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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.”

Our mission is to glorify God by developing followers of Jesus for life. That is not only our mission, that is the mission of the church. Missionaries are those individuals that go to unreached people groups for the purpose of evangelism, discipleship and church planting. That requires a huge support network that we refer to as missional partnerships.