Outreach to Homosexuals

It is right for the church to take a stand for sexual morality. The church should be taking stands on all controversial things that go against the written word of God. This sinful world needs to hear the truth...no matter how "difficult" it is.

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Church Takes Stand for Sexual Morality
from Agape Press
by Randall Murphree

First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, is taking a pro-active step to reach the homosexual community with the truth of the gospel. On Saturday, May 6, the church is hosting a one-day conference titled "More Than Words" (MTW). The conference is an event that features Tim Wilkins, founder of Cross Ministry in 1996 and creator of the MTW conference.

Wilkins himself left the homosexual lifestyle more than 20 years ago, so he is able to empathize with those who are trapped in homosexuality and feel there is no hope. Wilkins, his wife and three daughters live in North Carolina where Cross Ministry is based in Wake Forest.

"No one has ever been argued out of homosexuality," said Wilkins. The focus of MTW is on building bridges to the homosexual community, offering hope and help for those who wish to leave the lifestyle. Wilkins said MTW wants to walk (versus talk) people out of homosexuality.

"People do not consciously choose to be attracted to the same sex," Wilkins said. "One of life's mysteries is that we don't get to choose what we are tempted by."

But Wilkins does make the distinction that acting on those attractions is a conscious choice and is sin, just as adultery is a sin.

LifeWay Christian Resources, an arm of the SBC, has created 'The Way Out', a highly-identifiable name for this area of ministry. Some Southern Baptist seminaries have begun to recognize the need to specifically address this issue in training its students.

"Homosexuality crosses denominational lines and so does Cross Ministry," Wilkins said.

Conference topics include: If a Friend Says "I'm gay"; Loving and Reaching the Gay Community; "What's a Parent to Do?"; Untwisting "Gay Theology"; "They didn't teach me this in Seminary!" and The Church: "Walking by Faith, not by Fright."

Don Schmierer, author of "An Ounce of Prevention: Preventing the Homosexual Condition in Today's Youth", will also speak at the Dallas event. His book is the first ever dealing specifically with prevention. Schmierer speaks extensively around the world and has been involved in interpersonal ministry for more than 20 years.


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Recycled Sunday School Literature

This is a wonderful idea! Our church does this but I had never really inquired why they did so....now I understand!
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Into Recycling? Don't Toss Those Old Sunday School Lessons
from Agape Press
By Allie Martin

An Alabama ministry is playing a pivotal role when it comes to spreading God's written Word worldwide.

More than ten years ago, Edwin Hodges -- a retired Southern Baptist pastor -- believed God was calling him to help Christians outside of the United States who needed Christian literature. He founded Edwin L. Hodges Ministries to provide Bibles and other Christian literature to churches, seminaries, and Bible schools worldwide. Since its founding, the ministry has shipped more than six-and-a-half-million pounds of Bibles, literature, books, tapes, and study materials to help pastors and laypeople teach and disciple fellow believers.

"Americans are a little bit on the strange side, in my opinion -- we put a date on something, the date passes, and we just automatically assume this is no good," he shares. "Now you wouldn't through away a Bible because it's old; so you shouldn't through away this because it's got an old date on it. The truth is still the truth."

Studies show that 80 percent of Christian believers outside of the U.S. have no Christian literature available to them. And that's where Edwin L. Hodges Ministries comes in.


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Public School Exit Strategy--A true "No Child Left Behind"

SBC Urges the denomination to remove its children from public schools.
from Agape Press
by Rusty Pugh and Jenni Parker

The Southern Baptist Convention is again urging the denomination to devise a resolution calling for an "exit strategy" from public schools. This resolution is co-sponsored by Texas lawyer Bruce Shortt and SBC Executive Committee member Roger Moran.

The proposal asserts that recent federal court rulings have favored public schools "indoctrinating children with dogmatic Darwinism" and have limited parents' rights regarding what their children are taught, including what schools teach them on matters of sexuality.

Shortt asserts "As Christians, we are called to give our children a Christian education, not just some of the time but all of the time," he noted, "and the public schools have become, increasingly over the years, more and more antagonistic to Christianity."

Shortt believes it is naïve for Christians

to think of their children as

missionaries in public schools.

"The schools are aggressively

developing bad character,"

he told AP. "Contrary to what a lot

of the more 'Pollyanna-ish' parts

of our leadership would think,

our children are not evangelizing

in the schools; the schools are

evangelizing them out of

Christianity."


Dr. Rick Scarborough, Founder of Vision America and a leading SBC grassroots activist is among those who strongly endorse the resolution and see it as urgently needed, as is evangelist and Bible teacher Dr. Voddie Baucham.

Scarborough contends that public schools have long ceased to serve as a positive reinforcer of traditional values and today "are not even neutral on many crucial issues which are important to people of faith." He says public education has unfortunately been "hijacked by people who reject Biblical teachings on man's origin, the proper role of sex, and the acceptability of homosexuality."

And Dr. Voddie Baucham, another outspoken proponent of an exodus from public schools, says he endorses the Shortt-Moran resolution in part because he knows "what it's like to be a poor kid trapped in underperforming schools." As a child being raised by a single parent in the inner city, he says, "I had no choice but to accept the inferior education my schools offered -- not to mention the drugs, sex, and violence that were all part of the package."

Government schools have not only

failed children academically, the evangelist

points out, but they are also "destroying

our children spiritually and morally." That is why he maintains that the SBC must come up with a comprehensive plan to create a new system of Baptist education that is open to everyone.

...it also urges SBC agencies to assist churches as they develop workable public school exit strategies and to give particular attention to the needs of orphans, single parents, and the disadvantaged.

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I have expressed this in my Sunday School class over and over again; where many of us are educators. But I have yet to convince anyone of the seriousness of this issue.

Too many believe our Christian children and teachers are the only lights these non-believers will see.

They are wrong. These Christian lights will still be seen in and around the community. No Christians I know of completely isolate themselves from the activities of the world.

But it has been my contention that we render to caesar what is caesar's and render to God what is God's. My child belongs to God. Therefore, he needs to be nurtured and sheltered, yes, sheltered until he is strong enough with God's armour to go out into a hostile world and be an unflickering light.

I don't know any Kindergarteners who can do this.....I know very few High School Seniors who can yet do this. They are not ready; they are not mature enough in their reasoning to explain why homosexuality is a sin according to God's word. They sure are not ready to take on an authority figure such as a teacher or professor and contradict her/him!

With research proving our young people are being influenced by liberal educators in college to LEAVE their FAITH; then we need to step back and determine what WE can do to stop this.

"...by the end of their freshman year in college, between 75 and 88 percent have left the church." Agape Press

"After they graduate from high school or move away from home, just two out of five teens contend it is 'very likely' that they will attend a Christian church on a regular basis, and another two out of five say it is 'somewhat likely.'' Agape Press

"...the recent federal court decision to bar the teaching of theory of intelligent design in the Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania is yet another reason why parents should get their kids out of public schools. Columnist Cal Thomas says the ruling should awaken religious conservatives to the futility of trying to make a secular state reflect their beliefs."

"...many parents who would never send their kids to a Sunday school that teaches false doctrine are content to place those same kids in state schools five days a week where they are taught doctrines and ideas in conflict with their faith." Agape Press

"...One of the great tragedies of American Christianity has been the near universal failure of its leaders to boldly proclaim the inherent dangers lurking within America's government-owned and controlled schools..." Agape Press

"The mission field is not just overseas; it is right here. And this mission effort requires a more serious commitment than just handling out tracts or sharing a testimony.

God will, however, hold us accountable for our stewardship of our children."
Dr. Voddie Baucham


Educating our children in a Christian

environment for 12 years

is one thing WE CAN DO!

We need to do it before it is

too late.......

c~b~n

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Do Not Go Empty-Handed

Ruth 3:17, "And she said, These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, 'Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.'"

Recently the Barna Research Group announced its findings that the evangelicals in the United States is only about 6 percent (decreasing from 12 percent in 1992). An earlier study indicated that as many as 40 percent of Americans have no religious affiliation and another 31 percent are Christians in name only. That means that at least 71 percent of the U.S. population are living in spiritual poverty.

It's obvious we have a vast mission field right in our own backyard. As we send and support missionaries overseas, are we overlooking those in spiritual need nearby?

Many people in Israel lived in physical poverty, and Boaz was known for his generosity. But in his concern for those elsewhere, he didn't overlook those in need in his own backyard. One of those was his own kinswoman, Naomi. As Ruth prepared to go home from her labors in the field, he gave her six ephahs (approximately five bushels) of barley to take home to her mother-in-law. Out of the compassion of his heart, he was burdened that the young Moabitess who gleaned in his fields not go home empty-handed.

Spiritually needy people are everywhere. The majority of Christians, however, are neither able nor called to leave their occupations and homes to serve on foreign mission fields. But that doesn't mean that our neighbors must go home empty-handed.

All around us are people living well below the "spiritual poverty line." Next door, around the corner or in the apartment across the hall are men, women and children who need to know about the Savior. The fields are there, and they're ready for harvest.

Make sure your friends and neighbors don't go home empty-handed. Be alert to opportunities to pass on the Bread of Life. Prayerfully ask God to lead you to someone with whom you can share your spiritual bounty.

And then be like Boaz: give away what your friends need most.

"IF YOU ARE CONTENT TO GO TO HEAVEN ALONE, YOU MAY NOT BE GOING AT ALL!"

Think about it!

May God bless each of you.

from the Ted Brabham newsletter. Sign up here: Ted Brabham Website


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Teen Age Rebellion

from Agape Press

...Researchers are reporting a different kind of teen-age rebellion.

At a Washington news conference, Harvard University lecturer David King pointed to Gallup Polls that find today's high school students more likely to attend church than their parents.

He says that is the first time that has happened in nearly 70 years of polling. King says Gallup also has found that high school students are attending church services at the highest rate since the 1950s. But back then, he says, parents were making them go.

A new national poll by Harvard's Institute of Politics finds 70 percent of America's college students believe that religion is "somewhat important" or "very important" in their lives.

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"...I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:28

To prepare the young people for this....they need to be in church learning God's Holy Word! It appears, they are!

"Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20

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Pro Football Team Promotes 'Faith Nights'

Dons Bible Verses
from Agape Press
by Jim Brown and Jody Brown

{What a GREAT idea! I would attend this if it were offered in my area! I quit games awhile back because of the unfriendly, unfamily, language you cannot help overhearing.....}

An arena football team in Birmingham, Alabama, will be sporting Bible-themed jerseys in an upcoming game.

The Birmingham Steeldogs will be wearing Christian throwback jerseys during the May 5 game against the Louisville Fire. Both teams are members of the 23-team Arena Football League. The jerseys worn by Steeldogs players that evening will display the name "Samson" on the front -- a reference to the Bible hero with incredible physical strength. On the back, players' names will be replaced by a book of the Bible, and players' numbers will correspond with a specific chapter and verse of that book.

In addition, free Bibles will distributed at the gate, and the Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline will perform in a pre-game concert. It is all part of the first of three "Barber's Dairy Faith Nights." Steeldogs' managing partner Scott Myers helped come up with the promotion.

"There's a number of goals that are involved in it," Myers explains. "We wanted to do something that was a unique way to share with our fans, to reach out to the community, just to do something different as an opportunity to share and to be a part of a great event."

Myers believes the promotion is a unique way to share a Christian message with fans. "We're having new jerseys made under our exact specifications of our normal jerseys, so they'll look the same," he says -- except for the team name, player name, and number, of course. "They'll just read a little differently."

In an interview with WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Myers explained that the Steeldogs organization has a long history of reaching out to local churches and youth groups and getting them involved. "With our team wearing these jerseys," he said, "it will help us further those efforts as well as allow us to present an uplifting message of faith to our fans."

Myers says Steeldogs coaches fully supported the decision to wear Bible-themed jerseys even though it was made before the team's final roster was set. The jerseys are made by the Christian Throwback Jersey Company of Birmingham.

The Birmingham football organization will host two more "Barber's Dairy Faith Nights" this summer. Christian artist Aaron Shust will perform before their game with the Florida Firecats on June 24. And on July 29, Warren Barfield will kick off the festivities before the Steeldogs take the field against the Tennessee Valley Vipers. According to WSFA-TV, "VeggieTale" characters Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato will also make an appearance at the July game.

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In Rejecting Christianity

Will Society Re-Define Marriage?
from Agape Press

In June, the U.S. Senate will be voting on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being only between one man and one woman. In November at least a half-dozen states will be voting to put into their constitutions that same definition -- marriage can only be between one man and one woman.

Believe it or not, there are actually high-level officials in many denominations who are supporting the change to allow two men or two women to be married. Have they not read the Bible? Of course they have read it. They simply don't believe it. They believe their way is better. By the way, it is the money supplied by the local church which keeps these officials supplied with funds to continue their efforts. Many church members would be horrified to learn that their offerings go to these leaders who want to destroy marriage as God has defined it.

Let us suppose for a moment that homosexual marriage does become legal. It is closer to becoming a reality than many believe. The world is changing around us, and we go merrily on our way pretending that such a change will not affect us or our children. "Doesn't affect me. I don't want to marry someone of my sex, but I don't care if someone else wants to marry a person of the same sex. If two people are in love, they should be allowed to marry." So goes the thinking. The problem is that that thinking doesn't go far enough.

If two people of the same sex can marry, then why can't three people of the same sex be legally married? Or four? Or two men and three women? Or any combination you desire to choose? Why can't a man who loves his daughter marry her? If you allow two men to be married, then you have no reason to forbid any couples or groups from being married.

All of this, of course, goes back to the standard on which a person (or a nation) chooses to base the concept of good and evil, right and wrong. There is truth, and there is relativism. Truth is constant. Relativism is something subject to change as the latest fad comes along.

Our society has a new definition of God and love. In the past we saw truth in the definition that God is love. For centuries we have operated on that basis. But now, not satisfied with the restrictions that old definition imposes on us, we have turned the wording around. No longer is God love, but now love is god.

There is a world of difference in those two definitions. Our future, and the future of our children and grandchildren, depends on which we believe.

by Dr. Donald E. Wildmon

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The Brownies

A Little Leaven...
by David Kirkwood

Some years ago when I was a pastor, I walked into my church office after a Sunday morning service to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three chocolate brownies. Some thoughtful and anonymous saint who knew my love for chocolate had placed them there, along with a piece of paper that had a short story written on it. I immediately sat down and began eating the first brownie as I read the following story:

Two teenagers asked their father if they could go the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about the movie on the internet, he denied their request.

"Aw Dad, why not?" they complained. "It's rated PG-13, and we're both older than thirteen!" Dad replied: "Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality, which is something that God hates, as being normal and acceptable behavior."

"But Dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That's what our friends who've seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It's based on a true story, and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the Christian movie review websites say that!"

"My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that film. End of discussion."

The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen. They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all."

About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story. I kept reading...

The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies which he offered to his kids. They each took one.

Then their father said,
"Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much." The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening. "That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic. The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium vanilla and chocolate."

The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech. "But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think."

"Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery Ingredient is before we eat?"

"Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't even taste it."

"Come on, Dad, just tell us what that ingredient is."

"Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients."

"Dad!"

"Well, OK, if you insist. That secret ingredient is organic...dog poop."

I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the waste basket by my desk. I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.

Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror. "DAD! Why did you do that? You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these brownies!"

"Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients. You won't even taste it. It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!"

"No, Dad...NEVER!"

"And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go watch that movie. You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies? We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?

I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn't...but I couldn't convince myself.)

What a good lesson about purity! Why do we tolerate any sin? On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes. Sin is like leaven-a little bit leavens the whole lump (1 Cor. 5:6).

Jesus, "our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7), and sin, don't mix.

Help us, Lord, to "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).

Hate evil, you who love the Lord (Ps. 97:10).

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Prov. 8:13).

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Read more of David's work at Shepherd Serve

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Smart teacher

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class taught by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone they disliked or someone who had made them angry in the past. Then he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's friend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, but was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat down, thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall. Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus.

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.

Dr. Smith said only these words, "I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" (Matthew 25:40)

No other words were necessary...the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ.




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The Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much.. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

JOHN 3:16 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...

THAT'S LOVE !

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