Mike’s 3 Cents

5 years in: pleasantly overwhelmed

Jan 26, 2012 2 Comments

As I consider the first five years of Vista’s existence, I unconsciously close my eyes and gently shake my head in an effort to carefully jar my brain. The assumption being that what I know to be true, cannot possibly be true…I must be dreaming. Wake up, brain!

Yet, once I am certain that I am actually awake, I still struggle to believe the surrounding realities.

I find my self pleasantly overwhelmed with the memories of Vista’s first half-decade. The story of Vista is one full of ups and of downs, of success and of failure, of joy and of pain. Vista is the story of life and of loss. The story of Vista has been anything but boring, nor has it been a saunter through a rose garden.

The story of Istanbul (that’s how my iPad auto-corrected my misspelling of Vista!) Anyway…the story of VISTA has been nothing short of what Jesus promises those who follow: Troubled, yet rich.

“In this world you will have trouble…”–John 16:33. “I come that they may have life. And have it to the full”–John 10:10. It has been troubling at times. Not just for me, not just organizationally, but most significantly in the real lives of the people who are Vista. We’ve been through disappointment, unemployment, loss, prison, divorce, sickness and death…and we’re in the middle of all of that even now. For the church, “trouble” isn’t an imaginary scary monster that we hope and pray stays under the bed…it’s a reality we battle every day.

The fullness of life comes in the way Jesus meets us in those troubles and the way a Jesus-following community of God comes together to care and to pray and to persevere–-to laugh and to cry. Together we have walked the crooked, rocky paths together with an eternal perspective and purpose that brings a joy, a peace and a purpose that supersedes the circumstances and transcends our personal struggles and challenges, and our pleasures and breakthroughs.

On what other platform would the real, true gospel of Jesus expand, than on the truths and realities of life? For Jesus to meet us in our denial, for God to comfort us in our fantasies, for the Holy Spirit to arrive in our dreams is to make the Trinity a myth, a religious crutch, a facade.

But when Jesus shows up in the truth, when God engages us in our darkest moments, when the Spirit speaks peace and joy into the deepest waters of our soul…then the Trinity is real. Then our outreach is sincere. Then our friendships are genuine. Then our ministry is rich. Then God inhabits our prayers and our praises. And then…only then…does God show up for our hurting, our lost, our lonely friends in our eyes, our words, and our deeds.

Vista has embraced the Truth head on—the truth about our lives, and the truth about God. And the truth is that the outcomes are inexplicable. How is it that God would see fit to expand his rule and reign in and through such unworthy subjects? How is it that us cracked pots (2 Cor 4) would be filled with such treasure? How is it that we have enjoyed the blessings of the children in Cambodia, the churches in Kenya, the new site in Worthington?

How is it that the invisible God has made himself more known in our soul? Why in the midst of all of life do we experience more peace, joy and hope? Why has our faith been tried, tested and secured? Who are we? Why has Vista come to where it is? Why have we become who we’ve become? Why have we been blessed in such ways?

Because God loves us.That’s all! Because Jesus loves us. He really does. Why? Because he loves us. That’s God.

I’m shaking my head again…

~mike

180 new puppies and 6 trucks

Dec 15, 2011 1 Comment

Wow. I don’t know what else to say about the Vista 180 Weekend…except, wow. Could our Missional efforts have been any stronger? Could the Progam have gone any smoother? Could we have squeezed anymore content into 90 minutes? Could we have fit more than the 3000 that came into the TWHS auditorium? Would you have ever imagined collecting over 1500 very serious and even heart-wrenching prayer requests? Maybe so, but wow, God. Wow!

This  coming Sunday morning we will spend time “telling of the mighty deeds of the Lord,”(Ps 78) during services, so come prepared with your stories of encouragement to share.  (You can also add to the growing number of stories here: Web, Facebook, Twitter.) And more importantly, we will remember the challenge we face as a church to embrace the real work that began as soon as the caravan of trucks circled in salute on their way out of the TWHS parking lot at 9:45pm Sunday night.

It is critical that we put equal energy into the follow-up and search for those who need others in the journey they began or are continuing as a result of God’s move in their heart this weekend. We need each other, there is no doubt, and some folks really have nobody…but us/you.

Like the excitment and fun of the day the new puppy dog arrives, the next day begins the real work. It would be flat wrong to play with the puppy, but never feed her; to teach the puppy tricks, but never clean up after her; to run with the puppy, but never provide a place to rest.

Last weekend we enjoyed the loving-kindnesses and favor of God. He trusted us with his greatest love…his creation…precious people. He trusted us to share about him clearly and unashamedly. He trusted us to be honest and vulnerable (like Jesus) to our guests. He trusted us to express the joy and the purpose found only in him. He trusted us to serve and love those who are lost, lonely and hurting.

We did all those things as best we could, and God graciously brought an audience to receive, to be refreshed, to be honored, and to participate in the celebration of Jesus. It is amazing that he would do that, but he did. And what a joy it was! Like 180 new puppies to a child…it was an overwhelming joy!

And now Jesus’ challenge to us shifts…to the work we so often and too often forget or avoid…loving, serving, building, restoring, comforting, praying for those whose hearts have been touched, whose wounds have been re-opened, whose needs seem overwhelming…

But this time is crucial, more crucial than any segment of the Program, and it doesn’t simply include those whom you invited that came. What about the ones who didn’t come? Are we only interested in them as a potential attendee? Or did we, in either case, open a dialogue…carve a path…for building a relationship? We did!

What’s your next step with each person you reached out to? Make it normal; make it relational; make it simple. But for heaven’s sake take it!

He’s here!

Dec 8, 2011 1 Comment

This weekend…Dec 9th, 10th and 11th…we celebrate the arrival of God to the surface of our planet 2000 years ago, and we pray with great fervor that same Jesus will arrive in the hearts of many who take a step of faith this weekend.

It’s a sobering thought…that through us, God might reach the hearts of some who don’t currently know him. It’s a pretentious thought…that through us, God might reach the hearts of some who don’t currently know him!

But that’s what he does, he works through us. And those are the marching orders Jesus left with us: “Go and make disciples…”

Fortunately…thankfully…Jesus ends that thought in Matthew 28 with these words: “Surely I am with you always.” I’m counting on that…for all of us…as we encourage and invite others to join us this weekend…and for those participating in and supporting the Program…and for those searching for the time and the courage to attend…

I’m praying even now for the Father to strengthen you and draw others to himself…