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→Session 5
==Session 5==
==Session 5==
*AUGUST 30, 1992
*AUGUST 30, 1992
===Lesson===
===Opening===
WILL: The love of God surrounds us. The love of God enfolds us. The love of God supports
WILL: The [[love]] of [[God]] [[surrounds]] us. The love of God enfolds us. The love of God [[supports]]
us. Wherever we gather, He is.
us. Wherever we gather, He is.
Good evening, I am your teacher, Will, who loves you. You do not know how long this
group was under observation while we waited for things to develop. It is good to hear the jokes
Good evening, I am your [[teacher]], Will, who [[loves]] you. You do not know how long this
and laughter. It was not always this way. This is a happy crew and we are glad of it. Tonight we
[[group]] was under [[observation]] while we waited for things to [[develop]]. It is good to hear the [[jokes]]
have a new friend to join our group. One who comes whole heartedly and enthusiastically. You,
and [[laughter]]. It was not always this way. This is a [[happy]] crew and we are glad of it. Tonight we
have a new [[friend]] to join our [[group]]. One who comes whole heartedly and [[enthusiastically]]. You,
Dennis are welcome here.
Dennis are welcome here.
Faith and service are what we are about and we have spent many weeks now discussing what
===Lesson===
is faith. Perhaps we should take a few moments and discuss what is not faith. The idea of faith is
===='''''[[Faith]]'''''====
not fully satisfied by a mere belief. For example, if a person should say, I believe there is God.
[[Faith]] and [[service]] are what we are about and we have spent many weeks now [[discussing]] what
He lives in heaven far away. That is not faith. Or if a person should say, I have felt the presence
is [[faith]]. Perhaps we should take a few [[moments]] and discuss what is not faith. The [[idea]] of [[faith]] is
of God in the church or one time when I was alone in the mountains. That is not faith either.
not fully [[satisfied]] by a mere [[belief]]. For example, if a [[person]] should say, I [[believe]] there is [[God]].
Faith is walking down the street and knowing that no matter what happens, you are in God's
He lives in [[heaven]] far away. That is not [[faith]]. Or if a person should say, I have [[felt]] the [[presence]]
hands. Faith is assigning all your cares and problems and letting go of them forever. Faith is
of [[God]] in the [[church]] or one time when I was [[alone]] in the [[mountains]]. That is not [[faith]] either.
when you go to sleep at night with a free and relaxed conscious knowing that you will wake up
[[Faith]] is walking down the street and [[knowing]] that no matter what happens, you are in [[God]]'s
again tomorrow and it will be the same world. Faith is having goals that are worth working for
hands. [[Faith]] is assigning all your [[cares]] and [[problems]] and letting go of them forever. [[Faith]] is
and improving yourself, for your own benefit and for the benefit of others. Faith is having the
when you go to [[sleep]] at night with a [[free]] and relaxed [[conscience]] knowing that you will [[wake]] up
doorway swept so that you would not be ashamed to invite God in any time. Faith is allowing
again tomorrow and it will be the same world. [[Faith]] is having [[goals]] that are [[worth]] working for
God in by the back door as well as the front. Faith is calling on God for company not because
and improving yourself, for your own benefit and for the benefit of others. [[Faith]] is having the
you have some problem, but just for the companionship. Faith is showing your true self candidly
doorway swept so that you would not be [[ashamed]] to [[invite]] [[God]] in any time. [[Faith]] is allowing
and sincerely to your companions in the life experience because you know God would not turn
God in by the back door as well as the front. [[Faith]] is calling on [[God]] for company not because
out a bad product.
you have some [[problem]], but just for the [[companionship]]. Faith is showing your true [[self]] candidly
In the old days, there were ecstatic descriptions of God. People would go on for pages and
and [[sincerely]] to your [[companions]] in the life [[experience]] because you know God would not turn
pages about His fine qualities. Everything that was good, everything that was just. They call Him
out a bad [[product]].
omnipresent and omniscient and all forgiving. All those things are true. But He is a personal God
also. He desires your company. Although admittedly, it is not easy to discern exactly when, from
In the old days, there were [[ecstatic]] [[descriptions]] of [[God]]. People would go on for pages and
what we can tell, He desires our company always. He is actually interested in the things that we
pages about His fine [[qualities]]. Everything that was [[good]], everything that was [[just]]. They call Him
are learning, the thoughts that we have, the insights that we have gained. He especially likes our
[[omnipresent]] and [[omniscient]] and all [[forgiving]]. All those things are [[true]]. But He is a [[personal]] [[God]]
exhilaration with a new discovery. He is apparently always thinking of us. His kind and indulgent
also. He [[desires]] your company. Although admittedly, it is not easy to [[discern]] exactly when, from
attention supports the smooth operation of entire universes. He hangs the stars in the sky and yet
what we can tell, He desires our company always. He is actually interested in the [[things]] that we
at the same time He desires to live in partnership with us every moment even while we sleep. All
are [[learning]], the [[thoughts]] that we have, the [[insights]] that we have gained. He especially likes our
these things are expressions of His kindness and His love for us.
[[exhilaration]] with a new [[discovery]]. He is apparently always [[thinking]] of us. His [[kind]] and indulgent
By faith we open the door to His love and let the light come in. He is a generous God. He is
[[attention]] [[supports]] the smooth operation of entire [[universes]]. He hangs the [[stars]] in the [[sky]] and yet
kind to even those who deny His existence. He is fair to those who work against all that He
at the [[same time]] He [[desires]] to live in [[partnership]] with us every [[moment]] even while we [[sleep]]. All
stands for. He desires us as His partners; just Him and you, two by two. He has time enough for
these things are [[expressions]] of His [[kindness]] and His [[love]] for us.
all. The trick for you to take advantage of all of this is to attune yourself to the better way. You
can think of it like tuning a radio. This time, to the goodness station. No bad news, only good or
By [[faith]] we open the door to His [[love]] and let the [[light]] come in. He is a [[generous]] [[God]]. He is
even the bad news seems good. This is what Melchizedek was referring to about maintaining the
[[kind]] to even those who deny His [[existence]]. He is [[fair]] to those who work against all that He
certain presence of mind. It takes some effort. All of us go through life in the state of diminished
stands for. He [[desires]] us as His [[partners]]; just Him and you, two by two. He has time enough for
presence like a daydream denying many things. Our Father would have us open our eyes, look
all.
around, listen to birds. Don't just shuffle along with your head down. It is possible to be alive
===='''''[[Attunement]]'''''====
and awake and in partnership with God even on a sweltering muggy Friday afternoon at 3:00 out
The trick for you to take [[advantage]] of all of this is to [[attune]] yourself to the better way. You
can [[think]] of it like [[tuning]] a [[radio]]. This time, to the [[goodness]] station. No bad news, only [[good]] or
even the bad news seems good. This is what [[Melchizedek]] was referring to about [[maintaining]] the
certain [[presence]] of [[mind]]. It takes some [[effort]]. All of us go through life in the [[state]] of diminished
[[presence]] like a daydream denying many things. [[Our Father]] would have us open our eyes, look
around, [[listen]] to birds. Don't just shuffle along with your head down. It is possible to be alive
and [[awake]] and in [[partnership]] with [[God]] even on a sweltering muggy Friday afternoon at 3:00 out
on the sidewalk. You should try it. We think that you will like it.
on the sidewalk. You should try it. We think that you will like it.
He has given this chance at life even though this life is clearly not the perfect life. We are not
ready for a perfect life. You should enjoy the life that you have. Make living an active event, not
He has given this [[chance]] at life even though this life is [[clearly]] not the [[perfect]] life. We are not
just something that happens to us. It is not a passive process. We should live our lives
ready for a perfect life. You should [[enjoy]] the life that you have. Make living an [[active]] [[event]], not
affirmatively and in order to do so, it is much easier if we invite God to share it with us. He relies
just something that happens to us. It is not a [[passive]] [[process]]. We should live our lives
on us to show Him things that He would not otherwise experience. So during this coming week,
affirmatively and in order to do so, it is much easier if we [[invite]] [[God]] to [[share]] it with us. He relies
on us to show Him things that He would not otherwise [[experience]]. So during this coming week,
let us all try to spend more time alert and alive, a little closer to the edge and, by living our lives
let us all try to spend more time alert and alive, a little closer to the edge and, by living our lives
this way, we will be demonstrating faith.
this way, we will be [[demonstrating]] [[faith]].
That is all I have to say. I look forward to our meeting next week and making new friends.
===Closing===
We invite your participation and stand ready to communicate with you while you entertain your
That is all I have to say. I look forward to our meeting next week and making new [[friends]].
friends from afar. God bless you and keep you.
We invite your [[participation]] and stand ready to [[communicate]] with you while you entertain your
Shalom.
[[friends]] from afar. [[God]] [[bless]] you and keep you.
[[Shalom]].
[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]
[[Category: The Teaching Mission: Dialogues]]
[[Category: Machiventa]]
[[Category: Machiventa]]
[[Category: Eric]]
[[Category: Eric]]
[[Category: Faith]]
[[Category: Attunement]]
[[Category: 1992]]
[[Category: 1992]]