Recently I heard very interesting and at the same time shocking news.  I had not heard about it until then, but apparently a non-profit Dutch company named Mars One announced their plans to build a colony on Mars back in April, and over 10,000 people from more than 100 countries have responded to become volunteer astronauts.  Anyone 18 or older may apply via video with a $38 application fee. The mission’s budget is said to be approximately $6 billion.  Departure for the Red Planet is scheduled for 2022, landing seven months later in 2023.   If all goes successfully, Mars One intends for a crew of four (two men and two women) to join every two years or so.   Once selected, a group of 40 astronauts will undergo seven years of training to increase their chances of survival on the tough, dangerous planet, where the atmosphere is very thin, the average temperature is about -50 degrees Celsius, and what water remains is either frozen or hidden in deep underground springs.  They will have to take care of sickness and injuries themselves and live on dried and canned food for extended periods.
Even though this kind of daring adventure does not appeal to me personally, I can see how some space exploration enthusiasts would be willing to take a risk to be the first ones to put their feet on the planet where no human being has ever walked on before.  What really shocked me, however, about this project is that what Mars One is offering is a one-way ticket to Mars!  That is the volunteer astronauts will never return to earth.  They will finish out their lives on Mars.  What is the reason?  It is because the one-way trip makes the mission possible by greatly reducing the cost, and the technology for a return flight does not exist.   I don’t care how miserable your life here on earth may be, but the finality of being isolated on a strange, harsh planet without the option to ever change your mind scares me just to think about it.  Even when I am on a family vacation, I often find myself wanting to go back home after some period of time. So I cannot comprehend why anybody would even entertain such an option.
Then this past Tuesday I attended the funeral service for Elder Young Shin (Courtney, Alice, Michelle, and Bobby’s dad), who had passed away in his sleep from a heart attack.  He’s had numerous health issues all his life, but no one was quite prepared to lose him so suddenly and unexpectedly.  It was a beautiful, God-honoring service with many people in attendance.  The highlight of the evening for me was the heartfelt eulogies shared by each of his four children. They were crying and laughing as they were reminiscing fondly about the special times they each spent with their dad.  In the midst of their sorrow, however, they could rejoice, knowing their dad is with Jesus Christ, the One whom he loved with such passion all his life.  One day all his loved ones will join him in heaven and have a fabulous family reunion.  This time they will be together forever.  Then it dawned on me.  Yes, there IS a place worth going to with a one-way ticket.  It’s a place we all MUST go to with a one-way ticket.  We don’t apply or qualify for the ticket; Jesus has already purchased the one-way tickets for us with His precious blood.  8”For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
July 14, 2013

After spending a week in El Salvador, I realized once again that there is no place better than home. Thank God that I can enjoy AC, a hot shower, clean water, great food and my own car to drive around. It was a good reminder that I have so much to be grateful for. Although I enjoy going on missions to different countries, I have a hard time getting used to different food, culture, language barrier and especially unsanitary conditions of certain countries. It was no different this time in El Salvador. I tried my best to eat the local food without any grumbling and get used to the unsanitary surroundings but it was very difficult. I’ve never used sanitizer so often in my life until the past week in the mission field. If you ask my wife, I am certainly not the most sanitary and clean person, but somehow I get paranoid when I go overseas. However, as much as I tried to avoid getting infected, I wasn’t able to escape the power of a stomach virus. I have no idea where I picked it up but one thing I know is that I was literally rolling on the ground in pain on the last day of the trip. It wasn’t a good ending to an amazing week but the care from other members helped me to keep going.
As many of you heard, I wasn’t the only one sick during missions. Most of the team members were also sick throughout the trip. The nurses and doctors on our team were busy not only for their medical ministry but looking after our own team members. By the grace of God we were able to successfully finish our missions. God’s divine strength and His perfect will led us to overcome our physical limitations.
If you ask anybody from the El Salvador team what the highlight of the trip was, he or she will definitely talk about rescuing a lady from attempting suicide. When we were hiking up the mountain called “The gate of the devil,” we just wanted to enjoy our day off from doing ministry and enjoy the beautiful scene. However, God had a different plan for us. He brought us to the right place at the right time to minister to this woman. We held our hands together on the top of the mountain crying out to God to save her life as two of our members were ministering to her. God heard our prayers and there was no doubt in anyone’s heart that God used us to save a soul. God has moved her from the gate of the devil to the gate of heaven through us. It’s a testimony that all members will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives.
I was personally challenged by the way El Salvadorian Christians worship God. Their love for God that was expressed through their worship, the way they listen and respond to the spoken Word just blew my mind. Although I did not understand 99% of what was said and done, I knew clearly that these people had the joy of the Lord in them. I pray and dream about our church congregation worshipping the Lord with the same passion and joy like the El Salvadorian Christians.
Today, we set aside a special time to hear great testimonies of how God worked through our church people in the different missions fields. God has done great and amazing things through us.  Gloria Dios!

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
July 14, 2013

Life has thrown a few lemons into our lives.  Some are very very bitter and sour!
Even as I am writing this column, Ruth and I are in the process of making some lemonade from those awfully sour lemons.  Over the years, since we have collected some recipes, I would like to share with you “How to make cool lemonade out of those sour and bitter lemons life dumps on you.
First, we ask WHAT rather than WHY...
Once we start asking, "Why Lord? Why is this happening to us", then we go into blame mode.  We blame God.   We blame the people involved.  We blame the difficult situations.  The lemons get more bitter and more sour.  So it is better to ask “What Lord? What can we learn from this” Then we can gain energy to cope.  
Second, we have a 100 year law...
We try to look ahead 100 years from now.  100 years later, are we still going to struggle with this same problem? Most likely not... No absolutely not!  No matter how big the problem is: it too shall pass with time.
Third, find humor in them while we are squeezing the lemons.  When we found out Ruth would need a tummy tuck for reconstructive surgery, even though she was struggling with the terrible pain after the mastectomy, she said "Yea! tummy tuck, no more 똥배.  I am going to be forever sexy!" We had a real good laugh.
Last, remember God's rich truth often comes in a beggar's cloth.  Initially when they show up at our door, we used to slam the door on their faces.  But now we may not eagerly welcome them, but at least we let them in even though they stink horribly.   You see, slowly as they shed their stink they actually turn into something valuable and wonderful.
My dear NCFC family, since we have this truly unexpected lemon thrown in midst of our lives, it left a strong sour and bitter taste in all our hearts.  However let us just not taste bitter and sour lemon.  Let us cut it, and squeeze it.  Then add some sugar to make delicious lemonade to refresh our souls and enrich lives.

From Pastor Daniel’s Heart
July 7, 2013

As most of you’ve heard, 19 elite and specially trained firefighters, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshot Crew, were killed in a deadly wild fire in Yarnell, Arizona last Sunday.  14 of the 19 were in their 20s. This is said to be the deadliest incident for the firefighters in the U.S. since 911 in 2001.  While the residents were running away from the town, these brave men moved in and put themselves in harm’s way to prevent the fire from spreading.   The unpredictable wind, however, caused the fire to split and trap the firefighters, basically eliminating their escape route.  My heart and sincere sympathy go out to these men who sacrificed themselves to save others and to their family members who have to live the rest of their lives without their beloved fathers, husbands, sons, and friends. Who could’ve imagined that these men would never come home from a job they routinely performed successfully?
One article I read mentioned a safety device that every firefighter is required to carry.  It is called a fire shelter – a foil-lined, heat-resistant bag meant for firefighters to climb into as a last resort.  This device can deflect the heat for a while, but if the fire doesn’t pass by fairly quickly, it does not provide ultimate protection.  Despite having deployed this safety device, the Yarnell firefighters died a very painful death.  They literally cooked to death inside them. 
Then on Independence Day, I was at a barbeque party when I got the news that a dear brother, who used to serve faithfully as an Elder at NCFC, had passed away in his sleep due to a heart attack.   He was only 64 years old, way too young by today’s standard.  I could not believe the news.  I had seen pictures of him and his family from his daughter’s wedding on FB just a few weeks ago.  He looked perfectly happy and healthy then.  Who could’ve imagined that he would never wake up to enjoy the 4th of July barbeque party?
These two incidents reminded me again of the frailty and brevity of life.  Compared to the fallen firefighters, Elder Shin lived much longer. Even then, it passed by in the blink of an eye. In times like these, the admonition of James 4:13-15 really hits close to home: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ ” 
Whether you die a very painful death as the firefighters did or a relatively peaceful one as Elder Shin did, what really matters after you take your last breath on the earth is where you will find yourself waking up.  I hope all of the firefighters had accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord at one time in their lives. While the fire shelters could not save them from the wildfire, the blood of Jesus will certainly save from the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) anyone who has been redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  What about you?  Are you confident you possess the one and only safety device that will save you from the lake of fire?  If you are not sure, please come see me while you still have the opportunity. 

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
July 7, 2013

One of the celebrity chefs well known to Food Network viewers is getting a lot of negative attention these days.  It’s Paula Dean, known as the “Queen of Southern Cooking.”  From what I understand, a lawsuit was brought against her and her brother by a former manager of the Savannah, GA restaurant the siblings co-own.   The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment and racial discrimination, and Paula Dean admitted to using racial slurs and tolerating racial jokes in the restaurant in the past.   Since the news broke, she has come under fire from the public as well as many of her endorsers.  The Food Network, where she began her career, has decided not to renew her contract after 11 successful years, and major companies like Smithfield Foods, Walmart, Target, and a diabetes drug company have already severed their ties with Paula Dean. 
Her lawyer has issued a statement saying that her admittance of using a racial epithet in a time in American history when America’s South still had segregated schools and restaurants should not be interpreted as her condoning any form of racism or discrimination.  Paula herself has appeared on several talk shows and released online videos begging for forgiveness from her highly disappointed fans.  While some fans have remained loyal and are standing by her, the damage is already done, and her image and brand have definitely been tainted beyond repair.   Only time will tell whether the American people will eventually forgive Paula Dean or whether another network will give her a new show.  Whether that happens or not Paula Dean will have to live with the consequences of her past actions for the rest of her life.
While what Paula Dean did cannot be taken lightly or brushed away, we all know that she is not the only person who has used offensive slurs or other discriminatory comments about people of a different gender, race, nationality, religion, political view, and so on.  Many people get away with saying things even more offensive than what she has said.  The difference, however,  is that she is a highly public figure, and along with the public spotlight and celebrity status comes a much higher level of scrutiny.  One cannot enjoy privilege without responsibility. 
When the alleged incidents occurred, Paula Dean probably had absolutely no idea that one day she was going to be hosting a cooking show seen by millions of people and become a household name.  Had she had even the slightest hint that she was going to become that famous and visible, she certainly would have exercised better judgment.   Many people say and do things that are hurtful and evil because they think they will get away with it.  They think nobody will find out, and for the most part, that is the case, at least during their lifetime.  The Bible tells us, however, that every one of us, not just famous chefs, movie stars, or athletes, will one day be judged for our actions, as stated in Hebrews 4:13, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”    It may be too late for Paula Dean, but it’s still not too late for you and me.    David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).  May this be our earnest prayer each day so that we will not be put to shame when our lives are laid bare before the eyes of Jesus Christ.

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
June 30, 2013

This is the column I wrote for last week:
I had a conversation with Mike Chung during a Timothy teachers’ meeting whether to do something special for the Father’s Day. We were mourning over the fact that there is always a huge hype over Mother's Day but we seem to just skim over Father's day without much celebration. Every Mother’s Day has been filled with special events and the church even sells special corsages for mothers. But we, the fathers, do not get anything special on Father’s days. As the conversation went on, I began to think about how the children usually do not appreciate their dads as much as their moms, especially when they are young. Perhaps one of the reasons is that the children see and receive more tangible love from their mothers. Mothers in general, are more closely involved with children's life whereas fathers tend to be less involved in their kids' life because of work schedule and other obligations. However, we know fathers have a very important role of bringing security and stability to their families. These are the situations that I see in many families but certainly do not apply to every family. So don’t be offended if you are a mother or a father who’s totally different from what I described above.

As i think back to my childhood, I remember my mom always being around. She was there to send me off to school in the morning, cook me a warm meal, dressed me in proper attire until i was old enough to take care of myself. Disciplining can spanking were almost exclusively done by mom except for a couple times when i got into major trouble and dad had to step in with a stronger force. However, as I entered middle school, I started to notice my dad being more involved in my life. I am not so sure whether he was intentionally doing it but my dad came into my life at a critical time when I needed him the most. Being a typical middle child did not help as I was going through the teenage years. I always felt incompetent in everything and felt like I didn’t get enough love and attention when my siblings were always the focal point of our family.
Whether my dad was being intentional or not didn’t really matter because he was able to embrace my longing to receive more love. He was exceptionally encouraging to me, or at least I felt like it. He not only talked about love, he went over and beyond in my opinion to carry out his love for me and my family. I simply cannot get into all the details in this short writing, but I have so many good memories of my dad within the first 2 years of my middle school years when our relationship was taken up to a whole new level. It has never been the same ever since. As I realized how much this man love me and cares for me, I not only became a good son, my attitude towards life and myself completely changed.
As I get older and became a father, I am appreciating the sacrifice and love my father poured upon my life even more. I pray and hope that I can show the kind of love that my father showed me to my own kids. It will be a true challenge but a worthy one because I want my kids to have the same love and respect for me as their father that I have for my own father.

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
June 23, 2013

We would not have been able to remain at NCFC today without God's promise that He will always be with us to the ends of the earth. Therefore, who would not fear God, and who would not praise God's name?  All praise and glory be to God, who with infinite grace and mercy is guiding our church.
We see many of our church members striving towards unity by encouraging one another even with differing opinions and feelings. In this, we have assurance that NCFC can remain as a church that 'makes disciples of all nations to give glory to God.’ Our church, focused on the gospel, desires to continue in advancing God’s kingdom through evangelism and missions with the dream of seeing His kingdom fully come here on earth as we await the return of our Savior, Jesus.  Nevertheless, we apologize for not having been able to tend to the needs of our struggling church members due to many issues needing our immediate attention. In the future, we will serve our church members with more humility, care and prayer.      
The resignation of Pastor Jamie, who steadfastly served with us for the past 23 years, brings NCFC much sorrow and sadness. However, we pray with earnest hearts that God will be with Pastor Jamie and continue to use him for His glory.
The Board of Elders would like to share our official position and clarification on several issues related to Pastor Jamie's resignation.
Firstly, no official documents prepared by or speeches made publicly by the Board of Elders in the past have contained the term 'embezzlement' in reference to Pastor Jamie.  Nevertheless, it is our sincere regret if these baseless rumors and assumptions by people both in and outside of NCFC have caused any damage to Pastor Jamie's reputation.
Secondly, should any information in official documents prepared by the Board of Elders be revealed as inaccurate, we will share the corrected information publicly.
Thirdly, we will offer Pastor Jamie payment toward his retirement that includes the retirement pension funds already paid to date and the amount equivalent to his salary for the remaining months of his sabbatical. We regret not being able to provide more generously due to the current difficult financial situation of our church. We pray for God's abundant blessings upon Pastor Jamie.    
Fourthly, we will repay the loan given to us from Covenant Christian School (CCS) after appropriate adjustments.
Other remaining issues not referenced above will be settled as soon as possible through discussions with Pastor Jamie.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the process so the outcome will be honoring to God and the church. 
Again, we would like to thank Pastor Jamie and Dr. Kim for serving our church for the past 23 years.  We pray expectantly for God's guidance to be upon Pastor Jamie, Dr. Kim, Jeremy, Stephanie and Elliott and for God to receive even greater glory through them in the future.
A farewell reception for Pastor Jamie will take place at VA campus at 5pm next Sunday, June 23rd.  Please join us to honor and remember Pastor Jamie and his years at NCFC. 
Lastly, we know that God, and only God, will receive glory through everything. Considering how all things in this world are under God's providence and plan, we eagerly pray for 'all things to work together for good' so He alone will receive all the glory through New Covenant Fellowship Church and Pastor Jamie.

June 16, 2013

NCFC Board of Elders

About a week ago I was waiting in a doctor’s office.  Since my phone battery was running low, I decided to find something to read instead.  On top of the pile of various magazines on the table was a children’s book titled Aesop’s Fables for Children. ‘What a refreshing idea!’ I thought and proceeded to flip through the pages. I ended up enjoying many stories that I grew up listening to.  One of the stories in particular had left an indelible mark on me as a young girl, and I was thrilled to have the chance to be reminded of the lesson that story had taught me.  It’s the story called “the Wind and the Sun.”
Here is the story as found on one internet site:
One day the Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveler coming down the road, and the Sun said: "I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveler to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the stronger. You begin." So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveler. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveler wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveler, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on.
The moral of the story: gentleness and kind persuasion win over force and harsh confrontation.
Of course, if you talk to my children, they will say, “there is no way our Mom got the moral of that story.  She didn’t practice that principle on us as we were growing up!”   I admit that many times I was too demanding on my children.  I was quick to confront them about their mistakes as if they would be ruined for life if I did not correct them as their Mom.   It is only through the grace of God that they turned out pretty normal!  My children may not agree, but I am trying really hard these days. I pray I will become a gentler and kinder mother (and wife!) each day with the Holy Spirit working in me.
This story also made me think of the song, “Your kindness, Lord,… leads me to repentance…,” which comes from Romans 2:4.  “Do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”  Jesus doesn’t use guilt to get us to repent although He could. Instead He uses kindness!  His kindness leads us to repentance, obedience, and a broken heart for Him.
Just as God draws us in with His kindness, the only way that we are going to reach the lost world around us is through kindness. Strong historical arguments, great theology, and powerful personal testimonies – they are all good ways to bring someone to Christ. But the best way to draw, attract, or introduce someone to Christ is through kindness, His kindness!  I pray and encourage everyone to practice kindness toward others throughout the upcoming week.  First it should begin amongst our family members and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Then it should be carried with us wherever we go as an ambassador for Christ.  May we witness lives being transformed as we share His kindness!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
June 9, 2013

Congratulations class of 2013! 

Graduation is such an exciting time.  It's a unique transitional time in your life where you have the opportunity to look back on the past few years that led to your graduation but also thinking, dreaming, planning, and often times worrying about the road ahead.  Relax, it's really going to be okay.  Take a deep breath.  YOU'LL BE OKAY.
I love finding simple truths in simple things.  I have always enjoyed reading comic strips.  Often times it's an escape from reality but surprisingly enough you find profound words speaking to you that make you think about your life and the world around you.  The Calvin and Hobbes strip above is one of those cases.  At the onset of this strip, the two friends find themselves in a world that was aesthetically different than the day prior.  "Everything familiar has disappeared!  The world looks brand new!"  Graduates, I promise you this will not be the first time you experience transition.  All of life is transition.  You'll find yourself looking at a "brand new" world ahead as "everything familiar" disappears.  The most important thing for you during these times is your reaction to this reality.  How will you respond?  Will you be crippled with fear of the uncertainty or will you boldly cry out like Calvin in the midst of uncertainty, "let's go exploring"?
There's so much to explore and discover out there, including yourself!  Contrary to popular and secular belief that the end goal is all that matters, we believe, as followers of Christ that how we run the race is just as important.  Jesus already promised us the end goal which is to be with Him for eternity and in perfection.  So friends, as we, graduates and non-graduates aike, face change, let us respond like Calvin, knowing and trusting that as we "go exploring", the Lord will mold us, shape us, and make us more and more like Him along the way until we are glorified with Him when we meet Him face to face.  To extend Calvin's wise words, let's "never stop exploring."  God bless you and congratulations to the class of 2013.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart

June 2, 2013

There is a wise saying in Korea that goes something like this “The school dog will begin to recite literature after three years being there” which means even a dog can master something after years of being around school. I find this to be true in everything in my life whether I pick up a hobby or try to learn a new instrument. But when it comes to parenting, it’s a totally different issue. I’ve been a father for more than six years now but I am nowhere near “mastering” parenting. I took many classes in seminary on parenting and family matters but whatever I learned and read for the classes don’t seem to help me out much when it comes to parenting my own children. My wife and I often talk about our kids’ behaviors and try to come up with ways to handle them wisely but we don’t seem to have all the answers.
As Ryan begins to talk, understand and express himself, we are finding out that he is completely different from Reina when she was at his age. For the most part, Reina was a very complacent child. She used to sit in her exersaucer for a long time while her parents took care of chores around the house. She was very good at following orders and receiving correction when she did something wrong. However, Ryan is so different from his sister. My wife and I tried to correct Ryan’s misbehaviors through many different methods but what used to work with Reina is not working with him. After all, I guess it’s true that boys are tougher to handle than girls when they are young. The more time I spend with my kids, I realize how difficult it must’ve been for my parents to raise three children in an environment so much worse than now. Don’t get me wrong, my frustration with Ryan is not because he is totally defiant and messed up. In fact, my wife and I both agree that Ryan is so much sweeter than his sister at this age.
The reason why I decided to share about Ryan is because I had an incident this past week. Ryan did something wrong and I was giving him a “time-out.” Since Ryan is still very young, he is not so good at staying still even during a time-out, but I wanted to make sure that he knew that he was being disciplined for something he did wrong. So I put him in a corner and made him face the wall even as he resisted and giggled thinking I was playing a game with him. After a long battle of keeping him against the wall, I realized how silly I was as I sat there trying to teach him a lesson in that manner. I clearly knew it was my pride and ego wanting my young son to know that I am in charge. Ryan ended up saying sorry and hugged me which felt good but I had mixed feelings of whether I am being a good father to my son.
That night, I went to a leadership meeting at church and we talked about God’s characters and read Psalm 103:8 “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” As soon as I read that verse, I couldn’t help but think back to my incident with Ryan that I had before I came to church. We went on to talk about how our own children establish their view of the “Father God” through their earthly father. I had to repent for what I did to Ryan earlier. Even though he deserved punishment for his wrongdoing, I could have displayed the characters of God instead of being so easily irritated. If parenting is all about displaying godly character so my children can see the Father God through me, I certainly am far away from mastering it. I am so determined to do my best to be the best father I can be for my children so they will not only have a good image of me, but God as being compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.  

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
June 2, 2013

My wife attended a week-long mediation training course last month in order for her as a judge to effectively mediate settlements among adversarial parties to reduce trials. She shared a very interesting statistic regarding church that came up incidentally in her training. During one of the sessions the instructor was discussing the notion that people have certain biases that influence their future behavior. For example, people are conditioned with certain (usually negative) attitudes towards police or lawyers based upon a prior personal experience or what they see on TV. So a good mediator should recognize that people may come in to a settlement conference with pre-conditioned attitudes.
The instructor opened up the discussion by asking the class if anyone could give an example of a circumstance where people are already pre-conditioned to act a certain way. Apparently someone raised their hand and half-jokingly answered “church.” Surprisingly the instructor said not only was it a very good example, but he went on to add surveys have shown that church was the most frequent response. In other words, church service is the number one place people are most often conditioned to TUNE OUT! When my wife told me that it made me just shake my head. Gee, I know pastors will occasionally make a self-deprecating joke that no one may be paying attention when they preach but I didn’t realize the actual harsh reality of it.
I’m not offended or upset about it. I assume most people by and large are actually listening. I may be a little frustrated but if some people are tuning out during a sermon, we as pastors need to at least acknowledge this dynamic without getting judgmental or condescending. Many seminaries now train their students on contemporary church issues such as this. As a culture we are in a post-modern age of mass communication and information. Internet, smart phones, tweeting/texting and Facebook are all common media by which we divert most of our time and energy. Our attention spans have been reduced to short sound-bite snippets of information and then we’re quickly on to the next thing. Prolific online sermons of famous pastors and Bible studies place even less emphasis on the local pastor. We are therefore conditioned to receiving information in a very condensed impersonal manner. Studies have even been conducted on the human brain confirming that the average attention span is about 10 minutes. Needless to say this does not lend itself well to a pastor standing in front of a Sunday congregation and preaching to them face-to-face for 45 minutes.
So where does this leave us? As a congregation apparently some of you are already eyeing the door (or your smart phones) by the sermon opening before the pastor even feels like he’s just getting going. You may even be reading this column while I’m preaching today’s sermon. sigh.
Your response to all of this might be that people would be willing to stop and listen and respond more if the pastor was simply better at preaching and teaching. I agree the spiritual gifting will vary from pastor to pastor and that some may have a greater ability to preach than others. But my frustration in all of this is that it seems a tad unfair for this one-way judgment to always be pointed towards the pastor. I know I have a relatively short experience in the pastoral ministry and a much longer experience as a lay congregation member.  But my (kind and gentle) pushback as a pastor is that God forbid, no amount of entertaining bells and whistles that the media world feeds us ought ever distract from a Gospel message that sustains, comforts and provides with eternal gifts of Love and Faith. Perhaps wishful thinking on my part, but the Sanctuary could be just that- a safe harbor sanctuary of peace and communion with the Lord, free from distractions of this world. Amen to that.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
May 26, 2013

As part of the M’Cheyne Daily Bible Reading, we are reading through the book of Numbers these days. In Chapter 31, God directs Moses to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on the Midianites because of their wickedness against the Israelites.  The Midianite women had enticed the Israelites to indulge in sexual immorality and idol worship.  The Lord’s anger burnt against the Israelites first, and many leaders as well as 24,000 men were killed that day.  Then in Chapter 31 we see how severely God punishes the Midianites for causing the Israelites to sin against Him.  God commands all men, including young boys, to be destroyed as well as every woman who has ever slept with a man.  Whether it’s that of a young boy or of a grown man, life is precious. However, my mother’s heart aches a little more every time I read about young children getting killed in the Bible or in real life situations for that matter.
As I saw the devastation caused by the recent tornado in Oklahoma, once again my heart was broken over the seven children who died when their elementary school collapsed.  “How terrified those kids must have been!  I bet they cried for mommy or daddy.  Did anybody get to say a prayer for them?”  I cannot help but wonder how horrific it must have been like for those young children during the last few minutes.  And it hasn’t been that long since 20 innocent children lost their lives in a Connecticut elementary school shooting incident.   Of all the places, these children were killed while in school, the one place that’s supposed to be a safe haven for children!
Unfortunately however, natural disasters and gun violence are not the only life-threatening factors we face. You can be the safest driver in the world, but you cannot always avoid a drunken driver crossing the center line.  You may eat healthy and exercise, but that doesn’t exempt you from illnesses.  Parents can try very hard to protect their children from harm, but they cannot be with their children 24/7.  Even if they could, that still would not guarantee their child’s safety and well-being.  So what can parents do?  Is there anything they can do to ensure their child’s safety?
There are things parents can do.  Parents can pray for their child’s physical and spiritual well-being.  They can also educate their child about safe habits and what to do in case of an emergency.  That’s all good; however, it’s not enough!  There is one thing that every loving parent must do for their child’s safety.  What is it?  They must make sure that their child is saved; that he/she has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and is heaven-bound.  The child who lives with the assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ is indeed the safest child! The Children’s Summer Retreat for 3rd – 5th graders is on 6/21 – 6/23. If you have not signed up your child, please do so today.  Our own Pastor Keeyoung Kim at MD Campus was saved at a Promiseland Retreat.  Additionally, starting in June, I will be conducting a one-on-one Gospel presentation with each child.  Please pray for me and for the children so every child can be assured of their salvation through Jesus Christ and become eternally safe. 

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Proverb 22:6

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
May 26, 2013

My family had a very special day this past Wednesday because my parents became proud citizens of the United States of America. Our family emigrated from Korea in 1996 and it took about 17 years for my parents to finally to obtain their citizenship. I wish I could post a picture of them holding up their citizenship certificate to let you know how bright their faces were at their swearing-in ceremony. Many of our EC congregation members probably don't have this special experience of obtaining citizenship but all my siblings and I went through it and we know how difficult the process can be. My parents had to go through a special process of applying for a special exception to bring in an interpreter and have testing in Korean. With all the complications they had to go through even during their interview, including switching out my mom's translator, I was very proud of my parents for studying and prepping for the last six months and passing their interviews and tests on their first try.

I am thankful that my kids didn't have to go through any of what I had to go through to earn their citizenship. They just had to be born here in the U.S. Reina and Ryan will never be asked to bring copies of their citizenship certificates because they don't even own any. They both have a birth certificate to prove their genuine citizenship. In the same way, the citizenship of heaven is given to an individual who's born again in Christ.  You don't have to take any tests or go through the long process of applying for an interview. How amazing is that?! Aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t make you work for your citizenship of heaven? You and I simply had to put our faith in Christ for the work HE has done for us. 

However, we are also well aware of how much work it takes to lead someone to Christ.  Some of you may know, my father-in-law is not a Christian. He hasn’t been to church for more than 10 years. It’s been one of our major prayer requests for many years. God impressed in my heart through this year’s lent season to start a family service at his house. Ever since we started it in April, we have not missed one Sunday evening thus far, praise God! We are praying and hoping that the family services will eventually lead my father-in-law to come out to the church and become a citizen of heaven. It will not be so easy but we trust in God that the good work HE has started in us, at the right time, HE will bring it to completion. We are waiting and praying for that day to come soon because that day is indeed a special day to celebrate. We are looking forward to that day when my father-in-law becomes a citizen of heaven. It will definitely be infinitely more special than my parents obtaining a citizenship of the U.S. Please remember to pray for us every Sunday at 6 pm.

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
May 19, 2013

In honor of all the amazing mothers, I’d like to share the lyrics of an old song by Shirley Caesar:

My sister's little boy came in the kitchen one evening 

While she was fixing supper 

And he handed her a piece of paper he had been writing on 

And after wiping her hands on an apron 

She took it in her hands and she read it 

And this is what it said: 

For mowing the yard - $5 

And for making up my own bed this week - $1 

For going to the store - $.50 

And playing with little brother while you went shopping - $.25 

Taking out the trash - $1 

And for getting a good report card - $5
And for raking the yard - $2 

Total owed - $14.75 

Well she looked at him standing there and expecting 

And a thousand memories flashed through her mind 

So she picked up the pen and turned the paper over and this is what she wrote: 

F

or the 9 months I carried you, holding you inside me, NO CHARGE

For the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, NO CHARGE

For the time and the tears and the costs through the years, there is NO CHARGE 
When you add it all up,  the full cost of my love is NO CHARGE

For the nights filled with grey and the worries ahead, NO CHARGE

For the advice and the knowledge and the costs of your college, NO CHARGE

For the toys, school, and clothes, and for wiping your nose, there's NO CHARGE, son.

When you add it all up, the full cost of my love is NO CHARGE

Well you know when I think about that

I think about the day that Jesus went out to Calvary and gave His life as a ransom for me

When I think on the words "If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature"

I like to think about the very minute that He shed  His blood

My debt was paid in full, and I want you to know today 
When you add it all up, the full cost of Real Love is NO CHARGE.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
May 12, 2013

There was a recent story in the news about a couple in PA whose 8-month old child died from medical complications. It’s always tragic in and of itself whenever parents lose a child. However, in this instance it’s even more complicated and heart-wrenching. The parents are members of a fundamentalist Christian church that believes in faith healing only. That is, they believe it is a definite sin to trust in medical help and pills. A quote from a sermon from that church’s website:
“Many profess faith in Christ, but do not act in faith on His Atonement Blood for healing, protection, provisions, and other life issues.”
They believe the Bible does not specifically permit Christians to use doctors or other modern medicine. They quote a number of Bible passages where doctors are referenced as being utterly useless or unable to cure sickness and interpret that in part as justification to reject medical treatment.
The infant died after a week of diarrhea and breathing complications. What’s even more shocking is that the parents were already on probation for involuntary manslaughter for allowing another one of their toddler children to die under similar circumstances 4 years prior. Both children died from minor medical complications that modern medicine could’ve easily cured. The parents instead chose fervent prayer which did not result in their children’s healing but in their deaths. It’s tragic those children never had any input as to the choices their parents made in this way on their behalf. Their 7 other remaining children have since been placed in foster care as a result of this tragedy.
One is tempted to be outraged at the perceived extreme neglect of the parents in this case. But to be fair, the parents were considered loving, caring and otherwise responsible parents. It was just that their religious convictions ran so deep in that they were taught to believe in Christ’s healing alone to save their children. The news article describes them as being deeply distraught over what is now the second loss of a child.
We’re confronted by two issues here: faithfully interpreting Scripture and also reconciling modern science with that same Scripture which was written over two thousand years ago. Most doctrines of biblical interpretation include the principles of historical context and common sense. For example, slavery existed in first century culture but we don’t tolerate it now. When Apostle Paul wrote about slavery in Ephesians he was not condoning slavery but attempting to emphasize the obedience a slave has towards his master as being similar to the obedience we should have towards Christ Jesus. Similarly, to interpret select Bible passages literally might mean that we are permitted to take an eye for an eye, or that we should all gouge out our eyes or cut off our hands if they cause us to sin.
The portrayal of physicians in Scripture as being useless or unable to cure sickness should not be interpreted as an outright rejection of medical treatment. In our 21st century culture we have the benefit of modern internal medicine that did not exist then. Doctors are capable of more than resorting to 1st century ritual and folk lore home remedies. To disregard life-saving medical treatment today is tantamount to a person refusing to eat because they’re relying on the Lord to provide physical sustenance. There was another case recently where a child died because the child was choking on a piece of banana but suffocated while the mother was gathering people around the child to pray.
These parents also disregarded state laws protecting our children from harm. They chose to disregard the Bible passages in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 that require us to obey the government and laws of the land. The parents’ disregard of the law will likely result in prison time not only for the violation of their current probation but also for the new offense. And the remaining 7 surviving children will be without parents and won’t likely be raised together in foster care. If an adult chooses to live his or her life according to such so-called fundamental beliefs then so be it. But I refuse to believe God intended for us to interpret Scripture in a way that results in tragic consequences to our children.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
May 5, 2013

I felt in love with the game of basketball ever since I came to the States. It helped me get through the troublesome teenage years as a way of relieving stress. However, it wasn't just for that reason that i played basketball, I really enjoyed playing basketball. During the high school years, my cousins and I always played basketball whenever we got together. Since we all went to the same church, we often played after Friday night services. We sometimes went to a neighborhood park and played basketball with our car headlights on for hours before we were told by police to go home. There were times when we went out to a church basketball tournaments where we experienced both victories and terrible defeats.

Even when I went to college, my passion for basketball did not cool down. I went to the gym at least a couple days a week, not to lift weights, but to shoot around or to play pick up games. Since my new friends at college did not play basketball much, I had to play by myself for most of the time but I didnt mind at all because I loved every minute of it.

When I first came to NCFC as a 23 year old young adult, I was able to use my passion and love for basketball as a vital tool for the Timothy ministry. I connected right away with teachers and students who shared the same passion for basketball. People opened up their life through playing basketball together.  However, God convicted me many times that basketball has become more than a hobby for me. I loved it so much that I could not live without it. When NBA season came around, I was glued to my TV watching basketball every night. If I missed any games on TV,  I would look up highlights of the games on ESPN and on NBA homepage to make sure I catch up. Yes, you can say basketball was an idol that I loved more than God.

These past few weeks, I noticed many of our EC men (including Timothy) talk about the NFL draft. What amazed me was that people knew so much about each prospects and their potentials. Everyone sounded like the commentators on ESPN news. It was clear to me that football was more than a hobby for many guys at our church just like basketball was and still is more than a hobby for me. What about you? Do you have any activities or hobbies that you can identify as an idol in your life? Perhaps we can use this month of fasting and prayer to deal with the idols of our lives.

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
May 5, 2013

Don't you have moments in your life when you just break out in laughter as a result of an enlightenment or a revelation from God? I had one this week as I wrote this column. As soon as I wrote down the title, God struck me with a thought that made me chuckle with a big smile on my face. He impressed this thought in my heart: "You thought you didn't have to commit to the 40 days of prayer and fasting since we didn't have an early morning prayer campaign for the lent season this year...well I had a different plan in mind."
Though we are going through a difficult time as a church, I am seeing a lot of positive results springing up from everywhere. People are coming out to morning prayer and other prayer meetings more than before.
God told Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land".
In response to God's call, we declared 40 days of Prayer and Fasting chain for the whole church and asked people to sign up to fast and pray at least one meal a day. The prayer and fasting chain already kicked off on 4/22 (Mon) and many are already participating in it together. However, I know many of you needed more time to think and plan before signing up so we will give you another opportunity to sign up today. Please fill in your name on the calendar posted in the hallway right outside the worship center.
On top of individual fasting and prayer, the church leadership wanted to provide opportunities for the people to come together and pray corporately because we believe there's a special unity and power that arise from corporate prayer meetings. Since we already have many weekday/weekend services and prayer meetings for different campuses and ministries, each congregation (MD, VA) will have a different schedule. Our intention is to have a corporate prayer time EVERYDAY for ONE HOUR for the whole month of May at both campuses. A new prayer meeting will be added for days that we don’t have church services and prayer meetings. Some meeting will be KC & EC joint with English translation. It would be nice to have all prayer meetings be KC & EC joint, but it requires too much coordination for such short meetings and the prayer time wouldn’t be as smooth. So most of the meetings will be held in one language. See below for a detail schedule of the prayer meetings. However, you are welcome to come and join any of the prayer meetings because God can understand all languages!

Schedule of the Additional prayer meetings (Monday, April 29th – Thursday, May 30)
MD Campus KC & EC (7:30 - 8:30 pm)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays  (Worship Center)
*will be in Korean – short message in Korean, and corporate prayer for most of the time

VA Campus KC & EC (7:30 pm -8:30 pm)
KC: Mondays, Tuesday    EC:: Wednesday   (Worship Center)   Joint: Friday (Connection Cafe)

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
April 28, 2013

To all the parents of our congregation, I give you the utmost honor and respect.  You’ve raised us from our years as helpless babes, through the terrible twos, through adolescence where you explained and comforted us as our bodies and minds changed, through our young adult years as we transition into different seasons, and will continue to love and care for us as long as you are alive.  The hearts of parents never seems to change. At the age of 27, I am still my parents’ baby.  But you can never fully protect us from this world.  We’ll open up any periodical and see the pain, suffering, injustice, and evil in this world and our eyes will see the depravity of humankind.  Parents, I do not envy you but am extremely grateful for you.
As you all know, Boston was in the midst of a terrorist attack.  Bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston marathon.  A shoot-out occurred between police and the suspects during a high speed car chase.  People were injured.  Many died.  Comments on social media range from livid responses filled with cursing and hopelessness to comments on the sovereignty and everlasting goodness of God.  “Mom, Dad… why do so many bad things happen?”… a question that will stump the wisest parent.  Reconciling evil in the world around us with the goodness of God is perhaps one of the most difficult questions to answer, for both child and parent.  These struggles, though far removed from our personal spheres of influence and life, become personal as we combine in our hearts and minds the craziness “out there” with the craziness “at home.”  Then the wrestling with God begins.
There is nothing I can write in this column to appease your “why” that even philosophers and theologians have attempted to respond to for centuries and have fallen short.  However, let me respond to the “what now” question that will inevitably consume our minds.  In a letter to believers in Rome, Paul writes to encourage them in a time of confusion and suffering.  Instead of focusing on the suffering experienced by many believers, Paul focuses and points to a God of hope who is sovereign over all things.  In the midst of suffering and trials, Paul states “we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”  Through the Holy Spirit, perseverance is a product of suffering; it’s inevitable, it’ll happen automatically when we are covered with the power of God and acknowledge it in our lives.  Paul continues; “perseverance, character.”  When we persevere through these times, we are transformed into the image of Christ, becoming men and women that reflect the character and person of God.  Lastly, Paul states “and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:2-5).  When we reflect the image of Jesus via our character, hope flows in and out of our lives.  It will never disappoint (v. 5). 
Let’s cling to the hope that will never fail us.  Let’s strive to become more and more like Christ and show our younger brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, the generations to come, that with Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit in us, we have a hope and victory in the midst of chaos, confusion, and evil.  Our God reigns.  God bless you all.

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
 April 21, 2013

I believe one of the greatest inventions in life is GPS navigation.  As someone who has a notoriously poor sense of direction, I really appreciate the sense of security and peace my little GPS navigation system provides.    The other day, I met up with a couple of friends in Alexandria. I had no problem getting there, but coming home was a totally different story. By the time I left Alexandria, it was past 4 PM, and I could not get back on I-66 West because the HOV-2 restriction had already kicked in.  So right before I was to enter I-66 W, I got off an exit and found myself in the middle of Rosslyn!  I pulled to the side of the road and tried several different destinations near home to get the GPS to give me alternate routes that did not include I-66 W. To make a long story short, after having found an alternative route, and yet missing necessary turns a couple times, I found myself on Canal Road in Georgetown, headed into Maryland!  I was in utter despair and terribly frustrated.  I had to attend a 7 PM Bible study in Fairfax that evening, and at this rate I was going to be at least 1 hour late.  I began to vent to God. “God, why is this happening to me?  Why am I wasting 2 hours on the road? What is the point of all this?”  I called my poor husband several times to complain about how stupid my GPS was.  On the way to Maryland, however, the GPS finally figured out a way to get onto 495 headed to Virginia, and I arrived at my destination on time.  I ‘apologized’ to my GPS that I should have trusted it more, that it did not fail me.
That evening, as I was reflecting upon my driving nightmare, God gave me a revelation that the panic, confusion, and anger I experienced may be how many NCFC members feel about our current church situation.  They feel helpless, and out of fear and frustration, they are passing judgment on one another.    Instead of trusting our ultimate GPS, Jesus Christ, to get us through this journey safely, many are taking matters into their own hands.  By doing so, however, they are making matters worse.  This reminded me of something I read from the book, Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle, by Kris Vallotton.  The author talks about the importance of pilots trusting the plane’s instruments, NOT their mind’s perceptions, when they are flying in clouds.  Due to what is called spatial disorientation, pilots, in severe weather, feel like their plane is upside down and rising when in fact it is the opposite.  If they fly by how they feel instead of what the instruments indicate, this usually results in the plane crashing right into the ground.  Likewise when we cannot see or comprehend what is going on in life, we have to trust our spiritual instrument, the Word of God as well, not our perceptions or feelings.   “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers. . ., will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Rom  8:38-39)   No matter what happens, it is within the boundaries of God’s love for us.  As we keep our eyes on this truth, NCFC will get through this time of turbulence victoriously and come out more sanctified and humbled, even more ready and equipped to fulfill His calling for NCFC, to make disciples of all nations!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
April 7, 2013