The Thursday Update

April 2, 2026

Lakeshore Friends—

The greatest weekend in the history of the world will be celebrated this weekend.  The crucifixion of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection from death after three days has radically changed our world!

These events have changed our calendars: B.C. and A.D. are divided by Jesus’ time on earth. 

These events have changed nations: the truths of Christianity have led to a world filled with nations that operate by the principles taught by Jesus and the Bible.

Most importantly, these events have changed millions and millions of lives: the Good News of Jesus Christ is the only message that can transform the human soul from certain death to abundant life.

The Good News means that this weekend can (and will) change many more lives.  All people have to do is hear the message, believe and receive Jesus Christ into their lives by faith.  But as Romans 10:14 reminds us, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

We all have the opportunity to help this incredible weekend be life-changing for family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.  All we have to do is invite them.  I hope you’ll make some last minute invites and pray that the invites you have already made to find success in leading people to Lakeshore (or any Bible-believing church).

Good Friday will be a devotional and focused on the sacrifice of Jesus, and we’ll take communion together.  Easter Service will be a celebration, and we’ll answer the question, “What Is The Resurrection?”

I look forward to seeing you and your guests this weekend.

Warmly,

Vince

March 26,2026

Love is never easy, is it?

Consider that right about the time you think you are getting really good at loving people, someone comes into your life to test your true level of love.

They might do it by saying something less than flattering about you.  It may be that they have judged you for something that they think you did or didn’t do, but in reality do not really understand what actually happened.  Maybe they have gossiped about you behind your back to others.  Maybe someone you thought was a friend was actually using you in some way. 

These situations are never fun.  But they are used by God to do something important: they help us see how much we really love people and how we can find the love we need from the God who is never in short supply of it.

How can we know how much we really love people?

How can we find the power to love people when everything inside of us would rather not love them?

That’s what we will look at on Sunday as we cover “the other love chapter” in the Bible besides 1 Corinthians 13— namely 1 John 4:7-21.

I hope you’ll be here to sharpen and strengthen your level of love for other people.

Warmly,

Vince

P.S. Who are you inviting to Lakeshore for Easter services?  I snapped a picture of our new invite card (front and back in one picture) and will be texting it to many family and friends.  I hope you’ll do the same!

March 19, 2026

Lakeshore Friends—

So few people live in God’s love.  The things we see in our world every single day prove this.  The cruel things people say, the evil things people do, the active aggression people exhibit toward others, the passive aggression people mask toward others, and so much more. These are just a few examples.

When people who have never known God’s love do this, we should not be surprised.  When you don’t know God’s love, it is impossible to really love others fully.  Our goal for people in this station of life is to help them see God’s grace and love so that they can know what true love is inside their spirit.  That’s what we talked about last week in our “No Greater Love” series kick-off message last Sunday.  As Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us, we can move from death to life, from separation from God’s love to submersion in God’s love when we turn to faith in Jesus Christ.  Then we can learn to spend the rest of our lives living in God’s love personally and then expressing it to Him and others perpetually.

But how do you live in God’s love every day? 

How do you avoid drifting from God’s love when the waves of life come crashing in on you? 

And how do you avoid a total shipwreck that destroys God’s love in your heart and life?

It’s not as easy as it sounds.  Over the years, I have seen so many people experience God’s love by putting their faith in Jesus Christ only to have a short-lived encounter that doesn’t last.  It usually starts with little drifts away from God until they all start to add up to a journey that is way off course.  They just lose the love that God offered and gave them.

But there are hundreds of others at Lakeshore that seem to stay in God’s love, growing and living in His love more and more each day.

What makes the difference between those who live and stay in God’s love and those who do not? 

We’ll find some important answers on Sunday in Jesus’ words in John 15:1-20.  I hope you’ll be here to learn what they are.  Our world needs to see more people living in God’s love than ever before.  And we all need to live in God’s love if we are going to make it in this often-hateful world.

Warmly,

Vince