Jack’s Winning Words 2/25/16
“Not all those who wander are lost.”  (J R R Tolkien)  When I was being taught to preach, the prof said, “Connect it up with life.”  That’s what Jesus did with his parables.  In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, parents could relate to the “wandering” child.  Jesus said, “Don’t give up hope.  Keep the door ajar.”  The lust to wander, seems to be part of growing up.  The Parable of the Prodigal Son has also been called, the Parable of the Welcoming Parent.  Mmmm!    ;-)  Jack

FROM TARMART REV:  Good thought this morning as I now awaken and make my way out of bed and to my computer for an early morning devotional post on Face Book...====JACK:  When you wander around in the early morning darkness looking for your computer, you might sing..."I wonder as I wander."

FROM HONEST JOHN:  You and I both ended up far from home....at least in terms of miles. ====JACK:  Home is where the heart is.  There's no place like home. There's no place like home.

FROM GRCB:  This hits home.  My sister-in-law is working through reuniting with her daughter who has been estranged from the family and everyone from her life growing up, for 18 years.  My brother-in-law (her father) died two years ago. The doors and arms of family and friends are open.  I pray that they will resolve what they can and move beyond what they may not be able to completely resolve.====JACK:  The Good Shepherd continues to seek the lost sheep....when many of would say, "It's no use."  Miracles are called, miracles, for a reason.

FROM JLF:  "Life is Good" has printed that phrase on a shirt.====JACK:  The Life Is Good t-shirt company spreads the spirit of optimism by printing positive slogans on t-shirts.  They will even print a slogan  that you suggest.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  We may "wander and roam" but there's no place like home.  Our home....ultimately will be with God.====JACK:  I know what you're saying, but we need to be reminded that God is with us NOW in this life and forever in the life to come.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  One theologian also called it "The Parable of the Waiting Father". As Billy Graham has admonished, "This should be the motto of every follower of Jesus Christ: Never stop praying, no matter how dark and hopeless it may seem."  Prayer is a powerful force, but all prayers are not answered in the way we hoped...that's where faith  comes in! Faith that indeed all who wander are NOT lost!====JACK:  As the man said to Jesus: "I believe; help my unbelief."

FROM CHESTER THE GOOD:  A friend of mine's mother always said, "You're never lost if you have a tank full of gas." I'll add to that, "Always keep the tank topped off."====JACK:  A mother will often keep a child's bed ready...even when the child has moved on to other places.

FROM KANSAN DON:  I often called the Parable the "Lost Sons."====JACK:Yes, there's more than one lesson in that parable.

FROM EMT SINGS IN TC:  I also think it has a lot to say about the son (maybe us) who stayed home!  Mmm!====JACK: There's something to be said about being obedient and respecting a parent, but read on the the end of the parable.  That 2nd son had his problems, too.====EMT:  I think he resented all the attention that the wayward brother was getting and felt he had been taken for granted all his faithful years.====JACK:  That's why we each need the forgiveness of sins.

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  also the Parable of the Waiting Father who waits for the unrighteous son to come home and for the self-righteous son to come in from the barn and join the party to welcome home his younger brother.  (thoughts from Helmut Thielike,  German theologian). ====JACK:  A couple of waiting parents are on my daily Prayer List.