WPCc  $K 14:$UrjzI3r6dX M Uc} {E6cen8$uwu*q`xP&H˞9W=‚J'l0Kfg,R!p/f+>^µцì}}iJ@I-tɪס&#d+!p\v)+4p캬+tg${!1;zwNBg! b?ʌɉH[|VlcYp b/3C;q˧3ʱJ^ LN߅쵔=dq _&=%#Zh`TW^ w4 m 0Nhp deskjet 5550 seriesT(,,,,T(0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX(\$CEUS.,<6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New RomanB2/ 1/rtyBar  Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH#HXX#HH|#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2)  #XXg[##XXXX #XXXXg[XXԀIfwereadthehistoricalbooksintheOldTestaments,especially1stand  > 2ndKingsand1stand2ndChronicles,itwouldnotbehardforustorecognize   thattherearetwonamesfrequentlymentioned.Thesetwonamesare:King N  David,thesonofJesse,whowasthesecondkingoftheunitedKingdomof  N  Israel;andJeroboam,thesonof_Nebat_,whowasthefirstkingof_thedivided_    kingdomofIsrael.KingDavidwasrecognizedand_honored_Ԁasthemost ^   righteouskinginthehistoryoftheBible,whileKingJeroboamwasrecognized ^  andcondemnedasthemostwickedprofanekinginIsrael.ThevirtueofKing   DavidandthewickednessofkingJeroboamdidnotonlyaffecttheirownlives, n  butevenmoresothelivesoftheirdescendants.Whatevertheydid,ordid n  notdo,influencedthelivesoftheirchildren.Forinstance,aswereadingin   today#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXH ##XXXX #XXXXg[XXsScriptureText,KingSolomonbecamesogreatandfamousinthefaceof ~  theearthinhisearlydaysofpower,butinlaterdays,heturnedawayfrom H  God.Godwarnedhimmanytimes,buthedidnotlisten.Hebecamemoreand H morewicked.Hebuiltplacesforidolworshipeverywhere.Hesetupstatues  ofidolseveninJerusalemwhichwasthemostholycityofGod.Heprovoked X God#XXg[c##XXXXD#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXX#XXXXg[XXswraththatGodmightdecidetoteardownthekingdomintotwopieces.2)I݌ X Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHS#HXX#HH4#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2)  #XXg[##XXXX #XXXXg[XXԀ2)I݌ " Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH#HXX#HH#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2[  #XXg[##XXXX<#XXXXg[XXԀWhileGodwasplanningtoalterthecourseofhistoryofthenationhemade  anamazingarrangement.EventhoughKingSolomon#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXX#XXXXg[XXswickednessprovokedGod#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXH<##XXXX#XXXXg[XXs 2 wrathbeyondtolerance,GoddecidedtospareKingSolomon#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXXy#XXXXg[XXslifeandhis L reputation.DespiteSolomon#XXg[ ##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXX#XXXXg[XXsdetestablebehaviour,GoddecidedthatHewould  nottouchSolomon,notbecausetherewasanyvalueinhim,butbecauseofhis  father,kingDavidandKingDavid#XXg[j##XXXXK#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXX#XXXXg[XXsloyaltybefore_God.#XXg[?#g[XXGod_ԀsaidtoSolomon, @ 1Kings11:11,12#XXg[##XXXX #XXXXHXX #XXH{ ##XXXX\ #XXXXg[XXBecauseyouhavedonethis,andyouhavenotkeptmy  Z covenantandmystatutes,Iwillsurelytearthekingdomfromyou,andwill $ giveittoyourservant.Nevertheless,Iwillnotdoitinyourdays,forthe   sakeofyourfather,David#XXg[!##XXXX #XXXXHXX#XXH"##XXXX"#XXXXg[XX.Inotherwords,forthesakeofhisfather,the 4! fateandreputationofSolomonwasspared.Whataninfluenceafathercould N" makeforhisson!2[{݌ # Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH5##HXX#HH##HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2{%  #XXg[%##XXXX\%#XXXXg[XXԀ2{%&݌ ^$ Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH'#HXX#HH'#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2(  #XXg[L(##XXXX(#XXXXg[XXԀIfwecontinuetoreaddownallthroughthehistoricalbooksintheOld  ^% Testaments,thephrase,#XXg[Q*##XXXX2*#XXXXHXX #XXHL+##XXXX-+#XXXXg[XXForthesakeofDavid#XXg[+##XXXX+#XXXXHXX#XXHm,#HXXԀ#XXH,##XXXXN,#XXXXg[XXisrepeatedmanytimes.Not  & onlyatthetimeofSolomon,David#XXg[8-##XXXX-#XXXXHXX#XXH.##XXXX-#XXXXg[XXsfirstgeneration,butalsodownthrough !' thegenerations.ThekingsofJudahinthe345yearsofhistory,appliedhe R"( sameprincipletimeaftertime.2()݌ #R) Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH.#HXX#HHw.#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B20  #XXg[0##XXXX0#XXXXg[XXԀ202݌ #* Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH2#HXX#HHf2#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B24  #XXg[3##XXXX3#XXXXg[XXԀIn1Kings15:4wereadthat_Abjam_Ԁwasthesecondkingofthedivided b$+ kingdomofJudahandhetoowaswickedbeforeGod.TheBiblesaid, %b , #XXg[5##XXXX5#XXXXHXX #XXH7##XXXX6#XXXXg[XXNevertheless,forDavid'ssaketheLORDhisGodgavehimalampinJerusalem %!- byraisingupasontosucceedhimandbymakingJerusalemstrongforDavid's &!. saketheLORDhisGodgavehimalampinJerusalem#XXg[7##XXXXz7#XXXXHXX#XXH9##XXXX8#XXXXg[XX.2435݌ <'"/ Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH9#HXX#HH{9#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2(;  #XXg[:##XXXX ;#XXXXg[XXԀ2(;H<݌ (V#0 Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH<#HXX#HH<#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2Z>  #XXg[=##XXXX;>#XXXXg[XXԀWereadin2King8:19that_Jehoram_Ԁwasthefifthkingofthedivided ($1 kingdomofJudah. f)$2 #XXg[?#g[XXInthisbookoftheBibleitisstatedthat#XXg[@##XXXX?#XXXXHXX #XXHA##XXXXwA#XXXXg[XXHedidevilinthesightofthe *f%3 Lord.#XXg[B##XXXXA#XXXXHXX#XXHB#HXXԀ#XXH!C##XXXXB#XXXXg[XXV.18,andinverseVs.19,itgoesontosay#XXg[C##XXXXC#XXXXHXX #XXHYD##XXXX:D#XXXXg[XXNevertheless,forthe *0&4 sakeofhisservantDavid,theLORDwasnotwillingtodestroyJudah.Hehad +&5 promisedtomaintainalampforDavidandhisdescendantsforever.2Z>z?݌ Z,'6 Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHD#HXX#HHD#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2;G  #XXg[F##XXXXG#XXXXg[XXԀ2;G[H݌  -Z(7 Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHH#HXX#HHH#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2mJ  #XXg[ J##XXXXNJ#XXXXg[XXԀIn2Kings19:34_Hezekiah_Ԁwasthethirteenthkingofthedividedkingdom - )8 ofJudah.Atthetimeof_Hezekiah_#XXg[L##XXXXK#XXXXHXX#XXHXM##XXXX9M#XXXXg[XXsrein,Godalsosaid,#XXg[M##XXXXM#XXXXHXX #XXH{N##XXXX\N#XXXXg[XXIwilldefendthis  cityandsaveitformysakeandforthesakeofDavidmyservant."2mJK݌ z Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHO#HXX#HHN#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2P  #XXg[P##XXXXP#XXXXg[XXԀ2PR݌ *z Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHR#HXX#HHR#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2,T  #XXg[S##XXXX T#XXXXg[XXԀIn2Kings20:6,Godsaidagain,#XXg[U##XXXXU#XXXXHXX #XXHyV##XXXXZV#XXXXg[XXIwilldefendthiscityandsaveit,for * mysakeandforthesakeofDavidmyservant."Forthesakeofthefather,  David,hisdescendantsandtheirterritorieswereprotectedandblessedbythe T powerofGod.RegardlessoftheirmeritsandvirtuesbeforeGod,  T #XXg[W#g[XXtheywerestillabletoenjoyGod#XXg[X##XXXXV#XXXXHXX#XXH>Y##XXXXY#XXXXg[XXsblessingsandprotectionforthesakeof   oneAncestor,David.2,TLU݌ ~  Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHY#HXX#HHY#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2[  #XXg[E[##XXXX[#XXXXg[XXԀ2[\݌ . ~  Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHJ]#HXX#HH+]#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2^  #XXg[w^##XXXX^#XXXXg[XXԀIndeed,itisGod#XXg[|`##XXXX]`#XXXXHXX#XXHa##XXXX`#XXXXg[XXswaytoblessandprotectchildren,forthesakeof  .  theirfather.Ibelievethatmychildrenwillbeblessedandsafe#XXg[a#g[XXguardedby    thepowerofGod,forthesakeoftheirfather,James.IknowthattheLord X   willmakewaysformychildren,ifI,asthefatherofmychildren,livea X  holylife,Shunthewronganddotheright.2^_݌   Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHib#HXX#HH}a#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2e  #XXg[d##XXXXd#XXXXg[XXԀ2e f݌ h  Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHf#HXX#HHf#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B22h  #XXg[g##XXXXh#XXXXg[XXԀIfwekeepreadingdownthehistoricalbooksintheBible,wewillmeet h  anothername,Jeroboam.   #XXg[i#g[XXHewasthefirstkingofthedividedkingdomofIsrael.Yet,hisnamewas x  knownasthemostwickedkinginthehistoryoftheBible.Hewastheonewho (x  builtthetempleofidolworshipandmadetwogoldencalvesinBethel.He ( coaxedpeoplewhowantedtogotoJerusalemtoworshipGod.Hesaid,#XXg[j##XXXXi#XXXXHXX #XXHl##XXXXol#XXXXg[XXItis  toomuchforyoutogouptoJerusalem;beholdyourgods,OIsrael,that R broughtyouupfromthelandofEgypt.#XXg[m##XXXXl#XXXXHXX#XXH7n#HXXԀ#XXH}n##XXXXn#XXXXg[XX1King12:28.22hRi݌ R Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHo#HXX#HHn#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2p  #XXg[>p##XXXXp#XXXXg[XXԀ2pq݌  Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXHCr#HXX#HH$r#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2s  #XXg[ps##XXXXs#XXXXg[XXԀForthe209yearsthatthekingdomofIsraelwasdividedthenameJeroboam, | thefirstking,wasrepeatedagainandagainasthemostabhorredandwicked ,| kinginhistory.Becauseofhiswickedness,thefuturekingsinthekingdom , wereidentifiedandcondemned.Theywerecondemnedbecausetheydidnot  departfromthesinsofJeroboam.Forapproximately200years19kingsreined < overthedividedkingdomandduringthistimethephrase,#XXg[uu##XXXXVu#XXXXHXX #XXHx##XXXXw#XXXXg[XXbecauseofthesins < ofJeroboam#XXg[x##XXXXx#XXXXHXX#XXHXy#HXXԀ#XXHy##XXXX9y#XXXXg[XXor#XXg[$z##XXXXz#XXXXHXX #XXHz##XXXXz#XXXXg[XXfromthesinsofJeroboam#XXg[3{##XXXX{#XXXXHXX#XXH{#HXXԀ#XXH|##XXXX{#XXXXg[XXwasrepeatedatleast17times.In  otherwords,2st݌   Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH|#HXX#HH||#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2m~  #XXg[ ~##XXXXN~#XXXXg[XXԀ2m~݌ 0! Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH#HXX#HH#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2  #XXg[>##XXXX䀁#XXXXg[XXԀOnonehandtherewerepeoplewhowereblessedandprosperedgeneration 0" aftergenerationforthesakeofafather,regardlesstheirownvirtuesand # merits,whileontheotherhand,becauseofafather,therewerepeoplewho @$ wereconstantlycondemnedandaccused.Thenthequestionis,whatkindof @% fatherdoyouthinkyouhave?Furthermore,whatkindoffatherwouldyou & liketobetoyourchildren?Today,aswecelebratetheconfirmationofour P ' youngpeople,alongwithsomeadultmembers,Icommendhighlyparents#XXg[C##XXXX$#XXXXHXX#XXHJ#HXXԀ#XXH##XXXX+#XXXXg[XXsupport !P( andfaithfulnessintheirChristianliving.Wheneverwehavebaptismal !) serviceforbabies,weaskparents,#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX #XXH5##XXXX#XXXXg[XXWillyoubringupyourchildinthe z"* knowledgeandloveofGod,teachinghim/herthetruthsanddutiesof D#+ Christianfaith?Wealsoask,#XXg[##XXXX䞈#XXXXHXX #XXH##XXXXԉ#XXXXg[XXWillyouencouragehim/hertoseek #D, confirmation,sothatbeingstrengthenedinfaith,sothatthepersonmaygo $ - forthtoserveGodfaithfully?#XXg[{##XXXX\#XXXXHXX#XXH#HXX#HH#HH2݌ n% . ЌHHHHHHHH' Xk '   2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2F  #XXg[##XXXX=#XXXXg[XXԀ2Ff݌ 8&!/ Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH#HXX#HHˎ#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2x  #XXg[##XXXXY#XXXXg[XXԀParentsofthecandidatesforconfirmation,today,youhavefulfilledyour &8"0 promisebeforeGodandthecommunitybybringingyourchildrenuptothis '"1 point.MayGod#XXg[##XXXX#XXXXHXX#XXHo##XXXXP#XXXXg[XXsblessingsbewithyou,sothatforthesakeyou,parents, H(#2 yourchildrenwillcontinuetoenjoyGod#XXg[##XXXXؓ#XXXXHXX#XXH##XXXXԔ#XXXXg[XXsgraceandprosperityaslongas )b$3 theylive.2x݌ ),%4 Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH{#HXX#HH\#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2L  #XXg[##XXXX-#XXXXg[XXԀ2Ll݌ *%5 Ќg[g[g[g[Hg[HH' Xk '   #XXH#HXX#HHј#HH2 9%  ,Kk %#X9HHHHPHg[P  B%  ,Kk k%#B2~  #XXg[##XXXX_#XXXXg[XX#XXg["#g[XX#Hg[#HHB%  ,Kk k B#XXHd##XXXX#XXXXg[XX#XXg[l#g[XX#Hg[M#HHB%  ,Kk k B#XXH##XXXX#XXXXg[XXԀInJackCanfieldandMarkVictorHansens"ChickenSoupfortheSoul."we <+&6 readthefollowingstory.TherewasahorribleearthquakeinArmenia,in +<'7 1989.Thisdeadlytremorkilledover30,000peopleinlessthanfourminutes. ,'8 Inthemidstofalltheconfusionoftheearthquake,_#XXg[#g[XXThere_Ԁwasafatherwho L-(9 rushedtohisson'sschool.Whenhearrivedthere,hediscoveredthebuilding -L): wasflatasapancake.Standingtherelookingatwhatwasleftoftheschool,  #XXg[b#g[XXthefatherjustrememberedapromisehealwaysmadetohisson,"Nomatter ` what,I'llalwaysbethereforyou!"Tearsbegantofillhiseyes.Itlooked ` likeahopelesssituation,buthecouldnottakehismindoffhispromise.  Rememberingthathisson'sclassroomwasinthebackrightcornerofthe p building,thefatherrushedthereandstarteddiggingthroughtherubble.As  p hewasdiggingothergrievingparentsarrived,clutchingtheirhearts,   #XXg[#g[XXsaying:"Myson!"Mydaughter!"Theyallrealizeditwastoolatetodo   anythingButthismancouldnotgiveuphope,andhecontinuedtodigand 0  dig.Thougheveryonetriedtostophim,heneededtoknowifhesonwasalive  0  ornot.Hecontinuedtodigforeighthoursandthentwelveandthentwenty    #XXg['#g[XXfourandthenthirty#XXg[#g[XXsix.Finallyinthethirty#XXg[A#g[XXeighthhour,_#XXg[#g[XXas_Ԁhepulled @   backaboulder,heheardhisson'svoice.Hescreamedhisson'sname,  @  "ARMAND!"andavoiceansweredhim,"Dad?"It'smeDad!"Thentheboyadded    thesepricelesswords,"Itoldtheotherkidsnottoworry.YoupromisedDad. P  Nomatterwhat,'yousaid,'I'llalwaysbethereforyou!'Andhereyouare P  Dad.Iknewyouwouldkeepyourpromise!"   #Hg[##XXH#