A Wife and a Witness

06/19/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 28:11-16
"11 After three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had [j]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 [k]There we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. 15 And from there the brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the [l]Market of Appius and the [m]Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him."

Thoughts- How many people did Paul influence in his lifetime? How many people did he bring to a saving knowledge of Christ? How many people took an interest in his cause? How many people believers or not, did God through His Holy Spirit, employ to get Paul safely to Rome? How about looking all the way back to Stephen as Saul held the coats of those that were stoning him. How many times do you think that Saul considered the glow on Stephen's face as he was being stoned, after Saul met Christ on the road to Damascus?
Things change in our lives. We are not the same people at 65 as we are at 15, or 25, or even 45. Things happen in our lives that shape us and polish us. Things also happen that make us slower to judge, quicker to love and show compassion. In this passage I stop and I ask the question about the soldier that was guarding Paul. It's one that we will never know the answer to, the Bible doesn't say, "Did Paul bring his guard to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?" I mean consider being in the presence of Paul day and night for how long? Someone must have gone to the leaders and vouched for Paul that he wouldn't try to escape. That he would not be any trouble left on his own with a single guard.
As I read through Acts- as a new convert even to this year I confess to looking for the miracles. The exciting, the earth changing- the attention getters in the scriptures. But when you start reading to understand- to see what truly happened during the life and times of the first church, I found the miracles in the relationships- the every day goings on. When the Holy Spirit prevented them from going where they shouldn't go, when divisions became divine opportunities for the gospel to move twice as fast. Where persecution becomes progressive evangelism. Today, who are you ministering to in your journey? Who are you influencing for God? How are you proclaiming Jesus to the world around you?

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06/18/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:1-10
"28 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. 10 They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.
Thoughts- Not only has Paul been given the opportunity to speak to the Jews and Gentiles in Synagogues, in his journey he has brought a Philippian jailer and his household to salvation. He has brought onto his team a Greek/Jewish young man named Timothy. He has spoken to Kings, and Roman leaders in different times and places. He has brought Godly knowledge everywhere that he has gone- even when he almost went down with the ship! Once they had landed on that "sand bar" that the angel of the Lord mentioned in the last chapter, they are surrounded by natives on the island. For all the ill treatment at the hands of his peers every where else he has been, the natives take care of their injuries, keep them warm and fed. In trying to help with the fire, Paul encounters a viper. Paul shakes it off into the fire and the natives then consider him some kind of a god. Paul lays hands on the father of the leader of the island and he is healed from a fever and dysentery. He then heals many people there that had other sicknesses. Paul never turns anyone away, and continues ministering the entire 3 months on the island. Even when recovering from shipwreck, he continues to give glory to God.
My question to you today- who is someone who unexpectedly supplied you with everything you need? Then who did you give credit to for your needs being met?
My list could go on for a really long time. I can think of many, but a couple stand out big! Not for any large thing or opportunity but for sometimes silent faithfulness. A friendship, a taking care of us when we needed it financially when it wasn't expected or even thought about by us. We have a group of friends and family who went to the mat for us preparing a benefit for Bill's expenses for his treatments and needs for his cancer. We so appreciate that help. We use it to pay for Bill's appointments and travel expenses, which will be higher with having treatments in Ann Arbor now. These few (some of whom have since died of other things and a few with cancer themselves) provided a way for others to join with them to bless us in a kind and generous way and we thank many of you for that blessing. We continue to be blessed by many prayers and thoughts and offers of help. We thank you and we thank God for putting each of you in our lives for our good and for God's glory!
Thank you seems in adequate for all that God has blessed us with! But it is all that we have to do other than pass it on to the next person! You know that we will. Thank You!

Bill Bowser benefit account is still active at Huntington Bank.

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06/17/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:21-44
21 When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that [n]it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”
27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak. 30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.
33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul kept encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing. 34 Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37 We were 276 people on the ship in all. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by throwing the wheat out into the sea.
39 Now when day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did notice a bay with a beach, and they resolved to run the ship onto it if they could. 40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach. 41 But they struck a reef where two seas met and ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck firmly and remained immovable, while the stern started to break up due to the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from accomplishing their intention, and commanded that those who could swim were to jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land."
Thoughts - we pick up today where we left off yesterday. Paul is on a boat- well what's left of the boat after almost 2 weeks of sailing in stormy seas- they are on the brink of despair. But Paul has had a word from an angel of God saying that Paul would stand before Caesar. And that no lives would be lost from the boat, if they would keep up their courage. Paul becomes a Barnabas- a Son of Encouragement to these on the boat with him. He gets them to eat, he gives them good advice, He even gives thanks to God in the middle of the storm before they knew whether they would make it to land or not. That is what faith looks like- Thanking God in the middle of the storm. It is being thankful that things aren't as bad as they could be. It is being thankful that there is a hope even when things could be darker than they've ever been. It is being thankful that God provided enough pieces from the boat for every one to get safely to land.
That plank or piece of wood in your life may be a decision that you made that is paying off when you need it most. It may be being in the right place at exactly the right time for God to show up and shine. It may be just holding your head above water for a second or two as you get swamped with another wave of grief, shame or confusion.
Again, I don't really "pick" and choose these scriptures. We've been looking for verses on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we don't see the name spelled out in the verses, sometimes the description of what is happening shows the footprints of God all over it. We find that over and over again in the book of Acts. Miraculous healings, salvation not just from sin either, imagine all the sailors of the boat with Paul, who are told in the middle of the worst storm they've ever been in "no lives will be lost from the boat." In your greatest joys and your hardest storms Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide.
Thanks to all who have been praying for us today. If you would like an update on my hubby, we've updated his account. See less
Bill Bowser
caringbridge.org
Bill Bowser

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06/16/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:1-25
"27 Now when it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to turn Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan cohort, named Julius. 2 And we boarded an Adramyttian ship that was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, and put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul started admonishing them, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the [d]captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
13 When a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, closer to shore.
Shipwreck
14 But before very long a violent wind, called Euraquilo, rushed down from the land; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head up into the wind, we gave up and let ourselves be driven by the wind. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were able to get the ship’s [h]boat under control only with difficulty. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and let themselves be driven along in this way. 18 The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned.
21 When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”
Thoughts- How many times have you heard or read this story about Paul? Can you picture it on a flannelgraph board, or maybe an Adventures of the Bible video played out in the 80's or '90's? Maybe you were the teacher telling the story to a roomful of children? Or maybe during a sermon you thought, "Yep, I've heard this story before.
Today read it again! PUT YOURSELF IN the BOAT! Feel the wind, see the terror as the boat is rocking and tipping. See the things being tossed overboard. Not just the cargo- not just the provisions- the tackle- the riggings- the very things that make a boat - a boat. The things needed to propel it. Each sail, each rope is necessary to their survival but it is also leading to their doom. They chuck it all in the seas. Yet, "All hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned."
Have you ever been there? At the crossroads of hope and despair. You've done everything you can. prayed every prayer over that relationship. You've taken all the drugs and treatments. You've saved all the money that you thought you would need. You took all the classes to follow your career path. You've hung your clothes outside to save a dime or two, maybe planted a garden and watched the bunnies get fat. Life doesn't always happen the way we plan. Sometimes the biggest storm we can imagine destroys all that we have worked for, ruined everything that might have "saved us."
Now what? For Paul, God spoke to him through the Holy Spirit, tells these sailors and those who are traveling with them- Guys! You should have listened to me! (Joy paraphrase) I am sure that went over like a fart in church! You shouldn't have started out on this journey. BUT keep your chins up! We're going to be fine, no one's going to die- but you are going to lose the ship. How can he say this? How does he know? Because an angel of the Lord told Paul that he would stand before Caesar. Paul believes that God will do all that He says He will, Exactly how He says it will happen!
That's the faith that I want! That's the faith that I need!
Nothing happens as an accident. God's timing is always spot on- never late- never early. Today I need to read this story and let it fill me with hope. We are at our own crossroads- tomorrow we'll find out answers. I need to remember this! I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
#1- "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us," Ephesians 3:20
#2 "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."2 Timothy 1:12
#3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Peter 1:3
IYKYK- Please pray for us tomorrow. The meditation will probably post in the late afternoon or evening.

06/15/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 26:19-32
"19 “For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but continually proclaimed to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they are to repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For these reasons some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, 23 as to whether the Christ was to suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
24 While Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with truthful and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you are going to persuade me to make a Christian of myself.” 29 And Paul said, “I would wish to God that even in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these chains.”
30 The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Thoughts- Has anyone ever accused you of being "crazy" in your zeal for pursuing the Lord and telling others of His love and mercy?
If so, what was your response? Were you encouraged by it or were you discouraged by it? We see that Paul uses Festus accusation as a "launch pad" to say even more to King Agrippa. It is at that point of this sermon/speech that Paul changes the style of his speech from narrative (telling a story) to propositional (listener needs to make a choice; is given a proposition)
Paul says to King Agrippa that the King knows about these things that have happened. He puts Festus on notice that he (Paul) is speaking the truth and is doing so in a rational manner.
He engages King Agrippa in a dialogue and point our asks him if he believes the words of the prophets? Then he answers for King Agrippa- "I know that you believe." We are left thinking that this has been discussed before at some time and that Paul (maybe while he was Saul) has had a meeting of the minds regarding these things before.
The King makes the statement to Paul that he may "persuade me to make a Christian of myself.” Paul's response is that he would want every one to believe as he does. and become such as he is, "except for the chains."
As Festus and King Agrippa and others are departing from Paul- they overwhelming judgment is that Paul could have walked free- had he not requested to be taken to Caesar.
Today- are you able to speak as Paul? Are you willing to inconvenience yourself for the cause of Christ? Are you willing to make a stand that to others may appear just a little crazy? How far are you willing to take your story of salvation and God's love to you?

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06/14/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 26:1-18
"26 Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
2 “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 6 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?
9 “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. 11 And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
12 “While so engaged, as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but continually proclaimed to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they are to repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For these reasons some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, 23 as to whether the Christ was to suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Thoughts-Paul had an amazing life. Paul had a life of suffering and trials as well. On this particular day and this particular time Paul had an audience with a King and Queen. He used it to proclaim Jesus Christ. He told about who he (Paul) had been. What he knew and how he knew it. He did not sugar coat how far he had gone in persecuting those who followed Christ. He spoke of how he had experienced meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and the plan that Jesus had for him to share the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles.
He used Old Testament prophets and scriptures to support what he spoke about Jesus.
Today we can live dynamic lives as we share our testimony, our witness with others. One on one, in a group of friends, to our families, to strangers in the street lives can be changed when we speak the truth of Jesus in our own lives with those around us!
It is Sunday! I hope I will see you in church! Maybe I won't see you in MY Church, but please find a church to attend if you don't currently have a church home.
Let's have a little fun today. Comment below where you currently attend! Let's build each other up- give others some ideas of some church bodies that may be near them. I'll start!

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06/13/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 25:13:27
"13 Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea]\ and paid their respects to Festus. 14 While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix; 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. 17 So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. 18 When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, 19 but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he *said, “you shall hear him.”
Paul before Agrippa
23 So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus *said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”
Thoughts- Sometimes it is the simple truth that comes out that holds us up to the trials of the day. In Paul's case, even those outside the Jewish faith were hesitant to stand against him. For the smallest of reasons. This Festus couldn't wrap his head around sending Paul before Caesar without any "charges". Yet, in his confusion of how to proceed he speaks to the King, Agrippa about Paul. Paul is able to speak to these rulers and Kings the gospel of Jesus and is again protected by those outside of "God's Circle." In hindsight we see the fingerprints of God all over each and every interaction, weaving together the path that Paul will walk as he goes to Rome.
Today let's walk in simple truth. Let's enjoy the small victories, the opportunities to share Jesus with who we are with today. We live in unsure times, maybe someone needs to hear God's good news and he has sent you before them. Allow the Spirit to speak in us and through us today! Amen!

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