Living Faithfully. Here we are once again at the beginning of a new year.  How wonderful it was to unpack, engage in, and better understand the "Gift of Christmas" through the "gifts" of Christmas.  Jesus is our "King, our High Priest, and our Savior."  He calls us to humble ourselves, live our lives under His direction and to represent the Kingdom.  We, at Bethel, have the opportunity to do this from the corner of Reed and Bethel Roads as we gather to worship and then scatter to live out and share with others our relationship with Him in our homes, community, offices, grocery, and wherever we find ourselves. I would like to take the next several weeks to look in and learn from a young man who was very determined to live out his faith in a foreign land.  His name is Daniel, and he was resolute to live each day faithfully no matter the consequences.  His faithfulness changed an empire and possibly influenced hundreds of years later the trip The Magi were willing to take to see the new born King. I wonder what effects our faithfulness will have on our world and on future generations?  Join us each Sunday in January and February as we glean principles and courage from Daniel as we look to emulate his willingness to authentically live what he believed.  Are you up for the challenge?  Me too! Your friend, pastor and fellow minister, Jerry P.S.  I am looking forward to our January congregational meeting when we will look back and celebrate all the awesome ministries of our church, and as we look forward to all the great things in 2010, like adding to our facilities and our staff.  It is all very exciting!