Getting Things Done! November 10, 2009

It sure was nice to pull up to the PCC property today and see things moving again! Dennis Green and Charlie Towler spent some time surveying the job site as the electricians ratcheted things up and the dump trucks moved dirt for a parking lot.
We’re so grateful for the leadership of Dennis, Chris Ashman, Chauncey Starkey and others who have managed this process so that we can move forward once again.

There is much going on in the life of our church as people grow and change and dig deeper into their relationship with God and with others. Seeing some tangible progress on the construction site is another exciting development.

We are grateful!

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. Psalm 35.28

Making Things Matter June 30, 2009

Love this woman.

She blogs here, about life and loss and faith and kids and anything else that crosses her mind.

She’s one of the most honest people I know.

She hearts music.

I love the words that she writes, because she writes with the power of conviction that makes things matter.

You can get to know her by clicking here, or by checking out The Green Room, or just asking around at PCC. She’s worth getting to know.

Common Sense Leadership June 29, 2009

This is what I’m reading at the moment. I love leadership books that resonate with common sense.

After the introduction, I’m convinced that this sucker is FULL of that very thing.

If you’ve read it, what do you think?

Check back for a full report. Our entire staff is reading it, and we’ll be discussing in a few weeks…

Art, Art, I Want You June 19, 2009

There are some artists at PCC. You’re seeing some of their work on Sundays, as they use the inspiration and imagination that God gave them to help us create an environment on the stage that suits the message and the series.

They’re also creating things at home -cards, paintings, sculptures, graphics. They’re serving in Power Jam and helping with Mega Camp.

They’re everywhere!

Maybe you’re one of them, too. In hiding.

We’re having some conversations about how to bring more art to worship, more art to Powhatan – about opening the doors to some incredibly exciting and somewhat unbelieveable ideas.

We’re dreaming big.

Want to dream with us?

Comment below, or find the PCC Visual Artists group on Facebook.

And take a look at this. It’s extremely cool.

This Is Why We Do It June 14, 2009

These 50+ people went to the river today to be bapitzed and publicly declare that they were following Jesus. They waded into the water to stand beside one of our pastors. When asked, “What is your testimony?”, they replied, “Jesus is Lord” or “Jesus is my Savior”.

Then they dipped back into the water and came up drenched.

Some of these folks I know well. Some of them have shared their stories with me.

Some of them are acquaintances only; we worship together each week.

But we share the same community. We are brothers and sisters. And today, we celebrated together in the most amazing bonus I could ask for.

Glen Titus came up out of the water with a fishing hook stuck to his sandal. The line and a weight trailed out into the water. He unwrapped them and declared, “I’m keeping this! It’s a sign! Fishers of men!”

Jesus is Lord. There is no greater thing.

Undergoing Major Change May 28, 2009

At last year’s Leadership Summit I was introduced to Carly Fiorina.  She was a dynamic, engaging speaker and I was captivated, listening to a strong woman talk about leadership and empowerment.  I picked up her book, Tough Choices, and have referred to it off and on throughout the past several months.  

Truth be told, I’m just reading it VERY slowly – it’s sort of a monthly devotional book for me, with constant encouragement and information about leadership.  

Okay.  Honest truth?  It’s in the bathroom.

Midway through the book Fiorina talks about the creation of Lucent Technologies, which arose out of AT&T getting rid of a collection of assets called Newco. She was tapped to be Executive VP of Corporate Operations.  Here’s what she says:

“For some, the words aspiration and inspiration are mumbo jumbo; or hype; or soft, nonoperational stuff. These are people who forget that every income statement and balance sheet in the world is produced by the everyday hard work of everyday people. And people achieve more when they’re motivated by a purpose worthy of their efforts. They align their individual actions in to a more powerful collective effort when they know they strive for a common and commonly understood goal. Nowhere are aspiration and inspiration more important than in a large, complex organization undergoing major change. In large companies myriad actions taken and countless small decisions made must add up to the bottom line. And in a period of change, each employee must break old habits and learn new skills, and every employee’s actions and decisions must align in new ways to produce something different.”

In the midst of everything that we are doing as PCC staff members, in spite of what we’re feeling and experiencing on a personal level, regardless of the current status of our personal relationship with God, we are in the middle of some major changes at PCC. We are the folks who are not only doing the “everyday work of everyday people”, but we are also inspiring and leading volunteers who are doing the same thing as they serve at PCC.

We each have unique goals for our ministry areas that are hopefully clearly and commonly understood by those folks who serve with us. But I think it’s important to still remember that we are, technically speaking, a “large, complex organization undergoing major change.”

Our mission is to reach and lead. That is the purpose worthy of our efforts. Lives are changing because of what God’s spirit is doing through PCC.

I just want to challenge each of us – myself included – to continue to live in the awareness of the challenges of change, and to take to heart the necessity of breaking old habits, learning new skills and aligning our actions and decisions in new ways. God is using us – and he is also changing us, through this time of change. It’s a remarkable thing that ultimately results in eternal impact for our community. We are led by a senior pastor and an executive pastor – but we are also given the great responsibility and even the luxury of leading ourselves.

I’m focusing on praying for us as a body today, and thankful that God’s drawn us all together for the sake of His name.

Cross-posted at Words Matter

Let’s Fight. April 10, 2009

Holly Furtick wrote an incredibly powerful blog post last week.

You should read it.  Especially if you are part of Powhatan Community Church – or any church - you should read this post.

And, after you’re done reading, do something.

And leave a comment and let us know what you did.

Here’s an excerpt; the emphasis is mine.

I’m just saying – this is truth. I have experienced it this week.  Maybe you have, as well.

Let’s fight. 

“…do I think that there are forces in this world that want to attack and/or distract us during a time of year when many many people will come to church for the first time (or maybe first time in a long time). Absolutely.

How do I fight? Well first of all I am aware. I see a negative attitude that rises up inside me as an opportunity for there to be a tension in my marriage. I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I try to spend more time meditating and praying as I go throughout my day.

I am also not going to bring up a conversation that may cause a disagreement…If the enemy cannot get at my marriage through a moral failure, he is going to attack through the seemingly small.

You may be reading this post and think, this is not for me. I am not in the ministry. This post is for everyone.

If you are in the ministry, open your eyes. Be aware, be sensitive, be prayerful.

If you are not in the ministry, be in extra prayer for your church, your pastor, your church leaders and for their families. Pray for smooth services, functioning equipment, plenty of volunteers, good health, the list can go on and on.

This is a fight worth fighting because people’s lives are at stake. Put up your dukes.”

You can read the entire post here.

This Week At PCC March 5, 2009

Check out some interesting conversations caught in the hallway last week at PCC:

This week’s service will be built upon the questions YOU have. It’s sure to be an interesting service – who knows what will happen?

Do YOU have a question? Send it our way! Email myquestion@powhatancc.org

Extreme Style Makeover February 6, 2009

If you’ve been at PCC recently, you may have heard a few remarks about our pastor’s style.

Because we love him, we thought we’d help.

Don’t miss church on Sunday.  I’m just sayin’.