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THE
BIAS OPINION |
August 1, 2008
Dear Friends in Christ,
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).
Prayer is important in helping me be in alignment with God. Below are two prayers I pray daily: The Prayer of Saint Francis and The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer. These prayers help shape my thinking and to be more “in tune” to God’s voice.
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Wesleyan Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside for you,
Exalted for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant, which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
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THIS SUNDAY AT FIRST CHURCH
This Sunday I have the privilege of continuing our “Manna Moments” series with the sermon “No Fear, Stand Firm, Move Forward” from Exodus 14:1-31 in our 8:15 and 11:00 worship services. Eric Swanson will be bringing the message in our 10:45 worship service.
Kate White will be leading us in music in our 8:15 and 11:00 worship services and the Worship Band will be leading us at 10:45. Special Note: The VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL children will be singing at 11:00.
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Remember: Worship at First United Methodist Church is Christ-centered, life-altering, divinely-gifted, grace-filled, and transformational. Worship is first and foremost truth, not form. Before style, before technique, before excellence, there is Christ. Make worship at First United Methodist Church your Sunday morning place to be.
Let us prepare our hearts and minds with the following:
Almighty and loving God, we bless you for the sheer privilege of joining freely with others to hear your word, receive your sacrament, and sing your praise. Free us from the temptation to worship worship. Help us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Send your Holy Spirit, we pray, to encourage, challenge, and correct us, that we leave equipped to be faithful servants in your church, through the strong name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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Remember: Worship at First United Methodist Church is Christ-centered, life-altering, divinely-gifted, grace-filled, and transformational. Worship is first and foremost truth, not form. Before style, before technique, before excellence, there is Christ. Make worship at First United Methodist Church your Sunday morning place to be.
Let us prepare our hearts and minds with the following:
Almighty and loving God, we bless you for the sheer privilege of joining freely with others to hear your word, receive your sacrament, and sing your praise. Free us from the temptation to worship worship. Help us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Send your Holy Spirit, we pray, to encourage, challenge, and correct us, that we leave equipped to be faithful servants in your church, through the strong name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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FOR REFLECTION
TURNING ANXIETY INTO PRAYER
Eugene Peterson, in The Message, writes the Philippians 4:6-7 scripture like this:
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life”
Paul’s teaching “Don’t fret or worry” seems unrealistic. Who among us has gone even one day without worrying about something? Over the past several weeks it seems we have been bombarded with bad news. The news of floods, natural disasters, and unexpected deaths, along with the reality of rising gas prices, home foreclosures, and rising costs of basic commodities have elevated our anxiety levels.
I have learned that anxiety is contagious and that when we are driven by our anxiety, we tend to see the world differently. We begin to make our decisions based upon the fear of scarcity and we tend to focus on needs, problems, and shortages rather than the great goodness of God.
Let’s think about it for a moment. What do you do when you are worried about a loved one, your health, your financial security, some worthwhile project your are working on, a terrorist attack, global warming, or your own failures and shortcomings. Paul reminds us to “Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” In other words, turn your anxiety into prayer.
May I remind you that the one place we do not have to be anxious is the church. I know there are anxious times, but as Christians we are focused upon the covenant God who is with us, for us, and working for our good. We are focused upon the Creator of the universe who provides for all our needs. We are focused upon the God we can depend upon to provide for us and to see us through any point of crisis or anxiety.
When we turn our anxiety into prayer, Paul writes, “Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life”
So let’s try it. Let’s take “an anxiety” we all share: our church finances. Now, let’s turn our anxiety unto prayer. Maybe our prayer should be something like this:
O God, I confess to you my anxiety over our church finances. I place my anxiety and our finances in your hands. If there is some specific action you want me to take in regard to any of these anxieties, please let me know. I trust your leading, I am grateful for your goodness, and I offer myself to you. In the blessed name of Jesus! Thank you! Amen.
I invite you to do the same with whatever raises your anxiety level. Remember Paul’s words, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life”
So let it be!
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PRAY FOR THE CITY
Jeremiah 29:7
Timothy J. Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, writes
…Christians work for the peace, security, justice, and prosperity of their city and their neighbors, loving them in word and in deed, whether they believe what we do or not. In Jeremiah 29:7, Israel’s exiles were called not just to live in the city, but also to love it and work for its shalom – its economic, social, and spiritual flourishing. The citizens of God’s city are the best possible citizens of their earthly cities…we must live in the city to serve all the peoples in it, not just our own tribe. We must lose our power to find our (true) power. Christianity will not be attractive enough to win influence except through sacrificial service to all people, regardless of their beliefs.
Let us listen to God speak through the prophet Jeremiah, "…seek the peace and prosperity of the city…Pray to the Lord for it, because if [the city] prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:7 NIV).
As you pray, please pray for:
The children of the city
The neighborhoods (especially those nearest to us)
Peoria School District 150
Peoria Police Department
Those who are hungry, homeless, unemployed, and unemployable
Let us ask God what we must do to "lift up Christ in the heart of the city" so that there be no violent crime in Peoria this week.
After 175 years, we are still making a difference in the lives of the people of Peoria and the world. I thank God for your faithful service in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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BIBLE STUDY
John Wesley wrote, "Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way, else you will be a trifler all your days. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer."
William Sloan Coffin, well-known preacher, crusader for social justice, former chaplain of Yale University, and former senior minister of Riverside Church in New York City, in his book A Passion For the Possible, wrote:
Too many Christians use the Bible as a drunk does a lamppost - for support rather than
for illumination. This includes even the scholarly ones…Christianity is less a set of beliefs than it is a way of life, and a way of life that actually warns against absolute intellectual certainty: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are Gods' judgments and Gods' ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of God?" (Romans 11:33 KJV)
I want to challenge you to study the Bible for transformational purposes rather than informational purposes. I am convinced that the study of scripture is to shape us as God's people. I invite you to take advantage of the many ways First Church offers you to study the scripture.
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PASTOR’S BIBLE STUDY
ON BREAK JULY AND AUGUST
WILL RESUME – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
The Pastor's Bible Study meets twice on Wednesday mornings. The first meeting is at 6:45 and the second is at 9:30. Both Bible studies meet in the 700 Main Auditorium.
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SOAPY BIBLE STUDY
Bible Study is of the utmost importance in growing in Christian discipleship. At First United Methodist Church we offer a variety of Bible studies in a variety of settings, from small group studies to lecture style studies. Each study offers a wealth and depth of understanding of the scripture and a depth of meaning for growth and maturity in the Christian faith.
I am convinced that daily Bible study will lead us in our own transformation as well as transform our mission and ministry as a congregation. The scriptures for the SOAPY Bible Study are listed below.
S - SCRIPTURE: Read the scripture passage aloud so you can hear it. Second, write every word of the scripture in your journal. Both reading it aloud and writing it will help put the scripture in your mind and heart.
O - OBSERVATION: Ask yourself the question, "What is God teaching me in this scripture?" As you ask yourself the question, your mind will be full of thoughts. Write those thoughts down. You will know what is being communicated as you reflect upon what you have written.
A - APPLICATION: Ask yourself the question, "How does this scripture apply to my life?" As you reflect upon the question, look for promises to claim, attitudes to change, challenges to accept, sins to confess, commands to obey, actions to take, examples to follow, or skills to learn. Write in your journal how the scripture applies to you and to your life situations.
P - PRAYER: Write a prayer to God. Depending on what you have read and written the prayer might be one of praise and thanksgiving, a prayer asking God to help you apply the teaching to your life, or a prayer of confession. This is your prayer to God. The discipline of writing your prayer will lead to transformation.
Y - YIELDING: As you complete your "SOAPY" Bible Study, ask yourself the question, "What of my life must I yield to God?" This is the question that leads to obedience. Everyday, through Bible study, you will have the opportunity to yield a little more of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The prayer I use each day that leads to yielding is, "Lord, by your grace grant me the obedience to yield another part of my life to you today."
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The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have too much…it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.
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Please pray for our military and civil personnel who continue to be in harms way in Iraq and other parts of the world. Please pray for their safety and for God's shalom. If you have a family member who is presently serving in the military, please contact Sue Heytman in the church office at 673-3641, ext. 114 or email: sheytman@fumcpeoria.org.
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When making decisions about the direction you are going…always choose the path that falls in the shadow of the Cross. It will be the path less traveled, but it will be the path most blessed.
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LAST BIAS OPINION FOR AUGUST
Once a week over the past 6 years you have received a Bias Opinion. I have only missed three weeks over that time period. You have been kind to read my ramblings. I have encouraged you to pray, read the scripture, and worship. I have shared with you stories, thoughts, special announcements, etc. My only purpose was to keep you informed and to let you know a little more about me.
I have decided to take a few weeks away from this weekly task. If you miss it, please let me know. Otherwise, give God thanks and let’s look to the future with hope and grace. Thanks be to God for the things God has done!
Let me leave you with these words:
When It's All Said And Done by Robin Mark
When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters,
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?
When it's all been said and done,
All my treasures will mean nothing.
Only what I've done for love's reward
Will stand the test of time.
Lord, Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Making sinners into saints.
I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after
For You've shown me Heaven's my true home
When it's all been said and done.
When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters,
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?
Lord, I'll live my life for You!
Tim
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