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<P><FONT size=4>The <EM>vertical</EM> relationship of mutual love is the example
for the <EM>horizontal</EM> relationship of love between and among members of
the Christian community, and for their relationship with God, Father and
Son.</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/ceas7l.shtml"><FONT
size=4>http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/ceas7l.shtml</FONT></A></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Chris Haslam </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I am, however, not ready to give up on the gospel reading.
Looking at it closely, I see that Jesus does not say, "Silence questions among
them." Or, "Grant that they agree on everything." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://maryhinkle.typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2004/05/getting_on_the_.html"><FONT
size=4>http://maryhinkle.typepad.com/pilgrim_preaching/2004/05/getting_on_the_.html</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Mary Hinkle Shore</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<P align=justify><FONT size=4>Avery and Marsh have an ironic song called <I>I
Can Be a Christian By Myself</I>. The first verse goes:</FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=justify><FONT size=4>I can be a Christian by myself.<BR>Leave my
dusty Bible on the shelf.<BR>I'll sing a hymn and pray a bit.<BR>God can do
the rest of it.<BR>My heart's the church, my head's the steeple.<BR>Shut the
door and I'm the people.<BR>I can be a Christian by
myself.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=justify><FONT size=4>Some of the other verses include these
lines:</FONT></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<P align=justify><FONT size=4>I'll break some bread and drink some
wine.<BR>Have myself a holy time.<BR>I'll take the off'ring then I'll
know<BR>Where that money's gonna go.<BR>So please remember, Lord, when I
die,<BR>Give me my own cloud in the sky.<BR>After this life with its
labors<BR>Don't bug me with needy neighbors.</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV align=justify><A href="http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/john17x20.htm"><FONT
size=4>http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/john17x20.htm</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>Brian Stoffregen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="COLOR: #993300"><FONT color=#000000>Dietrich</FONT> <FONT
color=#000000>Bonhoeffer</FONT></SPAN> put it: “Christian unity is not an ideal
which we must realize [actualize]; it is rather a reality created by God in
Christ in which we may participate.”</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><A
href="http://debradeanmurphy.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/one-holy-catholic-and-divided-church/"><FONT
size=4>http://debradeanmurphy.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/one-holy-catholic-and-divided-church/</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>Debra Dean Murphy, 2010</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4> Creation was designed so that everyone
would work together in lives of mutual upbuilding, sharing with each other the
gifts of creation. This, however, didn't work out as
God intended.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><EM>Ginosko</EM>--"to know"--is the most
intensive of the Greek words for knowledge. It means deep interior
perception which influences our emotions and actions. It is "knowing" in
an intimate and mystical sense. For the fourth gospel, mystical knowledge
of God comes through mystical knowledge of Jesus, through whom the community of
Jesus has access to God's love (17:26).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/05/lectionary-blogging-john-17-2026.html">http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/05/lectionary-blogging-john-17-2026.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>John Petty, 2010 </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=justify> </DIV>
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