The father of the prodigal son gave a hugh banquet to celebrate his son's return home. His son was lost, but now was found. Does this remind you of what awaits believers in heaven? In Revelation 19:6-9, John describes the Lord's future banquet in heaven for those who have trusted in Christ: "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.' " (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) "Then the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.' ” Listen Now. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/richard-e-simmons-3/episodes/The-Prodigal-Son-The-Fathers-Celebration---Richard-E--Simmons-III-e337kpu/a-abv9glm #thecenterbham #reliabletruthpodcast #richardesimmons3 (fb)

Thomas Merton was a highly regarded American Trappist monk, author, and theologian. He once said, “If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I think I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for.” I think we all should confront ourselves with the question, “What am I living for?” We may conclude we are living for something that does not have real value. There’s a story in my book, The True Measure of a Man, about Bob Buford, a very prosperous businessman and founder of Halftime Institute. In the story, he shares a conversation that changed his life: A turning point in my own life was a conversation I had twenty years ago with Michael Kami, one of this country’s top strategic planners . . . I made an appointment with Mike to explore my own [future] plans. I wanted to get his professional advice about some of the options I was examining. During the course of the conversation, Mike asked me to describe my basic interests and motivations, so I began telling him about all the things that interested me. But suddenly Mike stopped me in midsentence and asked a question that changed my life— “What’s in the box?” The question took me by surprise. I didn’t get it at first. In the box? What does that mean? So I asked, “What do you mean by that, Mike?” “What’s central to your life at this point?” Mike said. “If there were only room for one thing in your life, what would it be?” He took a pencil and sketched out a small square on a sheet of paper and said, “From what you’re telling me, Bob, there are two things at the top of your list of priorities, your religious faith and your career.” Mike indicated that the shorthand for that was a dollar sign and a cross. And he pointed at the box and said, “Before I can help you decide how to focus your interests, you have to decide: What’s in the box?” Would it be the dollar sign or the cross? Suddenly I knew I had a choice to make. Continue reading my newest blog post. https://richardesimmons3.com/whats-in-the-box/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=May%2026%2C%202025%20-%20What%20s%20In%20the%20Box%3F&utm_campaign=May%2026%2C%202025%20-%20What%20s%20In%20the%20Box%3F #thecenterbham #reliabletruthpodcast #richardesimmons3 (fb)