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

During one of my seminary classes, I was asked whether I am a people person or a goal oriented person. It was clear, at least in my own opinion, that I was a people person because I like people, I get along well with people and I also work well in a group setting. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. My professor who asked me that question looked at me and said that I am more of a goal oriented person. His response was very shocking to me but it was a well needed assessment of my life and the way I do ministry. I realized that my life was primarily driven by goals and the love of people has been pushed aside for the sake of reaching certain goals in life and ministry. To this day, I still struggle to be more mindful and caring for the people that I serve. There are many pastors and church leaders who deal with the same issue as I do because we are called to be shepherds who tend and care for their sheep rather than just getting our jobs done.
For the last few weeks, God has reminded me of the importance of shepherding through various oikos ministry trainings. As I was going through the oikos leaders’ training sessions, God convicted me of my role as a shepherd, not a hired hand. The heart of a shepherd that goes after one lost sheep is what I need to develop more in my life. God has already given me the heart of a shepherd but it’s been pushed out and covered up by the eagerness to achieve goals. Not only am I struggling with caring for the people, but I also need to let go of my selfish mindset and learn to work together with people even at the cost of my “desired” outcome. There is an old saying in Korean that comes to my mind, “it’s better to go one mile together than ten miles alone.” Yes, it is true that the process of accomplishing the goal might be delayed or may not even be reached at all, but that’s the way God wants us to live our lives. King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes chapter 3:8-12, 
This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
I hope to practice more of being patient and caring with my own kids at home. How often do we ignore our kids’ needs or wants in the name of work, ministry and even for the sake of our personal space? I pray that God will open up our ears to hear, to respond, to treasure the people that He has blessed us with in our daily lives. That will be the very first step of becoming the shepherds God called us to be.   

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
September 15, 2013