The Thursday Update

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Hey Lakeshore—

Times have been tough for so many people in so many ways, to say the least.  As I am writing this, Hurricane Milton is making landfall in Florida.  My heart goes out to all the families who are facing this storm and myself and everyone here at Lakeshore are praying for God’s hand of protection upon them.   The same holds true for the people who are trying to put things back together in the wake of Hurricane Helene.  It’s hard to make sense of all this at times, but there is solace in knowing that God is not absent in times like these.  He is very present. 

It’s times like these we must remember what the Psalmist wrote in chapter 46:

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

But events like these always tend to leave us asking “why?  why God?” 

This Sunday, I'm going to do my best to share that why from Scripture.  We've been in a series called “What in the World is Happening?” and this week, we are raising that very question… What is Happening in the World?  I hope to see you then.

In Him,
Pastor Brian

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

Hurricane Helene ripped through our country quickly last week and left a path of devastation.  Everyday people like us who were just living each day normally two weeks ago are now at a very different place.  As of Wednesday, 170 people have died and the number is likely to rise since hundreds are still missing.  Towns and homes are devastated and the relief efforts will take time.  Rebuilding will take years.  But for many, lives have been lost with little notice.

I can’t imagine what this must be like for people affected by it.  Let’s pray for the people impacted.  Pray right now so you don’t let it slip your mind.

It all reminds me that every day is precious and life is fragile.  We never know when or how we’ll spend our last day on earth.  It’s especially true when we consider the future.  What will God do in the days ahead in America?  It will involve more than just wondering who will win the presidential election in less than 5 weeks.  Do you ever wonder what God says about our future?  Things can turn bad really quickly in our nation and I am really concerned that we are on the fast track there right now.

So what should we do?  Here are a few things:

1. Seek and find faith in Jesus if you are not yet a Christian.  If you miss this, one day you will seriously regret it forever.

2. Make sure you are walking with God.  Are you reading the Bible on your own?  Living a holy life?  Caring for others like Jesus did?

3. Get ready for the future that God outlines in the Bible for the end of all things as we now know them.  In the words of Jesus be ready because you do not know when He will return.

I hope this new Sunday teaching series will help with the last one, because life is fragile and short.

Warmly,
Vince

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

What in the world is happening today?

Everywhere you turn, you hear more bad news taking place locally, nationally, and globally. And on top of all of this, there are threats of more bad news on the time horizon. It would be hard for anyone with a straight face to say things are getting better these days. In fact, about two thirds of Americans think they are getting worse. I wonder why the other one third doesn't think the same. 

Well, to answer my original question, the world is going exactly where God is leading it to go. Before you ask why God is letting the world get worse, ask yourself the question, "Why are we as a people forsaking God and His words of life and wisdom?"  Answer that last question and you'll have the answer to the why question. 

God has a clear plan for the future that He shares with us in the Bible, and that will be my subject for the next four weeks as we begin a new series called, "What in the World is Happening?"  We'll look at four interesting topics that are important for us to understand if we want to grasp what God is doing today.

I can't think of a better topic that will scratch where curious people are itching today. People want to know what's happening and where things are going. If you have friends like this, please invite them to join you for church this Sunday. I promise we'll do our very best to clearly and compellingly explain God's plan for all that is going on. 

Send a text, make a call, pay a visit, and do whatever it takes to invite people to Lakeshore. It will help them. 

I look forward to seeing you and them on Sunday. 

Warmly,
Vince