Friday Zoom Meetings

[happyrain]

Hiya Jon and Sandy,

Are we up for a Zoom call UBook study session? And/or a lovely fellowship in one anothers company?

[Starwalker]

I think I’m going to step away from these Zoom meetings. You guys should continue without me though. And CAM would probably be interested as well.

Take care,
Jon

[happyrain]

Oh, okay Jon. Thanks for attempting to showcase the slides you made and walk us through the UBook. If you ever feel like tying again just bump this thread.

I don't think it's for me to lead a study group over material I'm not familiar with. I was coming in as someone attempting to learn and spend time with some of the faces from the 1111MB.

So Sandy or CAM, if you ever want to have a nice chat over Zoom we can arrange that. = ) Otherwise, disregard and have a nice day all!

[Sandy]

It wouldn't be the same without you, Jon.
I'm sorry, I know I had just started, but I truly appreciated it and you and the opportunity to know you all better. and learn more about the Ubook with others.
Thank you, for all you do.
xxSandy

[Starwalker]

Hey Sandy and Eric,

I’m sorry that I have to step away from this. I have a lot going on at the moment. I’m feeling a bit drained from work and I’m trying to process some emotional stuff. The old brain is telling me to cool it for a bit. Hopefully we can pick this up again in the near future.

Thanks for understanding.

Jon

[happyrain]

Absolutely, there's no rush. Really I just enjoy our getting together and contemplating spirit and the 1111 time prompts with everyone. I'm in between stuff my self so it ends up being good timing. Less obligations at the moment is a good thing.

[Starwalker]

Hi all,

I'm thinking next Friday, May 3, would be a good time to start these meetings back up if everyone is still interested and available. I had another busy week at work and just flopped on the couch this evening. But I think I have it mostly under control now. I have been putting in extra hours to get myself through a steep learning curve at the moment. Starting a new career in your 40s is quite a challenge.

The meeting link would still be the same as last time. As always it will be an informal meeting where all questions and comments are welcomed. We can pick up where we left off in the Foreword.

I hope to see you all there. And if anyone else is interested just PM me and I will send the meeting invite.

Thanks,
Jon

[happyrain]

Is it still at 6PM central?

I will keep you posted!

[Starwalker]

Yes, same bat time, same bat channel!

[Sandy]

Thanks, Jon. I'll try to make it.
xxSandy

[happyrain]

I'm going to try too! I have Mom coming over tomorrow afternoon and am not sure how long that'll last. If the opportunity presents itself I'll try to pop in. *Pop*

[Starwalker]

Hey y'all,

I don't have anything prepared for this evening, and I'm not going to rush to put something together since no one has committed to attending. But I will open up the Zoom room at the usual time and if anyone shows up we'll just wing it. Otherwise, I'll just be here working on a super cool post.

Jon

[happyrain]

Thanks for the update Jon.

Sorry I missed it, I am finally back home and settled in. It's 8:43PM central time.

I am moved in to my new place, so there should be more availability with future sessions.

[Starwalker]

Hey Eric,

I'm glad to hear you are settled in to your new place. I hope it all works out for you!

Sandy and I had a nice chat tonight. We are going to pick up the Foreword again next week, starting at VI: Energy and Pattern. I hope to have the slides done for the remainder of the Foreword.

Make sure to do the assigned reading beforehand.

Jon

[Sandy]

I enjoyed chatting with you, Jon.

Make sure to do the assigned reading beforehand.

That would help, eh? I will put the Urantia Book at the top of my six-book stack of reading material.
xxSandy

[Starwalker]

I enjoyed our chat last week as well, Sandy.

It certainly would help with the discussion if everyone reviewed the material beforehand. I have some slides done up for these three sections of the Foreword:

-VI: Energy and Pattern
-VII: The Supreme Being
-VIII: God the Sevenfold

I hope you all can make it tomorrow.

[happyrain]

I'm going to try and make it tomorrow. = ) I've not had the time to read any material. I'm going to tell you both I am joining for the good company and the 1111 comradery more than anything. Onward and upward!

[Starwalker]

Hey Eric,

I hope you can make it today. That’s a good reason for joining. And hopefully you can increase your knowledge of the UB at the same time, even if you can’t find the time to review the material.

Here’s to our continued fellowship.

Jon

[Sandy]

I'm wanting to be there. Is the zoom meeting code the same as last week?
xxSandy

[happyrain]

Is everyone game for this Friday? I have off Thursday and Friday- in *theory* I should be able to review the last 4 parts of the forward.

Hooray we're movin' through it

[Starwalker]

All systems are a go for Friday. I’ll update later in the week.

[CAM7215]

Yay!

at 11:11

[happyrain]

Good morning all,

We had a freak storm last night and it knocked out power for my entire neighborhood including my place of business. We're still without power, I've taken refuge at my parents who are OK but I have to go back home tonight. There has been no update from anyone whether or not we will have a return in power today.

So there's no expectations, I'm likely not going to be there tonight.

https://x.com/rawsalerts/status/1791272465932718163

My apologies.

Separately, I have a question as it pertains to the foreward and since I can't ask it on call tonight maybe someone can help me here:

4. Soul. The soul of man is an experiential acquirement. As a mortal creature chooses to “do the will of the Father in heaven,” so the indwelling spirit becomes the father of a new reality in human experience. The mortal and material mind is the mother of this same emerging reality. The substance of this new reality is neither material nor spiritual—it is morontial. This is the emerging and immortal soul which is destined to survive mortal death and begin the Paradise ascension.

I always thought the Soul was eternal and that we come to this world with a Soul which already contains knowledge. I know the UB doesn't believe in reincarnation per se but it is a belief I have, believing that my Soul has potentially come from another world. I already have conflicting ideas which shows I don't really *know* what I'm talking about, just feelings and attitudes that I learn towards. One big feeling I learn towards is, "Forms are many Soul is One." In other words, "All God." So my first question is, is the UB implying that we do not start with a soul?
I don't think so, since it calls it immortal...

In the definition it calls the Spirit immortal and nonpersonal- a personality is something we're gifted(according to the UB) but it goes on to say that the Soul is acquired by doing the will of a father which transforms it into a *new reality- the foundation is essentially morontial which is apparently a combination of material and spiritual...

I'm a little confused here

Thanks! I will miss y'all but I'll try to read the remainder of the foreward on my own. = )

[Starwalker]

Hi Eric,

I hope things get straightened away down there. I read today that the recent solar activity could cause major storms. Perhaps that has something to do with the freak storm you experienced down there.

Perhaps we will revisit some of the previous slides with CAM if you won't be there. Then we can finish off the Foreword together next week hopefully.

Thanks for the question. The Urantia Book does teach us that the soul and Spirit are separate. The Spirit is the Thought Adjuster. It is an immortal, non-personal entity that is destined to become personal by fusion with a mortal. The fused mortal then becomes immortal. Not all indwelt mortals choose to eternalize their personalities. Therefore, there are many TAs with prior experiences before they indwell our minds. Depending on your closeness to Spirit, your TA may try to impart these experiences to you. This may lead us to believe we have lived past lives. However, the UB teaches us that this life is the starting gate for us. But if we choose to fuse, the past experiences of the TA would become our own. So these aren't our past lives yet, but they could become ours in the future. Does that make sense?

As for the soul, it is weaved by the TA as we choose to do the will of God. That means that only our experiences that reflect truth, beauty, and goodness will be eternalized. The TA doesn't indwell their charge until he or she has made their first moral choice, usually around the age of 5 or 6. So, at birth we don't have souls per se, but we have the seeds of a soul and the ground in which it grows. It just needs to be watered with love, and illuminated by Spirit to grow.

I hope this helps.

Jon