Community | Imago Dei Church

COVID Care

March 27, 2020/0 Comments/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