Tranquillity and Peace
The Benefits of STORMS in our lives: STRUGGLES—TRIALS—OBSTACLES—REJECTION—MISERY—SUFFERING! (Psalm 23)
With all the storms going on right now, both in the physical world and spiritual realm, here is a repost from a while back, for perspective…😇
The Benefits of STORMS in our lives: STRUGGLES—TRIALS—OBSTACLES—REJECTION—MISERY—SUFFERING! (Psalm 23)
Jonah 1: Papa God uses a STORM, ( circumstances) to get Jonah to consider doing what He, Papa God wanted him to do, in order to fulfill Papa God’s will for his life!
Papa God hid Jonah in the belly of a very large fish (perhaps a Monster Goliath Grouper) for three days and three nights, so that he could be all alone, without any distractions or interruptions, to contemplate life and his decisions and choices! Papa God, in a sense, had a captive audience that finally was willing to listen and obey the voice of The LORD!
This story of the STORM in Jonah’s life, somewhat, reminds me of a STORM I once encountered way back in the mid 1970’s. If I am remembering correctly, I believe it was the summer of 1977. At the time, I was a youth pastor, children’s pastor, and had recently launched a concert ministry called, “Sonshine Concerts” and was also working a full time summer job at Peterbilt motors, in Newark, CA.
It definitely was a whirlwind schedule, with little time for anything but activities and work! Needless too say, I was neglecting my personal time with The LORD, and had replaced it with work and the work of the ministry! It should be quite obvious that staying busy, even if it is the work of The LORD, is not necessarily doing the will of The LORD! I believe, too many of us have substituted a true, authentic and genuinely real relationship with The LORD, with being busy for The LORD; even justifying our actions and behavior with the worn out excuse of “I just don’t have time to spend on my personal relationship, with The LORD, and besides, He’ll understand!” It is true that He does understand, but He doesn’t have to agree with you! For if we don’t have the time, by choosing not to make it a priority to spend time with The LORD, in intimate personal fellowship, in developing a right and holy relationship with Him, then we are too busy!
It’s time to re-prioritize our life and schedule, making room and time for the manifest intimacy of a right relationship with The LORD, if not, then He might just do it for you, because He really does love you that much!
The LORD looks at the heart and if He sees that you have just gone haywire, but knows that you truly down deep want to do His Will, He loves you enough to make sure you will have an opportunity to do His will. He will, therefore, utilize an event, (STORM) situation or circumstance in order to get you alone, so that He can convey His thoughts and will for your life at that time, in order to get you on the right track and moving back in the right direction!
The following account is what happened to me, with regards to being too busy, in the summer of 1977!
I was working at Peterbilt Motors, in Newark CA, in a grinding booth with two other young men. The booth was elevated five feet above the floor of the factory, with heavy plastic panels draped down all the way around it. The plastic panels were very dirty and covered with debris from all the material that was used to grind, as well as the wax that was used to help in keeping that which was being ground down, (metal steps, doors, brackets for the gas tanks, etc.) from getting too hot.
My job was to work on a huge grinder with a very large sandpaper belt grinder. I usually did the steps and the brackets while the other two young men did the doors with smaller hand held grinders.
There were times when we were inundated with work and then there were times when we would go for long stretches without any work. The work was not ever steady work, and yet, we were not allowed to leave the booth, because at anytime there may be a piece that needed to be cleaned up and ground before it was needed back on the assembly line almost immediately.
There was little toleration for stopping the line while they waited for a part from the grinding booth! So, to deal with the down time, my two young friends would devise games that they could play, while waiting for the next project to come into the booth. One of their favorites was “Home Run Derby” in the booth! They fashioned a bat from a piece of 2×4 and formed a ball out of the wax used to cool during the grinding process. It was during those times that I would go to a corner of the booth and stand on the edge looking out for any work that may be headed our way. Ok, so to be completely truthful, I was also the un-official lookout, as well!
I don’t really know why on this particular occasion I had positioned myself where I did, but it was definitely not the safest place to be, as you’ll soon understand and realize why. First one to bat was the right handed batter. He struck out on three wax ball pitches. Next up was the left-hander. He did not strike out, but was hitting the wax ball all over the booth. I don’t know if his hands got sweaty or just tired, but he took an especially big swing and missed the wax ball completely—a swing and a miss! Just before he took that mighty swing, I had moved behind him to get a better vantage point to see if anyone was coming towards the booth. Someone surely was, so I turned to tell them, and it was at that very moment that the bat came out of the lefty’s hands and smashed me, with full force of his mighty swing and a miss, directly on my mouth! “Whack!” I immediately was knocked out and fell backwards off of the platform on to the concrete floor five feet below! I was told later that my arms went down to my sides an I took a “Nestea ice tea plunge” into the concrete head first!
The young men were absolutely shaken and stunned! They told me later, that when my head hit the floor it sounded like a watermelon splitting! What I experienced at that very moment was the sense of falling back onto a huge cushion made of the softest down imaginable.
I distinctly and clearly remember hearing the voice of the safety officer having a conversation with the company’s nurse. They were discussing my vitals. The safety officer was checking for a pulse and the nurse was checking my blood pressure. The safety officer said to the nurse, “I don’t have a pulse” the nurse said in response, “I only have one number for the blood pressure, it’s 20!” Then I heard, “we’re losing him!”
The very next thing I remember was being enveloped by overwhelming waves of joy and peace washing over me, while completely surrounded and immersed in the most wonderful, incredibly beautiful light! It literally took my breath away, to the point of not being able to breathe! The light was so bright that it was difficult to see anything but the brilliance of the light surrounding me. It was then that my eyes began to focus and adjust to the light, that I was finally able to see my surroundings! I cannot describe adequately with mere words what I saw, but to say, that it was absolute serenity, with the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen anywhere or anytime here in this existence!
I was standing in the midst of a field that was covered with a myriad of different kinds of plants and trees, all exemplified by beauty and grace. I began to realize and ponder…”Wow, I can’t believe it, this is it, I’m really going to be in the very real presence of The LORD! I’m shocked, I thought I had so much more time with so much more to do and experience! I still hadn’t had any children, was still pretty much a newlywed, with so much in life to look forward too, not to mention all the ministry I was involved in and one day hoped to accomplish and do!”
As I was pondering, I heard and felt, at the same time, a voice penetrating my mind, heart, and every part of my being. It was a strong, resonating, reassuring, comforting, soothing and quite pleasant voice, with many layers, speaking to me and through me all at the same time. I understood it to be the very voice of The LORD! He gently conveyed to me that I had become too busy to hear His voice and therefore, He needed to get me all alone, without any distraction or hindrances, so that He could speak to me and I would listen. Listen, I did!
During this incredible and most divine encounter, I was never at anytime afraid or apprehensive. The LORD indeed did speak to me about things that would happen in my life and what He intended for me to do, with regards to ministry. I didn’t remember a lot of it, as I believe was His intention, but He did show me many faces of those who would be impacted by Him, because of the ministry He had called me to do. It was quite overwhelming, extremely exhilarating and quite exciting! I do well remember though, The LORD giving me the opportunity to choose whether or not to stay with Him or go back! He really does give us free will in letting us determine our destiny!
I also remember asking The LORD what He would want me to do, stay or go back? Without even hearing His response, I felt a strong sense and urge that I was to do His will, which was to go back and finish the work I had been given to do! As soon as I concurred, with His will for my life, I was seemingly hovering above a crowd of people that were all focused and looking intently at something on the floor in the midst of them. I quickly moved towards them and peered through the crowd to see what they were all gazing and murmuring about. What I saw, was myself lying on the floor looking very peaceful and serene, maybe taking a little snooze, while on the job.
It was an unreal experience, to say the least. My two young co-workers were having a frantic conversation about what they should do! They were both overwhelmed, being distraught and stricken with fear! Then, I heard the lefty say these words; “I don’t know what we should or can do, but I know what Don would do!” Then I heard righty say, “what’s that!” Lefty…”He’d pray right now!” Righty…”we don’t know how to pray!” Lefty…”yes we do, remember, Don said praying to God was just like talking to someone when you are having a conversation!” Righty…”yeah, that’s right, let’s pray!” Righty and Lefty…”dear LORD, please help Don and don’t let him die, amen!”
As they said amen, I opened my eyes and looked up and saw both Righty and Lefty with there eyes closed and tears running down their faces. The safety officer shouted, “I’ve got a pulse!” The nurse exclaimed, “his blood pressure is returning to normal!”
I declared my thanks, gratitude and appreciation to everyone for their help and looked at Righty and Lefty and thanked them for their prayer of faith! They both had astonished and happy expressions upon their faces, as well as, much relief!
I went for a ride to the hospital in an ambulance, was thoroughly checked out with a battery of tests, then pronounced completely fit and good to go, except for the busted lip and loose teeth in my mouth. My head, which had hit a concrete floor, from a five foot free-fall backwards, didn’t have a scratch, knot, or contusion of any kind! Now that was a miracle in itself! I really did fall onto a cushion of incredibly soft heavenly goose down!
I went back to work the next day with fat lips and loose teeth, which I had to have crowns put on, eventually. Righty and Lefty were never the same after that and were more open than ever to the things of The LORD!
I was able to share my story on a number of occasions, with great results of people being encouraged and responding to The LORD in positive ways. I also re-prioritized my life and focused more on my personal relationship with The LORD, with less activity and more of Him. Oh, and by the way, there were a lot less games played after that, with a lot more talks about life and God.
I, to this day, thank Papa God for His wonderful grace and matchless mercy shown to me on so many different occasions, so many times and in so many ways in my life!
Like Jonah, The LORD placed me alone, in a corner, in life, whereby, I too could hear His voice, listen, then obey, His will for my life at that time. His love truly does endure forever!
Please don’t get too busy and then, not take the time needed and absolutely necessary to build and be in right relationship with The LORD! Make room for Him in your life and don’t limit Him and what He wants to do in and with your life! Desire, above all else, to do His will!(Ps. 40:8)
And always please remember this: If and when STORMS come into your life, they may be sent from or allowed by The LORD for your benefit, and that, because He loves you and wants what’s best for you and also to have a personal intimate relationship with you!
Finally this: With obedience comes blessings and benefits, with disobedience comes curses and consequences!
I should know, I’ve experienced them both! Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 09/01- “Live At The Corner Of Peace And Holiness!” (Hebrews 12:14)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 09/01- “Live At The Corner Of Peace And Holiness!” (Hebrews 12:14)
Premise Question: What is your “www” (walk, work, worship) address; where are you living, how are you walking, what are you working on, and, who are you worshiping?
“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT)
See to it that you always strive to thrive, in establishing a lifestyle that produces peace and tranquility, without duress, between you and everyone; whether it be a friend, neighbor or even a foe, and earnestly determine to live an honorable, upright holy life, declared righteous by The LORD GOD Almighty. Therefore, pursue, with a dogged determination, your divine purpose of living a life of holiness, because without it, there’s no way around it, and no one will be able to circumvent it by taking a circuitous route, in order to be able to see and reach The LORD GOD Almighty, as there is no other way! (Hebrews 12:14 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Nowadays, everyone that has something to say, show or sell, can get and utilize a “www” (World Wide Web) address to effectively reach, teach, preach or even present themselves as a desirable peach; in order to accomplish their goal, aim, ambition or mission in life.
For each of us though, who are members of The Company of The Redeemed, there is also a “www” (our walk, our work, our worship) address that we should all be well aware of, and with diligence, devotion and sincere earnestness, be living our daily lives, at that address, and in such a way and fashion that we make it our goal, aim, ambition and mission in life, to always be pleasing to Papa God, in every area of our lives; how we are walking, what we are working on and who we are worshiping, so that, one day, when we see Him face to face, we shall hear His voice say to us: “Well done, my good and faithful servant, now enter into all that I’ve prepared for you, and that, for all of eternity!”
So, our walk should be one that is upright and pleasing to Papa God. Our work should be a work that brings glory and honor to His Name. We will accomplish this if we’ll make every effort to work at being at peace, as much as it is up to us, with everyone, and to also work diligently at living a pure and holy life, with the help of The LORD’S Spirit living inside us. Otherwise, we won’t ever see Papa God or hear His wonderful compliment and invitation.
And finally, we should abandon ourselves in worship to The Most High, holding nothing back in reserve, but giving Him all the honor, glory and praise that is due only Him!
Where do you live, what’s your address? Hopefully, it’s at the corner of Peace and Holiness Boulevard! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #workatbeingatpeacewitheveryone #workatlivingaholylife #whatisyouraddress #wheredoyoulive
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 06/18- “If Only, My People!” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 06/18- “If Only, My People!” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Premise Question: Looking at the times we are living in, with the pervasive insidious evil manifesting itself all around us, what time is it for the people of Papa God, The Company of The Redeemed?
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)
If only, My people, the sheep of My pasture, those I have called and chosen, setting them apart for My pleasure, My will and divine purpose, having given them My Name to claim as there own; if they will reject their pride and arrogance, and bow humbly before Me in devout worship, while offering up their petitions of praise and entreaties, with a desire to have sweet fellowship and communion with Me, as well as, earnestly seek My Manifest Presence, repenting of all their evil practices, then, I will incline My ear and heart toward them and be attentive to them, with My favor and assent, by complying with their requests. And, I will also wipe away all of their transgressions and sin, making them clean and free from all wickedness, restoring and making their land whole, by removing all conflict, settling them in the place of their dwelling, with the resulting blessed conditions of rest and peace being present and joyfully experienced by all. (2 Chronicles 7:14 PDCP)
Bottom Line: For the people of Papa God, The Company of The Redeemed, it’s Prayer Time! The time is now! There must not be any delay! For it should not and cannot be put off any longer! It’s time, for the people of Papa God to come together, everyone everywhere, in unison, in concerts of prayer!
It’s high time that the people of Papa God humble themselves and pray, bowing low before The Most High, crying out to The Loving Creator, who desires to bring healing and restoration to His people and their land. Now is the time for all of Papa God’s people to earnestly seek His face and His Manifest Presence!
And it’s way past time for the people of Papa God to turn away from their own evil practices, prejudice attitudes and hate filled rhetoric.
It’s time for all of us to unify our hearts, minds, bodies, time, talent and treasure, in order that Papa God will see our hearts and hear our sincere prayers, offered up to Him in heaven, on behalf of ourselves and people everywhere. And then, and only then, He will forgive us of all our transgressions and heal and restore our lands.
If only, My People, is a “Big If” potentiality, which needs to be turned into an actual reality, a diligently devoted, deliberate and sincere practice! Something that we actually see happen, because we are actually there as it is happening, being fully engaged in what is happening! “If My people will humble themselves and pray.”
Papa God has given His people this responsibility, not the government nor some other people or agency, it’s always been left entirely up to us—The Company of The Redeemed. Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #ifMypeople #calledbyMyName# #humbleourselves #seekHisface #turnawayfromevilways #ifwewillpray #PapaGodwillhealandrestoreourlandsandforgiveoursins
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 05/23- “We All Fall Woefully Short And Are Excruciatingly Inadequate!” (Romans 3:23-24)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 05/23- “We All Fall Woefully Short And Are Excruciatingly Inadequate!” (Romans 3:23-24)
Premise Question: Is there any amount of effort or exercise, that we could make or do, on our own behalf, that would be successful in acquiring or producing the desired result of redemption for our soul, or would it all just be an exercise in futility?
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God freely and graciously declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (Romans 3:23-24 NLT)
No one can escape the demand and righteous requirement of what is owed. As a direct result of humankind’s sin, everyone is woefully inadequate to even begin to have the ability of measuring up to the excellence and pure light of the holiness and righteousness of Papa God. Yet, all of us are declared innocent, guiltless, totally absolved of all of our sin—being completely justified, as if we had never entered into sin. This was provided and freely given to us, through and by His wonderful grace, although, this grace was not free, in the sense that it cost nothing, for it cost Papa God, The Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, everything, as they paid the ultimate price for our certain redemption. His atonement completely covered and satisfied the full amount owed for our redemption and total deliverance from sin and death; all of this came through Jesus Christ, The One True Sovereign LORD GOD Almighty and Savior of humankind! (Romans 3:23-24 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Without the intervention and gracious help of The LORD, we all fall woefully short, as we are completely ill equipped and excruciatingly inadequate to effect the necessary transformative change that must take place in our individual lives, in order to experience a new and redemptive life of eternal joy and peace forevermore. So, by any other means, or any other course of action or path we choose to take in life, it is utterly doomed from the start, and therefore, would be pointless, useless, inconsequential and absurd, as it would be completely ineffective, worthless, without merit or reward, and would for certain be an abject exercise in futility.
Let us each, then, choose the only way and path that leads to true righteousness, perfect peace and real joy, which results in a sure and certain eternal escape from death and damnation for each one that so chooses, thereby, freeing them from the sure penalty of death and destruction; freely granting them an everlasting eternal life of joy and peace forevermore. Choose Christ—Choose life! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #chooseChristchooselife #setfreefromthelawandpenaltyofsinanddeath
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 05/15- “Papa God’s Great Love For His Most Beloved Creation, Humankind!” (John 3:16)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 05/15- “Papa God’s Great Love For His Most Beloved Creation, Humankind!” (John 3:16)
Premise Question: What should our immediate response be to Papa God’s great overture of love towards us, what actions should follow our response and how should we then comport our daily lives?
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT)
For Papa God, the Supreme Ruler—The Creator of Heaven and Earth and everything else created therein, had, and still does have, a profound and great propitious love, a benevolent affection, for all of humankind, His most beloved creation. He voluntarily provided, by furnishing the perfect, efficacious sacrifice, His exclusive, one of a kind Son, who was and is and is to come; who being The Living Word, from before the beginning, became flesh, in order to dwell among us, so that, whoever places their complete faith and trust, their full confidence, in Papa God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who is The Savior/Messiah of the world, shall not ever be destroyed, as they shall never cease to exist or die a spiritual death, but will experience an everlasting, perpetual, ceaseless, without end, eternal life of everlasting joy and tranquil peace! (John 3:16 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Our response to Papa God’s great overture of love towards us should be to immediately believe in and accept His gracious and most merciful provision of an absolutely necessary Redeemer, His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal LORD and Savior.
And then, we should, with a heart full of thanksgiving, appreciation and gratitude for His love, mercy and gracious favor and for all that He’s done for us, and will yet do for us, in providing us a new life of eternal joy and peace, along with a sure escape from certain eternal death, punishment and eternal separation from the mighty and magnificently glorious presence of The LORD.
Furthermore, our quick and deliberate actions should be to prepare ourselves and others adequately, in order to send them and to go ourselves, armed with the ability to share, Papa God’s clear and concise message of great joy and good news, with everyone everywhere.
Finally, the daily comportment of our lives should be lived in such a way, that it will bring glory and honor to our LORD, by obeying His Word, desiring and then doing His will, and then living our lives as an offering of spiritual worship and praise unto The King Eternal, The Most High, The Sovereign LORD GOD Almighty—Jesus Christ The LORD! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #PapaGodputsHisloveonfulldisplay #everyonewhobelievesandcallsuponTheNameofTheLORDshallbesaved
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 05/06- “Papa God’s Righteousness Brings Us Assuring Peace And Quiet Forever!” (Isaiah 32:17)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 05/06- “Papa God’s Righteousness Brings Us Assuring Peace And Quiet Forever!” (Isaiah 32:17)
Premise Question: What could be more important for us, as humankind, than to experience and fully enjoy the harvest of goodness that’s produced, when Papa God’s righteousness, and the resulting wonderful blessings of perfect peace, tranquil serenity and assuring certitude, is forever established in our lives and in the land where we dwell?
And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17 NLT)
And this particular harvest, of righteous fruit that’s produced, will come forth, as a direct result of Papa God’s righteous integrity being established in His people and the land, through the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. This shall produce a perfect peace, which shall be full of harmony, free from all dissension and strife, completely tranquil and without agitation or clamor. The direct cause and effect, of this outpouring of righteousness being established in the land, will produce a quietness that’s serene, without obtuse noise, free from all disturbing tumult, turmoil or turbulence, and will fill the land and each one, with full confidence, assurance and great certitude, (free from all doubt) continuously, incessantly, always and forever, being a constant that shall not ever end! (Isaiah 32:17 PDCP)
Bottom Line: There should not ever be anything, in this life, that is more vital, necessary or significantly important, than, first and foremost, seeking The Kingdom of Papa God and His righteousness! Not food or drink, nor shelter, protection or safety, not clothes or any possession, position or treasure! (Matthew 6) For The Kingdom of Papa God is not about, or a matter of, eating and drinking, but is absolutely about living a life of goodness and peace—being continually full of the joy and strength of The Holy Spirit! (Romans 14:17)
For The Holy Spirit will, as we yield ourselves to Him, produce a righteous harvest of spiritual fruit in our lives, that will not only greatly benefit each of us, but will have a positive and huge impact on the culture and others. (Galatians 5:22-23)
So, our prayer and desire for ourselves and each other, should be patterned after the prayer The Apostle Paul prayed for the Romans: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)
And then, and only then, the righteousness of Papa God will be firmly established in His people, the culture and in the land where they dwell—bringing His assuring peace and quiet forever! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #therighreousnessofPapaGodbringstranquilpeaceandserenity
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