COME RUNNING HOME

This week starts the second half of the season for the Surprise Royals. The season ends on September 2 followed by the playoffs two days later. The only way for us to make the playoffs is to either win the first half of the season or win the second half of the season. We lost the first half, so we need to finish strong and win this second half to make the playoffs.

Also, this week marks the second week since I had a cortisone shot in my shoulder. My throwing progression has gone smoothly and I am hoping to get in the outfield within the next 10 days.

This morning in our bible study I was talking to Carter about the Parable of The Prodigal Son. As soon I brought up the topic he started to tell me about his testimony. He said, “I am that son and ran from God for the longest time. After years of trying to go through life holding my own guilt and shame, I realized that God accepts me for who I am, what I have done, and loves me regardless of my condition, so I came running home.” I couldn’t help but to think, I had to share one of my favorite scriptures in the Bible with you guys.

Let me set the story up real quick.

In Luke 15, Jesus is telling parables at the dinner table to sinners, tax collectors, Pharisees, and Scribes. During this time, the sinners and tax collectors were the lowest of all social classes and the Pharisees and the Scribes were the religious group that considered themselves more worthy than others. In verse 2, the Pharisees muttered between the guys, “Why does Jesus welcome and eat with the sinners and tax collectors?”

The story goes on to the third parable of a family of 3 (2 sons and a father) that have a nice estate. The youngest son asks his father for his inheritance so he could go to the distant country and live away from home. The father gave his son half the inheritance and sent him on his way. The son then goes to the city and squanders his wealth on reckless living. After becoming desperately in need he hired himself out as a servant and fed pigs in the field.

After nearly starving to death, he came to his senses and was reminded that his father always has food to spare for his servants. So he journeys back to his father’s estate and plans to apologize to his father and ask to be hired as a servant (not even to be his son).

Before he could get to the house, his father saw him in the distance and was “filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). Before he was able to finish the apology to his father, the father says to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s