Compare 03/12/10

He learned that when people are very poor they still have something to give and the impulse to give it.
  --John Steinbeck, (1902-1968)


P.1883 - §4 (172:4.2) For a moment they sat down by the treasury, watching the people drop in their contributions: the rich putting much in the receiving box and all giving something in accordance with the extent of their possessions. At last there came along a poor widow, scantily attired, and they observed as she cast two mites (small coppers) into the trumpet. And then said Jesus, calling the attention of the apostles to the widow: "Heed well what you have just seen. This poor widow cast in more than all the others, for all these others, from their superfluity, cast in some trifle as a gift, but this poor woman, even though she is in want, gave all that she had, even her living."


John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr.(February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and the novella Of Mice and Men (1937). He wrote a total of twenty-seven books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and five collections of short stories. In 1962, Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Sunday Night Class 03/07/10

Friends,

Charlene finished up her stint as moderator by guiding us through the last section in the Morontia Life paper. (Paper 47) The section is entitled "Morontia Progressors" and entertains the certainty that that we are on course for a gloriuos neverending adventure to Paradise and beyond. Thanks Charlene for guiding us through these delightful papers.

We turned the class over to Cabot who began our study on what many consider the most difficult paper in the book, Universal Unity. (Paper 56) We struggled through about 5 sections and gleaned a few insights where we could. At least we Know that God is ONE. We ended the class with Jesus's talk with Nathaniel about the angel for a lighter diversion from the in-depth study.

Cabot, Jill and family will be gone next week as will others, but class will be here unless we bow out too. We'll study something else until Cabot comes back.

We'll keep you posted. Until then,

Tom

Wednesday Night Jesus Papers, 03/03/10

We had three new people at this week's meeting, where we were Training Evangelists at Bethsaida. We went through the prophet school, the hospital and affliction, but got hung up at Job. We had some unusual and delicious sopapilla cheesecake dessert afterwards.

Cabot

Family Worship 02/21/10

Friends,

Around 22 eager and hungry Urantia Family friends gathered around 10 AM at the Mogilka's house for a delicious brunch and a lesson from Beth Challis on the "Inevitabilities." She sequestered the youth and had them draw illustrations on each of the inevitabilities and then they discussed them.  I am so amazed at the insight and the obvious ministry of the Spirit of Truth in their interpretations.  These are some cool kids, I'm telling you.  The adults just sat and read the Inevitabilities and had a regular study group until Beth brought the kids in to share their creations.

Prayers and cards for Waldine, Jeralie and Garry were thoughtfully signed. 

March 21 isn't that far away to put the next family worship on your calendar.  Come hungry and you will be fed the bread of life and some awesome material food.  See you then,

Tom 

John Lange's Study Group Impressions

[This was posted to SocAdmin form John Lange on November 17.  It is a lovely reminicence]
 
To Bobby Drier and Friends;
 
I have enjoyed everyone's contribution regarding our study group experiences. After some contemplation, I should like to add a few impressions of my own.
 
I joined the the Oklahoma Society in 1971 when I moved to Oklahoma City and started medical school. There I attended study group twice a week. One meeting was held in the basement of the a Methodist church on Tuesday night. The other was held in the home of Berkeley Elliott on Sunday night. These four years slowly transformed my life. I became more humanistic in my approach to science and its benefit to mankind.
 
I remember the first meeting I attended. Sitting on my left was Clyde Goodman, and independent oil operator, who never quite got all the dirt from under his fingernails working in the oil fields. He was tough, conservative, opinionated, but had a heart of gold. Then on my right was his executive secretry, Berkeley Elliott, who was gentle, liberal, loving; and with a peircing consciousness. She could look straight into and answer the needs of you longing soul. At that point I realized if this movement can appeal to this wade range of personalities who were enthusiastic but also very practical in their daily pursuits; then it may be the real deal.
 
The Oklahoma City study group was successful for many of the reasons previously set forth: i.e. consistency, devotion to the new reader, encouragement of participation, and the inclusive attributes of the group leader. It was characteristic of this era that many successful groups had a larger than life person animating the rest of the group.
 
Our leader was Berkeley Elliott, and I should like to make a few observations of the pearls of wisdom I learned from her. She was the personification of GOD's love, loving everyone as separate and "so special." But in this great measure of devotion was also the art of discernment. She could smell out an impostor miles away. In our new found enthusiam for the Revelation, she would always encourage us to think positive but also to be practical. Her watchword was, "keep your feet firmly planted on the ground." And as we moved into the realm of action she always tempered our committment with the admonition, "you must always be willing to compromise."  Thus, in the ways of "a simple Oklahoma farm girl", Berkeley left a legacy of wisdom serving as a lamp to the sprirtual path for those who followed.
 
The study group time in OKC was my core religious experience. So I have a strong bias toward this experience and its value. I feel that time spent here with study and participation fosters an environment where new leaders emerge. Perhaps the Fellowship should explore ways to encourage the local study group towards greater achievement as a social group. A current example is Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Southern CA. Althought the whole organization has 20,000+ members, but the small group is the functioning unit. He comes from a fundamentalist background, but combines the group dynamics of AA with the psychological approach of Victor Frankl and the management techniques of Peter Drucker. The result is a powerful group of people whose for one another transcends their individual theology. I feel our study groups are the main strength and the backbone of our larger organization. As we look to the future we should imagine ways to make them even better.
 
Take care and may God Bless,
John Lange     

Fall Forum 10/25/09

Friends,

Since Larry Geis was going to be up in this neck of the woods, how delighted 16 of us were that he agreed to give us an update on about every activity going on in the Urantia Movement today. Jerry and Bibi Pando graciously hosted the event. We brought Pot luck snacks, and they were as delicious as Larry's Presentation was insightful. Great to see old friends such as Harry and Rachel there.

Sorry you missed it if you weren't there. We had a wonderful time.

Tom

Cosmic Cafe 08/22/09

Friends,

I counted 28 hungry souls who feasted upon the inexhaustable discussions about nearly every conceivable topic in the Urantia Book as Chris Halvorson held forth, occasionally punctuated by the beautiful rhythmic poetry of David Glass. We started with a meditation at 11 AM on this extraordinarily beautiful August day. Then Barbara led us on a discussion by each of us about what it is that "drives" us. Many diversed ideas and personal revelations were elicited by this discussion. We then ate a wonderful material feast of a huge variety of the most delicious food you can imagine. We went on like this all day long and even into the evening and night stopping long enough to eat the plenteous leftovers. Chris is quite a thinker and is so willing to share his insights with us. If you want to see some of his written ideas or watch one of his study groups, his website is: http://perfectinghorizons.org/ Check it out.

Many of us continued these discussions on Sunday morning at Barbara Hester's house. Another delicious pot luck brunch was had and Chris again inexhaustively shared his many diverse insights.

Chris and Alaska friend Ed Harrigan had to catch their flights back home Sunday afternoon, and we had to say a temporary farewell to our friends.

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