Our Very Present Help

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Scripture Text – Psalm 46

Death is an ever present and inevitable event in everyone’s lives. We grieve and are burdened when a loved one or a friend passes, especially suddenly or unexpectedly. We all share a sense of deep loss and the profound wish that there might have been some other way. We very seldom have answers or explanations; we are all inclined to search for ways to understand, but we have all already discovered that such a search is in vain. And still—without answers, explanations, or ways to grasp what has happened—we stand alongside each other with the hope and confidence in Jesus Christ that the last word has not been spoken. Even in the situation of what feels to so many of us like finality in the extreme, the God of life will not let it be. The God who gives life—physically and spiritually—is always ready to take a loved one who belongs to Him into His divine arms and welcome them into His heavenly home.

We understand all too well that those nearest to a departed loved one remain in a state of confusion, heavyhearted and bereaved, lonely and confused. Of course, how could it be any other way? However, what I offer is a simple reminder that the God who loves and has provided for each of us eternally, loves us even in our grief and is ready to help us bear the heavy load. This is the abiding message of the Christian faith and only basis through which we can face life’s grim realities with a sense of hopefulness intact. God loves us, He abides with us, always, and will not forsake any one of us even in extreme moments and in the days of readjustment and reorientation which are ahead of those who have suffered a loss.

Not only are the psalmist’s words beautifully rendered and reflective of profound insight, but also the very logic provides a pastoral word of comfort and inspiration. The writer begins with the full force of theological reality, a statement of religious confession and assurance which gives order and hope to his life and to the whole human family. This is the beginning point. This is the lens through which we view world events and the more immediate circumstances affecting our lives. Any other point of departure, any other frame of reference, will distort not only how we see, but also how we hope. The psalmist began with God, and so must we.

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Not just any god, mind you, for there is no other, but with the one true God, the Creating, Redeeming, and Loving God. The God on whom His people may depend; and with only a little bit of experience in our uncertain and many times cruel world, we see that this is the God on whom we must depend. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1. Therefore, we are able to come to grips with grief, anger, fear, and loneliness which result from any death or loss, by looking first to and through the God to whom Jesus pointed to all who would listen. Because of His own reliance upon God and because God was so much in Him, Jesus could say, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. . . rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29.

The psalmist’s assessment of God does stir us to reach out to God because God is reaching out to us in a living presence that helps us fend off enemies from without and enemies from within. God is our refuge; in relationship with God, we may take shelter from outward attack such as a tragedy over which we have absolutely no control. Oh, there will come a time to step out of the shelter and take on the enemy, but even then God will be with us because God, too, is our strength. The psalmist’s summary of theological affirmation is that God is a present help in trouble; come what may, God’s presence is what we need to cope and keep on searching for the divine meaning in life. Again, this is where we begin, not with the trouble itself.

The trouble is real, and God never ask us to ignore it; that would be disastrous. However, in spite of trouble, the psalmist still draws our attention Godward. As an example of trouble, the psalmist recalled a personal experience—perhaps the most horrifying experience he could have imagined: an earthquake. Even in that time when he feared for his own life amid death and destruction all around, he could still affirm that God was his refuge and strength.

What a person goes through with the loss of a loved one is like a personal and emotional earthquake—with much of our joy and stability threatened and even seeming to disappear. Finding peace and courage to rebuild isn’t always easy. However, we can find some courage and encouragement that we are never up against a struggle all alone. In both the material and emotional rebuilding and healing, the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is and always will be our ever present refuge.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Patriotic Quote 3/28/2023

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102 vaughan 3-28

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Food For Thought 3/28/2023

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Legend of the Origin of Praise

There is an old Jewish legend which says that, after God had created the world, He called the angels to Him and asked them what they thought of it; and one of them said, “One thing is lacking: the sound of praise to the Creator.” So God created music, and it was heard in the whisper of the wind, and in the song of the birds; and to man also was given the gift of song. And all down the ages this gift of song has indeed proved a blessing to multitudes of souls.
~ Maritime Baptist

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Christian Quote 3/28/2023

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301 kulman 3-28

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The Great Revival

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Tuesday March 28, 2023

Isaiah 52.10
The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations;
And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.

In the old revivals in America a hundred years ago, commonly called “the great awakening,” there were many strange things, such as continual shrieks and screams, and knockings, and twitchings, under the services. We cannot call that the work of the Spirit. Even the great Whitefield’s revival at Cambuslang, one of the greatest and most remarkable revivals ever known, was attended by some things that we cannot but regard as superstitious wonders. People were so excited, that they did not know what they did. Now, if in any revival you see any of these strange contortions of the body, always distinguish between things that differ. The Holy Spirit’s work is with the mind, not with the body in that way. It is not the will of God that such things should disgrace the proceedings. I believe that such things are the result of Satanic malice. The devil sees that there is a great deal of good doing; “Now,” says he, “I’ll spoil it all. I’ll put my hoof in there, and do a world of mischief. There are souls being converted; I will let them get so excited that they will do ludicrous things, and then it will all be brought into contempt.” Now, if you see any of these strange things arising, look out. There is that old Apollyon busy, trying to mar the work. Put such vagaries down as soon as you can, for where the Spirit works, he never works against his own precept, and his precept is, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” It is neither decent nor orderly for people to dance under the sermon, nor howl, nor scream, while the gospel is being preached to them, and therefore it is not the Spirit’s work at all, but mere human excitement.

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C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 1) (Day One Publications, 1998)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Reflecting With God 3/28/2023

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Thinking, praying, reading, studying the Bible – when we do these things, we are reflecting on the Word of God. To reflect is to contemplate and/or consider, and God wants us to deeply reflect on His Word so that we can better understand Him.

Tuesday Reflecting

Train up a child in the way he should go. – Proverbs 22:6.

The heathen mother takes her babe to the idol temple, and teaches it to clasp its little hands before its forehead, in the attitude of prayer, long before it can utter a word. As soon as it can walk, it is taught to gather a few flowers or fruits, or put a little rice upon a banana-leaf, and lay them upon the altar before the idol god. As soon as it can utter the names of its parents, so soon it is taught to offer up its petitions before the images. Who ever saw a heathen child that could speak, and not pray? Christian mothers, why is it that so many children grow up in this enlightened land without learning to pray?
~ MACLAREN

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Illustrated Message 3/28/2023

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Zechariah 2:11

“Many nations will join themselves to Yahweh on that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you.”


Faithlife Verse of the Day Art, © 2023, Faithlife / Logos Bible Software.
Scripture used from the Lexham English Bible, LEB © 2012 by Logos Bible Software.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Daily Prayer & Praise 3/28/2023

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Lord, hear our prayer:

Lord, we praise you, the one true living God, who fills the whole universe with life, love and meaning. We praise you for your tremendous love which flows to us and into our lives in Christ. Lord, it is your love that takes the people we are and makes it possible for us to be transformed into the people we are meant to be. We praise you for your love which sets us free from everything that holds us, from everything that squeezes real life out of us, and brings us out of darkness into the glorious light of the Father’s presence. We will praise you eternally in ever increasing joy and worship with Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Some minor adaptation on some prayers.
David Clowes, 500 Prayers For All Occasions © 2003 by David C Cook Publishing
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Bible Verse of the Day 3/28/2023

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INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER:
First Peter is about maintaining hope in the midst of suffering. Because Jesus Himself suffered, and because God can be trusted to put all things right, Peter counsels believers to maintain their faith in Jesus. Believers should do so even when they are being persecuted, mocked, and misunderstood; they should also imitate Jesus by enduring unjust suffering with grace. Hardships are bound to come in this life, but they do not have the last word.

Taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation for ease of reading:

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Going Home Again – 5

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Scripture Text – Genesis 35-36

Being a victorious Christian doesn’t mean escaping the difficulties of life and enjoying only carefree days. Rather, it means walking with God by faith, knowing that He is with us, and trusting Him to help us for our good and His glory no matter what difficulties He permits to come our way. The maturing Christian doesn’t pray, “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?”

Let’s conclude with the new things that came into Jacob’s life.

A New Standing

Please read Genesis 35:23-36:43 for the background to this section.

More than twenty years before, Isaac thought he was going to die (Genesis 24:1–4), but death didn’t come until he was one hundred and eighty years old. He lived the longest of all the patriarchs and yet less is recorded about his life than about his father, his sons, and his grandson Joseph.

A side note:

The events in chapters 37–40 occurred while Isaac was alive, even though his death is recorded here. Jacob’s father Isaac would have been one hundred and sixty-eight years old (Genesis 25:26) and therefore still alive when Joseph was sold into slavery. Isaac would have died twelve years later, one year before Joseph was elevated to being second ruler in Egypt.

We trust that Isaac and Jacob experienced a complete reconciliation and that the old patriarch died “full of years” as did his father (Genesis 25:8). Esau came from Mount Seir to pay his respects to his father and to assist Isaac in burying him in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:29–32). Esau was a man of the world and not a child of the covenant, but he was still Isaac’s son and Jacob’s brother, and he had every right to be there. Death is a human experience that brings human pain to our hearts, and caring for the dead is a responsibility for all the family, believers and unbelievers.

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But Isaac’s death changed Jacob’s status: He was now the head of the family and the heir of the covenant blessings. He not only acquired Isaac’s great wealth, but he also inherited all that was involved in the Abrahamic covenant. His God would be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

There’s quite a contrast between the record of Jacob’s family in Genesis 35:23–26, listing four wives and twelve sons, and the long list of people who belonged to Esau, recorded in chapter 36. There are six lists of names, including sons, chiefs, and kings. Esau had his share of material blessings, but Jacob possessed the covenant blessings from the Lord.

Genesis 36 is a long chapter containing many names, but it’s the end of the story as far as Esau is concerned! The Edomites are named in the Old Testament only because they’re a part of the story of Israel. “Esau” and “Edom,” the avowed enemies of the Jews, are mentioned over two hundred times in the Bible, but “Jacob” and “Israel” are found over two thousand times! Esau’s son Eliphaz was the father of Amalek, and the Amalekites were also Israel’s enemies (Exodus 17:8–16; Numbers 14:39–45; Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1 Samuel 15).

Thus, from Genesis 37 on, the story is of Jacob, not of Esau! This is also the reason that Isaac’s death is recorded here as the history takes off from Isaac’s son, Jacob and progresses through Joseph. “This is the history of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2), although the King James Version states it’s the “generations of Jacob,” it’s the tenth occasion for a “generation” statement in Genesis, and it introduces the story of Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph. With all their weaknesses and faults, the sons of Jacob will carry on the work of God on earth and fulfill the covenant promises God made to Abraham.

One thing we can always be assured of and that is that God’s promises are steadfast and sure and no matter the circumstances surrounding His people, His plan and His perfect will, is always going to prevail!

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Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Authentic, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Patriotic Quote 3/27/2023

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101 rush 3-27

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Food For Thought 3/27/2023

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Noah’s Day to a Pastor

Pastor Earl Cannon of Chicago’s Vernon Baptist Church expected 15,000 to march in his nondenominational “happy day” parade in honor of God, but he and 214 policemen assigned to the activity were the only ones who showed up, making him feel “like Noah.”
~ Christianity Today

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Christian Quote 3/27/2023

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300 edwards 3-27

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What A Sea To Swin In!

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Monday March 27, 2023

1 Samuel 2:2
“No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.”

What a broad world to roam in, what a sea to swim in is this God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is eternal. He antedates time and is wholly independent of it. Time began in Him and will end in Him. To it He pays no tribute and from it He suffers no change.

He is immutable. He has never changed and can never change in any smallest measure. To change He would need to go from better to worse or from worse to better. He cannot do either, for being perfect He cannot become more perfect, and if He were to become less perfect He would be less than God.

He is omniscient. He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, all relationships, all events. He has no past and He has no future. He is, and none of the limiting and qualifying terms used of creatures can apply to Him.

Love and mercy and righteousness are His, and holiness so ineffable that no comparisons or figures will avail to express it.

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Tozer on the Almighty God : A 366-Day Devotional (WingSpread, 2004)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Reflecting With God 3/27/2023

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Thinking, praying, reading, studying the Bible – when we do these things, we are reflecting on the Word of God. To reflect is to contemplate and/or consider, and God wants us to deeply reflect on His Word so that we can better understand Him.

Monday Reflecting

Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. – Proverbs 16:5.

Naturalists find it much less easy to teach a mountain-flower to accommodate itself to a low locality than to get one which by birth belongs to the valleys to live and thrive at a lofty elevation. So there seems nothing more difficult to men than to descend gracefully. How few who have been accustomed to a high position in society are able to reconcile themselves to a humble one!… So it is with us in our low and lost estate. Spiritually poor, we are spiritually proud, saying, “I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing;” while we are “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Even when we are in some degree sensible of our poverty, and know we cannot pay, like the unjust steward, we are ashamed to beg. Indulging a pride out of all keeping “with filthy rags,” we will not stoop to stand at God’s door, poor mendicants, who ask for mercy.
~ GUTHRIE

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Illustrated Message 3/27/2023

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Titus 2:11

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.


Faithlife Verse of the Day Art, © 2023, Faithlife / Logos Bible Software.
Scripture used from the Lexham English Bible, LEB © 2012 by Logos Bible Software.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Daily Prayer & Praise 3/27/2023

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Lord, hear our prayer:

Lord, your presence lifts us, your grace amazes us, your power overwhelms us and your love excites us. No matter what we bring with us – hurts, sorrows, self-satisfaction, bitterness or joyful praise – you always receive us as we are, and transform what we bring and fill us with gifts of your mercy. We thank you exceedingly for the grace with which you allow us to approach your throne boldly. Therefore, we give you praise and magnify your name.

Amen.

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Some minor adaptation on some prayers.
David Clowes, 500 Prayers For All Occasions © 2003 by David C Cook Publishing
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Bible Verse of the Day 3/27/2023

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INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER:
First Peter is about maintaining hope in the midst of suffering. Because Jesus Himself suffered, and because God can be trusted to put all things right, Peter counsels believers to maintain their faith in Jesus. Believers should do so even when they are being persecuted, mocked, and misunderstood; they should also imitate Jesus by enduring unjust suffering with grace. Hardships are bound to come in this life, but they do not have the last word.

Taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation for ease of reading:

bv 3-27-23

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Prophecy vs False Prophecy

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There is a movement that has infiltrated the true church that believes in NEW revelation from God apart from the Bible. The sad thing is, the Bible itself warns about this. Don’t just read the Word of God, study to show yourself approved! (2 Timothy 2:15).

Here’s an illustration to make a point:

prophecy vs false prophecy

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Strive To Love One Another

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But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more. – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10.

The verses above develop another aspect of Paul’s prayer found in chapter 3 that “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12. Paul hopes that his instructions here will be one of the instruments used by God to begin to answer his earlier prayer at the end of chapter 3.

Love was the primary thing in 1 Thessalonians 3:12–13 that Paul prayed would “establish” their hearts in holiness. The NIV uses the better term “strengthen” to describe Paul’s instruction. Paul does not want the Thessalonians to reject his instructions about holiness (verses 2–8) but knows that if they increase in love, they will be strengthened in holiness. Indeed, all the interpretations of verses 4–6 involve the underlying notion that to maintain a condition of holiness there must be love and respect for others, all of which will fulfill the grand goal of pleasing God (verse 1). This notion of love now becomes explicit in verses 9–10.

From one perspective, they needed no more instruction from Paul about loving one another, since they themselves had been “taught by God to love one another.” Presumably this teaching came from Paul himself when he was among them. The statement that they had been “taught by God” underscores Paul’s earlier statement that the instructions he gives do not ultimately derive from his own authority but from Christ’s authority (verses 2 and 8). This instruction to love one another” derives not only from Jesus’ present authority but also from Jesus’ Upper Room discourse, where He told his disciples three times to “love one another” (John 13:34; 15:12, 17; see also 1 John 3:11; 2 John 5). Paul, as he so often does elsewhere in his letters, is passing on and developing Jesus’ teachings for his readers. In this light, the phrase taught by God” refers to Jesus as the divine teacher.

The Holy Spirit’s influence inducing Christians to love one another may also be implied in the expression, since the phrase “God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit,” has directly preceded his instructions of verse 9-10 (see again verse 8; also Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22). The use of the phrase, taught by God and similar expressions elsewhere further suggests the internal teaching by the Spirit (see Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:33–34; John 6:45). These other uses speak of God directly teaching a person in some apparently spiritually internal manner. That both Jesus and the Spirit may be included as the subject of the teaching is apparent from the observation that the Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. In short, Jesus taught the love command during His earthly ministry and then sent the Spirit to continue to teach it to His people and to empower them to fulfill it.

In addition to the fact that Paul’s readers have already been taught by God to love each other, a second reason they need no further instruction is that they are actually applying the earlier instruction to their lives as exemplified in verse 10. Not only have the Thessalonian Christians genuinely begun to practice love toward each other but their love flows over even to all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.”

One might think that Paul would be content with this and stop to thank God for it. He is, however, so desirous that they keep on loving that he urges them not to be satisfied with their past performance but even increase more and more” implying from that day forward. The sense is that although they do not need to be written to about love because they are practicing it so well, nevertheless they need to excel even more, which is the main point of verses 9–10. Paul knows that perfect sanctification in any area of life is impossible this side of heaven, so he encourages them to keep advancing in their growing love.

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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