[tmtranscripts] No. Idaho Teacher Group 05/06/01

[Rick P. Giles]

North Idaho Teaching Mission Group
Topics: Parables
Teachers: Elyon, Helena

May 6, 2001

*	Elyon (Jonathan TR):  Greetings, friends.  I join you today to fellowship,
to share in the love that you express for one another; to be rewarded by your
conversation, your experiences, and the wisdom you gain.  I, too, am a
student in
this classroom and have benefited from your company.  Today I wish to return to
the topic of parables, for it is applicable to your discussion prior to my
entrance.  I am Elyon.
	The master's parables were commonplace events.  They did not describe a
religious ceremony, nor were they directly addressing a philosophic or spiritual
principle.  They were mundane life situations of commerce, of family.  They were
about ordinary associations and ordinary actions, yet their effect by way of the
master's description illuminated a universal truth, a truth that could be found
regardless of the common, earthly context.  We have spoken of being of greater
service to your fellows to provide a meaningful form of ministry which
illuminates the reality of the spiritual family of God.  You have wisely
discerned the variety of attitude and receptivity inherent in the many
people you
encounter.  Some willingly approach the subject; others are resistant or
guarded. 
Here is where the value of a parable comes in.  But the best parable is a living
parable, one in which you compose from the specific context of the individual to
whom you are seeking to present a universal truth.
	To become a better righteousness recommender it is worthwhile to practice
translating your daily, apparently mundane events into a principle that has
eternal qualities.  How you develop it does not need to conform to any rule, any
method, so I will not give any sort of approach.  It is as variable as it is for
any artist who walks up to a blank canvas what picture may unfold.  However, the
relevancy of the context of the story will have its best impact if it is
current,
personalizeable, and immediately able to be put into practice.
	The master often began a parable by saying, "The kingdom of heaven is
like..." and then proceeded to describe a quality of the kingdom that could be
comprehended by the following who stood to hear.  This conviction of the master
drew forth the attention of the listeners.  He did not say, "I think perhaps the
kingdom might be like..."  By addressing with such certainty others who are
truly
desirous of grasping the truths of the kingdom will be that much more
attentive. 
Your conviction is what is convincing.  If you make the gospel your sustenance
and apply it with persistence, you will meet with little resistance.
	You have noted in your study of the life of Michael on earth that he often
needed to retreat from the throngs that gathered around him for personal peace
and quiet and time with the Father.  You also know from the study of his
personality that he was not one to pursue celebrity status, and yet ever more
people would gather to be about him.  He knew the value of enriching the
value of
another human being by considering them, whether they believed it or not, to be
his brother or sister.  To feel so readily accepted is magnetic and will draw
another into your presence for that soothing enrichment that the soul of one who
is uncertain so desires.
	By inquiring of another what their dilemmas are at the time, what their
triumphs are at the time, you begin to discern a framework wherein you may
compose a relevant parable for the illumination of truth.  "He who has ears to
hear let him hear" applies to the one also who is composing the parable to be
portrayed.  Discerning relevancy is a major element to the success of the
story. 
One's conversion into a trust that one is truly a son or daughter of God
often is
brought about by the simple conversation that you share with them, not as much
the content, as that you willingly, caringly, and openly spoke with them
inclusively, accepting their status as a child of God in spite of the doubt of
the one with whom you are sharing.  Believing in another breaks down many
barriers of doubt, of insecurity and uncertainty.
	We have spoken over the years that each of us is a teacher, that I am not
your teacher and you my students, but that we are all teachers in the
mission for
Michael on this world.  To be of value to the spiritual advancement of your
fellows, "teacher" is not as appropriate a term as is "coach", for athletes know
how a coach's confidence in them has brought them to excellence in performance.
	It is admirable that many on your world are motivated toward evangelism,
the desire to help another realize the importance of the relationship with God. 
However, I would hope to see as the years progress on this world that this
evangelistic approach would adopt the attitude that the one being sought
evangelically is already considered one of the family of God, not to be coerced,
scared, or enticed into becoming a member of the family, but rather that it is
revealed that they already are, that trust and faith are all that lack.  Every
child who grows up in a healthy family already knows they belong, and this is
true throughout the universe.  It is only on spheres where the family structure
has been broken through rebellion that the sense of orphanhood has become
established.  This is why Michael taught the family relationship of Creator to
all creatures.
	You may at any time interject comment.  I will remain by your side.

	Ginny:  I like what you mentioned that when one knows they are a member of
the family of God there's a magnetic confidence that pulls people.  Also
that one
of the attractive parts of Michael on this planet was his authority, which
attracts people to speak and act with authority.
*	Elyon:  True, indeed.  His authoritative approach was genuine and
compassionate rather than militaristic and forceful.  This authority, this
substantial conviction, is what is so hungered for in a truth-seeking soul.  It
is noticeable and irresistible and will be sought after.  There have been abuses
of this mechanism within the soul of followers by leaders who use authority for
their own personal gain.  But I know that you all are incapable of pursuing such
a self-aggrandizing following, for you do not desire to be leaders but to point
to the Creator as the one who leads and who we all follow.

	Evelyn:  I am reminded of the mota about the argumentative defense.  If you
are trying to convince someone by brilliance of argument or loudness,  your
success will be inversely proportional to just relaxing and letting conviction
show itself.
*	Elyon:  Indeed this is true, and it often requires a stretch of time to be
convincing.  Argumentative defense often is given with a sense of time pressure,
that the convincing must be immediate or nearly so, where truth often must be
repeatedly displayed or portrayed before one realizes its significance and its
reality.  Herein enters the virtue of patience and that fatherly
perspective.  It
may require repeated encounters wherein you leave feeling as though you had made
no progress in demonstrating a spiritual truth only to find that over time
inroads were made, insights gained, and belief begun.

*	Helena  (Ginny):  I guess I can add my two cents today.  Good morning, this
is Helena.
	Speaking of parables, spring is a good time to use as a subject that is so
close to you and so familiar to most of you, as you all have your hands in the
dirt a fair amount of time and are occupied with this season in your efforts to
encourage plants to grow.  I too am learning to deal with Urantians in this
manner.  As you have noticed your friend Elyon uses this technique often, as he
understands the importance of using familiar objects and familiar happenings to
help you understand more difficult concepts.  As some of us are wont to
ramble on
sometimes without consideration of your propensity towards needing more common
and more simple explanations, not to insult you or belittle you but simply to
teach you on your level, teach you in a way that strikes a chord and gives
you an
immediate understanding a more difficult concept, because you are so familiar
with these common instances.
	As you dig and you till your soil you understand that certain plants need
more care, more prepared soil, more delicate watering, more careful choosing of
sun or shade.  Some plants grow anywhere.  As with the souls that you touch,
some
are more delicate and need more attention and more careful planning of how you
will present your lessons.  Other souls who are hardy will be able to handle
more
simple ways of approach, will be able to handle rougher treatment, should I say?
in the sense that less preparation and less carefulness is needed.  It is well
worth your while to fully understand the soil that is needed for these plants to
grow.  It is well worth your while to understand the soil that is needed for
your
words and your actions to be fruitful.  As you play and dig in your gardens you
might want to think of this parable.  As you gaze upon each plant and its own
personal beauty, you might want to think of all that is necessary to help it
grow.  As you deal with our Father's children, you will need to think as a
gardener does of all these circumstances that may be necessary to help them grow
and to be healthy souls.
	It is good to be with you today, as I have been absent for a while.  I hope
to have these lessons with you more often, as it is my deepest desire to share
with you these truths and these lessons from our Father who wishes that each of
you learns how to respect each soul as being unique, one of a kind.  I am
delighted to visit you today, and I am grateful for this chance to communicate
with you.  Thank you.