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

JANUARY 11, 2024

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

Most Americans believe in prayer, and a majority of us pray at least daily.  I’m sure that isn’t a surprise to very many of you.

What’s likely more interesting is that with so many people who practice some type of prayer, why is it that these same people don’t seem like they experience the full power of prayer in their lives?  Why don’t they see the answers to prayer that they hope for?  Why is prayer sometimes offered as only a last resort when things get difficult?  Perhaps most notably, why doesn’t this majority who believe in prayer see it lead to a better situation for their lives and for the nation as a whole?  Afterall, the Bible promises that prayer is powerful and effective.

That’s a nagging question for many, but it doesn’t need to be.  God gives us clear directions on prayer, like what it is and is not, who it’s properly directed to, how to do it in a way that pleases Him, and so much more.  The more we pray in ways that are aligned with God’s directions, the more likely it is that we will see the answers that we expect (and most definitely see the answers that are best for us from Him).

How about you?  How’s your prayer life?  How often do you pray?  Do you follow (or know) what God is looking for when you pray?

We’ll look at the answer to these questions and more on Sunday.  If you want to pray in ways that will help you see more of God at work in your life, learn how to pray the way that God commands us to.

You’ll see powerful answers when you offer Him effective prayers.

Warmly,
Vince