To the Christian World

In the midst of the imperfect, perfection is reluctantly seen and acknowledged. Because Science is unimpeachable, it summons the severest conflicts of the ages and waits on God.

The faith and works demanded of man in our textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and the proof of the practicality of this faith and these works, show conclusively that Christian Science is indeed Science, — the Science of Christ, the Science of God and man, of the creator and creation. In every age and at its every appearing, Science, until understood, has been persecuted and maligned. Infinite perfection is unfolded as man attains the stature of man in Christ Jesus by means of the Science which Jesus taught and practised. Alluding to this divine method, the Psalmist said: “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?”

I have set forth Christian Science and its application to the treatment of disease just as I have discovered them. I have demonstrated through Mind the effects of Truth on the health, longevity, and morals of men; and I have found nothing in ancient or in modern systems on which to found my own, except the teachings and demonstrations of our great Master and the lives of prophets and apostles. The Bible has been my only authority. I have had no other guide in the strait and narrow way of Truth.

from Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy

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Spiritual Progress

Unless a man advances spiritually, he is not scientific; and if he is scientific he must start honestly, and journey some every day; and however long he is in reaching the desired goal, if his honesty be preserved, he will finish his course. Many starting with the letter of science, will omit the Spirit, and make shipwreck of their course. We must not only seek, but strive, or we cannot enter the narrow path of science; for broad is the opposite one of sense that leadeth to destruction, and many go in thereat.

from Science and Health, first edition, page 129

Mrs. Eddy constantly heard the cry of the poor, the sick, the unhappy, the sinner, and out of the wealth and overflow of her demonstration, she ceaselessly fed them–as Joseph when he was the custodian of the grain which he had gathered during the seven years of plenty in Egypt, fed the nations who were starving during the seven years of famine. This was the reason for Mrs. Eddy’s growth. Students today do not grow faster because, out of their abundance of spiritual good they do not realize that much of what has been given them was for the purpose of sharing, not withholding. Lack of giving will stultify growth.

From Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Precepts, volume I, page 9

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Lessons from the Sower and the Seed

Mary Beth Singleterry

In the parable of the sower and the seed Christ Jesus points out three major roadblocks to spiritual progress.

The first seed is sown by the way side. In the passage from the book of Matthew Jesus says, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” This important point Mrs. Eddy makes over and over again in the First Edition of Science and Health as well as in the 1910 edition – and that is, you cannot substitute mere human belief for understanding. It has been said, and rightly so, if you truly understand Science, you could never leave it, for it is the way of Life, the eternal Laws and Principles of the universe. Why would anyone want to leave it?! But if you only believe, hope it to be true, like its promise, but have never dug deeply enough to understand and to apply and to actually prove its principles in daily living – well then, it is no wonder that the “wicked one” will turn you all upside down and spiritual growth is out the window.

The next seed is sown on the rock and how all too familiar this one is! You receive the Truth and it is so wonderful! Perhaps you have had a quick healing. Feeling elated by how great everything is, you float along taking no time to grow some roots. Once again, real understanding has not been developed – suddenly a tough challenge comes along, maybe persecution from people you thought once liked you, things just don’t seem to be going too well. The elation then turns to discouragement and the ole’ devil whispers its lies into your ears, “this Science stuff doesn’t work after all, or it takes too much work, I don’t think it’s for me.” And because your love for Science is immature, it is all about what you can get, all about wanting the loaves and the fishes. You have developed no roots, no understanding of the unselfed nature of this Truth and all the joy and meaning to life that giving to others brings – and so you get turned sadly awry.

And the last seed is sown among thorns and how often does this one apply! The good seed that may be just starting to grow and to take root gets choked by all the cares of this world – a busy successful career, family obligations, an opportunity to travel and/or many other distractions. These things are not necessarily bad - unless they become more important than the things of God, until they consume more and more of your time. You might occasionally think a good thought or say a quick prayer or even attend church, but the truth of the matter is materiality has set in big time, God is merely an afterthought, and once again, the devil has claimed a victory. Spiritual growth has been sacrificed for the “ghastly farce of material existence.” (S&H)

I once thought this parable applied only to “those people out there.” But I have since realized it applies to me right here and right now and have found it to be an essential checking point for avoiding pitfalls that would try to shipwreck anyone from making true spiritual progress and becoming that “good seed” which beareth much fruit!

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The Need for Spiritual Growth

Andrew Kidd

Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health that, in order for more healing work to be accomplished, there needs to be more spiritual growth. The letter of Science is readily attained, but the spirit is not so easily gained.

What is spiritual growth, and what must we do to gain it? Jesus gave us a hint when he said, “Blessed are they that are not offended in me.” He found that people were happy to hear his teaching and witness his healing work, as long as it did not conflict with their deeply held beliefs. But as soon as their pride was hit, whether it was pride of riches, knowledge, or social position, they became offended, and turned away from him. It was at this point that they lost the opportunity to grow spiritually.

Pride is that state of thought that declares a selfhood apart from God. It can only be put off when it is our deepest desire to know God better, to demonstrate the power of Truth, and to love mankind. This desire will put into motion plenty of opportunity to relinquish pride. To withstand the temptation to be offended, we will need humility, faithfulness, and love. Humility is the willingness to yield up our highest sense of human good, no matter how hurtful to our pride, in order that we may make way for the power and presence of divine Love to operate through us.

Faithfulness is that quality that does not forget the healing received; does not let the wonder of the moment pass away; but feels indebted for life to take on more of the Truth that brought about the healing. Love is that which acknowledges the love that motivated the healing, and returns in kind, never accepting for a moment that that love could turn to hate, any more than a fountain could pour forth both sweet and bitter water.

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Minute Men and Women

Bruce Singleterry

I recently had the opportunity to attend a national park in Massachusetts, where they told the story of the Minutemen. When the Minutemen received word that the British army was on its way, Paul Revere and two others rode all through the night to wake up the villages to the impending threat from the British army. At one point, someone told them to be quiet. Their reply was, “If you think this is noisy, wait till you see what’s coming next!” Because they were faithful and willing to wake the people up, there were more militiamen in the country than the invading British soldiers!

We all need to be awakened from time to time. Sometimes it can be pretty uncomfortable, but it always brings much spiritual growth. At one time, the job I had wasn’t going that well and I was unhappy with it. I complained to a practitioner here in Plainfield, and the practitioner told me that I should be darned grateful I had a job! This woke me up and taught me something I needed to know — and as a result, my job was saved.

Right now we have something more important than someone’s job. In the May issue of the CornerStone, there is a wake-up call from Mary Baker Eddy that says, “The true Science — divine Science — will be lost sight of again unless we arouse ourselves.” It’s just as vital now that we all stay awake to the job God has given us. As Mrs. Eddy writes in Miscellaneous Writings, “All God’s servants are minute men and women. As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in hand, waiting for the watchword and the revelation of what, how, whither. Let us be faithful and obedient, and God will do the rest.”

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Unfolding Ideas

Martha Wilcox

It is the unfolding spiritual ideas and their identities, and not organs, which determine the outward and actual of my present so-called human body. These unfolding spiritual ideas act upon the false beliefs in my thought about body until these false beliefs yield to the truth of the unfolding ideas.

Conscious unfolding ideas is the substance of my heart, and my stomach and of every organ I know humanly; and is the outward and the actual of my human body, when determined by these unfolding ideas, and not by material beliefs.

As it is with the so-called human body, so it is that these conscious unfolding ideas determine the outward and actual of business, church, home, nation, human efficiency, or anything of which I am conscious. It is well to remember that spiritual ideas always “determine the outward and the actual,” and that the spiritual “dominates all matter.” (See S&H 254:22; 97:18)

Everything of which I am conscious is the spiritual fact of which the belief is about. The unfolding idea is phenomena and determines the human phenomena by acting upon human beliefs. As the right idea acts upon the human beliefs, it brings out better phenomena because of better beliefs.

Conscious unfoldment of right ideas is the vitalizing quality of my present body; unfoldment of spiritual ideas is the stimulus and substance of my present body. My present body is not a changeable body, because its substance is the substance of unchangeable spiritual ideas, and not the substance of matter. Discernment of spiritual ideas is the essence of my conscious at-one-ment with God, and is my body. The realization of the allness of Spirit is the energy, vitality, and virility of my so-called human body. My body is an immortal body because it is the conscious, eternal identity of divine Mind. Unfolding spiritual idea is the buoyancy, symmetry, strength, and vigor of my so-called human body.

God, or divine Mind, is always feeding and clothing my body in better garments of thought which are manifest as the outward and actual. Mrs. Eddy says, “The divine Mind, which forms the bud and blossom, will care for the human body, even as it clothes the lily.” (S&H 62:22)

My present body is the “Word made flesh.” The fact of the reality of flesh and bones exists in the divine Mind, so we have no antagonism to flesh and bones. We make flesh of the normal beliefs such as eating, sleeping, breathing, hearing, etc. until the spiritual ideas unfold to us in their fullness and completeness.

Our present state of consciousness is made up largely of God’s ideas and some false beliefs. And as more of God’s ideas unfold and are revealed to us, our present consciousness will have less of false beliefs in it until finally our present consciousness is the God consciousness.

In the God-body there are no false beliefs, no pain, or inflammation, or inaction, or overaction to be objectified. The God-body is complete; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it.

The infinite consciousness, or God-body, does not lack any masculine or feminine qualities. It is every whit whole. It embodies within itself all life, joy, purity, satisfaction, and abundance.

The embodiment of the God-body is my individual body, or, the God-body is what I am as individual man.

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Making the Port

Rev. G. A. Kratzer

A brave and skillful mariner, once well started on his voyage, never turns back, but keeps headed toward the port of his destination, no matter what obstacles present themselves. His ship, wisely steered and strongly propelled from within, makes progress even while it is being buffeted by the winds and waves. So shall I make progress, steered by the acknowledgement of God in all my ways, and propelled from within and above by Love and Truth. I will not truckle in spirit, nor yield for a moment my poise and self-control, nor even think of turning back in my course, for pain, nor for any suggestions of doubt, fear, or despondency; but I shall win a victory over afflictions by patience, calmness, determination, perseverance, courage, and understanding, all born of God.

Just as the mariner does not ask the winds and waves whether or not he is making progress, but asks his chart and compass, so I will not ask the feelings or states of my body whether or not I am getting on, but I will ask my increasing understanding of God’s word, which is my chart and compass. I will “look away from the body into Truth and Love” (Science and Health, 261:2.) I will, in my calculations of progress, “be absent from the body, and present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). And when this storm of distress is past, I shall be farther on than before it commenced, in moral strength, in character, in health, and in knowledge of the Truth.

When the storm arises, the mariner does not turn off steam and drift before the wind, anywhere it chooses to carry him; but he turns on more steam and keeps headed straight for port. So, when the storms of distress or suffering rise against me, I will not cease to know and declare Truth and Love, and I will not utter the complaints of mortal mind, and so let it carry me backward; but during the storm of suffering, I will hold on to Truth and Love all the harder. I will declare them all the more stoutly. So shall I make progress toward final healing even in the midst of the worst distress.

“Be not weary in well doing; for in due season you shall reap, if you faint not.” — Gal. 6:9

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An Indication of Spiritual Progress

Florence Roberts

My response to a rather stern rebuke recently gave me some indication as to how far I have come in my spiritual journey; and I am grateful for it.

Surprisingly, I was not offended, which meant to me that I am getting it, I am understanding that person is not involved here. I immediately asked God to show me what I needed to know about why I received the rebuke. The answer did not come right away, and while before, I would have gone into a self-pitying party, with some underlying hurt pride, this time I was grateful I did not react.

I know that the culprit is always the wrong mind, because I have learned that error is never a person, place or thing. I had allowed my thought to drop while working on some other claim. From that premise even the good words, directly from the Bible, which would be so welcomed by the human mind, were repulsive to the spiritual sense of the one who read the comment. I saw this clearly and that was my answer.

I have observed firsthand how offensive the human mind can sound to the spiritual thought. On one occasion a caregiver’s reassuring words felt so raw to a patient that he requested the caregiver to stop talking. The woman was surprised the patient said that, but I felt the emptiness of her words and could understand his request.

Christ Jesus rebuked the money changers from defiling His Father’s house (Matt. 21:12-13). He rebuked Peter: “Get behind Me, Satan!” He said. “You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matt. 16:23) In Luke 9, He rebuked the unclean spirit (9:41b-43), rebuked unbelief (9:37-41a) rebuked the disciples’ inability to understand His impending betrayal (9:44-45), rebuked pride in the disciples (9:46-48) , rebuked intolerance in the disciples (9:49-50) and rebuked racial bigotry in the disciples (9:51-56). And in Revelation we read: “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Rev. 3:19).

The Apostle Paul, fired up with the Spirit of God, rebuked Peter. He said in Gal 2:11, 14: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed and in verse 14: But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Mrs Eddy felt how important it is to always come from the Mind of Christ in our speech and actions including our rebukes. Because if the latter is not done out of Love it would mean nothing! She demanded this of her workers. And God demands this of us today. Over the platform in the Mother Church Extension is this Bible verse: 11 Tim 4: 2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” And from Science and Health p. 452:12-15, When error confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explanation which destroys error. Never breathe an immoral atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it.”

Rebuke with the right sense of Love is a saving grace! It has helped me. If I love God enough I should be on guard myself to allow error no chance to enter my consciousness. Should one who is awake detect error and rebuke it, I should humbly take it as my warning to get to the right side quickly to destroy any lurking error.

I am so grateful for the faithful servants, who unlike “unfaithful stewards,” can discern the danger and love enough to give a warning!

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Blind Acceptance Inadequate (an excerpt)

Herbert W. Eustace

The average mortal, Christian or pagan, acknowledges in his own way, that there is a supreme something which he calls God. The Christian, if asked, would probably answer at once, “Of course there is a God.”

In times of stress, however, when the opposite of that which he means by God, good, presents itself as real, he has no means of combating the apparent reality of evil, because he does not understand why God is: hence he falters, and too often falls a victim to evil in one of its various forms, whether it be limitation, sickness, sin or death.

A mere sense of or belief in God is really of no permanent help or value. When most needed, it does not stand the test. A blind acceptance of God will never completely satisfy. Reason must be satisfied in order to bring the certain knowledge that there is God. Because mathematicians have proved the laws governing numbers, this does not prove them for you. It does, however, beckon you on to prove them for yourself.

The mathematician’s understanding is not yours, until you yourself understand mathematics. Thus, in like manner, you must also settle each point in Christian Science for yourself.

You must arrive at the point where it would make no difference to you if there were not another Christian Scientist in the world. You must so understand Christian Science, and its truth must be so vital to you that you would be satisfied to be the only Christian Scientist, if that were necessary. …

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God With Us

Edward A. Kimball

Try to be conscious that God is with you every moment; and in the seemingly dark hours when error screams to be heard and would tempt you to your destruction, faint not, and know that man is governed alone by God, and Truth is the only voice to be heard.

The past is a lie; there is no truth in anything that is claiming to have happened. There is, and has been, and always will be, only the eternal now. Remember only the good, then you will be communing with God, and harmony will be the inevitable result.

Take courage from every experience, and power will be yours. Go on, dear friends, and prove that you are the children of Him who cares for His own. Be faithful to Principle in all you say and do, and success will be yours.

Christian Science brings to light immortality. When error appears, it appears to disappear. Mentally cling to God, Good, to the true idea about the false claim, and this will save you from error.

The law of God is the only law that exists. Declare against any power of evil being ordained for you. Release your own career, routine, and destiny from any and all entanglements of evil law. If pressed into the corner of adversity and you do not know which way to turn, go on. Utter God’s word; declare it faithfully, knowing it cannot turn unto itself void. The coming of deliverance is an inevitable event, even if it seems delayed, for right thought must manifest itself.

Be happy at all times and in all places; for remember it is your right and a duty you owe yourself and to your God to retain that right, no matter how loudly the senses scream. Depression belongs not to the child of God neither is it real, nor can it affect one when his motives are right.

Be faithful to Principle in all you say and do, and success will be yours.

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Exit Matter

Peter V. Ross

So you weary of the endless and for the most part meaningless argument about the unreality of matter. Well, the issue has been wrestled with and disposed of by the keen thinkers of every age. They tell us that matter is a misunderstanding of substance. With keener vision, they promise, we will discover that Spirit and matter are but different aspects of reality, the one true, the other false. Enlightenment therefore will terminate the debate and bring into view the exclusiveness, the substantiality, the permanence of Spirit.

Everyone concedes that matter is not the hard, heavy, static stuff it appears. Some speak of it as energy and others as mortal mind. In either case it is motion so slowed down as to become visible. It is the way realities appear to inadequate physical sense.

What we call matter then is mental. It is a limited sense of things—a sense of things as crude, dense, expendable. In this misunderstanding lie all restriction and suffering. Whereas Spirit is unrestricted, imponderable, impalpable, and permanent. In this actuality lies the truth which makes men free.

Faith, hope, charity, and with them the innumerable other spirituals, abide, do they not? While doubt, turmoil, infirmity, and with them the other hosts of clay, disintegrate and disappear with the march of time.

Some people think of the Creator as a person, ever-present and unlimited of course. Others think of Him as Spirit. But there is no essential difference, perhaps, between Spirit and infinite Person. Both are omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient—the commonly accepted measure of Deity.

You will be interested here in the reasoning of Abraham Rihbany: “Whether God is personal or not depends upon our knowledge of what personality is. If we mean by a person an individual of bounded dimensions (an erroneous conception of personality), then God is not personal. But if personality is self-conscious being, with all its attributes of intelligence, will, emotions, and purpose—finite in man, infinite in God—then God is personal … To me God is personal in the truest sense of the word.”

Venturesome William Blake puts forth the assurance: “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.”

While Walt Whitman, with his usual optimism, boldly affirms: “I do not doubt I am limitless, and that the universes are limitless, in vain I try to think how limitless.”

When we concede that the Creator is Spirit, logic immediately insists that creation must be spiritual. If human sense, on the contrary, sees a material universe, we have a right to suspect that human sense entertains a wrong concept of things. This mistaken concept is all there is to matter, and it is the purpose of idealism to change and correct that concept in order, not that things shall be destroyed, but that they shall be discerned in their true light.

To change from a material to a spiritual concept of the universe does not destroy the universe, nor anything in it, but it makes the universe, and all contained therein, more real, permanent, and beautiful. To exchange the physical idea of man for the spiritual does not put man out of existence, but brings into view his real selfhood as perfect and immortal.

It is this man, and really there is no other, that we affirm is immune to disease and the other ravages of materiality and mortality. When you insist, from year to year, that you are this sort of man, the heaviness and afflictions of so-called mortal existence will recede. Eventually they will fade out under the blaze of intelligent thinking.

At first thought the unreality of matter may have little point to the man in pain. Someone may smartly say to him: “The body, you know, is made of the same elements that a wagon wheel is made of. How then can it tire or hurt? Indeed the body is matter and matter is not, so you have no body anyway.”

Now no one, whether at ease or in distress, wants to be rid of his body. What he wants is a better body than the one he appears to have, a body in rapport with good health and all that that implies. He would like to know how to obtain it.

The body is a human concept. It is therefore mental. This is why it rises or falls with the individual’s thought. Accurate and generous thinking therefore is the source of the ideal body which neither hurts, hampers, nor boasts. Improve your thinking and you improve your body, indeed your whole being. Put emphasis steadfastly on the salubrious, the imperishable, the beautiful, the magnanimous; in the same instant rejecting the sickly, the fearsome, the oppressive, the mean. In this mood you live in Spirit and Spirit lives in you. This looks toward the millennium.

When it is recognized that the human body is essentially mental, it becomes at once apparent that a change in thought effects a change in the body, and this even to the extent of what we call a physical or structural change in some organ or member.

This is precisely what metaphysics is accomplishing in its healing ministry. By substituting in consciousness an understanding of health in place of a belief in sickness, a knowledge of soundness instead of an illusion of decomposition, a realization of symmetry in lieu of a supposition of deformity, metaphysics is bringing about an improvement in health, not to mention morale. Hence it is that metaphysics takes the radical position that matter is unreal, and if it did less, metaphysics would have little to offer beyond what already has been offered in the way of relief for suffering humanity.

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For those Watching

WATCHING versus WATCHING OUT

Comment on an editorial which appeared in the Christian Science Sentinel, September 23, 1905

Our Lord and Master left to us the following sayings as living lights in our darkness: “What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37); and, “If the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” (Luke 12:39).

Here we ask: Are Christ’s teachings the true authority for Christian Science? They are. Does the textbook of Christian Science, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” read on page 252, “A knowledge of error and of its operations must precede that understanding of Truth which destroys error, until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears, and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit, is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his Maker”? It does. If so-called watching produces fear or exhaustion and no good results, does that watch accord with Jesus’ saying? It does not. Can watching as Christ demands harm you? It cannot. Then should not “watching out” mean, watching against a negative watch, alias, no watch, and gaining the spirit of true watching, even the spirit of our Master’s command? It must mean that.

Is there not something to watch in yourself, in your daily life, since “by their fruits ye shall know them,” which prevents an effective watch? Otherwise, wherefore the Lord’s Prayer, “Deliver us from evil”? And if this something, when challenged by Truth, frightens you, should you not put that out instead of putting out your watch? I surely should. Then are you not made better by watching? I am. Which should we prefer, ease or dis-ease in sin? Is not discomfort from sin better adapted to deliver mortals from the effects of belief in sin than ease in sin? and can you demonstrate over the effects of other people’s sins by indifference thereto? I cannot.

The Scriptures say, “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14), thus taking the name of God in vain. Ignorance of self is the most stubborn belief to overcome, for apathy, dishonesty, sin, follow in its train. One should watch to know what his errors are; and if this watching destroys his peace in error, should one watch against such a result? He should not. Our Master said, “He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me . . . and he that loseth his life [his false sense of life] for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10: 38, 39.)

from Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy

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Watching to Receive the Christ Spirit

Peter - 02/26/2013

I usually think of watching as looking out for the devil.

But the parable of servants watching with lights burning to let their Lord in immediately when he comes home from the wedding — this is about something more than watching for error. It’s about being on watch for Christ.

Is the lesson that in order to receive the blessing, we must watch for it? Or is it that if we are not in a state of watchfulness, not only will we allow incursions of the devil, but we will also miss the Christ message? It shows that if I’m in a passive state, I have to rouse myself to a state of watchfulness before the declarations of Truth have any effect.

Every week the Forum on PlainfieldCS.com has the best new metaphysical discussions relating not only to our weekly Lessons, but all of Life! We welcome everyone to share in an environment filled with Love and authentic Christian Science and free of self-righteousness and preaching!

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Personal sense wars with the watcher

Tony Moore

It is important not to outline specifically what good results you expect from God during a watch. What is wrong with expecting good? Expecting results through prayer is important. But painting a mental picture or visualizing the outcome or asking God to do something specific isn’t Science. Personal sense is the problem. It isn’t divine and cannot know the infinite ways and means God works. Personal sense would limit the divine. It leads to discouragement and ultimately a loss of spiritual sense.

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him” (Psalms 62). We must remain open to God and His unlimited idea. Peace on earth is a right idea and a righteous prayer for a watcher, but specifically outlining in the watch HOW God will adjust and preserve harmony is unscientific. Much will be accomplished by generically knowing and demanding that “Love is reflected in love” (S&H).

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9). This is the law of the universe! I can work with the law without specifically praying for a political agenda. God works in mysterious ways. It is enough for us to know the Truth and hold that shining light up for the world during the darkest hours.

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We are a hummin’!

Andrew - 02/25/2013

Between this superb lesson on watching and the Daily Watch, the importance of this individual responsibility will sink in a little more. Because the mainline churches and Boston-centered CS churches do not recognize this profound duty given by Christ Jesus himself, and emphasized by Mary Baker Eddy - so clearly laid out in this lesson - SHOWS WITH THE RESOUNDING AUTHORITY OF CHRIST, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, FOR WHY ELSE WOULD THE DEVIL BELITTLE IT SO EFFECTIVELY IN THE CHURCHES!!!

Response

A T M - 02/25/2013

The Truth contained in the Carpenter books is an affront to the hypocrisy of the B.O.D.’s. Is it any surprise that they went after Plainfield’s copies of his book ‘ Spiritual Precepts?’

Do you think if Jesus was here today he would have looked at the magnificent buildings in Boston surrounding the reflecting pool and original edifice and made his prophecy about the falling of the human temple the B.O.D. have erected?

Response

MaryBeth - 02/26/2013

“Mrs. Eddy once told her household: ‘If I should be taken from you, the students will have to do a great deal of work for the universal welfare, to make up for what I have done,’” (excerpted from “The Healer”) Do I “discern the signs of the times”? Am I willing to “take up arms against error at home and abroad”? Do I see and feel the danger looming in the horizon and already making inroads all around us? What else in my life is more important than this work?! I ask this of myself often. As was stated in last week’s featured article by Mrs. Eddy on “Obedience” - “Never absent from your post, never off guard, never ill-humored, never unready to work for God, - is obedience.” This obedience is what keeps us “hummin.”!

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Mrs. Eddy’s home

MaryBeth - 03/03/2013

Just to emphasize the great importance Mrs. Eddy placed on watching in her own home - she and her household watched every morning from 9am to 10am; there was another afternoon Watch done in unity from 3pm to 4 pm and another done in the evening from 8pm to 9pm. During the late night hours an individual Watch time was assigned to her students, each watching for an hour until dawn (Spiritual Footsteps).

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The Special Team Watch

The Special Team Watch was established because of the urgent need to see Principle operate in DC - focused on our Federal Government which appears to be under severe attack. We will have a Watch Forum where you may share what you have found useful, as you have been doing through email with me - I will include your submissions below until we get our Watch Forum up and running:

TRUE POLITICS: True politics is the manifestation of the government of Mind. It is the orderly operation of Principle; that whereby the law of Principle is known. The negation, which must be reversed, is the give and take of human belief, trying to have its own way. This false sense is hypnotism. (Herbert Eustace - “Clear Correct Teaching,” p. 291)

“it isn’t possible that my country, or the government of the United States, can fall into the hands of any hierarchy, for every hierarchy is error, and is destined to destruction; never can any so-called hierarchy gain the ascendancy in my beloved country, that is governed by the Almighty God.” (Bicknell Young)

“Life, God, is perpetually and peacefully in operation throughout your system, without interference at any point.” (Peter V. Ross)

“God is ever-present in our nation. All in public office are subject to the Laws of God and thus act responsibly in their support of “Justice for All”. All members of Congress and the President—the executive and the representative offices of the government– will act in accord with Divine Principle. No malpractice can disrupt or disturb this Truth.” - And Miscellany 220: 14-23.

Prayer of the Watchers

The effect of this prayer is not reversed. God, good, reigns; there is no other mind. Love reigns, there is no hatred, no envy, no revenge. All things are working together for good to those that love good. We do love good, God and He gives us all our thoughts, motives, and governs all our acts. The divine Life preserves our life and health and they cannot be taken from Christian Scientists and Christian Scientists cannot be made sinful. We love God and God loves us and is guiding us every moment. This prayer cannot be reversed. This prayer bears fruit after its own kind, it does good, it blesses us and all others. (From: Collectanea p.57 By Mary Baker Eddy)

God’s Protection

God is in control and governs all the functions of City of Kingman. His guiding Hand is a steadfast rock upon which the functions of City of Kingman, the State of AZ, and our United States of America can readily rely. Every function of our Country, the State of AZ, and the city of Kingman is supported by the ever-present God. His protecting Arm surrounds our city, our state, and our country. Joyous progress is achieved. Nothing can interfere with our ever-present God.

Our Freedom

God governs our nation. All our brothers are subject to God and cannot be separated from His love and comfort. Animal magnetism cannot separate any child of God from the joy, peace, and comfort of freedom. Nothing can infringe upon the freedom so necessary for pure Christian Science to grow and prosper.

My. 282:3-8 - I believe strictly in the Monroe doctrine, in our Constitution, and in the laws of God. While I admire the faith and friendship of our chief executive in and for all nations, my hope must still rest in God, and the Scriptural injunction, — “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines Government: (n.) The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government.

Providence: Acts 24:2, a superintending and forecasting care. The providence of God upholds and governs every created thing. Its operation is coextensive with the universe, and as unceasing as the flow of time. All his attributes are engaged in it. He provideth for the raven his food, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing. The Bible shows us all nature looking up to him and depending upon him, Job 38:41; Psalm 104:1-35; 145:15, 16; 147:8-9; and uniformly declares that every occurrence, as well as every being, is perfectly controlled by him. There is no such thing as chance in the universe; “the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord,” Proverbs 16:23. Not a sparrow, nor a hair of the head, falls to the ground without his knowledge, Isaiah 14:26-27; Matthew 10:29-30; Acts 17:24-29. Nothing that was not too minute for God to create, is too minute for him to preserve and control. The history of each man, the rise and fall of nations, and the progress of the church of Christ, reveal at every step the hand of Him who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

The attempt of evil to change America from individualism to collectivism, and all that goes with that theory, is destined to failure. The breath of America is freedom, which means individualism.

To surrender its Pilgrim heritage, would be to sell the birthright of America. But this can never be done for it is America.

Mrs. Eddy emphasizes individualism thus: “Is not a man metaphysically and mathematically number one, a unit, and therefore a whole number, governed and protected by his divine Principle, God?” (Pulpit and Press by Mary Baker Eddy, page 4:7.)

This individualism, this oneness is America. (Christian Science, Its “Clear, Correct Teaching” by Eustace, p. 366)

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Science in Action

I did not grow up in Christian Science, but came to it as an adult when in a city without family, trying to raise our son. Step by step one learns in this science, and most recently I want to express gratitude for an increased understanding of God’s ever-presence, our complete inseparability from Him all the time. Having tried for a long time, recently I was able to make a new endeavor to be always with God as He is with me, my constant companion, not just when I had a specific need. In the beginning of this renewed intention I was a little perplexed at simply being with Him, hanging out, without asking for anything, but I was deeply grateful and lovingly aware of the great blessing, and am of course endeavoring to continue in this path.

I have also recently experienced a fuller understanding of the body, as explained in Christian Science. Rather suddenly the door has opened for me to the fact that my body is spiritual, not material. Pain I may seem to experience, I now understand to be belief, nothing more, because my body is the spiritual outline of being, my true identity, and it is perfect in the Father. One of the many writings that Plainfield has at last made available again by one of the great early workers, Rev. G. A. Kratzer, “Let Your Conversation be in Heaven,” I had read over and over for quite a long time, but suddenly it reached me. He speaks of the “subtle error … Christian Science students sometimes fall into while treating themselves. They make their declarations of harmony and perfection of the spiritual man, but are watching the body ‘out of the corners of their eyes,’ to see whether the treatment is taking effect, thus implicity admitting that there is a material, as well as a spiritual man.” I recognize this as the former me. He explains, “There is in Science no material body to be healed. What appears as such, is simply one of the phases of false belief.” Any pains, “are to be recognized as complaints of false material sense, of which the body itself is a part.” This new understanding is very freeing, since it is now easier to leave my body out of my thought. I am continually grateful.

I would like to share a testimony I heard some time ago that really impressed me. At each testimony meeting, a lady would get up and express gratitude for everything — for the church, the service, the testimonies, the sidewalk, the curb, the grass, the trees — the list of things she was grateful for was almost endless. A number of the church members objected — not to her, but in the form of gossip.

One evening the lady stood up and gave a healing message for all and stated, “I wish to express my gratitude for Christian Science.” She paused a moment and then added, “It has healed me of cancer.” There was silence. Just by being grateful, she was healed of cancer. She said the practitioner had suggested that she be grateful for everything she could think of, and she was.

The teachings in this church, which are so clear, have turned my life around. For a long time I was living overseas, a seemingly fabulous lifestyle. When people came to visit me they would say, “Oh, you live in this wonderful place, you have this perfect job, you’ve got this great apartment and this cute little car”—and my life just seemed so perfect from the outside! And yet I was often feeling miserable, and though I’d always stuck with Christian Science, I had gone astray and I wasn’t being obedient to God. But I knew in my heart (even though I’d put myself through hell, through my own poor choices) that Christian Science was, indeed, the way. I went on the Internet to find answers, searching night after night, until I eventually found the Plainfield Church. It changed my life.

I started listening to the services online, and then I came to Plainfield for a Wednesday night service that was amazing — I could literally feel the veil being lifted — and I joined that evening! And that was 12 years ago. It’s been a long, hard path because a lot of healing of my life needed to take place. I needed to get on track. But within five years things started happening. I met my husband, I moved back to the U.S., and my life back home and all that I’m learning in this church has been exactly what I needed.

I love this church, the interaction, how we can participate through the Bible Study, the Roundtables, and the website. We have excellent practitioner help. I cannot be grateful enough for the strong teaching going on here. And I’m even sharing Christian Science with friends and people I know. For some reason, I had never dared to do that in the past! So I’m truly grateful, and I want to thank God and Mrs. Eddy, this church and Jesus Christ for the total transformation of my life. It’s been a long time coming.

I’m grateful to be working with a practitioner from the Plainfield Church. I have so much to be grateful for.

A couple years ago, my business partner and I felt the need to make a major change in our business.

Soon after, two companies approached us about acquiring our business and our working for them. Each of the two proposals looked very promising and were consistent with what we thought our business needed.

I called a practitioner from the Plainfield church for help with this and was told in no uncertain terms that the only reason for doing anything different with our business was for spiritual growth. I was told that my only legitimate employment was to serve God and that I should not have any preconceived notions about human employment, nor should I let human history define me.

Well, in our conversations with each company, it became clear that one of these situations would be a perfect fit for both of us. Even though their office was in New York City, they would allow me to continue to work in my New Jersey office most of the time and remain close to home and to do the church work which had become very important to me.

Last week we completed our sale to this company and everyone is very happy. I think what I am most grateful for is to see God at work in the whole thing. Being reminded that the only purpose was for spiritual growth helped me through many difficult times with our negotiations. It kept the whole experience in God’s hands and I am certain that is why it worked out as well as it did.

I am so grateful for the help I received from the practitioner. I am grateful for Christian Science, which teaches that spiritual growth is one thing that matters.

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Letters

I discovered your website last weekend. I have already shared it with a friend, but most importantly I want to thank you from the heart. I feel like this is what I have been searching for for years. I was raised under the Boston model. I left my branch church years ago and felt so isolated and guilty but could not turn back. I am grateful for your courage, vision and honesty. I spend hours a day exploring your website as a starving person would devour food. I appreciate the time, thought, and care that goes into all you do. It is amazing! I will soon be ordering the periodicals.

God bless you all.

The constant reminders from Plainfield — shared through weekly Lessons, Roundtable discussions, and various readings — that I am only to please God and no one else, have been a true blessing to me. After practicing the habit of pleasing, or trying to please, people for many, many years, it has been most liberating to learn that this is not only unnecessary, but wrong in every way. Making the consistent effort to ensure that I am not aiming to please anyone (man) is requiring me to draw closer to God each day with earnest intent to be obedient to His direction alone. Doing so has helped me gain, and will help me to maintain, my true freedom, and for this I am eternally grateful.

Though I may be many miles away, I feel close to this community. It is like a family, although I have never seen anyone. I love the testimonies, especially that the promises of God are real and for us to use. In reality, there is only one power.

Thank you so much for the article called, “Never Give In.” It was right there when I needed it. When the events in my life become so disorderly that I begin to feel like giving up, it is reassuring to know that I must persist, because good could be right around the corner.

I am very grateful for finding this church and to be learning how to handle animal magnetism more and more. I have learned here and with the help of a Plainfield practitioner the importance of uncovering error in order to heal any problem. I have been learning also how to handle anger, ingratitude, and uncertainty. It has given me the opportunity to clear many old set positions and let God shine through.

I am so grateful to participate in the Bible Study group, and also the Roundtable. Thank you all for what you are doing.

I feel comforted by the Wednesday services. It is like a warm, loving family gathering. Thanks to all of you.

Thank you for all the vital activities of this church, including the study sessions, services, worldwide outreach on the website, and also for the unity watches in this church, bringing everyone together in the power and presence of God.

Each day when I wake I thank God for all my blessings, and that certainly includes Plainfield.

The reading of the First Edition of Science and Health in the Wednesday evening service was wonderful. The First Edition is dynamite! I am so grateful to belong to a church that has the wisdom and courage to put it before the public.

In a recent Roundtable discussion it was discussed how important it is to become like little children as we approach the challenges that face us in our lives. If we fall down, we need to get right back up and be joyous in our efforts.

Please find enclosed our contribution to all the activities of this church, as part of our regular tithing. We are blessed to be able to attend church online. The teachings in this church are priceless! Thank you and God bless.

Thank you for all that you are doing for Christian Science and for the world. The Plainfield Church is like a beacon of light, radiating Love out to the world in need.

Please find enclosed my monthly contribution.

Thank you for recommending reading the article “Definition of Intelligence” by Martha Wilcox. It has really expanded my understanding of what God is!

I just started attending the Bible study on Saturday mornings. What an eye-opener! It makes the Lesson come alive, and I understand better what is behind the Lesson and the spirituality contained in them.

I requested a Quarterly, but received so much more! It was gratifying to read the citations and the other literature to see how beautifully you are doing.

Please send me The Greatest Thing in the World, by Henry Drummond. My check is enclosed.

There is a lot of honesty, joy, and insight during the weekly Bible Study and the Sunday Rountable. I am so happy to have found a living Christian Science that heals.

Greetings to all the dear members of this church, who are faithfully carrying out the Cause of Christian Science to the world. It is a joy to work along with you all.

Enclosed is a contribution for this very important work.

I’d like to thank Joseph in the U. K. for recording the Bible Lessons. I have listened many times in recent months, especially while driving or taking a walk. It is a wonderful supplement to reading the Lesson. Thank you for this gift.

The Sunday Roundtable classes are great and the duets sung on Sunday morning services make me smile. I find myself clapping after them as the congregation sometimes does. My wife thought I was a bit crazy for doing this, but then I explained to her that Plainfield is truly a worldwide church, and just because I am not in there in a physical sense, I am in spirit, as so many other members from the world are every Sunday.

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Original Music

“A long time ago, though it’s like yesterday”

original lyrics by Peter Kidd

A long time ago, was it just yesterday,

I had an idea of the way things should be.

You might call them dreams or you may call them prayers,

Either way, it was all about me.

So I planted seeds in the usual way

And I watered them daily with blood, sweat and tears.

A few shoots of green would come up, and I’d think:

“This is it”! it went this way for years.

But each shoot would decay in a week and a day;

There was something amiss with the soil.

When I’d suffered enough, I turned from the earth,

And that was the day of rebirth

For soon, don’t you know, something started to grow

Unexpectedly, I couldn’t claim any credit

For it was so pure and so beautifully good.

It had only begun when I let it,

And it happened exactly the way God said it would.

And now it’s unfolding in ways bright and new.

And if it can happen for me, it can happen for you.

For soon, don’t you know, something started to grow

Unexpectedly, I couldn’t claim any credit

For it was so pure and so beautifully good.

It had only begun when I let it,

And it happened exactly the way God said it would.

If you want to hear Peter’s excellent music that he and Faith have been performing, the best way is live in the church! If that isn’t possible we have a lot of their music at SoundCloud ready to listen to for free.

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Final Thought

A Treatment for Every Day

Mary Baker Eddy

1. Every time you declare you are perfect in God, there goes through the body a health giving power.
   When you realize this truth of truths, that you are now, not will be perfect in God, without a single doubt, wonderful changes will come to pass.
   But let me urge you, however difficult it may seem, to declare times without number, that you are perfect, joyful, triumphant and complete.


2. Say often: God is my strength. God is my life. God is my health and understanding.


3. You have dominion in Him over the world, the flesh and the devil, a dominion that is omnipotent – your life is in Him. No power can bind you. God is the only life, Spirit is the only substance, Love is the only cause, harmony is the only law, now is the only time.


4. This is God’s spiritual household; nothing can enter to annoy or destroy, to manifest sin, sickness or discouragement; for God fills this household with perfect love and peace, and governs every member of it.


5. There can be no willpower, obstinacy nor animal magnetism to darken the atmosphere of any home, for God indeed dwells on earth and governs every event.


6. There is no evil condition of thought that can argue or suggest or make any law to dominate me, or control me, intimidate me or crush me, or bring any evil to pass upon me, or shut out of my consciousness any good.


7. There is no law of failure, no want, no poverty, lack or limitation.


8. There is no law but divine law, which is plenty, abundance, harmony and dominion. There is no mortal mind, or minds, good, bad or indifferent, individual, collective or universal that can touch me or anyone in the radius of my thoughts this day, for God, good governs me and every member of my household with perfect love.


9. Beloved Father-Mother, give me this wisdom to meet the problems that come up today, give me the understanding to deny error. Give me grace to remain silent when it is not necessary to speak.


10. O, Love take me in, give me one Mind, one consciousness; and enable me to love my neighbor as myself. When I cease to judge, criticize or condemn, I begin to make progress.

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