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<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>...it should be noted that, historically
</FONT><FONT size=4>speaking, the so-called ecumenical movement was a result of
the modern missionary </FONT><FONT size=4>movement, not the other way around.
The churches decided to work together </FONT><FONT size=4>for the sake of
mission (cf. the Edinburgh Conference of 1910) and in doing so discovered
</FONT><FONT size=4>something of the oneness they already had in
Christ.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/15-2_Revelation/15-2_Olson.pdf">http://www2.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/15-2_Revelation/15-2_Olson.pdf</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Duane A. Olson</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>When we try to unite in formal ecumenical
understanding, or when we connect in informal ways across denominational lines,
we are not "making this passage happen." Rather, we <EM>may</EM> be
demonstrating, to a small degree, the truth which this passage proclaims is
<EM>already ours</EM>. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><SPAN class=style1><FONT size=4><STRONG>A second thing about
unity is the fruit or result of it.</STRONG> Unity is valuable for the sake of
itself but in each instance quoted above it is important "so that the world
might know that you have sent me." Since the disciples' realization that Jesus
came from God triggered Jesus' prayer to be glorified (i.e., to "get on" with
the drama of death/resurrection), so the world's realization that Jesus came
from God is the result of the unity of the disciples. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=justify><SPAN class=style1><FONT
size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><A
href="http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryII/Jn17II.html"><FONT
size=4>http://www.drbilllong.com/LectionaryII/Jn17II.html</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><SPAN class=style1>Bill Long,
2007</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>From love comes glory, not vice versa. Glory which
is not rooted in love tends to be a false glory, the glory of Molech, the
Canaanite god of fire. Molech demanded human sacrifice to maintain its glory.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=865">http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=865</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Kosuke Koyama, 1989</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>The next morning’s <I>Milwaukee Sentinel
</I>carries this headline: "Christian Convention Erupts in Violence: Delegates
Disagree on Virgin Birth." In a downtown café, a truck driver points to the
picture as a waitress fills his coffee cup. "Willya look at that? Ain’t that the
biggest crock you’ve ever seen? And my mother-in-law wonders why I don’t go to
church!"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=648">http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=648</A></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>James C. Somerville, 1998</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>“In Hebrews 11:6 we’re told that God is the
‘rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.’ And in Genesis 15:1 God said to
Abraham: ‘I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.’ Somebody said the
difference between Patrick Henry and the average American today is that Patrick
Henry said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death,’ and the average American today
just says, ‘gimme.’ Sometimes we make a Santa Claus out of the Lord. We want the
gifts and not the Giver, we want the blessing more than we want the Blesser. We
need to get over the ‘gimmes.’ </FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Even in the Godhead there is an illustration of
unity in diversity. Father, Son and Spirit are equally God, yet there is
diversity of role and function.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><A
href="http://bible.org/seriespage/high-priestly-prayer-jesus-john-17">http://bible.org/seriespage/high-priestly-prayer-jesus-john-17</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4><FONT size=4></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>Robert Deffinbaugh</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=4>- - - - -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT
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