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<p>03/07/2004</p>
<p>Ham: Greetings, children, I am Ham and I am happy that you have come this
evening. Let us discuss the freedom of increasing self-control and the shackles
of the appetites. </p>
<p>When human beings give free reign to the animal nature believing this
to be an act of freedom, in reality those appetites are creating the beginnings
of an ever increasing bondage. When people seek forms of escape, whether
this is through alcohol or drugs or indulging the sexual appetite, this
is a false freedom. The immature human feels constrained by social requirements
that more self-controlled humans have adjusted to. Rather than seeking self-discipline,
one sees freedom in self-indulgence. Soon, however, the animal appetites
simply grow when fed and soon these indulgences become requirements and
if this is not checked, these indulgences become addictions that undermine
character leading to complete bondage. </p>
<p>Some human beings are in bondage to other types of ego requirements –
the requirement to be in control, the requirement to be totally knowledgeable,
the requirement to be a perfectionist. These are more subtle forms of bondage,
but are nonetheless real. These requirements as well undermine character
and create false illusions. It is the illusion then that is fed by one’s
actions. And the illusion of power, for example, has many more requirements
on the ego self than the reality of powerlessness. </p>
<p>Human beings are easily seduced by slight distortions of the truth. It
is easy for human beings to believe that slight distortion in which the
ego is inflated where one feels more powerful or knowledgeable, richer,
more beautiful, smarter than one really is. Embracing the truth is hard
medicine. Embracing the reality of one’s own smallness does not seem to
be a source of comfort. Comfort comes from believing that you are more than
you are. But once again, this is a form of bondage. When you begin to believe
the distortion, you are willingly putting yourself in bondage to that lie.
And so gradually the whole personality comes to be in service to that lie.
</p>
<p>The only way to break free of these kinds of spiritual bondage is to seek
after truth no matter what the consequences are to one’s own ego. Human
beings are usually looking for anything that will bolster the lie rather
than taking the courageous step toward truth. </p>
<p>The fearless life that all the true followers of Christ must walk, this
life is one of continually shedding the ego requirements. And when you are
free of these shackles, then and only then will you find true strength.
It is the ego that is weak, it is the ego that can be shattered, it is the
ego expectations that can be dashed and it is the ego that feels the sting
of disappointment. </p>
<p>Truth is indestructible. As you continue to embrace truth, then you find
more and more you can withstand anything. As you follow truth and continually
whittle away at the old ego structure, truly are you being prepared for
greater challenges, more profound problems. And finally when you realize
complete powerlessness, will you be your strongest. Then will you be ready
to be led as a little child, and then you will be mature human beings. </p>
<p>Many times the Master instructed, this life is only a bridge. Human beings
have a great temptation to want to make permanent the life of this world.
But the life of this world, must continually move forward. You cannot stay
where you were 20 years ago, or 10 years ago, or yesterday and make that
your home. Every person must continually develop and expand otherwise your
growth will be arrested and that fine house you have built, that structure,
will begin to be beaten by the wind and will deteriorate while its inhabitant
simply waits deliverance by death. </p>
<p>It takes great courage to keep moving forward. It takes leaving behind
what was before you see what will be. It takes continually moving toward
self-restraint and increased self-control for without this the pull of the
human appetites, the ego appetites, pin you to the spot. In a life that
is continually growing, there may be experienced loss many times because
the old is continually being swept away as the new is being created. In
this life, one’s values are continually changing and expanding therefore
one’s highest goals are continually moving. In this life, there is no such
thing as a pinnacle of achievement. Each achievement is a preparation for
future achievement. </p>
<p>The dynamic life of the spirit even requires that there be many disappointments,
many of those mini whirlwinds that clear away the old before the new is
created. The life of the spirit is a life of which much is required but
it is also a life to which much is given. If you would have true companionship
with the Master, you must be willing to lay down your life as he did, not
in a literal sense, but in the sense of laying down the ego and laying down
the requirements of ego. This is a life that requires to look forward not
backward. You cannot mourn the things left behind for everything is eventually
left behind. </p>
<p>You are doing very well my children. Each of you is moving toward just
what I have described. And each of you is conquering your fear of this leaving
behind process and fear is the greatest slave master there is. You do not
fear loss if you lay it down willingly. Be unafraid of all that is to be.
Be unafraid to let go of old illusions and ego requirements. Prepare in
your hearts to follow him and he will lead you to complete safety and make
not the mistake of trying to hold on to some secret sin, some ego indulgence
that gave you the illusion of safety or the illusion of freedom. What are
your questions?</p>
<p>Q: Jim asked for a message please Ham.</p>
<p>Ham: My son, blessings upon you. You have been upon a journey of forgiveness.
You are understanding that you must forgive in order to be forgiven and
you are understanding that the acceptance of forgiveness is the key to your
future life. Your ego mind has endeavored to avoid the responsibility that
would seek forgiveness. But your greater mind has seen all along the deep
guilt and inner blame of your self that has been the prime mover of your
life. This illness has given you a second chance and a new life is before
you now. What will you choose, reality or illusion, truth or lies? Seek
truth will all your heart and all your soul and it will be given to you.
Seek love with all your heart and all your soul and it will be given to
you. Seek forgiveness and you will find peace. Seek not your own comfort,
but to comfort others and you will be comforted. Seek not your own will,
but the will of God and you will find yourself. Go in peace son, all is
well. </p>
<p>Q: Do you have anything for me tonight Ham?</p>
<p>Ham: Yes my daughter, you so well. The way will open for you and you will
come to a place of greater tranquility. Seek to meet the Master within your
heart. Seek his guidance and his friendship. Take things slowly, don’t be
in a hurry to make decisions. You will find what you need in time. You do
well my dear, be at peace.</p>
<p>Q: Do you have any thing for Rebecca?</p>
<p>Ham: Yes my daughter. My dear, you do well. Understand that you are moving
forward quite rapidly in the spirit and a part of you continually seeks
after the familiar, the comfortable, the easy place to stand. But following
the Master requires that you do not stay in one place very long. It requires
you to move forward continually. The sloughing off of old ego skins is a
continuing process, don’t be tempted to try to go backward and to take up
old ego mantles from before. Let go of the past. Embrace what is now and
seek after the Master’s will for you. Rather than trying to simply move
your house from one part of the bridge to the other, you must walk out of
the house and leave it behind. </p>
<p>Q: Jarad?</p>
<p>Ham: Of course my son. You also have a tendency to want to stay in the
old shell when the Master requires that you move forward. Banish fear and
insecurity by seeking security with him and realizing there is no security
outside of him. You must continually embrace that which is to come. You
must embrace your new self in order to realize the potential of this new
personality orientation and configuration. Don’t look back my son, look
forward.</p>
<p>Q: Do you have a personal message for Marije?</p>
<p>Ham: Certainly, my daughter, you are doing very well. You are adapting
to the great changes you have undergone recently with grace and courage.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. You are at the beginning of a great adventure.
There is no higher calling than that of home building. There is no greater
joy or greater responsibility. Be at peace my dear. You do well. </p>
<p>Q: Do you have a personal message for Charlie B?</p>
<p>Ham: Yes my son, be at peace. You will be given all that is needful as
you move forward in your journey. Banish worry and be of good cheer. Hold
continually to the Master’s hand and all will be well. </p>
<p>Q: Do you have any feedback for me tonight?</p>
<p>Ham: Certainly, my son. Yes, my son, you continue to do well. You are
finding great comfort in the letting go of that which has served its purpose
and you are finding greater and greater measures of peace every day. Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad. Recognize that you are making wonderful spiritual
progress which will be the engine for all that you accomplish. Seek first
the kingdom of heaven and all else will be added unto you. </p>
<p>Are there any further questions at this time? Very well, then, be at peace
my friends. As always my love and my prayers are with you each. Farewell.
</p>
<p>c<br>
</p>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="$mailwrapcol"><font size="+1">--
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
David G. Schlundt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
301 Wilson Hall
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615)322-7800
Fax: (615) 343-8449
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:David.Schlundt@Vanderbilt.edu">David.Schlundt@Vanderbilt.edu</a>
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Many of the temporal troubles of mortal man
grow out of his twofold relation to the
cosmos. Man is 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.
The Urantia Book - page 1221
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.urantia.org/">http://www.urantia.org/</a>
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
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