And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18 –20
As a child, I can remember a few of the fishing trips that my dad and uncle took me on. I thought I was as big as any man when I was able to walk through the fields to the pond or get into a fishing boat with my own rod and reel and a tackle box. It was a joy to spend the day with my dad or uncle even if we spent all day out on the bank or in the boat. It was quality time well spent. From getting up early in the morning to rejoicing over the catch at the end of the day, fishing was something that we could enjoy even if all we caught were bait stealers.
While pondering on Christ’s word to the experienced fisherman, I have learned that a lot of the same principles of fishing apply to you and me. In order to have a good day on the lake, everything must be prepared in the early morning hours before leaving the house. Do you realize that what you carry in your tackle box plays a crucial role in what you might catch? Fish come in variety of shapes, sizes and colors and not all hooks will catch the same fish. It requires skill that is only obtained through practice. Preparing your tackle box could be considered as what you have put into your brain in the morning before leaving for work or whatever else you might do. It is important to prepare your heart and mind with the right stuff, because there is enough “stink bait” already out there on the market. If you have the right equipment to work with, you can cast out your ideas all day through the way you live and the words you say. Sometimes, you have to wait to get a bite, but an experienced fisherman doesn’t give up easy. They just try a new spot or come back another day.
You may be asking, “why are you using fishing to talk about winning souls for Christ?” Jesus did this in order to relate to us in a way that we could understand. Let me tell you how this worked for me the other day. You can be a fisher of men anywhere if your heart and mind is right and ready. While leaving the sauna at the YMCA the other day, I told the people sitting inside a simple “God bless you.” I have learned to cast out simple phrases like this to get peoples attention. Another good phrase to say when people ask you, “How are you?” is to say, “I’m blessed.” You will be amazed at your responses and even remind yourself that you are blessed. Anyway, when I began walking out of the sauna, a mid-30 year old man commented, “What God? I’ve seen Auswitz and the Virginia Tech massacre. How could there be a god?” To be honest, I was completely caught off guard and left for the lap pool. My conscience got the best of me and after one lap, I returned to the sauna to talk with this man and dialogue about his beliefs about God.
What ensued over the next 20-30 minutes was a great conversation about our different beliefs. He had read the Bible about 20 times, was conversant in world history, had read the Koran and studied many other faiths. I felt rather intimidated by his worldly knowledge and thought of the verse, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world“ (1 Corinthians 1:20)? He could run me in the ground with many historical facts, yet he denied that there was ever a god. Should you and I be afraid of people with greater knowledge than us? No way. After listening, I asked him if I could share the gospel with him. I went through the law and the thought of standing before the just and holy God. His response was if there was a god, then he would be destroyed forever. Then, I was able to tell him about Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection. Do we ever have to force anything down anyone’s mouth? Never! We dialogued, agreed to disagree, and went on our way. You and I have to persuade no one. The Holy Spirit will do the work. All we can do is share who Christ is and what He has done. Be a witness and fish for men. You might catch someone who needs to be rescued from the bondage of darkness and brought into the glorious light of Christ!
Be encouraged in your faith. Sharing Christ should be more exciting than trying to go to sleep the night before a big fishing trip. Childlike faith is what it takes, because any service rendered to God in Christ’s name is big business. We should be eager to go fishing everyday, when we have God on our side. Jesus knows where we need to go and what we need to do. Obey His word and you’ll find yourself like Peter who’s net broke after listening to Jesus’ command (Luke 5:5-6). If you and I will obey, I believe God has many lives that need to be won to Christ through our individual daily lives. On some days, you might not catch a thing, but you can rejoice that you have spent time with the Father which makes everyday worthwhile.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Following His Direction
(4-11-04 Clarksburg TN 1:00PM)
My cup overflows
Onto paper I write
Expressing Jesus’ love
He’s a beautiful sight
A spotless Lamb
Slain before the foundations
Led to the slaughter
By people of all nations
He could have refused to go
Yet He put me first
A sinner by nature
I was the worst
My sins nailed Him there
On the tree in time
He paused for a moment
To enter the world’s rhyme
His last line before dying
Explained His life so well
It is finished
Defeating sin now Hell
Taken down from the cross
Wrapped in man’s dress
Preaching to the wicked spirits
That I could enter His rest
On the Third day
The son broke free
Destroying clouds of doubt
Drowning sin, Hell, the grave at sea
Now covered under the blood
In the power of the Resurection
I will now walk with Him
Following His direction
My cup overflows
Onto paper I write
Expressing Jesus’ love
He’s a beautiful sight
A spotless Lamb
Slain before the foundations
Led to the slaughter
By people of all nations
He could have refused to go
Yet He put me first
A sinner by nature
I was the worst
My sins nailed Him there
On the tree in time
He paused for a moment
To enter the world’s rhyme
His last line before dying
Explained His life so well
It is finished
Defeating sin now Hell
Taken down from the cross
Wrapped in man’s dress
Preaching to the wicked spirits
That I could enter His rest
On the Third day
The son broke free
Destroying clouds of doubt
Drowning sin, Hell, the grave at sea
Now covered under the blood
In the power of the Resurection
I will now walk with Him
Following His direction
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Cast the stones aside…
John 8:1-12 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Behind the face of every individual is a heart that is vibrant and alive, broken in despair, or somewhere in between. Do you notice the countenance of those around you to see where their source of joy is coming from? If you haven’t noticed there are people all around you that need a simple word of encouragement instead of dreadful condemnation. Do you agree that there is already enough negativity and darkness in the world? If so, release the power of a spoken word of encouragement into another’s spirit and experiment to see if the day brightens up.
Over the past few days, I have been looking into the faces of people who are searching for something more. While enjoying my adventures at the mission yesterday, I met a lady named Samaria. She was in her fifties and her face was rough from the weather of age and a hard life. She had traveled many places throughout the world and seemed to be a somewhat happy vagabond, yet within her spirit there was a sense of restlessness. She was searching and longing for more and didn’t seemed to be satisfied with where she was. She told me that she had just stopped by the police station to take herself off of the missing person report. Life had gotten hard in her last place of residence, and she decided to leave without telling anyone. Have you ever felt like this lady who has ran all her life searching? What was she searching for?
Next, there is the 21-year old named Carlos who is locked up in prison for hanging around the wrong crowd. His eyes seemed bright, and he was even interested in getting into Bible Study classes. You could feel the shame in his voice as he spoke about what had led him to his current place of residence. He already knew what he did was wrong, and now his eyes are opened to the darkness that he was living in. Many want to cast away a young man who was caught in a car full drugs, but is this the answer? Can we condemn those who have made mistakes and are already full of guilt and shame?
The lady that was brought to Jesus in the above scriptures was just like these two people in the real life stories of my week. The adulteress lady was searching for love through her restless spirit. Was it all her fault? Of course, she must take the responsibility for her actions. However, if her husband was a God-fearing man, He should have been able to direct her to the One who could feel her love tank to overflow. Nevertheless, she was caught in her sin, and the Pharisees and scribes who seemed to walk at a higher standard was ready to throw rocks at her and kill her. We must remember that being righteous before God should humble us instead of causing us to walk around in pride and with a judging spirit. We should long to help and encourage and not kill and destroy. The adulteress was like the young man at the prison who was already full of guilt and shame. She found herself lying on the ground before the only One who could have condemned her—Jesus Christ. In His grace, truth and mercy, He forgave her and told her to sin no more.
Growing up, I learned a valuable lesson about Christ’s forgiveness through my dad. He told me not to drive on the back roads of my country town during the snowy weather one night. Of course, I didn’t want to listen to what he had to say and ended up riding down the roads anyway. I thought, “he will never know!” It was about midnight when the consequence of my sin against my dad came to light. I drove around a curve and lost control on ice. The car did a 180, and the backside of the car slammed into a ditch. I didn’t have my seat belt on and the impact threw me into the seat instead of out the window. It could have been much worse… I walked to my friend’s house and felt the guilt, shame and unworthiness to even call my dad. He had always told me to call him if I ever got into trouble or stranded. This was one call I did not want to make. Around 1AM with a trembling voice, I called my dad for help. It was humbling and humiliating for me and especially with others around to see me get caught. He told me to stay where I was and he would meet me and try to get the car out of the ditch. When he arrived, he didn’t say a word… He could have said, “I told you so, I can’t believe you did this to yourself, or a multitude of other remarks,” yet in his grace and mercy, he comforted me with his presence as I sat in the silence of a trembling heart.
I hope you can see that the world does not need more people to condemn each other. The Word of God, conscience of man and working of the Holy Spirit is enough to convict and condemn a lost heart that already feels shame, guilt and defeat. They do not need to see stones in your hands whether directed at them or anyone else. What the world needs to see is Jesus. The One who became sin for us, though he knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) If we all can be brought into Jesus’ presence, every stone will be cast to the ground because the only stone holding us down was the one He rolled away. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). Jesus says, “Go and sin no more!”
Behind the face of every individual is a heart that is vibrant and alive, broken in despair, or somewhere in between. Do you notice the countenance of those around you to see where their source of joy is coming from? If you haven’t noticed there are people all around you that need a simple word of encouragement instead of dreadful condemnation. Do you agree that there is already enough negativity and darkness in the world? If so, release the power of a spoken word of encouragement into another’s spirit and experiment to see if the day brightens up.
Over the past few days, I have been looking into the faces of people who are searching for something more. While enjoying my adventures at the mission yesterday, I met a lady named Samaria. She was in her fifties and her face was rough from the weather of age and a hard life. She had traveled many places throughout the world and seemed to be a somewhat happy vagabond, yet within her spirit there was a sense of restlessness. She was searching and longing for more and didn’t seemed to be satisfied with where she was. She told me that she had just stopped by the police station to take herself off of the missing person report. Life had gotten hard in her last place of residence, and she decided to leave without telling anyone. Have you ever felt like this lady who has ran all her life searching? What was she searching for?
Next, there is the 21-year old named Carlos who is locked up in prison for hanging around the wrong crowd. His eyes seemed bright, and he was even interested in getting into Bible Study classes. You could feel the shame in his voice as he spoke about what had led him to his current place of residence. He already knew what he did was wrong, and now his eyes are opened to the darkness that he was living in. Many want to cast away a young man who was caught in a car full drugs, but is this the answer? Can we condemn those who have made mistakes and are already full of guilt and shame?
The lady that was brought to Jesus in the above scriptures was just like these two people in the real life stories of my week. The adulteress lady was searching for love through her restless spirit. Was it all her fault? Of course, she must take the responsibility for her actions. However, if her husband was a God-fearing man, He should have been able to direct her to the One who could feel her love tank to overflow. Nevertheless, she was caught in her sin, and the Pharisees and scribes who seemed to walk at a higher standard was ready to throw rocks at her and kill her. We must remember that being righteous before God should humble us instead of causing us to walk around in pride and with a judging spirit. We should long to help and encourage and not kill and destroy. The adulteress was like the young man at the prison who was already full of guilt and shame. She found herself lying on the ground before the only One who could have condemned her—Jesus Christ. In His grace, truth and mercy, He forgave her and told her to sin no more.
Growing up, I learned a valuable lesson about Christ’s forgiveness through my dad. He told me not to drive on the back roads of my country town during the snowy weather one night. Of course, I didn’t want to listen to what he had to say and ended up riding down the roads anyway. I thought, “he will never know!” It was about midnight when the consequence of my sin against my dad came to light. I drove around a curve and lost control on ice. The car did a 180, and the backside of the car slammed into a ditch. I didn’t have my seat belt on and the impact threw me into the seat instead of out the window. It could have been much worse… I walked to my friend’s house and felt the guilt, shame and unworthiness to even call my dad. He had always told me to call him if I ever got into trouble or stranded. This was one call I did not want to make. Around 1AM with a trembling voice, I called my dad for help. It was humbling and humiliating for me and especially with others around to see me get caught. He told me to stay where I was and he would meet me and try to get the car out of the ditch. When he arrived, he didn’t say a word… He could have said, “I told you so, I can’t believe you did this to yourself, or a multitude of other remarks,” yet in his grace and mercy, he comforted me with his presence as I sat in the silence of a trembling heart.
I hope you can see that the world does not need more people to condemn each other. The Word of God, conscience of man and working of the Holy Spirit is enough to convict and condemn a lost heart that already feels shame, guilt and defeat. They do not need to see stones in your hands whether directed at them or anyone else. What the world needs to see is Jesus. The One who became sin for us, though he knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) If we all can be brought into Jesus’ presence, every stone will be cast to the ground because the only stone holding us down was the one He rolled away. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). Jesus says, “Go and sin no more!”
The Face of the Man on the Cross
(April 17, 2007, CBCX Prison, Nashville, TN 9:05AM)
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
What’s behind
Each face I see
A longing heart
Searching for eternity
Where is the hope?
For an old lady at a homeless shelter
Or a 21-year old boy
Locked up in fetters
What about others?
Who make mistakes daily
Should they be cast aside
Looked at as a fatality
Sin shows up
In every man’s life
Sometimes you get shot down
Or stabbed in the back with it’s knife
Painful and bleeding
With grief uncompared
Are all those who have empty hears
Bowing under sin’s weight in despair
Where can a man go?
When all hope seems lost
With everyone left alone to die in sin
Look into the face of the man on the cross.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
What’s behind
Each face I see
A longing heart
Searching for eternity
Where is the hope?
For an old lady at a homeless shelter
Or a 21-year old boy
Locked up in fetters
What about others?
Who make mistakes daily
Should they be cast aside
Looked at as a fatality
Sin shows up
In every man’s life
Sometimes you get shot down
Or stabbed in the back with it’s knife
Painful and bleeding
With grief uncompared
Are all those who have empty hears
Bowing under sin’s weight in despair
Where can a man go?
When all hope seems lost
With everyone left alone to die in sin
Look into the face of the man on the cross.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Convinced by His Love
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3
What if someone came up to you today and gave you exactly what you did not deserve? Maybe while driving to work and experiencing road rage, the person perpendicular to you smiled and let you turn in front of them onto the busy road. Have you ever been smart with someone, and they spoke to you in absolute kindness? What about being invited into someone’s home that you barely knew and being served an incredible meal and experiencing a night of great conversation. Have you thought about the breath that you breathed this morning, the breakfast on the table, car to drive, job to go to, and family to spend your time with? We are lavished with God’s grace everyday, yet do we take time to see it?
Jesus was always full of grace and truth in every action, word spoken, and numerous thoughts that He has toward us. He didn’t have to be so kind to a world of sinners, yet He was. He could have easily destroyed us, because of His hatred for sin and our rebellious heart, yet He is longsuffering and showed us what grace and truth was all about. Often when we speak Jesus’ name, we almost consider Him as just a man from a comic book who has supernatural powers. We relate Him to so many things and people around us that we reduce Him from His exalted state as Lord and Savior. It is very dangerous to throw His name around as the man upstairs and any other degrading form of using His name. His Name is above all others. Growing up, my dad would correct me when I said “gah” or “geez,” because in a sense, I was only saying part of what many said in whole. Would you ever think about insulting a king in this world by misusing His name? He is Holy and always will be even in a land where the lines of authority are shaded with gray. Though Jesus is full of grace, He is also the truth and must be honored as the Prince of Peace.
I have always wondered in my mind how big was God? If I could only get a picture or thought about His greatness, I knew it would change me. Last week, I had the opportunity to see part of God’s creation in exploring the Grand Canyon. I realize that Isaiah 46:5 says, “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?” God is incomparable and uncreated. He is God and there is none like Him. However as I stood with my head hanging over the edge of the Grand Canyon, I could not help but get a glimpse of the power, glory and majesty of our Creator. He is greater than I could ever imagine and more beautiful than my eye could contain. If He could create something like the Grand Canyon, what could Jesus do with my life?
Overwhelmed by such beauty, I was reminded that the Canyon was created as a result of the Flood in Genesis. The flood was sent as a judgment on sin, and as a result, the earth was changed forever leaving behind this hole in the ground. I saw the Majesty and artistic design as the handiwork of God. If He can turn the tragedy of sin into a triumph for His glory, I can’t wait to see what He will do with a human life that has trusted in His Son. For you and I were once dead and destroyed by the depravity of sin, but by His stripes our souls our healed and lives made into something beautiful in His sight. If God takes such detail in creating the Grand Canyon that is temporary, what do you think He will do with those who trust Him for eternal life?
We must return to a sense of the Majesty of God in everyday life. Catching a glimpse of His power and wonder can change the way you live in your treatment of His word, name and only begotten Son. He has graced us with His presence and left His mark on time and human hearts through the cross. Will you allow Him to be your all and all or will you be as one who stands in front of the Grand Canyon (the colossal evidence of God’s love and justice in the cross) and say I see nothing? Yesterday while getting a fountain drink at a restaurant, I noticed a lady who had her hands full with drinks, chips and queso, and a burrito. I asked if I could help her carry some of her food to the table. She said, “No thanks, I can handle it.” I knew she was overloaded and three steps later the chips and queso were lying in the floor for someone else to clean up. Jesus knows the weight of sin, responsibility and the cost to love. Don’t wait until your life is a wreck to hand it over to Him! He wants to shower you with His grace and make your burdens lighter through His atoning death and power of the new life in the resurrection!
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3
What if someone came up to you today and gave you exactly what you did not deserve? Maybe while driving to work and experiencing road rage, the person perpendicular to you smiled and let you turn in front of them onto the busy road. Have you ever been smart with someone, and they spoke to you in absolute kindness? What about being invited into someone’s home that you barely knew and being served an incredible meal and experiencing a night of great conversation. Have you thought about the breath that you breathed this morning, the breakfast on the table, car to drive, job to go to, and family to spend your time with? We are lavished with God’s grace everyday, yet do we take time to see it?
Jesus was always full of grace and truth in every action, word spoken, and numerous thoughts that He has toward us. He didn’t have to be so kind to a world of sinners, yet He was. He could have easily destroyed us, because of His hatred for sin and our rebellious heart, yet He is longsuffering and showed us what grace and truth was all about. Often when we speak Jesus’ name, we almost consider Him as just a man from a comic book who has supernatural powers. We relate Him to so many things and people around us that we reduce Him from His exalted state as Lord and Savior. It is very dangerous to throw His name around as the man upstairs and any other degrading form of using His name. His Name is above all others. Growing up, my dad would correct me when I said “gah” or “geez,” because in a sense, I was only saying part of what many said in whole. Would you ever think about insulting a king in this world by misusing His name? He is Holy and always will be even in a land where the lines of authority are shaded with gray. Though Jesus is full of grace, He is also the truth and must be honored as the Prince of Peace.
I have always wondered in my mind how big was God? If I could only get a picture or thought about His greatness, I knew it would change me. Last week, I had the opportunity to see part of God’s creation in exploring the Grand Canyon. I realize that Isaiah 46:5 says, “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?” God is incomparable and uncreated. He is God and there is none like Him. However as I stood with my head hanging over the edge of the Grand Canyon, I could not help but get a glimpse of the power, glory and majesty of our Creator. He is greater than I could ever imagine and more beautiful than my eye could contain. If He could create something like the Grand Canyon, what could Jesus do with my life?
Overwhelmed by such beauty, I was reminded that the Canyon was created as a result of the Flood in Genesis. The flood was sent as a judgment on sin, and as a result, the earth was changed forever leaving behind this hole in the ground. I saw the Majesty and artistic design as the handiwork of God. If He can turn the tragedy of sin into a triumph for His glory, I can’t wait to see what He will do with a human life that has trusted in His Son. For you and I were once dead and destroyed by the depravity of sin, but by His stripes our souls our healed and lives made into something beautiful in His sight. If God takes such detail in creating the Grand Canyon that is temporary, what do you think He will do with those who trust Him for eternal life?
We must return to a sense of the Majesty of God in everyday life. Catching a glimpse of His power and wonder can change the way you live in your treatment of His word, name and only begotten Son. He has graced us with His presence and left His mark on time and human hearts through the cross. Will you allow Him to be your all and all or will you be as one who stands in front of the Grand Canyon (the colossal evidence of God’s love and justice in the cross) and say I see nothing? Yesterday while getting a fountain drink at a restaurant, I noticed a lady who had her hands full with drinks, chips and queso, and a burrito. I asked if I could help her carry some of her food to the table. She said, “No thanks, I can handle it.” I knew she was overloaded and three steps later the chips and queso were lying in the floor for someone else to clean up. Jesus knows the weight of sin, responsibility and the cost to love. Don’t wait until your life is a wreck to hand it over to Him! He wants to shower you with His grace and make your burdens lighter through His atoning death and power of the new life in the resurrection!
Consumed
(9-8-03 Working and thinking about myself 3:00PM)
Lord,
Take the offerings of my heart
The meditations of my mind
The work of my fingers
Even the words that I try to rhyme
For yourself
An act of worship
Adoration
Honoring
My All in All
My Help!
I am nothing
You are everything
May your heart beat in mine
May your breath fill my lungs
May your thoughts take over my mind
May your feet cause me to dance
…to your song
…Your rhyme
…Your drum
I want to be gone
That you may be known
I want to be hidden with You alone
I want to die on the cross with you
I want to rise from the grave into the blue
Please take me by the hand
On the Solid Rock to stand
Walking in the midst of the garden
Being overwhelmed by the flowers every morning
Refreshed by the mist
Because I am on Your list
Burned by your fire
Because You are my only desire
Forever
Consumed
Lord,
Take the offerings of my heart
The meditations of my mind
The work of my fingers
Even the words that I try to rhyme
For yourself
An act of worship
Adoration
Honoring
My All in All
My Help!
I am nothing
You are everything
May your heart beat in mine
May your breath fill my lungs
May your thoughts take over my mind
May your feet cause me to dance
…to your song
…Your rhyme
…Your drum
I want to be gone
That you may be known
I want to be hidden with You alone
I want to die on the cross with you
I want to rise from the grave into the blue
Please take me by the hand
On the Solid Rock to stand
Walking in the midst of the garden
Being overwhelmed by the flowers every morning
Refreshed by the mist
Because I am on Your list
Burned by your fire
Because You are my only desire
Forever
Consumed
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