The Thursday Update

MARCH 6, 2025

Hey Lakeshore!

For the past few weeks, we have been talking about how to Press On. Step by step on the things to do to get through the difficult times in our lives.
But it got me wondering…what’s the point? What I mean is, what’s behind it all? Why should we bother pressing on?

I know there have been so many times in my own life when I needed to push through, or going for a goal, only to give up along the way because I lost sight of the purpose in the first place. I start to wonder “Is this worth it?” or “What am I doing?”

This Sunday, I want to take a little different spin on the topic of Pressing On and want to talk about what I’ve learned about the True Reason We Press On. I think it will be helpful for all of us. Can’t wait to see you Sunday!

Pastor Brian P.

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

Lakeshore Friends—

As I sit in my office writing this note, all the snow that covered the ground for the last two months is rapidly melting away. The green grass that has been hidden for so long is finally being revealed again. I can’t help but see this as a picture of the difficulty and struggles that each of us goes through. The harshness of winter—the cold, the ice, the barrenness — they can feel unrelenting, much like the trials and burdens we carry in our lives.

But as the warmer temperatures soften the frozen ground and the snow begins to give way, a new season emerges. In the same way, the long seasons of struggles, trials, and difficulties we face are not permanent. If we lean into God and press on, He will give us the perspective, strength and hope we need to melt away the snow and ice that so easily discourages our souls.

I want to invite you to come to church this Sunday as we continue in our series, Press On. This week we will be looking at select verses from Galatians chapters 5 and 6 to learn how to keep the good things that God prepared for us to do, without becoming tired, discouraged, weary, or burned out. I hope through this message you will find encouragement and a renewed sense of purpose for which God created you.

Make a great day!
Pastor Frank

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Lakeshore Friends—

This Sunday is the Super Bowl and the numbers surrounding this game are staggering. Consider that:

» 125 million people will watch the game in the United States, making it the most watched broadcast event in history.
» 63 million people will watch the game outside the United States.
» 1.47 billion chicken wings will be consumed on Sunday.
» 12.5 million pizzas will be consumed on Sunday.
» The host city of New Orleans will take in $1 billion dollars of tourist revenue.

It’s amazing how this day has become one of the biggest days of the year. While I don’t mind any of this, I wonder if 125 million people went to church last Christmas or Easter? My guess is that they didn’t attend anywhere near that level. It speaks to where people’s values lie today. Worship has moved away from the Creator to the activities of His created. So how do we respond?

Rather than curse the darkness and complain about it, God would call us to shine the light of His love and leverage it. Afterall, we are “the light of the world” and are called to “let our lights shine before others” (Matthew 5:14-16). How do we do that? We leverage the big game by speaking the language of the culture. Sports is the language of the culture, and football has no equal in America.

That’s why we’re holding another Football Sunday event at Lakeshore this Sunday. It’s a popular event because everyone understands the language it speaks.

We have a great Sunday planned for you, from the service in the auditorium (and in your kid’s classrooms), to the atrium which is being transformed into a tailgate party with free food and drinks. We do all of this for you, but also for you to be able to more easily invite your family and friends to join you on Sunday.

So I hope you’ll be there to take in this event with a football jersey on and some friends to enjoy the experience with you at Lakeshore.

Warmly,
Vince