We live in a world of uncertainty. Adam and then Eve having just been created, perhaps were a little uncertain concerning what this garden was all about. They were blessed with God’s personal presence as He taught them. Still an evil and hurtful person entered and ruined things for them. Fortunately, God was still interested in a personal relationship and although they exited the garden He was still with them bringing new life. In the intervening years we human beings including those of faith, faced uncertainty and difficulty in a fallen world. Unreliable and sinful people, pestilence, disease, the storms of nature, a struggle for the resources for life, authoritarian and evil governments and the list goes on. Today, because of all of our technology and advances we might think we escape all that but alas, we still face the uncertainty and difficulties of life in a fallen world. Uncertainty and division in government, many wondering about jobs and finances for survival, storms and floods, a virus we cannot see. In it all, God desires personal relationship and to be with us.

This time of year, we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. Matthew 1:23 (NASB) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” It is a demonstration of God’s desire to be with us and it is comforting in this fallen and uncertain world. We face the difficulties of life in a fallen world realizing God is with us and desires a personal relationship with us accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we face the uncertainties of our time let us remember some of the last words of Jesus. After promising to go prepare an eternal dwelling for us and promising to send the Holy Spirit to be with us, He said these words in John 14:27 (NASB), “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Although doing fine with few symptoms, we had a couple of members test positive this week for Covid 19. Last Sunday, 11/29 was outside the timeline for exposure but out of an abundance of caution, we are cancelling the 12/6 Worship Service.

We don’t have a virtual service this week, but if you messed a message you can go back and catch it at https://www.chapelinthewoods.org/past-sermons/

We hope to be back live next week, 12/13

Thanksgiving Reflection
“For Pilgrims, Thanksgiving Was a Way of Life” (Christianity Today, 11/23)

Something About a First Amendment
“Supreme Court overturns pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings in New York” (Discern, 11/26) And it is there precisely because of “emergencies”

Of course they did
“China: House church pastor detained, fined for refusing to join state-controlled church” (Christian Post, 11/27)

We Are the Body
“One Body, Many Causes; The Vital Diversity of the Church’s Priorities” (Desiring God, 11/25)

Beautiful
“Luther and the Beauty of Christ” (Evangelical Pathos, 11/19)

400 years ago
“November marks 400th anniversary of Pilgrims’ landing” (Daily News, Midland, 10/8) They anchored in November of 1620 but didn’t make it on shore until December. In the meantime they developed what became known as the Mayflower Compact which grew out of a Puritan congregational church system and the freedoms of their former land of England. They did not develop a theocracy, there were Pilgrims and non-Pilgrims (strangers) aboard the Mayflower, but a blueprint by which the secular and religious could co-exist under a democratic (congregational) politic, recognizing the rule of law and the King of England. (later the King of England part was scrapped in the colonies) PS Those who became known as “Pilgrims” were separatist Puritans who thought they needed to separate from the church of England. Non-separatist Puritans thought they could reform the church of England from inside the church. They were later known as the “Puritans” that settled at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and came with 17 ships and 1,000 people.

 The Elite Class Today
“For California Governor the Coronavirus Message Is Do as I Say, Not as I Dine” (New York Times, 11/18) or, if you’ve lost the NY Times…
Related
“Newsom Announces Curfew So He Won’t Have To Wait In Long Line At Fancy Restaurants” (Babylon Bee, 11/20) We’re from CA so we can make fun

Of Course They Do
“China: Authorities raid church, confiscate Bibles, detain members” (Christian Post, 11/20)

 At Least he Makes Something
“Elon Musk passes Mark Zuckerberg and becomes world’s third richest person” (Metro UK, 11/18)

Sad Anniversary
“Abortion’s grisly centennial; The legal killing of unborn babies started 100 years ago” (World, 11/18)

Masks Maybe Not All that Helpful
“The Danish Mask Study” (healthysceptic, 11/18) Perhaps better to make sure we wash our hands, don’t cough and sneeze in people’s faces and be respectful of folks personal space. Wait, our mother told us that when we were little. We still need to wear a mask inside church and when we go to the store since we are following the protocols

Unintended Consequences
“Pandemic has taken a toll on childrens’ mental health” (UPI, 11/14)

Lost and Found
“Israeli archaeologists find 3,000-y-o fortress from time of King David” (Christian Post, 11/14)

Worship at 11:00 practice responsible worship

Peter and Jude, Peter most people know, Jude not so much. An overview of both Sunday

He Does
“God Still Has a Plan in Times of Uncertainty” (Relevant, 11/5)

We don’t agree with Kuyper much but
“What Kuyper Can Teach Us 100 Years Later; Evangelicals can build social trust through a commitment to Christian institutions and service to the world. (Christianity Today, 11/6)

Of Course they are
“North Korea COVID victims starving to death in quarantine camps, says Christian activist” (Christian Post, 11/05) They also seem to starve outside the camps, socialism at work

Pray for Africa
“International Day of Prayer for Africa seeks continent’s safety, spread of Gospel” (CP, 11/06)

 Covid Education news
“Schools pass COVID-19 test; The nation’s classrooms might not be the superspreaders many feared” (World, 11/5)

Unintended consequences
“Dallas students suffered ‘horrifying’ learning loss during pandemic, new data suggests.
DISD trustees to hear how sudden school closures and trauma of COVID-19 has impacted children’s education”  (Dallas Morning News, 11/06) And the horror always seems higher for those with less resources

Yesterday was Reformation Day. 10/31/1517 Martin Luthor started the debate about salvation by faith alone, and a bunch of other theses.  And it’s All Saints Day today (11/01/2020)
“The father of the Reformation;
 Martin Luther helped recover the gospel while renewing Christian faith and life” (World, 10/30)

 Suffering and persecution
“North Korea: Christians executed for owning Bible, newborn babies murdered” (Christian Post, 10/31)

Without empathy, of course
“Is Too Much Expertise Bad For Leadership?” (Relevant, 10/30)

Broken hearts healed
“Only His Heart Can Heal Yours” (Desiring God, 10/29)

RIP
“Sean Connery dead at 90: The Scotsman played James Bond and defined aging coolness” (Chicago Tribune, 10/31) We like the ‘aging coolness’ part
“Jerry Jeff Walker, Who Wrote ‘Mr. Bojangles,’ Dies At 78” (NPR, 10/24)

Sorry State of Affairs
“Nearly half of Gen Z Americans view socialism favorably: survey” (Christian Post, 10/30) But it’s about goodies, never mind the article above or disasters of the 20^th century

We don’t usually talk about Politics, but
“Polling Places Now Offering Basins Of Water So You Can Wash Your Hands Like Pontius Pilate” (Babylon Bee, 10/31)

Pray for our leaders
“Trump taken to military hospital” (World, 10/02)

Men be men
“God Calls Masculinity ‘Very Good.’ Stop Caricaturing It”

 News you can use
“How to make excellent scrambled eggs, just the way you like them” (Washington Post, 9/28)

RIP
“Mac Davis, Country Singer and Elvis Presley Songwriter, Dead at 78” (Rolling Stone, 9/30)

No worries
“Feeling anxious? But why did Jesus say not to worry?” (Christian Post, 9/30)

All not lost
“This Isn’t a ‘lost year’” (Christian Post, 9/18)

John Might Follow Paul
“John MacArthur Says He’ll Start a ‘Jail Ministry’ if Arrested for Worshiping Indoors” (Christian Headlines, 9/17)

Exploitation of children cute
“Why ‘Cuties’ Isn’t Just Netflix’s Problem; The sexual exploitation of children is a symptom of a larger disease—one that we’re complicit in” (Christianity Today, 9/16)

“Why It’s A Good Thing To Be Disgusted By ‘Cuties’
Parents must help children understand what is and what is not disgusting and speak the truth. We owe it to the generations to come” (The Federalist, 9/17)

Sorry state of affairs
“Marriage’s fragile future; Changing attitudes, even among young Christians, propel disturbing trends” (World, 9/10)

Those were the days
“Nation’s Old Fogies Recall The Good Old Days When A Next-Gen Game System Meant A Noticeable Difference In Graphics” (Babylon Bee, 9/18)

They choose poorly
“To cope with pandemic, Americans choose TV over the Bible” (Baptist Press, 8/7)

 Man Up
“Tony Evans warns men are ‘domesticated, neutered’ as Satan seeks to destroy biblical manhood” (Christian Post, 8/6)

Of Course They Are
“Chinese pastors ordered to praise Xi Jinping, slander US from pulpit or risk closure” (Christian Post, 8/6)

It’s here somewhere
“Bible Briefly Consulted To See If It Supports Already-Formed Opinion” (Babylon Bee, 8/4)