Dear Adam and all CU listers, First of all, Adam, I don't blame you a bit for leaving. It often seems to me when I read the divisive attitude of some posts, that this CU list is headed nowhere fast. But then, I think, maybe it is just a microcosm of the whole body of Christ, everybody with their own agendas, headed in seemingly different directions. I mean the whole body of Christ has had nearly 2000 years to make some progress toward unity in Jesus, and it looks like we have yet to even get started at it. It's little surprise that the CU list is hardly any better at it, if at all. I joined the list, I think about a couple years ago. Adam, you think it's bad now, not too long ago they had a horrible nut on the list. This guy was admittedly a self-declared non-Christian, and he was allowed to rail on against Christianity constantly. It was awful! He ruined the list for about a year, I think. I finally decided to quit reading his posts and completely ignore him, while I went on with conversations with Christians about Christian unity. I don't know what the guy was saying about me, but I know he got so mad after a few months of getting this deaf reaction from several people, that he couldn't quit cursing and using foul language, and they finally threw him off the list. I cite this only because I think with patience, we can win in the end. I also know what you mean about a few people talking about unity online on a mailing list not really solving anything. Sometimes we're like a tempest in a teapot. And I have often noted that it is really hard for one person to unite alone. But for several reasons, I have slowly changed my mind about what may result from one person working for unity when some others seem to our eyes so opposed, whether it's on the CU list or anywhere else in the body of Christ. In the first place, who knows what one person can do, with Jesus? The reference in this following scripture here is to just one who actually believes as he should. And if I actually do believe as I should, why am I denied whatsoever I ask? John 14:12 (KJV) 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:13 (KJV) 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:14 (KJV) 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. And also, if the subject of this list, namely Christian unity, is as important as we all say we think it is, then it would only stand to reason that Satan would continually throw everything he has against it. Like you said yourself, Adam, "SATAN WOULD HAVE US DIVIDED BY STUPID AND SENSELESS CONROVERSIES. WE ARE NOT UNAWARE OF THE DEVIL'S SCHEMES". I think you were exactly right, here. That is, at least we SHOULD BE AWARE of the devil's schemes. Here we are on a list with a bunch of other Christians who all think we are interested in Christian unity, but we can't stay on the subject, or if we do, we can't carry on a civil conversation with each other! It is painfully obvious to me, though it may be hidden from some of us, just who is working through us in our divisiveness. So should people just move on and look for better Christians to work with for unity, or face this effort by Satan head on, and keep trying to find ways here to *show* these Christians that two Christians can carry on a decent conversation about Christian unity? And I know that I certainly have more than my share of faults, too, and have not done all that I should do for Christian unity. God and I both are well aware that I have done nothing special for His purpose, and that I should be the last one pointing the finger at any other Christian in this regard. It may sound trite, but I suspect you are somehow like me in this regard, Adam, that you too may not be perfect, and may need to learn something as I do, about Christian unity. So why do I want for you to stay on the list? Because I'm going to stay and keep trying, and if people like you who do care enough to stay focused on Christian unity keep leaving, then it just gets harder. One last point on what one person can do about Christian unity, and then I'll quit. Jesus gave us His own new commandment, the only one He ever called His own, so it must be special: John 13:34 (KJV) 34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:35 (KJV) 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. It's interesting to note what is my part in this phrase here, "one another". I'm just one. I'm not another. I can only worry about whether I love other Christians, not whether they love me in return. Jesus didn't get loved by me in advance, he died while we all were yet in our sins, and when things got tough and they came to kill him, even the apostles abandoned him and scattered. Yes, love is something we must *do*. It must be because Jesus commanded it done. And if there are times that I feel I am *doing* this command to *love*, all by myself, without being loved in return then so be it. What I do to obey the command of Jesus is all I can concern myself with, and what I do is all I'm responsible for, regarding Christian unity. And if I have done my job correctly, and obeyed this command of Jesus the way He wants me to, to love other Christians, then it has to serve, it must serve His purpose of Christian unity, whether I understand exactly how or not. Reminds me of a comment Klaus made about a very good word from a man called Eberhard Arnold who incidently was the one who started the Bruderhof. At the same time he always rejected strongly the idea that he had founded it, if you know what I mean. Well he also searched for the Truth that is Jesus and for Jesus that is the Truth. he said; Not my sin...but Jesus. Not my life ...but Jesus .not my hope, my failure, my efforts but only Jesus. Seems like an equally good focus for a list or a life, doesn't it? I hope you will stay, Adam, but if you have to bail, I understand. Love in Jesus, Tim