Christian Lifestyle

UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR TIME

A father is to be considered the source of one’s life. It takes a man and a woman to produce an offspring therefore it is imperative that we do not overlook the importance of either sex in a conversation that dishes out accolades. So father’s day approaches and it is time for our fathers to receive the adoration and honour they deserve. Let’s take a look at the important roles our fathers play in our lives.

DISCIPLINARIANS

Hebrews 12:7: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?”

We are quickly censured by our loving fathers whenever we commit actions that are considered immoral or against accepted norms and standards of our faith. Fathers train us to become respectable persons of the society. They are usually our first encounter with virtues like justice, discipline and temperance. Just like God disciplines us from time to time when our deeds and misdeeds are aberrations to His perfect standards, fathers train us in the way we should go so that we would not depart from it.

BIGGEST FANS

Proverbs 23:24: “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”

A godly father is normally the biggest fan of his children. It is a normal practice in many societies that the children bear the surname of their father. The fact that we bear the names of our fathers make them naturally inclined to rooting for us in the arena of life. Fathers rejoice when their sons and daughters grow up to achieve and become great people in the future. This is because the greatness of a child is the reflection of the effort and training a father had to put in to make her the best s/he is.

THEY NURTURE AND PROTECT

Deuteronomy 1:31: “There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Our fathers are our protectors. They guide us through the hard times of life. It is through our fathers that a lot of us build character and resilience to face the storms of life. Fathers provide security to their families. Security doesn’t just refer to physical strength and the raw aggression we like to associate with men but security can be spiritual, monetary and even in education. Fathers provide spiritual security and guidance through prayers and instructing us in the ways of God. They give us monetary security when they pay our fees and provide our needs.

20^th June 2021 is father’s day and we ought to honour our fathers. The blessings our fathers speak on us are extremely important for the progress of our lives. God promises that we will have long life when we shall prosper when we heed to the advice of our fathers and honour them. How are you going to honour your father on Father’s day? Leave your answers in the comments.

THE GREATEST LESSON LEARNT FROM THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF ARCHBISHOP NICHOLAS DUNCAN-WILLIAMS.

A creator knows best what his creation is suited for; what can corrupt it and what can propel it to the fulfillment of its full potential. What can be said of an inventor is not just one who brings forth something into existence, but one who made an object with the intent of the object working perfectly in accordance with the motive for which he created it. The inventor does not just invent, he gives the object an objective. Therefore, the inventor ought to be sought in the pursuit of the purpose for which his invention was made. Speaking of inventors, it is made clear in John 1:3 that the word made all things and without him(the word) nothing was made. It follows that, for everything that was made, its divine purpose cannot be found outside the boundaries of the word and God’s will. So as part of His creation, it is necessary that man subdues all his desires to seek God, His word and His kingdom, if he is to be a success. It is worthy at this point to note that, after reading about the life and ministry of the Archbishop; Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the greatest lesson I took home was that, all our efforts to attaining success would be futile if the Lord is not sought first. It is a reflection of the passage in Matthew 6:25-34 with emphasis on the 33^rd verse which suggests that seeking first the righteousness of God and His kingdom is a sufficient condition for attaining wealth, health, happiness and every other thing that is a need.

THE GREATEST LESSON LEARNT FROM THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF ARCHBISHOP NICHOLAS DUNCAN-WILLIAMS.

THIS LESSON STEMS FROM FACT

This lesson stems from the fact that, though the Archbishop had a desire to climb the rungs of the ladder of greatness, he was never successful until he had an encounter with God on the bed of affliction. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how hard he worked, no matter how clever his schemes were, everything he tried to build was tumbled down by a gentle push by the finger of God. Decades on, he has one of the biggest ministries in Africa and the world at large due to his loyalty to God and His kingdom. Submission to God’s will is all that we need to fulfill our divine mandate and have true happiness in our endeavors. In some detail, I will show that his failures and successes led to my conclusion on this lesson.

Though he did live with a single mother and it was quite evident that this resulted in his deficiency in financial resources, it was never a hinderance to his work ethic but a fuel to ignite an attitude of resilience in the Archbishop during his youth. Resilience however, was never enough as he was forced to relinquish a short lived stint juggling a newspaper sales job with wooden food carriage truck-pushing due to circumstances beyond his control. It was God’s plan that until He got his attention, his(Archbishop’s) will and determination to succeed would come to nought.

I would have to mention that, the major influence on my lesson was young Nicholas’ visit to a fetish priest who asserted that the only one who could help him was the almighty God. This in my opinion was unusual and it raises the question of why someone who belongs to the forces of destruction would give advice that brings glory to Jehovah. Such an occurance is a clear indication of the fact that without God, it is impossible to find your purpose in life. If we shall be willing to throw our hands up and surrender all our efforts to God and believe in the finished work of Christ, we have taken the first step to discovering our purpose and faith in any other god would be detrimental to our progress. To come to God, one must know that He is, and that He is a rewarder of they that diligently seek Him.

The ministry of the Archbishop has grown from glory to glory mainly because he has set His sight on the living God and is persuaded that He is the foundation of everything. In the midst of storms, trials and betrayal by men, the ministry stands firm because the focus has never been on the success defined by humans but that which is defined by God. True success is defined by God and if only we would humble ourselves and seek him first, we shall find fulfillment in our purpose in life. Ideally, the inventor is the most knowledgeable about the purpose of his invention.

Why prioritizing motherhood in first 3 years is critical

A WORLD WITHOUT MOTHERS.

Environmentalists usually say that ‘when the last tree dies, the last human also dies’. The veracity of this statement is unquestionable because humans are dependent on plants for a whole lot. Think about it; our food, medicine, furniture, and stationery are produced from plants. We even engage in gaseous exchange with plants when they release oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis. Humans would barely exist without plants and that’s why we say that humans would cease to exist without them. Have you ever considered what the world would be like if the last mother ceased to exist?

Have you ever considered what the world would be like if the last mother ceased to exist?

THE SENSES OF MOTHERHOOD

Before I continue with this blog, I’d like to clarify I would be considering motherhood in two senses. The first sense is what I would call biological motherhood and the other sense would be referred to as normative motherhood. A biological mother would refer to anyone that is a mother by childbirth. Any woman who has given birth to a child still in existence qualifies to be designated by the term ‘mother’ in a biological sense. By normative motherhood, I’m referring to the features that characterize anyone we can call a good mother. What is a mother supposed to look like? How does a mother treat the children around her whether she’s biologically related to them or not? Ideally, motherhood is not about being biologically related to those you take care of but about being a guide, a nurturer, a protector, a motivator, etc. Women do not have to be biologically capable of childbirth to be great mothers because true motherhood isn’t a biological feature. So back to our question, what would the world be without our nurturing, kind and motivating mothers.

A WORLD OF EMOTIONAL TROUBLE

Scientists have emphasized how important it is for children to have their mothers emotionally and physically available to them in their first three years at least. Nania (2017) posits that a lot of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) didn’t have the presence of their mothers to help them with stress regulation. A lot of the psychological issues children face are a result of their mothers not being available to them. It is a fact that psychologically healthy children usually had their mothers providing them with the needed emotional and mental cushion. A world without caring mothers would be a world full of emotionally troubled individuals. Thank God that our societies are full of mothers who have provided and continue to provide the needed mental, emotional and physical support to their offspring.

A WORLD OF INDISCIPLINE

Have you ever been grounded or had your toys and video games confiscated because you did something wrong? Mothers are disciplinarians and their contributions have been immense in our journey to being responsible and godly individuals. Imagine that we didn’t have such training at the beginning of our lives. Most of us would’ve been liabilities to society if we did not have our mothers strictly enforcing their principles of morality in our lives. Mothers are extremely important because they are usually the ones who introduce us to society’s accepted norms, values, and moral standards.

A WORLD WITHOUT COMPASSION AND SELFLESSNESS

Mothers are just instinctively compassionate and selfless. Any woman who carried a child in her womb for nine months carried out a selfless act. Allowing another human being to reside in your body for nine months reveals a mother’s willingness to be in uncomfortable situations to help others flourish. Some mothers take leaves and quit their jobs to give their children the needed time and attention. Mothers can put their entire lives on hold just so we can be great men and women in the future.

LET’S CELEBRATE MOTHERS.

Proverbs 31:28

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

Proverbs 31:28 shows us that the virtuous woman deserves to receive praise from her husband and children. The fact that the Proverbs 31 woman has her children praising her implies that she was a great mother to them. From the scripture, we can see that her husband also praised her, this shows that she was a great wife as well. As mothers’ day fast approaches, we need to understand that our mothers deserve to be celebrated. They have been a blessing to us and they need to be blessed and celebrated not just on mothers’ day but every day.

Reference

Nania R (2017, May 19) WTOP news. Why prioritizing motherhood in the first three years is critical.

Why prioritizing motherhood in first 3 years is critical

CHALLENGES BUILD CHARACTER.

When Things Get Hard- It Is A Sign

Things do not always go smoothly. Sometimes life doesn’t go as we want it to. The unplanned and unexpected happen sometimes and we tend to lose hope, joy, and focus but that shouldn’t be the case. Quitting should not be an option when you are working on a short-term, long-term product, or a dream.

This blog post will talk about staying on track regardless of the challenges that come your way.

Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand (NLT).

Starting a project can be extremely difficult and discouraging especially when you’re beginning from scratch. Beginning your journey in anything in itself is a challenge so you need to understand that things will get hard. Liken it to a building. Architects will tell you that the most important part of any building is the foundation and you need time and attention to construct a strong foundation.

The higher a building is meant to be, the deeper you need to dig when constructing its foundation. The way up is down therefore when starting anything, you need to get deeper into it before your fruits can be harvested. As you have begun your business, school project, diet, etc. always remember that it will be difficult before it becomes easy.

The fact that it is difficult at the start should let you know that it will always get easier.

CHALLENGES BUILD CHARACTER.

Let Your Light Shine Before Men

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Light’s most distinct characteristic is the fact that it overcomes darkness. When Jesus asked us to let our light shine before men, He meant that we must eliminate or overshadow all dark places. Light is what gives people vision. Without light, it would be difficult for us to make out objects. Light’s importance to the world cannot be overemphasized. As the scripture reveals, the purpose of letting our light shine before men is so that they will glorify our Father. Letting our light shine isn’t for us to show off. It is not for us to take the glory. How can we let our light shine?

Love Is the Brightest Light

John 13:35 KJV by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another.

The sign of being Jesus’ disciple is the love you show towards people. The fact that God is love should be evidence that love is the greatest thing you can give someone. We are required to love others regardless of their faults and what they have done against us. In a world full of hatred, the love that we extend to people is what can cause a change.

Show Light By Excelling

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

In order to be a light of the world, you have to do whatever task you find as though you’re doing it for God. No matter who employed you, no matter who pays you, do it as though you’re doing it for God. When you are conscious of the fact that you’re working for the King of Kings, you are very likely to apply diligence to all your efforts. Diligence is eventually going to birth excellence and through excellence, your light will shine.

Show Light by Forgiving

Forgiveness is extremely important in our relationship with our fellow humans. No two humans are the same. Sometimes our different backgrounds and characteristics can cause us to step on the toes of one another. Our likelihood to offend and be offended necessitates the practice of forgiveness. Jesus Christ was forgiveness personified. The world would’ve had fewer wars and battles between nations if forgiveness was a habit.

Show Light by Giving.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

God expects us to give cheerfully not only to the church but to those in need. You never know how far your generosity might go in saving someone. Being generous is one way we can touch lives and become lights in this world.

Letting your light shine isn’t an option. It is your responsibility as a Christian. What is the purpose of a lamp with dim light?

African Women In Leadership: Rosa Whitaker

Rosa Whitaker is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on African trade, investment and business. Rosa is currently President and CEO of The Whitaker Group (TWG), a leading transaction advisory, investment and project development firm specializing in Africa, which she founded in 2003. As Vice-Chairwoman of Dominion Television, Rosa leads the operations and management of the network, establishing innovative and sustainable solutions that create economic prosperity while promoting social equity and environmental stewardship.

Let’s dive into her leadership journey:

1- Whose Career Inspired You To Map Out Your Own Path In Leadership?

I was inspired early on by a famous US Congresswoman and civil rights leader named Barbara Jordan. She was exceptionally amazing and was the most eloquent and impactful speaker I had ever heard. Her words resonated with power and a force that I didn’t know was possible from the perspective of a young teenager. She also commanded many “firsts” – including being the first African American woman from the South to be elected to Congress and the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a national convention for a major political party.

She was a voice for the vulnerable and a fighter for those who were without power. As a young girl, I would sit in Congressional hearing rooms just to hear her. It helped that we shared the same birthday. She removed the lid of limitations from my life and in no small measure because of her, I never doubted what I could become.

2- Leadership in America vs Leadership in Africa – They Mean Two Different Things More So As A Woman, What Are The Key Differences In Your Field?

In both Africa and in America, there is much diversity in leadership. I can generally note the traits that I most admire in African leadership and particularly among women. I admire ability of African woman to surround themselves with supportive communities. It is natural for an African woman leader to constantly have a large host of family and friends encouraging and supporting her. Leadership is not as lonely in this regard. Another distinctive feature I’ve noticed in African leaders is generally an unabashed confession of their faith.

Faith in Africa is generally not siloed or compartmentalized—faith, particularly among African women, is woven like a tapestry throughout their lives as business, ministry, civil society, home, or political leaders. Rarely will you see an African woman walk into a board room or political office and leave her faith at home?

I believe that women in America, particularly African American women, have inspired the world through their strength, resilience, and seemingly inexhaustible energy to fight for equality in opportunities and rights. American women, in my view, generally have an admirable unshakeable confidence.

The labor of American women has not been in vain – while there is much more to achieve, the progress of American women, across sectors and socio-economic indicators, has been remarkable. I believe women in America have helped to lift women around the world.

3: What Has Been The Most Challenging Leadership Role In Your Life And Why?

Dominion TV certainly represents the most humbling, challenging yet rewarding, and inspiring leadership challenge for me. It feels like flying the plane while repairing it at the same time. We are literally taking something that had already started as a ministry media and transforming it into a full-fledged impactful Christian lifestyle tv and multimedia network. The normal metrics that I would consider for business success are different;

With Dominion TV we are not only looking at viewership, captive eyeballs, advertisements, and revenue. We are looking to change lives and impact the way people live and think.

We are launching a movement for empowered and inspired living with faith as the fuel. I am also inspired and challenged every day by the many young talented creatives who work for Dominion TV; we are from different generations and from different places on the planet—our thinking and languages are quite different. They, however, represent the demographic of Dominion’s audience – young Africans between the ages of 18-40. In many instances, my team of young content creators is the teachers and I am the student.

4: What Role Has Faith Played In Your Success As A Leader?

Faith has everything to do with my success as a leader. I don’t believe for a minute that I could be successful without Christ. I also know that He has granted me and others success for a reason. My life is, therefore, devoted to His purpose. One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” This says it all!

5: What Have You Learned In Leadership Over The Years That You Wish You Could Tell The Younger Version Of Yourself To Make The Road Easier?

I would tell my younger self: “find your identity in Christ – know that God has created you in His own image”. Therefore, you have great value and unique gifts. Mute the voice of anyone who would attempt to denigrate you or try to diminish your light and confidence. I would also tell my young self to have a voracious appetite for learning! You never know in the future what learning you will need – so learn everything that’s constructive and productive.

But learning means very little if you have bad habits. Address bad habits while you are young. Otherwise, they become huge obstacles when you are older and often at the peak of your potential. I have seen poor habits sink many talented & smart people.

Start your day with God in praise and thanksgiving – this is a habit that transforms.

Did The Bible Say Women Should be Silent?

³⁴Womenshould remain silent in the church. They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

The above scripture clearly states that women ought not to speak during church gatherings doesn’t it? Does it mean that it is wrong to have women leading worship and preaching during church services? In our quest to understand the scripture, we need to be aware of the fact that the true contexts.

When reading scripture, we have to look at the book or chapter as a whole in order to get a clearer picture or view. This post will show that women were actually allowed to speak during church meetings.

The Old Testament Had Women As Prophets

One of the reasons why it is obvious 1 corinthians 14:34-35 does not mean that women cannot speak and take up leadership roles in the church is that, there are examples of women who were prophets and leaders in the bible. People like Miriam and Deborah were prophetesses who led their people. If God chose them to lead His people at that time, then why would He prohibit women from leading now. Since the old testament contains examples of women who were leaders in their day, it is obvious that God doesn’t want to silence women. So what does 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 really mean?

Paul Acknowledged That Women Can Speak In The Church

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 1 Corinthians 11:4-5

In Corinthians 11, Paul was talking about things that happen during church service. He clearly states that women and men pray and prophesy during church meetings. Paul here is giving guidelines regarding prayer and prophesy and he didn’t state that women cannot prophesy in church. Paul in this chapter makes it obvious that women can talk in church so what does 1 corinthians 14:34-35 really mean?

What 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34-35 Really Means

1 Corinthians 14:26 – “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:40 – “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way”

In the 26^th verse of that chapter, we clearly see what Paul’s aim was. His aim wasn’t to tell women to always be quiet but He was trying to make sure that church service was run in an orderly manner.In verse 28, it can be seen that Paul is telling the church that only two or three people should speak in tongues at a particular time and that others at the church must be silent when someone is prophesying.

“If anyone speaks in a tongue, two–or at the most three–should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.” – 1 corinthians 14: 27-28

In conclusion, the scripture was more concerned about things being done in the right manner and not about silencing women. The bible makes it clear that there were women who were prophets and leaders of God’s people. Also, In Corinthians 14:11 we can see that women as well as men prayed and prophesied in the church so women weren’t completely silent.

Self-Reflection – A Part Of Your Everyday Routine

Sometimes we need time off. Time off from the noise, hustle, and bustle of everyday life. Sometimes to perceive a picture clearly, you ought to take a few steps back so that you can be a better judge of the artwork. The world is a canvas on which we all desire to leave our mark therefore we need to be intentional about every move we make. So soon, the second month of 2021 is almost over and it’s time for some self-reflection.

Self- Reflection Helps You Revise Your Plans

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? LUKE 14:28

As the scripture reveals, important projects require planning and I believe that there are very few things more important than our lives as individuals. We’re about to enter the third month of the year and we need to take another look at our plans before we do so. Of all the goals you had at the start of the year, which of them are in progress and which aren’t? What have you been doing right and what have you been wrong?

In the process of self-reflection, you have to be completely honest with yourself and be your harshest critic. The goal of this is to improve and be a better version of yourself for the coming month. The purpose of self-reflection is not for you to condemn and demotivate yourself but to be better and move on to the next level.

Evaluate Your Christian Life By Self-Reflecting!

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5.

The Christian faith has standards we ought to live by and self-reflection comes to play when we consciously compare our lifestyle to the tenets of the faith. Are we living according to God’s standards in the way we treat others? Are we obeying His laws? How often do we take time to read His word? Our faith is extremely important because it determines our place in eternity. What do we have to gain if we only make physical progress in 2021 while we retrogress spiritually?

It can be easy to think your Christian life is based on how you feel. The truth nonetheless is that we cannot use our feelings to determine whether we’re in right standing with God or not. The only way we can judge our standing with God is by using His word.

Learn From Mistake and Discover Yourself

Always remember that thinking critically about your life takes you a step ahead. It is always an opportunity to assess yourself and correct your mistakes. The purpose of making mistakes is to learn from them and not to be shackled by them. Anytime you’re self-reflecting, you get to understand why certain moves you made worked well and others didn’t. Never shy away from the opportunity to self-reflect. You never know what you will discover about yourself.

The World Needs Your Talent

Your talent is any skill or ability you naturally possess. It is that particular activity or set of activities you easily excel at. Often times, you would naturally develop a passion for whatever you are talented at. Everybody on the surface of the earth is gifted with a special talent.

The reason why anyone would think he/she does not have a talent is that he/she has not discovered it yet. The truth is, God created each individual with a purpose and our talents exist to propel us towards them. We are stewards of our talents and we need to let the world benefit from them. Today, we will explore the reasons why the world needs your talent.

Our Talent Fill In The Gap

You need to believe that your innate ability is truly special and beneficial to the world. The world by nature is interconnected by individuals who knowingly or unknowingly affect one another with their roles. A farmer uses his talent to grow crops, the crops would be used by a talented chef to cook a nutritious meal for his customers.

A biochemist can use the farmer’s crops to develop solutions to certain illnesses. When everyone uses their gifts, it keeps the world balanced. Those who are deficient in your area of strength would benefit from you whiles you also benefit from their gifts. Without your talent, there would be a gap created in the world. However little we may think our talents are, we need to develop and use them to benefit society.

Our Talents Inspire Others

There are many people who have developed a passion to pursue their dreams and hone their talents by observing others accomplish the same. We have all looked up to people in one way or the other because they embody and exemplify our dreams and aspirations.

Many musicians for example try to emulate legends in their genre in order to be successful in their careers. Success in using our talents would inspire others to take steps to use theirs.

A lot of people fear to step out of their comfort zones in order to display the special talents that God has given them. When we are courageous enough to use our talents, it helps others in our churches, local communities and cities overcome their fears. Just as we look up to those who have succeeded in using their talents, others need us to use ours so that they would look up to us. Use your talent, you do not know who may be watching!

Talents Draw Men To God

Mat 5:16 KJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

One way to let our light shine is to use our talents effectively. When we pursue excellence with our talents, observers are going to be drawn to God as Matthew 5:16 asserts. People are drawn to the ideas of excellence and perfection.

A lot of people would be interested in finding out the source of your talent once you begin to use it in an outstanding way. The mastery of our talents would change lives when used to glorify, God. Our most crucial assignment on earth is to attract people to Him and away from sin.

Talent Brings Joy

It is delightful to watch a maestro lead an orchestra. It is an amazing feeling to hear the best voices in sync at the opera. Most people would attest to the fact that observing a person using his gifts to its full capacity brings a sense of joy.

God placed talents in each of us because He intends us to use them. Using your talent does not only bring joy to the observer but also brings joy to you. You would be fulfilled on earth if you’re able to use your talents as God pleases. God tied our talents to our purpose and to our self-actualization.

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells the parable of the talents. One lesson to take from that passage is that God would cause us to improve upon our talents the more we use it. We see that the master in the aforementioned parable gave more talents to the servants who had made good use of theirs.

However, he took away the talent of the servant who buried it. No matter how little or insignificant we think our talent may be, we need to use it. The more we use our talents, the more we develop the capacity to increase it. Use your talents. That’s what makes you special.

Did You Know God Wants You To Be Rich?

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