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    Get signed up for the Axis Fall Retreat. We're heading to Fontana, Wisconsin for a weekend of fun. You will not want to miss it!!!
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Axis Family Links

Brandon Grissom Blog

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This Week's Stone Videos

Axis Podcast

July 13, 2009

You Should Never Sue a Brother

Untitled from Axis on Vimeo.

July 12, 2009

who He says He is

hey friends, bobby bo here coming to you from a classy coffee shop in thailand and i just wanted to share something real quick that i wrote in my journal earlier today that is on my heart.

we have no reason to doubt that God will never be there for us. each day that I wake a breath out of these lungs I am thankful that it is a new day that my Creator has made. through times of struggle and distress He pulls us through it… when has He not? I wouldnt know.

I want the type of faith to believe that He will always remain who He says He is. GOD!

I dont know a single person that has ever told me that this walk was going to be an easy one. but these same people have told me, as well as others, that this walk was going to be difficult.

there are going to be struggles

there are going to be trials

there are going to be distractions

there are going to be temptations

you are going to be stressed out

and it is with that humility and honest that i want to serve such a God. that I chose to model my life after a man that came to this world to live, love and then die for it all. it is such a beautiful story.

live love.

ps. i also started my own personal blog over at http://bobbybo.tumblr.com/ and i hope you can check that out as well.


July 10, 2009

Meditation on Psalm 147 (Axis Daily Devotional)

After such a heavy week I thought it'd be good to have a video meditation.  So quiet your heart, slow your mind, and enjoy.

Meditation on Psalm 147 (Axis Daily Devotional) from Axis on Vimeo.

July 09, 2009

Expel The Wicked From Among You (Finally the last day of chapter 5! :)

Expel The Wicked From Among You!!! from Axis on Vimeo.

July 08, 2009

Don't Associate With People Who Sleep Around?!?!

Don't Associate With People Who Sleep Around?!?!?! from Axis on Vimeo.

Nooma Whirlwind Premiere

So I definitely have a little man-crush on Rob Bell.  Be sure to check out his latest Nooma for a limited time only here.

WhirlwindPremiere

July 07, 2009

Attention College Students!!!

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to remind you that we are NOT meeting tomorrow, because
there are no classes at Willow.  We will be meeting again next
Wednesday July 15th at 6:30.
AXIS FACEBOOK LOGO
So because there’s no class we are going to have a pool party at Taylor Sepuha’s house, right across from Willow.  If the weather isn’t rainy we will meet at 7:15!  Her address is 13 Willowmere Drive, South
Barrington IL.
 Dinner will be provided and please bring a bathing suit and towel!

We are going to reschedule if the weather is bad, and the decision will be made at 5 o’clock tomorrow.  So please check your email/facebook around then to know if we will be there or not!  If the party is cancelled, there is still the worship night happening at Willow in the Lakeside Auditorium at 7:30 for those of you who want to go!


Blessings,

Axis Staff

Should we kick people out of the church for sleeping around??? & Let's Make Some (Unleavened) Bread

We had a technical error and the last two dailies didn't post when they should have so hear they are.  Sorry for the delay.

Let's Make Some (Unleavened) Bread from Axis on Vimeo.

Should we kick people out of church for sleeping around??? from Axis on Vimeo.

July 06, 2009

thailand_video

hey axis friends. a month ago i finished up a 2-month outreach with a YWAM team here in thailand and this is our outreach video. im sorry it is blurry, i cannot figure out why that is... but you will get the point :)

live love - bobby bo!



Outreach Thailand 2009 from Bobby Bo on Vimeo.

July 03, 2009

The Power of the Kingdom

The Power of the Kingdom from Axis on Vimeo.

July 02, 2009

What To Expect at Barn Bash

Barn Bash Promo 1 from Axis on Vimeo.

Why Do I Imitate???

Why Do I Imitate??? from Axis on Vimeo.

July 01, 2009

Allegiance with Devon Noonan

Allegiance from Axis on Vimeo.

June 30, 2009

John 6:29

So I am currently reading the Gospel of John, and constantly blown away by the the simple and challenging words of Jesus.  There is this one part in John 6 when Jesus ends up feeding a whole ton of people quite miraculously, and then they sort of chase him all around the lake the next morning because they want more free food.  He call them out on it, and says that they need to seek after eternal things, Gods nourishment, and not nourishment that spoils.  So the crowd asks Jesus what it is that God wants them to do.  Jesus responds in vv.29:

  "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

I think it is interesting for a few reasons.  In the context you could sort of compare believing in the One God sent- Jesus- to eating the bread the crowds chased after.  It means that Jesus becomes out nourishment, our source of life.  Also, Jesus takes a word that can be a simply cognative thing, and makes it a very active verb-a way to exist, or a way of being. It isn't a box that gets checked off that they believe in him- it is a living and active work that they seek after every day, more essential than eating. So my question is this what does it mean for you to "believe in the One He has sent" today?

Win a FREE Trip from Barn Bash

Win a FREE Trip from Barn Bash!!! from Axis on Vimeo.

Coming up on July 25th we will be having our Barn Bash Party & Auction to benefit the House of Hope in Prague.  We need your help to make the auction happen by talking to friends, family, and co-workers to get sweet auction items.  Get stuff that you'd spend some money on like dinners out, nights at a hotel, an x-box, or whatever.  Whatever community's items raise the most money will be given a free weekend away at a beautiful vacation home in Wisconsin with jet ski's and a tons of space.  This is an awesome prize worthy of a community raising a ton of money.

For questions or to let me know you have an item or service for the auction email me, Andrew, at ameans[at]willowcreek.org

Congratulations!!!

Image Congratulations to the more than 30 people who went public with their faith this weekend.  We are so proud of you!!!

The outdoor baptism is one of my favorite experiences at Willow and this weekend we had the opportunity as a church to baptize hundreds of people.  It is such an important moment in someone's spiritual life so thank you to all who were their cheering on friends and congratulations to those who got dunked! 

Humility

Humility from Axis on Vimeo.

June 29, 2009

Life & Death Matters

"A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth." (Ecclesiastes VII:I)

In the middle of his diatribe on wisdom of the world, Solomon submitted a jolting declaration for anyone with wind left in his or her lungs: your latter date is of greater importance than your entrance into the world. For those who dread to leave this life--most everyone, it would seem--such a statement is foolish. However, the inference of this text, wisdom tells us, is that the antidote for fear of death is not merely and influx of more years, but your mortification itself.

While birth is about potential, death is about legacy. Everyone is granted these. Thankfully writings like Solomon's prove the scriptures to not only be a trail guide on how to effectively live, but to die also. Lest you tremble at the thought of your own passing, Paul writes that the cross of Christ renders death stingless (1 Corinthians 15:55). We shouldn't belittle the eternal world to come, with only the knowledge of the temporal place in which we currently dwell.

If indeed, dear reader, you meditate on these words, anticipate feeling the weight of your own existence and the terror therein to fulfill the call of your life. To be clear, that anxiety should be a prompting of the Spirit, not merely a begrudging fulfillment of duty. Should we mistakenly believe that "a good name" is achieved by moral uprightness, then the cross of Christ is nullified (Galatians 2:21). A good name is only merited by the gospel. In that confidence we are free to pursue our wonderful longings, as anchored to the truth of G_d implanted in creation, in word, and his people.

thailand_newsletter

hey axis. bobby bo here. I just wanted to say hi and let you all know that attached below is my june 09 newsletter, just click on the image to make it full size please! i hope and pray that it can bless you today. my email is at the bottom of it and i would love to hear from you! so please feel free.

miss you and live love - bobby bo!

June 09 final

Judge Andrew

Judge Andrew from Axis on Vimeo.

June 26, 2009

Are you growing more dependent or independent? (1 Corinthians 3:18-23)

Are you growing more dependent or independent? from Axis on Vimeo.

June 25, 2009

Devon's Baptism Story

N500460911_1380922_3566 Baptism…What exactly does this mean? The term was completely foreign to me until my early years of high school. Since I didn’t spend my childhood days in church, it was not talked about among my family or friends and really held no importance in my life.

 

Mid-way through high school I grew fonder and fonder of Jesus and committed to pursuing a relationship with God. My life radically changed. I was like a sponge and soaked up everything I could and was exposed to the fullness and joy that flows from a relationship with God.

 

It was not until two years after I devoted myself to Christ that I felt compelled to participate in Baptism. I had watched many people enter the wading pool and break through the water with an exuberant expression of freedom.  I was really happy for others, but never felt compelled to make the same decision.

 

Then, something inside of me sparked. My pastor shared the opportunity to be baptized later that month. I thought to myself, “I think I might want to do that.”  There was no specific reason to be baptized, except that I wanted to. My high school career was coming to a close and I was so excited about my faith and the transformation that God exhibited in my life. I was ready, in fact eager, to make a public proclamation to my church family.

 

I will never forget the Sunday morning when a handful of us met with the pastor and prayed, walked through the bowels of the church, and walked into the baptismal pool. Standing in the water, my pastor asked why I was getting baptized. With abounding joy and a tear in my eye, I shared confidently with my congregation the love that I felt for God and the fullness of his presence that I experienced in my life. With that, I rose out of the water to the cheers and great celebration from my church family. It was an intimate moment between me and God that I got to share with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. A moment I will never forget.

 

Matthew 3:13-17 shares Jesus’ baptism story. Each time I read it I stand in awe in the power of a moment of union with God. Expressed from the heavens, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”  Nothing pleases God more than intimacy with his children. What a joy it is to walk in that intimacy!


-Devon is an intern and integral member of the Axis community.

You are a Temple!! (1 Corinthians 3:16)

YOU ARE A TEMPLE!!!! from Axis on Vimeo.

E. Benjamin Skinner-A Crime So Monstrous

400000000000000081487_s4 I flew through Skinner's A Crime So Monstrous over the last couple days. This book does the best job of any I've ever read of telling the story of human slavery. Skinner traveled all over the globe meeting with traffickers, victims, survivors, and advocates and has pulled together their stories to tell the grand story of modern day slavery.

I was immediately pulled in when the first chapter described, in detail, how a slave could be purchased a mere 5 hours from the time your flight left JFK. Skinner was able to do this because he left JFK hopped on a plane for Haiti and proceeded to pose as someone interested in buying a human being to bring back to the states.

He tells the stories of sex slaves and child soldiers and points a much needed spotlight on forced labor which accounts for the vast majority of slaves today. You will not remain unmoved as you read this book. You will feel the uphill battle the US ambassador for human trafficking faced and the pain of the 13 year old Haitian girl smuggled into the US right past an unsuspecting border agent for rape and servitude.

This is a must read. Take the time. Pick it up at your library or buy a copy on Amazon. You need to read A Crime So Monstrous.

June 24, 2009

Our Friend Andrew Marin

Friend of Axis, Andrew Marin, recently did the below interview with TheOoze.com around some thoughts from his new book.  Andrew is one of those guys that gets it.  He gets what it means to live missionaly in his community and he has done a tremendous job of radically changing the conversation between the GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender) community and the church.  We had him join us at one of our In The Hot Seat events back in the spring and he's becoming a good friend to Axis.  So be sure to check out his blog and to buy his book Love Is An Orientation.  And if you missed our conversation with him you can listen to it here.

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    The Axis Bookshelf

    • Jim Collins: How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In

      Jim Collins: How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In
      This book is for everyone that is a part of organization that has experienced sustained success. It helps to show why so often organizations that have experienced long term success seem to decline (or collapse) into irrelevancy. Jim Collins is an excellent author and a one in a million researcher. This book is definitely worth picking up. (****)

    • Robert D. Putnam: Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community

      Robert D. Putnam: Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community
      This book describes the loneliness that many in our generation and society encounter on a daily basis. This book helps understand in new ways what we are up against and why we are so passionate about launching hundreds of Missional Community Hubs all throughout Chicago Land. There is a crisis and massive need! (****)

    • Wayne Cordeiro: Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion

      Wayne Cordeiro: Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your Passion
      This book helps anyone who is in leadership evaluate how they are doing within Self Leadership. A huge problem within leadership is leading out of an empty place, which leads each time to burn out and vision fatigue affecting the whole of the organization. Wayne shares from his own journey of what it was like to hit rock bottom and recover from there. He shared practical advice on how to lead out of the overflow of the heart, a vision that Axis holds onto. (****)

    • Andy Stanley: Visioneering: God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Vision

      Andy Stanley: Visioneering: God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Vision
      This book is a yearly supplement for me, one that reminds me to dream big, but not stop at dreaming. This book helps you turn your dreams into realities and gives great counsel on how to align your dreams with the heart of God. Andy uses the story of Nehemiah and unpacks how this guy’s vision became one that impacted an entire nation. This is a must read Axis! (*****)

    • David Batstone: Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade--and How We Can Fight It

      David Batstone: Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade--and How We Can Fight It
      A great book about how each of us can join the fight against human trafficking, Not For Sale, helps educate and empower. (****)

    • Alan Hirsch: Forgotten Ways, The: Reactivating the Missional Church

      Alan Hirsch: Forgotten Ways, The: Reactivating the Missional Church
      Alan Hirsch calls us back to harnessing the power of the early church in his book The Forgotten Ways. Throughout the book he looks at the concept of Apostolic Genius and how it unleashed unprecedented growth in the early church. (*****)