The Cosmic Citizen

Wednesday, Yasyhiko Genku Kimura(link to bio), one of the most read FaceBook writers, rejoins host, Ann Garner. Yasuhiko is a transhumanist philosopher, ordained Zen Buddhist priest and scholar.    Upon discovering Yasuhiko via FaceBook last year, there was an instantaneous recognition of a remarkable visionary AND clear voice at the dawn of our new future. Even after all these months of reading his sage writings, Ann (as well as other readers of The Urantia Book) never bore of partaking of his ageless wisdom. His clarity continues to amaze us and we are immense grateful that is taking time from his busy schedule to be with us.    Per Yasuhiko, "I have a great respect for The Urantia Book community through my interaction with Ann and reading FaceBook postings of your Urantia community."

With Co-hosts: Christilyn Biek Larson and Dave Tucker How to share concepts and up step the great cutting edge thinkers/visionaries of today more effectively; bootlegging the teachings or direct overt seeding of the book itself. How has the new technology changed the face of religious evangelism and the communication variable in the world today? How are the young evangelicals, the Emergents, the Universalists, communicating and reaching out to the lost sheep. How do we seed networking sites, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, BlogTalkRadio blogs and instant news forums or E-zines (online live magazines) to further a cause or a movement? The show this week will focus on sharing ideas and processes that help our brothers and sisters of faith (the fellowship of believers) to up step their theology/ideologies. What is appropriate for the collective consciousness of today vs. the kinds of youth we were ministering to in the 1970s? Please call in to share your experiences and your ideas. If the objective is to create 1000 new study groups what will help make that happen? What kinds of resources do we need to make that jump possible in a year - 2 years - 5 years 10 years?     Next week the show will continue discussing this topic and will be asking a group of Second Generation Urantia Students to call in to discuss this from their perspectives.

Wednesday, Gary Tonge (link to bio) joins host, Ann Garner. Gary is a concept artist, art director and visionary who from a very early age had a fascination with space and the idea of “what might be out there in the Universe.” Gary has used his free time to pursue inspiring others into thinking “greater, deeper and more sincerely” about the truth of our existence, art, creation, and the whole indescribable fantastic magnitude of it all- Whether that be via visionary or other world illustrations or the growing number of Urantia Book based pieces he has created so far. Gary’s website is Vision A Far and he can be reached at [email protected]

Saturday, please join hosts, Paula Thompson and Christilyn Biek Larson, LIVE from the conference in Montreal with other readers of The Urantia Book.     Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

Wednesday, RASSOULI -- (link to bio) -- joins host, Ann Garner. He is a visionary artist who has a unique way of reflecting spiritual experience by expressing images from his subconscious onto canvas. He often stimulates creativity by meditating at dawn watching the sunrise in a natural setting, or by envisioning a mystical journey through a night sky. His style does not focus on what is literally seen by the artist, but by surrendering conceptually to what is felt on a deeper level.

Saturday, join hosts, Paula Thompson and Ann Garner, as they explore the topic of human encounters with angels and other unseen friends from the spiritual realm. This week is an open phone segment. You are invited to call and share your stories as well. Also, for the first part of the show, some special guests have promised to call in and give us the details on the first annual Cosmic Road Show. Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

Wednesday, Vicki Arkens (link to bio) interacts about self-mastery in daily living with host, Ann Garner. Conventional wisdom tells us to take control, motivate, apply will power, and self-monitor. However, Jesus shows us a new and better way to alleviate the intense conflicts between our material and spiritual natures. We’ll take a close look at his teachings in the effort to understand how this is accomplished. Vicki's interest in the topic of self-mastery stretches back more than 20 years. Using what she learned from The Urantia Book and her personal experiences, she wrote and published a book titled Transcending the Everyday Temptations of Overeating. The book became, for her, a project of life-long devotion. She sprinkles her writing with passages from the ancient scriptures of Psalms and Proverbs, which provide inspiration that can speak to people of many faiths. Her spiritual advice is useful, not only to the problem of overeating, but to the wide variety of self-mastery conflicts that challenge people. Vicki was introduced to The Urantia Book in 1972 at the age of 19 yrs. Throughout her childhood, she took an avid interest in religion and appreciated her upbringing in the United Methodist Church. She has volunteered in religious education for many years—teaching all ages and developing curriculum materials. Additionally, she has given many presentations at Urantia gatherings and conferences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology, and has worked in the fields of social welfare and education. She and her husband Bob reside in Wisconsin and have three grown children.

Philip Gulley is our guest speaker again this week on Cosmic Citizen. Paula Thompson is still on vacation, so it will be a solo interview with Phil and myself, Christilyn Larson. The interview will be pre-recorded because he was not going to be available for the next few months on a weekend.     I am pumped to have him back on our show again. It's been such a joy getting to know him better over the past year, and to read more of his previous works. I highly recommend taking a look at his "Harmony Series." But this weekend we will discuss his most recently published work, "If the Church were Christian", which has made quite a splash following his two previous books about which we spoke when he joined us last summer along with his previous co-author James Mulholland. Philip is now writing yet another book which sounds wonderful already. It is a systematic theology called "The Next Christianity: A God We Can Live With." This is not due out till next summer.     Please try to tune in and chat with your friends the regulars and some new guests on the chat board again this Saturday from 12-2 Eastern Time. The program will be a pre-recorded interview with Philip Gulley and we will be taking calls the second hour to discuss the topics he brings up in his interview. If you can't tune in, check out the archived show at a more convenient time.     Blessings All Around. Christilyn All hosts are long time students of The Urantia Book. They, along with other readers and special guests, seek to weave concepts into a tapestry of dynamic and applicable principles for daily living. Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

Ben Bowler is our Wednesday morning guest with host, Ann Garner. (link to bio) In 2007 Ben and Jildou volunteered with Free Schools World Literacy as Field managers, a service project created by readers of The Urantia Book, for the village schools in northern Thailand. At the completion of the term together they launched Blood Foundation, an NGO focusing on Burma issues, interfaith projects and education.     In 2008 Ben founded Monk for a Month, a unique cultural-exchange program allowing foreigners the chance for full immersion in the Thai Buddhist experience. Ben is also the founder of U-Day 23-12-2012 which aims to capitalize on the energy created by the eschatological rise in temperature associated with late 2012.     Ben will be responding to these questions: 1. How did you end up living in the border regions of Northern Thailand? 2. How did that lead to getting involved in Burma Issues? 3. Can you tell us about Blood Foundation, what's with the name!? 4. Monk for a Month is a unique concept, can you tell us a bit about the program since you launched two years ago? 5. Talking about experiential spirituality, tell us about Fang Valley - adventures of the spirit / what's next?

(Link to bio)