Prodigal

Mary York Carr

Description

Prodigal is a book of interpretations and meditations on five familiar scripture passages, each of which invites the reader to visualize the settings and the characters from a perspective possibly never imagined before.
Prodigal” is a collection of prose and poetry in which the author attempts to bring the reader into a greater appreciation of the scriptures. The writings create a plausible truth that is often lost in the familiarity with, or in the cursory reading of, the scriptures. There are hints throughout every chapter and verse of the Bible of a more complex backdrop than is first realized, and this is where her writings take us. The interpretations herein tell of “how it could have been”, based on the truth “that is”.

Sujets

• Prodigal
• Redemption
• Parable
• Seven deadly sins
• Passover
• Rédemption (homonymie)
• Christian
• Patmos
• Samaria
• Pessa'h
• Fiction
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: LifeRich Publishing
• Date de parution: 13 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781489743473
• Langue: English

Extrait

PRODIGAL
 
THE GOSPEL OF REDEMPTION
 
 
 
 
 
MARY YORK CARR
 
Copyright © 2022 Mary York Carr.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.
 
LifeRich Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.liferichpublishing.com
844-686-9607
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scriptures marked as NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.
 
Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
 
ISBN: 978-1-4897-4346-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4897-4347-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022915427
 
LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 09/06/2022
 
 


CONTENTS
Prodigal
A Parable of Redemption
Living Water
Woman of Samaria
The Bigger The Barns
A Jesus Story
Passover
Cleansing the Temple
John the Beloved
Last Hours on Patmos

PRODIGAL
The boy stretched and yawned as he opened his eyes.
Each breaking of day he had come to des pise.
Every hour he was plowing or planting the seed;
No hope for tomorrow; No chance to suc ceed.
Success was to him a life full of fun,
Enjoying one’s self from the rising of sun,
Being free from the burdens of days on the farm.
Pleasure he needed, so what was the harm?
“There’s much more to life than just working the land.
I’m becoming my father; Just look at my h ands.
They’re calloused and rough, and how wrinkled my face
From the sun bearing down; I look a disg race. ”
“And I’m such a young man, all the world to exp lore.
So monotonous my days! There has to be more!
I’ll speak with my father whose wealth is well k nown.
For my inheritance I’ll ask, for I’m practically g rown.”
“This opulent house with its gardens and p ools
Is enough for my father, and I hate his r ules:
‘You must rise, son, at six; Your jobs do not s hirk.
Eat a good breakfast, and come out to work’. ”
“He isn’t unkind; He just fails to perc eive
That a young man like I has a reason to l eave.
So today I will ask him to give me my s hare;
Not too much to ask, for the money is t here.”
“I can be on my own and take care of my we alth,
For I’m smart and I’m strong and in excellent he alth.
I’ll say I’ll return in a few weeks o r so.
I’m sure I’ll stay longer, but he need not know. ”
“As we sat down for breakfast, my father a nd I,
My plans were laid out when my brother arr ived.
He is older than I; At my plans he seemed d azed.
He scorned me and laughed at me, said I was cr azed:”
“Don’t you know you must work when the money runs low?
Your skills are but few; Surely that you must know.
Who then will hire you? Are you in your right mind?
If you stay very long, only farm work you’ll find. ”
“I ignored his approach; He would not make me mad.
This arrangement is made between me and my dad.
I begged and I pleaded; At one point I c ried.
My father gave in; His hopes for me de nied:”
“You can leave in the morning. I’ll help you pre pare.
I’ll give you three camels, your treasures to bear.”
He turned his face from me, tears starting to flow.
His sad heart was breaking, but I didn’t know.
“Here are gifts for yourself and gifts you can sell.
I will pray for you, son, that all will go well.
May you find what you think you can never find here,
For this is a home of love without fear.”
“Still my father was choosing rich gifts from his s helf;
No thought for himself, nor for losing his we alth.
We loaded the camels with all they could h old -
Ornaments of silver, rich jasper, fine gold. ”
“Then he took from a drawer a bag full of cash,
Pressed it into my hand saying, ‘Son, don’t be rash.
I’m letting you go; I know you’re discon tent,
And all that you’ve told me has made me re lent.’”
“But please hear me, son. There’s a home for you here.
You are always my son; I will always be near.
Whatever the outcome, wherever you roam,
I’m forever your father, this always your home. ”
The very next morning before sun would rise,
The young man awoke with stars in his eyes.
“I’m a growing man now; I have needs to ful fill.
I am free now at last, not one moment to kill.”
When he said his goodbyes, brother couldn’t be f ound;
Just the son and his father outside on the gr ound
Where the camels were laden; Not much more to say;
A hug and a kiss, the boy on his way.
He didn’t look back. His heart was ab laze;
The father still loving the son he had ra ised.
No waves from his son as he rode out of s ight.
Could his father now make it, the long days and ni ghts?
“Now where shall I go; What’s my first stop to make?
I’ve not thought it through, but I’ll make no mis take.
I have a few buddies not too far away.
They will be glad to see me and ask me to stay.”
When he arrived at the village of debauchery and vice,
His friends saw him coming. They didn’t think t wice.
When they saw laden camels, they hurried to g reet
This boy of the country, not one of the str eets.
We’ll teach him our lifestyle, and well will he pay:
“Come in, do come in, friend. This is a good day.
There are females from town who are coming ton ight.
They will be at the big house down there on the r ight.”
“Their prices are in keeping with others we know. ”
The boy was afraid, but his eyes were a glow.
He unloaded his camels, went into their h ouse;
The conditions obscene, but he wouldn’t gr ouse.
This wasn’t his lifestyle, but thought he’d do well.
After all, he had money and trinkets to sell.
When night came, he dressed in the finest he had,
Gave clothes to his friends, which, of course, made them glad.
They walked to the big house just down on the r ight.
The curtains were closed; Very dim was the l ight.
The friends told the harlots, “A visitor’s in town.
It’s a new game for him; Who will first take him down?”
The women all giggled, threw dice to de cide
Who would be chosen to lie by his side.
“What do you offer for learning our t rade?
We’re expensive you know, but be not dism ayed.”
The boy showed his money. The harlot ag reed.
“Now you leave your friends. You are coming wit h me.”
After an hour the deed was all done.
No time in his life had he had so much fun.
He was proud of his choice; He was now on his way
To becoming a man; It took just a few days.
He returned to the house where his friends let hi m in:
“Tell us now how you like it, this lifestyle of sin?”
He had not an answer, the question so b lunt.