When I read about what happens around the world, and then I
look at America, and even the way we prioritize sports, Instagram,
entertainment, celebrities, and what we are going to do with our free time, it
devastates me. I want to be clear: I am including myself in this. I think about
North Korea, a place that is ruled by a ruthless lunatic, who in a long line of
family dictators, rules his country with an iron fist and brainwashes them into
submission. I think about the horrors I read about concerning ISIS, Sadaam
Hussein and his sons, and the torture and fear they ruled Iraq with, a country
I was deployed to in 2008. I see the way people live in the current country I
deployed to, in shacks and no water, no internet, very little electricity,
nutrition, and medication. I think about how we get angry when Taco Bell closes
early. How we get mad at long lines in Wal- Mart. How upset do we get when our
internet lags? How much food do we throw away? How "angry" do we get
when somebody posts something on the internet that "offends" us?
Somebody argued with me that "The world has been making great progress
since the beginning of humanity without God existing, or at least being
relevant. We are genuinely good people, he said. We have faced great obstacles
and overcame them, but more problems just keep coming. But maybe as society
progresses, someday, maybe another 7000 years from now, we will figure it
out." So let me get this right. Let us take the view that humans have
existed from anywhere between 10,000 and 7,000 years. Just for argument sake.
So in 10,000 to 7,000 years, let us look at or track record as humans. As of
July 11, 2017, we haven't figured out a way to eradicate murder, rape, theft,
arson, abortion, suicide, depression, cancer, AIDS, totalitarian governments,
war, jealousy, homelessness, sexually transmitted diseases, genocide, bullying,
cyber- bullying, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, human trafficking,
slavery, forced prostitution, adultery, cannibalism, execution, police brutality,
racism, sexism, kidnapping, grand theft auto, prejudice, assault, domestic
violence, drug overdoses, malpractice, lying, or coveting just to name off a
few things. But as humans, we somehow all came together by ourselves from all
over the planet, with different languages, without a creator or a standard of
morality and somehow created our own morality out of thin air. And our track
record, is listed above in detail, but could be listed in even more detail. I
disagree. Humanity hasn't gotten better, we have gotten better at being
desensitized. We need a savior, and we need God. All of those things exist
without God, but guess what doesn't exist without HIM? Anything good. I pray
for our world.
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Prosperity Gospel
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:3-10
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 1 Peter 2:1-3
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11
These verses of scripture all have a common theme. These are all warnings from Paul, Peter, and John against the kind of heretical and false teachings that have invaded the church in recent times. Most of us are familiar with these teachings, their destructive consequences, and those that pose as teachers of the Gospel in our "churches" and preach these false doctrines. Of course, I am talking about the prosperity gospel, and any other teachings that are in direct conflict with the Word of God. You may have noticed that I did not capitalize "prosperity gospel." This was not a typo, but done on purpose, for no false gospel deserves to stand as equal to the true Gospel that has been passed down to us in the form of scripture. Let us go over in summary what these false teachings are, and how we may be aware of them when we come across them.
The prosperity gospel is the most famous of these false gospels. Joel Osteen is the most famous of these teachers, being the "pastor" of the biggest of these "churches." He is the "pastor" of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which averages 52,000 attendees weekly, with 7 million television viewers each week. You may think, "Awesome! 52,000 people in person, and 7 million people via television each week are attending church and hearing the Gospel! What is the problem?" If you look on Wikipedia's Lakewood Church page, it claims that Lakewood believes in the tenants of the faith, which include Jesus as the way to salvation, baptism, and communion. But this is not the cornerstone of the message Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria deliver to their congregation. Osteen has written two books, "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential" and "Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day." Do you see the titles of these books? The books are focused on the life we live here on Earth! How to be a better you? How to improve your life? Where is this anywhere in the Gospel? Where is this anywhere in the New Testament? Jesus taught his disciples that they would face persecution, hatred, and death because of HIS name. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2012, Osteen's net worth is reportedly $56,508,500.He lives with his family in a $10,500,000 home." Go back and read the passage in 1 Timothy 6 above. Aside from wealth and prosperity teaching, Osteen has routinely avoided issues of Hell, homosexuality, and Jesus being the only way to the Father in televised interviews. This is false teaching, and millions of people a week are eating this up. Why is this? Because the cost of following Jesus is hard, and will cost us dearly. I do not hate Joel Osteen. I pray that God would open his eyes, and get him to stop preaching this prosperity false gospel. But $56,000,000 later, I feel that he is like the rich young ruler Christ talked about. Would he give up all his millions to follow the REAL CHRIST? I can only pray he will. Others who teach this or have taught this are E. W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, Robert Tilton, T. L. Osborn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Reverend Ike and Kenneth Hagin, Jesse Duplantis, and Joyce Meyer.
Brothers and sisters, any gospel that is contrary to what the Bible teaches is a false gospel. It is no the Truth. "The name it, claim it" is a dangerous gospel that is popular in this culture. Joyce Meyer is one of the people who spread this false teaching. Let me ask you a direct question. Who was the only being to ever speak anything into existence on his own? You would be correct in assuming only God himself has ever done this. He spoke the universe into existence. Joyce Meyer has gone far enough to say that she and her husband can "control" the weather. She also teaches that as Christians we are supposed to control the weather!!! Who is referred to the "Prince of the Air" in scripture?" You would be right to assume the answer is SATAN. She claimed to have rebuked a tornado while in an airplane, and the tornado just went back into the sky. Really? Benny Hinn comes to mind at this time. False teachers and prophets are able to do signs and wonders. Brothers and sisters, no matter how much we believe, we cannot on our own heal and do wonders at will, on our own. These people draw their power from a powerful source, and it is not Christ. Any ministry that is based on prosperity, signs, healing, entertainment, showmanship, and anything other than Christ is not a ministry. Wolves will show up in sheep's clothing. As a matter a fact, they already have. Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light. Beware of these false teachings.
What is the point? Why did I choose to name these teachers by name? I did not give names to start controversy. Actually, I issue you a challenge. Check out some videos of interviews and teachings of each of these people I named above. Listen and watch for yourselves.Type "prosperity gospel" into the search bar on YouTube and watch for yourself. But do something more constructive. Read the teachings of scripture, read your Bible, and place the teachings of anybody you hear or read against the Gospel. Mega churches are also in danger of some false teachings. I watched the Netflix Special Pastor Steven Furtick did, and some of his preaching on Jacob was really good. Upon further research, I have found some things I wish I could ask the Pastor about. For instance, why do the coloring books for children his church, Elevation Church, receive, refer to the vision Pastor Steven received from God? Why is his staff required to sign non disclosure agreements in the event they were to leave the church? Why is there a video of Pastor Steven rebuking people who wish to go deeper? Why would John MacArthur, a man I have come to greatly respect, refer to him as "unqualified"? Beware of ministries that are more about the Pastor than about God. In fact, if I ever speak on something, or do anything that puts myself ahead of Christ, rebuke me and call me out immediately.
This is the truth, and if any teaching contradicts these teachings from scripture, it is a false gospel. God created the universe, including the earth, by speaking it into existence. God created man in HIS image, perfect. God created woman out of Adam. These were the first humans. Eve was deceived by Satan, and Adam followed he in Sin. From this point on, humanity and creation fell under the curse of sin. God sent his son, the incarnate image of the eternal God, to die for SIN on the cross. Christ was crucified, died a PHYSICAL death, resurrected, and sits on the Right Hand of the Father. He will come back to judge the quick and the dead. Jesus is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6) Jesus DID claim to be God, thus he IS GOD. (John 8:13-59.) I believe what the Nicene Creed says:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only‐begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 1 Peter 2:1-3
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11
These verses of scripture all have a common theme. These are all warnings from Paul, Peter, and John against the kind of heretical and false teachings that have invaded the church in recent times. Most of us are familiar with these teachings, their destructive consequences, and those that pose as teachers of the Gospel in our "churches" and preach these false doctrines. Of course, I am talking about the prosperity gospel, and any other teachings that are in direct conflict with the Word of God. You may have noticed that I did not capitalize "prosperity gospel." This was not a typo, but done on purpose, for no false gospel deserves to stand as equal to the true Gospel that has been passed down to us in the form of scripture. Let us go over in summary what these false teachings are, and how we may be aware of them when we come across them.
The prosperity gospel is the most famous of these false gospels. Joel Osteen is the most famous of these teachers, being the "pastor" of the biggest of these "churches." He is the "pastor" of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which averages 52,000 attendees weekly, with 7 million television viewers each week. You may think, "Awesome! 52,000 people in person, and 7 million people via television each week are attending church and hearing the Gospel! What is the problem?" If you look on Wikipedia's Lakewood Church page, it claims that Lakewood believes in the tenants of the faith, which include Jesus as the way to salvation, baptism, and communion. But this is not the cornerstone of the message Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria deliver to their congregation. Osteen has written two books, "Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential" and "Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day." Do you see the titles of these books? The books are focused on the life we live here on Earth! How to be a better you? How to improve your life? Where is this anywhere in the Gospel? Where is this anywhere in the New Testament? Jesus taught his disciples that they would face persecution, hatred, and death because of HIS name. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2012, Osteen's net worth is reportedly $56,508,500.He lives with his family in a $10,500,000 home." Go back and read the passage in 1 Timothy 6 above. Aside from wealth and prosperity teaching, Osteen has routinely avoided issues of Hell, homosexuality, and Jesus being the only way to the Father in televised interviews. This is false teaching, and millions of people a week are eating this up. Why is this? Because the cost of following Jesus is hard, and will cost us dearly. I do not hate Joel Osteen. I pray that God would open his eyes, and get him to stop preaching this prosperity false gospel. But $56,000,000 later, I feel that he is like the rich young ruler Christ talked about. Would he give up all his millions to follow the REAL CHRIST? I can only pray he will. Others who teach this or have taught this are E. W. Kenyon, Oral Roberts, A. A. Allen, Robert Tilton, T. L. Osborn, Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Reverend Ike and Kenneth Hagin, Jesse Duplantis, and Joyce Meyer.
Brothers and sisters, any gospel that is contrary to what the Bible teaches is a false gospel. It is no the Truth. "The name it, claim it" is a dangerous gospel that is popular in this culture. Joyce Meyer is one of the people who spread this false teaching. Let me ask you a direct question. Who was the only being to ever speak anything into existence on his own? You would be correct in assuming only God himself has ever done this. He spoke the universe into existence. Joyce Meyer has gone far enough to say that she and her husband can "control" the weather. She also teaches that as Christians we are supposed to control the weather!!! Who is referred to the "Prince of the Air" in scripture?" You would be right to assume the answer is SATAN. She claimed to have rebuked a tornado while in an airplane, and the tornado just went back into the sky. Really? Benny Hinn comes to mind at this time. False teachers and prophets are able to do signs and wonders. Brothers and sisters, no matter how much we believe, we cannot on our own heal and do wonders at will, on our own. These people draw their power from a powerful source, and it is not Christ. Any ministry that is based on prosperity, signs, healing, entertainment, showmanship, and anything other than Christ is not a ministry. Wolves will show up in sheep's clothing. As a matter a fact, they already have. Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light. Beware of these false teachings.
What is the point? Why did I choose to name these teachers by name? I did not give names to start controversy. Actually, I issue you a challenge. Check out some videos of interviews and teachings of each of these people I named above. Listen and watch for yourselves.Type "prosperity gospel" into the search bar on YouTube and watch for yourself. But do something more constructive. Read the teachings of scripture, read your Bible, and place the teachings of anybody you hear or read against the Gospel. Mega churches are also in danger of some false teachings. I watched the Netflix Special Pastor Steven Furtick did, and some of his preaching on Jacob was really good. Upon further research, I have found some things I wish I could ask the Pastor about. For instance, why do the coloring books for children his church, Elevation Church, receive, refer to the vision Pastor Steven received from God? Why is his staff required to sign non disclosure agreements in the event they were to leave the church? Why is there a video of Pastor Steven rebuking people who wish to go deeper? Why would John MacArthur, a man I have come to greatly respect, refer to him as "unqualified"? Beware of ministries that are more about the Pastor than about God. In fact, if I ever speak on something, or do anything that puts myself ahead of Christ, rebuke me and call me out immediately.
This is the truth, and if any teaching contradicts these teachings from scripture, it is a false gospel. God created the universe, including the earth, by speaking it into existence. God created man in HIS image, perfect. God created woman out of Adam. These were the first humans. Eve was deceived by Satan, and Adam followed he in Sin. From this point on, humanity and creation fell under the curse of sin. God sent his son, the incarnate image of the eternal God, to die for SIN on the cross. Christ was crucified, died a PHYSICAL death, resurrected, and sits on the Right Hand of the Father. He will come back to judge the quick and the dead. Jesus is the only way to the Father. (John 14:6) Jesus DID claim to be God, thus he IS GOD. (John 8:13-59.) I believe what the Nicene Creed says:
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only‐begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The Fallacy and Myth of Tolerance
What is the biggest agenda that is being pushed onto the culture today? Some may bring up issues such as equal rights, homosexuality, transgender issues, liberalism, and other issues brought up in a political or social setting. But none of these issues or topics are the actual agenda. It is a supposed idea. And this idea is what it calls tolerance. But what is tolerance? What is intolerance? See, we have come across a problem in the culture, and even the world. And here is the problem: Tolerance, on its own, cannot stand. If I am totally tolerant, then I must also accept intolerance. And if somebody is intolerant, they are not tolerant. Take this quote for example. "We will not tolerate intolerance!!" This statement falls on its face. How can somebody be tolerant, and not tolerate something. In essence, they are being intolerant to the very thing they will not tolerate, which is intolerance! So what is the point? Let us dive into how this effects the culture, since this blog is called "Christ in a Culture War."
Our culture seems to be pushing that everything is acceptable. Any lifestyle, any belief system, any religion, any behavior, any identity, should be tolerated. Let us blow massive holes into this supposed ideology. First off, everything cannot be acceptable because every culture, country, nation, and society has laws and regulations against certain behaviors based on moral perceptions. For example, murder, rape, incest, and theft are not tolerated by the law. So everything cannon be acceptable. Next, let us look at lifestyles and how things are worded by the culture. They preach that all belief systems regarding religion, gender, sexuality, and lifestyle are acceptable, and equal. This is what they define as tolerance. But their actions betray them, just as Luke's thoughts betrayed him in the presence of Darth Vader. Let us take our Christian worldview. The Bible teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman. We also believe that God created humans male and female. We believe that God created the earth by speaking things into existence, in six days. We believe that Jesus is the only way to God, since he IS God. We believe in Hell, which is separation from God for eternity. These are the things that we believe to be the truth. So, if somebody were to ask us to state our views on homosexuality, divorce, evolution, polytheism, the absence of afterlife, and that all religions are the same and lead to God, we would naturally respond that we do not believe these things are either right or true. What happens when we present these ideas? Because we do not agree with the ideas that the culture presents, we are viewed as intolerant. Our ideas are not tolerated, for we are viewed as being intolerant.
I have a response to this. I cannot speak for everybody, because there are people in Christianity who have said and done terrible things and shown hatred to people. But as God fearing Christians, we are called to speak the truth. And the truth is, everything cannot be true. We do not force people to believe the way that we believe. We do not seek the law to force out beliefs on anybody. We simply say that according to our Faith, we believe certain things, and people have the free will to disagree and reject what we teach from the Bible. But in today's culture, this is viewed as being intolerant. We get questions like "Who are to impose your morality on me? Who are you to tell me I am going to Hell?" We simply say what we believe God says. If God is real, and the Bible is true, He says and does these things. If somebody asks me a question about my beliefs, and I answer their question, all I am doing is answering a question. We are called bigots, fundamentalists, and hateful people. But our view based on scripture is not tolerated.
Here is the truth, and the truth the culture does not want to tell you. This has never been about tolerance, but the forcing of an agenda. The agenda is not about equality. There has never been equality. The utopia is a myth. The destruction of the family is the agenda. The destruction of belief in "religion" is the agenda. The truth is, belief in God is a threat to the State. They have to impose the view that everything is acceptable, everything is true, and everyone is equal. Belief, faith, religion, sexuality, and gender differences will be washed away. We are headed to a one world government, a one world currency, and a one world religion. This "utopia" can only be achieved under an Antichrist that deceives the nations. Belief in Truth and Jesus will not be tolerated. The culture is truly intolerant, for they cannot tolerate our intolerance to their false worldview. Bam.
Our culture seems to be pushing that everything is acceptable. Any lifestyle, any belief system, any religion, any behavior, any identity, should be tolerated. Let us blow massive holes into this supposed ideology. First off, everything cannot be acceptable because every culture, country, nation, and society has laws and regulations against certain behaviors based on moral perceptions. For example, murder, rape, incest, and theft are not tolerated by the law. So everything cannon be acceptable. Next, let us look at lifestyles and how things are worded by the culture. They preach that all belief systems regarding religion, gender, sexuality, and lifestyle are acceptable, and equal. This is what they define as tolerance. But their actions betray them, just as Luke's thoughts betrayed him in the presence of Darth Vader. Let us take our Christian worldview. The Bible teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman. We also believe that God created humans male and female. We believe that God created the earth by speaking things into existence, in six days. We believe that Jesus is the only way to God, since he IS God. We believe in Hell, which is separation from God for eternity. These are the things that we believe to be the truth. So, if somebody were to ask us to state our views on homosexuality, divorce, evolution, polytheism, the absence of afterlife, and that all religions are the same and lead to God, we would naturally respond that we do not believe these things are either right or true. What happens when we present these ideas? Because we do not agree with the ideas that the culture presents, we are viewed as intolerant. Our ideas are not tolerated, for we are viewed as being intolerant.
I have a response to this. I cannot speak for everybody, because there are people in Christianity who have said and done terrible things and shown hatred to people. But as God fearing Christians, we are called to speak the truth. And the truth is, everything cannot be true. We do not force people to believe the way that we believe. We do not seek the law to force out beliefs on anybody. We simply say that according to our Faith, we believe certain things, and people have the free will to disagree and reject what we teach from the Bible. But in today's culture, this is viewed as being intolerant. We get questions like "Who are to impose your morality on me? Who are you to tell me I am going to Hell?" We simply say what we believe God says. If God is real, and the Bible is true, He says and does these things. If somebody asks me a question about my beliefs, and I answer their question, all I am doing is answering a question. We are called bigots, fundamentalists, and hateful people. But our view based on scripture is not tolerated.
Here is the truth, and the truth the culture does not want to tell you. This has never been about tolerance, but the forcing of an agenda. The agenda is not about equality. There has never been equality. The utopia is a myth. The destruction of the family is the agenda. The destruction of belief in "religion" is the agenda. The truth is, belief in God is a threat to the State. They have to impose the view that everything is acceptable, everything is true, and everyone is equal. Belief, faith, religion, sexuality, and gender differences will be washed away. We are headed to a one world government, a one world currency, and a one world religion. This "utopia" can only be achieved under an Antichrist that deceives the nations. Belief in Truth and Jesus will not be tolerated. The culture is truly intolerant, for they cannot tolerate our intolerance to their false worldview. Bam.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Intro to the blog: Christ in a Culture War
What do I mean by the title "Christ in a Culture War"? It is very simple. The purpose of this blog is to proclaim the truth, divinity, and authority of Jesus Christ in a culture where this idea is dying. Make no mistake, if you are a believer, if you proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ, you are in a war. This war has been going on since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. This war has continued through the centuries and will continue until the return of Christ. If you have attended a public school or university anytime recently, you have been exposed to the ideas of what I call The Culture. This culture is not for us, it is in direct opposition to us. This culture does everything from denying the very existence of God, his power, authority, and if he does exist, they say he is irrelevant. This culture is post-modern, humanist, atheist, anti-theist, and believes in moral relativity. They deny that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, if they even claim to believe in a God. They deny that Jesus was crucified and they for sure deny his resurrection. This culture denies that God is the standard of morality, they claim as humans we define our own morality. They aim to destroy the family, the church, and to finish what Nietzsche started: To prove that God is dead. This culture does not accept you, it does not love you, and it definitely does not tolerate you. Let us jump in and preach some good news!
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