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St. John 17.20-26 (NAB)
I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.
The Return
Silence, a cloudless Sky,
So much brighter
Reflections of Light
Dancing on the water of night
Leaping through the eyes of day
“Is God here?”
A candle vanishes in the Flame
Names effaced off sacred page
One burning burns the midnight
Another consumes ablaze the noon
Virgin space does confound the offspring of sound
Live by words
Pale ghosts they come to haunt or
Burn down the prison of thought
Make captive every faith to free the shadowy guests
Shout "Hallelujah!"~now, hush! tongue be still!
Some spectre slithered across the ground
I laughed~Without saying I spoke
"You're not there"
Then an angel kiss did descend upon my lips
While arms enclosed my body warmly with Delight
Then an upward look, quiet and glad, and free,
Whispered “Thanks” for the shedding of the skin
And, thus, was I returned to the Tree of Life
In a Garden watered by Love
In a Heaven where God and I are One
Now forget these words
And go have fun with the Sun
There are games
To play in a Place
Beyond all belief
*Brian K. Wilcox, March 11, 2008
For Brian's on-line audio sermons, go to www.wherethelightshines.org and select Pastor's Corner; on the following page is his weekly sermons given at Christ United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL.
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For replies and biographical information, and submission to "The Light Shines" daily devotionals ~ a ministry of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL, see next page:
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