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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
