Paul O'Rear -- Monday, November 16, 2009, 7:55 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Hope, Parables, Rebellion
Tags: Crisis, Deuteronomy, God, Graduation, Inheritance, Israelites, James, Jesus, Las Vegas, Luke, Parables, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Sin
[PART 3 OF 4]
In the previous article, we looked at the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the father in the parable. In this article, we will re-examine the parable from the perspective of the prodigal son himself.
Go ahead and read through the parable again by clicking on the picture of the Bible to the right. Then come back here and continue reading.
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Paul O'Rear -- Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 6:51 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Parables
Tags: God, Jesus, Jewish, Luke, Nicodemus, Parables, Pharisees, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Sanhedrin, Sinners, Tax Collectors
[PART 1 OF 4]
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. It is actually the third in a series of parables that Jesus told, one after the other, in Luke chapter 15. All three parables have a common theme.
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Paul O'Rear -- Friday, November 6, 2009, 7:51 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Christmas, Salvation, Santa Claus
Tags: 2 Peter, Choices, Church, Community, Family, God, Isaiah, Jerusalem, Jesus, Luke, Parables, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Santa Claus
[PART 5 OF 5]
I believe that the story of Santa Claus is the story of God!
As I’ve stated in my previous “Santa Claus Factor” articles, I believe the story of Santa Claus can be viewed as a parable that teaches us some important lessons about God. This will be my last article in this series.
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Paul O'Rear -- Monday, November 10, 2008, 12:51 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Meaning of Life
Tags: Apostle Paul, Ashley O'Rear, Christians, Ecclesiastes, Emotions, Joy, Philippians, Proverbs, Repentance, Romans, Solomon, Sorrow
[PART 11 OF 12]
As Solomon chronicles his quest for meaning and purpose in his life, he makes an interesting observation regarding sorrow and joy.
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools. Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.”
(Ecclesiastes 7:2-6)
Huh? Sorrow is better than laughter? That doesn’t make sense! A sad face is good for the heart? Doesn’t that contradict Proverbs 17:22?
“A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
(Proverbs 17:22, which, by the way, was also written by Solomon)
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