Cowford Catechism: Recent Episodes
Kenny Roberts & Travis Bennett
On the Cowford Catechism podcast, we are diving into Scripture in order to define terms in love from a biblical perspective. We seek to equip the Church by defending doctrine, dispelling deception, and developing disciples.
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What does the Bible say about abortion and how should that shape our views about it as Christians? This will be one of our more serious and difficult episodes due to the nature of this topic and the consequences of it.
Check out Nancy Pearcey's book "Love Thy Body" here - https://shorturl.at/dmSBW
Listen to Pastor Kenny's sermon on abortion here - https://shorturl.at/Gq2SR
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Church membership might not seem like an exciting or relevant topic, but it's one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. In this episode, we explore a church membership covenant and discuss how we can honor the Lord by following the biblical principles laid out for members of local churches.
Here's a link to the membership covenant we walked through: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/11lsumjsbfmuty43q8nwi/MISSIONWAY-MEMBERSHIP-COVENANT.pdf?rlkey=hm65isv0aag86nqfzvyzjvxlw&dl=0
Here's a link to the sermon on Giving that Kenny mentions in the episode: https://www.missionwaychurch.org/watch?sapurl=LytoeTJ6L2xiL21pLytjY204OXNrP2VtYmVkPXRydWUmcmVjZW50Um91dGU9YXBwLndlYi1hcHAubGlicmFyeS5saXN0JnJlY2VudFJvdXRlU2x1Zz0lMkI1cWM1ajN6
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When you are hit with anxiety, fear, addictions, life's hardest questions, etc. where do you turn? Do you believe that the Bible is enough for the Christian in helping us think through and honor God in all areas of life? In other words: do you believe the Bible is sufficient for life and godliness?
This episode will challenge all of us to make sure that we are thinking and living biblically in all areas of our lives. This discussion matters for every believer and we hope you listen and are encouraged by it.
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We often tell people that God led us to make a particular decision or do a certain thing. Can we truly claim to know when God is leading us? How do we know when God is leading us in a particular direction? How do we discern His will for us in specific situations? Let's talk about it on Leftovers!
You can also listen to our full-length episode on the miraculous spiritual gifts that we reference in this episode here: https://cowfordcatechism.buzzsprout.com/1341109/15073334-cessationism-do-tongues-healings-miracles-etc-happen-today
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This episode is all about defining and making the biblical case for what is known as cessationism. How should we think about what are known as the sign gifts or miraculous gifts of the Spirit? Are they still in operation today? If not, does that mean we do not believe in the miraculous? Find out this and more on this episode.
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Many Christians partake of communion often without really knowing the true meaning and significance of it. This episode seeks to help you truly understand the beauty and importance of this sacrament and help you deepen your worship of Jesus and fellowship with His people when partaking of the Lord's Supper.
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How can you find a biblical church near you? What are the things you should be looking for and what are things that are just preferences that shouldn't matter as much.
Here are some great places to search for a solid church near you:
https://tms.edu/find-a-church/
https://www.9marks.org/church-search/
https://church.founders.org/
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We all have to forgive the people in our lives. We all have also been on the receiving end of others having to forgive us. What is biblical forgiveness and how am I supposed to forgive someone who won't even acknowledge what they did or ask for my forgiveness? On this episode, we answer this and other really hard but important questions about forgiveness.
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This "leftovers" episode really is an extension of the conversation we had on our latest full episode on transgenderism. It would be immensely helpful for you to listen to that episode first if you have not yet. In this "leftovers," we tackle the question of "transition surgeries." How should we think about them as Christians?
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Part two of our LGBTQ+ episode specifically addresses the issue of transgenderism. How should Christians think about and discuss this topic with grace and truth? We encourage you to email any thoughts or questions to cowfordcatechism@gmail.com
Mentioned in this episode were the following resources:
Nancy Pearcy - Love Thy Body
https://a.co/d/j5eL3XA
Amy Hall - A Response to an Employer’s Request for Pronouns
https://www.str.org/w/a-response-to-an-employer-s-request-for-pronouns
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Another listener question came to us asking if it's possible to be a Christian and vote for the Democratic party. While this is a highly controversial topic with people on both sides of the argument, it's an important one still. We do our best in 15 minutes to give you some principles to think about.
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On this edition of leftovers, we respond to a listener's question:
"Something I have been puzzled by is how could an organization like the Southern Baptist Convention have so many leaders and pastors involved in sexual sin? "
We discuss that question along with the broader issue of leaders and pastors falling into sexual sin and how local churches should fight against it taking root in their congregations.
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WE HAVE A NEW CO-HOST!
Nate O'Brien comes into the Cowford Catechism family to replace Travis Bennett who is not able to continue hosting the podcast due to life just being really busy. That being said, Kenny is excited to welcome Nate on as a cohost from here on out.
This episode continues our season where we are discussing "controversial" topics. This one will need at least two episodes because we are breaking down the LGBTQ+ community and how Christians should think about and respond to this movement.
These are the two books we recommended during the episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Can-You-Gay-Christian-Homosexuality/dp/162136593X
https://www.amazon.com/Same-Sex-Controversy-Clarifying-Homosexuality/dp/0764225243/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U4WJFHIA32AJ&keywords=James+white+homosexuality&qid=1677099423&s=books&sprefix=james+white+homosexualit%2Cstripbooks%2C113&sr=1-1
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We have a very special guest joining us on this episode to discuss a very important subject. Isaiah Hendrix helps us have a discussion about the movement that calls itself "Black Lives Matter." Season 3 is all about controversial subjects and this one is no slouch on the list of those. How should Christians think about and respond to this movement?
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On this leftovers episode, we discuss what is known as the "Billy Graham Rule." It's been a topic of controversy not only in Christian circles but even in the secular workplace. Should you ever be alone with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse? We give our thoughts.
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Since we're talking about wokeness and other controversial topics in season 3, we thought it would be helpful to also have a conversation about whether Christians should still watch and pay for services like Disney. With only 15 minutes and no notes, we try to give some thoughts on that.
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Season 3 is kicking off as we discuss controversial topics. The first one we want to talk about is the concept of "wokeness." What does it mean to be woke and why can that be a dangerous thing for a Christian? This is really an introduction to the rest of season 3 where we will be diving into many of the topics within the idea of wokeness. Join us and email any feedback or questions to cowfordcatechism@gmail.com
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Kenny and Travis are joined by Cory Williams who once professed faith in Christ, but has since walked away from Christianity. The conversation begins with a question about Christian universalism and develops into a discussion about the nature of absolute truth and why a loving God would send anyone to hell. This episode is longer than normal because the conversation was really hard to walk away from. We pray this encourages you to defend the faith and to do so with kindness and respect.
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With the rise in popularity of TV shows like The Chosen, we thought it would be good to have a discussion about whether or not Christians should watch TV shows that depict Bible stories. How should we discern when we should and shouldn't watch them? Is this a black and white issue.
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It's no secret that church attendance across America seems to be on the decline. There are many opinions out there as to why this might be the case. We offer just a few of our own thoughts on this on this episode.
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In this episode, we discuss the different beliefs Christians have in regard to creation. As believers, we all agree that God created everything, but was it a literal 7-day creation? How do we think biblically about such an important theological belief? We also talk about how old the earth actually is. You don't want to miss this one!
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For the very first time, we have a guest on the podcast. Pastor Keith Foskey joins us to discuss whether or not Jesus could have sinned while on earth. We all agree as Christians that Jesus did not sin, but was it a possibility for Him to sin or not? Why does this even matter? Pastor Keith gives us what he believes to be the most biblical answer to this question in this episode of the podcast.
You can also watch this episode on our YouTube channel here - https://youtu.be/JDkILk5WTlo
Check out Keith's podcast here - https://anchor.fm/medford-foskey
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We've already discussed angels, so it's only natural that we now talk about demons. There are so many misunderstandings about fallen angels and as a result, there seems to be a great amount of fear associated with how we view them. Should ee fear them? Who are they? Where do they come from? What do they do? Can a believer be possessed by a demon? We answer these and other questions about demons in this episode.
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Let's face it, we've all had at least a few times in our lives when we've pictured angels that look like a "Precious Moments" ornament. But what does the Bible actually say about these often mysterious beings? Where did they come from? What do they do? What do they actually look like? Join us as we try to answer these questions on this episode.
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Season three is all about difficult doctrines and we aren't sure if there is a more difficult one than Eschatology (end times). Ask 10 different Christians how the world is going to end and you may get 5 answers, 3 fits of laughter, and two confused stares. We want to help give you an overview of different viewpoints of the end times and help bring at least a little clarity to this often debated doctrine.
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Season 3 kicks off where we will be discussing difficult doctrines. Maybe one of the first that comes to mind for many of us is the Trinity. Protestants know the Trinity to be true, but many cannot explain it biblically. So what is the Trinity, why does it matter, and how do we explain it? More importantly, does the Bible even teach it?
Check out the following resources for further study:
1. Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett
2. The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain
3. The Forgotten Trinty by James White
Also, you can check out Kenny's sermons on the Trinity on their church's podcast - MissionWay Church Sermon Audio.
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Is it wrong to not attend church every single week? Why is it such a big deal if we don't go to church? Can't we just watch online when we're tired? Let's talk about it.
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Of course, we know the Bible is not ultimately about us, but do we read it that way sometimes? When we read stories like David and Goliath, what are we supposed to do with the characters of the story? Should we figure out which one we resonate most with and then apply the story to our lives? Is our goal to simply be more like David than Goliath? Let's talk about how to read the stories of our Bibles together.
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When we gather together on Sundays, who should we be focused on ministering to - believers or unbelievers? Of course, our primary focus is to worship Jesus, but should we gear the sermons, worship, prayers, etc to those who are lost or our brothers and sisters in Christ? In other words, is the Sunday worship service about evangelism or discipleship?
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For a long time, many Christians have often wondered and debated if it's a sin to drink alcohol. In this episode, we try to have a biblical and honest conversation around that question.
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A current conversation happening in many Christian circles is whether or not we should be singing worship songs that are written and produced by churches or artists that teach false doctrine. Should we sing songs from some of our favorite artists even though they are not teaching sound theology?
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Kenny is joined by Nate O'Brien for this special edition of Leftovers where they discuss essential doctrines of the Christian faith. What are the things we have to believe in order to truly be Christians?
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How should Christian parents think about holidays such as Christmas and Easter that have been hijacked by the culture? We talk all things Santa, Easter Bunny, and even Halloween on this Leftovers episode and try to give you some things to think about as a parent approaching this often controversial topic.
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This is something many parents are currently thinking and praying through. It's a difficult topic with people who are passionate on both sides of the aisle. We want to get to the heart of the matter and hopefully help you think biblically about this issue.
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In the Season 2 finale, we dive into Roman Catholicism. It may be one of the more controversial episodes in this series but we believe it is important to discuss. We talk about their history, theology, and how to evangelize a Catholic. We also talk about whether or not someone can be saved in the Catholic Church, among other difficult topics. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please email us at cowfordcatechism@gmail.com
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The question is simple: should Christians partake in marijuana use? Hear some of our thoughts on the issue.
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The fourth of July was just a couple weeks ago so we decided it would be fun to talk about patriotism and it's place in the life of a Christian.
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Out of all the religions we have tackled in season 2, this one may be the one we encounter the most but know the least about. What are some of the major beliefs of Islam and how can we evangelize them?
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This is one of the more debated questions in the Church - even today. Does the Bible permit women to be pastors/elders? Here are some of our thoughts from Scripture in just 15 minutes.
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The King James Version of the Bible is one of the oldest English translations of the Bible, but does that mean it should be the only version we read? Is it the most reliable or accurate translation?
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In this episode, we will dive into maybe the least known of the religions we will explore in this season, but it's one that is gaining much popularity - especially in America. If you haven't heard of the Hebrew Israelites yet, consider this your introduction. If you have heard about them, we hope this encourages you on how to evangelize them.
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In the second (and final) part of our episode covering the Jehovah's Witnesses, we dive deeper into some of their core doctrines and then ask the question: "How do I witness to a Jehovah's Witness?"
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In the first of a two-part episode on Jehovah's witness, we dive into the history of this cult.
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Our world and even many within the Church are calling for unity. But what does that actually mean? Can we actually all get along, or are there things worth dividing over? What should that division look like?
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In Season 2, we are diving into various false religions and cults. This episode takes an introductory look at Mormonism, its history, core beliefs, and how to evangelize a Mormon.
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Do miracles happen today? What about signs and wonders. A comment made in the opening episode of Season 2 leads us down a path of talking about this subject. No notes, no preparation - this is leftovers.
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We are back! Welcome to Season 2 of the podcast where we will dive into some of the world religions/cults of our day. This episode sets the stage for the rest of the season and is an important one to listen to in general because we ask the question: What is a cult? We also dive into how we should think about them and engage in evangelism with them.
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In this episode, we finally conclude our series talking through the doctrines of grace by addressing probably the main theological thread running through it all - God's Sovereignty. What does it really mean when we say that God is Sovereign? What are the implications of that truth? Do we get a choice in the matter?
This episode not only concludes this series in the doctrines of grace but also concludes Season 1 of this podcast. We will be back in a few weeks!
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In this episode, we talk about the final of the five points of Calvinism - Perseverance of the Saints. What are the implications of the truth: once saved always saved? Isn't it prideful to be confident in your salvation? How should we think about those who seem to have walked away from the faith? We seek to answer these and other questions like them in this episode.
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On "Leftovers" we take just 15 minutes to discuss important topics like this one: COVID restrictions. How should Christians think about and respond to the government placing restrictions on our lives such as masks during the COVID-19 pandemic? We pray this helps and is an encouragement for Christians to rest in the Sovereignty of God.
If you have a topic you would like us to discuss on "Leftovers," email us at cowfordcatechism@gmail.com
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The Grace of God is a powerful thing - on that truth we probably all agree. The question is: once God displays His grace to our hearts, can we resist it and reject His Gospel? The last episode we dove into the most controversial of the doctrines of grace, and this is probably a close second on that front. As with all the others, there are misunderstandings we seek to clear up and questions we seek to answer as we dive into the doctrine of irresistable grace.
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This is our first installment of "Leftovers" where we take just 15 minutes to discuss important topics like this one: The presidential election in America. How should Christians be thinking about the results of the election? We recorded this episode before the results had been tallied so this is from a perspective of not even knowing who will be the president come January 2021. We pray this helps and is an encouragement for Christians to rest in the Sovereignty of God.
If you have a topic you would like us to discuss on "Leftovers," email us at cowfordcatechism@gmail.com
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In this episode, we dive into the very controversial and misunderstood doctrine of limited atonement. This is admittedly probably the most difficult of the 5 points of Calvinism and is normally the one that receives the most criticism. But what does this doctrine actually teach? If this doctrine is true, how can we evangelize and tell everyone that God loves them and Jesus died for them? This is our humble attempt to explain a very controversial and difficult doctrine.
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Unconditional election is a doctrine that has continued to be at the center of Christian debates in recent, modern history. But what exactly is the doctrine of election? What are some of the misconceptions about it? What does all of this mean for evangelism? Does God actually predestine people to hell? Find out our answers to these and other questions in this episode.
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In this episode, we dive into the doctrine of "Total Depravity." Just how bad is our sinful nature and condition? What exactly does it mean that we are born dead in our sin? Do we have the free will to choose to believe in Jesus? These are all very important questions that we dive into during this episode. We also address a few of the misconceptions about this doctrine.
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We have gotten several listener questions about divine election and reformed theology. So we thought we would answer them by doing a 6-part series on the Doctrines of Grace. This intro episode is longer than normal episodes but contains important information that you don't want to miss as we begin this series.
If you have ever wondered where Reformed Theology came from, this episode is for you. Our goal is not to convince you of our position, but to point you to the Bible for truth. Our goal is to bring glory to Christ by teaching His Word. We pray this episode helps you navigate through this controversial topic.
Resources for further study:
Luther in Real-time Podcast: https://www.ligonier.org/luther-in-real-time/
Humble Calvinism: https://www.amazon.com/Humble-Calvinism-J-Medders/dp/1784983721/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=humble+calvinism&qid=1603029275&sr=8-2
What's so great about the doctrines of grace: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Great-about-Doctrines-Grace/dp/1567699952/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LX66JPA2KMGK&dchild=1&keywords=what%27s+so+great+about+the+doctrines+of+grace&qid=1603029322&sprefix=What%27s+so+great+about+the+doctrines%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-2
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Can we just leave the study of Theology to the pastors, professors, and theologians? Aren't we just called to love God and love others? Why do we need to know these intellectual terms and doctrines? Maybe these are questions you have asked yourself before. If this is an episode that you're considering skipping over because it doesn't seem important to you, it may be an indicator that you actually do need this episode.
If after you have listened to this episode, you want to dive deeper into theology, we recommend a few books. This podcast has not been endorsed in any way by the authors or publishers of these books. We simply want to share some resources that have been helpful to us.
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
The doctrine of the Word of God by John Frame
ESV Study Bible
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In this episode, we discuss whether a true believer can lose their salvation or not. Spoiler alert: you can't. So what do we do with those who we know used to profess faith in Christ, but now claim they don't believe anymore? We will dive into theology and our own personal experience in order to try to answer some of these questions.
Kenny references a sermon of his on Hebrews 6 during this episode that he was going to include in the show notes. However, that video is no longer available to be viewed. We apologize for the confusion.
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Many Christians have asked the question: "How do I know if I'm truly saved?" Is it possible to answer that question confidently without being arrogant or prideful? What book of the Bible talks about this in detail? How can I help a friend or family member struggling with this? We seek to answer these questions on today's episode.
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On this episode, we dive into the Good News of Christ's Redemption for us on the cross. This is part 2 of a 2-part series on the Gospel. In light of the truth that we are sinners before a Holy God, how can we be forgiven of our sin? What does our redemption actually mean, and how should we live in light of it? We seek to answer these and other questions about our Redemption in this episode.
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In this episode, we dive into The Gospel. If you've been a Christ-follower for any amount of time, you may assume that you know the Gospel and don't need to hear it again. We believe that it's important to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily and we hope this 2-part episode will help you do that. We also pray that this helps you as you seek to share the Gospel with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Make sure you listen to both parts of this episode in order to get the 'full picture' of The Gospel. Either part by itself is not the complete Gospel message. As always, send us questions and feedback to cowfordcatechism@gmail.com.
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In this episode, you will get to hear what we are all about here at the Cowford Catechism podcast. Meet our hosts and find out what we are seeking to accomplish. We pray this is a blessing to you.
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