Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Michael(Bob S.): To You, Father, Who created all that is, was, or ever will be, we Your children open our hearts, our minds, our very selves to the words that have been prepared for our edification and growth this evening. We are in awe of Your divine love as we understand it, and seek in our lives to emulate that love which governs the Universe of Universes. We are thankful for those sons and daughters who have volunteered to come to this planet to shepherd individual charges, and those who have accepted larger roles as group teachers. We pray Your Image will be before us evermore in all we do. So be it. Amen.

Michael(Bob S.): To You, Father, Who created all that is, was, or ever will be, we Your children open our [[hearts]], our [[minds]], our very selves to the words that have been [[prepared]] for our edification and growth this evening. We are in awe of Your [[divine]] [[love]] as we understand it, and seek in our lives to emulate that love which governs the [[Universe of Universes]]. We are thankful for those sons and daughters who have volunteered to come to [[this planet]] to [[shepherd]] individual charges, and those who have accepted larger roles as group teachers. We pray Your Image will be before us evermore in all we do. So be it. [[Amen]].

Heclechora (Bill): Cheers!! This is Lester, the Jester!! (Pause) No, April fool. (Group bursts into outrageous and sustained laughter), Dear friends, I am Heclechora, Bob's current personal teacher. We have been teasing Isaac's mind about this whole scenario for half a day, and he has been resisting. But he finally let go and let us do it. I am glad that it has so tickled your funny bone!

Heclechora (Bill): Cheers!! This is Lester, the Jester!! (Pause) No, April fool. (Group bursts into outrageous and sustained [[laughter]]), Dear friends, I am Heclechora, Bob's current personal teacher. We have been teasing Isaac's mind about this whole scenario for half a day, and he has been [[resisting]]. But he finally let go and let us do it. I am glad that it has so tickled your funny bone!

Bob D: I guess when Ken said, "Bring the jokes..." (More laughter)

Bob D: I guess when Ken said, "Bring the [[jokes]]..." (More laughter)

Ken: Well, we never pulled one off on you.

Ken: Well, we never pulled one off on you.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Heclechora: The gravity of the problems in the world requires the balance of humor. It is absolutely essential for your health to laugh. The laugh mechanism was well described by Elyon as an evolutionary safety valve to exit aggression, stress, and worry. It is no wonder that one of your prominent citizens laughed himself out of fatal cancer. So, I am glad you enjoyed our little joke. I will not lecture you on the virtues of humor except to say, "Practice it more and more". Allow yourself the freedom to laugh and heartily, as you have just done, from the diaphragm, the belly laugh, which is nature's way of coping with stress, and letting go of aggression.

Heclechora: The [[gravity]] of the [[problems]] in the world requires the [[balance]] of [[humor]]. It is absolutely essential for your [[health]] to laugh. The laugh mechanism was well described by Elyon as an evolutionary [[safety valve]] to exit [[aggression]], [[stress]], and [[worry]]. It is no wonder that one of your [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Cousins#Illness_and_recovery prominent citizens laughed himself out of fatal cancer]. So, I am glad you enjoyed our little joke. I will not [[lecture]] you on the virtues of humor except to say, "[[Practice]] it more and more". Allow yourself the [[freedom]] to laugh and heartily, as you have just done, from the diaphragm, the belly laugh, which is nature's way of coping with [[stress]], and letting go of aggression.

One of the aspects of a good joke is the contrast between truth and falsehood, which requires the exercise of the ability to distinguish between truth and error. Sometimes people who are not as evolved intellectually are definitely left in the dust when a clever joke is presented, for they don't have the mental ability to make the connection with truth and get fooled by that side of humor. That's also why there are so many enjoyable stories of children who do not understand the English language, but who sincerely respond to their misunderstandings. We all laugh at their difficulties without feeling critical of them in any way.

One of the aspects of a good [[joke]] is the [[contrast]] between [[truth]] and [[falsehood]], which requires the exercise of the ability to distinguish between truth and error. Sometimes people who are not as evolved intellectually are definitely left in the dust when a clever joke is presented, for they don't have the mental [[ability]] to make the connection with truth and get fooled by that side of humor. That's also why there are so many enjoyable [[stories]] of children who do not understand the [[English]] language, but who sincerely respond to their misunderstandings. We all laugh at their difficulties without [[feeling]] critical of them in any way.

Let's think a moment about this whole business of truth. We have made it clear in our past lessons that all truth is relative, short of Paradise, and that it is specific to a given situation. This does not mean that there is no ultimate Truth, for God is, after all, Ultimate Truth. We have also talked about the requirement that every thinking and morally capable individual is responsible for their own discernment of truth. Then, there has also been the suggestion that the mature person can distinguish between relative levels of truth and can choose, among many options, that which is the highest from those that are lessor.

Let's think a moment about this whole [[business]] of [[truth]]. We have made it clear in our past lessons that all truth is [[relative]], short of [[Paradise]], and that it is specific to a given situation. This does not mean that there is no [[ultimate]] [[Truth]], for God is, after all, Ultimate Truth. We have also talked about the requirement that every thinking and morally capable individual is responsible for their own [[discernment]] of [[truth]]. Then, there has also been the suggestion that the [[mature]] person can distinguish between relative levels of truth and can choose, among many options, that which is the highest from those that are lessor.

When I first said, "This is Lester, the Jester", most of you believed me. You may have thought in that instant, "Of course it's Lester. It is April Fool's Day and he is the perfect one to be present at our meeting because he is a known comic and a party boy in the Teaching Mission history". However, you were very pleased to discover that I pulled an April Fool on you, and you acted just like children that get caught on April Fool's day. You were laughing at your inability to anticipate my little trick, and your laughter was like that of little children, full of pleasure.

When I first said, "This is Lester, the Jester", most of you believed me. You may have thought in that instant, "Of course it's Lester. It is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fool's_Day April Fool's Day] and he is the perfect one to be present at our [[meeting]] because he is a known comic and a party boy in the [[Teaching Mission]] history". However, you were very pleased to discover that I pulled an April Fool on you, and you acted just like children that get caught on April Fool's day. You were laughing at your inability to [[anticipate]] my little trick, and your laughter was like that of little children, full of [[pleasure]].

So, let us begin this discussion of truth discernment by agreeing there are levels of discernment ability. Levels of discernment of truth do relate to inherent ability. There is a connection between intellectual ability and spiritual discernment. In most ways that is a given that you must accept.

So, let us begin this discussion of truth [[discernment]] by agreeing there are levels of discernment [[ability]]. Levels of discernment of truth do relate to inherent [[ability]]. There is a [[connection]] between [[intellectual]] [[ability]] and [[spiritual]] [[discernment]]. In most ways that is a given that you must accept.

However, the most important consideration in this discussion of truth discernment has to do with motivation. For despite levels of discernment ability that are correlated with intelligence, intelligence alone is not sufficient. Motivation is a bigger key to unlock the door of truth. Jesus described this when he said, "Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door shall be opened to you". The motivation to search and seek after truth is the most important aspect.

However, the most important [[consideration]] in this [[discussion]] of truth [[discernment]] has to do with [[motivation]]. For despite levels of discernment [[ability]] that are correlated with [[intelligence]], intelligence alone is not sufficient. Motivation is a bigger key to unlock the door of truth. [[Jesus]] described this when he said, "Ask and you shall [[receive]]; knock and the door shall be opened to you". The motivation to search and seek after truth is the most important aspect.

To be a truth seeker is hard work. It requires one to cast off from the safe shores of one's native and familiar land to engage the raging seas of uncertainty in the quest of a new and greater destination. The seas of uncertainty harbor dangers. There are the sharks of doubt circling the ship. There are the winds of adversity which batter its sails. There are the dark nights of the soul which submerge the fountain of joy in darker muddy waters. There is the laughter of derision from your peers as you ready your vessel to enter the uncharted waters of your quest. But he who has the willingness to search, will find. He who will turn the nob on the door will find that it opens. He who has the humility to ask and to admit their need of help, will receive that help.

To be a truth [[seeker]] is hard work. It requires one to cast off from the safe shores of one's native and familiar [[land]] to engage the raging seas of [[uncertainty]] in the quest of a new and greater destination. The seas of uncertainty harbor [[dangers]]. There are the sharks of [[doubt]] circling the ship. There are the winds of [[adversity]] which batter its sails. There are the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_night_of_the_soul dark nights of the soul] which submerge the fountain of [[joy]] in [[darker]] muddy waters. There is the laughter of derision from your [[peers]] as you ready your vessel to enter the uncharted waters of your [[quest]]. But he who has the willingness to search, will find. He who will turn the nob on the door will find that it opens. He who has the [[humility]] to ask and to admit their need of help, will [[receive]] that help.

For you see, once you seek that truth, you have a comforter. You have a companion. You are in possession of the well spring within you of the Spirit of Truth, Michael's spiritual presence. You will remember that He told his apostles on their last night together at supper, "I am the way, the truth, and the light". So, Michael, the truth Himself, is within you to shine His light upon His way.

For you see, once you seek that truth, you have a [[comforter]]. You have a [[companion]]. You are in possession of the well spring within you of the Spirit of Truth, Michael's spiritual presence. You will remember that He told his apostles on their last night together at supper, "I am the way, the truth, and the light". So, Michael, the truth Himself, is within you to shine His light upon His way.

In addition to intellectual ability and spiritual motivation there is a third aspect. Truth, like love, cannot be squandered. It cannot successfully be kept within your own mind and heart. Truth must be shared with others. Yes, a teacher does learn twice. If you are strutting about wearing a shirt congratulating yourself on your willingness not to tiptoe through life you must be expecting inquiry. Peter told the early Christians, "Always be ready to give an answer to any man who asks you the reason of the hope that is within you". Beautiful advice, Peter! The reason for the hope that is within you. Yes, the Spirit of Truth will speak through your mouth. But you need to be prepared, not stumbling along unconscious of the value that your appearance has in the eyes of others. "What is the reason for your hope? Why does your face shine when the world is going to hell in a handbasket? What is the source of your peace? Why do you regard other people with such generosity? Are you a Jesus freak?" These are the sorts of questions that may come your way. I now take this information from Isaac's mind. The secret of Alcoholic Anonymous was in the discovery of its founders that to stay sober, they had to help other alcoholics. The same principle applies here. In order for truth to be real for you, you must share it.

In addition to intellectual ability and spiritual motivation there is a third aspect. Truth, like love, cannot be squandered. It cannot successfully be kept within your own mind and heart. Truth must be shared with others. Yes, a teacher does learn twice. If you are strutting about wearing a shirt congratulating yourself on your willingness not to tiptoe through life you must be expecting inquiry. Peter told the early Christians, "Always be ready to give an answer to any man who asks you the reason of the hope that is within you". Beautiful advice, Peter! The reason for the hope that is within you. Yes, the Spirit of Truth will speak through your mouth. But you need to be prepared, not stumbling along unconscious of the value that your appearance has in the eyes of others. "What is the reason for your hope? Why does your face shine when the world is going to hell in a handbasket? What is the source of your peace? Why do you regard other people with such generosity? Are you a Jesus freak?" These are the sorts of questions that may come your way. I now take this information from Isaac's mind. The secret of Alcoholic Anonymous was in the discovery of its founders that to stay sober, they had to help other alcoholics. The same principle applies here. In order for truth to be real for you, you must share it.