10 Commandment Pledges to Keep + 8 Beatitude Mind-of-Christ Promises to live up to
Sunday, August 30th, 2020
By Warren Huff, now CedarS Executive Director Emeritus, St. Louis Missouri area
10 Commandment Pledges + 8 Beatitude Mind-of-Christ Promises to live up to. (click for online Downloads)
Spiritual Healing & Sunday School Teaching aids for the Commandments & Beatitudes (first for 2020 Zoom classes)
by Warren M. Huff, warren@cedarscamps.org • 314-378-2574 (text too)
Hopefully, you and your class will enjoy using my homemade teaching aids of a customized soccer ball & hula hoop. Feel free to make your own version of my 10 Commandments hula hoop & soccer ball… My pictured, dog-eared ones have been used by me as “Moses” on many visits to CedarS Bible Lands Park with countless CedarS groups as well as friends from many denominations to reject the Top 10 Temptations “going around” today to break the Commandments and to settle for lesser version of ourselves and of mankind. On the Downloadable pictures of the hoop & ball, right above each temptation going around the hula hoop, is a pledge written on a soccer ball to counteract that temptation so as to help you score your highest goals. Say each pledge aloud (or silently) to commit to keep each Commandment & fulfill your highest potential.
Tempting-to-accept lies “going around” these days that break the 10 Commandment (Download hula-hoop pics below online by #)
#1 When it’s hard to stop worrying (being ungrateful in advance)
“Flip the Script” by pledging to keep God’s 1st C. according to Jews (over)
#2 When obsessed with body worship & thinking most of things
“Flip the Script” by pledging to keep God’s 2nd C. according to Jews (over)
#3 When saying “OMG!” (“Oh, My God!”) out of habit
I will “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep God’s 3rd C. (on flip side)
#4 When I forget that everything’s already perfect now!
I’ll “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep God’s 4th C. (over)
#5 When tempted to disrespect authorities (police, politicians…)
I’ll “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep God’s 5th C. (over)
#6 When tempted to be angry, to put other down or to bully
I’ll “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep the 6th C. (over as stated by Jesus)
#7 When tempted to be dissatisfied and break promises…
I’ll “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep the 7th C. (over as stated by Jesus)
#8 When trying to GET good by taking what doesn’t belong to me
I’ll “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep the 8th C. (on flip side)
#9 When tempted to say (think) what’s not REALLY true of another or myself “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep the 9th C. (over)
#10 When feeling jealous of anyone’s possessions or accomplishments “Flip the Script” by pledging to keep the 10th C. (over)
CATCH (when small) all fables that WOULD HANDCUFF YOU TO A VERY LIMITED POTENTIAL by instead TAKING THESE PLEDGES to BE YOUR UNLIMITED, BEST SELF!
#1. I pledge to: Love God, good alone & celebrate examples of Love’s unfailing power whenever tempted to be worried!** (Worry is really just ingratitude in advance.)
#2. I pledge to: Quit thinking most on material things & bodies that’ll never be “up to the job” of being God.
#3. I pledge to: NOT say O.M.G. (Oh, My God!) unless praying to God, expecting quick results! (like CedarS fire-dosing downpour)
#4. I pledge to: Remember (give loving attention to) God’s Sabbath & work out from perfection, not up to it!
#5. I pledge to: Respect and obey all RIGHT authority figures and boundaries in my life.
#6. I pledge to: Refuse (re-fuse) to get angry, make fun of or put anyone down!
(Unchecked anger & “supposed superiority” need to be caught when little or they lead to killing as Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:21+)
#7. I pledge to: Seek deep satisfaction in all God’s given and keep my promises
(Unchecked looking with lust is adultery and leads to it… as Jesus tells us in Matt.5:27+)
#8. I pledge to: Stop trying to GET happiness & instead try to GIVE it! (“to impart truth, health and happiness… is… my reason for existing… …” My. 165)
#9. I pledge to: Stop saying what’s not REALLY true of others or myself (To bear true witness: “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God!”)
#10. I pledge to: Feel & say of others’ good “Thank You God! That’s Mine Too!
(T.Y.G.! T.M.T.! Is more powerful than T.N.T.! (And, that’s dynamite)
May this help guide your daily journeys to the “Promised Land” of best-yet version of yourselves. God’s kingdom is found right within each of us as we daily commit to gladly obey each Commandment and feel the harmonious wholeness (God’s kingdom) within that comes from expressing “the whole of man in His image and likeness.” [SH 340:9+, S5; Deut. 7:9, B2; Ex. 20:1+, B8; Mark 12:29+, B9]
BONUS RESOURCE! If you have a few minutes to watch short, video clips, all will likely love learning more about each Commandment by clicking on each red # below for animated, fun background on that Commandment offered by our son, Barry Huff, who is now a Bible professor at Principia College. As a grad student, Barry did this podcast series on The 10 Commandments for TMCYouth that’s still hosted at ChristianScience.com. His animated First Commandment of the series starts with https://www.christianscience.com/youth/resources-lists/sunday-school-teachers-teaching-resources/the-first-commandment-animated-tr Links to the rest of the series can be accessed by clicking on the red numbers here (and below)–ideally before first making each pledge:
#1. #2. #3. #4. #5. #6. #7. #8. #9. #10.
BEATITUDE PLEDGES
below in a 2-page DOWNLOADABLE PDF ONLINE AT https://cedarscamps.org/inspiration/article/gems/
Pledge to Bring the Beatitudes into your life as Bible Characters did when God Answered Prayers for them. [Live “A.P. Bible History” on CedarS “Time Travelers Trail” using Warren Huff’s pledges for the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12) & Larry Groce’s Beatitude song, written for CedarS]
(1) “Blessed are they who are free from pride. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Larry Groce]
- At the start of CedarS “Time Travelers Trail” at Abraham’s step, we review that Jesus said: “Before Abraham was I AM.” & “I of mine own self can do nothing.”
- A helpful acronym is “Q-T.I.P.” It stands for Quit Taking It Personally!
- Abram==>Abraham obediently left his comfort zone to find his growth zone.
- He gave his nephew LOT the first choice of land and offered radical Hospitality to strangers and so “entertained angels unawares.”
Repeat: “Like Abraham, Sarah and Hagar…, I pledge to be free enough from pride … to instantly and confidently obey God’s guidance … to leave behind my comfort zone and the merely material.”
(2) “Blessed are they who hurt inside and comfort to them be given.” [Larry Groce]
- In hiking the Patriarchs and Matriarchs timeline of the Bible, we review how: Abram and Sarai’s hopes for a child were disappointed and deferred for decades;
- How Jacob grieved over the lying message of the loss of his favorite son, Joseph;
- How Joseph was hurt by being sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned;
- And how all the above characters were given the comfort: of a long-awaited child; of the reversal of the “blundering dispatch” about Joseph’s death; and, of freedom to serve and save humanity and to bloom wherever one is planted.
Repeat: “Like Jacob, when hurt inside…, I pledge to wrestle with angels… and refuse to let them go until they bless me… Like Joseph, when hurt inside… I will refuse to be discouraged… and will “live to give” and to bless those around me…and so I too will be blessed and comforted.”
(3, 4) “Blessed are the patient, the kind and the meek.
If you look for goodness* you’ll find what you seek.” [Larry G] *hunger, thirst for righteousness
- At the Exodus platform on CedarS 1/4-mile, Bible-timeline trail, pause to appreciate how Moses learned patience (40 years in Egypt, 40 in Exile, 40 in the wilderness)
- In total meekness, Moses had to lean “on the sustaining infinite” to lead and feed the multitude as they journeyed for 40 years in the wilderness. (S&H vii:1)
- Speaking of the Ten Commandments given to Moses (that are still guideposts today), Geith Plimmer, CS said: “The kindest word in the English language is NO.” [Warren Huff adds: “What could be a more kind, healing, mental climate than to love God and our fellow man so that we have: NO worries; NO thinking most things that aren’t up to being worship; NO obsessive graven images; NO habitually saying “OMG” (unless praying); NO forgetting about the present perfection of God’s creation (the Sabbath); NO disrespect for right authority; NO anger, put-downs or killing; NO lust or adultery; NO stealing; NO saying or thinking what’s not true; NO jealousy. (Exodus 20)
- “Moses was very meek, above all…” (Number 12:3) And, Jesus said “I of mine own self do nothing.” (John 5:30) before healing and solving every problem known to mankind.
Repeat: “Like Moses, I pledge to be patient… even when my freedom or another’s seems a long time coming … I will “hunger and thirst” for right and for meekness … in all that I say and do … and so enter into the Promised Land I seek.”
(5) “Blessed are they who are quick to forgive. They too, will be forgiven.” [Larry Groce]
- At the United Monarchy platform on CedarS 1/4-mile, Bible-timeline trail, pause to appreciate how Abigail changed the course of history by quickly persuading David to forgive her rude husband, Nabal.
- Learn how a penitent David was forgiven, not only for his adultery with Bathsheba, but also for the premeditated murder of her soldier husband, Uriah.
Repeat: “Like David, when I’m offended… by another’s rudeness and disrespect… I too will quickly be forgiving … and I too will be forgiven my shortcomings.
(6) “Blessed are they who are pure in heart, Children who walk in the light.” [Larry Groce]
- Walk the Talk! Daniel 1-3 – Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (and Daniel) refused to defile themselves with the king’s food & drink (Dan. 1:9) or to bow down to his graven image or music, so they (and the king) saw the Christ with them in the burning fiery furnace where only their bonds were burned and no smell of smoke was left on them. (Dan. 3)
Repeat: “Like Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego…when I’m surrounded by pressure to bow down to matter… and to worship its idols…I pledge to remain pure in heart… Like them when persecuted…I will be able to walk in the light of Christ…knowing that only my bonds will be burned … and that no ill effects, or even bad memories, will follow.
(7) “Blessed are the peacemakers in this world, they win without a fight.” [Larry Groce]
With respect, creativity, firmness in the right, and confidence in Love, peacemakers win without a fight!
- “Understanding the control that Love holds over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.” (S&H 514)
- See Daniel’s calm trust in the lion’s den as shown in Briton Riviere prints
Repeat: “Like Daniel, when I’m surrounded by strife and seeming enemies … I pledge to win without a fight… by “understanding the control that Love holds over all” … and by ‘think(ing) without strife.’” (a motto from the CedarS song)
(8) “If you follow Christ and try to live his way, you’ll be persecuted (or challenged) like the prophets in their day. But rejoice, be glad, wipe your tears away, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.” [Larry Groce]
- A Mary Baker Eddy Motto: “Do right & Fear not!” …
- “even if it’s not popular thing to do” – CedarS Torchbearer Pledge
- It’s our turn in history to carry on the tradition of rejoicing “all the rugged way” because we know how it ends and that good always wins! (CS Hymnal 304)
Repeat: “Like Jesus in the Garden of “Gethsemane” … I pledge to bravely forgive & love my enemies like he did with … “love, meeting no response…but still remaining love.” (SH 586)
