There is

not a finer redemptive story in the scriptures than the

son who, after requesting and then ultimately squandering

his father's inheritance, finally "comes to

himself," and returns home to the father.

If you are not familiar

with this glorious typical "teenager" or

"adult" prodigal story in Luke 15:11- 32 you

need to go read it. There is not a more appropriate time

in history for this story than 1999 and into the new

millennium.

One of the sweetest

fellowships I have been involved with since I left the

Army chaplaincy is our interdenominational and

interracial pastor's fellowship group that meets every

Tuesday morning for breakfast at 8 a.m. at the IHOP in

Fayetteville. This group is the outgrowth of a man with a

vision. His name is Gray Harwell.

Gray has a vision of a

fellowship where pastors can meet together on a weekly

basis and uplift one another in prayer and friendship

realizing that, although we are interdenominational and

interracial, we need each other and we have much more in

common that binds us together than that which separates

us. His vision has become a dynamic reality. This

prodigal emphasis is an outgrowth of this ministry.

During one of our

breakfasts on Tuesday mornings, we had a Christian group

from England that met with us that had conducted

Christian meetings on the subject of the prodigal and

realized that many, many families are dealing with these

hurting issues on a grueling daily basis. I don't believe

that there are many families of the '90s that don't have

a "prodigal" situation where a son or daughter

or a husband or a wife has just had their head

"turned" away from all that is right and

sacred.

The divorce records alone

indicate that this has happened in marriages in over 50

percent of the families across America.

Well it's time for the

prodigal to return!

In the story as you read

it, in Luke chapter 15:17, it states, "And when he

came to himself," this is where the "turning

his heart toward home" became a total reality to

this young man. We then read how the father saw him at a

distance and ran toward him and accepted him home and

fell on his neck and kissed him and put his robe about

him and put the ring of inheritance on his finger and

killed the fatted calf in honor of his return.

Maybe you have a

"prodigal" situation in your family over which

you are kicking sheets out each night and can't seem to

resolve. These situations seem to tear families apart at

the seams. You must realize that there is hope and a

future. Be of good cheer - Jesus has overcome the

world!

Our Tuesday pastor's group

here on the south side of Atlanta have mostly agreed that

on Sunday the 28th of November we will preach on the

"prodigal" and his return and restoration to

the family. It is our prayer that you will attend one of

our churches on this particular Sunday and claim the

promises of God for you and your family.

Don't let this opportunity

pass for restoration for you and your family. Stay in the

spiritual battle and do the right thing.

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon

is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC), a

substitute school teacher in the Fayette County school

system, and a former Army chaplain. The church is

currently meeting in the American Legion Log Cabin across

from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville. Prayer

line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]