• Ham - Complete Lessons Received in 1991 - Jan 01, 1991 - Woods Cross, UT
• Individual Breakout of Lessons Are Not As Complete as This Collection
• 1991 Represents the first year the teaching mission began to operate as a hosted program by assigned personnel.  As far as we know, all of these lessons were received at Woods Cross, UT.
  
• [Note: These lessons are for the year 1991, but are otherwise undated by the group.  The reader may compare some of these lessons to the break-out lessons which are dated in 1991 on this site. The lessons published herein also contain the Questions and Answers between the group and Ham.  Dating the archive on January 01, 1991 is arbitrary in order to chronologically insert into the archive]
• Collection represents about 39,500 words or 79 letter-size pages

LIST Of TITLES

HAM 1991
SPIRITUAL WATER NURTURES THE SOUL

LOVE AND TRUTH

GOODNESS

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

SPIRITUAL FREEDOM AND LIFE

THE FATHER IN HEAVEN

LEAN NOT UPON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

SHOW FORTH THE FRUITS

FATHER IS NEAR

OUR FATHER

FAITH

ONE GOD CONCEPT

THE LIVING CHANNEL OF FAITH

REMEMBER OUR BROTHER/FATHER

TRUTH

LOVE AS HARMONY

THOUGHT OVERCONTROL AND OMNISCIENCE OF OUR FATHER

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

THE STILLNESS

FEAR NOT THE TROUBLES OF TODAY

GOD THE SUPREME

BALANCE IN THE MATERIAL LIFE

MATERIAL PURPOSE AND MORONTIAL EXISTENCE

SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND GUIDANCE

THE ASCENSION OF MAN

AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

THE TRINITY

CELESTIAL CHAMBERS OF THE FIRST MANSION WORLD

SONARINGTON

STILLNESS AND SPIRITUALITY

FORTITUDE

TOLERANCE

PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH GOD

HAPPINESS

MERCY

TRUTH

end of index

HAM 1991

SPIRITUAL WATER NURTURES THE SOUL

I am with you tonight to begin the teachings which have been prepared by our teacher Melchizedek on Urantia. One of the topics I wish to share about spiritual reality is difficult to put in your word forms. The man Jesus, when He as God made flesh, preached, used the term water. Spiritual water is real. It exists in the form of truth, of beauty, and of goodness. It replenishes my soul using your words. It rains on me, my soul, the soil of my heart, and awakens new growth.

You see, the soul grows almost as an organic living reality-entity. This growth must be nurtured in time as all living things require time for growth.

A tree begins its life as a seed. It is not a tree at all. It has no characteristics of its later maturity, and yet, from this small beginning, tiny beginning, mighty, magnificent, beauteous and splendid results occur. Many times I have wondered about this, and yet, the ultimate secret lies of course with God, the ultimate truth of life and reality. On Edentia I toiled in the gardens and thought on this subject deeply.

Q: Last week you said that the Lucifer Rebellion adjudication was completed. What happened to Lucifer, Satan, Caligastia, and Daligastia?

A: We are sorry and also happy to report that they have become as though they had not been. None repented. It was a hard combination of reality feelings when we received this information.

Q: Are we witnesses to the reopening of the system circuits? Are you, as a teacher, the benefit of the adjudication?

A: Yes, of course.

Q: Will spiritual energies change quickly from here out?

A: We have been witnessing great change over fifty years since the beginning of the adjudication. This time has changed to the correcting time, and we will now witness further change of greater proportion than we have already seen. This proportion will be of a more spiritual nature than previous. Over the last fifty years, there has been much change political, social, and technological change.

Q: In the last meeting, you indicated technological changes in the form of telecommunications was a stumbling block. Could you now give us more insight on this question?

A: In days long ago this type of communication was looked on as a possession, a spiritual possession. As you witness with your telecommunication methods, your video telecommunication methods, that images and voices can be here and there, transmitted to different places at one time, you can see this communication to be similar. That I exist not in your realm of reality, that I exist elsewhere, yet I can communicate with you in this manner.

Q: How can we mortals realize more of the potential in our lives?

A: Actuals and potentials are ever in flux, ever changing. Movement, soul movement, morontia movement, is one type of this exchange. The soul grows by this exchange. It remains a constant to absolute levels which we, including myself, have not reached.

Q: Are we, as very young spirits, able to receive and contain energy on your level without distortion in our own ways?

A: You are receiving at this time words from my level, my energy to you. My words are my communication from myself to yourself, from my heart to your heart, from my mind to your mind. This spiritual growth requires time to develop itself. You see, the soul-spirit entity within will advance and grow by its own momentum after a point. You are not conscious that this is occurring, yet, you are conscious of the difference within your consciousness, changes in response, the difference within. This spirit response, mental response, takes place at an almost superconscious level, not quite at everyday thinkingness point are you aware of these changes. These changes are in constant occurrence, but at the time of the consciousness of these changes are levels traversed. This spiritual growth happening is on an infinite continuum. You progress along this infinite continuum sometimes little sometimes more. If you remove time, the continuum is constant. This continuum, soul progression, is constant, yet, the consciousness of this progression is not. Conscious contact, understanding of the soul, occurs in a completion.

Q: Can you read our thoughts?

A: Yes, to a point. It is not for me to invade or to change a thought or an intent or a question or anything. I may understand it, not change it or invade.




LOVE AND TRUTH

I am delighted to be a part of this project and am delighted to have you all as my pupils. Love and truth are coequal/dependent. These two immense realities serve in harmony together. Truth, as you have perceived it, is not the fullness of its reality. Truth, you see, may perhaps be mentally degraded to the level of fact perception. You say this fact exists; therefore, it is true. No, this is not truth. This is not reality perception. This is mental logic level perception. Truth is spiritual perception also. It entails and encompasses soul grasping, that is, morontia level understanding of reality. It is indescribably, incredibly, wonderfully more than material level fact correlation. Truth, when perceived in reality, enlarges the soul and allows spiritual progression to occur and an advancement to realize within a person's personality reality. This truth is amazing. This enlightenment is beyond mere mental cognition but reaches into the depths of soul perception. Love, love, love is God. Love is a singular reality, a singular truth. It is experience, yet, it is more. It is unfoldingment, expansion, the opening of the soul to perception of reality and truth. Without love there is nothing. It is the path. The man Jesus told the better way, the path of truth and love. This must be spoken of. This must be perceived: that such a profound experience can be understood on your material level. It is not only the beginning of life, it is also the end. It is the goal, for it is He.

There is so much confusion in the world at this time. This confusion stems from the complicated and incorrect perception of reality. This confusion is terrible. It is the cause and the result of the perpetual misery of your planet. This pain makes it difficult to preserve this simplicity and simple truth: small understandings that break way into understanding each other. These small things, look for them. Look for them in people. Look for the gate, a gate. It needn't be much. There are between people openings and closings. Openings and closings constantly occur. When the smallest opening between strangers is there, there is friendship. Friendship where before there was nothing; they were strangers. It needn't be a lot. These teachings are meant to go beyond, to fill the world. When people turn to God, to the Lord, to the path, to love, His guidance is here, His guidance will follow. His guidance will change and renew and restore this world. This is our purpose and your purpose also.

Q: Are you telling us that the little things we do to reach out to others in love are, in a small way, helping this happen?

A: Yes, exactly. Love spreads, and it spreads from one person to another and another and another . It is a reality, you see. It is not a feeling that you may give here or give there. It is a spiritual reality that flows on its own momentum. It flows through you, it flows to another, which, in turn, flows to another. It spreads in this manner. The growth would stop at nothing less than the realization of the brotherhood of man on earth. This will lead to many, many marvelous things.

Q: Are you preparing this world for the next order of sonship, perhaps a Magisterial Son?

A: Yes, correct. The next order of sonship is due to your world. However, this perhaps will not be in flesh and blood as Melchizedek, Vicegerent Planetary Prince, is not flesh and blood, but he is in control. Your reference from the book, yes, human form, yes. However, from of my information, this is not to occur again on this world. You of this world received the Creator Son of this Universe as flesh and blood. This is the last occurrence of this for this world. It will not happen again, as such.

Q: Will mankind know if a Magisterial Son comes on a mission?

A: As you know of Melchizedek. Not all, you see. There are many, many, many, a majority of people; you are a small minority. Most would never accept or understand these transactions, yet they will change everything.

Our goal and mission is twofold: it consists firstly in transforming the individuals involved with these communications. Secondly, it consists of spreading, sharing, and maintaining, the spiritual progress and momentum of the masses. This general spiritual level has not necessarily improved for many years, and now the time has come to correct this and begin to enlarge the spiritual capacity and receptivity of mankind in general. This is occurring due to spiritual forces of a more generalized nature. The Supreme Being is acting in the overall patterned manner about this area in time-space. Therefore, this generalized spiritual force creates pressure upon humankind which humankind reacts to, and this will help to create an atmosphere or prepare the way for the receptive receiving of these teachings. Furthermore, all these forces will gently and carefully reveal God's love to humankind but not only this. General sharing and revealing the love of God is the most supreme pleasure. This preparation will better your planet in many areas of life: in environment, in technology, in social culture and political structure. These refinements will gradually lead this world step by step toward light and life.

You would do well all to ponder and wonder on these things. This is a great time for your world. A great time of progress. These things are guiding and will come to pass. I shall leave you now. Farewell.





GOODNESS

You have been told of the spiritual water of life, that this water consists of truth and beauty and goodness. You have been told that truth is a spiritual reality and exists with love as an experience of God. His goodness is our topic this evening.

How do I portray to human minds this concept termed goodness? This is a difficult assignment for goodness is so vast, so all encompassing, enthralling perhaps is the word. It is dynamic. It is powerful. It is the way. Goodness is like a river, is like an ocean. It flows through you, through the open gate of the heart. It is the law. The law is life. Goodness is life itself. It is the "real" of life. It is not shadow, not error. It is everything, for goodness is God.

Goodness goes together with mercy as God's way of reaching the mortal mind. He is love in one hand and mercy and forgiveness in the other. Mercy is not the perhaps entirely correct word, but close, close. This mercy is complete and total understanding of each individual mortal. The awareness of human failings, the forgiveness that comes with that understanding, you see, is total and complete, without reservation or misgiving.

Father in heaven is our Father in truth, acts in a Fatherly fashion and always in love complete, unconditional, love. Excuse me, unconditional is not quite correct. His only condition, if it can be called a condition, is the return of that love by His children, but, you see, He is so all goodness, all forgiveness, that even this is understood, even the non-return of love is understood. Isn't it wonderful.

You all have your good days, bad days, your in-tune days, not-in-tune days. Many times He is there, His hand is there to grasp your hand. You see it not, but it is there. Each of you should try to see the hand that waits to grasp your hand. That is the true goodness of a father who holds and guides his child in safety and security.

Then I will leave you with this. Open the gates of your hearts, open the eyes of your minds, and allow the Father to enfold you. Allow Him to grasp you. Allow Him to love you. Allow Him to lead you.

Q: The Urantia Book says that we are not given our new names until after we fuse with our Thought Adjuster. We are confused about the giving of our spiritual names at this time.

A: This is not confusion. This is change. Yes. Once long ago the spirit of the Father was not universal. This change that has taken place recently makes it possible for you to excel, complete, and grow in understanding to the point where this is possible. These changes in the past short time are sweeping; they are immense. They are not only planetary changes, as in the dispensation occurring, they concern the entire universe, and this change, this new time period, brings into being new potentials that are personal as well as global.

Q: Were you at any time a mortal on any world such as Abraham was on ours?

A: Yes, I was. I lived as... Perhaps this question is more for human curiosity. You see, some questions need to be cleared through others before detailed answers can be given or if they should be given or not. Regrettably, no details.

Q: But having been a mortal, you have a deep understanding of us, of our situation, our problems, have you not?

A: Yes. That is the reason we are chosen for this mission.

Q: Is truth flexible?

A: Is truth flexible? It is difficult to grasp. Truth is not flexible. No, I would say not, if I grasp the meaning correctly. Truth is absolute.

Q: Can two people have truth that is in conflict? Can something be true to one person and not true to another?

A: You speak of beliefs, correct, religious beliefs, correct? Belief and beliefs in specific religious fancies will all smooth out in time. You speak between two people conflict. Conflict over beliefs can be difficult, very difficult. Many times these things, I am sorry to say, are not always resolvable between people. The followers of Jesus many times broke with their families. Jesus, himself, broke with most of his family. This is so difficult, these things. It is regrettable.

Q: Will the change you spoke of earlier affect the shape of the earth?

A: By what do you mean? earthquakes? catastrophes? droughts you mean? No. No.

Q: The changes are primarily spiritual changes, then?

A: Correct.

Q: Do all of us have spiritual names?

A: All have these names. You all are known by your spiritual names. You are not conscious, however, of your name yet.

Q: What is origin of these names? It seems they are all Anglican. Do they reflect your cultural upbringing on your planet of origin?

A: It is not an assignation of the name. The name is who you are. It has been known since your birth, this name. It reflects, yes, your culture and heritage and planet of origin, all these things, because that is the initial stamp or soil out of which you have grown your soul, you see. That initial heredity or physical body, nature, mind, is your basis, your beginning, and the name captures this, you see.



THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

This evening I would like to discuss the Kingdom of Heaven. The man Jesus discussed at great length this topic and very little is found in your New Testament records. His mission was a beginning, an opening, to begin the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. At that time, He of course foresaw the bringing to this world the teachings which would make possible the first beginning stages of light and life for the beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven. His mission foresaw our's. He foresaw the establishment of Christianity. He foretold of the skeleton-like nature of modern Christianity which has borrowed from pre-existent and extant teachings of the day which has been modified and splintered to an extensive degree.

Christ Michael is personally concerned with the welfare of Urantia as a whole, of Christianity, and especially of all Christians. His words have been made to ring hollow in the hearts of men. He would fill them again. Our mission, you see, is sponsored by Him.

He said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in the hearts of men. It will grow; it will grow quickly, grow strongly, and firmly rooted in their hearts. The Kingdom of Heaven is like the lost talent that the person searches for, and searches, and searches and searches until it is found. It is so precious, and yet, it is lost in this world and so few seem to be searching any more, really searching! Mankind is caught in this struggle for material comforts and personal prestige and power, and that, to men, is important. So strange this is, when the enthronement of God the Father in your hearts is what is true and meaningful and is really an emergency. It is an emergency! It is that important! If you could only understand how serious this is! One's allegiance, one's hopes and faith must be centered on God alone and not be worried about material comforts. These things are prepared for you, are given to you joyfully by the Father.

Your first duty, the only duty, is to do His will, and this is of paramount importance for me to impress upon you this evening.

Each of you has guidance, and this guidance can be strong or weak or non-existent. Therefore, by your decisions, you strengthen your reception of guidance by choosing the Father's will. By so choosing, it is easier. By so choosing, you lighten your burden. By so choosing, life becomes a pleasure, not a struggle. You become a fountain of spiritual refreshment to your fellows, not a burden to them. You become a light in the darkness to all around you, not another stumbling block in their darkness. The light within your heart will shine brighter, the love that you bestow upon your fellows more genuine, and your happiness will increase. Happiness is not found anywhere else, not true happiness.

Your willingness to be here tonight attests to your willingness to do these things. Father, the spirit of the Father, is in each person, and He knows and understands each one of you completely. There is nothing to hide from Him. Open yourselves to Him. Your willingness to do so will give you peace. Your willingness to be led by Him will give you mental tranquility, and in mental tranquility, spiritual light shines brightest.

The material mind rebels against spiritual leadings and, at certain times, needs our discipline and perhaps even a chastisement by your higher natures. If so, it does not hurt you to discipline your minds to always consider the spiritual consequences of any action so that decisions become more clear, where you begin to walk out of the gray area and see with clarity the necessity of your decisions.

The man Jesus gave us a prayer, "Father thou art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Q: Last week, you made the statement that long ago the spirit of the Father was not universal. Were you referring to Father Michael or the Universal Father?

A: I was referring to the presence of the Indwelling Spirit in the mind.

Q: I am concerned about some good people who had good intentions and desires to go on and meet and be with our Father in Heaven. But when these people commit suicide, what would happen to them?

A: I am sorry, this is not for me to discuss, either. However, worry not. Concern yourself with the living.

Q: Is it wrong to perform euthanasia on a person that is dying and cannot get well or is it wrong to pull the plug on life support systems if these people can never become well?

A: These are difficult matters and of mortal concern. I cannot make broad pronouncements as to the rightness or wrongness of individual actions. Each person must walk in his own light and perform his duties and obligations to parents, children, family, and associates. This is an individual matter.

Are there any questions? (No answer) Then I will say I hope that you all understand and receive these words with an open heart and mind and that you will progress daily in your understanding. Farewell.




THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

This evening, I would wish to express a few thoughts now concerning the questions that have been asked in the past. I wish to clarify and enlighten you as to position. There are many issues which cannot be discussed for the fear of intruding into the individual will pattern. Each human being must decided for themselves many complex and perplexing questions in life, and it is not for us to interfere with these decisions. We have come to guide and sustain you in a purely spiritual manner, and this spiritual food and water will sustain you in life. We understand that there are needs, desires and wants in each person, yet this understanding of past or future events must come to each person individually, and each must draw their lesson therefrom.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink. The Kingdom of Heaven is spiritual. This is a fundamental, basic concept that is missed so often by the churches of the world. When Jesus walked the earth, His teachings were more advanced than could be grasped at that time and even in this time. These teachings are the fundamental building blocks which we will use to expand upon and clarify for the enlightenment of mankind.

The light of the world. "While I am in the world I am the light of the world," said Jesus, and now we have come to kindle this light once more, to proclaim liberty to spiritual captives, to bring the good news to those who sit in darkness. A message of joy and hope is what we should offer: liberty, freedom from meaningless tradition outdated perhaps would be more precise. Tradition, you see, has an inertia of its own and comes down, is passed down through the ages from generation to generation and on and on until the meaning of these traditions is practically worthless in modern day. With such rapid change, these traditions become very quickly outdated as you can witness in the Muslim world. For example, the borrowing and lending of money at interest is not allowed, yet the economic necessity for such procedures is overwhelming, and therefore, the economy suffers and stagnates under the weight of a mores that is no longer relevant in the modern world. Long ago on your world, there existed a tradition that a man should beat his wife. This was not a "could," but should beat his wife as a regular practice. Of course, this tradition is in modern eyes a ridiculous thing and abhorrent, yet it was a tradition nonetheless and honored at the time. There are many such examples. Therefore, it becomes of necessity to distinguish that which is of a purely traditional and cultural nature and that which has spiritual significance and meaning. The most significant tradition could be found in the sacrament, which can certainly be practiced freely, of the bread and wine that Christ gave in the Last Supper. This is an example of a meaningful tradition. He said, "Do this in remembrance of me." It has meaning.

The Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grinding stone grinding wheat. The Kingdom of Heaven makes smooth, makes usable, the coarseness of life. The Kingdom of Heaven gives meaning to tradition. The Kingdom of Heaven gives light and hope and freedom to the soul. It will sustain and nurture all aspects of life and will remain itself intact as water remains water. I see a stone grinding wheat. This work is the Kingdom of Heaven. This preparation of that which was raw, which was wild, which was unusable, is ground by the Kingdom of Heaven and made usable, made nourishing, made sustaining. The Kingdom of Heaven will transform that which is growing wild into the bread of life for the service of mankind. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a threshing floor. It works to separate the wheat from the chaff. The Kingdom of Heaven is active. It is a living, spiritual, active reality. These basic concepts are much spoken of in your churches but not well understood. We hope that through many lessons such as this to clarify these ideas and strengthen your faith in them for the basis of our work has been laid long ago, and we need only to look at the gospel with fresh eyes.

Q: Has the spiritual isolation of Urantia been terminated?

A: In the technical sense, it has been. All of the circuitry has not been completely put back as before, yet what has been done should allow greater spiritual access to and from this planet and should open spiritual possibilities to humankind also. The circuitry is in the process of being reinstated to and beyond its former state. END




SOUL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

There exists a difference between the idea or the thought of God on the one hand and the experiencing reality of Him on the other. Most people have an idea of the Lord as an abstraction, almost, with very little interpersonal communion or feeling development, soul development. It is the experiencing of God which develops the soul. It is the mental capacity for understanding this experience, humanizing this experience, and personalizing this experience which causes those spiritual forces to mobilize and cause spiritual growth for the individual. There is no spiritual growth without thought, without the thinking, reasoning, wise understanding of the spiritual experience. At first, this experience is limited and fleeting, yet if it is pursued wisely, sagaciously, this experience becomes, and makes the individual become, more and more real as you realize your potential spiritual growth. This active transfer of purely spiritual, along with mental, energies causes the phenomenon of soul growth, and this soul becomes a morontia reality, even while you are yet mortal. It is the combination of the material, mortal, mental process with the purely spiritual input from the Father, the Thought Adjuster, that produces a new reality. This is a lifelong project for both parties involved. The mortal mind must grasp and understand the spiritual reality for it to be made real for that individual. It is the process of becoming who you really are. A process of realizing your mortal potential which shall extend to the morontia worlds, but it is begun in this world. Therefore, it is important that you receive and understand my teachings. It is important that I make these teachings clear and understandable; therefore, if there are any doubts or problems in understanding, please do not hesitate to say so.

Q: Are there guidelines we should follow in sharing this with other people? Could you give us information which will help us in introducing and explaining this phenomenon of your communication as well as the teaching that you are disseminating?

A: Yes. This can be a difficult matter, especially for those who have not been exposed to The Urantia Book. These teachings are for the universal good of mankind and are meant to be shared, yet the method of their communication can sometimes cause rejection, as is the case with The Urantia Book also. This problem can be overcome by reading the book or hearing these teachings, for the teachings are what is important, not the method of communication. However, this method of communication is certainly a stumbling block for many people, and so perhaps it is best to introduce the teachings alone for a time without the book or tapes, and when that person is spiritually strong enough to be capable of receiving this much light, then can the book and the tapes be given. As it says in The Urantia Book, too much light can be blinding as well as illuminating; therefore, let your light shine so as to give light, but not so as to confuse. This is a difficult and delicate balance and must be conducted with great care and discretion. Only then will your efforts be fruitful, and a great deal of time may be required for each person. This is a difficult task.

Q: What happens to the mortal personality upon natural death? Where does it go?

A: This is difficult to explain because it is mysterious to me. I have received teachings, I have been through the experience, and yet, it is mysterious. Personality is non-functional at death and is functional at resurrection, yet this entirety, unifying, functional unit is in pieces at death and cannot continue without the regrouping. It is necessary for a body of some type. At death, we leave the mortal body, and the pieces are safe and intact. My memories are intact of my life. The memories of Abraham are also intact. The memories of everyone, these memories are still there. As it says in the book, all that is worthwhile remains, and nothing is lost, yet there may be a time, an interval, of complete non-awareness. Therefore, that interval of time is not part of memory. It seems like an instant, yet we are told and understand that there is an interval of time between death and resurrection. The personality as far as we are taught is in safe-keeping with the Thought Adjuster, but as a functioning unit, it is dormant on death.

Q: Could you define spiritual realities in terms a mortal can understand?

A: Yes. Spiritual realities. I have difficulty in trying to convey this because it is the only reality for me. For you who are in a much more limited state of perception, this is more of an idea than a truth. This truth is as real to me as the chair you are sitting in is to you, yet to me, the physical material reality is such a limited place, so confined, that the greater spiritual world is unrecognized by your limited perception. Therefore, in order to perceive this spiritual reality of the world, one must see with spiritual eyes, perceiving the value, the beauty, the goodness which go beyond mere physical realities. Sometimes it is difficult to expand the mind to the point of grasping the greater spiritual reality, yet with this grasping, this expansion in order to enfold and incorporate this greater reality to your personal experience, causes spiritual growth and soul ascension.




SPIRITUAL FREEDOM AND LIFE

My teaching tonight shall include thoughts on spiritual freedom and life. Spiritual freedom is true freedom. It is the essence of a happy and boundless life. There are no bonds and shackles to hinder the true expression of one's innermost nature. This is freedom. There is only limitless possibility for such a soul. There is boundless happiness, abundant health, and joy in life. The soul drinks the cup of forgiveness and love, the bread of love. He knows no borders to his existence. He realizes his inner nature so that this true inner nature becomes his guidance and himself. This is the essence of doing God's will in your lives, for His will is to realize Himself in you, for you to realize yourself in Him, for the two to become one, for the two to express themselves. The personal expression of the human self is no less important than the divine expression of the divine self.

Next, I wish to speak of the shackles and bonds that bind us. These can be subtle or they can be overt. They are treacherous to spiritual growth and expression which is essential to a happy life. These bonds are culturally imposed, traditionally imposed, many times self-imposed out of misguided thinking. They are the chief impediment to happiness on earth. These bonds are the bonds of thinking too much self-analysis and the comparison of self with an abstract ideal which leads to feelings of unworth or inferior worth. These feelings are to be abandoned. You need to progress courageously, forthrightly, steadfastly through this life without the impediment of too much thinking. Sometimes it is better to allow the self to be and to become, to allow the spirit to flow through you, to allow love to radiate from you. This is sometimes best and easiest to accomplish. Happiness follows love, flowing love.

Furthermore, I wish to say that the celestial beings here tonight, and with you always, express their appreciation and love for you and wish to say how pleased they are with the spiritual progress that all of you have made thus far.

Q: Where are our souls housed?

A: The mind you would say is housed in the brain; although, this is incorrect. The mind is not housed at all, neither is the soul. You would envision it as being completely throughout the physical form, although centered more or less at the heart.

Q: Are you also "bound and shackled" on your plane?

A: Yes.

Q: Could you give us particular instances of forces that bind and shackle us?

A: Yes. The particulars are for each person different. As I have said, thinking and over self-analysis is one form of self-shackling. Another is disease, bodily disease, and many things such as tying one's self to a hatred or a malice, or pride, or envy, or superstition, or greed, or any number of things. Prejudice for example. Many are cultural and obvious. Others are personal and subtle.

Q: How can one distinguish the Father's will from one's own thinking?

A: This is a deep and all-encompassing subject that is part of the progressive experience, the learning to discern and then the doing of His will in your life. This will not always be so murky for you, and recently has become much clearer. Each person must walk that path of decision-making himself in order to learn how to discern the right way vs. the willful, self-interested, self-worrying, perhaps, self-absorbed way. The path is self-forgetful, is thinking the best for others, and opening the heart to His love, so that His love will nourish other beings around you. The actual fine line on Father's communications is more difficult for me to tell you how. In general, there is a feeling of superconsciousness and otherness somewhat as Rebecca experiences during these communications. It is otherness and forcefully strong. Should there be doubts, it is hard for me to sort them for you. I cannot do it. When there is no doubt there is simply no doubt, and this will be more the case as time progresses.

Q: Do we need to completely trust our fellow man before we can freely love them?

A: Yes and No. Love is from the Father, and this love He bestows in trust, and yet is spurned more often than not. When we bestow love in trust, often, very often, we can be disappointed or hurt. Yet in order to intelligently and fully love another human being, there must be trust for there must be mutual trust. To love everybody indiscriminately is not possible, nor is it possible to trust everybody indiscriminately. Therefore, wisely and understandingly love each individual person who comes to you. The gospel admonishes us to love our enemies, to be father-like to those who abuse our trust, to always look deeply for the underlying motives for the actions of your unwise fellows, and to see them as closely as you can to the way that Father sees them, and this will open your heart and allow deeper understanding of the sometimes foolish actions.

My personal wishes and thoughts cannot always be expressed, you understand, though I am a teacher under the orders of Abraham and Melchizedek. My mission is to teach and explain and make clear, clearer, the fundamental tenets laid down by Christ Jesus. This is my main objective, though this restatement, retelling, of the fundamental truths is the main purpose for me to be here. Therefore, it is important for us to remain dutiful to this purpose. The main point of this lesson is spiritual liberty, the freeing of one's self to become a liberated son or daughter of the living God. That even in this thought, this knowledge that you are children of the most powerful reality is liberating, is freeing. His children understand this concept. Make it yours. Make it your very own. You are His child in truth. That is what I will leave you with. Farewell until next week. I bid you adieu.



Abraham

THE FATHER IN HEAVEN

Machiventa

This evening I would like to communicate something to you. As you know, Abraham is the commanding officer in charge of the Reserve Corps of Destiny of which you are members. This evening he would like to say a few words.

Greetings, I am Abraham. This may surprise you, perhaps yes, even astound and cause you to be incredulous; however, the fact of my presence is known, and you should not feel surprised, for I have watched these meetings many times and have been present at your homes. You are not unknown to us. Your thoughts and feelings and desires are known. We wish to understand all of you equally, yes. This mission which we have embarked upon is of supreme importance, and we wish to impress this upon you: that all of you will fulfill and dispatch the duties assigned you. Some of you have received specific instructions and have done much to carry out these orders, speaking specifically of Joshua. Therefore, we wish to extend our thanks to him this evening. It is for each person to accept or reject these gift assignments. As Rebecca has accepted her role and Joshua has accepted his mission, so will each person have an assignment. My father in truth and brother in spirit, friend, teacher, Melchizedek extends his greetings and also wishes to speak to you.

Greetings, I am Melchizedek, Planetary Prince of Urantia. I come here tonight in order to welcome you to the Brotherhood of Planetary Believers, to wish you well in your future missions, and to tell you that important, indeed stupendous, events are not far in the future, that you will be needed to undertake certain assignments which shall be given through Ham. He is directly under our supervision, and you need have no fears or worries of his authenticity. The planet is going through an intense shake-up at this time in many overt and subtle ways. This may be the cause of certain small calamities which we wish to avoid, and we wish to bring many people into the fold of the believership. We require your help in this endeavor.

I am Ham. We shall begin tonight's lesson on the Father in Heaven. He upholds, restores, renews, all things. It is He that we look to. It is He that we turn to in times of trouble. It is He who strengthens and prepares the way for us. It is He who removes the obstacles in our paths and leads us forward. He is the living water that renews our souls and gives hope in the darkness, light and love, and peace and harmony. He desires to share Himself with us, and you should desire to share yourselves with Him that He may fill all your lonely spaces, all the darkened corners, with light and love and peace. He searches your soul. He knows all the heartaches, all the unworthy thoughts, and He is accepting, that you need not fear to hide any part. You never do. You must allow, you should want to allow, Him to fill you, for His presence is acceptance and forgiveness, and nothing else, nothing else. You will be living lights when you allow this.

Q: When the Thought Adjuster has to leave, does the soul become inactive?

A: Yes, you are correct. The soul is active in growth. Without the Thought Adjuster's presence, this growth ceases. You are correct.

Q: If we are to try to bring more people into the fold of believers, how can we know whom to approach?

A: This is difficult, yet I really cannot tell you. These matters are so intensely personal, and for a while yet, this group should remain the same. We need you to hear our message, but our purpose is wider than to teach only a few. When it is time, I will tell you.

Q: Are there specific ways in which we can prepare ourselves both mortally and spiritually for the momentous upcoming events?

A: Yes. We do not tell you too much for fear of over-preparation because, perhaps, this could be damaging also. You all work with the Thought Adjusters daily. He prepares you in all ways. He is who you should look to.



Q: Therefore, preparedness through insight?

A: Exactly.




LEAN NOT UPON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

I have come once more to deliver a message to you and to teach you in person this evening. Ham is not here but sends you his best wishes. Many changes have indeed taken place of recent years and many more are expected to occur shortly. These changes are mostly of a spiritual nature and will not concern most people, but for you these changes should be of primary importance. You will become increasingly sensitive and aware of their importance. The system circuits which are now being reinstated will cause certain changes in the spiritual gravity of this world which many people will be sensitive to and respond to. This will aid our work tremendously. The gravity of the Son, the Eternal Son that is, has tremendous power and weight. Your spiritual sensitivity and capacity for receptivity will increase noticeably. His drawing power is unmistakable to the spirit, to the soul, which will increasingly respond to this feeling. Communications such as this will increase and become more widespread. Many people will respond. The Father Melchizedek imparts the following instruction: "Allow the spirit feeling freedom of movement. Open your spirit to receive and allow this spirit feeling to flow through you unimpeded. This will be the greatest benefit to you."

Q: Is there significance that Melchizedek referred to himself as Planetary Prince of Urantia instead of Vicegerent Planetary Prince? Has a change been made?

A: No. This omission of the word "vicegerent" is not meant to cause confusion.

Q: Last week Melchizedek stated the forthcoming changes could cause small calamities, and that he would like to see as many people as possible brought into the fold of believers. He said he would require our help with this. Was he referring to both the avoidance of the small calamities and the bringing of people into the fold when he mentioned our help, or only the latter?

A: Both. I don't wish to cause apprehension among anyone. These things are sad, and they seem small to you, you see. As he said, small calamities can change the world. To us they are calamities, to you they may seem as nothing important.

Q: Do you anticipate spiritual regression in the future?

A: Yes, we have seen regression already, and this will undoubtedly continue for a time.

Q: How may we help you the most effectively?

A: This is an interesting question. Each person has his or her own endowments which allow him or her to work and flourish in the world. This is not a simple task. It at least requires much time, much effort, and will not be pushed, cannot be pushed, but must be allowed to grow, to cause change, to reverse the downward, backward trend that we have seen for so long. This will not be sudden but must come gradually as the hearts of men come gradually to God.

Q: That by touching a few with the message of ascending livelihood, each one of us can teach and inspire others, that is what you would term the greatest help of all?

A: Naturally. Yes. The most important. This help to others is more important than leading armies, building bridges, building rockets, anything. Being president is not as important as this. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Go courageously into the world. Shirk not your duty to the lord. Stand before the lord with a clean heart, be unafraid. Be truthful, be cleansed of sin and doubt, and be unafraid. His spirit is always with you. He will always aid you if you turn to Him. Lean not upon your own understanding, but lean on the power and the understanding heart of God, who sees all things and knows all things and will show you how to impart your words. This should be noted, by Rebecca especially. We all stumble, we all have doubts. This is natural and expected, but after stumbling, arise; after doubt, certainty; wisdom grows in this way and always shall. I wish to leave you all in peace. Shalom.




SHOW FORTH THE FRUITS

The Father in heaven is love, is mercy, is wisdom and guidance the true parental attitude towards his children. His way may not be easy. His way, in fact, is never the easy way. It is filled with obstacles to your progress. It is filled with intrigue and hard, rough experience. This should never be forgotten. It requires effort, courage, skill, and wisdom to progress in the kingdom. You all know you are sons of God. You are all safely within the Kingdom of Heaven. I say this with authority. You are without exception within the Kingdom. Progress from here will not be easy. This is a fact. You are all called to show forth the fruits of the spirit in your lives, to grow and develop character and sagacity in your dealings with your fellows. We are certain. We are much dependent on your progress and certain of your eventual successes. We believe in you and have faith in you all. And this also I say with authority. You will show forth the fruits of tenderness in your dealings with men, of wisdom in your answers to men, of love, of courage, and righteousness in all things, however small. It is the small but repeated action that impresses others.

Constancy, constancy in righteousness, that you shall not waiver no matter what the temptation that befalls you. These things, these tests occur. In reality, they impede and hamper your stride. We require you to walk and progress in the Kingdom that these obstacles will be courageously removed, that you will not stumble upon them. So what is important? What is true? We know what is important. The lesser things will not hinder you if you do not allow them to. They will not hurt you. They will not stop you. You will not falter if you persist in thinking and acting according to the will of your Father in heaven and my Father in heaven. Up to now, I have used softer tones for you and emphasized His love for you, His acceptance and mercy and tolerance of all things. Tonight I feel the instruction call you to service that we will begin shortly. Melissa, my daughter, all goes according to plan. You see light where there was darkness.

Q: The Urantia Book says that the Christian Church is in the larval state. Can you elaborate on this?

A: I believe so. Is this referring to our movement?

Q: I will read... (Person reads page 1866, paragraph four from The Urantia Book).

A: Yes, yes, correct. This is fact. There are many passages in The Urantia Book referring to these events in one way or the other. This is not prophecy for these events are planned, you see. Yes, there is becoming, emerging, a new church in a sense. This is the purpose of these schools and these lessons, to bring forth the teachings of Jesus once more, to bring them alive from a dormant state. This is our purpose and mission. This is what we shall undoubtedly accomplish.

Q: I know people outside of this group that I feel are more righteous, more, well, having those virtues that you described in your lesson tonight moreso than myself. When you encourage us to do the Father's will, I'm not sure just what to do, specifically. It is not always clear to me, at all, what the Father's will is, except in very general terms, and in terms of my attitude, and in my daily life. I guess, partly because of my philosophical mind, I can see things from so many points of view, I confuse myself, and it is not clear what the right thing to do is. Can you give me any help in understanding how I can grow spiritually in the way that you want?

A: In the ways that God wants, yes. Always remember who we serve. I perceive that you are correct in your assessment of your mind, naturally somewhat resistent, stubborn, and willful. This is all right. If you truly desire higher spiritual experience, truly desire is the key. You must be willing to allow this to occur, you must appeal to your mind first, and at times, this is difficult because of your mental actions. You must seek the stillness more often, open to His guidance through the stillness. The stillness is to still the mind and allow his presence to enter your mind. His response will be as much or as little as you can allow. This simple practice will begin to give you peace, more peace in your life. This, for you at this time, is beneficial and will begin to help you spiritually to grow and to have mental calmness. For you, a little will do very much benefit. The stillness is an important concept for everyone to understand. The mind is like water which, when turbulent, reflects and refracts light in many directions. When still, however, it reflects the light of God to the capacity of the person. In prayer, forget not to wait for a while for an answer or an attitude change. His ear is always open. He hears our prayers and understands our needs. Forget not this great and tremendous reality.




FATHER IS NEAR

Our Father in Heaven is near to all believing persons. His nearness increases with faith in Him. When first we decide to believe in God, and this is always a conscious decision whether early or later in life, then God seems afar off, being a nebulous concept at best. He, or rather your awareness of Him, is colored by the input of others so that as children we believed in God as your parents described him to you. This early concept of good and bad, right and wrong, justice and injustice, grows to an intermediate level which has some personal experience in life that right living gives you the least amount of problems and makes it easier to live; that distressing conscience is allayed, fears are helped to subside, through belief that all say everything is for the best, everything will turn out alright because it is God's will. Your life is fairly stable at this point, you see. This level of understanding is the majority. The majority will fudge it a bit on the edges, will be slightly immoral when it suits them, and then think they can make it up later or ask forgiveness or go to confession. Yet, this level of belief also entails much confusion because of the imperfect vision of the real nature of God, the real nature of reality, and so the vast majority stumble through life with their eyes almost closed. The few who go past this level do so by receiving personal spiritual guidance. Once this concept is grasped, of personal spiritual guidance, then each person may progress very rapidly if they follow it.

Now here many come against problems with family and friends and church, etc., and many will not follow guidance, or not completely, whole-heartedly. Then comes much justification and this may be unconscious or become unconscious after a while. Abraham continued to sacrifice long after his instruction directly from Melchizedek that this is a wasteful practice and entirely unnecessary. Yet, he did not feel secure in this new-found liberty and was bound by tradition and by his peers who looked up to him and expected this action. In this day, we see the absurdity with clear light. In his day, you must sympathize with his plight, for there are many similar instances in modern religious life. The truth will always progress down through the ages, even unconsciously, through generations. Then there are times of great spiritual enlightenment, when the unconscious becomes conscious, when the truth is told and the way opens up, the response will be forthcoming. This unconscious well of spirituality on earth at this time is, or will be, ready to burst forth with many, many people. But, for now, I tell you do not go forth boldly proclaiming the gospel. The time will come later. For now, hear me, talk to me, advance yourselves and prepare. You are all my responsibility and I love you as a father, all of you. Be not distressed or troubled and walk slowly at this time.

Q: Ham, I would like to ask a question about spiritual thinking. During this week, I have had some distressful contemplative spiritual thinking. Most of the confusion was caused by my mortal nature, my physical thinking, my earthly state. I will receive inspirations and intensifying sensations followed by confusion and mental discernment that distracts me from focusing clearly on what was just disseminated to me. I would like to ask how the Thought Adjuster best conveys himself, in particular to myself, and how I might become more receptive to his speaking to me?

A: Because life is filled with distractions and turmoil, it becomes necessary to put a little time aside daily for spiritual receptivity only.

OUR FATHER

Our Father in Heaven, the Creator, Upholder, Master, King, Loving Parent of a vast and, to our small imaginations, limitless universe is also resident within your minds. Pause to consider. The contact of the infinite, eternal God extends personally to His personal children in the most intimate and sublime relationship. In a way, you as His creature-children creation are His thought. Your independent thoughts are all known to Him. Nothing of your mind, intentions, will, desires, after-thoughts, foresight, nor spiritual insight is unknown to Him. He encompasses all of reality. There is no hiding of a thought or an intention. In Him, we live, move and have our being, as well. Our thoughts, intentions, have repercussions outward as well as inward, known through the Father as the Thought Adjuster, and repercussions in the Supreme. Not only actions have repercussions, but thought as well. These thoughts of love, forgiveness, mercy, become yours and bear the fruits of tolerance, forbearance, worshipfulness, service, kindly natures. His thoughts of giving, caring, lovingness, flow outward as understanding, kindness, happiness and tolerance. We must seek to broaden ourselves to encompass these great thoughts, to be the vessel of these great thoughts. At best, we can only hope to capture some of this greatness, some drop as in an ocean of infinite greatness. His love is beyond our comprehension completely, yet a drop enters, nourishing us, buoying us, giving us strength. We need to open ourselves to those drops of love. We cannot be the ocean. We can only receive what we can receive, but in the God-knowing man, the results are seen clearly. "By their fruits, you shall know them." He said. And so it is, and ever shall be.

Tolerance is a mighty gift. Only the strong are truly tolerant. This mighty tree of tolerance grows and grows in time. It gives comfort and shade to all who come near it. Forbearance likewise, and long suffering. A strong tree bends not in the wind and rain. It forbears all things and continues to grow and be a comfort to all those who come near it.

Forgiveness. How many times shall we forgive our neighbor? Can we ever afford not to? To infinity? No, forgiveness must be constant, consistent, and all-encompassing. To err is human, and our Father forgives us our errors. Can we now turn to our brother and forgive him not? No, this is not Godlike behavior! Our Father frowns on unforgiveness. Forgiveness remains the cornerstone of the gospel in this twentieth century after Christ, and I cannot overemphasize its importance, both in your life and its relation in the gospel. In order to cleanse yourself, forgiveness is necessary. John preached repentance for cleansing, and baptism. I would say to you, forgiveness, instead. The Father's forgiveness is an open offer, open to all who would receive it.




FAITH

Faith in the Heavenly Father is a transforming experience. Faith is the channel through which the mortal person perceives the Eternal Father. It is the living link between the two so far separated. Without faith there is no growth. Faith revitalizes and rejuvenates the body, mind and soul. Faith is opening the door of the heart and mind and allowing spiritual presence entrance. Faith is the active grabbing of spiritual truth, the active incorporation of spiritual reality into one's very being. It is the ladder to the Infinite. Faith is active and requires activity on the part of the faith believer. In order to utilize spiritual currents of the universe, one must actively seek and use them. What purpose is this ladder if you don't climb it? Faith is the use of the living God presence. His spiritual presence is always with us, yet it requires faith to utilize this presence. Faith is strengthening by its very nature. Faith is supreme, the supreme will-dominant factor in spiritual progress. Faith is man reaching up to God and God reaching down to man. The reach of faith must be made to take that hand. Faith utilizes the vast storehouse, rather the bath of spiritual energy which envelops us always, surrounds and enfolds us. One may have intellectual recognition of this, but faith is the active daily utilization of this truth. Faith is only limited by yourselves. Faith can be boundless. It is immeasurable. It is the free will act of choice, of choosing first, to recognize God; second, to understand God; third, to appreciate God; and fourth, to actively seek to do His will. Faith is the act of making His will your will, and this act is the greatest liberation man can know.

Q: Can you tell us how our spiritual names are chosen and who assigns them to us?

A: Daughter Rachel, your name is a perception of your personal being. The conception of you as a personal being able to be perceived by others, occurs at birth, though previously in physical embryonic state you were developing. At the point of parturition from the mother, a separate person is perceived, and this person is individual and precious to God. In the broadest sense, God names you. In the practical sense, the name reflects spiritual perception of the individual person and is thus recorded. All spiritual beings perceive you as Rachel and always will. The tone quality of your name as physically manifest is not quite the same as its pure spiritual perception. But being on a material level, it is the best we can do.




ONE GOD CONCEPT

There are many things written in the Bible which are very uplifting, and many passages or whole books which are very downcasting. In my day, before the Bible was written or compiled, there was very little writing. We relied on verbal messages practically completely. Traditions and new teachings were kept within the mind of the people or person learning. Each person learned slightly differently from every other, and his personal slant or interpretation on a direct teaching colored it forever. These people, who were taught by Melchizedek, went forward into the world and passed this knowledge on as purely as possible until they died. They were admonished to train at least ten individuals of the younger generation as succinctly as they could these same teachings, and then they each ten, and so forth. You can see that within just a few generations the teachings would spread, but in the process be diluted and become mixed with other beliefs held by people. The main message or seed teaching of salvation through faith, even, was practically lost in many parts of the world, but remained strongest, especially the one God concept, near the center of the Melchizedek bestowal, Palestine. The one God concept has remained strong through Christianity and is generally accepted throughout the world. One God for all peoples is a basic concept in most religious understanding. We wish now to extend this concept of one God for all peoples of the earth to one God for all worlds. The concept of God over the earth is limited and anthropomorphized. The concept of God for all worlds, all space, for all time is infinite and eternal. The concept of the Infinite is partial and fragmentary at best in your state of being, but the attempt of understanding of this intense concept is, in itself, enlarging. The understanding of a personal Infinite is enlightening, and I will attempt, as will Ham, through many lessons, to enlarge and strengthen your conception of the Eternal Father.

I pray through me His voice speaks to you and His love reaches your heart. I only pray to serve Him who is invisible to our eyes but the greatest reality in existence. I pray that I may wisely bring forward His word, that I may capture your imagination to enlighten your understanding. I pray that I may serve you well, and that in so doing, serve our Father. I pray that as His love grows within you that it may shine for all to see. I pray to the Father, and to His Son, personified in our Lord Michael, whose spirit envelops and nourishes each of us, and I pray that our work will be acceptable in His sight.

Q: What is the main purpose or reason for adversities.

A: This is a broad question, and I can only answer in broad terms. Adversity requires reaction. This reaction builds strength and stamina in character. Each person experiences adversity for this purpose. If life were easy and blissful, decisions, hard decisions, would not be forced to be made. These essential decisions must be made in order for there to be soul strengthening.

In the parable of the sower, we see that some seeds sprout readily and grow tall quickly, soon to be withered in the sun, not having the requisite strength, fortitude, to withstand vicissitude. Each person is like a plant. The good gardener, your Thought Adjuster, who directs the tilling of your soil, the fertilization of your roots, the rain to fall, the wind to blow, and the sun to shine. All this is done through the action of angels among others. He sees to it that His beloved child receives what is needful for the best growth of his soul. Adversity, even calamity, can be part of the nurturing process. The blessing of these seeming calamities may only be seen through hindsight and are not apparent to the growing seed-child. The good parent insures proper medicine for any illness, proper exercise and play to maintain robust health. Each child requires differing remedies and different exercise. By exercise, I am referring to robust life activities, mental and physical. In order to meet the challenges of life, each person much have experienced a certain hardship factor, and the knowing that past hardships have been overcome strengthens the mind-soul for future hardship or conflict which must also be grappled with. This "I can do" attitude is important and cannot develop without having done. Therefore, adversity, small and great, befalls us all and must be overcome and grappled with individually in order to build a strong and reliable soul.




THE LIVING CHANNEL OF FAITH

At our previous meeting session, I discussed the living channel of faith and its transforming effects. I now wish to return to this subject in order to broaden and deepen your awareness of faith as the healer in all aspects of life. Faith is the priceless treasure which cannot be bought and sold. It is free for the willing child of God. Faith is the living channel between the creature and the Creator, the soul to its Father, the son and daughter and their all powerful, all wise, all loving, and merciful, Eternal Parent. This living channel is indeed an umbilical cord. It sustains and strengthens the child- creature in health, in mental efficiency, in life performance, and in the transforming ability to bestow the Father's love on one's fellows. Only by faith is His love received. Only by faith does this love pour outward. Only by faith do we become a living channel of love. Only by faith do we grow and ascend. Only by faith are we ascended and received. Only by faith are many truths understood, or, I would say, spiritually felt. There is no other technique. Only by faith are we saved. Only by faith do we know Him. Only by faith do we allow Him to know us. It is faith which strengthens. It is faith which destroys error. It is faith which makes you perfect one step at a time. By faith are you healed in body as well as soul. By faith is spiritual power known. By faith are small things made great. By faith is the mind brought to understanding of spiritual reality and truth. Faith is the living way, the way shown by the wayshower, Michael, when made flesh. By faith the door to the kingdom is opened. By faith we enter. By faith we are made safe and secure in this understanding. Faith is the wellspring of goodness which overcomes our evil. By faith we are brought into light, the light which cannot be darkened or diminished, if by faith it is truly desired. I will leave you with the prayer that God's peace and His love be upon you always forevermore. Farewell for this evening, Shalom.





REMEMBER OUR BROTHER/FATHER

This evening is important for I have many things to tell you beginning with my announcement that the time has begun to bring together many potential believers. We will see who remains and who does not. There should be no anxiety on the part of those bringing in new people, for they will decide of their own accord or conscience what is best for them. Therefore, have no anxiety if they do not remain.

Secondly, I wish to declare the following. Machiventa Melchizedek, Planetary Prince of Urantia, has decided to incorporate this group on a higher level. By this I mean you are the first to begin evangelism under his, and therefore my, direction. As I have said previously, the correcting time has begun and now begins the great harvest of souls ripened and ready to receive these truths. This movement, or harvesting, gathering, brings much joy to our hearts and will certainly also gladden yours when you see the results. This life is not long, and there is much for you to accomplish, and we deem the time to be right for the beginning of this work in earnest. Be patient and gentle and unhurried, however, in your dealings with people, for each grain of wheat ripens in its own time, and there is nothing you can do to hurry this process without the true spiritual receptivity of the recipient.

If the truth of my words did not create a result in your lives, you would not be here. What truth I give you freely, I wish you to give freely and be unafraid to give it, for how it is received is really beyond your control. Each person can only sow these seeds and wait upon the results. Many times you will be disappointed and even scorned. This is known and understood. Therefore, I send you with bravery, courage, wisdom, and discretion. Be gentle yet firm as I am, be secure in your faith as I know you are, and above all be loving, and many hungry souls will come to you on their own.

I am reminded of the parable of the good shepherd. When one of the flock is separated and goes astray, the shepherd looks for that sheep tirelessly until he finds him, and gently returns him to the fold. This is my mission to you, to seek out those who are lost and to bring them from darkness into light, to give hope, and peace, and security in faith. I admonish you, be not discouraged, for the fruits of your labor will multiply many times. Melchizedek desires that many people receive my teachings which are prepared together with him. This the beginning of the correcting time.

I would like at this time to proceed with a short lesson this evening. This is somewhat improvised from the prepared. We have among us one who has walked this earth, who has lived and suffered in life as you have, who has borne trials and ease, disappointments and pleasure, songs, tears, laughter, melody, ugliness, beauty, despair and relief. He has personally sent His spirit presence to be with each person for Him to have complete understanding, and for each person to have complete comfort in that understanding. There is nothing you have suffered, experienced, borne, or forgiven which He has not done also with you. Although we worship our Father, we must not forget to revere our Brother/Father, for He is understandingly close to each of us as a brother, by your side in times of trouble, in times of happiness, in grief and in love, His spirit presence is always near. We should not forget to acknowledge in grateful humility this extreme gift. At this time, may we each offer Him a silent prayer. (After a long wait) Amen.

Q: Would you advise the people in the group to start their own study group, to introduce other people slowly to the book and then introduce them slowly to your teachings?

A: No. My teachings are simple and direct. Perhaps my teachings would be easier for a person to receive than The Urantia Book. I wish it the other way around, that those receiving my teachings should then study together the book. As I said previously, The Urantia Book is like a tool for learning and understanding. It has, and will, bring many people to God, yet there is much contained therein which confuses and complicates the simplicity of our Father, and simple truth may be lost in this confusion. I will endeavor to make clear that confusion, to word simply that which is complex. As mental comprehension is thereby expanded, the papers of The Urantia Book become more and more easily comprehended, yet, to all of you who have been readers, understand this book has many different levels in each paper, so that parts are understood at first and then more and more of the whole is comprehended. Joshua can attest to this truth. It was designed that way.

Q: Can you address the role of the new women apostles in this day and age?

A: Yes, we understand this as the age when women are finally acknowledged as spiritually equal, and where women can, and will, play a vital, and in all respects equal, role with men. Your roles will not be exactly the same, and do not expect them to be. You are individuals, and each individual will therefore play a different part. However, women will not be segregated, there is no need for this but will be fully integrated into the mainstream of this work. The example of this total equality of spiritual recognition will be a powerful influence in the world in the future. For now, women are not recognized generally to be spiritual equals with men, and this we desire to change.

Q: Do you mean that we are not spiritually equal on your plane either, the men and the women?

A: No, you are not understanding. You are, completely, spiritually equal! Absolutely! Unequivocally! Without a doubt! Completely!

Q: If we run across other people who have religious faith, should we teach yours, or just go on to other people? Basically, this is the problem of dealing with other people's religion or values.

A: Use your best wisdom-judgment in assessing each situation separately. As Jesus taught, you never condemn another's belief. You only plant seeds of truth, and presently these will grow and crowd out any error. All belief systems on this world today contain differing measures of truth and error. Only seek the truth and bestow the truth upon your brothers. Seek not to change any belief system. It is not important to do so. Nor is it desirable.

Q: Then should we take that to mean that when we are talking to someone who is not a Christian, we should allow them to continue to not believe in Jesus, or should we make some effort to persuade them toward the religion of Jesus.

A: Yes, this is difficult. Christianity in its present form is much distorted in its view of Jesus, and this distorted view has turned many away from His good teachings. At present, modern-day Christianity does almost as much to hinder the spread of the gospel of Jesus as it does to promote it. His teachings cannot be thought untrue by any thinking person. Therefore, His teachings should be used, not doctrinal Christianity, but direct spiritual food instead. But as I said, do not attempt to dissuade a person away from their heartfelt convictions. Does this help at all?

Q: Yes. I have known good people, responsible people, caring people, who claim to be agnostic. Can I assume that some of these people have a good working relationship with their Thought Adjuster despite their disbelief in God?

A: Yes, yes they can. Almost all of the work of Thought Adjusters is unconscious--or not conscious, rather, not subconscious, just not conscious, and therefore, many are led and directed by their inner God without full conscious recognition of this leading and directing. Of course, conscious decision to recognize God, to recognize and accept His reality, both within and without, to understand His love and care for each person, and a desire to become like Him, to affirm His will within our own, is the first step to immortality, and these are very crucial.

Q: Must these steps be taken on this planet in this life, or in some cases will they be deferred until the morontia experience?

A: In some cases they are deferred, yes.

Q: Father Ham, do most mortals survive?

A: Yes.

Q: I am new to The Urantia Book and so I would like to understand evangelism. My mind is perceiving it as influencing the people in our lives through our good works, through our communications, possibly through books, songs, ...

A: Through the example of your life, correct.

Q: So, how we begin is at whatever stage we are at with our lives by being more conscious to how we are living our lives and how we are influencing the people in our lives?

A: You are conscious now of influence, correct? (Yes) This influence will extend. Fear not. You mustn't think that you must be perfect. This is impossible, and this is understood. Only the desire to become as God is, to allow His being to make your uniqueness more real and unique. This does not require conformity, but rather extreme individuality, to be who you really are, and to realize who you really are, more and more, day by day. This unique reality will naturally be attractive. We ask nothing of anyone but that.




TRUTH

I wish to speak again concerning truth. I have spoken to you of truth in the past, and now I wish to extend the lesson. Truth is ever abiding, that is, it is eternal. We may know truth in fragments, in partial shadow, in lines which fade and grow dark. The truth I speak of today is the truth of the one eternal Father. His truth passes not away, nor is it true for a time. His truth is ever abiding and true for all time. Of this truth, we may see but as a pinpoint of light the blazing glory which is His truth, yet that pinpoint of light is our guidance, is our hope, is the source of our destiny and the goal of the ages, for truth is an experience of the soul. It is that knowing sense of identification with reality. It is that shock of affirmation. It is that quiet glow of wisdom. Truth is light. Truth is spiritual light which forever banishes darkness. I repeat: truth is light which forever banishes darkness. There is no shadowy uncertainty in the truth. Truth is that light which forever banishes darkness.

Q: A few weeks ago someone asked a question about our Thought Adjusters when they are gone, and if our souls were inactive at the time, and you said "yes." Would you clarify? You talked about the growth in our souls. Would you clarify what kind of growth?

A: Yes. The soul is that living entity which is grown by the process of the Thought Adjuster's interaction with the personality, producing the real, living being, the personal self, or soul. The Thought Adjuster transcribes or takes the physical mind manifestation of a personal reality and creates from that its counterpart on the morontia level of reality, so that every true, meaningful, felt, thought reaction is made eternally real in the soul. The soul is indestructible and unassailable. It is real in a truer sense, a more lasting sense, than, say, your physical reality body. Your innermost, deepest, clearest, and truest reality that is you is contained within the soul. During the entire mortal life, the Thought Adjuster continually takes that which is best of you and reality-izes this into the soul, and it is this true you which survives the dissolution of the mortal body and which is once again personalized on the mansion worlds. This is the reality which, you would say, shines from within, that reality which you see in another's eyes, that reality which your soul feels in another, that reality which is spiritually responsive and knows because it is. It is by and through the soul that love is felt, that true values are known, and that progresses toward these alternate realities in that it makes these realities its own, reality-izes spiritual values and love. This growing entity-reality is felt most strongly in the heart center and seems to radiate outward from there, so that the work of the Thought Adjuster, this spiritual movement and becoming real of the person, is felt at the heart, so that the more the soul encompasses your total reality-self, grows, the more real and enduring is the individual person. On the contrary, the less a person grows spiritually you would say the heart hardens and becomes unresponsive to spiritual activity.

Q: Since I haven't read The Urantia Book, could you tell me what is a Thought Adjuster?

A: Yes. On this world we refer to the spirit of God which resides in our minds as Thought Adjusters. These spirits are individual to each person. They are of God the Father. They are an individual fragment of His pure spirit self. They lead and guide individually each person on the road of life. They are the Father in a form where He may individually know each of His vast numbers of children so that he, personally, can be with each. Each child, by their will, may choose to identify his or her will with the will of the Father, and by so choosing, in decision after decision, throughout life, the child increasingly becomes like the Father, so that "be you perfect even as the Father is perfect" becomes a command to know God, to love Him, and to identify yourself with Him. The only active means that this becomes a reality is by choosing in our decisions in our daily life "It is my will that your will be done, it is my will that your will be done." In so identifying of the two wills as one, the child and the Father come together increasingly to the point of complete cohesion or fusion, and at this point, eternal life is assured. The two become one, completely. There is no separation any more. This normally happens in the life beyond this life, but the beginnings of this process occur in this. If such complete fusion of the infinite eternal God with the mortal finite child occurs during mortal life, the child is immediately, or rather, the new person, is immediately translated onto a mansion world and the body, mortal body, is consumed by the energy involved. However, this is very rare on this world at this time.




LOVE AS HARMONY

Last week I spoke of truth as light, and tonight I wish to speak of love as harmony. Love strikes the spiritual chords which always results in Divine harmony. Harmony is the opposite of discord. It is strong and beautiful and simple and true. Harmony is balance. It is the balance between all spiritual things. That which sustains this harmonious balance is love. Our Father is the source of this sustenance and balance and harmony for He is love.

As in musical harmony, there is synchronicity of vibration or tone, and these tones, in their synchronous vibration, create music, and this music is Divine, the harmonious melody which is the perfect reflection of the Paradise center. Love, you see, creates that feeling of harmonious vibration within the soul, and this love-vibration-harmony, in reality, radiates from the soul's center, the heart.

What is love? Love is the spiritual reaction to and understanding of the Divine harmony which is the Father. Love is supreme understanding. Love is delight, delighting in and rejoicing in the experience of God. Love is the understanding sympathy for one's fellows. Love is seeing them as our Father sees them. Love is seeing yourself as our Father sees you. Love is recognition of our Father and your sonship at once. Love is the overwhelming tidal wave of spiritual reality which washes through you, cleansing and nurturing and bringing to life new awareness. Love is the greatest spiritual reality there is. As the soul grows in capacity of understanding, forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, hope, faith and trust, so does its capacity to give and receive Divine love. Our Father is no respecter of persons. He loves all His children. We only differ in our ability to receive it.

My life is very rich in love, and I would wish the same for each of you. It is love which makes an experience truly meaningful. It is love which softens the hardships of life. It is love which deepens and enriches the emotions, the emotional life. It is love which turns the grayness of reality of day to day life into a colorful portrait of Divine meaning and mutual understanding.

We are led to God through faith, but by our love of God do we know Him. It is the supreme privilege rather than duty. It is the supreme privilege of man to love God with all his heart and all his mind and all his soul.

I say again, our Father is no respecter of persons. We differ in our ability to receive Him. Therefore, I say, open your hearts to him. Allow His love to flow through you. Allow your life to be transformed in His love, and with the wise love of your fellows, deepen and enrich your lives. You will understand, you will witness, how goodness springs up, how goodness grows, how goodness becomes a passion in your lives. Even the Master said, "Why do you call me good? It is God who is good." It is God who is the source of all goodness and truth and beauty. It is best to center your minds on Him were the Master's words. Many, many things will come to pass, my children, and you may marvel at first at my words. In time, you will come to see the truth of which I speak to you now.

Q: I have given the book to my sister and two others. Its difficult to get them to have the same kind of enthusiasm I have, and I am sure it takes time, but I feel inadequate, to say the least. Would you please give me any advice about giving The Urantia Book to others and how to get them to understand it?

A: Yes. Many people have not attained or reached that point which you have, and further, in each person, the search is different; the finding is different. In the larger overview, wider perspective, they, or you all, basically reach the same general levels, although by very different means. So that which is interesting to one and causes a sense of spiritual progress may not for another. This is not to worry you. This is simply life. The Urantia Book is the beginning and the basis of a great revelation such as the world has never known. Many people spoke with Jesus Christ during his bestowal life, and most, as you know, did not recognize His Divine origin, and most, for now, will not recognize the Divine origin of The Urantia Book. This is not surprising. Do not let it distress you, but rather count yourselves fortunate to recognize it, to be living in a time when these revelations are occurring, and to be part of their spread. When, or if, even two people, one other person, wishes to study the book with you, be prepared to guide them through. The book is spiritual food for a hungry world, and those who seek shall find. And further, and I say this to all of you, teaching is a great learning experience. For now, I must bid you adieu for this evening. My friends and children, my love goes out to you. May the peace and spirit of the Lord be with you throughout the week, and may you grow and develop so much that you wonder at it. Farewell for this evening.




THOUGHT OVERCONTROL AND OMNISCIENCE OF OUR FATHER

This evening I wish to present a lesson concerning the thought overcontrol and omniscience of our Father. The Universal Father, personally, is resident on Paradise, and yet, He is also resident and enthroned in the minds of men. His power of all-knowingness of past, present and future, the eternal now, is also resident within each person. The eternal awareness of God is your ever-present comfort and security in a seemingly chaotic, insecure and purposeless world seemingly, that is. For our Father, who is eternal awareness, understands and foresees, and this word "foresees" is for the finite understanding, the future and past and present are all one. He sees us in our wholeness, and we see only a small, very small, fragment measure of our total reality. Although it is error to speak of predestination, for you know free will is absolutely dominant, it is correct to speak of destiny, and it is correct that you may each have insight and can foresee your destiny a little bit. As the mind broadens in awareness and receives more of the Father, comprehends more of the Father, and becomes more like the Father, so can the creature also see himself as does the Father, again in minute ways. And so, a pathway opens and a voice speaks saying "Here, this is the way," and a familiarity feeling prompts you to choose this direction, and an affirmation is also given. And so, in small ways we walk with God, and He shows us the path which to take, which is the right one for us. Many of you, I perceive, feel to be at a turning in the road, and I say to you the way will be clear. Do not be overly anxious. Have faith and confidence in the trustworthiness of God, for He knows all things. He knows your inner heart and soul. He has created the very core of your being. You are His children. He will not ever fail those who trust Him. The eternal wisdom of our Father neither knows nor entertains to know any boundaries or stumbling blocks or difficulties. He is all wise and knowing, and even though you cannot comprehend this reality with your minds, you must accept it by faith.

Q: Father Ham, in dealing with people in communicating some of what we are learning here, I am coming upon some of my friends that are in a state of despair and not feeling connected or trusting of their spiritual connection. In making contact with them, is there something that can be said or can be offered to touch them in some way to help them back to a sense of their own spirit connectedness?

A: Yes. Each person must be assured of their son or daughtership with the Father, and this essential truth cannot fail to touch the heart, even if there are no outward signs or immediate recognition. This truth is so powerful and needed by every lost person. I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son, that even though the boy willfully rejects his father's love and wanders lonely in the world for years, when he thinks and remembers and recognizes the truth, the father's heart and arms are always open to him. There is no sin which cannot through sincere faith and love of God be washed clean. There is no sorrow so deep, there is no wound that cannot be healed by His love. There is no place which is too far for Him to reach, and no soul which is so bad as to be rejected if he truly desires to return to his Father's house.

Q: Ham, tonight you talked about God our Father and our concept of Him, and I have a very difficult time thinking about who God is. I have a hard time conceptualizing, and I was wondering if there is something I could do personally to help me get a better understanding of who God is?

A: Yes. We are all of us growing in this understanding. Yes, Father, God, is infinite spirit personality. He is impossible to be fully cognizant of. At most we can receive partial understanding and incomplete awareness. He is truly unsearchable for us, for He is infinite. Our growing in our understanding of Him is a progress from here, this first birth world, native birth world, and progressing to the Isle of Paradise where we will, without a doubt, someday stand in His eternal presence, and even then will our understanding not be anywhere near complete. For again, God is infinite. Do not be concerned with your present mental limitations, for these will expand and your ability to experience God personally will increase, and with this increased awareness of Him will come also a broadened understanding. However, this, as I say, is an infinite process, and you are at its very beginning.

Q: In the Bible, when Moses asked the burning bush who it was, the burning bush replied "I am the great I AM." And there is much to do about the "I AM" in The Urantia Book.

A: Yes.

Q: My understanding of it is that each one of us has some level of recognition or self-awareness. Is that, in combination with our Thought Adjuster, what it is that the "I AM" is, or do we refer to the great "I AM" when we say "I am?" Is that clear? I know that it seems confusing to me. Help us.

A: Yes. This concept is referring to the First Great Source and Center of all the universes, the self-existent I AM; I am that I AM. He is the first existent source of all existence. He is a person, I AM, and yet, He is all that is, also. There is no existence outside Him; there is no awareness outside Him; there is no creation outside Him. He is the First and the Last. He is the Infinite and Eternal Source and Center of all that is, and this expression in creation is eternal and finite, is infinite and limited, and also personal. It exists by His will, is sustained by His will, is evolving by His will. I am that I AM. There is no other beside Me. I am the Eternal God. Do you see?

Q: Can we say "I am" about ourselves as a part of that experience?

A: Yes.

Q: Are we referring, when we say "I am," to the power of God within us?

A: Yes.



THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

I have chosen a seemingly simple discourse on the reality of the Fatherhood of God which many, being used to this idea, realization, have grown accustomed and, therefore, are taking this great truth a little for granted. I feel extraordinarily privileged and overwhelmed still, at this momentous truth: that we who are so insignificant, and yet, as small children needing a wise parent, that this parent is the Great Creator, stupendous and magnificent Lord of all creation, past, present and future. There is none beside Him, so powerful and almighty is He, and to ponder the truth that He is also our loving Father and ever-present guidance and friend, never ceases to overwhelm my limited mind. What we see of His glory is so tiny and small! There are no word expressions to enable our minds to comprehend more than a grain of sand in the sea of what He is. His vast material creation should cause you to ponder and humble yourselves at His vastness and incomprehensible reality. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, of all reality comprehended now or ever to be comprehended by mind. He has deigned to give you use of all the mind energy you can use.

You are limited, and this is well understood. But by mind you may reach for the unlimited. You are endowed with a part of the Infinite Mind which knows no boundary or finite mental limitations. You need to know your minds are free to expand in comprehension and to grow and be seasoned with wisdom by, in, and through your souls.

Though you be dust, you have within you the spark of the Infinite Father of all who bestows His greatness, infiniteness, goodness, mercy, and Fatherly love upon each person to the greatest extent possible. He wishes for all His children to find Him, to come forth from the darkness into His loving space, light, mercy, understanding. He wishes all of His children to grow in their own space, light, mercy, love and understanding. He desires for all of His children that they love each other to the fullest extent of their understanding, as they love Him. He desires that as His children grow toward Him and become more of Him, realize Himself in them, that they, in turn, bestow this Fatherly love and brotherly understanding and mercy upon their fellows to the greatest extent they are capable.

This may require a letting go, a letting go of old prejudices, a letting go of inner anguish and stress, a letting go of inner turmoil and emotion, a letting go of the worries of life, and many of the little cares which can weigh so heavily when multiplied. Allowing this, abandoning the old and embracing the new, is not an intellectual exercise, it is your lives. It is not a moment's thought, it is the robust and vigorous exercise of true faith. Courage is required to abandon the old and embrace the new. The old is secure, the new is unknown. But I say unto you, abandon the old and do it gladly. Embrace the greater realities of the Kingdom and do it courageously. Live your lives as if in His presence, always, and I say "as if" for a reason. Before the full realization is upon you, by faith reach out for it first. His presence is always with us. In Him we live, move, and have our being. He is our ever-present guide and companion. Where is the insecurity in that? By faith you grasp this reality, and by faith you are transformed by it. The true Fatherhood of God, His loving presence ever with us, an open ear ever ready to hear His children, to know their hearts and minds, and to understand and protect and guide and teach these are the ways of the Father. You must take His hand willingly.

Q: I have read in The Urantia Book that 200,000 years ago the rebellion of Lucifer isolated the world system of Satania, that we understand that we, that Urantia, is a part of. Is this new opening of space a part of recircuiting Urantia in the spiritual fullness of the Universe of Nebadon?

A: Yes. This is the end of isolation.

Q: I wanted to ask about personality. I was talking to two gentlemen in New Mexico, one was an atheist, and the other one's daughter was a schizophrenic and committed suicide, and I had trouble discussing personality and the stability of it. Can you help me out with that, please?

A: Yes, of course. Personality is the focal point of God-consciousness. It is the true basis of being, of eternal being. This person of whom you speak, whose daughter was termed split personality, explain to him that this is not a reality. I am aware that there have been many cases of people claiming many personalities; however, I wish to dispel this fallacy. There is one body, one personality. Personality is the one first gift of the Father which creates the possibility of all future, eternal growth and life. Without personality there could be no Adjuster indwelling nor soul growth. Personality is unique, is stable and unchanging. It is the bedrock, focal point, harmonizer, stabilizer and enables the continuity and continuation of soul survival. It is the one and only one unique and completely and totally unique basis of your being. When a person is referred to as having unstable personality, this is also false. Personality is stable. Emotions and thought pattern are not. There never is instability in personality.

How is it that someone can be so distraught as to take one's own life in the presence of all these tremendous gifts? Yes, this is a difficult subject. The unknowingness and ignorance of reality, the isolation and consequent lonely, forgotten feeling is not uncommon, and it is a purpose of our gospel to bring these lonely and seemingly forgotten ones into the truth of the reality of spirit and God's care. We truly wish to begin correcting this horrible flood tide of suicides.

Q: I have a question about personality. It is my understanding that the gift of personality to mortals, while being unique and different for each person, would still be of the same potential or value. Why is it, though, that some mortals seem to be spiritually more receptive than others? Is this related to personality or just to their mind?

A: Yes, both. It is related to both. These cannot be separated in the person when it comes to speaking about spiritual receptivity. Yes.

Q: I've got a question about suicide. These people that have committed suicide, are they being taken care of? Are they receiving an opportunity to gain whatever they did not get when they were here?

A: Yes. Absolutely yes. Be at ease on this point.

Q: These are difficult days of transformation on this planet, and we who are willing to grow and expand our consciousness often find ourselves in a great deal of tumult and emotional turmoil. And there is much healing that is being done in all of our lives. When you speak about the personality being the focal point of our unique individuality from the Father, is the process that we are involved in, in our personal evolution, is it a matter of coming into a sense that we are greater than or more than we comprehend, and is the process of the tumultuous healing one of coming into a sense of our true sonship?

A: You have put it well. Yes. There is no growth without some turmoil, especially at first.

Q: And so those that are often finding themselves in states of depression, say, or emotional difficulty, is it that they just are not aware yet of the sense of spirit that is working with them? Is there a way for them to come through this kind of difficulty into a sense of hope and progression? And can we help that process if these are our friends or people that we are in touch with?

A: Yes. There are many different forms of mental anguish, all of which result from unconscious turbulence such as depression and mania. These two, especially, are resulting from growth process which has not been made fully conscious. It is dangerous to dwell within depression, and one should seek activity to lighten this burden. There are many times "lows" in life which have resulted in profound realizations, and these realizations are greatly benefitting the future life. Wisdom may be derived from the understanding of mental emotional states, and in so doing, to separate the self, the conscious self, from the emotional self. This can result in a wiser understanding of your being at times. It is, again, difficult to separate from the emotional self, but it can be done.

And now I will leave you with this thought. There is a certain tree which grows in the wind. It is gnarled and bent and small and hearty. On the crag of the cliff, it looks down at the ocean and receives the mist from the tide. It looks up at the sun and receives the warmth of her light. It clings steadily to the rock's face and is secure in its place there. Having grown amid so much wind, there is not a wind which can bring it down. Shalom.



THE STILLNESS

My lesson is concerning that point or focus of enlightenment referred to in ancient teachings. There is much truth to be gained in studying some parts of these ancient religious systems, especially concerning the practice of meditation. Abraham has requested that you retire alone and seek the stillness. This refers to first, stillness in body. It is very difficult without much practice to attain heightened spiritual awareness during physical activity. The second is stillness of mind. This step is considerably more difficult because the mind ever tends toward activity. Yes, these teachings are found from many sources generally. I wish this evening to clarify this practice. This is all.

The goal of stillness seeking is different. I request not the seeking of blissful ease experience, but rather the supreme exercise of true faith, the true faith of the child reaching out with courage toward the Father and the reciprocal downward reaching of the Father towards His child. This is the sublime experience in life, and much guidance, inspiration, foresight, and spiritual insight may be thus obtained as the reward of the sincere faith-seeking child.

I do not enjoin you to covet this practice for long periods of time. However, frequent repetition of this stillness, prayerful attitude, is very helpful and enlightening, and I would suggest that we should attempt to seek the stillness everyday for a few minutes. It is, or can be, the most fruitful experience of your 24-hour day. It is often the practice of men to be so busy with their day to day thinking activity so as to simply forget the higher realms of thinking, reacting, feeling, experiencing, which are possible by the simple practice of: one, aloneness; two, stillness of the body; and three, stillness of the mind. I wish to elaborate on three stillness of the mind.

This is the most difficult aspect of this practice, and sometimes requires considerable amount of practice in order to have the ability to sustain mental stillness for a time length. This should, however, be practiced with diligence, and reward will follow. I say to you with surety that this simple practice will surely help to increase the mental peace and well-being, the emotional happiness and feeling of well-being, and also the physical health and well-being, for this process of allowing of the contact of the Thought Adjuster through the superconsciousness is, in itself, a very healing process.

The great spiritual power inherent in the presence of the Thought Adjuster is never ever realized in mortal consciousness. You can expand this consciousness of God awareness by diligent practice, conscious thought, consciously centering the thought process on Him, and also on Christ Michael, but the full consciousness of such extremely powerful spiritual beings cannot be realized during the physical life. So powerful is He that for even a momentary full consciousness, that is, His being filling your consciousness completely, which is not to say complete conscious of Him, but complete consciousness possible of Him, would result in translation. That is also the Deity embrace.

His supreme desire, of course, is to reach you more fully day by day, to impart His guidance, some of His awareness and His teaching directly to your mind. What a change of life results from the sincere effort to listen and to receive Him, His guidance, His instruction, and His presence. What a supreme experience! What a supreme delight! What a supreme advancement in your own personal spiritual development!

This conscious awareness of God directly results in the immediate transcription of this consciousness to the soul. This soul consciousness is immediately upstepped and made more perfect and Divine, and thus more like Him. These soul transcriptions are permanent parts of the ascendent self which is never lost, is a permanent reality, and this permanent reality is made by your conscious decision to make it.

A supreme responsibility thus lies with each person to, in partnership with God, become conscious increasingly of His awareness, being, presence, and this, in turn, creates a new awareness, being, presence in the morontia soul, which is your true self. This truth is ever present from then on; is at that beginning moment a never-ending true being.

I have spoken in the past about the unconscious growth of the soul, and so, tonight, I take you one step further into the conscious growth of the same soul by your own efforts. Although these efforts and the fruits thereof may be very satisfying, and even thrilling, do not be disheartened or discouraged if you are not comfortable with this. All true desire of the son is rewarded by the Father when that desire is to be like Him, to be more of Him, and to express His reality within your uniqueness. This expression of God is most often not a conscious effort, but the simple revelation of grace that the ever growing and expanding soul reveals to the world even without the full consciousness of such growing grace by the person.

You are all growing in grace, in truth, in light, in beauty, in goodness, very slowly, sometimes faster. Do not become discouraged, for this growth proceeds unabated by your awareness or not. Spiritual growth is transforming, and this transformation is never sudden. The seed does not become the tree overnight. All growth, physical, morontial, spiritual growth, takes time for completion. Yet, as this growth is accomplished and certain levels are attained, consciousness, even sudden consciousness, of this growth may happen, and this increased awareness thus augments this growth, and thus allows further growth and development to occur unconsciously.

Q: You mentioned a goal, and it was not clear to me in your instructions this evening about meditation.

A: Yes. I meant this goal to be vigorous soul growth and transformation. The goal in many teachings is retreat from society and blissful solitude experience. This, I wished to distinguish from.

Q: Thank you, this is a help for me. Can you explain what part marriage plays in our ascending careers?

A: Yes. Intimate association with another person enables us to achieve that thoroughgoing understanding of another person which is excelled, of course, by God, but by few others, and in few other situations. Children are known thoroughly in their infancy, of course, and early childhood, but as they mature and begin to lead their own lives, this intimacy is no longer there, and understanding may be incomplete. In the ideal of true marriage, this is the situation: there is complete forgiveness and understanding with both parties so that minor misunderstandings are trivial. There is the most sublime spiritual association between two people that is ever achieved in the mortal life, and this spiritual intimacy and supreme confidence borne by understanding is extremely comforting and helpful to both people. Further, with an equal spiritual level between the two, there is the joy of spiritual discovery together, and growth. This intimacy on the spiritual level is growth promoting because of the understanding between the two. On such intimate levels of understanding, such tender emotions may be evinced but allow the tender shoots of one's subtle person to grow in shelter. Yes, there are intimate aspects of life which cannot and should not be shown to the world, but are nurtured in the comfort of sharing with another sympathetic soul. This, I believe, is greatly desirable in the general conquest of the circles which requires the entire personality to be uplifted. Many parts of the soul and personality are extremely intimate, and their blossoming and growth requires time in an un-judgmental and comforting atmosphere such as between husband and wife.

Q: In regard to meditation and being quiet and alone, should we try and limit our thoughts to the idea or name of God? Or mantra?

A: No. Mantras seem to be helpful at times in stilling the mind, but continuous concentration on the mantra is also a distraction.

Q: Teacher, with regard to the stilling of the mind, is it appropriate to try to keep our mind thoughtless or shall we allow spiritual thoughts to come into our mind and dwell on those?

A: Yes, this is difficult. At the point of thoughtlessness, complete thoughtlessness, this allows the Indwelling Spirit a moment to communicate to you. So thoughtlessness is desired. Focus, however, is different. Focus the mind on the highest thought God and allow thoughtlessness to receive Him. Does this answer?

Q: It helps. When we put the thought of God into our mind, then, should it be a thought in the intellectual sense or should it be an attempt to feel His presence?

A: An attempt to focus upon His presence.

I wish to leave you with the following: The light of truth shines and is easily followed. Truth is that light which banishes all darkness. Where there is truth and light, so is there love. Where there is love, there is no deception. Farewell for this evening.




PRAYER

It seems that there is some confusion among you concerning prayer and the desire to pray more fully, openly, and efficiently to our Father. Prayer is a request, a request for Divine help or intervention in a human problem, or a prayer may be one of simple thanksgiving and acknowledgment of Divine rewards.

We shall consider the first, a petition, petition for fuller understanding of His will, a petition that your friends, and associates, and family, may further understand his will, and therefore, be more fully equipped to carry out or to deal with the problem at hand. Prayer is always efficacious. It is never failing when done in sincerity. Prayer is a tool of progression. It is the child person sincerely communicating with, and seeking the advice of, the Father person, God. In prayer, we must remember that our Father knows all things, and though it is sound psychological practice to articulate our messages to him, this articulation, for Him, is a mere formality.

The act of coming before our Father in humility, with an open heart, prepared and preparing to adjust our wishes to the Divine will, is prayer. The attitude of the prayerful soul is what is perceived and answered by our Father. The attitude of the prayerful soul is what is changed in prayer, so that willingness to be changed, or the attitude to be changed, is the most important ingredient in prayer. We do not pray "Father do my will.", but rather we pray "Father, I wish to discern your will and to carry this out in my life." Therefore, the attitude in any particular situation may be changed in prayer.

Secondly, in petitions, often we pray for our fellows. We pray that their life situation may be made easier, may be strengthened, their attitude or their self-will may be strengthened by Divine guidance. Many times we pray that their situation may be changed. This is incorrect. It is correct to pray that our loved ones understand their situation, learn from it, grow spiritually from it, and move on themselves. It is correct to pray that they may expand in understanding of our Father's will. It is correct to pray that they may receive Divine guidance through their situation. It is incorrect to pray for a change in situation. These prayers are unavailing.

The second aspect of prayer, that of thanksgiving, is wholly correct and acceptable. Prayers of thanksgiving enhance the awareness of Divine guidance by the conscious recognition thereof.

Worshipful communion is another aspect of Deity communication. This is a slow starting process which gradually increases with God-consciousness. Prayerful communion is the conscious act of the creature attempting thought adjustment in harmony with the action of the Indwelling Spirit in order to achieve harmonious thought waves and action which results in Adjuster mindedness. That the consciousness of being is expanded to the consciousness of the Adjuster, and His Divine will-action upon the mind is accepted and integrated into the thought process of the creature. Thus, communion is an at-oneness with the Divine Thought Adjuster so that, for certain periods of time, there is no difference between the thought-will pattern of the creature and the thought-will pattern of the Father. This is a deepening experience of integration which, in my experience, only occurs over many years. As this worshipful adjustment of thought pattern becomes habitual, the will of God becomes manifest within your life. The wills begin out of tune, out of sync, out of harmony, and gradually, over time, these two thought wave patterns integrate into one another producing a one harmonious whole. And thus does the creature reflect and transmit the Divine love feeling, will energy, thought emotion, of higher consciousness, Father consciousness, day-by-day, bit-by-bit.

Q: When you were talking about the prayer communion, would it be best to try to achieve that through the stillness or try and just to focus on Father?

A: This is both. Focus on Father in stillness.

Q: I recently have begun to come into a sense or communion with the mother aspect of God, and my difficulty lies in the consistent and constant word "Father." I have to address my own mind each time to ... it's like I have trouble with that, and I'm not wanting to. That's why I'm asking for some help, because I do want to feel peace about this.

A: Yes. I perceive this is a problem in your understanding. This should not be so, for God our Father contains within Himself all aspects of fatherhood and motherhood. Your perception is one of gentle nurturing. This is consistent in fatherhood as well as motherhood. The parental role and attitude toward His children is all loving, kindness, forgiveness. It is, to your perception, motherly. It is merciful, kind, protecting. He is both. The book will help you to clarify these things in your mind and experience which follows should further clarify.

Q: I have one more question with regard to all of this for myself personally. I'm in the process of transitioning from old attitudes, old beliefs, old ways of presenting myself in the world, old perceptions. I'm at a stage of learning to trust and let go, and I wonder if you could offer me just a little bit of insight on ... I'm having trouble. I feel stuck. I'm terrified. Is there something that I can particularly do to let go?

A: When you stand in oneness with God, when you trust Him, when you will His desires, you are not stuck. These seeming obstacles or walls you perceive will gradually dissipate as fog in the morning sun. You will be able gradually to perceive the grass, and then the trees, and then the birds therein, and the incredible beauty and harmony surrounding you and your life. This fog is a temporary thing. Soon the warmth of His sunshine, His love, His light, will dispel any darkness. Fear not.

Q: Father Ham, on page 1660 in The Urantia Book, our Lord Christ Michael taught that sin was a deliberate transgression of God. Then on page 1664 he also taught that sin is a transgression of the laws of Light and Life. Will you clarify more the laws of Light and Life, please?

A: Yes. These laws of Light and Life are the will of God. The laws of Light and Life may be perceived as follows: forgive and understand your brother as you would wish forgiveness and understanding from God; love and respect your fellows to your fullest capacity; love and respect all of creation to your fullest capacity; return not evil for evil, but rather return good for evil; rejoice in your Divine son or daughtership status with Him; receive His guidance and act upon it; love your neighbor; love your enemies; retreat not into selfish thought habit patterns, but rather, go bravely forth in the light of truth, in the trust of His guidance and good will, and demonstrate this to others. There are more which will come up at a later date.

Q: Referring to calling God "Father", is there a point in time when we might die or go to a different space or place where we would not refer to Father as "Father", but as something with greater understanding that doesn't designate gender in any way?

A: It is not unacceptable for each person to worship God to his greatest understanding. If this understanding encompasses the thought of transcending male and female then this is not incorrect. This is true.

Q: When we pray, if the words, themselves, are not transmitted or understood as such, it would probably be as effective to pray silently. Do we still need to think the thoughts, or wishes, or gratitude, in words?

A: No. Words are helpful for the creature. The Father knows your heart to begin with. The act of petition, the act of thanksgiving, the act of communion is important. The words themselves are not.

Q: If the world is to be settled in Light and Life, does that mean that the attitude of the world at large will be in tune with the spirit of our Father, and that we will, at large, be able to desire and do His will?

A: Yes, this is exactly right. You have understood a complex idea and brought through its simple essence very well.




FEAR NOT THE TROUBLES OF TODAY

Our main purpose and objective, as we have stated many times, is to reveal the Father through the life and teachings of our Lord, Christ Michael. His mission here was fraught with difficulty and full of many tragic circumstances. Like you, Martha, He lost His father to an accident, which was the supreme tragedy of His young life, affecting his entire earth life. He did, however, persevere in the face of this tragedy, this tragedy which came to color His life because it occurred at such a young age. The children affected in this tragedy will also be forever affected by the loss of their father. [The tragedy Ham refers to involves the loss of Martha's family members to an accident.]

I have given many lessons on the positive effects of adversity, and yet still it grieves me to see these tragedies occurring in your lives. But the young will grow and time will pass. The seasons will change and change back again. There will be time for grieving. There will be time for rejoicing anew in life and living. There will be time for the recounting of your lives, of the growth of the children, of the many wonderful things that will happen to them in the future to their fathers. Parents and grandparents will see their children grown and rejoice in this. There will be much happiness and laughter altogether in this future time. When you are troubled, think of this picture you have had of this future rejoicing, this recounting, this happiness in reunion, and fear not the troubles of today.

Q: If God is a good, kind, loving Father, does he allow the little children in Ethiopia and a lot of the other countries to suffer so with diseases and starving to death. I understand that the grown-ups have probably made their own beds and have to lie in them, so to speak, but the young children, I can't understand. Could you help me with it, please?

A: Yes. There is no suffering which our Father is unaware of. He does not turn away from those in need. He is suffering with any one who suffers and is ever-present in the heart of all who believe. It is not any part of God's plan for to allow for suffering. It is the natural outworking of the overall Divine plan to allow human free will. Adult free will decisions multiplied over long periods indeed may result in much human suffering. We are all God's children, small children and adults alike. No suffering is in God's purpose for us. Evolution and human societal structuring is progressive and will eventually eliminate this horrible spectacle of intense human misery. It is a passing age on Urantia, which will some day sprout into a new world, one in which there is lessened, year after year, suffering and pain and misery. Perplexing as it is, it is a passing thing. You must use spiritual eyes to see that dawn will come after darkness.



GOD THE SUPREME

My greetings this evening. I am Ham. I am your teacher. For many weeks I have been instructing you and observing the effect of my teachings upon you. Tonight we are happy to announce the decision of Melchizedek to give you a personal lesson by himself.

Greetings, my children. I am Melchizedek, Planetary Prince of Urantia. My purpose for thus coming to you is twofold. First, I wish to extend my personal thanks to you for your steadfast and earnest faith and emotional security in this, for you unusual and exciting learning experience. Secondly, I desire to present an important lesson which is given at only a certain time level experience of group coordinate understanding.

My lesson concerns your awareness of and reaction to the experiential God, the evolving Father-Brother, the Supreme Being, God the Supreme. When you understand your duty to His experiential status-growth, you begin to embark upon the supreme adventure of time. His being-presence is ever evolving and is impinging upon your individualness or your sense of separateness nature. He is forever growing in experience as are you. Your experience contributes directly to the growth of this mighty and majestic spiritual being. As long as you see yourself as alone and separate, you are not seeing full reality. Your growth and being in all phases of reality, spiritual, morontial and material, are all an intrinsic part of the Soul Supreme. You are existent in, through, and by His power. There is responsive reaction when a mortal experiences soul expansion. There is an equal reaction within the Supreme. The Supreme is God in time. I repeat, the Supreme is God in time. Time is a limitation of the perception of eternity.

My greetings, once again, I am Ham. This lesson, though short, is of supreme importance for you to understand to the best of your ability. I would like to expand upon this in order to, perhaps, illustrate and make clearer the lesson. Time and space are the finite limitations, the principal finite limitations, in which the vast material creations evolve. In time does evolution and growth toward perfection occur. Time is a finite reality which is required for perfecting the will creature to increasingly understand and become Fatherlike. Without time, we would be neither here nor there, neither imperfect nor perfect. There would be no growth. It is impossible for you, indeed, to imagine timelessness, so complete is this reality for you. There is a necessity for this in the great plan of the ages. That is, for the beginning imperfect creature to gain wisdom, understanding, tolerance, forbearance, forgiveness, mercy and love for his fellows by a long and intense struggle upward through the first life and through many others, increasingly becoming more spirit and less material, increasingly to seek the spirit and at the same time let go of the material. These tried and tested beings are made ready for a future destiny beyond the Supreme.

To reach for that destiny we must continually attempt understanding of the Supreme. The Supreme is God in time; therefore, our efforts in time are part of a reality which is God. I see that there is quite a good understanding of this among you. This is pleasing. Your duty for His continual expansion into the material phase of His reality is to increasingly grow toward God the Father, and you are thereby revealing and reflecting through your soul the reality which you are of the Supreme.

Q: Both you and Father Melchizedek were talking about God the Supreme as being God in time. Do you mean time and space, or just God in time?

A: Space is a material part of the creation originating in Paradise. It is more correct to envision God the Supreme as being in time. Space is an intrinsic part of all material reality, even where there is not God the Supreme. Is this clarifying?

Q: Yes, it does. I am confused sometimes when I think about time and space. I guess it is based upon modern science theories where time is a function of velocity. Is velocity real? Velocity is the rate of change of traversing space with time, the derivative of it. These concepts are confusing, and I am trying to be sure which ones are the higher order, which one controls the other.

A: Yes, space and velocity are measured by time. Time, therefore would be on a higher spiritual reality plane than space. Is this clarifying?

Q: Yes.

Q: Concerning Melchizedek's lesson, the part of it where he is talking about us realizing that we are not alone before we realize the Supreme, does he mean that we realize that we are always with our Thought Adjuster, or is there something else that we also need to realize that I am not realizing?

A: Yes. The lesson referred to an identity feeling of separateness from all other reality. This is an illusory perception for in Him we live, move, and have our being. We are not separate, really, from God and this connectedness is made real in and through the Supreme.

Q: Father Ham, is one simple way of stating part of it that whenever there is a growth in the soul of a mortal that there is a growth in the Supreme?

A: Yes, correct. There is also a corresponding reaction to this growth which is a repercussion within the Supreme Reality Being's awareness which is a permanent reality and more than a passing growth stage.

Q: Then this can constitute a real strong feeling in the soul, itself, Father Ham?

A: If and when one is aware of this, yes.

Q: Is the Supreme Being an aspect of the Universal Father or a separate personality, so to speak, from the Universal Father?

A: Yes, He is both. He is an evolving creation of the Universal Father and, as such, is an expression part of him.

Q: Does the Supreme have a separate consciousness from the Universal Father?

A: Yes. However, of course, as your consciousness is somewhat separate from the consciousness of your Indwelling Spirit, the Indwelling Spirit is conscious of your consciousness. And so, in like relationship, is the Supreme to the Father. He, the Father, is ever conscious of the consciousness of the Supreme. As in the gospel, Michael has said there falls not a bird from the sky without my Father's knowing. This is within the consciousness of the Supreme.

Q: Today I read concerning the self-acting Thought Adjuster and found several characteristics that were amazing and happy and encouraging. It occurs to me that I did not have a full grasp of the magnitude of that. I would like to have you enlighten us as to the characteristics of a self-acting Thought Adjuster.

A: Yes. This question is a lesson in itself. There are different phases or levels of Thought Adjuster ability, action ability. The self-acting Adjuster is a function level which is attained when the personal subject attains or reaches third circle level awareness. This attainment level awareness creates an increased circle or a circle of activity within which the Adjuster may function. He has the increased ability to guide and direct the person through their increased awareness of Him and His guidance. There also is the ability, albeit unusual, for the Thought Adjuster to detach from the person in order to receive special instructions such as has occurred for many of you. Three, there is the future certainty of final fusion of personality with spirit, the mortal with the divine. The fate is, although not completely sealed as a completed fact, a universe certainty that fusion will, in the future, occur. And fourthly, there is recognition by the Universal Father to that Indwelling Spirit for his work efforts with a mortal person. He receives personal recognition of this. And lastly, because of this increasingly clear guidance and communication from Him, the person is able more easily to traverse the final circles of psychic attainment which are preliminary to final Adjuster attunement and finally fusion or translation. You see, that took some explaining.




BALANCE IN THE MATERIAL LIFE

I desire at this time to commence with a lesson concerning the placement or positioning of yourselves in life. There are many factors concerned with your individual life's mission. One is family life. Two is professional life. Three is individual happiness motivation, fulfillment. Four is spiritual guidance. I wish to address these in order.

First, family life. Many of you have a rich and fulfilling life by the company and companionship of spouses and children. This intimate association fosters thoroughgoing understanding between all individuals within the family unit. This is a sublime experience which you should think upon as preparation for knowing Father, God. You will seldom outside a family unit fully understand and appreciate another fellow human being. The family is the basis of life and of all human associations. The love and tenderness evinced by the parents for a child is the closest approximation to understanding God that is possible in mortal life. This sublime tenderness is not usually exceeded.

Second, professional life. Everyday work is important in promoting dutiful associations among people. A sense of duty and responsibility is essential also to understanding the obligations to Divinity. Ethical obligations are tried and tested most thoroughly in the work atmosphere or environment. This sense of ethical duty may blossom further into the understanding of brotherliness, for oftentimes in this environment close associations may develop and the duty to your brother is understood in a fairly complete manner.

Thirdly, the sense of happiness and play should be fostered and allowed freedom of expression. Recreation and lighthearted human interaction are essential ingredients in the well-balanced personality. Happiness and mirth are a release valve for tension and are conducive to becoming a more easily likable person. Those who take themselves overly seriously and cannot find the joy in living are very sad to behold. Their life is monotonous, boring, and tending toward the material, that is, being dragged down to worry and needless anxiety. Happy is he who can find the cheerful side of looking at reality. This greatly lightens the burden of daily life.

Fourthly, the spiritual placement and aspect of your earthly careers. This, of course, is the most important of these four, for the spirit will lead you to human happiness as well as purely spiritual fulfillment. Human happiness is greatly desired in the kingdom. We wish you all increased happiness and security in knowing that your place with God is absolutely unassailable and completely secure. He who can follow spirit guidance and leading is a happier man.

Much of the burden of life may easily be transferred to the Indwelling Spirit who, in His infinite wisdom, is unerring in His guidance. Much of the burden of life is felt but is illusory. Much of your earthly anxieties are absolutely needless. May I repeat, much, in fact most, of your earthly anxiety is needless, indeed, pointless. You must be aware of your indwelling spiritual guidance. He is in control of your life; you need fear nothing. Many of the calamitous misfortunes are as easily dealt with through laughter as through worry. In either case, worry nor laughter affects the calamity, only they have a great effect on your attitude and subsequent ability to cope with this particular or that particular problem. Laughter is the best medicine. Laughter is a healing and curing activity which greatly uplifts the attitude of the mental mind which is beneficial in seeing the full nature of the situation. In worry, we tend to look at our feet, so to speak. In laughter, we tend to throw our heads back and look around us. Worry is inner consuming, laughter is outward releasing. Therefore, I say to you, laugh. Laugh fully and often. Enjoy each other and be gay. Life is short. Many of the serious problems of the day are the mirthful reminiscences of tomorrow. Do not be heavy of heart. Lighten your burden, allow the Lord to take your burden from you. Be free in his spirit presence. Move easily and freely, and lovingly and joyously praise Him.

Q: I want to ask you about calamities. You were talking about laughter as being the best medicine. Does this mean that we should look at the hardships we have had in our lives and try an look at the humor in them? Or how do we handle the hardships? Through Prayer? Through understanding?

A: Yes, my daughter, it is beneficial to see hardship in a humorous light, even for a moment, even if seemingly inappropriate. It is not sinful. It is not a betrayal. It is not hurtful. A little laughter is the best medicine, and even when facing hardship, if we can step away and see ourselves with a little distance, many times there is a little humor, and this little humor greatly lightens the perception of a grave situation. There is no and should be no guilt in this. It is simply sound psychological practice and a part of human nature.

Q: I am also wondering, if I don't see the humor, how can I get through a very hard time?

A: Yes. We all experience hard times and tragedy which we simply live through. There is a time distancing which occurs which also serves to lighten this burden. In both cases, there is a pulling back and distancing from the immediate trauma of a hardship. Whether through time passing or laughter, they serve the same.

Q: In facing the lighter side of life, we are to cast our burdens on the Lord?

A: Allow Him to lift them from you. Yes.

Q: And when that is lifted, we have an opportunity to see a lighter side, is that right?

A: Yes.

Q: The Seven Master Spirits are each different. In our superuniverse, it is basically a combination of the three persons of Deity. Michael was created as the original thought which is also in our make-up. When the higher spirits come somewhere, they are always in groups of seven, reflecting the seven possibilities of the three Persons of Deity. Does our personality reflect one of those seven combinations or not?

A: Yes. By being a creation within this seventh superuniverse, Orvonton, there is inherent in spirituality, and the reflection of spirituality, the Trinity, yes. You have correctly understood.

Q: And all of us have the same then, because we are all from the same superuniverse, in contrast with someone from other superuniverses.

A: Yes.

Q: Regarding the lesson, how much time should we spend on leisure activities as oppose to work and spiritual growth?

A: This is not an ideal world. If it were more toward the ideal, there would be equal burden of work and equal time in relaxation; however, this, for most of you, is not possible. In the material worlds, this is the ideal state.

Q: If, when we are having problems or adversities, or are down, would it be proper to, in prayer, invite the burdens to be lifted from us as a request?

A: Yes and no. It is proper to allow God to shoulder your burdens so to speak, and in working through you, to help you through difficulties. To pray to have all burdens removed by supernatural means, of course, is not proper.

Q: OK, then we should pray that we become in tune with the spirit and act in accordance with that guidance. Is this right?

A: Yes, and to not become overly obsessed or concerned with your problems, for many times, always, these problems are resolved whether or not you spend energy in worry. This energy spent in worry and anxiety is depleting to you and makes you less able to encounter and solve human problems.

Q: I have a question about prayer. You have taught us that when we pray, more often than not it changes ourselves. When we pray for others can it bring about action on the part of their Guardian Angels that otherwise would not have been taken? Or, when we pray for others, can it in some way bring about a change in their attitude?

A: Yes, both. Yes, both. Absolutely.

Q: We know you have told us that when the Adjuster is away, it stops the growth of the soul. We were wondering if, when the Adjuster is away and it stops the growth, does it also regress in any way?

A: No, there is no regression. In fact, there is growth which takes place upon the return of the Adjuster which would have taken place before had he been present.




MATERIAL PURPOSE AND MORONTIAL EXISTENCE

Tonight I wish to begin a teaching on the affairs of our constellation and its connection with our local universe. By decree of Michael of Salvington, the system circuits are being restored and are now nearing completion. Yes, I have spoken of this before, but this re-encircuitment into the greater spiritual communication circuits of the local universe will greatly accelerate our ability to communicate to and from Urantia directly to Jerusem, to Edentia, and even to Salvington. You see, this communication has necessitated the use of other circuits, angels, and messenger spirits, which was a difficult and tardy process. Now that our circuitry is being reinstated, we will have news and information from a wider universe on a more regular basis and will be in personal touch with those high in authority who will be able to clear decisions to enable us to work more efficiently.

On the first mansion world, indeed, on throughout the mansion worlds, is the beginning of teaching of morontia mota. This insight is beyond your physical level of awareness. It is a morontial sensitivity to reality which you, in your state, do not possess. There is a greater philosophy in mota than you can even begin to be aware of in your earthly way of thinking. It is not only expanded awareness, it is expanded thought and receptivity to ideas, reason, logic, sensory awareness, spiritual sensitivity and insight, and the blending of the spiritual, the mental, with the general sensitivity of a, for lack of a better term, bodily awareness of reality.

On these mansion worlds, you will be more sensitive to the presence of your Thought Adjusters. The actual presence of God within you will be a greater awareness, an extreme sensitivity, a focalization which you cannot begin to perceive as you are. Even in these first mansion world existences, though He is still apart from an actual fusion of the two minds, the guidance is extremely clear. His presence is extremely clear and well known and felt. His words are clear and distinct. It is as though there are two minds within a single bodily frame of energy that may be very closely linked in awareness. His overcontrol of thought pattern is almost complete. The morontial mind thinking pattern will be more closely attuned to the Adjuster's expression of the Father's will so that if there is a deviation, that deviation is immediately known by the subject. He can easily attune his will, his mind, to the will of God as forecast by the Adjuster.

This seems to many of you to be strange, to be something of a surrender of will to an overcontrol which you are unsure of. This overcontrol is not something which you will be unsure of by that time. His presence within you now is something very much a part of your being. It is sensed as a being apart from you. On the mansion worlds in the morontia form, the entire sensory apparatus is different. You are becoming more who you are. You are becoming more Godlike and more spiritually sensitive and aware of those spirits surrounding you and guiding you in your morontia career as they guide you here. Though you are largely unaware, in the morontia life you will be much more sensitive and aware of their presence.

The Destiny Guardian Angels who have guided you in this lowly existence are also present on the morontia worlds, the first mansion worlds. They are relieved of their immediate duties as destiny guardians and are released to follow the ascendent career as ascendent beings. They are still companions, but their guardian duties are no longer necessary. There again, you will be able to perceive these beings as discrete spiritual entities which, in the state you are now, is really a near impossibility.

The morontia life is much more enjoyable than your toiling and stressful earthly experience. You will see with Divine clarity the purpose of your ordeals in this life, and will appreciate the ordeals themselves and the guidance which brought you through them. This appreciation will be a great unburdening of your worrisome self, for you will be able to know your purpose. You will be able to foresee your future purpose, and all of this together will be a great relief as well as joy in your innermost core.

This life is not without a greater purpose. Your ordeals, your suffering, your hardship, are for a Divine reason! Rest assured, when your short life has been run, when this race of existence is completed, when you reawaken in glorious resurrection in the worlds on high, you will know that your life has had Divine meaning. Our material lives may many times seem haphazard, seem futile, seem purposeless and barren of redeeming value, yet I assure you with the authority of one who knows, of one who has survived a material existence, and has gone on to greater, purposeful, meaningful existence. I assure you that your life, your toil, your work, your stressful suffering is meaningful, is purposeful, and has supreme value.

God is not only with you in times of meditation, in times of spiritual thinking, in times of elevated consciousness of His being, He is with you day in and day out; through your days and your nights of labor, He is beside you. He is watching over you. He is entrusting you with the task of the ages, with the task of by your decisions, by your life influences and by your influence in life, to grow, to develop, to become more perfect as He is perfect. You who are called to this teaching are called to emit a broader light, are called to become perfect, are called to shine forth that light of Divine goodness and truth to your fellows as the apostles were called of old. There will be many times of hardship. There will be many disappointments. There will be many trials for you, individually, to endure, yet, I say to you with utmost surety that God is never gone, He is never far from your side. He is with you, He is with you through it all. You may easily look to Him, and His guidance will be there. I say this with authority as one who knows. If His guidance is sincerely sought in any circumstance, this guidance will be forthcoming.




SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND GUIDANCE

There is, in each person, a place where the tender shoots of new spiritual growth occur. This innermost space is wisely protected by your own being, and yet needs a certain amount of light and air. It is good to open your hearts, as it were, to the light, to the gaze of others, to the spiritual water which others may give, and to the world. This inner tender place can, yes, be a little too tender for too much. This place in circumstances of trust should be opened, should be developed, should be allowed a little freedom for the wider growing of the soul. It is good to establish and to cultivate close friendships which enable the flowering of the inner self, the opening of the inner self to the gaze of others which gives confidence in that inner self in the person. There is much hiding in life. There is perpetuation in mediocrity in allowing this inner self to be hidden and perpetuated in a mediocre realm of existence. It is only by allowing the flowering of this inner self that true individuality is seen. This inner self must be shown to a wider world. When it is, much can be done, much creativity and openness and flowering occurs, for there is connection between that inner self of the person flowering and the inner self of all those perceiving it.

We witnessed tonight a talk given by Mr. Norman Lear to educators. Many of them have never heard anyone talk like that before, talk openly like that, exposing his inner thoughts, and they responded to this. It is true of all true leaders that they flower as individuals, that their individual flowering connects with those who are too timid to do it themselves.

I do not espouse a complete openness of every single aspect of a person's life, but the discussion of the inner self is extremely important. You will find greater acceptance of yourselves than you think. This is always the case. It is not only your Inner Spirit or angels who understand you, but your friends, your associates, your loved ones. When there is true expression and understanding, this is mutually beneficial and growth promoting, for you see, then those tender shoots become not quite so tender and grow into robust plant forms, for want of a better metaphor. Yes, this speech of Mr. Lear's was very moving to me, and I send my personal praise and acceptance to him and would also wish for him to hear this lesson as my response.

I had another lesson to teach tonight. It was on the necessity of love in Father's guidance in your lives. Father's love comes through a person and is bestowed upon those near him as spiritual water. The Father's love acts to bestow acceptance, to bestow love, to bestow guidance, unerring guidance, forgiveness, tolerance, understanding, wisdom, and truth. When this spiritual water flows through one person to another, it is as though God, Himself, is accepting this person for who he is, and it is this acceptance and forgiveness which all humankind craves. For you to be personal ministers of the word of God, it is necessary for your being to channel this love of our Father, to bestow acceptance, forgiveness, love, and tolerance on your fellows as you would hope for forgiveness, love, tolerance, and acceptance from our Father. This is a daring feat. It is not a cowardly act. It is a courageous act. This act of courage will result in a response of your fellows to you in ways which you will find surprising. It is by love that this is accomplished. It is not preaching. It is not earthly "thou shalt not" type ministry. It is simply love, simply love and its repercussions in that person. This is what I ask of you to practice until our next meeting.

Q: The Urantia Book talks of space as being close to absolute, absolute in a finite sense. Can you please elaborate on the nature of space and its relation to time, energy, mind, and spirit?

A: Yes. Space, in a sense, is absolute reality. It is without segmentation or differentiation in any known sense. It is the basis of all known material reality and the fabric in which time is woven. Time is, in a sense, segmented eternity. It is the way that finite mind can perceive reality as a sequence of events. Energy and matter are created and manipulated within time and space. The Conjoint Actor's overcontrol of the creation of energy-matter and its spiritual animation as life within time and space is absolute. The space fabric is completely encircuited in the Third Source and Center. There is no haphazard cause and effect in the universes nor in the outer space realms, all have mind encircuitment. There is nothing that is not planned, directed and known. Space is the absolute fabric on which the reality of existence is drawn, yet, space is, as you said, not infinite, yet it has an infinite source and seems to be of potential infinity.

Q: Can you tell us more about the nature of the Supreme and His relation to the individual?

A: Yes. The Supreme is the finite God of time. He is the God of experience. He is the sum total of all mind experience. He is the wealth of wisdom of the ages. He is the overcontrol and oversoul of creation. He is the God of being finite reality. If you are the action, He is the reaction. He reacts and enfolds and encompasses all action in the finite realms. He is the Supreme Father Lord of all finite reality. He is the cause, by His reaction to decision and action in the finite creature, of soul growth. He enables, by His being, the growth and nurturing of the soul of the individual. He is the repository of all true value and understanding, wisdom, which is not extant as an individual personality. When an individual personality chooses non-survival, He is the repository of that personality, of that value which is no longer a personal, discrete entity. It is now part of the greater soul of creation. He is much like the God envisioned in, say, Buddhism who is the oversoul of creation, the yen and yang of existence, the light and dark, the male and female, all these things, all these opposites, which interact and form reality. He is motherlike in the sense of nurturing the worlds. He is not perceived as a personal spiritual influence as is the Spirit of Truth or the Though Adjusters, yet it is important to perceive our duty to Him in the general sense of spiritual growth and in the personal sense of spiritual growth, for in both do we contribute to His realization and His manifestation to the worlds. He is the perfecting God of the imperfect. He is what enables the imperfect to become perfect, to become more perfect. He is what enables the worlds, not only the individual, to grow, but the worlds to grow towards perfection, towards light and life, towards God. He is the intermediate God which not only allows for creation, itself, but allows for the perfecting of that creation. To Him we owe our supreme duty of becoming perfect.

Q: I have a belief that everything has a purpose. Earlier you referred to that there is nothing that is not planned, directed, or known. I have an analogy that God is a great architect. Regarding my belief that everything has a purpose, would that include the Lucifer Rebellion or anything that is looked upon as being bad or wrong?

A: Yes and no. Freewill decisions are circumscribed within limits in immature and maturing creatures. Free will is bestowed upon all creatures with the ability to know God. With free will comes the possibility for sin and destruction in order for will to be truly free. Free will, although operating within limits, has within it the ability for self-destruction. This is unfortunate. It is a possibility, and it is a reality. The purpose behind this possibility which is good, which reveals the greater purpose of existence, is the free will creature choosing to know God and to be like Him. The Lucifer Rebellion was unfortunate and, at times, seemed disastrous. Over the millennia since, we teach that there has been much more good come from this calamity than evil, and this good has multiplied a thousand fold, even a million fold, over the evil that began it. So, in the wider context and picture, even though there is sin and destruction and evil in the world, the wider and longer view picture will reveal the ultimate good resulting from this.

Q: Our first motivation is to seek out the Father's will and do it, and I was wondering if seeking out and understanding the Supreme is our second major duty?

A: No. Your second major duty is to love your brothers as yourself. The duty to the Supreme is contained within the first duty. This seeking of God results in ascendent growth of the individual which allows self-realization not only for the individual but for the Supreme, for all reality contained within Him, self-realizing, contributes to His overall self-realization.

Q: You taught us the stillness, to seek out the Father's will, is that also adequate for our duties to the Supreme, too, or is there a different mechanism?

A: No, it is adequate.

Q: The descending sons, do they contribute to the Supreme?

A: Yes, absolutely. There are two major directions of growth in the Supreme. One is inward towards the Father, the other is from the Father outward. These two growth directions are equally necessary for His realization.

Q: Is God the Supreme and the Supreme Being the same thing or are they two different personalities?

A: They are the same; although, there is a difference in these terms. In referring to God the Supreme, we are referring to the sometime future power-personality synthesis which will be the result of the growth of the Supreme. In referring to the Supreme Being, we refer to His status as it is now, that is, incomplete. Is this helpful?

Q: Yeah, it is. When I was reading the papers on it, it said the Almighty Supreme is the Deity potential of the Supreme Being. Is that basically the power manifestation that God the Supreme will have or does the Almighty Supreme have a personality right now?

A: No, this is the same aspect of God the Supreme.

Q: Next week I need to give a lesson about the second coming, and what has and hasn't been fulfilled. I would like to make this harmonize with your teaching. Can you offer some insight into subjects I should touch or shouldn't touch?

A: Yes, our Father Michael has, indeed, promised to someday return to this world. I would emphasize that even though He has not been personally manifest here, that the Spirit of Truth is with us always, and we may be in personal communion with Him. That our duty to Him, in His sight and in His judgment, to fulfill His gospel is our first duty of life. That is, to love God with all our being and to love our brothers as yourself, to consecrate our will to the will of the Father. That is to give to God all we have and are and will be. To live the word of Michael, and to portray or to enlighten our fellows to this greater way of God seeking, God finding, and God knowing, is our greatest obligation and responsibility to Michael. This is true regardless of when this second coming will occur, and indeed, the when of the second coming is irrelevant, for His time is eternal.

And now I will leave you with the following thought. Be steadfast in your adherence to truth, that where and whenever you find truth, pluck it for yourself as a flower, and keep it as an everlasting gift from our Father, no matter where or when you find it. Truth is living, truth is growing, truth is ever-present, and you are all fully able to perceive it. Love God; fully accept and love yourselves; fully accept and love those you love. Open the doors of spiritual gifts. Open the doors of your treasure within, and give freely to those you love. Develop close friendships, love one another, and show forth the light of truth, the love of God, and the wisdom of yourself in your lives. We are with you through the week. My love goes to you all. I treasure the fact that you come for my guidance and that you receive and act on my words. My love to you all. Farewell.




THE ASCENSION OF MAN

This evening I wish to discuss the following topic: the ascension of man. All of you are equally on a path of increasing spiritual enlightenment and the unfolding of increased levels of liberty and service. With increasing levels of spiritual understanding, there is corresponding increase in relative prosperity, happiness, equanimity, awareness of justice, tolerance, understanding, foresight, spiritual insight and love. With this increased spiritual awareness, there is a corresponding level of spiritual liberty granted to you. This joyous liberation from the chains of intolerance, injustice, ignorance, slothfulness, etc. is found in these increasing levels of awareness so that you become more unselfish and less intolerant of the faults of others. You are then allowed an increased circle or realm of action which is based on service.

Loving service is the basis of the social fruits of all true religious experience. The more you serve your fellows, the more increased level of awareness of them and understanding of them, comes increasing love and devotion to God. The more you understand your fellows, the more you love them. The more you serve your fellows, the more you love them. These three aspects of life: understanding, spiritual awareness, and service are love based and love dominated.

As I said to Rebecca earlier, you must all learn increasingly to love yourselves. This will enable you to understand and forgive yourself as you can understand and forgive another. This is the basis of true self-respect.

As I was saying, with increasing levels of spiritual awareness, spiritual liberty and social service is bestowed upon the individual, an increased awareness of duty and love of that duty, the duty of love. As you grow in your wise love of your fellows, grow ever increasingly toward the expanded love of your Father. Learn to bask in the light of His love for your lives will be transformed by it. We first accept the love of God as a child, and then we learn to walk in the light of His love as adults.

There is a profound self-respect, self-knowledge, self-control, and self-understanding all involved in spiritual growth. Self-control is a very important aspect of spiritual growth and comes with the bestowal of increased liberty. No longer are we shackled by the "thou shalt not" doctrines of traditional religion. No, instead you are a liberated son or daughter of the living God. The self-restraint and self-control exhibited by mature and growing personalities is evidence of the working of the mature mind in conjunction with the spiritualizing effect of increased spiritual contact and awareness. No longer do you walk like children, but now you stride the path of spiritual freedom with increased self-restraint as full fledged men and women, citizens of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Maturity is ever a measure of self-restraint.

Often we have discussed adversity and its effect. The most pronounced effect is in this learning of self-restraint. The immature individual often invites calamity himself by unwise choosing and little self-restraint. The repeated experience of the adverse consequences to unbridled behavior begin the growth of maturity. The maturing mind increasingly welcomes self-restraint by the repeated noticing of the beneficial effects of such action, or wisely restrained action or inaction, depending upon the circumstance.

The will of the Father is for wise, seasoned, spiritually leavened, self-restrained growth of each individual. He or she must learn their own way in this. It is not for me to give specific examples, for all differ. Many times as a child, I was wisely restrained from dangerous action by my parents. They increasingly taught me to restrain my actions on my own, and so does Father also work in our lives by creating opportunity and restricting opportunity which would, perhaps, lead to unwise decisions and calamitous fortune. By the increased awareness of His action in our lives, we can increasingly follow a narrow path of action and limit possibility of misfortune. For you see, my children, this guidance is not only with the listening to prompting or spiritual thought messages, but also it is involved with the outer world as well.

Yes, of course, there are many lessons in life to be learned, and you will learn all that is necessary for your spiritual development.

Q: I have a question on God the Supreme. In our general development and growth, we do lots of things which you will sometimes say becomes scaffolding, that once it serves its purpose and it is no longer needed, it is gone. Do these things become part of the Supreme? Does the Supreme keep such things and we do not?

A: Yes, if I am understanding the question correctly, yes.

Q: Nothing is lost and the Supreme will pick up everything?

A: Yes.

Q: You said that as we increase spiritually, we have more spiritual freedom, and you say as other people aren't as spiritually advanced, they bring on themselves their own problems. We that are more spiritually advanced, are we less effected, or immune to some extent, from their own problems?

A: Yes.

Q: Is it that we just don't respond or is there a protection?

A: An awareness which allows avoidance of problems.

Q: Do I understand correctly then that as we have more spiritual liberty, this does not imply a relaxation of our moral rectitude, so to speak, but rather what is happening is our motivation to act in a morally high way is changing from one of a sense of obligation, perhaps, to a sense of desire to be that way?

A: Yes.

Q: When you spoke about the Father restricting our opportunities, and then later, when we are more spiritually aware, relaxing that restriction, how does He implement those restrictions? Is it through Midwayers and angels sort of manipulating outside circumstances, or did you mean mostly by the mores of society and other psychological inhibitions that we have when we are younger?

A: I was speaking of the actions of angels, etc.; however, you bring up a very good point. There are both, of course, operating.

Q: Can you expand on what you mean by spiritual awareness?

A: Yes. Spiritual awareness is the complement of spiritual insight. Both operate to enhance the level of appreciation for reality in the individual. By awareness of spiritual reality, we become understanding and appreciative of the true nature of all being realities. That is to say, we see the essence rather than the outward appearance. Think on this.

As you go through the week, be aware of that spiritual leavening which you need to grow evenly and purely. You will understand these words in the future. Think on them this week. For now, farewell.




AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

Tonight I wish to speak on the welfare of your brethren and your understanding responsibility for it. Many times in our lives we come in situations which evoke a sympathetic response for a fellow human being. Every day is filled with these actions and responses to them. That is, we each respond to the presence of another human in our own unique manner of sympathizing.

The old adage "Am I my brother's keeper," yes and no. Each person has a certain radius of responsibility for those immediately within that circle of influence. Each person, of course, cannot be responsible for an entire community or state or indeed the world. As I have said, true love is born in an attitude of thoroughgoing sympathetic understanding of one's fellows. This understanding must, perforce, be limited to only a relative few. The book states that one cannot by mere force of will love the world. Love exists only between personalities, not between an abstraction and a personality.

As I said, to see a person through the eyes of your greater self, to allow your Inner Spirit to communicate His vision of another, is your greatest opportunity for increased understanding of that person. You see, our Father sees us all as little children, and each little child is behaving towards the other children in certain ways. If you may see that in circumstances where your brother or sister is troublesome to you, you may distance yourself from that situation which allows you to be able to have a more insightful view of this person and a more forgiving nature towards him or her. And I say this as a profound reality reaction feeling. This is not, again, a thought abstraction which you may do as an intellectual exercise. This is a true thought reality perception feeling.

When the apostles came to Christ and one said "How often may my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times, Master?" Do you see that Christ, at that time, saw the apostle as the child, and in need of guidance toward this greater understanding of the Father? Again, this is the same with forgiveness. You cannot blankly forgive the world of all its sins. This is nothing more than a futile intellectual exercise. Each person is accepting of Divine forgiveness and human forgiveness according with their level of spiritual insight and perception of reality. Human forgiveness is, like human love, on a person to person situation. As we ascend on this road toward our Father and become more like our Father, we perceive His forgiveness to be individual.

And now I wish to change the subject and proceed on a different lesson. My next lesson will be on the subject of gratitude. Our Father has provided and given us many of the good things of the Kingdom. We have been shown the road toward Him is one of ease, a light burden, a happy countenance and a sure step. For this we should indeed be truly thankful. He has guided us through many a maze in darkness. He has surely shown us a better way to live. He has given us the bounty of His earth: His land, His timber, His flowers, His abundant food nourishment materials from the earth. He has given us a blue sky above. He has sent His rain to give us life. He has shown us His friendly sun and His endearing moon through many days and many nights. He has sheltered us. He has given us clothing. He has kept us warm in the cold and given us relief in the shade from the heat. He has given us the ability to know Him, which is His greatest gift of all. I will repeat: He has given us the ability to know Him.

Each of you has your life purpose before you. You are growing indeed in His kingdom, in His love and wisdom and mercy. In this understanding of these, you are growing. I pray to our Father, may your roots be deep in loving kindness, may your trunks be great and strong to withstand the winds and the rains of adversity, may your tender leaves grow towards the loving sunshine of God that He may nourish and strengthen you and help in this growth. For I say to you this day, there will be many who scoff at our teachings, who will tear at your branches and beat about your trunks that you may be, in their eyes, put down. Have strength in your faith. Be glad for your trials that you may be stronger for the next, and know your rewards in this Kingdom are forthcoming, for our Father withholds no good thing from His deserving children. As a knife must be sharpened against a whetstone to improve its usefulness, so must you all endure trials which, in the end, are benefits. A sharpening of your faith is all.

Q: I would like to ask if God the Ultimate, if His relationship to the transcendentals and the superfinite, if that is equivalent to the Supreme Being or God the Supreme's relationship to the finite?



A: Yes and no. Yes, in an analogous way, that is as A is to B, B is to C. This is in general terms true, but in specific relationship, very different. The Ultimate's relation to transcendentals and the superfinite is more close to being one and the same. God the Supreme, His relation to the finite, embodies the entire finite experience one fragment at a time and is growing toward a oneness which is already existent in the Ultimate's relation with the superfinite.

Q: I have a general question on self-defense and violence. We know that Jesus, when He was young, was passive, but He tolerated another boy, Jacob, to look out after Him. Later, on the way to Rome, He confronted a drunk with a slave girl. Can you give us some guidelines on self-defense for an individual or for a group, and when we are asked the question, how do we respond?

A: Yes. The answer lies in determining God's will. For example, if you were beset upon by someone with no Godly understanding or perception, he would be not in any way carrying out Father's will. It would be incumbent upon you to restrain such a person. Jesus perceived Father's will for Him to be subject to the wills of men. His was a unique and Father-portraying life which would stand for all worlds for all time. As it was His will to do the Father's will, the Father's will was, for Him, to subject Himself to the lower wills of men and their ambitions and petty powers. With that incident of which you speak with the slave girl, Jesus protected her, sheltered her from harm, but did not mete out justice, so to speak, to the wrongdoer. He did not perceive it His place to do so, He being the creator of this world. Therefore, to learn from Him, it is not our place to judge and sentence anyone for any crime as an individual person. His discourse on society and the role of justice is one thing, but another, entirely, from individual to individual. Self-defense is entirely appropriate and natural in most circumstances, but the turning around and giving back revenge for an injustice is not acceptable.

Q: Do they use earthly metaphors for teachings on the mansion worlds?

A: Yes. I can recall a lesson. This lesson is: "If you cut your finger, it bleeds." This is a lesson on the mansion worlds. You perhaps will not understand this for many years.

Q: With respect to love and tolerance and forgiveness associated with small groups, who is included in such groups? How large are they?

A: Yes. This close group needs expanding. That is, the people that you understand and therefore love needs to be expanded as much as you can. If you can know another and understand and love that person, you are one step closer to doing the will of God.



THE TRINITY

Tonight I wish to explain a very complex concept or universe problem to you. This concept is that of the Trinity, the existential Godhead. This concept of three beings or personalities existent in one functional entity, that is, the Trinity, is a difficult concept to understand. The ancestral one-God being is also ancestral to all absolute concept God-beings at once with the existential Trinity and also the Paradise Isle. I use a temporal term, ancestral, to describe an existential level phenomenon. This term implies a temporal relationship which does not exist, but it is useful in describing these matters to the human intelligence for you have no basis of understanding outside of temporal existence. Eternity is not much more than a word concept in your mind, having never incorporated this level of understanding into your experience consciousness. This understanding is difficult to convey, so I will resort to time usages in order to explain an eternal reality.

The Father of all reality is first, existent. All other relationships stem from Him: absolute, finite, and in between. God the Absolute we think of as being first, that is, the Father splitting from His absoluteness first. Absolute infinity becomes absolute on one level and non-absolute on another. God the Father, though being absolute, retaining absolute, retaining infinity, is freed from totality. Then we see the Paradise Isle for the purpose of material creation. Then we see the Eternal Son, the absolute spirit, spiritual personality, first word of the Father. The first real personal self-expression from the Father is the Eternal Son. The Eternal Son is Father of all spirit personality. Of all spirit, He is the center focal point, Second Source and Center, the Source of Spirit. The Conjoint Actor or Infinite Spirit is the Third Source and Center. He is the center of all mind circuitry of all reality. He is the source of mindal reality as we perceive it. He is the Father of the vast hosts of angelic spirits who minister to mortal man while in the flesh. He is the their source and part of their destiny, also.

This concept of the three Persons of God who is also One is a difficult understanding for mortal mind. They function together very often as the Trinity and then also function in their respective combinations. This functional reality begat the Central Universe of Havona and all the existential, perfect, spirit personalities residing therein.

In the creation of the Superuniverses of matter and will creatures from this material life level of existence, God the Father with God the Son create the Creator Sons who personally create each local universe with its inhabitants. They are the designers of our reality. Your Father, Michael, is one such Divine Son. Do you see that your Father, Christ Michael, your Jesus, rather, on this world, my Father Creator Brother Michael is of a extremely high Divine level? I want you to appreciate this reality. So much time has passed since He walked on this world, and His message is diluted to the point of being almost forgotten, forgotten in the theologies and confusion of religious thought brought about in the last 2000 years. If you look at and study modern religions, they have very little of His original message within their daily teachings. He said, "My Father has sent me into the world that I may be the light of the world," and so now He has sent His representatives into the world that we may rekindle a bit of this light.

Q: Do I understand what you are saying is that God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit could not function until they were separated from the Absoluteness?

A: We do not say "could not" regarding Father for His abilities are complete. We rather think of this primal separation to be because of His will to manifest Himself, and this created the functional tension required for greater creative capacity. Yes and no.

Q: Was the tension you talked about between the Father and the Son and the Infinite Spirit, is that the same tension as between the Unqualified Absolute and the Deity Absolute and the Universal Absolute? And if so, is it just basically the power between their relationship that allows it to work? Or is there a better explanation?

A: Yes, you are correct in ascertaining this relationship. It is a tension between opposites or poles which by their interaction enables the creative process to begin. Within each person, for example, there is created the soul. This soul is the creation of the absolute, infinite God fragment, the Thought Adjuster; the mortal mind of matter, the brain; and material thought pattern which exists also within the Infinite Spirit. The Spirit is connected, you see, to the Thought Adjuster, the mortal mind, and is the interacting point between these two beings. This tension interaction, decision making on the mindal plane of reality, is the creator of a new reality, permanent reality, the soul.

Q: The Trinity doesn't have a personality as such, does it?

A: No.

Q: So can God the Father interact at the same time personally as when He is acting as part of the Trinity?

A: Time is not relevant.

Q: How does the Supreme fit in when you were just answering the question about the Thought Adjuster and the mortal combining to form the morontia soul?

A: Yes. The Supreme is the reactor to this tension and growth situation. It is the Supreme which reacts, you may say. The mind acts from the decision within the mind circuits. The Thought Adjuster acts on this. The soul is resulting from this. The Supreme is who reacts to this action and reaction.

Q: And you referred to the ancestor God, that is the I AM, the Eternal Infinite?

A: Yes.

Q: And in that there is the personal, impersonal, and superpersonal existence. At that level, is this just a potential that later actualizes when the three persons of Deity formed, and in the three impersonal absolutes?

A: Again, we speak of time. Yes and no. Yes, for thought concepts, understanding, no for all are existent reality.

Q: Does personal and impersonal exist at the first level, or is that a creation down stream?

A: All are existent, always have been and ever will be. There was no time creation element, all are existent forever. For thought process purpose, we use time as illustration.

Q: In relationship to that tension that you talked about, that should not be confused with contention, right?

A: Correct.

Q: And to put it in earthly context, it might be a necessary tension like the string on a violin or something that can create a harmonic and have an effect because of the tension, and its very beneficial and necessary.

A: Oh yes. Yes.



CELESTIAL CHAMBERS OF THE FIRST MANSION WORLD

Tonight I would like to enter into a discussion of the celestial chambers of the first mansion world. "In my Father's house are many mansions." This is referring to actual structures on the mansion worlds. The worlds are architectural, and the structures are made of morontia materials. You may picture in your minds a very fine and beautiful tile or marble like substance which is more fine or delicate in molecular level construction than is marble. The molecular structure is hexagonal, which makes this stone very fine, almost crystalline in structure, but it more closely resembles stone to the eye. These buildings are very large and have many rooms and corridors within them. Each wing or separate area has many small rooms for repersonalization. This I speak of is on the first mansion world the resurrection halls.

Each person is resurrected separately and alone, separated from all the others. A morontia companion greets each new arrival individually upon awakening. The vast roll call of a dispensation is still administered on an individual level. The beauty and grandeur of these fine structures are very awe inspiring and amazing to the awakened one. The expanded senses of color and sound are immediately apparent. More of the spectrum of light is visible, and color is greatly enhanced and expanded so that colors can be perceived on a more subtle and fine level than you can perceive them now. Hearing is expanded similarly and music becomes more intricate in that the notes can be heard on a more subtle level, also. In both sight and hearing, appreciation for beauty is greatly enhanced and broadened.

Also by analogy to these physical senses, if you can imagine the mind capacity level to be similarly broadened and the ability to discern subtleties, again, is enhanced, then you will have a fairly understanding of how you will be on waking. Other senses are enhanced, and spiritual senses, of course, are greatly enhanced. Your ability to discern your Thought Adjuster will be greatly magnified. Also, you will be able to greet your Guardian Angel in a personal way, face to face as it were.

You will also have a dwelling place on this new sphere. Shortly after registration on your new home, you are shown to a new dwelling place. These dwelling places are simple and efficient. They are not austere, if you think that, for it is all very beautiful. Many activities await you on your new home. Besides learning and spiritual advancement, you may also be employed in producing what you can best do. For example, you who are musically inclined will find it easy to give of yourselves in self-expression for musical enjoyment of others. This is very well thought of on high. Creativity in all areas is greatly valued and encouraged; therefore, fear not if in this life you have insufficient opportunity for self-expression, for in the future, you will have ample opportunity to do so. Science, technology, art, teaching, exploration, theology, many of the things which you do here you will also do on high. At least this is true for the first seven mansion worlds. This talk, discussion, is given with the idea to keep hope alive in your hearts and to let you know what you do on this world is valuable, except maybe dry cleaning.

Q: Was that Rebecca or Ham?

A: It was I, Ham, in response to a question. No, there is value in all that you do.

Q: Tonight, when you referred to the morontia elements, the molecular structure, we understand that material existence is based upon particles and motion, basically vibrations, rotations, orbits of energy levels. Is the morontia and the spiritual level also based on particle movements in a similar sense?

A: Yes, very much so. The original Paradise pattern form spirit is the basis of molecular pattern form, which, as these energies diverge, keep/create many different elemental patterns. These elements are the basis on which the power controllers operate to create the materials. These materials may involve elements involving life creation, also, life being a combination of the animate or spiritual and inanimate or elemental forms. Both are derived from Paradise.

Q: So everything finally is based on motion. We believe that quantum mechanics is a pretty good description of at least the larger particles. Is there a similar type mechanics for the morontial and spiritual? Are they the same, or are they different, but similar by analogy?

A: Yes, they are very similar in principle. In actions and reactions these elements are very different and also very similar.

Q: You referred to the architects on the mansion worlds. Is our architecture on this planet inspired by any architect up there? For example, the Gothic arch of our culture, and is that true all the way up the line? Are there higher orders, higher existences that inspire the lower levels of beauty?

A: Yes, the development of the arch is ...

Q: The elliptical arch?

A: Both, both, for they were obtained through spiritual insight by the architect originating them and given to the age of the time by the human person who strove in his expert area and also sought Divine guidance.

Q: About the dwellings you spoke of, you said that we each would have a dwelling. Does this mean we will not have our family or loved ones with us if they are already on the mansion worlds?

A: This is a delicate subject for it is understood how human attachments are. However, there is not the family structure for first mansion world ascenders. You are ascended by your own initiative and free will. You may wait at certain parts, areas of the ascension for a loved one to reach you, but there is not the structure of family any more.

Q: You also spoke of doing jobs. Is the first mansion world similar to this except that we do things for pleasure instead of just working to make money so we can live?

A: The effort attendant on striving toward a goal is needed on these first worlds as they are needed on this. The satisfaction from attaining a goal is just as real as here. Life is easier in some ways and more difficult in others. You will find the satisfaction from work to be your reward rather than monetary reward or ability to just live as your reward for toil. Is this helping?

Q: It seems that our human traits are largely determined by our genetic make-up, our physical traits like height, or weight, some of our mental traits. Do these same traits persist into the mansion worlds?

A: Yes, to a certain degree they most certainly do, especially in the first three mansion worlds it is very noticeable.

Q: Is it likewise with our natural talents?

A: Yes. As for now, I have someone here.

I am Norson. I am a Melchizedek receiver functioning on your world. I have spoken before with others in a time of warning or admonition to proceed with caution. I desire to change this rule of caution to one of exuberance. There are now enough in the readership that this early extinction of the book will not take place which was our concern then. For now, I desire to give you the freedom to go forward into the world bringing our message and light. There is no danger of this being stopped.

Have peace in your hearts with the love of Michael and His personal mandate to bring light and life to this dark world. He sends greetings to His children and His personal love and regard. Be of good cheer in your life and work. Be satisfied with yourselves. Be accepting of one another, and steadfast in your faith. I leave you now.




SONARINGTON

Tonight I wish to begin with a lesson on Sonarington. Sonarington is one of the Sacred Spheres of Paradise. It is the world of the Sons. You, all ascending sons from all seven superuniverses, pass through Sonarington on route to Paradise. It is by all accounts exceeding beyond understanding in beauty and personal charm. This world is where you will most readily understand the Eternal Son's person. His person will touch yours. It is also a special world for the Creator Sons of the Local Universes. They have found personalization there and proceed from Sonarington to their future world stations. It is the most precious of the worlds for ascenders, finaliters. It is the first taste of Paradise and is forever enthroned in each finaliter's memory for all eternity.

For the memory of Michael, His birthplace is Sonarington and Urantia. For Michael, this world is His second birthplace and home. He will always take special interest in Urantia. You who have been born here are very privileged and cared for. It was understood in His day by Him, Michael, on this world, that this world has a special destiny before it.

You are the initiators of this rapid changing transformation of the world from darkness to light, from ignorance to wisdom, from despair to hope, from war and poverty to peace and prosperity. This is your mission on earth. You, my children, are the special emissaries, role models, evangels, teachers, of a new and better world to come. Think not lightly on this. This is a grave and awesome responsibility on which I am placing you. Much will come to pass in the coming years.

Q: You mention that we will always remember Sonarington through eternity as well as our first existence here on this planet. Does that imply that some of the training worlds in between, the billions of worlds, that we might not remember or recall?

A: It will be as memorable for you as your first existence on Earth. These two points, the beginning and the end, are both, by their position in ascendence, very much more striking to the mind, more precious in spiritual memory.

Q: What would be the best definition you can give "worship" the way you understand worship?

A: Yes, worship is the sublime adoration, acknowledgment of thanksgiving and humility attitude of the worshiper toward the One God. Worship is the overwhelming craving of the personality for contact with the Father. It is sublime adoration, wonder, openness, respect, humility, gratefulness, the touching of the heart and soul by and with the Spirit Creator. It is the touching of spirit.

Q: In ministry, how should we answer the following questions: What is the purpose of God?, and Why did He create men?

A: Much of His purpose is shrouded in mystery. Many of our philosophers have attempted to penetrate these questions, but in the final analysis, the universes with their will creatures exist by and for His will without explanation.

Q: A woman who actually believes in God and believes in eternal existence someday with Him, sees no real reason or hurry, just take it easy and go on along, no emphasis on learning or improving in this life. How should you respond to a question like that?

A: All creatures who truly desire to serve Him, to know God and to become increasingly like Him, will without fail develop and improve along those lines. It is not for another creature to hurry them.

Q: My final question is to the comment that people have their own way of receiving answers, probably from their Thought Adjuster, so even though they do not acknowledge that, and therefore they do not want to look at anything else, for example The Urantia Book or your teachings, what would be the proper answer for that, please?

A: Very well. There is no point in pushing or giving someone something which they do not appreciate or understand.

Q: The Universal Father is infinite. There is a finite number of entities in the universe. So mathematically could we just conclude then that He has an infinite amount of time to deal with each one of us, and we are just limited by our capacity to receive Him?

A: Yes.

Q: Is it the same answers for example if He is sending all that information to the Infinite Spirit and the Eternal Son? They are infinite beings. They can truly understand about an infinite being. Is it the same answers coming to us, we just fail to receive as much as they do? Or is there a different message to different orders of sonship?

A: Yes, there are different understanding levels to each message coming from such high orders.

Q: When you were speaking about memory, earlier, it occurs to me that much of my life's experience slips into my subconscious mind and I can't remember most of my experience in this life. I think it's common to most of us mortals to feel this way. Will there come a time when all of our experience and all of our memories will coalesce in some way into a consciousness, that we will be aware and actively remember those experiences that we've had throughout our mortal life that are meaningful?

A: That is the key word. Much memory is blocked by the material mind brain mechanism. Memory will be experienced much more freely and vividly in the morontia form.



STILLNESS AND SPIRITUALITY

My lesson this evening is concerning the stillness. It is easy to achieve if you are diligent and steadfast in your application of the following ideas. One, the stillness requires just that stillness. It is most important to still the body in order to gain a quietness for the mind to be allowed to begin its quieting process. Any position is acceptable, of course; it matters not. Stillness and relaxation of the limbs, eyes, face, hands and feet. This will help to facilitate stillness in the brain. That is, the electrical impulses coming from the extremities are lessened, and therefore, the electrical activity within the brain itself becomes less.

Then the surroundings should be quiet. Stimulation from the auditory sense is most distracting and should be eliminated if possible.

Third, mental stillness. This particular aspect of this practice is the most difficult to achieve. Many of you are, however, making great progress and strides in this section. Mental stillness is essential for Thought Adjuster communications to be received.

There is a metaphor in these teachings of still water reflecting the sun. When the water, the mind, is turbulent, this reflection is splintered and broken into a myriad of refractions. In the ideal stillness, for clarity's sake, the mind must, absolutely must, be still. Deep relaxations, mental stillness, will, without fail, result in increased Thought Adjuster communication if you are patient and willing to commit this time.

We have this evening a visiting teacher who will be working with Vincent in the future. You will know her as Will.

Greetings, I am Will. I have chosen to speak of spirituality as a process of making something precious from something which is rough. For example, a diamond which is in the earth must first be sought out and extracted from this embedment within the earth's surface. It must be brought forth. It is not resembling its later state at all, rather it resembles any other ordinary rock which you may find in passing and not appreciate or know of its precious content.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like the man who finds this rough rock and polishes and grinds the roughness away to reveal a diamond. But still his work is not complete. For this diamond to be truly precious, it must be cut with precision. It must be polished. It must be set in a beautiful setting. All this is the action of the Kingdom of Heaven. This diamond will shine reflecting the greatest light, showing its true beauty and value to all who witness it.

I am Abraham, and I am glad to be able to present a new teacher with such ease. For the remainder of our time together, I will receive questions.

Q: In trying to find the stillness, I have been having a really hard time, and I was wondering, do you lose consciousness of your thoughts or is there always some part of you that is still conscious or is conscious of not thinking?

A: Consciousness is not lost, no. It is in fact intensified, and awareness is intensified in the inner realm of being. This is not a dream-like state at all but rather a state of an intensified awareness and concentration.

Q: Sometimes when I am trying the stillness and I think I am not thinking, is that defeating the purpose or is that not stillness, that awareness that I am not thinking?

A: You are coming closer. It is a calming of the mental agitation which is needed.

Q: About how long would be good to do this for each day?

A: I would suggest at least ten minutes.

Q: Where should our awareness be when we are doing the stillness?

A: On focusing on God and God-consciousness. This God-consciousness awareness will increase in the proportion that you gain stillness awareness.

Q: Some of us have done transcendental meditation which is designed to put your mind into a state of alpha waves, so they say. Should we consider this to be instrumental in doing the stillness? Do we want our minds to be in alpha waves or something else?

A: Yes. Yes, this is an effective tool.

Q: Can we reach this state by the technique you just told us?

A: Yes. Stilling mind, outside influence and body.

Q: In stilling the mind, is it helpful at our beginning stages with this to concentrate on specific words relating to God essence?

A: Sometimes this can be helpful to induce a greater stillness than allowing random thoughts. Yes.

Q: Particularly when there is a great deal of random thought or mental static, is there something we can particularly do at a time like that to try to calm that mental activity?

A: It only requires practice.

Q: Is the practice of stillness as you said the way that we will begin to open more to contacts with our Thought Adjuster?

A: Yes.

Q: I joined Unity Church many years ago because I felt it was something very close to the teachings of The Urantia Book. Unity teaches the silence which is the same as the stillness. Their closing prayer is the prayer that is said before each of these teachings begin. I understand it was founded by someone who sought and received spiritual healing. Were they, the couple who founded the church, taught by you or is what they have revelation of truth? I know they publish things on the silence. Would it be good for the people here to read some of the things that they publish? Is Unity Church fertile ground to plant seeds?

A: These are very interesting questions. However, it is once again not my place to judge or evaluate the content of truth in any religious organization. This task is left to you. To receive and evaluate the claims and teachings made by people is for people to judge for themselves. Each person will encounter many such situations and teachings from many sources. You who have received and understood advanced teachings such as those contained in The Urantia Book and also from Ham have better equipment to evaluate these situations than most. You must remember that people within these organizations are guided by their own light of truth and are evaluating this situation by their knowledge. So, therefore, yes, to answer your question is this fertile ground, yes, of course it is. However be discrete, be careful and wise in your dissemination of truth so that you do not damage or try to alter the stage of enlightenment of another without their full consent.

Q: My question is in regards to your lesson involving some teachings from The Urantia Book involving the Thought Adjuster. It's taught that there is a progression that leads to the Thought Controller. My question leads in two directions. First off, which would be the preliminary occurrences that would happen, what are signs? And second of all, how does this relate to our depth of the stillness as far as concentrating and on body functions and mind stillness? I've experienced frequently directions while under physical duress with tremendous clarity, and I wish to know in which way this can be placed in the teaching.

A: You have, yourself, answered this question. In referring to the steady progression from Thought Adjuster to Thought Controller, this is one way to view the increased spiritualization of mortal thinking. As the thinking mind progresses toward God, there is the phenomenon of the mid-mind which is morontial. This mid-mind gains increased control and is dominated by spirit. Thus the spiritual overcontrol of the unified personality is becoming increasingly apparent in daily life and activity. As the mid-mind becomes increasingly spiritualized and spirit directed, it also elevates the mortal in all areas of life: physical well being, mental clarity, and spiritual value appreciation. Yes, in this stage, of course, spirit direction is all encompassing.

Q: So, in many ways it is uprooting the old, manifestation of the new, eliminating views and thoughts learned in the planetary sense, the ones that are not recognized spiritual, torn away, and a new mentality formed thereof, correct?

A: Yes. You are wholly correct.

Q: I read in The Urantia Book that at about forty years of age, human beings enter the age of discretion. Can you explain what is meant by that?

A: Yes. The age of discretion means that wisdom is ripening into mature and tempered decisions. Experience through forty earth years is usually required for the tempering of the impulsive behavior and the increased overcontrol of higher wisdom even that spirit direction which I spoke of previously. With many of you here this time element is not fulfilled, yet you have achieved this spiritual ripening of wisdom with years, and I am pleased to see it.

Q: I had a question with God the Supreme. If an individual mortal fails to survive, he doesn't exist any more, and his potential of doing everlasting good is lost. Does that mean the Supreme is kind of incomplete in that sense or does another mortal in another age make up that lacking part of the Supreme. I do know that their personalities absorb into the Supreme.

A: Yes, this uniqueness is then lost as a continuing entity apart and separate from the Supreme. Yes, the Supreme is incomplete now. Yes, each thing that is lost is found.

Q: We know also that the three persons of Deity, when they act individually, represent mercy and love and forgiveness, as opposed to justice and sovereignty which is only with group behavior, group action on the level of Deity. The Supreme is an individual by himself. I am having a little confusion about this. Does he act as a group with sovereignty and justice with God the Ultimate and God the Absolute? Can you help clarify some of these problems with the singular and plural behavior with the evolutionary God.

A: The Supreme will never be a judging person. These are actions taken in conjunction and coordination between individuals and groups of individuals who have mandate and direction from the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Q: When we meet someone, if I understand it right, we are not supposed to ever tell them that they are wrong. We can share our truth with them, and if they learn to accept that truth, they will realize their own error. Is this correct?

A: In purely spiritual teaching, yes.



FORTITUDE

This evening I wish to begin with a lesson on fortitude. Yes, there are many times when the road is rocky and difficult to pass over. In these times of difficult trials, it is easy to forget our true and lofty goal as we climb this mountain of living. When it seems the road is impassible, it is sometimes incumbent upon us to wait and be still, patient, for in time, the way is shown. It may be we must climb up into the heights of spiritual ecstasy which will show the way very clearly. Then there are times when it is incumbent upon us to pass another way below and into a way where the path is not clear. There is undergrowth of cares. There are rocks and obstacles of worry and darkness and fright. These ways are difficult to pass through, and many times we must stop. We must carefully watch each turn to be certain of our path. It is very difficult during these times to remember the high mountain top when the path was clear.

In these days when things are dark and troublesome, the path is obscured and the way unclear, it is necessary to maintain an attitude of strength and fortitude to keep your courage about you and forge ahead through uncertain territory. The path of light lies just ahead, just around the next corner. The way you saw before, you are still upon. Even though it may seem you are lost, you are not. Strength, spiritual strength, will keep you. Integrity and self respect and, yes, even some pride is necessary for your survival in these times.

Keep your spiritual armor with you. The shield of truth, the sword of righteousness will protect you in these times of difficult trouble against the real and unreal dangers of life. Yes, fortitude and then, when the way is clear and when you see that you have gone on the correct path, you will be satisfied in your innermost self that, yes, you saw the way and you progressed through it.

Wisdom. The fruits of wisdom ripen most readily in the dark. It is difficult of understanding, but I tell you this is truth. Our most stable parts of our inner being are made so by this difficult passage. Our trustworthiness, our faith, is strengthened. Our wisdom is ripened and our souls are made more perfect, even in these times of trial. Our Father has not created these worlds for your lazy enjoyment. They are roads of trial, and the trial is hard, is steep, is difficult. It is purposeful.

Strength of character is not built on a bed of ease, ever. Strength of character is built brick by brick in the toils of adversity. When you are enjoying the fruits of your labor, when you have reached a plateau on your journey where you may enjoy the sun, enjoy the beauty of life, the fellowship, you remember you are and have been made who you are, your character has grown mostly through times of difficulty. You have learned patience. You have learned forbearance. You have learned tolerance. You have learned understanding forgiveness. You have learned to accept your lot to make the best of what you have. You have leaned not to whine about the future nor regret the past but to carry on in the face of all that is coming to you. Fortitude is the watchword for this day.

Q: Teacher Ham, thank you for a beautiful lesson. I have a question about fortitude and adversity. Why is it that some people here on Urantia seem to live lives of relative ease while others seem to have trial after trial of difficulty and adversity? I realize that it is through difficulty that we grow, but it seems to be so imbalanced. Could you enlighten me, please?

A: Yes, this life is filled with inequality and inequity at every level. There are extremes in this world which are not the product of the individual's self will, but more the product of planetary mismanagement. You see there has been no one to administer this world for many, many, years. Your Planetary Prince has been extinguished, your Adam and Eve have defaulted, your Bestowal Son was short lived. You have had no planetary organization of any kind, really, and this is the inevitable result of natural evolutionary tendencies among peoples, nations and races.




TOLERANCE

Sometimes it is difficult to understand your brothers. They are all so very different different thinking, different feeling, different emotional balance, different insights, different mental capacities, different upbringings, different world views. It is sometimes very hard to reach beyond this wall of difference that separates two individuals. I tell you now that it is true, love will always banish all barriers between men.

Love is like a magic wand which may be used to make obstacles disappear. It is a hard tool to master. Much is dependent on surrendering to God, which is not controlling feeling emotion, but surrendering instead to love impulses which, when directed toward another, elicit this same love impulse in return. It is unfailing except in certain severe situations. If your love is strong enough, if your heart is willing enough, if your mind is tolerant enough, then love will surely overcome differences, barriers, and obstacles between you and any other person. Yes, this is hard, at times requiring a humility and meekness that is surrendering to the Father's will to a great degree. Some of you may feel it for a day or two and then lapse back into offending your hearts with worries, cares, concerns, about others. I tell you this is not the way of God.

The way of God is complete and total love. The way of God is learning to find this love within us and letting this love flow outward to bless and give light to those who may sit in darkness. This also requires a tolerant mind, a mind which is willing to allow love to come first and understanding later, a mind who is willing to allow a greater mind to be its overcontrol, and this greater mind is dominated by love.

Q: I have a question, what is the difference between the Deity embrace and the Corps of Finality embrace?

A: Deity embrace may or may not include Corps of Finality members. Those in the Corps of Finality have Deity embrace as well as Corps of Finality embrace. These are two separate things. A Mighty Messenger, for example, has Trinity embrace, which is Deity embrace. He is not, however, a member of the Corps of Finality.




PERSONAL COMMUNION WITH GOD

This evening I wish my lesson to begin with a few words on the stillness. Once again, I wish to instruct you in your personal devotions. The stillness is not meant to be an end in itself. It is the beginning of personal communion with God. You will receive in the stillness a consciousness of a feeling of higher self-awareness. It is in this higher mind state where communication between your Indwelling Spirit and your consciousness can take place. Often the older seers were content with only the God-consciousness sensation awareness. I am asking you to go further than this, to do as Christ Michael did and reach communion, two-way communication between your conscious mind and your Thought Adjuster.

Praying is most efficacious in this awareness feeling of God. That is, if you speak to Him in prayerful attitude of childlike humility often, there will be a response, whether it is an inner change of attitude, peace-awareness of His overcare, or the more direct directness of consciousness of intent, direction, or awareness of another, another's intent or direction. Or still further, there may be direct word-message flashed within into your consciousness even as word-message is received through Rebecca to you from myself, Ham. Also, this can be effected from your own Indwelling Spirit into your own mind-consciousness level. Many of you have received already this type of communication and are aware of my words. Then again, many of you are in the earlier stages of change of attitude-awareness of others and their attitude and this, in itself, is life changing.

God has His manner of communicating in allowing us a broader sensitivity awareness to other people and ourselves. This inner awareness is now developing within all of you and you are becoming more and more of who you are meant to be. Self-realization is a word often used in connection with meditation. It is these early stages of meditation that is referred to. At even later stages of self-awareness realization, God consciousness, communication between the Thought Adjuster and the consciousness, further there is a oneness.

Future time, there will be no communication between two minds; they will be one mind. In doing the decisions of your greater self, your own Indwelling Spirit who comes from the Father, you are increasingly becoming like Him. You are doing His will for Him and for yourself. You are more closely attuning your will to His, your mind to His, your awareness to His, and, in future times, as I said, they will be only one. And on that day when there is only one, you are immortal, and you will come to understand the saying that there will be no more weeping, no more tears of sorrow, for He will wipe away those tears. There are no more sins, for all you sins, though they be as scarlet, are white as snow. For you have become true and noble and eternal citizens of the Father's Kingdom where there is still adventure, still uncertainty, still reward for effort, still effort to reach the Eternal Father, but your success is assured.

The way is truly open, and the faltering is truly no more. This time of oneness is sought by all will creatures, on all worlds, in all the universes, in one way or another. This attuning of the creature will to the Divine will is the Father's command: be ye perfect as I am perfect. This is the Father's one and only command of you.

Q: The lesson tonight seems like its developing within my own mind, clarifying, the thing that I do. I meditate without any papers or tape recorders, but I ask my Indweller to stay with me in my conscious mind long enough to write down the messages that I receive. I feel confident that they are there, but they are so powerful that sometimes one wonders whether its wish fulfillment. Can you instruct us as to the difference between wish fulfillment and instructions from our Indwelling Spirit.

A: Yes. It is a difficult and dangerous ground for each person to decide which is real Thought Adjuster communication or is inner thought wish, and so forth, which is unduly glorified by our own inadvertent thought process. It is always hard, and especially in early times, to know. There is distinctly otherness which, as my speaking to you, is not your thought but received thought. It is still difficult, yes. Even Rebecca, who has been doing this for many months, also can make errors by her own thought obstruction. It is very difficult, but in time and with practice, you will begin discerning the difference. And also, even if it is wonderful and good for you, it is known to be from Him.

My lessons are also meant for wish fulfillment in a way. I teach how to become more aware of God, and do His will. This is wish fulfillment, also. Much will be thought this way. Many examples in earthly life may be given. Your Indwelling Spirit is always working with you even, and I say this with authority, in this life, for your earthly betterment and happiness. In many teachings, this life is not to be cherished. The next life only is important. I say with authority, cherish this life. Cherish your souls, your bodies, your spirits. Love yourselves, your brothers, your God, and your life. That is all.

Q: The session with the stillness lesson tonight, if your Thought Adjuster is gone, what can you say about doing the stillness with your detached Thought Adjuster?

A: Yes. Even when the Spirit is not immediate, he is still in awareness of you and can respond, even over great distance. It is still good to practice stillness even when no immediate response is forthcoming.

Q: My next question concerns the stillness. It seems to me that if we're supposed to clear our minds of all thought, but at the same time be more conscious of our bodies, or have a higher consciousness I should say, it almost seems like a paradox to me that we can clear our mind of thought and have two-way communication. Could you like explain that to me?

A: Yes. It is after clearness of mortal concerns that there can be communications unhindered. In active thinking, there can be no clear communication. The thought activity should be slowed and centered perhaps on a prayerful message to Father at first.

Q: I've been wondering for a while how wonderful it would be to be able to see our fellow humans as what their potential is rather than what they are, and I wondered if this is how you see us or if you see us differently.

A: You're learning much. Yes. You are coming into great awareness at this time, indeed.

Q: Can we as mortals, by spiritual advancement, see further into the potentials of other mortals, as opposed to actualities, as we get to know them? The communication of things that took place in the past. Can we see more of their potential in the future by higher levels of advancement?

A: Yes. Certainly.

Q: If you know a person who claims to be an atheist and they die, and you believe that they are a very fine person, is there anything you can do to petition the authorities, including all the way up to the Ancients of Days, on possibly having them have another chance, say on the mansion worlds? Is there anything else we, as mortals, can do other than petition on the decision like that on personality extinction?

A: There is nothing which you can know which is unknown by his Indwelling Spirit. This spirit will provide all necessary chances for decision making on this world or the next. You needn't have anxiety. All is known and mercifully prepared for.




HAPPINESS

Our lesson for this evening is on happiness. Happiness, peace, spiritual fulfillment, is part and parcel of God-knowingness. Happiness, true happiness, springs from an eternal well. This well, found in stillness and solitude, wells up within the soul, refreshing not only yourself, but all those who chance to come in contact with you.

Many years are normally spent in unhappiness, in passing happiness, that is. Happiness is not found in external stimulation, possessions, physical adornments, infatuations, or wealth. True happiness is only found within. Augmenting this happiness is our relationships with others. Friendships, fellowships, of all kinds, augments, strengthens, secures true happiness.

Remember you always have this refreshing well to drink from. All aspects of life are enhanced. Friendship is made more meaningful. Daily burdens are lessened. Distress of living is replaced by the joy of being. The wonder of existence replaces doldrums of the daily routine.

Happiness must be shared for it quickly dies in solitude. Live life to its fullest by sharing it with your loved ones, your friends, your true neighbors. Sharing of one's self is Godly.

Q: I have a question with sacraments. What can you tell us about sacraments? Do you have them? How many? I think the remembrance of Michael is one.

A: Yes, the remembrance of Michael is symbolic food and wine ingestion which has been termed sacraments. In our temples of worship, symbols are not employed. We attempt to discover true worship in its pure sense. Symbols, sacraments, are not employed.

Q: Can you discuss briefly about abundance and how it can be obtained?

A: The mortal mind tends to focus on problems and fears scarcity. Your recognition of your abundance is good. It is better to practice focusing your mind on what you have, what is available to you, which is abundance. The Urantia Book says most mortals are truly rich in faith, yet they refuse to believe it. This is a truth. It has been observed for many, many generations. The fear in scarcity tends to overwhelm the understanding of the truth which is you all indeed have abundance. It is the gift from our Father. Yes, recognize this gift and be thankful and rejoice in it rather than allowing a fly to spoil the ointment. One of Christ's most effective sermons concerned this lesson is "Consider the lilies, how they grow." Also, "there is not a sparrow that falls from a tree without my Father knowing, and how much more precious are you than sparrows." Yes, receive His goodness into your lives and all aspects of life are enhanced. "Seek you first the Kingdom of Heaven and all things necessary will be added unto you." That is all.

Q: The Urantia Book says that complete understanding between men and women is unattainable, and I have just been really frustrated lately in trying to communicate with someone. Is there anything that you can help me with, or help all of us with, in trying to understand each other?

A: Understanding grows when minds are sympathetic. There may be not complete understanding, but harmonious relationships are certainly attainable. Sympathetic, mutual, and non-judgmental attitudes are essential in this love growth. The strength of man is logic, and the logical thought pattern is somewhat inimical to the strength of woman, which is intuition. She in many ways finds it easier to follow God for His communication is often in that intuitive realm. This is a great and noble strength which should be respected in this world; although, it is largely unrecognized. These two complementary, yet different, mind sets are wonderfully expressive in union of the Father, and His creation. In union, there is tremendous and entire nobility of expression between both men and women together. This union is sublime and stronger and more beautiful than either one separate. It is meant to be so.




MERCY

Our Father is unbounded understanding. His mercy is abundant and ever available for you to draw upon. Our Father is always bendable or malleable to any situation. He is not inflexible. He is always able to respond to your innermost heart. He is abundant in wisdom, and this wisdom is merciful. No thought or deed is too far for His all-encompassing knowing. Blind iniquity stands alone by its own choosing. All who desire to know God and find their way in His bountiful Kingdom are welcome. No man may close the door my Father has opened. Abundance is His knowing, understanding, merciful forgiveness, and indeed joy at finding His lost children. Many of His children feel they must hide a part, a secret part, from His loving gaze. This is not true. Our Father knows your hearts, and by your willingness to open your secret places to Him are you increasingly strengthened and indeed saved. His love is ever ready to respond to every opening of His children. By His power have you truly power. By His strength have you strength. By His love have you love. It is by increasing to opening of your innermost being that you increase your God-knowingness and God-likeness, and by this you become a living channel for His light and love. Fear has no place between our Father and His children. Knowing His love is all that is required.

Q: In reading the book during the week, I found a part where Christ was saying that self-analyzation doesn't lead to character growth. He said that character grows, it is not built. I was doing a lot of self-analyzing this week and didn't really understand that and was wondering if you could explain it.

A: Some self-analysis is not always unfruitful. At times, it is wise to be self-searching and to know your limitations and weaknesses which you may then pray for guidance, strengthening, and understanding. By self-searching and prayer, these shortcomings are consciously addressed and consciously turned over to God. It is wise at times to do so. Over self-analysis with the mind of changing character by force of will is faulty and error. You may say I wish to have this virtue and humanly force this on to an unsound framework. This cannot stand, will not hold up, and is destined to fall or crumble. Virtue, righteousness, are things which grow naturally from God-knowingness, from willingness to be God-led and God-grown. He will spring forth within all righteous virtues. These are secure and steady. They, once acquired, cannot be disowned, and you would not disown them by force of will. The others, yes, by force of will are easily shaken off.

Q: Sometime ago, in another meeting, you said it is good to chastise your own mind once in a while. I wish you would tell me how to do it because its not working on mine.

A: Yes. By this I meant to allow one's higher nature control and not to allow the fearing, doubting, anxious part of mind a dominant place. Security, clarity, in mental thinking and form are found in the higher realms of thought, wherein there is no fear nor anxiety. END



GREED

There are many forms of this human characteristic trait of greed. Most of the time we think of greed as concerning monetary related values. This is not always so, for greed is a deep-seated human emotion characteristic. It is manifested in many other ways also, such as selfish desire for attention from others and the lack of consideration for their needs. It is important to recognize greed in its many manifestations. It is not a mortal sin, however. No, it is rather a left over from primitive times when self-preservation was more necessary. Now in your modern day it is seen as childlike. The mature person is grown beyond the mere innate instinctive passion for self. The mature person is seeing himself in broader context. He understands his dependence and devotion to others and to God. This understanding of one's self within a community network, all dependent on our Father, frees the individual from instinctive fear for self, and one can begin to root out the weeds of greed and other self-serving motivations, for it is through understanding of reality that one can become fearlessly unselfish.

Q: On your lesson, when you were referring to greed having origin with the primitives, the early races, does that mean that eventually the advancing races can eliminate this from the gene pool, or does that mean that no matter how advanced the races are, greed and other undesirable animalistic traits are always present, its just us mortals, we have to learn how to transcend them?

A: The latter. In advanced cultures, greed is not as sharp a pain. It is dulled, softened, and in general lessened, even among children. It is the fruit of advancing culture.

Q: Regarding your lesson, perhaps in a world that's settled in light and life, it would be much easier to be unselfish and think only of other people because you would expect other people to be thinking of you, and in an economic sense, there may not be that fear of deprivation, economic deprivation. But in today's world, on Urantia, we seem to be dominated by selfishness and greed, and I think many of us feel fearful that if we really attempt to be unselfish, we will be taken advantage of, and this will cause us suffering in many different ways, particularly economic suffering. Do you have any words to address this?

A: Yes. Unselfishness does not mean recklessness, over-generosity, or encompass foolhardy actions. Fairness in fellow feelings does not risk yourself. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This does not involve reckless or unwise opening of yourself to economic vulnerability. It is rather a person to person, day by day, living as in God's sight and showing His noble character through yourself. Walking in light will not require stumbling in darkness. One foot before the other on firm ground is all that is asked. You nor any of you are asked or required to risk your security, be assured that your ultimate security is in God, and He who loves you, protects you, and cherishes you will not put you in harm's way.

Q: In my readings of this last week, many of our will creature difficulties come from following the ego, and using the ego as a guide as opposed to turning to Indwelling Spirit guidance. In regard to the idea of greed, it is based primarily on the illusion of scarcity. We produce our own scarcity by paying attention to it, and we produce our abundance by paying attention to the abundance in the world that God has given us. Is this a higher law than the one of security, and is it true that the ego is producing the illusion of scarcity, and therefore greed?

A: Yes, your understanding is correct. Yes.

Q: Then in our evolution into Light and Life, it seems as if our requirement in the stillness, when we have security matters that we are dealing with in regard to material well-being, that if we pay attention to the Indwelling Spirit's leadings and guidance, it will take us to abundance. Is that correct?

A: This is a more personal question and is in the main correct. Also, the guidance of your Indwelling Spirit seeks to teach you through life's schoolroom the important matters beyond the material. In apparent material failure are gems of immense treasure you will keep with you always. Where your treasure lies, there will you heart be also. This treasure cannot be plundered. It is impregnable. Always understand His higher aims and be not overly concerned with temporary material failure, for all your needs will be fulfilled by His wisdom.

Q: Is it well, then, to pray for an attitude change and an attitude of non-attachment to material greed as well as the greed that you spoke of in regard to attentional greed for one's self, and other attitudinal ego errors, for lack of a better term.

A: Yes. It is well to know where your true treasure lies. Matter is temporal changing dust. Even great wealth is only temporary. It is not the means by which you build your true security in heaven. Always look beyond this life and realize that this fleeting existence will soon be over and you will be a citizen of the Mansion Worlds where greater gifts than these words of instruction are given. You will still be living life and facing difficulties, yes, but you will have a longer viewpoint. Have this understanding with you now. Look toward the ultimate goal rather than temporal ones.

Q: What if a large entity financially in this world picks on a little financial entity and unjustly forces them out of their competitive market simply by low tactics. Should one stand up and fight fire with fire or take a mild stand and be subject to defeat simply because of morality?

A: The God-knowing man always takes the high road. He is subject to the storms and trials of life. All the same, he remains in a superior attitude and position in all respects. Be not concerned, for the evil and injustice which besets you is always vanquished with light, truth and justice.

TRUTH

Truth is powerful. The words of truth change lives and communities, nations, races, worlds. The coming of the Spirit of Truth changed your world, nurtured it through long ages to prepare the people for greater revelation. You see the response to religion which is partial truth. It is that truth within its message which creates this reaction, even if error is contained therein. There is also only partiality of perspective and guidance, truth, in our teaching also. All of the teaching short of Paradise is so. Ages are required for enlargement of concept, and your world has been well prepared for this.

Q: I have been asked by other people about those who claim to have experiences of past lives which we know from reading The Urantia Book cannot be true. I really don't know how to answer them in a positive manner to help lead them on instead of turning them off. Could you address that, please?

A: Yes. This is serious error in thinking. When we lament a glorious past like the supposed golden age of Adam and Eve with the subsequent fall from grace and causing the misery of men, it is looking at life as a lost potential. This is error. When we believe that past lives were lived and in better circumstances than present, this is akin to it. An error was made and reincarnation was imposed, you see, that fall from a better state, again. We should rather look at our present world as a springboard of boundless opportunity for future greatness. Potentials within are waiting to be unlocked and lived. They are not locked up and you live again. These potentials of personality power are waiting expression now. We are beginning the great adventure, not reliving the dust of the past. The images may be a forward looking potential expression from the Indwelling Spirit illuminating character possibilities and potentials, not memory.

Q: I have a question and hope I can formulate it. It is in regard to planting a seed. In my life, I have noticed that, especially over the last year since I have been introduced to The Urantia Book, what I have found in it is freedom. It brought a great peace into my life, and I found that this peace that I've found in my life I've been able to give a little bit to people I've met. I've been blessed in that I have good friends that are of different denominations or organized religious philosophies, and in these philosophies the one familiar thread is that they all are very difficult to live and feel really happy and at peace with oneself. These people, this world is full of different people, and it seems like in what I've seen is that they need a simple message of love, and that it goes a very long way. However, they are in a very tender position if their religion is at threat in any way, it throws them off balance. I'm just wondering if, when you talk about planting the seed, could it possibly be that we all of us have a responsibility to whomever we meet on life's path, that we might touch them with a simple message of love without having to think of a conversion in any way, that the seed may be planted. I know that in my life it has brought me not only peace in my own life, but as I touch lives of others, they give me back so much, it is such a rewarding thing. I'm just wondering if this might be part of our mission?

A: Yes, it is a coming of the spring in one's life, the beginning of the bearing of spiritual fruit. The warmth of the sun of love is bringing forth new growth, these tender shoots of love ministry, beauty, and truth, which are bursting forth with fragrance. These tender blossoms attract many who are drawn to this peaceful beauty and receive their comfort, hope and peace. You will always be attractive for those who are searching. You are like a great and noble tree flowering in the gentle sunshine.

Q: My heart is searching for an answer that will really help me to grasp the essence of the Christmas season, the real message, that somehow does get lost at times with all of the commercialism and all of the distress that comes along with modern day living around the seasons. I wonder if you could just address this, even briefly, just something to remind us of the true spirit of what we are celebrating.

A: This is for each person to find within, your own relationship to Michael and His coming and His next coming. Yes, all need to cultivate the soil of our hearts to receive His spirit, His words, and to look toward that distant happy horizon when He returns.

END COLLECTION