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Fearlessly Walk Your Talk!
Metaphysical application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Life” July 20, 2008 by Corde Hanzlik, CS of Austin, TX

Editor’s Note: The following application ideas for this week and Possible Sunday School Topics that follow are offered primarily to help CEDARS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free — in English by Monday or Tuesday each week, or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION in French from Pascal, in Spanish from Ana or in German by Gabriele when her schedule allows. JUST SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters

We could easily begin and end with the Golden Text in our Life Lesson. Truly, it says it all. There is no other power greater than God. [Remembering that will end FEAR – Forgetting Everything About Reality. Awareness of God’s omnipotence with us is way] better than having a pet 600-pound gorilla guarding us!

The Responsive Reading is a list of reminders as to the rewards and benefits of trusting in God: starting at Job 11:14 – keeps iniquity away; no wickedness; no spots; steadfastness of help; no fear; forget misery; agelessness and renewal; security and safety; quality Maker; ever-present breath. Our only qualification is to prepare our hearts and reach!! (Job 11:13, 14)

“The Christian Science Sentinel” (7/14/08 p 21) coordinating with this Lesson, suggests the idea of walking the walk with God in each section. So whether it is Enoch or Abraham, let’s take a walk.

Section 1 Are we qualified to be God’s? Of course!!!
Reminder: “Zion. Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength. Emptiness: unfaithfulness; desolation.” (Science and Health 599:6 The second part doesn’t sound very promising, does it?)

The first Bible marker separates fact from fiction, Zion from Eden. We are not the Adam man. We are the Zion man. Let’s be like Enoch and not even see or experience death. (B2) How? Pay attention to the warning in Galatians. (B4,5) Right choice , wrong choice? There is no choice. Spirit is the only answer, the only right way!

Let’s see life metaphysically. (S1) What does that mean? Matter has nothing to do with life. Remember, when you think of eternity, it doesn’t mean from here on. It means there is no beginning! Read marker 2 carefully. Where does the limit come from – matter or Spirit? Do we often fall into the trap of asking about how old someone is? When a known teacher and lecturer of Christian Science was asked how old he was, his reply was, “Why, that’s none of my business.” He took no thought for age. (A score is 20 years so do you math in S&H3) Note that it is the fear of sickness and death in S&H5. We know Life to be the only reality.

Section 2 A test for Abram.
The journey for Abram and his people to a new land was bittersweet for Abram. We read in B6 an oath that Abram would have sworn to God. He was trusting and faithful. When starting for the new country though, Abram was already 75 and without an heir to his property. The man who would have inherited everything was a servant. (B8) Abram was obedient to God’s command to follow to Canaan. Although B9 doesn’t tell much of the story, Abram had become Abraham and had been given a son. (See the rest of Genesis) He was completely blest. B 10 = don’t give up, be faithful!

Mrs. Eddy’s definition of Abraham gives us a life model. (S&H6) Matter had nothing to do with Abraham’s story. He was above it. (S&H8) If we allow ourselves to become distracted by daily scenarios, we can really get bogged down. But, when we follow the direction of S&H 9 and 10, we know that our blessings and happiness will always be safe.

Section 3 Popeye without the spinach; fantastic strength without steroids!
The beautiful Isaiah 40 passage that we have is one to commit to memory. Include the verses that are not in our Lesson too. It is wonderful for any activity we have, physical or mental. (B11 Follow too with hymn 246)) The rest of the markers put off any sense of depletion or fatigue without time restraints or work load. Check out the MyBibleLesson for the explanation on hours of the day as the Jews noted them. We shouldn’t be clock or task driven, but fulfilled in our purpose.

If divine Life had any restrictions on time, labor, tasks, then we might have a problem. But, Life, Mind is unbounded strength and energy, resourceful, timeless. Blessing. (S&H11, 12) What kind of evening do we wish to experience? Do we ever want the option of not thinking? (S&H13) We are obedient and dependent on one law, the Law of God. S&H14 leads us through our exemption from any imposition of false law or belief. We are enabled to protest any claim. The justice of Christian Science will deliver us. We can practice the “let’s”! (S&H15) Obviously, we will benefit 100%

Section 4 Nothing can separate us!!!!!!!!!
B16 Romans asks a big question. Thank heavens we have the answer. We can add to the list as well. The belief of separation is the root of all of our challenges. It suggests that there are 2 creations, 2 sources, 2 directions, etc. Jesus proved it otherwise to us. As he raised the man from the death-bier, he restored the life of the man, the peace and security for his mother (she would have no property or way of making a living as a widow/sonless woman), and demonstrated to the crowd that man can never be separated from Life. (B17)

S&H markers 16-19 re-emphasize the Bible demonstration, all that Jesus proved. If the mother of the man had known her exemption from the death threat, she could have claimed for herself her God freedoms. (S&H20) Jesus proved it for her. So now it is our turn to practice markers 21 and 22. Claim our prize! No death or dead-end thoughts. Only Life!!!!!

Section 5 A ghostly experience? No.
The transfiguration could appear to be a ghostly experience except to those who know there is no death, no coming back from the dead, but only individualized expression of Life. Jesus was graphically showing his 3 disciples the past and future, the reappearing of the early prophets and forecasting his own reappearance. Whether they understood it at the time or not, the disciples would in a short time. They would have understood the I Corinthians passage. (B22)

All of the 6 final citations in the Science and Health add up to some simple, yet profound statements. It is impossible for Life to know death as there is no material, mortal, corporeal, finite existence. Therefore, we can’t either. There is no birth into, nor passing from a non-existent concept. We are infinite ideas reflecting all of the qualities and capacities of God. We do walk with God – and fearlessly “walk our talk!”  Now!
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The weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers & staff blessed each summer at CEDARS, as well as to CEDARS alumni, families and friends who request it. However, current and planned gifts are needed to defray the costs of running this service and of providing camperships, programs and operations support. Click here to read fruitage due to your help; to review current Operational needs; and to see our Annual Appeal. Click http://www.cedarscamps.org/giving for more about how you can give online or to talk privately about how to make a special gift to help perpetuate CEDARS work.
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Camp Director’s Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, seven-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (To keep the flow of the practitioner’s ideas intact and to allow for more selective printing the “Possible Sunday School Topics” and Homework options come on a following page or subsequent email.) This weekly email (and website posting) is intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study, application and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and new angles on daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e. B1 and S28) from this week’s Bible Lesson in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (B1-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. (S1-30) The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor. Have fun unwrapping, cherishing and sharing your special, spiritual gift(s)!
Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Camp Director, director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162

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Possible Sunday School Topics for the Lesson on “Life”
for July 14-20, 2008
Submitted anonymously by former CS camp counselors who now teach Sunday School

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T- Golden Text and Responsive Reading] Make a list of all the reasons given in the Golden Text and RR not to be afraid. What are the keys to living a life free from fear? How can you overcome fear this week?

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T.-Section 1] – Based on the passages in S&H come up with your own definitions of “time” and “eternity.” Look up the definition of “time” in the Glossary of S&H and see how your definition compares with Mary Baker Eddy’s. How did Enoch, who the Bible describes as someone who “walked with God,” demonstrate eternal life? How can you walk with God (Life, Love, Mind, try all the synonyms) this week?

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T.-Section 2]
– Abram/Abraham is another Bible character who walked with God and was obedient to God’s instructions. What other Bible characters had name changes? (Possible answers: Jacob/Israel, Simon/Peter, Saul/Paul) What might their name changes indicate about changes they decided to make in their lives? How did each of these characters calculate their life-prospects? (See S&H10) How can we have similar transformational experiences in our lives?

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T.-Section 3]
– What are some truths that you can lean on when feeling tired and worn down?

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T.-Section 4]
– Rewrite B16 in your own words. Instead of the list that Paul provides, make your own list of all the things that would try to separate you from feeling the love of God. (i.e. Neither homesickness, nor mosquitoes, nor gossip, nor bullies, nor theft. . . ) What is the ultimate belief of separation (death)? How does Jesus handle this belief in B17 and how do the passages in S&H explain the spiritual laws behind Jesus’ healing?

Possible Sunday School Topic [P.S.S.T.-Section 5]
– In the Harry Potter series, Transfiguration is a required subject for all first-year students at Hogwarts. Did you know that Jesus was involved in a transfiguration? (See B21)  Why do you think that Jesus appeared with Elias and Moses? What did those three have in common? What do you think they were talking about? Since the disciples had never physically met Elias and Moses before, how do you think they figured out who Jesus was talking to? What is the ultimate example of transfiguration that Jesus foreshadows at the end of the story (resurrection)?

 

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