GOLDEN GATE CIRCLE
New Urantia Blogger site: Solonia's Service Projects
WEEKEND BULLETIN:
March 28, 2010
Palm Sunday, India
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all you lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know you that the LORD he is God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.
I wanted to share my BLOG with you and keep you posted on the work we are doing. Some of you sometimes ask what we're up to and this is our current passion. Please let me know if you have any questions -- and please feel free to pass this BLOG on.
BLOG site address is below. Love to you all - Susan Cook
http://soloniasurantiamind.
blogspot.com/
Fellowship List Discusses the UB Uversa Edition Cover
Check out the new home page for http://urantiabook.org/ which reproduces the Urantia Book cover as published by the Fellowship (Uversa Press). The "SocAdmin list" got very interested and aroused in a discussion of the way the UB is being presented to the world with may opinions expressed pro and con.
David Kantor asked the question whether Fellowship members are trying to find images that please us, or those that will connect with people we are trying to interest in the revelation.
Michelle Klimesh, Fellowship President, offered this comment: "The three pictures that we currently use on our Uversa Press edition of the Urantia Book have been approved by the Fellowship General Council, were highly attractive in market tests, and are the images that make up our current branding.
This is a convenient reminder that we lack a marketing/PR committee. The upcoming Mighty Messenger includes a request for volunteers who have marketing experience who will create a plan for the council to consider about how we portray ourselves and our mission."
"I appreciate any prayers you can lend to my intention to reconstitute this important, but sadly unstaffed, committee."
New Human Species Suggested by Fossil Find
By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY (3/24/10) and other excerpted articles
A 40,000-year-old child's pinkie bone found in a Siberian cave likely belonged to a previously unknown human species, living near modern humans of the era, says a gene study out Wednesday. The concept of "modern human" is controversial and being debated. For example, Donald Johanson comments, "By 30,000 years ago this taxonomic diversity vanished and humans everywhere had evolved into the anatomically and behaviorally modern form." (on actionbioscience.org) But there is not agreement on the date this happened.
In the Nature journal study, the pinkie bone discovered in the Denisova cave archaeological site in southern Siberia yielded "mitochondrial" DNA - maternal genes inherited outside of the ones found in cell's chromosomes -- they are unrelated to either of the two known species of Homo, modern humans or their extinct Neanderthal cousins. The bone dates to a time when all three species apparently lived within 60 miles of each other in the Altai Mountain's steppes.
"I was amazed," says study senior author Svante Paabo of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology. "There were at least three different forms of humans in this region at one time."
Analysis of the pinkie bone discovered in a dirt layer about 40,000 years old yielded enough DNA for the gene study. It shows the creature's ancestry diverged from humans and Neanderthals roughly 1 million years ago. Dubbed "x-woman" by the researchers, despite its undetermined gender, the pinkie owner may have belonged to an archaic human species such as Homo erectus or Homo heidelbergensis, known only from fossils, or a completely unknown pre-human species. From the size of the pinkie tip, the team estimates its owner was a 5- or 6-year-old child.
Homo erectus (Java)
Expressed in UB terms, the bone could belong to an Andonite, the first human race descended from Andon and Fonta, the "species" classified as Homo erectus. Andonites also include the subgroups "Java Man," "the Foxhall Peoples," of England in the Urantia Book (UB), and the Heidelberg (Homo heidelbergensis) race of our science also cited in the UB. (UB Paper 64, sec. 1-2)
"Sometime after driving the red man across to North America [85,000 yrs. ago], the expanding Chinese cleared the Andonites from the river valleys of eastern Asia, pushing them north into Siberia and west into Turkestan." (UB 79:6.1, pg. 884)
Niviatsinaq, Aivillik Inuit in gala dress at Nunavut
Time magazine's article noted: "But even the preliminary genetic analysis has already shed new light on human ancestors' exodus from Africa and subsequent spread across the globe. The dominant theory holds that various hominid species left Africa in a series of distinct migrations, beginning with Homo erectus or a close relative a little under 2 million years ago, followed by the lineage that gave rise to Neanderthals, and finally the ancestors of modern humans about 50,000 years ago. The mitochondrial DNA of the Denisova hominid suggests its ancestors left Africa around 1 million years ago, at a time not previously associated with migration."
"I speculate that we may discover that it is an oversimplification to talk about particular exodus events from Africa," says Pääbo. "There might have instead been a continuous gene flow and migration." By Eben Harrell, Time magazine 3/24/10
"I think this is really cool. They have done a rigorous job showing this is real, and it is highly likely they have found a human species distinct from humans or Neanderthals," says genome expert Edward Rubin of the Energy Department's Lawrence Berkeley (Calif.) National Laboratory, who was not part of the study. Although the dating of the pinkie tip bone is based only on the cave floor dirt layer in which it was found, Rubin says it likely couldn't be much older than 50,000 years to yield any DNA.
Could this be a Sangik human fossil? Sangiks of the present day are classified "modern human" (homo sapiens) but before Adam and Eve (37,000 B.C.), the UB suggests they were a much different type. "All efforts to identify the Sangik ancestry of modern peoples must take into account the later improvement of the racial strains by the subsequent admixture of Adamic blood." (64:7.12, pg. 728) A Sangik of pre-Adamic days might be expected to fall into the category known as archaic modern human. This fossil is less likely to be of the "yellow (or red) race" type.
Within "months," Paabo says (in Nature), the team hopes to have samples of the chromosomal DNA of the species, to compare to humans and Neanderthals, who went extinct about 30,000 years ago in Europe, and which should offer some hints of the biology of the study species. Although genetically distant from humans, the new species appears much more closely related to humans than apes, says study lead author Johannes Krause, and was undoubtedly an upright-walking human species that needed clothing to survive Siberian winters. …
"In the early development of the Urantia races there were originally five distinct types of skeletal structure: 1. Andonic, Urantia aborigines. 2. Primary Sangik, red, yellow, and blue. 3. Secondary Sangik, orange, green, and indigo. 4. Nodites, descendants of the Dalamatians. 5. Adamites, the violet race. (UB 81:4.3, p. 904)
"In general, therefore, as the human remains of the last twenty thousand years are unearthed, it will be impossible clearly to distinguish the five original types." (81:4.5, pg. 905)
(article edited by Dave Holt)
Greatest Friend
(Tree of Life)
(by Mike Heron)
The greatest friend I have in life
Has brought me here to dwell
Awhile among your green green hills
All by the watery well
The water from that wondrous well
Has made my eyes to see
And loosed my tongue to sing with joy
That such a friend can be
The greatest friend I have in life
Was hidden long from me
Above the mountains cold and wide
Beneath the sacred tree
That sacred tree whose bark I touched
Whose leaves did tell to me
The ancient tales that made me sure
My friend would come to me
My greatest friend a song has given
To sing where I may go
To sing among the green green hills
And where the waters flow
The waters from that wondrous well
That made my eyes to see
And made my mind to ever show
My greatest friend to me.
Bye for now and Thanks for reading our news -- Please Stay tuned! Dave Holt, Editor and GGC VP.
GOLDEN GATE CIRCLE
WEEKEND BULLETIN:
March 21, 2010
Happy Beginning of Spring!
More Information on Sheila Keene-Lund's Book Signing Date, March 26 in Marin
Public Booksigning and "Revelational Evolution" Workshop
WHEN: 7:30 - 9:30pm, Friday, March 26
WHERE: Open Secret Bookstore
923 C Street, San Rafael, CA 94901-2805. Phone (415) 457-4191
Delicious Vegetarian Meal $13 Served between 6 -- 7:30 pm.
Open Secret is on the left in the middle of the block between 3rd and 4th Streets. You can park in the C Street parking garage on the right.
"… the book Heaven Is Not the Last Stop, by Sheila Keene-Lund, is going to make waves. It's very well written and is much more comprehensive philosophically than just the topic of life after death, which one might infer from the title. Sheila Keene-Lund did a wonderful presentation of her visionary ideas at The Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne Australia, where the feedback on her book and presentation: Cultivating Universal Intelligence was overwhelmingly positive.
"Please take time to read this remarkable literary work and pass it along by word of mouth to your friends. Listen to her introductory video http://www.heavenisnotthelaststop.com/ Video-Library.html
(contributed by Christilyn Biek Larson)
Reminder to RSVP for Sheila Keene-Lund's presentation at the Women's Retreat 3/27 by calling Sara Blackstock, (707) 747-1854, or email her at blackstocksara@yahoo.com.
Mazatlan
Some Other Event Reminders ...
10th National Conference May 7th -9th, 2010
36th Regional Reunion, 9th Reunion of the 3 Americas of Urantia Book Readers
Organized by Grupo Orvontón, A.C. & The UB Fellowship Readers
Guest Country: Mexico, In Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
CN10 President Dulce M. Aguirre
Multilingual Conference in English, Spanish, French and PortugueseTheme: Local Universe Mother Spirit
Some of the Program Highlights ...
Deadline for submitting a presentation is April 12th. Use Arial 12 limit to 6 pages maximum for no more than 33 minute speech. After presentation there is a Q&A's time. If translation is needed please submit before April 3rd.
We thank you in advance for your support. Contact Agustín Arellano
at orvonton@gmail.com
Friday, 7th May, 2010
o 11:45 New Executive and General Councils election
o 4:15 First Presentation by Rafael Fco. Arias (Costa Rica)
o 5:00 Second Presentation by María Aguirre (Mexico)
o 5:45 Third Presentation by Agustín Arellano Tirado (Mexico)
o 6:30 Fourth Presentation by Nélida Oliver (Ecuador)
o 7:15 Worship
Saturday, May 8th, 2010
o 10:05 Fifth Presentation by Buck Weimer (United States)
o 11:00 Sixth Presentation by Isabel Carmona (Mexico)
o 11:45 Seventh Presentation by Elyr Silva (Brazil)
o 12:30 Eighth Presentation by Angélica Talamantes (México)
o 3:15 Ninth Presentation by Ricardo Van Dyck (Mexico)
o 4:00 Tenth Presentation by Charlene Morrow (United States
o 4:45 Eleventh Presentation by (pending confirmation)
o 5:30 Twelfth Presentation by Dolores Nice (United States)
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
o 9:30am Thirteenth Presentation by David Martinez (México)
o 10:15 Fourteenth Presentation by Mo Siegel (USA pending)
o 11:00 Fifteenth Presentation by David Kantor (USA pending))
o 11:45 Sixteenth Presentation by Ruben Rodriguez (Peru pending conf.)
o 12:30 Closing of Xth National Conference
For More Information:
o Calling from outside Mexico: Cell 0052 1 8115002958 Office 0052 81 88802105 or email: Agustín Arellano Tirado, orvonton@gmail.com
The Fellowship's Summer Study Session
God Consciousness & Cosmic Morality:
Living the Gospel
July 21-26, 2010
This year, the Fellowship's Summer Study Session will explore "Cosmic Morality," a study of the way cosmic morality is shaped by the quality of how we live the gospel -- for us, living the revelatory teachings of The UB.
The Study Session will be held at Techny Towers- a conference and retreat center on Chicago's north shore. To register on line go to www.regonline.com/Urantia_Fellowship_Summer_Study_2010
For more program information, visit: www.urantia-education.org/A Natural Approach to Expressing the Will of God
"How do we respond to those things that move our hearts? How about we seek a simple path of generosity and participation, or love? Jesus coming among us as a "two-legged" was both a generous and participatory act of our Creator with us.
The Gospel of Jesus is meant to be engaged with and participated in, with as much generosity of the stuff of our lives as we can muster...and then some more.
Wacantognaka: This Lakota word for generosity carries the meaning, "to contribute to the well-being of one's people and all life by sharing and giving freely; not just of objects and possessions, but of emotions like sympathy, compassion, kindness."
"Generosity is a quality that doesn't always come naturally to us. Sharing something is a little easier, but generosity that stretches us is something we must always reach for. Among Lakota and indigenous peoples it shows up when, with so little, people give beyond what they "should" because it is always the "right thing" to do. "What you give away, you keep; what you keep you lose" is an old Lakota saying."
-- by Richard Twiss, Lakota. Richard is an Outreach minister for Wiconi International, an organization that ministers the gospel of Jesus to the American Indian tribes (this is excerpted from Wiconi International's web site).
"An optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion but enjoys the scenery." ~ Walter Winchell
Another Quote for the Week:
"The first mission of this spirit is, of course, to foster and personalize truth, for it is the comprehension of truth that constitutes the highest form of human liberty. Next, it is the purpose of this spirit to destroy the believer's feeling of orphanhood. Jesus having been among men, all believers would experience a sense of loneliness had not the Spirit of Truth come to dwell in men's hearts." (194:2.2, P. 2060)
Someone Untied Your Camel
I cannot sit still with my countrymen in chains.
I cannot act mute
Hearing the world's loneliness
Crying near the Beloved's heart.
My love for God is such
That I could dance with him tonight without you.
But I would rather have you there.
Is your caravan lost?
It is,
If you no longer weep from gratitude or happiness,
Or weep
From being cut deep with the awareness
Of the extraordinary beauty
That emanates from the most simple act
And common object.
My dear, is your caravan lost?
It is if you can no longer be kind to yourself
And loving to those who must live
With the sometimes difficult task of loving you.
At least come to know
That someone untied your camel last night
For I hear its gentle voice
Calling for God in the desert.
At least come to know
That Hafiz will always hold a lantern
With galaxies blooming inside
And that
I will always guide your soul to
The divine warmth and exhilaration
Of our Beloved's
Tent.
'The Gift - Poems by Hafiz The Great Sufi Master'
Translations by Daniel Ladinsky
(Contributed by Stephen Zendt)
Bye for now and Thanks for reading this far -- Please Stay tuned! Dave Holt, Editor and GGC VP.
GOLDEN GATE CIRCLE
WEEKEND BULLETIN:
March 14, 2010
Cathedral Rock, Yosemite, by Albert Bierstadt
More Information for the Napa Valley Stop on Sheila Keene-Lund's Book Tour
The "Cultivating Universal Intelligence" Workshop led by the author of Heaven is not the Last Stop will be held at Kenwood Community Church (Napa County), 1:00 PM, Sun. Mar. 21st
The address for Kenwood Community Church is 9637 Channing Road, Kenwood, CA 95452. Kenwood is right next to Glen Ellen on Highway 12 heading towards Santa Rosa through the Valley of the Moon.
Also meet Sheila and learn about her book at the Urantia Women's Retreat to be held at Sara Blackstock's house, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. on Sunday, March 27th. RSVP to Sara by calling (707) 747-1854, or email her at blackstocksara@yahoo.com.
Unseen Olympic Champions
(excerpted from a SocAdmin post by Tony Finstad, Alaska)
The world came together in a celebration of nations...in peace (at the Vancouver Winter Olympics). … The youth today (however absent we may think they are from 'spiritual interests') are breaking through major barriers without hesitation. They are becoming citizens of the world, the planet is a shared space, race is not a concern, and sexual preference is an issue for us 'old people' to fight about.
I'm reminded that our beloved elder brother, Jesus of Nazareth, when he went to the Scythopolis amphitheater with his father, "was thrilled with the games and entered most heartedly into the spirit of the demonstrations of physical development and athletic skill" [The Urantia Book ~ Paper 124-3]. Also, when talking about his childhood activities (there is no religion apart from the highly active personality) the Midwayers tell us "Jesus succeeded in introducing many new games and various improved methods of physical recreation" [The Urantia Book ~ Paper 124-1]. It causes the creative imagination to ponder what were these games?
The unseen Olympic champions, for me, begin with the Seraphic Planetary Government. They meet everyday to serve in the best interest of our entire planet...all nations, faiths, skin color; to work with us Urantians with patience, tact, and tolerance. They are a collection of the most beautiful spirit personalities we could ever ask for and they are here! Some of them are Master Seraphim and they are divided into twelve corps. One of those groups (and much of their amazing efforts are overlapping) are 'the angels of diversion.' Our universe career is balanced between work and play...worship/service and diversion/leisure.
TV the Way it Ought to Be …
As part of University of California Television's 10th anniversary celebration, we're featuring an impressive collection of videos related to religion during the month of March. We've combed our archive and discovered a collection that will inspire ideas and discussion, no matter what your beliefs -- all available for free viewing and podcast downloading. From science to scripture, there is plenty to discover at http://www.uctv.tv/religion.
(Courtesy of Cristina Seaborn)
Visit UbtheNews for Exciting Archaeological News from Turkey
Reports are now subdivided into the following sections: Summaries, Reviews, Extended Study (when warranted), and Additional Links. Summaries should be read before the Review section. For the Gobekli Tepe report, the Summary is updated and the Review is published. But the Extended Study is not yet complete.
http://www.ubthenews.com/topics_summaries.htm#Gobekli_ Tepe
In 1994, almost forty years after The Urantia Book's 1955 publication, excavations began at the Gobekli Tepe archaeological site in Turkey. This site has produced over 50 Stonehenge-type rock carvings and other artifacts, some of which date back to at least 12,000 years ago. A full excavation to the bottom of the site has not yet occurred. The artifacts are especially inconsistent with prevailing theories about the development of civilization. Every place else in the world where ancient civilizations have built structures with enormous stones, there is also evidence that they were settled communities that practiced herding and farming. Prevailing theories about this region suggest that around 11,000 years ago, primitive man was just beginning to evolve from being a hunter-gatherer to a herder-farmer.
However, the discoveries at Gobekli Tepe are altogether consistent with The Urantia Book's assertion that a well-developed herder-farmer civilization existed in this area, during this time period, and for more than 10,000 years previously.
Can We Tell if We Have Grown Spiritually?
The popularity of Mahatma Ghandi's statement, "Be the change you want to see in the world," is a good indicator of how much expectation we place on our selves these days. We hope to show maturity and to grow, partly to meet the challenges of planetary immaturity. I like Ghandi's idea--it has become a guiding principle in my life. Where we once looked to leaders and institutions, we now hope to make progress in our own consciousness before looking outside ourselves for help to change the world.
Problems can arise when one tries to assess one's own spiritual development. "Growth is always unconscious …" the Urantia Book (UB) points out. The UB also says that, "Man cannot cause growth but he can supply favorable conditions." (100:3.7, p. 1097)
"The factors of religious growth may be intentional but…unvaryingly unconscious." (100.1, pg. 1095) Part of the leap of faith we make is trusting that "unvaryingly unconscious" aspects of spiritual growth will nevertheless take place (p. 1097.)
In the Christian world view, the closer we get to God, the more we focus on worship of his goodness, and the more we strive to harmonize the Father's will with our lives. It is not cool to show overmuch concern with our own spiritual progress.
It is progress in the mind that has been most important in Buddhism, but now it is also put forth in the UB. Perhaps we make progress in our minds, and grow values on a soul level. The Asian religions teach an unselfconscious approach to our growth.
"You can do important work if you do not become self-important; you can do several things as easily as one if you leave yourself out." (48:6.26, p. 555)
Growth is not merely the accumulation of experiences, adding one episode of our life onto another. Ideally, we progressively derive deeper meanings from those experiences.
The notion that growth is "always unconscious," may seem to discourage the effort to try too hard to assess it in our selves, or to "become conscious" of it. Conversely, there is likely much to be gained in the attempt to mark our development in some way. It can be encouraging, even inspiring, to experience the inner realization that God has made progress in rebuilding our minds and souls.
Spiritual growth and healing takes place apart from the effort we've made to grow and to heal. The recognition that we have grown may suddenly come upon us. I have found that growth is often experienced in recollection after the action of "growing" (serving) has taken place--"recollected in tranquility" as Wordsworth said about poetic emotion.
We may reflect upon a past habit of behavior that we always hoped to overcome, and one day we discover that we have gone beyond it. We try to go back and locate where we made that important change and we can't quite remember where the road turned.
Jesus tried to communicate this idea in his parable of the sower, "The kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed on the land; he goes to bed at night and gets up in the morning, and the seed sprouts and grows -- how, he does not know. The ground produces a crop by itself … " Mark, 4:27 - 28
We cannot talk about growth in UB terms without recognizing its complement, progress. The UB tells us that the four stages of Jesus life exemplify, "in his life what he taught in his religion: the growth of the spiritual nature by the technique of living progress." (157:6.4, p. 1749)
In fact the UB has done more than other spiritual teachings to refine and define the terms, and to reveal the interrelationship between growth and progress: "But growth is not mere progress. Progress is always meaningful, but it is relatively valueless without growth. The supreme value of human life consists in growth of values, progress in meanings, and realization of the cosmic interrelatedness of both of these experiences. And such an experience is the equivalent of God-consciousness." (100:3.6, pg. 1097)
This topic has raised the question in our study groups, "Well, then, what grows?" It's another either/or question that becomes a both/and answer, because I think we spiritual babies of Urantia are growing on all levels. However, the UB does specify, "Spirit growth springs from within the evolving soul." (103:5.11, pg. 1135)
Real growth (in values) means that we have progressively derived meaning by interpreting our experiences using divine insight. We come to a philosophical or spiritual description of what we have learned, even if we aren't aware (conscious) of having used philosophy or religion to learn it.
"The spiritual growth of the soul takes place wholly independently of the intellectual self-consciousness." (5:3.7, pg. 66)
Even though growth is unconscious, to decide that one should not make any conscious plans, or adopt a program to grow is probably a bad choice. Jesus taught, "A stagnant soul is a dying soul (pg. 1478, 133:6.5)."
"Every decision you make either impedes or facilitates the function of the Adjuster [indwelling spirit]," (p. 1210, 110:6.6).
The UB model places importance on the cooperative function between intentional factors of growth (our plans and decisions) and unconscious spiritual empowerment (the leadings of the Adjuster, the divine indweller). Additional power especially follows when we make a decision to implement our higher wisdom. "Every time man makes a reflective moral choice, he immediately experiences a new divine invasion of his soul." (p. 2095, 196:3.17)
From a Christian perspective, truth seekers balance the spiritual life between works and faith, growth and grace. For UB readers seeking a personal religious experience of transformation, there is more emphasis on the struggle to find one's own answers and experience personal epiphanies of growth.
Either way, the joys of living and the source of eternal delight await the one who chooses the path of growth. As the gospel song says, "Sowin' on the mountain, reapin' in the valley, you're gonna reap just what you sow."
The Last Word ...
"It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear.... It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to."
- Marilyn Ferguson, 1938-2008, American author, editor and public speaker -
Thanks for reading this far -- Please Stay tuned! Dave Holt, Editor and GGC VP.
GOLDEN GATE CIRCLE
WEEKEND BULLETIN:
March 7, 2010
Urantia Women's Retreat on March 27th
Meet Sheila Keene-Lund, author of Heaven Is Not the Last Stop
An important new secondary work about The Urantia Book
The one-day retreat will be at Sara Blackstock's house, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The meeting will start with a special presentation and short workshop by Sheila Keene-Lund, author of a new book: Heaven Is Not the Last Stop. (see: http://www.heavenisnotthelaststop.com/ )Heaven_Not_Last_Stop.html
Afterward, the group will share food and time together. Pot luck. RSVP to Sara by calling (707) 747-1854, or email her at blackstocksara@yahoo.com.
Sara's address is 120 Inverness Ct., Benicia, CA 94510.
Two other events for Sheila Keene-Lund in late March in the Bay Area
Event details and more information at: http://www.heavenisnotthelaststop.com
"Cultivating Universal Intelligence" Workshop
WHERE: Kenwood Community Church (Napa County), 1:00 PM, Sun. Mar. 21st
Public Booksigning and "Revelational Evolution" Workshop
WHERE: Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael, 7:30 - 9:30pm, Friday, March 26
"Heaven Is Not the Last Stop is a must-have reference. If you're looking for a book that focuses on the most important and most helpful concepts in The Urantia Book - you have found it. Sheila's book also reconciles these new concepts with existing religious beliefs in a meaningful and practical way."
-- Dr. B. Dale Sams, D. Min.
A Vision for Personal and Epochal Transformation
The challenge for every new generation is to further the progress of human civilization while conserving the worthwhile values of the past. "But in our generation," says Sheila Keene-Lund, author of Heaven Is Not the Last Stop (Document It! Publishing, June 2010), "an unprecedented cultural and spiritual stagnation stands in the way of progress." Because humanity's evolution is stalled, we may "greatly delay or even miss taking our next evolutionary step: discovering the reality of our cosmic citizenship in a friendly and intelligently managed universe." We must begin, Keene-Lund says, by liberating ourselves from our intellectual and spiritual comfort zones, and seeking an expanded framework.
A Compelling Invitation to Cosmic Citizenship
Heaven Is Not the Last Stop assembles its new, cosmic reality frame not only from traditional sources, but also from the author's advanced study of The Urantia Book (UB).
One of Keene-Lund's primary aims is to offer an in-depth, critical investigation of this text-and to also provide a reconciliation of the UB with ancient and contemporary knowledge and wisdom. The book is the result of her 12 years of research, a narrative woven from her insights in philosophy, history, culture, science, and religion.
If we truly are cosmic citizens, and if "heaven" is not our last stop, then what is?
· What is the Divine Plan for the universe-its purpose, structure, and organization?
· What happened in humanity's prehistory? What facts underlie the creation myths?
· What is "heaven?" What is its relationship to the material universe?
· Who was Jesus? How did he live, and what were his original teachings?
· What are the keys to spiritual living? How do we achieve God-consciousness?
The ultimate aim of Heaven Is Not the Last Stop is to dispel confusion and fuel the spiritual power of transformation.
"It's an amazing effort, 13 years in the making and it's beautifully and meticulously done. If you decide to buy the book from her, please mention that you heard it from the Fellowship. She promises to donate a portion of her proceeds to us if you do." (Paula Thompson) Her email is: skl@sheilakeenelund.com
About the Author
Born in Spain to an English father and Puerto Rican mother, Sheila Keene-Lund has served as a Transcendental Meditation teacher, a deaconess in the Liberal Catholic Church, and as a hospice worker who developed workshops on spiritual care for the living and dying. She is currently Education Committee chair of Urantia Association International and vice president of the Urantia Association of Florida.
Available from www.heavenisnotthelaststop.comor call 1-800-741-3502
New Youth Committee Approved at the Jan. General Council Meeting
(contributed by Paula Thompson)
Tom Choquette will be chairing the new Youth Committee, voted in at the last GC as an Ad Hoc committee. Some hope the issues of youth and family will become a permanent part of our ongoing Fellowship efforts. Tom would like any of you that care about this initiative to contact him. He's deeply committed to the project and needs the help of others who share his passion.
His number is 425-337-1431. His email is tomchoquette@aol.com.
Here is another social site where young people go to ask questions. www.soulpancake.com
What is it? It's "a place to speak your mind, unload your questions, and figure out what it means to be human."
From the Blackfoot Seven Philosophies: The Seventh Philosophy
I will think about what kind of person I want to be when I am an Elder. I will start developing myself now to be this person.
I will walk with the Great Spirit and the grandfathers at my side. I will develop myself to remain positive. I will develop a good mind. …
Each day, I will listen to the Creators voice in the wind. I will watch nature and ask to be shown a lesson which will occur on my path.
I will seek out the guiding principles, which guided my ancestors. I will walk in dignity, honor and humility, conducting myself as a warrior.
I choose to do all these things myself, because no one else can do them for me. I know I cannot give what I don't have, so I will need to walk the talk.
"Many of [Onamonalonton's] later descendants have come down to modern times among the Blackfoot Indians." (p. 723, 64:6.7)
A Psalm
When psalms surprise me with their music
And antiphons turn to rum
The Spirit sings: the bottom drops out of my soul.
And from the center of my cellar, Love, louder than thunder
Opens a heaven of naked air.
New eyes awaken.
I send Love's name into the world with wings
And songs grow up around me like a jungle.
Choirs of all creatures sing the tunes
Your Spirit played in Eden.
Zebras and antelopes and birds of paradise
Shine on the face of the abyss
And I am drunk with the great wilderness
Of the sixth day in Genesis.
--Thomas Merton--
(about half of the poem is excerpted above)
Thanks for reading along this far -- Please Stay tuned! Dave Holt, Editor and GGC VP.
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