Lakeview Alive

The experience of faith includes the experience of God's seeming absence at times and honestly facing those moments which ultimately helps us to move through them.

The heavens are telling the glory of God

The parable of the Good Samaritan is about moving from our fear of enemies to loving our enemies. It's about crossing boundaries to see & love those we more easily hate or see as adversaries.

Jesus' parable of the persistent widow who asks for help and justice from an essentially unjust judge, who repeatedly ignores her then finally grants her request. Jesus tells us to pray & never give up.

The first two parables in this selection form a pair and say essentially the same thing from two perspectives: God's coming Reign is like a treasure or rare jewel that is so invaluable that it is worth total sacrifice.

“HOPE – Hold ON, Pandemic Ends!” Easier to say, than it has been to do. Shut in on ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, we have become pandemic zombies. The post April 11, 2021 9:30 am Service – Buried in Fear, Overflowing with Joy appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

“HOPE – Hold ON, Pandemic Ends!” Easier to say, than it has been to do. Shut in on ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, we have become pandemic zombies. The post April 11, 2021 8:00 am Service – Buried in Fear, Overflowing with Joy appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Easter morning begins with more questions, How did the huge stone get rolled away? and Where is my Lord, what have they done with him? The resurrection astounds us, even today, yet it is the cornerstone of our faith for without the foolishness of God, we have no hope. Because of the resurrection we have the greatest hope of all, forgiveness and eternal life with God. The post April 4, 2021 9:30am Service – Rolling Stones appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Easter morning begins with more questions, How did the huge stone get rolled away? and Where is my Lord, what have they done with him? The resurrection astounds us, even today, yet it is the cornerstone of our faith for without the foolishness of God, we have no hope. Because of the resurrection we have the greatest hope of all, forgiveness and eternal life with God. The post April 4, 2021 8:00am Easter Service – Rolling Stones appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Easter morning begins with more questions, How did the huge stone get rolled away? and Where is my Lord, what have they done with him? The resurrection astounds us, even today, yet it is the cornerstone of our faith for without the foolishness of God, we have no hope. Because of the resurrection we have the greatest hope of all, forgiveness and eternal life with God. The post April 4, 2021 Sunrise Service – Rolling Stones appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The seven last statements of Jesus while being crucified on a cross reveal Gods wisdom, love, forgiveness, ultimate desire for humanity, and our petulance as humans. The post April 2, 2021 – Holy Friday appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus mandate to celebrate what we have come to know as Holy Communion. Maundy is a Latin word meaning command. The Last Supper connects us to the Exodus - deliverance from slavery and now, Jesus is going to deliver us from the slavery to sin. The post April 1, 2021 – Maundy Thursday appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

If compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece as Ludwig Erhard noted, then how do Christians do compromise? The post Compromise Is Not a Dirty Word appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Today’s scripture is: Matthew 18:21-35 Unforgiveness eats as us like a cancer. It is self-imprisonment. Jesus wants to free us and helps us to forgive. Forgiving flushes the pain and toxins from us setting us free to reclaim joy. Forgiving those who have wronged us, or even ourselves, brings us healing and wholeness that frees us from being victims to the wrong. It benefits our loved ones too because our unforgiveness keeps us from being whole in our relationships. Forgivness The post Forgiveness Fitness appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Today’s scripture is: Exodus 12:1-4 What events have shaped your faith? This week we look at a major event in the Bible that has shaped both the Jewish faith and became a key event in our Christian faith, the Passover. From a historical event and record to a deeply spiritual shared ritual that opens the door for the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Passover marked an event in the life of the early Israelites when they began the exodus The post Formative Moments, Shaping Faith appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

First, devote yourself to prayer, pray for others, then remember that every conversation you have with someone either draws them toward Christ or pushes them away. The post Conversations & Encouragement appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

We are people of the heart as well as people of the mind. Our heart is the very center of our being. It is where all our thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, and fears come together. The post It’s a Heart Thing! appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Jesus demonstrates his sense of humor in his interaction with the Canaanite woman as he banters with her but yet he honors her demonstration of faith. The post A Place at the Table appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

If you could go back in time, what would you change about your life? Lets face it, we all think about this and imagine what life would be like if only.... The post What Would You Change? appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Some say the age of miracles ended with the disciples. Some say miracles are stories that teach. Some say miracles are just coincidences we cant explain. Some say miracles are real. The post The Real Story appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Today’s Scripture – Romans 8:28, 31-32, 35, 37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. “You cannot receive what you don’t give.Outflow The post Love That Will Not Let Me Go! appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The Kingdom of God is near and its our job to break the news to the world. We are agents of the new kingdom! We are heralds and messengers breaking the best possible news upon a world eager to hear some good news! -We do not, and should not, hide our light under a bushel basket (Matthew 5:14-15). The post Breaking News appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

We do not stop enough to listen to God speaking. And like the people of Jerusalem long ago, we often misunderstand the Spirit’s movement among us. In the silence and stillness of this moment, let us draw near to God and truly listen.. The post We Are God’s Children appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Today’s Scripture – Song of Solomon 2:8-13 Love is neither a prize nor a product, but one dimension of a three-dimensional relationship. It has been God’s good gift from the beginning, and Song of Songs teaches us to use it wisely, within the bounds of the commitment and covenant for which God created us. Song of Solomon leads us into some beautiful love poetry, if not occasionally a bit racy. This text is rich in celebrating the gift of romantic The post Sacred Love appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

It is said that God is omnipotent - he knows everything. God created everything yet the Psalm writer seems to feel ignored, forgotten by God. God is capable of forgetting, he has promised to forget our sins if we confess Jesus as Lord. But if God is capable of forgetting there is one thing he is incapable of and thats forgetting you. The post The Forgetting God appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Jesus sets a stage for what compassion looks like in action. He demonstrates what the word means as he cares for people who were otherwise ignored and ostracized. Compassion is a part of our call as disciples and can set us free to be fully Gods people in his image and reveals the kingdom of God. The post The Mission of Divine Compassion appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Going back to Genesis reminds us of Gods triune nature on this Trinity Sunday and a reminder in a time of racial unrest, we are all created in the image of God and of equal worth. The post Our Royal Ancestry appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The great novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.” But Fitzgerald was wrong. There are plenty of them. Pentecost Sunday celebrates the power of the Holy Spirit in enabling us to have not only second, but third, fourth, fifth, or more, chances to get it right. This is the power and mystery of Gods grace and powered by the Holy Spirit. The post Act Two appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

If the disciples had remained focused on looking for Jesus they would never have spread the good news throughout the world. Do we spend our time looking up, waiting for Jesus return, or are we engaged in the world and taking Jesus everywhere we go? The post Looking the Wrong Way appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

We are easily distracted from our focus on Gods plan and will for our lives. Like the Romans, we may be worshiping an unknown god or allowing the world to pull us away form worship of the living God. This season of isolation is a good time to reorient yourself and your priorities. The post Seeking God in Uncertainty appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

How much is prayer worth to you? What would you do if you couldnt pray? Either struggling to know how to pray and having motivation to pray might be contrasted against our taking prayer for granted. God has given us the incredible gift of being able to communicate with him directly and to call on the power of all heaven. The post Prayer Value appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. The post The First Church appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Jesus finds us where we are Today’s Scripture – John 20:19-29 We typically focus on Thomas as the doubter, the one who dares question the resurrection. We ought to see him as who he is, one who loved Jesus and was in deep grief following the resurrection. The notion that Jesus actually was alive and had come back was shocking. For Thomas this was a pivotal moment of faith for him and affirmed him worthy of Jesus’ love and affection The post The Thomas Conspiracy appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Who are we that Jesus the Christ should suffer and die as he did? The high drama of Jesus’ death is rooted in history. His resurrection conquered death and has an eternal impact for us all. It is a story of a God who loves us all, pursues us all the days of our lives, invites us to accept his offer of complete forgiveness and calls us to use our potential for serving Him by serving others. The post Who Are You? appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The day Jesus was crucified is powerful, this end of the Passion Week, but it is that morning, three days later, which changed the world. That was the moment when God proved his love, proved that he, and he alone, can overcome death - and forgive our sins. The post The Day Everything Changed appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The disciple whom Jesus loved tells the story of Jesus death and resurrection, a story of the power of God to forgive sin. The post The Disciple “Whom Jesus Loved” appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The act of foot washing depicted in John teaches us about Gods character of service, grace, love and calls us to humility. Not only is our Creator God all powerful, but also gentle and capable of humility with us demonstrating his great love. The post Maundy Thusday – Clean Feet appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Palm Sunday, Who is Your King Today’s Scripture – Matthew 21: 6-14; 27:17-18, 20-23 Who is Your King – When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” This week’s message is why the happy crowd on Palm Sunday gave way to the Friday crowd who called for the crucifixion of Jesus.  We represent one crowd or the other. There is no middle ground for the followers of Jesus!  “Alone we can do so little; The post Who is Your King appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

God is listening, but do we take time to speak? God is still speaking, but do we take time to listen? This time of isolation is a perfect time to practice our spiritual discipline of prayer; speaking AND listening. What does God want to tell you during this season? The post Within Earshot appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

John 3:5 Titus 3:5-8 The Nicene Creed declares the identity of Jesus based on scripture and the witness of the Apostles and early church fathers. It is that declaration of our hope though Jesus and that gives us joy even in difficult times like the present. Make your donation today Paul and the other early disciples understood what Christ had done on the cross and just how important is is that we realize Christ died for us even while we The post Born Anew appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

The Nicene Creed is important because it grounds us into one of the essentials of faith; the Holy Trinity. It spells out the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the nature of God and the Holy Spirit and the co-equal nature and unity of God. It is a way for us to understand how God interacts and to see his character in human terms. The post I Believe appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” ~Helen Keller Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to Godin gratitude and praise. Make your donation today! Watch the entire service here: 8:00 am Message9:00 am Service10:30 am Service The post Putting it all Together in the Wesleyan Way appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Acts 1:8, John 15:4-5, Romans 5:8 Making Disciples in the Wesleyan tradition means that it is practical and accountable. Practical in that we are engaged in the world in good works and sharing the gospel of Jesus and accountable in that we are engaged in small groups where we encourage, pray, study, and hold one another accountable. Wesley, through his formation of the “Holy Club” developed a way to be practical in faith, not just in worship and the sacraments. The post Sanctification, A Wesleyan View of Discipleship appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Making disciples means we have to get off the sidelines of our faith and bear down on the work of sharing the good news and mentoring others into faith. This is the stuff of kingdom building and is Jesus last command for us. The post The 21st Century Disciple appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Acts 26:26-29 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. Message Text Message Study Guide “Charity begins at home but should not end there.” Thomas Fuller Let us gather our gifts together andoffer them to God in gratitude and praise. Make your donation today! Watch the entire service here: 8:00 am Message         9:00 am Service            The post Wesley’s Three Simple Rules appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Loving Others as God calls us will always challenge and stretch us beyond our comfort zone. Yet, it does not mean that we dont hold others accountable. In fact, love requires us to help others grow in faith and strength. Love for others will be hard work. The post The Grace of Loving Others appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

If God Love us, how does he express that love? It is not through prosperity or physical blessings (though that sometimes happens) but by the means of grace which are varied and multi-layered. There is one grace described with the characteristics; Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying. These three components help inform us and help us identify where God is at work. The post A Wesleyan View of Grace appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Knowing and loving God means struggling with the reality of a God who truly loves us, but also calls us to live for him and this means the black letters of the Bible are just as important to us, challenging as they may be, as the wonderful red letters of Jesus’ teaching. Who do you say God is? God calls us to love him with everything we have and that’s tough language, especially for us who live in The post On God and Black letters – #1 Love God appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. The post The Gift appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

As we have examined the first Christmas Carols; Zechariahs Song and Marys The Magnificat we see they lead directly to the Gloria at birth of Jesus. Everything from the Old Testament and everything in the New points to this moment of his birth and leads us to his ministry, the cross, and the resurrection. Jesus is not only the center, he is the answer to everything. Find Jesus - find peace. The post The First Carols: The Gloria appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.

Christmas challenges us to accept Jesus as a surprising and transformative gift. We expect liberation from earthly powers, just as the Jews expected a revolutionary leader to free them from Roman oppression. Yet, what we get is more, better, greater because it is both a transformation and freedom now but it is also eternal. The post Unexpected Gift appeared first on Lakeview United Methodist Church.