2017 Worship Guide

2017 WORSHIP GUIDE Wednesday, December 6, 2017 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS PUBLICATION Page 29 M y pastor, Pastor Phil Schneider, reminded me recently of an important Christmas truth: Jesus is our peace even in the midst of chaos. I’m sure all need to hear that word. Let me sum up what he shared... For many, Christmas is a season of utter chaos! If your family is like ours, we spend all our time planning and working for the next big event. It’s a month of decorating, parties, hustle, bustle, rushing here and rushing there. Black Friday at Wal-Mart anyone?!!! Some thrive in this atmosphere. Others, not so much! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Chaos… When you stop to think about it, Jesus was born into the midst of real chaos: ■ There was relational chaos. We only have to think of Mary and Joseph to see this. They were caught pregnant in an incredibly cruel society. Many wanted to stone them thinking that Mary’s pregnancy meant infidelity. Their accusers were many. ■ There was financial chaos. (Why do you think a census was being taken in the first place? More taxes!). ■ There was political chaos. Several Roman governors and leaders of that time hated each other! They were striving for power (I’m sure nobody reading this has experienced any political chaos this past year!). Yet, into the midst of this chaos, the angels had a message for the shepherds that we need to hear: Luke 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” I’m sure you have known chaos in your life. Relationships break down. Finances suffer. Perhaps you’ve had physical chaos in your body: nagging health issues that seemingly won’t go away. In Genesis 1:1-2, there was “chaos” in the uncreated earth: it was empty ‘formless’ and void. But God spoke and brought order to the chaos of emptiness. For some, that’s what Christmas brings – emptiness and loneliness. The loss of a loved one, the hurts of years gone by. Faith Assembly of God Pastor Darren Palmer Christmas Chaos CONTINUED ....