Sunday Debrief

• Awesome day! Attendance was good, giving was good, and a ton of visitors. Where do all these people keep coming from?
  

• According to the commitment cards turned in, at least eight people committed (or renewed their commitment) to Christ today. Blows me away.
  

• The message today was a STRONG WORD. We talked about “getting your family in church and keeping them there” by looking at some potent passages of scripture. I talked a little longer than normal, about 40-45 minutes; but people were eating it up. We hammered down on the responsibility of parents AND the responsibility of children. All I can say is wow.
  

• The impromptu talk from three weeks ago (Facing Eternity) is flying off the shelf. We are duplicating this message and putting them out for free. We can’t keep up with the demand. Next Sunday will have 75-100 CDs available at the welcome center.

• It was good to have Twila M. and Cindy M. back in service today.
  

• I thought our song service was good today. It was mostly acoustic-driven. It felt good for a different “feel.” Worship was good too. The men did a good job singing. It was nice to have a few new faces on stage as well.
  

• WE HAVE A GREAT CHURCH. Know why? When you are committed to the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission, it has the blessing of God upon it and results in a Great Church.
  

• Held our 101 Seminar tonight. It was, by far, one of the best we’ve ever hosted. I think there were 54 in attendance. There are so many new (and neat people) calling PCC their home. We really are in a new season.
  

• The hospitality team rolled out the red carpet and put on an impressive display. Thanks to Kim, Barbara, Evelyn, Paul, Sharon, Donna, (and everyone else who’s name I am overlooking. Sorry, please forgive me). You people are the best.

• Thanks to Lou & Loraine for manning the nursery and supervising the children’s dinner time. It was absolutely essential what you did tonight. Also, thanks for the prayers. You guys are top-notch.
  

• Thanks to Cathy, Sidney, Renae, and Gene for helping to “work the room” and being in a support capacity. I think it is important that newcomers meet our staff and other key people at PCC in an informal environment like 101.
  

• Someone suggested that we bring back our “Newcomers Coffee” again. We used to host this in my home. But it got too big. We haven’t done it in 1 ½ years. Coincidentally, I’ve been thinking about this myself. We could host it at the church in the atrium. Perfect place, perfect environment. It could serve as a prelude to Seminar 101.
  

• How about those new stage-lights in this morning’s service? Let there be light! I mean, brighten up the house. It felt good.
  

• Had a tough conversation with someone this afternoon. I said, “You need to sit down.” It went downhill from there.
  

• Seminar 101 is one of the most successful things we have done over our ten-year history. Know why? It not only defines who we are and what we do, it also serves as a SIFTING TOOL that separates the people who WON’T fit in with us from those who will. I don’t mind saying, “we are not for everyone” – and we’re not, because a lot of people come in with baggage from other churches. But 98% of the people who take 101 make a commitment to membership. If we handed out meaningless memberships like other churches (such as simply “transferring” your membership papers from one place to another), that 2% would give us more grief than they are worth. Better to nip it in the bud up front.

• I met some amazing couples in 101 tonight too. Especially the young adults – they are looking for spiritual leadership and godly influence. “God, thank You for allowing me (and others) to have such a small part in this work.”
  

• Our small groups right now are off-the-chart. Our leaders are first-class, high caliber, and trustworthy. What this means to me, you’ll never know.
  

• We have a young adult, college-age, small group that really ROCKS.
  

• I’m glad Hurricane Ike missed NW Florida. It could have been very bad for us.
  

• I’m ticked off about the gas prices. Aren’t you?
  

• TWO DROWNINGS took place at Pensacola Beach today about 6:00 PM. My oldest son, JONATHAN, was involved in the second incident. He actually rescued and saved two of the children from drowning. He was unable to save the third person. He watched the man go under and not come back up. This is messing with his mind right now. Not only that, the rip tide caught Jonathan and he almost went under himself. His rescue effort lasted fifteen minutes – that’s a long time to be in the water fighting the current.

• The ministry teams at PCC are the best in our ten-year history. Not only do they get the job done, but the people are absolutely a joy to serve with. I could not be happier, and more proud of a group of people than I am of every one of you.