I encourage each and every individual who has counted the cost, and has decided to heed our master’s admonishments to take a fearless moral inventory of ourselves, and make sure that we are ready to live the lives we wish to exemplify. We are human, and will experience successes and failures, but remember we are told to: “Never forget that, when you are a faith son of God, all upright work of the realm is sacred. Nothing which a son of God does can be common” 192:2.13. This can be a debilitating statement for some honest and sincerely zealous Ambassador’s. It causes us to reflect on our own behavior, and attitude that we carry around and parade in front of others. If someone over thinks this statement (which is quite normal) they could very easily talk themselves out of serving all together until they deem themselves ready. For those who have found themselves in this pickle, I would also point out that the Master has told us in response to one of the Apostle Andrews questions 143:2.2 “John indeed taught you the way of righteousness in accordance with the light and laws of his fathers, and that was the religion of self-‐examination and self-‐denial. But I come with a new message of self-‐forgetfulness and self-‐control. The Master also said: 48:6.37 Self-‐importance, not work-‐importance, exhausts immature creatures; it is the self element that exhausts, not the effort to achieve. You can do important work if you do not become self-‐important; you can do several things as easily as one if you leave yourself out. After reading this quote I understand it as meaning that I can lose myself in the work. I can progress while I’m serving as well. I don’t have to be perfect before I put one foot in front of the other, but it does help me to be cognizant of both my behavior and attitude in all aspects of my life, but especially when I am representing the Kingdom. (psssst, I’m always representing the Kingdom). 155:6.7 I admonish you to give up the practice of always quoting the prophets of old and praising the heroes of Israel, and instead aspire to become living prophets of the Most High and spiritual heroes of the coming kingdom. That however is by no means an excuse to run out hastily and spread the good news without planning. I’ve found it wise to plan my outreach efforts, and do my best to adapt to anything and everything that occurs outside of my plan as I go along. “Most people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan.” 191:4.4 Go, then, into all the world proclaiming this gospel of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men to all nations and races and ever be wise in your choice of methods for presenting the good news to the different races and tribes of mankind. Freely you have
received this gospel of the kingdom, and you will freely give the good news to all nations. Fear not the resistance of evil, for I am with you always, even to the end of the ages. And my peace I leave with you.” 193:0.4 I admonish you ever to remember that your mission among men is to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom — the reality of the fatherhood of God and the truth of the sonship of man. I’ve found a new philosophy that’s caused me to change my approach to ministry. “As it turns out, there’s a pattern that all the great and inspiring leaders and organizations
in the world, whether it's Apple, or Martin Luther King or the Wright brothers, they all think, act and communicate the exact same way. And it's the complete opposite to everyone else.” Simon Sinek did a TED talk on this subject and he calls it the golden circle. I am going to read briefly from the transcript of his TED talk, to illuminate his technique, and then I will discuss how I believe it could not only aid in proclaiming the gospel, but it will also take the individual proclaiming the gospel out of the equation, and what happens when we leave ourselves out? “Why? How? What? This little idea explains why some organizations and some leaders are
able to inspire where others aren't. Let me define the terms really quickly. Every single person, every single organization on the planet knows what they do, 100 percent. Some know how they do it, whether you call it your differentiated value proposition or your proprietary process. But very, very few people or organizations know why they do what they do. And by "why" I don't mean "to make a profit." That's a result. It's always a result. By "why" I mean: what's your purpose? What's your cause? What's your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care? Well, as a result, the way we think, the way we act, the way we communicate is from the outside in. It's obvious. We go from the clearest thing to the fuzziest thing. But the inspired leaders and the inspired organizations, regardless of their size, regardless of their industry, all think, act and communicate from the inside out. People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe. None of what I'm telling you is my opinion. It's all grounded in the tenets of biology. Not psychology, biology. If you look at a cross-‐section of the human brain, looking from the top down, What you see is the human brain is actually broken into three major components that correlate perfectly with the golden circle. Our newest brain, our homo sapien brain, our neocortex, corresponds with the "what" level. The neocortex is responsible for all of our rational and analytical thought and language. The middle two sections make up our limbic brains. And our limbic brains
are responsible for all of our feelings, like trust and loyalty. It's also responsible for all human behavior, all decision-‐making, and it has no capacity for language. In other words, when we communicate from the outside in, yes, people can understand vast amounts of complicated information like features and benefits and facts and figures. It just doesn't drive behavior. When we can communicate from the inside out, we're talking directly to the part of the brain that controls behavior, and then we allow people to rationalize it with the tangible things we say and do. This is where gut decisions come from. You know, sometimes you can give somebody all the facts and figures, and they say, "I know what all the facts and details say, but it just doesn't feel right." Why would we use that verb, it doesn't "feel" right? Because the part of the brain that controls decision-‐ making, doesn't control language. And the best we can muster up is, "I don't know. It just doesn't feel right." Or sometimes you say you're leading with your heart, or you're leading with your soul. Well, I hate to break it to you, those aren't other body parts controlling your behavior. It's all happening here in you limbic brain, the part of the brain that controls decision-‐making and not language. But if you don't know why you do what you do, and people respond to why you do what you do, then how you ever get people to vote for you, or buy something from you, or, more importantly, be loyal and want to be a part of what it is that you do. Again, the goal is not just to sell to people who need what you have; the goal is to sell to people who believe what you believe.” I’ve learned from people in our Urantia community that people start reading the Urantia book because of some sort of initial affirmation that they experience within its papers. Through the loving ministry of our thought adjuster, spirit of truth, and occasions of experience we make a transition from the book being that of affirmation to it being that of revelation. It’s incredibly important to not stray the path… We need to be mindful that we are at our best as ministers of the Kingdom, when we stick to the task at hand. We need to find those thirsty souls languishing in darkness and offer them the light that lives within us. By proclaiming on an individual basis, the goodness of God we will find many souls who likewise believe, and as I’ve learned it’s through the WHY that we can find common ground on the HOW, and thereby lead us to the WHAT. Francis of Assisi is said to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words" That’s an incredible truth! It always amazes me to no end when I discover people who have “figured it out” without the Urantia Book, and through my truth seeking career, I’ve discovered many individuals who “got it”. The underlying theme for most of us, who have the Urantia Book in our lives, seems to be we were looking for it. We should practicing finding those who are searching, and when we
find them, be patient enough to understand their questions, repeat it back to them for confirmation, and look for that moment of opportunity to answer the longings of their hearts, by sharing the Gospel from a point of view where that individual can understand and benefit from such a message. Post card answers don’t work for this generation and time. The Youth today want to see life being lived to its fullest, and Ideals being experienced by those who intend to teach us them. Too long has our youth been told to do as we are taught and not as we see… Too long have we been mislead by well intentioned individuals who have no desire to step out of the box of the militant structure in family, and into the celebration of expression of self. You ask what will attract the youth? Love attracts youth. The Master was careful not to give advice unless it was asked for, and he always showed an interest in the children, and their interests as well. We all march the beat of a different drummer, and no one approach is all encompassing. "People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” is a saying that has been credited to many people, such as Cavett Robert and John C. Maxwell. The saying appears to have started in the medical profession, emphasizing that caring for patients is just as important to them as a medical professional’s book knowledge. But it is true none the less, and in my studies of the Master’s approach to outreach he was superb at both asking and answering questions. 99:4.5 After all, it is what one believes rather than what one knows that determines
conduct and dominates personal performances. Purely factual knowledge exerts very little influence upon the average man unless it becomes emotionally activated. But the activation of religion is superemotional, unifying the entire human experience on transcendent levels through contact with, and release of, spiritual energies in the mortal life. 99:5.7 Just as certainly as men share their religious beliefs, they create a religious group of
some sort which eventually creates common goals. Someday religionists will get together and actually effect co-‐operation on the basis of unity of ideals and purposes rather than attempting to do so on the basis of psychological opinions and theological beliefs. Goals rather than creeds should unify religionists. Since true religion is a matter of personal spiritual experience, it is inevitable that each individual religionist must have his own and personal interpretation of the realization of that spiritual experience. Let the term "faith" stand for the individual's relation to God rather than for the creedal formulation of what some group of mortals have been able to agree upon as a common religious attitude. "Have you faith? Then have it to yourself."
99:6.2 There is a real purpose in the socialization of religion. It is the purpose of group
religious activities to dramatize the loyalties of religion; to magnify the lures of truth, beauty, and goodness; to foster the attractions of supreme values; to enhance the service of unselfish fellowship; to glorify the potentials of family life; to promote religious education; to provide wise counsel and spiritual guidance; and to encourage group worship. And all live religions encourage human friendship, conserve morality, promote neighborhood welfare, and facilitate the spread of the essential gospel of their respective messages of eternal salvation. We must as ambassadors of the kingdom plan and organize our zeal, and align ourselves to the spiritual channels that lift us up in our efforts: 130:2.4 There is no adventure in the course of mortal existence more enthralling than to enjoy the exhilaration of becoming the material life partner with spiritual energy and divine truth in one of their triumphant struggles with error and evil. It is a marvelous and transforming experience to become the living channel of spiritual light to the mortal who sits in spiritual darkness. If you are more blessed with truth than is this man, his need should challenge you. Surely you are not the coward who could stand by on the seashore and watch a fellow man who could not swim perish! How much more of value is this man’s soul floundering in darkness compared to his body drowning in water!” The key is to find out a common WHY amongst any particular group that you plan on proclaiming the gospel too. Then strategically plant the seeds of truth, and leave the rest of the work to the Spirit of Truth. 178:1.16 Do not forget that you are commissioned to go forth preaching only the good news. You are not to attack the old ways; you are skillfully to put the leaven of new truth in the midst of the old beliefs. Let the spirit of truth do his own work. Let controversy come only when they who despise the truth force it upon you. But when the willful unbeliever attacks you, do not hesitate to stand in vigorous defense of the truth which has saved and sanctified you. Someone whom I’ve known for a long time who’s proven to me as being loyal, and a dear friend and mentor once pointed out to me that John the Baptist took 40years to plan his ministry, and I see the wisdom in that. I am a work in progress just as all of us are, but when I humble myself in front of my master and ask him to put me to work, I feel the love as if I’m the only being important to him at that very moment in all of existence, and I want to be the best I can be for him, because he’s so great to me and everyone. My fire comes from knowing that everyone deserves to feel that love, and everyone deserves to know how good and great our father is just like I do. Everyone deserves to
have that personal relationship with the Father that I have, and until my last breath I will do my best to progress from my animal nature to that of spiritual, and thereby effectively improving in my ministry as I live and grow. I promise to all of you here today in front of my Father to be there for you, and with you all as we learn his will, and subsequently to share that precious experience with all of our brothers/sister who languish in darkness… 192:2.2 Jesus then turned toward Peter and asked, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter answered,
“Lord, you know I love you with all my soul.” Then said Jesus: “If you love me, Peter, feed my lambs. Do not neglect to minister to the weak, the poor, and the young. Preach the gospel without fear or favor; remember always that God is no respecter of persons. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you; forgive your fellow mortals even as I have forgiven you. Let experience teach you the value of meditation and the power of intelligent reflection.” 192:2.3 After they had walked along a little farther, the Master turned to Peter and asked,
“Peter, do you really love me?” And then said Simon, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” And again said Jesus: “Then take good care of my sheep. Be a good and a true shepherd to the flock. Betray not their confidence in you. Be not taken by surprise at the enemy’s hand. Be on guard at all times—watch and pray.” 192:2.4 When they had gone a few steps farther, Jesus turned to Peter and, for the third time,
asked, “Peter, do you truly love me?” And then Peter, being slightly grieved at the Master’s seeming distrust of him, said with considerable feeling, “Lord, you know all things, and therefore do you know that I really and truly love you.” Then said Jesus: “Feed my sheep. Do not forsake the flock. Be an example and an inspiration to all your fellow shepherds. Love the flock as I have loved you and devote yourself to their welfare even as I have devoted my life to your welfare. And follow after me even to the end.”
192:2.5 Peter took this last statement literally—that he should continue to follow after him—
and turning to Jesus, he pointed to John, asking, “If I follow on after you, what shall this man do?” And then, perceiving that Peter had misunderstood his words, Jesus said: “Peter, be not concerned about what your brethren shall do. If I will that John should tarry after you are gone, even until I come back, what is that to you? Only make sure that you follow me.” Thank you for my time, and for everything that you all do for the Kingdom, and I look forward to serving with you for all eternity. God Bless.