June 12, 2015

Posted on June 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

I like the way the Japanese puts it: “For we all belong to one another as parts of the Body.” That’s not a reason we would necessarily think of for honesty. However, when our bodies fail to transmit what is happening, or even give false messages, we have lots of problems. Phantom pain, where an amputee feels pain in a part they no longer possess, is well known. Referred pain, not uncommon in dentistry, where a problem in, say, an upper tooth is perceived as being in a lower tooth, is also a problem. Then there are diseases that mask themselves so that the body doesn’t know it is under attack until it is too late. All of these things can be echoed in the Church, and we need to be on our guard against them. As Paul has just said in verse 15 of this chapter, “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” All of our communication must be based on love, God’s love for us and our love for Him and for one another. However, genuine love doesn’t fail to say what needs to be said. That’s like a part of the body failing to report that it is under attack by cancer cells. It also doesn’t switch blame, like one tooth saying another one is hurting, when it is the one with the cavity. We are to walk in absolute honesty on the basis of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. When we understand how much God loves us we are no longer afraid of the truth, either to hear it or to speak it. This doesn’t mean we have to go around doing “data dumps,” saying everything we know in every situation. We do need wisdom and tact! Also, how we say things can be as important as what we say, or our words will not be perceived as love. Even so, deception is a big no-no. There is nothing false in God, and we are to be His children.

Once again, I was enormously blessed by the environment in which I was raised. My father had a policy of absolute honesty, committed to in a spiritual experience while he was still a single missionary. (I personally think he was baptized in the Holy Spirit at that time, though to my knowledge he never spoke in tongues.) That didn’t keep me from being devious at times, hiding things from my parents and the like, but such things as cheating in school were never a temptation. I think I do have a reputation for honesty now, but I am not to be proud of it, as though I had “achieved” it. Honesty should be a given. That said, I realize that most of society doesn’t operate that way. People say what they think is expedient, what will advance their cause, as they see it, regardless of objective truth. The thing is, when we repeat lies often enough we tend to believe them ourselves! I must remember that Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6) and live accordingly. It is the devil who is the liar! (John 8:44)

Father, thank You for Your truth that sets us free. (John 8:32) May I walk in that truth always, leading others into it as well, so that together we may know Your love in truth, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 11, 2015

Posted on June 14, 2015 by jgarrott

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Many, many people wonder about the reason for their existence, and here we have it in a nutshell. Not only are we created to do good works, God has already prepared those good works for us to do. This is precisely what militant atheists are rebelling against. They want to “do their own thing,” and the idea that they were created for a purpose greater and beyond them, that they had no part in deciding, galls them no end. However, their rebellion defies logic. No child chooses its parents, biologically speaking. (Adoption is a marvelous thing, and actually plays a major role in salvation, but that’s a different subject.) No child chooses their biological siblings. When such things are determined for us, with absolutely no input from us, why would it seem strange that our Creator would have prepared in advance many other things about our lives? However, that’s exactly what some people rebel against. My mother had an expression that describes them pretty well: “Independent as a hog on ice.” Where that originated I have no idea, but the word picture is clear, and hilarious. Those who rail against their Creator have no idea how absurd they are being! It stands to reason, then, that the wisest course for anyone is to seek the plan that God has laid out for them and do their utmost to cooperate with it. It should go without saying that such a course would bring the most satisfaction, greatest productivity, and yes, greatest joy possible for any individual. God created us with free will, the ability to choose and make decisions, because He didn’t want robots, He wanted children. However, that means that we are capable of choosing our own destruction, and sadly, many do. As Paul said, “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) However, that has to be our individual choice.

By the amazing grace of God I had a knowledge of the truth from infancy, but that didn’t result in salvation until I chose to accept it on my own. That said, I have flailed around a good bit in my life, looking for the path I wanted instead of seeking what God had prepared for me. Too often, my life has been an illustration of the axiom, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Rather than seeking out what God had for me to be doing, I have just lazed along, enjoying the scenery. That hasn’t been terribly productive! God has enabled me to do various things in spite of myself, but that is something I’ll have to answer for before the Throne. Even at this point in my life I need to be active in seeking out what God has prepared for me to do, and doing it with joy and persistence. Paul had a word of advice for me: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) I need to look forward to the next thing God has for me, and press forward to attain it. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s a little bit of a kick in the seat! Help me indeed apply myself fully to that which You have prepared for me to do, so that the schemes of the devil may be defeated and many souls delivered to repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 10, 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by jgarrott

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

In this final section, written in his own hand rather than dictated, (verse 11) Paul echoes what he said so famously in 2:20 of this same letter: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This principle is of great importance, and certainly bears repeating! As long as we are “alive” to the world and the world is “alive” to us, we are open to all sorts of temptations, but to the degree we are in Christ, fully immersed in Him and what He did for us on the cross, we are “dead” to the world and immune to temptations. You can’t tempt a corpse! The first half of this verse is significant, because as long as we take pride in things to boast of them, we are “alive” to them, and they to us. For example, it is not at all wrong to love your children and be pleased when they do well, but if you depart from the Biblical standard in order to excuse your children’s sins, as some pastors have done even in recent memory, you are placing your children ahead of God, and that is idolatry. The problem is, crucifixion is no fun! It is the root of the word “excruciating” and no one likes anything that is excruciating, either physically or emotionally. We run from it, not realizing that refusing the cross of Christ is choosing eternity without Him, and from all the Biblical descriptions, that is horrible beyond words. We forget Jesus words: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

I wish I could say my crucifixion were over, but that’s not the case. Positionally it is accomplished, but on this earth it is still in process. I still respond to temptations, even if I don’t yield to them. That should keep me humble in dealing with the sins of those around me. I am to keep my own eyes on Christ and encourage others to do likewise. Romans 8:1 is a great comfort: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” I am not to condemn others, nor am I to accept condemnation. The devil is the accuser, and that’s what “Satan” means. However, even when the facts are as he says, that’s not the last word for those who repent and believe. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:8-10) This is what I need to walk in, both in relation to myself and in relation to those to whom I minister.

Father, You know who is on my heart and mind right now. I know nothing of what may or may not have happened, but You know everything. I ask that You reveal Your grace and love to them, whatever is going on, so that they may be freed from the traps of the enemy to walk in Your light and life, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 9, 2015

Posted on June 11, 2015 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

As is frequently the case, I had real difficulty choosing what part of 1 Corinthians 4 to write on, because it is so rich. What clinched the decision just now was thinking about my wife’s attitude in all the physical troubles she experiences. She lives out this passage, and the people around her are amazed. This attitude enables her to accomplish far more than many people half her age with a fraction of her medical problems. The whole point is a matter of perspective. When we are fixed on the here-and-now, negatives often seem to predominate. However, when our focus is on the eternal, what we go through here feels like no more than stretching exercises before the big race. That’s not to say that joys here are overlooked, but rather that they are recognized as no more than a foretaste of what God has in store for us in eternity. My wife has the advantage, you could say, of having had a near-death experience over 40 years ago, and from what she saw of heaven, she’s really looking forward to going back. I’m really thankful the Lord sent her back here and has given her patience to deal with life, because my life would be far poorer without her.

With such an example so close at hand, I don’t have much excuse for the complaining and worrying I do! I aspire to the attitude expressed here, but full achievement seems to be in the future. Even so, I have had people comment on my attitude, sometimes simply with admiration and sometimes even with a degree of amazement. When that happens I try to steer them to Christ who enables this viewpoint, remembering what Peter said. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Because I am a Caucasian in Japan, it seems like a majority of the people I talk to chalk it up to my being a foreigner, and don’t think they could ever have the assurance of faith I have. I can’t convince them by my words, so I’ve got to pray for them and trust the Holy Spirit to work His miracles in their hearts.

Father, thank You for the wife You’ve given me, and thank You for the opportunities You give me to share the Good News of Your salvation. I do pray for those with whom I share, that the veil Paul spoke of earlier in this chapter would indeed be taken away and they would be able to receive Your truth and so be set free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 8, 2015

Posted on June 9, 2015 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

This theme comes up again and again in the Bible, especially the New Testament, because it’s important to remember that the direct recipient of anything from God is hardly ever the end recipient. God gives us stuff to pass on! That’s not at all to say that we don’t enjoy them or benefit from them, but sometimes the greater blessing comes in the transmission, rather than the reception. As Jesus said, in a rare quote outside the Gospels, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) We don’t think of comfort as a commodity, but it can certainly be received and passed on. On a linguistic note, in Japanese, “compassion” is a homophone for “self-love.” That’s interesting because it’s hard to value others properly when we don’t value ourselves properly. It is when we understand that God loves us and considers us valuable enough to send His Son to die for our sins that we are in turn able to love and recognize the value of those around us. I’m reminded of my older grandson, who felt secure enough in being loved himself that he welcomed and loved his younger brother, rather than being jealous. That kind of security in children can only be had by expressing love to them through skinship, personal attention, and appropriate discipline. When we fail to recognize God’s discipline for what it is, and that it’s an expression of God’s love, then we are far less able to pass on God’s blessing to those around us.

I have certainly enjoyed the blessings of being a conduit of God’s comfort. Just yesterday Cathy and I visited a lady in the hospital who broke the ball off the top of her femur and is waiting for surgery to replace it, but blood tests show inflammation to a degree that the surgery has been put off. From the moment we walked into her room her face was bright and animated, but she told us that before we arrived she had been feeling really down; we were conduits of God’s comfort to her, just by showing up. Cathy has had repeated hospitalizations for various things, and she was able to transmit the comfort she has received to this lady. I frequently experience moments of being aware I am passing on what I have received, and I am grateful. It is a high privilege to be God’s conduit.

Father, Help me be cleaner and more open every day so that I may pass on undistorted what You pour into me. May I be an instrument of comfort, hope, and joy, so that people may recognize and receive Your love in repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 7, 2015

Posted on June 9, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

I hadn’t expected a follow-up to yesterday’s content today, but here it is. Acceptance is part and parcel of belonging; if we don’t feel accepted, we don’t feel like we belong. Medically, the biggest issue with tissue/organ transplants is rejection. Generally speaking, someone who receives an organ from someone else must then take medication the rest of their life to suppress the rejection response, and even then it sometimes isn’t successful. Christ accepts us, not because we are a perfect match but because of His love for us, and His blood is the “anti-rejection medicine.” Some people teach that since Christ accepts us as we are, we don’t need to change. Frankly, that’s denying the “anti-rejection medicine,” because “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) That doesn’t mean wallowing in the sin, it means getting out of it, because for the first time we are able to do so. That said, the focus of what Paul is saying here is our acceptance of one another. This is actually the Biblical foundation for the Christian axiom, “Hate the sin but love the sinner.” Jesus accepts us even recognizing that we are sinful, but He doesn’t excuse the sin. In the same way, we are to accept one another as children loved by God without accepting as OK behavior that is in violation of God’s Word. That, frankly, sometimes is not easy. The better we understand how Christ has accepted us, the better we are able to accept others in the same way. When we don’t accept God’s forgiveness, we find we are unable to forgive ourselves and others. When we don’t recognize God’s incredible patience with us, we have a hard time being patient with others.

I find that sometimes people have a hard time believing I really do love them even though I hate their sin. People see me as “holier-than-they-are,” even though I strive not to come across as holier-than-thou. The better they get to know me the more they sense acceptance, but often they seem to have trouble making the first approach. I need God’s wisdom and anointing to come across as Jesus did, being a friend to sinners while saying “go and sin no more.” That balance can be very difficult! I am not to parade my own weaknesses, but neither am I to deny them. I am to express the love and grace of God as someone who would have no hope apart from that love and grace.

Father, thank You for this further expansion on the theme of acceptance and belonging. Thank You for the gathering Cathy and I could attend last night, and for the many contacts we could make. I pray that those contacts would bear fruit, drawing people into Your kingdom, Your family, because of Your acceptance expressed through us, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 6, 2015

Posted on June 9, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 12:4-5 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

One of the most fundamental human emotional needs is the need to belong, to feel accepted. The first place for that is the family, but many families are tragically ripped apart, or tragically dysfunctional. Young people from such families have an exponentially higher probability of getting involved in gangs than those from intact, healthy families, because they seek the sense of belonging they can get from a gang. However, God has a solution for those who are deprived of an intact family to belong to, and that is His family, the Church. Sadly, here too we have some dysfunctional churches, but that doesn’t negate the principle any more than dysfunctional families negate the place and importance of the family. For a church to be healthy and function properly, the principles expressed in Romans 12 need to be recognized and operative. Paul repeatedly uses the analogy of a human body to explain the functioning of the Church, not just here but famously in 1 Corinthians 12 and elsewhere. The whole point is that we aren’t to be the same as each other, any more than our liver is to be the same as our eyelid, but each is necessary for the health of the whole. In other words, we belong to each other, we belong together. Jesus prayed for our unity just before He was crucified (John 17:20-21) and Paul stresses unity repeatedly in his letters. Just as the marital relationship is to mirror that of Christ and His Bride, the church, (Ephesians 5:22-33) so the structure and functioning of the Church is to mirror that of a human body.

The whole point of belonging is stressed in Japanese society, and individuality is often sacrificed toward that aim. Growing up as a Caucasian in Japan, I often felt isolated in various ways. Thankfully I had a healthy, intact family, but that didn’t eliminate the pain of felt rejection. On the flip side of that, I have felt instantly accepted and connected in various churches around the world, because they were functioning as healthy parts of the Body of Christ. I wish I could say that was true of every church I have visited, but I have seen far too many dysfunctional churches as well. As a pastor, I certainly desire that this church fulfill the Scriptural pattern, but that requires constant work. None of it comes automatically, any more than a marriage is good automatically. It takes a lot of work, but the results are worth it! The sense of belonging is a major source of the emotional healing that many experience in coming to church. However, various forces tend to push us toward isolation, so as pastor I need to remind people and encourage them in the unity that is theirs in Christ.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the degree of health that we enjoy. I know that we have plenty of room for improvement, but keep us from overlooking the benefits we have currently simply because we don’t meet some theoretical ideal. May we grow on all levels, not just in numbers but in unity and in obedience to Your Spirit, so that we may accurately demonstrate Your kingdom to the world around us and so draw many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 5, 2015

Posted on June 6, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 11:29 God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

I have heard this verse quoted many times, generally somewhat out of context, in relation to the Charismatic Movement. I have seen people who have had what would be called “Charismatic” experiences who then turned their backs on the whole thing. That strikes me as risky to say the least, but that’s something I have to leave in God’s hands. I have known people, and known of many more, who tried to run from the call of God on their life, much as Jonah did. It’s not turned out any better for them than it did for Jonah! The whole issue of calling is very important, though often misunderstood. We can never be happier or more fulfilled than when we are following God’s plan for our lives. Even saying that runs into logical difficulties, however, because God knows in advance what we are going to do, whether that is what He desires for us or not. The whole issue of predestination and free will is practically guaranteed to pop our mental circuit breakers! That brings us back to the necessity for faith, trust, and obedience. We need to believe that He has a plan for us and that He is able to bring it to pass. We need to trust that His plan is good, and that His provision is sufficient. We need to be obedient to all that we know of His will. If we will do those things, we will find peace, joy, and fruitfulness that are available no other way.

As a pastor – who didn’t start out planning to be a pastor – I deal with this issue constantly. People come to me frequently for advice and counseling, and I can do no better than what my father was notorious for doing: ask them what God wants them to do. God has a different plan for each individual, but He doesn’t leave us without clues as to how we are to proceed. Sometimes we mishear Him, and that can cause confusion and pain, but if we trust Him enough to get quiet before Him, the confusion clears up and the pain is healed. Some young people come to me wanting me to tell them what God’s plan is for them. Sometimes He allows me to tell them things, but often He makes it clear that I’m not to be directive, because seeking Him directly is what He knows they need to be doing. It is a joy to be able to confirm people in what they already feel God is saying to them, but it is awkward, to say the least, to feel they are missing God rather badly. Above all I’ve got to be careful I don’t make my plans for people’s lives and try to influence them to follow what I think. God can and does use things in ways we could not imagine, and trusting Him is as important for me as it is for the people who want my advice.

Father, help me use the gifts You have placed in me in line with the the calling You have placed on me. Help me encourage others to do the same, leading them into obedient trust by my words and my example, so that together we may be agents of Your kingdom, doing Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 4, 2015

Posted on June 5, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 9:30-32 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.

Reading this chapter makes it very clear that Paul really agonized over why the Jews weren’t accepting the Gospel, for the most part, when the Gentiles were. He couldn’t deny the clear evidence of the results of his ministry, yet it flew in the face of a very deeply ingrained prejudice in favor of the Jews. That prejudice was shared, I think, by virtually all of the earliest believers, and it’s something that even today Gentiles have trouble understanding emotionally. However, God used that very prejudice to force Paul to understand the very important truth expressed here, which is also expressed a little more famously in Ephesians 2:8-9. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast.” There is a natural human tendency, stronger in some people than in others, to want to set up systems, to automate things, you might say. What Paul is saying here is that the Jews tried to set up a system of laws that would automate righteousness: plug a person into the Law, and they would become righteous. The problem is, that doesn’t really change people’s hearts, and as a result, it was the most “law abiding” people who condemned Jesus to death. The negative, from the human standpoint, in God’s way of salvation is that it eliminates pride, and we do love our pride! That’s why it is the poor, the weak, the humble, who are welcomed most readily into God’s kingdom. When we are done with our pride, we are ready to receive what God has prepared for us.

Apart from my own struggles with pride, I think this issue is key to the slow reception of the Gospel in Japan. The Japanese are an extremely capable people. At one point the Guinness people said that the Japanese had the highest average IQ of any racial group. Their genius for taking anything and perfecting it is well known. That makes them want to study something, even including religion, decide what they like about it and what they don’t, and make improvements. The problem is, you can’t improve on the grace of God! Japanese also have a very strong racial identity, and as long as they see Christianity as a foreign religion they are hesitant to get fully involved, thinking it will dilute that identity. Actually it does, because in Christ all barriers are erased. (Galatians 3:28) That produces an incredible freedom and joy, but for someone who hasn’t experienced it yet, it is scary indeed. These issues and others have caused Japan to be labeled, accurately enough, “a (or the) graveyard of missionaries.” I know of many who simply gave up and went back to their home countries. I can’t exactly do that, since in many ways Japan is my home country, but the temptation to give up and just “bide time” has been real. I must not do that! I’ve got to keep my eyes on my Lord and remember, on every level, that nothing is impossible for Him. I’ve got to keep myself available to Him, not limiting by my unbelief what He wants to do in and through me. It is indeed heartbreaking to see people to whom I have witnessed for years go to the grave without Christ, but I’ve got to release them to God and rejoice in those who do receive Christ and choose to grow in Him.

Father, this has been a struggle for the past 34 years, as it was for my parents before me. Help me indeed not give up, but expect great things of You, for the salvation of the Japanese people and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 3, 2015

Posted on June 5, 2015 by jgarrott

Romans 9:8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

We tend to forget that the Arab nations are as Semitic as Israel, but Paul’s point in what he is writing here goes even further than that. Genuine sonship comes not from pedigree but by repentance and faith. Peter spoke of God’s “precious promises,” (2 Peter 1:4) and Paul elsewhere affirms that all of God’s promises are valid: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) The catch, if you want to call it that, is that all that God has promised is to be received by faith. Someone who has no genetic connection to Abraham at all is still accepted as a child of God by grace through faith. (John 1:12-13, Ephesians 2:8-9) If we refuse to accept what God has said about us, then we are refusing what He has done for us as well. We need to live as God’s children by faith, not being swayed by circumstances but trusting Him more than we trust our own senses. If we will do that, then His promises will be fulfilled in, for, and through us, for His glory.

I have a pretty good genetic endowment, but my spiritual endowment is far more important. I will walk in what God intends for me to the degree that I depend on Him and not on myself, not with any hint of laziness or passivity but in grateful obedience. I have many things that I would like to do, but I know that if I attempt them apart from Him they will be empty at best. I am swayed by my environment and circumstances, so I need to be aware of that weakness and keep my eyes fixed on my Lord. I need to remember that His grace is sufficient for me, (2 Corinthians 12:9) and I can flourish regardless of my circumstances because He gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Father, thank You for this Word of encouragement when I am feeling very human at the moment. It’s interesting that I would be so affected by things that seem so small even to me. I see people all around me who have far more reason to feel down. Help me be an encouragement and blessing to them by my obedience to You, so that the schemes of the enemy may be defeated as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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