Changes

 

===Topic: ''Regarding Free Will''===

DATE: June 26, 2005

===Group: [[Rio Rancho TeaM]]===

LOCATION: Rio Rancho, NM

 

 

TOMAS: This is Tomas. Good afternoon.

TOMAS: This is Tomas. Good afternoon.

Group: Greetings, Tomas

Group: Greetings, Tomas

 

Necessity for Prayer

*Necessity for Prayer

TOMAS: There is need today, as no other, for prayer. We have had this discussion before and it is so easy for you to forget such elementals. It is as if some of you were to regard such an act as a ritual and a part of a service or custom rather than an opportunity to invite the Spirit of the Father into your conscious environment. Without Father, it is impossible for any of us to do anything. None of us exist without the Father. It is also true than none of us can function without His infinite grace and upholding power.

TOMAS: There is need today, as no other, for prayer. We have had this discussion before and it is so easy for you to forget such elementals. It is as if some of you were to regard such an act as a ritual and a part of a service or custom rather than an opportunity to invite the Spirit of the Father into your conscious environment. Without Father, it is impossible for any of us to do anything. None of us exist without the Father. It is also true than none of us can function without His infinite grace and upholding power.

Knowing that You, infinite Father, know the end from the beginning and have us all in the palm of Your hand, we relinquish our hold on our perceptions long enough to seek Your counsel, to ask Your blessing, and to avail ourselves of Your guidance. Help us to remember that guidance from You, Father, is not inherently a part of the ways of the world, but is a part inherently of the ways of the Spirit.

Knowing that You, infinite Father, know the end from the beginning and have us all in the palm of Your hand, we relinquish our hold on our perceptions long enough to seek Your counsel, to ask Your blessing, and to avail ourselves of Your guidance. Help us to remember that guidance from You, Father, is not inherently a part of the ways of the world, but is a part inherently of the ways of the Spirit.

 

Strife and Contention

*Strife and Contention

I see such strife and contention among you. And it is a sorrow that you experience this; however, it is like the labor pains of delivery that give birth to a new life. The entire planet is undergoing horrific stress as it attempts to birth a new dispensation. It is bigger than national politics, you see, although national politics certainly contribute mightily to the discordance. Even religious differences, as destructive as they are inclined to be in these early stages of planetary development, are not the problem, nor are they a reflection on the growth that is coming about. But they, like the nations, will be heavily impacted by this rebirth of the spirit on Urantia.

I see such strife and contention among you. And it is a sorrow that you experience this; however, it is like the labor pains of delivery that give birth to a new life. The entire planet is undergoing horrific stress as it attempts to birth a new dispensation. It is bigger than national politics, you see, although national politics certainly contribute mightily to the discordance. Even religious differences, as destructive as they are inclined to be in these early stages of planetary development, are not the problem, nor are they a reflection on the growth that is coming about. But they, like the nations, will be heavily impacted by this rebirth of the spirit on Urantia.

There is a great deal of vying for position … in the kingdom, at the table, or through whatever analogy you like to perceive the sundry separations that occur, as you each seek to find your footing in the quicksand all around you. You have a desire to cling to that which has served you in the past only to discover that it is sinking; you cling to other people, those of like-mind, in the hope that together you can withstand the effects of the seismic wave overtaking you, but this is only a temporary insurance against the effects of preceding causes that must be allowed to work themselves out fully and completely.

There is a great deal of vying for position … in the kingdom, at the table, or through whatever analogy you like to perceive the sundry separations that occur, as you each seek to find your footing in the quicksand all around you. You have a desire to cling to that which has served you in the past only to discover that it is sinking; you cling to other people, those of like-mind, in the hope that together you can withstand the effects of the seismic wave overtaking you, but this is only a temporary insurance against the effects of preceding causes that must be allowed to work themselves out fully and completely.

 

Regarding Nomenclature

*Regarding Nomenclature

This is why such things as nomenclature can become an issue for embattlement. Identity is not subject to nomenclature, but nomenclature is a tool for recognizing certain personality configurations that more often than not in the universe are designated by number and not by name at all because On High there is not the crying need for individualization as there is on such a world as Urantia, in particular among those who have sought and found their identity in the Lord, and this priceless treasure is enough to exalt in their mind the idea of nomenclature as sacrosanct when it is not, it is merely a designation assigned to entities, including yourselves, for assigning certain possibilities and expectations based on purpose, personality and prior experience.

This is why such things as nomenclature can become an issue for embattlement. Identity is not subject to nomenclature, but nomenclature is a tool for recognizing certain personality configurations that more often than not in the universe are designated by number and not by name at all because On High there is not the crying need for individualization as there is on such a world as Urantia, in particular among those who have sought and found their identity in the Lord, and this priceless treasure is enough to exalt in their mind the idea of nomenclature as sacrosanct when it is not, it is merely a designation assigned to entities, including yourselves, for assigning certain possibilities and expectations based on purpose, personality and prior experience.

And believe me, in letting go of the legacy of Lucifer and embracing the will of Our Father, we will encounter yet more seeming tribulations, as there is natural turbulence in the psyche of any man, woman or child who grapples with universe reality in an attempt to break from the egg shell and emerge into the fledgling new life that is promised in the divine design.

And believe me, in letting go of the legacy of Lucifer and embracing the will of Our Father, we will encounter yet more seeming tribulations, as there is natural turbulence in the psyche of any man, woman or child who grapples with universe reality in an attempt to break from the egg shell and emerge into the fledgling new life that is promised in the divine design.

 

Bridging the Chasm

*Bridging the Chasm

It is not difficult for those who live completely in the material world to find comfort and common sense therein. Nor is it difficult for those who live fully within the realm of the spirit. But for those of you who are attempting to bridge this chasm of living in the material world while holding fast to the spiritual ideals and reaching for the fulfillment of your destiny, confusion is bound to be a natural result.

It is not difficult for those who live completely in the material world to find comfort and common sense therein. Nor is it difficult for those who live fully within the realm of the spirit. But for those of you who are attempting to bridge this chasm of living in the material world while holding fast to the spiritual ideals and reaching for the fulfillment of your destiny, confusion is bound to be a natural result.

TOMAS: Are there questions this afternoon, dear ones?

TOMAS: Are there questions this afternoon, dear ones?

 

Regarding Free Will

*Regarding Free Will

 

Thoroah: Yes, I have a question. I don’t very often ask a question, but I had an observation and there are some questions involved so… First, what you said about the free will thing, I was thinking about that the other day and wrote a note to myself to consider what it would be like not to have free will, because I think we can’t quite conceive of what it would be like not to have free will. It is so innate, so much a part of us that if we didn’t have free will, what it would be like? And I think that is worth a lot of consideration for all of us, to give us a feeling of what it is like to have this power to choose! I mean, that is what life is all about!

Thoroah: Yes, I have a question. I don’t very often ask a question, but I had an observation and there are some questions involved so… First, what you said about the free will thing, I was thinking about that the other day and wrote a note to myself to consider what it would be like not to have free will, because I think we can’t quite conceive of what it would be like not to have free will. It is so innate, so much a part of us that if we didn’t have free will, what it would be like? And I think that is worth a lot of consideration for all of us, to give us a feeling of what it is like to have this power to choose! I mean, that is what life is all about!

Certainly no one wants his will usurped by another. No thinking man or woman wants to be told what to do when it curtails their expression. But, of course, this leads to the lesson of sovereignty, that even personal sovereignty must step aside to provide for the sovereignty of the whole, which is in the best interests of the whole, a solution which most people acquiesce to willingly. It is the subjugation of the masses by those in power, which calls for rising up against that misuse of power.

Certainly no one wants his will usurped by another. No thinking man or woman wants to be told what to do when it curtails their expression. But, of course, this leads to the lesson of sovereignty, that even personal sovereignty must step aside to provide for the sovereignty of the whole, which is in the best interests of the whole, a solution which most people acquiesce to willingly. It is the subjugation of the masses by those in power, which calls for rising up against that misuse of power.

 

Response to Suffering

*Response to Suffering

When you see people engaged in battle and it is apparent that neither side is winning, when sorrow abounds and confusion reigns, when self-will runs rampant on all fronts, those who are victims of such Luciferian tactics, those who are hurt (physically, mindally, psychically) in the process, are even so, worthy of compassion for their suffering. A loving being does not take delight in the suffering of others, even those whom logic would portray as being deserving of punishment.

When you see people engaged in battle and it is apparent that neither side is winning, when sorrow abounds and confusion reigns, when self-will runs rampant on all fronts, those who are victims of such Luciferian tactics, those who are hurt (physically, mindally, psychically) in the process, are even so, worthy of compassion for their suffering. A loving being does not take delight in the suffering of others, even those whom logic would portray as being deserving of punishment.

TOMAS: Thank you for asking.

TOMAS: Thank you for asking.

 

Discussion on Capacities

*Discussion on Capacities

It is all well and good to listen to these lessons and allow the seeds to be planted deep in your mind, even to allow these truths to be fertilized by human experience and watered by living love, but we forget – you forget! you who are so often subsumed by the material existence -- and so we review these things as time goes by since it is also true that as evolving beings, as you reach for the spirit, you can assimilate more information as you grow and as your capacity is enlarged.

It is all well and good to listen to these lessons and allow the seeds to be planted deep in your mind, even to allow these truths to be fertilized by human experience and watered by living love, but we forget – you forget! you who are so often subsumed by the material existence -- and so we review these things as time goes by since it is also true that as evolving beings, as you reach for the spirit, you can assimilate more information as you grow and as your capacity is enlarged.

Reneau: Au contraire! Elena gives me good ideas sometimes. She asks questions and that gets my mind to thinking, too, about things, so … she helps formulate things for us.

Reneau: Au contraire! Elena gives me good ideas sometimes. She asks questions and that gets my mind to thinking, too, about things, so … she helps formulate things for us.

 

Influence of Rituals

*Influence of Rituals

Esmeralda: You know, also, one of the things that we missed today, that we did not have, was that moment of silence when we are listening to the music that Elena provides. And I think that helps get our minds focused and usually what she plays has a message in itself and helps us get our minds on a more open plane and yet a quieter, more spiritual level. So we missed that today. And that is probably why we didn’t think about the ritual of the prayer, or the sequence that we usually follow. So, we missed your playing today.

Esmeralda: You know, also, one of the things that we missed today, that we did not have, was that moment of silence when we are listening to the music that Elena provides. And I think that helps get our minds focused and usually what she plays has a message in itself and helps us get our minds on a more open plane and yet a quieter, more spiritual level. So we missed that today. And that is probably why we didn’t think about the ritual of the prayer, or the sequence that we usually follow. So, we missed your playing today.

TOMAS: No. There are definite trends in all creatures of habit, which you are, and good habits do help promote the spirit. Stepping out on behalf of the spirit or your own perception of the spirit is not to be discouraged. We are here to in part enable you to come forth and be all that you can be. Not so that you can swing your free will like a saber, but so that you can learn to lead the fellowship in ways of the spirit. This strengthens you as you begin to realize the power of God works with and through you. You are lifted up in your perception of self. And such self-respect is a gift of God also, since that which is respectable about you is born of the spirit, and supplies the spirit reality and potential of all.

TOMAS: No. There are definite trends in all creatures of habit, which you are, and good habits do help promote the spirit. Stepping out on behalf of the spirit or your own perception of the spirit is not to be discouraged. We are here to in part enable you to come forth and be all that you can be. Not so that you can swing your free will like a saber, but so that you can learn to lead the fellowship in ways of the spirit. This strengthens you as you begin to realize the power of God works with and through you. You are lifted up in your perception of self. And such self-respect is a gift of God also, since that which is respectable about you is born of the spirit, and supplies the spirit reality and potential of all.

 

I believe we are reaching the saturation point for this afternoon, and I let you go, knowing you are doing well individually in your faith path, even as you needs grapple with many uncomfortable changes and circumstances of the current paradigm of life on your planet. Turn your countenance to the divine Upholder who truly holds you in the palm of His hand, and be at peace within your own soul. Be of good cheer. Amen. Farewell.

I believe we are reaching the saturation point for this afternoon, and I let you go, knowing you are doing well individually in your faith path, even as you needs grapple with many uncomfortable changes and circumstances of the current paradigm of life on your planet. Turn your countenance to the divine Upholder who truly holds you in the palm of His hand, and be at peace within your own soul. Be of good cheer. Amen. Farewell.

Group: Thank you, Tomas.

Group: Thank you, Tomas.