Global Community Communications Alliance Member Profile
Arlin
As a child I always wondered what I wanted to be when I grew up. Let me share with you what led me from that question to becoming an ordained minister in Global Community Communications Alliance Community and why this is where my dreams are becoming more real each day.
I am presently thirty-one years old; I came to Global Community Communications Alliance when I was twenty-six. I was born and raised in Southeastern, Michigan outside of Detroit. I am the youngest child; my parents have three boys.
I enjoyed my childhood. I had a strong father who taught his sons to embrace challenges and find solutions by his example. He worked for Ford Motor Company. My mother worked hard, even during times when she was sick. She also is a very strong person who has overcome many obstacles. Together they provided a good home with lots of comforts. My parents are very loving, generous people with good morals. You could say I was brought up in the heart of the American Dream.
My family belonged to a Presbyterian Church with a middle class congregation. It was a new church that my dad helped start. I was raised to love God and Jesus. Since God provided us with all of our blessings this was not hard to do, for I thought that this meant Jesus gave me my motorcycle, our cottage, our four boats, my water and snow skis, my video games, my TV, VCR, cable, etc. I loved God. At first I thought in return I just had to be kind and helpful. This I did fine, but then I wanted to do more for Him—He had been so good to me. I began to preach about Him to my friends. I began to confront my friends and classmates on some things they needed to change. I found a lot of them began to resent me. I also found myself getting into fights, most of which I felt I couldn't participate in because I knew Jesus didn't approve of violence as a means of solving problems. So I had to endure a few beatings. This all occurred during the fifth and sixth grades.
By the time I reached Junior High, I found that there were a lot more bigger and badder kids. I quickly came to understand that if I wanted to continue in trying to help my peers become more godlike, these beatings would probably become more frequent and more severe. So, I lost interest in this path—it was too hard. I told myself I could serve Jesus better if I could relate to people more as their friend. I figured maybe I didn't understand their situations well. Who was I to judge? I didn't want to be self-righteous. In retrospect, I think God taught me a lesson in humility. He had also showed me that being a minister for Him meant a lot more than telling people how wonderful He was. God gave me the understanding of what some people needed to hear to help improve their lives. Being able to receive understanding from God was a great gift—one that I had to earn and then practice. When truth came to me I had to live up to it and stand up for it in order for it to continue to come. This gift is available for all of us, but like so many, when the price for it went up, I went looking for the easy road.
As I became more socially involved with people, I became less interested in God, my school work, and intellectual pursuits. There were frequent parties, frequent concerts, and for many years I was experimenting with various drugs. Through all of this, I was looking for a better way. I was aware that people miscommunicated and their own pride and egos got in the way. I developed friendships where loyalties were great. It was music that led me into spirituality and a core group of friends who provided me with a safe place to be myself and explore new ideas. As the ideas became less tangible and spiritual, I chose to spend more time with fewer people, those who thought and talked about the things I felt were more important in life. I knew God was out there in other places, and I wanted to find him everywhere.
This led me to different circles, from nature loving self-sufficiency, to Grateful Dead and hippie groups, wholistic healers, new age, Rainbow people, alternative energy, environmentalists, Native American spiritualism, and rhythmic music. I was sure that I would find a greater understanding and my direction in one of these circles. I didn't find the big steps that I was looking for. It all seemed vague. Being around so many people seeking a higher truth revealed a lack of unity. There were too many leaders, every one sure they knew the way, but they were not going in the direction God was calling me.
A unifier in all these groups was an expression of higher ideals through music. My love for music was the thread leading me to God through my friends. Another door opened when a musician friend shared his love of macrobiotics. People usually think "diet" when they hear the word macrobiotics, which means "large life." But the part I was drawn to was the healing aspect of the yin and yang ideas expressed by George Oshawa and the balance which comes between the two. While intellectually I understood this as I practiced it, macrobiotics was not fulfilling the spiritual aspect I was seeking. I had never seen anyone find this balance other than in what they ate. Now, as I look around me daily I see the truths in this philosophy consistently expressed in every area.
I believed I would be soon living in community with people who had similar ideas, but when my wife, new-born daughter, and I moved to Arizona in 1995, I was reluctant to make the commitment. My wife encouraged me to take the time and discover what Global Community Communications Alliance and the teachings of The URANTIA Book were about. I do not regret one moment of my discovery. I look forward to each new day with hope and excitement.
I would never have guessed that I would be pursuing our dream without my wife and my daughter who left the community last August. Even though we had been separated for years, it was my hope to work out our differences. These past few months have been the most challenging time in my life, and my greatest disappointments have come from the judgments of those I loved before coming to Global Community Communications Alliance Community. I realize I must put my livelihood and reputation on the line to stand up for truth.
Many people take the easy road, like I once did. Then their understanding of God and how He works with us is less than it could be. Our greatest blessing was God's revelation of His son, Jesus Christ Michael, when He lived and walked among us. How wonderful it was that His apostles and other followers wrote the Bible with all the beautiful truths it contains. He continues to bless us. The URANTIA Book was brought through to expand the truth and help us to understand even more of who God is, how He works with us, and who His other celestial spirit children are who work with us. It provides a more accurate and expanded depiction of Jesus' life, and His true purpose.
Continuing Fifth Epochal Revelation— The Cosmic Family volumes—helps me understand ascension science and our unique interuniversal reality. It explains how the Lucifer rebellion has affected us as individual souls and how we can correct ourselves to have true peace in our hearts and to be able to come into our true destinies in God.
When I first came to Aquarian Concepts Community five years ago, I came with doubts. Previously in my life I had been trying to figure out where I belonged. What was my purpose? It is such a competitive world where people try to bring you down in order to bring themselves up. The more successful you become, the more of a threat you are to those around you who are also trying to be successful. I hate this—so many people in so many walks of life saying they're better than someone else. Selfishness, greed, and pride saturates our society. Because it's so prevalent, we take it on ourselves, some of us to larger degrees than others. The URANTIA Book talks about this subject in the Papers on the Lucifer rebellion.
Our country is founded on the principle—"All men are created equal." This is what I love about being here. As children of God we are all equal in God's love. Everyone has their destiny purpose, what God is calling them to do. No one destiny is more important than another. All are coming together serving the same purpose—to better this world; to bring peace to every soul on it; to make sure every soul is cared for; to make sure every soul has their needs provided for; and to make sure every soul finds their destiny in God.
So, here in the religious order of Global Community Communications Alliance we work together and encourage each other to grow and see ourselves in those destinies while discouraging selfish, prideful qualities that hold us back. This means at times we confront each other. I am learning to speak up for what I believe is right. With a loving motive I can speak with honor and respect, not from a competitive or angry place, but from a place of wanting others to become who God is calling them to be. I am learning how to be humble enough to admit when I am wrong.
My wife, whom I love very much, recently asked me how I think Global Community Communications Alliance Community is different from other spiritual groups? She gave me a book about cults. At first I wasn't going to read the book; I didn't see the point. An elder suggested that I may want to take time to read it, to help me understand where she was coming from. So, I did. The book was critical of authority and most spiritually-based groups. Although the questions posed in the book are questions that I once had when I came to Global Community Communications Alliance, the conclusions I draw are totally different.
Jesus said, "He who is greatest among you, let him be servant of all." These are words I try to live by. I am doing my best to better my life and become a more loving person and to put that love in action. Even though my wife was involved in Divine Administration for over four years, she views my work totally differently than I do. How can that be?
Putting my life in the hands of Jesus brings me excitement and joy, and makes me feel alive and a real participant in God's plan. It brings me more gratification than anything I have ever felt. When I put my trust in the messages I hear from God and put them into action, I experience God's reality for me. In that moment I experience what I have been searching for my whole life. This is my personal relationship with Jesus. This is why my life is working for me. If I do as God leads me, I start seeing how God has planned things to unfold. It is by His leading that I am becoming the man He wants me to become.
It is important for me to find people who have the faith to make the daily attempt to participate in God's plan for them, to listen to God and follow what they hear. The authors of this book about cults do not understand this and cannot unless they also choose to follow this road and stick with it. I have found people who are following God's lead, and I know it because I can see it in their eyes and how they live their lives daily. They possess qualities I strive to have. These are the people I choose to be near because the counsel they give me helps me to grow. They show me how to have God personally in my heart and in my life through their love, patience, joy, kindness, and other fruits of the spirit, not just when everything is happy and pleasant, but when things are difficult and at their most challenging.
Some of you may have taken a step of faith into something new and unknown, believing you were doing what is good and right. When it didn't work out you may have thought God let you down. For those people my message is: God didn't let you down; don't give up hope; there are good leaders out there; put your trust and faith in Him, and He will lead you to them, for He does want you to have leaders; He just wants you to recognize true leadership.
We all belong to different groups, and we all have leaders. We all have authority over us. Even if it's just being a citizen of this country or another one, we have to follow laws and procedures. Those rules are set up by leaders, by people in authority over us. Some of those leaders are good. They use their experience, knowledge, and power for the good of others. Unfortunately, it seems, most of these leaders—whether in government, corporate positions, social groups, or religious groups—are motivated by money, power, fame and self-glorification.
I receive wonderful guidance and counsel from my elders and I in turn use these gifts to serve those under my authority. I find my own solutions to the challenges that come up each day, not looking to someone else to do it for me. I take responsibility for my own actions and how they affect others. I do my best to show kindness and love to those whom I may be in conflict with and to make my decisions on what is best for everyone.
I choose to dedicate my life to being a part of this ministry, to follow the leadership and guidance, and the Deo authority of Gabriel and Niánn because they are the most selfless, humble souls I know. They have strong, loving characters and are willing to stand up to face enormous challenges. Their faith and hope inspires me. Their light-heartedness, forgiving natures, and compassion comforts me. Their vision excites me and gives me hope. In five years I have only grown to love them more and more.
I worship my Universal Father. I worship the Trinity. I worship my
Lord and Sovereign, Jesus Christ Michael, ruler of our universe of Nebadon.
I do not worship Gabriel and Niánn. I do honor and respect them for
sharing their love, guidance and wisdom with me. I gladly submit to the
Deo authority that God has given them over me. I see their love, humility,
courage, wisdom, grace, and selflessness. These qualities have earned them
a higher understanding which they do not abuse, but continue to use for the good
of others. This is why I believe they have the Mandate of the Bright and
Morning Star and are able to bring through the wonderful gift of Continuing Fifth
Epochal Revelation. This is what makes them true leaders. This is
why I have chosen them to be my leaders.
Arlin,
Minister
Vicegerent First Assistant
to Gabriel of Urantia and Niánn Emerson Chase and the Mandate of the Bright and Morning Star