The Wednesday Update

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

Lakeshore Friends—

Research shows that an overwhelming majority of people believe in prayer.  In fact, about 85% of Americans believe in some form of prayer and 44% pray every day.  We humans seem to know in our heart that there is something more to this life than what we can see.  Sadly, not everyone who prays actually prays to the one true God of the Bible.

For those who do pray to God, we know that God wants us to pray.  He asks us to tell Him what’s on our hearts.  He invites us to ask for anything according to His will so that He can answer us.  He even tells us that the fervent prayers of righteous people can accomplish much!

If that is the case, then why doesn’t He answer all of our prayers?  Why doesn’t God do the things we ask, which seem so good to us as we pray, but which go undone?  It can be confusing at best and even deeply discouraging at worst.  People today have shared with me how God didn’t answer their prayers and as a result they no longer believe in Him.  How unfortunate!

Why does God answer some of our prayers and not other ones?  We’ll look at that on Sunday as we continue our, “Can You Relate?” series by looking at this important relationship we have with God through prayer.

Invite people you know who could use some help on this topic.  We’ll do our best to help them and you.

Warmly,

Vince

Lakeshore Friends—

In our Sunday series in 1 Thessalonians, “Can You Relate?”, we’ve learned how great relationships are formed, how they go deeper, and how they avoid potential landmines from the incredible relationship that the Apostle Paul had with the Christians at Thessalonica.  These lessons have helped me grow in my relational abilities with others and I hope they are doing the same for you.

As these first three weeks have progressed and built on each other, they raise an important question: how do we know that we have worked to develop a great relationship with someone?  The kind of relationship that really is going deeper,  the kind of relationship where you can be confident that your closeness is real and not just temporary?  The kind of relationship that can weather the storms of life?

The answer is found in the lessons we will look at on Sunday in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8.  Without giving you the outline in this post, let me share the big picture answer: every great relationship that truly is going deeper will pass the tough tests it faces.  In fact, the very tests that actually work to build beautiful relational depth are like a caterpillar who works to escape its cocoon and become a beautiful butterfly.  Tests let us know where we stand in life, and it’s all the more true when it comes to relational tests.

I hope you will be here on Sunday as I share the five tests that Paul and the Thessalonians passed and how they can help us assess our own relationships.

Warmly,

Vince