Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of how there’s truly no power but of God.

Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of how there’s truly no power but of God.
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on

 “Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?”

for June 19, 2022

• Ken’s YouTube poem, “When the Oil Flows”, tells the inspiring story of a woman in distress who turns to God.

• The poem “Under His Shadow!” tells how Jesus calmed the storm on the Galilean Sea.
• The monologue “The Leper Cleansed” traces his thoughts, his storm, and desire to turn to Jesus, to seek out the Christ.

[Ken writes:] “In broad terms, when one is asked a question, the expected answer may be brief, – “Yes” or “No”, or an invitation to debate. Our weekly lesson sermons have two subjects which are questions, “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” and as in this week’s lesson “Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?”. The simple and factual answer to both is “NO!”. On this subject, any debate is necessarily one sided, for as the Golden Text states “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1 there). The rest of the Lesson builds on Bible stories, revelations, that confirm we should say “NO!” They offer us the proof of healing that is ongoing ever now, for what is true in the kingdom of heaven has always been true. There is no other kingdom, no other God, no other power. Error would tempt us with the debate of duality, but there is only one God. The instant dismissal of error is followed by the instant affirmation of God’s ALLNESS. Eve listened and was taken in, Jesus was tempted, but rejected “Satan” for evermore and proved for us all the NOW and IMMEDIACY of One God:

“All that is great, powerful, glorious, victorious, and majestic, is Yours, O God. Everything belongs to You. It is all in Your eternal kingdom. And You are its Supreme Ruler!” (Responsive Reading, 1 Chronicles 29:11 combined translations). The Supreme Ruler is in control of everything, “Infinite Mind creates and governs all, from the mental molecule to infinity” (SH citation S2, 507:24-25). This IMMEDIACY OF GOOD is demonstrated in the three poems that follow…

In Section 2 we have the inspiring story of a woman in distress who turns to God, described in my poem “When the Oil Flows”, read by Sue. This dear woman was newly widowed, but she had not only lost her husband, but was about to lose her two sons, needing to pay off the creditors while no doubt remaining in debt.  The material picture was bleak, hopeless, dark. But she intuitively turned to Elisha the prophet, “a spiritual see[er] and k[now]er”, he whom her husband had served. Elisha did not drop down to her level of despair; that is not what he saw. Rather he started with what, in her eyes, she had, a “single pot of oil”, and made her recognise that with God there is no limitation because, unlike so-called atomic force, – the belief in materiality, infinity has no limits. One idea, necessarily good, has infinite representation.

One can imagine the intrigue of her neighbours as they were asked by her sons to lend any empty vessels they may have! But can we not ask ourselves the same question! How many empty thoughts am we harbouring? Is my cupboard also bare? Am I too seeing a lack of matter as conditional to my present well-being, or KNOWING THE ABUNDANCE OF GOOD IS MY EVER STANDARD? Would we at any point have said, – OK that’s enough vessels, we have sufficient, or do we not rather keep seeking, leaving the supply to God and not our own judgment, for God is providing us with super-abundance, – overflowing good, and not mere adequacy! (When Jesus turned the water into wine, the wine was not just adequate, it was the best for the occasion, – that is how Divine Love provides). Atomic force deals with limitation. God only knows infinity, infinite good, and that is what we express and reflect. That is also our active expression of CHURCH “The structure of Truth and Love” (SH  583:12). Love can only give the best for that is all that Love knows, meeting each need as best fits.

So, her faith was rewarded. The unreality and darkness of limitation was exposed, denied, and touched her no more. When we recognise God as our supply, there is literally nothing to limit what He gives! As the poem concludes “He is All I’ve got.”  There is nothing else to have! Her faith was rewarded, not as a temporary measure but for all she ever needed. So, we have all we ever need…

 She showed what happens when the oil flows: “OIL: Consecration; charity, gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.”  S&H, 592:25.

Section 3 has the narrative story of Jesus calming the storm. My poem “Under His Shadow!” (from Mark) paints the picture of the disciples launching forth onto the Galilean Sea after an inspiring day spent with Jesus and the multitudes that followed him. The peace and tranquillity were suddenly rocked by a storm that came from nowhere and threatened their lives! It made them doubt all they had been taught! They too went through bleakness and despair, and for them they also had someone they could turn too, – Jesus the Christ. Yet they still did doubt! “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 13:48 Master) Or in our own fears, – “Dear God aren’t You listening!!”. In the monologue, the response of Jesus was instant. The calming effect immediate. When we are touched by the Christ, all fear goes, and trust becomes confidence. For all the storms that we may face, however severe, they can all be met with Jesus’ words of authority, “Peace, be still”, and the calm and presence of The Word is felt and witnessed.  Despite the material evidence, Jesus was never rocked, for he always knew. In my monologue are the words “We looked at each other, hearts racing with fear of a different kind. It was as though the storm had never been.”  This Truth removes all error.

The monologue finishes with Jesus saying: “…nothing shall be impossible unto you” for nothing is impossible to God, the source of our reflection, nothing is outside the embrace and care of infinite Love.

The storm had no history, no beginning, for the beginning of everything, of us, was and is, not atomic force, but Spiritual Life, the ever and always of I AM THAT I AM.

The Annual Meeting noted that we are all built upon the rock of Christ, and this led to a very appropriate reference: “Thus founded upon the rock of Christ, when storm and tempest beat against this sure foundation, you, safely sheltered in the strong tower of hope, faith, and Love, are God’s nestlings; and He will hide you in His feathers till the storm has passed.
(Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 152:22–26). The hymn “We are hid with Christ for ever” (Hymn 370) continues “in the Father’s holy plan”. The abundance of our Father-Mother’s pure Love is goodness that covers everything, removing the effects of any seeming storm.

In Section 4 we have the story of “The Leper Cleansed”. The monologue traces his thoughts, his storm, and desire to turn to Jesus, to seek out the Christ. In humility he knelt before him: “if thou wilt thou canst make me clean”. The outpouring of Love, like the outpouring of oil, washed over the man with full compassion, and here too the purity and light of Love removed the darkness: “I (Love) will: be thou clean (what you already are)”. The light of understanding doesn’t struggle to remove the darkness, – there was no effort, fighting for dominance. “No power can withstand divine Love” (citation S19, 224:31) When nothingness is realised, its nothing is immediate.

“Transformed in the moment of his tender touch, transformed indeed for me to touch with my deepest thoughts a life eternal, a life at one with God, at one with Spirit, in which evil and disease have no power, no existence. The stunning thought, – God really is my Father! Our Father!”

IS THE UNIVERSE, INCLUDING MAN, EVOLVED BY ATOMIC FORCE? – NO!

 IS EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS THE CREATION OF ONE FATHER-MOTHER GOD? FOREVER YES!

[Ken:] Copies of my poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS POETIC POSTLUDE to this week’s Bible Lesson.  The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry.  All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry.

A copy of my combined translations is available for those who may be interested. They have been collated over several years from BibleGateway translations, taking the best from the many translations provided, and seeking further inspiration from Christian Science in their compilation. They cover over a thousand Bible verses, taken from both the BibleGateway verses for the day, and from the Weekly lessons. Reading all verses from any one book is insightful and motivating. Shared with love.

Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.