The Wednesday Update

Lakeshore Friends—

People seem to have an insatiable fascination about the future.

We want to know what the stock market will do in the weeks ahead.  We want to know what the future holds for our careers.  If we’re single, we want to know what the future holds for our romantic desires.  We want to know what will happen to our kids as they grow up.  That’s normal and held in a healthy balance with living day to day, there’s nothing wrong with that.

So why don’t more people want to know what God says about the future?  After all, what God says is always right.  There are lots of reasons why people don’t want to know more about what God says about the future:

1. Sometimes, people simply aren’t told about it.  In fact, many churches never talk about God’s plan for the future in their churches.
2. Sometimes, people are more concerned with their own everyday lives rather than what will happen someday in the future, at some unknown point in time.
3. Sometimes, people just don’t believe in God and so they reject His Word.  The flood in Noah’s day is a tragic example of what happened to them.
4. Still other times, people are simply flat-out afraid of what it might say about how they’re living today, so they avoid it at all costs.  But avoidance never changes reality, does it?

God thinks that our understanding of the future is so important that He gave us all the specific details on how the world we see today will end one day.  In fact, about a quarter of the entire Bible speaks about the future!

Do you know God’s plan for the future?  Do you know why it is so important?  Do you know what the next big event on God’s future prophecy timetable is?  Do you know what the world is ultimately coming to?

On Sunday, I will answer these questions and more as we continue our series in 1 Thessalonians with a message titled, “What’s The World Coming To?”  I’ll share an important message on the next great event—

The Rapture of the Church— and what follows after it, a time known as The Day of the Lord.  You can read about it in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.

I encourage you to invite anyone and everyone you know to church on Sunday!  Why?  Because this could be the message that helps them see Jesus as their only hope, their Lord and Savior.  That’s what happened to me in 1983 when I heard a message like this and became a Christian.

Hope to see you and some family and friends with you on Sunday!

Vince

Lakeshore Friends—

With October ending this Saturday, we come to the end of Pastor’s Appreciation month.  I, and all our Pastors, want to express our sincerest thanks for all of you.  During this month, you have proven to us again that you are an amazing congregation.  We have received cards, treats and simple words of appreciation from you for being your pastors.  This means so much more to us than you could ever know.  The work of ministry can, at times, be a demanding responsibility.  All five of us feel a strong sense of responsibility to teach you and lead you with biblical truth behind all we do.  And while we don’t do some of the physically difficult work that many people may engage in, the spiritual demands of our position are significant and ever-present.

What makes all of you so special is that you are such an understanding and appreciative church, supportive of all we try to do.  Sometimes, I think to myself that I don’t deserve a congregation as amazing as you.  That is the absolute truth.  I would not trade you for any other congregation in the world!

So on behalf of Pastors Frank, Brian P., Brian R., Nate and myself, THANK YOU!

The greatest gift you can ever give us is not material or financial.  Instead it is seeing you each week wanting to know God more, worshipping Him in music with a genuine heart for Him, learning from what we teach from Scripture, and wanting to serve others- that is the greatest gift.  And the way you welcome change and new guests to our church is amazing.  You help to remind us in all of this that God is using us.

I know that I don’t know all of you but know that if we haven’t met, I’d love to meet you after any of our services.

I’m honored to be your pastor.  I truly thank God for you too!

Warmly,

Vince

P.S. On Sunday, we’ll continue our “Can You Relate?” series in 1 Thessalonians with a message on Making Work Work.  That’s not a typo!  I hope you’ll be here to learn the three absolutely essential ingredients to having a great job that you love!

Lakeshore Friends—

Over the past few years— especially the past two— we have experienced some very strong growth in our church.  We’ve seen it in just about every measurable, including the number of people who are serving on a ministry team, involved in a Small Group, attending Midweek Bible Study, being baptized, and the like.  But we’ve seen it most clearly in our Sunday attendance, which is where all the other areas of growth actually begin.  It’s the reason we added a third service a few weeks back.  It’s been exciting to see God bless our obedience and step of faith.

Last Sunday, we had our first-ever attendance of over 1,000 people without it occurring on a holiday or other “special” day.  It's another great milestone for our church.  And it’s not just a number— we’re seeing new people every week and lives are being changed as they attend.  Numbers equal people.  It’s thrilling to see.

With three services, we have more room to grow and continue reaching people who need Jesus.

I want to say thank you to those of you who pray for Lakeshore. Thank you for inviting people to church, even if the people that you invite don’t show up.  Thank you for being at church each week.  THANK YOU for your financial support of our church - your giving makes all of this possible in a practical way.

Finally, together let us THANK GOD for all the lives that He is changing through Lakeshore.  We don’t change lives, but God does.  He simply uses us like a master craftsman uses tools to construct a building. We are so blessed to be used by Him!

Let’s also keep inviting people to church.  Afterall, people matter to God and they should matter to us!

Warmly,

Vince