From the Christian Science Sentinel, Jan. 14 & 21, 2008
The following posts are from a recent tmcyouth.com discussion. These selected comments are not republished with the Sentinel’s intent to endorse particular views, but to give a snapshot of current issues young people are thinking and praying about in today’s world.
Danie13
As a Christian Scientist, what kind of movies do you think people should watch? I’ve been wrestling with this question, and any response will be greatly appreciated.
by Keith Wommack
A story from the book of Genesis tells of Jacob’s long night. In part, it says, "Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. … And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. …And he blessed him there." Science and Health explains, "Jacob was alone, wrestling with error, — struggling with a mortal sense of life…."
Jacob’s night reminds me of one of mine. I’d been in the Christian Science healing ministry for five years and was living near a university in a split-level house. My bedroom was on the second story. It had eight floor-to-ceiling windows. It was peaceful—until a fraternity moved into a two-story house nearby.
One night, a party started. A stereo and TV blared on a balcony. The sounds boomed into my bedroom through my closed windows. I prayed, grumbled, tossed, and turned.
Around 4 in the morning, the yelling stopped, but the stereo and TV were still booming. I had had enough. I dressed, walked to the corner, then downhill to the fraternity house, past a car with a young man asleep in the backseat, stepped over two individuals lying in the backyard, and climbed up a trellis to the second-story balcony. I turned off the stereo, unplugged the TV, picked it up, and carried it to my house. I then climbed into bed. Ah, peace and quiet!
by Joe Colliate
This past Christmas I wanted to build a house in Mexico for a poor family. Why? Because last year when I did this with my church I saw how happy and loving the family was as we built their little house in Tijuana. The Christian Science society I attend was a sponsor for this mission trip.
by Melissa Konetchy
Like most North Americans, my Thanksgiving holiday was filled with fun. I enjoyed the family festivities, met some new neighbors, and really tried to show how much I care about each member of my family.
That Saturday night, I babysat for my cousin. I spent some of that time reflecting on some of my many blessings. I also prepared for teaching Sunday School the following day, and wrote my last blog installment. In short, I felt filled with inspiration and gratitude.
by Bobby Whitney
Hello guys.
India has really opened many doors for me. I am starting to have guitar lessons. I was a bit wary at first because the teacher kept on saying “betta, betta.” I thought he was pressuring me to do better. I later found out that “betta” is how Indians greet men! It means “brother.” I’m learning about good communication!
My school is also performing a play called “Bugsy Malone.” It is based on one of my all time favorite movies of the same name. I’ve got quite a big part and I am very excited.
by Matthew Cocks
I think a lot about cities and how to make them better because I’m midway through a PhD in city planning at Liverpool University, England. Also, being a regular reader of Christian Science literature, my thought is also often focused on the Science of the Christ. With these two things mingling in my consciousness, it is inevitable that, from time to time, they bump into each other!
So how can Christian Science help us think about, and more importantly, heal cities?
Well, what are cities? Cities are big, sometimes vast, agglomerations of lives. They are places for people. Places people live, work, play, travel, learn, enjoy, endure, struggle, lose, and win. Cities contain many of the extremes of the human condition. Often chronic poverty and deprivation exist side by side with abundant wealth and well-being. (more…)
by David Evans
On the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC, a new videotape of Osama bin Laden surfaced. In it, he called for a caravan of martyrs to follow the men who carried out those attacks.
A caravan of martyrs to kill themselves and innocent people for some poorly defined and unattainable goal? Uh . . . not for me. But how about a caravan of healers to help people and solve problems? I like that idea. And each one of us can be part of it.
by Susie Rynerson
Sitting in my hostel in Madrid and praying about Church, I asked God what I needed to know. The idea came that Christian Science was already and eternally operative, there in all of Madrid, in all of Spain, and in all the world.
Counting the number of people in Churches of Christ, Scientist might lead one to say that idea doesn’t quite “add up.” But recently, I had been studying the platform of Christian Science, which begins on page 330 of Science and Health. The very first point includes the statement, “Neither God nor the perfect man can be discerned by the material senses. The individuality of Spirit, or the infinite, is unknown, and thus a knowledge of it is left either to human conjecture or to the revelation of divine Science.” (more…)
