The Thursday Update

NOVEMBER 23, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

Every Sunday I am at church, I leave with a sense of gratitude and encouragement.  Being able to meet with God and to be with you all means more to me than you know.  The reason is pretty simple: I love being around people who are growing in faith, showing others love, and giving of themselves.

I thank God for all of you!  God has given us a great congregation made up of people who range from those who are investigating Christianity sincerely as they explore faith, to people who are convinced and growing in their faith and living out by the way they use their time, their talents, and their treasure.

I hope you all give lots of thanks to God for all He has given us as you gather with your family and friends on Thanksgiving!  I will, and on that list will be thanking God for you.

Warmly,
Vince

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

For all the talk we hear about love today, it seems like we see so little of it expressed by people in tangible ways.  In fact, it seems like the opposite is a much more common sight. Our hurting world really needs to see love in action.  

What would real love (and not the artificial substitutes for it) look like if it were seen in our lives?  Jesus Christ was asked what the greatest thing a person could do in the eyes of God is, and His answer to this question reveals what real love truly looks like. 

For the next three weeks, we will unpack these words of Jesus on real love and explain how we can all live it out to God and show others what it looks like.

As the holidays approach, let’s be known as people (and as a church) that loves more than anyone else does.  And as the New Testament teaches us, this kind of love will cover all our shortcomings.

I hope you’ll be here as we learn how in this new series starting this Sunday!

Warmly,
Vince

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

The midterm elections are now behind us, even if the complete results are not.  The results show some changes in the majority of the House of Representatives, while the Senate likely will not be decided for at least a few more days or even weeks.

As always, about half of Americans will be happy with the result and another half will be disappointed.  And in this current environment, we haven't been this divided since before the Civil War.  The things people are saying and doing these days lead me to believe this is true.  The coarseness of dialogue, the anger and vitriol, and the acts of violence and terrorism we see all around us are at really high and dangerous levels.

I hope that regardless of the results of any election (and how you may feel after this particular one), you’ll remember Jesus’ amazingly poignant words on this subject in John 18:36:

“My kingdom is not of this world.”

At the end of the day, this world will pass away one day— and that day may be sooner than any of us realize.  But the Kingdom of God will arrive and be here to stay when Jesus returns.

So I hope you are living for the Kingdom of God more than the kingdoms of this world.  After all, the kingdom of God will not arrive because of a human government, and God is sovereign over all the election results as He works out His master plan for the world.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the things that really matter will be given to you by God (Matthew 6:33).

That’s our focus here at Lakeshore, to help you continually seek the things that matter for eternity.

Warmly,
Vince