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Lakeside Kids | Ministry Update
Check out this video from Tony and Joel about the exciting things coming your way. Lakeside is excited to use this season for growing closer to the Lord as a family, and equipping parents to lead their children.
Are You Hiding?
“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8 The serpent slithered near Eve and spoke the first lie – the same lie that still whispers to our hearts: “Did God really say?” It was just one seed of deceit, but one that was sown deep into…
Presence
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 “I am with you always.” Have you considered that statement that Jesus made? Have you truly thought about its implications? We just celebrated Christmas. Emmanuel, God with us. God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The Lord of all, the King of kings, came to earth and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ. Our Emmanuel. He lived a perfect life. Where I would have gotten angry…
A Season of Light
Darkness comes earlier this time of year. The pink light fades to purple and then retreats completely. December 21st, the winter solstice, graces us with only nine hours of sunlight. Precious sunlight that gives warmth, lifts the spirit, and is actually essential to life. It’s amazing to consider the power of light. In a dark room, a single candle brings hope and comfort and pushes back fear. On a dim path, a beam of light brings confidence, courage, and direction.…
Showering with a Sliver
If you’re a soap user like me, you can relate to this age-old problem. . . showering with a sliver. Yep. . . that small, slippery remnant of soap that lingers in your soap dish way past its time. I often use a sliver of soap until the last possible moment when it melts down to a one-dimensional, flat-earth slice. That’s when the problems begin. No matter how hard I scrub, a sliver produces hardly any lather. I’m never sure…
Walking through Grief with God
“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”” (John 11:32-36 ESV) I was in my…
The Life-changing Power of the Word
My passion for women’s Bible studies goes back to two distinctly different experiences of my life: first in my childhood and then as a young adult. I was always a “Why?” person. When Bill and I were just starting out, my dad came up north to help us with some demolition work. Of course, our toddler, Aaron, wanted to help Grampa. “You don’t have to take him with you,” I said to my Dad. “He’ll drive you crazy with questions.”…
Lessons From the Potter’s Wheel
“But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 ESV The beauty of hand-crafted pottery inspires me. I greatly appreciate something made by willing hands. And I know how the art began–a pile of dense, unattractive clay. In a world of technology, something that was also made in ancient times, that has survived through changes in culture and taste, calls to…
Walking Closer with Christ
Recently I had the opportunity to speak at Lakeside’s first Coffeehouse Conversations. What a true blessing to be able to share my heart and the gospel with a variety of women here at Lakeside! When I was preparing for that talk, God laid on my heart some Biblical disciplines that have carried me through some of the hardest and darkest times after becoming a believer. In the earliest days of my new life with Christ as my Savior and Lord,…
Playing Tarzan
In the dappled light of the Amazon rain forest, a muscled man grips a rope like vine and, swinging easily into open air, lets go only to reach out and grasp another that easily carries him across the leafy expanse. There is no hesitation or doubt; that was his plan all along. This may be my poor visualization of the mythic Tarzan, but it is meant only to paint a picture of where God sometimes calls us to go. And,…
Five Simple Words
Five simple words uplifted my day. I have enjoyed playing racquetball for a long time. Because of my age, my current ability to play is not because of any agility or speed, but more because of well-placed shots. I play weekly with a group of guys who are very understanding of my limitations. I was playing doubles a few weeks ago and our foursome included a new guy who was probably in his mid-forties. He was notably physically fit and…
Make This Christmas Season Holy
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her,” (Luke 10: 41-42 NIV). Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and worship Him rather than help her sister in the kitchen. Although this isn’t a traditional Christmas scripture, these words spoke to me as I prepared for this holiday season: make it holy. How can…
Theology 1 Session 5: Categories of Theology
Writing about Session: 5 Christian Epistemology, Adam McClain shares his thoughts on one of the discussion questions. Discussion question #2: Reread the postmodernist objections to Christianity. Which objections have you heard the most? Which objections do you find the most difficult? Why? I like this question because it makes me think about the tools I need to develop and keep in order to be a good ambassador for Christ. These questions are not comfortable to think about, but they are…
Theology 1 Session 4: Categories of Theology
Writing about Session: 4 Postmodern Epistemology, Dan Jones shares his thoughts on one of the discussion questions. Discussion question #9: Explain how was your thinking most challenged by the lesson. I will focus this blog on postmodernism as it pertains to the United States. I believe this will provide a current example of the degradation of the Church, as postmodern thinking has had a very visible effect on Christianity in the West. The best and most relevant definition of postmodern…
Theology 1 Session 3: Categories of Theology
Writing about Session: 3 Categories of Theology, Justin Sands shares his thoughts on one of the discussion questions. Discussion question #7: It was said during the lesson that when reading the Bible “it does not matter what it means to you. It matters what it meant.” How is this true? Discuss. I chose to discuss this question because it applied directly to our family’s search for a church home and a daycare. During our search we heard everything from “it…