Give Glory Only to God; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Through Christ, we are given glory.  So, what are we to do with this glory?  Read from the beginning of Jesus’ prayer recorded in John chapter seventeen (NIV):

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (Verse 1)

We receive glory from God through Jesus Christ.  We, in turn, give that glory back to God.  Just as Jesus glorifies the Father, we too must glorify the Father.

Keep none of the glory given to you by God or by the world.  Render that glory unto God.  Cause other people to praise their Maker.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Come Alive in Jesus; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

We come alive in Jesus.  Though we may think that we live before Jesus enters our lives, we have only a pale shadow of what life really is all about.  Seek out Jesus.  Look for him.  And come alive more than you could ever guess or imagine.  Read from John chapter fourteen (Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

“I will not leave you orphaned.  I’m coming back.  In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive.  At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.”(Verses 18-20)

True life comes through seeing Christ Jesus.  Let us look together for the evidence of our Savior and Lord.  The evidence is everywhere!  We have only to look for it.  And when we find it, we find life abundantly.

Join the search for Jesus.  Jesus’ Way is the Way.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

The Journey from Being Controling to Self-Control; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Having the power of will… the power of choice means that we must choose well by choosing as God leads us.  That means we need self-control and restraint.  Hmmm…  Self control is a fruit of the Spirit.  Jesus exhibited it grandly as he did everything that the Father required of him… to the very end.  Read from John chapter fourteen (NLT):

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.”  (Verses 30-31)

So, where does our culture here in the States need the most self-control?  I would suggest several areas: power, sex, money, and food.  We have become a power hungry, violent, over-sexed, money hoarding, and obese nation.  Where our treasures are, there our hearts are also.

That is a scary thought!  Lord have mercy! 

Let us surrender our power of will and choice to God so that we might be cleansed… so that we might take up what the Lord has prepared in advance for us to do.  And that will blossom into the fruit of love for God and love for our brothers and sisters.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

True Joy is with the Saints; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

I remember the line in a Billy Joel song called “Only the Good Die Young”.  He sings, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.”  But to have sorrow rooted in being children of God is to eventually bloom into joy. 

And the laughter will come to the Christian that will be clean of the world’s illusions and deceptions.  Have you ever heard that humor and fear and misunderstanding are close bedfellows?  That accurately describes much of the laughter that this old world grants us.

Christian laughter and joy is based upon our Lord.  Though we may have godly sorrow for a time, abounding joy will be the fruit it bears.  Read from John chapter sixteen (NRSV):

"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." 

Then some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying to us, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"  They said, "What does he mean by this 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." 

Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'?  Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.  When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.  So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” (Verses 16-24)

O God, help us leave behind the coarse laughter and humor of this world so that we might pick up both godly sorrow and godly joy.  May we see Jesus as he truly is.  May we seek his Way.  May we enjoy his overflowing joy and love.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Think Twice Before Doing Something in the Lord's Name; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

It is inevitable.  Hard times will come.  Sometimes we will do things in the name of serving or worshiping God which are far cry from what our Lord is actually calling us to do.  Sometimes other people will do things to us in the name of serving or worshiping God that are a far cry from what the Lord asks of his followers.

For this reason, we must stay closely abiding with Christ Jesus.  Threats will come from the outside of the church as well as the inside.  Be forewarned and ready.  Read from the beginning of John chapter sixteen (NIV):

"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.  They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.  They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.  I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.” (Verses 1-4)

Do not go astray.  Keep by the side of our Lord.  The most dangerous threats come from within because they are often disguised in pious forms.

Let us be ready.  Let us not go astray.  Let us listen for the call of God so that we do not take the Lord’s name in vain.  Taking the Lord’s name in vain is much more than using the name of God as a curse word.  It is also acting in the name of the Lord unworthily.

Take care to stay close to God and close to the family of God.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Divine Speech = Divine Action; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

When God speaks, things happen… just as the Creator said they would.  It is no different with Jesus, who is God’s greatest expression.  Let us listen to Jesus and see our heavenly Father in him.  Read from John chapter 14 (Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

Philip said, “Master show us the Father; then we’ll be content.”

“You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand?  To see me is to see the Father.  So how can you ask, “Where is the Father?’  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?  The words I speak to you aren’t mere words.  I don’t make them up on my own.  The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.” (Verses 8-10)

Words from God come to life.  They become action. 

Being in theatre, I see words becoming action happen often.  I have experienced it from the author’s perspective, the director’s perspective, and the actor’s perspective.  It is awesome to see a cast of people breathe life into a script.

I am also amazed at how it never seems to fail that even the most distressing cast ensemble comes together in tech or production week before the show.  At times, I think it is divine intervention.  I am experiencing that feeling once again this week, as I prepare with my fellow actors to breathe life into Tolkien’s story The Hobbit.

Yet, with God, divine speech and divine action are one in the same.  We are all invited to take stage in this life as children of God.  With your Word, O God, craft our lives into divine action so that we may glorify you.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

No Excuses! John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Thanks to the work of Jesus and the work of our spiritual ancestors, we have no excuse.  We have every reason to believe in Jesus.  The balance of our eternal lives rests upon us.  Will we answer the call?  Read from John chapter fifteen (NLT):

“The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don't know God who sent me.  They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.  Anyone who hates me hates my Father, too.  If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be counted guilty. But as it is, they saw all that I did and yet hated both of us – me and my Father.  This has fulfilled what the Scriptures said: 'They hated me without cause.'” (Verses 21-25)

We have not only the words of Jesus recorded for us in the gospels and the New Testament, we also have the works of Jesus recorded.  And they are written words we can believe in.  These words in the Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.

So, do we choose to love or hate Jesus?  Do we choose to be known more by what we hate than by how we love?  These are important… yes essential questions to ask of ourselves.

Let us choose to love Jesus and our heavenly Father.  And, by loving them, we also obey their commands.  And we are commanded to love one another.

Each of us makes a choice every day, and we have no excuses for our behavior.  We know the Jesus revealed in Scriptures.  We continue to seek to know him and be shaped by him.  What choice will we make today?  What about all our tomorrows… how will we choose?

Remember – we have no excuse.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

True Peace = Opportunity for Great Works; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Emboldened by that wonderful peace of Christ, we are ready to do great things.  We are ready to continue the work of Christ and even make it better!  What a challenge!  What an opportunity!  Read from John chapter fourteen (NRSV):

“Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.  I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (Verses 12-14)

Belief in Jesus is the key to doing great things.  Jesus already believes in us.  When will we choose to believe in him enough to follow his lead and go his Way?

So, let’s get a move-on!  Let’s glorify the Father and the Son.

Thanks be to Jesus Christ!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Presence of God = Peace; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

We are deeply at peace?  Why?  Because of the work of Jesus Christ.  Read John chapter fourteen verse twenty-seven (NIV):

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

In this world, peace is often defined as the absence of something – usually war.  Jesus defines peace by the presence of something.  With Jesus, we have peace.  Through the presence of the Holy Spirit we have peace.

And having God with us makes all the difference.  Someone cares about us.  Always!

Let us reach out and search out that peace.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Hard Words Can Lead to Peace; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Sometimes people think about peace and think that it is all lovey-dovey.  But it is not.  Sometimes hard words can lead to peace in the end.  Read from John chapter sixteen (Peterson’s The Message paraphrase):

Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe?  In fact, you’re about to make a run for it – saving your own skins and abandoning me.  But I’m not abandoned.  The Father is with me.  I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace.  In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But take heart!  I’ve conquered the world.” (Verses 31-33)

It can be disheartening to finally get something just in time for it to rush by us.  The disciples, after three years of being taught by Jesus, have finally come to the conclusion that Jesus in the Son of God, the Messiah.  They have found out just in time to turn tail and run.

Those must have been hard words to hear.  When do we leave someone utterly alone?  When do we feel utterly alone?

Take heart!  If you seek the Way of the Father, you will never be alone.  God will be with you in a real and tangible way.

For that reason we can be unshakable and deeply at peace.  What assurance we have!  All the heartache and difficulty we have is overcome by Jesus, who has conquered the world.

Live with that thought today.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Laying Down Our Lives; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

As I have studied and meditated on this passage of Scripture – John fourteen to seventeen, I have noted some important themes.  Among these themes are love, obedience, and abiding.  But, what does it mean to love?  What kind of love are we talking about? 

Our culture has run roughshod over the concept of love so that the meaning of love is defiled and distorted.  We need a refresher course in what Jesus meant when he spoke about love.  Read from John chapter fifteen (NLT):

“And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.  You are my friends if you obey me.” (Verses 13-14)

What it love?  It is laying down your life for another person or group of people.  That means no hidden agendas.  That means that our greatest concern is for people other than ourselves.  It means the death of selfishness and the birth of selflessness.

As a parent, I see this kind of love in how I make sacrifices for my son… and how my wife makes sacrifices for our son.  As a child, I benefited from the sacrifices that my parents (and older siblings) made for me.  It’s the kind of love that makes everyone involved feel special.

O God, help us to release our agendas so that we may pick up the Way that you want us to live and love.  What freedom we can know if we are willing to let go of our agendas! 

May it be so!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Joining Jesus on His Holy Ground; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

How important is it to Jesus that we join him where he’s at?  Well, this passage of Jesus’ teaching from John chapter fourteen to chapter seventeen begins and ends with that idea.  I would say it is the utmost importance to Jesus. 

The only question is…  Will we choose to join him?  The material in chapters fourteen through seventeen are important for finding our way to Jesus.  So we should stop and pay attention to the details!  Read from the first four verses of John chapter fourteen (NRSV):

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.  And you know the way to the place where I am going."

Where Jesus is, there we will be also.  Jesus prepares the Way.  We only have to follow.  And in case we missed it, Jesus repeats this idea towards the end of his prayer in chapter seventeen.  Read the passage below (NRSV):

“Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 

Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.  I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (Verses 24-26)

May we seek to be by Jesus’ side so that we might see his full glory.  And this full glory is only made available to us as we begin to know Jesus and our heavenly Father more and more.  Welcome God and Jesus into your life.  Receive the Holy Spirit.

Only then will we know the full glory of a life lived to its fullest.  May we walk the path of obedience to God that Jesus trail blazed for us.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Opening Our Homes to God; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Being obedient to God means extreme hospitality toward God – at all times, 24/7.  It is a tall task, but it is what love of God is made for.  Are you and I ready to welcome God into our homes for all eternity?

Though such a commitment will cost us much, we will not be able to count the benefits that we will receive because of what we’ve invested.  Read from John chapter fourteen (NIV):

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (Verses 23-24)

And, if we open our lives to Jesus, we will be changed.  We will grow to reflect the love and light that Jesus shines with.  That bright light comes from obedience to the Father in heaven.

Let us open the doors of our homes, our church buildings, our businesses, our recreation buildings to God.  Change us so that we might bear fruit for God in all areas of our lives.

We are stronger with God in our lives.  Only with God can we live our lives to the fullest… and that is eternal life.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Going Out on a Limb; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Do you ever look at what you are doing ministry-wise and wonder if you haven’t gone too far out on a limb?  Well if you have, don’t worry.  It’s a part of walking the life of Jesus – in obedience to God.  Read from Peterson’s The Message paraphrase of part of John chapter sixteen:

“I’ve used figures of speech in telling you these things.  Soon I’ll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language.  Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I’ve revealed to you.  I won’t continue to make requests of the Father on your behalf.  I won’t need to.  Because you’ve gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly.  First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father.” (Verses 25-28)

When you’re out on a limb because of committing your life to love and trust in Christ, you’ll receive love directly from God.  When you’re out on a limb because you believe that Jesus came from God, you’ll receive love directly from God.  And that love means that the prayers that you pray will align with the Way of Jesus and that the prayers will be answered.

Let’s climb that giving tree, and go out on that limb.  The love of God through Jesus is well worth it.  There is no better goal.  There is no better place to be.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Love Courses through our Vine; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

But, what holds us together as branches and vine?  It is the love of the Great Gardener that courses through the vine.  Read from John chapter fifteen (NLT):

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.  When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 

I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.  And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.  You are my friends if you obey me. 

I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.  You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.  I command you to love each other.” (Verses 9-17)

What do you get when you add abiding + listening + obedience?  You get love and joy.  And they both overflow any containers that we might try to contain it. 

So, why try?  Let the love and joy overflow to the people around us.  Love and joy from God is an endless supply.

Let us use this overflowing love and joy as fuel to love one another… even if that love will cost us our lives in this old world.  We are chosen to produce fruit.  Let’s get growing!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Christ as Mr. Clean; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Abiding in Christ Jesus is the greatest of all cleansing agents.  Guess we should call Christ Jesus “Mr. Clean”.  Read some more from John chapter fifteen (NRSV):

“You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.  Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (Verses 3-8)

Abide in Christ.  Listen to the word that he speaks to us… and be cleansed.  This abiding and listening will naturally result in fruit… in doing.  In Christ, we can do great things.  Without Christ, we can do nothing.

We are worthless without Christ…  We are worthy with him.

Abide in Christ.  Listen to his Word.  Do what it says.  Then our lives will be spent in ceaseless prayer that is done in the heart and manner of Jesus.  There will be no other conclusion than abundant fruitfulness. 

And the Father in heaven will receive glory.  May we never attempt to keep it for ourselves.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Prepare to be Pruned! John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Bearing fruit of our Lord can be a rewarding and painful process.  Even when we bear fruit, the Lord – our Great Gardener – will need to prune us so that we can be even more productive.  Read from the beginning of John chapter fifteen (NIV):

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  (Verses 1-2)

To neglect to bear fruit means to be cut off.  What a devastating thing to be cut off!  Without God in our life, there is little true living to life.

So, we’re okay if we bear fruit, right?  There is no pain or sorrow for a fruit bearing Christian.  Not so fast!

The Great Gardener prunes that branches that bear fruit.  Even when we are able to bear fruit for God, there are still areas in our lives that are not in sync with the Way of Christ Jesus.  Those places in our lives need trimming so that the life-giving Spirit of God is not wasted on these things.

And pruning hurts!  Ouch!  But pruning will make us better for ourselves and for the rest of the branches that remain in Christ… that’s our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, by the way.

May the glory go to God!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

To Pray in Jesus' Name; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

We can be confident that our prayers will be answered with a “yes” when we pray in Jesus’ name.  But what does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus?  Let’s look at the paraphrase from Peterson The Message from John chapter fourteen:

“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me.  If you can’t believe that, believe what you see – these works.  The person who trusts in me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing.  You can count on it.  From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it.  That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.  I mean it.  Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.” (Verses 11-14)

To pray in Jesus’ name means much more than just tacking his name at the end of our prayers.  To pray in Jesus’ name means seeking the heart of who Jesus is and what Jesus does. When we find this heart and way of Jesus, then we can be confident that our prayers will be answered “yes”.

Not only will our prayers be answered “yes” but our expectations in the way of Jesus will be far exceeded.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we will do even greater things than what Jesus did while he was walking the earth as a man.  Yes, we are called to the same work as Jesus. 

Let us answer that call together.  There is great power in unity of thought and mind.  Let us tap that godly power to glorify our Father in heaven.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Being with Jesus; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Today, we finish looking at the prayer of Jesus recorded in John chapter seventeen.  And we learn to be with Jesus is to enjoy a continuous revealing of God… that brings glory to God and that glory shines upon us.  Read from John chapter seventeen (NLT):

“ Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! 

O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.  And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them." (Verses 24-26)

Each day, we look forward to recognizing being in the presence of Christ Jesus.  To see Jesus in other people and in our daily surroundings is a foretaste of the glory that we will see in heaven.  They are like small teasers or appetizers that make us hungry for more.

O Holy Spirit, help us to seek out the Spirit of Christ so that we might see his glory and join in… becoming a part of it… so that we might glorify our heavenly Father.

May it be so!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Completely One; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

Continuing in Jesus’ prayer that is recorded in the gospel according to John, Jesus prays for you and me.  Yes, Jesus prayed for us.  It is a comforting thought.  And what was his prayer?  Read from John chapter seventeen (NRSV):

"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,  I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Verses 20-23)

Our God is not a God of division.  Our Lord makes us whole and complete.  Jesus wishes us to be one… God the Father in Jesus and Jesus in us.

Why is this oneness so important?  It is so that the world might believe that God sent Jesus.  And Jesus being sent helps to illustrate vividly that God loves us.

May it be so!  May we be completely one.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

To Protect & Serve; John 14-17

May the mumbling commence!

In Jesus’ prayer recorded in John seventeen, Jesus also prays for our protection.  And that protection comes through sanctification.  Sanctification comes through exposure to the truth.  Read from John chapter seventeen (NIV):

"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” (Verses 13-19)

Jesus spoke this prayer not for his own benefit but for the benefit of his disciples.  There are things that Jesus hoped for his disciples.

1)    Jesus wanted his disciples to have the full measure of Jesus-like joy within them.  Jesus filled them to the brim just as he had the stone jars filled with water that turned to wine in his first sign recorded in the gospel according to John.

2)    Jesus wanted his disciples protected from the Evil One… not taken from the world.  For just as Jesus was sent, we, as disciples are also sent.  We are meant to be in the world (but not of it).

3)    To be in the world and not of it means we need to be sanctified by the Truth.  And that truth can only be found through the Counselor / Advocate / Friend that Jesus sends us, who we know as the Holy Spirit.

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “To protect and serve” doesn’t it?

May it be so!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out