How Can You Go To Heaven

 Several major news sources, including the New York Times and USA Today, reported President Trump’s August 19 comments on Fox & Friends regarding his hopes of going to heaven.  In the interview, speaking of his efforts for peace in Ukraine, President Trump reportedly said, "I wanna try and get to heaven if possible. I'm hearing I'm not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons."

 It is a good thing to want to create peace.  And it is a good thing to want to go to heaven.  Almost everyone shares that desire.  We should pray for President Trump on both counts. But this raises a question.  How does anyone get to heaven?

 Mother Teresa said, “I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, He will not ask, ‘How many good things have you done in your life?’”   “My key to heaven is that I loved Jesus in the night.”

 Billy Graham said, “I am not going to heaven because I am a preacher. I am going to heaven entirely on the merit of the work of Christ.” 

 The Bible is clear  that none of us can achieve a level of goodness to deserve heaven.  Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 

 Paul put it like this: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is only by God’s grace through faith that any of us enter heaven, and that faith must be more than lip service or hypocrisy.  James stated, “But someone may say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

 Peter summed it up, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, (1 Peter 1:3-5).

What If?

 It is one of the tiniest words:  two letters, one syllable.  But it is filled with enormous consequence and limitless potential. “If.” 

 Rudyard Kipling caught the limitless potential of “if” in his poem:

 If you can keep your head when all about you

 Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
  But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
  Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
  And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: ...

You probably know the rest of the poem.  Most of us memorized it in school.

 We are at one of those “if” moments in our nation. The racial prejudice and unrest spilling into our streets challenge us with “if.”

 James A. Michener commented on the power of this little word in his classic novel, Centennial.  He wrote, “If is a word of infinite intellectual significance, for it indicates actions not yet completed but with the possibility of alternate outcomes.”

 We face “if” moments every day of our life.  I met a stranger at a Brat Fest in Estes Park, Colorado.  We struck up a conversation about faith.  He told me his father died when he was 15 and he spent many years mad at God.  He wasted his life with drugs, alcohol and sex until 2003 when he gave his life to Christ.  Faith in Christ set him free from his addictions.

The word “if” implies we are no longer prisoners to previous patterns.  We have options. Jesus said, “If the son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

Every day we measure the consequences of “if.”   If a certain thing happens, then “this” will occur.  But, if something else takes place, then “that” will occur.  If I choose this path or this action, then “this” will be my destination and the result.  A thousand times in the smallest moments, we measure the consequence of “if.”  And, occasionally, we are faced with choices that will determine our destiny.  

 The Bible challenges us with this tiny but powerful word: 

 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  (2 Chronicles, 7:14)

 “But if you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him.  For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” (Deuteronomy 4:29-31).

Overcoming Fear

 We all know that sex sells. Companies have used sex to sell everything from cars to cabbage. But sex seems to be yielding its throne in the marketplace. Fear may be surpassing sex as the emotion of choice for marketers who want to control commerce and politics.

Life insurance, annuities, real estate, technology and political candidates are all marketed through the advertising of fear. Fear sells. Marketers call it “shockvertising.” It is sometimes referred to as “fear mongering.” Companies know that FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is one of the most powerful motivators for purchase of their products.   Politicians portray their adversaries as the devil and warn the world will sink into the apocalypse if we aren’t careful.  

We have always lived with fear. Those of us who grew up in the 1950s learned to “duck and cover” beneath our desks in the event of a nuclear attack. (How much protection that would have provided, I don’t know.) Many of us lived through the cold war, the Star Wars arms race, Y2k hysteria, 9-11 and Covid. Adults under 30 have no memory of walking freely into an airport terminal without TSA security.

 Every generation of every age has had reason to fear.  But, like those who have gone before us, we must not surrender.  We must live our lives with courage, confidence and hope.

God does not desire that we live in fear. In Isaiah He says, “Do not fear, for I am with you.  Do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will help you.  Surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” (Isaiah 41:10-11).

 Jesus spoke a great deal about fear and how to overcome it. Speaking to his disciples, Jesus said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? … Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12). When the disciples were on the sea, struggling against the wind in the dark, Jesus came to them and said. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 The Apostle Paul wrote, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7).

It is important that we not fall victim to the fear tactics of market manipulators and politicians. It is important that we find faith that frees us from the paralyzing fears that can rob us of power and love and a sound mind. 

Listen Up!

 My wife is a great listener.  That is one of the reasons I married her.  She listens intently, not just to me, but also to anyone speaking to her. I once watched a total stranger stop her on the street in New York and spill out their life story.  I have witnessed the same thing on subways, in train stations and shopping centers in the U.S. and Europe.  You can see it in her eyes.  She focuses.  She doesn’t glance around the room wondering if there is someone else she should speak to. She doesn’t look beyond you.  Her eyes don’t glaze over in a fixed stare that pretends to listen while she thinks about something else. 

 I lose focus.  One word can trigger any number of divergent thoughts causing my mind to race off in pursuit like a dog chasing cats.  At other times I leap ahead, thinking about what I want to say rather than listening to what is being said.  I have to discipline myself to re-focus on what is being said, sometimes scrambling to piece together the gaps that I missed during my mental lapses. 

 My wife knows this. She can see it in my eyes.  Sometimes she will stop talking and the silence will awaken me from my temporary daydream.  “You’re not listening,” she says.  Of course she is right.  But occasionally I am lucky enough to be able to repeat the last sentence that she spoke, retrieving it from some kind of digital recording in my head, even though its meaning was not being registered in my brain.

 Listening is a powerful gift. It is transformational. When someone listens to us without judgment or accusation, we hear and see ourselves differently. Somehow the act of having someone truly listen enables us to sort through our emotions and confusions to reach better conclusions.  Feelings of isolation and loneliness dissolve and melt away when someone listens to us. The listener, by listening, has the ability to heal.

 Most of us are far more intent on being heard than hearing. When we pretend to listen, we are, more often simply waiting for a gap, a chance in the conversation to insert our already preconceived conclusions. We interrupt one another with conversations that often are running on different tracks.

 How many times have we injured someone, or simply failed to help someone, because we were too quick to speak?  How different our world would be if parents listened to their children; if bosses listened to their employees; if businesses listened to their customers; if politicians listened to the people; if persons in power listened to each other?  Maybe if we were better at listening to one another, we might be better at listening to God.

 The Bible says, “Everyone must be quick to hear and slow to speak.”  (James 1:19).  God says, “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live” (Isaiah 55:2-3).

Crisis of Truth

 There was a day when we felt we could trust the elected officials who led us and the journalists who interpreted the news.  We believed Washington “could not tell a lie.”  Lincoln was known for his honesty.  We always knew we could trust Walter Cronkite, whether he was reporting the assassination of JFK or describing the first lunar landing. But those days seem naive and far away. 

 The world has become much more complex.  The truth is far more difficult to discern.  Nixon’s claim that he was no crook and Clinton’s assertion that he “never had sex with that woman,” eroded our trust in the Presidency.  Today we feel caught between “fake news” and “alternate realities.”  Matt Lauer left us disillusioned with journalists.  We hardly know who to believe.

 A recent article in Psychology Today stated, “Despite all the barriers that exist in our way – social media, lying politicians, a decaying journalistic culture, and even human psychology—citizens in a democracy must find ways to distinguish what’s true from what’s false. Democracy is at stake.”

 NBC News reporter Andrew Rafferty said, “We live in a world where lying has become an art.  Politicians, celebrities, characters on the screen, all lie.  They do so convincingly and without remorse.  And technology has moved prevarication into a whole new realm.  The world where ‘seeing is believing’ has vanished.”

 The ninth commandment is essential to personal, relational and societal health. “You must not lie.” (Exodus 20:16 Living Bible).

 When we ignore God’s instructions on truthfulness and honesty, we sow the seeds of our own misery and destruction. Whether marriage, family, business or politics; in the home, the school, the work place and the world.  

 So, what should we do?  First, we must practice telling the truth to our children, to one another, in business and personal relationships.  Above all, we must be known to be honest. We must not lie.

 Second, we must practice discernment. We cannot believe everything we hear and see at face value, especially social media that has little or no accountability. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world,” (1 John 4:1).   

 Third, we must place our trust in the One who alone is truthful, honest and above reproach.  We must trust God, confident that He knows our hearts, our secret thoughts and every word we speak.  “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” (Romans 3:4).  “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones.  Then you will discern righteousness, justice, and integrity, and every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be delightful to your soul; discretion will watch over you,” (Proverbs 2:6-11).

Spiritual Awakening

 In the early 1740s a young printer in Philadelphia reached an agreement with an itinerant preacher from England to print his sermons and journals. With Benjamin Franklin’s assistance in the printed word, George Whitefield’s preaching sparked a spiritual flame that ignited Colonial America.  In his autobiography, Franklin noted he could not walk down the streets of Philadelphia in the evening without hearing families singing Christian hymns. Whitefield joined John and Charles Wesley as leaders of the Great Awakening.

 At noon on September 23, 1857, a businessman named Jeremiah Lamphier waited for others to join him for prayer in a room on Fulton Street in New York.  Six people showed up. The next week, 20 came.  Then 40.  They started meeting daily. The crowd swelled to more than 3,000 following the financial panic of October 14.   In less than 6 months, 10,000 businessmen were attending daily prayer meetings in New York. More than 10,000 came to faith in Philadelphia, 5,000 in Boston. At its peak, 50,000 people a week were professing faith in Christ.  In Bethel, Conn. businesses closed for prayer.  Led by laity and crossing denominational lines, the movement swept more than one million people to faith in Christ leading up to the Civil War.

 During the Civil War a little-known shoe salesman from Chicago ministered among the Union troops.  Afterward, he gave up selling shoes to win souls.  In the last half of the 19^th century, Dwight L. Moody preached to over 100 million people in the United States and the U.K.   On one occasion more than 130,000 people assembled to hear him preach.

 A tent was erected in Los Angeles in 1947 following WWII and an unknown evangelist named Billy Graham was invited to preach. The three-week revival stretched into 8 and launched Graham’s career.  For the next 50 years Billy Graham preached to over 210 million people in more than 185 countries.  He became close friends with Martin Luther King, Jr in the 1950s and supported the Civil Rights movement.  Graham became a spiritual advisor and confidant to every President from Truman to Barak Obama.

 In the 20^th century the Christian faith exploded in the Southern Hemisphere.  The number of Christians in Africa grew from 9 million in 1900 to 350 million in 2000. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, “global Christianity is experiencing remarkable growth, defying expectations and surpassing population rates.”  According to studies at Boston University School of Theology “over the last 40 years, Christianity has grown faster in China than any other place in the world. It’s gone from approximately 1 million Christians to around 100 million.”

 But what about the 21^st century in the United States? In an era dominated by violence, prejudice, corruption, rising rates of suicide and addiction, this generation has been adrift without a moral compass. But there is hope. USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and the Barna Group all indicate there is a growing interest in Jesus among the young, specifically among Gen Z men.  The American Bible Society “found an increase in Bible use and engagement.”  The New York Times reports that “Bible sales have spiked, driven largely by first time buyers.”

 When Jesus came, John preached to huge crowds calling for repentance.  Anna prayed (Luke 2:36-38), as did Simeon (Luke 2:25-35).  Each of us can encourage moral and spiritual renewal.  With every honest decision, with every generous action, every kindness, every act of forgiveness, with every prayer, with faith in Jesus we can see our world transformed.  

What Made America Great

 The America I grew up in was seen as the shining light on a hill.  We took pride in the inscription on the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

 Instead of decimating our enemies after World War II, we helped them rebuild.  Germany and Japan embraced freedom and prosperity and became two of our strongest allies.  

 We fought and died in the jungles of Vietnam, not for ourselves, but for others.  In its aftermath we welcomed Vietnamese and Hmong refugees who integrated into our cities.  Christian churches sprang up among various groups: Vietnamese, Chinese, Laotian, Thai, Korean, Liberian, Nigerian and many others.  Spanish speaking churches continued to thrive.  The Christian faith swept across South Korea until it became the second-most missionary sending nation in the world.

 When I visited Brazil I was welcomed as a celebrity because I was an American.  Children ran through the streets and people crowded in the windows to see someone from the United States. When I served briefly as pastor of an English-speaking church in Nuremburg Germany, older Germans often expressed their gratitude for GIs who helped them rebuild their nation.  We thought of ourselves as a generous and welcoming nation, blessed by God to bless the nations of the world.

 But all of that seems to be changing.  We are well down the road of putting “America first.”  The question is no longer, what is best for mankind, for the world and for posterity, but what is best for us.  We have transitioned into a “me first” mentality.

 Instead of asking, how can we help our neighbor nations fight the gang violence and corruption that causes families to flee to our borders, we ask only, “how can we keep these people out?” In our efforts to “make America great again” we seem to be losing the values that made America great in the first place.

 Our movies, our media and our politics often portray us as a covetous people.  We seem to have adopted Gordon Gekko’s maxim that “greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”  We have turned a deaf ear to the tenth commandment: “You shall not covet.” (Exodus 20:17).

 The Apostle Paul confessed that this commandment was his undoing. “I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’  But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.’” Romans 7:7-8).

 When we start down this self-centered path we sow the seeds of future calamity in our communities, our nation and the world. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” (James 4:1-2).

 Paul’s conclusion is applicable for all of us: “The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” You shall not steal, “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Romans 13:9).

Guadalupe River Flood - When Disaster Strikes

 There are no words to express our grief over the loss of life in the Guadalupe River disaster in Texas. More than 100 people including at least 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic lost their lives in the flashflood. Many have commented on the faith and courage of the young women. Our own granddaughters, ages 14 and 12, are at camp this week in Colorado.  We can only imagine the profound pain for the mothers and fathers, family and friends whose daughters were swept away in the sudden surge.  Our hearts break for them. We constantly pray for them.

We have learned that our planet is subject to natural disasters that devastate human life: earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires. We have witnessed the destruction that can be leveled on human civilization when such things occur.

I stood on the shore at Banda Aceh, Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami and witnessed the devastation that laid waste that capital city. It claimed the lives of a quarter million people. My daughter and son-in-law volunteered in the recovery efforts after Haiti was decimated with similar loss of life. A single year saw twenty-two quakes measuring 7 or greater on the Richter scale. In one year earthquakes struck Chile, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Japan, Mexico, the Solomon Islands, Ecuador and New Zealand.

Natural disasters will occur.  Where and when they will strike and with what force, we never know, though meteorologists and geologists continue to search for clues.

Whenever disasters like this strike we are prone to ask questions that usually revolve around “Why?” Even though there are no answers to that question that can remove the pain or recover our loss.

 Jesus addressed this question on more than one occasion and gave us some insight into the answers. When he addressed a crowd regarding a recent building collapse he posed a rhetorical question: “Do you think that those who died when the tower at Siloam fell were more sinful than others?” And answered his own question clearly, “I tell you, no.” (Luke 13:4). 

When his disciples discovered a man blind from his birth they asked a similar question. “Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his sins or the sins of his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus answered them, “It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents. He was born blind that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” He then proceeded to heal the man so that he could see. (John 9).

Not only was Jesus clear that disasters would occur, He was also clear about how we should respond. “We must manifest the works of God.” We must pray for those who suffer loss and share their grief.  And we must give. My favorite organization for responding to disasters over the years has been Texans On Mission.  They have a long history of working effectively with local and global organizations to bring meaningful help where disasters strike. They are especially adept at providing clean water and clean up volunteers when needed. I know their leadership personally and have great confidence in them. Donations can be given for disaster relief at www.texansonmission.org.  There are many others

Dealing with Guilt

The Minnesota humorist, Garrison Keillor, once observed that people do bad, horrible, dirty, rotten and despicable things, then, instead of repenting, they just go into treatment.  “Whatever happened to guilt?” he lamented. “Guilt, is the gift that keeps on giving.”

 Keillor’s tongue in cheek appraisal of guilt belies the truth.  While there may be a few sociopaths who feel no remorse for their actions and show no capacity for guilt, most of us know the feelings of guilt only too well.

 Religious leaders sometimes revert to guilt as the trump card to keep church members and parishioners in line.  Parents use it with children.  Siblings, co-workers and even friends occasionally rely on it to get their way. When husbands and wives are unable to settle a heated argument, one or the other often reverts to guilt’s lethal weapon by recalling past offenses that were supposedly forgiven and forgotten.

 In its best moments, guilt can protect and guide us, much like the pain that teaches us to avoid a hot stove or sharp objects. When we respond to guilt with confession and repentance, we can move forward to live a better life on a higher plane.

 But guilt can be destructive and debilitating. Sometimes we feel guilt over clearly remembered wrongs we have done. At other times we may feel guilty and not know why.  We wake up with a feeling of unworthiness and shame with no specific deed to identify as the source. Our feelings of guilt are irrational, leaving us at a loss to identify the source or the solution.  Guilt can lock us in its prison and shackle us so that we feel helpless.  It robs us of energy and steals our joy.  Guilt can leave us smoldering in anger or suffocating in depression. 

 The good news is that Jesus came to set us free from guilt. When confronted with the woman caught in the act of adultery, he dismissed those who condemned her and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way and sin no more.” (John 8:1-11).

 We can live our lives free of guilt and self-recrimination. Paul wrote, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2).  John wrote,  “We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” (1 John 3:19-20).

 An interesting thing happens when God removes our guilt, and we know it. Not only can we live with greater joy and freedom, we no longer feel compelled to heap guilt upon others.

Was Jesus Right?

 Jesus is universally respected.  Even the followers of Islam claim him as a prophet.  Mahatma Ghandi was deeply impressed with Jesus and was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount. Millions who have no use for the church still like Jesus.  But the question remains, “Was Jesus right?”  “Did he know what he was talking about?”

 It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the attitude and actions of professing Christians with Jesus’ words and instructions.  When I was eighteen, I worked in a warehouse that shipped products to stores where they would be sold.  I worked with older workers who, like me, worked for minimum wage.  Some of my co-workers, who were professing Christians, heard that I planned to become a “preacher.”  They tried to be nice and encouraging. They told me it was a good thing for me to become a preacher but reminded me that those things “don’t work here.” 

 I interpreted their comments to mean that they believed in Jesus, but the teachings of Jesus were out of touch with the real world.  They were like many Christians I have encountered over the years.  Dallas Willard calls them “vampire Christians.”  They want a little of Jesus’ blood, just enough to forgive their sins and assure they are going to heaven, but they don’t think Jesus knew what he was talking about when it comes to everyday life. 

 Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Clearly, He thought he knew what he was talking about, and he expected that anyone who placed their faith in him would do everything they could to obey him.  It was apparently inconceivable to Jesus that someone could think they loved him, and, at the same time, ignore or disobey his instructions. 

 Either Jesus was the smartest person who ever lived and knew better than anyone else how life should be lived on this earth, or he was a delusional pretender who has misguided millions for more than two thousand years.  If Jesus’ instructions for living will not work in the courtroom, the schools, the factory and the family, neither will they work to get us to heaven. 

 In his final novel, Ressurection,  Leo Tolstoy examined class structures and social injustice in 19^th century Russa. He expressed his conclusion on the final page through the words of his protagonist:  “When he read the Sermon on the Mount, which had always touched him, he saw in it for the first time today, not beautiful abstract thoughts, setting forth for the most part exaggerated and impossible demands, but clear, practical, laws.”  …”He distinctly saw what life could be if men were brought up to obey these rules.”  … “if men will only fulfill these laws, the Kingdom of Heaven will be established on earth, and men will receive the greatest good that they can attain.”  

 Following Jesus’ instructions has nothing to do with earning our way to heaven.  It has everything to do with living a meaningful life. If you want to know what Jesus expects, you can find his instructions in Matthew chapters 5-7. 

Making Sense of It All

 I started writing this weekly column in 2009, reflecting on current events and life experience from a faith perspective.   During these fifteen years current event have included: the attack at Fort Hood, the AME church in Charleston where 9 members were gunned down, the bombing at the Boston Marathon, the massacre at Sutherland Springs, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, among many others.

 I anticipated last weekend with trepidation:  a massive display of military might in DC celebrating the 250^th anniversary for the U.S. army; “No Kings” protests, the conflict between Israel and Iran that started on Friday, June 13. All of this against the backdrop of economic fears and growing tension between the judiciary and executive branches of government.

 The military parade turned out to be a history display starting with the Revolutionary soldiers in colonial uniform and progressing through the wars that have shaped our nation and the world. It included multi-ethnic, male and female GIs. The “No Kings” protests drew over 5 million peaceful participants in more than 2,000 cities.  The great tragedy of the weekend was the assassination of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman along with her husband by a gunman who was captured Monday.  He also attempted to kill state Senator John Hoffman and his wife.  The war between Israel and Iran continued to escalate.   

 Unfortunately, our president continues to sow words of suspicion, contempt, anger, fear, resentment and division. We need to hear the words of another President spoken 160 years ago: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right as God give us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nations wounds.”

 Isaiah helped us rise above current events to see the big picture.  “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning?  Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.  Scarcely have then been planted, scarcely have then been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth but He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble, (Isaiah 40:21-24).”  God is in control of history.  Not man.

 Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi taught us the power of peaceful non-violent protests. They both were students of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.  We must treat all men and women with respect, including our adversaries, immigrants and those of other faiths and languages”  Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:44-47). We must respect and seek the welfare of all persons of every creed and color. 

Is There Proof of Heaven?

 Eben Alexander was convinced that there is nothing beyond this life. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1976 and received his M.D. from Duke Medical School in 1980. After he completed a fellowship in cerebrovascular neurosurgery at Newcastle-Upon Tyne, he served for 15 years on the faculty at Harvard Medical School with specialization in neurosurgery. As a physician and a scientist, he concluded that when the brain dies all consciousness ends. The person ceases to exist.

All that changed on November 10, 2008 when he suffered a severe attack of bacterial meningitis that left him on life support and, by every measurement, brain dead. After existing in this comatose condition for a week, Eben Alexander miraculously woke up. When he did, all his preconceived scientific assumptions about life and death were changed. The dramatic Near Death Experience (NDE) left him convinced that life beyond this physical existence is not only real, it is the greater reality.

He documented his experience in his book, Proof of Heaven. He writes, “The physical side of the universe is as a speck of dust compared to the invisible and spiritual part. In my past view, spiritual wasn’t a word that I would have employed during a scientific conversation. Now I believe it is a word that we cannot afford to leave out.”

 As impressive as Dr. Alexander’s near death experience may be, it pales in comparison to the historic death and resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, it was not a “near death experience.” A Roman soldier thrust a spear through his side releasing a final gush of blood and water to confirm that Jesus was truly dead. His lifeless body was buried in a borrowed grave, and, on the third day, to the shock and surprise of his closest followers, God raised him from the dead.

Luke, a first century physician, after conducting exhaustive research and extensive interviews wrote, “He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of 40 days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3). Paul, arguably one of the greatest minds in history, stated, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.” (1 Cor. 15:3-8). Every other event in history is dated by that singular life that gave the world its greatest “proof of heaven.”

 Life after death becomes personal when those we love die. My wife and I have witnessed the death of our parents, her brothers and sister and my older brother, who died in March.  Confidence in eternal life makes all the difference.  Peter wrote, “Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away reserved in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3-4).  

How To Remain Positive In A Negative World

 Since this column reflects on current events and life experience, I am constantly searching the news for information.  It is a daunting task.  The headlines alone are depressing, let alone the blow-by-blow accounts of murder, theft, graft, rape, sexual abuse, prejudice, hatred, scams, suicide, mass shootings, political corruption and a looming recession.  Sometimes the news seems like a black hole that drags every ray of light into its dark abyss.  I spent some time this morning reading about the terrorist who set 12 peaceful protestors on fire with a flame thrower in Boulder, Colorado.

 It is difficult not to become a pessimist from this constant onslaught. But we must not give in.  We must resist the darkness and cling to the light.  We must not surrender to the pessimism that surrounds us.  But how do we remain optimistic in a world filled with pessimism? 

 It seems to me that we do so by looking for the moments that renew our faith in each other.  Like Carlos Alcaraz refusing to take credit for an incredible backhand against his good friend Ben Shelton at the French Open.  Instead, he confessed to the umpire he had thrown his racket at the ball, thereby surrendering the point.  Or Justin Thomas who called a one stroke penalty on himself in the RBC Heritage tournament at Hilton Head.  While removing a loose impediment he thought he saw his ball move. No one else had noticed. The former number 1 hadn’t won in over 3 years.  The penalty could have cost him the tournament. He went on to win in a playoff.

 We can remain optimistic by focusing on obscure moments like the first day of second grade reported by WIVB News in Wichita, Kansas. Eight-year-old Christian, who is African American, saw eight-year-old Conner, who is white, standing alone crying while they waited for school to open.  Quietly, Christian reached out and took Conner’s hand. Conner stopped crying and the two of them walked into their classroom together, hand-in-hand.  Conner is autistic.  

 We are surrounded by little acts of honesty and kindness; some demonstrated on the grand stage like Alcaraz and Thomas.  Others in obscure corners like Christian and Conner.   And we are sustained by a faith that overcomes darkness and despair.  Love overcomes hate. Forgiveness wipes away resentment and guilt. Resurrection conquers death.  Our God who is the Father of Lights is the source of all good things.

 The Bible is the most realistic and most optimistic book ever written. It clearly exposes man’s sin and consistently demonstrates God’s righteous redemption. It embraces the Cross with all of its pain and despair and proclaims the resurrection in all of its glory.

 The Bible always offsets our struggle with discouragement and despair with the hope of faith and the unchangeable goodness of God.  Three times the Scripture asks, “Why are you in despair O my soul? And why have you become disturbed in me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence” (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5).

 Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Download William Tinsley's book of poems, Sunrise Sunset, free eBook on Amazon June 3-6)

Center of the Universe

 For thousands of years we assumed the earth was the center of the universe. When Galileo advanced the proposition that the earth revolved around the sun and was, in fact, only one of many planets that did so, he was tried by the Inquisition and placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life.  More recent investigations, along with Voyager’s first foray beyond our solar system, have verified that the earth is a very small speck of dust in the galaxies -- nowhere near the center of the cosmic creation.

 This physical truth gives rise to a more personal question for each of us.  “What is the center of my universe?”  For most of us, the answer to that question is a very small two-letter word, “me.”  Everything revolves around us and our interests. This is the reason we are prone to become angry with God.  Sooner or later the evidence begins to pile up that, like planet earth in the cosmos, we are not the center.  Everything is not ordered for our personal gratification, pleasure and benefit. 

 Paul started his life like most of us, focused on his own ambitions.  He went so far as to arrest Christians, both men and women, and throw them into prison to advance his own agenda.  But, after he met Christ everything changed. He discovered that the Christ whom he persecuted was, in fact, the center of all creation.  ^”He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together,” (Colossians 1:15-17).

 Fifteen years ago billboards sprang up proclaiming, “I am second.”  They were part of a movement to proclaim what Paul discovered.  We are not number one.  God is.  And when we make Christ the center of our universe, everything else comes into focus.  According to the web site, “I Am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others.”  I Am Second testimonies include people like Jason Witten, Colt McCoy, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Eric Metaxas, Tony Dungy, Joe Gibbs, Anne Rice and many others.  They include the rich and famous as well as those who have been addicted, abused, molested and imprisoned.  The number ultimately includes all of us. You can check it out at www.iamsecond.com.  

 When Jesus Christ becomes the center of our universe everything changes.  All the petty resentments and disappointments disappear.  Scripture begins to make sense. For instance, in an effort to comfort others, many people quote the Bible when tragedy strikes saying “All things work together for good.”  What the Bible actually says is, “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord, for those who are called according to His purpose.”  This is entirely different. All things don’t work together for my good when I am the center of my own universe.  They only work together for good when I recognize that God is the center of the universe and I am created for his glory.

Download Bill Tinsley's eBook, The Jesus Encounter, FREE on Amazon, May 27-29

What We Don't Know

  The total of human knowledge is increasing at an astonishing rate. It is estimated that it took 300 years for knowledge to double after 1450, but only 150 years for it to double again. From 1900 to 1950 it doubled once more. It is now believed to double every 12 months and, with the build out of the internet and AI, is soon expected to double every 12 hours.

Only 200 years ago physicians thought that illness was caused by bad blood. George Washington was virtually bled to death in 1799 as the favored treatment for an obvious infection. One hundred years ago Henry Ford introduced the assembly line and the Model T. Fifty years ago personal computers were unknown. Thirty-five years ago, the World Wide Web was introduced.  The first iPhone went on sale January 29, 2007.  Our access to knowledge and the world has dramatically changed. What is there that we do not know today that will be common knowledge tomorrow? What is it that we think we know that will be proved wrong or usless?

Each of us can comprehend only a small segment of the vast ocean of human knowledge. And, when all our knowledge is compiled and computed it only scratches the surface of the limitless universe. We are still confined to this tiny spec of a planet. Humans have not been able to travel any further than the moon. The vastness of the universe remains far beyond our reach. The closest star, Proxima Centauri, is 4.33 light years away. Traveling at the fastest speed imaginable with current technology, scientists estimate it would take 19,000 years to reach it. At our very best we can only observe the vast reaches of the universe through our telescopes as though looking through a glass darkly.

Regarding God, we debate our axioms and truths as if we have complete and comprehensive knowledge about God. We must always be reminded by the words of the prophet when God says, “My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. As the heavens are above the earth, so are my thoughts above your thoughts.”

This is one of the reasons God sent his Son, simply because God is incomprehensible. Knowledge of his universe is too vast. Knowledge of his nature and character is too far beyond our mortal minds. As with his creation, we can only observe and stand in awe.

We are like newborn babes first opening their eyes to a new world they have never seen. We are like children giggling over newfound discoveries on the playground: a stick, a flower, a worm, a caterpillar. I think God takes joy in this. He takes pleasure in our discoveries of his intricate, complex and mysterious creation. 

At the same time, he is grieved by our blindness. The violence, cruelty, abuse and conflict that exists on the earth bears witness that for all our advance in scientific and technological knowledge, we are still unable to focus on the truths that matter most. 

Jesus was the only one who has ever known and seen all things clearly. For all of our advances we have yet to learn the Sermon on the Mount and put it into practice.

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We Are All Born By God's Design

 Ten years ago Kensington Palace made the announcement: “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8:34 am.  The baby weighs 8 lbs 3 oz.” It was a typical British announcement with little more flair than the weigh-in of jockeys at the Kentucky Derby.  But Prince William and Kate beamed with joy when, seven hours later, they presented their newborn daughter to the world. 

 When Prince William married Kate Middleton fourteen years ago it was a storybook wedding.  Two billion people watched. Since that time, the Royal couple has charmed the nations with their world-wide tours.  Now they have enchanted us with their children, Prince George and his little sister, the Princess.  Keeping with British tradition, William and Kate waited a few days to let us know her name.  Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.  She was named for her grandfather, King Charles, her greaet-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, and her grandmother princess Diana.

 When she was born, Prince William called her, “A little joy of heaven.” Princess Charlotte is now a beautiful ten-year-old girl full of laughter, giggles and fun. Ten years later, her mother Kate said. “Charlotte spends most of her time upside down, doing handstands and cartwheels.”

 Part of our attraction to William, Kate and their children is our fascination with celebrities. But, in this case, even celebrities stand in awe, overshadowed by the traditions of royalty.  We are moved by something deeper than celebrity worship.  The core attraction of the royal family is just that: family.

 In our scientific and antiseptic world we are sometimes in danger of reducing human life to the mundane, the clinically predictable.  But the birth of a Princess somehow draws us back to celebrate the majesty and the mystery of birth and life: the natural result of a man and a woman committed to one another in matrimony.

 We are each born of a mother and a father, which does not mean that we all know our fathers and mothers.  Parents are not always married, and in some cases, such as artificial insemination, they never even know one another.  But, the fact of the matter is, we are all conceived, fashioned and formed by the mystical union of male and female. 

 It has been so since the beginning.  Genesis states, “ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’” (Genesis 1:27,28)

 Sooner or later most of us want to know our lineage.  Where did we come from?  Who were our parents, and who were their parents? What mysterious mix of ethnicities and nationalities went together to produce … well … us?   

Princess Charlotte is who she is by birth and by choice. She was born a Princess because Prince William chose Kate Middleton to be his bride. And she was born a Princess because she is the daughter of their union.

 In a similar way, we are all born because God chose us and gave us birth.  In Isaiah, God says, “You who have been borne by Me from birth, and have been carried from the womb; even to your old age, I will be the same, and even to your graying years I shall bear you!  I have done it, and I shall carry you; and I shall bear you, and I shall deliver you.”  (Isaiah 46:3-4).

Celebrating Diversity

 Last Saturday, like millions of others, my wife and I sat back and watched the Kentucky Derby, an American tradition. Simone Biles, the Olympic gymnast gave the call, “Riders Up!”  The top thoroughbreds in the world pranced onto the track.  Everyone sang, “My Old Kentucky Home,” including my wife.  They introduced the jockeys that would vie for the coveted prize. And there it was, right in the middle of the Kentucky Derby, “diversity!”  Three of the jockeys were from the U.S., 2 from Brazil, 2 from Venezuela, 3 from Puerto Rico, 1 from Mexico, 3 from France, 1 from Italy, 1 from the Dominican Republic and 1 from Panama.

 It is true in every sport: baseball, tennis, golf, basketball.  Diverse people from any and every nationality and ethnicity excel in every area of life. The major cities of the world are cosmopolitan. More than 90 languages are spoken in Houston.  In Dallas, every ethnicity is a minority, including Anglo.

 When I was pastor of an English-speaking church in Nuremberg, Germany, the church was composed of people from Germany, Ireland, England, Romania, Ukraine, China, Cameroon, India, Sweden, Austria and others. Most were in their twenties and thirties. After we returned to the U.S., we hosted a Bible study for grad students in our home.  They came from South Africa, Indonesia, China, the Czech Republic, Japan, Hong Kong and Zambia. They became like family to us.

 God must like diversity.  There is so much of it.  If we all looked alike, spoke alike and thought alike, it would be a boring and shallow world. God has splashed His creation with rich and wondrous diversity, from the fish of the sea and the stars in the heavens to the people of the earth.

 Why is it, then, that we are so prone to make other people conform to our own way of life?   Why do we feel it necessary to argue until others adopt our point of view? Why do we want them to dress like us, look like us and talk like us?   What should a Christian look like? 

 It seems to me that most Christians think others should look like they look. But they don’t.  I am reminded of a visit I made several years ago to the Harley Davidson Factory in Kansas City.  A young man stood up to address the group and introduced himself as a disciple of Jesus Christ disguised as an executive at Harley Davidson. Disciples of Jesus Christ come disguised in the clothing and customs of every culture on the globe. 

 When we flip through the pages of the Bible to the final book, we find a description of the ultimate consummation of creation.  “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,” (Revelation 7:9).

Tinsley's eBook We Beheld His Glory is free on Amazon May 6-7..

The Fast That God Desires

 Thirteen years ago, I served as the pastor of an English-speaking church in Nuremberg, Germany.  It was a fascinating experience.  The church was small, only 30 or so, and composed mostly of young adults starting their careers in Nuremberg. They came from Cameroon, South Africa, India, Japan, Ukraine, Poland, Ireland, UK and, of course Germany. There were even a couple from the United States.  Nuremberg, once shrouded under the dark cloud of Nazi history, has emerged in the twenty-first century as a cosmopolitan city welcoming people from around the globe. 

 As a result of that experience, I followed refugee reports in Europe with special interest.  I was impressed with the way Germany and other European nations opened their resources, their communities, their arms and their homes.   In 2015 ABC News reported, “Dozens of volunteers have been driving to Hungary and to the Serbian border, picking up refugees walking along the highway in the aim of helping them travel to Western Europe.” Universities offered free classes to refugees. In Berlin more than 780 people opened their homes for temporary shelter. The continued flow has become overwhelming. Today there are more than 122 million refugees worldwide, people forced from their homes by war, crime and corruption. According to Statistica, in 2024 Germany ranked third in hosting refugees at 2.6 million.  The U.S. ranked 20^th at 435 thousand with 60,000 admitted in 2023.   

 I am always encouraged to see people reaching out to those who are different and desperate. There are, of course, dangers and risks, just as there were dangers and risks in Jesus’ Good Samaritan story.  But the rewards far outweigh the costs.

 In the United States, we are a nation of immigrants, refugees and their descendants. We all came from somewhere else, often from places suffering famine, disease and oppression.  In the 1960s and 70s we welcomed refugees from Viet Nam.  Fifty years later they have built businesses and sent their children to college where some became doctors, lawyers and engineers. When we lived in Minnesota, we came to know and love the Hmong our allies who fled slaughter in Laos following the fall of Vietnam.  Most came to the U.S. as animists.  Today many are devoted followers of Christ. St. Paul has the largest Hmong church in the nation. 

 While some traditional churches in the U.S. are in decline, many immigrant churches are growing. I attended the dedication of a new building for Liberian Christians north of Minneapolis. In St, Paul a church composed of immigrants from Myanmar (formerly Burma) rapidly outgrew their meeting space.

 In Isaiah, God said, “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?  Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth, and your righteousness will go before you; and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard,” (Isaiah 58:6-8).

Pope Francis

 White smoke curled from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 7:06 pm on March 13, 2013.  Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina had been chosen as the new Pope. Within an hour he had selected his new name: Pope Francis. 

In 2008 our family rented an apartment in Rome overlooking St Peter’s Basilica.  We strolled through St Peter’s Square, the open plaza where a standing-room-only crowd of more than one hundred thousand gathered to welcome the new Pope. We visited the Sistine Chapel and stood beneath Michelangelo’s images of Creation and the Last Judgment, where cardinals have gathered to choose the next Pope since 1846. 

 Cardinal Bergoglio was the first Pope to choose the name Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.  It was a significant choice. The man we know from history as St. Francis lived at the turn of thirteenth century.  He grew up as a spoiled youth in a wealthy and influential Italian family. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “No one loved pleasure more than Francis; he had a ready wit, sang merrily, delighted in fine clothes and showy display … the very king of frolic.”  By the time he was twenty, Francis became a mercenary, was captured in battle and spent more than a year in prison with a protracted illness.  That experience seems to have started his spiritual journey that would set him apart. But his turning to Christ was neither sudden nor easy.

 Once released he decided on a military career of conquest and glory, but a series of dreams began to redirect his journey.  Through a series of missteps and, what appears to be a confusing period of solitude, prayer and clumsy efforts to serve God, Francis eventually came to a clear vision of God’s will for his life.  He found the focus for his life on February 24, 1208 when he heard a recounting of Jesus’ instructions to go into every village, two by two, carrying no money, neither bag nor shoes, greeting everyone on the way with blessings of peace.  To heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God.  (Matthew 10:7-11).  From that moment forward Francis committed himself to a literal application of these instructions from Jesus, devoting himself to the poor and a joyful proclamation of the Kingdom. Francis is credited with being the first to celebrate Christmas with carols and many Christians still sing his hymn, “All Creatures of our God and King.”

 The name emphasizes the transforming power of Jesus Christ, who can change a profligate mercenary into a joyful servant of the poor. The passing of Pope Francis serves as a powerful reminder that all of us need to care for the poor, the refugee, the disenfranchised, the outcast.  Ten weeks ago Pope Francis warned, “What is built on the basis of force and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.”  

 Christianity Today wrote, “His humility won the praises of international evangelist, Luis Palau who called him a friend and ‘a very Jesus Christ-centered man.’”

Persistence

 Some of you will remember that we adopted Buddy, a tri-color corgi, 16 years ago after he was found starving on the streets of Fort Worth.  I wrote his story for my grandkids, “just the way Buddy told it to me”: how Barney the Blood Hound helped him survive on the streets until they were picked up by the dog police. I named the story, Buddy the Floppy Ear Corgi because his left ear flopped when we first met. Unfortunately, the lifespan of our pets is much shorter than our own. We had to “lay him down” in 2022.

 Like other dogs and pets, Buddy got us through Covid. He followed me from room to room and sat patiently near my chair on our back deck.  He took me for walks in our neighborhood and introduced me to neighbors.  

 During those difficult days of “sheltering in place” he taught me persistence. “Persistence” isn’t a word we use much.  But we all know what it means: never quitting, never giving up and never becoming discouraged. We saw a human example of persistence last weekend when Rory McIlroy won the Masters to complete the Grand Slam in golf after 11 attempts.  Like most humans, I am not very good at it, but Buddy was a natural. He communicated mostly by “persistence.”

 If he wanted to go outside, he went to the door and sat there looking out the glass.  He never moved.  He just sat there until I noticed and obligingly opened the door and let him out.  He did the same thing about coming back inside. If I was eating, he locked his eyes on the food and stared, again refusing to move.  I could scold him, tell him he wasn’t getting anything from me, act as callous and cold as possible, but it didn’t faze him. He just sat there staring with those big brown corgi eyes until I finally gave in. He won his arguments with persistence.

 I need to learn more of that. We humans are always looking for shortcuts to get what we want.  We resort to tantrums, tears, weeping and wailing, pouting and protests. We get angry and argue.  But it seldom achieves our goals.  We need to learn from Buddy.  Persistence and peaceful perseverance is irresistible.

This must have been what Jesus was getting at when He said, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children ^[e]and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’”

^“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.  So I say to you,ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” (Luke 11:5-10). 

Be persistent.  Be patient. Don’t get upset. Don’t give up.  A better day is coming.

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