Day Four

Proverbs 4:1-9

1.) Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 

2.) for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 

3.) When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 

4.) he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 

5.) Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 

6.) Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 

7.) The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 

8.) Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. 

9.) She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown." 

         Just to set the stage a bit, the Book of Proverbs was gathered together by King Solomon, son of David. Most of the book consists of proverbs common among the Jews and their neighbors. But part of it is Solomon’s own thoughts. This is one of those sections. The words ‘wise’ and ‘wisdom’ are used literally hundreds of times in the Scripture. It is the great desire for the faithful and the great arrogance for the proud and haughty. In the Old Testament the word for wisdom, the word used in this passage, is ‘chokmah.’ In the New Testament the word is ‘sophia.’ In both cases, the words are feminine nouns. You can see how David’s words to Solomon reflect that gender case.

         David was telling his young son to always seek wisdom. In verse 6, David says this about ‘wisdom;’ Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. This became Solomon’s guiding light. A man known to be wise. When the Lord offered him anything at all, he likely thought back to his father’s teaching and chose wisdom.

         Throughout the Word, there are people with great wisdom and insight. These are humble people before the Lord. People who seek to serve Him first. Isaiah comes to mind. But there are also those who think they are wise. They feel their words ring with truth. They might give the Lord lip service in public, but privately they feel that they are in control. King Herod was one such. They often find out different before they die.

         The world is full of wise fools. Scattered throughout the world are the truly wise. The wise fools create a world of darkness and despair. The truly wise offer light and rejuvenation. Which are you?

         Today, let’s pray for wisdom in our lives. Never think that you have enough wisdom or that you are pretty wise without prayer. Let’s be the light in the darkness.

 

Day Three

Zechariah 7:8-14

8.) And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, 

9.) "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 

10.) do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." 

11.) But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 

12.) They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. 

13.) "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts, 

14.) "and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

When you read the Scripture, it is important to read the whole passage and not just a verse or two. In this case, the people of Bethel had sent a delegation to Zechariah to inquire on a point of the Law. These people in particular, and all of the Jews in general, had come to put the issues of the Law before proper behavior before the Lord. To them, the Law had become the measure of Spirituality, rather than that to which the Law pointed. This is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 23:23-24.

23.) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 

24.) You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 

They were so precise in the following of the Law that they stumbled at the true meaning. Not only that, but they didn’t want to hear the real meaning.

So here, in Zechariah, they are told to render true judgments and to show one another kindness and mercy.

I think that we put being Americans first and being Christians second. We equate being American and being Christian as the same thing, but they are not the same. For instance, we think of those who disagree with us, whether on the world stage or simply our neighbor, as being in need of correcting. If, however, we are to show true judgement, we would show kindness and mercy.

It is all about attitude. If we seek out the Lord, if we seek true judgements, then our attitude will reflect kindness and mercy. Then, when we pray for others, we will be asking only for kindness and mercy on them.

But of course, we do not want to hear that. We have to change the minds of those with whom we disagree. We tell ourselves that we are doing the Lord’s work. However, people are only truly changed when the Lord begins to work on them. We cannot change someone who disagrees, but the Lord can.

So, what happens if we neglect kindness and mercy? From the above passage;

11.) But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. 

12.) They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. 

13.) "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts, 

14.) "and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Let’s pray that we show the true judgements of kindness and mercy.

            Day Two 

Psalm 9:7-10

⁷ But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    He has established His throne for justice,
⁸ and He judges the world with righteousness;
    He judges the peoples with uprightness.

⁹ The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know Your name put their trust in You,
    for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

         People can be oppressed for many, many reasons. We think of the politically oppressed, racially oppressed, socially oppressed, financially oppressed and such like. But we rarely, if ever, think of those who are Spiritually oppressed. Yet, Spiritual oppression can take the form of unresolved grief, unreasoning anger, uncertainty as to how to meet the day. So much is tied to our Spiritual well being, but our modern world rejects all of that.

         In the passage above, verse 9 refers to the oppressed and it refers to the times of trouble. Here is a tale of two Dads.

         I was staff clergy for nine years at a funeral home. A teenaged boy had died in an accident. He wasn’t driving the car, it wasn’t a horrific accident, more of a fender bender. But this young person hit the side window with his head pretty hard. He was in a coma for a few days. They did surgery to relieve the pressure off his brain. But he just passed quietly in the middle of the night. Typically, in a situation like that we would have the parents and siblings come in the day before the visitation so they could express their grief. In this case, it was only the Dad. He began to wail and weep. He cursed God and he swore that if he ever got his hands on the driver of the car, he would kill him. I tried to talk to him and he threatened me. Everything was at high volume. Finally, he ran out of steam, falling to the floor. I helped him to a chair and I talked to him. I doubt he heard me. His weeping was deep and trembling. He was oppressed with grief and unable to cope.

         The second situation involved a ten year old boy who had gone with his Dad and two older brothers to Lake Erie to fish from the shore. Like a lot of ten year old boys, he became bored. A small stream ran into the Lake and his father led him to it. It was not even twenty yards away from where they were fishing. Maybe four inches deep. His father set the little guy to finding crayfish for bait. The Dad went and joined his other sons and they fished for about five minutes before he turned around to check on the youngest son. The boy was laying face down in the water. He had drowned. A slight bruise on his head led the police and coroner to conclude he had his head close to the water to see the crayfish and had slipped and knocked himself out. At the funeral home, the father told me that his son had accepted Christ as Savior just a couple of weeks before. “I am going to miss him until the day I die, but I will see him again.”

         Let us pray today about the Spiritually oppressed. If you are oppressed, pray for yourself. That’s OK! We are to take the things on our heart to Him. If you know someone who is Spiritually oppressed, pray for that person.

         A small child hears the boom of thunder and runs to find a parent. Once with the parent, the child begins to calm. Be that way with the Lord.

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.

            Day One.

            It has been about five and a half years ago now. Melissa Wilcox came to me with a forty day prayer plan. It was an interesting idea. The Bible instructs us to pray privately. Matthew 6:5-8;

5.) "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

6.) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

7.) "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

8.) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

However, even though we are to pray privately, would it not be a good idea to have the prayer of many focused on an idea, much as we do with the prayer chain? Melissa had the forty day plan and we did it for the forty days. We did this through daily e-mails.

The forty day plan has been on my mind ever since. It helped me just knowing that others were praying as I was and that there was strength in that.

So, I thought we would revisit that forty day plan. The difference is that we will use the concept, but the direction will be the way the Yoke should respond to the world situation. By beginning today and going every day, we will finish the day before Resurrection Day. These will not be long. They are just intended to direct our thoughts and our prayers. And, brothers and sisters in Christ, there is plenty to pray about.

To begin with, we have a situation in the world right now that is very dangerous. We need to pray for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the coming conflict between China and Taiwan. When geo-political struggles begin to brew, we tend to feel helpless. We don’t want to see the smaller, weaker country be steamrolled, but we also do not want to see our country involved. What is the answer? Obviously, for us, the answer is prayer. But what do we pray for? Solomon gives us the beginning of the answer in Proverbs 1:1-7;

1.) The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 

2.) To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 

3.) to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 

4.) to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-- 

5.) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 

6.) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 

7.) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

         I believe that we are to pray for wisdom for the nations of the world. Solomon was told by God that he could have anything he wanted. He chose wisdom. If we choose wisdom for ourselves, it will be easier to pray for wisdom among the nations.

         Let us seek out wisdom for ourselves and then come boldly before the throne of Grace and ask for the wisdom of the Lord to settle among the nations

         We will be back tomorrow for day two.  

          The wind often blows straight out of the west. When this happens in the winter, State Route 13 between North Manchester and Wabash becomes a tricky road. With the wide-open fields and no wind breaks, snow is whipped along as fast as the wind is blowing. This covers SR 13 and makes the road quite hazardous, especially as the snow is packed down and turned to ice. Going home one day I felt the wind pushing my car sideways and the car sliding because of the lack of traction. I hit a patch of dry pavement and got the car fully under control, but I really hate that feeling of sliding.

         When I got home, I got on the computer and started looking for vehicles with all wheel drive. I do not need all the bells and whistles that it seems most people need, I just wanted to see the cost of a simply equipped, all wheel drive. I finally found a site that let me ‘build my own.’ It gave me the base model and then let me put all the stuff on it I needed. Everything I needed was already in the base model, so no bells and whistles for me. It also let me figure my probable monthly payment. That was when I decided I did not want a new car. My seven year old, front wheel drive, 42 MPG that I have named Betsy is not so bad after all. In fact, this week I am treating her to a new set of tires and a brake job. I am just going to keep her.

         And that was all I did. I got supper ready and sat down to watch a documentary (a real wild life).

         By noon the next day my e-mail inbox was full of all kinds of offers and deals on new and used vehicles. Trucks, cars, even motorcycles. I also got a note from the company I use to monitor my bank accounts and credit status to watch out for identity theft. They told me that there had been some inquires on my credit. I responded to none of it and it is finally easing up. I had not filled out an on-line credit application or anything like that. I was just looking at cars.

         My mistake in life was buying a jacket, on-line, a few months ago from my old seminary. I got it and haven’t worn it because I don’t like it. It is different from the picture. (I should know better) Other than that, I don’t buy anything on line. So that purchase was all it took. My financial information and, for some reason, my credit scores are all out there.

         Then, and I don’t know if this is related, I got my statement from my credit card company telling me I have been upgraded to a rewards card and I now have 30,000 miles. I don’t know what that means. They cannot be frequent flyer miles. I have been on five flying trips in the last 45 years. Once you have seen clouds from the other side, the thrill of flight is gone. And once your plane has been struck by lightning, it no longer feels safe. So, I am not a frequent flyer. I can go months and months without using a credit card. One for gas, one for general use. And a debit card, which I do use but the only reward there is that it lightens my checking account. So now, to be told I have 30,000 miles is baffling. I do know that the circumference of the earth at the equator is in the neighborhood of 25,000 miles. So, does this mean I can travel around the earth for free and still have miles left? I think I would do that trip.

         The point is, our personal information is all over the internet. Very few really worry about it. The attitude is, “So what? I have nothing to be ashamed of.” But then, when it cost you money, it becomes a bother. And the noose is tightening. My son is a smart young man. Instead of using a credit or debit card to make on-line purchases, h would go to Wal-Mart and get a Wal-Mart Visa money card. Then he would make his order that way. No way to trace his information. But now you have to activate those cards on-line, so your information is still out there.

         People have their identity compromised on Facebook and other social media platforms all the time, and still use them. We buy on-line on a regular basis without thought. It used to be that our social security numbers were not to used as ID, but now it is a standard thing.

         And with all this information, the primary goal is to separate you from your money. No one is trying to help you. No one is looking out for your best interests.

         About fifteen years ago a woman came to me. She had been phished. It is pronounced as ‘fished’ and referred to someone gaining your banking information and then taking money from your account. I don’t know if this is still a thing, but for a while it was something everyone was afraid of. This woman was distraught as she told me her tale. We talked about how easy, even then, it was for someone to do something like that. “Pastor, its almost like they are God and know everything about you. That is what has always bothered me about God. So creepy. He knows everything about me!” God being ‘creepy’ had never entered my mind. Santa Claus, yes but not God. I explained that God knowing us was like a parent knowing what was going on with their children. But she insisted that it was creepy. This told me that there was something going on with her that she wanted to hide from God. She got phished again about six months later. She was more worried about God looking out for her than she was about someone stealing from her.

         In Matthew 10 Jesus refers to the hairs on our head being numbered, or counted. This is in a portion of Scripture telling us of God’s care and love for us. God is not being ‘creepy.’ He is just being a better parent than any of us will ever be.

         God knows my need before I ever do. God knows I am going to start to slide and puts a patch of dry road in place. God knows I am going to run into someone I haven’t seen in three months and he is going to put that person’s name on my tongue. I don’t mind that God knows me so well, because I know He is not going to hurt me or cheat me or steal from me. To tell you the truth, it really bothered me that I was suddenly deluged by car ads. But God took that concern away and gave me peace about how to deal with it.

         I am just going to continue my relationship with Betsy.    

          My home computer is ancient in computer terms. The operating system is no longer supported by the manufacturer, which means I can no longer update my computer. It has been like that for a long time. However, it has files I don’t want to copy onto the lap top at the office. It has obscure webpages about Scripture that I can’t get elsewhere. And, like an old friend, it just feels good to sit down and start communicating.

         But, I am afraid its time is coming to an end. It is sad. Those files I have in it that I refer to from time to time, keep disappearing. Then, they show up in odd places. Imagine you have a neatly organized filing cabinet. Everything you want in it's proper file. And then your grandkids come over and get into everything and wind up turning the filing cabinet completely over. That is what is going on with my computer. Almost every day there is something out of place. I just bought a new monitor and now I fear I will have to buy a new computer.

         Sometimes, though, there is a benefit. The blog I write here is not my first venture into writing. I have been putting words to paper for ministry almost as long as I have been in the ministry. Recently, I had a whole file disappear. I have come to where I don’t fret over these things anymore. Once I cease to write, my writing will be forgotten within the hour. The strange thing about this incident, however, is that one article reappeared all on its own. One article out of a whole file popped up as I was trying to make another file work. As I read the article the memory all came back and I had to smile. I think most of you will relate.

         Just to bring you up to speed, Sheetz is a gas station/convenience store very popular in Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania. At the time, everyone who had a cell phone (they were all flip phones with little antennas) had their phone on a ‘plan’ and the ‘plan’ was to rip you off. I had the cheapest phone on the market because I didn’t need a plan. I could get a minutes card. I usually got one for thirty minutes a month, which was all I needed. And finally, the event took place in January in Northeast Ohio. We had just been hit with a Lake affect snow storm that was measured in feet rather than inches. It was cold, the snow was high and it was miserable. Read on;

         This past Tuesday morning dawned clear but terribly cold. It was -5º and when you added the wind chill it brought it down to -25º. Schools were closed, government offices were closed. If you didn’t have to be out you were to stay home. At the time I leave for the office, though, the traffic pretty much consists of real people going to real jobs. We are NE Ohioans. If you can see to drive, you drive.

         I stopped at Sheetz in Perry to get a cup of coffee and to buy a phone card for minutes on my cell phone. (I have found that I can have a phone plan and pay the monthly fee and all the hidden charges or I can pay as I go and save a ton. No brainer for me.) As I walked in, was a young woman standing there with a cell phone up to her ear. She was maybe 25 years old and from her clothing she looked to be a nurse. She looked bone tired, which also made me think she was a nurse. As I neared her she said, “Hi, Daddy. It’s Megan. I just wanted to let you know that my car is acting up and I finally got here to Sheetz, but I don’t think it is going to get me home.”  OK, at this point I have to tell you something. I never listen to phone conversations of other people. Mostly because I think that people in a restaurant or grocery store or some other such place who are gabbing on the phone are just being rude. I don’t need to hear their conversation, their language or their story. But (and here is the confession) this child started the conversation with “Hi, Daddy.” She looked tired, she looked beaten and she was calling Daddy. Suddenly the candy aisle, which was right behind her, got my attention. I stopped to examine the Rolos and to listen to her call.

         “No, no, Daddy. I’ll call Nick. You don’t need to come out in this cold. I just wanted you to know.” She listened for a bit more, then, “Daddy, no, it’s OK. Nick will come or I can get somebody.” I wanted to know who Nick was and why there would even be a question of his coming, but going on…. “Well, OK Daddy, if you insist. No, I am inside and it is warm enough. I’ll stand right here by the door and watch for you. OK. I love you, too.”

         Good for you, Daddy! And for Megan who, even though she is a grown woman and making her life happen, still chooses to call Daddy before she calls Nick. The bond between Daddy and Megan is still strong and probably always will be. Yes, I eavesdropped for a little bit. I didn’t buy the Rolos, either. But by the time I walked past Megan on the way out with my coffee and phone card,  I didn’t care so much about the cold. She was standing there by the door looking like a little girl waiting for Daddy. It was good.

         We call it the ‘circle of life.’ We grow up and listen to our parents when we are little, then as we hit the teen years we just roll our eyes and shake our heads at the old folks’ silliness. We become young adults and decide we need them and then we have our own kids and the cycle starts again. Meanwhile, our own folks grow old and feeble and then we say goodbye. In time it is our turn. The circle of life keeps turning.

         Except it is more than a circle. It is experiences and lessons taught and lessons learned. It is laughter and sometimes tears and memories that no one else shares. It is frustration and little victories and hugs for no reason. It is not a circle of life, it is the fullness of life.

         Daddy was probably pretty much dressed getting ready for his own job. In my mind’s eye I can see him hurriedly pulling his shoes on, getting his coat and hustling to the car. I know this because I have done it, too. So have you. And it’s worth it because somewhere there is a young person who has given us pain and joy, who is standing by a door waiting for us to come. 

         The fullness of life.

          I begin this with the understanding that not everyone sees things as I do. As much as I can, I hold forth the ideals and power of Scripture as the ultimate source of salvation and leadership in my life. I reject the notions of people as to how things should be done if it goes contrary to Scripture. I am human, and my own experience in life does color my perceptions at times, but when that happens, I always try to point out that this is my personal thought, not necessarily the Bible’s.

         I often see things that lights a fire under me but does not bother others. Perhaps this is one of those things. You may look at this and shrug your shoulders and say it doesn’t apply to you. You may look at this and not see the urgency. You may look at this and wonder why Pastor is boring us today. But it is a terrible thing to me.

         Just for some background, the Roman Catholic saint Augustine said centuries ago that only the holy go to heaven. In order to show holiness, one must do the seven sacraments of the Church. It follows, then, that one must do the sacraments to go to heaven. The word ‘sacrament’ is just another word for ‘ritual’ and may, or may not, have any roots in Scripture. The sacraments are;

1.)Baptism-Usually administered to infants, but can be given at any time, especially if a person converts to Catholicism later in life. The purpose is to absolve the person from the original sin of Adam, thus ensuring the infant will go to heaven if they die as infants. The water used in the sprinkling or pouring must be holy water, blessed by the Vatican.

2.)Confession and Penance-This is the act of confessing one’s sin and then doing something to atone for that sin. The sins are confessed to a priest who then gives some little act to do to be granted atonement. Apparently, the atonement of Jesus was not enough.

3.)Eucharist-We would call this Communion, only with a twist. First, it must be done at every Mass. The Catholics believe that the wafer becomes the actual body of Christ when it touches the tongue and the wine actually becomes the blood of Christ as it is consumed.

4.)Confirmation-This is the act of bringing the Holy Spirit into one’s life. This is done through study, good deeds and confession. Usually given to children at around twelve years of age. However, if one is converting it can be given at any time.

5.)Matrimony-The act of getting married. The purpose of marriage is to produce children. Therefore, no unnatural form of contraception may be used.

6.)Anointing the sick-This is done by the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. The oil used must be blessed by the Vatican.

7.)Holy Orders-All Catholics are tasked with the job of spreading the word of the Church. At the higher levels there are the clergy, beginning with the Pope, then the cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons and monks, nuns, or sisters. Of all of these, only the deacons are allowed to embrace the sacrament of Matrimony. The others are forbidden to marry.

Biblically speaking, none of these Sacraments are required for salvation. Penance comes the closest, but we confess to the Lord, not the priest.

Obviously, there are dozens of other rituals performed by the Catholic church that we see as pointless or downright blasphemous. But we forget just how tied these people are to their rituals.

And all of this brings me to an article I read on Tuesday.

Andres Arango is a Brazilian born Catholic priest most recently serving as pastor in Phoenix, Arizona. Before that, he served in San Diego and before that, in Brazil. For over twenty years he has served as a priest.

However, this beloved priest is no longer serving. The Roman Catholic church that, for perhaps centuries, has turned a blind eye to power, financial and sexual abuse, is lowering the boom on the Rev. Arango. And what despicable atrocity is he guilty of these last twenty odd years?

The correct words a Roman Catholic priest is to use during a baptism is, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” For over twenty years the Rev. Arango has said, “We baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Yes, you have read that right. This despicable man said, “We baptize” rather than “I baptize.” Therefore, all baptisms he has performed are invalid.

In his apology letter, priest Arango says it saddens him to find out he has been performing baptisms in wrong fashion for his whole ministry. If this is true then he didn’t realize he was in the wrong and his invalid baptisms probably numbers into the hundreds, or even the thousands.  

The words they say at all such occasions (baptisms, funerals, weddings and such) are called formulas. They will include their own little sermon, but they are locked in to the formula. To the Catholic, “We baptize you” indicates everyone in attendance has a hand in the baptism. “I baptize you” is just Jesus Christ doing the baptism, through the physical efforts of the priest, who is His appointed stand in.

In Catholic ideology, because all of these people were baptized incorrectly, they will go to Hell since they have not kept the first sacrament. Fortunately, you can go online and get it sorted out. Thank goodness for the internet! 

So, you might say that yes, this is absurd, but it is their problem. However, it is a human problem. We say right in our own church constitution that we have two sacraments, baptism and Communion. We don’t even consider the ‘sacrament’ just means ‘ritual.’ We are a ritual people. If you say, “We have never done it that way,” or “we have always done it this way,” you are expressing ritual. Sitting in the same pew, parking in the same space, eating your vegetables before your meat; ritual. Individuals have rituals, families have rituals, churches have rituals.

Rituals can stunt a person’s mental and Spiritual growth, rituals can destroy families and rituals can kill churches. Today, in the minds of hundreds and hundreds young people, they are going to Hell because their priest said ‘We’ instead of ‘I.’ In reality, it is their adherence to these rituals that is sending them to Hell.

You do not need rituals. You need Jesus as Savior and the Holy Spirit as Guide. If we open ourselves up to the Lord, we will have real freedom rather than the bondage of ritual.