A teenager came to his pastor for advice: "I left home," said the boy, "and did something that will make my dad furious when he finds out. What should I do?" 

The minister thought for a moment and replied, "Go home and confess your sin to your father, and he'll probably forgive you and treat you like the prodigal son." 

Sometime later the boy reported to the minister, "Well, I told Dad what I did." 

"And did he kill the fatted calf for you?" asked the minister. "No," said the boy, "but he nearly killed the prodigal son!" 

There are few stories in all the world's literature that are as well known or as well loved as the parable of the Prodigal Son. And rightly so. There is no portrait of God in any of the world's religions more winning than this one. 

Helmut Thieleke says that we should call thi…