Submitting a Portfolio

OK, so I've been studying away from the computer. Shame on me... right?
James 4:1-12

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Now, the first thing in mind is to first find out what the Greek word "submit" means here.

And now my e-Sword is playing games with me. I can't access Gills or the BDB commentary. So, here's the Strongs...

Submit: hupotassō (pronounced: hoop-ot-as'-so):

• To subordinate; reflexively to obey: - be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.

So, obey God. That is a basic thing to understand, hard thing to do.

Resist: anthistēmi (pronounced: anth-is'-tay-mee)

• To stand against, that is, oppose: - resist, withstand.

And with all this information... I am going to continue this tomorrow.

I have missed one day over the last week. I finish the month missing April 1st and the 28th... not too bad, I guess. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Directory

The Studies:

• My Body Is A Temple: Part One
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9
• Part 10
• Part 11
• Part 12

Other Series:

• Salvation Study Directory
• Marriage Enrichment Weekend
• Fruit Study
• Sin List Study
• The Will of God Study

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My Body is a Temple: Part XII

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Today, I am reviewing. I am looking over the notes from the previous 11 posts.

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
My body is God's temple. This idea... this concept is the center of the body and temple study. My body is sacred to God. Do I feel that I am a sacred item of my Lord's? If not, why not?

1st Corinthians 6:18-20
To sin sexually means to defile the temple God has given me. It is a sin against myself and God to sin sexually, whether masturbation, adultery, or just a lustful look... it is sexual sin.

1st Corinthians 6:19-20
Am I honoring God with my body? Am I standing up for the temple, which Jesus had become so irate for what people were doing to it, would Jesus be angry of what I have done to God's temple? That's a tough question.

John 2:12-25

• It was close to the Jewish Passover.
• The temple courts were full of people selling things for sacrifice.
• Jesus made a whip.
• Jesus drove out the business men, yelling do not make the church a market place.

Jesus had a zeal for God's temple. He was fired up. And whatever happened to the temple, he would defend it. So, it is important that if I do something to dishonor God's temple, I need to grab zeal to have it corrected. It needs to be an outright AWESOME attitude to make things right with God.

Mark 11:12-17

• Jesus enters the temple and began to drive people out.
• As Jesus clears the temple, he taught them at the same time.
• He would not let anyone carrying merchandise to enter the temple courts.

Luke 19:45-48

• Jesus enters temple and drives out the sellers.
• He quoted scripture when he drove those out.
• Every day after he continued to teach in the temple.

Whose words am I hanging upon? Do I hang on the words of God... or someone elses words? Jesus had a zeal for God and doing the things God commanded of him. He went in there and was angry about what people had done to the temple. When someone does ill of God, do I get angry? Do I stand up when God gets put down?

Matthew 21:12-17

• Jesus enters temple and drives out the buyers and sellers.
• He quotes scriptures as he sends them out.
• Those in need came to Jesus.

So, what to make of this? Well, in regards to this study, the temple (our body) is full of sin. And the only person who came to clean it out was Jesus. And then Jesus stood at the door keeping sin from entering. He keeps scripture at the door and fights off any temptation that wants to be entertained.

Matthew 10:17-29
God says that Satan can destroy the temple. The devil has the power to destroy body and soul.

Matthew 26:26-30
When I take communion, Jesus gives me apart of his temple. It is like Jesus is helping build the temple within me. Think of it like this: Jesus says, "Take this bread. It represents the temple of God, the temple of my father." I don't know, it is just another way of looking at something so holy.

Matthew 5:27-30
This scripture is always convicting to read... on so many different levels. Let's look at ye ol' Greek…

Body: melos (pronounced: mel'-os):

• A limb or part of the body: member.
• A member, limb: a member of the human body; of bodies given up to criminal intercourse, because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot’s body.

Body: sōma (so'-mah):

• The body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: bodily, body, slave.
• The body both of men or animals; a dead body or corpse; the living body; of animals.
• The bodies of planets and of stars (heavenly bodies).
• Is used of a (large or small) number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body; so in the NT of the church.
• That which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself.

Now the first and third body (usage in scripture above) are the melos body, while the second and fourth are the sōma body. It is better to loose a limb then to loose the whole thing. That is the obvious message. I can also think of the scripture that the body of the church are the members of the church. It may hurt to loose a limb, but the body still lives on. It's like, the bad limb can bring down the entire body, if the body is not careful. Just a thought…

Matthew 6:19-34
This is probably my most favorite passage in the entire Bible. I can't think of my least favorite... probably somewhere in Leviticus or something... that book has a reputation for being a really snoozer, but I have found Leviticus to be interesting at times.

All the "bodies" in the passage above are all "sōma" Bodies. There is also a painkiller called Soma... but that has nothing to do with the Bible, I suppose, although it is highly addictive. Be careful if you ever get put on Soma, because you could be on it for a while.

Since you cannot serve both God and money, obey one, and neglect the other. That's what will happen anyway. Christ does not forbid labor to maintain, support, and preserve, your life; nor does he forbid all thought and care about it, but all anxiety, immoderate, perplexing, and distressing thoughts and cares; such as those that arise from diffidence, unbelief, and despair; are dishonourable to God. The things which are necessary for the support and comfort of human life are mentioned: food, drink, and clothing; Eating and drinking are necessary to preserve life; and clothes are to cover and defend the body. Having these, men have everything necessary, and should be content. They should not be anxious when thinking about these things. Still, God has given these without man's thought. And since men are much better and more excellent than food and clothing, God has given greater gifts. (This paragraph was from the Gill Commentary, edited by Johnny).

1st John 1:9
Confession brings forgiveness and purification from unrighteousness. And confessing is probably the most humble thing a person can do. I used to deliver newspapers for a local newspaper in the area. And one thing I know is that you can get used to things in the dark. The neighborhood's I used to deliver to, I only knew them without sunlight. And then, one day, things were very late, and I had to deliver most of my route with some light coming from above and not from my car. And I should have to say, things look completely different with sunshine, when all you are used to is darkness. The places I delivered looked unlike anything I thought they would, and they looked better than I thought they would. There is a vast difference between lightness and darkness.

James 5:16
The command is to confess sins and pray, which provides healing. If you do not confess sins, there will not be any healing. If you do not pray for each other, there will not be any healing.

James 4:6
This is something I have learned. A humble man will confess his sins and that is how the humble receive grace. A proud man doesn't receive grace. A proud man, more than likely, doesn't confess sins either.

Colossians 1:15-27
Jesus is the head of the body, the church. The body is the temple and it is the church, however this is two metaphor's. But is still works the same. When the body, the church, hurts, Christ hurts. Actually, the idea is that everyone hurts who is apart of the body, the church. So, if a brother or sister in Christ struggles spiritually, then everyone hurts for that person struggling. At least, that is what is supposed to happen.

Philippians 1:15-24
Suffering for Christ is gain. That is how Paul looked at things 2000 years ago. If this is how the person God looked at to lead the church then, shouldn't the same attitude be applied today? I think so.

1st Kings 6:1-38
Now, my count and the usage of temple is 25 times in this chapter. I reread the passage and found three not counted. That's 28 times the word temple is used in chapter 6. Now, this is the temple of God. This is how God sees my body. He sees the temple within me every bit as glorious as this building. In fact, even more so. And that is why I used this passage in my study. You can not discuss a temple without looking at different versions of temples to grasp just what a temple means to God, right?

Judges 16:23-31
Through Samson, God shows that the temple can be brought down, and brought down quickly. And with force. If I do not take care of the temple, praise God with it, then this could be a possible result. Remember, Eli's sons were killed by God's will.

Exodus 22:25-27
Body: ‛ôr (pronounced: ore):

• Skin (as naked); by implication hide, leather: - hide, leather, skin.
• Skin (of men), hide (of animals).

God is concerned about the well being of his people. He wants his people to have compassion on others. The body is important to God.

(Gill Commentary) ...which is next to his skin, and covers his naked body, as it is when he lies down to sleep; and therefore if not returned, he must lie naked without any covering, which to deprive him of would be cruel: Jarchi interprets this covering of his shirt, but it rather means his bed clothes: the Septuagint version calls it the clothes of his shame, what cover and hide the shame of nakedness.

Exodus 28:39-43
This "body" is a bit different from the Exodus 22 version.

Body: bâśâr (pronounced: baw-sawr'):

• Flesh (from its freshness); by extension body, person; also (by euphemism) the pudenda of a man: body, [fat, lean] flesh [fleshed], kin, [mankind] kind, nakedness, self, skin.
• Flesh, of the body, of humans, of animals, the body itself, male organ of generation (euphemism), kindred, blood-relations, flesh as frail or erring (man against God), all living things, animals, mankind.

Body: ‛ervâh (pronounced: er-vaw'):

• Nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish): nakedness, shame, unclean (uncleanness).
• Nakedness, nudity, shame, pudenda; pudenda (implying shameful exposure); nakedness of a thing, indecency, improper behaviour; exposed, undefended (figuratively).

(Gill Commentary) "the flesh of nakedness", that part of the body which ought not to be naked and exposed to view, and which, when it is, causes shame and ridicule; what part is designed is easily gathered from the next clause; great care was taken, in the service of God's house, to preserve decency, prevent immodesty, and to guard against laughter and levity, and the like care should be always taken.

For the priests in the OT, they had to have coverings to cover themselves, so that they could be modest, decent, and most of all, not to cause shame on themselves and who they represent, God. As for my body, God wants the same for me. He wants for me to wear underwear. And I must say, I am happy to oblige him.

1st Kings 8:1-13
This is a touching passage. I can just imagine the scene. The excitement of everyone is so strong, so thick, that you can just feel it shaking the bones within your body. People celebrating all around, the temple has just been built and they are bringing the ark of the Lord's covenant to reside in the temple. A festive march by the Levites up into the temple, a ceremony like no other, and when they place the ark down: the Lord fills the temple in a majestic cloud!

God resides in his temple. If my body is a temple for God, and God resides in his temple, then God should reside in me. These are two extremely awesome passages.

Leviticus 15:16-18
Sex makes the body unclean. And that isn't even the impure kind, like masturbation or premarital, it is the sex between a husband and wife. It is not to say that God disapproves of sex, per se, but in the Old Testament, it was labled unclean. Song of Songs does put a different spin on what God does and does not approve.

Numbers 25:1-9
If I defile my body, God will destroy the temple (which is my body). God destroyed the Israelite and the Midianite woman's body.

Zechariah 6:9-15
OK, so I am not 100% certain on this passage as to if it is a prophecy about Jesus Christ, or if it is a prophecy of something else. Being that I have not read all of the Old Testament... it would still appear to be a prophecy of JC, at least at first glance. What I do know is that Jesus is the branch and he "rebuilt the temple in three days" as it is written in the NT. And that is the temple I should have for my body.

Malachi 3:1-5
This is another prophecy of Jesus Christ being the temple of God, the messenger to his people.

Proverbs 3:5-8
God gives instruction on how to take care of the body. It entails to fead God and stay away from evil.

Proverbs 4:10-23
God gives instruction on how to take care of the body. God (wisdom) says to write the words of God on your heart. Actually, it is keep them inside your heart. That is how to stay healthy.

I am going to update the directory on the sidebar to include this series. An individual post will also contain the links. Johnny Out.

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A Weightloss Plan

Diet and Exercise

Models struggle with weight gain just as much as anyone else. And, like everyone else, once they hit 30 years old, it becomes progressively harder. Studies show that after 30, women lose ½ a pound of muscle every year and game the same amount in fat. If you want to go to castings, you need a way to stop this from happenings.

Obviously going to the gym and eating right are important, but you can also make your body work for you. Increasing your metabolism, by reducing your alcohol consumption for example, means that even when you are at rest, you are burning calories. Here are some great ideas that my friends in modeling have used.

1. Don’t Starve Yourself.
Make sure to eat breakfast. If you skip it, your body will enter its ‘starvation mode’ early in the day and it will be hard to break it out of it. To keep your metabolism working all through the day, eat small, low calorie snacks between meals.

2. Decrease Alcohol Consumption.
I am going to add to this: DECREASE SODA CONSUMPTION. Each 12 ounce can of soda is roughly 150 calories. And for each can, you need to offset it with a glass of water, just to flush out toxins. And for each low calorie diet soda, you still need the glass of water. Wouldn’t it just be easier to drink the water instead?

3. Black Pepper, Ginger, Chile Peppers.
Spicy food doesn’t just taste great, it actually increases your metabolism too. Black Pepper, Ginger, and Chile Peppers all raise your body temperature and help burn fat faster. Do be careful, though, the curries you find in restaurants are often oily and fatty, so cooking it on your own is always best.

4. Increase Muscle Mass.
Muscle burns 90% more calories than fat. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism will be. Going to the gym is just not a one-off attack on your fat cells. Your new muscle will actually keep fighting that fat long after you leave the gym. Adding 5 pounds of muscle will help you burn another 250 calories a day!

5. Don’t Stress If You Blow It.
If you fall off the wagon and completely blow your diet one day, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your body is expecting a certain amount of calories a day, so a good pig-out will rev up the metabolism motor. So if one day a week you lose control, it’s OK. Just forget about it and get back on track.

6. Drink More Water.

Speed up your metabolism by drinking more water. A healthy, well-hydrated body is important to flush out toxins and aid in metabolizing fats. A simple way to determine if you are consuming enough water is to take note of the colour of your urine. If it is colorless or light yellow you are on the right track, if it's any darker you need to increase your water intake. Drinking ice water also helps the body expend more calories by heating it up.

7. Increase Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

In recent studies it has been shown that an increased intake of Omega 3 fatty acids can help to balance blood sugar levels and control appetite. Good sources of this metabolism-boosting acid can be found in flax, hemp seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, salmon, mackerel and herring. Many people use flax oil as a supplement.

8. Increase Iodine Intake.

Increasing your Iodine intake can help stimulate thyroid gland function. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating body metabolism and energy expenditure. Kelp extract supplements are a potent source of Iodine, as well as eating all different types of seaweeds and seafood.

9. DRINK GREEN TEA.

Green tea regulates blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of insulin produced. This prevents fat being stored and keeps your appetite under control. A 1999 study showed that Green Tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure.

EGCG, the main polyphenol in green tea, is an effective thermogenic which increases the metabolism of fat. This is not just a result of the caffeine in the tea, because those who lose weight on Green Tea lose more than those who were given caffeine alone.

10. Vitamin B and Calcium.

The B-Vitamins give you more energy and increase your metabolism. Drinking coffee will increase your metabolism too, but Vitamin B is a much more healthy, sustainable way to do it. Make sure your daily supplement incorporates B-Vitamins and in particular B-12.

Recent research has found that 4 daily servings of low-fat dairy products can boost your body's fat-burning ability. Calcium actually increases your metabolism. So add some low-fat yogurts to your diet, maybe as a small snack between meals.

Now, I snagged this off a website called: The Model Diet Plan I mean, who else knows how to lose weight than models. They make $$$ from being skinny and knowing how to stay that way. Anyway, I am going to try to get some of this stuff going on in my life to lose the weight and keep it off. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part XI

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I am going to point out all the things that happen in these four passages.
John 2:12-25

• It was close to the Jewish Passover.
• The temple courts were full of people selling things for sacrifice.
• Jesus made a whip.
• Jesus drove out the business men, yelling do not make the church a market place.

Mark 11:12-17

• Jesus enters the temple and began to drive people out.
• As Jesus clears the temple, he teached them at the same time.
• He would not let anyone carrying merchandise to enter the temple courts.

Luke 19:45-48

• Jesus enters temple and drives out the sellers.
• He quoted scripture when he drove those out.
• Every day after he continued to teach in the temple.

Matthew 21:12-17

• Jesus enters temple and drives out the buyers and sellers.
• He quotes scriptures as he sends them out.
• Those in need came to Jesus.

So, what to make of this? Well, in regards to this study, the temple (our baody) is full of sin. And the only person who came to clean it out was Jesus. And then Jesus stood at the door keeping sin from entering. He keeps scripture at the door and fights off any temptation that wants to be entertained.

I weighed myself today. I'm at 218lbs., which is not the heaviest I have ever weighed, but I would much like to be lighter. As it is, I am doing some things in an effort to lose weight. I have started walking again (I had stopped for about a week) and I am beginning to watch what I eat. Anyway, Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part X

1st Corinthians 3:16-17

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

John 2:12-25
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Mark 11:12-17

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Luke 19:45-48
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Matthew 21:12-17
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Here are today's scriptures. I am going to comment on these tomorrow. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part IX

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Ah... Sunday evening. I've had my class on parenting. I had the privledge to sing up on stage today at church. That was a first for me. I will be partaking in that more and more, Lord willing, as the year moves on. It's very cool.

Luke 19:45-48

Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Whose words am I hanging upon? Do I hang on the words of God... or someone else's words? Jesus had a zeale for God and doing the things God commanded of him. He went in there and was angry about what people had done to the temple. When someone does ill of God, do I get angry? Do I stand up when God gets put down?

1st Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Am I honoring God with my body? Am I standing up for the temple, which Jesus had become so irate for what people were doing to it, would Jesus be angry of what I have done to God's temple? That's a tough question.

1st John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Confession brings forgiveness and purification from unrighteousness. And confessing is probably the most humble thing a person can do. I used to deliver newspapers for a local newspaper in the area. And one thing I know is that you can get used to things in the dark. The neighborhood's I used to deliver to, I only knew them without sunlight. And then, one day, things were very late, and I had to deliver most of my route with some light coming from above and not from my car. And I should have to say, things look completely different with sunshine, when all you are used to is darkness. The places I delivered looked unlike anything I thought they would, and they looked better than I thought they would. There is a vast difference between lightness and darkness.

James 5:16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

The command is to confess sins and pray, which provides healing. If you do not confess sins, there will not be any healing. If you do not pray for each other, there will not be any healing.

James 4:6

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

This is something I have learned. A humble man will confess his sins and that is how the humble receive grace. A proud man doesn't receive grace. A proud man, more than likely, doesn't confess sins either.

It's great to be back posting again. I think today will be the last on the temple and body, at least for a little while. I always reserve the right to go back to a topic. Hey, these are my quiet times, right? Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part VIII

1st Corinthians 3:16-17

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

So, this study is really cool. It is so insightful. I am glad to get to do it. And I am knocking down homework at the same time! I think tomorrow I will actually look more into the scriptures from the book.

Proverbs 3:5-8

God gives instruction on how to take care of the body. It entails to fead God and stay away from evil.

Proverbs 4:10-23

God gives instruction on how to take care of the body. God (wisdom) says to write the words of God on your heart. Actually, it is keep them inside your heart. That is how to stay healthy.

Colossians 1:15-27

Jesus is the head of the body, the church. The body is the temple and it is the church, however this is two metaphor's. But is still works the same. When the body, the church, hurts, Christ hurts. Actually, the idea is that everyone hurts who is apart of the body, the church. So, if a brother or sister in Christ struggles spiritually, then everyone hurts for that person struggling. At least, that is what is supposed to happen.

Philippians 1:15-24

Suffering for Christ is gain. That is how Paul looked at things 2000 years ago. If this is how the person God looked at to lead the church then, shouldn't the same attitude be applied today? I think so.

Yeah, tomorrow I will look more at the books, passages, and such from the book I am reading in regards to this study. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part VII

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Today, it is back to the body in this series. But before I head onward toward that goal, I have this to post: Banana Phone and Refrigerator Raider. Both are favorites of my wife. I don't know why I thought to check them out today over any other day, but I did and this happens to be where you can locate them.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy them. I know Jenny will.

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 4:10-23
Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Colossians 1:15-27
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. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Philippians 1:15-24
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

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My Body is a Temple: Part VI

1st Corinthians 3:16-17

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I had trouble posting last night. 1st Corinthians 6 was supposed to be in those scriptures, as well as 1st Corinthians 3 (above)... What can you do?

Zechariah 6:9-15

OK, so I am not 100% certain on this passage as to if it is a prophecy about Jesus Christ, or if it is a prophecy of something else. Being that I have not read all of the Old Testament... it would still appear to be a prophecy of JC, at least at first glance. What I do know is that Jesus is the branch and he "rebuilt the temple in three days" as it is written in the NT. And that is the temple I should have for my body.

Malachi 3:1-5

This is another prophecy of Jesus Christ being the temple of God, the messenger to his people.

1st Corinthians 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

To sin sexually means to defile the temple God has given me. It is a sin against myself and God to sin sexually, whether masturbation, adultery, or just a lustful look... it is sexual sin.

John 2:12-25

Jesus had a zeal for God's temple. He was fired up. And whatever happened to the temple, he would defend it. So, it is important that if I do something to dishonor God's temple, I need to grab a zeal to have it corrected. It needs to be an outright AWESOME attitude to make things right with God.

Jenny and I are taking a class, the Growing Kids God Way (or as I call it, G K G Way)... wouldn't it be interesting if my parents took this class... it would be G & K Ray take G K G Way... And if there was a game for the book, then G & K Ray play G K G Way all day, if they spent all day, that is. And if that was done next month... G & K Ray play G K G Way all day in May. But if was only a rumor, then: G & K Ray play G K G Way all day in May they say. All right... I could keep going, but I don't want to be typing about funny sentances all afternoon. OK, maybe I do, but it would still be unproductive at most.

I Hope You Had A Happy Tax Day!

I did get in the word yesterday (TAX DAY), but I was unable to post. Still, I kept everything, and I wanted to keep the counter with the hat. Johnny Out.

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The Purity Ministry

In early 2000, The National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families surveyed students at 5 Christian colleges regarding pornography: 48% of the males admitted to current porn use. At a Christian men’s retreat in Idaho the men who were struggling with pornography were asked to stand up – and half of the men in the room came to their feet.

In March of 2002, Rick Warren’s Pastors.com website conducted a survey on porn use of 1,351 pastors. 54% had viewed Internet pornography within the last year, with 30% admitting they visited a porn site within the last 30 days. In a poll Focus on the Family took October of 2003, 47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home.

Most men who struggle with pornography or various types of sex addiction (promiscuity, adultery, adult clubs, chat rooms, etc.) suffer silently while it destroys their life. They think that “there’s no way I can tell anyone about this – especially in the church” and so they sit in church week after week withering in secret shame. Porn use is addictive and progressive, and it destroys men and their families.

The sad part is that most wait until they get caught and the consequences catch up to them (a marriage is destroyed, they are arrested, lose their job, or get an STD) before reaching out for help. In the battle against lust, isolation is death. Keeping the problem inside only keeps the man trapped in bondage. The only way to move toward freedom is to “confess our sins to one another so that we may be healed.” (James 5:16).

We need others to help us in the battle. If you are struggling with this problem, we have a safe place for you to meet with other men who struggle with the same issues. The Purity Ministry is a group for men who struggle with porn and/or sex addiction. Email at jonathonray201@hotmail.com for more information.

This is currently the book being read right now in the group. If you are interested in joining the group, feel free to contact me and I will get the process started. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part V

Since it is so late, I am going to finish this one tomorrow. Today, it is just the passages. Tomorrow, commentary by
Zechariah 6:9-15

The word of the LORD came to me: "Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.' The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God."

Malachi 3:1-5
"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

John 2:12-25
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

These are totally awesome scriptures. I am looking forward to tomorrow and the wonderful day that it shall bring.

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My Body is a Temple: Part IV

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

The Logo for today is a compilation of the seven that I rotate in and out. I am going to be changing all but one from today completely. Today, I go back to the body. Leviticus 15:16-18

"'When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. When a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening."

Sex makes the body unclean. And that isn't even the impure kind, like masturbation or premarital, it is the sex between a husband and wife.

Numbers 25:1-9
While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them.

The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel."

So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor."

Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

If I defile my body, God will destroy the temple (which is my body). God destroyed the Israelite and the Midianite woman's body.

Matthew 10:17-29

"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."

"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!"

"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father."

God says that Satan can destroy the temple. The devil has the power to destroy body and soul.

Matthew 26:26-30
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

When I take communion, Jesus gives me apart of his temple. It is like Jesus is helping build the temple within me. Think of it like this: Jesus says, "Take this bread. It represents the temple of God, the temple of my father." I don't know, it is just another way of looking at something so holy.

This was a cool QT. Tomorrow, it is back to the temple. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part III

I think I will have three passages today. First off, a staple scripture in this series will be quoted every time I do this study, at least from this moment forward.

1st Corinthians 3:16-17

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

It is still temple's turn.

1st Kings 6:1-38
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the LORD.

The temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty wide and thirty high. The portico at the front of the main hall of the temple extended the width of the temple, that is twenty cubits, and projected ten cubits from the front of the temple. He made narrow clerestory windows in the temple. Against the walls of the main hall and inner sanctuary he built a structure around the building, in which there were side rooms. The lowest floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits and the third floor seven. He made offset ledges around the outside of the temple so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls.

In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.

The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the temple; a stairway led up to the middle level and from there to the third. So he built the temple and completed it, roofing it with beams and cedar planks. And he built the side rooms all along the temple. The height of each was five cubits, and they were attached to the temple by beams of cedar.

The word of the LORD came to Solomon: "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, carry out my regulations and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel."

So Solomon built the temple and completed it. He lined its interior walls with cedar boards, paneling them from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and covered the floor of the temple with planks of pine. He partitioned off twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. The main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. The inside of the temple was cedar, carved with gourds and open flowers. Everything was cedar; no stone was to be seen.

He prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the LORD there. The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.

In the inner sanctuary he made a pair of cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high. One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long, and the other wing five cubits—ten cubits from wing tip to wing tip. The second cherub also measured ten cubits, for the two cherubim were identical in size and shape. The height of each cherub was ten cubits. He placed the cherubim inside the innermost room of the temple, with their wings spread out. The wing of one cherub touched one wall, while the wing of the other touched the other wall, and their wings touched each other in the middle of the room. He overlaid the cherubim with gold.

On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. He also covered the floors of both the inner and outer rooms of the temple with gold.

For the entrance of the inner sanctuary he made doors of olive wood with five-sided jambs. And on the two olive wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with beaten gold. In the same way he made four-sided jambs of olive wood for the entrance to the main hall. He also made two pine doors, each having two leaves that turned in sockets. He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on them and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.

And he built the inner courtyard of three courses of dressed stone and one course of trimmed cedar beams.

The foundation of the temple of the LORD was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv. In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.

Now, my count and the usage of temple is 25 times in this chapter. I reread the passage and found three not counted. That's 28 times the word temple is used in chapter 6. Now, this is the temple of God. This is how God sees my body. He sees the temple within me every bit as glorious as this building. In fact, even more so. And that is why I used this passage in my study. You can not discuss a temple without looking at different versions of temples to grasp just what a temple means to God, right?

1st Kings 8:1-13
Then King Solomon summoned into his presence at Jerusalem the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the chiefs of the Israelite families, to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David. All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon at the time of the festival in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month.

When all the elders of Israel had arrived, the priests took up the ark, and they brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting and all the sacred furnishings in it. The priests and Levites carried them up, and King Solomon and the entire assembly of Israel that had gathered about him were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and cattle that they could not be recorded or counted.

The priests then brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and overshadowed the ark and its carrying poles. These poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."

This is a touching passage. I can just imagine the scene. The excitement of everyone is so strong, so thick, that you can just feel it shaking the bones within your body. People celebrating all around, the temple has just been built and they are bringing the ark of the Lord's covenant to reside in the temple. A festive march by the Levites up into the temple, a ceremony like no other, and when they place the ark down: the Lord fills the temple in a majestic cloud!

God resides in his temple. If my body is a temple for God, and God resides in his temple, then God should reside in me. These are two extremely awesome passages.

Tomorrow, I check out "body" again. Johnny Out.

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My Body is a Temple: Part II

Today marks my tenth day in a row. I don't know if I have made that much progress (as far as consistency) at all this year. In this body and temple series, I will be alternating each day with the topic... yesterday was "the body", so today, it shall be "the temple".

1st Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

My body is God's temple. This idea... this concept is the center of the body and temple study. My body is sacred to God. Do I feel that I am a sacred item of my Lord's? If not, why not?

Judges 16:23-31

Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, "Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands."

When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, "Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain."

While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, Samson said to the servant who held his hand, "Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them." Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the LORD, "O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

Then his brothers and his father's whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.

Through Samson, God shows that the temple can be brought down, and brought down quickly. And with force. If I do not take care of the temple, praise God with it, then this could be a possible result. Remember, Eli's sons were killed by God's will.

I am going to actually continue on the temple part tomorrow (today?)... well, since I only hit two passages instead of four. Johnny Out.

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