Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Music: Elena on Piano: “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Friend_We_Have_in_Jesus What a Friend We Have in Jesus]”

Music: Elena on Piano: “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Friend_We_Have_in_Jesus What a Friend We Have in Jesus]”

Prayer:  Matthew:      Let us place ourselves in the [[presence]] of [[Jesus]], the Christ.

Prayer:  Matthew:      Let us place ourselves in the [[presence]] of [[Jesus]], the Christ.

Yet, in the [[structure]] of this [[Teacher Mission]], there are guidelines as to how to proceed, and this will bring us back to this immediate circle of friends who are indeed [[courageous]] to present themselves here in this gathering, to [[expose]] their [[strengths]] and [[weaknesses]] as [[ascending sons and daughters]] in truth, to reveal the [[integrity]] they each individually know and display in their own right, as we offer our own integrity in our own right as [[your teachers]].

Yet, in the [[structure]] of this [[Teacher Mission]], there are guidelines as to how to proceed, and this will bring us back to this immediate circle of friends who are indeed [[courageous]] to present themselves here in this gathering, to [[expose]] their [[strengths]] and [[weaknesses]] as [[ascending sons and daughters]] in truth, to reveal the [[integrity]] they each individually know and display in their own right, as we offer our own integrity in our own right as [[your teachers]].

This is how it is that we can speak broadly, across the board, to anyone who chooses to [[listen]], and everyone may hear something [[different]]. But you may be [[assured]] that we are not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29 Republican] and we are not [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29 Democrat]. We are, however, aware of how these delineations affect you. Nor are we [[Christian]] nor are we [[Islamic]], even though we are aware of what those words [[represent]] to you, our mortal students. Nor are we English nor Spanish, but through the [[methods]] afforded us through the gracious ministrations of the local [[midwayer]] corps, we are able to put forth our concepts through the [[transmitter]] receivers into the language that you can [[understand]]. And I must add “translators” for there are those who delight to spread the word even farther into the realm by way of [[interpreting]] our lessons into forms that will feed [[the multitudes]] – far beyond these community gatherings as you know in the [[Teacher bases]] that are established and announced as such.

This is how it is that we can speak broadly, across the board, to anyone who chooses to [[listen]], and everyone may hear something [[different]]. But you may be [[assured]] that we are not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29 Republican] and we are not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29 Democrat]. We are, however, aware of how these delineations affect you. Nor are we [[Christian]] nor are we [[Islamic]], even though we are aware of what those words [[represent]] to you, our mortal students. Nor are we English nor Spanish, but through the [[methods]] afforded us through the gracious ministrations of the local [[midwayer]] corps, we are able to put forth our concepts through the [[transmitter]] receivers into the language that you can [[understand]]. And I must add “translators” for there are those who delight to spread the word even farther into the realm by way of [[interpreting]] our lessons into forms that will feed [[the multitudes]] – far beyond these community gatherings as you know in the [[Teacher bases]] that are established and announced as such.

We are also challenged by the tremendous amount of work that is upon us, and that is our [[challenge]], not so much yours, but how do we begin to approach the needs of [[your soul]] when your souls are so variously situated? It is not our [[desire]] to be so generic as to gloss over those specific and particular concerns that each of you hold. It is not our intent to relegate your [[personal growth]] to your personal spirit guides. Nor is our desire to leave your spiritual [[development]] entirely up to God, as you [[perceive]] God and/or Jesus as we recognize Jesus, for these concepts are not always – not in every case – a [[reality]] you agree with, support or [[aspire]] to.

We are also challenged by the tremendous amount of work that is upon us, and that is our [[challenge]], not so much yours, but how do we begin to approach the needs of [[your soul]] when your souls are so variously situated? It is not our [[desire]] to be so generic as to gloss over those specific and particular concerns that each of you hold. It is not our intent to relegate your [[personal growth]] to your personal spirit guides. Nor is our desire to leave your spiritual [[development]] entirely up to God, as you [[perceive]] God and/or Jesus as we recognize Jesus, for these concepts are not always – not in every case – a [[reality]] you agree with, support or [[aspire]] to.

Do we have any volunteers? What is it to you to pray?

Do we have any volunteers? What is it to you to pray?

===Dialogue===

===Dialogue===

MEN-O-PAH:          I’m reminded of some lines from an old hymn. “[http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-prayer/ Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed, The motion of a fluttering fire, that thunders in the breast].”

MEN-O-PAH:          I’m reminded of some lines from an old hymn. “[https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-prayer/ Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, unuttered or expressed, The motion of a fluttering fire, that thunders in the breast].”

Paula:            You have a good [[memory]].

Paula:            You have a good [[memory]].

Men-O-Pah:              Yeah. There’s some more to it that I don’t remember.

Men-O-Pah:              Yeah. There’s some more to it that I don’t remember.

TOMAS:        This “thundering in the breast” is that [[spark of God]] that resides within you, that element of God that is often called [[the soul]] or the [[spirit]] that seeks to sponsor your [[immortality]]. It wants to return to its Source. This is one of the gifts that we depend on, one of the gifts to you humans from the [[Universal Father]] that we in the [[Teacher Corps]] depend on. We would be in [[error]] to think that what you take from our classes is due to our [[skills]] alone. Perhaps our words can, like the words of [http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-prayer/ that poet], stimulate [[thought]] and [[feeling]]. But it is the implantation of the Divine Life within your own breast that truly nudges you forward, urges you on, and leads you [[home]].

TOMAS:        This “thundering in the breast” is that [[spark of God]] that resides within you, that element of God that is often called [[the soul]] or the [[spirit]] that seeks to sponsor your [[immortality]]. It wants to return to its Source. This is one of the gifts that we depend on, one of the gifts to you humans from the [[Universal Father]] that we in the [[Teacher Corps]] depend on. We would be in [[error]] to think that what you take from our classes is due to our [[skills]] alone. Perhaps our words can, like the words of [https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-prayer/ that poet], stimulate [[thought]] and [[feeling]]. But it is the implantation of the Divine Life within your own breast that truly nudges you forward, urges you on, and leads you [[home]].

There is more to [[prayer]]. What other comments can we find in this group?

There is more to [[prayer]]. What other comments can we find in this group?

His [[handwriting]] was none too good but he said he thought I was pretty terrific too! And I thought, “Wow! That’s pretty darned nice. For him to sit down and write a letter to me.” So I wrote back and said, “Thank you for the letter and all the nice things you said and blah, blah, blah. And we kept up a [[correspondence]] for about two years! And I haven’t heard from him in a long time and I would [[hesitate]] to start it again, but he was just wonderful. He was the greatest thing. And he said, “When you pray,” he said, “you’ve got one up on me.” He said, “When I pray, I pray just to God. You’ve got a little edge there. You pray to Jesus, too!” I mean, he had a sense of [[humor]] as well as everything else.

His [[handwriting]] was none too good but he said he thought I was pretty terrific too! And I thought, “Wow! That’s pretty darned nice. For him to sit down and write a letter to me.” So I wrote back and said, “Thank you for the letter and all the nice things you said and blah, blah, blah. And we kept up a [[correspondence]] for about two years! And I haven’t heard from him in a long time and I would [[hesitate]] to start it again, but he was just wonderful. He was the greatest thing. And he said, “When you pray,” he said, “you’ve got one up on me.” He said, “When I pray, I pray just to God. You’ve got a little edge there. You pray to Jesus, too!” I mean, he had a sense of [[humor]] as well as everything else.

But it always amazed me that such an important man would take time out of his [[busy]] life to sit and write me letters. He even called me long distance one time. He said, “How are you doing? Is [[everything]] all right, and are you finding life in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico Albuquerque] pretty good?” And I said, “Yes,” and he said, “I had a reason for asking. I’m going to [[lecture]] in Albuquerque in about a month,” and he said, “Can you come?” and I said, “You’re darned right! I’ll get my tickets right away – for myself, and my daughter and my granddaughter!” and he said, “Well, I want to meet you, but there’s going to be over a thousand people that night, so why don’t you do it the other way. On the day before, on Saturday, I’m going to sign [[books]] at the bookstore, so maybe so many people won’t want to read my book and we’ll have more of a [[chance]] to talk.” And he was right! People didn’t buy too many of his books so we sat down and talked for half an hour. And that night, there were just streams of people. We were about an hour getting out of that [[temple]], because it took so long, and when I shook his hand, he said, “You see what I mean? Aren’t you glad you came yesterday?” And I said, Yes!”

But it always amazed me that such an important man would take time out of his [[busy]] life to sit and write me letters. He even called me long distance one time. He said, “How are you doing? Is [[everything]] all right, and are you finding life in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico Albuquerque] pretty good?” And I said, “Yes,” and he said, “I had a reason for asking. I’m going to [[lecture]] in Albuquerque in about a month,” and he said, “Can you come?” and I said, “You’re darned right! I’ll get my tickets right away – for myself, and my daughter and my granddaughter!” and he said, “Well, I want to meet you, but there’s going to be over a thousand people that night, so why don’t you do it the other way. On the day before, on Saturday, I’m going to sign [[books]] at the bookstore, so maybe so many people won’t want to read my book and we’ll have more of a [[chance]] to talk.” And he was right! People didn’t buy too many of his books so we sat down and talked for half an hour. And that night, there were just streams of people. We were about an hour getting out of that [[temple]], because it took so long, and when I shook his hand, he said, “You see what I mean? Aren’t you glad you came yesterday?” And I said, Yes!”

Matthew:      Was that “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Bad_Things_Happen_to_Good_People Why Bad Things Happen to Good People]”?

Matthew:      Was that “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_Bad_Things_Happen_to_Good_People Why Bad Things Happen to Good People]”?

Paula:            Yeah.

Paula:            Yeah.

TOMAS:        Are there questions unrelated to the topic of prayer that have come to your mind this week?

TOMAS:        Are there questions unrelated to the topic of prayer that have come to your mind this week?

Elena: I have one. It was actually -- my question came up again with some of the [[discussion]] that was going on prior to the meeting, but it first came up when I attended the [[lecture]] by Thomas Borg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Borg ?] several weeks ago, and he went through the [[audience]] and asked all the people there to identify the denominations they came from, and he asked people to raise their hand, okay, “How many are this?” “How many are that?” and there wasn’t a single one I felt I could raise my hand up to. And yet, it brings up a question. When he said “[[Christian]]” I almost did because I think our group and the [[Teaching Mission]] is most definitely based on not only what is commonly known as the Christian information, and yet it seemed rather [[strange]], I didn’t raise my hand as a Christian because I wasn’t certain that the other people would actually think that maybe [[Urantia]] people are really Christians, so that is a question. I wonder where I fit. Or if I’m just a misfit. I mean, I don’t feel bad, but I feel like we’re very much Christian and yet, even in the [[conversation]] before, it was “that Christian activity” or something, which is not exactly referring to ourselves. And I’ll stop there because it’s not really my answer I’m interested in.

Elena: I have one. It was actually -- my question came up again with some of the [[discussion]] that was going on prior to the meeting, but it first came up when I attended the [[lecture]] by Thomas Borg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Borg ?] several weeks ago, and he went through the [[audience]] and asked all the people there to identify the denominations they came from, and he asked people to raise their hand, okay, “How many are this?” “How many are that?” and there wasn’t a single one I felt I could raise my hand up to. And yet, it brings up a question. When he said “[[Christian]]” I almost did because I think our group and the [[Teaching Mission]] is most definitely based on not only what is commonly known as the Christian information, and yet it seemed rather [[strange]], I didn’t raise my hand as a Christian because I wasn’t certain that the other people would actually think that maybe [[Urantia]] people are really Christians, so that is a question. I wonder where I fit. Or if I’m just a misfit. I mean, I don’t feel bad, but I feel like we’re very much Christian and yet, even in the [[conversation]] before, it was “that Christian activity” or something, which is not exactly referring to ourselves. And I’ll stop there because it’s not really my answer I’m interested in.

TOMAS:        [[Congratulations]] for you capacity to think for yourself. The applying of “labels” – designations, is a [[practice]] established in order to allow a sense of belonging, a sense of [[affiliation]]. And yet at the same time it disallows that which you are not. If you are to be [[free]] of these [[biases]], it is well you retain within yourself [[allegiances]] only to that which are without name and number, even though the world as you know it has busied itself by creating [[organizations]] of [[individuals]] who support certain [[values]] or causes, be they [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts Boy Scouts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACLU American Civil Liberties], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooid Zooids] or whatever.

TOMAS:        [[Congratulations]] for you capacity to think for yourself. The applying of “labels” – designations, is a [[practice]] established in order to allow a sense of belonging, a sense of [[affiliation]]. And yet at the same time it disallows that which you are not. If you are to be [[free]] of these [[biases]], it is well you retain within yourself [[allegiances]] only to that which are without name and number, even though the world as you know it has busied itself by creating [[organizations]] of [[individuals]] who support certain [[values]] or causes, be they [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts Boy Scouts], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACLU American Civil Liberties], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooid Zooids] or whatever.

The general understanding of “Christian” is the designation for those who follow [[Christ]], and yet those of you who have a personal [[relationship]] with [[Jesus]] and with [[Christ Michael]], those of you who understand why he came and what his [[existence]] means to you, above and beyond what [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] provided by creating the [[church]], above and beyond what the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian history] has been as set forth in the biblical [[scriptures]], has given you a sense of your religious roots preceding Christianity and not truly subscribing to the tenets of Christianity, varied though they may be, depending upon what [[sect]].

The general understanding of “Christian” is the designation for those who follow [[Christ]], and yet those of you who have a personal [[relationship]] with [[Jesus]] and with [[Christ Michael]], those of you who understand why he came and what his [[existence]] means to you, above and beyond what [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] provided by creating the [[church]], above and beyond what the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity Christian history] has been as set forth in the biblical [[scriptures]], has given you a sense of your religious roots preceding Christianity and not truly subscribing to the tenets of Christianity, varied though they may be, depending upon what [[sect]].

In [[fact]], I have seen mortals opt not to involve themselves with any sect, lest they find themselves appearing to prefer one over another. There are some who have no need to [[conform]] to the tenets or [[practices]] of any one given [[organization]], and yet there are many who prefer to have the subscribed limitations that are set forth in order to live within that framework, for the whole of [[theology]] is too great, in many cases, and boggles the mind of those who seek a simple religious [[association]] with like-minded people.

In [[fact]], I have seen mortals opt not to involve themselves with any sect, lest they find themselves appearing to prefer one over another. There are some who have no need to [[conform]] to the tenets or [[practices]] of any one given [[organization]], and yet there are many who prefer to have the subscribed limitations that are set forth in order to live within that framework, for the whole of [[theology]] is too great, in many cases, and boggles the mind of those who seek a simple religious [[association]] with like-minded people.