W’s Post Scripts: Feel the Love of joys eternal and heaven at hand!
“Find herein a ‘canny’ crumb” (Mis. xi) or insight from Cobbey Crisler or another on citations for
“Love”
the Christian Science Bible Lesson for July 29-August 4, 2019
I’m sending this email of some spiritual sense application ideas from Cobbey Crisler and others hoping that you “find herein a ‘canny’ crumb… (to) become footsteps to joys eternal.” (Miscellaneous Writings, xi:15.)
Warren’s (W’s) PS#1—Check-out a custom poem for this week’s lesson called “Lessons in Love from a Local Tree!” by Ken Cooper.
Ken writes of it: “When we look round with spiritual vision, we see the world of God’s perfect creation: it is one of Love expressing itself throughout infinity. Some years ago, I was walking in the midst of a great gale, passing near to some large trees. They were really bending at the top with the wind, but their base was unmoved. Challenges I was facing seemed to leave me buffeted, but when I saw how stable the trees were in the ground it made me recognise that I too was “rooted and grounded in love”. As each tree fulfils its purpose, so too do we. This is what Love does for each of us, and we all share God’s love naturally and completely. Love is unconditional. The tree provides shelter for any that walk beneath. Our love must be the same.
The video sound recording is https://youtu.be/JDap3pOyIe0, while the PDF version are attached as PDF Downloads on CedarS “Latest Met” webpage at https://www.cedarscamps.org/metaphysical/articles/2019/7/love-everyone/
W’s PS#2— Cobbey Crisler on Psalm 42:11 (B7) Hope in God cures depression
“Psalm 42, Verse 11 is a refrain in this psalm and the next. [Ps. 43.5] It’s a question we all need to ask ourselves, "Why art thou cast down?” Depression, if not an economic fact, seems to be a mental one at present. "Why art thou cast down? Examine the reasons. "Why art thou disquieted within me?" That's getting mad in a sense. That's challenging what we are accepting without question. Why am I depressed? Why is this disquiet? What's the reason for it? Then notice the remedy. "Hope thou in God: praise God, hope in God. The health of our countenance is in God. "
“Leaves of the Tree: Prescriptions from Psalms,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
“Verse 11 [of Psalm 42] is the effect of that [enemy] thought [of questioning the existence of God in verse 10]. Our “soul is cast down,” our whole identity depressed, “disquieted.” Only “hope in God” restored and will restore “the health of our countenance,” showing the physical effect of the mental cause.”
“War in Heaven: Conquest of Inner Space,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
W’s PS#3—Cobbey Crisler on Jeremiah 31.3 (B9) and Jer. 30:17 (B10):
In Chapter 31, which is Jeremiah’s greatest chapter, he predicts the new covenant will come. He defines it. In Verse 3 he shows that the new covenant is definitely based on the comprehension of God as love. It’s that very “lovingkindness” that will draw all mankind to God for the solution of the world problems.”
…in Verse 17 Chapter 30 [of Jeremiah]… is God’s view of whether there is any incurability or not. “I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds.”
Religion has got to be practical, especially in our century. There’s no room for anything that’s not practical anymore. There are too many problems requiring solutions. Humanity in its history has run [from problems] long enough. Like Jacob ran for twenty years until he began to wrestle [Genesis 32. 24, 25]. Collectively mankind is wrestling now. As John Bunyan said about religion. “The soul of religion is the practical part.”
“Heal the Sick”: A Scriptural Record, by B. Cobbey Crisler**
W’s PS#4—Cobbey Crisler on Matt. 4: 17 (B11) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
“Verse 17. After Matthew the prophesies [in verses 15 and 16 from Isaiah 9:1, 2) of the coming of the Messiah], Jesus’ opening word, according to Matthew’s gospel is “Repent.” Change your concept. Again, just as John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:2, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That is radical good news for mankind.
“It’s not a far-off event. Many denominations have left the impression that heaven is something attainable in the far-off future. But, the opening words of John the Baptist, as well as of Jesus, are “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” right here. That means that we must be able to do something with it and about it. And, apparently that had something to do with the changing of our concept, even theologically, that heaven can do something about the problems that that seem to be at hand.
“There’s your next division (Division number 2). Are the problems at hand, or is heaven at hand? That’s the test question that Jesus met so beautifully as a sovereign over it in the wilderness. He proved that heaven was at hand.”
Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master, by B. Cobbey Crisler**
W’s PS#5—Cobbey Crisler on Matthew 5:8, 10 and Beatitudes (B12)—Jesus lays out mathematical rules of heavenly happiness.
“The beatitudes, the blessings. The word “blessed” in our sermon on the mount is not really the accurate translation of the Greek. The word is “makarios” which means “happy.”
Just think of the search for happiness among humanity. Here are rules laid down by Jesus simply stating that happiness can be obtained in the following ways…
… we should remember that Jesus never uttered anything that he hadn’t practiced.
The Sermon on the Mount is in essence a description of the life of Jesus…
The Sermon begins with the Beatitudes. (Verse 3). “Happy are the poor in spirit.” Doesn’t sound like they should be does it? But we find out the reason. Because such humility gets what results? And where is the kingdom of heaven? What was Jesus’ first announcement? “Right at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Later he says, “Within” (Luke 17:21).
We’ve talked about mathematics. How would you like to view Jesus as a mathematician par excellence? You can take his beatitudes and make equations out of them. Which shows how much of a mathematical thinker he was. For instance,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Thus, B x PS = KH. When you invest on the left side of the equation, what is the yield on the right side? The “Kingdom of Heaven.” “B” multiplied times “PS” equals “KH,” i.e., B x PS = KH.
You have measurable results. Do you see a difference here in Jesus’ approach to religion? When we stop to examine theology, even in our century, is there that much expectation for results in theological thinking? Yet here is the essence of Jesus’ thinking. And we have results…”
“… As you go down the Beatitude, read them all, scan them as they are in front of you. See if you can find results in every one of them. See if you can analyze them for those results. That becomes a very practical clue for how to lead one’s life.
The Commandments and Beatitudes have often been placed side by side. Many parallels have been used. Is that justified?
For instance, we are told in the Book of Revelation that those who have overcome the beast will stand on the sea of glass with harps. They’re singing two things representative of what has been given them. The victory over the beast, the animal origin of man. How can we overcome that animal connection?
Those who have overcome are said to be singing two things: the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. That sounds like they’re inseparable. They operate together. Do you know why? Because it’s part of the heavenly mathematics.
Why did the Commandments say, “Thu shalt not,” taking care of the minus aspects in human nature? And the Beatitudes, “happy are they” that do certain things, are plus? What do you do with the minus in thought, the chaff? It is dealt with by fire. You deal with the plus in thought through the Holy Ghost.
They operate together for a single purpose and a unique commitment to the totality of One infinite, God, good. The Beatitudes must be considered in conjunction with the Commandments in your study.
These Beatitudes took the same forty days preparation of Jesus in the wilderness as the Commandments took forty days of preparation in the wilderness for Moses. It may take the same wilderness experience for you and me to really appreciate what really is there behind the Commandments and the Beatitudes. They are really the staff on which we lean. If we try to go very far without that staff it must discipline us. {Discipline is] The same root word as disciple. We must come back and learn how to deal with the plus factors and the minus factors in our own thinking. That’s the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire…
Let me make recommendations for your own research. I have previously assigned my high school students to see on their own, through their own Scriptural research, whether there was any Old Testament precedent for each Beatitude. In other words, is this something that Jesus is saying, “Hey, here is a new idea of humanity, why don’t you consider it?” Or was he pointing out stones already in the foundation that had been neglected?
These are interesting things. I’ll give you one as a lead. Verse 5 of chapter 5, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” You’ll see in Psalms 37, Verse 11, that almost word for word, we find that Beatitude there.
So, you see, it’s not always being original, but recalling human attention to something that has been already revealed, already discovered, but essential to our progress and growth.”
(Verse 44). “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that that hate you.” Is Jesus just saying everyone should be helpless in the face of opposition? Or is he saying, this is your defense in opposition, and will solve the problem at hand?
(Verse 45). He says that “state of mind directly relates you and me to our Father.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
W’s PS#6—Cobbey Crisler on Acts 13:52 (B14) “the power of the Spirit”
Cobbey on Acts 13.52 (B19) and the joy of receptive Gentiles
[Prequel context] “Acts 13:46. Now because the Jews were rejecting Paul and Barnabas, look what the last five words in Acts 13, verse 46, says. “We turn to the Gentiles.”…
…But, you will notice he would back this up with scriptural authority in Acts 13, verse 47, he says “the Lord commanded us, saying…” ; and that quote, you might write it in the margin of your Bible, is from Isaiah 49, verse 6.
Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
… And then when that happens, salvation will begin to reach the ends of the earth. And look at what has happened in history as Christianity moved out of Judaic definition of it and moved around the world… Message speaks to those who are receptive. Receptivity is really ordination in a way, because receptivity is the prepared ground into which the seed can fall. And, eventually, all must become receptive.
In this case, these are the ones who were at that point. And it’s pretty clear that you did not have universal receptivity then anymore than you do now.
[So while the rejecting] Jews stirred up everybody, in Acts 13, verse 50, “the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Ghost; they come to Iconium” (in verse 52) still known as Iconia in modern Turkey.”
“AFTER THE MASTER, WHAT?” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
W’s PS#7—Cobbey Crisler on Acts 14.2-7, 8-10, 11-47 and the prophesy fulfillment of a leaping lame man
“Acts, Chapter 14 begins with [the prequel of] “the unbelieving Jews” in Acts 14, verse 2, “stirring up the Gentiles.” … And we find now that this is close on the heels of all the success the church makes – a step forward and then a counter step trying to resist and destroy what has been achieved. Church has never been probably such pressure up to this moment since the general persecution in Jerusalem… So, the “stirring up occurs.” Acts 14, verse 4, shows you a “division in the city, an actual assault is made” in Acts 14, verse 5, “to stone them.”
“And they leave the city going to Lystra and Derbe, and to the surrounding region to preach the gospel.” (Acts 14:6, 7) …
In the midst of all this persecution and conflict, “there is a man at Lytra, a cripple, and born that way. He never had walked.”
Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Now you remember what we said when Jesus looked at someone? “And Peter beheld someone.” … Here it says, “Paul, stedfastly beholding him.” The author means much more that staring at him, doesn’t he? “Stedfastly beholding him, perceiving” – you see it’s an inner sight – “perceiving he had faith to be healed.” (Acts 14:9)
Now, if he hadn’t [perceived that he had faith], the implication is what? They were many that needed healing there, but receptivity – the patient has to be part of it apparently. Just as Jesus did not physically lift people to their feet so much as he said, “Pick up your bed and walk…stretch forth your hand” and so forth here.
Paul, perceiving that he had faith to be healed “Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. (Acts 14:10)
You notice that the first thing this man does also is what? He leaps before he walks. He never had walked, and “the first thing he did was leap.” …
And Isaiah, if you will recall the prophecy, it indicated “the lame man shall leap as an hart.” (Isa 35:6) … It is a fulfillment of prophecy. Therefore, it’s God’s idea, you see, not man’s healing.”
[Chapter 14 ends with the exciting sequel of Paul being worshipped and then being stoned and raised by prayer and returning to where he was stoned….] … That shows you the extremes of human nature. You’re a god one moment, and they stone you the next. And that’s exactly what happened to Jesus if you recall the triumphant entry into Jerusalem – and one week later. So, avoid triumphal entries if you can at all help it.
So, “Paul is stoned.” (Acts 14:19) … Now, remember later in a list of the things that he gives that he’s been through; he says he was stoned once, and this is the only record that we have of it. “They drag him out insensible, looking as if he is dead.” (Acts 14:19)
“The disciples, instead of running, stand around about him.” (Acts 14:20) “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”
Now, I don’t know whether anybody in this room would have had the courage Paul did. Even if we rose up from the dead, would you have run back into the city? Didn’t you get the idea that you weren’t wanted?
“He comes back into the city. He would not be thrown out. He then leaves with Barnabas the next day,” normally, “to Derbe to preach there.” (Acts 14:20)
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch
And Acts 14, verse 22, the last three lines, he indicates that “we must through great tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
… But he’s establishing churches as he goes. And think of the influence of his example in stamping the example to follow Christ in that early church. So, as he creates churches as he goes along, he comes back through. He retraces his steps and returns to Antioch in Syria, not the Antioch of Pisidia. He’s back home again
Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
If you want to know how the church responded to the results of this first mission; they hold a special corporate meeting and “rehearsed” in Acts 14, verse 27, “all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Look at that news, “the door of faith has been opened to the Gentiles.” …
That says something about the corporate body, especially if the New Testament remark “that the church is the body of Christ is correct. You can’t divide that body. If you try, you’re trying to break the body of Christ in that sense. This was tried on the cross.
And collectively man is at one under one God if the Biblical theme is accurate. And that must include the Gentiles; it must even include those we may count among our enemies. And Paul’s approach here is a pioneering one.”
“AFTER THE MASTER, WHAT?” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
**You can buy your own transcripts of most of Cobbey Crisler’s 28 talks at this website: www.crislerlibrary.co.uk Email your order or inquiry to office@crislerlibrary.co.uk, or directly to Janet Crisler, at janetcrisler7@gmail.com
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