Tidings – June 2023
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In This Issue
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Enrique Traver, Brazil 
Urantia Association International exists because we believe that the teachings of the 5th revelation have the potential to rejuvenate spirituality worldwide, increasing the comfort, well-being, and happiness of every person.
We want to reach each person, every individual, for whom we hope to create opportunities to help them connect to God by sharing the teachings of The Urantia Book.
What is meant by create? Opportunities often come out of the blue, or are prompted by the spirit, or just occur suddenly - and often we don't even notice them, we just let them pass by. The act of seeking to create keeps us connected, aware, so we won't let any opportunity pass by, even those we do not create but have been given to us.
Creating or having, allows the same opportunity to reach the individual. “Having” grants us the opportunity to perceive the Spirit call to serve the individual; to quench their thirst and hunger for God. “Creating” gives us the opportunity to ask the Spirit to help serve that individual and to satisfy his or her thirst and hunger for God.
Creating and/or having ensures that we can reach everyone regardless of luck or chance because we are seeking the individual and not necessarily being sought by the individual. When we meet the individual, we can immediately perceive their request for help, hidden or explicit. Often the individual does not realize they need help. In fact, most of the time he doesn't think he needs any help at all.
So, what matters is to be connected to the Spirit, and with that partnership, to be ready to lovingly serve our brothers and sisters.
God is an experience, personal and non-transferable, but this experience is revealing, and it is contagious because it is a Light, it is a mirror that reveals our soul, our being. Those who have found God do not project shadows, on the contrary, they reflect Light. If we cast shadows, we probably haven't truly connected to God yet. The experience of finding and being with God is contagious, just as goodness, love and joy are contagious. It is impossible to go unnoticed when we allow God's Love and Light to flow through us, when we inspire reassurance and comfort, when we convey hope, when we comfort in the embrace, when we simply love and care for a person, when we bear the fruits of the spirit. The result is almost never immediate. It often takes time, dedication, and love. But when it happens, we experience immense joy.
 | | Carlos Rubinsky |
Often, we don't have to look very far; the people who need help can be right next to us. Our mission is to bring this revelation to every corner of the world. We need to pay attention, to push boundaries, and to expand horizons.
If we have difficulty helping our neighbor to connect to God, how do we reach those who are far away? Sometimes they are in other countries or speaking other languages. This is why we must work together in the Association. I invite everyone to reflect on this challenge. We will be working hard on this in the coming months as we discuss our Long-Term Plan and strategize on how to achieve our goals. Spreading the revelation in areas where we do not have an affiliate is just one of them.
We can also value and participate in the many spaces and ways that have already been created from working together; conferences, study groups, webinars, online study courses, discussion forums, and communications like Tidings, all which allow us to have and share experiences that would otherwise not be possible.
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Phillip Marriott, AUS 
Dear Urantia Book Students,
To better serve study groups all over the world we are launching the latest global study group survey. It will enable us to feel the pulse of students’ needs and expectations. The results will also help us gauge the current status of study groups.
Another benefit is that your responses can help us to find you a study group that suits your needs or help you in starting your own. We will share our report with you in the next issue of Tidings.
If you have not already done so, please use this link to access and fill out the survey:
Study Group Survey
Once we finish our survey, we will publish the results in Tidings.
Thank you for your cooperation and assistance!
Urantia Association International
Study Group Committee
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PIRT Volunteer, USA 
Jim has been a "breath of fresh air" – the unexpected jewel among all of the great inmates (185) that I have heard from over the past few years.
I heard from Jim for the first time in early 2021. I already had over a year of experience working with the Prison Inmate Response Team (PIRT) and had read many nice letters requesting a free copy of The Urantia Book along with a few testimonials by that time, but there was just something special about his letter...
As you may know, the PIRT team communicates with inmates by using an alias; Jim and the others know me as a fellow named Evan Todd. I have to say that, since I first began receiving letters in late 2018, I have never received a letter that was rude or crude from anyone (as one might initially have been concerned about); so for any inmate to stand out and distinguish himself among all others who are behaving like gentlemen says something very powerful about Jim.
First, he didn't ask for a book – he already had one and had read it completely. Here are some highlights from his first letter assigned to me:
"Dear Friend,
I have been an inmate in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections for nearly the past ten years, with no end in sight, for crimes which I did not commit. I share this not to elicit physical support, sympathy, pity, or even moral outrage toward the system, but rather as a basis for you to gain a glimpse of a hungry soul.
I came from a background of a fairly legalistic, righteous (if not self-righteous), non-denominational Christian church where I had been leading a house church, bible study groups, and a music ministry. Circumstances and disagreements led me to leave this church, but I will always be grateful for Our Father drawing me closer to him through them.
I was first exposed to The Urantia Book some eight years ago. I had a cellmate who was even more legalistic than the church I had come from. He was so much so that he often spoke old English in normal conversation in an attempt to imitate the King James bible. I was attempting to assuage my yearning for understanding, guidance, peace and freedom through God at this point in my life albeit by a much less legalistic approach than I had embraced in the past. He and I would engage in heated debates, the last of which ended in his prophecy of me "eternally bound in the flames of Hades." The day after this prediction he returned from the library with a fully indexed version of The Urantia Book. We were immediately intrigued and excited at what we were learning.
We took turns using the index to look up "mysteries" that the bible had left us, and we would share with each other what we were learning. The next day my cellmate was transferred from the facility. I have not seen him since. I obtained a copy of The Urantia Book (unfortunately not indexed) and have studied it nearly daily since.
I am not seeking verification of the authenticity of the book. The spirit within me testifies to this divine revelation. Each time through the papers, I gain an even greater understanding than the last. The love, the fruits of the spirit, the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Father, the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Mankind all become clearer and clearer especially as I share with those around me. I am left feeling a bit dejected though, as most of them seem to realize far less joy and excitement than I.
I am extremely grateful to be able to enjoy this, the fifth epochal revelation to mankind on Urantia. I would be remiss if I failed to inquire after further revelations which would guide me in my journey to the Father. I would appreciate any information, groups, or correspondence relating to such and also any direction you could provide.
In His Love, James H.
Knowledge is possessed only by sharing; it is safeguarded by wisdom and socialized by love. (48:7.28, 557.12)
I sent him George Michelson-Dupont's course from Urantia Book International School (UBIS), and in Jim's next letter addressed to me he wrote:
"Dear Evan,
Thank you for responding to my letter of inquiry regarding Urantia Foundation. I am encouraged to hear about efforts to expand the world's knowledge and understanding of this epoch revelation. As I explained in my previous letter, I "stumbled" onto The Urantia Book after crying out to God in prayer for greater understanding, reason, and purpose. I had been studying the Bible for more than 30 years, had been a church leader, yet I had so many questions that have gone unanswered until reading this book. The clarity and authority with which it spoke to me gave testimony to its authenticity and Truth.
It is impossible to keep silent about such a powerful and impactful revelation. As such, I have been sharing it with many that I know both in prison and on the streets. So many people want and need this book. They are hungry for it. I find myself advising many by the information and advice that I myself have gained from the book. Several inmates near me have begun their personal journey. Many of them have received or are in the process of getting the book, though resources are somewhat minimal for us.
I very much enjoyed the lesson, "The Inescapable Command" that you sent. I found it very interesting to see the perspective of others. I welcome and very much appreciate this and any other lessons that I may be able to receive. I would also appreciate any direction you could provide me to help those who are new to the book. The flyers you sent with selected excerpts were very well received. If you have more, I could use them to create more enthusiasm. I also have been sharing my own favorite excerpts. Let me know if you are interested in hearing any of them.
I appreciate you and others who volunteer and donate not only to the prisons but to all in the world who really hunger for this Truth. If I am able to prove my innocence by the grace of God, I will certainly be generous in giving of time, money, and resources. Unfortunately, I am unable at this time to give financially. At least now I see a purpose, experiential growth. God truly is blessing me through it all. God bless you Evan. Thank you for your letter!
In His Love, Jim H.
At that time, I responded with Dorothy Elder's UBIS course since he enjoyed the first one so much...
In Jim's third letter, which was a bit delayed, he explained that he had been busy with pursuing research and legal avenues through the prison law library to help his cause, which he explained was quite exhausting; in addition to experiencing housing issues that forced him being moved around the facility. He hadn't had a chance to finish the second UBIS course, but he said that it became apparent that, through his difficulties, God was blessing him... a new perspective which inspired him to share with others, resulting in his estimate of five books being requested in prison and two purchased out on the streets.
For two years I have received beautiful Christmas cards from Jim. My cards came back because of prison rules so we sent a used copy of the indexed version this year for Jim to have again and he was ecstatic to receive it.
 | | Rienaldo Dennes |
Jim mentioned having studied many scriptures including the Bible as a starting point, Eastern religions and a course in Siddha Yoga, to name a few. He said that all of his studying had prepared him to receive the truth in The Urantia Book, "by far the greatest source of Truth I have encountered in written form." He asked that I share with all the PIRT volunteers his gratitude for "their dedication to a segment of society which is often overlooked, and they are to be commended."
PIRT rules require we use an alias. Of course, I never dreamed when I chose my alias that any of the inmates would study the book so thoroughly or ever write to me enough to catch the meaning of the alias I chose for my name after Eventod, but this only further explains how special and devoted to the revelation that Jim is; in a postscript he wrote:
"When I first saw your name, it rang familiar to me. I recently found out why. I had read it several times before. Are you the namesake of the fifth bestowal of our now Sovereign Michael? 119:5.2"
PIRT rules forced me to joke about the name in my next letter and I explained to him that he was the first person who had discovered the name connection, which earned him a prize. I sent him a copy of “A Study of the Master Universe” by Bill Sadler Jr. and another UBIS course that I had taught, “Essentials of a Powerful Personal Religion.”
Our next letters were a bit different in that we were both experiencing the health decline of our mothers at the same time. Some very encouraging quotes were exchanged, and when his mother went into memory care and my mother passed away, a level of true compassion grew that was unique and again made Jim stand out by his recognition of the challenges others face, not just his own. He felt blessed that he had a good conversation with his mother, and she seemed happy and well cared for. His regret at not being able to care for her himself was a particular challenge for him to bear, and he was very kind when he heard both of my parents had died within a very short period of time. We were both able to draw strength from the promise within the book of being reunited someday with our parents.
In my most recent letter from Jim he wrote:
"Dear Evan,
WOW! First you send an indexed version of The Urantia Book and now you surprise me again with "A Study of the Master Universe"! I've only skimmed it so far, but I am greatly intrigued. Having some background in music, I appreciate the metaphor of a symphony used in the Foreword, though I believe The Urantia Book IS an actual symphony, not just like one. Certainly, the Celestial Artisans must have at least some hands in these records. Just as in an earthly symphony, ideas are introduced, examined, set aside, reintroduced, and then expanded upon and evolved. The Urantia Book offers beauty in the elements of a story. Righteousness strikes the harmony chords of truth, and this melody vibrates throughout the cosmos.
The comparison in the Afterword to, "a romance – a story of love and adventure, is equally inspired in its description of the fifth epochal revelation to our world. The truth it expounds, and the goodness of its message must be predicated upon the Universal Father's LOVE.
I believe I told you in my last letter that I had been moved to an incentive pod rather than the "faith pod" where I had been. It seemed that I had more opportunity to private study, meditation, and prayer in the "faith pod" than I have now. The upside is that many more in the incentive pod seem to come to me to discuss philosophy, theology, religion, and even The Urantia Book! Several more have written and been sent books. For the most part I am encouraged by this... and have had some great conversations with a few. I've found when I am called to state what I believe is truth, I seem to gain a deeper grasp of it. "Knowledge is possessed by sharing. It is safeguarded by wisdom and socialized by love."
Who knows? Maybe I am being trained for the Reserve Corps of Destiny! I am certain, of course, that we all are being trained for an eternal future much greater than even that!
In His Love, Your friend, Jim H.
What more can I say? What a profound pleasure and privilege it has been to have been assigned to this gentleman.
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James Woodward, USA
Living and Dying
“I declare that you must be reborn.” (140.6.2, 1576.2)
This command is very important. To be reborn means that you first must die. Of course, this teaching invokes the spiritual meaning, not the cessation of physical life. Since the body and mind do not die with this rebirth in the spirit, what exactly does? What must die before something new can be reborn?
If it’s not the physical self that must die to be reborn, perhaps then it’s our preoccupation with the material self, endless thoughts about ourselves. When a spiritual aspirant is told that to see nirvana, discover their soul, or achieve union with God, that he must be reborn—the fear of death is inevitably triggered. It’s a natural fear, though God has told us that we live again, even proved it one Sunday morning. Yet even a unique and holy resurrection may fail to stifle our preoccupation with self since deep instinct repels us from death and dying. We may believe our spirit self transcends time and space, but death remains a powerful mystery for the living. The rebirth teaching is one more spiritual paradox for us tadpoles; for us to progress, something of us must die, anathema to a fearful self.
We rest and relax, we pray and worship, because stress and anxiety are the enemies of healthy body and mind, because jagged thoughts and emotions subdue the spirit. When we are stressed and anxious, we are clogged with self, usually. Concerns about our lives and our loved ones must be addressed, it’s true. But most of the routine fears that distract and distress us trend into self-welfare, even self-obsession. Legitimate concern about our daily bread is so often overlaid with petty worries, restricting the flow of vital spirit currents. “What he preached against was not forethought but anxiety, worry” (140.8.3). Yet we may always choose baptism in the living water, releasing the flow to spirit-thirsting souls. Jesus taught his followers this truth: “I am the living water” (182.1.11).
The self exhibits a range of maturity, or evolution. The best spiritual advice is not to “kill your self,” but to “grow your self,” from the naturally selfish child to the wise selfless adult. The approach taught by Jesus lends dignity to the self, a component of our personality.
What he aimed at in his life appears to have been a superb self-respect. He only advised man to humble himself that he might become truly exalted; what he really aimed at was true humility toward God. He placed great value upon sincerity — a pure heart. (140.8.20, 1582.1)
Prayer is self-reminding — sublime thinking; worship is self-forgetting — superthinking. Worship is effortless attention, true and ideal soul rest, a form of restful spiritual exertion. (143.7.7, 1616.9)
The journey of transformation, to being grown in the spirit, is dramatic but not necessarily traumatic! Personality is the container and unifier of our self, a precious gift from Father because each one is unique. We can trust that growth can—and will be—accommodated within the protective sphere of our personality, since, subject to our free-will fusion decision, progress is an eternal process. The assurance of personality survival is the flagship of faith.
Thus, an intellectual and spiritual grasp of immortality is the foundation of personal progress. The full and absolute embrace of personality survival is the secret to the most joyous existential sigh of relief a mortal being may experience. This faith attitude removes all fears and anxieties about death; it promotes living to our full potential.
Our Master’s most dramatic lessons focused attention on the fact and truth of immortality. Lazarus survived death. Jesus survived death. So will you. Relax. Focus on being grown. Pray. Worship. Rinse away the clog with the living water of Jesus.
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Mark Blackham, Canada
Written by a Urantia Book Student
The God Experience is founded on the concepts, values, and ideals portrayed in The Urantia Book. With those matchless teachings woven throughout its pages, it is a welcoming and approachable guide to embracing God and spirituality. And while it only mentions The Urantia Book briefly in the first chapter, it does include many short quotations, an appetite-whetting feature that will lead the curious reader to the original source.
A Booklife Review – “Putting aside all religious affiliations, 80 percent of Americans say they still believe in some notion of God or a greater spirit being," writes Bonair in this thoughtful guide to using mindfulness, meditation, and prayer to seek a true connection to the Spirit of God. While Bonair acknowledges that using the term “God” can be limiting, he aims to help those who are “spiritual but not religious” understand the divine nature of a “universal Creator” by exploring religious misconceptions and developing a fresh understanding of God’s character. That character, according to Bonair, is compassionate and gracious, the opposite of the angry and unforgiving deity often depicted in organized religion.
Readers will find this a valuable resource to quiet the noise of the physical world and tap into a deeper understanding of the spiritual realm. Bonair starts by breaking down the historical representations of God, touching on the interplay between science and faith, the ancient roots of Western religion, and the barriers created by spiritual myths—and he contends those barriers should be stripped away in order to see the “human attempt to connect and identify with the spirit phase of reality” underneath. To help readers experience a “personal spiritual experience,” Bonair offers a host of meditation and self-reflection techniques that will cultivate an open mind, including positive visualizations, developing meaningful prayer habits, and a convenient nine-step spiritual problem-solving method.
Bonair’s accommodating style allows readers the grace and opportunity to grow in a way that will align with their unique spiritual beliefs, and throughout the guide he contends that spirituality is a basic human need (it’s “ironic that millions of people who openly reject religion also profess to live spiritual lives, or at least to entertain spiritual ideals” he writes). This insightful debut is the perfect resource for anyone seeking to enhance their spiritual self.
Available through Amazon or Barnes & Noble
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Collins Lomos, Ghana  | | Delae Sowu (center) |
For many of us, the search for truth has been a life-long affair; a journey which has taken us to many places and sometimes through many trials and unforgettable moments. “All of life’s toughest questions were answered when I discovered The Urantia Book.” This is the testimonial of quite a number of readers who have discovered the Fifth Epochal Revelation, and for me, it pretty much did so but it also left me searching for more to know in this vast creation.
Although the search for truth is a never-ending quest, the journey becomes exhilarating when one discovers friends and fellow truth seekers who share the same light and energy and seem to be connected by a universal purpose. Delae Sowu is one such truth seeker who I describe as “a friend to everyone.”
The Urantia Book readers in Ghana held a conference in 2017, and among the attendees were readers we’d never met or heard of since we started our study group. The amazing thing is that we discovered quite a few of them had the Big Blue Book for over 20 years or more and they’d been reading it along with other religious texts. The sight of meeting many Urantia Book readers under one roof and publicly sharing insights from this amazing revelation was a lovely scene, and joyful for many who attended that day.
What endured beyond this gathering was the spirit of friendship cultivated among us. Among these newly found truth seekers was Delae, a long-time reader who I met for the first time at the 2017 conference. My first impression was that she was a woman full of courage and love, and curious about life and the beyond. She spread the love and light of the universe with smiles and a cheerful demeanor to everyone she comes across.
For the many years we’ve hosted study groups in Ghana, I thought regular meetings and having well-coordinated discussions would keep the group going. While we managed to stay active and grow in number, it became apparent to me that what really kept us going was the friendly bond we’d developed with the friends we made on this journey. I don’t think we would have lasted for so long if it were not for the wonderful souls who graced our meetings with good cheer and welcoming personalities.
I joined the group to study The Urantia Book and, before long, became good friends with Delae who would call me at work and share experiences of her youth and work life. She would bring seedlings to meetings and give one to each of us to start our own gardens. Delae would also bring tasty dishes that I’d never heard of—and they were awesome. I savored every bit of them!
In this part of the world, it’s not always easy to get readers to participate in major gatherings or events apart from the usual study group meetings. As an organizer, it was hard to find presenters or speakers for conferences and Urantiathons. However, Delae would always answer the call to share her views on the revelation. She was a friend I could count on when all else fails.
As a study group host, I sometimes wanted to cancel meetings due to pressing personal activities but the thought of my friends who were longing to share our time together was enough for me to sacrifice all matters just to come meet and connect with members to discuss the book. I know there are readers who won’t miss our once-a-month meetings for anything in the world, so I respond likewise.
 | | Collins Lomo |
My journey with sharing The Urantia Book has been graced with friendships that developed beyond sharing a common goal of acquiring spiritual enlightenment. As inspired by the Master, I try to make friends wherever life takes me, and l make an effort to take an interest in the lives of those who chance to come my way. Indeed, people listen when you show interest in their lives, even if it’s only in the simplest of ways.
I woke up to this reality when, on the morning of January, the 7th 2023, I received a call from Delae’s mother telling me that “your friend has passed on. Sorry to give you this news." This really shocked me, and I couldn’t believe that the same friend I read a post from on our study group page barely hours before, was gone. For days I pondered over the calls I had with my reader-friend and thought of the many discussions we had on topics from the book. The void within me due to this news made me realize that the opportunity to know my reader-friend was not merely about the study of a book but truly, that a friend walked this journey with me; a friend encouraged me to share the light with many; a friend that came along to grace this service of sowing the seeds of enlightenment and awakening on Urantia.
No doubt we will miss her presence in our meetings and Urantiathons, but we will rejoice in the knowledge that she’s taken on a new form now and embarks on an amazing adventure on the mansions of the Universal Father, for, while she sojourned on planet earth, she so longed to see the new life that awaited on the higher realms.
Till we meet on new shores for universe service... journey on my friend and dear sister, Delae Sowu.
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The Tidings newsletter is a quarterly on-line publication that serves as Urantia Association International’s primary communication tool for reaching out to the Association’s membership, supporters, donors, volunteers, and general readership friends. It provides news and information on the many activities and events of the National or Affiliate Urantia Associations around the globe as well as information and announcements from Central Office, the International Service Board (ISB), and the Representative Council (RC). It serves to keep members in touch with one another and gives readers a sense of belonging—of being an integral part of a truly international movement that is designed to promote the Urantia revelation to all corners of the world.
Note: Tidings also occasionally provides news of other Urantia-related activities and events that may be of interest to our supporters and friends. Please note that any interpretations, opinions, conclusions, or artistic representations, whether stated or implied, are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Urantia Association International, the National or Affiliate Urantia Associations, or the editorial team of the Association’s Tidings.
Grass Roots Level
The number of National or Affiliate Urantia Associations scattered throughout the world is steadily growing and collectively they undertake service activities that have the ability to inspire and motivate others; activities such as study conferences, regional gatherings, study groups, dissemination programs, educational programs, outreach projects, and the development of study aids and newsletters. These Associations are the lifeblood of Urantia Association International—they function at the grass roots level where effective service and dissemination of the revelation takes place.
Share Your Stories
There are thousands of readers with unique personal stories about how they found The Urantia Book and how it has changed their lives. There are hundreds of study groups all over the world that can share stories and encourage readers to either create a study group of their own or participate in one. These stories need to be told and Tidings provides an effective platform for the sharing of such activities.
If you would like to share your stories please submit your material to the Chief Editor. Topics may include:
- How you found The Urantia Book
- Special projects such as Book Fairs, Library Placement, Outreach
- New or established study groups—how you got started—what keeps you going?
- Your annual meetings, picnics, or other social gatherings
- Send pictures
Tidings Team
- Chief Editor: Myra Hight
- Co-editors: Mark Blackham, James Woodward, Richard Jernigan
- Online and hard-copy English newsletters: Mark Blackham
- Spanish translator an online Spanish newsletter: Olga Lopez
- French translator: Alain Cyr and collaborators
- French online newsletter: Alain Cyr
Submissions:
Submit articles to the Chief Editor and please understand that they may be subject to revision. Please limit them to approximately 1 to 1½ pages (700 to 1400 words) plus one or two photos.
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