Live At Last - The Flat Rockers

Rockin' with the stars - indeed.

From Kicking Rocks To The Flat Rockers

I wrote the following about four years ago. Four years ago my life was so completely different (Wasn't yours? Just stop a minute and think about what you were up to in the spring of 2006...)

Here's where I was:

March 15, 2006

The best epiphanies just rise up out of the mundane and surprise you with brightness and a sort of holiness that exudes mystery. One just caught me and left me weeping, incapable of anything but a mantra of 'thank you, Jesus...thank you, Jesus...thank you, Jesus...'

Watching through the window as my boys waited for the arrival of the school bus, I saw David kicking gravel from the driveway into the street. His little 6-year old leg swung hard, heaved towards the rocks and shot a chunk or two across the street to the neighbor's ditch. He'd kick, glance both ways, then run across to fetch the rock and kick again. Sometimes, as he ran back, he'd spin around, or jump, or fling his arms up into the air. Typical child-like play, swinging at the wind, making fun out of simple things.

And it broke me, his spinning and jumping and leaping, coupled with his prayer last night that he would have four legs so that he could run around the track at school as fast as Philip. He smiled and carefully explained to me how he could use two legs until they got tired, then switch to his extra legs. This seems to him a real possibility.

Things like this were so common with my other kids - the innocence and joy of childhood that carried each one of them through those early years. It is unique with David, though, for he has experienced a different life. Where the girls and Daniel all had the fairytale 'happy childhood' in their younger years, with two parents and little conflict, David got a different story. David's third year of life was in an atmosphere of arguments and conflict, shouting and frustration, the television as a lousy substitute for parents who could not give the attention he needed, and, ultimately, a huge upheaval in his life. Separation, different houses, confusion and fear. David has lived a completely different life, and it has stained his soul.

It's been obvious to me, in this last year. The impact of our implosion and divorce was huge on David. He has struggled, and shied away from people and relationships. There has been no awe in him, no anticipation of the love and happiness and possibility of life. A huge uncertainty has characterized his personality, and it has stymied and saddened me.

Lately, though, I have seen a beautiful thing...hints of joy within him. He is smiling and laughing more, and imagining a greater world than what exists. Hope has returned to my child, I think, on the wings of angels who invite him to play and run faster and in the constant, gentle hand of Jesus, who has never stopped inviting him to kick rocks and play with Him.

David was only six then. Today he is ten years old.

Last night he and his two best buddies performed an original rap about their school; they were next-to-last in a long line of elementary school stars in a three-hour "Rockin' With the Stars" celebration.

This little boy, who just four years ago was bearing the heavy burden of a situation he never asked for; he has grown and matured and is now blossoming into a strong, confident kid who enjoys life. He can identify his passions (art, beat boxing, music, his best buddies).

Give the credit where it's due: lots of grace, a steadfast commitment to the family by his grandparents, his siblings, his dad's investment in his life over the past year, an incredible extended family via Powhatan Community Church, a big sister who adores and encourages him, excellent teachers in the Powhatan school system, an amazing, gift-from-God stepmother, a step-father who will spend serious time with him...on and on and on....

It is the life we have created.

Two things I am thinking in this post, which has meandered a completely different direction than I intended: First of all, don't let anybody tell you that kids don't suffer through a divorce. That is nonsense and foolish. Divorce hurts kids; it wounds and scars and it hurts. Yes, kids are resilient. Yes, they get through it. But they are changed, marked for life.

Secondly, in spite of all that, grace abounds. There is great value in believing the best about people, in surrounding yourself with community that cares and does its best to know you, love you, and simply be with you through the ups and downs. I have found the best of that in the church I attend. I floated into PCC six years ago a broken mess. I cried for six months, alone in the seats, wondering how I would ever get my life back together again.

Flash forward to today and I am now working full-time for that same church, investing my life in the place that handed me a rope when I was sinking. It's tethered tightly to God, and it has rescued and sustained me. Time and grace have brought healing to me.

And David, as well.

Grateful for the past, ready for the future. It is a good day today.

Tripp, David and Bryce during their debut as "The Flat Rockers".

Telling Stories

PCC is full of incredible people with some amazing stories. Last week Karen Green shared part of her life story with us via video. It was powerful and moving and a very real look at a very real person who is choosing to follow Christ.

We have an incredible team of videographers at PCC who work on these projects for us. Led by Regina Revels and Scott Gordon, this team does great work, learning along the way, constantly seeking ways to collaborate with one another, utilize the technology we have and bring their creative skill to the art of storytelling.

Three things you need to know:

1) If you're interested in learning more about this team - especially if you have experience with video or filmmaking - contact Regina Regina Revels (Ginabel1{at}hotmail{dot}com). If you don't have experience but want to learn, we'll train you. We're looking especially for folks to help run cameras on Sunday morning. Sure, you can do that!

2) If you have a story to tell, email me and share it (beth{at}pccwired{dot}net). We believe God is changing lives in our community, and we want to honor Him by telling those stories to inspire and encourage one another - and to give him the credit!

3) Don't miss the rest of the current series, No Perfect People Allowed. We have great stories lined up for each week. You don't want to miss it.

It's REALLY Not About You

News flash: we have a date for the 2010 Randy Lawson Memorial Concert. Mark your calendars now for May 21st - we're on!

I got an email from somebody today who initially wasn't sure if their schedule would work out for them to be there for concert. Here's what it said:

I WILL be here for the concert on 5/21. Please use me wherever you need me. I don’t have to speak or sing, but I’d love to beat the congas for a song or I can be a stage hand or whatever.

Not so remarkable in light of all the folks at PCC who love to serve, who give countless hours of their time, talent and resources to make all sorts of great things happen around the church. Lots of folks have great attitudes; they rearrange their schedules; they give up vacation time; they offer to serve anywhere needed.

But this email is remarkable in another context. It might surprise some of you. It might mess with your assumptions. It might defy your expectations.

Read it again, and note the willingness to "beat the congas for a song" or "be a stage hand" or "whatever".

See, lots of folks have this preconceived notion about church. Specifically, about church leadership. They assume that certain folks within the organized structure of the church sort of "reign" over the others. They think that some folks hold to a loftier position than others. They assume that people in more prominent positions are interested in acclaim and reward, financial gain or status. They assume that high-profile leaders set themselves apart from more "menial" tasks to focus on dong things that keep them in the limelight, keep the applause on themselves, make themselves and their efforts look good.

That's not PCC. That's not how it works here.

Have you been around Powhatan Community Church for a few weeks or longer? How many times have you heard Brian Hughes - our senior pastor - say, "It's not about you" ?

He means it. He lives it. Not just out in front, preaching from the platform; but behind the scenes, in an email volunteering his help for one of the biggest events of the year.

Brian with his daughter, Mary Ashleigh.

Brian, I imagine we'll have something for you to do. And since very few people speak as well as you do, we'll probably ask you to do that. But maybe you ought to plan to bring your gloves and play some percussion with us...or be a stage hand...or whatever...

Spring Break 2010

There's one reason I come to the beach:

Perspective.

There's something about walking along a vast expanse of frothing water, stretching out towards the horizon uninterrupted, that brings a sense of balance to my world.

As far as I can see, the sea undulates. I stretch my vision and my imagination towards the line of demarkation where sea and sky unite, and I get a better sense of my place in the world. It becomes obvious to me that I have spent too much energy thrashing about in a narrow tunnel of vision, that I have based my opinions and attitudes on far too little information.

At the edge of these United States, on the soft sand of this crystal coast, I find my place again and again and again.

I have some history here; I have returned many times, walked this beach and pondered great changes and challenges in my life. I have cried and conversed with God over things great and small.

And it always comes back to this: the world is his, and everything in it. In light of the depth of the ocean and the breadth of the horizon, I can see with what I know, in my soul, is a perspective fitting one who follows Christ.

Eugene Peterson, in his creatively energetic way, said it this way when he approached the 8th Psalm:

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.

My ears open to that echo when I am here. I am so grateful.

And now, past the introspection, to the fun; a few photos! Because, although perspective is indeed the driving motivation, there's also sand and sea and sun and more!

David checks out the water temperature; the air was warm, but the ocean?

Not so much!

We were hoping David's buddy Tripp could come with us - since he didn't make it, David created a sea turtle in his honor. I thought it was awesome!

David's favorite meal? Steak and corn. Yum.

We went to the Dairy Queen for a treat. I had $3 cash with me. David wanted a milkshake. With tax, the shake cost $3.11. Whoever heard of a $3 milkshake? Ridiculous. Anyway, the point was this - I was 11 cents short, but the DQ guy gave David the shake and said, "Just come back later with the eleven cents!" So, we did.

Reminded me of the time, several years ago, when I took the kids to spend our vacation savings ( a year's worth of change gathered in a jar ) to this same DQ for treats. We paid for $12 of ice cream in dimes, nickels and pennies.

Good times.

Since it was just the two of us, we splurged and rented two AWESOME bikes for the day. We rode about 90 minutes down the island and explored, along with two trips to DQ and a grocery store run. Loved these bikes!

That's David, up ahead. I'm balancing the bike and taking pictures. Multi-tasking...

It's been a great, short break. I'm grateful to the leadership of PCC that gives me grace to get away and recharge my batteries.

And now, we're headed home....

Pain Given Dignity

I believe this is true.

"When we stay bitter, we don’t grow, and we don’t help the people around us. What God wants to do with our pain is turn it into ministry, into an empathy that will heal others. Some of the darkest seasons in your life may turn into a gift for somebody else. And if we are willing to allow our pain and hardship to be used to help others, our pain is given dignity."

Donald Miller said it.

Do you believe it?

Don't Come Alone

Easter is this weekend. Often, people think about attending a church service, even if they don't go any other time of the year.

I bet you know somebody who is considering going to church this Sunday.

Don't come alone.



PCC Services: 9AM and 11AM at the Powhatan Campus
9:30AM at the Westchester Campus (in the Regal Cinema)

For more info, check out the website or call the office at 804.598.1174