The Thursday Update

Lakeshore Friends—

Of all of the values we treasure, few seem as important as fairness.  All of us want political elections, personal contracts, sporting events, business partnerships, and other people to be fair.  If they aren’t, we don’t like it.  And in many ways it makes a lot of sense to want fairness.

Most people also expect and even demand that God be fair too!  But is God fair?  Is that what we hope for most from God?  Is that really what we should want from God?  What if God were not “fair” as we define fair?  Could it be possible that God is oftentimes something different than fair?

That’s what we’ll look at on Sunday as I help unpack the meaning of the complex and deeply challenging parable of the Workers in the Vineyard found in Matthew 20.  Jesus tells this parable to help us see that fairness is not always how God works, and as we’ll see, that is a really good thing!  We’ll learn about how God loves to change things up in our lives to help us serve Him with pure motives and desires.

You’re going to enjoy this parable.  I hope you’ll be here on Sunday to learn from the incredible wisdom of Jesus Christ.

Warmly,

Vince

JILL FREESE'S 20^th ANNIVERSARY AT LCC

Last Sunday we recognized Jill for twenty years of incredible service to Lakeshore as our Children’s Director.  We are asking everyone who knows Jill to consider making a donation to a gift fund we give to employees after every 10 years of service.  Please consider making a donation in the next two weeks.  You can do so online, at kiosks at church or as part of your regular giving by check or envelope.  Just designate how much of your contribution should be given to Jill.

Lakeshore Friends—

Why do so many people reject the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Think of all that the Good News offers people.  We can be totally forgiven of every sin we’ve ever committed (and ever will commit!).  We can be fully relieved of the guilt of sin that plagues our lives.  We can be dramatically empowered to live brand new lives filled with joy, purpose and satisfaction.  And we can be made relationally right with the One, True, Almighty God of the universe.  There’s so much more that awaits all those who will receive the Good News of Jesus into their life.  How could anyone refuse that?

No more trying to go on a self-improvement campaign to earn heaven.  No requirement to perfectly follow every rule laid out by God to enter heaven.  No need to go to a human religious leader for the forgiveness ritual they claim is required for heaven.  Instead, all of it comes to us by the undeserved graciousness of God through simple faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross just over 1,993 years ago.  We can simply receive the gift of God by faith because Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

You would think that an offer this good would be accepted by everyone who hears about it!  But it isn’t.  In fact, most will simply reject it.  They may say they believe but deep down inside, they really don’t.  It’s the greatest tragedy that can ever befall a person because the consequences are terrible and eternal.  Heaven will not be their final home.

Why is that?  Why do people not genuinely and fully respond to the Good News that is truly this good?

Jesus will answer that question in the parable of the Sower and the Seed in Mark 4.  This parable is straightforward— in fact Jesus does most of the interpretative work for us.  But the depth of it requires us to reflect on our own lives and honestly discern which of these four soils in the parable best describes us today.

The Good News is that no matter where you are when you walk in on Sunday morning, you can walk out in a much better place in life afterward.  That’s why I can’t wait to share it with you.  I hope you’ll be here to hear it.

Warmly,

Vince

P.S. My sincerest thanks for the special birthday party after services last Sunday!  Hearing you sing Happy Birthday meant so much to me— more than you may realize for reasons very few would know.  My birthday is actually today.  You are the best congregation anyone could ever pastor.  I really mean that.  Thank you!  Much love!