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[To rise out of a rut or depression, just shake off the lies and stomp them down!]
CedarS Metaphysical for the Christian Science Bible Lesson called:
“Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced”
By John Biggs, CS from Bend, Oregon (johnbiggscs@gmail.com, 541.418.1176
[with bracketed italics by Warren Huff, CedarS Director, who is offering (and also seeking) Campership help as needed for Sunday School students to fill our 1 and 2 wk. sessions.  Most camper programs still have a few places, as do our adult and family programs with their FUN activities and Bible Classes: May 27-30 Memorial Weekend; Aug. 14-18 Family Camp; Aug. 19-22 50th Jubilee Celebration; & Sep. 15-18 Bible Conference]

[Editor's Note: The following application ideas for this week, and the Possible Sunday School Topics that will 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 each week, or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION in French thanks to Pascal, in German thanks to Helga or in Spanish thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio. YOU CAN SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters]
 
There's no room for indecision in this week's Bible Lesson. Probably, not many readers of this weekly metaphysical sharing are too concerned with necromancy (“a form of divination which is used to conjure the spirits of the dead in order to gain knowledge about the future…” from www.occultresearch.org) – but how often do we make decisions based on fears from the past? “I won't apply for that job – I've already been turned down so much.” “I'm scared to commit to this person, all my previous relationships have hurt me so much.” Or even predictions you might find in the news – History repeats itself: because of past mistakes our children will all have to suffer the consequences environmentally / financially / socially. We don't need to be hypnotized into living in these ruts! (Hypnotism is “an artificially induced trance state resembling sleep, characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion.” From www.dictionary.com) We don't need to believe these suggestions. Likewise, the solutions to the challenges that seem to face us won't come through human will-power. This lesson urges us to fully place our focus, safety, confidence and joy in God. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (KJV Romans 13:12) This lesson is all loving the armor of light so much that we are unwilling to believe in the supposed works of darkness and therefore confidently cast them off [or “shake them off and stomp them down” as CedarS Practitioner Corde Hanzlik advised in one of her classic Practitioner talks about persistent Clarence falling in the well-click to hear.]
 
Golden Text: Be firm!
            No waffling here!  Read this out loud to yourself. This is not an unstable democracy, where if there are too many material voters, the kingdom might fall and the enemy might come back. God is all – “forever” means there was no time in which anything unlike God COULD be here. Not just here, going forward; not just once you've had class instruction; not a few years ago but now you've slipped out. Forever is timeless and now. [Forever includes timeless truths like “Go with what you know, not with what you think you see” that you can hear now in a 6-30-07 Audio Metaphysical (After-Breakfast Practitioner Talk) to campers and staff by CedarS Practitioner Corde Hanzlik in another classic metaphysical metaphor in which she tells us not to be mesmerized by any lying signs (news reports) advertising “Transparent Fighting Fish”.]
 
Responsive Reading (RR): Safe and always at Home
There are lots of clear, firm words and angel messages in the wonderful 91st Psalm as well. [Today's fun “Daily Lift”, “Speak, Lord” by Julie Ward refers to an angel message delivered from CedarS stage that asks God to talk to and take “charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (end of Ps. 91, RR). The 91st Psalm also says:]  I will trust the Lord, Thou shalt NOT be afraid, No evil shall befall thee…can we express this clarity in our every day conversation? I'm reminded of Jesus' admonition in Matthew 5:37, “let your communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” The beautiful thing about safety is that while we discover more of how loved we are, we're STILL safe. God isn't waiting for a cue before He keeps us safe. God is our Father-Mother – forever.
 
Section 1: We love God and we know it!
I love that the focus here is entirely on God. We're not being scared into loving God. In Christian Science, we learn that God is Love, so focusing on any so-called power opposed to God isn't necessary. Citation 2 from the Bible reminds us how crucial joy is, as the clear effect of being loved. When I was working at CedarS as a counselor, Warren would often remind us that “if we're not having fun practicing Christian Science, then we're not practicing Christian Science!” Remember the song, “If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands”? No question about it – when we sing that song at CedarS, or any camp, pretty soon everyone is clapping, stomping, and yelling along! They ARE all happy, and this song simply suggests an effect of what is already there. Let's do the same with our love for God. Let your love for God show!
 
Throughout this lesson, we'll have a lot of references to evil. Now, that word may seem a little heavy – Voldemort [Harry Potter's nemesis] is evil, and you may be able to think of some other characters or events (fictional or not) who seem to embody evil – but does evil really show up in your daily life? To help us connect with this lesson some more, let's define evil as ANYTHING opposed to goodness, like apathy, discouragement, ill-temper, disease… We're going to quit classifying things as terrible, not so terrible, just a little bad, and just realize that “Good does not create a mind susceptible of causing evil, for evil is the opposing error and not the truth of creation.” (S2) As we proceed through this lesson let's ponder the depth of that truth [or verity (S3, 480:29), and see ourselves and others as “the verification of God” as Corde Hanzlik related in another classic sharing with our precamp staff in 2007.  Although Corde is no longer physically with us, her legacy lives on with us as the confirmations or verifications of the verities that she was delighted to live and to share.]
 
Section 2: What are we listening to?
This section helps us be clear on who or what we're listening to, as we learn to be decisive in our lives. Like the reference to necromancy, the Bible citations regarding using nature, the solar system, and galaxies as objects to be worshipped may not hit close to home with many of the readers of this Met. But let's expand that. Essentially, this section speaks of not trusting to chance, or any causative power apart from God. You may enjoy listening to this recent chat on spirituality.com with Lynn Jackson, CSB, called “Don't gamble on gambling.” This chat covered a wide range of topics. I love how citation B8 is immediately followed with the loving statement of citation B9. We are NEVER left alone. Wondering where to turn, in any decision, no matter how big or small? Citation S6 has a loving directive of where and how to look.
 
A few months ago, my wife and I were called into our insurance office, to have a chat with our agent. As we talked, and he was trying to see if we had any new possessions which should be covered, he asked about our net worth. Although we laughed about it at the time, I found myself being bothered by the “fact” that I was apparently not worth much at all. Well, this opening line of citation S6 certainly turns any fear like that around. What basis am I calculating my life-prospects – my worth – from? Let's agree to stop “presupposing life and intelligence to exist in matter…” and see all our prospects as secure in the foundation of good.
 
Section 3: If God didn't make it, it ISN'T!
The translation of citation B10 from The Message by Eugene Peterson made this clearer for me, and gave me a chuckle too! It reads, “You have as little to fear from an undeserved curse as from the dart of a wren or the swoop of a swallow.” Those are NOT scary things. Then, when we remember that God is Love, we see that no curse could come from God – and no curse could be deserved by Her idea! So we don't need to fear others cursing us; let's make sure not to curse ourselves. How many times have we said “I probably won't do very well at this? How could I ever do this?” If we're really “seeking unto God” (B13), how could we fail?
 
Often, we think the remedy for something will simply be more time. I suppose it seems reasonable – but check out the rebuke in citation S10. “In the Science of Mind, you will soon ascertain that error cannot destroy error.” Time is certainly a mortal measurement (in the Glossary, Mrs. Eddy says, “Time is a mortal thought, the divisor of which is the solar year. Eternity is God's measurement of Soul-filled years. 598:30-2). Let's not wait for good to come, sometime.
 
Section 4:  Nothing can thwart God's law!
As we're discovering, throughout this Lesson it can be helpful to break down these words into relatable concepts for each of us. Citation B14 speaks of not being afraid of the “terror” of those who would harm you. Whether we're facing the supposed terror of a warzone, or the supposed terror of meeting credit card bills, we are assured that we are established in righteousness (B16) and we shall not fear. I love the simplicity of citation S11. Is having an honest heart too much to ask? And to continue on with the decisiveness of this lesson, isn't citation S13 such a call to action? “At ALL times and under ALL circumstances…” When I've got a long list of things that need to be done, it's been so helpful to really discover how each activity is an arena and opportunity for seeing what God has done. Rather than fretting about how and when to do all these things, I can rejoice that my capacity to accomplish and appreciate these tasks is God-given and ever-present. Be unwilling to admit that you could ever be separated from God, divine Love.
 
Section 5: Go where God leads!
Do you ever make decisions about where to go or what to do, based on popularity or the seeming will of the majority? If everyone on your team is picking on an individual, or if your whole family is expecting you to go into a certain line of work, it can seem very difficult to take a different path. Thankfully, we have this beautiful promise in the closing of citation B18 – “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever…” God will never, ever leave you alone – this is why we can be decisive in our commitment to glorify God. The great thing is that these decisions don't need to follow some formula or pre-determined ritual. One of the aspects of divine Love is freshness. Sometimes it may be right to just walk away from a situation, while other times it may be a real blessing for you to stand up and take charge. We get to practice living “the doctrine of absolute Christian Science” (S15). Again, if evil seems like too heavy of a word, break it down: “That [apathy, peer pressure, anger…] or [limits, shaky foundations, self-glorification…] has neither intelligence nor power, is the doctrine of absolute Christian Science…” Today, how can we see “Truth and Love as the motive-powers of man?” (S16) Don't give in to any other suggestion.
 
Section 6: Do I deserve bad things (or good things!) more than someone else?
What is it that could perish? Could your life or health, the effect of God being All, be taken from you? No! All that perishes is the belief of life in matter, and its manifestations. Check out this brief video where Norm Bleichman, CS chats about “repentance.”
 
Sometimes it certainly seems all too clear to us what OTHERS need to repent of, doesn't it! And when they don't seem to change, it bothers us a lot. Well, that frustration is really not going to help at all. Read citation S18 very closely – check out the two aspects of “how to be harmonious.” Once we realize we can't “suffer from the sins of others,” we'll be so much freer to disbelieve in error at all. Have you ever heard the joke, when someone says “Whatever you do, DON'T think about an elephant!” and then immediately, that's of course the first thing you think of? Well, in citation S19 we're being assured that we don't need to fear sin (think about it, consider it, ponder it, till we're shaking in our boots) in order to not commit sin. Instead, let's work to understand divine Love. DO put your focus – your decisiveness – in Love, rather than trying to NOT think about the lie.
 
Section 7: ANYTHING opposed to good can be dropped!
In the New International Version Study Bible, the footnotes explaining this verse and the previous ones from Section 6 shed light on the meaning behind Jesus' examples. We read, “In ancient times it was often assumed that a calamity would befall only those who were extremely sinful.” This thought process comes up elsewhere in the Bible, as well. For example, in the Gospel of John, we can read in Chapter 9 of a blind man who was assumed to be blind because of his own sins or the sins of his parents. Even an accident could be seen as being deserved. Jesus, however, refutes this notion completely. We return again to the importance of repentance – changing your thought about something, and sticking with that growth. It doesn't do any good to hold on to any concept opposed to good – even the concept of chance accidents possibly happening. I'm so grateful to see the clarity of citation S22, utterly opposing the possibility of accident. I love that Mrs. Eddy used the words “notion of chance” – chance is not a reality and we don't need to give it any power. After all, living in the decisiveness of divine Principle doesn't leave room for anything unprincipled, does it? The freedom of this “divine Providence” (S22) is yours!
 
Section 8: We can trust the surety of God's love!
Let's practice trusting Love implicitly. This story of the centurion seeking healing for his servant is such a brilliant example of decisive trust. When we knock the notion of chance out the window, we see there could be no force which could keep us from seeing our wholeness. The centurion could easily have said, “We're pretty far away, so I'll understand if you can't heal him…He's only a servant, so if you don't heal him, no big deal…I've never really studied your words or even heard of you before, so I'll understand if we're not worthy.” He simply stated his knowledge that healing was possible and right. Do you ever subtly argue against yourself? When I was playing football in high school, I used to think I should expect to get knocked around and hurt. I had a wonderful healing of my back (I had been out of practice for several days and could barely walk) when I realized I didn't deserve this – there was no reason that I couldn't put all my weight on the side of good. I was practicing the next day! You may enjoy checking out Mrs. Eddy's writing in “Christian Healing” on page 10, line 20. Let's be decisive in which stand we take! We also read in citation S23 that it's not willpower which heals. The centurion wasn't saying, “I REALLY, REALLY want this to happen! It's gotta happen! Come on!” He simply stated that he knew his servant could be healed and wouldn't believe otherwise. Decisiveness with God doesn't mean that you need to help God fix His broken idea. Just stick with listening to how His idea is always whole and free.
 
Section 9:  Go forward!
Many younger Sunday School classes have probably enjoyed studying these verses about armor, in citation B23. I know I loved drawing these out in class and thinking of these qualities as always protecting me. Isn't it interesting that all these pieces of armor are all geared toward your front, and toward movement? In battle, a soldier knows he or she can confidently move forward only when they have sure knowledge of back-up. So, likewise, you can confidently go forth into the day with the sure knowledge that God has your back and is always with you. There's no need to run away from a lie – keep advancing with the confidence of Love! None of the stale, dead beliefs of the past – essentially modern necromancy – can keep you back or hold you down.
 
Think of it – you are the object, [the verification, or] the manifestation of Love! You are here because Love exists. God made a wonderful decision when H(S)he thought of you! [You are one of Love's best idea and expression!]

[CEDARS weekly “Mets” or Metaphysical Newsletters, Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) and Possible Younger Class Lessons (PYCLs) are all provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CEDARS–as well as to thousands of CEDARS alumni, families, Sunday School teachers and friends who find these “Mets”, PSSTs and PYCLs weekly on our website or through CS Directory.  HOWEVER, we do need generous contributions ASAP to complete our new Bible Time Travelers Trail and other fun additions to Bible Lands Park before Opening Day.  CedarS recurring needs are spelled out at http://www.cedarscamps.org/giving/ Just click here to use a credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card) or a virtual check to make monthly and one-time donations to CedarS' funds that support spiritual growth.  International supporters can give to CedarS via PayPal using built-in currency exchange rates by filling in an amount under International Donors and clicking on the “Donate Online” button.  

Please help fulfill our mission by telling every “un-camped” family you know about CedarS!  We'll gladly send them–and you–a DVD and more to help get them to camp – including info on: CedarS programs for all ages; session dates & rates; online enrollment info; transportation;   financial aid forms; & more.]
 [Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 11-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “Mets” (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians.  (Ask and look for “Possible Sunday School Topics “and “Possible Younger Class Lessons”  in subsequent emails.) These weekly offerings are 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 my Sunday School students and 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”and Sunday School ideas  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 and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of 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.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the “Met” (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-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 the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.]
 Enjoy!    Warren Huff, Executive Director  
director@cedarscamps.org

[PSST-See cards picturing 9 traps and their 9 corrective truths!]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for 5/29/11:
“Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced”
Thoughts on Sunday School Cards for Cedars Memorial Weekend
By Sid Bingham, La Crescenta, CA
 
(Each card is numbered to correspond with the section number in the lesson sermon.)
To download a 4-page, front-to-back, pdf art file, with 9 traps depicted on one side and 9 corrective truths illustrated on the opposite side, click this link: http://blog.cedarscamps.org/files/2011/05/traps.pdf
 
It's very comforting to realize we have power over error in all its forms with our Christian Science treatments. These treatments demonstrate two things: one, our alertness to evil, hypnotism and mesmerism in its various forms as unreal illusions and two, our holding up the light of truth with our spiritual understanding that destroy these false beliefs. Each of these cards depicts such a treatment. Have fun using them throughout the week, over the summer-“to infinity and beyond!” 
 
1.    Mrs. Eddy enlightens us that “The supposititious parent of evil is a lie.” (S&H citation #3) Interesting to think of lies in this way, the gnarly nest intertwined with lies upon lies as the supposititious source of evil. These illusions supposedly causing us trouble. But thanks to the Bible citations (Psalms 145: 3, 9 and Ps. 5:4, 11 let and 1 Kings 5:4 the) we can be wise to these lies with the truth that God is “good to all” and “there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent”!!
2.    Don't you think it's a little funny that we today would be reading in our lesson sermon about sorcerer's, wizard's, stargazers etc? Sounds like a movie. There are people today, like those mentioned in the Bible who are searching for the truth in mysteries, myths – all the wrong places. We are so fortunate that Christian Science points us in the right direction in understanding Mind controls and governs us and we can have no other Mind but God.
3.    Curses, bad luck, karma good or bad, all make us think we could be separated from our true source of good, God… if we listen to these suggestions of alienation. Isn't it great Mrs. Eddy gives us as a tool to safe guard ourselves and others in citation 9 of Science & Health. She's instructs us to “bar the door of our thoughts” against this seeming power. Similar to what Jesus told us in Matt. to enter into a closet and to shut the door on the world's thoughts before we pray. So either enter into your closet and shut the door or get out your spiritual hammer and nails and bar the door to any and all erroneous thoughts trying to enter since we understand that “evil has in reality no power”.
4.    When we think of weapons we normally think of guns, missiles, tanks, arrows etc., etc. but there are erroneous thoughts like bigotry, ignorance, envy, and disobedience that can propose harm to us. These thoughts though are seen to be false suggestions when we know ourselves as God's ideas “clad in the panoply of Love” as stated in this week's lesson. Panoply is a good word. It means a full suit of armor. What more protection could we ask for? It's light weight, always present, and very important… it's all powerful.
5.    It's interesting with this section how the idea of hate and human will are juxtaposed together. If you notice the block headed caricature has sharp edges and with human will is trying to fit itself into a round hole. Something impossible to do. Do we ever feel that way when we want something so bad we're going to force it to happen no matter what? Look and see if we're being stubborn? Headstrong? Or blinded by hate or human will? The alarm bells should be going off right about now! Let the grand revealing of Christian Science part the waters. As stated by our beloved leader “Truth and Love are the true motive powers of man”!
6.    Jesus held the healing of sin as very important in his ministry. Thus we should also because sin in any form only offers us trouble now or later. It binds and chains us into thinking falsely it's cool to be our own source of happiness, intelligence or that it can come from source other than God. Do we really want to be free and break the chains of sin? Of course we do! It's our right and duty to hold ourselves superior to it because God, our beloved Father-Mother, made us superior to it as he governs us completely. So now, today, claim and live your freedom.
7.    We see and hear often that accidents are events that occur without notice, without rhyme nor reason. It certainly seems that there is an element of chance in our daily lives. Right? Urrrrr, think again!! If God, as taught by Christ Jesus is ever-present and everlasting good then where is there room for the chance of unintelligence or harm in His kingdom? Mrs. Eddy also tells us we must leave the mortal basis of belief of accidents and unite with the one Mind to change the false notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction to bring out harmony. Yep, this treatment simply takes a spiritual perception and diligence to demonstrate. So let's not accept any broadcast suggestions of accidents as being real and having power.
8.    Sin, disease, sickness and death present to us a picture of fragmentation of our being: a false effort to try and separate us from God. Jesus on the other hand showed us without the use of drugs, without hypnotism that Christ is the “ideal Truth” healing sickness and sin. Again showing us our inseparable oneness with our all-powerful God.
9.    How can you not love the ninth section, “putting on the whole armor of God”! No matter what fiery darts error or the devil tries to throw at us, we have a full and complete armor of God that's there to protect us. From head to toe we are covered with God's love for us expressed in our “shield of faith”, with our “loins girt about with truth”, our “breastplate of righteousness”, our feet shod with “the preparation of the gospel of peace”, our “the helmet of salvation” and our “sword of the Spirit”. Let's rejoice as we exercise our power and dominion in our treatments over error's darts of lies! 


 [PYCLS:  Bring armor. Be animated in sharing examples of protection!]
Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas for May 29, 2011 for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Ancient and Modern Necromancy, alias Mesmerism and Hypnotism, Denounced”
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, House Springs, MO kerry.helen.jenkins@gmail.com (314) 406-0041
 
[PCYL: Say and reword the long, funny subject.]
It may be fun with even the little ones to look at this title, lesson subject. Can they pronounce it?? See if the slightly older ones can come up with a more contemporary translation of this subject. What does it mean today, since we know that it is perfectly relevant, even if some of the words are not in frequent use.
It may also be helpful to winnow down the subject to just what you think the focus is, or a focus at least that is most helpful to the kids. I see it as: there is no other power than God and God is always using His power for good! [Check out our pdf cards for this week's PSSTs: “See and avoid 9 traps with 9 visible truths.”] Such simplification of the lesson to an essence, gives the students something to grab onto and carry with them.
 
[PYCL Golden Text (GT);]
Discuss what is the “enemy”? What does that mean to each person. Can they imagine that it might be different for each person? See what Mrs. Eddy has to say about enemies. (Her article “Love Your Enemies” on p.8 of Miscellaneous Writings is interesting to ponder).
 
[PYCL Responsive Reading (RR):]
The ninety-first Psalm is full of wonderful imagery. You can really take it apart and have some fun with almost any age.  What does a fortress look like?  Can you draw one that you think would be safe from an enemy?  What would you include?  How can your thought be like a fortress against evil thoughts. What is a fowler?  So what would a snare for birds look like? Where does Mrs. Eddy use these words? (“no snare, no fowler…”)  A “noisome pestilence”? What would that be?  At one time I had a very difficult Sunday School class to teach, at least for me.  There was one young man who seemed especially hostile and sarcastic and often would just lay his head on the desk and pretend to sleep.  I knew him well enough so that I felt confident that it was not his real nature, but still it wasn't fun to teach him. The funny thing is that the real breakthrough came when we would look at certain words or stories in the Bible and really notice them, even research them. For example, he was fascinated by the way that that Moses' bulrush basket might have been made. Seems a little weird, but that was the kind of thing that got his initial attention. So I tried to pay attention to details and then use those details as a door to what might be considered the essence of the story. But sometimes just the research of words and aspects of stories would bring a real inspiration to the Sunday School class, so you never know! Do you have a picture of a mother bird with her wings over her babies?  What do you think they did during all the storms this week with their babies?  What do you think the Psalmist was trying to help you feel through this imagery?  What is a shield and a buckler? If you rewrote the 91st Psalm today, how would you write it? What would your imagery be today to convey the same idea of the safety that God provides and the power that He has. You could try this together as a class or individually on your own. Maybe try just one verse and see how it goes. We've talked about “habitation” before, but make sure they know what it is and what it means for angels to “[have] charge” over you.
 
[PYCL: Section 1: Hiding place, …]
I love that little verse in citation B3 about how God is our “hiding place”. Ask the little ones if they have a hiding place; is it somewhere that they feel safe?  I know it's a little like last week but that's o.k.  Find out what their “hiding place” would include and how does it stack up to God's hiding place?  I also think that very familiar verse B4 is a great one to work with. What does it mean to be “of purer eyes than to behold evil”? ) [B4, Hab. 1:13] How can we do this ourselves since we reflect God?
 
[PYCL: Section 9: Bring armor or make it for a paper doll. Section 8: centurion healing]
Not to jump around too much but, the obvious passage to work on with props in this lesson is from the ninth section B23. You can make this a project much like the paper doll project of a couple weeks ago and have different elements of armor for the doll to wear and discuss what the armor represents.  How can we make each part into a “thought”?  How do we “protect” our thought from “enemies”?  My four-year-old's teacher has already sent a letter home requesting that he bring a helmet from home to share in class.  This sounds like fun!  I suspect that she has requested a different “protective” article from each pupil.  You could certainly do something along these lines.  Try finding shin guards, boots, a motorcycle or bicycle helmet, make a breast plate out of cardboard. Have them dress in it and talk about what these things represent.  It's a great opportunity to talk about David and Goliath and of course the story in this week's lesson of David and Saul and Jonathan.  What kind of armor was David wearing in these two stories?  Can we “arm” our thought against feeling sick, (accepting those early suggestions)?  What sort of armor did Jesus have on when he walked through the angry mob?  Do you think it was a coincidence that in the story of the Centurion's servant that the Centurion was a soldier asking for Jesus' help? (B22) What is the armor of light in citation B24? We know that light implies understanding, realization in consciousness, what does that mean to the kids?
 
[PYCL Section 7: Disbelieve in accidents; share gratitude for examples of God's protection.]  
You might feel impelled to talk about the suggestion of accident with some of the older ones. I was brought to a standstill this week by the passage in S20. Why isn't chance a part of the divine universe (the universe we live in)? What does chance/accident imply about God? There are many opportunities to share your own experiences of healing and protection. These testimonies are wonderful examples of the practicality of what we are sharing and they all love to hear a good story. The younger they are the more the story should be short or dramatic in its sharing (nothing false, just enthusiastic!).
 
There are a multitude more ideas in this lesson as always; I hope this just gets the “juices flowing” as they say! Have fun!
 


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