Changes

==Session==

==Session==

===Opening===

===Opening===

MERIUM: I am Merium and I will greet you this evening, only because I have the opportunity, and because I would like to acknowledge your enchantment of being in the comforting embrace of the spirit. Your tranquillity in this embrace is profound. As has been said before, when you pray, we also kneel; and when you worship, we also raise our voices On High. It is yet another facet of community, and in honor of this wonderful community of believers here this evening, in the flesh and in the spirit, Tomas and I are honored to be among you.

MERIUM: I am Merium and I will greet you this evening, only because I have the [[opportunity]], and because I would like to acknowledge your [[enchantment]] of being in the [[comforting]] [[embrace]] of the spirit. Your tranquillity in this embrace is [[profound]]. As has been said before, when you [[pray]], we also kneel; and when you [[worship]], we also raise our voices On High. It is yet another facet of [[community]], and in honor of this wonderful community of believers here this evening, in the flesh and in the [[spirit]], Tomas and I are [[honored]] to be among you.

Group: We are honored to be with you. Thank you for coming, Merium.

Group: We are honored to be with you. Thank you for coming, Merium.

Group: Hi, Tomas.

Group: Hi, Tomas.

TOMAS: How gracious you are, my flock. I am pleased that you are so graciously accepting of my co-teacher and your newest friend in the Teaching Mission. We have found great delight in each other's company, as I also perceive you also are finding in each other's company, and as you develop trust in the Father and subsequent trust in each other, that love will grow and you will know fruits of the spirit in and for each other which will enrich your lives beyond compare.

TOMAS: How [[gracious]] you are, my flock. I am pleased that you are so graciously [[accepting]] of my co-teacher and your newest friend in the [[Teaching Mission]]. We have found great delight in each other's company, as I also [[perceive]] you also are finding in each other's company, and as you develop [[trust]] in [[the Father]] and subsequent trust in each other, that love will grow and you will know [[fruits of the spirit]] in and for each other which will enrich your lives beyond compare.

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

These friendships that are being formed, fostered in the spirit, are your eternal prize. Friendships are an end in themselves. (Phone ringing) There's a friend now! (Group laughter) I will perhaps follow through, along those lines, to venture into the realms of your study this evening, which will have to do with personality, for what is friendship if not an appreciation of a compatible and fragrant personality?

These [[friendships]] that are being formed, fostered in the [[spirit]], are your eternal prize. Friendships are an end in themselves. (Phone ringing) There's a friend now! (Group [[laughter]]) I will perhaps follow through, along those lines, to venture into the realms of your [[study]] this evening, which will have to do with [[personality]], for what is friendship if not an [[appreciation]] of a [[compatible]] and [[fragrant]] personality?

You will no doubt acknowledge that there are some personalities that rankle, that agitate, that are not conducive to a sense of comforting presence. Even yourselves, at certain awkward moments in time, may find yourself fitful and fretful and unfruitful in your fellowshipping. But this is a part of the development, you see ~ the undertaking of incorporating the Father-bestowed personality, instead of the ego-driven personality ~ a blending of the beneficial aspects of both, to enhance the soul personality, which is eternal.

You will no doubt acknowledge that there are some personalities that rankle, that [[agitate]], that are not conducive to a sense of comforting [[presence]]. Even yourselves, at certain awkward moments in time, may find yourself fitful and fretful and unfruitful in your fellowshipping. But this is a part of the development, you see ~ the undertaking of incorporating the Father-bestowed [[personality]], instead of the [[ego]]-driven personality ~ a blending of the beneficial aspects of both, to enhance the [[soul]] [[personality]], which is [[eternal]].

I have heard and been apprised of groups of students here, students of The Urantia Book, who have studied the subject of personality for literally years, who have done a thorough and in-depth study on the myriad facets of personality. And while I do not intend to lead you into such a study, I would like to spend a moment discussing personality, for I know that you have all wondered, at some time, why it is that if personality is a gift from God, why there are so many difficult and obstreperous personalities? Indeed, how can a child have such a vital and enchanting personality even before they have been indwelt by a fragment of God?

I have heard and been apprised of groups of [[students]] here, students of [[The Urantia Book]], who have studied the subject of [[personality]] for literally years, who have done a thorough and in-depth study on the myriad [[facets]] of [[personality]]. And while I do not [[intend]] to lead you into such a study, I would like to spend a moment discussing personality, for I know that you have all [[wondered]], at some time, why it is that if personality is a gift from God, why there are so many difficult and obstreperous personalities? Indeed, how can a child have such a [[vital]] and [[enchanting]] personality even before they have been indwelt by a [[fragment of God]]?

And so these questions may be pondered and even put to rest when it is understood that the human personality is a gift of the Father but it is not eternal in that same context as the soul is eternal, and it is in the assimilation of God's will within your personality that enhances the human personality and creates the personality which will live forever.

And so these questions may be pondered and even put to [[rest]] when it is [[understood]] that the human [[personality]] is a gift of [[the Father]] but it is not eternal in that same [[context]] as the soul is eternal, and it is in the [[assimilation]] of God's will within your personality that enhances the human personality and creates the personality which will live forever.

One of the inducements to the mortal to aspire for eternal life is the joyous realization that the personality lasts forever, that as you ascend into the future realms of spirit embellishment, your personality continues to go with you. In other words, you are not to be diffused into a non-personal mass of energy that returns to the cosmic Source, unaware of its identity and its contribution to its own existence.

One of the inducements to the [[mortal]] to [[aspire]] for eternal life is the joyous [[realization]] that the personality lasts forever, that as you [[ascend]] into the future realms of spirit embellishment, your personality continues to go with you. In other [[words]], you are not to be [[diffused]] into a non-personal [[mass]] of [[energy]] that returns to the cosmic Source, unaware of its [[identity]] and its contribution to its own [[existence]].

Those who are not aware of how God works in their life, and how they work in God's life, may not have the advantage of understanding how it is that they can contribute to the modification of their own personality by usurping the ego right to do its own will in favor of doing the divine will of the Father, and in that the Father-bestowed personality is able to perform.

Those who are not [[aware]] of how God works in their [[life]], and how they work in God's life, may not have the [[advantage]] of [[understanding]] how it is that they can contribute to the [[modification]] of their own [[personality]] by usurping the ego right to do its own will in favor of [[Doing the will of God|doing the divine will of the Father]], and in that [[the Father]]-bestowed [[personality]] is able to perform.

Another question that has often come to the mind of evolving souls is: if God is the father of personality, how can that personality be so dynamic and so intriguing and yet fly in the face of all that has value? Here is the source of great contention, even among believers. You perceive that a God-bestowed personality should act in keeping with certain mores and standards of behavior, and of a certainty this is true, but it is not you who is to decide

Another question that has often come to the [[mind]] of [[evolving soul]]s is: if God is the [[father]] of [[personality]], how can that personality be so [[dynamic]] and so [[intriguing]] and yet fly in the face of all that has [[value]]? Here is the [[source]] of great contention, even among believers. You [[perceive]] that a God-bestowed personality should [[act]] in keeping with certain mores and standards of [[behavior]], and of a certainty this is true, but it is not you who is to [[decide]]

what merit a personality has as far as it is affecting its own arena.

what merit a personality has as far as it is affecting its own arena.

It is possible for a personality to be acting in accordance with its understanding of the will of God even when it is not the will of God, but how else do humans make those growth pulses possible unless they err and correct their error? These are perhaps subtle refinements in your understanding of personality. We go back to the same fundamental lessons that we have always taught and that we always come back to: that as you grow, you learn; and as you learn, you judge less about others' learning processes. One moment.

It is possible for a [[personality]] to be acting in accordance with its [[understanding]] of the will of God even when it is not the will of God, but how else do humans make those [[growth]] pulses possible unless they err and [[correct]] their [[error]]? These are perhaps [[subtle]] refinements in your understanding of personality. We go back to the same fundamental lessons that we have always taught and that we always come back to: that as you [[grow]], you learn; and as you learn, you [[judge]] less about others' learning processes. One moment.

MERIUM: This is Merium again and I have asked Tomas for a moment on the dais to investigate a little further this thing about moral personalities, for I know that you are very human personalities and that is understood because you are humans and because you have had that value system reinforced all along. And now comes this new wave of spiritizing and it would have you sacrifice your own understanding of who you are, perhaps, for a yet higher and more closely-aligned entity in conjunction with a God of living water.

MERIUM: This is Merium again and I have asked Tomas for a moment on the dais to investigate a little further this thing about moral personalities, for I know that you are very human personalities and that is understood because you are humans and because you have had that value system reinforced all along. And now comes this new wave of spiritizing and it would have you sacrifice your own understanding of who you are, perhaps, for a yet higher and more closely-aligned entity in conjunction with a God of living water.