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It’s here!
Dec 1, 2011 Uncategorized 1 Comment
As Dick Enberg would say, “Oh, my!” Is our Christmas program really upon us! Seems impossible, but it is!
I’m writing with hopes of continuing to stir your heart for others and to increase our urgency in the final week…
You understand, of course, that the lost, least and lonely live among us, in many cases unnoticed. People don’t typically advertise their hurts, disappointments and discouragements because it’s often accompanied by guilt or shame or a desire to appear strong and all together (like everyone else, of course). Like you and I do at times, we tell ourselves that our challenges and predicaments are silly, or weak, or embarrassing.
But we cannot afford to be fooled by hardened exteriors or the easy, “I’m fine!” The reality is that life is hard — that’s universal.
Isaiah 61:1 …the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…
We operate from this foundational truth: People need to know (sometimes for the first time, sometimes as a reminder) that God loves them and that there is a space in the human heart that only Jesus can get to.
Yes, our Christmas programs are a big deal, but they are a relatively simple and easy invite. And if you’ve been there before you know that the impact can be big too, yet in a non-threatening, winsome and simply authentic way.
God is moving in people’s lives and hearts — we don’t do that part. We are simply called to notice what He may be up to and to help someone take the next step. 2 Tim 2:25 reminds me of what God does…not me:
…in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…
Be praying. Be ready. Be faith-filled. Be active. And watch God!
Note: If you have, thanks! If you haven’t signed up to serve at one of the programs, we still need Pre-service Parking Attendants for Friday and Saturday, and Welcoming for Saturday and Sunday. Email Jen your preference and program. And remember that every Vista regular attender is a “greeter” whenever you are around!
P.S. I’m not sure which program Mr. Enberg will be attending…
Press on!
mike
go ahead, step
Nov 1, 2011 Uncategorized 1 Comment
Sometimes I make myself sick. Not, like, I ate the wrong food or I rode a merry-go-round immediately following lunch, rather sometimes I make myself sick when I ponder my own immaturity, self-absorption, lack of faith, etc.
Years ago (people say “years ago” to suggest a distant past when they were less mature) I was invited to visit and tour the Southwest side Youth For Christ (YFC) location near Hilltop on West Broad Street. That particular area doesn’t enjoy a sparkling reputation…its kinda rough down there…at least as far as the “North Side” understands it.
I hadn’t been in that area before…never had a reason. So, as I drove in, it was unfamiliar. Unfamiliar is anxiety-provoking no matter what the situation. The West Side reputation helped me to bypass anxiety directly for irrational concerns. Those concerns deteriorated into fearfulness as soon as I inadvertently turned down a dead end street in search of a parking place. I wished I’d not recently washed my SUV as it glinted and attracted attention, and as I adroitly executed a 9-point turn between the cars parked on both sides of the narrow street, I simultaneously jabbed at my door lock button. The sound of all four doors electrically locking in unison certainly communicated what all those that had stopped to watch already knew I was trying not to show: I’m scared of you. Like I said, sometimes I make myself sick.
It was an awesome visit. the sorts of contributions YFC is making to that community and the young people there is beautiful. I met some wonderful people that had found some meaning and hope for their lives. By the third time I visited, I was comfortable parking anywhere there was space, greeted whomever was walking by, and struck up a conversation with someone i recognized from the first visit…we were both walking across the street to the YFC building. I came away with a new perspective and another layer of hardness gracefully dissolved from my heart.
The Vista 3:27 Project (Proverbs 3:27) has similar objectives. Partnership and opportunities to be involved in community service and ministry are more often about growing in faith, compassion and God-heartedness than about gaining a reward, allaying guilt or simply doing your part.
Most folks are compelled at some point in life to help others. But most folks are also anxious about new things, unfamiliar territories, and strangers. Add to those apprehensions a general conclusion that we have too little to offer, or little clue about what to offer. The good news is that no one who follows Jesus need be concerned about any of those dynamics, excuses, anxieties. In Jesus, we have been given “everything we need for life and godliness,” and as we add action and obedience to our faith, we will be kept from being “ineffective and unproductive…” (2 Peter 1:3-8)
During Sunday’s message we talked about how when Peter (Acts 3) simply offered one word and one hand that God showed up miraculously. There are lot’s of folks in our spheres of influence, work places, neighborhoods and lives who need God. What might Jesus do for them through your simple, even awkward, word or unskilled hand? It’s not about what we have to offer, but about what God can do with our meager efforts. All we need is a bit of faith and a small step of action. Go ahead, step.
big rocks. i repeat. rocks!
Oct 24, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a comment
I’ve used a particular illustration for years that comes out of the business management world. All the management guru’s use it, Drucker, Peters, Deming, but most popularly, Covey. It’s a simple yet powerful illustration using a large bucket representing the constraint of time and an array of various size rocks and gravel representing all the stuff we need to do.
As the different elements are systematically placed and poured into the bucket, it appears to be a demonstration about how, through sound time managing and hard work, you can always fit more than you might imagine into your day, week, month…and life. Whether that is true or healthy is another matter, but the point of the demonstration simply and profoundly turns in the end: If you don’t put the big rocks in first…the important things in life…you won’t likely ever fit them in.
Our family uses forms of that concept often, “Hey, let’s get the big rocks in first.” “Is that a big rock or a small rock?” “We may have too many big rocks. We’re going to have to re-evaluate our priorities.” We say it often, and it helps a lot: Big Rocks. We don’t say, “Big Boulders.” We don’t use the phrases, “Big Blocks,” “Big Things,” “Big Apples,” etc. Only, “Big Rocks.” We don’t substitute words like bricks, chunks or logs in place of rocks. You could…it wouldn’t damage the illustration…we just don’t. Rocks works fabulously well.
Having just completed a sermon series essentially covering four of the important teachings of the Apostles, it was a useful reference, “To keep the gospel message pure and simple, make sure to always remember these four “Big Rocks”: Mission of God: Reconciliation (2 Cor 5), Character of God: Inclusive Mercy (Luke 4, Is 61, Jesus) , the Son of God: Forgiveness (John 3:16-17), and the Kingdom of God: Faith(Mark 1, Rom 1, Heb 11).
It’s worth your time to find the video of Stephen Covey on the Net using the Big Rocks illustration. Simply Google, “covey big rocks first“. Just make sure you use the word “rocks.” Don’t mistakenly substitute words like I did Sunday morning. That would produce undesirable Google results.
