Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy you have chosen this evening to gather here. Tonight, let us discuss the ever widening nature of mankind’s perception of God.  

Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am [[happy]] you have chosen this evening to gather here. Tonight, let us [[discuss]] the ever widening nature of mankind’s [[perception]] of [[God]].  

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Each human being is taught or comes to understand some aspects of the nature of God. As you grow and develop in years, each person begins to widen that conception and as you grow in the spirit, each person’s relationship with the overall spiritual universe deepens and broadens. This development is directly in proportion to spiritual growth.

Each [[human being]] is taught or comes to [[understand]] some aspects of the [[nature of God]]. As you grow and develop in years, each person begins to widen that conception and as you grow in the [[spirit]], each person’s relationship with the overall spiritual universe deepens and broadens. This development is directly in [[proportion]] to [[spiritual growth]].

A child may conceive of God as the great punisher, the one who punish him for his sins. And, of course, this is often a useful tool for parents and society to influence behavior that is not necessarily seen by others. It is a subtle form of thought police that steers young people toward behaviors that society deems fruitful and away from those behaviors society deems destructive.

A child may [[conceive]] of God as the great punisher, the one who punish him for his sins. And, of course, this is often a useful [[tool]] for [[parents]] and [[society]] to [[influence]] [[behavior]] that is not necessarily seen by others. It is a subtle form of [[thought police]] that steers young people toward behaviors that society deems fruitful and away from those behaviors society deems destructive.

But to the true spiritual seeker who leaves behind his youth for the uncharted waters of spiritual adventure, God becomes unfathomable love, unsearchable wisdom, limitless forgiveness, and the bestower of eternal life all for the simple act of faith on the part of the believer. Human beings still have difficulty grasping that grace is free. They are still under the impression that God requires something of them besides love. They may feel guilty if they do not attend church every Sunday or if they do not fulfill the full tithing requests or do not comply with various ritualistic or even charitable requirements of their churches for in the back of their minds, God is still the punisher and judge rather than merciful and forgiving Father and Friend.

But to the true spiritual [[seeker]] who leaves behind his [[youth]] for the uncharted waters of spiritual [[adventure]], God [[becomes]] unfathomable [[love]], unsearchable [[wisdom]], limitless [[forgiveness]], and the bestower of eternal life all for the simple act of [[faith]] on the part of the believer. Human beings still have difficulty grasping that [[grace]] is free. They are still under the impression that God requires something of them besides [[love]]. They may feel [[guilty]] if they do not attend church every Sunday or if they do not fulfill the full [[tithing]] requests or do not comply with various [[ritualistic]] or even [[charitable]] requirements of their [[churches]] for in the back of their minds, God is still the punisher and judge rather than merciful and forgiving Father and Friend.

Human kind has wasted untold resources in sacrifice over the millennia and modern tithing is a remnant of that evolutionary religious impulse, to sacrifice for God. Human beings have difficulty believing that God does not require anything tangible or material in return for his favor. And, many modern religions draw heavily upon this human impulse. How can it be that God loves us as we are for we do not feel ourselves worthy of this love and are always trying to do something that would make us worthy in our own eyes of God‘s love?

Human kind has wasted untold resources in [[sacrifice]] over the millennia and modern tithing is a remnant of that evolutionary religious [[impulse]], to sacrifice for God. Human beings have difficulty believing that God does not require anything tangible or [[material]] in return for his favor. And, many modern religions draw heavily upon this human impulse. How can it be that God loves us as we are for we do not feel ourselves [[worthy]] of this love and are always trying to do something that would make us worthy in our own eyes of God‘s love?

The Father is incomprehensible to human minds. Human beings have always projected themselves onto God. Human beings have consistently created laws on the basis of their understanding of what God likes and does not like. The human understanding of God has always reflected the culture and the time of those human beings and it must be so.

[[The Father]] is incomprehensible to [[human mind]]s. Human beings have always [[projected]] themselves onto God. Human beings have [[consistently]] created laws on the basis of their understanding of what God likes and does not like. The human understanding of God has always [[reflected]] the [[culture]] and the time of those human beings and it must be so.

Human civilization is meant to progress in its collective consciousness of God. The Master said many times, do not make the mistake of seeing God’s word to an earlier generation as his final word to the world for God speaks to every generation and to every generation he sends his messengers. Truth, as human beings grasp it, is not a static thing but an ever expanding concept. Each human being as he grows in the spirit also grows in the conceptualization of truth.

Human civilization is meant to [[progress]] in its [[collective consciousness]] of God. [[The Master]] said many times, do not make the mistake of seeing God’s word to an earlier [[generation]] as his final word to the world for God speaks to every generation and to every generation he sends his messengers. [[Truth]], as human beings grasp it, is not a static thing but an ever expanding [[concept]]. Each human being as he grows in the spirit also grows in the conceptualization of truth.

The truth that is conceived by this generation will be enlarged in the next. There is no end, no cut off point, for spirituality and the things that are cherished as universal truths today will be seen as a starting point, a beginning of truth conceptualization in the future. Increasing freedom, and especially the freedom of thought, are the hallmarks of civilized advancement. Where freedom is curtailed, there is also a curtailment of human creativity and human happiness.

The [[truth]] that is conceived by this [[generation]] will be enlarged in the next. There is no end, no cut off point, for [[spirituality]] and the things that are cherished as [[universal]] truths today will be seen as a starting point, a beginning of truth conceptualization in the [[future]]. Increasing [[freedom]], and especially the freedom of [[thought]], are the hallmarks of civilized advancement. Where freedom is curtailed, there is also a curtailment of human [[creativity]] and human [[happiness]].

You, my friends, have been born into the freest society yet constructed by human kind and individual freedom of spiritual thought is held in the highest regard human kind has ever achieved. It is considered to be the wellspring for all future spiritual advancement. The Urantia papers were given in Chicago and this is significant. Spiritual freedom and spiritual advancement go hand in hand. Morally we see some jeopardy, but we also see that moral errors come with the price of liberty.

You, my friends, have been born into the freest [[society]] yet constructed by human kind and individual [[freedom]] of spiritual [[thought]] is held in the highest regard human kind has ever [[achieved]]. It is considered to be the wellspring for all future spiritual advancement. The [[Urantia papers]] were given in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Illinois Chicago] and this is significant. Spiritual freedom and spiritual advancement go hand in hand. Morally we see some [[jeopardy]], but we also see that moral [[errors]] come with the price of [[liberty]].

My friends, you are a privileged few. You are receiving the most advanced spiritual teachings you can grasp. No longer must you search only in static and dead texts. Your spiritual life is alive and growing and interacting in the world. Do not be afraid to stretch your spiritual wings and to expand and explore your spiritual reality.

My friends, you are a privileged few. You are receiving the most advanced spiritual teachings you can grasp. No longer must you search only in static and dead [[texts]]. Your [[spiritual life]] is alive and growing and [[interacting]] in the world. Do not be afraid to stretch your spiritual wings and to expand and [[explore]] your spiritual reality.

Are there any questions at this time?

Are there any questions at this time?

===Dialogue===

===Personal Counsel===

Q: Ham, may I have a personal message please?

Q: Ham, may I have a personal message please?