Thoughts about Sunday...

Yesterday was a real win for PCC. It was also a win for me, personally. Let me walk you through my day...

1. I was at our Westchester Campus at 6:30 to help them unload the trailer and set up. Normally, I drive a shuttle a the Powhatan Campus from 6:15 til 7 or 7:15, but Erik Edwards relieved me yesterday and I jumped on the chance to get the 'full Westchester experience'. Can I just say 'WOW!!!' Our WC operation is as complex as what we did at the high school, with 2 full trailers, sound, lighting, PCC Kids, coffee bar, portable signs and food for the volunteers who serve... Our folks at Westchester are working incredibly hard. But let me say a word about their attitude: Unifying. Our folks there are doing backbreaking work, week in and week out, and I never heard one single complaint. I even tried to get them to grip: "Wow...this is really hard work!" I would say. They didn't say, "Yea...and we need more people," or "man, this is getting old." or even "my back hurts." They simply replied, "It's worth it." Wow. The truth is that they could use some more hands. It matters...a lot. We're reaching people and changing lives there, too, like in Powhatan. You don't have to go to the WC campus for the service to come at 6:30 and help for 45 minutes or an hour. However...
2. At 7:15, I left the movie theater and went to the hospital to pop in on a friend who is fighting for her life. Kathy and John were both sleeping (even my knock and opening of the door didn't wake them), so I decided to let them have their moment of peace and left them a note instead. My heart is heavy for what is happening in their lives...and it seems that they really need a miracle right now. I'm praying for them every day, and I hope you will join me in that.

1. From there I went back to Westchester. The place was buzzing - people everywhere doing coffee and prepping the PCCKids check in table, checking sound and rehearsing music. I am soooo impressed. It took PCC YEARS to get to the level of quality that our Westchester folks have achieved in WEEKS. The service was OUTSTANDING. I am so impressed at how engaged the crowd is, how intimate the message is. If you came to Westchester in the first few weeks, but haven't been lately, you just don't know how much we have improved the quality of the video. You think the speaker is in the room with you. It is simply the BEST presentation of a remote speaker I've every seen. You shoudl check it out...you might even like it more. And speaking of the message...
2. Wasn't BETH BRAWLEY STODDARD AWESOME?!! Words just can't say how proud I am of her...how blessed we are to have her at PCC, and how enriched my life is to have her as a partner in the Gospel and one of my closest friends. Her message was outstanding and she delivered it like a seasoned, experienced teaching pastor. She had all of the elements: she was passionate, engaged, funny, Biblically sound, practical. She left us with more work to do, more questions to answer, and more connection with God to gain through the reading of the text. (this is essential, in my opinion, to a good message. It never answers all of the questions, but simply leads us to a deeper connection with God). Behind the scenes, Beth also had some qualities that would be lesser known and hardly noticed. Anyone who teaches at PCC needs to be coachable. When I say that, I mean they need to be open to my instruction and teaching. Beth has that, without a doubt. We went through her message many times, talking through words, stories, Scripture choice, Bible application, laughter and humor, expression, pauses, standing and sitting...everything. It was as fun for me as actually doing the teaching, but that's as much because of Beth's response. She wants to be the best at everything, she recognizes my experience and my gifts, and she takes instruction and coaching with all the grace she exhibits in the other areas of her life. I could go on an on, but I just cannot say how proud I am of her. WAY TO GO, BETH!!
3. After the WC service, I raced down to the Powhatan Campus. I wanted to see how long it would take - 17 minutes, but I didn't catch any lights. I got to the shuttle lot at 10:50 - the shuttle picked me up immediately - and was on campus at 10:52. I greeted people and played with some kids and talked to some friends before and after the 11am service, which was an intimate but fun crowd.
4. I got to spend a very few minutes with my whole family at home for Father's day...
5. Then we drove for 7 hours to Hatteras...for a week. I could say a LOT more about that, but if you've made it this far, you're ready to do something else. More on Hatteras later!