ÿWPC/ vAlÒì–“ÏŠÉØ³‹Ù×­ü°3‚IÅó±WçÂÙîÒ_¨&x56ÞK²~džâ+g(³Ù(â ” ‚CQ„+Æ0;ÀîUÕNve'‹U@¿xé5œl{°ï0ôyýɹÞÂøå·õzÇ0æä 8¼^á¾ ´Î¶ßüP@çR+uüoîæ˜ÀmÃ!çÕˆs‰6ûDåøf%1?“l m›ž¼'œ1î©ðÚa[WÔbèlŠô퀡JRü²1¯âH ®¾¿a ê‚4æŸYg!#½þ$éb&DA | n"ŽÇ˜CƱ7¿B6e²‘ž«ÒvÇ¿°½‹‘NF¹-€@츧n·F|¡æÉE]¢fe0v _GB©:KÞÆx÷‹ jÀˆÂ±FÎE1rðò%á¹^H…:×:1Í$Â_Âÿ¶r™ëÀ {Íx ƒPY ÇÖÿŠÇn:ò‚ÅP®•Ù÷EsµýãAöŠ2IË?¸U?=…Û*(À.Ѽž+L1êÿo´nu¯i‡b«.Âl¢¡(F:žŠB7W™Œ1ˆÖÆà÷ü[•ƒûR8«ër¬S޼àÌ`i°E'2ì&ÕÌ8ñV>¥ Ó;vg¤¹ØéLwù¬œ‘þr(–^Y#ÉÞUN§ %õ 0:û N5 Æ7 Æý ÆÃ Ɖ ÆO A«ÆÀ@ †o~^ w42A mCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC 0VZ D5° Bå D-˜hp deskjet 5550 seriesT(,,,,T(0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ö\$¡¡ÔCEUS.,ÔLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 X&Draw Object °°=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ÿWPC°°âÿâÿΰ51ÿÿÿ3%)+-€°™x!/ Úp/t Q3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(.3½g$££Ý ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝWWWW)ÿÿ!dxdx d)!ÈÈÈÈdxdxÝ ƒö\!ÝÔCEUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òÓ  ÓÔ‡ L%XXÔ"THE€ARK"Ô#†Xå X L%L#ÔÐ ° ÐSermon€preached€on€July€13,€2003Ð ê: Ðß·€ ƒso$j~0¶°pÀ<ì@@@ÿ2,¢°° ÄtâÿâÿÎEÎf°°ƒ–F·ßÌ2€Samuel€6:13Ð Â Ð"When€those€were€carrying€the€Ark€of€the€Lord€had€taken€six€steps,Ð ®þ Ðhe€sacrificed€a€bull€and€a€fattened€calf."ó óÐ š ê ÐÌÓ@Ó€€€€€When€King€David€attempted€to€move€the€Ark€of€the€Lord€to€a€proper€place,€he€and€hisÐ r  Ðcompany€failed€to€do€so€at€their€first€attempt.€But€the€second€time€everything€went€well€andÐ ^ ® Ðeverybody€was€blessed€by€the€event.€€Have€you€ever€failed€at€anything€in€your€life?€€Have€youÐ J š  Ðever€wondered€how€you€would€do€things€differently€next€time?€€The€story€in€today's€text€tells€usÐ 6†  Ðabout€failure€as€well€as€success.€€Through€this€story,€we€can€get€some€very€helpful€information€onÐ "r  Ðsuccessful€Christian€living.Ð ^  ÐÌò ò1.€€Convenience€vs.€Integrityó óÐ æ6  Ѐ€€€€When€King€David€tried€to€move€the€Ark€of€the€Lord,€he€employed€a€cart€pulled€by€oxen.€Ð Ò" ÐWhat€a€smart€idea€it€must€have€been.€€To€have€an€ox€cart€would€be€quite€a€convenient€andÐ ¾ Ðefficient€method€of€transporting€the€Ark.€€It€could€make€their€work€much€faster€and€easier.€€So,Ð ªú Ðthey€put€the€Ark€on€the€cart,€and€let€the€oxen€pull€it.€€While€the€beasts€were€doing€the€work,€theyÐ –æ Ðhad€a€great€celebration.€€Playing€all€sorts€of€musical€instruments,€they€Ô_ÔreveledÔ_Ô€in€what€they€wereÐ ‚Ò Ðdoing.€€For€a€while,€everything€seemed€to€go€well€as€expected.€€But€all€of€a€sudden,€a€horribleÐ n¾ Ðaccident€happened.€€In€the€midst€of€festivity,€one€of€the€people€who€was€in€charge€of€the€cart€wasÐ Zª Ðkilled.€€In€the€winking€of€an€eye,€the€place€of€music€and€joyful€sounds€became€the€place€ofÐ F– Ðshivering€horror.€€What€did€they€do€to€cause€the€trouble?€€Of€course€the€text€itself€did€not€explainÐ 2‚ Ðwhat€might€have€caused€such€a€disaster.€€But€if€we€take€the€story€and€expose€it€in€the€light€of€theÐ n Ðwhole€Bible€it€is€quite€clear€for€us€to€see€the€reason€why€David€and€his€company€would€haveÐ  Z Ðsuch€a€problem.€€They€failed€at€the€job€of€transporting€the€Ark€of€God€because€they€pursuedÐ öF Ðconvenience€and€self-gratification€more€than€integrity€and€sincerity€in€their€hearts.€€Of€course€theÐ â2 Ðox€cart€could€do€the€job€of€moving€things€better€than€any€other€way.€€But€how€about€the€degree€ofÐ Î Ðsincerity€and€the€degree€of€wholeheartedness€they€carried€in€their€hearts?€€Did€they€use€the€eventÐ º  Ðto€glorify€God€or€to€indulge€in€their€own€gratification?Ð ¦ ö Ѐ€€€€The€evidence€shows€that€they€only€pursued€their€own€gratification€and€self-esteem€becauseÐ ’!â Ðthey€did€not€follow€God's€direction€regarding€the€moving€of€the€Ark,€which€was€specified€in€theÐ ~"Î  Ðearlier€books€of€the€Bible.€€This€story€tells€us€that€God's€interest€in€us€is€not€in€the€quality€ofÐ j#º! Ðperformance,€but€rather€the€degree€of€sincerity€and€integrity€in€our€hearts.€€By€a€quirk€of€fate,€IÐ V$¦" Ðmay€not€be€able€to€perform€the€job€as€great€as€others,€but€if€I€pour€my€whole€heart€into€the€work€IÐ B%’ # Ðam€sure€that€my€Lord€will€be€pleased€with€me.€€Putting€your€whole€heart€into€your€work€beforeÐ .&~!$ ÐGod€is€the€secret€of€successful€Christian€living.Ð 'j"% ÐÌò ò2.€€Involvement€vs.€Ô_ÔSpectatingÔ_Ôó óÐ ò(B$' Ѐ€€€€€Using€the€cart€for€moving€the€Ark€not€only€proved€the€lack€of€integrity,€but€also€the€lack€ofÐ Þ).%( Ðhearty€involvement€or€commitment.€€If€we€trace€back€to€the€origin€of€the€Ark€of€the€Lord,€the€ArkÐ Ê*&) Ðwas€made€to€be€carried€by€the€priests.€(Exodus€25:€12-15).€€If€we€could€see€the€Ark,€there€wereÐ ¶+'* Ðtwo€poles,€one€on€either€side,€attached€to€the€Ark.€€So€whenever€they€had€to€move€the€Ark,€theÐ ¢,ò'+ Ðpriests€would€carry€the€pole€on€their€shoulders.€€In€order€to€carry€the€Ark,€each€person€should€useÐ Ž-Þ(, Ðhis€shoulder,€which€is€the€strongest€part€of€his€body€to€do€the€work.€€He€would€also€need€to€faceÐ ° Ðin€the€same€direction€as€the€other€carriers.€€When€they€start€to€walk,€each€person€must€keep€paceÐ œì Ðwith€the€others.€€Another€crucial€factor€for€the€job€is€to€carry€the€load€at€the€same€level.€€So€it€isÐ ˆØ Ðwith€total€commitment.€€It€is€about€maintaining€yourself€in€accordance€with€others.Ð tÄ Ѐ€€€€It€is€also€about€sharing€burdens€and€responsibilities€with€others.€€At€the€first€attempt,€whenÐ `° ÐKing€David€and€his€company€tried€to€move€the€Ark,€these€essential€qualities€of€life€must€haveÐ L œ Ðbeen€simply€overlooked.€€That€was€the€focal€crux€of€their€failure.Ð 8 ˆ Ѐ€€€€Life€is€not€about€how€good€I€feel€about€it€or€how€much€I€can€gain€from€the€job.€€Rather€it€isÐ $ t Ðabout€how€I€do€the€job€and€what€I€do€for€the€work.€€God€wants€us€to€be€participants€in€life,Ð  ` Ðinstead€of€being€spectators.€€We€may€remain€as€spectators€in€the€church€and€in€the€community€allÐ ü L  Ðof€our€lifetime.€€But€let€us€not€forget€that€those€who€would€receive€rewards€are€not€the€spectators,Ð è 8  Ðbut€the€players.€€Those€who€had€made€a€difference€in€history€were€not€the€spectators,€who€hadÐ Ô$  Ðenjoyed€the€game€so€much,€but€the€players€who€had€shed€their€tears€and€sweat€for€the€game.€Ð À  ÐWhen€David€tried€to€move€the€Ark€at€first,€he€employed€a€cart.€€While€the€oxen€did€the€main€job,Ð ¬ü  ÐDavid€and€his€company€remained€as€spectators€and€they€expected€to€have€a€great€time.€€DavidÐ ˜è  Ðand€his€company€thought€that€they€would€be€well€entertained€by€the€beasts€which€pulled€the€cart,Ð „Ô  Ðand€by€the€musicians€who€could€play€many€different€instruments.€€But€after€experiencing€such€aÐ pÀ Ðbitter€disaster€at€the€first€attempt,€David€learned€a€lesson€and€realized€what€he€could€doÐ \¬ Ðdifferently.€€So€when€he€attempted€to€move€the€Ark€a€second€time,€he€had€the€priests€carry€theÐ H˜ ÐArk€on€their€shoulders,€according€to€its€original€design.€€Therefore,€we€learn€that€to€pursue€theÐ 4„ Ðpoint€of€total€sincerity€rather€than€impersonal€convenience,€is€the€first€key€to€a€successfulÐ  p ÐChristian€life.€€And€to€be€personally€involved€according€to€the€original€design€of€God€is€theÐ  \ Ðsecond€key€to€successful€Christian€living.€€What€Ô_ÔmarvelousÔ_Ô€secrets€we€are€learning€from€thisÐ øH Ðgreat€story!Ð ä4 Ѐ€€€€When€we€see€geese€flying€along€in€a€"V"€formation,€we€might€wonder€why€they€fly€that€way.€Ð Ð  ÐIt€is€known€that€as€each€bird€flaps€its€wings,€it€creates€an€uplift€for€the€bird€immediatelyÐ ¼  Ðfollowing.€By€flying€in€a€"V"€formation,€the€whole€flock€adds€at€least€71€percent€greater€flyingÐ ¨ø Ðrange€than€if€each€bird€flew€on€its€own.€€When€a€goose€falls€out€of€formation,€it€suddenly€feelsÐ ”ä Ðthe€drag€and€resistance€by€trying€to€go€it€alone€-€and€then€the€same€goose€will€quickly€get€backÐ €Ð Ðinto€formation€to€take€advantage€of€the€lifting€power€of€the€bird€in€front.€€When€the€lead€gooseÐ l¼ Ðgets€tired,€it€rotates€back€in€the€wing€and€another€goose€flies€the€point.€€Geese€honk€from€behindÐ X ¨ Ðto€encourage€those€up€front€to€keep€up€their€speed.€€When€a€goose€gets€sick€or€is€wounded€by€aÐ D!” Ðgunshot€and€falls€out€of€formation€two€other€geese€fall€out€with€that€goose€and€follow€it€down€toÐ 0"€  Ðlend€help€and€protection.€€They€stay€with€the€fallen€goose€until€it€is€able€to€fly€or€until€it€dies€andÐ #l! Ðonly€then€do€they€fly€off€on€their€own€or€with€another€formation€to€catch€up€with€their€group.Ð $X" ÐÌò ò3.€€Dignity€vs.€Humiliationó óÐ à%0!$ Ѐ€€€€As€the€King€of€a€nation,€David€was€expected€to€have€a€kingly€manner€in€every€way.€€He€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðsupposed€to€talk€like€a€king,€act€like€a€king€and€think€like€a€king.€€However,€today's€storyÐ ¸'#& Ðconcludes€with€a€piece€of€allegation€against€King€David.€€The€scandal€was€about€the€King'sÐ ¤(ô#' Ðindignant€Ô_ÔbehaviorÔ_Ô€before€his€whole€nation.€€When€the€procession€of€the€Ark€moved€on,€DavidÐ )à$( Ðwas€so€amazed€and€overwhelmed€by€the€feeling€and€conviction€that€the€presence€of€the€Lord€GodÐ |*Ì%) Ðwould€come€to€his€palace€and€remain€there€forever.€€So€he€went€ahead€of€the€procession€andÐ h+¸&* Ðdanced.€€He€danced€frantically€like€a€child.€€The€Bible€says€that€David€danced€to€hard€that€hisÐ T,¤'+ Ðunderwear€was€seen€by€the€many€spectators.€€Some€people,€even€Ô_ÔMichalÔ_Ô,€his€wife,€laughed€atÐ @-(, Ðhim.€€They€said€the€king€had€behaved€indignantly€making€a€spectacle€of€himself€before€the€world.€Ð ° Ðbut€David€claimed,€"I€will€celebrate€before€the€Lord.€€I€will€become€even€more€undignified€thanÐ œì Ðthis,€and€I€will€be€humiliated€in€my€own€eyes."€€Through€today's€scripture€text,€David€showed€usÐ ˆØ ÐÔ_Ôsome€very€important€secrets€for€successful€Christian€living:Ð tÄ Ѐ€€€€1.€To€pursue€the€point€of€total€sincerity€rather€than€impersonal€Ô_Ôconvenience;Ð `° Ѐ€€€€2.€To€have€personal€involvement€according€to€the€original€design€of€God;Ð L œ Ѐ€€€€3.€To€choose€to€be€humiliated€in€ones'€own€eyes,€but€to€celebrate€before€the€Lord.€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐNow€we€know€the€reason€why€David€was€so€successful€in€his€life.Ð $ t Ѐ€€€€Luciano€Pavarotti,€the€world€famous€tenor,€when€asked€how€he€became€so€famous€andÐ  ` Ðsuccessful€in€his€career€of€music,€he€said,€"When€I€was€a€boy,€my€father,€a€baker,€introduced€meÐ ü L  Ðto€the€wonders€of€song.€€He€urged€me€to€work€very€hard€to€develop€my€voice.€€So€I€went€toÐ è 8  ÐÔ_ÔArrigoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPolaÔ_Ô,€a€professional€tenor€in€my€hometown€of€Ô_ÔModenaÔ_Ô,€Italy,€to€take€voice€training.€€I€alsoÐ Ô$  Ðenrolled€in€a€teachers€college.€€On€graduating,€I€asked€my€father,€"Shall€I€be€a€teacher€or€aÐ À  Ðsinger?"€€"Luciano,€"my€father€replied,"if€you€try€to€sit€on€two€chairs,€you€will€fall€between€them.€Ð ¬ü  ÐFor€life,€you€must€choose€one€chair."€€"I€chose€one.€€It€took€seven€years€of€study€and€frustrationÐ ˜è  Ðbefore€I€made€my€first€professional€appearance.€€It€took€another€seven€to€reach€the€MetropolitanÐ „Ô  ÐOpera.€€Now€I€think€whether€it's€laying€bricks,€writing€a€book,€whatever€we€choose,€we€shouldÐ pÀ Ðgive€our€whole€selves€to€it.€€Commitment,€that's€the€key.€€Choose€one€chair."€(Guideposts)Ð \¬ Ѐ€€€€What€would€you€choose€for€the€rest€of€your€life?€€To€be€a€committed€person€in€what€youÐ H˜ Ðbelieve€or€to€remain€as€long€as€possible€unidentified?€€Would€you€render€your€shoulder€to€carryÐ 4„ Ðout€the€responsibilities€of€serving€the€Lord€today?€€Would€you€stand€with€others€facing€in€theÐ  p Ðsame€direction?€€Would€you€adjust€your€pace€for€the€work€to€be€done?€€Would€you€give€at€least€aÐ  \ Ðcheering€honk€for€others?€€Your€personal€answer€could€make€the€difference€to€the€whole€businessÐ øH Ðof€serving€the€Lord€as€well€as€your€own€success€in€life.Ð ä4 Ð