FEBRUARY 1, 2024

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

We live in a culture that thrives on fast food.  We live fast lives, have fast schedules, and operate with fast expectations, so fast food just makes so much sense.  It fits right in with our pace of life.  That makes restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Arby’s popular, as they deliver fast food to us.  Not necessarily healthy food, nutritious food, or good food… but FAST food.  If you doubt any of this, see how long it takes that fench fry that fell between your seats last year to decompose.  Any other questions?

Against this backdrop is the biblical concept of fasting.  This flies against the whole idea of getting food when you want it and how you can “have it your way.”  The latter is all about satisfying yourself whenever you want, while the former is about denying yourself for spiritual purposes.  It’s easy to see why so few Christians practice (or even have ever tried) fasting.

And yet, Jesus calls us to fast.

What is fasting?  What are some misconceptions of it?  Can you do it wrongly?  Why would we do it besides the fact that the Bible says we should?  What are the benefits of making such a sacrifice to abstain from food for spiritual purposes?  I’ll answer these questions and more as I teach about what God says about fasting.  While I have taught this at Midweek Bible Study a couple of times over the years, and sent out short videos on this subject, this will be my first time teaching it on a Sunday.  It’s been long overdue.

"And yet, Jesus calls us to fast."

On the one hand, I can’t think of a topic that has less appeal than this one for those who want to live a casual, convenient Christian life. 

On the other hand, I can’t think of a topic that is more demanding and rewarding all at the same time for those who want to live an even more committed life.  Fasting will deepen your faith and help you become the spiritual champion that I believe you all want to be. 

I guess we’ll find out on Sunday!

Warmly,
Vince

JANUARY 25, 2024

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

If you have ever watched tennis, you know how important it is to hit your very first shot well; your serve.  Hit it well enough and the other person can’t even hit it in return.  That’s called an ace.  The average pro tennis player gets around 10-15 aces per match.  I found out that a player named John Isner holds the record for the most aces in an entire tournament at 214, which he accomplished during the 2018 Wimbledon tournament.  Wow!  When you get these aces, it makes winning easier because you do less hitting and running and competing with the volleys that follow.  So you’d think that great tennis players would work to improve their serve if they want to be the best they can be.

If you go to a nice restaurant, you evaluate your experience on the food, the environment, and the service.  When you have a great server, you walk away impressed and satisfied by the experience.

More important than these are the way we serve others.  It doesn’t take great athletic prowess like in tennis, but it does take a desire to serve and get better at serving.  When we serve others in God’s love, we do the kind of serving that satisfies everyone involved.  God loves it, people are benefitted by it, and we find satisfaction in it… if we do it with the right pieces in place.

"When we serve in God's love, we do the kind of serving that satisfies everyone involved."

How well do you serve others in your world?  Do you serve your family well?  Do you serve people at work with a smile?  Do you serve God’s people at church?  How can you learn to do it better?  I’ll try to answer those questions on Sunday. 

In the meantime, learn to ask this question in your everyday life: how can I improve my serve?  You’ll find that true greatness will follow.

Warmly,
Vince

JANUARY 18, 2024

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

Whenever the subject of generosity comes up, some people get nervous.  When it comes up from a religious leader, they get doubly nervous.  Maybe even seeing the title of this piece got you a bit nervous too.  I wish that wasn’t the case for people who follow Jesus because He modeled generosity to the maximum.  He gave His life away for us.

Why is generosity such an issue for some people but not for others?  I think the main difference is this: non-generous people focus on what they give up, while generous people focus on what they gain.  That’s because the Bible tells us that giving is the best way to receive!  Verses like Luke 6:38 remind us that when we give, it will be given back to us.  Not necessarily in monetary ways, though it may be, but in even better ways.  Jesus was quoted in the book of Acts as saying that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.  To that, many people sarcastically think, “Oh yeah, sure it does!”

But generosity is a truly rewarding practice, especially when God is the ultimate object of our giving.

"Non-generous people focus on what they give up, while generous people focus on what they gain."

I wish more Christians believed this, because the numbers and research on giving reflect that most really don’t.  I wish more churches taught this in a way that was not ultimately about getting more money from people but instead about instructing people on God’s will for giving.  I wish every ministry was fully funded by the people of God to do the work of God.  But more than anything, I wish we believed that generous giving is so good for our souls—both in this life and in the life to come.

I’ll talk about this subject on Sunday with hopes that you’ll be more encouraged to start (or keep) being generous to God.  I hope it will help you see God’s plan for being generous.

Warmly,
Vince