The Thursday Update

DECEMBER 29, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

Sometimes the way to move forward in life is to look backward. 

I’m not talking about rehearsing all that has happened in your life and living in the past.  And I’m not referring to thinking about some nostalgic days when people walked to school... everyday… up hill... both ways… in blizzards… October through April... What I mean is that there are some things that we have learned in the past that should always guide our future, regardless of what modern-day thinkers tell us we should embrace.

Too often, people assume that new ideas, new concepts, new technology, and new thinking will advance and improve our lives today from how we lived them in the past. But I’m fully convinced that’s not always the case.  Not all that’s new is better.  In fact, sometimes it takes us from the best that we already have.

As we ring out the old year and bring in the new year on Sunday, I want to kick off a series that will help us go "Back to the Future" in two important areas that have deeply concerned me these days: the Bible and the family.  There are voices calling us to move forward in dangerous ways in these two foundational areas of life.  I want to share how God wants us to go back to the standard He has set for us from the very beginning.

I can’t think of a more vital series to begin the year than this one.  I hope you’ll join us on January 1 as we look at going back to the Bible.

Don’t drink too much egg nog.  Do your best to go to bed a little after midnight, and let’s spend some time together on Sunday morning.

Warmly,
Vince

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

Are you anticipating Christmas?  It’s perhaps the one day on the calendar each year that we anticipate more than any other.  It holds our imagination, it conjures up fond memories, and it causes us to think hopefully.  Many people still see Christmas in those terms.

We want you to have the greatest Christmas ever, and we think that being at Lakeshore on Christmas Eve will help that happen.

We have an approximately one-hour service planned to help prepare you for the real reason for the season— Jesus’ arrival to earth as God and man.  We have three service times to try to help it work with your schedule.  We hope you’ll make it to one of them (service times and info here).

This will be our last service of 2022, so let me say thank you to all of you who call Lakeshore home.  This year has been a good year in so many ways and, after God Himself, we all thank God for you.  Seeing you each week is inspiring because you want to grow your faith and be with others who are going in the same direction.  For some, it’s a season to seek God. For others, it’s a season to build on your new faith, and for others, it’s a season to grow deeper in the Lord.  Regardless of which one fits you, it’s exciting to see you all heading in the same direction.  It’s not about perfection, but direction!

So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me, my wife Sue, and our Staff, Elders, and Trustees!

We’ll see you this Saturday and/or next Sunday on New Year's day.

Warmly,
Vince

DECEMBER 15, 2022

Lakeshore Friends—

One of the most significant lessons I have learned over the past few years that has helped me navigate the ups and downs of life is this: when I see life from God’s perspective, it always provides me the most comfort and makes the most sense.

When I look at life from my own limited perspective, I don’t see it right.  I don’t appreciate it fully.  And I don’t enjoy it very much either.  But when I try to see things from God’s perspective, then life’s circumstances (both good and bad) start to make much more sense.

That’s because only God is sovereign, all-knowing, loving, and has a purpose for the life of every person who follows Jesus that is perfect. 

Often at Christmas, we think a lot about ourselves and other people.  Maybe we ought to think more about what it was like for God to orchestrate the events of Christmas.  If we did, we’d get His perspective on this amazing event and maybe it would make the most sense.

I hope you’ll spend some time thinking about all that God did on Christmas and how His perfect plan was.  If you see Christmas from this perspective, life will make so much more sense for you.  I think you’ll appreciate and enjoy it so much more.

As always, we’re here to help you on that journey this holy season.

Warmly,
Vince