Category Archives: Sermon Notes A look into the mind of a Pastor preparing sermons. The notes include tag lines to elaborate on certain points.

Freshening Up Part 2

August 21, 2016

August 21, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Freshened Up Pt 2”
“Healed”
Greet People
This week has been sort of a roller coaster week. They
come that way from time to time and I always find God
in them. Even when the days fly by so fast and furious.
It has been the consistent honor for Betty and I to serve
this amazing group of people. I say this all the time. “I
love this church, the local church, and the worldwide
church.” It is the most important institution on the face
of the earth. The hope of the world and the hope of
mankind.
I began a two part series last week. It was not my
intention to do so but information came forth in
abundance. I could actually do a spin off from today’s
message that would take several weeks to finish. I don’t
feel to do that, so I am going to do my best to finish
these thoughts today so I can address another subject.
Bear with me as I share today, ““Freshened Up Pt 2”
“Healed”Page 2
Th Bible has a beautiful way of interpreting itself. I
want to connect some dots this morning that point to my
favorite subject. They begin from words by the prophet
Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 47:1-5 NASB
1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and
behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of
the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And
the water was flowing down from under, from the right
side of the house, from south of the altar.
2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led
me around on the outside to the outer gate by way of the
gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling
from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in
his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me
through the water, water reaching the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the
water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a
thousand and led me through the water, water reaching
the loins.
5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that
I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water
to swim in, a river that could not be forded.Page 3
God is giving Ezekiel a vision of a world changing
event that would take place in the future. This chapter
was written approx. 573 BC. This vision has an
enormous amount of spiritual significance.
Ezekiel is sharing a vision of the beginning of the
church. The water flowing is signifying the Gospel of
Christ.
Zechariah spoke of this water.
Zechariah 14:8 NASB
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem,
half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half
toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as
in winter.
St. John in his Revelation saw it.
Revelation 22:1 NASB
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as
crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the
Lamb.
Ezekiel saw this water spreading forth from Jerusalem
into the surrounding areas. Let’s connect some dots.Page 4
Jesus confirmed this.
Luke 24:47 NASB
and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be
proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning
from Jerusalem.
It was in Jerusalem that the 120 were empowered by the
Holy Spirit to carry the Gospel to all nations of the
world. It’s beginning was confirmed again when the
Apostles were imprisoned in Acts 5. An angel released
them and issued this charge.
Acts 5:20 NASB
“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the
whole message of this Life.”
The Temple in this form doesn’t exist today. Christ is
the temple with the flowing water. He declared it to the
woman at the well.
John 4:14 NASB
“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will
become in him a well of water springing up to eternal
life.”Page 5
Christ has made us a conduit for the continued
channeling of this flowing water.
John 7:38 NASB
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’
Ezekiel 47:3-5 speak of the growth of this movement.
From shallow to a river flowing that can not be crossed
for it’s depth and speed. The sons of Korah saw it this
way.
Psalms 46:4 NASB
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of
God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
Where is the temple, the dwelling place of God. Paul
described it this way.
1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Amplified
Do you not know and understand that you the church
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells
permanently in you collectively and individually?
Preach-The Water flows from us!!!Page 6
Ezekiel 47:6-9 NASB
6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?”
Then he brought me back to the bank of the river.
7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the
river there were very many trees on the one side and on
the other.
8 Then he said to me, “These waters go out toward the
eastern region and go down into the Arabah; then they
go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, and
the waters of the sea become fresh.
9 It will come about that every living creature which
swarms in every place where the river goes, will live.
And there will be very many fish, for these waters go
there and the others become fresh; so everything will
live where the river goes.
The word fresh comes from the Hebrew word, “rapha.”
It means, “to heal, or to be healed.”
There is something awesome taking place in this vision.
It is declaring the grace of God. Healing the lands, the
people, the waters, the fish, the animals that drink. All
of this is a vision of a thriving Gospel preaching and
believing church. One that is connected to the same
fountain flowing from our Lord.Page 7
Grace is still pressing forward. Grace is an active
principle that heals the broken and the hurting. Forgives
the past and ever moves us towards our destiny.
As the waters increase so do the gifts increase. The
water rises and widens as the Gospel is shared. The gifts
increase as you use them.
Preach-The more you pray, praise, love, and so on.
Let me close with the last 8 words of verse 9.
“so everything will live where the river goes.”
Preach

Freshenening Up Part 1

August 14, 2016

Freshening 8 14 16

August 14, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Freshening Up-Part 1”
Greet People
I am continually amazed at the awesome presence and
plan of God. As I look around life and see His face in
people and His grace on their lives I rejoice. It is
amazing what you will see when you walk through life.
Particularly when you see with His eyes of love and
grace.
As a Christian I believe in the blessed hope. The
encouragement that Paul wrote to Titus in Titus 2:13.
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Jesus described this eternal life with Him to the woman
at the well. He used water symbolically to explain.
John 4:14 NASB “but whoever drinks of the water that
I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I
will give him will become in him a well of water
springing up to eternal life.”Page 2
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “Freshening
Up Part 1”
Psalms 92 is an awesome Psalm with an unknown
author. It is titled, “A song for the Sabbath Day” and it
is the only Psalm in the Hebrew text that is designated a
Sabbath Psalm. The Psalm has a focus on worship.
There is a word that came to me as I was asking what to
share this week. The word is , “fresh.” Read the entire
Psalm when you can but there is one verse I want to
begin with today.
Psalms 92:10 NASB
But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
I have been anointed with fresh oil.
The word fresh from the Hebrew word means, to be or
grow luxuriant. Luxuriant means, rich or profuse in
growth.
The phrase fresh oil Biblically means, fresh
confirmation of abundance of plenty. “Could involve
different things.” EXA.Page 3
Fresh oil was most likely referred to as green oil. Fresh
or green oil direct from the source would have the most
efficient effect. The Bible most often refers to the olive
for the making of oil. Important
Fresh oil was not boiled from the source, it was
squeezed.
Preach Preach-There is no shortcut to the good stuff.
It is accepted by most, myself included, that Song of
Solomon chapter 4, Titled Solomon’s Love Expressed, is
a prophetic account of Jesus and His love for the
church.
Song of Solomon 4:15 NASB
“You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And
streams flowing from Lebanon.”
Amplified
“You are a fountain in a garden, A well of fresh and
living water, And streams flowing from Lebanon.”
The word fresh in this passage means, “living, alive.”
PreachPage 4
There have been two basic characteristics that have
dominated the church for generations. Both were told
prophetically in the OT.
Psalms 87:7 NASB
Then those who sing as well as those who play the
flutes shall say, “All my springs of joy are in you.”
“The church has maintained it’s presence in the world
by trusting in the Living Water of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.” Preach
Secondly
Jeremiah 2:13 NASB
“For My people have committed two evils: They have
forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for
themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no
water.
David wrote;
Psalms 36:9 NASB
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see
light.
The people of God tend to forsake His principles for
their own.Page 5
Jeremiah 17:13 NASB
O L ORD , the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be
put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be
written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain
of living water, even the L ORD .
Fountains are considered to be an inexhaustible supply.
The church has been endowed with a never ending
supply of the freedom and anointing of God.
Yet we build cisterns. Boxes, By its very nature a
cistern, or box, will only hold a limited amount. They
were used to collect water from clay roofs or a clay and
shell soil mixture.
Who would want to drink this tainted water when they
can drink from a flowing fountain.
But wait; even these cisterns will break. They won’t
even contain the tainted water.
Preach-Explanation
This is the very nature of religion.Page 6
I want to close part 1 with an awesome testimony from
the Apostle Paul to the Philippians.
Philippians 4:12-13 Amplified
12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult
times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and
live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have
learned the secret of facing life, whether well-fed or
going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in
need.
13 I can do all things which He has called me to do
through Him who strengthens and empowers me to
fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s
sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to
anything through Him who infuses me with inner
strength and confident peace.
Verse 13 Message
Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through
anything in the One who makes me who I am.
How could Paul say this with such confidence.
“He was drinking Living Water”

What Shall We Do

August 7, 2016

What Shall We Do 8 7 16

August 7, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“What Shall We Do?”
Greet People
I love the Lord. His awesome presence. His mercy, and
His grace is not only unconditional but it is humbling. I
love His word. I love the Holy Spirit and His purpose to
reveal Jesus. Revealing Jesus and Kingdom living, as
we read, pray, and listen to that still small voice.
What a plan that God initiated when sin entered the
heart of man. A plan that would redeem, and restore us
to that place in His heart before sin entered ours. Over
thousands of years His plan materialized. Showing up in
some measure from time to time in the lives of Holy
men and women of old.
Then one day,when the time was right the Father’s plan
came to life. In the life of Jesus. Who we are. What the
church is to the world. All of it is measured by our life
in Him. Not measured by our raising, our doctrine or
theology. Not measured by our sins or our failures. Not
measured by our perceived perfection.Page 2
I suspect everyone in here has done something they
wish they had done differently. Something you wish you
had never done. Something that never happened. That
you never had to experience. A word you should never
have spoken. A failure you wish would go away. You
have experienced loss and pain. Lived in guilt and
regret. “We embrace this stuff like it belongs to us.
Like we will never be free from it.”
All too often we neglect that incredibly awesome plan
of God, that is Jesus.
Preach
“Jesus is bigger than………”
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “What Shall
We Do?”
The 10 th chapter of Acts records the story of the
Centurion Cornelius. His vision to send for Peter.
Peter’s subsequent vision to go to meet with him. After
Peter arrived and heard the vision of Cornelius he said
this.
Acts 10:34-35 NASB
34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly
understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does
what is right is welcome to Him.Page 3
Acts 10:34-35 Message
34 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s
own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no
favorites!
35 It makes no difference who you are or where you’re
from – if you want God and are ready to do as he says,
the door is open.
In my introduction and in this passage there is a
common theme. I call it, “The Right Time”
I love the Greek word that explains these events. It is
spelled, Kairos and pronounced, kahee-ros’. It is used
throughout the NT to describe a period of time. It is
defined this way, “due measure, a measure of time, an
opportune or seasonal time. The right time”
Preach-Jesus revealed at the right time
Preach Jesus revealed to the Gentiles at the right time.
Preach-we are entering on opportune or seasonal
time.
We must not be defined by our need, but by our faithPage 4
John chapter 6 is awesome. Read it when you can.
Within it is this story and exchange with Jesus. He fed
5000 and then left to be alone because of the crowd.
The disciples boarded a boat and headed to Capernaum.
It got dark, a storm blew in and Jesus came walking on
the water. He stepped into the boat and it immediately
reached the shore at Capernaum. Crowds met Him there
and knew He didn’t leave the other shore in a boat.
John 6:25 NASB
When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they
said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
Preach-I really believe that if we would open our eyes
of faith in Him, in the midst of life events. Storms,
failures, tragedies, and loss, we would see Jesus. I
speak of the answer we need!!!
John 6:26-27 NASB
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but
because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the
food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of
Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has
set His seal.”Page 5
The word seal is translated from a Greek word which
means, “in order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing.
To confirm, authenticate, place beyond doubt.”
Preach-Jesus
John 6:28 NASB
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so
that we may work the works of God?”
Preach-this was a reasonable question due to the way
these people had been raised. They did the work of God
by observing feasts and festivals. Methods of
purification, forms of service and of abstinence, and so
on.
Christ was teaching on a level that they hod no
foundation to understand. This is why they asked Him,
“What shall we do, so that we may work the works of
God?”
I wonder today has the church regressed backwards.
Have we become institutionalized?
It is defined this way today.Page 6
“to incorporate into a structured and often highly
formalized system” “established in practice or custom.
to make into or treat as an institution.”
Let me preach for a minute. Has our relationship
become about the chair we sit in, the songs we sing, the
time we start, or the time we finish.
Maybe it is time to cry out to God with the same
question recorded in John. “What shall we do, so that
we may work the works of God?”
As always Jesus answered.
John 6:29 NASB
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of
God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Amplified
Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you
believe adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in the
One whom He has sent.”
Work, “that which one undertakes to do.”
There is a work that we must do and it is an effort of the
will. PreachPage 7
The Apostle Thomas said, “To “believe on him,” to
habitually entrust one’s self to the power and grace of
Christ, to make a full moral surrender of the soul to the
Lord, includes in itself all other work, and is in itself the
great work of God. ”
Hebrews 11:6 NASB
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he
who comes to God must believe that He is and that He
is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Preach-“What shall we do, so that we may work the
works of God?”

Normal Redefined Part 2

July 31, 2016

Normal Redefined 2

July 31, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Normal Redefined-Part 2”
Greet people
What a great week it has been. God’s presence and His
revelation continues to humble and amaze me. Along
with others I feel that God is moving in our midst with a
specific purpose for us, as a unified body.
As powerful and necessary that prayer is the same can
be said for unity. When we learn to pray and join our
prayers together with a unified purpose. There is a huge
wow coming.
I love what God is doing in people. The inner healing
taking place. The prayers for loved ones being
answered. Purpose and destiny being realized. Even for
those who are refusing to admit it.
I say this prophetically. In your mind the doubts and
fears you have are being wiped away one by one. You
are beginning to believe you can do it. You are
beginning to see yourself fulfilling the purpose of God.
“I love this stuff”Page 2
I want to share some thoughts today titled, “Normal
Redefined-Part 2” I had to get some men in this, But
before I do I want to share a passage by the Apostle Paul
to the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NASB
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were
not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to
shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of
the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised
God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may
nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
God has picked a bunch of ordinary people so when the
opportunity comes to redefine normal He will get all the
Glory. Not many very smart, not very strong. Not very
many with exceptional noble birth.
Why? He will use us to shame the wise, shame the
strong, and shame the things that the world deems
important. Preach Normal RedefinedPage 3
In the 1 st 4 books of Acts the church was formed.
Thousands had been saved in 2 sermons. The 2 nd sermon
resulting from the 1 st miracle. The healing of the lame
man on the way to prayer. Peter and John had been
arrested but they reasoned convincingly with the Jews
who had taken them into custody.
Acts 4:13-14 NASB
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and
John and understood that they were uneducated and
untrained men, they were amazed, and began to
recognize them as having been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing
with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
Acts 4:13 Amplified
Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High
Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and
John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated
and untrained ordinary men, they were astounded, and
began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.
Preach-Peter and John Redefined Normal
Normal would have been to give the guy a coin or some
bread. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit they
redefined normal. Giving us a goal to strive for. Taking
an ordinary life and doing extraordinary things.Page 4
I want to share some high points in the lives of 3
different Bible characters
Gideon-Judges 6-7 Called to deliver Israel from
Midian. Made every excuse possible. Took 32,000.
22,000 were afraid. 10,000 left. Confronted Midian with
300 carrying pitchers with a lamp inside and a trumpet
for the other hand.
Daniel-6 th chapter Petition other than the king.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego-Daniel 3 rd chapter
There are so many stories in the Bible of ordinary men
and women doing extraordinary things.
Hebrews 11:32-38 NASB
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I
tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and
Samuel and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of
righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of
lions.Page 5
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, from weakness were made strong, became
mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and
others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that
they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings,
yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were
tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they
went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering
in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the
ground.
WHY-Because they would not accept normal. In every
instance it was redefined by courage or decree.
Preach Preach
Before I close I want to quickly share one of my
favorites.Page 6
Satan asked permission and received it to test Job. He
lost everything. His kids, livestock, servants,
everything. This is how he responded.
Job 1:20 NASB
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his
head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
Far from a normal response.
Because of His humble response he allowed God to
redefine normal for his life.
Preach-Trust in God
So what happened?
Job 42:10, 12-13 NASB
10 The L ORD restored the fortunes of Job when he
prayed for his friends, and the L ORD increased all that
Job had twofold.
12The L ORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his
beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels
and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He had seven sons and three daughters.
Preach Normal Redefined

Normal Redefined

July 24, 2016

Normal Redefined 7 24 16

July 24, 2016
Amazing Life Church
“Normal-Redefined”
Greet People
I love the church. God’s amazing plan and purpose for
the world generation after generation. I love this church.
Amazing Life Church has been given a huge
responsibility in His Kingdom. The call and anointing to
pray is paramount, “chief in importance or impact” to
changing the world we live in and enjoying the
supernatural presence of God. Moving us beyond our
perceived limitations and believing for what appears
impossible.
For several weeks I have felt challenged by the Holy
Spirit to move beyond our limitations and begin, at least
prayerfully, to challenge the status quo. Beginning to get
our thoughts and our prayers aligned with His will and
His greatness. I may not be speaking to everyone, and
that’s ok. It has always been a call for the few yet even
the few need the prayers and support of all.
Preach
I want to share some thoughts today titled,
Normal-Redefined.Page 2
I need to share this before I begin. As I was preparing
this message I asked Betty what her favorite Biblical
story was. She replied with 3 names. Betty being a
romantic all 3 fit that bill. Yet they are also the very
essence of redefining normal. Let me quickly share a
thumbnail of these 3 incredible women of God.
Abigail-husband Nabal “1 Samuel 25”
Esther-saved her people
Ruth-Great Grandmother of David
Today normal is defined as, “conforming to a standard,
usual, typical, or expected”
2 antonym’s of normal are exceptional and
extraordinary.
Preach-moving from the normal to the exceptional,
the extraordinary
The word normal is only mentioned twice in the NASB.
So I will be using relevant examples of instances where
people moved beyond normal into the extraordinary, the
exceptional. First JesusPage 3
Matthew 12:9-14 NASB
9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And
they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on
the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him.
11 And He said to them, “What man is there among you
who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath,
will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
12 How much more valuable then is a man than a
sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!”
He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like
the other.
14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
The word translated normal in verse 13 has an
interesting meaning from the Greek word, “hoog-ee-
ace” Initially it means, “to make one whole,to make one
sound in body.” That would seem to fit this event. The
same Greek word is used metaphorically this way,
“teaching which does not deviate from the truth.”
Taking it a little further, and I love this. It is translated
from the Greek root word, owx-an’-o.Page 4
It means, “to increase, become greater, to grow or
increase of a multitude, or of inward Christian
growth.”
Let me read verse 14 again.
“But the Pharisees went out and conspired against
Him, as to how they might destroy Him.”
Religion doesn’t like deviating from normal. Religion
will contain you in a box and discourage you from
having an exceptional, or extraordinary, relationship
with Christ.
Preach Preach
Luke 7:36-39 NASB
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to
dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner;
and when she learned that He was reclining at the table
in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of
perfume,Page 5
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she
began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping
them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and
anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw
this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He
would know who and what sort of person this woman is
who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
You know this story. Jesus told the story of the two
debtors and forgave this woman. This was not a normal
response. Her humility was exceptional and her faith
extraordinary.
Preach-“Religion has no room for sinners.”
I love the story of the Syrophoenician Woman found in
Matthew 15 and Mark 7. You know it well, I have
mentioned it often. Jesus had a plan, a commission, a
time line and this woman was interrupting it.
Matthew’s version records this after her passionate pleas
for her daughter.Page 6
Matthew 15:25-28 NASB
25 But she came and began to bow down before Him,
saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the
children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on
the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is
great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her
daughter was healed at once.
Her passion ignored the rejection. It would have been
normal to walk away. She ignored the normal protocols
and gave an extraordinary response to Jesus and His
refusal to help.
Mark 14:3-9 the story of the woman and the alabaster
vial of very costly perfume.
Preach
You know my love for John the 4 th chapter and the
woman at the well.
Preach Preach-Exceptional and extraordinary

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