Generation Axis Blog

The Relational Power of the Word "No"

Really, Just Say No from Axis on Vimeo.

Weakness

Weakness from Axis on Vimeo.

How to speak truth in love.

How to speak truth in love? from Axis on Vimeo.

Why Jon Peacock use to swim with his t-shirt on at pool parties

Why Jon Peacock use to swim with his t-shirt on at pool parties from Axis on Vimeo.

Accountability - Love = Judgment

Love and Accountability from Axis on Vimeo.

Amazing TWLOHA video w/ Miley Cyrus, Joaquin Phoenix and Liv Tyler. Click...vote...help suicide prevention!!!

Rich's First Devo of 2010...

Rich's First Devo of 2010... from Axis on Vimeo.

What will be your response?

I know that you know that I'm a pretty slow learner.  It was the paint chips as a kid.  For whatever reason it's taken a little while for the issues of Haiti to break into my world and stir things up.  I really like when the lake of my life is still, settled, and placid.  The only problem with this is that we don't see this in the life of Christ.  He was interrupted, disturbed, and bothered often.  He welcomed the lake of his life and soul to be anything but placid.

About an hour ago God dropped a boulder into the lake of my life and Kelly's life.  We were presented with the opportunity to become a family of compassion and justice by welcoming in (the stranger) two orphans into our home via the Safe Families organization.  My wife, who God consistently uses to challenge me and help me become more like Christ responded to the opportunity with a huge yes.  It took her around 3.5 seconds to respond.  Our response comes from the response of God who came and made a way for us even at our worst state.  Our response comes from the words found in Isaiah 58 that speak of "clothing the naked", "sharing food with the hungry".  Our response comes from the words found in James 1 that says true religion is taking care of the orphan and widow.

 

This is our response to what is taking place to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. 

What will yours be?

Please pray for us and these kids.  Pray that God hand picks the ones we're supposed to get.  Pray that God protects our daughter Hannah in the process of this but even more so than that pray that God uses this in Hannah's life as something that marks her at an early age.  Pray that Kelly and I can be the Church to these kids, and pray that somehow these kids will come to know Jesus in this process.

We'll keep you updated on the progress of this and details.  At this point we're not sure of much. Thanks for your prayers.

-Jon Peacock

What would you change about "Church"?

Before we dive into the question "what would you change about your church", lets get some context and meaning behind what church is.  Our senior Pastor Bill Hybels coined the incredible phrase “The Local Church is the Hope of the World” but I’d like for us to dive into the question: What is the Local Church or Church for that matter?  Where do we get this word from and how do we organize this (Ecclesiology) in light of two other really important terms, those being Christology and Missiology?

I once heard this described by Alan Hirsch and ever since then it stuck with me.  We have to start with Christology, from there we move to Missiology and from there we develop Ecclesiology.  Something similar to this: 

1. Christology    (the study of the life of Christ)
2. Missiology     (the study of the mission of Christ)
3. Ecclesiology   (the study of the Church)

 As God’s people and as leaders in the Church we have to constantly evaluate the function of the church in this order, to gain holy alignment with what God meant for his people we have to diligently align ourselves and first look at Jesus, then look at his purpose on earth, his mission, then from there finally we look at how we can organize our efforts as the Church.  Do you see how crucial this is?  Its amazing to me how often we get off track and organize churches or ministries like Axis that form, encourage and produce lifestyles within the people that make up the community whose mission and life are so contrary to the mission and life of Jesus.  As a ministry we are committed to consistently checking ourselves, checking our ministry and checking our initiative’s to make sure that our mission and the lifestyles that we are encouraging or producing through Axis is in complete alignment with what Christ’s life looked like, this is essential!

So back to the question what is the Church and where do we get this word from?  We see the English word of “Church” used in the Bible 112 times, however only in the NT.  In the New Testament however the place where we get our English word for church is taken from the Greek word Ecclesia which is translated into church.  So where does this word come from, the answer is that we get the word ecclesia from the Hellenistic world, the Greek world used this term to refer to gatherings or assemblies of people in their cities.  

 In the late 1^st century as God’s people were sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit we see that Christ is for everyone, 1^st for the Jew and then for the Gentile as we read through Mark.  When the Gentile, or Greek communities responded to Christ therein we get the word ecclesia, meaning an assembly of people, however now with a Christian or Kingdom of God connotation.  Knowing that the Greek word ecclesia means church, we now understand the word ecclesiology which means the study of the church and how it’s meant to function or operate.  

So how would you suggest that the “Church” is working?  What do you love about the “Church” and what would you love to change?  

Blessings.

-Jon Peacock

Axis please pray for healing for Pastor Matt Chandler

American Idols....Do you have some?

American Idols from Axis on Vimeo.

Will you read "Divided by Faith" with me?

If you attend Willow and frequent the weekend services my guess is you've heard Pastor Hybels speak of his 2nd Conversion that took place around 6 years ago.  This conversion opened his eyes and changed his heart concerning racial reconciliation.  Since that day Bill often refers to the culprit of such life change, largely crediting the book "Divided by Faith".  

 

I picked this book up a year ago and for some reason have yet to crack it open, that was until this morning.  I feel prompted to put what I was planning to read this week to the side and dive into this book.  I'd love for you to join me on the journey.

If your looking to pick up a copy you can find it up in Seeds and also on Amazon.  Its time to learn, grow, and engage in the racial reconciliation conversation...Join in with me.

Have a great day and week!

-Jon Peacock

Have you thought about the Resurrection lately?

If you think about it doesn’t it seems like we only talk about the resurrection once a year? Every Easter we gather and celebrate Christ rising from the dead, and many of us perhaps have become all too familiar with the story.  Maybe it has lost its effect on us, perhaps we’ve even become numb to it, or only think about it once the Easter baskets and Cadbury eggs are on the shelves at Jewel.  (I just got hungry)
I know this can be true of each of us, and certainly true of me.  It’s often that another day, month and year passes and I don’t feel like I have fully absorbed the significance and meaning of the resurrection.
The resurrection is not something that we should just think on once a year, perhaps its not just held to Easter lilies, weird green stuff in my Easter basket (yes I still have an Easter basket) Jelly Beans, and Easter Egg hunts, no the Resurrection must be on our minds, and must effect our daily lives because the Resurrection is without question central to our faith!  

Imagine if the resurrection was not true.
If the resurrection did not happen, then the teachings of the Apostles were merely an act, our personal faith would be a farce, the Apostles would have lied about being eye witnesses and therefore could not be trusted about everything else they said, our sins would still remain, our separation from God would be still be our reality, the sacrifice of Jesus would be nothing more than noble, Jesus’ visit to earth nothing more than an interesting road trip with a fatal ending, the after life would be something that we would fear, death would certainly still have its sting, our faith would have zero foundation and each morning we would awake with no future hope at all. 

This would all be true if the Resurrection did not happen!  However the resurrection did happen and therefore the resurrection is central to our faith, central to our future, and central to our daily focus.

What is one way that you can tap into Resurrection power today? What is one way, discipline, or sacrament you can institute in your life to keep the Resurrection fresh in your heart and mind? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

You need vision for your friendships!!

You need some vision for friendship!! from Axis on Vimeo.

Greed & Generosity, Really Just the Same Thing

 There are a few core concepts that are taught to every beginning economist; people are rational and make rational decisions, having more of any good is better, and that everyone exhibits utility maximizing behavior.  This last one is an interesting one.  To understand what it's saying you have to understand a few concepts.

First the idea of utility.

Utility is a good thing.  It's something you want more of.  A good feeling, confidence, but mostly to economists, money.

So the idea of utility maximizing behavior is essentially saying that we all do things that get us more utility.  Essentially we're all selfish.

But is this true and what ramifications does it have on generosity?

Take the recent outpouring of money follow the tragic earthquake in Haiti this week.  We are never going to see that money again.  Haiti was the poorest country in the world before the earthquake and I don't see it as becoming an integral part of economy anytime soon.

An economist would say this outpouring of generosity is just a result of our wanting to feel good about ourselves or relieve our guilt.  Essentially even when we give money we give for selfish reasons.

What do you think?  Why do you give?

Is there more to life than wins and losses.....Colt McCoy

Help Haiti....The Global Orphan Project

Mike & Beth Fox Interview on Haiti from The Global Orphan Project on Vimeo.

Devon's 1st Video Devotional for 2010

Devon's 1st Video Devotional for 2010 from Axis on Vimeo.

I will not worship my facebook relationship status.

Idolizing Not Being Alone from Axis on Vimeo.

When does a relationship become an idol?

Relationship Vs. Idolatry from Axis on Vimeo.

The Gospel According to Lost (book review)

I have always been skeptical of The Gospel According to… books.  The market is flooded with them: The Gospel According to Peanuts, The Gospel According to Star Wars, The Gospel According to the Simpsons, etc.  I often feel the author tries to find something in the story that was never intended.  The Gospel According to Lost, however, is different.  I don’t know where Damon Lindelhof and Carlton Cuse, the producers of Lost, stand spiritually, but anyone who has seen the show will realize that they certainly intend to raise some major philosophical, ethical, and spiritual questions.  As a result, Lost is a perfect candidate for the Gospel According to… treatment.

It is obvious that Chris Seay knows and loves Lost.  He honors the writers and creators by exploring the themes they intentionally raise within the story and characters to which we can all relate.  In the first half of The Gospel According to Lost, Seay explores questions raised by the story arcs of the main characters. There is a lot to reflect on here.  For example, what do we do with violence, is anyone beyond redemption, how do we handle/mishandle our calling, and what is the relationship between law and grace? What makes this section so valuable is that the questions raised are universal and cover a wide enough spectrum of issues that anyone open to personal reflection will find something to think about.  In the second half of the book, Seay uses themes, characters, and storylines from Lost to help illuminate Biblical teaching, specifically (and appropriately) the “lost” parables of Luke 15.  Exploring these parables in the context of Lost helps the reader apply Jesus’ teaching in a very personal way.

I really enjoyed my time in The Gospel According to Lost.  It is a quick and engaging read that any reflective fan of the show needs to read before the final season kicks off in February.

You ARE a New Creation, Live Like It

You ARE a New Creation, Live Like It from Axis on Vimeo.

Make an invite!

You know your friends, their journey, their roadblocks, and their interests better than me or any Pastor ever will.  So the idea of  me telling you or suggesting what the next key invite might be for your friends is simply crazy.  That being said I have found something that is quite outside of the box to be true.  That is invite your seeking friends to church.  wow.  I know this is ground breaking and due to what I just wrote I'll probably publish a book on that radical insight.

 Something I've seen time and time again is that my seeking friends need another voice of truth in their life and often times this does help them come to a place of trusting Christ, and that my friends also needed to see other people besides me that were passionately following Christ.  Although this may not be the “in” thing, it is part of the iScatter thing and something we can’t deny the power of.  When you look at your own story, you may prove that what I'm saying is in fact true.  Too many of us have had a powerful Church experiences that became a catalyst toward choosing to follow Jesus...so make the invite.  That being said I highly recommend being smart about this.  Find out the sermon topics for the weekend and build an experience around the invite.  Grab breakfast or lunch, or whatever but make the invite something that will connect with your friends and something that will add value to their weekend.  A weekend like this upcoming weekend is ideal.

As we come to the close of our 30 days of iScatter my hope is that your increased intentionality will turn into a new way of life.  A lifestyle of intentionality, a lifestyle of thinking about your seeking friends.  My hope is that your intentionality will not end today but only continue throughout the rest of 2010.  Those of you who chose to do this I commend you and believe strongly that God does as well.

Over the course of the next 30 days our new friends down at Lake Wood Baptist Church outside of Atlanta in Gainesville will carry on the iScatter torch.  Please be in prayer for their Community as they scatter the love of Christ through intentional conversations!

Blessings.

Jon Peacock

Death comes before Life

Death comes before Life from Axis on Vimeo.

Willow featured in Time Magazine about bridging the racial divide. A must read!

I just finished reading this recently posted article in Time magazine about our efforts as a church to bridge the racial divide.  It provides great history of our church and how far we've come; yet how far we still need to go.  If you get 5 minutes you wont regret this read.  Check it out at:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1950943-1,00.html

Blessings.

Jon Peacock