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It Goes Without Saying
In a culture, the most important things usually go without being said. We Westerners don’t talk all the time about being individualists or about the importance of efficiency or why we prefer youth ove... -
Quote
But even in the much-publicized rebellion of the young against the materialism of the affluent society, the consumer mentality is too often still intact: the standards of behavior are still those of k... -
liturgy
Holy God, we come to You confessing
Holy God, we come to You confessing that we never have enough. We are never satisfied with what You have given us. We look at others with envy and we want more, even when our homes are overflowing wit... -
liturgy
James 5:16 invites us to confess our
James 5:16 invites us to confess our sins so that we might be healed. Let us go before our Creator in humility and confession. Lord Almighty, we come to you in humility today. We have sought security... -
liturgy
O Giver of every good and perfect gift,
O Giver of every good and perfect gift, we confess that we are poor stewards of your bounty. You give us time, but we waste it. You give us life, but we use it to glorify ourselves. You give us wealth... -
liturgy
O God, you are indeed worthy of our
O God, you are indeed worthy of our praise and worship. Yet we turn away and worship other gods. We find ourselves at the altar of our careers, our financial security, our self-image, our status. We t... -
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Thanking God for Places of Peace
Think back over your life and try to remember a place where you felt safe and at peace, a time when you felt relaxed and okay. It could be an outdoor place—like on a beach or sitting in a tree. Maybe ... -
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Togetherness & The Genius of the Gold-Saddle Goatfish
The gold-saddle goatfish is a small fish native to Hawaiian reefs with a distinctive coloring. In the past few years, divers in Hawaii have come across a fascinating phenomenon. During their regular d... -
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The exhausting manipulation and control it takes to protect an identity based on circumstances will crush our hearts and hide the best of who we are behind a wall of insecurity. -
illustration
The Danger of Trusting Yourself
Over the years, I’ve read about many leaders who failed ethically in their leadership. Can you guess what they had in common? They all thought it could never happen to them. There was a false sense of... -
blog
Elemental Claims of the Gospel by Walter Brueggemann
A Theological Giant's Final Word Walter Brueggemann’s passing on June 5, 2025 leaves a void in biblical scholarship that will last a very long time. He was still writing books and essays at age 9... -
liturgy
God of love—Father, Son and Holy
God of love—Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You loved us before we ever knew You. Give us such a deep love for You, that we can see the world as You see it, feel the compassion You feel, and be a people ... -
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The Women are the Key
A well-known fact in community development circles is that if you want to enter a community, you introduce yourself to the leader, most often a man. But if you want to learn how the community function... -
blog
Giving Matters: A Biblical Approach to Stewardship
Giving Matters In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul provides us with four crucial lessons on Christian giving: 1) How we give; 2) What we give; 3) What happens when we give; and 4) Why we give. How We Give... -
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The Death of Christendom
In one generation, the place of Christianity within culture dramatically shifted as we experienced what theologians and sociologists of religion call the “death of Christendom.” Christendom isn’t Chri... -
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Mr. Average Man
In 1965 Billy Graham wrote a bestselling book titled World on Fire. In it, he wrote, “Mr. Average Man is comfortable in his complacency and as unconcerned as a silverfish ensconced in a carton of disc... -
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Looking Forward to Home
Whenever I am traveling, I constantly look forward to the moment when I will return home. Even if I’m very busy and preoccupied, in the back of my mind one thought is always present: “Soon I’ll be goi... -
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Extending Ourselves into the World
Those who insist we are even more self-centered today might point to how the titles and focus of our popular magazines have shifted, as photographer Fred Ritchin notes: “I always use a quote by Paul S... -
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We Need To Hear Our Names
In his wonderful book Run with Horses , Eugene Peterson reminds us of many of the ways in which modern life de-personalizes and degrades us. We become a number and not a name. We are valued for wha... -
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Persuading Ourselves of the Truth
When we observe evil, sinful behavior from a distance, the inclination is simply to see people as acting with malicious intent. We assume they are “bad people.” But often the motivations that lead to ... -
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Nelson Mandela and a Presidency of Reconciliation
What does true forgiveness and reconciliation look like? The world was given such an image the day Nelson Mandela was sworn in as President of South Africa. What was so significant was not just that a... -
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The heart clings to collected treasure. Stored-up possessions get between me and God. Where my treasure is, there is my trust, my security, my comfort, my God. Treasure means idolatry. -
Quote
Part of the suspicion of desire undoubtedly has to do precisely with the fact that it threatens a rational, controlled, and protected understanding of a mature human being. -
Quote
I developed a problem with authority. Any time that authority was what I interpreted as being unjust, I stood up to it, and that became my personality. -
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I'm interested in the fact that the less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice. -
Quote
Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothi... -
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Leaders can hold onto busyness like a weapon of protection. -
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A Lack of Accountability
Whenever I have encountered any kind of deep problem with civilization anywhere in the world—be it the logging of rain forests, ethnic or religious intolerance or the brutal destruction of a cultural ... -
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Judged by A Different Set of Standards
In Words We Live By, Brian Burrell tells of an armed robber named Dennis Lee Curtis who was arrested in 1992 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Curtis apparently had scruples about his thievery. In his wal... -
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Underneath our frantic pace is a question: Is this work I do good enough?
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Top Level Categories by Topic
A
- Abandonment
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B
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C
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D
- Dancing
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- Darkness
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- Debt
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- The Digital World
- The Dying
E
- Easter
- Eating
- Economics
- Eden
- Education
- Elderly People
- Elders
- Elections (Political)
- Emotions
- Empowerment
- Emptiness
- Encouragement
- Endurance
- Enemies
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- Entitlement
- Environment
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- Eternal Life
- Eternity
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- Ethics
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- Evil
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- Example
- Excellence
- Exclusion
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- Expectations
- Expectations of Children
- Experience
- Exploitation
- Eyes
- The Early Church
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
F
- Face of God
- Failure
- Fairy Tales
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faithfulness
- Falling Short
- Fame
- Family
- Family Discipleship
- Family Dysfunction
- Farming
- Fashion
- Fatherhood of God
- Fathers
- Fatigue
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- Fear
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- Fiction
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- Five Senses
- Flesh
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- Focus
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- Food
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- Football (American)
- Forgetfulness
- Forgiveness
- Foundations
- Four Gospels
- Free Will
- Freedom
- Friends
- Friendship
- Fruit
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- Fun
- Funerals
- Future
- The Fear of God
G
- Games
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
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- Generations
- Generosity
- Genesis
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving God the Glory
- Gladness
- Global Christianity
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- Glory
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- God
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- God the Creator
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- God's Protection
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- God's Pursuit
- God's Reign
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- God's Story
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- Good and Evil
- Good Life
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- Goodness
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- Gospel
- Government
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- Grandparents
- Gratitude
- Greatness of God
- Greed
- Grief
- Growth
- Guidance
- Guilt
- The Glory of God
H
- Habits
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Harmony
- Harvest
- Hatred
- Healing
- Health
- Healthcare
- Hearing God
- Heart
- Heart Change
- Heaven
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- Help
- Helping our Neighbors
- Helping the Poor
- Heroes
- High Performance
- History
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- Holiness
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- Home
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- Human Condition
- Human History
- Human Nature
- Human Sexuality
- Humanity
- Humble Living
- Humility
- Humor
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hypocrisy
- The Holy Land
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideas
- Identity
- Identity in Christ
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image
- Image Bearers
- Images
- Imagination
- Immigrants
- Impact
- Impatience
- Independence Day
- Indifference
- Individualism
- Inequality
- Influence
- Information
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- Injury
- Injustice
- Inner Peace
- Innovation
- Insanity
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- Inspiration
- Instant Gratification
- Integrity
- Intelligence
- Interdependence
- Invitation
- Irony
- Irresistible
- Isolation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
K
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Presence
- Language
- Laughter
- Law (Torah)
- Laziness
- Leaders
- Leadership
- Learning
- Legacy
- Leisure
- Lent
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- Life
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- Life Story
- Light
- Light of the World
- Limitations
- Listening
- Listening to God
- Liturgy
- Living Life
- Living Water
- Loneliness
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- Lord of Lords
- Loss
- Love
- Love of God and Neighbor
- Love of Money
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- Loving your Neighbor
- Lying
- The Lord's Supper
M
- Magnificat
- Manipulation
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Masks
- Materialism
- Meals
- Media
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- Meekness
- Mental Health
- Mental Illness
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- Mind
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- Missions
- Mistaken Identity
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- Misunderstanding
- Mobility
- Modern Life
- Monasticism
- Money
- Moral Relativism
- Morality
- Moses
- Mothers
- Motivations
- Motives
- Mountains
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- Music
- Mystery
- Mythology
- Myths
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Missional Church
- The Morning
N
O
P
- Pace
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parables
- Parenting
- Parents
- Passion
- Past
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Pentecost
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Persecution
- Perseverance
- Persistence
- Personal
- Personality
- Perspective
- Phones
- Photographs
- Place
- Play
- Pleasure
- Poetry
- Political Freedom
- Political Leaders
- Politicians
- Politics
- Poor
- Pop Culture
- Popularity
- Possessions
- Postmodernism
- Poverty
- Power
- Praise
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Prejudice
- Presence
- President
- Pressure
- Price
- Pride
- Priorities
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Privilege
- Problems
- Productivity
- Progress
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proud
- Providence
- Provision
- Pruning
- Public Faith
- Purpose
- The Passing of Time
- The Prophets
- The Psalms
R
- Race
- Race (Running)
- Race and Reconciliation
- Racial Reconciliation
- Racism
- Rationality
- Reading
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Reason
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving Love
- Receiving the Word
- Reconciliation
- Recovery
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reformation Sunday
- Rehab
- Rejection
- Relationship with God
- Relationships
- Relaxation
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- Religion and Politics
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Pluralism
- Renewal
- Repentance
- Repetition
- Reputation
- Rescue
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- Responsibility
- Rest
- Restlessness
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Resurrection to New Life
- Retreat
- Revelation
- Revival
- Rewards
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Riches
- Righteousness
- Risks
- Rituals
- Romantic Love
- Romantic Relationships
- Rootedness
- Routines
- Rules
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
- The Rock
- The Roman Empire
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred vs. Secular
- Sacrifice
- Safety
- Salt and Light
- Salt of the Earth
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Satisfaction
- Savior
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Scripture
- Sea
- Searching
- Second Chances
- Secularism
- Security
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Segregation
- Self-Absorption
- Self-Acceptance
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Consciousness
- Self-Control
- Self-Deception
- Self-Destruction
- Self-Discipline
- Self-Expression
- Self-Help
- Self-Image
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Interest
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Love
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Renunciation
- Self-Righteousness
- Self-Sufficiency
- Selfishness
- Selflessness
- Servanthood
- Service
- Settling
- Sex
- Shallowness
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sheep
- Shelter
- Shepherds
- Sickness
- Silence
- Simplicity
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Singing
- Sins of the Church
- Skepticism
- Slavery
- Slowing Down
- Smart Phones
- Social Media
- Social Status
- Society
- Soil
- Solitude
- Songs
- Sorrow
- Spectacle
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Hunger
- Spirituality
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Standards
- Stars
- Status Quo
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast Love
- Stealing
- Stereotypes
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Stories
- Storms
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- Stranger
- Strength
- Stress
- Structures
- Stuff
- Stupidity
- Submission
- Suburbs
- Success
- Suffering
- Suicide
- Summer
- Sun
- Supernatural
- Surgery
- Surprise
- Surrender
- Suspicion of Authority
- Sustainer
- Sweetness
- The Sacraments
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
T
- Talents
- Talking
- Targets
- Tears
- Technology
- Teenagers
- Television
- Temptation
- Terrorism
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- The Temple
- The Trinity
- Theology
- Therapy
- Things
- Third Third of Life
- Thought
- Threats
- Time
- Tired
- Tongue
- Town
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Translation
- Travel
- Treasure
- Trees
- Trouble
- True Self
- Trust
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
U
W
- The Way
- The Weak
- The Wild
- Waiting
- Wandering
- Wants
- War
- Water
- Ways
- Weakness
- Wealth
- Weariness
- Weather
- Weeping
- Western Culture
- Wickedness
- Wilderness
- Wisdom
- Wisdom of God
- Witnesses
- Wittiness
- Women
- Women Changing the World
- Wonder
- Words
- Work
- Work and Rest
- Work-Life Balance
- Workaholism
- Workmanship
- World
- World Leaders
- World Peace
- Worldliness
- Worldview
- Worry
- Worship
- Worth
- Writing
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
2 Samuel
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Esther
Job
Psalm
- Ps 1 (5)
- Ps 2 (1)
- Ps 6 (1)
- Ps 8 (5)
- Ps 9 (2)
- Ps 10 (1)
- Ps 12 (1)
- Ps 14 (1)
- Ps 15 (1)
- Ps 16 (1)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (10)
- Ps 20 (1)
- Ps 22 (4)
- Ps 23 (16)
- Ps 24 (9)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 27 (8)
- Ps 30 (4)
- Ps 32 (6)
- Ps 33 (5)
- Ps 34 (19)
- Ps 36 (1)
- Ps 37 (4)
- Ps 39 (2)
- Ps 40 (2)
- Ps 42 (6)
- Ps 46 (21)
- Ps 47 (1)
- Ps 48 (1)
- Ps 51 (18)
- Ps 52 (1)
- Ps 55 (1)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 57 (2)
- Ps 62 (2)
- Ps 63 (2)
- Ps 65 (2)
- Ps 67 (1)
- Ps 68 (2)
- Ps 71 (1)
- Ps 72 (4)
- Ps 73 (3)
- Ps 78 (2)
- Ps 80 (2)
- Ps 82 (6)
- Ps 84 (2)
- Ps 85 (3)
- Ps 86 (3)
- Ps 88 (1)
- Ps 89 (1)
- Ps 90 (8)
- Ps 92 (2)
- Ps 94 (1)
- Ps 95 (4)
- Ps 96 (2)
- Ps 98 (6)
- Ps 100 (5)
- Ps 103 (9)
- Ps 104 (4)
- Ps 105 (1)
- Ps 107 (1)
- Ps 111 (1)
- Ps 112 (2)
- Ps 113 (2)
- Ps 115 (2)
- Ps 117 (1)
- Ps 118 (2)
- Ps 119 (9)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 122 (1)
- Ps 124 (1)
- Ps 126 (2)
- Ps 127 (5)
- Ps 128 (1)
- Ps 133 (5)
- Ps 135 (1)
- Ps 136 (2)
- Ps 139 (16)
- Ps 141 (2)
- Ps 143 (1)
- Ps 145 (4)
- Ps 147 (6)
- Ps 148 (1)
- Ps 150 (1)
Proverbs
- Prov 1 (1)
- Prov 2 (1)
- Prov 3 (19)
- Prov 4 (7)
- Prov 5 (1)
- Prov 6 (1)
- Prov 9 (1)
- Prov 10 (2)
- Prov 11 (5)
- Prov 12 (6)
- Prov 13 (4)
- Prov 14 (9)
- Prov 15 (4)
- Prov 16 (10)
- Prov 17 (6)
- Prov 18 (8)
- Prov 19 (9)
- Prov 20 (2)
- Prov 21 (7)
- Prov 22 (7)
- Prov 23 (3)
- Prov 24 (2)
- Prov 25 (1)
- Prov 26 (1)
- Prov 27 (7)
- Prov 28 (2)
- Prov 29 (7)
- Prov 30 (2)
- Prov 31 (11)
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
- Isa 1 (13)
- Isa 2 (4)
- Isa 5 (4)
- Isa 6 (3)
- Isa 7 (1)
- Isa 9 (14)
- Isa 11 (2)
- Isa 12 (1)
- Isa 25 (1)
- Isa 26 (5)
- Isa 28 (4)
- Isa 30 (7)
- Isa 32 (1)
- Isa 35 (1)
- Isa 40 (26)
- Isa 41 (11)
- Isa 42 (2)
- Isa 43 (10)
- Isa 44 (2)
- Isa 45 (1)
- Isa 47 (2)
- Isa 49 (3)
- Isa 51 (1)
- Isa 53 (11)
- Isa 55 (13)
- Isa 56 (1)
- Isa 57 (4)
- Isa 58 (7)
- Isa 60 (6)
- Isa 61 (16)
- Isa 64 (2)
- Isa 66 (2)