Pastor's Weekly Update

MAY 16, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

This week, my next door neighbor was putting up a fence.  No, I didn’t do anything to provoke this, but the arrival of a new puppy may be the reason.

When we heard the noise of fence posts being put in the ground, we looked and saw where the fence was going up.  And as most people who live next door to this do, we wanted to make sure the fence wasn’t over onto our property.  After all, we have surveys that show where our property begins and ends on all four sides.

When it comes to being too busy, we need to make sure we do the same thing with our time and our involvements— namely, that we ensure we’re not crossing property lines.  It’s so easy to take on things that are not within our own boundaries, and to add to an already busy list of activities when we really don’t have to (or even shouldn’t in the first place).

Do you have clear time and involvement boundaries in your life?  Do you know how to establish them, and then stick to them?

Just like in life, you need them if you want to avoid the “I’m Just Too Busy!” lifestyle.

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 9, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

Where would we be without mothers?

God in His infinite wisdom has created mothers to do things that no one else could ever do.  Think of all they did and do for us:

Mothers give us life by carrying us in their bodies.

Mothers often feed us from their own bodies.

Mothers bring us the nurturing we all need as we grow up.

Mothers have a strong hand in setting the culture of our homes.

Mothers are models for young girls on what a woman should be.

Mothers are models for young boys on what to look for in a future wife.

Mothers are the ones we see athletes say “hi” to on the sidelines of a game.

Mothers are amazing.  No, they aren’t perfect, because no one is.  And yes, sometimes our mothers may disappoint us to one degree or another.  But there’s one thing I will always say: “Thank you God for creating this beautiful thing called motherhood!”

Make sure you show love to your mother on Sunday, and every day.  If your mother has passed, thank God for all the positive contributions she made in your life. Best of all, bring your mom to church on Sunday, if you can, so we can celebrate her together!

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 2, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

As parents, we know there are moments when we wonder how effectively our parenting is working.  This is really evident when our kids have gone “prodigal” in some way.  Maybe they have run away from home, or they have rejected our values.  Maybe they have even rejected faith in Jesus.

Few things are as disheartening.  But I want to say this to those of us who feel this way: never lose hope!  How can I say that?  Here are a few reasons:

1. God is in control. The Bible is loaded with verses about how God can redirect people’s lives.  Perhaps the most incredible example is Paul’s radical conversion from a Christian hater to a Christian leader (Acts 9:1-19).  Trust Him to be in control of your child’s life and to change them.

2. God still answers prayer. James 5:16 reminds us that effectual and fervent prayer offered by righteous people is powerful.  Keep praying fervently for your children every day.

3. God is at work in us. God never allows us to hurt without something being helpful along with it.  God may be doing all He is doing through our children to help us grow in some critically important way (Romans 8:28-29).

I’m so glad that God is always in charge of life, and He is at work in the lives of those who love Him.  Sometimes that’s the only hope we can cling to.  The good news is that it’s the ultimate hope we need so that we never give up.

Warmly,
Vince