The Cosmic Citizen

We conclude with the fourth episode in our four-part series on the Cosmic Citizen on the 12 apostles of Jesus of Nazareth.  After exploring the first eight apostles, we next turn to the last four apostles: James and Judas Alpheus—the "twins," Simon Zelotes, and Judas Iscariot.   Why might the Bible have said so little about "James the Lesser," and Jude, Thaddeus or Lebbeus? Was Simon Zelotes truly zealous? Was Judas's "refus[ing] to confide in, or freely fraternize with, his fellow apostles" his downfall? Our hosts, Paula Thompson, Christilyn Biek-Larson and Andre Radatus explore the remarkable profiles of these last four men plumbed in Paper 139 of The Urantia Book. We think you'll enjoy this study and find curious, as most all students eventually do, how much more common these men were than holy and how wonderfully representative they were of the gamut of humanity. We will invite a variety of guests on this topic throughout the series to get their perspective on these apostles. How were these men challenges for Jesus and how did they manage to grow progressively, spiritually, and faithfully despite numerous preconceived ideas about God, Jesus' mission, and what was necessary to growth in faith toward God. Please call in and join us!

The MIRACLES of Jesus  From 3 perspectives * The Biblical world viiew * The Academic/Scholastic * The Urantia Book Religion is never enhanced by an appeal to the so-called miraculous. The quest for miracles is a harking back to the primitive religions of magic. True religion has nothing to do with alleged miracles, and never does revealed religion point to miracles as proof of authority. Religion is ever and always rooted and grounded in personal experience. And your highest religion, the life of Jesus, was just such a personal experience: man, mortal man, seeking God and finding him to the fullness during one short life in the flesh, while in the same human experience there appeared God seeking man and finding him to the full satisfaction of the perfect soul of infinite supremacy. And that is religion, even the highest yet revealed in the universe—the earth life of Jesus of Nazareth. Email:  [email protected]  On facebook: Godss Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe

We continue with the third episode in our four-part series on the Cosmic Citizen on the 12 apostles of Jesus of Nazareth.  After exploring the first four apostles, we turn to Philip "the Curious," Matthew Levi—the "tax collector," "Honest" Nathaniel, and Thomas Didymus.  These four knew not Jesus of Nazareth as well as the first four.  So what attracted them to Jesus? Our intention is then to study the fifth through seventh or eighth apostles this week.  You may want to know that Thomas was actually more of a courageous analyst and scientist than "doubter." Our hosts, Paula Thompson, Christilyn Biek-Larson and Andre Radatus explore the remarkable profiles of these three or four men plumbed in Paper 139 of The Urantia Book. We think you'll enjoy this study and find curious, as most all students eventually do, how much more common these men were than holy and how wonderfully representative they were of the gamut of humanity. We will invite a variety of guests on this topic throughout the series to get their perspective on these apostles. How were these men challenges for Jesus and how did they manage to grow progressively, spiritually, and faithfully despite numerous preconceived ideas about God, Jesus' mission, and what was necessary to growth in faith toward God. Please call in and join us!

What is Prayer?  From 3 perspectives * The Biblical world viiew * The Academic/Scholastic * The Urantia Book Prayer and its associated worship is a technique of detachment from the daily routine of life, from the monotonous grind of material existence. It is an avenue of approach to spiritualized self-realization and individuality of intellectual and religious attainment. Prayer is the breath of the spirit life in the midst of the material civilization of the races of mankind. Worship is salvation for the pleasure-seeking generations of mortals. As prayer may be likened to recharging the spiritual batteries of the soul, so worship may be compared to the act of tuning in the soul to catch the universe broadcasts of the infinite spirit of the Universal Father.  .Prayer is the sincere and longing look of the child to its spirit Father; it is a psychologic process of exchanging the human will for the divine will. Prayer is a part of the divine plan for making over that which is into that which ought to be."Prayer is entirely a personal and spontaneous expression of the attitude of the soul toward the spirit

We continue the second episode in our four-part series on the Cosmic Citizen on the 12 apostles of Jesus of Nazareth.  After exploring Andrew and Simon Peter, we next turn to James and John Zebedee—the "sons of thunder."  These Galilean fisherman and sons of a boat builder were a fascinating contrast to each other.  Who were these men?  What did they admire so much about Jesus of Nazareth that they followed someone they knew growing up? What attracted them to Jesus? Our intention is then to study the fifth apostle, Philip "the curious."  We might also see why Philip is the "methodical" apostle. Our hosts, Paula Thompson, Christilyn Biek-Larson and Andre Radatus explore the remarkable profiles of these next three men plumbed in Paper 139 of The Urantia Book. We think you'll enjoy this study and find curious, as most all students eventually do, how much more common these men were than holy and how wonderfully representative they were of the gamut of humanity. We will invite a variety of guests on this topic throughout the series to get their perspective on these apostles. How were these men challenges for Jesus and how did they manage to grow progressively, spiritually, and faithfully despite numerous preconceived ideas about God, Jesus' mission, and what was necessary to growth in faith toward God. Please call in and join us! 646-716-8158

The Story of Jesus  From 3 perspectives * The Biblical world viiew * The Academic/Scholastic * The Urantia Book Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Email:  [email protected]  On facebook: Godss Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe

Quiz time cosmic citizens! Have you ever wondered about the 12 apostles?  Who were these twelve men?  What they admired so much about Jesus of Nazareth that they continued to follow him even when the multitudes dropped away?  What attracted them to Jesus? The Cosmic Citizen undertakes a four-part series on these twelve men who obeyed the injunction command of Joshua ben Joseph when he said to each of them “Follow me.” Who was the formally best educated apostle? Who were the “sons of thunder?” Who was the curious but unimaginative apostle? Who was the philosophical apostle with a droll sense of humor? Who was the impetuous apostle? Who were the least intelligent but most faithful apostles? Who was the most analytical? Our three hosts, Paula Thompson, Christilyn Biek-Larson and Andre Radatus explore the remarkable profiles of these twelve men plumbed in Paper 139 of The Urantia Book. We think you'll enjoy this study and find curious, as most all students eventually do, how much less holy these men were than human and how wonderfully representative they were of the gamet of humanity. We will invite a variety of guests on this topic throughout the series to get their perspective on these apostles. How were these men challenges for Jesus and how did they manage to grow progressively, spiritually, and faithfully despite numerous preconceived ideas about God, Jesus' mission, and what was necessary to growth in faith tward God. Please call in and join us!

An Investigation into The N.T. Bible The Story of Jesus #3 From 3 perspectives * The Biblical world viiew * The Academic/Scholastic * The Urantia Book We find the names of the 12 apostles in Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:14-19, and Luke 6:13-16: And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew/Nathaniel , and Matthew/Levi, and Thomas/ Didymus, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor Email:  [email protected] www.godsgumshoe.org  On facebook: Godss Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe?feature=mhee

This week hosts Paula Thompson, Christilyn Biek Larson, and André Radatus explore the fourth installment in this series on the ideals surrounding a solid spiritual culture in families. Highly successful and happy families starts with a foundation of spiritual culture and consistent family practices contributing to the welfare of each member and the family as a whole. What does The Urantia Book have to say on the topic of the origins of wholesome family culture?    "Give every developing child a chance to grow his own religious experience; do not force a ready-made adult experience upon him. Remember, year-by-year progress through an established educational regime does not necessarily mean intellectual progress, much less spiritual growth. Enlargement of vocabulary does not signify development of character. Growth is not truly indicated by mere products but rather by progress. Real educational growth is indicated by enhancement of ideals, increased appreciation of values, new meanings of values, and augmented loyalty to supreme values.    "Children are permanently impressed only by the loyalties of their adult associates; precept or even example is not lastingly influential." [(1094.5,6) 100:1.3,4] Perhaps you have had success in encouraging personal religious growth in your children and family, perhaps not. We invite you to call in and share your experience. Did you foster spiritual culture in your family cooperatively or with difficulty? We have some special callers lined up. Are you a 2nd-generation reader or parent of one? Please call in!

The Story of Jesus Choosing the Apostles #2 From 3 perspectives * The Biblical world viiew * The Academic/Scholastic * The Urantia Book Before the six Apostles began this first two weeks of service, Jesus announced to them that he desired to ordain twelve apostles to continue the work of the kingdom after his departure and authorized each of them to choose one man from among his early converts for membership in the projected corps of apostles.  This first missionary tour of the six was eminently successful. They all discovered the great value of direct and personal contact with men. They returned to Jesus more fully realizing that, after all, religion is purely and wholly a matter of personal experience. They began to sense how hungry were the common people to hear words of religious comfort and spiritual good cheer. Email:  [email protected]  On facebook: Godss Gumshoe Twitter: @godsgumshoe  YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/godsgumshoe?feature=mhee