David Eaton Axis President & Cofounder brought us a message about The Meaning of Life from the Book of Ecclesiastes. The wisdom of Solomon shows that he searched for the meaning of life through the ways of the world but found it all as vapor. He concluded that the meaning of life is a relationship with God the Father. We searched through popular culture in the message to find that the meaning of life today is still the same, a relationship with God the Father through the risen and reigning Christ Jesus.

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

~ Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

There's a solution to the overworked, overwhelmed, running-on-empty frenetic pace of life. But you don't want the solution. Because chances are you already know the solution.

It's called Sabbath.

It means stop.

Rest.

Worship.

Trust.

This Sunday I'm excited to share a message called "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry." (It's a quote from Dallas Willard.)

It's also my last Sunday preaching before my Sabbatical- a summer of rest and re-connecting with Jesus, my family, and myself.

"... anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."

~ James 1:20

Have you noticed that many people seem really angry?

Like a constant, underlying rage that is ready to explode at any moment?

Anger isn't new.

And not all anger is bad.

But too many are living with a level of anger that is

personally destructive,

relationally toxic

and sinful against God.

This Sunday in our "God Help Me: Biblical Help For Mental Health" series we'll look into what the bible has to say about anger, and more specifically, what to do with the ungodly anger that is causing so much harm.

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

~ Philippians 4:6

Sometimes the bible is pretty direct.

Maybe a little too direct.

"Do not be anxious about anything..."

Really?!

It's that easy.

Just stop being anxious?

Yes and no.

Think of it more like an invitation rather than an insensitive command.

"... but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

~ Philippians 4:6-7

God sees us and knows our anxious hearts.

And offers a way of living and approaching anxiety-inducing circumstances.

This Sunday we'll be continue our series

God Help Me:

Biblical Help for Mental Health

and we'll be addressing one of the most common,

and most pervasive of all experiences-

Anxiety.

Does the Bible even address mental health?

Yes.

This Sunday we'll set the foundation for a biblical view of mental health. Simply put, Jesus invites us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. And to love our neighbor as ourselves.

We so can, and are called,

to love ourselves holistically:

- Our heart (the emotions).

- Our mind.

- Our soul.

- Our strength (the body).

The church is generally good about asking for help when someone is physically sick. No so much when it comes to mental health and illness.

But God cares about our mental health and the bible is not silent on matters of mental illness. This May 2022 we want to break the silence, de-stigmatize, and open the conversation about mental health awareness, and help, in the church.

It happens to all of us-

A mistake.

A failure.

A choice we can't take back.

Then we get stuck in that moment.

Reliving, replaying that scene over, and over and over...

How do we move on from failure?

Jesus' friend Peter made a monumental mistake.

Even after Easter, after the resurrection, Peter was still stuck.

So Jesus goes to him, and restores their relationship,

and Peter's calling to lead the church.

Please don't miss this Sunday.

Please take this opportunity to invite someone to worship who you know is struggling with something from their past that haunts them.

Resurrection, and Restoration, is available.

Easter 2022

Sunday April 17

"Graves into Gardens!"

Hosanna!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

~ John 12:13

The weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday sets the stage for Holy Week-

the last week of Jesus' ministry,

leading us to Easter.

How is it that this one event can be both the most humiliating,

and most exalting,

demonstrations of Jesus' mission?

Families, your children will be invited to come forward in the service, bringing their own palm branches to worship Jesus.

We will also be celebrating communion,

so prepare your hearts to come to the Lord's Table.

And make plans to join us for Good Friday, April 15, at 7pm.

And of course Easter Sunday and our celebration of the resurrection April 17.

Have you ever stopped to consider what "Christian" means?

Yes, it means we are aligning ourselves with Jesus.

But more,

we are identifying with his title of Christ.

And Christ means anointed.

So it means we are identifying with Jesus' anointing.

And why was Jesus anointed?

For burial.

When a person calls oneself "Christian,"

we are identifying with the death of Jesus,

and the death of our own lives.

He died that we might live.

We die that we can rise in him.

This Sunday we'll look into a story told in each of the gospels-

Jesus' anointing for burial.

It's truly awesome.

And the implications for us are truly life changing.