Something I Did Because of 30 Days...

I woke up last night at around 3 and really had a hard time going back to sleep. This is nothing unusual for me, but what was unusual was that there was one particular thing on my mind. So, a couple of hours later, I got up and I emailed my Dad, who lives a couple of hours away. I want to show you what I sent him:

Dad,

We’re doing this series at church called ’30 Days to Live’ and it’s based on Psalm 39, especially verses 4-5:

"Show me, O Lord, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.”

We’re exploring the question “What would you do differently if you knew you only had 30 days left to live? And since you don’t know, shouldn't’t you do those things now?” As David put it in Psalm 39, basically, Life is Short! He plead with God to remind him that life is short so that he would not take a day for granted.

This series has been profound for me. There are some things I need to do differently.

I feel compelled to just ask you to think about something. I know it’s hard, and I know it creates complications and I know it’s short notice. But when was the last time your 3 boys were all in the same place together, with your other 3 grandchildren and the one Jeremy [my brother] now has on the way? This is a unique chance to spend time with us in a way that happens very rarely, if ever. Jeremy and Jason and I would be so glad to see you, to eat with you and to enjoy Thanksgiving with you. We have plenty of food and plenty of room if you want to stay the night.

I wish you would think about it. We’re planning to eat at 2:00, but if we knew you were coming, we would change the time.
Love,
Brian

My parents divorced 30 years ago and, to the best of my knowledge, have never eaten Thanksgiving dinner together at the same table since. But this series, and this scripture, has affected me. So, we didn't hear from Dad and we didn't set a place for him, but at about ten minutes to 2, I looked up from the game of pool that my daughter and my brother and I were shooting, and there was my Dad, pulling into my driveway. I couldn't believe it. None of us could.

As we sat down to eat, we talked about how this was the first time in more than 10 years that all three of us brothers had shared Thanksgiving with our Dad. And I quietly pondered the significance my Mom and Dad both sharing that meal for the first time in three decades.

As my Dad left, he thanked my Mom for the meal and told her that the food was good. I can't help but feel that slowly, (painfully slowly) time has healed old wounds and God has softened hardened hearts. Psalm 39 is a profound teaching that should affect us all...if we would only listen. I'm glad I did.

Posted by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor

More Thoughts on Resurrection...

There is much we don't understand about the resurrection.  We don't understand the science of it, for one thing.  It defies logic.  By definition, it is Super-natural.  But we aren't the first people to ask about it.  You might spend some time studying Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15, but I'm going to piece together some excerpts of that chapter for you here:

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

    For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.

     But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a human being.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor 15, excerpts, TNIV, emphasis mine)

I believe this with all my heart.  Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.  He is alive today.  He is seeking out every person - not just a few.  The bad ones, the good ones.  Those who help thousands with good deeds and those who commit heinous crimes.  People who share your political views and those who are on the opposing side.  Every single human being is someone God created, someone Jesus died for, and someone we're chasing down to bring into the Kingdom!  Every Single One.  

He's Alive!  And because of that truth, we're alive, too!

More thoughts are coming....

Brian

Do You Believe This?

What an incredible day!  We did something really different and filmed part of the message 'on location' in a cemetery.  Exploring John 11, we read about the death of a man named Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus who he loved.  When Jesus gets to the grave site, Lazarus had been dead for 4 days.  It was a powerfully defining moment, as Jesus insisted on opening the tomb, and he called Lazarus from the grave and Lazarus walked out, wrapped in his burial clothes from head to toe!  Jesus had proved with absolute clarity that he had power over life and death, saying, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing me in will never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26, TNIV)

This wasn't just a question for the people mourning for Lazarus, it's the question for us.  So today, we asked it boldly and gave people a chance to respond.  28 people decided today for the first time that Jesus is Lord, is the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection, and the Life.  Another 18 folks said that they wanted to know more.   There is nothing more important on my calendar than following up with these folks.  

God is always Good - all the time.  But sometimes we are able to see His Goodness more clearly.  Today we were able to see God more in an unusually powerful and dramatic way.  People's lives were changed.  Their eternities were altered.  History was made.  And the world will never be the same!

(Posted by Brian C. Hughes, Senior Pastor)

New PCC Ad

If you live in 23139 or 23113 (maybe a couple of other zip codes, I’m not sure) you may have gotten a val pak envelope in the mail today (or tomorrow) open it up and look at the second ‘coupon’. You will find our first PCC ValPak ad there. Looks really cool. An anonymous donor paid for the ad, so it did not come out of the church’s budget.

Special thanks to Jeanette for designing it – Great Job!!!

Building Update

Brian took a walk through the building today and we followed along...this is the first in what we hope will be consistent video updates of this project.

We also hope the quality will improve, but - hey, we're just learning how to do this!


Powhatan Community Church Building Update November 2008 from Beth Brawley on Vimeo.

Message Series Idea - Need Input

For a while, I've been chewing on an idea of doing a series of services based around common misconceptions about God (or about Christian stereotypes). I can't seem to let it go, which is often an indication that God is trying to get my attention. I'd love some input. Here are a few of the ideas rattling around. (The titles are just starters)

• Is God Green? This is where I would talk about the environmental responsibility of Christ followers. The Bible does give some direction on this. The earth was given to humans to use. It's here for our benefit. it's here to serve us. But God didn't intend for us to tear the place up, needlessly wreck its beauty, etc. I'm not advocating that we stop progress or that people be homeless so that we can save a tree. But Christians have long been known as anti-environmentalists and I think this is contrary to what Scripture teaches.


• Is God Homophobic? The passage of California's proposition 8 (constitutionally banning gay marriage in the state) has sparked new levels of tension between the church, Christians, and more socially liberally minded people, gay people, etc. Can someone believe a lifestyle is wrong and still love the person. We give lip service to 'hate the sin but love the sinner.' the question is, can it really be done? And more importantly, how does God see the homosexual? This is a question that is always around us, even when it's not being talked about publicly.


• Is God Racist? I know that this is a settled matter for many people. But with the election of Barak Obama, there is a fresh conversation regarding stereotypes, upbringings, experiences, etc. regarding people of other races. Does God see any differences in people based on the color of their skin? Should we?

There is more and I would really like to hear from you. What are the stereotypes? What would be meaningful to discuss and helpful for people? What questions do people really have about God regarding social issues?

Thanks for your help.

PCC Ski Trip!!

Hold the date! We are working now on the details for a red-eye on January 24th. We will leave early in the morning and come back very late. We'll be going to West Virginia. More details to follow...but if your parents or grandparents are wondering what to get you for Christmas, helping you go can be a nice gift. Snow tubing is also available for non-skiers.