Changes

Dear Reader,

Dear Reader,

I was asked to write a letter to the reader of these transcripts on anything I believe helpful. OK, here goes...

I was asked to [[write]] a [[letter]] to the [[reader]] of these transcripts on anything I believe helpful. OK, here goes...

First, a little background. I have been a [[Urantia Book|Urantia book]] reader since 1983. I was brought up a Southern Baptist, and my [[education]] was in [[Physics]] and [[Mathematics]]. I have worked all my adult life in research and development, in both university and [[private]] enterprise environments. From my early teens till my mid 30s I would characterize myself an [[Atheism|atheist]]. My deity was rational thought, science, and the human [[mind]]. Certain [[experience]]s in my late 30's and early 40's convinced me that there was more to [[reality]] than the physical world. I began to seek, I knew not what.

First, a little background. I have been a [[Urantia Book|Urantia book]] reader since 1983. I was brought up a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptists Southern Baptist], and my [[education]] was in [[Physics]] and [[Mathematics]]. I have worked all my adult life in [[research]] and [[development]], in both [[university]] and [[private]] [[Business|enterprise]] [[Context|environments]. From my early teens till my mid 30s I would characterize myself an [[Atheism|atheist]]. My [[deity]] was [[rational]] thought, [[science]], and the human [[mind]]. Certain [[experience]]s in my late 30's and early 40's convinced me that there was more to [[reality]] than the [[physical]] world. I began to seek, I knew not what.

One day my wife brought a thick blue book home from work. A coworker had loaned the book to her saying " Here is a book I think F. should read." I read the book for a couple of weeks, skipping here and there, sampling its flavor. My initial reaction was one of skepticism and disbelief. I rejected the book for its unconventional science (an [http://mercy.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper42.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper42.html&line=33#mfs ultimaton]???), and its unfamiliar nomenclature. After returning the book to its owner, I mentioned it to my business partner, and gave it no more [[cognition|thought]].

One day my wife brought a thick blue [[book]] [[home]] from [[work]]. A coworker had loaned the book to her saying " Here is a book I think F. should read." I read the book for a couple of weeks, skipping here and there, sampling its flavor. My initial [[reaction]] was one of [[skepticism]] and disbelief. I rejected the book for its unconventional science (an [http://mercy.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper42.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper42.html&line=33#mfs ultimaton]???), and its unfamiliar [[nomenclature]]. After returning the book to its owner, I mentioned it to my business [[partner]], and gave it no more [[cognition|thought]].

On my next birthday, my 47th, I received a copy of the book as a gift from my partner and his wife, who both are interested in [[spiritual]] [[matter]]s. With the book now readily at hand, I undertook to read it, mostly out of curiosity. As I read, I began to perceive the spiritual fragrance of Truth. I began to understand that the book contained a [[concept]]ual framework of reality which united the material world and science, with a spiritual world and religion. Even more, I realized that I was a beloved son of a loving Universal Father. I began to see the way [[home]].

On my next birthday, my 47th, I received a copy of the book as a gift from my partner and his wife, who both are interested in [[spiritual]] [[matter]]s. With the book now readily at hand, I undertook to read it, mostly out of [[curiosity]]. As I read, I began to [[perceive]] the spiritual fragrance of [[Truth]]. I began to [[understand]] that the book contained a [[concept]]ual framework of [[reality]] which united the material world and science, with a spiritual world and religion. Even more, I realized that I was a beloved son of a loving Universal Father. I began to see the way [[home]].

In 1985 an invitation arrived to meet with a group of [[readers]] to form a Urantia book study group. Here I met A. and J. who can be found in these transcripts. A., in particular, encouraged me in a wide-ranging study of spiritual teachings, including channeled material from A. J. Davis, S. Moses, B. Bond, E. Cayce to mention a few. Here and there in these readings I seemed to detect a familiar fragrance...

In 1985 an invitation arrived to meet with a group of [[readers]] to form a [[Urantia book]] [[study]] [[group]]. Here I met A. and J. who can be found in these transcripts. A., in particular, encouraged me in a wide-ranging study of spiritual teachings, including [[channeled]] material from A. J. Davis, S. Moses, B. Bond, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Cayce E. Cayce] to mention a few. Here and there in these readings I seemed to detect a familiar fragrance...

In 1992 I began hearing about a "''Teaching Mission''," where individuals in Urantia Book study groups had begun to channel various "Teachers." A member of our study group, S., became very interested in this [[phenomenon]], and began collecting transcripts from these groups and talking with their transmitter/receivers (TRs). She loaned me these transcripts to read, and my initial impressions were ambivalent. Surely these works contained no epochal revelations, no grand concepts, no supernal wisdom. I questioned whether these works were merely figments of the human [[imagination]].

In 1992 I began hearing about a "''Teaching Mission''," where [[individuals]] in Urantia Book study groups had begun to [[channel]] various "Teachers." A member of our study group, S., became very interested in this [[phenomenon]], and began collecting transcripts from these groups and talking with their transmitter/receivers ([[TR]]s). She loaned me these transcripts to read, and my initial impressions were ambivalent. Surely these works contained no epochal [[revelations]], no grand [[concepts]], no supernal [[wisdom]]. I questioned whether these works were merely figments of the [[human]] [[imagination]].

One day, on a business trip, I took along another transcript, and at night proceeded to read it. During my study of this text I perceived a familiar fragrance. Then the realization came to me that these works were not intended as another epochal [[revelation]]; we already had that. These works were for [[individual]], not [[public]], instruction. Yes, they may contain lessons of benefit to many people, but the intention here is to tailor and adapt the instruction to the individual, . ..to provide the services of a loving [[mentor]], rather than a professor, . ..to provide basic spiritual education where needed, rather than graduate school education. This particular transcript gave a simple 3-step approach which will lead to spiritual progress.

One day, on a business trip, I took along another transcript, and at night proceeded to read it. During my [[study]] of this text I perceived a familiar fragrance. Then the [[realization]] came to me that these works were not intended as another epochal [[revelation]]; we already had that. These works were for [[individual]], not [[public]], instruction. Yes, they may contain lessons of benefit to many people, but the [[intention]] here is to tailor and adapt the instruction to the individual, . ..to provide the [[services]] of a loving [[mentor]], rather than a professor, . ..to provide basic [[spiritual]] [[education]] where needed, rather than graduate school education. This particular transcript gave a simple 3-step approach which will lead to spiritual [[progress]].

The fragrance I experienced was that spiritual fragrance of love, rather than hate, . ..reassurance, rather than fear, . ..acceptance, rather than judgment, . ..patience, rather than intolerance, and encouragement, rather than criticism. This is the familiar fragrance of the works of our loving Creator, Michael, and our infinite source of love, our Universal Father. My dear reader, I ask you to look for this fragrance and seek it out in all that you read, and be assured that following its trail, you will not be led astray.

The fragrance I experienced was that spiritual fragrance of [[love]], rather than hate, . ..re[[assurance]], rather than [[fear]], . ..[[acceptance]], rather than [[judgment]], . ..[[patience]], rather than in[[tolerance]], and encouragement, rather than [[criticism]]. This is the familiar fragrance of the works of our loving [[Creator Son|Creator]], [[Michael]], and our infinite source of love, our [[Universal Father]]. My dear [[reader]], I ask you to look for this fragrance and seek it out in all that you read, and be assured that following its trail, you will not be led astray.

To me, these transcripts are not something you have to absolutely believe or disbelieve, but something from which the sieve of the [[Spirit of Truth]] will sift that which is useful and beneficial to you.

To me, these transcripts are not something you have to absolutely believe or disbelieve, but something from which the sieve of the [[Spirit of Truth]] will sift that which is useful and beneficial to you.