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“It’s rarely a blowout… it’s usually a slow leak.”

The younger son in the story of the prodigal son set off to a distant country after asking for his inheritance from his father.  While what he did was arrogant and unbecoming of a Jewish young man that was frowned upon by society and culture, it wasn’t like he was evil and wicked.

He had his own idea of living life.  He wanted independence.  But he had no idea what he was getting into.  What he went through hit him like a left hook from Manny.

No one wakes up Monday morning (like today) thinking, “Well, well, well… this week is an excellent week to backslide!  I think, it’s a great day to start setting off a different direction from what God has planned for me.”

The younger son drifted.

While that happened to him, it can definitely happen to the best of us.  That is why it is absolutely important to stay connected to the Source.

Remember, it’s rarely a blowout… it’s usually a slow leak.

While swimming with my kids this morning, I told them something I’ve been meaning to let them know.

“Whatever happens, you can always come home.  We will all make dumb decisions and wrong calls.  But remember, you can always come home.  Mom and I will always be there.”

Studying our text for this weekend’s service (Luke 15), made me think about that more.  The Father Jesus described made the environment at home so welcoming that when the younger son was in the lowest point of his life – in the pig pen, he remembered that he could always come home.

As parents, our prayer is that we would always keep an environment where our kids will feel free to come home anytime no matter what they have done.

PS. Below is the video we showed in church today to greet all the fathers.  Happy Father’s Day!

[podcast]http://victoryfort.org/images/stories/preaching/lupanghinirang-reform-paolopunzalan-060709.mp3[/podcast]

Several asked me for the link for the podcast of the last message in our series, Lupang Hinirang entitled “REFORM”, a study on the book of Nehemiah – drawing out principles on how to rebuild a nation.

Here it is….