The Cosmic Citizen

Carol Herren Foerster, an incredibly gifted artist, will join host, Ann Garner. Carol is a second generation student of the Urantia papers. She started reading on her own when she was 12 yrs old. As she writes, "I couldn’t understand much of the first three parts, but the fourth part of the book was wonderful to read. I used to think it was because the midwayers were involved and they were more like us, thus making it easier for a child to understand." Carol is also a born again Christian and doesn’t have any problems with what may seem to be two different religious teachings, though there have been times she has struggled with the differences. Attending church and Bible studies regularly, she sees The Urantia Book as an encyclopedia of knowledge rather than a religion. Carol has a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. Applying her gifts and talents as an artist, she learned to use computer programs for her art. She now has two websites: one is for her art, which includes drawing and photography, and another contains her unique view of The Urantia Book. Enjoy Carol's art at http://www.carolherrenfoerster.com/ Also view Carol's personal web site, based on her understanding of The Urantia Book, at http://www.urantiagarden.org/

This week on the Cosmic Citizen, Tom Choquette (link to bio) returns to talk about his ministry on behalf of young adults and spiritual seekers in general. Tom co-founded a spiritual organization for young adults called Truthseekers, www.mytruthseekers.org. Tom is a successful businessman in the Pacific Northwest and has spent the last 20 years engaged in active ministry to homeless youths and runaways on the streets of Seattle. His years of service ministry to young adults has taught him a great deal about being an effective minister and mentor to young adults. Tom Choquette has helped hundreds of young people find purpose and value in their lives. If you know a young adult or anyone who is struggling to find spiritual meaning in these troubling times, you'll want to tune in and listen to this show, and maybe even take the Truthseeker pledge: "I commit myself to a life long search for truth. To the best of my ability I will be a living example of the truths that I find. I will honor all other Truthseekers, understanding that there are as many paths to truth as there are people who walk them." Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at: urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

We are pleased Rev Brian Young(link to bio) joined host, Ann Garner. They co-founded Tarrant County Interfaith Council (1993). Rev Brian is somewhat familiar with The Urantia Book. He is Senior Assoc. Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Arlington TX, a 5,000 member church. QUESTIONS POSED: ~Is the atonement doctrine valid? ~Should we seek to convert others? ~Why are main-line Christian denominations not growing? ~What created the sharp increase in non-denominational growth in recent years? ~Why is your church growing? ~Many young people are attending your church? What caused this increase? ~How can you, as a Christian minister of 27+ years, be involved in Interfaith? ~What are your reflections about The Urantia Book? ~Would you co-found a new church of any kind? Rev Brian is a graduate of Southern Methodist Univ (BA in Religious Studies) & Master of Theology, Perkins School of Theology. He currently serves on the Central TX Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, District Board of Ordained Ministry and Univ of TX at Arlington Wesley Foundation Board of Directors. Prior to joining the staff of UMC, Arlington, he was UMC Campus Minister, Director, The Wesley Foundation at Texas Christian University (TCU), Fort Worth TX. A few of Rev Brian’s service to the religious/cultural community are: National Campus Ministry Association (President); US representative to global campus and Univ chaplain conferences, i.e. Brisbane, Australia, Finland/Russia, Cantebury & Rome. For many years he co-chaired the Fort Worth CROP Walk Arrangement, TCU Holocaust Awareness Committee, and served on the Board of Directors of Celebration Shop/Hugworks www.hugworks.org. Enjoy Pastor Brian's Musings at (Brian's Musings).

This week on the Cosmic Citizen we will be discussing the so called “end times” and the 2012 apocalyptic scenarios from a Urantia Book perspective. For the first hour we will have an open phone segment and we invite your calls and comments. For the second hour of the show, we will be visited again by author and publisher Byron Belitsos, (link to bio) who first appeared on our show in May of 2009. Byron has just recently launched his new blog site, http://radwisdom.com. Byron is a journalist, publisher, and most recently coauthor of World Democracy (2005) and A Return to Healing (2009) which won the prestigious 2009 GOLD Nautilus Award in the “Health and Healing” category. A student of the Urantia Book since 1974, Byron founded several companies, most notably Origin Press (www.originpress.com). Byron has delved deeply into the events that seem to fuel profound apocalyptic fears. No matter what we believe about the amazing times we live in, we can count on Byron to address these matters in an informed, frank and interesting way. Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

Wednesday, we welcome Robert Burns and Pierre Chicoine, who was our guest March 23rd (link to bio)     Robert is past President of The Urantia Book Fellowship and UBLA (Urantia Book of Los Angeles) society. He is currently serving on the General Council of The Urantia Book Fellowship, President of FreeSchools-USA, as well as Chairman of the Board of the UrantiaUniversity.     Robert is past President and/or Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association Orange County, Exchange Club of Newport Harbor. He is Chairman of the Board of SSCIM, UCI (Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine, University of California at Irvine) under the department of Medicine, Board member of the Foxhall Foundation, Board member of World Tai Chi in Orange County, service member (every Friday morning) of a Santa Ana mission feeding the poor, study group host since 1990 every Thursday, active minister officiating 1-2 weddings and or memorials every month.     For fun Robert plays in a band, teaches group exercise classes and skateboards, looking forward to being a grandfather to baby Jace Paul Johnson, and spending time with wife Cindy Burns in her pursuits as a comedian and producer.     Please join host, Ann Garner, as they interact about the Urantia community's opportunities in serving the 5th Epochal Revelation, from the various social, spiritual, service, educational and leadership/administration aspects.     Host and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

This Saturday on the Cosmic Citizen, we will be interviewing author Elizabeth Anne Jones (link to bio) on her new book, Awaken to Healing Fragrance: The Power of Essential Oils Therapy. Elizabeth began her journey with plants and a desire to use them in essential oil healing when she was a teen. Today she is a pioneer, leading educator, healer, formulator, and advocate in the field of using therapeutic essential oils in integrative medicine. She has completed extensive coursework in aromatherapy and botanicals, is a graduate of the California School of Herbal Studies in Forestville, California, and has studied with top aromatherapists around the world. For more than thirty years, she has run a private aromatherapy practice and treated hundreds of clients. With her husband, chemist Lawrence Jones, she established Elizabeth Van Buren, Inc., a company producing an extensive line of botanical products used by practitioner and nurses, in spas, hospitals, massage schools, and hospices nationwide.(www.elizabethvanburen.com) Elizabeth Jones received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Skidmore College and a Secondary Credential and Master Degree from University of California, Berkeley. As a member of the educational committee of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA), she has worked on regulating the standards of aromatherapy education in the United States. Jones has been invited to speak at many health conferences and workshops, including the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm. urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm.

We are grateful that Elisabeth Espersen(link to bio) will be our guest with host, Ann Garner. Elisabeth is a pioneer in the Interfaith movement, co-founding the North American Interfaith Network www.nain.org. Prior to serving as Executive Director of Thanks-Giving Square www.thanksgiving.org, she was a Catholic nun. Her classic book, “Meeting in Faith” (1996) became a model and guide for Interfaith groups around the world.    Elisabeth spearheaded a five-day seminar (1999) that drew participants from 33 countries to discuss the global implications of gratitude and thankful living. World religious leaders attended the gathering, due to her gracious leadership and friendships, including the Chief Tibetan Archivist for the Dahli Lama, Archbishop of Canterbury, Imam Muzamil Siddiqi and Francis Cardinal Arinze, who walked amongst the participants as ‘men amongst men.’     Upon retiring from Thanks-Giving Square in 2000, she returned to upper state New York, where she continued her contemplative life style and currently serves as assistant to the pastor of a Catholic parish.     Elizabeth’s visionary insights include, "Today's interfaith organizations have achieved a first level of success by creating structures where diverse religious groups can overcome ignorance and fear of one another. This achievement has created excitement, awe, and gratitude among the participants. Most seem ready for a next level, though they may not know what it is."     Although Elizabeth does not consider herself a seasoned reader of The Urantia Book, she has read the book twice and will provide valuable insights from her theological perspective.

This week on the Cosmic Citizen we will be interviewing Michael Gillespie (link to bio) on his work as a deeply peaceful and spiritual journalist who regularly covers volatile and violent world situations. Please join us for Michael's unique world view and insights. Michael is a journalist who lives and works in central Iowa. He is a contributing editor at The Independent Monitor, the national newspaper of Arab Americans. He writes regularly for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, the nation's most widely read and respected magazine focusing on U.S. Middle East foreign policy and the politics and culture of the region. A 1999 graduate of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Iowa State University in Ames where he was inducted a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honor society in journalism and mass communication, Michael has previously worked in radio as a reporter at WUOT-FM in Knoxville, TN, a university NPR-affiliate station, and as project director for community radio station WDVX-FM in Clinton, TN. His reportage has been broadcast internationally by Swiss Radio International. Michael has been a student of the Urantia Papers since 1974. While living in Tennessee, where he co-founded the Knoxville Writers Guild and served as executive director of the Tennesse Writers Alliance, Michael was an active member of Urantia study groups in Knoxville and in Murfreesboro. He had earlier been a member of a study group in Austin, TX. In Iowa since 1996, Michael served as a member of the cabinet of the Ames Interfaith Council for six years. He was vice-chair and chair of the city's lay interfaith organization in the years before and after September 11, 2001. Michael writes regularly about interfaith relations and peace and social justice issues and events.

Have you ever wanted expert advice on natural medicines and alternative healing? This week's show is all about the care and feeding of the body human. The Cosmic Citizen feature Ms Brigitte Mars (link to bio), a longtime student of the Urantia Book and an extraordinary herbalist, author and raw foods chef. She is a highly regarded and sought after nutritional consultant from Boulder, Colorado. Brigitte has been working with Natural Medicine for over 40 years. She teaches through private workshops and seminars, and also at Naropa University, the Boulder College of Massage,Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts, and Omega Institute. Brigitte also hosts a weekly Boulder radio show on KGNU (88.5 FM) called “Naturally,” teaches raw food classes, leads herb walks, and is a professional member of The American Herbalist Guild. As an additional benefit, our friend and regular contributor, Diane Labrecque (Link to bio) will be on the line providing her own expertise in natural medicines, infra red therapies, Bach Flower remedies and homeopathy. Don't hesitate to call in with your questions, it's not everyday we get practical expertise like this. For more information on Brigitte and her healing work, visit www.BrigitteMars.com. Also, Brigitte recounts how The Urantia Book found her here at Hippie Chick Seeks Revelation on Truthbook.com.

This Wednesday is Part 2 of a two-part discussion with Dr. Chuck, with this part devoted to A Course in Miracles as a revelation, what it teaches, its similarities to The Urantia Book and its significant differences.     Books being referred to are: A Course In Miracles: The Lives of Helen Shucman and William Thetford, by Neal Vahle. Return to the Heart of God, by Robert Perry. Also, a 2-DVD set: The Forgotten Song and The Song Remembered: The Story of ACIM, distributed by the Foundation for Inner Peace (these videos have extensive interviews, and info along the lines you mentioned on the show).     For those looking for a critical analysis by a UB reader this article, while critical of ACIM, is well done: ACIM and TUB.     Please join Dr. Chuck and host, Ann Garner, for another informative and thought provoking interaction. (Please see Dr. Chuck's bio here).    Please join us in two weekly live and lively sessions on varying topics, which encompass spirituality, Interfaith, science & religion, as well as presenting rich and vivid details of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The Saturday show is hosted by Paula Thompson and Christilyn Biek and the Wednesday study session is hosted by Ann Garner. Both shows, which begin at 12 noon Eastern Time, feature a live chat session that is monitored by Larry. All hosts are long time students of The Urantia Book. The hosts, along with other readers and special guests, seek to weave concepts into a tapestry of dynamic and applicable principles for daily living. Visit our hosts and guests biographical sketches pages.