The Thursday Update

MAY 23, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

This weekend is what many call the unofficial start of Summer.  Right on cue, the weather has finally started warming up and we just broke 80 degrees for the first time this year (yeah, late May is waaaaaay toooooo late for that to occur in my opinion).  We all look forward to this because, well, we live in Rochester and warm weather isn’t something we get a lot of.  So I am encouraged by thoughts of summer!

With all of that said, this weekend is more important for something we should never take for granted.  It’s Memorial Day weekend, a time we set aside as a national holiday to remember and honor those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  This holiday has been a part of our national calendar since 1868, around the time of the Civil War, though its original name was Decoration Day.

I hope that you’ll remember those who have given their lives for their country this weekend.  After Jesus, no one has given up more for our freedom than those who died to preserve it.  So make sure you thank God for our brave servicemen and women who make our land the land of the free.  We can never be sure how long we will have this freedom.

This Sunday, we’ll remember those who died in service to our country as part of our services, as we continue “I’m Just Too Busy."

And remember that while some people rarely attend church during the summer (something known as the “summer slump” in church lingo), church attendance is something mature Christians who love Jesus always pursue first above everything else.  I hope that will describe you this summer!

“Thank you, Lord, for giving us a great nation filled with heroes willing to sacrifice for all of us in the United States.”

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 16, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

This week, my next door neighbor was putting up a fence.  No, I didn’t do anything to provoke this, but the arrival of a new puppy may be the reason.

When we heard the noise of fence posts being put in the ground, we looked and saw where the fence was going up.  And as most people who live next door to this do, we wanted to make sure the fence wasn’t over onto our property.  After all, we have surveys that show where our property begins and ends on all four sides.

When it comes to being too busy, we need to make sure we do the same thing with our time and our involvements— namely, that we ensure we’re not crossing property lines.  It’s so easy to take on things that are not within our own boundaries, and to add to an already busy list of activities when we really don’t have to (or even shouldn’t in the first place).

Do you have clear time and involvement boundaries in your life?  Do you know how to establish them, and then stick to them?

Just like in life, you need them if you want to avoid the “I’m Just Too Busy!” lifestyle.

Warmly,
Vince

MAY 9, 2024

Lakeshore Friends—

Where would we be without mothers?

God in His infinite wisdom has created mothers to do things that no one else could ever do.  Think of all they did and do for us:

Mothers give us life by carrying us in their bodies.

Mothers often feed us from their own bodies.

Mothers bring us the nurturing we all need as we grow up.

Mothers have a strong hand in setting the culture of our homes.

Mothers are models for young girls on what a woman should be.

Mothers are models for young boys on what to look for in a future wife.

Mothers are the ones we see athletes say “hi” to on the sidelines of a game.

Mothers are amazing.  No, they aren’t perfect, because no one is.  And yes, sometimes our mothers may disappoint us to one degree or another.  But there’s one thing I will always say: “Thank you God for creating this beautiful thing called motherhood!”

Make sure you show love to your mother on Sunday, and every day.  If your mother has passed, thank God for all the positive contributions she made in your life. Best of all, bring your mom to church on Sunday, if you can, so we can celebrate her together!

Warmly,
Vince