The Thursday Update

Lakeshore Friends—

Happy Veterans Day! We thank God for everyone who has served in any of our branches of the military and will be honoring you on Sunday during both services. You are amazing heroes at Lakeshore and in our country!!

When I was a boy scout, I learned one of their mottos: Be prepared!  We learned to be prepared on campouts for all kinds of situations, and the lessons extended beyond the campsite.

Being prepared has helped me in so many ways in life.  I try to be prepared for any problem I may face.  I never want to be unprepared financially, in my relationships, in my family, or spiritually.

God calls all of us to be prepared for anything that may come into our life.  Not only that, He gives us the ability and strength to be prepared by giving us His Spirit.

Are you living a prepared life?  Are you prepared for what may come in your life in the days ahead?  Are you leaning on God for this preparation?

I hope you’ll live like Proverbs 22:3 and see danger in advance and take refuge.  Only God knows what the future holds, but fortunately, He holds that future.

Warmly,

Vince

Lakeshore Friends—

For many of us, we grew up learning to say what has become known as The Lord’s Prayer.  Some of the parts are clear and easy to grasp, while others are really deep.  The one that comes to mind under the “really deep” category is found in Matthew 6:9-10 where Jesus says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What are we praying for there?  Specifically, what are we praying for to come?  What is God’s kingdom?  Why is God’s kingdom coming to earth in answer to this prayer? Yet, we pray for it every time we say this prayer.

I think the Kingdom of God is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible.  When we understand the Kingdom of God, we will fully appreciate God, our lives, and His amazing plan to make all things new. 

We’ll look at the Kingdom of God on Sunday.  And when it comes, all that’s wrong in the world will be made right.

Warmly,

Vince

Lakeshore Friends—

Some days more than others (but every day, to be certain), I feel a sense of disappointment and even anger at what I see in the world today. 

Politics are filled with dishonesty and self-serving agendas that show little concern for real people like us.  Criminal activity is rampant as innocent people are attacked, robbed, raped, beaten, and even killed with increasing frequency and with more severity than ever.  Justice seems to be selective and not blind as it should be as we hear about certain people who commit crimes without consequence while others are severely punished for far less because they are on the wrong side of the political equation.  Financial markets and deals are structured to favor certain people over others.  And spiritually, more and more things that are really “wrong” are called “right,” and vice versa.

Will it ever end?  Absolutely!  One day it will all end.

When Jesus returns to earth at His Second Coming, He will come with justice to judge the world with truth.  He will make every single thing that is wrong right again.  Politics will end as He alone rules and reigns.  Crime will be squashed immediately and will be far less common.  Justice will be perfectly distributed to all.  Financial cheats won’t have success.  And the spiritual atmosphere surrounding the Kingdom He sets up after His return will be “heaven on earth.”

I long for those days and bet you do too.  They will come as the Bible predicts, perhaps sooner than any of us think.  And when it comes, all that’s wrong will be made right.

I will be talking about this time for the next two Sundays and I hope you’ll be here, excited about what Jesus will do at His return!

He will take all that’s wrong in this world and make it right!

Warmly,

Vince