Back in the late winter of 2013, in the months prior to resigning from my former pastorate, my emotional state resembled a roller coaster on steroids. The up part, as with a roller coaster being pulled uphill, was slow and labored. I did everything I could to muster up sufficient emotional strength to plow through another day. The down part 
however, was like a roller coaster in freefall, plummeting at an ever-accelerating rate of speed and threatening to careen all out of control.
I crawled out of my bed every morning because I had to. I drove to work every day because it was the right thing to do. I mounted the pulpit each Sunday because it was my job. I loved the pastorate; but the current one reminded me of a root canal – that lasted a full year!
To compound my depression, nobody knew what was really going on, not even the rest of the leaders. Yet I couldn’t say a single word without sounding like my mouth was stuffed with sour grapes. Besides, if I had done so, it would have been tantamount to gossip, for I held no evidence regarding something I suspected.
“But Now!” On Saturday evening, March 23rd, everything began to change. Faith Family Fellowship was conceived and in the ensuing weeks, the roller coaster finally rolled to a stop. Life began looking up again.
Sometimes, when life’s circumstances appear miserable, something unexpected bursts onto the scene that turns 
everything else all around – and life is good again! My personal illustration pales in comparison to the infinitely greater turnaround that serves as our sermon subject for this coming Sunday morning. Please join us as we study together the sermon entitled: “But Now!”
