Newsletter: Hebrew Holy Day of Shavuot / Pentecost

Holy Day Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

YHWH our CREATOR is willing to instruct us (Ps.32.8).
Let us be early and often at HIS throne of grace, praying, as the Psalmist did:

"Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths;
guide me in Your truth and teach me--for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long."
- Psalm 25:4-5.

The Biblically Holy Day of Pentecost, called in Hebrew, Shavuot, is this Sunday, May 23rd, (Lev.23:15-22). It is a festive atmosphere because it is the day of new revelations from YHWH! During the spring season of Holy Days, humanity learned of YHWH’s power when HE freed the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. From that example, humanity learned not to be on the wrong side of YHWH or risk winding up like Pharaoh. Fortunately, by these Spring Holy Days the Faithful have been justified and sanctified. Sanctified means spiritually set aside as Hebrews in YHWH Name. Justified means we are justified to continue to follow YHWH Ancient Path and learn HIS Wisdom and mysteries. Log on http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_spring.htm

“Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.”
- Psalm 119:165-168

The theme for this Holy Day:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
watching the evil and the good." - Proverbs 15:3

“…for God sees not as man sees,
for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

The theme in this year’s newsletter is exploring the original root meaning of the word Hebrew. Hebrew’s original meaning was to cross over, meaning all those who believe in YHWH-GOD become Hebrew when they choose to reject the ways of this evil world and choose to walk the Ancient Spiritual Path to YHWH’s Heaven. Satan is the god of this world (2Cor.4:4) and the Believers of all ethnic and national groups (Caucasian, black, oriental, Arab, whatever), become Hebrew when we cross over from the evil this world teaches, murder, hate, self indulgence, sexual perversion, to the world of our CREATOR, which is world of love, kindness, personal discipline and self reliance. The Hebrew words for “ancient path,” are netivot ‘olam, meaning “perpetual path.” In the Biblical context it would mean the “perpetual way of faith,” specifically, YHWH’S eternal Way of Faith.” YHWH’s Ancient Path is HIS Way of Faith. We know our CREATOR, YHWH, does not change, and HIS Way of Faith is revealed through HIS Holy Days. YHWH’s Covenants are the bricks that make up HIS Ancient Path, the Golden Rule is the mortar that binds them together, and HIS Holy Days are the on-ramps, informational signs, the mile markers, the guardrails - they are everything that helps us stay on HIS Path. The article continues http://www.homeworship101.com/fyi_ancient_path_of_YHWH_%20GOD.htm.

~ Holy “Hebrew” Living ~

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply!
Willing is not enough; we must do!”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832)

Holy “Hebrew” living means to live more simply, more organically, more in Harmony with YHWH’s creation, and HIS Laws. When we walk YHWH’s Ancient Path we also become Ambassadors and living examples of HIS Kingdom (2Cor.5:20; Mat.5:16). New Covenant must be lived in order to be effective. The Gospels cannot be proved by traditions, creeds and theological arguments - it is a code of how to live life, and the lessons begin at home (1Tim.5:4). Your faith cannot be proved by creeds or ritual purity; it is a moral code that is always with you and always developing until the FATHER calls us home. Unfortunately it’s not easy to be good in this world and Scriptures warn us, "…be very careful, then, how you walk!" Ephesians 5:15.

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
- Matthew 24:37

In the ancient times during the time of Noah, there were basically 2 groups of peoples, the righteous descendents of Seth, which leads to Noah, and unrighteous descendents of Cain, which lead to death. The descendents of Cain were seduced by Satan and abandoned YHWH’s Path. The decedents of Cain had a large progeny because of illicit sex and men having multiple wives. Pride was increasing in the hearts of the people, they were GODless, and Satan led these people into a fool’s paradise. Under his spiritual rule there was no moral code, resulting in much robbery, murder, and sexual perversions. People learned how to make strong drink, and drunken men would marry their sisters, or daughters, or mothers, or the daughters of their father's sister. Through intermarriage, incest and all manners of sinful abominations, in time there was no more distinction of the family relationship. Theirs was a world of rebellion against YHWH were anything goes, aberrant behavior, do-your-own-thing lifestyles, mass conformity to bizarre beliefs and practices, multiple body piercing and mutilations, tattooing, single beat tribal music, etc., it was the beginning of the ageless spirit of defiant paganism which still exists today. "The Second Book of Adam and Eve" describes the accounts of the decedents of Adam and Eve log on to http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/fbe/fbe104.htm

Here we learn of one of Satan's most cunning schemes in his warfare tactics, incrementalism (meaning: He will take in small steady steps, and do what he is unable to do in leaps). You might have heard to old saying, put a frog into hot water and it will jump out, but put it in cool water and slowly turn up the heat it will die. If a full frontal assault like those he used on Adam and Eve will not work then he will patently wait. It may take years, decades or centuries, but little by little he wears down the people's will, until they believe that there is no danger in relaxing some of the righteous rules they live by and experiment with some new seemingly more progressive ways and harmless fun. Publicly they said, “...the old ways do not cover all the needs of our developing tribes, we need a new way...” (Besides, it looks like fun and it’s a real turn-on! You can be your own gods and make up own rules!) Sadly, by the time they realized that they have been led astray it was too late to recapture their pure and innocent ways.

Today’s rebellion against YHWH and Yahshua, and glorification of crude and boorish behavior, along with the calls of diversity, multiculturalism, nonjudgmentalism, allowing others to do their own thing, is the “new-normal” of the so-called progressive, enlightened thinkers, really means society is devolving – just as Yahshua predicted – back to as it was in the days of Noah - and we know that leads the people to Satan (or the antichrist) and death. If you need more proof, consult the online source to learn the meanings of words Dictionary.com. In years past it was considered honorable to keep to your righteous beliefs, now the new-normal is that if you keep to your righteous ways then you are narrow minded, and they provide three definitions:

1) having or showing a prejudiced mind, as persons or opinions; biased.
2) not receptive to new ideas; having a closed mind.
3) extremely conservative and morally self-righteous.

The Bible says it clearly:

"You ought to live holy and godly lives." - 2 Peter 3:11

"But now you must also put away all the following:
anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language." - Colossians 3:8

"Be an example to all believers in what you
teach, in the way you live,
in your love, your faith, and your purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

The best answer to today’s loss of civility is, “you go your way, I’ll go YAHWEH” (just like Noah did). Scriptures call the Faithful to YHWH, priests, and HIS Priests should live Holy lives (Rom.12:1; Eph.1:4; Tit.1:8; 1Pet.2:9; Rev.1:6, 20:6, and many more). But what does that mean? What we generally call a holy man, paying someone, pops I mean, donating money to someone, to stay in a sanctuary separate from the community so that that person may remain holy, and then seek that person out for ones spiritual needs, is mostly a pagan custom – it is not YHWH’s idea of HIS priesthood. YHWH wants HIS Faithful to live Holy lives on a day-to-day basis while interacting with the community in our work, and play - to live and work honestly. The Apostle Peter tells “…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy,” 1Peter1:16. It is easy enough to understand, and easy enough to read it in Scriptures – but there is still much debate on the topic. Generally people would rather make an icon and worship it instead of living a holy life. Oy vey, the mishegoss of religion.

~ A Précis History ~

"Is this really the church of Christ,
or are we just calling it the church
because of our traditions and history?"
-K.P. Yohannan.

Generally I get a lot of criticism from the Christian world for going, as they say, backwards and following the Biblical or “Hebrew” Holy Days. So I ask them, “…don’t Christians observe Pentecost?” That is a Holy Day listed in Leviticus ch.23, why are some Holy Days important and some are not?” All the Holy Days are for the Hebrews and gentiles, and they are all important, if there is any more doubt then look to the ceremony at the Jerusalem Temple for this day and learn. Here, on this Holy Day, lies the simple answer waved in front of you, but many do not see.

The Temple ceremony required the high priest to wave two loaves of bread over the altar as an offering to YHWH. The offering of two loaves of bread is a product of craftsmanship (different from a harvest or blood offering). Unlike the previous Holy Days with symbols of unleavened bread, these two loaves of bread are made with yeast - the symbol for sin. With a skilled hand each loaf begins with the best ingredients, it is then mixed, stirred, kneaded, raised, flattened, raised again, and carefully baked to perfection. Think about it, doesn’t it sound a lot like the spiritual evolution of the Israelites and gentiles, being guided by the hand of our CREATOR? Here on this Holy Day the Israelites and the gentiles are spiritually represented as two loaves of bread being offered to YHWH.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever."
- Psalm 111:10

With the start of the – Biblical – New Year and Passover season, YHWH began HIS great spiritual opera with a stunning display of HIS almighty power (Exo.ch.7-11). It got the Hebrews attention and they were watching. As I mentioned above, a subtle meaning of the Passover season often missed is that the Faithful are sanctified, and justified. Now they have to learn how to stay that way, and on this Holy Day comes the day of new revelations on how to live righteously. For those walking YHWH’s Ancient Path this Holy Day shows us the guardrails to keep us on HIS Path – lest we go off the road and lose our way, or worse yet, have a horrible accident. Sadly, the true meaning of this Holy Day generally goes unnoticed by the religious world, because for most people living righteously is inconvenient to their faith.

“Open my eyes, that I may see
wondrous things from Your law.”
- Psalm 119:18

For those who can see, and have ears to hear, this next act in YHWH’s Spiritual Opera opens with more stunning miracles. This Holy Day celebrates YHWH Commandments because on this day in ancient times Moses brought the Torah and the Ten Commandments down from Mt. Sinai beginning YHWH'S mystical union with the Hebrew church (Exo.ch.19). About 1500 years later, in the time of the Apostles, this day was known as the day that the Holy Spirit, (Hebrew: the Ruach HaKodesh) of YHWH, was sent by Yahshua-Jesus to the true Believers, beginning His mystical union with the Hebrew-Gentile Messianic-Christian Church (Act.ch.2).

The Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) is a prophesied gift to the Faithful, made available by the success of the suffering Messiah over evil. The Holy Spirit lives within the bodies of the Believers of both men and women. It is our helper, our guiding intuition, and our strength. The day the Ruach HaKodesh was originally given was a wonderful early-summer morning. It was around 9 am. The Faithful were bright and cheerful, and of one accord. They had just heard the scriptural lesson from the Prophet Ezekiel 1:4, "Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire."

And then, just a short while later, as they were talking among themselves, a miracle happened! "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them,…" Act.2:2-3. Wow! Our FATHER has impeccable timing! Read through Acts ch 2, it was a wonderful stunning miracle, and it got everybody’s attention!

There are some more subtle spiritual events that also began on this day. With the giving of the Holy Spirit, this Holy Day also marks the beginning of the Age of Grace. Grace is the advanced trait of mercy. In the Old Testament times the penalty for sin is death. Now this is an age of forgiveness, and for learning to become a better person, and a better community. Log on for more info: http://www.homeworship101.com/age_of_grace.htm

Also on this day, communication with the Heavenly Powers just became easier. YHWH, via the Holy Spirit, now empowers the Believer with HIS Spiritual Powers-Tools. In Daniel ch.10, the Archangel Gabriel wanted to visit Daniel to relay a message from YHWH, but he prevented from that task by Satan’s dark angels. He had to fight the dark forces for 21 days, and only succeeded when the Archangel Michael came to help. Here we get a hint, that at times, it wasn’t always easy for the righteous powers to communicate to the Faithful on earth, but now that has all changed. Prayer, baptism, blessing, anointing, laying on of hands, are all ways for the Believer to communicate with the Heavenly Powers. The Spiritual Power-Tools are important defensive tools because the Faithful is in the middle of a raging spiritual war, unfortunately most churches do not teach the laity how to use them. Satan knows, “to lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away,” and he has been busy corrupting YHWH’s Knowledge.

~ YHWH’s Universal Laws ~

"The law of the LORD is perfect--reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy--making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right--giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant--giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure--enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold--even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey--even honey dripping from the comb.
By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."
- Psalm 19:7-11

Since ancient times, this was the Holy Day that celebrates the giving of YHWH’S Laws. Unfortunately, many of today’s Believers, get a little nervous feeling when talking about YHWH’S Laws. But YHWH'S Kingdom is based on law and order, first introduced to humanity through the universal Covenants given to Adam and then again to Noah. Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c5_sacred_covenants.htm

“Blessed are those who do His commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral
and murderers and idolaters,
and whoever loves and practices a lie.”
- Revelation 22:14-15

In the time of Noah, before there was any religion there was the Rainbow Covenant, and from it Noah preached to a-l-l the generations after the flood what is today called the 7 Noahic Laws or commandments. The Orientals, the blacks, the whites, everyone with a belly button, all learned the same 7 Commands which formed the successful building blocks for the new world communities. Later in time, YHWH chose Moses to give the 10 commands to his Hebrew church, and Yahshua endorsed them for his Messianic church. Sometimes Christians forget not everyone applies themselves to the narrower path of the higher Covenants, one must remember that most of the world lives under the Rainbow Covenant and the Noahic Laws. Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_10_commands.htm

"Learn from Me--for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:29

Some people call me legalistic, but they don’t get it. The Ten Commandments are still in effect, and they give us freedom. This is not a modern concept, in ancient China, Confucius sought to transmit the wisdom of the ancient sages. Opposite of the Roman ways, Confucius and his disciples distrusted written laws. He felt that a dusty statute book was too inflexible to handle the infinite variety of human experience. He chose to trust people, not laws, and taught a philosophy of personal virtue, devotion to family, and social justice, and to rely on innate human goodness as the best guarantee of a civil society. He was probably closer to the Biblical mark of the Noadic Covenant teachings, than most give him credit for. The reasoning for a moral personal and community philosophy is simple, the more moral the society, the less community laws are needed to govern or control them. In other words, our FATHER'S few simple Laws give us freedom from the millions of laws in mankind's dusty statue books. America’s founding fathers were wise men that knew their history and Bibles, and they also knew this Divine truth of promoting a moral community.

“if thou wilt enter life, keep the commandments."
-Yahshua, Matthew 19.17

The above quote seems straightforward and easy to understand,
so what’s the point of arguing about something that has already been decided?

It is part of the Believer’s covenant obligation to obey the Commandments. YHWH’s main Laws are generally known as the Ten Commandments, (there are 613 Laws in the Torah, but the main commandments are YHWH’s Seven Commands given to Noah which apply all humanity, and YHWH’s Ten Commands given to Moses are for those who follow the narrower path of the higher Covenants). Many get a little weak kneed when I talk about obeying YHWH’s Laws and I always get letters telling me I’m getting legalist in my theology (GOD-talk). Law vs. Grace is an age-old argument. It is true, no one can keep the Law perfectly, and Grace, which faith leads us to, saves us. But I always ask, can an unrepentant murder or adulterer get a free pass into heaven just because he or she believes? Skip to the end of the Biblical story, Rev.20:12-13 (judged by works), 21:7-8, (in this verse I always wondered who the cowardly are that do not make it), and 22:14-16, at least three times HE reminds us to hold to the righteous path.

"The world with its lust is passing away,
but the one who does God’s will remains forever!" - 1 John 2:17

GOD allows U-Turns! In ancient times, the Law was written in hard stone. Now, the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit, writes it on our warm hearts. And the Gospel lesson of Grace is: Don't judge and condemn too quickly. If some people have a genuine change of heart, and wants to change their ways, then we should learn to forgive and show mercy.

“Christians, who claim the promise of GOD, should obey the Commandments of GOD.” Yet, many theologians would say the Law has been relaxed in this Age of Grace - this is simply not true. Some have perverted the message of Grace into what is called “Eternal Security,” meaning you can sin but as long as you believe in Christ you will be saved. They say you can commit adultery, lie, steal, take bribes because you believe in Christ and He forgives you – sic. This is a false sense of security, because as we will learn on a later Holy Day of Atonement, if one sins, then one must repent, and then try very hard NOT to do that sin again. For example, you cannot be an adulterer, say I’m sorry to your spouse, I won’t do it again, and continue being an adulterer, then expect to go to heaven, and Yahshua concurs (Jon. 5:14, 8:11).

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness,
and speaks the truth in his heart;
he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor,
nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but he honors those who fear the Lord;
he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
he who does not put out his money at usury,
nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.”
- Psalm 15:1-5

We have one CREATOR with one vision! Many will argue that YHWH’S Law has been suspended in this Age of Grace, but it's a no-brainer, our FATHER'S Kingdom is based on law and order. Even the angels live by the Law. It’s the rabbinic laws (man designed laws) that Yahshua criticized, but regarding His FATHER’s Laws He clearly stated, He didn't come to break the Law (Mat.5:17). If anything, He raised the stakes - evil thoughts now constitute sin. The Gospel message is: Don't even think about it! (Mat.5:8). A letter from the second century puts living under YHWH’S Law beautifully, log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/wp_early_christians.htm

Some others believe they are above the Law and many of today’s world’s leaders - priests, politicians, corporate leaders, etc. - live with this Hellenist/Roman attitude: There is one law for the rulers, and another law for the ruled. This is not our FATHER’S idea of an everlasting society. The Faithful accept the Kingdom Laws because YHWH lives by them, and so do all HIS interstellar societies.

~ The Greatest Commandment – the Golden Rule! ~

Teach your children the Golden Rule
and the world will thank you.

At the very least, this Holy Day should be known as “the Golden Rule Day!” Much has been written regarding the Law, but I specialize in the short version. The bottom-line Law governing all interstellar relations with angels, humans, or otherwise, is the Golden Rule (Mat.7:12). It is universal, and it is the height of spiritual maturity. Many churches and religious leaders are struggling to define spiritual maturity, but in reality it is not that hard. It is easy to say but hard to do, when you have learned to fully apply the Golden Rule to your life and character, then you have reached the height of spiritual maturity.

Satan has engineered many religious walls and divisions among the Faithful, but a-l-l humanity has our CREATOR and the Golden Rule in common - even those who do not believe. There is a Golden Rule in every religion and I have listed them all on my website, with a short history, and some notable quotes – I just wonder why more churches do not teach it. Log on: http://www.homeworship101.com/golden_rule.htm

~ YHWH’s Universal Laws of Health ~

“…[man’s] days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
- Genesis 6:3

YHWH’s Holy Day are more than just a ritual observance, every Holy Day has parts of it that address the body, mind, and spirit. I covered some of them in the Spring Holy Days and on this Holy Day YHWH also gives us HIS Laws of Health. YHWH has these Laws not as a sacrifice to HIM, and they are not just for the Jews, but for a-l-l of humanities own benefit. Like the Commandments above, if we learn to live by them we will have peace in our house and community – they are the gift of life. If we learn YHWH’s Health Laws then we will have a healthy and vigorous body - they are the gift of life. Just to drive home the point, HE gives us an example.

“Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished” (Deu.34:7). Here YHWH is showing us what good exercise (lot’s of walking) and good – natural/organic non-processed - foods can do for you. Today’s alternative medicine is really YHWH’s medicine, some call it the worlds oldest health care plan – it is sad that today with all the talk about providing people with government health care nothing is mentioned about personal responsibility and taking care of yourself by eating the right foods and using herbs.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,
just as your soul prospers.”
- 3John 1:2

Our CREATOR created humanity it stands to reason HE would know what is best for us. Many books of the Bible references foods, oils, herbs, and rules governing their cultivation, preparation, and consumption. The ancient Hebrew people are remembered for their high standards of public health and hygiene, and the use of plants for medicinal purposes was an accepted custom. There is much to say about Biblical foods and health and there are many good books on the subject. We cannot cover all of them here but I’ll site some of the high points to get you started, and remember very little processing and organic is closer to YHWH’s original design, the dietary laws are in Lev.ch.11 and Deu.ch.14; herbs Gen1:11-12, Heb.6:7 (see my links page for herbal healthcare); Salt – real sea salt - is a biggie Lev.2:13 (see my Salt Covenant web pages); farming in Deu.22:9; breeding of animals Lev.19:19; hidden treasures of the fields Jer.41:8; Ezekiel’s bread Ezk.4:9; Noah planted a vineyard Gen.9:20, wine for health 1Tim.5:23, wine for happiness Jud.9:27, Psa.104:15 - but not for drunkenness Eph.5:18; Honey is mentioned often Pro.24:13; etc..

“If you obey them carefully,
you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations.
When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim,
'What other nation (people) is as wise and prudent as this!'
...Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live!
And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.”
- Deuteronomy 4:6, 9 (NLT)

It will be a long summer growing season under this Age of Grace, stay on the Path. The Faithful are always longing for the coming of the Messiah to usher in the Kingdom of peace, but this Age remains open to collect as many Believers as possible. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance," 2Pet.3:9.

Enjoy the journey of learning…
> http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_spring.htm
> http://www.homeworship101.com/holy_days_spring_observance.htm
> http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c8_age_of_grace.htm
> http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c6_hellenism_romanism.htm
> http://www.homeworship101.com/sp-t7_sacred_assembly.htm
> Hebrew 101 http://www.homeworship101.com/NL_2010_01.htm

We wish you peace and safety during your summer travels.
REMEMBER: No matter where you are traveling in the galaxy, the Golden Rule rules!
Take care. Have a blessed Holy Day, Errol.
**********************************************
Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire
e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com
website: www.homeworship101.com
**********************************************

WSC Newsletter 2010-07, posted 05/22/10.

Copyright © 2010 Errol Mueller. All rights reserved. Short quotations, page copying, or redistribution for personal or non-commercial group study is permitted and encouraged, provided they are copied in total with no alterations or deletions. Author’s name, website address, and copyright notice must be included. If any other use is desired, written permission is required.
For information, email or call (334) 678-0913. White Stone Communications (Rev.2:17), Dothan, AL.
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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