MAY 18, 2023

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

Marriages are a lot like a race.  It takes a lot of work to finish them well and to reach the end of it on top.  But what kind of race would best describe marriage? 

I don’t think that it’s best characterized by a 100-meter sprint.  I think the better way to think of it is as a full marathon— one loaded with many ups and downs, twists and turns, and one that requires endurance and perseverance to complete.  If you want to have one of these “Marathon Marriages”, it will take two people willing to “go the extra mile” to reach the finish line victorious.

So what does it take to have a marriage like this?  Well, just like a long race requires different strategies throughout its duration, marriages that last will require at least four critical “training techniques” that begin even before marriage occurs and continue throughout your marriage until the very end.  We’ll share these four on Sunday as we continue our Marriage Matters series.

"...THE BETTER WAY TO THINK OF IT IS AS A FULL MARATHON— ONE LOADED WITH MANY UPS AND DOWNS, TWISTS AND TURNS..."

I realize that marriage is not easy and not everyone has had one (or has one) that has turned out as hoped for.  It can really hurt.  We live in a fallen world.  My aim is to simply help everyone regardless of if they will be married, are married, or were married to see what God tells us we should do in all of these stages.

We appreciate you all more than you know!  And please know that no matter what stage of life you’re in, all of us at Lakeshore are cheering you on in your pursuit of Jesus and His will for your life in marriage and in singleness.

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 11, 2023

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and we can’t wait to spoil all the women on Sunday with a service that we hope will be a high point in your day.  After all, you deserve it!

Motherhood is a hard endeavor.  Carrying each child in your body for three-quarters of a year, giving birth to them, recovering all while feeding them at all hours of the day, and then spending 216 months of your life building into them is a difficult and strenuous task!  And no one can do it with the tenderness and thoroughness like our mothers.

While being a mom is hard, the rewards are as amazing as virtually any other endeavor.  You get to build into children so that they love God, love people, contribute to society, and glorify God as His image bearers.  Can you think of any accomplishment that is greater than this?  I can’t.

I also realize that Mother’s Day isn’t the same for everyone.  Maybe your mother is no longer here, or your relationship with her was not the best, or something else causes you to see this day as something less than a banner day.  If that’s you, you’re not alone.  There are others who feel this way.

We’re here to help.  More importantly, God is available to help.  He is an ever-present help in times of need (Psalm 46:1).

Regardless of if you are a mother, will be a mother, or were just born to one, we hope to start your day off right on Sunday.

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 4, 2023

LAKESHORE FRIENDS—

When the book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus came out a number of years ago, I never read it.  In all honesty, I didn’t have to because the title alone said enough that I got the big idea.  It made clear to me what we all kind of knew already, namely that when men and women date and marry, they each have some very unique needs that are different from each other.  And these differing needs are not just a case of differing personalities (which do also play a part), but simply the fact of them being male and female.  It’s that simple. 

Yes, men and women both want to be loved, valued, and cared for, but they have very different ways in which even these common needs are met.  Men don’t see love exactly like women see it.  Women don’t desire care the same way men desire it.  It’s just a gender thing.  Add to this that men and women each have a very unique set of needs that are more important for one and not so important for the other and you see how challenging marriage can be. 

All the research proves this is the case.  It’s the way God made us in the beginning.  He made men and women different in so many ways— not so that we would compete and fight, but instead so that we would complement each other and thrive. 

"IT'S THE WAY GOD MADE US IN THE BEGINNING."

That’s what we’ll be covering over the next two weeks in our Marriage Matters series, starting with what men wish women knew about them.  For Mother’s Day, we’ll look at what women wish men knew about them.

I hope you’ll be here with friends who want to understand how to relate more effectively with the opposite sex and particularly in dating and marriage.  I promise that this will be a helpful message for those who do attend.

Warmly,
Vince