Changes

*January 9, 1994

*January 9, 1994

===Opening===

===Opening===

MACHIVENTA MELCHIZEDEK: It is I, Machiventa Melchizedek, to greet you this evening. I enjoy seeing new faces amongst the old. Welcome, friends.  

MACHIVENTA MELCHIZEDEK: It is I, [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]], to greet you this evening. I enjoy seeing new [[faces]] amongst the old. Welcome, [[friends]].  

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

I have not much to say to you this evening, except to let you know how much your endeavors this past week have been appreciated by those of us who watch and counsel you. These acts of service that you render to those less fortunate than yourselves is something that fills not just their needs but fills a need of your own. This is a growing process. Each time you reach out in love to your brothers and sisters, that love is returned from whence it came. The love we see being extended from the hearts of all of your group members is a light that shines forth a very great distance that is seen from our perspective as a fire that started as an ember and is growing into a fiery flame. This fire will be carried by the winds of love across your planet covering much greater distance than you can even dream. I thank you. We thank you. That is all I have to say. I will turn this meeting over now to your esteemed teacher, Will.

I have not much to say to you this evening, except to let you know how much your endeavors this [[past]] week have been [[appreciated]] by those of us who watch and [[counsel]] you. These [[acts]] of [[service]] that you render to those less fortunate than yourselves is something that fills not just their needs but fills a need of your own. This is a [[growing]] [[process]]. Each time you reach out in [[love]] to your [[brothers and sisters]], that love is returned from whence it came. The love we see being extended from the [[hearts]] of all of your group members is a [[light]] that shines forth a very great distance that is seen from our [[perspective]] as a [[fire]] that started as an ember and is growing into a fiery flame. This fire will be carried by the [[winds]] of [[love]] across [[your planet]] covering much greater distance than you can even [[dream]]. I thank you. We thank you. That is all I have to say. I will turn this meeting over now to your esteemed teacher, Will.

Shalom.

[[Shalom]].

WILL: Good evening. It is I, your teacher Will, who loves you.

WILL: Good evening. It is I, your teacher Will, who loves you.

In the coming weeks we shall spend times discussing the traditional Christian churches' values which they have taught you under the rubric of faith, hope and charity. We all know that the Urantia Book is a type of restatement of the truths recorded in your traditional Christian Bible which was brought about by the advancing intellectual and social abilities of your society which spawned new receptivity among people who were formerly incapable of understanding certain of the teachings represented there. The Urantia Book has restated many of the traditional Christian truths in the actual words of the teacher and eliminated the setting and the intent of his actions which were taken in response to the spontaneous events of his life without any direction other than his lifelong policy to follow the will of his Heavenly Father. I will teach you and we will discuss at length that the traditional Christian values of faith, hope and charity might be better described in this time as faith, courage and humility.

In the coming weeks we shall spend times [[discussing]] the [[traditional]] [[Christian]] [[churches]]' [[values]] which they have taught you under the [[rubric]] of [[faith]], [[hope]] and [[charity]]. We all know that the [[Urantia Book]] is a type of restatement of the [[truths]] recorded in your traditional Christian [[Bible]] which was brought about by the advancing [[intellectual]] and [[social]] abilities of your society which spawned new [[receptivity]] among people who were formerly incapable of understanding certain of the teachings represented there. The [[Urantia Book]] has restated many of the traditional [[Christian]] [[truths]] in the actual [[words]] of the teacher and eliminated the setting and the [[intent]] of his [[actions]] which were taken in response to the [[spontaneous]] [[events]] of his life without any direction other than his lifelong [[policy]] to follow the will of his [[Heavenly Father]]. I will teach you and we will [[discuss]] at length that the traditional Christian [[values]] of [[faith]], [[hope]] and [[charity]] might be better described in this [[time]] as [[faith]], [[courage]] and [[humility]].

If the occasion for [[the Master]]'s example arose from [[spontaneous]] day to day [[events]] normal to the ordinary lives of people on [[your planet]], so too will you as individuals and as groups or as subsets of this group also find your measure in the [[opportunities]] which similarly [[spontaneously]] present themselves to you in the [[normal]] [[course]] of [[human]] affairs. Over the past three months a suggestion has been repeatedly presented that perhaps this group has a [[purpose]], not yet clear. I will say that, once again, you've missed the major [[point]] in that the [[purposes]] which we propose for this group could not possibly be limited to one. This group is to serve in many ways. And so, perhaps, it would be profitable for us tonight to review the minimum [[standard]] of performance which we [[expect]] from you.

If the occasion for the Master's example arose from spontaneous day to day events normal to the ordinary lives of people on your planet, so too will you as individuals and as groups or as subsets of this group also find your measure in the opportunities which similarly spontaneously present themselves to you in the normal course of human affairs. Over the past three months a suggestion has been repeatedly presented that perhaps this group has a purpose, not yet clear. I will say that, once again, you've missed the major point in that the purposes which we propose for this group could not possibly be limited to one. This group is to serve in many ways. And so, perhaps, it would be profitable for us tonight to review the minimum standard of performance which we expect from you.

It is neither [[practical]] nor possible to expect to enforce a [[personal]] [[standard]] of performance on the group as a whole. Part of the [[strength]] of this group is the [[variety]] of persons involved. But one of the [[factors]] [[inherent]] in this very variety is shifting availability of [[time]], [[attention]] and [[resources]] to bring to any particular project. Therefore we cannot judge the entire group or the group as a single [[homogeneous]] [[unit]] by the standards that we originally laid down more than two years ago which you may recall were to [[demonstrate]] by your every [[thought]], [[word]] and [[action]] that you understand the teachings demonstrated in [[the life of Jesus]] of Nazareth and you are capable of showing your grasp of those teachings as if he were by your side. That you allow yourselves to [[function]] as conduits for the unimpeded [[flow]] of [[divine]] [[love]] from the [[Heavenly Father]] through you directly to the person with whom you are [[engaged]] and that you do so without any inappropriate deprecations or attempts at [[humor]] thereby discounting the [[experience]]. It is too unwieldy to [[expect]] that any number of people could so [[respond]] to an encounter between yourselves and one or more acquaintances. For this reason I will say that the minimum standard of performance for this [[group]] is simply to continue. To meet and to [[function]] and to serve as an example notwithstanding the continual additions and [[erosions]] of the membership as people come, people go, people lose interest and return. People [[participate]] and hang back.

It is neither practical nor possible to expect to enforce a personal standard of performance on the group as a whole. Part of the strength of this group is the variety of persons involved. But one of the factors inherent in this very variety is shifting availability of time, attention and resources to bring to any particular project. Therefore we cannot judge the entire group or the group as a single homogeneous unit by the standards that we originally laid down more than two years ago which you may recall were to demonstrate by your every thought, word and action that you understand the teachings demonstrated in the life of Jesus of Nazareth and you are capable of showing your grasp of those teachings as if he were by your side. That you allow yourselves to function as conduits for the unimpeded flow of divine love from the Heavenly Father through you directly to the person with whom you are engaged and that you do so without any inappropriate deprecations or attempts at humor thereby discounting the experience. It is too unwieldy to expect that any number of people could so respond to an encounter between yourselves and one or more acquaintances. For this reason I will say that the minimum standard of performance for this group is simply to continue. To meet and to function and to serve as an example notwithstanding the continual additions and erosions of the membership as people come, people go, people lose interest and return. People participate and hang back.

We [[forecast]] that this [[group]] will simply continue thereby [[demonstrating]] a baseline [[standard]] of [[communications]] between ordinary earthly [[humans]] involved in a [[secular]] [[society]] and [[the Teachers|our group of teachers]] who attempt to serve you and guide you to [[spiritual advancements]] on a regular basis. From this baseline [[experience]] we [[hope]] that you will individually and by two and threes be able to extrapolate our teachings and, with increasing [[ability]] and increasing [[insight]], capably [[respond]] to those [[opportunities]] that present themselves to you to serve your [[brothers and sisters]] no matter what their station in life. As we've said before, it takes [[practice]]. If it were easy, it would probably not be worth any [[effort]] whatsoever and, by [[participating]], you will be [[rehabilitating]] yourselves in order to grow increasingly [[spiritual]] while [[simultaneously]] providing [[opportunity]] for others to rehabilitate themselves and to see that the [[message]] has not been rubbed out. That [[the Father]]'s word still has [[meaning]] on [[your planet]]. That the Father's [[love]] is a [[reality]], freely shared and freely given. This is my [[message]] to you tonight.

We are [[dedicated]] to [[service]]. It is not always [[glamorous]]. In [[fact]], it is typically ordinary, pedestrian. Yet service, like all things, can have a [[spiritual]] component which elevates it from the [[routine]] to the [[holy]] and we are [[engage]] now and for some time have been engaged in attempting to [[cultivate]] a kind of [[spirit]] mindedness which we can take with us to all places, which we can apply to all [[activities]]. Those of us involved in the [[Teaching Mission]] predict with some [[confidence]] that over time you will all see the [[proof]] of the [[value]] of your [[progress]]. Not in a [[subjective]] way, but in an [[objective]] way. We [[predict]] with some [[certainty]] that you will, from time to time, see that you are [[different]] than you were when we began this [[experience]]. The [[pace]] of such [[progress]] is at your complete disposal. We always stand ready to [[assist]] you through [[challenges]] and [[opportunities]] when you are minded to work on the spiritual component of your [[essential]] natures. Sad to say, that is an uncommon [[conscious]] [[decision]]. However, it is easily reversible. But the way in which we work is not always [[attractive]] to you because our activities will often seem to you out of [[sequence]], not developed in an [[linear]] fashion.

We forecast that this group will simply continue thereby demonstrating a baseline standard of communications between ordinary earthly humans involved in a secular society and our group of teachers who attempt to serve you and guide you to spiritual advancements on a regular basis. From this baseline experience we hope that you will individually and by two and threes be able to extrapolate our teachings and, with increasing ability and increasing insight, capably respond to those opportunities that present themselves to you to serve your brothers and sisters no matter what their station in life. As we've said before, it takes practice. If it were easy, it would probably not be worth any effort whatsoever and, by participating, you will be rehabilitating yourselves in order to grow increasingly spiritual while simultaneously providing opportunity for others to rehabilitate themselves and to see that the message has not been rubbed out. That the Father's word still has meaning on your planet. That the Father's love is a reality, freely shared and freely given. This is my message to you tonight.

We cannot put each of you on an [[individually]] tailored [[regimen]] and expect you to make steady [[progress]] for you would become as quickly [[bored]] with that [[routine]] as any other. Therefore our typical [[pattern]] is to capitalize on such [[opportunities]] as present themselves and [[manipulate]] the situation within the bounds of our instructions so that the humans on both sides of the [[transaction]] are presented with [[opportunities]] for [[spiritual progress]]. For beginners, the standard response is discomfort. Occasionally, acute discomfort. And that is why we say that [[practice]] is [[essential]]. You are expanding and stretching your [[spiritual]] [[muscles]]. And we are [[confident]] that you will like the result.  

We are dedicated to service. It is not always glamorous. In fact, it is typically ordinary, pedestrian. Yet service, like all things, can have a spiritual component which elevates it from the routine to the holy and we are engage now and for some time have been engaged in attempting to cultivate a kind of spirit mindedness which we can take with us to all places, which we can apply to all activities. Those of us involved in the Teaching Mission predict with some confidence that over time you will all see the proof of the value of your progress. Not in a subjective way, but in an objective way. We predict with some certainty that you will, from time to time, see that you are different than you were when we began this experience. The pace of such progress is at your complete disposal. We always stand ready to assist you through challenges and opportunities when you are minded to work on the spiritual component of your essential natures. Sad to say, that is an uncommon conscious decision. However, it is easily reversible. But the way in which we work is not always attractive to you because our activities will often seem to you out of sequence, not developed in an linear fashion.

Next week we begin [[discussions]] on the [[differences]] between the traditional Christian espousal of the [[virtue]] of [[hope]] and our [[modern]] restatement on the virtue of [[courage]].

That is all I have to say. [[Shalom]].

==Session 3==

==Session 3==

*January 16, 1994

*January 16, 1994