Axis Update February27, 2007

Axis Update February27, 2007

On February 18 we had an exciting day for Axis. After10,000 mailers and 1,000 doorhangers, we had 40 people join us for church!

It was a very exciting day. We got a needed 'boost' for our little group.
The feedback was very, very positive.

Now we are trying to capitalize on the momentum, praying that people 'stick' and continuing to follow God in this long process.

We've just finished a small group series titled "Just a Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybels. This has been really good for us! We don't want to grow from 'transfer' growth. We are targeting the 'un-churched' primarily. This means church growth may be slower than some other church stories that I've heard, but we are certain that this is what God's got for us. By the way, for us, "un-churched" can mean believers or non-believers... anyone that's not currently in a church.

Prayer requests:

• That God will extend His kingdom through this new community of believers!


• That God will help us with people that can 'run' important systems
  needed for us to be organized.


• That God will provide needed finances. (and I DO mean needed!)


• For people, people, and more people!

More of Axis on the Web:

• A video that I made for the February 18th church gathering.


• Some photos taken on February 18th.


• My blog. My other blog. My other other blog.

God bless!

Joe Green

Church Planter/Lead Pastor

Partnering With God

let's try a new type of blog! a VLOG, video blog!

followers of jesus are people who are partnering with God to help make this world more like the world God originally intended it to be. when we do this, we literally bring a little bit of heaven to earth.



originally this video was meant to be shown at our church last sunday, but we lost the remote to the dvd player and couldn't get it to play... welcome to church planting, sigh.

(credit: much of the monologue was taken from some notes i took while listening or watching Rob Bell - i just don't know when or where or what exactly- my notes are so unorganized)

Reasons why I Changed my Gender

I WILL BE RAMBLING, SO DON'T EXPECT STRUCTURE....


A few astute people have noticed that my Myspace profile lists me as a 36 year old FEMALE.

Several months ago a good friend of mine mentioned that MEN on Myspace see different advertising than WOMEN. I was skeptical, so I changed my gender (from male to female) in my profile as a test. Since then, I have seen approximately 90% less skantily clad, awkwardly posed women who 'want' me for something or another. The last two Ads that I've seen are one for a purse and one for Ugg boots - neither of which match my 'outfit' today.



Sexy sells. Cars become sexy with the right woman leaning on it. Even pizza becomes sexy when a pretty blonde is standing over you (allusion to a pizza commercial with Jessica Simpson). Sexy sells things and pornography ruins lives.



Did you know that 72% of all porn viewing is done by men?

I have a friend who is becoming like a hero to me. Pornography addiction has threatened his marriage, career and his friendships. Recently he's been taking positive steps toward recovery and with God's help he's going to make it!

I just wish we could have more control over advertising. Couldn't we sign up for certain types of Ads and opt out of other types of Ads?? I feel like so many ads (other media too!) on the internet are destructive. I think they objectify women. SHE becomes THAT. Jesus talked about when SHE becomes THAT when he told those who lust after women that it's better to poke out your eye than for your whole body to be thrown in hell... (for more on this, you should come to my church on Sunday and I'll explain why Followers of Jesus aren't eye-less). In other words something "hellish" happens to US when we strip a person of there humanity and that person becomes an OBJECT. It's anti-human. Anti-human in anti-God. There is no amount of darkness that can erase God's divine imprint on our lives... anytime we reduce someone to an OBJECT we're playing with fire. We must protect God's imprint in the lives of other people an maybe in doing that we're protecing God's divine imprint on our own lives?

Here are some stats for you about TEENAGERS AGES 10 - 17 that can be found at a FOXNEWS article here:

• 42% said they had seen online pornography in a recent 12 month span.
• 66% of those teens said they did not want to view the images and had not sought them out
• 33%+ of 16 & 17 year old boys said they had intentionally visited X-rated sites in the past year
• 8% of 16 & 17 year old girls said they had intentionally visited X-rated sites in the past year
  

I have to tell you that I won't let my 15 year old boy have a myspace site unless he's willing to have a sex-change... don't tell him... currently he's not asking for myspace.

Anyway, today is VALENTINES DAY and I intend to make-out with my wife. Have a good porn-free day!

New Website for Axis

http://www.axiscommunitychurch.com

The new site matches our first mass mailing ever! 10,000 postcards by this weekend.

And I've moved our 'real' website here: http://www.axiscommunitychurch.com/blog - it should allow for much more interaction and contribution from our little group! Check it out and drop a comment!

my kids, my new camera

HopeEddie_Feb_06
Originally uploaded by Joe and Sarah.

I just bought a Canon Digital Rebel Xti and now i'm playing! I should be working.

click picture for larger version.