THIS BLOG SITE HAS RELOCATED

Recently, we began housing my blog through PCC's website.  Please click here or use www.brianchughes.com to get to my blog.

You can also follow me on twitter @brianchughes and facebook @Brian.Curtis.Hughes

Every time I post on my blog, I tweet and update my FB status.

thanks,

Brian

PCC is Online Only tomorrow

As before, please distribute in every possible avenue you have available to you, including Facebook, Twitter, Email, Texts, phone calls, etc.  

The latest forecast uses the word 'Paralyzing' to describe the impending ice storm headed our way.  Therefore, for the safety of our volunteers and all PCC'ers...

All PHYSICAL CAMPUSES are closed tomorrow - no services at Powhatan, Riverside, or Westchester.

HOWEVER...We WILL have church ONLINE at 9:30 AND 11:15.  We will be Streaming, with the chatroom community open for conversation.  So please come to church tomorrow at www.pccwiredlive.net

The Blue Christmas service will be rescheduled to NEXT Sunday, Dec 15.

Hope to 'see you'  at church Online tomorrow!

Be safe!

Brian

BAD WEATHER COMING...

Please distribute in every possible avenue you have available to you, including Facebook, Twitter, Email, Texts, phone calls, etc.  

Due to the very high likelihood of icy, sleety, dangerous weather on Sunday morning, PCC is going to have a Saturday evening service this week!  It will be at 5pm tomorrow night at the Powhatan Campus.   This is a churchwide event - not just for the Powhatan Campus, so look for familiar faces on the platform from every campus tomorrow night!  All of PCC in one place at one time!  Tell everyone you know as soon as you can, regardless of the campus they normally attend. 

By the way, this is a GREAT time to invite someone who can't normally come on Sunday morning!

More information: 

What about Sunday services?  Right now, we don't know yet what we're going to do on Sunday morning.  When the service is over tomorrow night, we'll consider how many from PCC were able to come, the latest forecast and other factors and we will make a call.  As of right now, Sunday services have not yet been cancelled at any campus.

What about the Online Campus?  We will broadcast a service for our Online Campus community on Sunday morning, regardless of what happens with church.   We will not broadcast Saturday night, though.

How can you help?  We need help with kids, guest services, parking, etc.  If you'd like to help, contact your ministry team leader or email serve@pccwired.net.

What about the Belize Team Event?  You may know that the Belize Team had scheduled a 'date night' event from 5-10pm Saturday where parents could drop their kids off for safe, fun babysitting while they went out for the evening (for a donation to the Belize Team).  This event will still take place!  Those kids will be

registered in and will be a part of PowerJAM and First Steps during our 1-hour service, then will resume their other activities after the service is over.  (So, parents, you could come to church and go out afterwards!)

Hope you can come.  See you then!

Brian

Don't Waste This Christmas

If you weren't at PCC today, you missed one of the most moving Christmas messages I've personally ever heard.  (You can watch or listen here).  Angie Frame helped us wrap our minds around a perspective on Peace at Christmas in a way that was fresh and moving.  Frankly, in a respectful way, Angie's message cut into my heart and helped me to see again the role that God intended followers of Jesus to play in the world.

WE are the kingdom of the Prince of Peace.

 

WE are empowered, equipped and authorized to bring the reality of Peace on earth.

 

Peace can only happen when followers of Jesus become the people God has called them to be.

My mentor, Dr. Cecil Sherman, used to say, "Brian, don't waste Christmas.  Challenge your people to give at Christmas so that the world is made a better place.  They will rise to the occasion!"

Dr. Sherman's challenge was that I give a gift to help others in an amount equal to or greater than the largest Christmas gift I would give to a family member or friend.  He urged me to urge people around me to do the same. 

When I think about how much I have to eat, the cars I drive, the nice home I inhabit...  When I consider my climate control, internet, satellite TV, tablets, cell phones, and closet full of clothes...  When I look at the gold wedding band on my finger, the 600 thread-count sheets on my bed, and how much money we spent eating at Chick-Fil-A last month... 

All of those things and a hundred others remind me that I live like a king, compared to 99% of the people on this planet.  You do, too, frankly.   I don't know why God has blessed me (and you) like He has...but I know this:  Our wealth is not simply for our pleasure.  We are supposed to be agents of change in the world. We represent the Kingdom of the Prince of Peace. 

I should do more.  I can do more.  I will do more.

So, let this be our challenge.  Let us put our first world problems into perspective, appreciate just how great we have it, and help some other people who can't even remotely relate to our level of blessing. 

We can do all of these at the same time, with a sacrificial act of generosity.  Give a gift that is as large as your largest Christmas gift this year.  Help us fund the work of PCC's missions efforts here and around the world.  Your gift will directly affect someone's life - put food in their mouth, shelter over their head, rescue them from human slavery, and introduce them to Jesus Christ.

You can go learn more about the causes we support and make your gift here. 

Let there be Peace on earth.  Through us.  Amen.