tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7774578704070563428.post1577334108637542960..comments2024-03-17T06:57:38.349-07:00Comments on Medley of Worship: Opus 2013-128: Key Scriptures: The Unprodigal Father, the key to the parablePumicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05226427953642942426noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7774578704070563428.post-5771474552898202152013-04-13T18:03:35.117-07:002013-04-13T18:03:35.117-07:00It is kind of like the ugly duckling, revisited. ...It is kind of like the ugly duckling, revisited. I often tell the kids at school that one reason I can keep coming back for more of their struggles with puberty is that my son was one their age and I wanted to take him back to the hospital and get a refund. I am glad that they had a no refund policy because his cussedness is part of the reason I am proud of him today.<br /><br />How do you get along with your four brothers, or was this an apocryphal story?<br /><br />Grace and peace.Pumicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226427953642942426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7774578704070563428.post-69823044606473822982013-04-13T17:58:23.837-07:002013-04-13T17:58:23.837-07:00I have noticed that when I wax eloquent on theolog...I have noticed that when I wax eloquent on theology people skip it. That's okay. Blogging is an outlet that lets us express ourselves. I am honored that you went back and read it. Maybe occasionally I do something right.<br /><br />Grace and peace.Pumicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226427953642942426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7774578704070563428.post-54030717652960014742013-04-13T15:42:39.681-07:002013-04-13T15:42:39.681-07:00Once upon a time, a mother and father raised five ...Once upon a time, a mother and father raised five sons. All had blessings and faults, but one in particular was less intelligent, less talented, and more rebellious than the others were. This troublesome son the mother, who never used foul words, labeled “the independent shit” and she prepared herself emotionally for the heartbreaking likelihood of someday seeing him swing from the gallows. <br /><br />All of the sons grew up and left the home as they should, but four of them would return from time to time to reside for extended periods when life became too challenging. The father took ill and was unable to continue working, so the mother set aside her lifelong dreams and wore thin from years of being the breadwinner and caregiver to all under her roof. <br /><br />Shortly before the mother passed away, she took her rebellious son aside during one of his brief visits to make a confession. “When you were a child, I truly hated you. No child on earth could have possibly been less obedient. As adults, all of my sons faced challenges, yet you, the one I believed destined to fail, were the only one who was ever resourceful, who never came home for help, money, or shelter. Only you, of all my sons, never once moved back home. On your visits when you gave us help or favors, you would take nothing in return. At first, I resented it all as rejection, but as my burdens became nearly unbearable, I grew to admire and appreciate your fierce independence and toughness. I now understand why you were the child you were and how you became the man you are. I want to thank you for your many loving visits over the years, but most of all, with all of my heart, I want to thank you for never coming back home.”<br /><br /><br />Z@Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06993343918438930816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7774578704070563428.post-21816325762459651512013-04-13T14:29:08.998-07:002013-04-13T14:29:08.998-07:00I've heard so many sermons on the prodigal son...I've heard so many sermons on the prodigal son that I didn't feel like reading any of it until today. I went back and read all three posts just now, though, and I think you have a very good take on it.Gorges Smythehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777621500611603786noreply@blogger.com