When the searches are meaningless.

Oh what kind of life a man can have,

If in having you can be slave?

but i will trust the unfailing love of my Savior.

the pain may take away my life’s sweetness,

yes, i will cling on my Master’s faithfulness.

the trial may crush my dreams and may turn my life bitter,

still i will rise with my Redeemer.

Yes, when all seems a strife, God is just working in my life.

By: SALAXAMANA

The Ancient Religion

Religion, sacred engagement with that which is believed to be a spiritual reality. Religion is a worldwide phenomenon that has played a part in all human culture and so is a much broader, more complex category than the set of beliefs or practices found in any single religious tradition. An adequate understanding of religion must take into account its distinctive qualities and patterns as a form of human experience, as well as the similarities and differences in religions across human cultures.

Usually, in the ancient religion has feminine-masculine concept. This concept means that a god has a goddess partner. thus their union would result an offspring that would be a god/goddess as well that is why they called it fertility concept.

Canaanites, in the Old Testament, original inhabitants of the land of Canaan. According to the Book of Judges, the Israelites, during the 2nd millennium bc or earlier, gradually subjugated the Canaanite cities. By the end of the reign of Solomon, king of Israel, the Canaanites had virtually been assimilated into the Hebrew people, among whom they appear to have exerted a reactionary religious influence. The Canaanite religion itself was based on the worship of the divinities Baal and Ashtoreth. Biblical scholars now believe that the Hebrew language was derived from Canaanite sources, and that the Phoenician language was an early form of Hebrew. Recent discoveries indicate that, before the Hebrew conquest of the south of Canaan, the Canaanites and the Phoenicians constituted a single nation, and that the people now known as the Phoenicians subsequently developed as a separate nation.

Canaanite

The chief Canaanite god is �El, which means simply “God,” familiar as one of the names of the single god of the Bible. The linguistic root may mean “That” or “the One.” He is called “Creator of all Created Things,” as well as “Father of Humanity.” �El is therefore the prime creator god of the pantheon, although we do not currently have a Canaanite creation story. �El is also the king and head of the divine assembly, the council of the gods, although He is not necessarily ‘biological’ father of all the deities.

Despite His position as creator, �El thereafter was comparatively inactive. He is described as an old bearded man and, in most stories we have, He is seated in His hall up on His mountain – between the two rivers which are the source of the world oceans. Although He is rather remote, and not usually directly approached, �El is strong,

Asherah (from Hebrew אשרה), generally taken as identical with the Ugaritic goddess Athirat (more accurately transcribed as ʼAṯirat), was a major northwest Semitic mother goddess, appearing occasionally also in Akkadian sources as Ashratum/Ashratu and in Hittite as Asherdu(s) or Ashertu(s) or Aserdu(s) or Asertu(s).

By the time Egypt was unified, the early religious practices had developed into a formal religion involving the worship of many gods and goddesses. The environment played a significant role in shaping the nature of the deities the Egyptians worshiped. Their gods and goddesses took the form of humans, animals, or combinations of humans and animals. These forms represented the forces of nature and the elements of the Egyptians’ physical world. By picturing the natural powers as recognizable entities and creating mythological stories about them, the Egyptians tried to reach an understanding of the complicated interactions within their universe.

Mesopotamian religion includes the beliefs and practices of the peoples of Babylonia and Assyria from the earliest times to the late fourth century bc. The earliest Mesopotamian religious practices must be reconstructed from remains such as temples, burials, and artistic imagery, examples of which date from as far back as the 7th millennium bc. Written sources appeared in Sumerian beginning at the end of the 4th millennium bc that indicate religious practices, and there are sources in Akkadian and other Semitic languages beginning about 2500 bc.

The Egyptian Deities The deities of ancient Egypt can be organized into several groups, but the boundaries are not fixed, and some deities may belong to several groups. Some of the divinities associated with aspects of the Sun were Ra, Horus, Atum, and Khepri. Those identified with the Moon were Thoth and Khonsu. Geb was associated with the Earth. Nut was the goddess of the sky. Shu and Tefnut were identified with the air and moisture. Osiris and Isis were the rulers of the underworld. Many of these deities were also part of myths of creation, of which there are several versions. Each story has a primary deity, such as Amun, Ptah, Atum, or Khnum, as well as several lesser divinities. Amon and Ra became combined into a composite form, Amon-Ra. As king of the gods, Amon-Ra was revered on a national basis. A few other deities also attained this status. Most, however, had a local origin and were worshiped only in the provincial area where they originated. The concept of order and balance, Maat, had as its counterpart Seth, who personified chaos and disorder. A large group, including Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Selket, Anubis, and Thoth, fell into the class of funerary deities, who figured prominently in funerary rituals. In addition, on a more individual level, there were local, personal, and household gods, and even patron deities for certain professions. Deities of foreign origin were sometimes included among the Egyptian gods.   Mesopotamian Religion Mesopotamian religion represents a continuous development from the religion of the Sumerians (see Sumerian Religion). Various Semitic peoples (for example, Akkadians, Amorites, Assyrians, and Arameans) who were influenced by Sumerian culture or who settled in southern Mesopotamia adapted the structures of Sumerian religion to their own beliefs and practices. Later immigrant populations tended to adopt the Mesopotamian culture they found on their arrival. Mesopotamian civilization eventually spread throughout the ancient Middle East, diffusing its religious ideas to Syria-Palestine, Asia Minor, and the Mediterranean world. Mesopotamian Deities This list contains Akkadian, Babylonian, and Sumerian names, some of which refer to the same god in the other culture, and also over a number of time periods. A-a Sun goddess Consort of the sun god Samas Abu Minor vegetation god Sprung from head of Enki Abzu God of underground waters Adad Weather god Giver of life in the fields Son of Anu Ama-arhus Fertility goddess Amasagnul Fertility goddess An (Anum) Head of the pantheon God of the sky The ultimate source of all authority Annedotus: See Oannes. Anshar Primordial deity linked with heaven Antu Creator goddess Consort of Anu Antum Consort of An Source of rain Anu Creator god Consort of Antu Anum: See An. Anunitu: See Antu. Apsu God of underworld primeval waters Aruru Mother goddess Aruzu God of completed construction Asalluha Messenger and reporter to his father Enki Ashnan Goddess of grain Asman Minor vegetation goddess Protectoress of the grains in the fields Assur Tutelary (guardian) god National deity of Assyria Aya Mother goddess Consort of sun god Samas Baba Fertility goddess Belet-Seri Underworld goddess Birdu Minor underworld god Consort of Manungal Dagon God of vegetation Fertility god Half man and half fish Damgalnuna Mother goddess Ea: See Enki. Ellil: See Enlil. Emesh Vegetation god Enbillulu River god Endursaga Herald god Enki (Ea) God of Earth God of the fresh waters God of the air God of wisdom Source of all secret magical knowledge Enkimdu God of canals and ditches Father of Marduk Enlil (Ellil) National god of Sumer Held the Tablets of Destiny Enmesarra God of the law Ennugi God attendant and throne-bearer of Enlil Enten Guardian deity of farmers Ereshkigal Queen of the netherworld Consort of Gugulanna Erra God of war Erua: See Zarpanitu.. Gangir Daughter of goddess Baba Gatumdug Fertility goddess Daughter of god An Gerra God of fire Geshtu Minor god of intellect Gibil Fire god Girru God of fire and light Messenger of the gods Gugulanna Minor underworld deity Consort of Erishkigal Gula (Nin Ezen) Goddess of healing Consort of Ninurta Gusilim: See Ishtaran. Hala Goddess of healing Hani Minor god and attendant of Adad Hendursaga God of the law Igigi A group of younger sky gods Ilabrat Minor god and minister of state of chief god Anu Im Storm god Inanna (Ishtar) Sister of Utu Goddess of several roles, including Morning Star and Evening Star Ishara Goddess of marriage and childbirth Isimud Messenger of the god Enki Ishkur Storm god Ishtar: See Inanna. Ishtaran Tutelary god of the city of Dur Ishum Attendant of the god Erra Brother of the god Samash Kabta God of artisans Kakka Minor god and minister of state to Anu and Anshar Ki Personified of the earth and the underworld Consort of An Kingu Leader of the forces of the beginning and shaping of the world Husband-son of Tiamat Kishar Creator of An and Ki Consort of Anshar Kulla God who restores temples God of builders Kus God of herdsmen Kusag Patron god of priests High priest of the gods Lahamu Primordial deity Created from the primeval ocean Lahar God of cattle Carries a bow and a club Lilith Goddess of desolation Lugal-Irra Underworld god Mami Mother goddess who created mortals Mandanu God of divine judgment Manungal Underworld god Marduk Supreme god God of the sun Son of Enki and Damgalnuna Martu Tutelary god and patron god of the city of Ninab Mullitu Goddess of fertility and childbirth Consort of Ellil Nabu God of writing and wisdom Son of Marduk and Zarpanitu Nammu Birth goddess Creator of heaven and earth Mother of the gods Namtar Messenger god for the goddess Ereshkigal Nanaja Fertility goddess Nanna God of the full moon, the crescents, and the new moon Nanshe Goddess of justice Negun Minor goddess associated with the goddess Sirara Nergal God of war, of pestilence, of the chase, of the midsummer sun King of the netherworld Neti Chthonic (underworld) god Nimsimug God who completes construction Nin Ezen: See Gula. Nin Ilda God of carpenters Nin Imma Fertility goddess Nin Shar Minor mother goddess Nindara Consort of the goddess Nanshe Ninegal God of smiths Nindurra Mother of the goddess Utto by Enki Ningal Reed goddess Ningikuga Goddess of reeds and marshes Ningirama God of magic Ningirsu God of thundershowers God of the plough Ningis Zi Da God of light coming from the horizon Ninhursaga High goddess Goddess of mountains Ninib God of the spring sun God of the morning sun Ninkarnunna Barber god Attendant of the god Ninurta Ninkhursaga Goddess of birth for pregnant animals Midwife of the gods Ninkurra Minor mother goddess Ninlil Goddess of grain Consort of Enlil Ninmena Mother goddess Ninmu Mother of goddess Nindurra by Enki Ninsikil Patron goddess of the paradise land of Dilmun Ninshubur Messenger goddess of the goddess Inana Ninsun Cow goddess Ninurta God of thunderstorms God of the plough Nisaba Goddess of writing Goddess of grain and reeds Nu Mus Da Tutelary god Patron of the city Kazallu Nudimmud God who created the first ocean Nunbarsegunu Obscure mother goddess Nushku God of light Oannes (Annedotus) God of the sea Instructs humans in the arts and sciences during the day Head and body of a fish and feet of a man Pa-bil-sag Tutelary god of Isin Pap-nigin-gara God of war Papsukal Messenger god Samas Sun god Consort of A-a Sebitti A group of minor gods Shakka God of cattle Shala War goddess Shamash Sun god Shara Minor war god Shara Itu Fertility goddess Sherida Mother goddess Shullat Minor god Attendant of the sun god Shamash Shulman Chthonic god Fertility god Shul-pa-e Fertility god Astral god Shulsaga Astral goddess Shumugan God of river plains Siduri Minor goddess of brewing Sin Moon god Sirara Goddess of the Persian Gulf Sirsir God of mariners Tashmetu Goddess consort of the god Nabu Tiamat Primordial creator goddess Goddess of the sea Tishpak Tutelary god of the city of Eshnumma Tutu Tutelary god of Rorsippa Ua-Ildak Vegetation goddess Urash Chthonic earth goddess A consort of the sky god An Umunmutamku and Umunmutamnag Dieties who present to the gods offerings made by humans Utnapishtim A human made a god after he built an ark and saved himself, his family, and the beasts because of the deluge Uttu Goddess of clothing Vegetation goddess Daughter of Enki and Nindurra Utu Sun god God responsible for dispensing justice to gods and men Son of the moon god Nanna and the goess Ninlil Wer Storm god Linked with Adad and Amurru Zababa God of war Zarpanitu (Erua) Birth goddess Consort of Marduk Marriage celebrated annually at New Year in Babylon

Mount Sinai is the name of the mountain where, according to the Bible, God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. Since the time of Saint Helena it has been identified with Jabal Musa (or Gebel Musa), a mountain 2,285 meters high in the southern Sinai Peninsula. The Arabic name means Mount Moses.

Examining the Mt. Sinai Locations

The main sites to be examined are the traditional Jebel Musa site, the Midian site Jabal al Lawz; other sites such as those marked in the map above will be examined only briefly.

The Traditional Site: Jebel Musa

Emperor Constantine is credited with identifying this site through his visions. He sent his mother Helena to the holy sites he had identified in his visions such as Jebel Musa and the holy places in Jerusalem. The mountain is 7497 ft (2285 m)    m) high. To the southwest of it is Jebel Katherina, 7852 (2393 m) ft high in remembrance of St Catherine, a martyr in Alexandria whose remains are believed to be interred in the vicinity. At the foot of Jebel Musa is the St. Catherine’s monastery built in AD 527 by the emperor Justinian (this has been rebuilt a few times). In one of the rooms in the monastery was discovered the famous and invaluable Codex Sinaiticus, the Greek manuscript of the Bible.

Why is this location not right?

1. Mt. Sinai is said to be just three days distance from the Egyptian border according to Exod 3:12 (see also Exod. 3:18, 5:3 and 8:27) The distance scale on the basis of days was used in ancient times; a day’s distance was typically 20-25 miles by caravan. The Israelites could not have moved more than six miles per day, but  this should not be used as a distance scale. In reality they wandered up and down and it took 45 days for them to reach Mt. Sinai after the crossing. The Jebel Musa location is some 150 miles away from the border, or six to seven days distance from the border.
2. The Jebel Musa area is uninhabitable for people and animals. The Israelites were a large crowd of adult men plus their families and live stock. They  stayed at Mt. Sinai for 11 months, and this location would not have sustained them for that long. There is some level ground and some ground water, though.  The mountain itself is precipitous, and Moses had to climb this mountain to the presence of God.
3. Although Sinai was not true Egyptian territory, there were Egyptian copper mines in south central Sinai, hence there would be military presence there.
4. The Amaleks who fought with the Israelites near Mt. Sinai were actually in northern Sinai (more like the Negev)
5. The places before and after Jebel Musa marked on the route map have no real significance; they are arbitrarily chosen locations.
6. It is in the wrong direction. We know the Israelites later on reached Kadesh in  the north. It was from Kadesh the spies were sent out. This Kadesh was in Paran.

This site was promoted  by Ron Wyatt and the Cornuke-Williams teams. A number of Bible scholars seem to have embraced this choice due to many attractive features and its location near ancient Midian. Jabal al Lawz is even higher than Jebel Musa, 8465 ft(2580 m) high.

In favor of this site the following arguments are given:

1. It is in the ancient land of Midian where Moses lived for 40 years; it was  when he was feeding the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law that he had the Burning Bush experience at Mt. Sinai (Exod. 3:1-2).
2. The mountain top has a burnt appearance, reminiscent of God having descended on it in fire as the Bible says (Exod. 19:18). There is perhaps no other mountain with this unique feature in the whole area.
3. The explorers found boundary stones, altars and petroglyphs of Egyptian calf in the vicinity.
4. Jabal al Lawz is completely out of the Egyptian territory. Israelites had to cross Sinai to be completely out of Egypt.
5. St. Paul says Mt. Sinai is in Arabia (Galatians 4:25). Sinai cannot be Arabia.
6. Not too far from the mountain is a large split rock reminiscent of Moses striking the rock at Rephidim.

Trace the route of Exodus and give a brief description significant to that place.

1. Ramases – the Hebrews knew the building well because they labor for this building.

2. Succoth – Israelites took this path to avoid the Philistines.

3. Approaching the Sea: Etham, Pi-hahiroth, Mogdol, And Baal-zephon – Hebrews followed a route used by slaves that led them away from authorities.

4. Deliverance at the Sea: Encamped at Pi-Hahiroth – God parted the Sea.

5. To Sinai- God did mighty miracles

6. Entering the wilderness – Kades-Barnea: a) Moses sent out the twelve spies; b) people alarmed by the sent of spies and wanted to go back to Egypt; c) Israelites attempted to storm to the land of Canaan because they were unwilling to accept God’s verdict; d) Furtherrebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; e) Miriam died; f) Moses provide water for the complaining Israelites; g) on the way to Edom, shortly after leaving Kadesh Barnea, Aaron died.

7. Plains of Moab -geographical problems because of the refusal of King of Edom and Moab to let the Israelites passed.

8.Conquest of the Transjordan – israelites battle missions; attacks of Siho and Og; settlement of tribes of Reuben, gad, And East Manasseh; and the fear of Moab-Balak.

There were six biblical cities of

On the west of the Jordan were…

1. Kadesh, in Naphtali
2. Shechem, in Mount Ephraim
3. Hebron, in Judah

On the east of the Jordan were…

1. Golan, in Bashan
2. Ramoth-Gilead, in Gad
3. Bezer, in Reuben

What are these cities of refuge anyway? Allow me to answer this question by this illustration.

A certain Jew was sharpening his sword and as he was doing that, he accidentally killed another Jew from other clan. The family of the deceased can kill the killer as well. In order to escape that fate, the city of refuge offers a comfort. The killer can stay in any of the cities of refuge and becomes untouchable as long as he is there.

This is supported by Walter Kaiser, ” where the death was accidental and unpremeditated, then the perpetrator could be safe within the confines of this city. the only disadvantage was that one guilty of the accidental death of another person had to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest in office at the time of the deed.”

To make my point stronger, let me quote the Bible. “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly.” Numbers 35:6 and 12.

However, when the killing is premeditated-murder; the city of refuge is not a refuge after all, the murderer would be executed.

 Extension!

Primarily, we evolved out of love- THE LOVE OF GOD! Our lives are for love. And our essence is to love. God first developed the affective aspect of the lives of His people. Allow me to elaborate this.

God’s greatest commandments are:

“The most important one, ‘Love the lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second one is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

                                                                Mark 12: 29a, 30-31

Notice that these two commandments that have great eminence have a single order- LOVE! God extended His love to us while we are still “NOBODY!” As stated in 1John 4: 10, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His son as a atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Well said in Romans 5: 8, “But God best demonstrates His own love for us in this: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.”

What a gracious extension! Isn’t it just right to portray? Come let’s reach and share …love is enough for everybody- the abundance of everything. No one is too poor that has nothing to share and no one is too rich that has no need to partake. Truly, everybody needs love and ALL HAS LOVE! God lives in us and His love made complete in us (1 John 4: 12).

From the beginning of time, God is in control. God alone is powerful. May it be an external or internal force, the One behind that power is God… and no other else.

In the light of Israel history, the main star is God. Thus, everything that happened in the lives of the Israelites was under the care and will of God. Thus, the one who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart when Moses was asking the Pharaoh of Egypt to let the Jews be free from the slavery and live to the promise land was GOD! The word of God is so certain about it. It was written many times in the book of Exodus that “the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart”. This may be the only tangible evidence, yet this the most credible proof… the one and only truth… THE BIBLE.

The question now is that why the Lord would do that? Why not let His people have an easy exit? These kind of questions bring us back to very basic foundation of the Christian faith…”it all starts with the glory of God and all ends with the glory of God!”

God’s glory. It’s all about Him. Not about Moses, not about Pharaoh, and certainly not about us… It is all about GOD! The Lord may touch Pharaoh’s heart to let Israelites go. The Lord may even make Pharaoh to escort the Israelites to the promise land. But who would get the credit then? Who would you think the Israelites praise and thank then? Who would the Israelite remember then? THE PHARAOH! The Pharaoh would be exalted among the Israelites and not God. Hence, the Lord hardened the Pharaoh’s heart to let the Israelites see His glory, power, and love.

This is an excerpt from an article (BIBLE TRACK COMMENTARY) to support my point.

In we see that “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” So one might wonder: Why perform the miracles of bringing the plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians if God was going to cause Pharaoh to dig in his heals each time and refuse compliance? Here’s your answer in verses Exodus 10:1-2, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.” Have you been thinking all this time that the miracles were for Pharaoh’s benefit? If you’re going to lead approximately two million people out of the only life they have ever known, you had better demonstrate to the people how awesome their God is. That’s what God is allowing Moses to do before the Hebrews. The miracles of the plagues were for the Hebrews’ benefit.

This is a good time to get an overview of how Pharaoh came by his stubborn streak:

·         Exodus 4:21 …but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

·         Exodus 7:3 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart…

·         Exodus 9:12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them…

·         Exodus 10:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart…

·         Exodus 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart…

·         Exodus 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart…

·         Exodus 11:10 …and the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart…

·         Exodus 14:4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart…

·         Exodus 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt…

The Call to Repentance

Like a river, life must be flowing. But there are times when we are trapped in a pit; we tend to remain there. By then, as stagnant water, insects like deadly mosquitoes overwhelm us!

Basically, man is sinful in nature. Nevertheless, the blood of Christ cleanses us. 1Peter 1:18-19 reveals our redemption, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

In order to enjoy this sacrifice Christ has made, we must first REPENT! Jesus said, “Unless you repent you too all perish,”(Luke13: 3). We will never delight on our journey if we carry the heavy weight of sin. Hebrews 12:1 advises us to “…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”

Jesus is patiently waiting for us; not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone come to repentance,(2Peter 3:9). The Lord is calling us to return to Him…calling us HOME! Again He said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near,”(Matt.4: 17)

After researching the route that the Israelites might have taken in their exodus from Egypt, Ron Wyatt found that the Biblical description fitted perfectly with a deep gorge called Wadi Watir. In Exodus 14:1, 2 God tells them to turn off the highway, which Ron found led to a canyon now called Wadi Watir. The Bible records the reaction of Pharaoh when he was informed of their deviation from the highway, (Exodus 14:3),  Wadi Watir is a long deep canyon which fits this description perfectly.

On diving down to the sea bed, in 1978, Ron Wyatt and his two sons found and photographed numerous coral encrusted chariot parts. Several dives since then have revealed more and more evidence. One of his finds included an eight spoke chariot wheel, which Ron took to the director of Egyptian Antiquities, Dr. Nassif Mohammed Hassan. After examining it he immediately announced it to be of the eighteenth dynasty, dating the exodus to 1446 BC. When asked how he knew this Dr. Hassan explained that the eight spoke wheel was only used during this period, the time of Ramases II and Tutmoses (Moses). Chariot boxes, horse and human skeletal remains, four, six and eight spoke chariot wheels all lie as a silent testimony to the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea.

The Dwelling Place

“When dreams are shattered; you don’t feel like living.

When heart is broken; you don’t feel like loving.

When friends are gone; you don’t feel like keeping.

When soul is harrowed; you don’t feel like believing.

And yet when one has a dwelling place; one finds time for healing.”

This poem is not religious but highly spiritual. According to 1Cor.3: 16,”Don’t you know you yourselves are god’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?” Isn’t it wonderful? We are the dwelling place of the God’s spirit here on Earth! That means, from the power of the spirit of God resides in us, through us the world will be healed! We are an instrument of God to cure this wounded world. Being united with God and having one spirit (1 Cor.6: 17), we are an element, like living stones in building a spiritual house (1Peter.2: 5)-THE BODY OF CHRIST! What a privilege!