The Thursday Update

NOVEMBER 13, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

When it comes to the future, people have all kinds of views.

Some people are idealists. They seem to think and believe that eventually the world will get better and better over time. They anticipate improvement and cite things like technology, medicine, and convenience as proof that the world is gradually getting better. The problem with this view is that morally things are doing the exact opposite. They are getting worse… and much worse by the day! In Matthew 24:4-8, Jesus talks about how bad things will be just before He returns and says that like a woman giving birth, it will get more frequent and more intense. This view is not in line with reality or with Jesus.

Other people are pessimists. They see the high frequency of negative things happening all around and have simply resigned themselves to the fact that nothing good will happen. They just give up on trying to make a difference in people's lives individually because everything is falling apart globally. They are hopeless and have a fatalistic view of things. The problem with this view is that God calls people to change individual lives, not the entire world. And because Jesus says that these negative things must happen (Matthew 24:6), there is a purpose in all that is happening. God is in full control of it all and it is all part of His plan for the world. This view is not in line with God’s plan or with being the “salt and light” every Christian is called to be (Matthew 5:13-16).

But smart people are right in between these two views— they are realists. They believe God’s Word, the Bible, and know that the world will not be getting better, but worse, in contrast to idealists. They also know that the madness we see today is not outside of God’s control or His plan, in contrast to the pessimists. They understand God’s prophetic timeline, believe that God will one day make all things that are wrong right again, and cling to the blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ at the soon-coming Rapture of the church (Titus 2:11-13).

The only way we can know the future is to trust what God says about it and study the Bible. When we know the future, we are best prepared for it. And when it comes to prophecy, God is still fulfilling it accurately at 100 percent!

We’re here to help you in this view of the future. On Sunday, I’ll explain all the key events that the Bible teaches (over and over again) that will happen in the future, all in one message. If you really want to get a grasp of God’s plan from today until eternity, you absolutely have to be here on Sunday.

Why not invite as many friends and family to join you as possible? I think this will be one message that will be both fascinating and potentially life-changing.

Warmly,

Vince
Senior Pastor

NOVEMBER 6, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

For many years, I have shared my thoughts on a saying that has been around for a long time. The saying goes like this: “You’re so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good.” The thinking is that if you think too much about heaven that you will not be thinking about how you live and impact others during your life on earth.

I have found the exact opposite to be true. I say that for a couple of reasons.

First, there is a biblical reason. Colossians 3:1-3 says: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, could not be more clear in calling us to set our hearts (that is, the seat of our emotions) and set our minds (that is, how we think and what we think about) on the things above, namely heaven and God. The word for “set” in Greek has the idea of aspiration, desire and passion. It also has the idea of being engrossed by them. We are clearly supposed to be very heavenly minded, thinking about the reality of heaven and the God who reigns there.

Second, there is a practical reason. It’s when we are the most heavenly minded that we are the most earthly good because that requires us to focus on eternity. And the more we focus on eternity, the more we are gripped with the reality of it for both our lives and the lives of others. And the more we are coming to terms with the reality and glory of heaven, we will also come to terms with the reality and agony of hell. And the more that happens, the more we will have the conviction and desire to tell others about the love of God found through faith in Jesus Christ. The more real they are to our way of thinking, the more we sense and urgency to share Christ with others in our family and our friends. That sounds like we will actually be the most earthly good, doesn’t it? Conversely, when you are not very heavenly minded, you don’t think this way. Heaven becomes a vague notion and so does hell. And there goes the urgency with it.

Sadly, too many people are not as heavenly minded as they should be. That’s why we are teaching this current series on heaven, hell and everything in between. We want to hear what God has to say about them so that we can be prepared for that day when we die and are judged, and so that we are the most earthly good for others who need Jesus.

While we talked about heaven last Sunday, we’ll talk about hell this Sunday. It’s not a popular topic in churches these days except for an occasional reference to it… maybe an occasional reference. But while many churches avoid this subject for fear that people will get upset and offended by it, we’ll see why God sees it very differently. Afterall, it is a real place and Jesus tells us more about hell than He does about heaven. There’s a reason for that.

I hope you’ll be more heavenly minded than ever.

If you are, I’ll see you on Sunday! 😊

Warmly,

Vince
Senior Pastor

OCTOBER 30, 2025

Lakeshore Friends,

As October comes to an end, so does Pastor's Appreciation Month. It’s the month where Pastors are recognized and appreciated by their congregations and others for what we do. I want to begin this week’s email by expressing my sincerest thanks (on behalf of all five of our Pastors) for all the ways you show appreciation for us. You do this all twelve months too, not just October.

Some of you sent us cards and things like that and they mean so much to us. They encourage us and build us up in the midst of the work of ministry that can sometimes drain us. Some of you have even given us gifts. Thank you for all of this. But the greatest gift that you all bring to us as Pastors at Lakeshore is being such committed followers of Jesus Christ. Nothing makes a Pastor happier than to see his people hungry and growing in their walk with the Lord.

The Apostle John put it this way in 3 John 4: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Amen to that!

When you make being at church your top priority, when you worship God and hungrily take in the teaching during those services, when you show love to others who are at church (especially the many new people who are attending in really high numbers these days), when you read the Bible daily, when you share your faith with others and invite them to church, you are doing what John said in 3 John 4— walking in the truth. And when our Pastors hear and see that in you, we feel like John felt— we have no greater joy!

Thank you! I wouldn’t trade you and our church for anyone or any other church around. I mean that with 100 percent sincerity.

Shifting gears, here you'll find the chart I shared during my message last Sunday. It is a more complete version than the one I shared and it comes from Turning Point Ministries and Dr. David Jeremiah (a great ministry!). I hope it helps you understand how these two different places of judgment, at two different times, and with two different purposes contrast with each other. If you missed last Sunday’s message, One Minute After You Die, you can watch it here.

This Sunday, we’ll look at the most amazing place ever, heaven, and why we should be excited to go there and bring as many people as possible with us by sharing the Good News with them.

It will be a really great Sunday to invite friends and family who need to hear about it. I hope you’ll do that.

You’re the best!

Warmly,

Vince
Senior Pastor