Lakeside Living

The beach is buzzing louder than a beehive at harvest. The aroma of sunscreen indicates that the Banana Boat may have capsized close to shore. Sunglasses cover wide-eyed, love-struck teenage faces. Shrill screams precede the painful slap of a sunburned boy's back after a failed attempt at a front-flip. Boy chases girl across the sandy beach - she's a state champion sprinter - so she stays just out of his reach. Lifeguards turn the color of a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Everyone seems to be loving life.

Below the surface of every body on the beach, there is more to the story. Smiles are often perfect masks used to cover the feelings of neglect, shame, and loneliness. Infants are a little more willing to show their true feelings. Middle schoolers quickly pick up on the art of acting like everything's O.K. By the time high school is a mere memory, most kids are professionals when it comes to putting on the "right" face. This skill is accidentally taught to kids by the adults closest to them.

Reality hit me faster than the mercury climbed in Minnesota yesterday.

Every single person at that beach has a story. Some are hurting. Others laugh everyday. Some people lie awake at night worried beyond belief. There are those who haven't smiled in days and those whose cheeks are permanently creased because of the fake grin that fools friends. Every single person at that beach needs Jesus.

Jesus loved the lake.

One particular dude who spent a lot of time at the beach said this about Jesus ...

"And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
(John 1:14 ESV)

The guy from Nazareth, the one called Christ spent a lot of time with people who frequented the most popular lake in the area. Jesus showed up at the lake and let people know the promise that they could be forgiven of all the sin in their lives. Jesus knew normal people by name. He continued to show up where people liked to hang out. His promise was later understood a little more clearly when the families from the beach saw him hanging on a tree and buried in a rich guys grave. Emotions were as mixed up as the sand between a little one's toes on the edge of lake Galilee.

That previous promise was later understood to mean that the man who dwelt among them, would now dwell within each and every person who believed his words.

If you are reading this and believe what Jesus taught us about the glory of God that is "full of grace and truth" - if you are reading this and wonder why the lake is some important - listen up. In Hopkins, MN the local beach is the place to brush shoulders with sinners. I've been blessed with the opportunity to move into this community with the purpose of sharing the truth about who Jesus is with young people here. Oddly enough, that means I can spend a good amount of time at the lake like Jesus did with his friends. Don't stop now.

You have the Holy Spirit in you. There are people everywhere around you who are searching for love. God's love is limitless and always available to all people. When even one sinner returns to Daddy's loving arms, all of heaven throws a party. You live someplace unique.

There is at least one person you come in contact with on a regular basis who will benefit for eternity if you - you who has Christ in you - will take the time to listen to his/her story. Then, tell them how the Greatest Story ever told has forever changed your story.