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I’ve been listening to a lot of Jesus Culture worship songs recently. Jesus Culture came from the youth group of Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church in Redding, California. Being into all things Bill Johnson (see here), I soon came across Jesus Culture. A lot of the songs they do are remakes (rather than original songs), but they’ve done them really well! Really good stuff!

Some of my favorites: I Exalt Thee, How He Loves Us (must hear!!!), Your Love Never Fails, Light Of Your Face, Holy, Where You Go I Go, Revelation Song and Sing My Love. Updated: You Won’t Relent (awesome!) and Happy Day.

And how about this beautiful song on a Valentine’s Day:

Dance with me o lover of my soul to the song of all songs
Romance me o lover of my soul to the song of all songs

I haven’t written for about a week! The last week has been very busy for me! My last day at the school was on Thursday. Then I had a BBQ with about 20 of my students on Friday. I also invited some of my Christian friends who I’ve been introducing to my students over the past month or so. I do love and miss my students but ultimately I made the decision to leave because I could no longer teach there in good conscience. I could very easily continue on teaching, do a pretty decent job (by the school’s standards) and earn some decent money, but I guess I’m too much of a perfectionist to feel comfortable there. I’ll write more about this in another post. I’ve got so much to say :)

I only taught my students for under 2 months, but I know that my friends and I will continue to go out with and reach out to them as we’ve built up a good rapport with them. Again, so many things to say and I’ll write more in the future.

What are my plans now? I’ve sent in job applications and gone for a few interviews already. I’ll most probably start my Master in Education (TESOL) at the end of this month. It’s through distance learning. That means, no classes - just assignments. I decided to do my Masters because I want to improve my teaching. I want to be the best teacher I can be. While I already have a recognized certificate, there is so much more I can learn to help me become a better teacher.

This program consists of 8 modules in all. A full-time load would be about 4 modules per semester. It depends on me whether I want to do it full-time or part-time. If I get a job I like, I may do it part-time. If not, I may do it full-time.

The past two months have been tiring, but definitely rewarding. God has brought me good new friendships and also ministry opportunities, which have been answers to my prayers at the beginning of the year. There’s also been some challenges here and there. But I’ve been growing and learning. I’ve got a lot to say about many other things and maybe I’ll share on this blog one day. We’ll see how! Cheers! :)

I had a short talk with my uncle last night. He just went into financial advising/planning. And so my dad asked me to talk to him regarding doing some investments with him. I have a bit of money from the insurance or whatever from my mother’s death 17 years ago. My dad’s been keeping it for me and last year when I was in Australia I asked him to put it into some investments. It was fortunate that he hadn’t invested it yet due to what happened recently in the economy. So today he asked me to talk to my uncle for a while regarding investing it now.

I’m not young and most people my age would already be well into investing and planning for their future life. Or at least they would have found out about all this stuff. For me, I don’t really care. I know a bit, but I’m not exactly keen to know more and get into all this financial thing. I asked my dad to invest the money last year because I didn’t know what to do with it. I hadn’t decided yet and so I thought I’ll get the money back from him and just invest it.

Inside me, I really hate all this focus on financial planning and making sure that one has enough money for their future and all. If non-Christians do that, then that’s understandable. It’s good to plan financially for your future. After all, for most non-Christians, the focus is on their life here and now. But when I see Christians into financially planning the same way that non-Christians are into it, I have to totally disagree.

One wise pastor I respect once asked what are the qualities that good leaders ought to have. Then he asked whether the qualities that good Christian leaders ought to have would be any different? His point was that the qualities of a good Christian leader ought to be different from what society expects of a leader in general. The same can be said of a good Christian businessman. Being a Christian ought to make a difference. Our faith ought to make a difference in the way we live and how we do things.

In the same way, I think how Christians use their money ought to be different from how non-Christians use their money. How Christians think about their future and the priorities they place on money ought to be different. Christians ought to have an eternal perspective. And to me that means not building your kingdom here on earth. Society in most countries (and especially in Singapore) expect us to think about our future and life in terms of mainly our career, family, children’s education, etc. Money is of utmost importance in the non-Christian’s life. It’s all about making sure that we have enough of it so that we can survive and even thrive. And sad to say, this has been the view of almost every Christian I’ve met.

And so my uncle started to explain to me why it’s important to save and be prepared for the future. I told him that I don’t believe it’s important to save and invest because God will provide for me and the money can be better used now to help other people who need it more than me. Yes, I told my father to invest my money because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. Inside me, I don’t believe in saving and investing money for the future - at least not in the way the whole world does it. But it’s also hard for me to live out this belief of mine because it’s so radical.

Why don’t I believe in saving and investing for the future the way the world does? I can think of at least two reasons now:

1) Life is not about building my kingdom. I think we can define “kingdom” in today’s terms as “me and my (future) family”. I’m a very simple person in that I want to live out what the Bible says. I don’t want to do it half-heartedly, because if I’m not hoping to do it fully, I may as well not do it at all. The Bible very clearly says that we’ve been forgiven in Christ so that we can love God and others. The love of Christ compels me to live for Him. To think about Him and His kingdom, not mine. There isn’t any greater meaning in this world than to live for the God who so loved me that He sent His Son to die for me. And so if I had money to spare, should I save it up for myself and my family in future or should I give it away to help people who need it so much more than I do - trusting that as I do the right thing, God will provide for me? I think the answer is obvious. It’s just whether I want to do the right thing or not.

2) I think often of the “Do not worry” passage (Matthew 6:25-34). I think often of how I hardly know any Christian who lives it out or even comes near to doing so. It’s simply too radical. Do not worry? Don’t worry about what we shall eat or drink or wear?? Just seek first God’s kingdom and everything will be OK? Wow, that’s faith in God’s providence.

Isn’t it the worry of what people would eat, drink and wear in future that motivates people to save and invest for the future? Isn’t it simply the lack of trust that God will provide in every way that makes us just focus on accumulating and investing money for ourselves and our future, rather than using it to help those who need it more than us right now?

I’ve got so many more things to say. But I’ll leave it at here. I do hope to read up more about what Christians think of investment. And I’m going to pray about what I should do with the money. As for why I’ve come to the above radical conclusion, read my Poverty and the Moral Responsibility of the Rich to the Poor and Encountering Peter Singer.

Skye Jethani of Out of Ur argues that many of us have confused the church with the church institution. He talks about new questions many Christians should be asking regarding how to advance the gospel, which I think are worthy to ponder over:

Not: How do we grow the institution?
But: How do we grow people?

Not: How do we motivate people to serve in the church/institution?
But: How do we equip people and release them to serve outside the church/institution?

Not: How do we convince more people to come?
But: How do we inspire more people to go?

Not: How many programs can the church start?
But: How many programs have other churches started that we can help support?

Not: How many people have a committed relationship with our institution?
But: How many people have a committed relationship with another brother or sister in Christ?

Not: How do we make people dependent on the institution for their growth?
But: How do we equip people to grow independent of the institution?

Not: How much revenue can the institution generate?
But: How much revenue can the institution give away?

Not: How many buildings, pastors, and programs are necessary for the institution to have maximum exposure in the community?
But: How few buildings, pastors, and programs are necessary for God’s people to have time and energy to engage the community?

There’s too much to write regarding this issue of institutionalism. I wrote about “The organizational, the institutional and the bureaucratic” here. Many young Christians are sick of what is called organizational or institutional Christianity and I’m one of them. If businesses can be accused of placing profits about people, organizational or institutional Christianity can be accused of placing methods, size and effectiveness above people. And that’s dangerous because after the gospel (in which God’s love for us is revealed in Christ), Christianity is all about loving people. I think there is a certain extent in which good organization and structures can support the focus on people. But more often than not, it becomes more about the way of doing things than on people.

Below are more quotes by Welch, this time from his new book, “Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest“. I’ve been thinking a lot about worry the past few months. Two of my favorite messages by Pastor Prince are on living the let-go, worry-free life. What Jesus said in the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34 regarding worry has always struck me because what he said is so challenging and hard to put into practice. I’ve also been thinking a lot especially of worry in relation to faith. I think worry is an expression of one’s lack of faith and not worrying expresses faith. After all, we worry because we don’t trust God has everything in control and that He’s loving and will provide for us in future. The challenge for us is to trust him in spite of what we’re facing. And I don’t think it’s just a trust of resignation that’s asked of us, but a trust of confidence.

[W]e know that worry and fear are more about us than about the things outside us. They reveal what is valuable to us, and what is valuable to us in turn reveals our kingdom allegiances. We also know that God is patient and compassionate with us, and he gives grace upon grace. Though alert to our divided allegiances, he persists in calling us away from fear and worry, persuades us of the beauty of the kingdom, and gives more than we can imagine. (p. 147)

There are times when fear says that something is just plain dangerous and I should be afraid. But my goal in listening to my fears is to learn how to decipher what else they are saying. When I pause and listen, I might find that fear says a lot and it speaks clearly. What it says can provide me with immensely helpful direction… Review some of your fears and ask: What do these fears say I trust in? What do my fears say I love? (p. 47–48)

There is one bit of data that worriers never factor into their false prophecies. It is this: We will receive grace in the future. (p. 140)

This explains one of the paradoxes of all kingdom life. On one hand, there is rest and peace: the King has come and we enjoy the benefits of the kingdom. But at the same time, we live knowing that we are in the enemy’s crosshairs. Satan is ready to engage us in battle. The two kingdoms are in conflict. With all this going on behind the scenes, don’t think you can simply say “no” to fear and worry, and that will be the end of them. (p. 119)

Quick. What is, by far, God’s most frequent command? (p. 59) [The answer is "Do not be afraid"]

Worriers are visionaries minus the optimism. (p. 50)

Worry puts the focus on me. (p. 53)

Recently, there’s been a few blog posts on Edward Welch’s latest book “Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest“. Just under 10 years ago, I read Welch’s “When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man“. The book spoke to me quite a bit and I bought a few copies and gave them to friends.

Both books have to do with counseling and psychology and Welch writes from a Reformed biblical perspective . I’m no expert in counseling and psychology but I have to say that the two books are thought-provoking and challenging. In my next post, I’ll quote from his Running Scared book. In the rest of this post, I’ll leave you some quotes from his When People Are Big and God Is Small book:

Regarding other people, our problem is that we need them (for ourselves) more than we love them (for the glory of God.). The task God sets for us is to need them less and love them more. (p. 19)

[We] are controlled by whoever or whatever [we] believe can give [us] what [we] think [we] need. It is true: what or who you need will control you. (p. 13-14)

We’ve seen that whatever you think you need, you come to fear. If you ‘need’ love (to feel okay about yourself), you will soon be controlled by the one who dispenses love (p. 87)

Self-serving needs are not meant to be satisfied; they are meant to be put to death. (p. 162)

The Bible teaches that God’s people are no longer driven by terror-fear, or fear that has to do with punishment. Instead, we are blessed with worship-fear, the reverential awe motivated more by love and the honor that is due him. (p. 98)

The problem is clear: People are too big in our lives and God is too small. The answer is straightforward: We must learn to know that our God is more loving and more powerful than we ever imagined. (p. 113)

When you spend time in the throne room of God, it puts things in perspective. The opinions of others are less important, and even our opinions of ourselves seem less important. (p. 135)

Therefore, the first task in escaping the snare of the fear of man is to know that God is awesome and glorious, not other people. (p. 95)

If you have been in the presence of the almighty God, everything that once controlled you suddenly has less power. (p. 119)

This book challenged me to recognize that needing people is really fearing man and not God. As fallen human beings we all need people. We’re social beings. We want to be in a community of love. We want people to love and accept us. We want people to praise us. There are many times we seek man’s praises more than God’s.

I think there’s no doubt that God desires us to be a loving community. But I don’t think it’s so that we can all get our “fix” from others loving us, all of us living in a co-dependent state. But rather so that we can express God’s love through loving others.

Of course, all this is the ideal we strive for. Different people are at different stages in their life and walk with God. Different people come from different backgrounds and starting points. The book is definitely challenging, but probably not everyone is ready to read it. Those who have gone through a lot of hurts need to experience the grace and love of God, rather than be pointed and directed to the call of God to fear/worship Him and not fear or need man. It is God’s grace, after all, which empowers us to live for Him.

I’ve thought of becoming a vegetarian for many years. Well, I’ve not exactly thought extremely hard about it, but the thought has been there many times over the past 10 years or so. I bought a good Christian book about vegetarianism years back but have yet to read it. I’ve probably avoided reading up on this issue simply because I knew it would be hard for me to let go eating meat! Not that I’m crazy over meat. I’m not fussy at all about what I eat and can refrain from eating meat if I really want to. But maybe it’s more of the inconvenience. It’s not easy to live as a vegetarian in Singapore. And perhaps harder to do so in many parts of the developing world where I hope to live in in future.

But I’ve always known deep down inside that I should strive to become a vegetarian because of my faith. Well, I should do many things, shouldn’t I? I should get the hell out of Singapore and serve the poor in the developing world. I should go and do all I can to reach the unreached peoples. And ya, I should really think about becoming a vegetarian. If not now, then soon. If not dogmatically, then at least more fully.

Greg Boyd has recently written on his blog the reasons as to why he’s a vegetarian. His reasoning is quite simple. I summarize it here:

1) God originally intended for humans and all other creatures to eat plants for food (Genesis 1:29-30). This is confirmed by Genesis 9:1-4, where God said:

Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

Notice how God’s allowance for fallen humanity to eat animals was something new: “I now give you everything.” Why did God now allow man to eat animals? Because the “fear and dread” of man that now falls on the animals (due to the fallenness of all creation) has disrupted the peaceful and non-violent nature of creation. I think this means that animals will no longer act peaceful towards man and so God allowed man to eat animals.

2) The non-violent and peaceful nature of God’s kingdom which existed before the fall will be restored at the end of this age:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. Infants will play near the hole of the cobra; young children will put their hands into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Isa 11:6-9).

3) Therefore, in the past before the fall, humans did not eat animals. In the future when we dwell with God, we will not eat animals. But, what ought we to do now? I’ll end with Boyd’s own conclusion:

Now, the most fundamental job of followers of Jesus is to manifest the reign of God. I take this to mean that we’re called to put on display now what the world will look like when God fully reigns over it in the future. In theological terms we’re to be “the eschatological community.”

One way the New Testament expresses this truth is by referring to Kingdom people as the “first fruits” of a coming harvest (2 Thess 2:13; Ja 1:18; Rev. 14:4). The “first fruits” referred to fruit that ripened and was picked before others. In the Old Testament, first fruits were consecrated (set apart) to God and were a sign that God will faithfully bring the remainder of the harvest to fruition (e.g. Ex. 23:19). In the same way, Kingdom people are consecrated to God as a sign that God will faithfully bring his Kingdom to complete fruition.

As the “first fruits” of the Kingdom, our call is to be in the present what the entire world will be in the future, when the Kingdom is fully manifested. In a world that is yet under bondage to the rebel Powers, we’re to display what it looks like to live in the reign of God. Our lives are to reflect God’s will being done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). We’re to be, as much as possible, heaven on earth and thus a window through which people can see the future into which God is leading the world.

If God’s original ideal of a creation free of violence will be achieved in the future, it seems to me that the job of Kingdom people is to manifest this ideal now, as much as possible. Which to me suggests that since humans won’t be killing animals and eating them in heaven, we shouldn’t be killing them and eating them now.

C.J. Mahaney writes in his blog about humble discernment and refers to a humble critique of Rob Bell’s NOOMA videos. C.J. Mahaney is the leader of a Reformed-Charismatic church association called Sovereign Grace Ministries. I got to know about them over 10 years ago attended one of their Small Group Leaders Conference in America about 10 years ago. They’re a great family of churches. I once identified myself as Reformed in theology. Now I don’t really care, although I do appreciate its teachings - though don’t always agree with this “tradition”. And of course I was and still am Charismatic. And so when I was Reformed-Charismatic a while back, Sovereign Grace Ministries (back then called PDI) was one of the few ministries or church associations that was both Reformed and Charismatic at the same time. For those who know, the two don’t often mix. One’s strong in doctrine; the other strong in the things of the Spirit. Reformed Christians are often anti-Charismatic and vice-versa. To get two together is balance! Anyway, now eventhough I don’t identify myself as a Reformed-Charismatic, I still have a lot of respect for Sovereign Grace Ministries and recommend them to my friends always.

Besides a good balance of Word and Spirit in their ministry (though probably leaning more towards the Word side), I’ve also loved their focus on the gospel and the cross of Christ. To have that focus is so wonderful. I mean, if there’s anything you want to be known for in your ministry, it’s the focus on the cross of Christ. Three passages come to mind:

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ… (Galatians 6:14)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Christianity is all about the cross of Jesus Christ. It’s all about His death and resurrection. That’s the main message of the Bible. That’s the gospel. There’s nothing more important than that. And Sovereign Grace Ministries understand that focus. C.J. Mahaney is passionate about the Cross. And their music is utterly cross-centered. I love it!

So anyway, back to Rob Bell. Read the critique of Rob Bell. I’ve heard so much about Rob Bell and seen some of his NOOMA videos. In fact, just a few days ago I sent an audio version of Lump to some friends coz I thought it was quite good. But I’m no expert on Rob Bell and so I’m in no position to say much about his theology. I’ve heard some troubling stuff about him, but then again I tend to turn off a bit when I hear criticisms of his teachings from those heresy-hunting Christians that love to pick a fight with every Christian that falls short of their version of perfect theology. Here are two things I wanna say:

1) I liked C.J.’s post and also the critique he referred to. I liked them because both were humble in their criticism. Whether their criticism was right or not is not the point. If you want to criticize other Christians’ theology, do it humbly. Be fair. Be gracious and loving when speaking what you believe is truth. There is a place for criticism when done correctly. There is a place for disagreeing with another’s theology. There is a place for standing for truth. But boy, if you go around the Internet, you can find plenty of sites that just don’t bring glory to God in the way Christians criticize other Christians. Regardless of the merits of the criticisms of Rob Bell’s theology, I think both posts/articles were written in the right spirit. I read so many posts of people saying they are pointing out another Christian’s errors out of love - you know, “speaking the truth in love”. But read their words and their tone and you’re kinda not sure if it’s done in love.

I wish there were more people writing in the spirit of Mahaney and the author of the above critique. I wish that people who criticize New Creation Church or City Harvest Church or certain Word of Faith teachers or Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen or Rick Warren or whoever would do so in the right spirit. Because it’s just so easy not to, you know?

Nasty criticisms abound in Christianity and especially on the Net. They’re normally over-reacting emotional responses, rather than the calm and well thought out critique in the piece above. People who write nasty criticisms that tear down other Christians don’t realize one thing. They don’t realize that their criticisms only work with their church choir, to those already converted to their viewpoint. Because they show a lack of grace and write in a proud spiteful tone, those who believe the opposite from them and those who are neutral in their viewpoint tend to ignore what they write. But they do get a lot of, “Praise the Lord, brother/sister, I thank God for what you wrote…” from their own fans. And they think that they’ve done the good work of standing for truth. Little do they realize that they’ve hardly challenged other Christians to think through what they believe because most Christians want to see balance and grace, not nastiness and overreaction.

It’s just like politics in Singapore - or anywhere else. Politicians who hold rallies during election period need to realize that while a lot of people who attend their rallies are their die-hard supporters, there are a lot of neutrals (and also those supporting opposing politicians) attending their rallies. The challenge isn’t to say things that work your supporters up and that creates a lot of noisy support. Anyone can do that. The challenge is to present your message in a way that challenges those not already converted to your viewpoint to consider what you say. Rhetoric can stir your supporters in the crowd, but it’s presenting a well-reasoned discourse that will convert the neutrals and opposition supporters to your view and increase your support base.

So for those who criticize other Christians or ministries or theologies because they truly want other Christians to flee error embrace the truth, my advice is to do it in humility and seasoned with grace. When you do that, more people would be willing to listen to you and you’ll have a better chance of succeeding in getting others to think through the issues and interpretations involved.

2) As I said, I don’t claim to be an expert on Rob Bell. But if the critique of his videos are correct, then it’s something we need to be careful of. The overall criticism is that the gospel - i.e. the death and resurrection of Christ - is not clearly preached in Rob Bell’s NOOMA videos. Maybe even, it’s seldom found in his videos. That’s a pretty serious charge against a Christian preacher because the gospel is everything. Christ’s death and resurrection is everything. To me, at least. To C.J. Mahaney. To Paul in the Bible. You don’t become a Christian, you don’t understand what Christianity is all about until you understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Christianity is not about good advice or motivational speeches that help you live your life better. If that’s all we have to offer, then Christianity is not worth embracing. Every religion tells you how to live better. Every religion inspires you to be a better you. And every motivational talk you attend does the same thing. Is Christianity any different? You bet it is. It’s first and foremost about how God came in the form of Jesus to die for our sins and reconcile us to Himself.

I want to go to a church and listen to speakers who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ clearly. I want to go to a place where the people are not ashamed of preaching the gospel, where the message of the death and resurrection of Christ is heard so loudly and so clearly every Sunday. The message of the cross ain’t just words. It’s a message that gives life. It’s a supernatural message. I believe that when you preach the gospel, you’re honoring and glorifying God in the greatest way you can. It’s God’s message for us. When a person preaches the gospel, the Spirit comes in power. The gospel is not just any message. It’s the most important message in the Bible. Paul wanted to boast in nothing but the gospel. Paul declared it of first importance. Paul resolved to know nothing but it. That’s how important the gospel is.

“Father, our country is in trouble. We pray for peace to come,” an 11-year-old boy prays. “Protect us, Father. Teach people to love one another and not to fight anymore.”

For the last two weeks, Sprenkle says, children in this small slum area have gathered to pray for their country. “The church’s pastor says the children started gathering on their own, so he let them in the church. The daily prayer meeting now attracts more than 200 children ranging in age from three to 17.”

Ever since the children started praying together, the pastor says there have been no deaths, houses burned or even violence in their section of this slum. Adults recite this fact in amazement. The children, however, don’t even mention it because it’s exactly what they expected to happen.

“Pastor told us that there is power in prayer. He said we can change the country through prayer,” 12-year-old Boniface explains. “So that is what we are doing, changing the country.”

(Taken from: Kenyan children pray for their country, ask for rain - and it pours)

What makes the Paradise event unusual is not so much the emphasis on Christ – most praise events can claim that objective – but the de-emphasis on all things not directly to do with glorifying Jesus.

“There will be nothing for sale at Paradise, not one T-shirt or CD, not one pretzel,” Ross said emphatically. “No product tents and no ministry tents. No banners or signs for other causes.”

In essence, it will be a rarity in religion: “No agenda will be raised at all that day; just the undistracted worship of Jesus,” Ross said.

It’s not just lip service. By rule of the event’s constitution, nothing is to echo from the huge speaker boxes except music and scripture. No sales pitches. No sermons, as well-intentioned as they may be. Skilled musicians will be present, including some big names, but those names will not be revealed and they will not be in view.

Perhaps most surprising of all, in this day of bigger, better and best: no attendance figures will be projected or announced.

(Taken from Paradise: Richard Ross’s May Event to Praise Jesus without any Trappings)

I think this is an awesome idea! No distractions, no commercialism, no need to boast about attendance - just purely Jesus. And I definitely like the one about the musicians not being revealed and not being in view. It’s all about Jesus!

Singapore has an awesome once in a year praise and worship event called Festival of Praise. But it hasn’t been able to avoid all the trappings and distractions. I know many Christians come because a “famous” band would be leading worship. But praise and worship is all about Jesus, not about who leads worship, definitely not about the music.

“When the music fades… All is stripped away…”