John 17 ~ the love with which You have loved me

John 17


When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴ I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
 

⁶ “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. ⁸ For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ¹² While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

  ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Why would anyone put themselves out to share Jesus and the Gospel? The Love with which He Loves me.

The believers of God are His Lights. It is up to us to Shine for Him.


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Psalm 3 ~ Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be on Your people

Psalm 3

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

A Psalm of David

O Lord, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me;
² many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

³ But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴ I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!


We all come to a time in our lives where life can be a storm. The wild winds of life begin to pull and tug us in different directions. In the midst of all of that, there is peace. Salvation speaks in our hearts telling us God says He has chosen us. He loves us. We are special to Him. The blessing of forgiveness letting the Spirit be - renewal, redemption - peace.

Proverbs 3:24
when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet

Father God, in You, the Light shines in the darkness. When our words, message and preaching are not wise and persuasive words, You are still the love, power, presence and joy given in Your Holy Spirit. Help us each day to walk the path You give us in Your glory, peace, joie de vivre, knowing we Live God's blessings!! Rejoice in the Name of Jesus Christ, our LORD.



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Hebrews 9:23-28 ~ people are destined to die once and after that to face judgement

Hebrews 9:23-28

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Thus it was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. ²⁵ Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:23-28

The Message (MSG)

^23-26That accounts for the prominence of blood and death in all these secondary practices that point to the realities of heaven. It also accounts for why, when the real thing takes place, these animal sacrifices aren't needed anymore, having served their purpose. For Christ didn't enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the Place Itself, and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins. He doesn't do this every year as the high priests did under the old plan with blood that was not their own; if that had been the case, he would have to sacrifice himself repeatedly throughout the course of history. But instead he sacrificed himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of himself, the final solution of sin.

^27-28Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ's death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

Have you ever thought about the Cross? There are so many representations of it. Some are cheerful, some ornate, some grim, some graphic. Maybe the way we think about the cross tells us something about the way we view the LORD. Clark had a sermon recently about being at a gas station looking at a very lost teenager decked out in lost teenager clothing. He was wearing a cross. When asked about his cross, the teenager said - "Well, yeah, I believe in the Higher Realm." And as his questioner looked encouraged, the young man said, "I believe in Jesus and all, but not the Church." Which of course, made the Priest Sad. And yet. As we all thought about the young man, we felt the Cross would protect him. Because the Cross represents Truth. And the Truth is God Loves that Teenager. And I am sure the Church Family prayed for that unknown but worried over man.

Have you ever thought about Judgement? Okay, the big Judgement is really pretty easy for Bible believing, Christ believing, Doers of the Word. Revelations gets pretty deep and makes people Uncomfortable. So... Hebrews is also about us and our judgements. I mean it struck me today - I believe in the Communion Cup being the actual, transfigured, transubstantiation, blood of Christ. Faith is a Mystery. And the answer, the correct answer is this - I call on the name of the LORD when the Communion Cup is given and it is up to the Child of God to determine if they are in a state of Grace.

I was in the Grocery store this week and this woman was Preaching. Not preaching like Paul - honestly on the street - but she was letting a large population of people passing by - her virtue in knowing Cheap Grace. It is all about KINDNESS. All God's Children. The difficulty here is - if we are God's Children - then we expect Him and in our Relationship with Him - He Parents us. About His purity, sexuality, diet, language, morals. What good parent says to their child - I believe a diet of sugar cereal will be good for you forever. (Dear LORD, forgive me for the times I've done this literally.) I came out of that grocery store so angry. I told my son, I am going to go back there take off my shoe and chase her with it. My son said, "Really?" He looked alarmed at the prospect. And I said no, but that lady was about politically correct Christianity and it is bad for this country. Bad for morals. And, man, we need some morals on television and more wholesome leisure activities and affordable and music too. That run on sentence was heartfelt.

So. I told my son. I am going to get a t-shirt and I am going to wear it and it will say "I am Judgmental as Hell." And we laughed and laughed. Because. I do chew people out and I make people Permanently mad at me. But on the other hand - people have come to me for years with their secrets and I don't tell. I know who had the abortions, I know who is gay, I know who is a stalker with his eyes and it is creepy as hell. I know who loves each other and they aren't married. I know people married to their best friends. I know marriages who cycle back and forth. I know faith that cycles back and forth. I had a Conversation! with a new friend this week and I realized - OMG I know these people and what goes around. And I Love them. Like the lady who's kids have terrible teeth and she is so salty and I Like her.


And the Higher Realms.

2 Corinthians 12:2
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—

We've heard and heard Heaven has 7 levels. What if you loved God so much that it was like a husband that travels. What if you got to the really good level of Heaven, level 5, and it was like the most perfect earth you could ever imagine. But the problem is that Jesus only stops by doing the work He and His Father do. And when you thought of Heaven having the First Level - you worried a) martyrdom sounds bad b) what if it is like the grace and favor apartments in a Castle - which Castles or Cathedrals are really great and all - but where is the beauty of the God's Creation? c) What if the saints were grim. But still.... you'd be very, very tearful that Heaven might mean you only get to see God at a distance. Like a concert or a friend on a balcony on the beach.

And it struck me. Why the Church is God's Bride. Bingo. Or Halleluiah! Which ever symbol means Jesus as Lord to you. In Love, In Reverence. But the Truth is God is LOVE.

Clark said on Sunday, what we think about when we think of God is important and tells us about our Relationship with Him. When I think of God, I picture standing next to Jesus and He has His arm around me. I am tucked under His Arm. He loves me because I am His. Chosen. Special. Loved.

There are times to speak up, Abba. There are times to be silent, Father God. There are times to be eloquent. There are times to be frank. But Lord Jesus Christ. Your matters, Your Salvation is so much Greater than one little human could ever be. Help me and help these readers to do what You would have us to do each day. And when we fall down in error, in stubbornness, in stupidity, in fear, in strength, in weakness, in sin. You would be God. And then we accept the barriers You would give us and pray about them. And we say:

Our Heavenly Father. Holy is Your Name. Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day! Give us our daily Bread. Forgive us our sins. As we forgive others who sin against us. Lead us out of Temptation. Deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. In the Highest Name of Jesus, the Lord, the Christ. Amen.


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John 10 ~ I and the Father are one

John 10

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

¹⁹ There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” ²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

²² At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

³¹ The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. ³² Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” ³³ The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? ³⁵ If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— ³⁶ do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? ³⁷ If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; ³⁸ but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” ³⁹ Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

⁴⁰ He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. ⁴¹ And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And many believed in him there.

Why? Why didn't Jesus jump up and down wave His arms and just tell people "I am God." Well, it is in the first paragraph. And in verse 30.

And because the Bible - The Word of God - is active and living - it has meaning for us Today. Evangelism is effective on all levels. Why bother? People are just people, they never change.

No. People bloom and grow. They thrive. Over the land.... Jesus Christ's Spirit blooms like a breath of Spring.

There is Evangelism in 3rd world countries, there is street ministry, there are people sewing needlepoint kneelers for the Glory of God's worship center. There are people who pray for friends, there are parents who pray for children, there are people who pray for their parents and family. Be a friend bring a friend to Christ - what Is Most Effective?

Love. Real Love. Remember what God says about God. God is Love. Evangelism works best when the Holy Spirit rushes in.

Ron Luce told the story of his mom. She was abusive, poor parent - I believe he even said white trash. He found Jesus and his life changed. He felt Worthy. Loved. Chosen. Special. Precious. And this man, who had felt so worthless, became empowered with the Holy Spirit. He married a woman he loved. And they had children who were Nourished at the Table of the LORD. Whole. Holy.

And his mom would come to visit. And she would tell them they were this and they were that. Cruel things. And this family didn't like that. It is a healthy reaction. And they began to see her less. Then one day Ron was listening to his wife repeat back the unhealthy things his mom had said. And he realized. Realized. His mom felt as unworthy and white trash as he used to Feel. And there was..... compassion. Better than pity. Empathy. Ron was able to explain to his wife, Katie, how he was before his wife knew him. And because she loves Ron, she was able to see her mother-in-law for the first time with love.

There was a family meeting with the Nourished, Whole Family. And the Luce Family began.... to EVANGELIZE. No. The Luce Family began to Love. At first it was something of an act. Act in Love. But because Gramma Luce didn't know, it began to take hold. And Ron Luce had rediscovered he did Love his mom. They decided at first to brush off her cruel comments. It seemed to make her angrier. Then they got angrier. It seems gritting your teeth to love doesn't work. Then they decided to listen to what she had to say. Was the process imperfect? You Bet. Because People are not the Lord, God, The Almighty, the Most High.

As they took time to be loving to Gramma Luce, listen to what she had to say, it took about 5 years. But Ron Luce, Evangelist, (ummm.... not Ron White) had the Blessing of the Most High God, to see - his own mom fall in Love with Jesus. And the result? His mom is his best friend. She Loves the Lord. They walk together with God.

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.


Today.





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John 2:13-22 ~ Jesus went up to Jerusalem

Shofar Trumpet -God calls us to Him with a Trumpet


The Royal Stoa was where the Money Changers were housed. Jesus taught from Solomon's Portico. Jesus went to the Temple at least 26 times, recorded in the Gospels; And Jesus entered Synagogues at least 12 times.

Josephus records the Temple Treasury being thirteen trumpet-like receptacles of brass. ("Ant." xix. 61, "B. J." v. 2, Jewish Encyclopedia) Shaped to prevent dishonest people from taking out coins while pretending to cast them in. The description of the trumpets being brass also means the correct Temple coinage - (available for exchange on the Temple grounds in Royal Stoa, or Portico, built by Herod) made a noise going down the trumpet, also perfect for showing off.

John 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
 

¹⁸ So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. ²² When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Can you imagine Jesus driving people and livestock out of the Temple? It was huge. This would have to be a work of God. How could one mere man drive people and livestock out of the Temple area that we know archeologically was 280 meters by 485 meters? That is a powerful miracle with the Power of God Almighty behind it. Even when a whip was used.

Faith. Belief. They were gifts given when Jesus did these amazing signs.

Would the disciples have felt afraid when Jesus over threw the money-changers? Probably.

Luke 21:1-19 ~ do not be terrified
- Scripture for Today Blogspot on prayer for direction.

This band Only Gets Better - the More it Rolls! Remember David dancing in front of the Ark!!



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1 Corinthians 13 ~ Love is patient and kind

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The person I've never written about on my blog is my mother-in-law. I've been very fortunate with my parents-in-law. All 4 in-law siblings have something in common, we all were deserted by our dads. And we all wanted to have a Dad like Buddy. Mostly. I really love my late father-in-law, we have so many funny stories to share. And I wrote one blog post where I realized Buddy worried a whole, whole lot. Woke up early to worry. And who did Buddy love most in the world? My mother-in-law. And man, man, man, man did he love her. He was Humphrey Bogart cool, but that Buddy would literally jump over the coffee table to get Gran, my mother-in-law, not to clam up.

She gave me a ring for Christmas, I asked her the story behind the ring and she teared up to say, "It was a day, Buddy, just had a little extra, so he went out and got me a ring. He did that sometimes. " And this look of profound loss misted over her eyes and for a minute she couldn't speak. I love you, Judy. I Really Love You.

Gran is very easy to love. She looks perfect, she acts perfectly. She is the High School Cheerleader perfectly coiffed, slim person. Who never was a Cheerleader and really actually has a very, very loving heart. People love her. I've dated Edward since I was 15. And Gran has seen me in all stages of my life. Some she has loved me like a real mom. And some times she has ice berged me over. Like a family squabble in 1990 where I told the truth for poor motives. I'm sorry.

But Gran saved me many, many times. And when she does she gives me this little nod that means so, so, so, so much. And a hug, and heart felt, dear, soft, "Love you." Judy spent really healing time with us after Buddy died. Some old hurts were completely healed. Judy came the day Isabelle died. She stayed and she talked. And she told me what it was like to be a widow twice. She shared with me how awful people can be to people who grieve. She told me that it would take time and it would get better. She left for home for a week and was to return the next week and she told me sweetly, kindly, uncharacteristically to clean my house, the bathrooms were unfathomably unclean. (Judy is the perfect mother-in-law - our toilets were ruined and we were having a party, she came to me in this mortified whisper and she said,"I don't mean to intrude, but your toilets are Awful." I had to laugh. I said, I know but they are clean, just ruined from bleach.) I thought - duh, my baby was dying. And I felt angry to be so sad and be cleaning. And as the bathrooms were gross and they became cleaner, I was so, so grateful to have a task to do to feel better.

My children are not verbal in the way they love her. But they really, really, really Do. One Easter she gave them Easter Bunnies with her perfume on them and they still remember it. They love her, who could not. When Gran comes to visit, the boys want to visit with her ~ there is no other adult they at least try to talk to (they are self-interested like all of us)! Gran has made a world of difference in their lives.

Another time, she and I sat on her bed for an evening and were stunned over a recent sibling family divorce. We had the same heart for it. We sat in silence and worried for the departed ex-sibling. She came recently and we went to see a family movie that ends in death but goes on and on - we both didn't have much to say - and finally I looked at her and said, "That was the Worst Movie of All Time!" And we laughed for about 2-3 minutes, with the same heart -it was a bleak movie that ended without a Christian funeral just plop and fizz and it was done, paddle away. Why could we laugh with the same heart - we have both lost people we love and we have Hope for Them in the LORD.

When I am hard pressed for a decision, I think of Judy. Take the high road and be kind. She never says this, she just lives it out every day of her life. It has always held Judy up in hard times. Because Judy doesn't believe hard times last, she believes the high road and some kindness take people to the right answers.

I love you, my second Mom. (I love you, my Anne Mom, too!) I Really Do. May the Lord, the Most High, The God of All Creation, Bless and Love You for the Love you Are. In the Highest name of Jesus Christ, Amen.



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Romans 4 ~ "it was counted to him"

Abraham dwelt under a huge Oak, in Mamre.

Romans 4

David Cochran Audio, English Standard Version

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in ^[trusts!] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

⁹ Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹² and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

¹³ For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵ For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

¹⁶ That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, ¹⁷ as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. ¹⁸ In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. ²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

But for our sake.... these are ancient Words of the LORD and are still for you, today, God's own child.... we learn of Abraham's faith. To please Father God, we have to start with faith. And for our sake Jesus our Lord gives us ~ belief, righteousness, blessing, cover and forgiveness.

God gives us these gifts for His glory. Helping us walk in the footsteps God gives us for our life.

We see God's plan existed before man knew of it, planned it, or hoped for it. Our faith involves being grateful for the unique qualities we all have that make us - us. We take our gratitude for our unique qualities, the gratitude we have for the forgiveness the LORD generously bestows upon us, the hopes we have for our lives and we surround them with our desire to be God's child, to Listen to Him, to want to move, dwell and have our being with Him and we have the mystery of faith.

1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

Ephesians 3:11-21
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Mark 10

Mark 10

10 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

² And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ³ He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” ⁴ They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” ⁵ And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ⁷ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

¹⁰ And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. ¹¹ And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

¹³ And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

¹⁷ And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” ²¹ And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

³² And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, ³³ saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ⁴² And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

⁴⁶ And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁹ And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” ⁵⁰ And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” ⁵² And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

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Leviticus 12 ~ purifying

Leviticus 12

12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. ³ And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. ⁴ Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. ⁵ But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.

⁶ “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, ⁷ and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. ⁸ And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

When you say Leviticus, most even ardent Bible Studiers are less than enthusiastic. Yet the Scriptures tell us God tells us truth. What do we learn from these Scriptures from around 1300-1500 B.C. (the Exodus date God knows)? It is rather Amazing. Puerperal fever has killed many women for centuries in childbirth. Wandering around in the desert during the Exodus, Leviticus tells us - these women we think were treated as chattel - property - were actually being given the best medical help available at the time.

And male infants shouldn't be circumcised before this time period because of the blood clotting factors.

God is building up the Children of Israel, carrying for women and children - the least of society. If you look to other countries at this time period, would this care be evident? We know that the Children of Israel lived longer than other countries.

And then we come to the sacrifice, ending at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (Jesus' natural life time) - we have baptism, asking blessing on our children. Baptism is asking God to promise us the opportunity of salvation in Jesus.

The Scriptures are filled with wonder.

1 Corinthians 1:21
Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.


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Genesis 22:1-2; Genesis 22:9-13; Genesis 22:15-18 ~ Your offsping shall

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn painting of Abraham and the Angels

Genesis 22:1-2

English Standard Version

22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ² He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Genesis 22:9-13

⁹ When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹² He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Genesis 22:15-18

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven ¹⁶ and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, ¹⁸ and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

My mother came to visit recently and she decided on the way to Church to talk about this passage. She says it is her least favorite passage in the Bible. I don't think of it often. There are so many positive things in Scripture, but she wanted to see what my off the cuff remarks would be about it. And I said, "Well, Abraham is different than we are, he could hear God and have conversations. God wants to make sure we are His priority. Because Abraham was so comfortable with God, and even laughed when God told him of Isaac, I would think that Abraham rested in the assurance God would take care of him."

And otherwise, who could fathom this action. Because we are covered with Jesus' love, we are far more fortunate than Abraham. Abraham had already received the announcement of God's blessing, yet God repeats it again here.

Matthew Henry said:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:1,2 We never are secure from trials In Hebrew, to tempt, and to try, or to prove, are expressed by the same word. Every trial is indeed a temptation, and tends to show the dispositions of the heart, whether holy or unholy. But God proved Abraham, not to draw him to sin, as Satan tempts. Strong faith is often exercised with strong trials, and put upon hard services.

I. The time when Abraham was thus tried (v. 1): After these things, after all the other exercises he had had, all the hardships and difficulties he had gone through. Now, perhaps, he was beginning to think the storms had all blown over; but, after all, this encounter comes, which is sharper than any yet. Note, Many former trials will not supersede nor secure us from further trials; we have not yet put off the harness, 1 Ki. 20:11. See Ps. 30:6, 7.

II. The author of the trial: God tempted him, not to draw him to sin, so Satan tempts (if Abraham had sacrificed Isaac, he would not have sinned, his orders would have justified him, and borne him out), but to discover his graces, how strong they were, that they might be found to praise, and honour, and glory, 1 Pt. 1:7. Thus God tempted Job, that he might appear not only a good man, but a great man. God did tempt Abraham; he did lift up Abraham, so some read it; as a scholar that improves well is lifted up, when he is put into a higher form.

Note, Strong faith is often exercised with strong trials and put upon hard services.

III. The trial itself. God appeared to him as he had formerly done, called him by name, Abraham, that name which had been given him in ratification of the promise. Abraham, like a good servant, readily answered, "Here am I; what says my Lord unto his servant?"

Reading the Scriptures helps us know God's love. Every verse of the Bible is written for you.

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Mark 8:27-30 ~ You are the Christ

Please look carefully at the altar, all the people are coming to the Lord! The majesty, the love and the awe in the people for their LORD.


LISTEN ~
To Joe Pace and the Colorado Mass Choir ~
Let Everything That Hath Breath

Mark 8:27-29

²⁷ And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸ And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” ²⁹ And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Didn't we, as church goers, grow up thinking Peter got to be the first Pope because he arrived at the answer first. Ta da. Then as we study the Scriptures, we see John 1...

John 1:35-42

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Cephas heard from his brother (Andrew), who heard from John the Baptist.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Well, being awkward - I don't know always how to do that. Maybe the LORD will grow this in me as Fruit. (Come on, Jesus!)

But actually this Proclamation of Jesus Christ as Lord, is important. For the same reason John the Baptist said, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”"

Jesus, who knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus understands Peter's heart. We are Jesus' beloved, who believe.

Blessed are You, O LORD Most High, God the Almighty. You sent us your son, JESUS.

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1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband

1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband

2nd Blog Post for 3/2 Comfort and Suffering - the Scoop

Mark 8:33

But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

And Jesus' life led to this.

Luke 23:24
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Why is there suffering. One of my favorite people on the planet used to say, "We know that if someone dies with cancer, it is because God is weak. Satan is so powerful in this world that God is pushed down." No, my brother (s and sisters) in Christ.

Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein

- is still the Word of God. God does not lie and He does not change from day to day.

We live in a world where we sacrifice. Man, don't we. We have children and let strangers raise them in day care. We don't have time for a nourishing meal or we have many memories of a meal that was so stressful - that fast food is delicious. We don't have time for friends. We come home so wrung out that we all turn on the television. How great is television? We need more wholesome, holy things. People stay away because we aren't always nice to each other. Remember summer days and times in the 1970's and before? Time moved slowly. People gathered. People quilted and sewed. If you looked down your street, people did gather. Time was gentle. Is this sentimental clap trap? No. Look at the news. Now people obsess if they are doing enough work or if work is beneficial. People are jealous of others with time on their hands. Just as people are jealous with more items. Our grandparents bought their houses. Our great-grandparents were cared for in our homes (Lord help me with my parent!). Our parents bought our educations as a gift. We are sacrificing.

Look at the Scandinavian countries. Life is easier. Smaller homes, kids in government care very, very early. Less worry over health care. Yet they have given up freedom and a lot of their beliefs. Watered down. In worst case scenario, they are in Bad Shape if the Government goes Bad. In the United States, we believe in God and yet act badly. Things are not as crisp and clean as when we believed in faith to do right and God will care for us.

Faith and the amount of it effects all of us.

Do you remember in the Scriptures, a loan was supposed to be 7 years. Wouldn't we all be or have been happier with a house affordable in 7 years that wasn't in a woebegone neighborhood with hopelessness, danger and drugs? Why aren't we demanding Congress to order our lives in ways that help people instead of this spiral?

Is God truly weakened by this? I would say No. But God will give us enough rope in free will. So many miracles in the Scriptures are like the father crying out, "I believe, help my unbelief." Can't we all relate to that? We have to put our houses in order and give God glory. People are much more interested, ultimately, in God who gives mercy and blessings. Because God is Love. God says work and grow faith. Believe. Give it a leap.

Faith is a leap. We gave a car once to our Church. Now we have two kids with one car. We need to work on being financially generous to our Church, but funds are a financial diet at our house. Lean. Our financial structure is different than others.

(Have you ever thought about communion? Communion is a meal. It is the New Covenant. The importance of communion is this.... at a restaurant, we eat a meal and we are subjected to a conversation behind us. I've heard some that I Still Remember. Awful. Particularly one anniversary meal at Perry's ... the importance of Communion is - we are together. We wait for the person next in line to Receive. And pray for them. It's a symbol of God. And I believe Communion is God.)

So... suffering.... why does it occur. Is it a weakened God? A man is terminally ill (a friend's family). What could one act of God be in this? His daughter is to step up to the plate. To overcome her ingrained and complete self interest. Maybe she is to learn that she loves her dad more than herself, she is supposed to grow. To have to ask others to help her.

Helping others, when they ask, is an act of God. Helping others by forcing your will upon them, is not. Motivations are important and self defining. It builds a house.

Is love day care? Nursing homes? Does throwing money at someone help them? Withdraw support? Avoidance? Or is it time, talent and effort. Business decisions can sometimes be covered with practicality. Practicality is much more easy to rely upon. But they lead to day care and nursing homes. Less real care. If the sole goal in life is money, we have fragmented families and nights spent in front of the television. In the end, did it make us better people?

Jesus took death from us. He didn't take suffering. We have to grow in faith and see God in all things. Rejecting what is wrong. It comes with a cost. Jesus blazed the trail. Giving us His Holy Spirit. We grow in God when life is difficult, there isn't any praise, but we still believe, believe, believe we need to do as God would have us do.

Times are very hard at my house these days. Fear. Some Isolation. Difficult guarded conversations. Please pray for my family. We sure could use it.


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Mark 2:1-12 ~ it was reported that He was at home

Capernaum

Mark 2:1-12

David Cochran Audio, English Standard Version

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ² And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.

³ And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

When we look at Scriptures, we can see in even small details, lovely things about Jesus. Jesus was comfortable and at home in His ministry. Jesus relied upon His Father; spent time praying. Jesus is Truth and Grace.

Psalm 50:23
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”

I don't know about you, but people jumping up and down and screaming blaspheme and things of the devil, make me uncomfortable. I'd avoid it. Jesus, because He was comfortable, lived peacefully. Jesus is comfortable in His ministry. Jesus Lives. I mean if you could, wouldn't you get tremendous joy from giving acts of God? Jesus LIVED!!! And now it would be trite to say Jesus Lives? No. Look around you, we love imperfectly, but we love. The acts of mercy of God continue daily. Buck up people, act in love. Why? We believe, believe, believe. We know, we know, we know. Jesus LIVES!



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