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| *Oct. 1, 1992 Lesson For Young People | | *Oct. 1, 1992 Lesson For Young People |
| ===Lesson=== | | ===Lesson=== |
− | In the beginning, or maybe even before that, there was always God. He was perfect: smart, | + | ===='''''[[Plan]]'''''==== |
− | wise, fair, kind, and able to see into the future. There was this one thing, though, that He thought | + | In the beginning, or maybe even before that, there was always [[God]]. He was [[perfect]]: smart, |
− | would make everything even better -- someone to share with -- so He filled heaven with | + | [[wise]], [[fair]], [[kind]], and able to see into the [[future]]. There was this one thing, though, that He [[thought]] |
− | companions, angels and such. They are pretty much like us, with a beginning, and they live | + | would make [[everything]] even better -- someone to [[share]] with -- so He filled [[heaven]] with |
− | forever. They have jobs, like us, only they do God's work. | + | [[companions]], [[angels]] and such. They are pretty much like us, with a beginning, and they live |
− | The great gift He made to them and us is free will, the chance to make up our own minds, even | + | forever. They have jobs, like us, only they do [[God]]'s [[work]]. |
− | if we are mistaken or if we want to do wrong. He trusts us to learn from the bad feeling of our | + | |
− | mistakes. Angels make mistakes sometimes. The Lucifer story is the story of a bad mistake. | + | The great [[gift]] He made to them and us is [[free will]], the [[chance]] to make up our own [[minds]], even |
− | But God thought it through so far that He made a creature so different from Him, so | + | if we are mistaken or if we want to do [[wrong]]. He [[trusts]] us to [[learn]] from the bad [[feeling]] of our |
− | almost-opposite, that it is almost an animal. That is us. Of all the smart creatures, spiritual and | + | mistakes. [[Angels]] make mistakes sometimes. The [[Lucifer]] story is the story of a bad [[mistake]]. |
− | physical, He gave us a chance to get better and better, never stopping, until we make it to heaven. | + | But [[God]] [[thought]] it through so far that He made a [[creature]] so different from Him, so |
| + | almost-[[opposite]], that it is almost an [[animal]]. That is us. Of all the smart [[creatures]], [[spiritual]] and |
| + | [[physical]], He gave us a [[chance]] to get better and better, never stopping, until we make it to [[heaven]]. |
| And He made a special gift to each of us, to make sure that we can make it with or without extra | | And He made a special gift to each of us, to make sure that we can make it with or without extra |
− | help. He gave us each a little sliver of Himself, to give us a taste of perfect. That's what really | + | help. He gave us each a little sliver of Himself, to give us a [[taste]] of [[perfect]]. That's what really |
− | makes us different from our animal cousins -- not because we live in houses, they do that; not | + | makes us [[different]] from our [[animal]] cousins -- not because we live in houses, they do that; not |
− | because we wear clothes, they do that; not because we talk to each other, they kind-of do that; | + | because we wear [[clothes]], they do that; not because we [[talk]] to each other, they kind-of do that; |
− | not because we think, they probably do that. What makes us different is that we always know | + | not because we [[think]], they probably do that. What makes us [[different]] is that we always know |
| that there is a right thing to do. We can't always see it; sometimes we never find it; sometimes we | | that there is a right thing to do. We can't always see it; sometimes we never find it; sometimes we |
− | don't care about it; sometimes we refuse it; but we always know there is a right way. That's why | + | don't [[care]] about it; sometimes we refuse it; but we always know there is a right way. That's why |
− | we're not animals any more. It's the Father-fragment, that sliver of God, that makes us know | + | we're not [[animals]] any more. It's the [[Father-fragment]], that sliver of God, that makes us know |
| about right. | | about right. |
− | Everybody knows about right-and-wrong. Grownups talk about it, tell you what's right, | + | |
− | what's wrong. But grownups are wrong sometimes, sometimes they're mostly wrong. And even | + | Everybody knows about [[Morality|right-and-wrong]]. Grownups [[talk]] about it, tell you what's right, |
| + | what's wrong. But grownups are [[wrong]] sometimes, sometimes they're mostly wrong. And even |
| then each person knows what is right -- no matter what other people say. That's why we are | | then each person knows what is right -- no matter what other people say. That's why we are |
− | human. That's why God loves us. That's why some people say we are God's children, and He is | + | [[human]]. That's why [[God]] loves us. That's why some people say we are [[God]]'s [[children]], and He is |
− | our Father. | + | [[our Father]]. |
− | A good parent lets you do things for yourself. A good parent lets you make your own | + | |
− | mistakes, and lets you learn at your own speed. A good parent shows how it's done right, then | + | A [[good]] [[parent]] lets you do things for yourself. A good parent lets you make your own |
− | gets out of the way. A good parent teaches about the important things, and lets the little things | + | [[mistakes]], and lets you learn at your own [[speed]]. A good parent shows how it's done right, then |
| + | gets out of the way. A good [[parent]] teaches about the important things, and lets the little things |
| take care of themselves. | | take care of themselves. |
− | God is always busy, but never so busy that He can't listen to us. What He says is hard to | + | |
− | understand. Most people think He has never spoken to them. But He helps us from the inside. If | + | [[God]] is always [[busy]], but never so busy that He can't [[listen]] to us. What He says is hard to |
− | we trust ourselves, and work at what is right, everything will work out. We won't need to speak | + | [[understand]]. Most people think He has never spoken to them. But He helps us from the inside. If |
− | in words. We will be living with God -- always a happy feeling. | + | we [[trust]] ourselves, and work at what is right, everything will work out. We won't need to [[speak]] |
| + | in [[words]]. We will be living with [[God]] -- always a [[happy]] [[feeling]]. |
| That doesn't mean it will be easy. We are not like Him -- not yet anyway. And He knows it's | | That doesn't mean it will be easy. We are not like Him -- not yet anyway. And He knows it's |
− | hard. So He sent His son, so that we would have an example to look to. | + | hard. So He sent His son, so that we would have an [[example]] to look to. |
− | His son was born as an ordinary person. He gave up all his God-powers, and was born into a | + | His son was [[born]] as an [[ordinary]] [[person]]. He gave up all his [[God]]-[[powers]], and was born into a |
− | human family as a little helpless baby. He was called Jesus, just a regular boy in a regular village, | + | human [[family]] as a little helpless [[baby]]. He was called [[Jesus]], just a regular boy in a regular village, |
− | with parents and brothers and sisters in a stone house with a dirt floor. He didn't grow up rich or | + | with [[parents]] and [[brothers and sisters]] in a stone house with a dirt floor. He didn't grow up [[rich]] or |
| spoiled or fancy. He didn't go to private school, or get special treats because he was smart or | | spoiled or fancy. He didn't go to private school, or get special treats because he was smart or |
− | handsome. He was just a regular kid, with all the problems of every other kid, and maybe some | + | handsome. He was just a regular kid, with all the [[problems]] of every other kid, and maybe some |
− | extra. His mother told him one thing was right, and his father said something different. But he | + | extra. His [[mother]] told him one thing was right, and his [[father]] said something [[different]]. But he |
− | made it through all right, just like everybody else. He had friends that helped him, and bullies that | + | made it through all right, just like everybody else. He had [[friends]] that helped him, and bullies that |
− | picked on him, and girls who liked him and others who didn't. He never had a lot of money, and | + | picked on him, and girls who liked him and others who didn't. He never had a lot of [[money]], and |
− | he always had a lot of work to do. But he had one thing that he paid special attention to: he felt | + | he always had a lot of [[work]] to do. But he had one thing that he paid special [[attention]] to: he felt |
− | sure that there was always a right way, and he worked on that, thought about it, talked to | + | sure that there was always a right way, and he worked on that, [[thought]] about it, talked to |
− | teachers and old people about it. And later on, when he was older, after thinking for so long | + | [[teachers]] and old people about it. And later on, when he was older, after [[thinking]] for so long |
− | about what was right, he found out who he was. All the things he did, up to that point, are the | + | about what was right, he found out who he was. All the things he did, up to that [[point]], are the |
− | things we should all do too. That's just ordinary stuff, for every one of us. Jesus proved that any | + | things we should all do too. That's just [[ordinary]] stuff, for every one of us. [[Jesus]] [[proved]] that any |
− | ordinary person could know all about God, just by what was inside. | + | [[ordinary]] person could know all about [[God]], just by what was inside. |
− | And if he could do it, so can each of us. He went back to his place in heaven, and when we | + | And if he could do it, so can each of us. He went back to his place in [[heaven]], and when we |
− | feel like we can't take it any more, we can always speak to him. He knows. He understands. | + | [[feel]] like we can't take it any more, we can always [[speak]] to him. He knows. He [[understands]]. |
| That will help us get back on track. | | That will help us get back on track. |
− | Well, everybody gets to make up their own mind about these things. You might think this is | + | |
| + | Well, everybody gets to make up their own [[mind]] about these [[things]]. You might [[think]] this is |
| baloney, or some dumb grownup stuff, but it's not. It's everybody's stuff, and it doesn't matter if | | baloney, or some dumb grownup stuff, but it's not. It's everybody's stuff, and it doesn't matter if |
− | you are a kid or a grownup, this stuff never changes -- you just get busier. Pretty soon, you can | + | you are a kid or a grownup, this stuff never [[changes]] -- you just get busier. Pretty soon, you can |
− | train yourself never to think about this stuff, but it's always there. It sneaks out, and you find | + | [[train]] yourself never to [[think]] about this stuff, but it's always there. It sneaks out, and you find |
− | yourself thinking about right again. Can't stop God, you can only look away for a while. Maybe | + | yourself [[thinking]] about right again. Can't stop [[God]], you can only look away for a while. Maybe |
− | when you find yourself wishing for something right, you'll feel that connection. Know what it is? | + | when you find yourself [[wishing]] for something right, you'll feel that [[connection]]. Know what it is? |
− | It's God calling. And if you do right, it can change everything. | + | It's [[God]] [[Vocation|calling]]. And if you do right, it can change [[everything]]. |
| + | |
| ==Session 2== | | ==Session 2== |
| *October 4, 1992 | | *October 4, 1992 |