"A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father: 'Father, give me the portion of thy time, and thy attention, and thy companionship, and the counsel which falleth to me.'"
And he divided unto them his living, in that he paid the boy's bills and sent him to a select preparatory school, and dancing school, and to college, and tried to believe he was doing his full duty by the boy.
And not many days after, the father gathered all interests and aspirations and ambitions and took his journey into a far country, into a land of stocks and bonds and securities and other things which do not interest a boy: and there he wasted his precious opportunity of being a chum to his own son.
And when he had spent the very best of his life and had gained money, had failed to find satisfaction, there arose a mighty famine in his heart; and he began to be in want of sympathy and real companionship.
And he went and joined himself to one of the clubs of that country, and they elected him chairman of the house committee and president of the club and sent him to Congress; and he would fain have satisfied himself with the husks that other men did eat, and no man gave unto him any real friendship.
But when he came to himself he said: "How many men of my acquaintance have boys whom they understand and who understand them, who talk about their boys and associate with their boys and seem perfectly happy in the comradeship of their sons, and I perish here with heart hunger? I will arise and go to my son and will say to him: "Son, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight; I am no more worthy to be called thy father; make me as one of thy acquaintances."
And he arose and came to his son, and while he was yet afar off, his son saw him and was moved with astonishment, and instead of running and falling on his neck he drew back and was ill at ease.
And the father said unto him: "Son, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy father. Forgive me now and let me be your friend."
But the son said: "Not so. I wish it were possible, but it is too late. There was a time when I wanted to know things, when I wanted companionship and counsel; but you were too busy. I got the information, and I got the companionship; but I got the wrong kind, and now, alas, I am wrecked in soul and body, and there is nothing you can do for me. It is too late, too late, too late."
Every boy has a right to more than food, clothes, and correction-yes he has an inalienable right to a real father. God pity the boy that is reared under the influence of a prodigal father!

A GREAT CHURCH

has a great plan for the future.
has great faith in God and His promises.
believes that prayer is very important.
has a great willingness to work in God's kingdom.
has a great spirit of togetherness in God's work.
has great compassion for the needs of others.
has a great burden and vision for souls.
has great persistence and will not be stopped.
has great respect for the Word of God.