A word from the pastor with your coffee...

When I was in high school, I was a Christian, but I remember going through a period of time when I actually envied the non-Christian students around me.
I was serious about my relationship with Christ.  I had a strong committment to pleasing Him and following His word.  I was very involved in our church and the youth group. 
But it was difficult to be different, especially in the locker room, on the bus to and from ball games, and on weekends.
I would watch the non-Christians around me, and they were living as they pleased.  Some lived very outright ungodly lives, and they were enjoying it.  Yet, nothing bad ever seemed to happend to those students.  That frustrated m, becauase I was trying my hardest to live a godly life.  I was asking God, "Why don't you do something to them?  Make them pay for the way they live!"  I even began to wonder if it was really worth it for me to be serious about living for Jesus.  Maybe I would be happier just giving it up and living like everyone else.
Then one day, I cam across Psalm 73.  I'm convinced it wasn't by accident!  I was amazed at what I was reading, and it changed my thinking for good.
The Psalmsit admits that he had envied the wicked, because they lived as they pleased in their arrogance, and bad things never happened to them.  The Psalmist felt that his efforts to live a godly life only resulted in difficulty and struggles.  I just didn't seem fair to him, and I could relate.
Then one day, the Psalmist went into the "sanctuary of God", and he was reminded of the big picture.  In the end, the ungodly will receive their just, eternal judgment.  Those who walk with God will spend eternity with Him, struggle free.
This big picture reminder was what turned me around and ended my thoughts of envy and unfairness.  Living for the Lord is worth it.  I was making the right choice!
Can you relate to what the Psalmist and I went through?  I encourage you to "live in" Psalm 73 for a few days and see what happends.  I could be a turning point in your life!

One of the trademarks of this body of believers is that we are commited to being "One Another People". That is, we strive to live out the 36 Biblical principles that deal with how we are to treat one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. The "One Another Principles" are: