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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Zarath072405_SpiritualGrowth</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Northern
Colorado TeaM Group, #70</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT
size=3><FONT face=Arial><st1:City w:st="on">Loveland</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Colorado</st1:State></FONT></FONT></st1:place></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Teacher:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B>Zarath</B> (TR,
Jerry Evans)</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Arial>Topics:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><B>Spiritual
Progress</B></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Interfaith work</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>Compatibility of the Urantia Book and Teaching <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Mission</st1:City></st1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3>
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=5>July 24,
2005</FONT></H1>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><EM><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Heavenly Father, we come to thee today, surrounding ourselves with your
love, greeting Christ Michael and Mother Nebadonia with their support,
recognizing the whirl of energy in the merkaba for a stronger connection to the
universe, as we hook up to it with our heart line, with our headline connecting
to it and to each other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Feel the
spirit enclosing us, enveloping us and healing us in body and mind, relaxing us
as we prepare to talk to our teacher.</FONT></EM></P>
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size=3> </FONT></EM></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is Zarath.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Good afternoon and welcome from the
group.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Glad to be here. Glad to
see you three so strong in support of each other and the Father.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>May I be of service?</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Student:
I am sure you will be.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Are you
asking for questions at this time?</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Another
Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And do you have a lesson
for us?</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I do have a
lesson.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This lesson has to do with
the spiritualizing of each of us in the Father’s Kingdom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As we progress along the path way toward
the Father, the joy that we experience in this advancement and in our chance to
meet with and have contact with all of our brothers and sisters is hard to
express.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Your activity toward
interfaith work has prompted this discussion, for it is important to start it at
your level.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Understanding and
compassion, which is so essential, must be developed with these sorts of
collective get-togethers, and these fruits of the spirit are a part of your best
efforts to do the will of the Father.</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Follow
your intuition and follow it with courage, and as we say, the results are the
Father’s.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In retrospect, this
activity is looked back on with much joy and satisfaction.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pure intent will always result in
increasing the brotherhood and sisterhood of those around you.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>There is
much growth for the individuals involved, some who tentatively accept the
invitation to such events, and some who have their fixed ideas to bring to the
party, and some who are open enough to try to engage in understanding of the
other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is to be a joyful
experience, a learning experience, a growth experience and imminently
reachable.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The prospects are indeed
without limit of what can be accomplished in bringing together those of
different faiths with sufficient open mindedness, and open heartedness, to
engage each other in loving exploration of the other’s ideas and beliefs,
without judgment, but with desire for understanding.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I commend you who are involved in
this activity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We wish you
well.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>This is
all that I had to bring to you today, but I am certainly desirous of discussing
any questions that you might have.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you Zarath,
this has been really helpful, supportive, and encouraging, and as you were
speaking, my mind was zipping along, thinking of a couple of things, that
perhaps in such a meeting various faiths might be encouraged to display what
kind of book or teaching has recently been most meaningful to them, and that if
the group that comes together is large enough and broad enough --- where some
might think it somewhat difficult to have personal interaction --- would it
perhaps be wise to encourage the larger group to break up into smaller groups of
ten or twelve—hopefully representing different faiths—and then share perhaps
what they believe for the commonality they see among each other and each
person’s personal relationship to God, to our Heavenly Father?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It seems to me that’s the one thing that
people who are on any kind of an interfaith bent or path is—there are certain
things that we share—it seems like that’s perhaps the most important.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Would you care to respond to that, give
us some feedback?</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I could ask you for
a specific question….</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Laughing.)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That was kind of long winded.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But I will
respond.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just had to
chuckle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You are drawing upon your
experience—recent experience—in the church group, ‘Asking the questions’,
wherein the small sub-groups were able to establish a more meaningful connection
to each other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, remember
that it required ten sessions for that to slowly develop and mature.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a different proposition in a
one-time session, and yet, those that are open are able to make that deep
connection, and so it cannot be frowned upon or discouraged, for that can very
well develop in some of the individuals there.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>The other
aspect is, if you have separated groups, where each group is of one faith or
different faiths in different groups, then you are not really taking advantage
of the objective of discussing the interfaith aspects, so it would appear that
the groups should certainly be mixed if there is a large enough number of
attendees, to have several of each faith in each group, thereby giving that
opportunity for good interfaith dialog.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Is that helpful?</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yes, I can see the
mechanics of dividing a large group effectively into groups with the diversity
represented might be a bit difficult.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I was trying to think of ways in which this kind of more personal
exchange could happen, rather than just having a speaker with a rather large
group, and then just a few questions addressed to the speaker.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How do we <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>expedite more of this interpersonal
mixing?</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Arial>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That certainly
bears some thought.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Indeed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are often told we have to work out
many of the answers ourselves, and get the inspirational nudges here and there,
so thank you.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Zarath:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You are most welcome.)</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Zarath, I have a
question too.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Your lesson for today
is a great topic for me as well.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I am going to be spending some time with my oldest son, who is very much
a believer in the Urantia Book, but is very opposed to the Teaching
Mission.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don’t want to try to
convert him because I don’t think the Teaching Mission is necessarily the right
path for him, but can you give me some suggestions on how I can handle it so
that he becomes less concerned about me?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>He thinks I’ve gotten myself involved in some kind of a cult, or that I
am caught-up in wishful thinking and that I am delusional.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Do you have any suggestions on how I can
approach him with this?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have
tried for quite some time, but so far I have been unsuccessful.</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3>Another
Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I face that challenge
too.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Approach him with
love.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If he feels your love, and
this becomes a topic of conversation, exhibit your steadfast love of the Father
and your firm announcement that this is very meaningful to you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He will face his own decision of whether
to respect your decisions and will have to make his own choices.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He should see that strength in you and
will recognize your right to your own decisions, if he has learned in his heart
from the Urantia Book.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no
“magic” that I can bring to bear or include for that situation, other than what
I have tried to describe to you.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
hope this is of some help.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It has always
puzzled me that those of us that read the Urantia Book and have all of those
spiritual “tools” to work with—the Spirit of Truth and Adjutant Mind Spirits,
for example—it always puzzles me how some individuals can use these tools and
achieve one attitude, and others can use the same tools and come to a completely
different outlook, as exemplified with the way that they see or deal with the
Teaching Mission.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have no doubt
in my mind that it is real, but other people who are involved in the Urantia
Book but not the Teaching Mission, feel just as validated in their position that
it is just wishful thinking, or worse.</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yes, those Urantia
Book readers that do not accept the Teaching Mission have made that choice, many
times without even trying to experience it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If they had been more open and had
believed that it was possible, in that belief there is truth in the universe to
make it happen. That belief, that faith, would help them develop the extra
sensitivity required. Until they have that more personal experience, it will
continue to be unreal for them, and therefore disbelief and ridicule may
continue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is unfortunate, but
only exemplifies the various paths that people choose and the diversity of the
various means involved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The results
of their own personal interpretations of the Urantia Book may cause them to
overlook possibilities that are pointed to but often missed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I hope this helps.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Yes, thank you.)</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sometimes it seems
to me as I struggle with this same question, that some of the readers—perhaps
especially those who have studied the Urantia teachings most deeply, have very
strong feelings that they want to retain the so-called “purity” of the Urantia
teachings and I think perhaps that they have a fear that something like the
Teaching Mission will somehow dissipate the truth or the vitality, [or] the
meaning, that comes to us through the Urantia text.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Those of us, who find the Teaching
Mission very meaningful and helpful, see that it builds on what has already been
given to us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Does that make sense
to you?</FONT></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Arial>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Urantia Book
was provided as a text, with great care, and within it, in many instances—as
detailed as it is—the writers of the text point out that this is only a part of
the teachings that they could give you, but they have to withhold much
information until society has advanced considerably more.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is easy for us on this side, to look
at it and what seems so monumental to you in all of the detail and the concepts,
is such a small attempt at describing wonders of the Father’s Universe and all
the experiential beings that have inhabited it and all the many activities, so
far beyond your possible understanding at this level.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Urantia book is an open door. It is
not the end result by any means, but each reader may use it to open up and
explore all the possibilities that it points to, but does not fully define.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Does this help?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Yes.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’d like to think of it in the sense
that the Urantia teachings are a text, and that the Teaching Mission is kind of
like our personal workbook—not in book form, but that the teachers are helping
us in our small groups and individually to work on some of those details, or how
we can better integrate some of the truth teachings.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can certainly
relate to that.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One of my
assignments is of a very personal nature to you, and to Jerry, and to this
group.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My responses are much more
personal, and personally directed, and that is the advantage of each of the
groups with their teachers. As students address many of their individual
concerns they have a chance to develop more rapidly as they get those personal
questions answered.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are so
thankful that we can participate in this mission; those that experience it,
really should have no doubts because it is the experience that solidifies their
faith and growth.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>Student:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In a sense, the
validity is of the truth they are in.</FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>ZARATH:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Are there any other
questions?</FONT></P>
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align=center><o:p><FONT face=Arial size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial
size=3>[Note:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The last question and
answer is of a personal nature and is omitted from publication to the wider
audience.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It will be shared only
with those directly involved in the situation.]</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><FONT face=Arial size=3>* * * * * * * * * *</FONT></P>
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