http://www.haroldshank.com/listening-to-his-heartbeat/listening-to-his-heartbeat-learning-from-the-prodigal-son/ May your visit here be a BLESSING in your life Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:04:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.haroldshank.com/listening-to-his-heartbeat/listening-to-his-heartbeat-learning-from-the-prodigal-son/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Terry Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:18:17 +0000 http://www.haroldshank.com/?p=140#comment-113 Dr. Shank, You may not remember me, but we met at the Urban Ministry Conference at the Contact Church of Christ in Tulsa in 2001. At that time, my wife and I were in the middle of the adoption process. We met again at the conference in Little Rock in 2003 (where we introduced you to our baby who had been adopted about 9 months earlier). I wanted to let you know that your books were a great source of encouragement to my wife and me as we became involved in urban ministry and in adoption. Every time I get the chance, I recommend "Up Close and Personal" and "Children Mean the World to God." Thanks for being a blessing to people like us! Dr. Shank,
You may not remember me, but we met at the Urban Ministry Conference at the Contact Church of Christ in Tulsa in 2001. At that time, my wife and I were in the middle of the adoption process. We met again at the conference in Little Rock in 2003 (where we introduced you to our baby who had been adopted about 9 months earlier). I wanted to let you know that your books were a great source of encouragement to my wife and me as we became involved in urban ministry and in adoption. Every time I get the chance, I recommend “Up Close and Personal” and “Children Mean the World to God.” Thanks for being a blessing to people like us!

]]> http://www.haroldshank.com/listening-to-his-heartbeat/listening-to-his-heartbeat-learning-from-the-prodigal-son/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Matt Dabbs Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:50:12 +0000 http://www.haroldshank.com/?p=140#comment-112 In its original setting it is a critique of the Pharisees and scribes (Luke 15:2) who should have rejoiced at the fact that tax collectors and sinners (15:1) were hungering to hear more about God. Instead they grumbled, just like the older brother in the story. The point is, those of us who have been around the block a few times, religiously speaking, should not look down on those who have been far away from God, especially when they are seeking. Instead, we need to welcome them in just as the father does. So I am not sure Jesus is asking his hearers to try to relate to one or the other. Instead he is labeling those around him as one or the other and let scribes and Pharisees hear his stinging rebuke and lets the "sinners" hear how they are welcomed with love. To me, we either are the older brother or the younger. We are either those who have been Christians for a long time or we are those who are just getting interested in what God has desired for their lives for a long, long time. Being the older brother is not a bad thing as long as we don't act like he did. The challenge is to take the position of the older brother and love the younger just as much as the father does. If we find ourselves in the position of the younger brother, we hope the older brothers among us will welcome us back when we goof up. In its original setting it is a critique of the Pharisees and scribes (Luke 15:2) who should have rejoiced at the fact that tax collectors and sinners (15:1) were hungering to hear more about God. Instead they grumbled, just like the older brother in the story. The point is, those of us who have been around the block a few times, religiously speaking, should not look down on those who have been far away from God, especially when they are seeking. Instead, we need to welcome them in just as the father does. So I am not sure Jesus is asking his hearers to try to relate to one or the other. Instead he is labeling those around him as one or the other and let scribes and Pharisees hear his stinging rebuke and lets the “sinners” hear how they are welcomed with love. To me, we either are the older brother or the younger. We are either those who have been Christians for a long time or we are those who are just getting interested in what God has desired for their lives for a long, long time. Being the older brother is not a bad thing as long as we don’t act like he did. The challenge is to take the position of the older brother and love the younger just as much as the father does. If we find ourselves in the position of the younger brother, we hope the older brothers among us will welcome us back when we goof up.

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