you with my
righteous right hand.” And if God is for
us, who can be against us? What a great
reminder of how much He loves us!
Friends, let us stop focusing on our
struggles and our helplessness. Instead,
start surrendering to God who is always
with us. I am still struggling too right now
in facing my personal issues, but I have
decided that this will not be my focus.
After all, He who is with me will turn it
to the good and the better for me.
How about you? I am thankful not because
of my circumstances but for Him to be with
me through all the circumstances I face.
Though these experiences may look like
a stumbling stone for me, He turns it into
blessings in the end.
IFG
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LET’S PRAYFOR NOVEMBER
with Joan Wirolinggo
New workers and leaders
in the house of God
(1 Thes. 5:12-13)
The new church building
for God’s glory (Haggai 1 :8)
Pastor Sugi, his wife and his
three children as well as all
the church leaders (1 Tim.
5:17)
A thankful heart and joy
of the Lord while waiting for
God’s promise to be fulfilled
(Philippians 4:4-7)
Thanksgiving retreat that
it might be impactful and
fruitful
The passion and drive to
pursue God’s holiness
(Hebrew 12:29)
Healthy growth in Care
Group members and more
quality workers (Acts 2:46-
47)
The nations of Indonesia
(Prov. 28:2), United States
where we live (Jer. 29:7),
Nepal (Matthew 24:14), and
Israel (Psalm 122:6)
Testimony:
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CG Frontier was formed just over a year ago to serve the needs of
the young professionals in San Francisco Bay Area. Despite living
in different parts of the Bay Area (ranging from East Bay to South
Bay), distance does not prevent us from sharing lives with one
another. There are a lot of things that we do in CG Frontier. We share
our struggles and strengthen one another in the spirit. We share
our happiness and praise God together for He is good all the time.
We share our knowledge on different aspects of life, from financial
planning to cultivating good relationships with our colleagues at work.
On top of the Care Group gatherings once every two weeks, we
also have über-fun outings every other week, where we would enjoy
one another’s company and get to know one another deeper. Most
important of all, we are a family, that’s what CG Frontier is all about!
CG OF THE MON-TH SPE-CIAL
Thinking of joining CG Frontier
in the South Bay?
Anthony (408) 685-1540
cg
frontier
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Ran Kanom Thai
I am confident that everyone is thankful that God has given us
the opportunity to be blessed to have plenty of food to eat and
also a wide variety of options to choose from. Not only are we
given the chance to eat such delicious food we are also blessed
to gather with one another and celebrate the blessings that the
Lord has given us.
The restaurant that I am going to be reviewing today is Ran
Kanom Thai. Ran Kanom Thai is a Thai restaurant with two
different locations one in Richmond and in San Pablo as well.
Ran Kanom had a dream to provide the best Thai food made
with 100% organic food, from their spices, vegetables, seafood
and their meat as well. Not only does this restaurant provide
such good quality food it also comes with affordable prices.
When you first walk in the restaurant, you have a choice of
either ordering food from their steam tables or from their menu.
There is a wide selection of food on their menu: Noodles with
soup or just stir-fry, E-San E-San which is Green Papaya or
Fruit Salads, Rice Porridge, and Rice Plates. Love Spicy food?
this place is great for you! They have different levels of spice to
fit your taste buds. If the food is not spicy enough for you they
provide additional spices as well. After you enjoy your meal
you can try their exotic desserts like their Mango Sticky Rice
and their Durian dessert. As you finish your lunch or dinner
you can also enjoy their variety of snack that you can buy
and bring home for you to enjoy. All in all, Ran Kanom Thai
provides quality food for an affordable price.
by Emmanuel Calica
3288 Pierce St, Richmond, CA
(510) 356-4885
2300 El Portal Dr, San Pablo, CA
(510) 255-7284
This weekend makes a great
opportunity to re-calibrate with God.
Yes, we are swarmed with tests,
homework and projects; but when
we sacrifi ce our time for God, He is
sure to reward us abundantly.
Do you feel like you’ve run dry, hit a wall, or aren’t as excited
about God as you once were? Maybe you’ve never felt
passionate about what God is doing in your lives and in the lives
of others. I know that there have been seasons in my life where I
am just doing the “Christian” thing; go to church—check, go to
care group—check, have Christian karaoke on Sundays—check,
attempt to read the Bible and pray daily—check. This routine
becomes stale and what was a relationship with Jesus is now just
religious duties.
Every year, IFGF hosts a Thanksgiving Retreat and this year
we are collaborating with San Francisco and Los Angeles in
Bakersfi eld to reignite our fi re for God and people! It will be held
in Double Tree Hotel, Bakersfi eld, on November 27th – 29th.
This year, we have the privilege and honor of hosting Pastor
Joey Bonifacio, an amazing speaker from the Philippines, with a
passion to see people connect with God and with each other.
This is what ’s bound to happen
if you don’ t go.
Through Mark 12:30-31 we know that God is very much into
relationships. He created relationships not just for people to
relate with people, but more importantly, for people to relate to
God. Often times we contemplate and wonder if that is our job.
“It should be my care group leader who leads people to know
God,” or “my pastor should be the one to make disciples,” are the
types of things Christians may think to themselves, but I want
to remind and encourage every Jesus loving Christian out there
that it is our job to make disciples of all nations. I am extremely that it is our job to make disciples of all nations. I am extremely that it is our job to make disciples of all nations. I am extremely
excited for retreat expecting to see a bunch of young people seek excited for retreat expecting to see a bunch of young people seek excited for retreat expecting to see a bunch of young people seek
out God, fi nd what they’re looking for, and share with everyone out God, fi nd what they’re looking for, and share with everyone out God, fi nd what they’re looking for, and share with everyone
they know the goodness they have found in Christ.they know the goodness they have found in Christ.they know the goodness they have found in Christ.
The Christian life was never meant to be boring, but one The Christian life was never meant to be boring, but one The Christian life was never meant to be boring, but one
that is filled with excitement, joy, and the satisfaction of that is filled with excitement, joy, and the satisfaction of that is filled with excitement, joy, and the satisfaction of
connecting the created people to the creator God.connecting the created people to the creator God.connecting the created people to the creator God. If you
fi nd yourself busy with work and school, friends and family, and fi nd yourself busy with work and school, friends and family, and fi nd yourself busy with work and school, friends and family, and
other miscellaneous activities and wondering if there is more to other miscellaneous activities and wondering if there is more to other miscellaneous activities and wondering if there is more to
life, come to the retreat and trust that God will encounter you life, come to the retreat and trust that God will encounter you life, come to the retreat and trust that God will encounter you
there and impart a new passion and desire in your lives!
Event Highlight:ThanksgivingRetreat SF x LAby Christian Liong
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IFGF Pinole 2885 PINOLE VALLEY ROAD
PINOLE, CA 94564
(925) 609 4343
IFGFPINOLE.ORG
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Biblical Teaching
Nov 7 & 21 Caregroup Gatherings
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2:15 - 5 pm
Nov 15 IFGF Pinole 21st
Anniversary
Nov 27-29 IFGF California
Thanksgiving Retreat
Dec 5-6 BUILD Leadership
Conference 2014
CG LEGENDS
BERKELEY (SISTERS)
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BERKELEY (BROTHERS)
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PLEASANT HILL
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SOUTH BAY
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06 Glorio Yulianto
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