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This week we plan to study some of the classic passages in Isaiah about the Person and work of the Messiah. Does it really matter if they are true statements? Does it really matter if we believe what the passages teach? Is it enough to believe in a Jesus or do we have to believe certain things about Jesus as the Word describes Him? It seems to me that we can’t say we really believe in Jesus if we deny what the Word of God says about Him. If we don’t believe what the Word says about Him, we are believing in another Jesus, not the One of the Bible and the One the Church has confessed for the past 2,000 years.

Each year we pause whatever we are studying to take some extra time to consider the Advent of Jesus. The word advent means arrival. From the Scripture we know that there are two advents of Jesus. The First Advent is when He came “robed in flesh.” He was fully human and fully divine. The only-begotten God-Man. The Second Advent is when He comes again to set up His earthly, literal, visible Kingdom. So, are we planning to study the first one or the second one? Yes!

I know it might be a shock for some of you reading this, but pastors are not perfect. Growing up, I often would do what I wanted to do despite what my parents’ wishes were. They would tell me that a certain friend was not a good influence and that made me want to make them my best friend and spend as much time with them as possible. Of course, my parents were correct and things with my friend usually ended up with me getting in trouble. This happened more than I’d like to admit. That is how it often works, isn’t it?

Before our first son was born I was quite concerned about parenting. I was more nervous than excited about being a dad. I hadn’t finished college yet, I didn’t know where we’d end up in ministry, we were poor and humans made me nervous, especially little ones. I read what books I could find; Diane listened to Focus on the Family and I asked older people what I should know ahead of time. Someone suggested that teaching kids about money at an early age was very important and they gave me a plan.

We’ve had a lot of weddings this year. I have asked this question many times, “Do you promise to love, honor and trust him/her in sickness and in health, adversity and prosperity, and to be true and loyal to him/her so long as you both shall live.” The expected answer is, “I do.” It would be quite unsettling if the bride or groom said, “No way.” Weddings are about promises made before God and “these witnesses.”