Bible Lesson 1/29/17

BIBLE, LOVE, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Love:

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear (Psalm 118).

God--The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1).  God is love. . . .  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear (I John 4).

prayer--Pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6).

the royal law--Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? . . .  He that shewed mercy on him. . . .  Go, and do thou likewise (Luke 10).

healing--Christian scientific practice begins with Christ's keynote of harmony, "Be not afraid!" . . .  If the Scientist reaches his patient through divine Love, the healing work will be accomplished at one visit.  (Eddy, 1906, pp, 410, 365).

teaching--And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?  And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased (Matthew 14).

behold--Behold your God! . . .  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:  he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young (Isaiah 40).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Fucking Pussy Hats

PUSSY, PENIS, RABBLE-ROUSERS, TRUMP

I don't care about millions of fat, ugly women marching through the streets of Amerika with their stupid pussy hats on. I don't care. It doesn't matter to me. I don't like pussy anyway.  I like penis.  I don't care about women's rights.  I care about human rights. Fat, ugly women wearing pussy hats make Donald and Melania look good. Fat, ugly women wearing pussy hats are the reason why Trump got elected, but they don't get it yet. They don't understand how ugly and obnoxious they are to 63 million Amerikan voters in 2,700 counties compared to Clinton's 65 million voters in 420 counties. The 2016 presidential election demonstrated what the electoral college was designed to do, and it worked.  It worked in favor of the country and the common man.

The Democrats are the party of liberal, left-wing extremists; the clinically insane; moochers; secular humanists; atheists; materialists; socialists; anarchists; sexual deviants; malcontents; neo-communists; elitists; intellectuals; entertainers; rich people; educators; earth-worshipers; pagans; activists; rabble-rousers; thugs. Democrats are intolerant, monolithic, elitist, and violent. They agitate against democratic principles all the time. They propound minority rule enforced by a clique of like-minded political theorists determined to rule the masses. They are united by their propensity to tell other people what to do with their lives.

My Online Scrapbook

FACEBOOK, SCRAPBOOK, PUBLIC SQUARE

Facebook has become a repository for me of things that I like, things that my friends might like, things that I want to share. Not that I contribute a lot to it, but some things are too good to pass up. Pictures, songs, thoughts, and experiences. Stuff that means something to me, but not so personal that it intrudes into the public space and wreaks havoc in other people's lives. If I want to wreak havoc, there are better places to do it than Facebook. I believe in respecting other people's sensibilities. No politics. No proselytizing. No arguments and insults. I don't have a problem with religious themes. I'm not averse to sharing my religious sensibility, but I'm not trying to win souls for Christ. I'm not trying to win souls for anyone.

Facebook is a public square where people meet and interact with each other. As such, there are norms of human behavior which ought to be practiced there. I think it should be a positive experience that improves relationships. I use it to collect images, songs, and words that I like and want to remember. Regardless of how many "likes" and comments I generate with my posts, I often return to my timeline to remind myself of the good things in my life. Facebook has become my online scrapbook, which is convenient to share with my friends.

Bible Lesson 1/22/17

BIBLE, TRUTH, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Truth:

I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth (Daniel 10).

Science and Health--Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. . . .  And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up (Revelation 10).

spiritual leaven--The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened (Matthew 13).

Science--The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea (Psalms 93).  And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer:  it is I; be not afraid (Mark 6).

Theology--Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . . .  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 22).

Medicine--The woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth (Mark 5).

Christ--Lo, I come:  in the volume of the book it is written of me. . . .  I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the the great congregation (Psalms 40).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Bible Lesson 1/15/17

BIBLE, LIFE, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Life:

Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.  I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living (Psalms 116).

Science--This Science teaches man that God is the only Life, and that this Life is Truth and Love; that God is to be understood, adored, and demonstrated; that divine Truth casts out suppositional error and heals the sick (Eddy, 1906, pp. 471-472).

God--Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. . . .  O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? (Daniel 6).  Man is immortal and lives by divine authority (Eddy, 1906, p. 76).

understanding--Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. . . .  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her (Proverbs 3). . . .  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3).

apprehension--We apprehend Life in divine Science only as we live above corporeal sense and correct it (Eddy, 1906, p. 167).

accident--The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science (Eddy, 1906, pp. 470-471).

the way--I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14).

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.

Polish the Apple

APPLES, ART, BUSINESS, BLISS

Apples in Paris

I got left behind a long time ago. Being left behind is nothing new to me. I know the story. I get left behind and I have no idea how to catch up. And, it doesn’t matter how hard I try to catch up, I can’t do it. I’m on my own in this old world, spirituality and all. It is one thing to be spiritual, to have spiritual sense; but, it’s another thing to take that spirituality and make a profound connection to the world with it. How many people make a truly profound connection to the world anyway? It isn’t easy to do, and even those who do it don’t always know exactly what it was they did. It isn’t easy to make a profound connection to the world. I used to think that it was simply a matter of expressing Spirit, immersion in Spirit and brotherly love. Spirituality and love are good things, compelling things, but not necessarily aggressive, attention-getting things. They don’t make a big stir. They don’t create a big ruckus. Don’t go into spirituality because you want to change the world. What if the world doesn’t want to change? What if the world resists the kind of change that you have in mind for it? Did you ever think of that?

Does the world’s indifference or rejection of spirituality make Spirit of none effect? Is Spirit’s value to me diminished by the world’s rejection of it? No! How could that be? The world doesn’t set my standard. I don’t have a great life to begin with, but it would be an awful mess if I were governed by the world. I wanted to be more than I am—most people do. Most people want more for their lives than they get. Whose fault is that? Is it even a question of fault? Isn’t it just the way things are? Reality. The nature of things. The way of the world. I might be blessed to find a kernel of contentment in this world, but who cares and why should they? I didn’t seek and find contentment to impress anyone. I did it to save myself. I did it to find a place and space to be in. 

Thank God for writing. What would I do without it? Who would I talk to? Writing is like my best friend. It’s better than sex, and I like sex a lot. I have always tried to protect writing from the world, which is probably why I never succeeded at it. I didn’t sell my soul. I didn’t sell writing to the world, and I have reaped the stark consequences of my parsimony. Life in the world is all about selling something or other. Commerce. Buying and selling. Supply and demand. Success is about reading and responding to markets correctly. Trends. Movements of thought and desire.

Contrary to pop psychology, it isn’t about your bliss. Two tears in a bucket, mother-fuck it. Nobody gives a rat’s ass about your bliss. Which is not to say that your bliss is a bad thing, but just because it’s yours, doesn’t mean other people want to hear about it. Success is all about tapping into the monster and giving it what it wants, regardless of your bliss. You can take your bliss and go beat off with it on the toilet seat, but please don’t be sharing it with me! Give me something that I want. Show me what I want and give it to me. Thank you, baby. You mean I’ve got to pay for it? Oh, OK. Give it to me, baby. That’s what it’s all about.

Photograph:  Elena Dijour/Shutterstock.com

Bible Lesson 1/8/17

BIBLE, RITUAL, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Sacrament:

For we being many are one bread, and one body:  for we are all partakers of that one bread (I Corinthians 10).

Passover--O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Psalms 96).

baptism--Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father (Luke 3).

Eucharist--His true flesh and blood were his Life; and they truly eat his flesh and drink his blood, who partake of that divine Life (Eddy, 1906, p. 25).

morning meal--This spiritual meeting with our Lord in the dawn of a new light is the morning meal which Christian Scientists commemorate (Eddy, 1906, p. 35).

race--Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12).  As time moves on, the healing elements of pure Christianity will be fairly dealt with; they will be sought and taught, and will glow in all the grandeur of universal goodness (Eddy, 1906, p. 329).

Often, when I read the Lesson for the first time, it’s just a lot of words.  But, as the week progresses and I read it again, specific themes and phrases stand out to me in the Bible and Science and Health.  I enjoy this weekly discovery of significant thoughts and modes of expression from our Pastor.

References

Eddy, M. B.  (1906).  Science and health with key to the scriptures.  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Board of Directors.

Holy bible (King James version).  (n. d.).  Boston, MA:  The Christian Science Publishing Society.