APPLICATION GEMS GIVE EVERLASTING, PRACTICAL BLESSINGS FROM GOD’S “HAND”!
Let God Expressed Meekly/Mightily in you sparkle brightly with new insights from Cobbey Crisler & others as inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“[N]EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT”
for October 30, 2022 (SORRY for same day delivery due to extra project needs)
(Cobbey’s insights are shared with the blessing of Janet Crisler janetcrisler7@gmail.com)
by Warren Huff, CedarS Executive Director Emeritus, warren@cedarscamps.org
APPLICATION INSIGHTS FOR TODAY ON NOAH! BUILD YOUR OWN “ARK!”—
Genesis 6 -9/citations B6-9 from possible Sunday School Lesson topics #2  by Kerry Jenkins, CS.
[Kerry:] “This is a beloved story for young children—probably because of the animals. It is more than a cool children’s story though. As adults we worry about the idea of a God who would condemn an entire population to death by drowning.
I see it as a story of obedience to God and the individual building of our interior “arks” of safety.
We all have the kingdom of God within us. We are all being called upon to “build” our own “arks” of safety from the temptations of matter. These temptations can range beyond the typical “sex, drugs, and alcohol” kinds of temptations. Think instead of the everyday challenges that we are being constantly called upon to overcome…frustration, anxiety, temper, depression, fear, greed, and so on. As we succeed in our building projects we are given that bright, rainbow promise, of joy, satisfaction, peace. It doesn’t mean that everything will go materially perfect, but we will face challenges with poise, intelligence and inspiration, and find healing!
“So, how do we build this kind of ark? … If we engage, for example in a regular practice of gratitude, is this our “planking”? Are the nails/screws our steadfast persistence in the face of fear or doubt?
What are we using for caulking/pitch? How about a finish on the wood? …
“What kinds of food are we bringing along?
Are we bringing inspired thought, wisdom, generosity, kindness?
What do the paired animals of all species indicate? Our wholeness! The completeness and eternity of God’s creation. This is all within us!…
… “Obedience makes us “float”, gives us joy and strength to face whatever is tempting us to move away from God. (You can’t really do this but it sometimes feels like it!). … [Claim] the qualities that keep us safe, our “boats” watertight/free from material limitations of sin that weigh us down. … [Think] about the very useful definition of sin as: whatever makes us feel we are separate from God/Good.
“Such a supposed separation is a great analogy to use with boats and water. “Consider being separate, floating around without your boat. You’d get tired of constantly swimming at the very least!
Whereas in your “boat” you are lifted, rested, and can move endlessly across the surface of “error”, without sinking down into it.
[W. Consider one of my favorite ideas that “The only effect that the flood had on the ark was to elevate it.” This is always true unless you open the door (of your inner ark) to the flood of negative views and news.
PLUS: LEARN WHY MODERN CARGO VESSELS ARE MODELED AFTER NOAH’S ARK!
Fun footnotes below from The Amplified Bible (Classic) (Gen. 6-9/cits. B3-B6)
- Genesis 6:16 Noah’s ark possibly had a window area large enough to admit light and provide ventilation.
- Genesis 6:16 “Here can only be meant an entrance which was afterward closed, and only opened again at the end of the flood. And since there were three stories of the ark, the word is to be understood, perhaps, of three entrances capable of being closed, and to which there would have been constructed a way of access from the outside” (J.P. Lange, A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures).
- Genesis 7:8 Noah had many years in which to interest travelers in securing these animals for him. The five extra pairs of clean animals were for food, and for sacrifice later.
- Genesis 8:13 Possibly overhanging eaves which prevented the rain from coming through the perforated window space had also prevented Noah from seeing the mountaintops. It is well to remember that the Architect of Noah’s ark was the omniscient Scientist Whose “ways are past finding out,” though men have learned much from them through the centuries. Nothing was lacking in Noah’s ark to keep it from being suited for all that was required of it. The comfortable, light, well-ventilated, watertight, perfectly planned boat, large enough to accommodate all the original land animals intelligently and to permit the four human couples to live separately and in peace, needs no apology today. “In 1609 at Hoorn, in Holland, the Netherlandish Mennonite, P. Jansen, produced a vessel after the pattern of the ark, only smaller, whereby he proved it was well adapted for floating, and would carry a cargo greater by one-third than any other form of like cubical content” (J.P. Lange, A Commentary). It revolutionized shipbuilding. By 1900 every large vessel on the high seas was definitely inclined toward the proportions of Noah’s ark (as verified by “Lloyd’s Register of Shipping,” The World Almanac). Later, ships were built longer for speed, a matter of no concern to Noah.
Cobbey Crisler on Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law of the flu from Matt 8:14-16/cit. B15
“(Verse 14. We come to the third healing [in Matthew’s series of 10 of Jesus’ proofs after the Sermon on the Mount of his Messiahship by his works, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. To have a mother-in-law, Peter had to be married. Peter had a wife. It’s on the Sabbath day, too. But does Jesus consider women that important? Would he break the Sabbath for a woman? One may think that he might for a man. But would he do it for a woman? He does.
Whatever business he had in Peter’s house, he puts all aside and gives priority to the mother-in-law’s needs. Despite the fact that it was the Sabbath. (Verse 15). He heals her of fever. [W: So much, for the supposed length and severity of the flu—as well as for its being communicable… “and she arose and ministered unto them.”]
(Verse 16). “Many come, when the even was come to be healed.” Why the evening? Because then the Sabbath is over and they could all come without any fear of recriminations from the Jews.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master: A Tax Collector’s Report”, by B. Cobbey Crisler**
LIKE JESUS & PETER, BE EAGER TO TEST YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD’S INFINITUDE THAT KNOWS NO LIMITS. Cobbey Crisler comments on Jesus and Peter walking on water… (Matt 14:24-33, cit. B17)
[Cobbey:] “… right after the famous loaves-and-fishes incident in which everyone is fed,” we have the walking-on-the-sea incident.
(Verse 27). The disciples, not knowing how to cope with that, get told what the palsied man had been told (in Matthew 9:2) “Be of good cheer.” You’ll notice that Jesus says this at times when apparently he senses the great need of encouragement and the defeat of fear in thought. “It is I,” he said, “be not afraid.”
[W: For a slide show illustration of Jesus and Peter walking on water check-out https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/ed-peter-water/ Or, Download their Story Planner PDF and/or PowerPoint from the upper right of CedarS GEMs webpage.]
(Verse 28). Peter who (as usual) wants part of the action says, “That looks like fun, how about my coming out there and joining you?” Peter, not quite appreciating the consequences of his acts—fortunately for awhile—actually does it! He becomes the second one to walk on water.
(Verse 30). But then he begins to look where he is. “How did I get here?”
(Verse 31). At that point Jesus supports not only his own weight but also the weight of Peter in overcoming gravity, proving it is not a law of limitation for man. Man has dominion over gravity as well.
(Verse 32). Not only over gravity, but you will find that “the minute he gets into the boat, the wind ceases.” In other gospel accounts (e.g., John 6:21), “immediately the boat is at the land.” (They must have gone through the sound barrier and nobody was wearing helmets.)
So, even the so-called barriers to man’s being where he needs to be, from a standpoint of transportation, communication, etc., were proven to be no barriers at all in the hands of one who comprehended with his eye single. His relationship to God had, within his infinitude, no such limitations.
(Verse 35). When he lands on the other side, “many come to be healed.”
(Verse 36), “Many touch the hem of his garment.” Apparently the word had gotten around about that woman (in Matthew 9:20 and Mark 5:25) from recent Bible Lessons) who had done that, “and many were made perfectly whole.” Think of how many unrecorded healings occurred, or at least healings that we have yet to discover a written record about.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master, A Tax-Collector’s Report,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
BONUS LINK to “RADICAL STEPS” — a Poem by Richard Howard from the May 8, 1976 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel about Peter’s Walking On Water (W.O.W!)
as recorded in Matthew 14:23-32, citation B16.
(See Verses 1 & 3 quoted below and the whole inspiring message at: https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1976/5/78-19/radical-steps
Matthew 14:23-32
By Richard Howard
From the May 8, 1976 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
“You can call him what you like—
impetuous, brash, outspoken—
but once he recognized the Christ
and heard that command,
he did what the others didn’t—
he stepped out onto the water and walked!
He didn’t wonder, he didn’t worry, he didn’t wait—
he didn’t even look to see if the others were behind him—
he just climbed out and walked.
… (See verse 2 at https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1976/5/78-19/radical-steps )
“And now, sailor, what about us?
When the going gets rough,
and the waves pile up,
and the wind is contrary,
and the command is “Come!” which shall we do—
remain troubled and huddled and crying out,
or take those radical steps?”
Richard Howard
FOLLOW THE MASTER’S METHOD, LIKE PETER DID,
TO CLEAR OUT FUNEREAL THOUGHT & RAISE THE DEAD!
Cobbey Crisler on Acts 9:36+/cit. B17 & Peter raising Tabitha when all believed her dead:
[As a prequel in Acts to the raising of Tabitha, Cobbey said:] “at nearby Lydda, Peter heals a man named Aeneas who for eight years has been paralyzed, unable to move. It didn’t take long for the news to get around that this kind of healing work was being accomplished by the early Christians [and for Tabitha’s friends to send for Peter].
“In a neighboring “town of Joppa we find a woman named Tabitha. … She had had an exemplary life, had done much good for many.” (See Acts 9:36) …
Acts 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
“Do you recall back in the narratives of the gospel where a similar situation occurred, and Peter was there? (Mark 5:22, 36-42, Matt. 9:24, 25) It was the raising of Jairus’ daughter… Do you remember when Jesus came into that environment that you could almost cut it into square blocks of moisture, the grief was so thick? There were paid mourners at that point. As a matter of fact, we are told that even the poorest individual was entitled to at least three instruments at the funeral service. You can imagine Jairus, being a ruler of the Synagogue, the extent of noise, and activity, and mourning that must have occurred at the passing of Jairus’ daughter.” [W: Peter clearly had an indelible image of what Jesus did and followed the Master’s method as shown in another video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGJ0TKRTEFI&t=13s ) Peter began to follow Jesus’ method by clearing out the funereal thought of the mourners.]
Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Acts 9:41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
Acts 9:42 And it was known throughout all Joppa;”
“After the Master, What? – The Book of Acts,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
TAKE THIS PRECIOUS GIFT OF A LITTLE BOOK WITH UNIVERSAL APPLICATIONS & APPLY IT WITHOUT DELAY!
Cobbey Crisler on Revelation 10:1-11, citation B19
(Here’s a link to a partial YouTube illustration of verses about no delay.)
[Cobbey:] “The Tenth Chapter of Revelation … verse 1, records another mighty angel coming down from heaven. Heaven, the divine and infinite, databank, from which this angel now bares God’s revealed Word. Is this another opportunity for space for repentance, now in the form of a little book, opened?
“…The angel in Revelation, Chapter 10, is clothed with a cloud. In John’s vision, the message is initially obscure. A later textual implication hints that John could not take the full light of this message at first. He needed to adapt to it gradually.
“The message is mighty. The angel standing behind every word of this little book links every concept in it to God. The angel’s face were as if it were the sun. This combination of sun and cloud may explain the rainbow upon his head. A rainbow results when light penetrates a cloud or mist. Are the conditions finally here for the mist of Genesis 2 to be lifted? Will the rays shining through the lens of this angel’s book ultimately penetrate and evaporate the obscuring cloud? Even though the full white light of this vision does not yet appear to John, he does see through the cloud which, like a prism, shows the iridescence of God’s promise.
“This rainbow symbolism serves to remind scriptural students of its earliest recorded use in the Bible – the bow seen in the cloud after Noah emerged from the Ark… The bow we are told represents the promise that no flood would gather such proportions again to destroy all flesh. Reappearance of this timely rainbow in Revelation then, is like an implicit forewarning of a second major flood. This one, two chapters later, at Revelation 12.
“The deluge is from the dragon’s mouth, and it’s directed against the woman, mother of the man child, to sweep her away. … No serious student of prophesy then is surprised when Revelation 12:16 reports “And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” (Rev. 12:16)
“Thus, the rainbow promise was fulfilled.
“Let us turn now to Revelation, Chapter 10, verses 1 and 2. (Rev. 10:1,2)
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
“Note there that the angel sets his feet as pillars of fire, upon the sea and on the earth. These happen to be the primary and the secondary sources for all earthly life. Is the fire meant to consume these fundamentally held opinions about the evolutionary origin of man?
“John the Baptist tells us through Matthew’s text (3:12) that Jesus’ mission would inaugurate on earth a baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire. In the threshing imagery used, the Holy Ghost separates out the wheat; the unquenchable fire burns up the chaff. Since the Holy Ghost is so vividly identified with these effects, is it also to be identified with the focal Apocalyptic picture in Chapter 10:2 – namely the little book? …
“Jesus had told his disciples that the father would give another comforter, and he referred to this comforter as the Holy Ghost. Whatever the thought content of this little book, it has a major and exalted destiny just to measure up to the prominence of its Apocalyptic picture. What does this book have to say that will dissolve with fire the old and make way for the radically new? We know this is God’s purpose in Book of Revelation, for in next-to-last Chapter, Revelation 21, verse 5, “He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”
“Such a summary achievement allows for no exception, even traditional concepts concerning sea and earth must be consumed. Although long presumed to hold the secrets of the origin of life, they are doomed to diminish as a basis, as the little book takes effect.
“The Holy Ghost and fire represent God’s ultimate yes and no on every topic. The wheat remains; that is God’s “yes.” The chaff must be burned up either through the flames of self-destruction, or through the refining baptism of God’s Word; that is God’s “no.”
“John makes the right decision and sees ultimately a new earth and no more sea. What scriptural lessons in these Apocalyptic pictures? We learn that we don’t have to elect the plagues. The trumpets alarm should warn us away from a making that desperate choice.
“There is a scriptural way out – a new Exodus – the one Jesus discussed on the mount of transfiguration with pioneers who had ascended before him. The prerequisite for this new Exodus; however, is a new Genesis, for Jesus assures us, “No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven.” (John 3:13)
“Is this little book held by the angel to convey to mankind details of our heavenly Genesis. Are these details so radical that Jesus couldn’t even share them with his disciples?
“At the Last Supper he had told them “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear the now.” (John 16:12)
“Then he added, “this would be the mission of the Comforter.”
“When he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) He shall “teach you all things.” (John 14:26)
“Does this little book’s divine data hold the key to this new Genesis and this new Exodus for the human race? Before the earlier Exodus, God had said “I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.” (Ex. 23:20)
“This Angel is also associated in Exodus 14:19 with the pillar of cloud and fire which led and defended Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land.
“The angel of Revelation 10 is clothed in these symbols of cloud and fire. Has God sent his angel of a new Exodus before us to keep us in the way, to emancipate the race from what Shakespeare called “every ill [virus variant] the flesh is heir to”?
“Seven thunders try to drown out the words of the little book, just as seven seals tried to suppress the contents of the first book. This book, you may recall, is in Greek, “Biblia.” In Chapter 10, the Greek word is “Biblaridion.” (15:37) This diminutive form appearing uniquely in the tenth Chapter of Revelation connotes a book smaller than the one proclaimed by the first mighty angel.
“Is the emergence of the little book in prophesy one of the things Jesus told his disciples they could not bear now? But John tarried until Jesus came and then reported the revelation of Jesus Christ, including all he had to say about the coming of this little book.
“This is a watershed chapter in the Book of Revelation, for with the coming of the Biblaridion, there is simultaneously restored a strong sense of God’s control of events on earth as in heaven. …
“Did John take the little book? No. There is always that innate human preference for a handout, and John responds with “Give me the little book.” That requires less motion on our part and more on the angel’s…
“But, to take the word is only the first of the angel’s mandates; the second is to eat it up.
Revelation 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
“The initial taste, according to Revelation 10, verse 10, is as “sweet as honey.” The little book’s reasonings are sweet, apparently, and appeal to our native yearnings.
“The book obviously makes sound spiritual sense. The receptive taker finds no difficulty ingesting its message as if it were something he has always believed, but never dared to utter.
“The rub comes in Revelation 10, verse 10, the bitter after affects when we try to live God’s word. A Biblical listener and church member cannot just hear it, he must do it. He must take it from his credenda and put it on his agenda. (Webster Def “Credenda: doctrines to be believed: articles of faith.)
“James writes: “…Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)
“John is told a second time to take the little book out of the angel’s hand. Does that phrase “out of the angel’s hand” recall its use in Chapter 8? All effectual prayer is launched out of the angel’s hand. The parallel helps us to know the contents of the little book. Its chapters are the equivalent of prayers. Why not?
“Any concept in the grasp of a mighty angel would be linked to God and His infallible results. This little book has a universal application. Not just John must take it. And in Revelation 10, verse 11, John must prophesy again, not just to a peculiar people, but to many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
“Apocalyptic Pictures: Prophecy and Parody,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
“LET’S LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE OUR SEARCH FOR GOD—FOR SPIRITUAL GOOD—PRACTICAL AND NOT ABSTRACT.” (Kerry Jenkins, CS in her Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas (PYCL #4 on “OBSCURE, ABSTRACT, DARK”? (cit. S24/558:9-16)
[Kerry:] “One thing that keeps us from venturing out into the things of Spirit is that material things and material life seem so present, so practically “real”, and, often, pretty pleasant. Why should we look farther than what is presented to us in material life? If things really are pretty consistently great, there may not be a pressing need. But most of us feel the need for more than what matter presents, at some point.
“Here’s the thing, it is “to mortal sense” that spiritual things seem “obscure, etc.”. When we use spiritual discernment we notice the brilliance, joy, gratitude, interest, liveliness and so on of life. We feel more of life’s flavor and joy.
“…share this idea is through your own examples of overcoming the challenging limitations that living on the material surface has presented to you.” [Warren: In my inspirational talk for the May 1, 2022 Annual Meeting of Arden Wood, I have shared] “several examples that are relevant to this subject… This really must be a practical thing, or it truly will ring “obscure, abstract, and dark”…
Think back to Noah again. The demand by God to “build an ark” certainly must have seemed obscure to him, and it did to others. Are there things that we are being called on to do today that seem, on the surface, to be unnecessary–but are God-impelled? Let’s look for opportunities to make our search for God—for spiritual good—practical and not abstract.’
