Blog #2 - Dreaming out loud

The following was also posted on my MySpace.com. Originally posted at the end of November 2005. I was just dreaming outloud. In the comment section, i posted a couple of the original comments.

Axis is a community of Christ followers looking to impact culture with the message of a personal relationship with God. A relationship that is necessary to live the best possible way. A life that is vital, engaging, whole, fulfilling, and healthy. We want to engage people in a conversation about faith. We want to challenge worldviews and cause people to see God outside the box they've put Him in just as WE are willing to see God outside the box we’ve put him in. Maybe there is no box...

We will look at the scriptures. Study the text. We will learn about those who’ve gone before us and understand the story. We’ll find ourselves in the story. As we look back we’ll find things we need to embrace. We will also discover things that we need to let go of.

We will look at things impacting our lives and culture. We think a lot can be learned by finding and discussion truth. All truth is God’s truth. If that’s true then we can celebrate the truths found in our culture, movies, music and politics. We’d like to stop the mass exodus of our generation leaving the church. Maybe we’ll need to re-define some things about church to make that happen? Maybe there are some non-essentials that we can let go of. Maybe we can create environments to help people see Jesus for who He really is.

As followers of Jesus we can't be complacent living in a Christian box and never engage the world we live in. We want to live the way Jesus did, hanging out with the very people religious leaders turned up their nose at. We can’t embrace legalism and bigotry.

Whether 20 or 50 years into it or just beginning we remember that Christianity is not a destination. No one has it all figured out. And because of that we believe in dialogue -- about Truth, about faith, about freedom in Christ. Dialogue, voicing our doubts and questions is something we feel is vital to our spiritual growth. We need to never stop pursuing Truth and authenticity with passion.

Even though we have questions, we also have firm beliefs. We believe that eternal life and liberating freedom is found in Christ.. We believe that a relationship with Him changes things forever and changes things (for the better) today. You are not the person you used to be after you find Him.

We may not be perfect -- no perfect people allowed -- but we don’t want to live life like we used to.. Jesus told us to be in the world, yet not of it. We're supposed to stand out and make a difference. This church is supposed to live for something bigger than itself. Our church will be more than it’s building.

None of this is something we can magically attain overnight. Following Christ and figuring out what it means to be like Him is a life-long quest. It's the hardest, longest and most rewarding thing we will ever undertake. It is what will define us -- not only in this life, but the life to come.