Enjoy REALITY GEMs of God’s forever-Nowness & Nearness NOW!
GEMs = God Expressed Meekly/Mightily in you to sparkle brightly with insights of “what to say No! to” &”what to say TES! to”/last GEM
from Cobbey Crisler & others as inspired by God and
The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“REALITY”
for Sunday, September 24, 2023
(Cobbey’s insights are shared with the blessing of Janet Crisler janetcrisler7@gmail.com)
by Warren Huff, CedarS Executive Director Emeritus, warren@cedarscamps• 314-378-2574
The Golden Text presents the lesson theme from II Corinthians 6:2,
“… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
[Warren:] Mary Baker Eddy highlights the importance of living in the now and “the power to act in the living present” in her May 30, 1903 Christian Science Sentinel article called “Then and Now” (My. 12:15- 14:9)
In this week’s Bible Lesson she quotes Paul’s verse from the Golden Text/II Corinthians 6:2: “Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation,” said Paul.” (cit. S18/93:7). In the very next citation she quotes this classic Pauline theology of nowness and amplifies its meaningful applications, “… … meaning, not that now men must prepare for a future-world salvation, or safety, but that now is the time in which to experience that salvation in spirit and in life. Now is the time for so-called material pains and material pleasures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible in Science.” (cit. S19/39:19–25) Sprinkled throughout the Lesson, there are many pithy passages exhorting living in the NOW, including the Goldarn Text repeated again in Section 6 as citation B25. Other Section 6 passages amplify the crescendo of this powerful theme as seen by St. John in Revelation, chapters 21 and 12 (Bible citations B23 & B24 as well as in Science & Health citations S28/568:26-30 and S27/573:3-5, 13-27, 31. These quotes come from the chapter of her Christian Science textbook called “The Apocalypse” in which she writes a detailed exegesis of the book of Revelation. Relative to our nowness theme Mary Baker Eddy interprets the forever relevance of John’s vision “… in this present state of existence, — that we can become conscious, here and now, of a cessation of death, sorrow, and pain. …This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.” (See more insights transcribed from Cobbey Crisler’s talks on Revelation as the final GEMs.)
The Responsive Reading identifies the importance of being “all-in!” for loving and living the 10 Commandments: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” (Ps. 119:34, 35/Responsive Reading).
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FRISBEE COMMANDMENTS with a spiritual spin to help you soar!
PRAY FOR GOD TO OPEN YOUR EYES TO REALITY & PERSIST TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU! [Warren on a link from the Responsive Reading/Ps. 119:18 “Open thou mine eyes…” to Elisha’s version of it in 2nd Kings 6:8+]
[Warren:] Elisha prayed that his servant Gehazi could see God’s presence and power right with them. “LORD, I pray thee, OPEN HIS EYES, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17, caps added) As Lindsey and John Biggs, CS, wrote in Section 1 of this week’s CedarS Metaphysical application ideas: “What a beautiful, compassionate prayer. Elisha was already seeing the power of God and he knew his servant just needed a little help seeing clearly – spiritually discerning – the love of God that was surrounding them.”
[For more about Elisha’s demonstrated identity as a helpful, “spiritual seer” check out his insights that protected the king of Israel “not once, nor twice” see 2nd Kings 6:8+ (and Science & Health 593:4). And in the rest of this instructive story (2nd Kings 6:18-23) you can see how the eyes of your seeming enemies can be closed until you can graciously lead and feed them so that strife come(s) “no more.”
A poem inspired by this story called “Vision” by Elizabeth Glass Barlow was published in the December 17, 1969 issue of The Christian Science Sentinel.
(This poem, with musical composition by Desiree Goyette has also made it into our latest Hymnal as Hymn #527 as noted below.*)
DECEMBER 17, 1960 ISSUE
VISION
II Kings 6:15–17
Elizabeth Glass Barlow
“Lord, … open his eyes, that he may see,”
The mighty prophet prayed.
Send not armies great and strong,
Neither strength to battle wrong,
But lift his vision to behold
Thy truth already here,
The legions of omnipotence,
The hosts of Thy deliverance.
Awake, O man, and know
Love’s all-embracing sphere.
Lord, open my eyes that I may see
Thy presence everywhere,
My dwelling circled by Thy might,
My mountaintop aflame with light,
The shining sentinels of Thy love
Triumphant in this hour.
For Thou with me art greater far
Than all the seeming evils are.
Be still, O heart, and trust
His omnipresent power.”
*A CedarS mother, staff member, and regular Sunday evening Hymn Sing leader,
Desiree Goyette, wrote a wonderful musical setting of this inspiring poem that is often requested as a favorite hymn (Hymn 527) at CedarS Hymn Sings.
Here’s to letting you see and sing its healing message in your life!
*P.S. DESIREE WILL LEAD THE NEXT CEDARS VIRTUAL HYMN SING ON OCTOBER 1st!
APPLICATION Ideas for ALL ATHLETES and other DOERS!
SEE ALL YOU DO AS FLOWING WITH DIVINELY-PERFECT PLACEMENT AND TIMING – FOR GOD’S GLORY!
“It is God that… makes my way perfect.” Ps. 18:32) “…as in heaven, so on earth”– (SH 17:2)
An Answered Prayer (A.P.) History application of Eccl. 3:14/citation B3 will work for you!
[Warren Huff, now CedarS Executive Director Emeritus:] When CedarS current Executive Director, our daughter, Holly Huff (now Bruland), was on the Principia Upper School basketball team they made it into the district semi-final tournament. They were up against a highly-favored Orchard Farm team that featured a very tall, dominate post player.
During Principia’s team prayer session before this game Holly shared one application idea from the Bible lesson that we/she had been trying to apply to her three-point shooting. She also shared another idea about Jesus’ knowing the thoughts of his opponents that she was hoping to demonstrate to a greater degree in her defensive work and in knowing when to pass and shoot in her work as a point and/or shooting guard.
The Spiritual Application idea that relates to shooting appears again in this week’s Bible Lesson
as citation B1 from Ecclesiastes 3:14: “whatsoever God doeth shall be forever…”
- (It goes on…) “nothing can be put to it,”—as in an “air-ball” (or a short) shot would need to have more “put to it” to score —
- “nor any thing taken from it”—as in a “brick” (or a too long, volleyball spike out of bounds) that would need to have something “taken from it” to make it count.
The key to shooting such a perfect, “nothing-but-net” shot in basketball (soccer …) is to make sure that it is “whatsoever God” is doing— to acknowledge it is being done through God and for His/Her glory.
The other Spiritual Application idea had to do with each player’s reflected right to have and to follow “all-knowing” Mind’s intuitions. This was “seeking first the kingdom of God” and some of the many “added-unto” blessings that followed would be both seeing and making perfect passes as well as anticipating and intercepting passes made by your opponent’ to score against you. This application idea was based on a Bible story in the Lesson in which “Jesus knew their thoughts”. [This is from Matthew 9:4 where Jesus’ prayer detected and rejected the opposing elements in thought before he healed the paralyzed man.]
With just 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter of this District Basketball Tournament, Principia, as the “Cinderella” or “David team” against the “Goliath team,” was trailing by 12 points. Coach Norm Purdy called a time-out and reaffirmed those application ideas as they applied to having a strong finish for this game and the season – all of it for the glory of God.
When these inspired young women came back out on the court, it was like a different game. Principia players anticipated pass after pass from their opponents to make great steals, passes to open teammates and lay-ups. And the girls launched a flawless series of perfect three-point shots. As the clock clicked down to the final buzzer, “Prin” was still down by two points. The play that had been drawn-up wasn’t open. So, Holly had to “put up a prayer” from well beyond the three-point arc. Just as the buzzer went off it “swished” through the net – all for God’s glory—all as part of “whatsoever God” was doing. With that amazing 1-point win, Principia advanced to the district championship.
Thanks be to God for every time you feel a foretaste of “a new heaven and a new earth” in a divinely flowing rhythm with perfectly accurate anticipation, timing and execution of “whatsoever God is doing” through YOU—all for His/Her glory! (Rev. 21:1, 3, 4; SH 91; 573:29)
As this citation B1 continues it connects id with proving examples of past proofs of Bible-based demonstration as ours to prove NOW: “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.” (Ecclesiastes 3:15) This means to me that each of us can claim as our own that the truths of this past experience are ours to have fun proving NOW.
WHAT GOD KNOWS OF YOU, YOU KNOW OF YOURSELF AND OF OTHERS! Cobbey on I Corinthians 13:12 (cit. B2) “see face to face”
[Cobbey Crisler:] Verse 12. Seeing “face to face” is a mental thing…
“then I shall know even as I am known…” What God know of us, we know of ourselves and others…
[Transcribed from notes from Cobbey taken in the margin of Warren’s Bible]
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ORIGIN AS THE DOMINION MAN CLIMAX OF SPIRIT’S, MENTAL MODEL CREATION — AS SPIRIT’S VERY GOOD IMAGE AND LIKENESS
transcribed by W. in notes on Cobbey’s talks on Genesis 1 & start of Gen. 2 (citations B4/B5):
[Cobbey Crisler:] “Any lack of originality is only a lack of knowledge about your true origin.”
Compare the development of any right idea in business or otherwise to the mental model of creation in Genesis 1 and the start of Genesis 2 (cits. B4 & B5):
Verse 3 = the dawning of the light or idea
Verses 4-6 = the analysis (compare and divide as on the first day)
Verses 7-10 = the decisive, solid manifestation of the idea (dry land appears)
Verses 11-12 = investment in the idea and its productivity
Verse 13 = exposing the idea to light universally, marketing it
Verse 14-31 = diversification (lights for seasons, living creatures multiplying, male & female)
Verse 2:1-5 = rest (not inertia, but success of the idea and its continuing yield)
(Transcribed from notes taken by Warren Huff during several Cobbey Crisler talks from the margins of W’s Bible.)
ASK GOD for HEALING, SIFT THOUGHT to FIND YOURSELF NOT GUILTY OF INCURABILITY! Sift plus & minus thoughts for 100% precious peace, 0% vile division!
Cobbey Crisler on Jeremiah 17:14+/cit. B6:
[Cobbey:] “17th Chapter of Jeremiah, Verse 14, “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.” There’s Jeremiah’s prayer. “Save me and I shall be saved.” (Jeremiah 17:14/cit. B6) The Anchor Bible points out that the word “salvation” as used in the Old Testament is often used in terms of a not-guilty verdict in court. Salvation is often used in the Old Testament in terms that we would understand today as a not-guilty verdict in court.
The salvation of man would eventually include a verdict of not-guilty, or innocent. This is, of course, the entire theme of Job, his guilt or innocence.
[More from Cobbey:] “In Verse 15, “Why do you cry for your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable.” Why? [Voice: “The multitude of your iniquity.”] That’s all. Just because of “the multitude of your iniquity.” There is the Bible definition of an incurable disease. It’s just up to us whether it’s incurable or not. Our outlook, our comprehension, and what we are going to do about the iniquity aspect of it. [W: In Exodus 4:1-8/citation B4 last week,] Moses was shown that man has just as much dominion over the serpent, symbolizing iniquity, as over the leprosy on his hand [symbolizing disease].
[More from Cobbey:] “Verse 17 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.”
“Jeremiah 15:18 asks, “Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable?” Look at the prescription in Verse 19 “If you return, then will I bring thee again, [and] you will stand before me.” Look at this for a mental sifting of plus and minus. “If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth.” How much do you and I reflect or image forth God’s mouth or words? Remember what James [3.10] says, “Out of the same mouth proceedeth both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” That’s what James wrote in his epistle. Notice the control of thought and therefore, our communication here. If we take forth the precious from the vile, we will be more like God now. If we want the word to become flesh, we must conform to what that word is. It’s indivisible. It does not have part precious and part vile in it, nor should man.”
“Heal the Sick: A Scriptural Record,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
BE GOD’S DECKED WITH MAJESTY IMAGE! Cobbey on Job 40:10 (cit. B9)
[Cobbey Crisler:] “In Job 40:10 look at that beautiful requirement of manhood. Remember where Job is, his clothes stuck to him, months of agony, the boils from head to toe, and God saying, “Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency and array thyself with glory and beauty.“ What else could characterize the appearance of the image of God? What was God saying about the disease? Had he sent it? Is that what’s his image was, “Deck thyself now (with) majesty and excellency.”
“The Case of Job,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
LIKE JOB, HOLD OUT TO SEE THE EVIDENCE OF GOD’S BEING PRESENT IS IN HEALING.
Cobbey Crisler on Job 42:2-5/cit. B10
[Cobbey:] “Now, back to the last chapter of Job and we’ll see what occurs (there).
“In Job 42:2 Job says, “I know that you can do every (thing) and that no thought can be withholden from thee.”
“Job 2:5 says, “I’ve heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now,” Guess what? “My eye sees You.” Not just a rumor that God is around, but what else? (Voice: “The healing.”). The evidence of God’s being present is in his healing.”
“The Case of Job,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
LIKE JESUS, PUT ALL ASIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF HEALING, AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CHURCH!
Cobbey Crisler on Mark’s version of Peter’s mother-in-law’s healing (Mark 1:29-31/citation B11)
[Cobbey:] Jesus “comes out of the synagogue.” He’s just established healing as part of his definition of the church. Healing as a regular activity of the church. If we are not witnessing healings, we are not fully within Jesus’ definition of his church. Coming out of the synagogue, he goes to Simon Peter and Andrew’s house, one which has apparently been discovered by archeologists in Capernaum.
Verse 30. “Simon’s mother-in-law.” You have to be married to have a mother-in-law, “sick of a fever.
Verse 31. Notice the church’s healing activity is not confined to the four walls we call synagogue or church. That same healing aspect of the ever-presence of God comes into the humble home of Peter and Andrew, “healing Peter’s mother-in-law.”
“What Mark Recorded,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
BONUS OF MATTHEW’S VERSION OF JESUS HEALING PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE FLU.
He put aside all for the priority of healing. Cobbey Crisler on Matt 8:14-16.
[Cobbey:] “(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 virus —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**
BONUS OF LUKE’s version: Like Jesus, stick with the only real power, the power of the Spirit!
Cobbey Crisler on Luke 4:14
“Luke indicates that he understands that this Jesus’ period of temptations in the wilderness has been a power test for Jesus. 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.]
We find that Jesus’ radical challenge to the human mind is such that this devil is absolutely removed from his mentality, shown never to have been a part of it. Normalcy, dignity of manhood, are restored.
No one had witnessed such authority before, where the word is followed by the deed. Just like creation where God said (in Genesis 1:3), “Let there be, and there was.” There is no lapse between promise and fulfillment from God’s point of view. Breathing in the Holy Ghost is our way of imaging forth God’s authority on-earth-as-in-heaven, imaging forth that “Let there be Light.”
“Let there be health is our breathing in the divine fact that the Holy Ghost is inspiring us to feel. Our utilization of that fact is like our breathing out, giving out what we’ve taken in. It becomes “and there was light” or health. Just as natural as that. Breathing in, “Let there be,” and breathing out, “and there was.”
(in Verse 38) The next healing is Simon’s mother-in-law. We see Luke’s very tender approach to womanhood. In fact, of all the gospels, Luke makes an even greater emphasis on the subject of womanhood’s role and place. You see Jesus’ great care for Simon’s mother-in-law, and her need for healing. … After all, women in his day were not all that important. And, Jesus probably had much more significant things to do and to tell the male disciples, and we could get around to the mother-in-law later, even if she was suffering from fever.
BUT, the minute Jesus heard that, he went directly to that woman’s bedside and he eliminated that sense of fever. He did it without medication, without manipulation, without surgery. Does it relate back to what Jesus himself indicated was his remedy in his opening words, “Repent,” changing one’s concept? Does it transform our body? Immediately she arose” (Verse 39), no recuperation necessary.
ACCEPT CHRIST’S ABILITY TO BRING THE SAME HEALING AIR TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME.
[Cobbey:] “In Luke 4, Verse 40 as healing increases, we find that many healings occur, especially around the Sea of Galilee. Is it any more difficult for Jesus to heal collectively than it is individually? It doesn’t seem to take much more time, does it?
Who does Jesus say is responsible for the healing? If God is responsible for the healing, does He love all His creation as instantly as he loves each individual part of His creation? Can that love reach collectively? Is it present collectively? If that’s the basis for Jesus healing, then we see that healing a multitude was just as normal and natural as breathing, and as healing an individual.
What is the atmosphere there? If the Holy Ghost is there, then we all can breathe that same air simultaneously.
The healings were apparently permanent. There was no standing in line. Jesus didn’t say, “All right, all the ears, eye, nose, and throat people over here.” He didn’t deal with them as a specialist would deal with them. He dealt with them as a general practitioner, as if he could be consulted and he could join with others in prayer and to be at-one with God, whether it was one individual or hundreds or thousands. Remember, he fed thousands from that same point of view.”
“Book of Luke: Luke the Researcher,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
LET’S “LOVE INTO VIEW” & LEAN ON OUR PROMISED COMFORTER/ “DEFENSE ATTORNEY” TO USHER IN EVEN “GREATER WORKS” FOR ALL MANKIND!
Cobbey Crisler on John 14:12-17 (citation B13+ prelude & postlude)
[Cobbey:] “There are greater works, the ultimatum of the application of what Jesus had introduced to earth. So, when he’s talking about greater works being done, through what agency will these greater works come? We find the Comforter is introduced.
“In John 14:12 Jesus makes a prophesy. He makes a prophesy in impersonal terms… “There are greater works, the ultimatum of the application of what Jesus had introduced to earth. So, when he’s talking about greater works being done, through what agency will these greater works come? We find the Comforter is introduced.
John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter.”
[Cobbey continued:] “We should know enough about prophesy and have enough respect to realize that most of the prophets in the Bible, including Jesus, had a tremendous regard for prophesy. They knew that it had come from God, not from man. Similarly, we should know how to recognize the Comforter when the Comforter arrives… The word “comforter” is parakletos, sometimes called paraclete… translated “comforter” given by our King James Version. You will find, however, that The New English Bible does not use “comforter.” It uses “advocate.” You’ll also find that I John uses parakletos and the King James translator of that uses “advocate.”
“We should know that the word “advocate” is a technical word legally. It specifically means “defense attorney.” That has a lot of implications to it. By contrast the name “Satan” in Hebrew is a technical term for “prosecuting attorney.” There you have the battle joined in thought.
“The Comforter is to come and defend man. We can see all the ways that Jesus had introduced various defenses for man…
John 14:16, “that he may abide with you for ever.” Is there a provision for a third revelation? The Comforter is apparently the final one.
“John 14:17, “the Spirit of Truth.” Notice how that counters Jesus’ definition of the “devil.” What did he say about the truth? It was the recipe for freedom (John 3:8). So, it’s got something to do with that. But there is also a communications problem. The world “cannot receive.” It’s not going to be a popular arrival. “It doesn’t see him or know him.”
“But, we will know, “because it’s within.”
“John 14:26 picks up the description. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost.” There’s another part of the list, identified with the Holy Ghost in Luke 3:22, the dove descending is the symbol of it. The words “dove” and “ghost” are feminine in the Greek, and the comfort aspect also introduces the feminine concept.
“The role of the Comforter “will be sent by God in my name.” If one were to regard that literally, the Comforter’s name should at least have some recognizable aspect either relating to Jesus or to Christ. Another aspect of the Comforter is “he will teach you all things.”
“The role of teaching what? Is anything left out? “All things.” And at the same time, “it will bring everything back to human memory that Jesus said.”
“Book of John: A Walk with the Beloved Disciple”, by B. Cobbey Crisler**
“WE’VE ALL BEEN AWARE THAT THERE’S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ‘GREATER WORKS’… COLLECTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS…IN GOVERNMENTS… NATIONS… THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM …THE TOUCH OF THE COMFORTER’S MINISTRIES OF DIVINE LOVE”? Christine Irby Williams on “greater works…” (cit. B15, John 14:12+)
[Warren:] Christine Irby Williams nicely tackled the tough question of what works could possibly be greater than what Jesus did in a wonderful precamp inspirational talk to CedarS staff in May 2013 as well as part of an inspirational address for the Christian Science Nurses conference at CedarS in September. [CedarS was delighted to again host over 120 C.S. Nurses from all over the world during the first week of September 2019 and to be hosting another such gathering in 2025.]
[Christine Irby Williams in a May 2013 CedarS Precamp inspirational talk said, in part:]
“Have you ever wondered what in the world Jesus meant by greater works? It does sound a little daunting. We read almost every week in the Bible Lesson something such as Jesus “went about…healing ALL manner of sickness and ALL manner of disease among the people.” He fed 5,000 men plus women and children with what had appeared to everyone else as a few loaves and fishes. He walked on water and suspended time and space. He raised to life a child who appeared to have just passed away, a young man who was on his way to be buried, and Lazarus, who had been in the grave four days already. And then, of course, he raised himself after the crucifixion, and he ascended. So, what could possibly be greater than any, much less all, of that? I’ve often wondered, and I’m still pondering his promise…
“There has been one particular area in which it’s likely that we’ve all been aware that there is plenty of room for “greater works,” and that is working together, or what might be called collective demonstration: in families, church work, any kind of organizational work—in a church context or otherwise, in neighborhoods, in governments of all sizes, in nations, among the people, and in the world at large. Would you agree with me that these are areas that could benefit from the light of Truth, the touch of the Comforter—the healing and saving ministries of divine Love? Might we be so bold as to think about tackling the environment? World peace? World hunger? If not, why not? If so, let’s get on with it! Let us “then up and be doing,” as our Hymn [#18] says!”
Christine shared more inspiration on this & other topics at the 2012 Fern Lodge Annual Meeting. First posted in Warren’s Met on “Christian Science” for 12-29-13
DELIGHT TODAY IN GEMS OF BIBLICAL THERAPY AND ITS HEALING TREE, fed by inspired Prayer Watch “channels of thought!” [Science and Health, p. 593:14 definition of RIVER]
“My prayer some daily good to do to Thine, for Thee; An offering pure of Love, whereto God leadeth me.” Hymn 257
Insights from Cobbey Crisler on Psalm 1:1, 2 and 3/cit. B17
[CC:] “The very opening Psalm sets the tone for the entire psalter [or book of psalms]… We’re told right away that happiness, certainly an objective of all of us*, is the result if a man DOESN”T do certain things and DOES do other things…
[W:] What NOT to do— [CC on Ps. 1:1:] “Don’t follow the advice of the ungodly… the morally wrong… Don’t sit in the seat of those who deride or mock. [W: as if putting down others would benefit oneself politically.] Getting rid of that is the purgative [W: or purging part of the cure or medicine] …
[W:] What TO do— [CC on Ps. 1:2:] “What do we take, then as the restorative “medicine?” [W: or the invigorating part of a stimulus package for a return to health.] [CC:] “His delight in [W: or his pursuit of happiness] is in what?… “Meditation day and night in God’s law.” [Psalm 1:2] His teaching.”
[CC on Ps. 1:3] “Then, the tree appears in Verse 3, “that tree that brings forth fruit in his season with the leaf that will not wither or fade.” That tree is mentioned later in Ezekiel [47:12]…
Of course, we find the whole idea expanding when we reach that tree in the last chapter of the Bible. That tree has grown in our thought too. Its grand root has been fed by the rivers of spiritual inspiration.” …
[CC:] “That fruit is fair. It’s never consumed. Its leaf is for medicine. The leaves of the tree may include prescriptions from the Psalms that we will be focusing on.”
“Leaves of the Tree: Prescriptions from Psalms,” by B. Cobbey Crisler
REJOICE THAT YOUR UNCHANGEABLE GOD’S TIME IS NOW TO REVERSE THE CURSE & POUR-OUT BLESSINGS!
Cobbey Crisler on Malachi 3:6 (cit. B18) plus bonus verses 10-12
Malachi 3:6/cit. B18 “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”
[W: James describes God as our “Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”(James 1:7) What a blessing to have consistently reliable laws of God that can be scientifically proven time after time.]
Malachi 3: Verse 10 The blessing that God promises in verse 10— to “pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”— is what God says to the lie “it is enough”. The deluge is to show the infinite supply that is able to pour through you. [No blessing will be held back.] The deluge is to show the infinite supply that is able to pour through you.
Verse 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, for he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” This promises that God’s time is now; our grateful acknowledgement of that is essential.
Verse 12 “And all nations shall call you blessed” (praise you—creative ideas); for ye shall be a delightsome land” (empty or devoid of fear, inertia).
Comments from B. Cobbey Crisler as recorded in Warren Huff’s Oxford wide-margin Bible
DO THE ASSIGNMENTS JESUS KNEW WE DISCIPLES WERE CAPABLE OF DOING WHEN HE ASSIGNED THEM TO US! Cobbey Crisler on Matt 10:8/cit. B21
“Heal the sick!” – Jesus’ “imperative commands” summarized by Mary Baker Eddy (SH 37:25)
- [Cobbey Crisler on Matthew 5, Verse 7, 8].
“Say,” Look at the first words there to Is that a coincidence, or is that essential? Where have we run into that statement before? “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Who said it? It was Jesus’ first statement (Matthew 4:17) after “Repent.”
The assignments given to the disciples would not be assignments they were incapable of doing, or Jesus would have been unwise.
(Matt. 10: 8/cit. B21). 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.”
“Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master: A Tax-Collectors Report,” B. Cobbey Crisler**
EMBRACE UNDEFILED, SUPREMELY HAPPY WHOLENESS in the HOLY CITY, AND WITHIN YOU!
Cobbey on related text from Revelation 21+, cit. B23 AND
Mary Baker Eddy’s exegesis of “The Apocalypse” in Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, pages 568/cit. S28 thru page 573+/cit. S27
[Cobbey Crisler:] “Revelation 21 (and 22) … We’ve seen it in previous Scripture but we find that it is the chosen Scriptural summary, the peak, the ultimate, and Jesus is associated with it. How much purer could Scripture be, coming from God through Jesus to John to us? And John saw that “new heaven and new earth” (Revelation 21:1/prelude to cit. B23)
[Warren: We’re told that “this New Jerusalem…– reached St. John’s vision while yet he tabernacled with mortals.” (SH p. 576:3) Mary Baker Eddy amplifies this insight, “The Revelator had not yet passed the transitional stage in human experience called death, but he already saw a new heaven and a new earth.” 572:23 – 25, near citation S27/573:3+)
[W.} And in another verse related to this week’s Bible lesson, she states, “He writes, in Revelation 21:9 (cit. B22) — “And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the vials full on the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.. … this message from divine Love, carried John away in spirit. The beauty of this text is, that the sum total of human misery, represented by the seven angelic vials full of the seven plagues, has full compensation in the law of Love. … the very circumstance, which you’re suffering sense deems wrathful and afflictive, Love can make an angel entertained unawares.” (574:5 – 30 near citation S27/573:1-31+)
“This is Scriptural authority for concluding that such a recognition of being is, and has been, possible to men in this present state of existence, — that we can become conscious, here and now, of a cessation of death, sorrow, and pain. This is indeed a foretaste of absolute Christian Science. Take heart, dear sufferer, for this reality of being will surely appear sometime and in some way. There will be no more pain, and all tears will be wiped away. When you read this, remember Jesus’ words, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This spiritual consciousness is therefore a present possibility.” (citation S27/573:23)
Cobbey continues:] “John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem. (SH 592:18) We know its origin, coming from God prepared as a bride. Finally, the bride prepared, adorned for her husband. [Verse 2] The tabernacle of God with men, [Revelation 21] Verse 3.
“Verse 4, there is a check-off list in this Holy City. There are no more tears, no more salty reminders of the sea in our bodies chemically. We’ve been told there’s “no more sea” in Verse 1. No more sea, no more tears, no more death, no sorrow, crying or pain, not in this consciousness. It’s the Holy City. That also means that it’s whole. There’s nothing that can fragment it. The tribes embrace it at the gates. The restored and regenerated tribes. The collective idea of you and me working together as chords under the divine principle of a grand music that fills the universe and all eternity….”
“The Holy City: Its Biblical Basis and Development,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
[W.] New GEMs developed for this Sunday & the Commandments/Beatitudes Frisbee game Kiss the Cross/Win the Crown! Overcome the flood (of obsessions with worldly lust & viruses) with a strong, “No-and-Yes” Love of the Commandments and the Beatitudes!— priceless Cobbey Crisler insights from Revelation 12/cit. B24) with citations B8, S14, S15, S16 illustrating how to conquer and destroy the moral contagion and animality of lust/rape— with Bible-boosts from Psalms, Isaiah, Song of Solomon…
[Cobbey Crisler:] “Our defense against the dragon and its FLOOD in Revelation 12 is the “No-and-Yes” Love found in the Commandments and Beatitudes…
“The red dragon has seven heads and ten horns [Revelation 12:3]. What would that perhaps relate to? Methodius, an early Christian, writing at the last of the Third Century, indicates to those to whom he is writing that the ten horns of the dragon are the opposites of the Decalogue. What could gore us, lay us absolutely open, completely open to the world’s weapons than to deny the Commandments, fail to use them, or openly live in opposition to them?’
“Take the Commandments [Exodus 20: 3-5, 7, 8, 12, 13-17]. Reverse each one. Look what’s happening to our world today. See if the dragon’s horns are not goring humanity freely and with license.
“Thou shalt commit adultery” [Exodus 20:14]. Beginning to look like the rule rather than the exception. When that happens [as it did in Amnon’s rape of Tamar in II Samuel 13:1-19], that’s one of the dragon’s horns, if Methodius is correct.
“Thou shalt kill” [Exodus 20:13]. There’s hardly a television program in which we don’t come up with some fictionalized representation of murder.
“Thou shalt steal” [Exodus 20:15]. Time magazine has reported shoplifting as the key crime in our country.
“What are the rules? Why are we ignoring the Commandments? What would the seven head, perhaps, relate to in Revelation 12:3? They have crowns (coronas) on them. They’re claims to sovereignty when the crowns are on those heads.
“In the Book of Revelation we started right out with John saying [in Chapter 1, Verse 1] that the revelation was coming to him from Jesus and through Jesus from the seven Spirits of God [Verse 4]. Not eight, not six, but you find the seven Spirits of God mentioned throughout the Book of Revelation. Like the seven branches of the menorah, like Zechariah’s [4:2] beautiful vision of the Godhead in that way, seven lamps and seven pipes. These seven aspects of God, if denied, opposed, vilified, held up to ridicule, is that what those heads are claiming such sovereignty, is that what they’re doing within?
… “We find [in Revelation 12:1] womanhood “clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet.” Interestingly enough, the moon had a linguistic relationship to the curse upon woman, being the root of monthly. Yet woman is seen with total dominion over all material influences. Her feet are on the moon. That’s the symbol of dominion in the Bible; [it’s] to have everything under your feet. That crown of twelve stars leaves no doubt that woman is seen here as a total remedy for Eve…”
… “Eve lost the battle with the serpent. Womanhood in the twelfth chapter of Revelation is the remedy for Eve’s loss. Woman has been blamed throughout centuries by theologians many for being the reason for the downfall of the race… If, as usual, we have things upside down, the remedy would have to see woman responsible for the salvation of the race. Interestingly enough we find her in Jesus’ parable [Matthew 13:33] putting the leaven in the within.”
“This dragon [Revelation 12:3], is again the nature of our enemy here. What are the weapons? The dragon has heads, horns, crowns (corona… coronavirus) on the heads, a tail, flood. All these are weapons… And the tail. We talk about Star Wars, and here it is! One third of the stars of heaven cast to the earth [Revelation 12:4]. “The brilliant potential of those stars! Cast down! Trod under foot! Trampled upon! Because the tail of the dragon got them and they probably were defending themselves against the hypnotic heads, the hydra head, where flame and all that was coming out. Is our attention toward the head of the dragon?
And is the sting in the tail? That’s where Moses was told to pick up the serpent [Exodus 4: 3, 4]. Then the defense system of our within must involve knowing what the tail of the dragon would do as well as the head. Not just the obvious approach in this warfare, but the ambushments, the deceits, the smokescreens. Being surrounded by the enemy, to watch against that.”
“The flood. In Isaiah [59:19] we’re told when the enemy comes in like a flood, what happens? “The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” The enemy does come in like a flood. Overwhelmed, one problem after the other. You get through treating one part of your body and it moves to another part. Or, it combines in some kind of weird crescendo leading towards total disaster or death.”
“As this flood of media propaganda, as well in effect, reaches towards our house where we live, where did Jesus tell us to build? On the rock [Matthew 7: 24, 25]. Then, if the flood comes— and the flood still comes—but when it subsides and is through, we discover that our home is still there. Our foundation then is important in resisting this flood in our mental warfare. It is a flood. It’s not a trickle. The intent of the flood is to drown everything before it.”
“What is the standard that God lifts up? In Song of Solomon the bride, womanhood, symbolized in Song of Solomon [2:4], says, “his banner,” and an alternate word in Hebrew there, is “standard,” “over me [was] love.” Then the eighth chapter of Song of Solomon, [Verse 7] adds, almost tying-in with our symbolism of Revelation 12 [Verses 15 and 16] —“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” (Song of Solomon 8:7)
“Weapon, then? Love. To the human sense of things, it appears the most helpless type of weapon to use in a battle of what would seem to be between forces of a mentally galactic struggle. But instead, we discover Love to be the real and only weapon. It’s what resists the virus. It cannot come in and break up the host [as a virus attempts to do]. Love then must be the leaven that gradually changes the whole lump of human thought…”
[…“The virus is one of the smallest particles, not even quite observable, but speculated upon. The interesting thing about the definition—let me paraphrase it: a virus causes the metabolism, the whole life process of the host cell, to break down. It [the coronavirus, attempts to] take command the minute it imposes itself on another tiny aspect of expressed being. It [acts as if it] is dominant. It would change everything around it to a new form, a diseased form. Taking this into the infinitesimal, we find this warfare going on even at the tiniest micro level….”]
“…Why is this adversarial position set up to try to cast us down as one of the stars of heaven? Is our potential under draconian pressure to be cast down? Are we going to submit to what Eve listened to? Or, are we going to accept the leaven? And love is the banner, remember, we’re told [in Song of Solomon 2:4] over us. And Verse 4 [of Psalm 109], “For my love they are adversaries; but I give myself unto prayer.”
“Another verse on Psalms tells us what we have already learned: “Through thy commandments thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies” [Psalm 119: 98]. We all know the avenues of approach through the Commandments. That’s what keeps our eyes open.
“After all, to have God’s kingdom [“the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established” (Church Manual 41:10)] within us requires rules. That’s the basis of the government within. What is disease, but a state of bodily insurrection? Where did it come from? Where did that rebellion originate that decides that it will go independent of the rest of the system?
“When God has told us this doesn’t fit in with the holistic approach we see some physicians reaching for “All things work together for good” [in Romans 8:28]? But there’s a qualification, “to them who love God,” who are at the state of receiving His role, His prophesied role in such a wholeness.
“No wonder the dragon has got ten horns [Revelation 12:3] because the Commandments are our defense. We know what NOT to do. That’s what the Commandments have told us [in Exodus 20: 2-5, 7, 8, 12-17]. We also know what TO do. That’s what the Beatitudes have told us [in Matthew 5:3-12]. [Warren: The Commandments and the (Matthew 5:3-12) Beatitudes portion of the Sermon on the Mount, along with the Lord’s Prayer and its Spiritual Interpretation by Mary Baker Eddy, constitute “the first lessons of the children” in Christian Science Sunday Schools. (Church Manual, 62:24). Pledging to put at least some of them into practice in inspiring, relevant ways is incorporated into every visit to CedarS Bible Lands Park and its developing 18-hole Frisbee Gold Course designed to internalize the 10 Commandments plus the 8 Beatitudes.]
“That ability of being able to say “yes” and “no” is the simplest mental defense that we have. Jesus knew it. He said, “Let your communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay.” [Matthew 5:37]. He said “Anything else cometh of evil.” No and yes, when to say either or both.
“Mental defense and Commandments and Beatitudes readymade, spiritually given to us so that we may never be in doubt what to say “no” to and what to say “yes” to. But the beast would break our commitment to such a standard. It’s the only standard that resists the flood of the enemy, even by the Spirit of the Lord.”
“’War in Heaven’: Conquest of Inner Space,” by B. Cobbey Crisler**
