Concentrated study brings fearlessness and confidence

Mark Straub’s testimony titled Safe in a Combat Zone is outstanding in our new book*, giving continuing evidence of Christ-healing. It’s long – pages 184-190.

Marc was a Vietnam War helicopter pilot. He says that he was often “required to fly [his] ship into the middle of raging battles.” He explains that “maintaining my fearlessness, calmness, and confidence during extreme danger was absolutely necessary to my safety, and to help with this I studied the writings of Mary baker Eddy, especially Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, whenever I could. This concentrated study through my tour of duty had a profound effect on the well-being of the crew members and passengers on my ship, as well as on me.”

Marc quotes The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany, 210: 2-4, 7 -- Mrs. Eddy’s advice to students:

...keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. ...Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited. 

Marc’s demonstration is wonderful. He emphasises that he read Science and Health whenever there was an opportunity.

The book’s record includes a testimony from his wife Judy, as well as some up-to-date (2024) comments from him. A very fine record indeed. A must read!

Oh! How we can learn from the dear ones who submit their testimonies to the Christian Science periodicals!

One of my nephews was a helicopter mechanic in Vietnam. I was interested to read that Marc lastly flew with the Royal Australian Navy/US Army Aviation, known as the 134^th Assault Helicopter Company. This was not where my nephew Paul served because he was in the Air Force.

Joyce Voysey

*Christian Science: continuing evidence of Christ-healing - available from Christian Science Reading Rooms

Devouring CS Sentinels and Journals

One of the joys of my early days as a student of Christian Science was in the availability of free Christian Science Sentinels and Journals. I devoured them. There was a tall rack in the foyer of the church and at that time I was probably the biggest borrower.

 

Most, if not all, of the articles and testimonies included quotes from the Bible or the works of Mary Baker Eddy (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and Prose Works). They gave me ammunition with which to work in handling the problems which came up. My knowledge of our textbooks was very limited as a new student, so these quotes provided much enlightenment.

 

For instance, one of my daughters was in distress on her bed. My husband and I went to her. He went off to fetch a damp cloth to put on her head. I declared, “There is no fear in Love; but perfect Love casteth out fear” (I John 4: 18 (to :)). I had certainly read many reports of healing through knowing that mighty truth.

 

The problem had been a stiffening of her whole body, and I reasoned that it seemed she was “scared stiff.” And that Bible truth made her free.

 

I was reminded of all this on reading my daily testimony from our book on the Continuing Evidence of Christ Healing where David Taillefer (see pages 145-148) seriously injured his thumb and nail. He tells of in-depth study of a copy of the Christian Science Sentinel the night before. He had been left with three quotes, all from Science and Health.

 

The first one: 

   “You must control evil thoughts in the first instance, or they will control you in the second” (p.234). 

The second: 

   “Banish the belief that you can possibly entertain a single intruding pain which cannot be ruled out by the might of Mind, and in this way you can prevent the development of pain in the body. No law of God hinders this result” (p. 391). 

And the third: 

   “Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God’s government. Have no fear that matter can ache, swell, and be inflamed as the result of a law of any kind, when it is self-evident that matter can have no pain nor inflammation” (p.393).

I am sure the reader will want to read how Mr. Taillefer used these truths.

Joyce Voysey

Encircled by Love

If there is any possibility of a testimony being perfect, it seems to me that Kristen Hills' one beginning page 103 of our December book Christian Science: Continuing Evidence of Christ-Healing could claim that accolade.

 

Her son Sam was a teenager studying at Principia College. (This is presumption from his testimony which is added to his mother's which gives his address as Elsah, Illinois.)  

 

Sam was on a rock-climbing expedition hours away from the camp when he was bitten by a rattle-snake.  His companions were a group of 13 to 15 year-olds, and there were counsellors in the party.

 

I love this: "He told me that the campers and counsellors present at the time of the incident had circled around him, and everyone was calm.  He had felt their confident prayers."

 

Kristen had early on been encouraged by a hymn in the Christian Science Hymnal (#53):

Everlasting arms of Love

Are beneath, around, above;

God it is who bears us on,

His the arm we lean upon.

 

Kristen adds, "I was struck by the fact that, as my son mentions below, the poison never seemed to circulate through his system.  It was as though that encircling of God's protection and loving care acted as a tourniquet."

 

I hope readers of this blog can get to read this outstanding testimony for themselves.  All the testimonies are outstanding really.

Joyce Voysey