The Thursday Update

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

Hurricane Helene ripped through our country quickly last week and left a path of devastation.  Everyday people like us who were just living each day normally two weeks ago are now at a very different place.  As of Wednesday, 170 people have died and the number is likely to rise since hundreds are still missing.  Towns and homes are devastated and the relief efforts will take time.  Rebuilding will take years.  But for many, lives have been lost with little notice.

I can’t imagine what this must be like for people affected by it.  Let’s pray for the people impacted.  Pray right now so you don’t let it slip your mind.

It all reminds me that every day is precious and life is fragile.  We never know when or how we’ll spend our last day on earth.  It’s especially true when we consider the future.  What will God do in the days ahead in America?  It will involve more than just wondering who will win the presidential election in less than 5 weeks.  Do you ever wonder what God says about our future?  Things can turn bad really quickly in our nation and I am really concerned that we are on the fast track there right now.

So what should we do?  Here are a few things:

1. Seek and find faith in Jesus if you are not yet a Christian.  If you miss this, one day you will seriously regret it forever.

2. Make sure you are walking with God.  Are you reading the Bible on your own?  Living a holy life?  Caring for others like Jesus did?

3. Get ready for the future that God outlines in the Bible for the end of all things as we now know them.  In the words of Jesus be ready because you do not know when He will return.

I hope this new Sunday teaching series will help with the last one, because life is fragile and short.

Warmly,
Vince

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

What in the world is happening today?

Everywhere you turn, you hear more bad news taking place locally, nationally, and globally. And on top of all of this, there are threats of more bad news on the time horizon. It would be hard for anyone with a straight face to say things are getting better these days. In fact, about two thirds of Americans think they are getting worse. I wonder why the other one third doesn't think the same. 

Well, to answer my original question, the world is going exactly where God is leading it to go. Before you ask why God is letting the world get worse, ask yourself the question, "Why are we as a people forsaking God and His words of life and wisdom?"  Answer that last question and you'll have the answer to the why question. 

God has a clear plan for the future that He shares with us in the Bible, and that will be my subject for the next four weeks as we begin a new series called, "What in the World is Happening?"  We'll look at four interesting topics that are important for us to understand if we want to grasp what God is doing today.

I can't think of a better topic that will scratch where curious people are itching today. People want to know what's happening and where things are going. If you have friends like this, please invite them to join you for church this Sunday. I promise we'll do our very best to clearly and compellingly explain God's plan for all that is going on. 

Send a text, make a call, pay a visit, and do whatever it takes to invite people to Lakeshore. It will help them. 

I look forward to seeing you and them on Sunday. 

Warmly,
Vince

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

Hey Lakeshore,

The autumn twilight is coming earlier, the nights are cooler, days are still warm, and the leaves are starting to turn and fall.  One of my favorite things about this time of year is the distinct smell that autumn always brings.  It sends me back to autumns long ago and some of the things I most enjoyed. 

The weekends of my youth before high school were spent in the rolling hills of Nunda, NY where my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived.  There were times afield in the beauty and ever-changing moods of fall.  There was fresh apple cider, Sunday afternoon football, and the start of school and all the other things that kicked off during the early days of September.

One of the things I remember so distinctly was our weekly attendance at the small country church.  The autumn mornings were perfect for walking to church, not too hot and not too cold, and beautiful in their splendor and aroma.  The average church attendance was between 12 and 25 people per week.  That church didn’t have a Small Groups ministry— it was a small group ministry. 

I knew everyone there.  I can’t remember their names, but they taught me lessons of faith I will never forget.  They instilled in me a love and a longing for those Small Groups of people who gather to discuss the Bible, faith, care, community, and biblically driven life-change.  That small church had a big impact on establishing my faith in Christ.

It might be one of the reasons I’m so passionate about the Small Group ministry here at Lakeshore.  Disciples are formed in the forges of Small Groups.  Faith is grounded and established in Small Groups. Biblical truth becomes practical in Small Groups.  All the risks that come with being part of a Small Group couldn’t possibly outpace the rewards of being in a Small Group.

That’s a part of my faith story.  It’s also what we'll be talking about this Sunday as we finish this two week series, Why You Need a Small Group.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Brian R.