Special Event in Wenatchee

by Pat Murnin

On Sunday, June 3rd, 2001 Washington State Urantia Association was licensed in Wenatchee. Mario and I drove up for the meeting. While we were driving we realized that we had both been to the conference in Wenatchee in 1975. In those days Wenatchee, Washington was the center for the new Urantia movement in this part of the country. This was the home of the Evergreen URANTIA SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, founded by Lew and Alice Clark and their study group, and they were holding a regional conference.

The 1975 Northwest Gathering was the first Urantia conference that we had ever attended—it was wonderful. Featured speakers were Vern Grimsley and Meredith Sprunger. After that weekend conference we left Wenatchee filled with the spirit, our feet barely touching the ground. This is a sensation that I have felt after every conference that I’ve been to since then, but this was our first experience and I’ll never forget it.
The final speaker that weekend in 1975 was Meredith Sprunger and he was inspirational. In his presentation he was talking about how the social architects work with people to bring them together for special reasons, and that we shouldn’t be surprised if people come to us in search of the truth, and we shouldn’t miss the chance to introduce these people to the Urantia Book because it is possible that the Social Architects have brought these people to you to find the truth of the Urantia revelation.

On our way back to Portland in 1975 we, Steve and Judy Kazmar and Mary and I, stopped at the Stonehenge replica that was built in Goldendale, Washington overlooking the Columbia Gorge. While we were looking at it we decided to pull out a Urantia book because we remembered there is a reference to Stonehenge in the book and wanted to look it up. While we were doing this another car pulled up and an older couple got out. Noticing that we were reading this big blue book they approached us and asked if we knew the truth.... After we got our bottom jaws lifted from the ground. We introduced these people to the Urantia Book. At first they were inquiring about what information we had on Stonehenge, but by the time they left there they were going back to California with buying a Urantia Book first thing on their to-do list. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend. One that will stick in our minds forever.

So now here we are 26 years later going back to the same city, the same building, to witness the licensing of the Washington State Urantia Association. This is an event that we have been praying about for many years. There are so many readers in Washington, and bringing them together has been hard. I have been acting as the study group coordinator for the Northwest Urantia Association for the last couple of years, and it has been easier for me to help readers hook up with study groups in Oregon than it has been in Washington because I know the location of more study groups in Oregon than I do in Washington. I know that they have to be out there—I just don’t know about them. I have long felt that this could be a job done better by people who are living in Washington, and the work is too important not be done as well as it can be done. We also felt that it would be easier for Washington readers to participate if they didn’t have to travel to Oregon to attend N.U.A. meetings.

When we arrived at the Cascade Natural Gas Co. it was a wonderful reunion. Lew and Alice Clark and other members of the original Brotherhood Society of Wenatchee were there. I was delighted to find that the president of the new Washington Association is going to be Lew and Alice Clark’s daughter Janiece Heinberg. Lots of old friends from all over Washington were joining up at the registration table. Dennis Gray and his friend Laurie, and Mario and I were there from Oregon to wish them well, Nathan Jansen and his wife and Ron Louie were the from the Vancouver B.C. Urantia Association were there to give their support, and Richard Keeler and Cathy Jones were there from the Foundation to officiate over the licensing, wish Washington well with their new association.

So the Washington State Urantia Association was born on June 3rd, 2001 in Wenatchee with many family members present. With 34 starting members they are off to a great start. We look forward to working together to best serve the Father, the Urantia movement, and the readers of the Northwest. God speed Washington.

Washington State Urantia Association Licensed June 3, 2001

by Cathy Jones, IUA Administrator

The meeting was held in Wenatchee, the apple capital of the world located in central Washington. This beautiful, quiet city of 100,000 population is entirely surrounded by rolling, green mountains.

IUA members from Oregon and Vancouver, Canada, along with Richard Keeler and Cathy Jones attended this festive occasion to celebrate with and welcome 34 new members to this 24th local association of the United States National Urantia Association. Among the honored guests were Lewis and Alice Clark, the first Urantia Book leaders of the State.

The pro-tem officers are:

President - Janiece Heinberg - janiece.heinberg@bodywise.net
Vice-President - Ron Lawson - alrell1@attbi.com
Secretary - Cynthia McCarthy - erthlnk@earthlink
Treasurer - Dick Thayer - dthayer@methow.com

Many new friendships were made, old ones re-kindled. Exciting plans for disseminating The Urantia Book were set in motion. The universal spirit of love and brotherhood was in full force in Wenatchee on Sunday.

"The appearance of genuine brotherhood signifies that a social order has arrived in which all men delight in bearing one another's burdens, they actually desire to practice the golden rule." {p. 804 The Urantia Book}

[We meant to publish this article in this issue of the Oregondonter, but somehow it did not make it to the printed version. mc]

It is a Matter of Evolution

by Cindy McCarthy
Secretary, Washington State Urantia Association

The melody was written long ago and with time all the notes have come. This harmony of different notes playing each in it’s own place separate and also together with the rest caused such a blending to occur that a new song was born! That song was the creation of the WSUA!

It was such a thrill to meet Richard Keeler, Cathy Jones, and all the others attending the licensing event for the WSUA. I have been waiting for this to happen for a long time and am so happy to be a part of it. The fellowship with other readers was uplifting.

Richard Keeler told of how the Urantia Book is being made into other Languages and disseminated all over the world, Cathy Jones spoke of the history of the International Urantia Foundation, and each officer of the newly created WSUA shared a little about themselves.

There was a potluck after the licensing event where we reacquainted ourselves with distant friends and found new ones.
Cindy McCarthy is the secretary of Washington State Urantia Association.

A Conference Experience
or A Means to Beginning True “Ends” Without End

by Judy Van Cleave

Conferences can be one optimum way to experience our kindred spirits. Since attending my first in May of 1997, I look forward each year to the opportunity to gather with readers from around the country, and the world. Knowing that our love for the Revelation draws us together to fellowship actually provides for a depth of connection not readily available in everyday life. The experience of reuniting with reader friends for a few days of learning, worship, and reversion is a little slice of heaven on earth, and feels like coming home. Invariably, our time is too short, the need to use any of it for sleep is a nuisance, and we leave each year anticipating our next opportunity to gather.

This summer’s conference, hosted in the Heartland by the Kansas and Missouri Urantia Associations, was no exception. The USUA Leavenworth conference, titled “Preparing as Teachers and Leaders (or What Are You Doing With the Rest of Your Life?)”, focused on how the truth of those roles is really all about the willingness to serve, and how we might go about doing that with the time we have left on the planet. The conference itself was a testament to its theme, and reflected the fine sense of balance, pace, and leadership shared by the planners and presenters. We were well served by productive and informative presentations, ample opportunities to socialize, and truly soul-satisfying entertainment.

Carrie Prentice, Lee Armstrong, and Bill and Share Beasley gave the plenary talks. Each day a prelude of worship prepared us to receive these morning gifts of instruction. They were captivating presentations, often entertaining, and replete with thoughtful, encouraging, and helpful content on teaching, leading, and serving. Look for them to be printed in the next two IUA Journals.

The workshops I attended included a two-part class given by Lynn Prentice and Ellen Richardson designed to define individual interests, skills, and talents; to then combine them for a group service project; and to demonstrate the natural emergence of leadership in the process. We laughed a lot while learning more about each other and ourselves through the experience. The activities will be fun to use in our local group for developing service work. Another was Helen Anvelt’s audio and visual presentation on the Estonians’ youth program, which left me interested and impressed. Their program is well organized and well managed; and judging from the photos, has clearly engaged the enthusiasm of their youth. The development of such programs is affirming of the faith Jesus had in his fellowman. In my final two workshops, Jeff Wattles was well researched and thoughtfully prepared to give us ideas on sharing the gospel of Jesus in today’s world, in light of Urantia Book teachings. His lessons were well rooted in Jesus’ own eloquent approach.

My one regret was that I could not attend all the workshop sessions and meetings. After hearing from others about the sessions I missed, I decided the optimum experience would have been omni-presence.

Among other tasks, the youth—Mike Wood’s sons and their friends specifically—preformed the most robust service throughout the conference. At various times throughout the day, they helped Mike set up and tear down the sound equipment and move it around between three locations—in 90 to 100 degree heat and humidity. They were awesome and everywhere!

In addition to our service-motivated sound crew, there were many incredible musicians among us. Everyday we enjoyed their music. Our evening jam-sessions and sing-a-longs seem a tradition—and this year we had the words thanks to Ellen Richardson’s compilation and reproduction of three different books. Friday’s talent show was fun, entertaining, and moving. Lee Farmer’s performance of “Jesus Wept” left many of us misty eyed. And Saturday night was truly a night to remember. The room was stately, historical, and lent itself well to the occasion. We thoroughly enjoyed the performances of Rebecca Oswald, Christina Seaborn, Lee Farmer, Steve Shinall, and Richard Keeler—and we were literally spellbound by Bob Solone’s piano concert. It took some time for some of us to recover. I was so lost in his music, it wasn’t until I saw Christina lower her violin from her chin that I realized she had joined him.

We found the hospitality of the host associations inviting, the area of the country beautiful, the accommodations comfortable, and the pace relaxing and conducive for learning, worship, and reversion. Our need to maximize our time together once more resulted in too little sleep, demonstrated so well the final morning when Bob Solone crawled onto the stage to the laughter of an understanding crowd!

Amidst all that was so rich, the true highlight for me—and I know for others, too—was simply the opportunity to gather together. From the Urantia Book we learn: All mortal concepts of reality are based on the assumption of the actuality of human personality; all concepts of superhuman realities are based on the experience of the human personality with and in the cosmic realities of certain associated spiritual entities and divine personalities. Everything nonspiritual in human experience, excepting personality, is a means to an end. Every true relationship of mortal man with other persons—human or divine—is an end in itself. And such fellowship with the personality of Deity is the eternal goal of universe ascension. (Page 1228:3)

When I think back to the first night of the conference on how thrilled I was to see, scattered throughout the grass in the grove of trees across from the dorm, and for the first time in my life—really—the strobe-like glow of fireflies, I think of the glimpse of God we see in one another. And I know why we come.

A Footnote

Recent and tragic events have poignantly highlighted the world’s need to see God as He is so beautifully illustrated throughout the Urantia Book, especially through Jesus’ life and teachings. May these truths we have come to know and love—truths that have so impressed and moved us—continue to find their way around the world through our commitment to translations; and may they continue to so permeate our lives that we become living seeds of this Revelation of Love and Brotherhood.

—Judy Van Cleave is the President of the Idaho Urantia Association.

Thoughts on the Current Scene

by Leonard Ablieter

Recent events have shown that this world we live in is still very much a physical world. No spirituality associated with this heinous deed though the perpetrators purport to be acting in the name of their god, following a distorted and perverse interpretation of the Koran. According to comments made by former Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the groups involved, along with other fanatical factions of Islam, are engaged in a worldwide struggle to avenge the defeats the Islamic forces suffered at the hands of the crusaders a millennium ago and to resume their “holy” war against the infidels, the latter today personified in their warped perception by the United States of America. So the ultimate travesty of organized religion, killing in the name of God, is still with us.

What does this have to do with The URANTIA Book? A great deal, actually. In general and on a personal level it reminds us, albeit in a gruesome and cruel way, of the distance this world still has to go to reach the light. It seems that at times we are getting carried away by the promise of the future, the future that awaits us on the many levels of existence to come. We imagine the worlds settled in light and life and spend much effort to involve ourselves in things spiritual. Yet here we are in this world which seems to become ever more violent, on a very physical plane. So what to do?

Notwithstanding the beauty and promise of The URANTIA Book, perhaps we need to focus on our lives right here and now, on our daily actions, relationships and relations, the manner in which we face whatever problems we may have. We need to apply the lessons The URANTIA Book teaches to this our daily life and try to discern and do the Father’s will. By doing our best on this physical plane spirituality will take care of itself. And on a very specific level, we simply must keep the text of The URANTIA Book inviolate. In light of what has happened, does anyone believe even for a moment that a believer in Islam is going to even open a copy of The URANTIA Book that has been Christianized?

Our Tragedy

The past 24 hours has been an emotional roller coaster for many. I cannot help but feel profound sadness for the victims of the events of yesterday as well as for the perpetrators. It is very probably that the perpetrators of the tragedy did so because they sincerely believed they were doing God’s will and that God would reward them for their actions. We are told that God judges us by our motives. We know that God does not sanction evil and that everyone of his children must reap the consequences of their behavior, good or bad. Nevertheless, our Father still loves the person who commits evil.

Perhaps the perpetrators will be given a chance to repent on Mansonia 1 if they otherwise meet the criteria for survival. Jesus taught us the radical concept of loving our enemies and returning good for evil. How to apply those concepts to our present situation will tax all the wisdom we as a nation can muster.

Jesus condoned the right of society to do whatever it deems necessary to bring the persons responsible to justice and impose whatever material punishment it sees fit. I pray that our national and world leaders will have enough restraint and wisdom not to deprive other innocent people of their material life in some act of massive retribution. I believe we as individuals and as a nation should tell the world that we believe in, accept and will practice the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man; that we respect the right of all people to believe in their own concept of God; that we respect the right of all people to convince others of the righteousness of their beliefs; but that we will not condone violence as a tool to force their beliefs on their brothers and sisters.

We should also examine our behavior (attitude) as individuals and as nations to discover how we have contributed to the root causes of the evil we experience in the world and modify our behavior to return good for evil while simultaneously requiring accountability for violent acts. What we are doing and have done is not working very well.

Peace,

—Travis Binion, Tennessee

The Loss of a Dove

We have a window box on our balcony. A number of weeks ago a dove decided that a nest would be a nice addition to the vines and flowers. She laid two eggs. She cared for them diligently. One dove egg hatched a few days ago. Unfortunately, the hatchling fell in between the nest and the potted plant that held the nest and died.

I buried the baby dove yesterday in the flowerbed at the base of the big tree and listened to the other birds warble and the doves cry. Somehow I was just too sad for the loss of one, little, tiny dove and I did not know why. I could not understand why I cried for a little bird. What was the loss of a dove to me?
Today, I woke to reports of carnage, death, terrorism and threats of more attacks. The symbolism of the loss of a dove is now perfectly clear to me. We have turned a corner in history.

Heavenly Father, safeguard the doves of this tiny planet.

—Mary J. Michael, Texas

Nearby Help

I wonder what the celestials think of the current events we are witnessing. Surely they are working with and influencing people, to help check the destructive potentials of world events. Apparently there have been reports of serious terroristic attempts that have failed or been foiled by one means or another, in the recent past. I trust they are at work and have already done great things amongst us. God knows we and especially our leaders need help and certainly divine guidance to choose the right path when the right path may not be so obvious.

Some mechanisms for celestial interventions are documented on Pg.1257; The Reserve Corps of Destiny, which speaks of near one thousand humans who are currently prepared by secondary midwayers to act for “possible emergency missions in the conduct of various activities of world affairs”. It addresses their commission as being to “...function for the prevention of the breakdown of evolutionary culture or extinction of the light of living truth.” Criteria for qualifying for these posts appear varied, so one could assume they could be utilized in a wide spectrum of tasks. It is sometimes comforting to know great efforts are extended to help preserve and support our evolution.

And then TUB itself is a most profound type of intervention. We must use the revelation to enlighten our world to the truth of God’s love, one person at a time, even more so at this time of crisis. The seed of its truth may eventually prove to be one of the greatest resources we can use for changing hearts and minds; and especially preparing our own. I truly hope we can help illuminate and direct enough human spiritual resources, empowered by the will of God, to forestall a tragic and pathetic, all to possible, consequence for our world.

We may always rest assured of the end (really it is the beginning) that God promises, but the road we must travel is an adventure of courage and faith, where any manner of temporary detour is possible. God help us in these critical times.

—Gary Mullinix, Georgia

Freedom

by Carl Ramm
Anchorage, Alaska

In the previous essay we examined how the concept of universal necessity is essential for any consistent and meaningful concept of divine reliability. In this essay we will consider what this means for the concept of divine free will, and how the two concepts are, in the final analysis, not only compatible but mutually dependent.

If God is completely reliable, how can God be said to be free? How can moral freedom and moral reliability co-exist?
In trying to understand this, we must distinguish between unpredictability and randomness. For example, even if I were the greatest meteorologist on the planet, I would not be able predict exactly what the sky will look like above my house at 7:00 am tomorrow. I might be able to make generalized predictions with some accuracy; for example I might be able to say with great (but not absolute) certainty that it will be overcast. Still, we all recognize that predicting the exact size, shape and location of every cloud along with the exact temperature, dew point, etc. is a practical impossibility.

Nonetheless, my inability to predict the weather in this way doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with a lack of causal necessity in the things that go into making that weather—it may just reflect the fact that I am unable to know all of the relevant factors. We do not think that weather comes out of nowhere, for no reason at all.

In some areas of science, the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics being the most obvious example, it is frequently asserted that the unpredictably of certain phenomenon shows an inherent lack of necessity in them. I do not believe this holds, for reasons outlined in the previous installment. Regardless, I think that virtually all physicists who subscribe to the Copenhagen Interpretation will admit that unpredictability per se does not automatically mean lack of necessity. Thus, necessity does not as a practical matter entail predictability, nor a lack of predictability the lack of necessity. God’s actions can be completely reliable while from the creature standpoint be far from predictable.
The primary reasons I see for believing in necessity I outlined in the last installment. As a reminder, I will mention that I am defending the idea of universal, absolute necessity (the idea that all things physical, mental and spiritual behave in complete accordance with their specific natures and the laws relevant to those natures) and not what for the purposes of this series of papers I call universal determinism (the idea that all things are ultimately physical in nature and bound to strictly physical laws).

So how can it be that our actions can be completely necessary at the most fundamental level and yet still be free? Perhaps a few illustrations will help. I imagine that I am very hungry. I happen to be in the neighborhood of my favorite restaurant and have the time and money for a lunch. I go and satisfy my hunger with a good meal. Was I free in doing so? Common sense would say, rightly I think, that of course I was free. Consider, though, that my hunger was caused by physiological processes completely mechanical in nature. Other factors of a non-physical nature, that I have no immediate control over either, come into this as well: the psychological associations I have with the restaurant, the perception that I have the money and time to have lunch, the memory that I liked that particular restaurant, etc. Careful dissection reveals a vast network of causal factors on various levels of universe reality over which, at the time of the decision, I had no control over at all. I chose to eat lunch because I wanted to eat, but it is by no means clear that my desire to eat was not necessary given the sum of all conditions; physical, mental and spiritual.

I might try to push the line of causation back and say that I might not have had a choice in some of those determining factors when I made the choice to eat, but I did have a choice previously. For example, I was hungry because I decided to skip breakfast that morning. With reflection, though, I can see how that decision to skip breakfast involved a similar nexus of forces and events which were similarly necessitated.

Where then lies my freedom in having eaten that lunch? The fundamental answer is that I was free because I wanted to eat and was able to, and did. What is personally meaningful to me is that I was able to chose in accordance with my true desire, not that said desire came out of nowhere or had no specific nature. We must keep in mind the psychological reality that choice is always, in the final analysis, made by desire. It may be a noble desire, a base desire, it may the winner among conflicting desires, though it may not be the noblest desire that wins.

If there had been an armed guard with me preventing me from eating, would I still have considered myself free in that respect? No, since there was no way that I could fulfill that desire and thereby no meaningful way in which I could make a choice. Further, and more to the heart of the matter, if moral freedom meant that there were no causal basis for my choices, would that be freedom? Hardly. Consider what it would be like to have no idea whatsoever where my choices came from, to have them come about in an utterly random way. How could I ever have any trust in myself, or in anyone else, or could anyone else have trust in me? Would I feel free having if my choices apparently came from absolutely nowhere? I would not, and it is impossible for me to imagine that anyone else would either.

Still, there’s a problem reconciling this with the teachings of The Urantia Book. It is stated that:
P.1298 - §1 Many of the theologic difficulties and the metaphysical dilemmas of mortal man are due to man’s mislocation of Deity personality and consequent assignment of infinite and absolute attributes to subordinate Divinity and to evolutionary Deity. You must not forget that, while there is indeed a true First Cause, there are also a host of co-ordinate and subordinate causes, both associate and secondary causes.

P.1298 - §2 The vital distinction between first causes and second causes is that first causes produce original effects which are free from inheritance of any factor derived from any antecedent causation. Secondary causes yield effects which invariably exhibit inheritance from other and preceding causation.

At first glance this might seem to completely negate all that I have written, since it speaks of first causes that are free from antecedent causation. Looking more closely, though, I don’t think it does. In speaking about causation and necessity we usually think in terms of actions, and this is how we normally speak about it. Recall from the previous installment, however, that speaking strictly causation is always a matter of both entities and their actions. It is impossible to conceive of causation without action, but it is equally impossible to conceive of causation without specific entities. Causation proceeds just as much from the nature of the entity as from antecedent actions. We normally speak of perfect love, justice, mercy, etc. as being expressions of His nature.

In the case of divine free will, we can readily see why it cannot proceed from antecedent factors. Simply put, it cannot proceed from actions prior to God’s because there are no actions prior to God’s. God cannot be conditioned by that which does not exist. God’s actions spring from His nature, but as we have seen above this prevents neither the necessity (and thereby the reliability) nor the freedom of God’s actions. By limited participation in God’s essence (nature) by way of his personality circuit and Thought Adjusters, individual human beings can experience a limited free will that partakes of this same cosmic originality. Even so, our actions are the necessary result of our natures and the conditions in which they exist. This is what grants us our freedom. This much I think philosophical reflection, in partnership with revelation, can show us.

Summary

In this paper and those preceding it I have attempted to show that the concept of universal lawfulness and order in no way limits a realistic understanding of divine free will, or of the personal free will that God bestows on human beings. In fact, in ultimate terms there is no way that one can exist without the other. There are many relevant considerations which I have not touched on at all, hoping to provide what is at best a quick sketch of an important subject.

A Sign of the Times

by Jeanette Schafer
OUA President

I attended my church this morning as I do most Sunday mornings. What immediately struck me as different about this particular Sunday from previous Sundays was the number of attendees present. The church parking lot was filled almost to capacity. The attendance was so high the greeter standing at the sanctuary door had no worship handouts left—this first Sunday morning after the terrorist attacks on our country.

The increased attendance is evidence of the great need in times of crisis to turn to God. In times of adversity we become so acutely aware that our true needs can only be met by him. We are his children whom he comforts and ever endeavors to enlighten that we may know his fathomless nature.

In the past few days we have experienced much, including the confusion present in our modern world regarding the true nature and purposes of God. The doctrines of the world’s religions (evolutionary religion) are lacking in this area. To the effect that one of the world religions declares war holy and another struggles to understand why God allows evil to strike innocent people. So much about God and his creation is misunderstood in the world.

Those of us that have the good fortune to know the revelation of truth found in the Urantia Book teachings have the benefit of knowledge and spiritual strength to empower us. The present situation in the world attests how different the world would be today with the widespread dissemination of the Urantia Book revelation. The need for eternal realities is so evident—the knowledge of the Father’s loving presence within us is paramount.

Locally, our Oregon Urantia Association can assist others to know the Fifth Epochal Revelation. There are so many lost and hungry souls needing to be fed. In The Urantia Book under the biography on the apostle Phillip we read: “He had that great and rare gift of saying, “Come.” “Come with us while we show and share with you the better way.” It goes on to say he was very persuasive and not easily discouraged in his ministry to others.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks our country has suffered wounds, wounds that require healing salve. Our president has stated we are a nation at war, more wounds will incur. In our local communities we can assist the healing process through our personal outreach; invite others to your home study groups—be a co-sponsor with Christ Michael as he labors to spiritually uplift his children out of darkness.

Ask Dodger

Dear Dodger:
My wife is out of town and I can’t figure out how to use the can opener. Can you explain this thing-a-ma-jig?
—Hungry in Wichita

Dear Starving to Death:
Sorry to be so late in responding; I assume by now you’ve managed to find food. You’re a lucky man to have a wife who prepares healthful meals for you; think of the many who do not. Keep in mind also, as you contemplate your less fortunate brothers, that our Father always provides that essential spiritual nourishment we need far more than whatever comes in a can. And access is not at all complicated.

Dear Dodger:
Why is there never enough time to do everything?
—Always Busy

Dear Busybody:
There is plenty of time; it’s your vision that has become foreshortened. All the adventures you wish to have, all the goals you wish to accomplish, all the education you desire will be yours in the fullness of time and eternity. And they will be adventures, goals and education like you cannot even imagine now. Life is but a day’s work. Do it well today, taking smart advantage of your twenty-four hours. And be patient about the rest.

Dear Dodger:
I’m worried about my retirement. With costs escalating the way they are today, and the stock market so depressed, how am I possibly going to save enough to retire someday?
—Fiscally Unfit

Dear Fiscal:
Stop working for yourself and start doing The Father’s work. Look within yourself, commune with the spirit that resides in your heart, and discover the gifts you were given to be of service to your brothers and sisters in the flesh. Then do that to the best of your ability. You’ll be taken care of, just as the birds and the lilies.

Adopt a Bookstore

By Tonia Baney

When we lived on Maui we would regularly order the Urantia Book from the local bookstores. Once it came in we would ask that it be put on the shelf for one month, and then we would come in and purchase it if it was not already purchased. We never had to purchase a book!

Last weekend, Steve and I were at a very large Border’s bookstore downtown, and as I was ordering a book I also asked if the Urantia Book was on their shelf. It is supposed to be a shelf item. The difference is that the book I was ordering would never be on the shelf, and would always have to be ordered. This is the way it used to be with the Urantia book five years ago.

Now the Urantia Book is always supposed to be on their shelf. It was not, and hadn’t been for a month. I immediately ordered two books. The clerk said I did not have to purchase them when they came in if I had already found my book, as they would simply put them on the shelf. I didn’t tell him I had plenty of books at home!

The book is so inexpensive at this point that almost anyone can afford to order through the bookstore. If you go to your local stores and order the authentic original Urantia book, and you do so regularly, we will not have to worry too much about another book on the market. We have a worldwide distribution network that is growing yearly, and it will only get larger.

The marketplace is where this book will gain the hearts of men, and you can help by going out today to order your book. If enough books are purchased through your bookstore, they will start to order it regularly. If you live in an area where you cannot afford the book, every time you go into a bookstore ask if they have it. Eventually they will consider ordering it themselves.

We can send you postcards with the book and ISBN numbers to give to your bookstore or bookstores, and we also have the brochures that you can give away.

Come on IUA, adopt a bookstore, it’s good for mankind!

Spring and Summer Meetings

March 18, 2001, West Linn

The spring meeting of the Northwest Urantia Association was held at Anne James’ home in West Linn. We had some guests for the potluck: Pat Maloy, Brad, Joy Brandt, Kyle Wisely, Jerry Copley, Veryl and Donna Owens.
N.U.A. members present and forming a quorum of paid members: Jeanette Schafer, Dennis Gray, MC, Bruce Porter, Pat Murnin, and Anne James. Rawlins Apperson voted over the phone.

Opening introduction was made by Jeanette Schafer, President.

1. N.U.A. Election. The offices of Vice President and Secretary were open.
Vice President: Pat Murnin nominated Bruce Porter for Vice President, Dennis Gray seconded that nomination. Running unopposed, Bruce was voted in as the new Vice President.
Secretary: Jeanette Schafer nominated Pat Murnin, and Anne James seconded the nomination. Also running unopposed, Pat was voted in as Secretary.

2. We decided that the NUA Governing Board conference calls would happen on the second Tuesday monthly at 9 p.m.

3. Treasurer’s Report: MC passed out a current membership roster, all those who have paid dues for 2001.
Mario also reported on a discussion with Cathy Jones (IUA Coordinator), regarding the upcoming Washington State Association licensing that is scheduled on June 3rd. We also discussed a possible name change for NUA after Washington forms its own association. We also discussed the possibility of joint projects with the new Washington State Urantia Association in the future.

4. (A) The next topic discussed was: What do we want to do? Some ideas that were mentioned: monthly social gatherings, potlucks, social service projects, book fairs, web discussion groups, and various types of conferences that could be held in homes or rented spaces.

(B) Next Jeanette proposed that we take a look at the election process. And figure out if mail in elections or phone in elections were the best way to collect votes from those unable to attend. It was decided that the speaker phone-in during the meeting method would be best. Those who are not present will have the opportunity to cast their vote by phone.

(C) NUA Summer Conference: We discussed the annual summer conference as possibly a one-day event to be held in Washington State on July 15th, 2001.

[NOTE: Following the licensing of WSUA, the NUA later decided to cancel the Washington conference. Special thanks to Ann James for taking notes at the March 18th meeting.]

July 15, 2001, Portland

At 12 PM the meeting was called to order. Present: Liz Cratty, Ann James, Dennis Gray, MC, and Pat Murnin. Pat Murnin chaired the meeting in the absences of President Jeanette Schafer (out of town) and Vice President Bruce Porter (illness).

1.a. The first order of business was a report from Liz Cratty about the Harry McMullan vs. the Urantia Foundation court case held in Oklahoma. It was very interesting because she attended the trial as a potential witness for the Foundation.

1.b. We then composed a letter of support for the Urantia Foundation’s position on the copyright ruling, and our opposition to the courts forcing the Urantia Foundation to pay for Mr. McMullan’s attorneys’ fees and court costs. We compiled individual letters that Liz could fax later to the Foundation.

2. It was brought to the table that since the readers in Washington State have formed their own association that the Northwest Urantia Association should change its name. It was moved by Liz Cratty, and seconded by Dennis Gray to change the name of the Association to OREGON URANTIA ASSOCIATION, and the name of the Northwest Urantian newsletter will be called OREGONDONTER. The vote was unanimous in favor of the change effective today July 15, 2001.

3. Treasurer’s report was submitted by MC along with an updated membership list, and a new form for new members joining the Association.

4. Miscellaneous Business:

a. We discussed service projects that we would like to get involved with. It was decided that we would put a U Book booth at the Pacific Northwest book Expo at the Portland Convention Center either this year or next year.
b. Next meeting of the Oregon Urantia Association is set for October 28, 2001, 12 p.m. at Liz Cratty’s home in Eugene.

— Pat Murnin
Secretary, OUA

Treasurer's Report

As of 10 October 2001

Balance end of 2000 ....................................... $637.04

Receipts 2001:

Members’s Dues ...................... $420.00
Newsletter Donations ................. 60.00
Total Receipts 2001 ..................................... $480.00

Total ......................................................... $1,117.04

Disbursements 2001:

First half of 2001 ...................... $190.34
U Foundation contribution .......... 140.00
USUA contribution ...................... 60.00
Colombia Book Project ................. 50.00
Longreach stapler ....................... 19.95
Print 70 copies, Issue 18 .............. 51.80
Postage, Issue 18 ........................ 20.60

Total Disbursements 2001 ....................... $532.69

Balance on hand 10 Oct 2001 ............... $584.35

Total ...................................................... $1,117.04

Deadline for OUA dues for 2002 is March 1st. Current dues: $35 for singles and $50 for couples. Make out checks payable to OUA. Mail to: 4025 NE Shaver St., Portland, OR 97212.

–MC, Treasurer OUA

Associacion Urantia de España Founded

The new association in Spain was licensed in Seville, Spain with 24 members on September 16, 2001. CNP Chairman, Seppo Kanerva represented the IUA and Trustee Georges DuPont represented Urantia Foundation in signing the licensing agreement.

President—Esteban Cotan Reyes,
escanseco@teleline.es
Vice-President—Victor Izquierdo
vizquier@elmonte.es
Secretary—Maria Jose Garcia Canseco
franmajo@inicia.es
Treasurer—Elias Garcia Canseco
ecanseco@teleline.es

We welcome these new members to the IUA family and wish them every success in the dissemination of the teachings of The Urantia Book.

—Cathy Jones, IUA Coordinator