Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 6 Apr 1992 09:30:39 MST
From:         Becky Harris <ISPBJH@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: The Prodigal Son (by Matt Harris)

As I posted on Friday, my 4 kids have each written a 2 page essay on the
topic of the Prodigal Son.  This was the subject of a sermon two weeks ago
in which all of my children seemed to be boared to tears.  The first one
I'd like to share with you is from my oldest son, Matt Harris--(16 yrs).
I have retained the original spelling, punctuation, and sentance structure.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sermon that this man discussed went like this.  A father had 2 sons,
he gave one money and freedom to go live his life, while his other son
stayed and worked for his father.  His 1st son that left went away and
swindled all his money away.  When his son returned he was sorry and felt
he had no right to have forgiveness, but his father gave forgiveness,
saying "You were once dead, but now you're alive, You were lost, but now
you're find".

This story relates to me in many ways.  First, I must admit I didn't
know this story until after church, when you discussed it with us.
In this story I am like the son who swindled away his money.  But I
have not returned home as a sinner to be forgiven, but in my case with
son who swindled away the money, the house would be the church.  If I
learn to love the Lord then when I really go to church for the proper
reason the Lord will reward me spiritually like the father rewarded
his son by killing a fat cow and having a feast.

It is very true that Basketball is much more important to me than it
should be.  It's almost my whole life, which is pathetic.  I find so
much joy in Basketball in simply making a shot, it's inimaginable.
This is not how it should be.  Right now I don't find the joy in going
to church that I should.  Church far outnumbers basketball in it's
importance.  Church is a way of advancment that is more joyness and
never ends, basketball it's possible for advancment, but it's a material
advancment, it ends.  There will always be problems that arise.  I think
if you learn to love god there will be little or no problems that arise,
life will be easier and simpler and your life will have focus.

It seems strange to me that I know most of God's miricles, but I don't
find joy in them.  I always thought once you learn what unimaginable
things the Lord can do you would immediately want to go to church, love
the Lord, and always want to read the Bible.  But this has not happened
to me.

People say that if you find the Lord it's the most amazing feeling you'll
ever find.  Maybe I love Basketball to much to find this feeling, but I
would definitly like to find it.  But when we were in the living room you
asked us what we could do to find the Lord.  Some of us said read the bible,
when we occasionly read a few chapters in the morning or at night as a
family I would listen.  But after we finished the Lord had not become any
more important than before.  So I don't see how the bible can help me love
the Lord.

So I want to love the Lord, but I don't know how.  Because I know much about
him right now, and I don't find the amazing sensation people talk about
when you learn to love the Lord.

Matt

Becky Harris
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU