Generation Axis Blog

Mike Vick; should he be given another chance?

Without question one of the most exciting players to watch each fall has been Mike Vick.  A left handed throwing, lightning fast running quarterback from Va Tech.  Sports, especially football is one of my favorite things to discuss and especially with most of my family being from Georgia the conversation of Mike Vick is one that I've found myself in as of late.

Mike Courson from the gb Tribune stated this morning that:

"Michael Vick may be worthless. Or he may not be. To the dismay of many, on Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Vick into the league. Who could possibly benefit from this?

The answer is a lot of people--if the league really wants to help people. First of all, there is Vick. He is a great football player, and why not let him excel at his gift professionally? What he did is truly repugnant on every level, probably unforgivable even, but allowing him to play football could minimize further damage to society.

The NFL is an employer with the power to change lives. It could leave Vick to hang and dry, or it could step in and make a positive intervention in a still young man's life. With Vick's desire to play football, the NFL has all the more power to get Vick out of bankruptcy, away from negative influences, and back into a positive spotlight."

I'd love to hear your thoughts??

-Jon Peacock

The Prodigal Son, part 1 (The original Swine flu)

The Prodigal Son, part 1 (The original Swine Flu) from Axis on Vimeo.

My life is changing!

Ok so something was just dropped off at our front door, and this something is an item I never thought I would be excited to receive.  Until 2 months ago I had never even heard of these but with the baby only 7 weeks from arrival, its been made clear to me that the one and only BABY BAJORN is a complete necessity.  I took a quick pic with my isight to show you guys.

This is unreal how much my life is changing, to be at a place in my life where I actually get excited to receive a gift like this.  Now I realize these things are huge in Europe and the rumor is David Hasselhoff endorses these and even carried Hobie in one of these years ago. (Baywatch reference)

I know many of you are coming to our all Axis Baby Shower this Sunday, but if you hadn't heard yet, this is your invite.  This Sunday at 1:30 in room 103/105 at Willow South Barrington.

I hope to see you guys there and an so thankful that Kelly and I are bringing this little girl into such an amazing community.

Have a great day.

Jon

Can Pastor's drink BEER? (1 Corinthians 8:7-13)

Can Pastor's drink BEER? from Axis on Vimeo.

Division = Confusion

I recently read through a post from over a year ago and felt the need to re=post so enjoy.

 

There seems to be some intrinsic, built in desire to see a band of brothers and sisters conquer some task, mission, or goal that lies incredibly deep within me. This is partially why I spent twelve dollars this recently along with my best friend to go and watch a 61 year old, face lifted, bow tox ridden, steroid induced, hero by the name of one John Rambo rescue the world from evil. I mean seriously Sly how do you do it? This guy is my dads age and my pops struggles to even finish a round of golf (sorry dad). I must admit seeing Sly in the shape he is in did inspire me to start a new diet, there was something hard to digest about a 61 year old grandpa making me look really bad, and I mean really bad!

 Back to this intrinsic desire to be on mission with a select few is something I think about a lot, and something that I have been studying recently in Philippians chapter 2. The author of this short Epistle would categorize this as “oneness” as would the founder of Christianity himself; that being Jesus in John chapter 17. Paul begins to address this band of brothers and sisters in the influential city of Philippi, imploring them to bond to one another in “spirit and purpose.” He says:

 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better then yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

 This idea of oneness is something that I believe we not only crave but something that the world uses at an authenticomenter (word I just made up, an instrument used to tell if someone or some group is legit, or authentic)(copywrite 2009). I’ve been reading a book by Joe Meyers called “the search to belong” a read that has challenged a lot of my thinking, and within that book I came across a quote by the legend Francis Schaeffer that stated:

 “Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful—Christian Community is the final apologetic.”

 This quote, in light of my studying of Philippians has been rocking me and leading me to ask the question of what do people see of God through me, through our missional communities, through the community of Axis? Do people see more of God because of what they see in the gathered community of Axis?

 As Paul writes to this community in Philippi it’s important to know that they were quite the eclectic group, lead by women (culturally not the norm) and made up of anything but a homogenous group. What a difficult task of committing to oneness in the reality of diversity.

 There are many things I love about you, the Axis Community and one of those is the amount of diversity that we have. I love how different we are, how each MCH differs from the other, how we have urban communities and suburban communities.  We are bonded together by our shared vision, and values of making Christ known in our culture, making Him known among our generation! This small band of brothers and sisters in Philippi seemed to understand what was at stake; they believed Paul and embraced the words of Jesus that said:

 “I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind--Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us.

Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as we are—I in them and you in me.

Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that you've sent me and loved them in the same way you've loved me.”

 It really is true that division = confusion, and we know that confusion leads to Spiritual inactivity. This is what happens when we are divided and not moving and living in unity as the body of Christ, the world continues to look on in confusion.

 Will you pray with me for the unity of our Community? Will you pray with me that in the midst of our diversity we will claim unity? Will you continue to place Christ in the center of your MCH and in the center of Axis?

 Also I want you to consider how you are bringing about dis-unity, whether in small ways or big ways?  Will you surrender this?  Will you realize and accept that it’s not about you, but about something much bigger?  

Blessings.

Jon Peacock

Finding the Place of Rest

I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  I have allowed it to affect the quality of my life while I love the fact that I can quickly stay connected with those I care about.  We live in an era where something is screaming for our attention 24/7 with a constant drone of input.   Email, text, voicemail, twitter, facebook, google alerts…we are all facing a addictive syndrome that a former Microsoft VP, Linda Stone (now Social Computing Group) termed CPA – Continuous Partial Attention.  CPA is being in a constant state of hypervigilance and high alert.    

 

Stone states, “With continuous partial attention we keep the top level item in focus and scan the periphery in case something more important emerges. Continuous partial attention is motivated by a desire not to miss opportunities. We want to ensure our place as a live node on the network, we feel alive when we're connected. To be busy and to be connected is to be alive..... Speed, agility, and connectivity at the top of mind...Now we're over-stimulated, over-wounded, unfulfilled.”

           

I think it is reasonable to assume that in the midst of all the energy and time to stay connected and scan for new information, we have lost the ability to be ‘still’.  Thomas Merton is known for his statement that if we are not comfortable being/resting in Christ we ‘do’.  He makes a profound observation.  If we really do not trust that our needs will be taken care of by God we feel the need to 'help him out' with our activism.  If we really don’t believe that God has our best interests in mind we will not feel the freedom to relinquish our work and rest in His presence. 

 

That is where the discipline of Sabbath keeping comes into the picture. God designed the Sabbath as a rhythm for our lives to balance the six days of work. It is more than just resting, it is a time to seek that which nurtures our souls, fuels our delight and intimacy with Christ. It is resting with God.  For each person the Sabbath will look quite different. 

 

My husband Ray, and I started thinking this through and found that our Sabbath, Sunday, was often a day filled with teaching and ministry activity.  Consequently, we were doing some form of work throughout the week without a defined period of spiritual and physical rest. Wayne Muller writes in Sabbath, “If we do not allow for a rhythm of rest in our overly busy lives, illness becomes our Sabbath – our pneumonia, our cancer, our heart attack, our accidents create Sabbath for us.” We took this wise advice and committed ourselves to choose not to take teaching engagements and ministry activities on Sundays. We have found a balance and rhythm emerging in our lives that has been physically, emotionally and spiritually enriching (I only wish we had done this a long time ago!). On Saturday evening we discuss what we feel that we need on Sunday for rest and restoration.  Some Sundays we may stay home from church (or go on Saturday night) and spend the day in solitude, reading and praying.  Other Sundays we may go to church and spend time with friends afterwards who we can count for spiritually nourishing conversation. Each Sunday is quite different.  We see a strengthening and refreshment emerge from these days that puts the rest of the week in a wonderful perspective and see the worries of the week slip away for moments of true joy to emerge. 

Amazing clip from the Conan O'Brien Show

Why I'm a Nature Freak! (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)

Why I'm a Nature Freak from Axis on Vimeo.

What you missed at the Barn Bash! Great job guys, those who were there raised over 5 Grand for the House of Hope!!

Tyler Grissom riding a horse!!

Hey guys I just stumbled upon this youtube clip of ole cowboy Tyler attempting to ride a horse. So funny....and dont tell Tyler that I posted this!!

Love Builder

Love Builder from Axis on Vimeo.

the same spirit.

we all have dreams

we all have hope and desires.

who is to tell us that we cannot chase after them?

what holds us back from truly living as if we were never going to fail?

God created the world, everything in it and then created people! i cannot even begin to imagine what was going on in His mind when this was happening… do you think, if even for a moment He was saying to Himself… “man, i really hope i dont mess this up.”

the same spirit that lives in the Son of God, lives in us… so we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Christ was no different than you or me. He was man. flesh. bones. blood. he lived, he died. he was ordinary. isaiah even says that there is no beauty or majesty about him. just your everyday man.

but Jesus had goals, desires and hope. and he didnt let anything get in the way of him living it out with all that he had.

its that same spirit and love that lives inside of us… i choose to acknowledge it and strive to live like that.

just a thought today. live love.

BARN BASH TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!

We are 24 hours away from the 1st annual Barn Bash. This party is going to be a live auction (thanks to the talented auctioneer Tyler Grissom) to help raise money for the Prague House of Hope initiative. 

As a ministry we are in the process of building a 3 story Community Center that will serve as a refuge and learning center for the most at-risk children in the city of Prague.

Don't miss tomorrow night!!

It will be from 6-10pm at DeerWoods Farm in Wayne. The address is 34W606 Army Trail rd in Wayne, IL

Come help make the Prague House of Hope a reality!!

If you are single please watch this!!

If you are single please watch this!!! from Axis on Vimeo.

Are you a virgin? Are you married?

Are you a virgin? Are you married? from Axis on Vimeo.

Is Paul saying divorce is ok? (1 Cor 7:15-24)

Is Paul saying Divorce is ok? (1 Corinthians 7:15-24) from Axis on Vimeo.

GiftCardGiver.com

I just came across this great website called GiftCardGiver.com.  We all have unused gift cards lying around.  Maybe you never got around to going out or you were given one to a store that doesn't exist in your area or maybe you used it but there's still a few dollars left over.  We shouldn't let that money go to waste.  Over $8 BILLION is wasted in unused gift cards every year and giftcardgiver.com is the place to put that money to good use.

Basically they 

• collect unused gift cards
• compile the money
• and buy necessary supplies for people in need.

So collect your unused gift cards and visit giftcardgiver.com to make a difference in someone else's life today.

Card Me. The Story. from Gift Card Giver on Vimeo.

One man's choice

Andrew Means asked if I would add entries from time to time on the Axis blog.  I am honored and feel a bit daunted by the task.  Being new to ‘blogging’ I am  not sure exactly what to share but here goes. . .

I was sent an email today from a friend sharing a report of a recent convert to Christ from Islam that had been shot to death in Somalia. His name was Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman. The news report indicated that it appeared he had been hunted down by the Islamic extremists.  At the time he was shot he was a leader of an underground cell group of Christians.  It went on to say that the believers there were unable to give additional details of the shooting as they were too distraught by what they had experienced. 

I was saddened by what I read and imagined the sorrow of these Christians who lived  with this fellow believer day in and day out in an underground fellowship bound together by their love for Christ;  each day managing fear of the loss of their own lives. And then I  think of the courage that it took  Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman to live his life knowing that he was marked for death at the moment he chose to profess faith in Christ.  I can imagine what that might have been like.

Courage comes from the Latin word ‘cor’ or heart.  Having courage is living from the heart and allows “….one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution.”(dictionary.com)  It is a spiritual virtue that is developed by God in the soul over time.  It is built in small acts of obedience and choosing not to give into one’s personal fears.  It is developed in the moments when we resolve to find confidence in God’s sufficiency rather than give in to our own personal self doubts.  It is born in the moments we choose small acts of personal sacrifice when the voices in the culture around us beckon us toward self gain and protection.  And then I wonder,  where is the intersection in my life where I am being called to choose courage, to move out in obedience rather than hanging on tightly to fear?  I think I know.

Barn Bash Volunteers Needed

Barn Bash is THIS SATURDAY!!!  We're still looking for volunteers.  You'll get free admission and 10 free activity and food tickets for helping out for an hour.  Email me at ameans[at]willowcreek.org if you're available to help.

Thanks!!!

armor.

the other morning i felt strongly to put on the full armor of God, more than usual. putting it on and refusing to take it off. the enemy wants to attack us with each new day that is before us and with that it is so important to take our stand.

for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms ephesians 6:12

we need the strength of God, not our own, to defend the enemy at the cross. through which it is Jesus that we have claimed victory. and we will continue to claim that victory until the day of Jesus’ return.

its going to be such a good day.

live love.

All The Single Ladies

All The Single Ladies from Axis on Vimeo.

Bill Moyers: Faith and Social Justice

Recently NPR's Bill Moyers brought to light the topic of Christianity and social justice with a panel that featured Cornel West, Serene Jones, and Gary Dorrien. Some interesting points touched on in the following interview include the definition of sin, American faith post-Wall Street meltdown, the so-dubbed prosperity and social "gospels," and reflections on the Obama administration.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. I might weigh a few thoughts in brief as well.

more about "Bill Moyers: Faith and Social Justice", posted with vodpod

But Honey The Bible Says You Should Have Sex With Me

But Honey The Bible Says You Should Have Sex With Me from Axis on Vimeo.

Andy Stanley at Willow this weekend!!

Axis one of my favorite authors and speakers will be with us this weekend at Willow.  Andy Stanley, the founding Pastor of North Point Community Church in Atlanta is regarded as one the most effective teachers and authors in the US.  

I have listened to tons of his sermons as well as read some of his books including; the Next Generation Leader, Communicating for a change, and one of my all time favorites Visioneering.  Visoneering as highlighted on our Axis book shelf has become for me a yearly supplement, 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. 

We hope to see you out this weekend.  If you attend a Regional Campus make sure to hook up with the axis crowd, and if you attend Axis South Barrington we'll see you in section 208/209 at the 11:15 service w/ cafe 20 following.

Blessings.

Jon Peacock

I'm a Temple?

I'm a Temple? from Axis on Vimeo.