Although it's not really very me, as a matter of fact, there are some things that are definitely NOT me. I thought the format and content of this statement was worth wrestling around with so we could actually develop our own - what do you think about it?
Important Stuff YS Believes
(a.k.a., Statement of Faith)
We believe in Jesus. We know He's part of the Trinity and all the other important stuff we also believe, but if we're honest, we're partial to Jesus. Don't get us wrong. God is like a Father—no, God IS the father—and the buck stops with Him (if you're going to have the buck stop somewhere it might as well stop with Someone who is … well … all about love with a capital L. Of course, He's also about justice with a capital J, but we'll take our chances that, in the end, justice will feel like love). And then there is the Holy Spirit—mysterious, windy, seems to like fire a lot, whispering, and always pointing us to … you guessed it … Jesus. We not only like Jesus a lot, He likes us a lot. Enough to die for us. We know that when life gets tough (and it always does) He'll be there for us.
We believe in the Church. We know—it's flawed, inconsistent, institutional, bureaucratic, even embarrassing sometimes. Yet it is also incredibly heroic at other times. Whether we like it or not, want to attend it or not, we're stuck with it. There are a lot of parachurch organizations out there that are a lot more glamorous at first glance, but the Church is the Body of Christ, and that's pretty glamorous too. The Church is not optional, it's not up for discussion, it's been around ever since Jesus, and it's still here. That's good enough for us.
We believe in the scandalous grace of God. Grace is outrageously unfair, ridiculously extravagant and unashamedly the center of the gospel, and it sure beats judgmentalism, legalism, and all the other isms. Grace always gives second chances, third chances and never stops giving chances. Grace has Jesus written all over it. Grace makes people nervous because they are always so worried someone is going to take advantage of it. But that's what we like about grace. You can take advantage of it. But here's the really interesting part—grace doesn't just let everyone in. Anyone, yes, but not everyone. And the Grace of God frequently includes the unexpected. So … who's in and who's not? Only God knows, and that's fine with us.
We believe in the Bible. We're awed by it, inspired by it, and believe it is Truth. We're also terrified of it. We don't understand all of it, but we believe it. All of it. That's the important part, because if you only believe some of it, if you try to edit out the parts you don't like, then you don't believe it. Of course, believing it all doesn't mean we perfectly live it all. It doesn't even mean we have it all figured out. Mostly we're scared of it, scared in a good way, because whenever we read it and try to live by it, God shows up and that's pretty terrifying … and also pretty amazing, and pretty …uh … assuring.
That’s kind of it. The “biggies.”
We know there’s other important stuff out there … actually, a lot of other stuff: theology, doctrine, homosexuality, abortion, war, the second coming, prophecy, music, discipleship, appearance, serving, worship, tattoos, dancing, drinking, traditions, smoking, language, baptism, moral issues and … well, like we said, lots of stuff.
All that stuff is important, and certainly people should try to figure out what to believe about all those things, but that’s exactly the point. We believe that if the “biggies” are sorted out, then all the other stuff will eventually fall into place too. It might not fall into the same place as the brother or sister next to you, but that’s what makes the kingdom of God so interesting. Right?
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Saturday, July 26, 2003
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Quote from Bill Bright
As a new believer in 1945 I read a statement that had a profound influence on my life. It was by Sir James Stewart of Scotland, a famous New Testament scholar.
He said: "If we could but show the whole world that being committed to Christ is no tame, humdrum, sheltered monotony but the most thrilling, exciting adventure the human spirit can ever know, then those who have been standing outside the church and looking askance at Christ would come crowding in to pay allegiance to Him. And we might well expect the greatest revival since Pentecost."
He said: "If we could but show the whole world that being committed to Christ is no tame, humdrum, sheltered monotony but the most thrilling, exciting adventure the human spirit can ever know, then those who have been standing outside the church and looking askance at Christ would come crowding in to pay allegiance to Him. And we might well expect the greatest revival since Pentecost."
Saturday, July 05, 2003
A Magna Charta of Trust by an Out-Of-Control Disciple Leonard Sweet
Ran across this article and needed to log it so I can meditate on it again and God help me- be it.
A Magna Charta of Trust by an
Out-of-Control Disciple **
by Leonard I. Sweet
I am part of the Church of the Out-of-Control.
I once was a control junkie, but now am an Out-of-Control Disciple. I've given up my control to God. I trust and obey the Spirit. I've jumped off the fence, I've stepped over the line, I've pulled out all the stops. There's no turning back, looking around, slowing down, backing away, letting up, or shutting up. It's life Against the Odds, Outside the Box, Over the Wall, the game of life played Without Goal Lines other than "Thy Will Be Done . . . ."I am not here to please the dominant culture. I live to please my Lord and Savior. My spiritual taste-buds have graduated from fizz to froth to Fire and Ice. Sometimes I'm called to sharpen the cutting edge, and sometimes to blunt the cutting edge. Don't give me that old-time religion. Don't give me that new-time religion. Give me that all-time religion that's as hard as rock and as soft as snow.I've stopped trying to make life work, and started trying to make life sing. I am finished with second-hand sensations, third-rate dreams, low-risk high-rise trades and goose-stepping, flag-waving crusades. I no longer live by and for anything but everything God-breathed, Christ-centered, and Spirit-driven.I can't be bought by any personalities or perks, positions or prizes. I won't give up, though I may give in . . . to openness of mind, humbleness of heart, and generosity of spirit. In the face of adversity no longer will I hang in there. I will stand in there, I will run in there, I will pray in there, I will sacrifice in there, I will endure in there -- in fact I will do everything in there but hang. My face is upward, my feet are forward, my eyes are focused, my way is cloudy, my knees are worn, my seat uncreased, my heart burdened, my spirit light, my road narrow, my mission wide.I won't be seduced by popularity, traduced by criticism, travestied by hypocrisy or trivialized by mediocrity. I am organized religion's best friend and worst nightmare. I won't back down, slow down, shut down, or let down until I'm preached out, teached out, healed out or hauled out of God's mission in the world entrusted to members of the Church of the Out-of-Control . . . to unbind the confined, whether they're the downtrodden or the upscale, the overlooked or the underrepresented.My fundamental identity is as a disciple of Jesus -- but even more, as a disciple of Jesus who lives in Christ, who doesn't walk through history simply "in his steps," but seeks to travel more deeply IN HIS SPIRIT.Until he comes again or calls me home, you can find me filling not killing time so that one day he will pick me out in the lineup of the ages as one of his own. And then . . . it will be worth it all . . . to hear these words, the most precious words I can ever hear:
"Well done, thou good and faithful...
Out-of-Control Disciple."
**This "Confession" is inspired by John Wesley's Covenant Prayer and Bob Moorhead's "Fellowship of the Unashamed"
John Wesley's "Covenant Prayer"
"I am no longer my own, but Yours.Put me to what You will,
Rank me with whoever You will.Put me to doing...
Put me to suffering.Let me be employed for You,
Or laid aside for You.Exalted for You, or
Brought low for You.Let me be full
Let me be empty.
Let me have all things,
Let me have nothing!And now, O Father,
You are mine and I am Yours.So be it. And the covenant I am making on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Spirit Venture Ministries ©1997-99
A Magna Charta of Trust by an
Out-of-Control Disciple **
by Leonard I. Sweet
I am part of the Church of the Out-of-Control.
I once was a control junkie, but now am an Out-of-Control Disciple. I've given up my control to God. I trust and obey the Spirit. I've jumped off the fence, I've stepped over the line, I've pulled out all the stops. There's no turning back, looking around, slowing down, backing away, letting up, or shutting up. It's life Against the Odds, Outside the Box, Over the Wall, the game of life played Without Goal Lines other than "Thy Will Be Done . . . ."I am not here to please the dominant culture. I live to please my Lord and Savior. My spiritual taste-buds have graduated from fizz to froth to Fire and Ice. Sometimes I'm called to sharpen the cutting edge, and sometimes to blunt the cutting edge. Don't give me that old-time religion. Don't give me that new-time religion. Give me that all-time religion that's as hard as rock and as soft as snow.I've stopped trying to make life work, and started trying to make life sing. I am finished with second-hand sensations, third-rate dreams, low-risk high-rise trades and goose-stepping, flag-waving crusades. I no longer live by and for anything but everything God-breathed, Christ-centered, and Spirit-driven.I can't be bought by any personalities or perks, positions or prizes. I won't give up, though I may give in . . . to openness of mind, humbleness of heart, and generosity of spirit. In the face of adversity no longer will I hang in there. I will stand in there, I will run in there, I will pray in there, I will sacrifice in there, I will endure in there -- in fact I will do everything in there but hang. My face is upward, my feet are forward, my eyes are focused, my way is cloudy, my knees are worn, my seat uncreased, my heart burdened, my spirit light, my road narrow, my mission wide.I won't be seduced by popularity, traduced by criticism, travestied by hypocrisy or trivialized by mediocrity. I am organized religion's best friend and worst nightmare. I won't back down, slow down, shut down, or let down until I'm preached out, teached out, healed out or hauled out of God's mission in the world entrusted to members of the Church of the Out-of-Control . . . to unbind the confined, whether they're the downtrodden or the upscale, the overlooked or the underrepresented.My fundamental identity is as a disciple of Jesus -- but even more, as a disciple of Jesus who lives in Christ, who doesn't walk through history simply "in his steps," but seeks to travel more deeply IN HIS SPIRIT.Until he comes again or calls me home, you can find me filling not killing time so that one day he will pick me out in the lineup of the ages as one of his own. And then . . . it will be worth it all . . . to hear these words, the most precious words I can ever hear:
"Well done, thou good and faithful...
Out-of-Control Disciple."
**This "Confession" is inspired by John Wesley's Covenant Prayer and Bob Moorhead's "Fellowship of the Unashamed"
John Wesley's "Covenant Prayer"
"I am no longer my own, but Yours.Put me to what You will,
Rank me with whoever You will.Put me to doing...
Put me to suffering.Let me be employed for You,
Or laid aside for You.Exalted for You, or
Brought low for You.Let me be full
Let me be empty.
Let me have all things,
Let me have nothing!And now, O Father,
You are mine and I am Yours.So be it. And the covenant I am making on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Spirit Venture Ministries ©1997-99
"I love because He made me."
Here are my unoriginal thoughts for the day as I wrestle with my inability to have any grip at all on what the next steps are or even what the goal is (not cosmically but practically) (i.e., what is the work God is calling me to do in youth/young adult ministry and with my life in general).
"The man who guides others into the presence of the King must have journeyed far into the King's country and looked upon His face." - Charles Spurgeon
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." -Antoine de Saint Exupery
And finally, the simplest and most profound unorginal thought -
"I love because He made me." - a nameless faceless child in Pennsylvania - someone I will always admire
"The man who guides others into the presence of the King must have journeyed far into the King's country and looked upon His face." - Charles Spurgeon
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." -Antoine de Saint Exupery
And finally, the simplest and most profound unorginal thought -
"I love because He made me." - a nameless faceless child in Pennsylvania - someone I will always admire
Friday, July 04, 2003
268 Declaration
I was re-reading this declaration and it gripped my heart. I think that as I begin prayerfully setting up a framework for the Youth Ministry, this is certainly a part of it.
268 Declaration
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your Truth,
we wait eagerly for You,
for Your name and Your renown
are the desire of our souls."
Isaiah 26:8
I desire that my life be a part of a generation that lives
for the glory of Your name. (Psalm 86:11-12)
My desire is reflected by the following statements and prayers:
Because I was created by God and for His glory, I will magnify Him as I respond to His great love. My desire is to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life.
[God, give me a desire for You like the desire that You have for me.]
Colossians 1:16-18, John 17:3, Revelation 3:20, Philippians 3:7-10, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Psalm 73:25-28, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 43:7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because Christ established the Church for God's glory, I desire to magnify God as I use the gifts He has given me to serve and build up the local church. I will pray for continued renewal in my church through the work and power of the Holy Spirit.
[God, renew in me a love for Your Church, the Body of Christ.]
Ephesians 3:20,21, 4:1-13, 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:23-25, Acts 2:41-47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because God is glorified greatly when believers love each other, I desire to magnify Him as I humbly yield to and pray towards unity among all Christians on my campus.
[God, give me a desire to lift up Your name above all other names.]
John 17:20-26, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 3, Psalm 133:1, Colossians 3:12-17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because many on my campus are hopelessly separated from God, I desire to magnify Him by sharing the life and love of Jesus where I live. As I share, I will earnestly pray for revival on my campus and in my world.
[God, break my heart for those with whom I live.]
Romans 10:11-15, Isaiah 6:1-8, 62:6-7, Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Philipians 2:12-16, 1 John 5:14-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because God is seeking worshipers of all peoples, I desire to magnify Him among the nations. I actively commit my life and energy to participation in His global purposes in my generation.
[God, kindle in me the desire to go anywhere, at anytime, at any cost, to do anything to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.]
Psalm 86:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Isaiah 49:6, Revelation 5:9-14, Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 67, Acts 1:8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
268 Declaration
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your Truth,
we wait eagerly for You,
for Your name and Your renown
are the desire of our souls."
Isaiah 26:8
I desire that my life be a part of a generation that lives
for the glory of Your name. (Psalm 86:11-12)
My desire is reflected by the following statements and prayers:
Because I was created by God and for His glory, I will magnify Him as I respond to His great love. My desire is to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life.
[God, give me a desire for You like the desire that You have for me.]
Colossians 1:16-18, John 17:3, Revelation 3:20, Philippians 3:7-10, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Psalm 73:25-28, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 43:7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because Christ established the Church for God's glory, I desire to magnify God as I use the gifts He has given me to serve and build up the local church. I will pray for continued renewal in my church through the work and power of the Holy Spirit.
[God, renew in me a love for Your Church, the Body of Christ.]
Ephesians 3:20,21, 4:1-13, 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:23-25, Acts 2:41-47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because God is glorified greatly when believers love each other, I desire to magnify Him as I humbly yield to and pray towards unity among all Christians on my campus.
[God, give me a desire to lift up Your name above all other names.]
John 17:20-26, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 3, Psalm 133:1, Colossians 3:12-17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because many on my campus are hopelessly separated from God, I desire to magnify Him by sharing the life and love of Jesus where I live. As I share, I will earnestly pray for revival on my campus and in my world.
[God, break my heart for those with whom I live.]
Romans 10:11-15, Isaiah 6:1-8, 62:6-7, Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Philipians 2:12-16, 1 John 5:14-15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because God is seeking worshipers of all peoples, I desire to magnify Him among the nations. I actively commit my life and energy to participation in His global purposes in my generation.
[God, kindle in me the desire to go anywhere, at anytime, at any cost, to do anything to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.]
Psalm 86:9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Isaiah 49:6, Revelation 5:9-14, Matthew 28:18-20, Psalm 67, Acts 1:8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Is Your Ministry Achieved or Received?
by Jack Taylor
from the Friday Roundtable
In Acts 20:22 Paul writes to the Ephesian elders: “Now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing what shall befall me there. None of these things move me. Nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
When I read this I thought if there is a received ministry, it’s possible that we may have the antithesis of that: the achieved ministry.
I know what it is to have an achieved ministry. My system taught me. I measured that ministry with statistics and clawed and tried to get to the top and counted my brethren and others as competitors. I’m sick of that and sick at others when I see it.
The achieved ministry is something that is worked up from the view of the needs that are obvious. Now that sounds good but that will not keep you in the ministry. The received ministry, on the other hand, issues from the heart of God. Let me say it again: the achieved ministry is cast along the lines of human need. It supposes that we know the needs better than God knows them. But the received ministry is simply a call from the heart of God to follow him.
The achieved ministry depends upon human energy. While that is very important, if that is all you’ve got, you’re going to burn out. The received ministry depends upon the energy of the Spirit constantly upon us.
The achieved ministry inevitably results in competition. It’s MY ministry. I felt that very deeply. One of the greatest problems I had was just feeling competitive with my brethren. While the received ministry is one of relationship and cooperation, the achieved ministry, in order to verify itself, has to create a statistical system to confirm its worth. The received ministry needs only the inner reassurance that I’m in this because God called me.
Discouragement may be a sign that we’ve slipped into the achieved ministry. The achieved ministry is categorical. It’s provincial, it’s denominational, it’s racial. But the received ministry is cosmic. We don’t have a local view. We don’t have a regional view. We don’t have a global view. We have a cosmic view — a view from the heart of God.
The problem is we all think from where we are. We think in reverse. We start where we are instead of in the heart of God. The greatest thing I know is that you, as a human being, can get to the heart of God and look back this way from God’s heart and see it.
The achieved ministry, because of its nature, is often little more than cosmetic. It may make the news but it doesn’t get beneath the surface.
The received ministry is absolutely subsurface and deals with all the realities that made the expressions what they are. So it is content to work subsurface until the fullness of time when it blasts out into the open and surprises the devil.
If man started a ministry, man can stop it. If God starts it, nobody, including hell, can stop it. It can be terminated, but there is a river that flows from the heart of God. You stop it up and it will go around the dam. If you cover it in every area, it will go subsurface and it is content to flow for years because it knows that somewhere out there it will surface and blow everything all to heaven.
The achieved ministry will fail, even though it succeeds. There is nothing worse than succeeding at a failure. The battle of the flesh is already lost. The battle of the spirit is already won. So an achieved ministry will fail, even though it succeeds. The received ministry will succeed even though it fails.
I know what it is to have an achieved ministry. I know what it is to come to the end of it and say, “If this is all there is, I’m out of here.”
I’m beginning to find out what it is to have a received ministry. It takes us out of competition; it takes us out of burnout. There will be some heaviness and some discouragement, sure, but all we have to do is encourage ourselves in the Lord, because in the Lord is where our call came from. I want to be like that. I want to say, “Hey, I’m going and I don’t really expect it to be all roses.”
Holy Ghost has said there’s going to be more trouble like you’ve had. Just look to the past. But my task is to finish the ministry that I received of the Lord. I don’t want you creating my ministry. I don’t want your needs to mark the boundaries of my ministry. I want a call from Him. I don’t get my encouragement from you. I get it from Him.
This is kingdom stuff. This is the kingdom ministry. We haven’t evaluated our ministry properly until we look at it through the eyes of the King. Forget the denominational headquarters, please! Forget any implication from any side — denominational, categorical, provincial, regional or racial. We’re in it all of us together. That’s what we want to do — finish the ministry that we received of the Lord Jesus, which is to testify in word and deed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. - Jack Taylor
by Jack Taylor
from the Friday Roundtable
In Acts 20:22 Paul writes to the Ephesian elders: “Now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing what shall befall me there. None of these things move me. Nor do I count my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
When I read this I thought if there is a received ministry, it’s possible that we may have the antithesis of that: the achieved ministry.
I know what it is to have an achieved ministry. My system taught me. I measured that ministry with statistics and clawed and tried to get to the top and counted my brethren and others as competitors. I’m sick of that and sick at others when I see it.
The achieved ministry is something that is worked up from the view of the needs that are obvious. Now that sounds good but that will not keep you in the ministry. The received ministry, on the other hand, issues from the heart of God. Let me say it again: the achieved ministry is cast along the lines of human need. It supposes that we know the needs better than God knows them. But the received ministry is simply a call from the heart of God to follow him.
The achieved ministry depends upon human energy. While that is very important, if that is all you’ve got, you’re going to burn out. The received ministry depends upon the energy of the Spirit constantly upon us.
The achieved ministry inevitably results in competition. It’s MY ministry. I felt that very deeply. One of the greatest problems I had was just feeling competitive with my brethren. While the received ministry is one of relationship and cooperation, the achieved ministry, in order to verify itself, has to create a statistical system to confirm its worth. The received ministry needs only the inner reassurance that I’m in this because God called me.
Discouragement may be a sign that we’ve slipped into the achieved ministry. The achieved ministry is categorical. It’s provincial, it’s denominational, it’s racial. But the received ministry is cosmic. We don’t have a local view. We don’t have a regional view. We don’t have a global view. We have a cosmic view — a view from the heart of God.
The problem is we all think from where we are. We think in reverse. We start where we are instead of in the heart of God. The greatest thing I know is that you, as a human being, can get to the heart of God and look back this way from God’s heart and see it.
The achieved ministry, because of its nature, is often little more than cosmetic. It may make the news but it doesn’t get beneath the surface.
The received ministry is absolutely subsurface and deals with all the realities that made the expressions what they are. So it is content to work subsurface until the fullness of time when it blasts out into the open and surprises the devil.
If man started a ministry, man can stop it. If God starts it, nobody, including hell, can stop it. It can be terminated, but there is a river that flows from the heart of God. You stop it up and it will go around the dam. If you cover it in every area, it will go subsurface and it is content to flow for years because it knows that somewhere out there it will surface and blow everything all to heaven.
The achieved ministry will fail, even though it succeeds. There is nothing worse than succeeding at a failure. The battle of the flesh is already lost. The battle of the spirit is already won. So an achieved ministry will fail, even though it succeeds. The received ministry will succeed even though it fails.
I know what it is to have an achieved ministry. I know what it is to come to the end of it and say, “If this is all there is, I’m out of here.”
I’m beginning to find out what it is to have a received ministry. It takes us out of competition; it takes us out of burnout. There will be some heaviness and some discouragement, sure, but all we have to do is encourage ourselves in the Lord, because in the Lord is where our call came from. I want to be like that. I want to say, “Hey, I’m going and I don’t really expect it to be all roses.”
Holy Ghost has said there’s going to be more trouble like you’ve had. Just look to the past. But my task is to finish the ministry that I received of the Lord. I don’t want you creating my ministry. I don’t want your needs to mark the boundaries of my ministry. I want a call from Him. I don’t get my encouragement from you. I get it from Him.
This is kingdom stuff. This is the kingdom ministry. We haven’t evaluated our ministry properly until we look at it through the eyes of the King. Forget the denominational headquarters, please! Forget any implication from any side — denominational, categorical, provincial, regional or racial. We’re in it all of us together. That’s what we want to do — finish the ministry that we received of the Lord Jesus, which is to testify in word and deed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. - Jack Taylor
Lou Engle on the Dallas Call
"Lord, open my ears today. I want you to help me live a life of significance. Make my life count, not just for today, but also in the direction of a long line of things to come. Make me one to change history. Let it be said of me like David, I fulfilled the purposes of God for my generation." Claim that you are sons and daughters, that you have a right to live as sons and daughters, that you have a right hear God's voice morning by morning.
Can I put a passage into your devotional toolbox? Isaiah 50:4, Memorize it and every morning quote it when you get up. "The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with the word. He AWAKENS me morning by morning. He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple." -Lou Engle
Can I put a passage into your devotional toolbox? Isaiah 50:4, Memorize it and every morning quote it when you get up. "The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with the word. He AWAKENS me morning by morning. He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple." -Lou Engle
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