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[Claim the continual good of true substance!]
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on

“Substance”
for Sunday, March 12, 2017
[TOP NEEDS OF THE WEEK]

by Rick Stewart, CS, Dresden, Germany
(+49) 351 312 4736 rickstewartcs@aol.com

I grew up in Ocala, Florida, a few miles from Silver Springs, the largest limestone artesian spring formation in the world. Its average output is 800 million gallons per day. Crystal clear, absolutely pure water surges out from Florida’s vast underground aquifer. And the water has flowed for countless years. The earliest residents of Florida visited what is now known as Silver Springs, and skeletons of ancient elephants, mastodons and other prehistoric animals have been found in the caves of the springs.

In Junior High this was our local swimming hole. And swimming, scuba diving, and exploring these waters left me with a feeling of awe at the unending flow of these crystal clear waters.

I was reminded of this beloved spring as I thought about this week’s Golden Text:

Golden Text: Psalm 52:1 “…the goodness of God endureth continually.”

The continual, unending flow of Silver Springs waters led me to a realization about my study and relationship with the Bible. I realized that whereas one time I might have thought of the countless stories in the Bible of God’s wonderful provision, care, and protection for His followers and prophets as events in our past, that nowadays I see that care as present and continual. Just like the continuing flow of my beloved Silver Springs, just so God’s loving care, spiritual provision, and practical salvation was an example of, as our Golden Text puts it, the “goodness of God endureth continually.”

To endure means “to remain in existence.” To continue means to “persist in activity or process.”

So if you happen to be someone that believes God’s goodness filled the daily lives of Biblical people, but is now just a history lesson. Or if you happen to be someone who thinks the spiritual power to rise completely above the dictates of material law is relegated to the past. This week’s Bible Lesson can give you practical help.

I have begun to realize that the “Promised Land” is not a once in a lifetime or once in human history offer. The Promised Land is an enduring and continual offer from the infinite Source of all Life to every single idea! And that is exactly what the Responsive Reading from Deuteronomy promises, for example take a look at these verses:

“For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” (Deuteronomy 8:7-10)

Here is a present day practical example! Just as I was about to receive my listing in the Christian Science Journal as a full time Christian Science Practitioner I was also teaching my last class of Red Cross certified lifeguards. It was a delightful group. And a great way to end my work as a volunteer Water Safety Instructor.

One member of that class became a great friend, Judy Smith. She was very spiritually minded and a great thinker. She accepted an invitation to a lecture our local Christian Science church sponsored. And she invited me to come and visit her at her family’s ranch that was a few miles from Ocala. Approximately 2,000 acres in size the ranch was a piece of Florida as it used to be. Wild, expansive, and abundant with native wildlife. The kind of place I loved. It was called, Seven Springs Ranch, and actually included a total of 13 large springs on the property. These springs were the source of a beautiful little river named, Gum Slough.

At this same time I was looking for a place to live. I had been living with my parents and with family and it seemed just the right time to find a place of my own. I had approached my search prayerfully, knowing that I wanted to go only where God led me. And then Judy extended an invitation from her family. They invited me to come and live in a log cabin located on the ranch. Since they only were on the property for vacations, they needed someone to live full time at the ranch. I was completely free to spend full time with my healing practice. My only specific duty was to keep an eye on things and care for nine horses that lived on the pasture surrounding my cabin! A dream home. A “Promised Land,” that included as the Responsive Reading states, “a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out.”

Now being led into a Promised Land should also bring blessings to others, right? Well, I had the opportunity. My dad had just retired. He loved the outdoors. I could give him the combination to the ranch gates and tell him to come out any time he wanted. My brother, Scott, was looking for work and the foreman of the next door ranch needed some help. So Scott had the joy of being a cowboy, wrangler, hired hand, right next door. For me it was a proof that God’s promise of leading to a Promised Land is indeed enduring continually, even today.

Section 1: Enduring goodness.

As students of Christian Science we approach our study of the Bible with a scientific certainty, right? Neither just a historical study of ancient events or as a blind leap of faith. Our faith is built on spiritual understanding. And this section of the Lesson introduces spiritual substance as continuing forever … “The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever:” (Psalms 104: 31, citation B2)

And the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Hebrews states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:1, 3, B3)

“We understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” Remember Paul as a spiritual thinker. Paul was receptive to the word of God that brought him out of a destructive way of life as a bounty hunter to a tender of the Way of Jesus. And here Paul talks of the “worlds being framed by the word of God.” Rather than a framer—as a for example a picture-framer—I think Paul was talking about construction. I have worked a little in the construction trade, just a little. And I know that “a framer in building construction is a carpenter who assembles the major structural elements of a wood-framed building called the framing. Framers build walls out of studs, sills, and headers; build floors from joists and beams; and frame roofs using ridge poles and rafters. Timber framers are framers who work in the traditional style of timber framing with wooden joinery.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Framer

According to the spiritually scientific thinker, Paul, “things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Spiritual substance!

The citations from Science and Health lay the groundwork for this spiritual understanding. For example,

“Spirit, God, has created all in and of Himself. Spirit is the only substance, the invisible and indivisible infinite God. Things spiritual and eternal are substantial.” (Citation S1, 335:7–8 (to 1st .), 12–14)

“Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are substance, as the Scriptures use this word in Hebrews: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (S3, 468:17–21)

How important is proper framing? For almost 20 years I have lived in Germany. I first visited my mother-in-law when she was living in a house framed in 1500! Now for someone from Florida that was old. A couple weeks ago I was in England and there stands perhaps the oldest wooden building in Europe, Greensted Church, 1200 years old. (Interesting that the oldest wooden building in Europe is a church.)

Now what about spiritual framing? “The goodness of God endureth continually!”

Section 2: Elisha’s lesson about spiritual substance and daily supply!

The Prophet, Elisha, was active for about 60 years in the 8th Century BC. Elijah had discerned from God that Elisha would be his successor and therefore sought him out. And then Elisha spent years with Elijah, until, when at Elijah’s ascension, Elisha, assumed the role of prophet. In this section we read about Elisha saving a widow woman and her sons from starvation by multiplying their supply of oil.

In citation B7 we read “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” (II Kings 4:1–7)

Olive oil was considered a most basic essential. It was used for lighting, heating, cooking, and healing. Pure olive oil was used to keep the lamp burning bright in the Hebrew temple.

The Prophet Elisha served and trained under the tutelage of Elijah for years. And then when his spiritual discernment was able to “see” Elijah as he ascended, Elisha began a career of spiritual seeing and wonders in his own right. And he brought the lessons of spiritual substance into the lives of many.

Can’t Elisha serve us well as an example of what our spiritual growth and ongoing spiritual demonstrations can mean to us as metaphysicians? Just like Elisha practicing a Science that heals effectively and demonstrates the sufficiency of spiritual substance to supply man’s daily needs, so our life-practice can inspire and supply!

Our Leader writes, “Spirit blesses the multiplication of its own pure and perfect ideas. From the infinite elements of the one Mind emanate all form, color, quality, and quantity, and these are mental, both primarily and secondarily. Their spiritual nature is discerned only through the spiritual senses.” (S10, 512:20–25)

Recently my brother Scott was looking forward to an enjoyable day of fishing on a lake near Ocala, Orange Lake. Scott has a small fishing boat about 15 feet long with an outboard motor. He was heading out into the lake with his motor running at full speed. When he attempted to shift his weight a little more forward the motor did an abrupt turn and Scott was thrown out of the boat. As he landed in the water his first thought was a line from a well-known article on Christian Science, “God’s Law of Adjustment” by Adam H. Dickey. Christian Science Journal, January 1916.

Scott immediately remembered from the article,”If a man were drowning in mid-ocean with apparently no human help at hand, there is a law of God which, when rightly appealed to, would bring about his rescue. “

At first Scott saw a way of self-rescue as the boat circled him at full speed. He would grab the bow line hanging down from the boat hoping to stop the boat and climb aboard. Instead the boat ran directly over Scott cutting him with the propeller and apparently breaking his arm. As he surfaced he returned to the line from that article. And contemplated the half-mile swim to shore that would mean passing through a marshy area inhabited by some of Florida’s largest alligators.

But that spiritual law was in his thought. And in that instant he looked up. Previously he had seen no other boats on the big lake. But in that instant he saw the bow wake of another fishing boat coming at full speed directly towards him. The boat, along with its driver, Mr. Maddox, were at his side in minutes. Scott was helped out of the water, his boat towed to shore, and he was able to load his boat onto its trailer and drive himself home. He had his arm attended to for the cuts and the break. In a few weeks all was healed and he was back to shuffling his cards without a problem as he played Solitaire. The difference now? Every shuffle, every use of the arm and hand reminded him of his rescue, his healing, and the appearance of his recuing angel, Mr. Maddox, coming across the lake.

As Mrs. Eddy writes, “As mortals gain more correct views of God and man, multitudinous objects of creation, which before were invisible, will become visible. When we realize that Life is Spirit, never in nor of matter, this understanding will expand into self-completeness, finding all in God, good, and needing no other consciousness.” (S12, 264:13)

Section 3: The beauty of spiritual substance in our daily lives.

The Psalmist writes, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (B12, Psalms 27:4, 8, 13, 14)

I love the present-ness of this declaration from the Psalmist. We are not talking about loyal service and worship of God resulting in a future existence in a promised paradise. I get such a sense of nowness from these verses. “All the days of my life” living in the presence of the Lord! “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” That does not resonate of a pie in the sky hope for the future. We see an expression there of a day-to-day walk with the Lord!

The citations from Science and Health for this section guide us into a practical, scientific sense of substance that is above and beyond the so-called tyranny of material substance. These citations outline a path that rises above material substance to the beauty of spiritual, eternal, enduring substance.

A wonderful Christian Science practitioner, teacher and lecture Paul Stark Seeley, C.S.B., served as a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship for five decades. He entered the Christian Science practice as a young man completing his university studies. At the point when he was considering what professional path to pursue he was deciding between what was a very promising law career that might lead into public service and another practice, the public practice of Christian Science healing. His performance at Princeton University had been of such a level he was almost certainly assured a very successful and lucrative career. At the time when he was trying to make his decision he was walking with his mother through the streets of Concord, New Hampshire. As they walked Mary Baker Eddy’s carriage crossed their path. As she drove by, Mr. Seeley watched as Mrs. Eddy acknowledged them and waved in a manner that Mr. Seeley saw, understood, and took as an invitation, “Come join me.” He did.

[Warren: Paul Stark Seeley was the oldest grad, who leads the “P-Rade” (parade) of Princeton graduates for the two times in the 1970s that I marched with them. He inspired the thousands of marchers and onlookers by marching the whole, long route unassisted as the sole member from the Class of 1906, while grads of much later classes walked with canes or rode in golf carts.]

Someone once asked Mr. Seeley, with a little bit of awe, “Mr. Seeley, how old are you?” Mr. Seeley replied, “That is none of my business.”

When I had the cherished opportunity to work with the Association of his students, I saw that ongoing, enduring, continuing beauty of spiritual substance reflected in the lives of his students.

Section 4: The treasure of spiritual substance.

Our Master, Christ Jesus, instructed, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (B14, Matthew 6:19–21)

What is really valuable in this life and in eternity? What lasts? What endures? What continues? What is incorruptible? Where does power really lie?

In the world at the moment we seem to have many individuals of unimaginable wealth. Some of them have come to their great wealth overnight when a discovery or system they have developed is sold or becomes available to the whole world. Some of them wield their power with great benevolence. Others might be seen to constantly be attempting to control or influence in a power grab of some sort. In that light, isn’t it interesting to think of this Bible verse in the Lesson,

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” (B15, Luke 4:14 14)

Jesus is coming home to Galilee. The people know him here as a local boy, a member of the community, a brother, an attendant of the local synagogue, a carpenter. In what capacity does he return home? He has just fought a battle with the tempter in the wilderness. His special abilities certainly presented him with temptations of what kind of power he was going to wield as he comes home.

Christian Science Bible Scholar and CedarS’ special friend, Cobbey Crisler, offers these insights regarding Luke 4:14 (B15)

“Certainly, Luke's insight tells us this has been a power struggle. Where does power lie? Is it something that must be humanly grasped, something that Jesus has to seize? To take personal power, political power, and priestly power, and immediately cut a dramatic swath across the world? Or does he find another message in the law that relates man directly to God, the source of the only power there is?”

“Luke indicates that he understands this [Jesus’ period of temptations in the wilderness] has been a power test for Jesus because in Verse 14 he uses that word, "Jesus returned" not in any form of power that Satan had tried to impose upon him [“to take personal power, political power, and priestly power”]. But rather, "in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, in the law that relates man directly to God, the source of the only power there is.” (C.Crisler, see W’s PS)]

Mary Baer Eddy states “Man understands spiritual existence in proportion as his treasures of Truth and Love are enlarged. Mortals must gravitate Godward, their affections and aims grow spiritual, — they must near the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper sense of the infinite, — in order that sin and mortality may be put off.” (S21, 265:3)

She continues, “Man walks in the direction towards which he looks, and where his treasure is, there will his heart be also. If our hopes and affections are spiritual, they come from above, not from beneath, and they bear as of old the fruits of the Spirit.” (S22, 451:14)

Shall we grow to the same decision as our Master, claiming our power as of the Spirit, not matter?

Section 5: Healing demonstrates the substance of Spirit as supreme.

Peter and John have left a wonderful record of the insubstantiality of matter’s claims and the absolute substantiality of the power of the Spirit in Acts 3 :1-9 But this power is available not just at the Temple gate but in every corner of the world, now and forever. Can we find a way to bring this power into our “Temples” of worship this week?

The following profound insights from Cobbey Crisler, are of the greatest value to us as individuals and to our churches as realize the significance of this healing from Acts 3.

Cobbey Crisler shared insights on Acts 3 (passed along by Warren below).
“Acts, Chapter 3, we find that the introduction of the public lecture and ministry technique is increasing. We’re now going into a renewed phase; it’s becoming part of church activity.
And “Peter and John together give a combined lecture” beginning in Chapter 3…
And first, preceding that, look what else identifies the church? Right. “Coming to the temple.” (See Acts 2:46 “in the temple daily”)
Probably, as the Anchor Bible suggests they came in at the second daily hour of prayer, which is three P.M.
There at the temple – now notice the juxtaposition here of the “physical structure that’s represented the worship of one God, the temple here, and outside it, a man needing help.” … Religion had not been able to address itself to his problems, as yet. “He had been lame from the moment of birth, and every single day, his outlook was merely to survive through other’s charity.” (See Acts 3:2)…
So, Peter and John were just two other faces. And they walked by, and “he asked for alms.” (Acts 3:2)
Now, for some the highest view of religion is social service and would give such alms. And often such alms are helpful and humanitarian. He didn’t ask for healing. Perhaps he might have given up on that, or considered it just wasn’t possible.
“But, Peter, fastening his eyes upon him” – now that kind of focus is something, probably, more than physical, wouldn’t you say? Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
You remember when the woman who had the infirmity of eighteen years? Jesus looked on that woman, and everyone else had looked on that woman, but Jesus looked at that woman and said…(he) found something apparently already there that no one else had seen, namely that that “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” (Luke 13:12-13)
How did Jesus look at people? How did he see them that enabled him to get such tremendous results – just the opposite of the human sympathy that religion had felt was virtually the highest contribution it could make to the ills of mankind?

Peter, having witnessed Jesus healing in many cases, “fastens his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.” (Acts 3:4) … Now, immediately, he got his attention. Now, to study the sequence that led to the healing that the text often gives you. What’s needed in human mentality to bring the healing into the experience of the individual?

“Look on us,” is apparently requirement one – look away from the alms, the masses, the crowds, the helpless condition –“look on us.” (Acts 3:4)

You know the story– if you want the donkey to move, you have to get his attention first. You know (the story), you hit him between the eyes. You know, in a way, this is getting the attention of the patient. “Look on us.”

“He gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.” (Acts 3:5) So, we have the condition of what? Receptivity and expectation, expecting to receive – there are your two words. (He was) expecting to receive something of them.

“Then Peter said, Disabuse yourself of any hope that I’m going to hand you out the coin of the realm, but what I have I’m going to give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6 Paraphrased partially)…

Peter, to encourage his thought and the possibility of it, for that man had sat there daily in that condition, to help him separate himself from that condition, he “takes him by the right hand, lifts him up: and immediately on his feet, he feels his feet and ankle bones receiving the strength” – simply an endorsement of what Peter and John had already seen was there. (Paraphrased Acts 3:7 )…

So, I thought you might be interested in seeing this first, specific miracle, so-called, that occurs after Jesus’ departure – the first specific one. We’d been told that “signs and wonders” had occurred. (Samples of “signs and wonders wrought by the apostles are in
Acts 3:43 and Acts 5:12…) . Here’s how the Anchor Bible has described the concept of miracle: “Of course, one may assume such miracles cannot occur, but it cannot be doubted that they were of decisive importance to primitive Christianity. We shall not be able to understand the latter unless we take the accounts of these healings seriously.”

“The first thing this man does, before he even walks, is what? In verse eight? (“his feet and ankle bones” … ) Before he walks, “he leaps.” (See below, paraphrased) Not that’s even harder than walking for someone who has been in that condition… “He leaping up stood, and walked…” – those are three different things requiring his feet and ankle bones to support that activity — “leaping first, standing, walking and entering into the temple,” a relationship now between church and mankind healed, a church that can bring results! (See below, paraphrased)

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God… “Remember this is the same temple the man at the pool of Bethesda enters after Jesus had healed him. (See John 5:7-9)

And also, this – if we’re going to understand the scripture in terms of prophecy — if God indicates to humanity through His inspired word through prophecy that this is exactly what humanity should be doing – increasing their understanding of divinity to such a point that these obstacles, these ills that have plagued mankind for centuries unchallenged, should be wiped out of human experience.

Well, I don’t think the mention of the word, “leaping” in verse eight is a coincidence. (Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.)

Turn to Isaiah 35, verse 6, Isa 35:6 and you will see that prophecy embraces healing the sick. Now, you know, we could almost say the same thing as Paul said about the villainous of those who went every Sabbath Day and heard the prophets and then went away and instead fulfills the prophets by condemning Jesus.

Isa 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Every day of our worship in the week, be it one day or more, if we were hearing the prophets about healing the sick and then walking away and forgetting it, wouldn’t we be more or less in the same category as those who ignored prophecy in the days of Jesus?

Isa 35, verse 3, actually in a form of command – it says “strengthen ye the weak hands, confirm the feeble knees.” [W: Ruth Huff opened to this verse as the purpose of CedarS as spelled out further in all 10 verses of Isaiah 35.]

Isa 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isa 35, verse 5, talks about “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”…
And then in Isa 35, verse 6, “shall the lame…” do what? “Leap as an hart….” …
The contrast between lame and leaping, even greater than lameness and walking.

Now, that becomes/is a prophecy. We can’t ignore it. The fact that we perhaps aren’t doing that kind of healing work has no relationship to the fact that prophecy says it will be done and implies that it should be done.

And Isa 35, verse 10, shows you the results when humanity begins to comprehend the scope of prophecy. And it begins to look very close to the definition of church, doesn’t it? “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” …

It’s a collective thing, isn’t it? Collectively together, you and I, can obliterate sorrow and sighing and ills of mankind’s experience. And the church is designed to get us together to accomplish that result.
And what are we doing about the very instrument will bring it about? Are we supporting it? Or are we finding that we have grave doubts about the church?
The one enemy of the church, today and in every age, is fragmentation; it’s what destroys its very definition. The urge to fragment is absolutely the critical thing because if unity is the power of church and the Holy Spirit is the very instrument in reaching mankind collectively, then obviously anything that could defeat that purpose would obstruct the Holy Ghost. In our thoughts are any of those obstructions there?”
Cobbey Crisler, (See W’s PS)

[Mary Baker Eddy frees Church from merely human obstructions by her definition of it:
“CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.

The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.” (Science and Health 583:12)]

In Citation S23 we also find Mary Baker Eddy’s discerning view of “TEMPLE. Body; the idea of Life, substance, and intelligence; the superstructure of Truth;” (S23, 595:7–8)

Section 6: Healing in Church, the true substance in practice.

Our Master commanded his followers for all time, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (B20, Matthew 10:8)

Where do you and your church fit into that command, a historical record? A sanguine hope? A far-away command relevant 2,000 years ago or 150 years ago? But falteringly expressed today?

Recently some of the testimonies and experiences of our small, but powerful church in Dresden have been humbling and inspiring. Yes, demonstration of our Master’s commands alive in church. Alive with young and old. Are there challenges? Well, yes, but that is what engagement with the Christ is all about. Challenges and triumphs. But never giving up or giving in. Ready to discover the Christ comfort and commands in every church and Sunday School service.

Warren also sent us these blazing insights from Cobbey Crisler on Matt 10:8 (B20): “The assignments given to the disciples would not be assignments they were incapable of doing, or Jesus would have been unwise.

“Verse 8, He said, “Heal the sick.” What do you expect them to do? He said, “Cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils.” Notice the sequence. The things he did. Even putting casting out devils at a higher level of what was required of prayer than raising the dead. Then stating, “Freely ye have received freely give.”

“Did the Disciples do that? Even after Jesus was no longer with them personally?

“They certainly did!” (C. Crisler, see W’s PS)

Are we doing it? Yes, we are. The remarkable perspective of a Christian Science Practitioner in these days of global communication opens a window to spiritually substantial Christian practice. Relevant, active, individual, enduring, continuing, and eternally good. What a time to be engaged in discovering the true reality of Substance!


[W’s PS—For those wanting order info for Cobbey Crisler transcripts and CDs:
You can buy your own transcripts (and audio CDs) of most of Cobbey’s 28 talks at a new website: www.crislerlibrary.co.uk Email your order or inquiry to office@crislerlibrary.co.uk, or directly to Janet Crisler, at janetcrisler7@gmail.com ]


[TOP NEEDS OF THE WEEK:
1) $1500 (in $50 increments, 5 units given! 25 to go!) to split apart a key tractor to replace its clutch so it can do its mission of helping keep CedarS mowed and well-manicured.
2) Professional horse training ($120/day). Goal= To hire a trainer for 6 weeks to prepare our horses for campers. Gifts are matched! (8 days given! 15 to go!)
Thanks to earlier outpourings of love and support, CedarS is doing other needed Maintenance work before our 56th season, our "adopted" herd of horses are also being well cared, AND a growing stream of campership applications are being granted. However, we still need donations of about $125,000 more to grant the campership requests that traditionally come during this season. We also need almost $16,400 to meet our $50k match for Adopt the Herd! (CedarS Adopt the Herd matching fund opportunity goes through the end of our fiscal year, 9-30-17.) Thank each of you grateful for this service and our work, way beyond words and whinnies, for your much-needed MONTHLY gifts, past and ongoing, able to be given at:
www.cedarscamps.org/giving ]

[You can also reach a member of the Founding family nearly anytime to discuss current credit card and equity gifts as well as planned giving at our winter home/office by PHONE at 636-394-6162

or MAIL your tax-deductible support to our 501C3 organization
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The CedarS Camps Office
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[THANKS TO YOU PRECIOUS DONORS FOR YOUR ONGOING, GENEROUS and NEEDED SUPPORT OF CedarS IMPORTANT WORK!]


[CedarS weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CedarS, as well as to CedarS alumni, families and friends who have requested it. But, current and planned gifts are a big help and are greatly appreciated in defraying the costs of running this service and of providing needed camperships, programs and operations support.

[The Met application ideas above are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and daily demonstrate the great value of studying and applying the Christian Science Bible lessons throughout the year, not just at camp! YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of possible ways to share.]

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