The Cosmic Citizen

This week, we’ll be continuing our study of Paper 119, The Bestowals of Christ Michael, from The Urantia Book. Last week we learned that Michael, our local universe Creator Son, has "..acquired the viewpoint of his own creatures by actual experience in the environment of their existence and as these very creatures themselves. In this way such Sons become intelligent and understanding rulers; they come to know the various groups over which they rule and exercise universe authority." (119:0.6) This is accomplished through a series of seven bestowal incarnations. Last week we read about the first two of these and noticed that Michael did not choose to place himself in easy circumstances. As a Melchizedek he served in a variety of emergency situations, and as a Lanonandek Son he stepped into a system rebellion and took the reins as a temporary System Sovereign. As we go forward with this study, we’ll see that this pattern continues. As our loving brother-father-Creator, Christ Michael wants to experience and master the most difficult challenges that his creature children could possibly face. Come join us for what is sure to be a stimulating discussion of how our, now, sovereign experientially achieved that sovereignty. http://tobtr.com/11839245

We begin a several week study of Paper 119—The Bestowals of Christ Michael.  The Urantia Book reveals, for the first time, that Jesus of Nazareth is Michael of Nebadon—a Creator Son of God whose divine parents are the Universal Father and the Eternal Mother-Son.  The local universe of his and the Creative Mother Spirit's creation could only be ruled with unqualified sovereignty after Michael completed seven bestowals in the form and nature of various creatures of origin in his local universe.  His last seventh bestowal, of which we are familiar as his life as Joshua ben Joseph (Jesus of Nazareth), was preceded by six others.  This last paper of Part III reveals that background history and puts his life here on Urantia in its true broad context—giving us knowledge of its full experiential significance for the first time in human history. (1308.2) 119:0.2 The attribute of bestowal is inherent in the Paradise Sons of the Universal Father. In their desire to come close to the life experiences of their subordinate living creatures, the various orders of the Paradise Sons are reflecting the divine nature of their Paradise parents. (1308.4) 119:0.4 The purpose of these creature incarnations is to enable such Creators to become wise, sympathetic, just, and understanding sovereigns. These divine Sons are innately just, but they become understandingly merciful as a result of these successive bestowal experiences; they are naturally merciful, but these experiences make them merciful in new and additional ways. These bestowals are the last steps in their education and training for the sublime tasks of ruling the local universes in divine righteousness and by just judgment. (1308.6) 119:0.6 ...such Sons...come to know the various groups over which they rule and exercise universe authority. http://tobtr.com/11831605

This week we continue our study with our final episode on the fifth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors. We'll be reading Paper 111, The Adjuster and The Soul, §7. The Adjuster's Problem. (1223.3) 111:7.1 Uncertainty with security is the essence of the Paradise adventure — uncertainty in time and in mind, uncertainty as to the events of the unfolding Paradise ascent; security in spirit and in eternity, security in the unqualified trust of the creature son in the divine compassion and infinite love of the Universal Father; uncertainty as an inexperienced citizen of the universe; security as an ascending son in the universe mansions of an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving Father. (1223.5) 111:7.3 Why do you not aid the Adjuster in the task of showing you the spiritual counterpart of all these strenuous material efforts? Why do you not allow the Adjuster to strengthen you with the spiritual truths of cosmic power while you wrestle with the temporal difficulties of creature existence? Why do you not encourage the heavenly helper to cheer you with the clear vision of the eternal outlook of universal life as you gaze in perplexity at the problems of the passing hour? Why do you refuse to be enlightened and inspired by the universe viewpoint while you toil amidst the handicaps of time and flounder in the maze of uncertainties which beset your mortal life journey? Why not allow the Adjuster to spiritualize your thinking, even though your feet must tread the material paths of earthly endeavor? (1225.3) 112:0.3 1. Personality is that quality in reality which is bestowed by the Universal Father himself or by the Conjoint Actor, acting for the Father. Join us for this study of how we align with the will of God in the midst of our paradoxically human condition! http://tobtr.com/11831422

This week we continue our study with our third episode on the fifth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors. We'll be reading Paper 111, The Adjuster and The Soul, §5. The Consecration of Choice, §6. The Human Paradox, and, time allowing, §7. The Adjuster's Problem. The imitation of God is the key to perfection; the doing of his will is the secret of survival and of perfection in survival. (1221.3) 111:5.2 Mortals live in God, and so God has willed to live in mortals. As men trust themselves to him, so has he — and first — trusted a part of himself to be with men; has consented to live in men and to indwell men subject to the human will. (1221.4) 111:5.3 Such a creature choice is not a surrender of will. It is a consecration of will, an expansion of will, a glorification of will, a perfecting of will; and such choosing raises the creature will from the level of temporal significance to that higher estate wherein the personality of the creature son communes with the personality of the spirit Father. (1221.6) 111:5.5 Man is a part of nature — he exists in nature — and yet he is able to transcend nature. Man is finite, but he is indwelt by a spark of infinity. Such a dual situation not only provides the potential for evil but also engenders many social and moral situations fraught with much uncertainty and not a little anxiety. (1221.8) 111:6.1 The finite world was made by an infinite Creator — it is the handiwork of his divine Sons — and therefore it must be good. It is the misuse, distortion, and perversion of the finite that gives origin to evil and sin. (1222.2) 111:6.3 Join us for this study of how we align with the will of God in the midst of our paradoxically human condition! http://tobtr.com/11823421

This week we continue our study with our third episode on the fifth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors. We'll be reading Paper 111, The Adjuster and The Soul, §4. The Inner Life and §5. The Consecration of Choice. The advances of true civilization are all born in this inner world of mankind. It is only the inner life that is truly creative. Civilization can hardly progress when the majority of the youth of any generation devote their interests and energies to the materialistic pursuits of the sensory or outer world. (1220.2) 111:4.3 The inner and the outer worlds have a different set of values. Any civilization is in jeopardy when three quarters of its youth enter materialistic professions and devote themselves to the pursuit of the sensory activities of the outer world. (1220.3) 111:4.4 Happiness and joy take origin in the inner life. You cannot experience real joy all by yourself. A solitary life is fatal to happiness. Even families and nations will enjoy life more if they share it with others. (1220.6) 111:4.7 Since this inner life of man is truly creative, there rests upon each person the responsibility of choosing as to whether this creativity shall be spontaneous and wholly haphazard or controlled, directed, and constructive. How can a creative imagination produce worthy children when the stage whereon it functions is already preoccupied by prejudice, hate, fears, resentments, revenge, and bigotries? (1220.8) 111:4.9 The doing of the will of God is nothing more or less than an exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God — with the very God who has made such a creature life of inner meaning-value possible. Sharing is Godlike — divine. (1221.2) 111:5.1 Join us for this study of how we partner with God in furthering civilization! http://tobtr.com/11819228

This week we continue our study in our second installment on the fifth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors. We'll be reading Paper 111, The Adjuster and The Soul, §2. Nature of the Soul and §3. The Evolving Soul. Throughout the mind functions of cosmic intelligence, the totality of mind is dominant over the parts of intellectual function. Mind, in its essence, is functional unity; therefore does mind never fail to manifest this constitutive unity, even when hampered and hindered by the unwise actions and choices of a misguided self. And this unity of mind invariably seeks for spirit co-ordination on all levels of its association with selves of will dignity and ascension prerogatives. The material mind of mortal man is the cosmic loom that carries the morontia fabrics on which the indwelling Thought Adjuster threads the spirit patterns of a universe character of enduring values and divine meanings — a surviving soul of ultimate destiny and unending career, a potential finaliter. (1217.5,6) 111:2.1,2 The potential of such a morontia evolution [the soul or "mid-mind"] is inherent in the two universal urges of mind: the impulse of the finite mind of the creature to know God and attain the divinity of the Creator, and the impulse of the infinite mind of the Creator to know man and attain the experience of the creature.  (1218.6) 111:2.8 During the life in the flesh the evolving soul is enabled to reinforce the supermaterial decisions of the mortal mind. The soul, being supermaterial, does not of itself function on the material level of human experience. (1219.1) 111:3.2 We look forward to you joining us for this study of who we truly are and are destined to be! http://tobtr.com/11815233

This week we resume our study by beginning the fifth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors, we'll be reading Paper 111, The Adjuster and The Soul, Introductory section and §1. The Mind Arena of Choice. THE presence of the divine Adjuster in the human mind makes it forever impossible for either science or philosophy to attain a satisfactory comprehension of the evolving soul of the human personality. The morontia soul is the child of the universe and may be really known only through cosmic insight and spiritual discovery. The concept of a soul and of an indwelling spirit is not new to Urantia; it has frequently appeared in the various systems of planetary beliefs. Many of the Oriental as well as some of the Occidental faiths have perceived that man is divine in heritage as well as human in inheritance. The feeling of the inner presence in addition to the external omnipresence of Deity has long formed a part of many Urantian religions. Men have long believed that there is something growing within the human nature, something vital that is destined to endure beyond the short span of temporal life. (1215.1,2) 111:0.1,2 One Egyptian ruler, speaking of the ka within his heart, said: “I did not disregard its speech; I feared to transgress its guidance. I prospered thereby greatly; I was thus successful by reason of that which it caused me to do; I was distinguished by its guidance.” Many believed that the ka was “an oracle from God in everybody.” Many believed that they were to “spend eternity in gladness of heart in the favor of the God that is in you.” Every race of evolving Urantia mortals has a word equivalent to the concept of soul. (1215.6,1216.1) 111:0.6,7  We look forward to you joining us for this study of who we truly are and are destined to be! http://tobtr.com/11812402

This week we resume our study with the fourth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors, we'll be reading Paper 110, Relation of Adjusters to Individual Mortals, §7. The Attainment of Immortality.  This last section is the study of our attainment of eternal union with our Thought Adjuster and its implications. When a human being has completed the circles of cosmic achievement, and further, when the final choosing of the mortal will permits the Adjuster to complete the association of human identity with the morontial soul during evolutionary and physical life, then do such consummated liaisons of soul and Adjuster go on independently to the mansion worlds, and there is issued the mandate from Uversa which provides for the immediate fusion of the Adjuster and the morontial soul. This fusion during physical life instantly consumes the material body; the human beings who might witness such a spectacle would only observe the translating mortal disappear “in chariots of fire.” Most Adjusters who have translated their subjects from Urantia were highly experienced and of record as previous indwellers of numerous mortals on other spheres. Remember, Adjusters gain valuable indwelling experience on planets of the loan order; it does not follow that Adjusters only gain experience for advanced work in those mortal subjects who fail to survive. Subsequent to mortal fusion the Adjusters share your destiny and experience; they are you. (1212.3–5) 110:7.2–4, The ear of the human mind is almost deaf to the spiritual pleas which the Adjuster translates from the manifold messages of the universal broadcasts of love proceeding from the Father of mercies. ...to an animal mind so completely dominated by the chemical and electrical forces inherent in your physical natures. (1213.1) 110:7.6 http://tobtr.com/11802600

This week author Chris Lepine will join us to discuss his new book, How to Super Charge Your Soul In A Digital Age. If you’re feeling exhausted, uninspired, and depleted, you’re not alone. Today’s digital world is remarkably complex, ceaselessly changing, and unrelenting. If you feel that the old foundations of traditional religion can’t help you, read this book: How to Supercharge Your Soul in a Digital Age delivers life-sustaining and empowering truths and specific methods that release your incredible inner spiritual resources. Part I—The Nature of Prayer—reveals the foundation for a new liberated, energized life. Your soul is a remarkable resource and can be your partner. This is the real you, the secret of happiness, adventure, and success. But, you must feed this soul and learn how to use the most powerful tool for positive personal change: independent prayer. Part II—The Essentials of Prayer—explores the underlying principles and the method for the most effective prayer and inner divine immersion. When God answers your prayers, you can experience unimagined positive transformation and happiness. This book examines the kinds of thoughts and assumptions that can contaminate and short circuit your prayer. It ends with inspiring examples of ideal prayers that apply the book’s prayer guidelines. Part III of the book—Unlimited Supercharging—revisits the secrets to effective prayer and gives a specific, proven, practical method for contacting and immersing yourself in God. You’ll need to start gradually, but will soon build a very strong life-sustaining daily habit that transforms your life. This last part of the book ends by exploring the incredible world of ideal prayer. Please join us!

This week we resume our study with the fourth paper in this series on the Mystery Monitors, we'll be reading Paper 110, Relation of Adjusters to Individual Mortals, §6. The Seven Psychic Circles, ¶12–22.  This is really the study of our ascent to true happiness and real success in life. The third circle. The Adjuster’s work is much more effective after the human ascender attains the third circle and receives a personal seraphic guardian of destiny. While there is no apparent concert of effort between the Adjuster and the seraphic guardian, nonetheless there is to be observed an unmistakable improvement in all phases of cosmic achievement and spiritual development subsequent to the assignment of the personal seraphic attendant. When the third circle is attained, the Adjuster endeavors to morontiaize the mind of man during the remainder of the mortal life span, to make the remaining circles, and achieve the final stage of the divine-human association before natural death dissolves the unique partnership.  (1210.9) 110:6.14 Perhaps these psychic circles of mortal progression would be better denominated cosmic levels — actual meaning grasps and value realizations of progressive approach to the morontia consciousness of initial relationship of the evolutionary soul with the emerging Supreme Being. And it is this very relationship that makes it forever impossible fully to explain the significance of the cosmic circles to the material mind. These circle attainments are only relatively related to God-consciousness. A seventh or sixth circler can be almost as truly God-knowing — sonship conscious — as a second or first circler, but such lower circle beings are far less conscious of experiential relation to the Supreme Being, universe citizenship.  (1211.1) 110:6.16 http://tobtr.com/11801974