The Culprit Behind Every Crisis

8/14/2019 The Culprit Behind Every Crisis

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The Culprit Behind Every Crisis

Why Are You Letting This Happen God?The pit of my stomach churned, ready to expel any food or drink I placed in it.Time seemed to linger, making the agony of my pain and loneliness last so muchlonger. I could feel my body in shock--hands trembling, heart racing, heavy

limbs--all I wanted was to fall asleep. The separation from the one I loved hadshattered a life that I had lived for over four years--a life I was comfortablewith, and although I had often taken it for granted and not appreciated it as Ishould have, the shock of losing it was devastating. The future was black andunapproachable. The emptiness that replaced the frequent visits and times togetherwas overwhelming. It was like a part of me had died. Everything I viewed wasdifferent--my work, my surroundings and my associations with people. Dark, heavyfeelings pressed me down to the point where death seemed dearer than dealing withwhatever lay ahead. "Why God? Why did you let this happen to me? I don't deservethis. I know nobody in this town. I'm alone now. If only I can get back with theone I love. Please God, please get me out of this. You can't let this happen. Ican't cope. I think I will die if you don't do something!" My desperation anddespair destroyed my logic. The "why's, where's" and "when's" tumbled through my

mind in a mixed and random order. Over and over again, with no breaks for me torest. As night finally approached, sleep would not come to suppress the millingmemories and the constant questions. I would lie down, only to toss and turn forhours, and when I could stand it no longer, I would get up and pace the confinesof my small bachelor apartment till I was tired enough to lie down again. Wouldthere ever be a way out of this?

All over this planet, people are facing a personal crisis unique to theircircumstances. At one point in their life or another, each individual is corneredby disturbing dilemmas or crushing calamities. The gruesome graphics that crowdedthe Television screens in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, was a visibleportrayal of what so many people have to deal with. Prior to this event, and inthe days following it, people around the world continue to be bombarded with

unsettling, sad and sorrow-filled situations. (See picture below)

People facing broken relationships that end up in divorce and separation; peoplelosing their jobs and having to cope with financial pressures; people having lostloved ones through terminal diseases, natural disasters or fatal accidents; peopleso stressed by their circumstances that their minds slide into deep, dark depthsof depression--not able to react to everyday situations in a normal, rational way;people addicted to substances ranging from alcohol to tobacco, from anti-depressant medication to hardcore cocaine; people using religion to conceal thestruggles within themselves regarding their confusion between right and wrong, andcriticizing everyone around them that do things they themselves would like to do;

people enslaved by an unseen compulsion to satisfy themselves, but not knowingwhat it really is that would bring them satisfaction. As the darkness and despairsurround people in their "custom cut" circumstances, uniquely tailored to touchthe tenderest terrain of their existence, the common cry echoes out, "Why God, whydid you let this happen to me? I don't deserve to suffer like this. People aroundme are enjoying their lives, and here I sit, suffering in misery."

The Culprit Behind Each CrisisAs I look back on one of the darkest times of my life, July 1990, when I lostsomeone I loved more than I can express, I can now see who the culprit of my


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crisis was. God in His mercy reached out and saved me from wanting to kill myself.At this lowest of low points in my life, I picked up the phone and called one ofthe only friends I knew would be there for me. When he heard the choked up voiceon the other end of the phone, and he responded promptly to come to my aid.Although it was Christmas time, he left his family behind and drove 6 hours tocome spend time with me. As we spent time together, he showed me from the biblewhat it takes to know God. From that day, I have searched the scriptures every dayin order to know God better and be aware of who is the real culprit behind every

crisis. You see, there is an unseen force out to destroy you and I. It's not tooclear, because this force wants to remain hidden and invisible. Studying the bibledaily is the only way a spiritually blind human can begin unmasking the true enemybehind every emergency and destructive disaster. This is what I learnt.

(In the book of Esther, Haman erected gallows especially to kill Mordecai---buthis plot went much further than that!)

I was reading the book of Esther--for the third time. The first couple of times Isaw the book of Esther as a touching romantic story where a woman of integritysaves her people from extinction, and demonstrates a "Messianic" prototype.

Reading the book of Esther this time was different. I saw something that horrifiedme and simultaneously simplified a mystery that I had wrestled with for manyyears. You see, the way I study the bible opened up a comprehensive understandingas to who is the true culprit behind every crisis. (Click here to view the way Istudy the bible, or view it at the end of the beautiful study my friend showedme). The stage is set in the book of Esther by the dismissal of Queen Vashti byKing Xerxes the king of Medo-Persia. The Israelites had been captured by theBabylonians and were living in this foreign country. The Medo-Persians hadconquered Babylon and controlled the then known civilized world. The king nowsends word throughout his kingdom for all young virgins to audition for his harem,one of which would be chosen as queen. Well, without getting too carried away withthe finer details of the story, it is important to see that Esther is sent to thepalace by her uncle Mordecai, who was an attendant that sat at the king's gate.

One of the king's nobles named Haman, was honored by the king and made higher thanany of the king's nobles. All the people paid homage to Haman by bowing down as hepassed by, except Mordecai the Jew, who only bowed down to his God. This enragedHaman, who plotted to kill Mordecai by hanging him on the gallows. Now read thisin Esther 3:6, "Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the ideaof killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai'speople, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes." I was stunned. "AllMordecai's people? Just because one man wouldn't bow down to another man?Diabolical! Evil! Wicked! Corrupt!

The next day when I read through my new testament passages, it all made startedmaking sense to me. Haman wasn't really Mordecai's enemy, he was just the 'frontman' that the true enemy was working through. Read the following text:

Ephesians 6:12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, againstthe authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritualforces of evil in the heavenly places.In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul expands that thought by saying that our fightis not against flesh and blood, or in other words, against other people around us.No our fight is against the unseen evil forces that work through other humans. Theinsight that the book of Esther brings to us is this. As the whole drama unfolds,Esther exposes Haman's evil plot and the King is informed as to who engineered thedecree to have the Jews annihilated. The king turns around and has Haman hanged on


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the very gallows that he built for Mordecai. You see, Satan didn't just wantMordecai, Esther and the Jews destroyed, but if at all possible, he wanted theking, Haman and the Persians destroyed. We'll look at this aspect a little laterin more detail. For now, we need to see that Satan is out to destroy mankind--good, evil, rich, poor, male, female, slave, free, and yes, you and me--everyone!

(If Satan had his way, he would have destroyed the whole of New York, Washington,

and cities in Pennsylvania---actually the whole of the United States)

As we dust off the history books and flip through their tragic pages, we can seethat Satan has no favorites. His goal is to destroy all mankind. One would thinkthat Satan wanted to destroy only the Jews in the Holocaust, and favor Hitler andall his diabolical officers, the apparent masterminds behind it all. Wrong! Satanwas the mastermind behind it all and he wanted Hitler and his officers dead too!One would think that Satan favored the Tutsi tribe in the Ruandan genocide wherehundreds of thousands of Hutu's were slaughtered. Wrong! Satan made sure that theHutu's came back and massacred thousands of the Tutsi tribe. One would think thatSatan is on the side of the Muslim extremists that killed over five thousandinnocent people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Wrong! Satan wantsthem dead too, and those who piloted those planes are dead, and that's just what

he wanted. He is the one inflaming the mind of Osama bin Laden with the sinisterschemes to destroy any life in the free world, knowing full well that the USA andBritain will react with war and wipe out thousands of Al Qaeda and Taliban forces.Satan's mission is accomplished: Destroying as much of mankind as he can but theirown free choosing.

The Cause of His CompulsionThere you sit, confused, bewildered, wounded. "My loved one hurt me," you say, "Itwasn't Satan." Someone else says, "My boss unfairly fired me, it wasn't Satan."And so countless people divert the blame to where they think it is coming from--parents, pastors, teachers, marriage partners, family members, close friends,neighbors, or on a bigger scale, nations look to other national leaders and

governments--no-one looks to the unseen, evil fiend that lurks unnoticed in thebackground--influencing, instigating, infiltrating. Take a look at the evidencesthat the scriptures give that Satan is truly the 'conspirator' behind everyhurtful and harmful incident. You see, something happened in his past that madehim opposed to anything and everything that has God's fingerprints on it. Satanused to hold the highest position among the angels. He was their magnificent andtalented leader. He held the respect and honor of all the angels and met withGodhead regularly. Nevertheless, when he was excluded from being able to performthe Mighty Acts of God, such as creating the worlds, he was venomously jealous andembittered.

(Satan wanted to be above God and perform the works of God---like creating thewonderful works like God did---when he couldn't, he was venomously embitteredagainst all of God's creation)

He began spreading inflammatory messages about the work of the Godhead and inciteda coalition between himself and the angels against God. He accused God of notbeing fair in His dealing with His creatures and that it was impossible to adhereto God's system of government--a system where the Creator and Leader of theUniverse was the servant and least among His creatures . . . a system thatfunctioned on unconditional love and unfathomable generosity and kindness. Thiswas the government that Satan formed a rebellion against--a rebellion born because


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he couldn't advance higher in a system where the greatest was the least. Read whatthe scriptures say about Satan's quest for equality his desire to rise above God:

Isaiah 14:13You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above thestars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heightsof the sacred mountain. I will ascent above the tops of the clouds; I will makemyself like the Most High."

Lucifer's ambitious pursuits for God's power and position were futile. As acreated being, he could never be God or acquire God's abilities. The only way tovent his deep seated anger that came from his covetous exploits, was to muster thelargest possible rebellion in heaven. God would not destroy this uprising, but, inkeeping with His government of love, He banished Satan from the heavenly courts.He allowed him access to the newly created paradise--the creation of which, heSatan, wanted to be a part, but could not.

Satan's Primary Goal--Total Annihilation of MankindSatan, restrained by God's control and protection of the newly createdinhabitants, was allowed to test their freedom of choice--but his hatred foranything that God had made and initiated could only escalate. From the time Satanwas banished to our planet, he has loathed and despised everything that came from

God's Hand--all creatures, all of nature, all marriages, all abilities, allpotential to grow toward Godliness. See what scripture says about Satan, his workand his attitude toward us:

1 Peter 5:8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaringlion looking for someone to devour.Revelation 12:9, 12The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan,who leads the whole world astray . . . woe to the earth and the sea, because thedevil has done down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his timeis short.

(This lion looks tame in comparison with the wild fury that Satan wants to tearyou and I apart with)

The story of Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews is symbolic of Satan's plot toannihilate mankind. If Satan had his way, he would destroy you in a heartbeat. IfSatan had his way, he would bring the sun thousands of miles closer to the earthand burn it up in a hellish holocaust--or steer the sun thousands of miles furtherin it's orbit and destroy our planet in a fatal freeze. Whether by natural

disasters or nuclear devastation, Satan wants everything that has come from God'shand obliterated--not only God fearing people, but his own dedicated followers,the ignorant and those he has mislead--all those created by God. The unbelievable,cowardice, devastating events of September 11, 2001, are minimal compared to whatSatan wants to accomplish. If he could have had a nuclear bomb on board each ofthe four planes, and vaporized New York, Washington D.C., and a city inPennsylvania, he would have been happier. The more death and destruction he candeliver, the more delighted he is.

Satan's Secondary Goal--Total Infiltration


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If Satan cannot orchestrate a plot of total annihilation of mankind by any means,he will go ahead and summon his unseen servants to infiltrate every possiblesituation with satanic influences. His strategy is simple and effective. As RogerMorneau, a convert from Satanism quotes a Satanic priest saying:

More Incredible Answers to Prayer - Roger J. Morneau p. 58"At that time," the priest said, "the master (Satan) stated that he and his angelswould make themselves invisible to human beings also, thus leaving people free to

live their lives as they wanted to. He emphatically argued that the only fair wayfor supernatural forces to influence human conduct should be by flashing thoughtimages into individual minds."

Ellen White uncovers more of Satan's strategy in the following quote:

Great Controversy, p. 516-517"None are in greater danger from the influence of evil spirits than those who,notwithstanding the direct and ample testimony of the Scriptures, deny theexistence and agency of the devil and his angels. So long as we are ignorant oftheir wiles, they have almost inconceivable advantage; many give heed to theirsuggestions while they suppose themselves to be following the dictates of theirown wisdom. This is why, as we approach the close of time, when Satan is to work

with greatest power to deceive and destroy, he spreads everywhere the belief thathe does not exist. It is his policy to conceal himself and his manner of working .. . And it is because Satan can most readily control the minds of those who areunconscious of his influence, that the word of God gives us so many examples ofhis malignant work, unveiling before us his secret forces, and thus placing us onguard against his assaults."

(Satan wants people to carry on with their lives as if he doesn't exist---then,

unseen and without warning, he attacks)

How ingenious! Now wonder the masses walk blindly into the lethal traps that hesets for them--think of how your life has been afflicted by the unseen thoughtimages and masked evil attacks through the lives of people around you. If Satancannot succeed in a scheme to kill you, he works at the recurrent raids on yourmind, on disrupting the intimate associations that are dear to you, and plaguingyou with constant temptations in the areas you are the weakest. Oh, he doesn'tface you down man to man--even if he is far, far stronger than you are. No, hebrings unseen attacks, he trips you up when you're not looking, he invades yourmind when you're asleep, he strikes you with blows that come from anothervulnerable victim--someone close and precious to you. Yeah man, talk of a forcethat is much more powerful than any human force, but yet stoops to cowardly

tactics to trick and entangle it's victims.What a tragedy. To see the millions of people, unsuspecting of the lying legionsthat lead them into crisis after crisis and into being captives in theircircumstances of calamity.

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 341Satan's influence is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses, controlthe mind for evil, and incite to violence and crime. He weakens the body, darkensthe intellect, and debases the soul. Whenever men reject the Savior's invitation,they are yielding themselves to Satan. Multitudes in every department in life, inthe home, in business, and even in the church, are doing this today. It is because


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of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth, and moral darkness,like the pall of death, enshrouds the habitations of men. Through his specioustemptations Satan leads men to worse and worse evils, till utter depravity andruin are the result. The only safeguard against his power is found in the presenceof Jesus.Who or What Are You Fighting?What chance do you and I stand against an unseen, attacking enemy that we don'teven believe exists? It's going to take a very unique, supernatural strategy to

first of all step up our awareness of these attacks, and secondly, to be able towithstand them. Who are you fighting in your struggle to make sense of thehardships and the heartaches in your life?

(Who are you fighting against? Have you identified the true enemy, or are youtricked into fighting someone or something that the true enemy is behind . . .?)

Are you battling against a person in your family, an ex-husband or wife, asupervisor at work, or with someone at your church? Are you at war with horrificmemories from past childhood abuses, whether they be physical, sexual oremotional? Are you angry and bitter because of neglect and lack of opportunity inyour life compared to so many other people that have prospered due to support and

good fortune? Are you pinned in a deadlock in your attempts to wrestle anaddiction to something in your life--something secret and personal, or somethingseen in public? Are impure, evil thoughts infiltrating your mind and overpoweringyour attempts for purity and holiness? Are you dominated by the desire forposition and prosperity to the point where spirituality has become a smallpriority? My friend, it's time to back off from your struggle against whatever orwhomever you have been battling against and confront the true enemy. In order towin a war, you have to isolate and identify the enemy. Satan, in his brilliance,has managed to fool us into believing that he is far removed from the trials andtragedy in our daily lives. He has got us blaming God and fighting each other.Wow! He couldn't have a better platform to operate from. Perfect! Scrupulous!Demonic!

The question I want to ask you and repeat to myself is, "Are you and I going tolet him continue with this cunning conspiracy that either God or our fellowcomrades are responsible for our suffering? We cannot. If we do, we have lost anychance of resisting his assaults and winning the war against him. We have toconstantly be aware that those who we think are our enemies are NOT! He is theenemy working through communities and circumstances to destroy us. Why do youthink Jesus was so repetitive and emphatic about our enemies? Why did Jesus gaspin the agony of the most extreme suffering a human could endure, "Father forgivethem for they know not what they do?" Why? Jesus knew who the true enemy was. Heknew that these poor children of God were pawns in Satan's control, performing thevery tasks that he wanted them to perform. With this in mind, read the passagesbelow that point us to a totally new approach to our enemies:

Matthew 5:43-45"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But Itell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may besons of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good,and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."You see, we need to pray for those who abuse and harm us because they too areGod's children--only they have been overpowered by Satan and hence their hostilityand hatred toward us. Once again, instead of fighting them, we need to fight Satanand his evil forces who are controlling this child of God--our apparent enemy. Letme ask you this question. If a massive space ship landed in Afghanistan, andtwenty feet tall, armor-clad, alien soldiers disembarked and started vaporizing


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United States, British, Taliban and Al Quaeda soldiers . . . would they continuewarring against each other? They would be foolish if they did. No! They would needto unify their strengths against these inhuman, powerful, robot-like, aliens. As amatter of fact, with an alien invasion as forceful and powerful as this, the wholeworld would need to unite to stand up against this threat. Palestinians shouldunite with Israelis, Muslims should unite with Christians, Arabs should unite withthe Jews, Black Africans should unite with White Africans--all united against thiscommon, destructive force that is annihilating the inhabitants of our planet.

Well, my friend, this is exactly was is taking place. Yes, supernatural alienshave invaded our planet and are bent on the total annihilation and/or infiltrationof mankind--supernatural aliens with thousands of years experience in defeatingmankind and plotting their ruin. What are we doing to combat this? How will wesurvive this titanic onslaught?

(The Scriptures provide the weapons we need to fight our true enemy---weapons morepowerful than man-made weapons)

Conquering the Real EnemyDivinely inspired authors of the scriptures give us the war plan for conqueringthe unseen enemy behind all the disguised onslaughts against us. Just after Paul

tells us that our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers ofthis dark world, he tells us to "put on the full armor of God, so that when theday of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground." Note what the full armorof God is:

Ephesians 6:-17Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with thebreastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with thereadiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to this, take up theshield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evilone. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the wordof God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayer andrequests.

The belt of truth = The word of GodThe breastplate of righteousness = Righteousness gained by believing God'spromises, (Romans 4:18-22)

Feet fitted with the gospel of peace = The word of God

The shield of faith = "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message isheard through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)

The helmet of salvation = "God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying workof the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The sword of the spirit = The word of God

Since ancient times, Satan has been keeping man from partaking of the word of God.He knows that within those holy pages there is a power that neutralizes hisefforts to deceive and destroy mankind. Satan distracts man with activities andresponsibilities that keep him busy through every moment of every day. He doesn'tcare if people are busy with good things, like church work, humanitarianoperations, or family commitments--anything to keep people from isolatingthemselves to focus on and ingest the word of God. Notice what happens when weneglect putting time alone with God first in our lives:

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 324


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It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom ofdarkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to allyourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenlyagencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abidingplace. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heartthrough faith in His righteousness. Unless we become vitally connected with God,we can never resist the unhallowed effects of self-love, self-indulgence, andtemptation to sin. We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part

company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrenderof ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personalacquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of theenemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

(The Holy Scriptures is "The Word of God," and this is the same word by which Godspoke the worlds into existence---when this word is part of our lives, Satan ispowerless to destroy us)

As man reads the very words of God, the Holy Spirit fuses them into his mind. Thisprocess turns the focus of man toward the deeper spiritual things and immunizeshim to the temporal, earthly things. The Spirit elevates man to a higher more

noble dimension that brings a rich and rewarding state of mind we call peace. Manis drawn more and more toward the economy that God controls, and is repulsed moreand more by the way Satan orchestrates his economy. Man gains a clearer vision ofthe wonderful, kind and loving God who created the universe in an environment ofservice and self-sacrifice--simultaneously discovering the greedy, lying, anddestructive demon who disrupted the newly created paradise into a domain ofselfishness, villainy and death. The word of God facilitates the miracle of anaffinity toward God and a repulsion toward evil. Just as darkness cannot exist inlight, so evil cannot stand in the presence of God. Note the quotes from one ofthe most inspirational books on the life of Christ:The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 123God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon thedivinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character. And how this is

accomplished, Christ has shown us. By what means did He overcome in the conflictwith Satan? By the word of God. Only by the word could He resist temptation. "Itis written," He said. And unto us are given "exceeding great and preciouspromises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escapedthe corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. Every promise inGod's word is ours. "By every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" we areto live. When assailed by temptation, look not to circumstances or to the weaknessof self, but to the power of the word. All its strength is yours. "Thy word," saysthe psalmist, "have I hid mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." "By theword of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." Ps 119:11; 17:4.

The Desire of Ages, Ellen White, p. 258In the days of Christ the leaders of Israel were powerless to resist the work of

Satan. They were neglecting the only means by which they could have withstood evilspirits. It was by the word of God that Christ overcame the wicked one . . . Thosewho turn from the plain teaching of Scripture and the convincing power of God'sHoly Spirit are inviting the control of demons . . . The defenses of the soul arebroken down. He has no barrier against sin. When once the restraints of God's wordand His Spirit are rejected, no mans knows to what depths of degradation he maysink. Secret sin or master passion may hold him a captive as helpless as was thedemoniac of Capernaum. Yet his condition was not hopeless. The means by which wecan overcome the wicked one is that by which Christ overcame,--the power of theword.


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Everyone who daily studies the word of God will receive counsel and comfort, nomatter what crisis they are going through. The Holy Spirit will fill each hurtingheart with a tangible divine presence--the evidences will be indisputable. He willinstill the realization that Satan is the instigator of all the suffering, andwere it not for God, the crisis would be infinitely more severe. A gratefulcloseness will be felt with God for keeping His protective Hand in the midst ofthe crisis. Instead of a sorrowful, negative, limited, human mind set, the word ofGod creates a joyful, positive, open-ended, divine mind set, bringing a new

platform to launch varied solutions--solutions incorporating the way a InfinitelyWise God works--not bound by time, space, beginning or end, but merely speaks Hiswords . . . and it is so . . . and it is good.

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The Culprit Behind Every Crisis