Bring Out the Prodigal in You.

Alex, Zach, and I grew up with some of the greatest guys on earth.

From left: Jordan, Alex, and Jake in the sandbox under the 2 story fort my dad built for us. I think Jake was a little full of himself.

Jake and me on the first day of Kindergarten. My best friend in those days.

This isn't a great picture, but, from left: Me, Alex, Jordan, Jake. Friends for life.

Jordan and Jacob have 2 brothers who were adopted, Zach (or Zachwomble) and Paul. I still vaguely remember those first few days after they arrived. They were crazy and hilarious and full of the life God gave them when he rescued them and put them in the hands of some of the greatest parents on this earth. They came from some tough times into open arms full of love. There is so much more to both of their life stories, but this weekend, one of those precious boys was found unresponsive in his prison cell. His dad shared a letter with us that he had written just a week ago where his son urgently declared how the Lord had really gotten his attention in there, and how he planned to share his story when he got out. His letter was so full of love and thankfulness to his dad for providing the life he provided for him. It reminds me of the story Jesus tells in Luke 15, and since our friend won't be able to share his story to move the world, I thought I could have his story in mind as an example for the 7 people that read this blog.

But first, pray for our friends who are our family who lost their child.

Our friends provided abundantly for their son. They would have given him anything. They would have helped him in any way they could or would have done anything he asked if it would move his life in a positive direction. Opportunities were endless for him, but he drifted into the life he desired for himself. God provides for us abundantly. He gave his son's life to better our lives. With God, our opportunities are endless, and yet, we daily drift toward the life we desire instead of the life God desires to give us.

A skoach (shout out- Rhonda for word of the day) of background for ya. The Pharisees had been complaining about Jesus associating himself with sinners. They sort of thought why would a guy come in here and say he's the son of God, but socialize with the most despicable people. He tells 3 stories to explain, and the third is the parable of the prodigal son.

If you don't have time to read it, here's a summary. An elder man possessed a great estate full of money, land, and animals. One of his sons decided he wanted his portion of the estate early, so the dad gives him what is rightfully his at his urgent request. The son takes everything and leaves his family for what the Bible translates as wild living. I'm sure you can imagine what this guy spent his money on. Partying with new found friends, women, food...and all of the sudden, it was gone. He had blown it all. Isn't it funny how you find out who your friends are in the hardest ways? He no longer had the money or the women or the food banquets, and now, the friends were gone and he was alone. Alone in a pig pen feeding pigs and wishing he could eat what they were eating. The lowest of the low. He had lost everything of the world.

A light bulb comes on and the son decides he's going to go back to his dad, confess that he was wrong, and plead for forgiveness. Humility. It's a tough thing to have.

The son goes home and his dad, looking out the window, sees him from across his land and he runs. He sprints until he reaches his son and he embraces him whole-heartedly. When his son tries to confess, he interrupts and starts to order the best animals to be killed for a feast. This man is about to throw the party of a lifetime all because his son came home. The older brother who had stayed home gets jealous of all of the celebration. Tell me this didn't happen in your family. It would be my birthday and Zach would be crying that he didn't get a bike and he wanted a bike and why doesn't he have a bike?! To this, the dad exclaims, "My son was lost, but now he is found!"

The moral of the parable? If you come back, Jesus will welcome you with more love than your heart can handle. Where are you? Are you running? Are you living the life you want, full of the world, instead of the life God wants to give you?

Listen up.

It. is. never. too. late.

There is nothing you can do that will be detrimental to Him loving you.

He will never stop seeking you out. He will go out of His way to find you.

Our friend who passed this weekend...he got a party of a lifetime when he showed up at the gates early Sunday morning. It didn't matter that he was in jail. It didn't matter that he had messed up times a hundred just like we all do. It didn't matter that it took him however long to find the humility to be dealt with. Jesus ran to him just like he will run to you.


(Zach Wood on the left, Paul on the right)

Zach and Paul's Tea Party...ahem...picnic?

You are so missed, Paulie.