Burunche’s Blog

Matthew 10: “After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. “

After Jesus sent his disciples out to minister in places that were new to them, he himself went on to teach and preach in their cities. Many times we are concerned when we leave our families to minister in another country. We entertain all kinds of fears – what is going to happen to my elderly parents? Will my children follow the Lord? What is going to happen to my friends and neighbors?

These days COVID – 19 threatens the safety of the entire world. Now we have new reasons to worry about elderly parents, or children, or friends or neighbors! We live and work in Saboba, Northern Region, Ghana, a small district capital on the border between Ghana and Togo. We work at an Assemblies of God, Ghana, mission hospital. Our only points of contact with our friends or family are long -distance phone calls and Facebook posts and messages. In such a setting, it is easy to allow fear to take over. But Jesus came to free us from fear! There are 365 times in the Bible where God says, “Fear not!” That’s one promise for each day of the year.

Let’s look at these disciples for a minute. Most of the disciples were successful tradesmen or businessmen, respected members of their communities. In those days, people rarely traveled more than a few miles outside their home areas; yet, Jesus sent every one of these men out to brand new communities, places where they had no friends or relatives. Many of these men must have had wives and children about whom they were concerned. But Jesus wanted his followers to learn that God could provide for them. Jesus also wanted to teach a second lesson. Once these men went forth to follow Jesus’ instructions, Jesus went to every one of their cities to preach and teach. Wow! Which would be better, having Jesus come and preach and teach, or having one of the followers try to witness to his own family? Hmm. This was not a difficult decision. How many of us have learned that witnessing to a family member is one of the most difficult things one can do?

There was another aspect to this situation as well. Jesus once told his disciples that a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country. If the disciples went out to new places, they would be received as honored guests. If the disciples stayed home and tried to teach and preach, all their friends and relatives would simply laugh. “Oh! That Simon Peter! Ever since he’s been following that carpenter from Galilee, he thinks he’s really somebody!” No. Better to go to a bunch of strangers and allow Jesus to do what he did best – minister in a myriad of ways.

Today as you worry about your loved ones, remember that if God sends you out, He will make sure someone else takes care of those you left behind. If you are faithful to go where God wants you to, Jesus will move someone else to care for your family and friends. Trust him! Jesus never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:5)

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that if you send us to minister to someone, you care for those we have left behind! Thank you that your watch care is far more comprehensive and effective than anything we can possibly accomplish. And thank you that even in the midst of a world – wide pandemic, we can trust you because you are a faithful, covenant – keeping God. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. 41 Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Jesus is completing his instructions to his disciples before sending them out to ministry. By now the disciples are probably really worried because they have been warned that sooner or later, they will be persecuted. But now Jesus speaks assurance.

Jesus assured his followers that if they were about his business, whoever received them because of Jesus would be receiving a representative of the one true living God. Whoever recognized that they were receiving a prophet or a righteous man and received them gladly, would be contributing to that ministry and would therefore receive the same reward as the prophet or righteous man. No good deed would go unnoticed; even if someone merely gave a Jesus follower a cup of cold water, they would be rewarded.

My husband and I have been in missions for most of the last thirty – three years. We were accepted by our first mission group in August 1987 and began raising funding to go to Ghana. That first time, we drove more than 30,000 miles, speaking in churches and staying with people. Through the years, untold numbers of people have sheltered us, fed us, and contributed to our ministry. Many of these people have become dear friends.

Did we deserve such generosity and hospitality? No! These people received us because of Jesus, because they were followers of Jesus and because they recognized that He had called us into the mission field and they wanted to help further the Kingdom of God. They were kind to us because of Jesus.

Today the world is being convulsed by the COVID – 19 pandemic, but one thing has not changed. In the midst of this chaos, we can still be kind. We can still offer cups of cold water.

Today, let us leave fear behind! Let us pray and let us look for opportunities to show the love of God to those around us.

PRAYER: Father God, today we ask that you help us to look beyond our own needs and our own fears to those around us. Help us to give in as many ways as we can so that those around us will feel your love and the touch of your Holy Spirit. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. ³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,     a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— ³⁶a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. ³⁷Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany and a founding member of the Confessing Church, a group that staunchly held to Biblical principals at a time when the Nazi regime was manipulating the state Lutheran church for its own purposes. Bonhoeffer vocally opposed euthanasia and the extermination of the Jews. For these stands, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned in two different prison camps, eventually being executed 21 days before Hitler hanged himself and the Nazi regime came to an end. Bonhoeffer was 39 years old at the time of his death. Bonhoeffer’s book “The Cost of Discipleship” is a classic call to follow Christ, no matter how many difficulties we may encounter.

Today many Christians face persecution for their faith. Muslim extremists are attempting to exterminate Christianity by massacring whole congregations in Africa, Asia and the Philippines. Christians in India are being attacked by their Hindu neighbors. Christian missionaries have been kidnapped and/or killed in several parts of the world.

Jesus made no pretenses to his disciples; they would face persecution and death. And they had to expect that even members of their own household would turn against them. Jewish culture was a close – knit affair, and it was assumed that one’s relatives would also be one’s biggest supporters. The idea of these relationships being torn apart must have horrified the disciples. And to make matters even worse, Jesus made reference to the Roman practice of crucifying prisoners. Crucifixion was one of the most shameful deaths possible. Criminals on their way to crucifixion would carry their own cross bars as an additional form of punishment. Jesus is not merely promising suffering; he is guaranteeing that this suffering will be shameful as well.

Jesus laid out the cost of discipleship to his followers so that nobody could come back later and complain that they had not been warned. Today all over the world there are emergency workers and health workers putting their lives on the line to care for COVID – 19 patients. In Italy 6 older doctors and at least 1 nurse paid with their lives; in the U.S. there are nurses who are now on ventilators because they took the risk.

In this life there are no guarantees. We have no control over the way in which we will die. But we can choose whom we will worship and whom we will serve. Jesus’ challenge to his disciples was quite clear: Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Whom will you serve today? Choose wisely, for you are choosing for eternity.

PRAYER: Father God, today we are afraid of so many things, but we want to follow you. Please give us the grace and courage so that we will always choose you, even at the cost of our relationships with our families. In the matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10: ^“28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

It is Sunday March 22, 2020. As I am writing this, the number of global coronavirus cases surged past 300,000 on Sunday, with more than 13,000 deaths worldwide, according to John Hopkins University, which reported that China, Italy and the U.S. had the most people diagnosed with the respiratory illness. The number of Americans under virtual lockdown grew to over 80 million on Saturday when New Jersey joined the list of states issuing a stay-at-home order or other sweeping mandates to fight the spread of the disease.

People everywhere are anxious. Nobody knows when or where the virus will next appear. 41 members in one church in the U. S. became positive when they were exposed to the virus by a single choir member who was unaware of his/her status. Now more than ever before, we need the assurance that God is watching over us. God has not merely counted the hairs on our heads; He has each hair numbered and knows if a single hair falls.

How many sparrows are there on earth? Sparrows were so cheap in Jesus’ day that two birds were sold for a single penny – you don’t get much cheaper than that! And yet, we are told that God knows about each and every sparrow. Not so much as a single sparrow will fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care.

Many of us struggle with the concept of God as a Heavenly Father. Some of us may have had abusive fathers or absent fathers or fathers who were depressed or distracted so that they really weren’t available when we faced problems. But God is a good Father! Good fathers take care of their children. Good fathers provide for their children. Good fathers know what is going on with their children’s lives and the struggles they are facing.

Now, this does not mean that a good father will keep his children from suffering. But we can be assured that God knows every trial we are facing and every problem with which we struggle. God IS watching over each one of us. Does this mean that all of us will survive COVID – 19? No. Some of us may die. But Jesus ordered us not to “be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Today, whom are you serving? Are you following Jesus, or are you trusting in something or someone else? Please do not take this question lightly! None of us is guaranteed even our next breath. Every second we are making decisions for eternity. Either we are going to follow the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or we are following wrong gods.

PRAYER: Father God, help us to trust you! Thank you that you do have every hair of our heads numbered and that we are of infinite worth to you. Thank you that you cared so much for us that you allowed your Son Jesus to go to the cross to die for our sins so that we could be with you in heaven for eternity. Help us to choose to follow you, to trust you, and to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10: 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household? 26 So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”

By this point, the disciples are hoping for some relief, some encouragement. But Jesus has even more warnings about the cost of discipleship. Why did Jesus tell his followers all these things just as he was sending them out into ministry? Jesus wanted to make sure that his disciples counted the cost before they committed themselves to following him. There would be no point in hiding the eventual costs from those on whom Jesus would have to rely to spread the news of the Kingdom. The disciples needed to realize that they would be called Beelzebul and possibly worse.

Who was Beelzebul? Beelzebul was a Philistine god who was considered the Prince of Demons by many Jews. Jesus was implying that at some point people would consider that he was demonic and therefore his followers must also be demons. For good observant Jews who had carefully observed the Laws of Moses, being misunderstood in this fashion would be misery! Jesus was warning in advance that religious leaders would throw his followers out of the synagogues and label them as criminals. Pretty bleak prospect, right? Why even start following such a teacher if this was going to be the result? But then Jesus sounded a note of hope.

Jesus wanted his disciples to know that no matter kind of evil someone intended against them, God already knew about it. At the right time, any evil devised against the followers of Jesus would become evident. And God was going to be with the Jesus followers so that they would be able to speak boldly and publicly. Shouting something from the roof top sounds crazy, unless we realize that the roofs were flat. Someone who wanted to make a public announcement could have easily gone up on the roof and shouted to the whole neighborhood. And Jesus was promising that he was going to give his followers messages at night so that they would be able to share those with others in the daylight.

Right now, you might feel that you are really in the dark. You are confused and afraid; your social media posts have exploded with more horrifying details about COVID – 19 than you ever wanted. But Jesus is here, just as he was with the disciples. If you will pray and ask Jesus for wisdom and hope, he will hear you and answer your prayers.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please come! Come to our broken, fearful hearts! Come in your strength, your beauty, your wisdom, your grace, and your mercy. Heal our hurts, take our burdens, and help us to realize that you are always with us, that you will never leave us or forsake us. In your mighty and precious Name, Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10: ²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

The pastor couldn’t believe it! The previous Sunday, one of his church members who had converted from Islam to Christianity had failed to appear in church. Assuming that the young college student was probably sick with malaria, the pastor and two elders had visited the student and his family after church. But when the group entered the family compound, they found the young man’s body wrapped in a sheet and lying on the verandah. The family smugly informed the pastor that since the young man refused to revert back to Islam, they chose to poison him! They were now about to bury him. And the pastor and church elders really had nothing they could do because this took place in a predominately Muslim city. Had church members reported the family to the police, local Muslims would have probably torn the church and its members to pieces.

This story is very real; we were in the church the Sunday the pastor was describing the death of this promising college student. The situation is similar in most Muslim countries: convert and die. Unfortunately, some Christians are so insensitive that they post photos of converts publicly, thus ensuring that these converts may soon pay with their lives.

Why should we follow Jesus if all we have to look forward to is rejection and death? “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” We are not pursuing limited earthly goals; the decision to follow Jesus has eternal rewards. The question is this: how are we going to spend our lives? Rest assured, you are spending your life in some fashion with every breath that you take. Each decision you make has eternal consequences.

Now the world is facing the threat of COVID – 19. This virus has hit people of every age and of every health background. The first case in the state of Oklahoma was a local pastor with a clean health history who died one day after the diagnosis was made.

2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Choose to follow Jesus Christ while you still have time!

PRAYER: Father God, we choose to follow you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Help us to be brave so that when we face opposition, we will continue to be faithful. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Whoa, Jesus! What’s going on? You were giving out instructions for short – term ministry that sounded pretty promising. Now all of a sudden, you’re handing out warnings! Why?

Jesus always had eternity in mind when he said anything. The disciples were sent out early in Jesus’ ministry before the religious leaders had fully convinced themselves that he was a threat. At that point, the disciples were not in danger; however, later on, they would find themselves facing every situation that Jesus describes here. Not only would Jesus’ original disciples face such trials, but every single Christian since Jesus’ death and resurrection would find themselves in the same predicament. Today Christians in heavily Muslim countries are paying with their lives for their faith, and Jesus’ words are just as important to those Christians today as they were to the original disciples.

Anybody who makes the mistake of thinking that being a Christian gives one a free ride into heaven without suffering is going to be severely disappointed! Later on, Jesus promised his disciples that “In John 16:33 Jesus warned his followers that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” There’s no such thing as “you might” have trouble. No! Jesus followers are guaranteed problems. But if we are faithful to continue to follow Jesus, we can ask for divine wisdom and divine guidance whenever we are brought before authorities and it will be given to us.

PRAYER: Father God, today Jesus’ words frighten us! We don’t want to find ourselves as innocents being attacked; yet, we know that this might happen. Father, enlighten us. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives and to know that your promises are true. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. ² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. ⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

Jesus had already told his followers that he had pity on the multitudes because they were like lost sheep without a shepherd. Having observed that laborers are needed for the spiritual harvest, Jesus did something about it! Many times, we don’t; we are quite fond of talking a situation to death, substituting discussions for solutions. Jesus gave very specific instructions. 1. Go only to Jewish communities 2. Give a very simple message “the kingdom of God is at hand.” 3. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and drive out demons. 4. Don’t collect any money for your services and don’t take any money with you. 5. Don’t even take extra clothes or a staff for walking and/or defense. 6. Seek out a worthy person and stay with them. 7. Bless anyone who helps you but shake the dust off your feet against anyone who will not listen or who does not welcome you. 8. People who do not receive you will be treated more severely than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah on judgment day!

Why go only to Jewish communities? The disciples were just starting out. Had the disciples gone to non – Jewish communities, they might have gotten caught up in senseless religious arguments. (Remember Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well; the lady was trying to argue religion with Jesus.) Keep the message simple – good advice in any age. Do miracles? Jesus told the disciples that he was giving them authority to do these things. The disciples had just watched Jesus do all of these miracles in the past few days, so why not? But Jesus’ next instructions were counter – intuitive: WHAT??? Don’t collect anything for your services? Don’t take any money with you? Not even any copper coins at all?? No bag? No extra clothes or sandals? Not even a staff? Everybody carried staffs. The paths were rocky and uneven and in a pinch, a staff could become a defensive weapon. This is getting serious! Didn’t Jesus know what might happen?

The British have a saying, “Begin as you mean to go on.” Jesus wanted the disciples to learn early on that God could be trusted and that God already had people in these various communities who were “people of peace,” that is, seekers after God, who would gladly shelter and feed someone who could tell them more about the Kingdom. But Jesus also knew what was in the heart of man and he knew that the disciples might face rejection, so he also prepared the disciples for that eventuality.

Think of the people who had the chance to shelter and feed the disciples and to be part of their ministry, but who refused. “What? He’s just some slob of a fisherman! His “master” is a carpenter! Why should I listen to him?”

And once more, we realize that eternity and untold blessings were following these disciples throughout their travels. For those with hearts open to God, there would be incredible experiences that they would remember for the rest of their lives. But for those who refused to listen or believe, hell had already begun. May we always be ready to receive new messengers from God!

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are no respecter of persons! Thank you that you still give power to witness, to heal, to restore, and to lift up. Help us to recognize your messengers when they come to us so that we will be able to help them and receive the blessings that come as a result of our efforts. We bless your Mighty Name now and forever! Amen.

Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus looked up at the hillside, where a flock of sheep was scattered helter – skelter. Where was the shepherd? There should have been a small boy or girl watching those sheep. Didn’t anybody realize how quickly sheep could become confused and what would happen if the sheep panicked? Those sheep would be gone in a few minutes with no way to retrieve them. Then Jesus turned and looked at the crowd outside the synagogue where He had just been teaching and healing. Those people looked just like the sheep on the hillside! Each one of those people had a hurt, lost, lonely look in his or her eyes. Centuries of teaching in the temple had done nothing to give these people help or hope. And Jesus advised his disciples to beg the Lord of the harvest for workers.

Today the world is caught up in a pandemic and people are as confused and frightened as those sheep on the hillside. Those of us who know the master Shepherd should be demonstrating love in practical ways and communicating faith, not fear.

PRAYER” Father God, today we are all worried and frightened. But if we know Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have nothing to fear. Help us to go forth in Your Love, full of compassion. Help us to minister wisely and kindly, so that others will learn to know the Shepherd as well. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 9: ³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” ³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

Jesus was still in Capernaum and had just healed the two blind men because of their faith. As Jesus was walking out the door, a demon – possessed man who could not speak was brought to him. How did people realize that this man was demon – possessed? Perhaps this man once was able to talk quite well, but then something happened..

“Stay away from the high places! They are evil and full of devils!” Samuel’s mother had told him that repeatedly ever since he was an inquisitive small boy. But that night, Samuel had been drinking with friends. And as the wine flowed freely, Samuel had made a terrible mistake; he boasted that he could stay all night at the old high place where the pagans used to worship Molech without suffering any consequences. Samuel’s friends tried to dissuade him and convince him to stay home. But, full of wine and bravado, Samuel had staggered up the mountain and had lain down where the pagan altar used to be. And in the morning, Samuel was unable to speak and had a wild desperate look in his eyes. From that day onward, not only was Philip unable to speak but he was also unable to work. Ssamuel’s widowed mother and his two brothers had to support him, and it wasn’t easy. If left alone, Samuel was likely to wander out into dangerous places as the demons that had entered him drove him from the lake to a high cliff and back again. Finally hearing that Jesus was in Capernaum and that He was healing people, Samuel’s brothers dragged him down the street. dropping him at the feet of Jesus. And Jesus, recognizing what had happened and recognizing the demons, wasted no time but uttered a single command, “Get out!” Samuel collapsed to the ground but then stood up straight and looked Jesus full in the face. “Son of David, Messiah,” Samuel said, “blessed be your name! I will follow you for the rest of my life!”

The townspeople realized what had happened. Although there were itinerant healers who claimed to be able to cast out demons, nobody had ever witnessed a case in which the demons had left permanently. But the local religious leaders were furious! This upstart was interfering with their teaching and threatening their prestige. Some of them had prayed for Samuel in the past without any results, had prayed for several hours, invoking all the Names of God and quoting all the scripture they could think of. Now this carpenter showed up, speaking one simple command, and the demons left! What power did this man have that they didn’t? Surely this man must be in contact with the prince of demons to be able to order lesser demons around! There could be no other explanation!

The poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning once said, “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” God was doing a brand new thing right in front of these Pharisees, and they were too prejudiced to recognize what was happening. They were too blind to see that a Holy God had touched this man, filling him with the Holy Spirit and driving out the demons. Caught up in their own teachings, the Pharisees could not recognize a miracle when they saw one.

PRAYER: Father God, please help us to see what you are doing and to recognize your power that is working in our lives. Lord, forgive our blindness and help us to be grateful and not critical when you heal with only a touch. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.