I am not a very emotional person, but there is one song that makes me tear up every time I listen to it. It’s called “Thank you” by Ray Boltz.  With the newly commissioned Sunday School teachers in mind, along with YWAM Missionary Chong Ho Won visiting NCFC after his trip to Iraq, I wanted to share this song as an encouragement to all those who serve so faithfully. The lyrics alone do not do justice so PLEASE listen to the song on YouTube!

I dreamed I went to heaven, and you were there with me.

We walked upon the streets of gold beside the crystal sea.

We heard the angels singing; then someone called your name.

You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.

And he said, "Friend, you may not know me now."

Then he said, "But wait. You used to teach my Sunday School when I was only eight."

"And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.

And one day when you said that prayer, I asked Jesus in my heart."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.  I am a life that was changed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you and said “remember the time

A missionary came to your church, and his pictures made you cry.”

"You didn't have much money, but you gave it anyway.

Jesus took the gift you gave, and that's why I am here today”

Thank you for giving to the Lord.  I am a life that was changed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.

One by one they came far as the eye could see,

Each life somehow touched by your generosity;

Little things that you had done, sacrifices made

Unnoticed on the earth, in heaven now proclaimed.

And I know up in heaven you're not supposed to cry

But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes.

As Jesus took your hand, you stood before the Lord

He said, "My child, look around you, for great is your reward."

Thank you for giving to the Lord.  I am a life that was changed.

Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.

You may not see the fruit of your labor on this side of eternity, but you are indeed making an eternal difference. One day you will meet the people whose lives were forever changed because of your sacrifice.  Thank you for doing your part to build up the body of Christ!  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
October 5, 2014

I am reading through the book of 1 Samuel for my personal devotional time these days. Unlike the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan ‘homework’ that I feel obligated to complete each day, I enjoy the freedom to be able to read and meditate upon as few or many verses at a time, waiting on God to ‘speak to me’ through His Word.  In 1 Samuel Chapter 6, the Philistines, who had captured and kept the ark of the Lord for seven months, frantically try to send it back to the Israelite territory because God afflicted the Philistines everywhere the ark was moved to.  After consulting with their priests, they get a new cart and hitch two cows that have recently calved and never been yoked.  They put the ark of the Lord on the cart and send it on its way.  If the cart reached the intended Israelite territory despite these ‘unqualified’ cows, they would know that it was not a coincidence but the hand of God that has caused the great disaster upon them. 
The cows go straight up to the destination without turning to the right or to the left, but the Bible also records that they lowed all the way.  This part really got to me.  Because I am a mother, I could relate to these cows- how sad they must have been to have their calves stripped away from them.  In addition, this was their first time being yoked and hitched to a cart.  Indeed they suffered greatly both emotionally and physically.  And for all the suffering these cows endured, I expected a happy ending for them.  The Bible, however, does not say that the grateful Israelites freed the cows, allowing them to find their way back to their calves. 
Not even close.  The Israelites were so happy to get the ark of the Lord back that they chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord!  Instead of all the other available cows, two never-been yoked, nursing cows were taken away from their calves to be used by God, and what do they get for their sacrifice?  They become a burnt offering!  I was furious.  What kind of justice is this, Lord? 
As I sat there in my anger, God began to ‘speak to me,’ not in an audible voice, but by revealing His heart to me:  
God:  “Do you know what life is like for cows?”
Me :  “Eat, poop, work, sleep, & repeat. They eventually get killed and eaten by people.” 
God:   “Then which is better – to be slaughtered to fill man’s stomach or to be offered as a
 burnt offering to the Lord to renew the relationship between God and sinful man?
Me:  “. . .”
God: “It wasn’t a sacrifice, but a privilege for those cows to be chosen by Me.”
God revealed to me that it was not about the cows, but about me. I felt enraged by the final destiny of the cows because I saw myself in them.  In ministry I often feel like an unqualified cow hitched to a cart. But I am able to keep going, telling myself, “Hang in there. You will receive a great reward for all your sacrifices.”   There is nothing wrong with this statement of faith except what we often consider a great reward, such as successful ministry, recognition from men, or financial security, may not be what God has in mind. God doesn’t want to give us just good things, but the very best according to His glorious riches and grace.   “Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being a burnt offering for you.  May you be honored and glorified, not through what I do for you, but through how I trust you no matter what.”

From Pastor Sara’s Heart 
August 10, 2014

"Solio Deo Gloria,” which means “Glory to God Alone” in Latin, was the theme of the 2014 Grace Retreat held at Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA from June 25 – 28.  There were 60 plus Timothy students, counselors, parents, and pastors attending the Grace Retreat from NCFC this year.  My first Grace Retreat was two years ago with a handful of VA Timothy students, and I was tremendously blessed.  So though I was physically tired from having attended the Promiseland Retreat just a few days prior, I was looking forward to the Grace Retreat.   Additionally, with Pastor Brian unable to attend due to the short-term missions to Ecuador, I felt I needed to be there to take care of the Virginia students and witness whatever the Lord may be doing in their midst. 
There were over 450 people in attendance, representing 38 different churches, from as far as  North Carolina.  That’s an average of about 12 people per church.  If you take NCFC and other large attendance churches into consideration, this means many of the churches sent fewer than ten students. The Grace Retreat indeed is a big blessing and spiritually eye-opening event for the students from these small churches.  They are not likely to be able to afford nationally renowned speakers and experience worship provided by the “Hillsong quality” worship team. 
As expected, the retreat was packed with awesome keynote speakers and seminar leaders, many of whom NCFC has already heard from through the past revivals and retreats.  These speakers included Pastor Q, the Senior Pastor of HOPE Church, the organizer of the Great Retreat since 2001, Pastor Carlos Reyes, Pastor Bob Hartley, and Pastor Stephen Chandler.   In addition, there were other pastors and missionaries from YWAM in Hawaii, Bethel Church in Redding, CA, and other local churches.  One surprise guest speaker was Pastor Esther Chang, who used to attend NCFC in the mid-90’s.  She gave the best ‘sex talk’ I have ever heard.  She was direct, transparent, and engaging with a great sense of humor, keeping the audience’s attention the entire time.  I’d love to invite her to NCFC during our next ‘True Love Waits’ campaign.   Thanks to Pastor Esther, I will never be able to eat IKEA Swedish meatballs.   Ask a Grace Retreat attendee to find out what I mean. 
I am thankful for the many powerful testimonies of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing that many of the retreat attendees experienced. I also hear that many of our own Timothy students have encountered God in a new, more intimate way.  Indeed God alone deserves all the glory!  I too experienced spiritual renewal through the times of powerful corporate worship and challenging messages from the anointed servants of the Lord.  However, the greatest message that I walked away with from the retreat was not presented in any of the main sessions or seminars. It was not preached or taught, but demonstrated, and its impact will remain with me for a long time.
It turns out that the Retreat registration fee barely covers the cost of room and board the hosting university charges.  So HOPE Church members raise over $20,000 throughout the year to cover the airfare, honorarium, and room and board of the retreat speakers.  Though they can reduce the expense by inviting only local speakers and having a fewer number of speakers, they believe in investing in the youth and go all out. 
What really blew my mind was the fact that HOPE Church has fewer than ten youth members who attend and benefit from the Grace Retreat.  In another words, they are not organizing the Grace Retreat for their selfish gain, to bless their Youth Ministry members. If they were concerned about their youth only, they could take an easier and more cost effective approach to accomplish the goal.  The Grace Retreat was born out of and continues to operate in love, love for God and love for God’s people.  No wonder God’s favor and powerful anointing are upon the Grace Retreat, and many next generation Kingdom workers are being raised through it!  Do you also want to become a history maker?  Here is the first step: Practice selfless love where God has placed you.

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
July 6, 2014

What a great honor and privilege it is to have God’s faithful servant, Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) as well as a world renowned author, pastor, and missionary, visit NCFC and share God’s heart, not only for our church but also for the universal church of Jesus Christ!  I’ve read several of his books, watched him on Youtube, and got to hear him in person at the 2007 New Wave Rally in Silver Spring, MD, alongside the Match Strike worship team, but to have him speak at our own church during both the KC and EC Sunday Service is indeed special.  I am also looking forward to the Sunday evening “Big Wave” Rally with many churches joining together to hear what is on God’s heart, where God is moving, and how to join Him where He is working.  The 2007 New Wave Rally definitely set things in motion, and now we are willing and ready to ride a Big Wave with Jesus Christ! 
On Monday afternoon, there will be a leadership meeting, where the area pastors and other church leaders will get together with our guest ‘up close and personal.’  We pray that God will challenge us through Loren so that we can begin to walk in greater anointing and authority to fulfill God-ordained dreams, both here in the DC area and throughout the world.  I look forward to hearing God’s message to me specifically as well as getting to know Loren better. Hopefully some of his anointing and awesomeness will rub off on me as I spend time with him!
You may not believe this, but I am actually shy when it comes to meeting new people. I am not good at striking up small conversations with people I do not know that well, especially if it’s someone who is famous and important like Loren Cunningham!  But Loren is like a father to my beloved brother and sister in Christ, Chongho and Kris Won, the NCFC-sent missionaries serving at YWAM Kona, and that makes him sort of like my uncle!   When we share Jesus Christ, we indeed become like families no matter what nationality, age group, or socio-economic background we may come from. Jesus Christ indeed is the great equalizer!
Speaking of Chongho and Kris, they didn’t just talk about the cost of following Jesus Christ, the cost of discipleship, but they’ve fully embraced it and are living a life of discipleship through their involvement with YWAM.  The Wons had just purchased a 7000+ sq. feet, 3-car garage mansion when God called them into the mission field.  It’s not like Chongho and Kris were living a selfish life, pursuing worldly dreams, either. They were faithfully serving at NCFC in various ministries and contributing a lot financially as Chongho’s business was really successful at the time.  They could have compromised and settled to be wonderful senders of missionaries, supporting others to go into missions through prayer and financial contributions. However, they sought the Lord earnestly, not settling for what is good but wanting God’s best, and received confirmation that they were to go into the mission field. 
The Wons have been living at the YWAM base in Kona, Hawaii for the past 11 years, but have traveled all over the world, whenever and wherever God called them to go.  They’ve indeed witnessed God work powerfully in and through them during this journey of faith, but that’s not to say the ride has always been smooth and without challenges.  It’s not because God lacks heavenly resources, but it’s because God wants them, having responded to God’s call by faith, to continue to walk by faith.  Someone has said, “Salvation costs you nothing, but discipleship will cost you everything.  Salvation occurs in a moment, but discipleship takes a lifetime,” and Chongho and Kris are a shining example of the truth of this statement.  Yes, a life of discipleship is not easy, but if you ask Chongho and Kris, I bet they will say they’ll do it all over again in a heartbeat because you get to go on amazing rides with Jesus.  Once you experience it, nothing this world can offer come even remotely close.
They say there are only two groups of Christians in this world, those who send and those who are sent.  We have only one life to live. This is not a dress rehearsal. We should not waste our life on things that will fade away.  I pray that you make plans to attend the Big Wave Rally Sunday evening at 6 PM at MD Campus and discover what God has to say about the purpose of your life. See you all at the Rally!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart 
June 1, 2014

The tragedy of the South Korean ferry disaster has gripped the hearts of many people ever since the news broke out.  This tragedy seems especially painful because more than two-thirds of the passengers were high school students on a field trip to the island of Jeju.   What was supposed to be an once-in-a-lifetime trip for the 300+ students turned out to be a nightmare.  The ferry became a mass grave as so many students were trapped inside.  At the time of this writing, the death toll has reached more than 150, and what was once a search and rescue operation has officially turned into a recovery mission.  My heart broke when I read one article about the divers finding many students with broken fingers because they were trying so desperately to escape. 
Though I did not faithfully follow the news, I’ve heard enough through many articles shared via various social-networking services. There is a lot of anger and frustration lashed out, and rightfully so, against the utterly irresponsible and incompetent captain and his crew who abandoned the ship, against the shipping company that neglected its crew’s training for emergency evacuation procedures, and against government authorities that do not take public safety seriously.  Everyone has an opinion as to who or what is to blame for this heart-wrenching disaster.   It is in our nature to want to punish the bad guys quickly and move on with our lives.    Yes, we must talk about what went wrong so this kind of tragedy will never reoccur, but I feel like that task should be left to the experts, and that takes time and patience. 
I couldn’t help but ask myself, “what if I were one of the parents whose child was trapped inside?” How would I have responded?  Fast and pray?  Declare in the name of Jesus that God will miraculously save my child?  Protest in anger what kind of a loving God would let such a wicked thing to happen to innocent children?”   Probably a combination of all of these...that’s why I was so moved and challenged when I read a prayer titled “But even if He does not,” by the father of one of the students, then still missing:
“I’d be thankful if my son, Jung Min, returns home just as Jonah repented inside the fish and came out. But even if not, I am grateful that my beloved son has salvation, that he is a child of God.  Through this incident, I pray that all God’s people confess that God is sovereign over the life and death, blessings and curses of all things. I pray that we realize we are not permanent residents, but travelers passing through this short life. While we still have breath, we should live as witnesses of Christ.  Thank you all for praying for us.”
His prayer reminded me of Daniel’s three friends in the Bible, who declared, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it… But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold. . .”  Now that’s genuine faith – an unshakeable confidence and assurance in God’s goodness, sovereignty, authority, and justice no matter what the outcome may be. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.”  I believe the faith of Jung Min’s father is indeed pleasing to God.   We often proclaim “God is good all the time!  All the time God is good!”  But the real test of our faith - whether our faith is in God, the Giver, or in His gifts - comes through tragic times this.  When we face various kinds of trials that shake our faith to the core, I pray we remain anchored in the love of God the Father.  He did not lose His Son to a freak accident, but willed and carried out Jesus’ cruel execution for our salvation.  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
April 27, 2014

The season of Lent is upon us.  This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the 40-day period of fasting and prayer for many Christians in preparation for Easter.  There are, however, 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, so how do you explain the seeming discrepancy?  Since Jesus Christ resurrected on Sunday and since all Sundays – not just Easter Sunday – were to be celebrated for Christ’s Resurrection, the Roman Catholic Church, which began the tradition of Lent, excluded Sundays in its calculation of the 40 days, which incidentally was to mirror Christ’s 40 days of fasting in the desert before He began His public ministry.
At the dinner table on Ash Wednesday, my daughter Stacey point blank asked me, “So what are you giving up during Lent, Mom?”  As a pastor, I wish I could tell you that I had earnestly prayed about it long before Stacey asked me and had an answer right away, but I had not really thought about it so I was caught off guard.  I had to come up with something really fast without letting anyone know that I am panicking.  I was tempted to say I was going on the Daniel Fast, giving up meat for Lent, but I was in the middle of chowing down on pork barbeque.  The thought of giving up Facebook crossed my mind briefly, but FB is a valuable ministry tool for me, keeping an eye on how my beloved congregation members are doing spiritually and otherwise (I hope that doesn’t sound too creepy, like I am stalking people on FB!).  I could’ve said I would give up drinking soda or eating chocolate, but I felt like that would be more from a selfish motive to improve my health or lose a few unwanted pounds.   I managed to mutter, “I am still thinking about it,” and quickly changed the subject, praying Stacey would not push me further.
Since then I’ve been thinking about what, if any, God may want me to give up during Lent this year.   I couldn’t help but wonder if my effort to achieve a heightened state of spirituality and purity during Lent by giving up certain pleasures in life would really impress God, knowing full well that once lent is over, my life is most likely to return to business as usual.   Worse yet, I may even indulge in the things I gave up during Lent to compensate for my ‘sacrifice,’   much like people who gain weight during Ramadan,  the Islamic holy month of fasting, by excessively eating and drinking all night while fasting during the daylight hours.  That would be a classic example of following the “letter of the law” while disregarding the “spirit of the law.”    Even well-meaning Christians can err the same way if giving up something for Lent inadvertently causes us to have a sense of self-righteousness or  to judge others with a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude.   As honorable as people’s efforts to observe Lent are, we have to be very careful to check our intentions and guard against spiritual pride because “knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”  
So, if you cannot decide what to give up for Lent, here’s a thought: how about adding something to your life during Lent?  Instead of focusing on you – all that you are giving up or sacrificing, how about adding something that helps you focus on someone else in need?   I believe ultimately that is the true spirit of Lent, to serve those God has brought into our lives, just as Jesus Christ came to meet our needs; to reconcile us with God so we can have the gift of eternal life.  Lent is indeed an excellent time to be reminded of what Jesus said, “I tell you the truth; whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me,” and put it into practice.  So this Lent, you may still see me eat meet, get on FB, and eat tons of chocolate, but I hope and pray that you will also see me surrender myself to serve His people each and every day as I am compelled by the love of Christ.

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
March 9, 2014

Today we wrap up the study of the book of Jonah, which we’ve been going through for the past four Sundays.  I do not know about you, but I enjoyed preaching from it immensely,  a delightful departure from the study of the two Pauline Epistles (Colossians and Philippians) that we’ve previously spent close to six months on.   While preparing my sermon, I came across the following funny story, which many of you may already have heard:

A lady on a plane was reading her Bible. The man sitting next to her gave a little chuckle and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there, do you?"
"Of course I do. It is the Bible," the lady replied.
"Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that big fish?" he asked.
"Oh, Jonah... Yes, I believe that, too. It is in the Bible," she replied.
"Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the fish?" he asked.
"Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask Jonah," said the lady.
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then YOU can ask him." replied the lady! 

On a more serious note, the story of Jonah is one of the most ridiculed Bible accounts by people who consider themselves intellectual and sophisticated.  Some ‘Christian liberals’ have attempted to ‘solve’ the problem by saying that  it is not to be taken as actual history, but only as a parable to convey a hidden meaning.  I disagree with this stand for the following reasons:
While the authors of the Bible did use parables, whenever they did, they always said so or made it evident in the context, which is not the case with the book of Jonah.  In addition, Jonah was an actual prophet who is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, and the book of Nahum also records God’s prophecy against the wickedness of the people of Nineveh. 
More importantly, Jesus Christ himself accepted the account as true:
[Jesus] answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:39-40)
In fact Jesus compared Jonah’s experience to His own impending death and resurrection, pointing out the factual and miraculous nature of both!   Thus, to deny the historicity of Jonah’s story is to charge Jesus Christ to be either deceptive (using Jonah as an example, knowing he was only a fictional character) or ignorant (not knowing Jonah was a fictional character), either of which is denying Jesus’ deity.  And the notion that we can accept the miracle of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ without believing the miraculous account of Jonah is absurd.  Either we believe the Bible to be 100% true and inerrant or we don’t believe the Bible at all, for “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3:16) 
Then how do we explain the story of Jonah?  There is little question that it was a miracle performed by God, just like the other miracles in the Bible and many miracles that still happen around the world today.  We may be ridiculed for believing the Bible in its entirety, but once we confess our faith in the resurrected Christ, we should expect it to come with the territory. Since that faith saves us from going to hell, we should be willing to be ridiculed for it as well!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
January 26, 2014

Recently I went on a cruise, my first ever, to the Bahamas with a few family members -Elder Frank and I, two of his sisters and their husbands, my father, and my mother-in-law.  Since my father and my mother-in-law could not share one bedroom, and since we were too cheap to put them separately in their own rooms, Elder Frank and I decided to ‘sacrifice’ by each sharing the room with the parent-in-law:  I with my mother-in-law and Elder Frank with his father-in-law.  The biggest concern we had for the cruise, besides how to avoid gaining too much weight from non-stop eating, was for the safety and well-being of our elderly parents.  We’ve heard horror stories about elderly parents falling on the slippery deck and being confined to bed or getting ill during the cruise and incurring high medical bills for a mediocre treatment at a foreign hospital .  
So even though Elder Frank “suffered” from a week-long sleep-deprivation (you don’t understand how loud my father’s snoring is!) and I had to endure being woken up at 3 AM every morning (yes, my godly mother-in-law kept up her daily morning prayer routine even on the cruise ship, certainly more faithful than her pastor daughter-in-law!), we were both so thankful that our parents remained healthy, ate well, and overall enjoyed the time they got to spend with their children.   Our only regret was that we hadn’t done it sooner when both sets of parents were still alive.  We saw many elderly couples on the cruise, holding hands, talking, and eating together, and generally enjoying each other’s company.  Though neither of our parents verbalized it, probably not to make their children feel sad, I could sense that they each had some regrets for enjoying the cruise alone.    Sure my husband and I had talked about taking our parents on a cruise and had every intention to do that someday, but we were too caught up in the busyness of life and it never materialized until now.   This was truly the case of “the tyranny of the urgent.”  
Part of the problem was that our parents did not demand attention or express disappointments ever. They said they understood how busy we were raising our family and doing ministry for the Lord.  And we thought once our kids grew up, we would have more time for our parents.   It turned out to be true, but by then it was too late.  I want to encourage all of you whose parents are still living to take the time now to express how much you love and appreciate them through words and actions.   Your parents may be gone sooner than you anticipate.  I wouldn’t want anyone to have the same regrets as I do.
And one benefit from being on this cruise was that the truth, “we are in the world, but not of the world,” was solidified.  All the activities the majority of the people were enjoying - drinking, dancing, singing karaoke, gambling, partying, shopping, enjoying comedies, etc. - were not enjoyable to me (okay, I confess. I did gamble once: I played Bingo and wasted $20).  So if I could, I would like to go on a Christian cruise (is there such a thing?) next time.  It would be awesome to have teaching sessions throughout the day and have evening worship with renowned worship bands and speakers.  Only then not only my physical hunger, but also my spiritual hunger will be satisfied to my heart’s content.  Now that would be my dream come true!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
October 27, 2013

There is a Korean proverb that I learned as a child.  Roughly translated, it says, “A tiger leaves its skin behind while a man leaves his name behind.”   A tiger skin was very expensive and rare (and it still is) and served as a nice coat for winter.  Thus, a tiger’s skin was considered its contribution to society.  This saying was often quoted to challenge young people to live as a beneficial member of society, leaving a good reputation and legacy behind through achievements and successes.
Gone are the days, however, when a man could only leave his name behind!   A few weeks ago, around the time of the 2nd anniversary of my brother James’ passing from a heart attack, our family received a letter from the Washington Regional Transplant Community.  At the time of his death, we did not have to agonize over what to do with his body because James had already registered himself as an Organ Donor (as indicated by ’     Organ Donor’ on his driver’s license).  Knowing what a caring person James was, we would have all agreed that he would gladly donate as much usable organs and tissue as possible anyway; nonetheless, we were thankful that we didn’t have to make the decision on his behalf and that we were able to honor his wish.
The letter from WRTC stated that James’ donation consisted of orthopedic tissues that were used for patients suffering from bone or spine disease/injuries and heart valves that benefited individuals with severe heart defects or heart disease.  His gift of skin has enabled surgeons to perform reconstructive surgeries for severe burn victims.  His donations have been distributed to 15 states including Maryland and Virginia.  Though my beloved brother is no longer with us on this earth, it is somewhat comforting to know that parts of him are still ‘living.’   It is indeed bittersweet! 
James lived a rather ordinary life. He’d been sick with diabetes for much of his adult life and did not achieve much success or fame by the standards of this world.  He did not have much to leave behind for his family and friends.  James’ gift of life, however, meant the world to the recipients of his organs and tissue.   James certainly left more than his name behind. He literally left his skin and more so others could have another chance at life. 
We as followers of Jesus Christ have already received the gift of eternal life and have been commissioned to live as salt and light of the world.  One day God will call us home to live with Him in heaven forever with glorious new heavenly bodies.   Thus in my opinion, we Christians should be the first ones to become organ donors for thousands of people whose only hope for life is to receive an organ or tissue transplant.  How awesome it is to be able to practice “Love your neighbor as yourself” even at death!  I understand this kind of matter is a personal decision and needs to be discussed with one’s family.  I do encourage all of you, however, to talk about this important topic of organ donation with your loved ones.  And as you share about life, death, and beyond, I pray you will each be overcome with incredible gratitude for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. He showed by example what it means to give the gift of life to others.  Let us imitate Jesus Christ.  Would you consider becoming an Organ Donor next time you apply for a driver’s license or a leaner’s permit? 

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
September 8, 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

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

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

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