A few months ago we had a visiting speaker here who presented a series of messages about the prodigal son. He presented the view of the son, the view of the father, and the view of the older brother.

In the audience were a father and mother who had a prodigal son of their own, and the messages sharpened their longing for their son to change his ways. He has been going his own way for thirteen years. They have been praying for him for thirteen years; and not just they, but others around the world as well.

Only days after hearing those messages this father and mother received an e-mail from their son. The subject of the e-mail was "prodigal son." He told them he had reached the end of himself. His world was falling apart. He was not happy with his job or with his life. His home had been broken into and everything electronic stolen except his microwave. He was struggling with depression and had reached the point where he asked God what was going to happen next. He said that for the last few weeks he had inexplicably found himself humming praise songs that he had learned years earlier and simply couldn't get them out of his head.

Finally, in desperation, he wrote that e-mail and asked for help. He asked his parents to return to their country so they could help him. He told them he wanted to live with them and find a different job. He told them he needed supervision and accountability. He told them he wanted to learn how to live again.

Needless to say this father and mother are overjoyed and are returning home for a while to help the son they have prayed for so long. Does God answer prayer? You bet he does. Can prodigal sons return home? You bet they can.

But the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry. Luke 15:22-24