The Cosmic Citizen

We are dedicating this month of shows to "Cosmic Humor", by doing a series of light-hearted, spiritually uplifting shows on humor, gearing up for May 2nd. "World Laughter Day". This Saturday we will be interviewing our friend Jim McNelly. Jim is a self proclaimed natural born ham. He has used his considerable influence to write and perform a dozen or so humorous plays performed at various Urantia conferences. He likes to make us laugh at ourselves. One hilarious skit, he called "At home with the Ben Joseph's." It is an irreverent portrayal of the events of Jesus' teenage life. Jim's characters have included "Reverend Jimmy" who fervently admonishes the faithful that Jeeezzzuuuss did NOT die on the cross to atone for purported sins, and "Swami Gowananda" who teaches that "The Universe is over, we can all go home now!" Jim hopes someday to hear the words from our Heavenly Father, "This is a beloved son, of whom I got a great kick out of!" Both shows begin at 12 noon Eastern Time and visit our hosts and guests biographical sketches pages.

Sioux Oliva, Ph.D,has been a reader of The Urantia Book since 1974 and is currently writing a history of Dr. William S. Sadler to place him in his time and place to assist us in thinking through the work of Matthew Block.     Please join Ann Garner during the one-hour Wednesday broadcast interacting with Sioux.     Sioux is a historian and lecturer. As a historian, her clients’ include Gard Jameson (wrote his family history in three parts), Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy (lived with Ethel for 3 months while she organized her historic papers), the estate of Marilyn Monroe (wrote a proposal for a traveling exhibition about her life), Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee (organized the Grey Gardens papers into 23 volumes), The Getty & The City of Los Angeles (compiling the Civil Rights history of Los Angeles), and The Autry Museum of the American West (rewriting docent training to add the Native Voice). A person who likes how science informs philosophy and religion, Sioux suggests DNA testing as for clients due to the additional genealogical and historical information it provides. She is soon to go on a speaking tour to talk about the importance of compiling a family history, how to create one, how DNA can give a broader picture of one’s ancestry, and share her experiences as a professional historian. www.LegacyHistory.com    http://urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/GuestBios.htm#Oliva

We are dedicating this month of shows to "Cosmic Humor", by doing a series of light-hearted, spiritually uplifting shows on humor, gearing up for May 2nd. "World Laughter Day". ThisSaturday edition of The Cosmic Citizen, in keeping with our series on cosmic humor, Christilyn will be interviewing actor, comedian and innertainer, Mr Errol Strider. Errol has developed a new model for theater called Strider Innertainment which combines philosophical inquiry, spiritual discovery and psychological growth with comedy and theater. Errol has a special gift for using comedy and humor to break through ego resistance and pave the way for real heart and mind connection. One of his mottos is, “When you can laugh at yourself, you're too slippery for your ego to get a hold of you.” His comedy focuses on pointing out the discrepancies between who we are and who we tend to think we are. His humor is positive and is never achieved at someone else’s expense, though often at his own as he continues to be impressed by the ridiculousness of his own behavior and thinking. He has written and performed many comedy sketches that not only reveal our human foibles, but also point the way to joy, freedom and wholeness. Errol is currently the artistic director of “The Laughing Heart”—a non-profit organization that provides spiritual education, healing and a community context devoted to using creativity for the advancement of human consciousness. In addition, he and his wife, Rochelle, produce a weekly radio program called, “Insight Out” at www.Utopiaradio.com and he also writes a blog where he combines his philosophical perspective with humor and stories…www.insightoutwithErrol.blogspot.com.

Dr. Chuck has been a clergyman serving churches on the East coast since the early 1990's. He has earned degrees from accredited schools in philosophy, theology, biblical studies, comparative religions, and metaphysics. As part of both his academic study and professional ministry he has had an interest in new religions, new forms of religious expression within traditional religions, continuing revelation, and how religion shapes both the present and the future.     He first encountered the Urantia Book as a teenager in 1967, but did not begin serious reading of until four years ago. Although he does not claim to be an "expert" or "authority" on the Fifth Epochal Revelation, he has read the entire book through, and is well read on the history of the Urantia Papers, from the earliest days to the present.     Dr. Chuck and Ann Garner will interact about The Urantia Book in relation to:     1. Traditional Christian religion (Catholic, Protestant, liberal and evangelical/fundamentalist);     2. Other religions claiming additional or new revelations (Mormon, A Course in Miracles, OAHSPE);     3. Possible future for the Urantia revelation within the framework of traditional religion.

This week, in continuing with our month-long series on cosmic humor, the Cosmic Citizen will feature Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, India popularly known as the ‘Guru of Giggling’ (London Times). He is the founder of the Laughter Yoga Clubs movement started in 1995. While researching the benefits of laughter, he was amazed by the number of studies showing the profound physiological and psychological benefits of laughter. He decided to find a way to deliver these benefits to his patients and other people. The result is Laughter Yoga, a unique exercise routine that combines group laughter exercises with yoga breathing. It allows anyone to laugh without the use jokes, humor or comedy. Started with just five people in a public park in Mumbai, India in 1995, Laughter Yoga has grown into a worldwide movement of more than 6000 Laughter Yoga clubs in over 60 countries. Spreading rapidly in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, South East Asia, China and Africa, this new concept has been widely covered by prestigious publications like the TIME magazine, National Geographic, and the Wall Street Journal and featured on CNN, BBC, US networks and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Wednesday, 4/14/2010. Guest Lisa Crowe is a relative newcomer on the Urantia movement scene. She began reading the UB about three years ago and was immediately driven to tell the world about the phenomenal revelation she had found. The more she read, the immensity of the subject matter became apparent, and one of the biggest obstacles she faced while trying to explain what she had found was that she couldn’t come up with an “elevator speech”. Lisa will be discussing some of the difficulties to be expected when introducing the UB to others and some of the methods she’s found to be successful.    Please visit Lisa's website at www.urantiabook-intro.org    Our Wednesday study session is hosted by Ann Garner, with assistance from Larry on the live chat sessions. All hosts are long time students of The Urantia Book. They, other readers and special guests, seek to weave concepts into a tapestry of dynamic and applicable principles for daily living.    Please join us for our informative and lively programs, 12 noon Eastern Time and visit our hosts and guests biographical sketches pages.

We are dedicating this month of shows to "Cosmic Humor", by doing a series of light-hearted, spiritually uplifting shows on humor, gearing up for May 2nd. "World Laughter Day". This Saturday’s edition of the Cosmic Citizen features the Cosmic Comic, Swami Beyondananda, aka, Steve Bhaerman. Steve is an internationally known author, humorist, and workshop leader. For the past 23 years, he has written and performed as Swami Beyondananda, the "Cosmic Comic." Swami's comedy has been called "irreverently uplifting" and has been described both as "comedy disguised as wisdom" and "wisdom disguised as comedy." In short, Steve is an amazing humorist and wit, who loves to play with words, make people laugh and make them think. Swami B will be with us for the first hour to discuss his current projects and a new book, co-authored with the noted cellular biologist Bruce Lipton, entitled: Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here The second hour of the show will be an open phones discussion of humor in the highest, even cosmic, sense. So be prepared to call in with your best, and most clean, examples of humor, Call-in Number: (646) 716-8158 Just for fun, here's an example of the wit and wisdom of Steve Bhaerman: “Be a fundamentalist, make sure fun always comes before the mental. Realize that life is a situation comedy that will never be cancelled. A laugh track has been provided and the reason why we are put in the material world is to get more material.” And, “If we want world peace, we must let go of our attachments and truly live like nomads. That's where I no mad at you, you no mad at me. That way, there will surely be nomadness on the planet. And peace begins with each of us. A little peace here, a little peace there, pretty soon all the peaces will fit together to make one big peace everywhere.” More information about Swami Beyondananda can be found at: www.wakeuplaughing.com.

Wednesday's discussion with Stephen Zendt will range through new approaches to devotions and worship that have opened up, or are being creatively explored, by Urantia Book students everywhere.     Older ritualistic observances of the organized religious bodies no longer seem able to provide a sense of fully contacting the spiritual currents that flow upward in worship although many people are directly involved in a church, mosque, synagogue, or temple where they experience community and communion, as it is unique to their tradition.     We hope to encourage individuals to experience their own opening to the Divine in personal devotional space.     The Wednesday study session is hosted by Ann Garner, with assistance from Larry on the live chat sessions. All hosts are long time students of The Urantia Book. They, other readers and special guests, seek to weave concepts into a tapestry of dynamic and applicable principles for daily living.    Please join us, Saturdays and Wednesdays for our informative and lively programs, 12 noon Eastern Time and visit our hosts and guests biographical sketches pages.

This week on the Cosmic Citizen, Tim Hobbs of Denver, CO, and Elizabeth Callahan of Santa Barbara, CA, will join us to provide an update on Urantia University. Many exciting things have happened with UU since we first interviewed David Nash about it back in May of 2009.     Both Tim and Elizabeth serve on the board of UU. If you have been curious or interested in this unprecedented project, Saturday’s show will let you know exactly what is going on and how get involved. Good things are happening.     This edition will also feature a special Easter observance. The show starts at 10:00 Mountain Standard Time. The call in number is (646) 716-8158, we welcome your questions and comments.

Sharon Lanier and Kaye Cooper have discovered and created techniques to transform negative emotions into positive ones that serve their spiritual ideals. These techniques have grown out of their extensive knowledge of The Urantia Book as well as over 20 years of facilitating spiritual retreats. They have been collaborating on an extraordinary breakthrough in living out one’s spiritual ideals. These concepts will presented at their upcoming retreat, “Joyful Living,” to be held April 16-18 in Texas.     Wednesday at 12 noon Eastern Time, Kaye and Sharon will discuss with host, Ann Garner, techniques that will enable you to call upon your spiritual power, faith and gratitude to direct your life. “Joyful Living” techniques provide tools for self-management which will enable a person to. . .     (1) Have less anxiety, stress and pressure; (2) Experience more peace and energy; (3) Come to understand yourself better; (4) Increase your emotional clarity and control; (5) Transform struggles into triumphs; (6) More effectively find your own answers within; (7) Gain increased control of your life; (8) Have an enhanced ability to live your religion.    Visit our hosts and guests biographical sketches pages at http://urantiabook.org/blogs/CosmicCitizen/Bios.htm