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Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW024290S
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00:19 >>John Bradshaw: This is "It Is Written." 00:21 I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me. 00:24 In 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev 00:28 and Cuban leader Fidel Castro began preparing to locate 00:33 Soviet missiles in Cuba, just 100 miles from American soil. 00:38 That moment in history, the closest the Cold War came 00:42 to nuclear war, became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. 00:47 We're going to look together at a modern-day crisis, 00:50 a global crisis, really, zero exaggeration. 00:54 And it's a crisis that's affecting you 00:55 and many of the people you know. 00:57 Thankfully, there's something you can do about it. 01:01 Now, let's start by looking at God's will for your life. 01:04 Third John, verse 2: 01:05 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things 01:08 and be in health, just as your soul prospers." 01:12 God's will is that you experience good health, 01:15 physically and spiritually. 01:17 The two are connected. 01:19 Jesus said in John 10, verse 10, 01:21 "I am come that they might have life, 01:22 and that they might have it more abundantly." 01:25 That's God's plan for you: life more abundantly. 01:29 The Bible says, "You are the temple of God 01:32 and...the Spirit of God dwells in you." 01:35 Three chapters later: 01:36 "You were bought at a price; 01:38 "therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, 01:43 which are God's." 01:44 This is important, yet we are a long way 01:48 from where God wants us to be. 01:50 The reality is that in the Western world, 01:54 standards of health are plummeting, 01:57 and it doesn't need to be that way. 02:00 Many people are suffering from conditions and diseases 02:03 right now that they don't need to be suffering from, 02:06 conditions which, in many cases, can be reversed. 02:10 Even though the United States spends far more on health care 02:14 than any other developed country in the world, 02:16 health outcomes across the board are not good. 02:20 In 2023, life expectancy declined 02:25 to the lowest it's been in 20 years. 02:27 One expert from Harvard University said, 02:30 "The numbers are shocking." 02:32 But I want you to know there is something you can do about it. 02:36 It was found in 2018 that more than half of American adults 02:41 had at least one chronic health condition: 02:43 arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and so on. 02:47 That's 129 million people. 02:50 More than a quarter have multiple chronic conditions. 02:54 Chronic disease consumes 86 percent 02:56 of U.S. spending on health care. 02:58 Close to half of all American children are dealing 03:02 with a chronic health issue, 03:04 25 percent of all children aged 2 through 8. 03:08 Now, you can have these conditions 03:10 through no fault of your own. 03:12 Sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. 03:14 But often you can do something about it, 03:18 and when you can, you should. 03:19 Illness is no one's first choice. 03:22 And this is not just a physical matter 03:24 but a spiritual matter also. 03:26 In the book of Daniel, Daniel and his friends chose 03:29 to honor God with their health, and, as a result, 03:33 they prospered spiritually. 03:35 So why are Americans in such poor shape? 03:39 I don't want to oversimplify, but let's connect some dots. 03:43 Ultraprocessed foods were the source of 67 percent 03:48 of the calories in kids' and teens' diets in 2018. 03:52 The diet of kids is usually high in fat, 03:55 added sugars, and salt. 03:56 And they often contain additives like colorings, 03:58 flavorings, emulsifiers, or hydrogenated oils 04:01 used to transform the texture, looks, and flavor of food. 04:06 Kids and teens in the U.S. 04:08 are getting the majority of their calories 04:10 from ultraprocessed foods like microwaveable meals, 04:14 packaged snacks, chips, cookies, candies, soda, 04:19 canned soups, and prepared foods like pizza, hot dogs, 04:22 burgers, and chicken nuggets. 04:24 At the same time, the consumption of unprocessed 04:28 or minimally processed foods is decreasing. 04:32 Reports in July of 2024 stated that "eating higher levels 04:36 "of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans 04:39 by more than 10%." 04:42 An investigator at the National Cancer Institute 04:44 in Bethesda, Maryland, said, 04:46 "Diet soft drinks were the key contributor 04:49 "to ultraprocessed food consumption. 04:51 The second one was sugary soft drinks." 04:55 Sit your kid down to a bowl of many breakfast cereals, 04:57 and in some cases your child is getting 05:00 more than five teaspoons of sugar in the cereal alone, 05:04 which is disastrous. 05:07 The human body wasn't made to deal 05:08 with such massive amounts of sugar. 05:11 A professor of cardiovascular medicine in London, England, 05:14 said, "Children quickly become used to the taste 05:17 "of high-sugar cereals and find healthier ones less palatable, 05:22 "which has long-term implications on their health. 05:25 "Eating too much sugar leads to weight gain, 05:28 "raising the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease 05:31 and some cancers." 05:33 A typical child's diet today 05:35 is nearly 70 percent processed foods, 05:38 and that trend is growing. 05:41 One headline said, 05:42 "If you think kids are eating mostly junk food, 05:45 a new study finds you are right." 05:48 Now, I want to say this: 05:49 I'm not on a crusade against junk food. 05:51 People like a treat; we know that. 05:54 No one wants the manufacture of sweet treats 05:57 to disappear entirely. 05:59 Problem is, many people don't make the connection 06:02 between their taste buds and their poor health, 06:05 and it's costing lives, lots of lives. 06:09 Two of the major challenges we're facing today 06:11 are diabetes and obesity, and the two are linked. 06:16 The CDC says that 74 percent of adults 20 or older 06:20 are overweight or obese. 06:23 That's three-quarters of all adults. 06:25 The NIH adds that nearly one in 10 U.S. adults 06:29 have severe obesity, and that more than 40 percent 06:32 of children are overweight or obese. 06:35 The numbers on diabetes are astonishing, but remember, 06:39 I'm going to tell you there is something you can do about. 06:43 Type 2 diabetes is when your blood sugar is too high. 06:47 Your pancreas makes insulin, which is what helps glucose 06:51 get into your cells to be used as energy. 06:54 If that process doesn't work right, 06:55 glucose stays in your blood and doesn't reach your cells. 06:59 Diabetes raises the risk for damage to your eyes, kidneys, 07:03 nerves, and heart. 07:05 It's not good. 07:07 And many people with diabetes have no idea they have it. 07:11 It's the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States, 07:15 and diagnosed diabetes costs 413 billion dollars a year, 07:21 as of 2022, up 80 billion dollars in the last 10 years. 07:27 One out of every four dollars spent on health care 07:32 is spent on diabetes. 07:34 It's the most expensive chronic condition in the United States. 07:39 Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas 07:41 makes little or no insulin. 07:43 Only five to 10 percent of people with diabetes 07:45 have insulin-dependent diabetes. 07:48 But type 2 diabetes, which can be controlled, 07:52 can even be reversed. 07:54 Identify the causes and you may be able to reduce 07:59 or stop the problem. 08:01 So what can you do to fight diabetes 08:04 and other diseases like it? 08:06 I'll tell you in just a moment. 08:09 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 08:18 >>announcer: God wants the very best for us, 08:20 but at times that can be a challenge. 08:23 What can you do about obesity? 08:24 How do you get your weight to where you want it 08:26 and keep it there? 08:28 We'd like you to have today's free offer DVD, 08:30 "Lose Weight Naturally." 08:32 Simply call 800-253-3000 08:35 or visit iiwoffer.com. 08:39 You can write to the address on your screen 08:40 or just text "freeweight" to 71392. 08:44 That's "freeweight" to 71392. 08:49 >>announcer: Loving well is a way of life. 08:51 ♪[soft reflective music]♪ 08:53 And loving well means wanting the very best for others. 08:57 "Go ye therefore" becomes "I'll go, send me. 09:01 "Send me across the world or across town. 09:06 "Work in me to impact lives for such a time as this. 09:10 "And if I can't go myself, I want to send others 09:13 who can take the everlasting gospel to the world." 09:17 It Is Written's office of planned giving gives you 09:20 the opportunity to leave a legacy, 09:23 to make a major impact for Christ, 09:27 to lead others to faith in Jesus in preparation for eternity. 09:32 Let God use you to enable others to go. 09:36 To learn more, visit hislegacy.com. 09:39 That's hislegacy.com. 09:44 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 09:48 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me on "It Is Written." 09:50 Diabetes is a killer, and it's affecting millions and millions 09:54 of Americans and millions more people around the world. 09:57 What do you do about diabetes? 09:59 First, you want to get tested 10:02 so you can be correctly diagnosed. 10:04 Then, learn what you can do to mitigate 10:06 or even reverse diabetes. 10:09 People who eat too much salt, not enough whole grains, 10:11 and not enough fruit are at a greater risk 10:14 of developing type 2 diabetes. 10:17 You ought to talk with your doctor, and remember, 10:20 it is possible for many type 2 diabetics to get off insulin, 10:25 even after years of living with diabetes. 10:27 Experts say you should give yourself lots of nutrients 10:31 from a whole-food plant-based diet. 10:34 Whole grains, legumes, nuts, and vegetables--that's best. 10:39 If you can give your body a chance, 10:41 your body can often heal itself. 10:45 Processed food, especially meat, 10:47 is a key driver in developing diabetes. 10:50 In fact, the World Health Organization has said that 10:52 processed meats, bacon, salami, cold cuts are carcinogenic. 10:56 They increase your cancer risk. 10:59 In fact, the World Health Organization said, and I quote, 11:02 "The consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer." 11:07 With diabetes, something called "lipotoxicity" 11:10 causes mechanisms inside the cells in your body 11:14 to stop working efficiently. 11:16 It's not that eating a banana drives up your blood sugar; 11:20 it's that damage to your body's cells prevents them 11:23 from absorbing glucose. 11:25 Eating better is a huge help. 11:30 Another major key in treating diabetes is exercise. 11:35 If you're diabetic, taking a 30-minute 11:37 light-to-moderate walk after you eat 11:39 will have a huge impact on your underlying insulin resistance. 11:43 And getting exercise, in general, is essential. 11:47 For most people, that's simple. 11:49 Talk to your doctor and be prepared 11:51 to take charge of your health. 11:53 The problem is a lot of people 11:56 don't want to change the way they eat. 12:00 They don't want to take a walk. 12:03 But when you're dealing with your health 12:05 and with a condition that can do enormous damage, 12:08 this is not too much to ask. 12:11 Is it hard? No! 12:13 What's hard is having your foot amputated--that's hard. 12:18 What's hard is nerve damage. 12:20 What's hard is diabetic retinopathy, 12:23 which is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. 12:27 That's hard. 12:28 Eating better? Eating less? 12:30 Eating less junk? Eating less fat? 12:34 Taking a walk? No, that's not hard, not too hard. 12:40 And I'm going to tell you how you can make those changes. 12:44 Around one percent of adults in the late 1950s had diabetes. 12:48 Now, around 50 percent of Americans have diabetes 12:54 or prediabetes. So what's changed? 12:57 What has changed is what we eat 13:00 and the amount of exercise we get. 13:03 Now, it's true that our modern lifestyles have, in many cases, 13:07 shoehorned us into this. 13:09 When I was a kid we virtually never ate out. 13:11 We ate home-cooked meals, not much refined food. 13:14 We had a big garden, 13:15 ate a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. 13:17 We walked to school, walked to town. 13:20 Children rode their bikes everywhere. 13:22 We were involved in sport. 13:24 For most people today, life's just not like that, 13:27 and that's a challenge. 13:28 But if we don't figure this out--and we can figure it out-- 13:32 but if we don't, well, we know the result 13:36 because we're living the result right now. 13:39 Let's talk about a couple of other chronic health conditions. 13:43 The numbers are through the roof on fatty liver disease. 13:47 That's too much fat in your liver. 13:49 Your liver filters your blood, so if it's fatty, 13:53 many bodily processes are messed up. 13:56 One in four people aged 25 to 30 have fatty liver disease. 14:02 The reason? 14:03 High-fat diet, not enough exercise. 14:07 It's that simple. 14:09 Obesity in the United States has more than doubled 14:11 since the 1970s. 14:13 And that's a major reason why we're seeing 14:15 skyrocketing rates of disease. 14:18 Cancer rates are way up in people aged under 50. 14:23 New cases of breast cancer among women are way up. 14:28 One reason is alcohol, 14:30 responsible for 16 percent of all breast cancer cases. 14:35 Dr. Leana Wen says, 14:37 "Some researchers point to the escalating rates of obesity 14:40 "over the last few decades, 14:42 "which is associated with the risk of early-onset cancer. 14:45 "On a related note, the change in dietary habits, 14:50 "specifically the increase in consumption 14:53 "of ultra-processed food, and sedentary lifestyles 14:56 also are associated with higher cancer rates." 15:00 When Pete Rose, the famous baseball player, 15:02 died of heart disease, one news outlet reported 15:05 that "half of Americans over [the] age [of] 45" 15:08 have the same condition Rose had. 15:11 In July of 2024, a raft of media outlets reported 15:15 that "half of all...cancer deaths...could be avoided" 15:20 if people would only change certain modifiable risk factors. 15:24 Half of all cancers avoided! 15:28 Here's all we need to do to eliminate half of all cancers: 15:33 Don't smoke. Lose weight. 15:36 Eat better. Exercise. 15:39 Be careful about UV rays and avoid viruses such as HPV. 15:44 We can do this. And we must, 15:46 especially as cancer rates are expected to increase 77 percent 15:51 by 2050. 15:53 Now, I know for someone it's genetic. 15:54 For another there was an injury. 15:56 For some there's nothing you can do about it. 15:58 Some, that's understood. But that's not most people. 16:02 Most of us can make simple decisions 16:05 that will have a profound impact on our health. 16:08 Here's a headline for you that makes no sense, 16:11 but it's 100% accurate: 16:14 "US spends most on health care 16:17 "but has worst health outcomes 16:20 among high-income countries, new report finds." 16:23 In the United States health expenditure per person 16:26 is much higher than in other countries. 16:29 Yet overall, this does not lead to better outcomes. 16:34 In June of 2024, an ABC affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia, 16:38 reported on the food pyramid produced 16:40 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 16:43 originally intended to help people to be healthy. 16:45 It was abandoned in 2005 with good reason. 16:49 "Heading into the 21st century, 16:50 "obesity rates were on the rise. 16:53 "So much so, that the federal government decided to step in. 16:56 "The problem was that billions of dollars were on the line. 17:00 "...Lobbyists put pressure 17:02 "on the U.S. Department of Agriculture 17:05 "and adjustments were made accordingly. 17:07 "What was originally intended to be an official blueprint 17:10 "for [eating healthy] turned into a moneymaker 17:13 for the highest bidders in the food industry." 17:16 And it even goes a little deeper. 17:18 The NIH says out loud that "More than 2,500 chemical substances 17:24 "are intentionally added to foods to modify flavor, color, 17:29 "stability, texture, or cost. 17:32 "In addition, an estimated 12,000 substances 17:36 "are used in such a way that they may 17:38 unintentionally enter the food supply." 17:41 That's shocking. 17:42 If you thought this was bad, the truth is it gets worse. 17:47 But there is hope, and there is good news, 17:52 and I'll tell you more in just a moment. 17:54 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 18:04 >>announcer: God wants the very best for us, 18:06 but at times that can be a challenge. 18:08 What can you do about obesity? 18:10 How do you get your weight to where you want it 18:12 and keep it there? 18:13 We'd like you to have today's free offer DVD, 18:16 "Lose Weight Naturally." 18:18 Simply call 800-253-3000 18:21 or visit iiwoffer.com. 18:24 You can write to the address on your screen 18:26 or just text "freeweight" to 71392. 18:30 That's "freeweight" to 71392. 18:33 >>John Bradshaw: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 18:35 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 18:39 To support this international life-changing ministry, 18:42 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 18:46 You can send your tax-deductible gift 18:48 to the address on your screen, 18:49 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 18:53 Thank you for your prayers and your financial support. 18:56 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 18:59 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 19:04 >>John Bradshaw: We're in a health crisis. 19:06 According to the Mayo Clinic, "Metabolic syndrome 19:09 "is a cluster of conditions that occur together, 19:12 "increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke 19:15 "and type 2 diabetes. 19:18 "These conditions include increased blood pressure, 19:21 "high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, 19:25 "and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. 19:29 ...Up to one-third of U.S. adults have it." 19:34 It's clear our system isn't working. 19:36 Our unhealthy lifestyle is killing us. 19:39 You might go to a doctor who prescribes a pill 19:41 or performs surgery, but without addressing the reasons 19:44 why you get sick in the first place, 19:46 we're not addressing the real issues. 19:49 If we can look at why we get sick and address that, 19:52 then we'll see things change. 19:55 What's shocking is that many medical schools 19:58 don't have a single class on nutrition, 20:02 so, many doctors aren't informed about this. 20:05 A doctor friend once said to me, 20:07 "I don't know a thing about nutrition." 20:11 That's clearly not good. 20:13 Plus, few people are willing to change their lifestyle, 20:16 unwilling to change what they eat, 20:19 even when their life depends on it. 20:22 We can blame doctors or junk food companies, 20:25 but the only person who puts food in my mouth is me. 20:30 The only person who can get me off the sofa 20:32 and take a walk around the block is me. 20:36 Fast food restaurants and soda companies 20:38 aren't preventing anyone from taking positive steps. 20:43 So, what can you do? 20:45 Knowing that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 20:48 you can honor God with your body by reclaiming 20:51 what the devil has been robbing you of. 20:54 So, what do we do? 20:55 First, we want to eat better, less junk, less fat, 21:00 less sugar, less processed foods, 21:03 more fruit and vegetables. 21:05 Most people know the difference 21:07 between healthy and unhealthy food. 21:08 If you have to, start small, 21:10 but stick with it and grow in this. 21:13 Here's an easy one: ditch soda. 21:18 One can of your favorite soda 21:20 contains as much as eight teaspoons of sugar, 21:24 some a whole lot more, which is shocking. 21:28 Drink soda regularly and you're hurting yourself. 21:32 Drink water instead. 21:34 "But I don't want to." 21:35 Okay. So you're saying you're happy with fatty liver disease 21:38 and metabolic syndrome. 21:39 "But it's hard." Mm-mm. 21:41 A heart attack is hard. Cancer is hard. 21:44 Burying your spouse at 50 is hard. 21:48 Drinking water instead of sugar water? 21:51 Not hard. And it gets easier with practice. 21:54 A friend of mine, big tall guy, lost 70 pounds. 21:58 You couldn't help but see the change. 22:00 He told me, "All I did was stop drinking soda, 22:03 and I started walking." 22:05 That was it. 22:07 Also, you want to cut back on red meat. 22:09 In fact, cut back on meat. 22:11 The science is in: 22:12 Less meat and more plants is profoundly good for you. 22:17 Learn to live without as much dessert. 22:20 I'm not on a crusade against all things dessert, 22:23 by any means, but don't let it control you. 22:27 And don't think you need to accomplish every change 22:29 in one day, but start, watch your health improve, 22:34 and continue to make changes. 22:36 You may well find you need less medication, 22:38 meaning you might save a ton of money, 22:41 and your body will love you for it. 22:43 And remember exercise. 22:45 Get moving, take a walk, get your heart rate up, 22:48 ride a bike or a stationary bike, or swim or run. 22:52 Start somewhere and build from there. 22:54 You will love it. 22:57 A professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford University 22:59 says, "Exercise may be 23:02 the single most potent medical intervention ever known." 23:06 Dr. Euan Ashley says, exercise will improve any system 23:10 in your body and reduce your risk of disease in that system. 23:13 He says, "Exercise...really is the magic pill." 23:18 Exercise helps your brain function better. 23:20 After sin entered the world, God put Adam to work. 23:25 In order to be happy and holy, 23:26 Adam and Eve needed to be active. 23:29 People still need to be active. 23:31 Inactivity is killing people. 23:34 Improve your diet, get some exercise, 23:38 and you are on your way to better health. 23:42 So, how do we do this? 23:44 By leaning on God. 23:46 By asking God to do in you what you cannot do in yourself. 23:51 I know this can be a challenge. 23:53 Sometimes you're dealing with the habits of a lifetime. 23:56 So remember, the Bible says, 23:59 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 24:03 Philippians 4:13. 24:04 "It is God who works in you both to will and to do 24:08 [of] His good pleasure." 24:09 Philippians 2:13. 24:11 "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." 24:14 Psalm 138, verse 8. 24:16 You know that God can do this in the life of anyone 24:20 who wants to make changes to honor Him. 24:23 As Paul wrote, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, 24:27 or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 24:32 You don't need to do anything rash or risky. 24:34 Do talk to your doctor, but plan to live like never before. 24:39 Switch up your eating habits, 24:41 get some exercise, eat better, 24:42 move more, and get good sleep. 24:45 Sleep is vital to good health. 24:48 And you're going to see your health take off. 24:50 And keep in mind weight doesn't come off quickly. 24:54 If it took years to add, it won't come off overnight. 24:58 But you'll start to see progress pretty soon. 25:02 What you don't need is another fad diet. 25:06 You don't need that. 25:07 Change your lifestyle, develop new attitudes toward food, 25:11 make exercise a part of your life, and over time, 25:14 you're going to reap the rewards: 25:16 more energy, less illness, less medication, a sharper mind. 25:21 And you'll know you're honoring God. 25:25 You know, sin entered the world via food. 25:29 Now, I hear people say, "You've got to die of something." 25:31 That's right, but you don't have to die of everything, 25:34 and there are a ton of illnesses 25:36 you simply do not need to die from. 25:39 Surrender your decisions to God, and you can expect 25:43 to experience more of His plans for you. 25:48 And one thing you're going to want to do is pray. 25:51 Pray for God's strength and power. 25:53 Pray for God to work in you. 25:54 Pray for strength to make good decisions. 25:57 And do more than pray; claim God's power. 26:00 Tell God you expect Him to work for you. 26:03 That promise, "I can do all things," 26:06 take it to God and claim it. 26:08 Tell Him you are believing that will happen in your life. 26:11 Keep this before God, and don't get discouraged. 26:15 If you stumble, go again. 26:17 You'll grow in this. Be patient with yourself. 26:21 Remember God is gracious, and watch God do big things for you. 26:26 This is important. 26:28 We're dying when we should be living. 26:32 But Jesus came to this world to give you life more abundantly. 26:37 Let me pray for you. 26:39 Father in heaven, thank You that You have created us 26:41 to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, 26:43 a place where heaven itself would dwell. 26:46 Thank You that Jesus promises to live His life in us. 26:49 Now I pray that we will keep our bodies 26:52 as the temple of the Holy Spirit. 26:55 Give us grace now, Lord. 26:56 So many of us are suffering from illnesses 26:58 that we can reverse. 27:00 So many of us are right now in battles 27:02 against difficult situations that we can do something about 27:06 by taking simple measures. 27:08 And then perhaps all of us are in great danger of stumbling 27:13 into lifestyle illnesses and sicknesses and diseases 27:18 that we could otherwise avoid if we make good decisions. 27:23 Now, for each of us this is going to look 27:25 a little bit different, but I pray You'll bring to our hearts 27:27 and minds right now that which we can do, right now, 27:31 to get onto the pathway to better health 27:33 and honoring You more fully with our lives. 27:36 We thank You. 27:37 We thank You for less illness, for less disease, 27:40 for less medication, and for more of the presence of Jesus. 27:44 And we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 27:49 Thank you so much for joining me. 27:50 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:52 Until then, remember: 27:54 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:58 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 28:02 ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪ 28:26 ♪[music ends]♪♪ |
Revised 2025-01-23