Generation Axis Blog

He has risen! (Day 90 // Mark 16:1-7)

He has risen! from Axis on Vimeo.

I'm Not Crying, I Just Have Allergies

In many of our communities this month, we looked at the eleventh chapter of John, the story of Lazarus, a man from the town of Bethany who became deathly ill and eventually died. If you grew up in church, this is one of those classic stories your Sunday School teacher taught with the creepy cartoon cut out of Lazarus as a mummy.

If not, you are lucky.

I have read this part of the Bible countless times and if I am honest, I usually speed read until the good part. You know the part where Jesus shows his power over life and death and raises Lazarus from the dead. If this was to be made into a movie, this part would be the climax. Jesus would appear out of a mysterious mist that you could have sworn wasn’t there a second ago and calls out into the tomb the name of Lazarus. Lasers would shoot out of the tomb as a slow motion close up of Lazarus’ slowly moving feet would be accompanied by a soundtrack composed by John Williams. At least that’s how it plays out in my head.

But I digress.

The miracle in this account is obvious. Lazarus, who was dead just moments ago, was now walking out of a four day old tomb.  Amazing, right? It is and I don’t want to downplay the significance of the Lazarus’ resurrection, but I would argue that it wasn’t the first miracle in this story.  

When Jesus walks into the town of Bethany, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, eventually comes out to greet Jesus in the midst of mourning the death of her brother. The moment she sees Jesus, Mary begins to tell him that Lazarus’ death was preventable. If only Jesus had come earlier.

At this point, Lazarus’ death was almost Jesus’ fault.

We all do this from time to time. When we are confronted with a difficult loss or pain in our lives, we want somebody to blame. Even if it’s irrational. Pain and loss often is.

The presence of death, pain and loss is irrational. They were not part of the original plan. Our grieving of pain and loss is essentially our groaning for something better. For what could have been. It is our acknowledgement that there has to be something better than what we know.  

What amazes me in this story is the way Jesus responds to Mary’s mourning and irrationality. When Jesus sees the grief and sadness in Mary and the community, He doesn’t rebuke them. He doesn’t make light of them. Jesus has intimate knowledge of what could have been.

Jesus weeps with them.

God in flesh, who would raise Lazarus in just a few moments, joined in the expression of human suffering. The God of the universe willingly sat with the community in their grieving.

God invites us to Himself, with all our pain, suffering, and mess. He longs to come along side us in our pain. He is our comforter.

This is the first miracle.  

Are you a secret disciple? (the burial of Jesus) (We're sorry for this being up late, we've been having a number of technical difficulties...thanks for your patience!)

The burial from Axis on Vimeo.

It Was Not Meant To Happen Like This (The Crucifixion)

It Was Not Meant To Happen Like This (The Crucifixion) from Axis on Vimeo.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day everyone.  The daily vids will continue tomorrow.

We Need You

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The Sacredness of Beauty-My Pilgrimage to the Modern Wing

This morning I journeyed to the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago.  It was the final day of a week of free entrance into the museum and I thought I would take advantage.

 

So I hopped on the 151 to Michigan Ave and as I got off the bus I saw a line stretching around the block of people waiting to get into the museum.  I followed a group of pilgrims up the bridge to the top of the institute where it hit me why so many people would wait in line to get into the museum, we were all there on a spiritual journey.

 

We were all there searching for beauty.  We gathered and walked the hallowed halls hoping for our spirits to be moved, hoping even in some small way to become a better person because of a piece of art.

 

Our culture has very few sacred spaces but I think art museums are one of them.  You can see it in the way people slowly walk from room to room or in the sense of duty the guards have in protecting the space.  And I think it is no surprise that while so many other spaces in our culture have lost their sense of sacredness it is art that remains set apart.

 

Art calls out beauty and I think all of us long for that; to see and experience beauty in the hopes of becoming beautiful.  Because if we are beautiful then we are valued.  Why do you think our world seeks superficial beauty so regularly?  It is because we value things that our beautiful.  But a boob job and a face lift can only create so much “beauty.” 

 

Art, on the other hand, helps us see beauty in the midst of chaos, pain, and death as much as it does tranquility, health, and life.  Art helps us find beauty in the world and then in ourselves.

 

I think our churches can learn a lesson from art museums.  People should leave our gatherings feeling beautiful.  Feeling valued.  We have forgotten that everyone is created in the image of God and therefore has inherent beauty.  We have forgotten that it is our job to help people connect with the mysterious beauty that is God and then help them see God’s creative brushstrokes in their own lives.

 

As I left the modern wing and sat on the grass in Millennium Park I had been changed, moved, and I think a little better for my pilgrimage.  It would do us all good if we slowed down and experienced the beauty art provides.

Confessions of a Pastor, part two (day 80)

Confessions of a Pastor (part two) from Axis on Vimeo.

thailand_5

I taught the girls at the Home of Blessing in Chiang Kahm, Thailand a song I learned in their language a few months ago. They had never heard the song before, so teaching them in their own language was pretty classy. enjoy!

Akha Hilltribe Song from Bobby Bo on Vimeo.

the Home of Blessing is a dormitory for girls from the northern thailand hilltribes who are at risk of being sold into or forced into the sex trafficking industry in thailand due to poor schooling and poverty. the Home of Blessing provides a christian-based safe housing for the girls during the school year for the families to send their daughters to the Home of Blessing so they can recieve the schooling they might not get in their tribes. good job God.

Extreme Frugality

I was listening to the radio today and they were talking about how this family committed to extreme frugality by living within their limits.  I think it's so crazy that living within our incomes is now considered "extremely frugal."

I know for me and my wife we are trying to tighten our belts so we can live within our means.  It has been very challenging.  I never thought it would be this hard just to live off the money we made.  I thought it would be enough to have a good job and income.  But it has felt like a struggle.  I'm not exactly sure why.  We've never not had something we needed and have been extremely blessed financially but I would still say it has been a struggle.

So how about you?  Are you able to live within your means?

thursday's daily devo // Vision

Thursday's Daily Devo // Vision from Axis on Vimeo.

Some Midday Inspiration

"My name is Julia Dales and I want to win the Beatbox Battle Wildcard."  Guess what she did.

Just a reminder to always follow your dreams.

Week 3 of the 40/40 Experience

Week 3 40/40 from Axis on Vimeo.

Call & Response Pictures

Check out the photo album on the right that says, "In The Hot Seat" for pictures from Friday & Saturdays screening of Call & Response.

The Ascent of Descent

You Must Go Down To Go Up from Axis on Vimeo.

thailand_4

hey friends.

yesterday we were given the opportunity to go into a local high school in Chiang Kahm, Thailand to teach english to various classes during the day and during one of my classes i decided to teach them a song so here it is and i hope you enjoy! also below, you can find the lyrics to the song.

live love. bobby bo!

i need You like the rain
come to me and sing again
i long for Your love so much
ive wanted Your pure touch

you are beautiful, beautiful
you are beautiful, beautiful
so beautiful, beautiful

i need You to be here
come to me, i can feel You near
i love You, You are my hope
you love me as Your own

Beautiful Thaischool from Bobby Bo on Vimeo.

Jesus or should I saw Cheezas In The News

A Texas couple discovered Jesus in their 99 cent Cheetos bag.

Pilate and Me Sitting in a Tree

Pilate and Me Sitting in a Tree from Axis on Vimeo.

What Did Call & Response Mean to You?

What did Call & Response stir in you?

What are you going to do to live differently?

What can we as an Axis community do to fight this problem?



Share some of your thoughts and answers.  We need to begin a communal discussion about this.

Call and Response

In the book of Genesis, there is a peculiar account of an exchange between Cain, son of Adam and Eve, and God. Cain murders his brother Abel in a calculated act of jealousy that could be seen as the first recorded act of injustice committed by one human against another.

When God confronts Cain about the murder in a scene eerily reminiscent of the confrontation between God, Adam and Eve after the first rebellion, Cain attempts to deny his act of injustice.

He tries to hide his murderous act from God.

It is God’s response that is the peculiar part of this conversation. God says Cain has attempted to hide the murder but the blood of Abel is crying out to God from the ground.

Not only is the blood crying out to God, this cry is heard by God.

This is not an isolated act in the Bible. In fact, in the following book, the Israelites cry out to God under the crushing weight of Egyptian slavery, and once again, the cry is heard by God. God hears the cry of His people.

Tonight, Axis, in a partnership with the rest of the Willow family is screening a film about human slave trafficking called Call and Response in the Lakeside Auditorium at 7pm. The cry of the innocent has taken on a new form.  This film is the amplified cry of the innocent.

Curiously enough, God often uses us to respond to these cries. We have the opportunity to join in their cry and to actually do something about it. This film can become an invitation to join in God’s work.

See you there.

Big Weekend

It's a big weekend for us around Axis.  Tonight and tomorrow night we're showing the documentary Call & Response and then having a conversation with the filmmaker Justin Dillon.  Then on Sunday Charlie Hall will be with us at Cafe 20.  You will not want to miss it.  Charlie is an excellent musician and a great guy.  Check out his music video below.

One of my best friends wrote a book about us! (My Generation by Josh Riebock)

One of my best friends Josh Riebock wrote a book called "My Generation" that comes out this October

He'll be visiting/speaking @ the Axis Experience in October and giving everyone who attends a free copy. Check this out...this is the intro. 

I listened to it last night and was so inspired. Click hre to listen http://www.joshriebock.com/_podcasts/JoshRiebock20090414MG_Prelude.mp3  

Take some time this weekend and give this a listen...it's so worth your time.

Blessings.

Jon Peacock

You are not alone! (day 75)

You are not alone! (day 75) from Axis on Vimeo.

Baby Peacock (week 22 update)

At 11 inches, the length of a spaghetti squash and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. 

Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her body (she takes after her dad :)) and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until she adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

We're so thankful for how excited all of you have been for Kelly and I.  We're thrilled to be having a little girl and to have her introduced to this world in the midst of a loving community like Axis is such a gift to us.

Blessings.

Jon Peacock

In The Hot Seat w/ Andrew Marin

I know many of you were unable to join us back in April for our In The Hot Seat w/ Andrew Marin evening.  It was a great conversation and definitely worth checking out.  You can listen or download the audio here.