Rejoice! You are Governed by God! You are the Reflection of Soul!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Soul” for study during the week of August 9-15, 2010
Prepared by Kathy Fitzer, C.S. of St. Louis, MO [with brackets by Warren Huff]
[Editor's Note: The following application ideas for this week, and the Possible Sunday School Topics that follow, are offered primarily to help CEDARS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free — in English by Monday each week, or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION in French thanks to Pascal, or in Spanish thanks to Ana, and in German some weeks by Helga. YOU CAN SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/newslettersWe are looking for other able translators who are willing to volunteer to share the load of doing these weekly translations in a timely and accurate fashion. You can email your interest in supporting this work to Warren at director@cedarscamps.org]
God's man is the expression of radiant Soul! Nothing can separate us from the harmonious government of God, any more than something can separate a ray of light from the sun. This lesson reveals the freedom that comes from recognizing the might of God to deliver us from every trial that we may face, and to do with dominion whatever is given us to do. It reminds us that our job is to rejoice in what God is doing! Refuse to lose your joy! Soul is the essence of your being and is continually bestowing blessings!
Golden Text: Delight in God!
Joy should never be considered optional. As we stop basing our joy on the human situation and decide we can always take delight (rejoice) in the promise of God's constant care, we will find it natural to be joyful!
Responsive Reading (RR): Psalms of thanksgiving and praise
The first psalm (Ps. 146) is the psalmist's promise to never stop praising God. [And to help us be non-stop praise-rs and pray-ers, the verses of Ps. 146 quoted in the RR are sequentially amplified in each successive section of the lesson.] The second psalm (Ps. 100) was the happy song sung by the people entering Solomon's temple. Notice the 6-part creed which the Jews assert as the basis for their gladness: (1) the Lord is God; (2) He is our creator; (3) we are His people; (4) the Lord is good; (5) His kindness is everlasting; and (6) his faithfulness endures to all generations. (Interpreter's Bible) Although remembering that prayer is always fresh — no formulas — this psalm illustrates one approach to maintaining one's faith and joy.
Section 1: God causes us to triumph and to be glad [RR1-“Praise the Lord, O my soul”]
It is God that does all things. It is natural for us to rejoice in God's goodness because God rejoices (takes delight) in us, and plants us in His kingdom! (B-4) God promises that just as the fields prosper in response to the rain, we prosper in response to God's Word. (B-3) We thank God — and can be confident and joyous always — because He enables us to do with dominion whatever it is given us to do! (B-2)Of course God is the doer! God — SOUL — is unchangeable and eternal. Man coexists with God — Soul. (S-1) There would be no Soul without expression. And there can be no expression without Soul. Human thought has turned things upside down and made it appear that there are many souls — requiring matter for animation. It is important to understand the difference between Soul and soul. (S-2) Even more important is to learn how to resolve “things into thoughts” and to practice exchanging “the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul.” (S-4) We're not working to get rid of things, but to see their enduring nature. Our bodies represent motion, strength, flexibility . . . Motion, strength, flexibility . . . (you can add to the list) are spiritual qualities and reflect the all-acting God. Don't be satisfied to see yourself as a hunk of flesh, bones, tendons, and nerves, etc. Right where a material body appears to be, rejoice in the presence of qualities of thought that cannot be injured or lost. Those qualities — those thoughts — constitute the only US and are the full expression of Soul — undisturbed.
Section 2: Let God make the plans and do the talking! You are very capable! [RR2-“While I live I will praise the Lord”]
This is a very profound statement: “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.” (B-5, New Living Translation) Why outline what we think we should or shouldn't be doing — what we can or can't do — what we want or don't want to do? Our time and efforts would be better spent in listening and responding to what God is unfolding for us and doing through us. Moses was pretty clear — he should NOT be the spokesman for the Israelites. Speaking eloquently was not his strong-suit, and Pharaoh would be a tough audience. But, rather than giving Moses an understanding ear and excusing him from this duty, God rebuked him. Who made Moses' mouth? God did! So, God told him to get going and do what he was told to do. God would be doing the work! Moses just needed to reflect the action of Soul. (B-7 & S-7) How often do we struggle with feeling inadequate? The basic problem lies with our misconception about who we are. We tend to think of ourselves as “a material form with a mind inside.” In reality, we are the expression of “the infinite idea forever developing itself” — “rising higher and higher from a boundless basis.” (S-9) We REFLECT Soul — infinite individuality, without limits! (S-11) Nothing is more stress-free [or more humble] than a reflection. God has need for each one of us. Each one has a special role to play in expressing the fullness of Life. We may not all have as prestigious a role as Moses, but even offering a smile may be enough to make a huge change in a life. Let Soul shine through!
Section 3: Tune in to [and sing along] with the music of Soul — hear God's voice in all things! [RR3-“I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being”]
We're aware that radio waves are always in the air — even though we can't see them or hear them (until we tune in.) Similarly, God is always present, although we can't see Him with our eyes or hear Him with our ears. But, God reveals Himself to us “by his Spirit.” (B-14) Those senses through which God reveals Himself are permanent because they have nothing to do with corruptible matter. (S-13) To develop acute sight and hearing, we work to develop our spiritual sense — our consciousness of the God's presence. We start with intuitively recognizing the ever-presence of Soul, Spirit. From this develops hope, then faith, and understanding of God's law. God's law then comes to fruition and we behold reality! (S-15) The human experience patterns the divine. Understanding the spiritual nature of sight and hearing (independent of matter,) these senses are humanly experienced as “normal and indestructible.” (S-12) Why not make it standard practice to continually acknowledge and praise God? As the Ark of the Covenant (representing the omnipotence of God's law) was moved into Solomon's temple, the Levites sang and played music of praise. As they did, a cloud appeared in the temple, indicating the fullness of God's presence filling the temple. (B-12) As we sing praises to God, we also see and feel God's presence within our temple — our consciousness and its expression!
Section 4: Repent! Check your Model! God Creates Perfection!
[RR4-“The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind;”] Problems arise when we start from the wrong premise. It seems absurd to think of a piece of clay dictating its form to the one working with it, or refusing to be shaped. (B-15) But, that's what we're saying when we believe that our body or the economy or a family can hurt or be broken. Jesus knew the Father of creation to be perfect, so saw it as natural for us — God's creation — to be perfect. (B-17) He begged people to repent — to change their perspective and see God's kingdom present here and now. (B-16) If we start from the perspective of imperfection, we'll never draw the right conclusion about man. (S-20) Looking at the testimony of the physical senses, we can't find the man that God has created. Jesus demonstrated how a change in view heals. He never saw a blind man. But, acknowledging the faith of the man calling out to him as Christ (thou son of David) he restored the man's sight. The man SAW the Christ and the Christ saw him in his true nature! (B-18) Jesus knew that the senses of Soul had to be fully demonstrated through man. (S-21) There was no other possibility for him!!! We can have that conviction, too. We tend to trust what the body says more than what spiritual sense says. Jesus never did. Mrs. Eddy teaches us how to imitate Jesus' works. She says we must “divest (separate) thought of false trusts and material evidences in order that the spiritual facts of being may appear.” (S-17) When looking at two photos of something we are very familiar with — the original and one that has been altered — we are able to easily rid ourselves (divest thought) from the alterations because we know the truth of the subject so well. We're not fooled! A so-called material eye — so easily injured, and supposedly subject to aging — can't possibly be the source of sight! Nothing can hide a true report from Spirit's senses — and there are no OTHER senses! (S-18) Guard your thought from the belief that an eyeball is the source of either good sight OR faulty sight. The senses of Soul — spiritual discernment of God's perfect creation — are the ONLY senses. View everything through the lens of Christ — Truth! Dedicate yourself to changing the false view into God's view. That's repentance!
Section 5: No Need to Grieve! Immortal Soul is Uninterruptible!
[RR5-“the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down;”]
It makes sense that if God, Soul, is immortal — Soul's expression must be immortal. And, that doesn't mean we become immortal after we die. We ARE immortal, because we are the full expression of Soul NOW! God keeps us alive — pulling us up from the pit of despair, doubt, confusion, burden, disease, etc. — so that we can be who He made us to be! Things may seem tough at times, but you don't need to ever lose your joy [or your job of sharing joy] because you KNOW you can count on God! (B-19) Peter put out the mourners when he came to restore Tabitha. (B-20) When we accept grief or heaviness to be “natural” under certain circumstances, we are starting from the perspective of sense, rather than Soul. It's like pulling down heavy shades on a beautifully sunny day and being sad that there is no evidence of sunlight in the room! Soul IS immortal. Soul, God, doesn't ever cease being! If we are to see evidence of that Soul, we have to keep the shades up, and with calm joy, confidently watch for God's presence. A reflection is never separated from the original. Man, as God's reflection, can't be separated from God. (S-22) But, light is required in order to see the reflection. The number 3 is forever the number 3, even if the numeral is erased from the blackboard. (S-24) An idea remains in thought, even if the outward expression is temporarily interrupted. And, there is less likelihood of the outward expression being interrupted when we give up the belief of a life apart from God and admit the “immortal facts of being.” (S-25) Start by ADMITTING the possibility of uninterrupted life. ADMIT that you are made in God's image and do reflect perfection and immortality — even if you don't think you completely understand it yet. It's possible to work out a problem on the computer by admitting that it is possible — even if you don't understand how the computer does what it does. We must ADMIT “that man is God's own likeness” and not let anything dissuade us from that fact, or bring us down. This sets us “free to master the infinite idea.” (S-26) No grieving over what we haven't yet demonstrated! Put out the mourners from your consciousness and forge ahead! Man is immortal — no interruption of good!
Section 6: Rejoice in God's Salvation! [RR6- “the Lord loveth the righteous”-the right-thinking and right-acting YOU!]
Mrs. Eddy discovered (and demonstrated, as we are demonstrating today) that “it is our ignorance of God, the divine Principle, which produces apparent discord, and the right understanding of Him restores harmony.” So, let's argue that we do have understanding, and hold to the FACTS regarding the everlasting harmony of Soul, rather than either not get to know, or ignore, God. The dictionary on my computer gives this definition of understand: “be sympathetically or knowledgeably aware of the character or nature of.” That's not so hard. But, it involves giving more attention to the infinite resources of Soul — that are blessing us continually (whether we see those blessings at the moment or not) — than to the fickle reports of physical sense. (S-29) What a promise the Bible gives us that we will be delivered from all bondage. The poem that appears as Isaiah 51 bears a strong promise that the Children of Israel will again prosper — the desolate desert of life be transformed to a lush garden. The setting of this chapter (according to the Interpreter's Bible) was 6th century, BCE. The only remaining Jewish community was struggling in Babylonian exile. The prophet was offering comfort and hope to the people. They needed to hang in there — deliverance was at hand! And with a return to their land would come “everlasting joy“ with no more sorrow! (B-23) This deliverance truly has nothing to do with a physical location. It is a state of thought! We don't need to wait for a physical change before we can feel encouraged — before we rejoice! The promise is here — salvation is here. “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.” (B-22, NLT) Good news is what we should share (with ourselves, as well as others.) Rather than give audience to problems, let's celebrate the promise of deliverance! Being “governed by Soul” naturally includes rejoicing in God's promise of salvation from sin, disease, and death. (S-30, B-24) Nothing can keep us from expressing joy and gratitude. That simple shift from despair and fear to joy and love opens the way for “the indestructible man, whose being is spiritual” to be seen in thought and experienced here and now! (S-28) Rejoice — you are the expression of Soul!
Possible Sunday School Topics by Merrill Boudreaux [+ brackets by Warren]
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Soul” for August 15, 2010
P.S.S.T. Golden Text –
Have an attitude of gratitude. Make a list of those things for which you can, could, should, will rejoice. What does rejoicing look like? Ask students to show it, whether with a poem, a word, a song, a dance, a drawing…. [even a enjoying a quick laugh together, like we do in CedarS laughing game]
P.S.S.T. – Responsive Reading (RR) –List the reasons for rejoicing found in the RR:
I live
The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind
The Lord raiseth up them that are bowed down
….
P.S.S.T. – Section 1-[RR1-“Praise the Lord, O my soul”] List the reason to bless (praise, rejoice in) the Lord found in this section:
P.S.S.T. – Section 2 –[RR2-“While I live I will praise the Lord”]
One way to express Soul is by speech. Ask students to list phrases or sentences from the Bible and Science and Health they can relate to as expressions of Soul.
Ex. Let my people go
Lazarus come forth
Arise and walk
Love one another
….
P.S.S.T. – Section 3 –[RR3-“I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being”]
What is a witness? Are you a witness for God? One way to express Soul is through music. What book of the Bible contains poetry, much of which was set to music? Ask students about their favorite Psalms (23rd, 91st) or favorite hymns. Why are they favorites? Do they speak to their soul, spiritual sense of things? Yes, it is okay to sing some of the hymns.
P.S.S.T. – Section 4 –[RR4-“The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind;”]
Another way to express Soul is in teaching others. What are places in the Bible that may be defined as teaching moments? Moses giving the Ten Commandments, Jesus giving The Sermon on the Mount which includes The Lord’s Prayer and The Beatitudes plus other admonitions. Help students understand that The Sermon on the Mount spans Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7. Ask students to identify [or make a list of] teachings from this Sermon. What had Jesus just done before The Sermon on the Mount? See Matthew chapter 4 and what did Jesus do right after The Sermon on the Mount? See Matthew 8.
P.S.S.T. – Section 5 – [RR5-“the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down;”]
Another way to express Soul is to live, to overcome death. Ask students to [list or] identify biblical characters in this section who awoke to life. What other Bible characters also overcame death and expressed life through Soul? Lazarus, Christ Jesus, widow woman’s son, Shunammite’s son, Dorcas, centurion’s daughter. What conviction in citation S26 shuts the door on death?
P.S.S.T. – Section 6 — [RR6-“the Lord loveth the righteous”] Perhaps here is an opportunity for the class to write their own new soul-filled song full of comfort and joy. “Joy to the world” indeed.
[PS P.S.S.T.: Make to-day big with The Gentle Art of Blessing
by Pierre Pradervand
“On awakening, bless this day, for it is already full of unseen good which your blessings will call forth; for to bless is to acknowledge the unlimited good that is embedded in the very texture of the universe and awaiting each and all.
“On passing people in the street, on the bus, in places of work and play, bless them. The peace of your blessing will accompany them on their way and the aura of its gentle fragrance will be a light to their path.
“On meeting and talking to people, bless them in their health, their work, their joy, their relationships to God, themselves, and others. Bless them in their abundance, their finances…bless them in every conceivable way, for such blessings not only sow seeds of healing but one day will spring forth as flowers of joy in the waste places of your own life.
“As you walk, bless the city in which you live, its government and teachers, its nurses and streetsweepers, its children and bankers, its priests and prostitutes. The minute anyone expresses the least aggression or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing: bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully, for such blessings are a shield which protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed, and deflects the arrow that was aimed at you..
“To bless means to wish, unconditionally, total, unrestricted good for others and events from the deepest wellspring in the innermost chamber of your heart: it means to hallow, to hold in reverence, to behold with utter awe that which is always a gift from the Creator. He who is hallowed by your blessing is set aside, consecrated, holy, whole. To bless is yet to invoke divine care upon, to think or speak gratefully for, to confer happiness upon – although we ourselves are never the bestower, but simply the joyfull witnesses of Life's abundance.
“To bless all without discrimination of any sort is the ultimate form of giving, because those you bless will never know from whence came the sudden ray of sun that burst through the clouds of their skies, and you will rarely be a witness to the sunlight in their lives.
“When something goes completely askew in your day, some unexpected event knocks down your plans and you too also, burst into blessing: for life is teaching you a lesson, and the very event you believe to be unwanted, you yourself called forth, so as to learn the lesson you might balk against were you not to bless it. Trials are blessings in disguise, and hosts of angels follow in their path.
“To bless is to acknowledge the omnipresent, universal beauty hidden to material eyes; it is to activate that law of attraction which, from the furthest reaches of the universe, will bring into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy.
“When you pass a prison, mentally bless its inmates in their innocence and freedom, their gentleness, pure essence and unconditional forgiveness; for one can only be prisoner of one's self-image, and a free man can walk unshackled in the courtyard of a jail, just as citizens of countries where freedom reigns can be prisoners when fear lurks in their thoughts.
“When you pass a hospital, bless its patients in their present wholeness, for even in their suffering, this wholeness awaits in them to be discovered. When your eyes behold a man in tears, or seemingly broken by life, bless him in his vitality and joy: for the material senses present but the inverted image of the ultimate splendor and perfection which only the inner eye beholds.
“It is impossible to bless and to judge at the same time. So hold constantly as a deep, hallowed, intoned thought that desire to bless, for truly then shall you become a peacemaker, and one day you shall, everywhere, behold the very face of God.
“And of course, above all, don't forget to bless the utterly beautiful person YOU are!”
Gratefully shared with permission of Pierre Pradervand, prader@iprolink.ch]
[CedarS weekly Metaphysical Newsletters are provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff who are being blessed this summer at CEDARS–as well as to thousands of CEDARS alumni, families, Sunday School teachers and friends who request it, or who find it weekly on our website or through CS Directory. But, current and planned gifts are much-needed: to cover the costs of running this “free” service; to provide camperships for ongoing inspirational opportunities; and to complete Stages 1 & 2 of Bible Lands Park (BLP). (Keep returning to the blog–http://blog.cedarscamps.org/— for more pictures and write-ups on CedarS Bible Lands Park.) For those of you wanting to see CedarS new Bible Lands Park first-hand, there are still some few places left in our Family Camp, Aug. 15-20, for you to experience tours led by Christine Irby Williams! Or, sign up online for the Midwest Bible Conference being put on at CedarS by Bible Studies Seminars from Sept. 16-19, 2010!)
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[Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 10-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “Mets” (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (To keep the flow of the practitioner's ideas intact and to allow for more selective printing “Possible Sunday School Topics” come in a subsequent email.) These weekly offerings are intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study, application and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the “Met” (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-30). The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.] Enjoy!
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