As Summer begins, I’m sure many families are planning out family vacations. I grew up in a family culture where a family vacation was not on our family calendar of events. I don’t remember going on any vacations growing up in Korea and even when we moved to the States, we didn’t have the luxury of going on family vacations. My parents, just like any other immigrant families, were always busy working so I can’t really recall a time when our whole family went on a family vacation. However, things are different now with my kids. We’ve already been to a couple of family vacations in the past so the kids are looking forward to going on a family trip over the summer. I was just doing a random search on “taking vacation” on google and came across an article titled “Take a vacation, or die?” The article basically talks about how taking vacations is needed to be physically and mentally healthier. They refer to studies that link health problems for people who fail to take annual vacations. So make sure you plan a vacation over the summer, you deserve it!
There are many of us who have served in ministries for so many years without any breaks in between. I say this very carefully because I don’t want all teachers and volunteers to step down from serving all at once, but you should know if you are due for a “vacation” to refuel and to be replenished to be able to continue in your calling that God has given you. If you are serving out of duty and responsibility rather than the joy of serving God’s people or if you simply are overwhelmed with too much “workload,” you may want to ask God for His wisdom and guidance in taking necessary steps to have the passion and the joy of serving restored before you completely get burnt out. I recently started reading a book called “Leading on Empty” by Wayne Cordeiro. It’s a book that deals with “burnouts” among church leaders and those who are actively involved in ministry. Not that I didn’t know about the potential burnout that I could face in ministry, the book is reminding me to take preventive measures to avoid the same mistakes that the author made which eventually took him longer to recover from. Just as a family vacation takes a lot planning to make it happen, a spiritual “vacation” needs to be well thought out, planned and has to be followed by God’s clear prompting. Please discuss with your spouse and talk with your ministry leaders and pray together to find creative ways to make it happen if you are suffering from burnout.
So start planning your vacation now if you have not done so! It doesn’t have to be a week long vacation in Hawaii or Cancun. A short trip to ocean city or even a day trip to a nearby location will do. However, when you plan your vacations, try to avoid missing Sunday services if you can work around it. Maybe I have an old school mindset but Sunday service is something that we should value as Christians. And the children have to grow up learning that coming to church on Sunday and worshipping together with the church family is very important. However, I know that missing one or two Sundays due to a well-deserved family vacation is needed and very understandable.  Just make sure to attend a nearby church service if you happen to travel on a Sunday and if you go to a place where you can’t find a church, I suggest a family service. For those who may not feel comfortable leading a service and sharing the Word with your children, there are “Online or LIVE STREAM” worship options available on many church websites as well so don’t let a Sunday go by without coming together to worship wherever you are! =)

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
June 7, 2015

Are You Graduating?

Congratulations to all graduates; you’ve done it! Congratulations on your outstanding achievement! I know it must have been a very proud moment for all of you. Two of my own children, Peter and Grace, graduated from graduate school and college this year. I was proud just watching them as their names were called to receive their diploma. Of course, I couldn’t enjoy the moment peacefully because my wife gave me a mission to take pictures. For a moment, I was reminiscent about their first day of school, as they got on the school bus for the first time in their life. Indeed, the time has passed so quickly. Now they are ready to move out into the world. So… all graduates, are you ready for the next phase of your life?
We all know college graduation is not the end - it's only the beginning! School was never meant to teach you everything you needed to know. It merely equips and prepares you. An education is meant to give you all the necessary tools and skills you will need to dig out the deep treasures of life. Still, you must do the digging. That’s why they call graduation, “commencement.” To commence means “to begin.” Now you must use the tools and skills you’ve acquired to find the richness of life, and it’s going to take much patience and great endurance.
Mark Twain is often quoted for his "insight" on teenagers. He said, "When I was 14, I thought my father was the most ignorant man in the world, but when I was 24, I was amazed how much the old man had learned in ten years." If you have a teenager, hang in there. If you are a teenager, hang in there too. Patience is a virtue. It takes time to learn and grow in life.
So… what do you want to do with your life? There was once a guy who didn’t like what he was doing, so he tried medicine. After four years of that, he tried law. Then he wanted to be a teacher, but he couldn’t stand kids, so he tried theology. But he didn’t like dealing with people’s problems all the time, so he decided to sell cars. Of course, he wasn’t very good at that either… So you’ve got the idea where I’m going with this.
Be sure the area you enter is where God wants you, not where you want to be. Then when you get there, stay there and stick it out. Become excellent at it. Anything is possible when you just believe in God and in yourself. Step into the future with a prayer in your heart and you'll soon reap the fruits of your efforts and hard work! The true meaning of a christian's life is to commit to God in whatever you do and your plans will succeed. 
Jesus said, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Jesus can give you an education that lasts forever.

Continue to study God’s Word to know what His will for your life is. Don’t just know some facts about the Bible, but get to know Him so you can understand Him. Then, step by step God will show you the life path you need to walk on. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust the Lord with your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” God bless and congratulations!

From Pastor Neil’s Heart
May 31, 2015