Desperately Desired...grudgingly Given

The other day my wife and I were talking about our brokenness and sorrow for the past sins we've both gone through. Oh, its so good to be back in the arms of the loving father. Praise God for His willingness to take us back. Pig smell and all. The photo on the Power Point screen says it all! Here comes sonny-boy with his pride knocked off-mopeing down the families road. He's embarrassed-he's probably smelly-grossed out by his own waywardness. He's not coming home with grand success he's coming home ss a miserable failure.

No Phi Beta Kappa-no Heisman Trophy-no IPO bonanza-not even a respectable job. He's broke in more ways than one. I can see on your faces you've been down a similar road. So have I. We have that in common. All of us here today are in a way-the young rebellious son. We've gotten too big for our britches. Too thirsty for the exciting-action packed-don't tell me what to do attitude. We're rebellious sinners just like the young son. But wait...there's more. Maybe your like the older son who can't seem to get excited about his brothers return. This older son is incensed with the father's treatment of his wayward sibling. He thinks its incredulous that he should be offered such a warm homecoming. Jealousy maybe...desiring of his brother to experience some real pain for his folly. He can't believe dad won't make an example of him to the rest of the family and servants. OH BUT HE DOES. The father is so glad for the return of his young son he does make an example of him! This is our story. God, as the father in the narrative, takes us in His arms and welcomes us back from the pig-pen of sin to the family room of Heaven! It's a family thing. Just like the Jewish community-things were done with the family. If your bitter and unforgiving remember what you've been forgiven for!

This week I phoned allmy friends who were Veterans. On Friday it was the Marine Corps 250th Birthday. Semper Fi to you guys and gals! My buddy Roger was so excited to get my call and thanks for his years of service to the Corp and America. He invited me down to the Lewis County Veteran's Museum to meet his friends and take a tour. As he introduced me to the other veterans I was taken back at how much healing had occurred in their lives. As many of you know our friend Roger Flinn spent over 2 years in hospitals from wounds received in combat from a North Vietnamese mortar round. Shrapnel tore through Roger's body nearly killing him instantly. Thanks to a Medic Corpsman's fast work and transfer to a field hospital with awesome Navy doctors and nurses, Roger was flown to the hospital in Da Nang and later to Travis hosptial in San Franciso and Vancouver. After all that excruciating pain,immense suffering, and scarring, Roger has forgiven his enemies! That's right Roger holds no animosity to the VC (Vietcong Army of North Vietnam). Praise the Lord for not only the physical healing but also for the mental and spiritual healing. That's what the forgiving father did in our text today. After taking an emotional hit-a financial hit-and a reputation hit-the father lavishes forgiveness on his enemy in rebellion: his own offspring. From the fruit of his loins to a pain in his community standing. Can you imagine what the father must have gone through when he got around his neighbors and community members. Some of you are living with the pain of a wayward son or daughter right now. This parable makes the hurt of your alienation sting! There's hope...there's a forgiving father: for you and your rebellious one. Listen closely!