Community - Imago Dei Church

Ressurecting Gospel

June 17, 2020/in Community, Race & Faith /by Imago Dei

“Just preach the gospel.” “If people were this fired up about Jesus’ death, the world would be changed.” “Be careful of churches ‘going liberal.'” “A social gospel is a false gospel.”

Have you heard or thought of any of these ideas over the past few weeks? I have. And there is some merit to them, to be sure. Jesus Himself said, “what good will it do to gain the whole world and yet forfeit your soul.” Further, many who are alive today have seen churches and denominations lose their prophetic edge as they have been conformed to the image of this world rather than transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Is this current moment where the world is screaming for justice any different? Is it dangerous for the church to link arms with the world as it cries out?

If asked sincerely, these questions are good and wise. They ought not to be dismissed. If we consider them, we’ll see that the church ought to be fully engaged at this moment.

Christ in Politics

Have you heard people say that we should worry about changing hearts, not laws? Have you wondered why those two purposes are set up in a binary, mutually exclusive way? Are they? It seems to me that not only can we do both at the same time, but attempting to opens up far more doors to deep, heart-level conversations.

For as long as I can remember, Christians have been actively involved in changing laws. Pro-life? Traditional marriage? It seems to me that it might be helpful to ask – why is advocating for reform on economic, housing, education, and criminal justice policies – viewed differently?

When I consider the Scriptures, it appears that God has regularly had people involved in politics. The examples of the kings of Israel may not be appropriate, as Israel was a theocratic nation-state. America is not. But what about Joseph? Daniel? Nehemiah? Esther? Looks like God has regularly had His people advocate for the values of His Kingdom while in the middle of pagan nations. Like America. Seems to me that the issue is not so much political, but partisan.

May Your Kingdom Come

“This world will always be broken. It is not our home. We should not try to make it be.” This argument is typically stated so that we wouldn’t divert our focus from preaching the gospel and get “sucked into” broader social reform.

As I stated previously, these opportunities are not mutually exclusive. We regularly and rightly pour ourselves out in hope of change and health. Take marriage as an example. No marriage will be perfected until Jesus comes back to claim His bride and gives us all one perfect marriage. Still, many labor in premarital and marital counseling. We run ourselves into the ground to save marriages that are on the brink of disaster. We invest in the front end of marriages in an attempt to prevent disaster. And yet we all know that no marriage will be perfect. Some of our efforts will prove futile as some marriages will still end.

This is why we also “Seek the good of the city to which God has sent us. And pray for the city. Because in it’s welfare we will find ours.”

If there are unjust laws that make it hard for people to live in a home – why wouldn’t we work to help people have safe and sufficient housing? At every level of the conversation? If we believe that reading the Bible is critical for the Christian faith, why wouldn’t we work at every level to help people learn how to read?

Full Delight

We don’t have to be afraid of integrating our Christ-exalting, gospel-centered, Bible grounded faith in every aspect of our lives and God’s creation. That includes culture, government, family, and more. I would submit to you for your consideration that it is actually far more dangerous not to. For our own souls and for the world. After all, faith without works is dead. What would happen to the government – or any other organization – if Christians refuse to engage?

If we look at the world through the lens of Scripture, I believe we will see that engaging in issues of Biblical justice, for the good of the world, lets us see more of God and more of the gospel, not less. Perhaps we ought to preach the gospel – to ourselves. Maybe it would help us if we daily remembered that Jesus, though He was rich, became poor so that through His poverty, we might become rich – in Him. Maybe our hearts would soften if we reflected on the truth that the King of all Creation made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. The cross we deserve to hang on.

Perhaps if we saw the depths that God had to go to rescue our souls, because He so loved us, then maybe we would see that He so loves the world that now He is sending us into the world with the love that He first loved us with.

Let’s preach the gospel – and apply the gospel. Let us bring the gospel to bear on every area of brokenness in this world so that people from every tribe, nation, and tongue can delight themselves in the God of the gospel.

Just Engaging

May 29, 2020/in Community, Race & Faith /by Pete

Minneapolis is burning. More black bodies are on the ground. Justice is not being served. Distrust, anger, and fear fill the air. The unrelenting, indefensible racial injustice is mind-boggling. For some. For others, nothing has actually changed. Their reality has just gone viral. Combine that with nothing to distract us and it seems like new segments of our culture want to turn a corner, press into the reality of this nightmare, and perhaps offer a better future to our children.

The skeptic in me wonders if the outrage will pass with the next news cycle. Will people post so passionately about racial injustice when they can watch football again? Will we invest time in discovering the pervasive pain of a racialized reality that many cannot escape from – when we can invest time discovering the next great all-inclusive resort to escape to? I’m hopeful we will.

Many are asking – what can we do? How can we help? What can we do to change this mess? As a humbled learner, I would like to offer a few suggestions for Christians in the majority culture to consider as a starting place.

Be humble or be humbled

Please recognize that while the desire to help, fix, change the current situation is most likely a good desire, it is also mixed with arrogance. One of my black friends gently exposed this to me. She pointedly asked, “why do you think things can change because you’re involved now?”

We must recognize that many people who are smarter, more dedicated, and more faithful – have gone before us. This is not a new situation. Many of us are just new to the conversation. We must be willing to learn our place in the conversation. Which may be serving the table, not sitting at it.

Take in what God breathed out

Search through and pray the Scriptures. Ask God to open your eyes to see His heart for the poor and the marginalized. Pray God’s Word and let God soften and transform your heart. Pray through Psalm 10, Psalm 82, Micah 6, Amos 5. My goodness, especially Amos 5. Does your desire to worship in a church building match your desire to work for justice in the streets?

Embrace Dignity

Support black churches and churches serving in marginalized communities. With all of my heart, I believe that a robust application and demonstration of the gospel through the local church for the glory of God is the hope of the world. There are faithful men and women of color anonymously pouring out their lives to care for a traumatized community. As a white man, I cannot fully understand their experience. My ability to help will be limited. But not eliminated.

Consider what Dave Chappelle said in his stand-up special “Equanimity.”

“When I read that letter, in the moments after I read it, I did something that many black men in America do not have the time or the money to do: I thought about how I felt.”

I can support black pastors in ways that empower them to care for people in ways I cannot. Did you know that many pastors serving in the most under-resourced areas do so for free? These community pillars work multiple jobs in order to shepherd people without requiring a salary. Can you imagine working third shift all week, raising a family, feeling traumatized, counseling people, and preparing to preach a sermon to a video camera on Sunday? When you don’t have a tech team?

That situation is not uncommon in the black church. But don’t pity them. Honor them. Be inspired. Learn from them. Recognize the strength, dignity, and supernatural perseverance God is granting these leaders to honor Him by feeding His sheep. Consider ways that you can support them so that they can have a minute to think about how they feel.

Delight yourself in the Gospel

Empowered by the Spirit of God, we can joyfully take these steps. Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords knew what His place was in every conversation. Yet, He laid down His privilege to invite us to His table – so that He could serve us. He washed the feet of His followers, demonstrating that He would scrub the stains off of our souls. He became our sin. Our apathy. Our arrogance. Our bitterness. Our unforgiveness. It was crucified with Him so that God could forgive us.

Through the gospel, not only are our souls emptied of our sin, our hearts are filled with God’s Spirit. Because of what Jesus has already done for us, we can now join Him in what He is doing for others. We can love God with everything we have. And we can love our neighbor as ourselves.

Let’s start there. Maybe we end there too?

A Church Without Walls

April 8, 2020/in Community, COVID-19, The Church /by Rob Idom

Have you ever heard someone say, “the church is more than a building.” Have you thought about it or said this yourself? To be clear, yes it is. But it’s together, often in a building, that God stirs our affections for Him and each other! The author of Hebrews communicates this clearly:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV)

Stirring each other up for good works. At this time, we may not be able to gather together in person, but that does not stop us from being in church! It has not stopped us from cheering on good works for the good of the city. In fact, I personally have seen time and time again how the fellowship of the church gathering has changed hearts, while also seeing how God’s work in someone’s heart has changed the gathering! It is beautiful! There is nothing else like it. It cannot be quantified. It cannot be explained. And it is so good.

This is why I write to you. Not because we had a committee assembled to figure out how to be the church now. Rather, the church was “gathering” together online to care for each other well and to stir up some good works. If you are looking for ways to serve your neighbors and care for those that are most vulnerable, I have good news. You can! It is about being faithful stewards of what God has given.

Needs to pray about and to serve in

If you are like me and need help getting started, consider some of these options

Elderly Relatives and Neighbors

Helping with chores, yard work, errands, and just checking in on the elderly in your life.

Supporting Small Businesses

MKE Black is a resource to support black business and MKE Covid Carry Out is a facebook group supporting take-out and delivery services in Milwaukee.

Care for Mental Health

For personal mental health needs, but also for checking in on others to see how they are really doing. The biblical counseling care team has everything from videos, books, blogs, and more to help bring the gospel to bear.

Food Pantries and Shelters

Consider volunteering at one, and many are taking great measures to make volunteering still socially-distant. Jon and Michelle are volunteering at Feeding America on 4/3/20 (1-4pm) and the Hunger Task Force on 4/9/20 (1-4pm) if anyone wants to join and be in relative proximity to one another.

Consider Donating Blood

Donors are needed desperately during this time, and blood drives are taking steps to keep things sanitary and socially-distant for donors.

Sew Masks for Healthcare Workers

Here is the resource and instructions that go over how to do this, if you have the skills and access to materials to help.

Health Concerns and Pregnancies

Pray for and work to support those that are expecting and others that have prior health conditions that affect them.

Federal Stimulus Package

If the current legislation passes through Congress as expected, Americans will be receiving money from the government. If you don’t personally need it to get by, consider supporting ID, or one of our partners. Reconcile Church, Safe Families, or Compassion International.

Trusting in Jesus

There are good works to be done in the name of the great God we serve, Jesus Christ. We don’t have to be anxious about tomorrow. We don’t have to fear for our lives. We can trust the One who gave His life so that we might live. We can fully serve, generously give, and truly worship. And we can do it all for the glory of God alone.

Sentenced to Suffer

April 2, 2020/in Community, Milwaukee Church /by Pete

Should I even consider it? Should I dive in and prepare for the worst? What would you do if you felt like God was calling you to read the Bible’s “go to” book on suffering? Job. That’s what happened to me this week. In just my normal pattern of personal devotional time, I wrapped up the book of Esther and turned the page to…..Job!

Job is an Old Testament story about a man who lost everything because he faithfully honored God. In the end, everything worked out ok. But in the middle, not so much.

Turning to that book in this season scares me. I don’t want to have to learn from it. Over the past six years of church planting, God has humbled me to the point that I now know that I am not so special as to be exempt from suffering and trials. Some churches will not make it out of this international shut down. That could include ours. Even though we are doing ok, so far. So should I read and pray through Job to prepare my heart to suffer? Should I skip it? Do you, like me, ever hope that God does not speak to you because you’re afraid of what He might say?

Remember who the bible is about

I nervously wrestled with those questions until I remembered who the Bible is actually about. Spoiler alert – it’s not about me! Or you! While the book of Job does provide some tools we can use to trust God in the midst of suffering, that’s not the point of the book. It’s a book that points to Christ. Like the rest of the Bible.

Job was wealthy, favored, faithful, and fruitful. He lost all of it because God directs Satan to test him by attacking him. Through it all, though, Job ultimately proves faithful and God restores him to a higher position than he had ever known.

This is not a fable. It’s not a lesson that if we remain faithful when we suffer, then God will bless us with more blessings than we had ever been blessed with before. It points to Christ. He is the Favored Son of God. He lost everything. Not because Satan attacked Him, but because we have attacked God. How? In our sin, we’ve committed cosmic treason. We’ve tried to “de-god God,” and claim His throne in our own lives and in the lives of others. We have tried to shape others into the image we want them to be. We must admit that we make terrible gods.

This is why Jesus stepped off of His throne and onto our cross. He exchanged His crown of glory of our crown of thorns. He took on our suffering so that we could have His joy. He became our sin so that we might become His righteousness.

After Jesus was crucified and buried, God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him above all, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

That’s the point of the book of Job.

Remember who our lives are about

Delighting in the glory of God is the point of our lives. God is committed to maximizing our joy in Him. So much so that He will even walk us through “the valley of the shadow of death.” Because Jesus suffered for us, we can have full confidence that He will now suffer with us. And that, not as an unsuspecting victim, but as a victorious Savior.

Even our suffering will be used by God to increase our joy in Him. He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. He will discipline us as a good Father. He will show us more of His unsurpassed compassion and tenderness. He will liberate us to love Him more than anything in this world.

Give it a read

So I think I will read the book of Job. Not to prepare to suffer. But to prepare my heart to worship. Which will prepare me to suffer. I will pray through this book so that I can learn more about Christ and how to be satisfied in Him regardless of what happens to my circumstances. Will you join me?

Good Grief

April 1, 2020/in Community, COVID-19, Milwaukee Church /by Sarah Lange

Over the past 2 weeks, our family, along with most others I know, were thrown into homeschooling, working from home, laid off, or have an “essential” job facing this COVID-19 head-on. (Thank you by the way! Your service is not going unnoticed!)

I don’t know about you, but this abrupt change has been… well… It’s been something… and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I have felt overly stressed or overwhelmed most of the time these past 14 days and we’re not even in quarantine! One thing is certain about me, I do NOT like abrupt change. HAHA! Anyone else with me?!

But, in light of all that, God’s got a sweet, constant reminder and gift for all of us… the gift of grace, especially in our time of weakness as 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 tells us. God intended this grace to be sufficient for a day’s use, one day at a time- like the Manna that he provided to the Israelites while in the desert, we too get the portion He knows we need for today alone. AND Tomorrow.., His mercy will be new in the morning, therefore, we can rejoice and be glad in it! Hallelujah!

On a heavier note, how many of us are working through the disappointments of thing after thing being canceled, rescheduled or postponed indefinitely? How many of us don’t get to find this time as a vacation but have to keep working, encountering the everyday anxiety of “What If I get the virus?!” or think/complain, “What’s all the worry?” or “Why are they not staying at home?” or “Why does this type of disappointment always seem to happen to me?” How many of us are afraid that we might lose a loved one because of this virus, and, if that’s the case, grieving this may be the last time we see them and it’s virtual?!

There’s hope in our complaint, disappointment, angst, and grief too. It’s called LAMENT. We’ve heard this over the past few months via email, at the pulpit or maybe you’ve read the book “Woke Church” by Eric Mason that was recommended to us during Black History Month (fantastic read btw). Below I have 3 more places to encourage you to go to learn, practice and grow more deeply in this form of prayer; “lament.” God’s familiar and comfortable with this grief, angst, complaint, etc when we are coming to Him with it. He invites us to come to Him with our heavy burdens, weary souls for He will give us rest because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

This season of COVID-19 is likely not going to get easier. It’s likely going to press into some of our deepest sorrows, idols, anxieties- this list can go on. I have found a few places that may be helpful to do what I mentioned above bringing hope in learning, practicing and growing in our lament and thus growing in closer, greater relationship with our Abba Father.

First, this blog was shared with me about understanding the coronavirus biblically, it’s just good, quick and good.

Second, Throughout the Psalms we can find Lament. Here are a handful: Psalms 3-7, 22, 25,26, 28, 51, 54-61, 77, 123, 143

Last but NOT least, (I am really excited about this- obviously not before the Bible)
“Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy,” by Mark Vroegep. If you can make time in this COVID-19 season to sit with your Bible, a journal and this book, you won’t regret it. It is written to teach us how to lament and lament with Scripture. It’s available at just about any bookstore online. Better yet, since we’ve gone almost all virtual, if you have a Milwaukee or Tosa Public Library membership, you can check out this audiobook, for FREE, via the Hoopla app. (If you need a library card you can get a temporary MKE Library membership by going to mpl.org and talking to a librarian via their chatbox on the bottom right-hand corner of your computer screen.)

As the grief of what is happening all around us in different forms, in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin, in the US, around the globe, will likely grow, let us continue to learn how to Lament with God. We can do it with a joy that can only come from the Lord Himself.

I will leave you with the prayer that has been on my heart and mind the past 2 weeks:

ISAIAH 43:1-2 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

Grace and peace everyone!

Sarah Lange
Ministry Lead Biblical Counseling Care Team
Imago Dei Church
sarahl@id-mke.com

COVID Care

March 27, 2020/in Community, Milwaukee Church /by Pete

I’m worried. Are you? I’m worried about many things. Including myself. I’ve struggled on and off with depression most of my adult life. I made it through this winter feeling alright for the first time in a few years. But then a global pandemic breaks out and I can hear some toxic songs, beckoning me, enchanting my soul. Can you hear the melodies? Do you, like me, need some support in ignoring them? If so, let me offer you my earplugs, if you will.

Faithful Feasting

When was the last time you ate lettuce? That wasn’t on a burger? When I’m stuck at home, I just want to eat. It can be difficult to tell the difference between hunger and boredom. When I start to feel depressed or anxious, I just want to eat. Lego Batman sings it well in the Lego Movie 2. “I just want to eat carbs, pass the ice-cream…”

Even though we’re quarantined, surrounded by impending doom, and thrown off of all of our normal routines, our bodies still physically need proper nutrition. Maybe even moreso. A proper diet points us to a deeper and more satisfying truth: we were not created to live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

We do need to eat right. In every way. We need to consume the proper portions of protein, carbs, and… whatever is in vegetables. When we do, that reminds us that we need to consume the proper source of grace that comes from the Bible. And not just that, but reading the Bible in such a way that we are reminded it’s not about us, but about God. Specifically, what God has done, is doing, and will do through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is what I need to feast on. Daily.

Eternal Excercise

Our bodies were not designed to stay hunched over keyboards while staring at glowing rectangles. We were designed to move. God’s Word commends this.

“While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Tim 4:8.

Every time I exercise I want to quit early. I almost always need to pray something like this. “Lord, give me the grace I need to finish this workout that is only of some value so that I can know how to rely on you to persevere in the things that will matter in every way.”

In times of stress, I don’t necessarily want to serve others. Do you? I’m usually so consumed with myself that thinking of ways to care for other people don’t even enter my mind. I just wonder why no one reaches out to me?

Even writing this blog feels like a vulnerable risk. What if you judge me? What if you think less of me or my faith because you know I struggle with depression? That I’m tempted to consume carbs instead of Christ in order to be comforted?

What if no one reads this and I’ve wasted my time during an unprecedented global crisis?

So God I pray, give me the grace that I need to finish this blog so that you can bring to completion the good work You have begun in my heart and those who may read this.

Count on Christ

There is another song you could let enchant your soul. Listen to the birds sing. In fact, Jesus told us to look at the birds when we feel worried. They don’t seem to be worried. God is taking care of them. And they are counting on that. How much more valuable are we than they?

We can faithfully follow Jesus without fear – because He dealt with the One thing we should fear: Being separated from the love of God because of our sin. This pandemic did not take God by surprise. Covid-19 as well. But I mean our sin. The virus that has plagued all of human history that the coronavirus is just one of the symptoms of.

Jesus exhausted Himself, physically carrying our cross up a hill. He was consumed by God’s wrath against our sin – so that we could feast on the Bread of Life that has come down from heaven, and be eternally satisfied.

Three days later, Jesus was physically raised from the dead, eternally guaranteeing that no one and nothing could ever separate us from the love of God.

When I think about the gospel, all of a sudden, I’m not so worried. God’s taking care of the birds. Jesus overcame the grave. We can eat a salad and pray.

Transcending Trouble

March 19, 2020/in Community, The Church /by Pete

Thank you for allowing me to interrupt your daily scroll of terrifying apocalyptic news. I want to try to show you a picture that few people get to see.

One of the greatest privileges I have as a pastor is officiating weddings. Little in life is more moving, more powerful, more transcendent, than the moment a bride walks down the aisle toward her groom.

Can you hear the soft, instrumental music playing in the background? The groom is at the altar. Every eye is on him. The anticipation in the air is palpable. Then – the music shifts, the doors to the sanctuary open, and I struggle to gently say, “please rise.”

Everyone turns to see the bride. Hands cover hearts as smiles break out across faces. People turn back to see how the groom is doing as the most beautiful woman he has ever seen starts walking toward him.

An unmatched sparkle beams from her eye. There’s a smile that becomes uncontainable within the first four steps she takes. Her pure white dress screams to everyone in the room - I’m taken! Not a hair is out of place. But even it was, no one would notice. The joy that radiates from deep in her soul drowns out any imperfection.

At this point, it’s best not to look at the groom. Most likely, he’s a mess. And if you want to keep your composure, the last thing you want to see is a strong man turn into a pile of mush because the love of his life is about to give her love exclusively to him for the rest of their lives.

For the follower of Jesus, this beautiful moment paints a picture of something more beautiful than this moment. Revelation 19:6 – 8 reads like this:

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

Let me tell you about one of the greatest privileges I have as a pastor. It’s watching the church, the bride of Jesus prepare for her true and better wedding day. As a viral pandemic broke out around the world, I have seen the church of Jesus put on her wedding dress. That is, she has gotten her hands dirty with good deeds.

People have freely, joyfully given their time and talents to transition entire communities of faith to worship online. Cords were run, cameras were tested, hurdles were jumped over well into the night. All of this so that on Sunday morning, the church could gather to worship, even if online.

People freely, joyfully learned how to navigate new technologies so that the church would not have to forsake meeting together. Small groups of people met together – safely apart – to encourage one another, pray together, and study God’s Word.

Leaders have thrown out months of hard work in order to provide relevant care and content so that the church would not be helpless and harassed like a sheep without a shepherd. People have offered to help each other with rides, child care, groceries and more.

I don’t know if there is a more moving, powerful, transcendent sight in all the world than the church being the church. When the people of God dress themselves in righteous deeds like this, we scream to the world – we’re taken! We belong to Jesus. We’re giving all of our love fully to Him for the rest of our lives!

When we do, then there is no doubt in my mind, that there is a throne in heaven with a King whose heart bursts with joy. And He can’t wait to come back and get His bride.

Keep on serving, church. Keep on praying. Keep on giving. Don’t lose heart. Every good deed we do in the middle of this pandemic is just one more part of the process of getting ready for the wedding day that all of creation, all of history has been waiting for.

“…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

~ Isaiah 62:5

How about you? What are some of the ways you have watched God work in and through His church during this time? Please leave your thoughts below!

Thanks To Give

November 22, 2019/in Community /by Pete

Blaze Orange hung outside? Check.

Gigantic turkey thawing inside? Check.

Stretchy pants available for your backside? Check.

If you’ve been asking yourself questions like these, you must be getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in Wisconsin.

There is something nostalgic about the idea of enjoying the company of loved ones while enjoying a banquet of food. Why is that? Can’t you almost smell the pumpkin pie? Hear the sound of the kids laughing? Feel the warmth of grandma’s hug? See the chair where grandpa will be sleeping after dinner?

Why does this scene cause an entire nation to interrupt their regular routines to gather with friends and family around a feast?

Our hearts long for this because we have been created in the image of God. God loves to celebrate, feast, and enjoy the company of His people. When we experience a good meal with good friends, we have the opportunity to see a glimpse of Jesus Himself.

While our memories and expectations for Thanksgiving may be filled with nostalgia, the reality can often be filled with disappointment. Can’t you almost smell a pumpkin pie burning? Hear the kids on the verge of screaming? Miss feeling the warmth of grandma’s hug?

Thanksgiving like the rest of this life is an odd mix of joy and pain, laughter and tears, hope and anxiety.

Because we have been created in the image of God, we have the opportunity to experience deep joy in the things that bring joy to God. But because we live in a world that has fallen away from God, we experience the pain of the things that push us away from God. Thankfully, Jesus was pushed as far away from God as possible – when He died on the cross. In that one sacrificial act, Jesus brought those of us who were far from God, back to God.

A Thanksgiving feast, in many ways, is an echo of the Kingdom that is coming.

One day, we will feast at the heavenly banquet with Jesus and His people in paradise. On that day, there will be no crying, no pain, no memories to miss, and no burnt pumpkin pies! It will be perfect.

Did you know that this feast is being prepared right now? The joy and the pain of Thanksgiving is a longing that God has placed in our hearts to continually remind us that we were created for something more than this world.

We were created for Him.

And through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we have the ability to be brought near to God and other people. For this, we will be eternally thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Celebrate well!

Partner over Planting

January 25, 2019/in Church Partnership, Community, Milwaukee Church /by Pete

How long does it take to build trust? How long does it take to understand the culture of a block? A neighborhood? A city? These are some of the more pressing questions that must be asked when starting a new church. From personal experience, I can tell you the answer. It’s longer than you’d think or prefer!

In an effort to build trust on my block, I plowed all the snow all winter. I wanted to demonstrate with my actions what I had communicated with my words – our new church was here to serve! I thought it went great. Every time it snowed, I rushed to my snow blower to make sure I got to everyone’s sidewalk before they even knew what hit ‘em. Folks came home after a long day of work to a clean sidewalk. They must have felt cared for. And I for sure felt like a snow covered hero. Until spring.

When our winter hibernation ended and the neighbors finally came out of their caves, I was able to talk to Alphonso, who I hadn’t seen in months. I said something to the effect of, “it’s great to see you. Feels like it’s been forever!” To which he replied, “yeah, normally all the neighbors come out and chat during the big snow storms while we all shovel together. But this year, someone plowed the snow every time.” Gulp. I messed this one up!

Do you know who wouldn’t have made that same mistake? Someone who knew the culture. This is one small, goofy example, but it helps to illustrate why we should prioritize partnering with existing churches in under resourced areas. Many churches in tough places already have trust and credibility built in their neighborhoods – and they understand the culture. Because they are the culture. They intuitively and experientially understand what the real issues are that need to be confronted – and what the real strengths are that need to be built off.

“We are praying that we might have the privilege of learning from them and serving with them. “

How much more effective will it be for us to partner with under resourced, gospel-centered churches in tough areas than starting new churches in tough neighborhoods? It may take more time to build relationships with these churches than it would to identify a church planter, but it will take those churches far less time to make an impact in their neighborhoods than a new church would.

We are asking God to give us the grace to partner with faithful, Bible believing, gospel centered churches in under resourced areas. We are praying that we might have the privilege of learning from them and serving with them. We are begging God to let us watch Him transform this city from the inside out – as we serve WITH existing churches.

God at Work

January 4, 2019/in Community, Milwaukee Church /by Mason Eddy

HOW GOD HAS USED MY BAPTISM TO GROW HIS KINGDOM

As a follower of Christ, a husband, an employee, and a business owner, I have been blessed with the opportunity to network within the Milwaukee Community, sometimes dozens of people per week. From the day I made my decision to be baptized, the Gospel as become part of my story. See, in the business world, one of my passions and God-given desires is to learn people’s stories, to take a genuine interest in them. To learn where they came from and where they are going and why they desire change. The blessing is that many times I am able to share my story which includes how God clenched my heart and lead me to taking a step into obedience by being baptized.

My Story:

From the day I was born until 18 my family raised me in a loving home and “the Church”. As I went to college, my parents had a falling out with the Church and I had a falling out in terms of growing with God. In my last years of college God started to work on my heart through one broken relationship that lead me to many new relationships, one after another in the business world. It took a specific moment, a business that was going backwards, for me to take action. As God’s timing would have it; some very successful business men spoke to me about the most important relationship, Jesus.

By the time I was 23, my heart was yearning to know Him better. A few years later, I met the woman who would become my wife, Ali. She was raised to know Christ, but I was fortunate enough to be there when she got baptized in her early 20’s. As we got to know each other, became really good friends, she exposed me to the difference between a “Religion” and a real, living relationship with our Creator. Over a few years of being in community at Imago Dei I was baptized at the age of 31 and was able to express outwardly the internal, burning desire of Christ in my heart.

My Hope:

It is important to note that my journey was a 31-year process. Interestingly, from 23 to 31 if anyone would have asked me if I was a Christian, I would have said yes. I struggled with “being a Christian” and then the view of being a “Christian” and being baptized. I had to study and learn what baptism really meant and not let my pride get in the way of God’s grace. While that was my biggest struggle, it has also shown up through God’s perfect plan as the topic that has led to more curiosity of family and friends around me. It is my hope and prayer that if you relate to my story and have struggled in similar ways, that you would take some time to ask God for people that can answer your questions. Then take a step into obedience with me so we can share His grace.

Mason Eddy