The Thursday Update

FEBRUARY 16, 2023

Lakeshore Friends—

It started back in the 1960’s.  A team of American spies, completing missions deemed “impossible”.  It was fun and ran for 7 years.  Then in the mid-90s, Tom Cruise took the “Mission: Impossible” mantle to the big screen which is still running to this day, 27 years later.  Same premise… a team of American spies, in death-defying scenarios that make you hold onto your seat.  And let’s not forget the famous tagline:  “your mission, should you choose to accept it…”  But these words also describe the choice each follower of Jesus faces – whether or not to go and make more disciples.

"NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS FAITH, WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT?"

Sadly, a large majority of Christians are not even familiar with the fact that Jesus gave us a specific mission.  And that is the very thing we hope to tackle in our newest series, Mission: Possible.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gave us this Great Commission, but too many disciples today view it as Mission: Impossible, and we have a litany of reasons to think that way… but we want to shed some light on this very thing.

I’m excited to kick things off this week and our other Pastors in the weeks to come.  It is our hope and prayer you find this more than just an informative series, but a transformational one.   Now that we have this faith, what do we do with it?  What is our mission and how do we accomplish it?  Well, to find out, you’ll need to be here on Sundays at 9 or 11am.

See you then,
Pastor Brian

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Lakeshore Friends—

This Sunday is Football Sunday at Lakeshore.  It is one of the most fun and yet inspiring Sundays of the year at Lakeshore, and I hope you’ll be here with your favorite football jersey or gear on.

I also hope you’re inviting people to join you here.  It’s an easy invite and I already have a group of friends planning to be here. 

"I NEVER HAD A CHURCH I FELT TOTALLY COMFORTABLE INVITING A FRIEND TO"

Before starting Lakeshore, with perhaps one exception, I never had a church I felt totally comfortable inviting a friend to.  I liked my churches in Florida and Texas, but they just weren’t places I felt sure about inviting a friend who was new to church and the faith.  I was always afraid that the message would be over their heads or the music would be less than high quality, to name just a few concerns.  While we are not perfect, we try to design all our Sunday services with both convinced and unconvinced people in mind.

That’s why I hope you’ll invite people this Sunday… and every Sunday.

Warmly,
Vince

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

Lakeshore Friends—

The teams playing in the Super Bowl are now set.  The Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Kansas City Chiefs.  I realize that so many of you wanted the Buffalo Bills to play in this game, but alas they will not. 

I heard from a few of you last Sunday that you are upset that my “Go Bills!” chant for them to beat the Cincinnati Bengals the previous week didn’t work and that I was the reason they lost.  But don’t forget that I called for the Miami Dolphins to beat Buffalo the week before that (at my wife’s clear instructions!), and I called for my New Orleans Saints to be good this season and neither of those turned out too well either.  So clearly, I can’t pick winners this year (and no, I won’t give game predictions for the Super Bowl because that may tip you off on who will LOSE the Super Bowl!

On Super Bowl Sunday, we’re planning a great and creative service, fun activities around the building, and a day that will be easy to invite friends and family to.  More on that next week.

But as great as Super Bowl Sunday can be for football, every Sunday for people who love Jesus should be (and is) greater.  After all, being together to worship Jesus Christ should always top cheering on our favorite team.  And we get to do it 52 times a year for FREE, while the Super Bowl costs about $3,000+ per person to attend just once a year.

I love how so many people at Lakeshore look forward to being at church every Sunday.  They wouldn’t miss it for anything except unavoidable reasons.  Each week, I see people attend and have an encounter with the living God and leave better for the time they invested in worshipping Him, learning from the Bible, and growing in their faith.  Attending church faithfully pleases God for sure, but it also satisfies people who hunger for Him.

"AS GREAT AS SUPER BOWL SUNDAY CAN BE FOR FOOTBALL, EVERY SUNDAY FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE JESUS SHOULD BE (AND IS) GREATER."

My wish for everyone is that they would see Sundays as a day to look forward to more than any other and that it would be “Super Sunday” every seven days.  That goes against the current trends in church attendance (which are spiraling downward faster than at almost any other point in American history), but I still wish it for every one of you receiving this. 

Israel’s great king David said it best: I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”  Psalm 122:1, NIV

How about you?  Are Sundays at church the highlight of your week?

Warmly,
Vince