Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
A Message From Mark Stuart in Jacmel Haiti- Conduit We Have Our Marching Orders..
I emailed Mark Stuart to find out if we can actually get a ship docked in Jacmel. We've been working to get NGO's to focus on Jacmel Haiti.
This is Marks' response.
yes. I met with the mayor tonight. The port can be used, cruise ships can come in there. We need help bad here is the city. What kind of supplies are on the boat? How fast can they get here? We are starting to feel people get frustrated and scared and that usually predicates looting and riots as you know. Also...we are donating money to the city of jacmel. The mayor said we were the only ones that have helped at all. Its crazy...I told him we could give 10k tomorrow and he almost cried. He is doing everything himself on his credit card. The mayor has the infrastructure and connections to get major things done if we can help rent equipment and buy food/supplies . But the city has no money. There are big machines here just sitting because the money is gone. If your organization can raise money for jacmel we can get it to best people to help the most pressing needs. There are dead bodies in the rubble and maybe one small front loader doing everything. Sad.
Mark
We know what we need to raise money for. Conduit Nation we need your help. 100% of the money you're sending is going to Jacmel Haiti. Please prayerfully consider donating.
This is Marks' response.
yes. I met with the mayor tonight. The port can be used, cruise ships can come in there. We need help bad here is the city. What kind of supplies are on the boat? How fast can they get here? We are starting to feel people get frustrated and scared and that usually predicates looting and riots as you know. Also...we are donating money to the city of jacmel. The mayor said we were the only ones that have helped at all. Its crazy...I told him we could give 10k tomorrow and he almost cried. He is doing everything himself on his credit card. The mayor has the infrastructure and connections to get major things done if we can help rent equipment and buy food/supplies . But the city has no money. There are big machines here just sitting because the money is gone. If your organization can raise money for jacmel we can get it to best people to help the most pressing needs. There are dead bodies in the rubble and maybe one small front loader doing everything. Sad.
Mark
We know what we need to raise money for. Conduit Nation we need your help. 100% of the money you're sending is going to Jacmel Haiti. Please prayerfully consider donating.
ACLJ
A very special thanks to Jay Sekulow and everyone at ACLJ for allowing us to tell the story of what’s going on in Jacmel Haiti. Mr Sekulow is devoting the entirety of his programming for the next few days to telling the story of what’s going on in Haiti. We can’t thank him enough for letting his show programming being interrupted in order to let the voices of the Haitian people to be heard.
www.aclj.org
Help Haiti! Text ACLJ to 50555 to give $5. 100% of your donation will go to our 3 partners! Hands & Feet Project (orphanage), Conduit Mission (building Churches), and Op. Blessing (medical relief)
www.aclj.org
Help Haiti! Text ACLJ to 50555 to give $5. 100% of your donation will go to our 3 partners! Hands & Feet Project (orphanage), Conduit Mission (building Churches), and Op. Blessing (medical relief)
Report from Jacmel Haiti
We’ve been given word that there has been no loss of life in the Restoration Ministries Church in Jacmel Haiti. So grateful and joyful for that news.
Restoration Ministries church properties are all still standing. There has been damage to the Restore Center in downtown Jacmel but it’s still standing.
We have urgent need of getting supplies to Jacmel. It is a coastal town, south of Port Au Prince and the road between the two has been cut off. The airport, which is a landing strip with a small building on it, has been turned into a refugee camp. Our main option is to find organizations who can bring their supplies to a port on the southern coast. If anyone reading this has connections that can help us. Please email me at darrentyler@mac.com
The water is down, the food supply is very limited, the hospital is down, medical supplies limited. Port Au Prince is such an overwhelming problem and very little attention has been brought to the towns and cities to the south.
We’re continuing to gather resources and finances. you can donate by clicking on the “donate now” button on our site.
100% of the moneys coming in are going to this very urgent crisis.
Restoration Ministries church properties are all still standing. There has been damage to the Restore Center in downtown Jacmel but it’s still standing.
We have urgent need of getting supplies to Jacmel. It is a coastal town, south of Port Au Prince and the road between the two has been cut off. The airport, which is a landing strip with a small building on it, has been turned into a refugee camp. Our main option is to find organizations who can bring their supplies to a port on the southern coast. If anyone reading this has connections that can help us. Please email me at darrentyler@mac.com
The water is down, the food supply is very limited, the hospital is down, medical supplies limited. Port Au Prince is such an overwhelming problem and very little attention has been brought to the towns and cities to the south.
We’re continuing to gather resources and finances. you can donate by clicking on the “donate now” button on our site.
100% of the moneys coming in are going to this very urgent crisis.
Sending money old school
If you want to send donations by check please make them payable to Conduit Mission and mail to
Conduit Mission
256 Seaboard Lane C-103
Franklin, TN 37067
As always you can send donations online by clicking the donate now button.
We’re at over $10,000 raised. Thank you so much to everyone for all the help in not only donating but in spreading the word.
100% of the revenues coming in will continue to be sent directly to our partners on the ground in Haiti.
Conduit Mission
256 Seaboard Lane C-103
Franklin, TN 37067
As always you can send donations online by clicking the donate now button.
We’re at over $10,000 raised. Thank you so much to everyone for all the help in not only donating but in spreading the word.
100% of the revenues coming in will continue to be sent directly to our partners on the ground in Haiti.
Another update from on the ground in Haiti
This is from Renee who is a missionary at the Hands and Feet Project in Jacmel www.handsandfeetproject.org
“right now I don’t know when we can get out. I think in few days we will be able to do it. Its really bad. The whole country is cut off from PAP and its supply line. We bought about 100 gallons of diesel this morning and the kids are sitting in the yard still. The tremors are still on and off and it really gives you a sick feeling like the world is coming to an end. CRAZY. I do think I’ll make it back by next week, but keep Jamie and Leslie on call. They’re awesome. Hey guys….The airport is closed except for aid coming in. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get out of here. I’m glad that I was here so that we can help. The kids at this point….aren’t that scared. Many of them are having fun with it. Its been like a big camp out. The adults are a little frazzled to say the least. I hope to get out some time next week.”
thanks everyone for your prayers and donations. God is on the move.
“right now I don’t know when we can get out. I think in few days we will be able to do it. Its really bad. The whole country is cut off from PAP and its supply line. We bought about 100 gallons of diesel this morning and the kids are sitting in the yard still. The tremors are still on and off and it really gives you a sick feeling like the world is coming to an end. CRAZY. I do think I’ll make it back by next week, but keep Jamie and Leslie on call. They’re awesome. Hey guys….The airport is closed except for aid coming in. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get out of here. I’m glad that I was here so that we can help. The kids at this point….aren’t that scared. Many of them are having fun with it. Its been like a big camp out. The adults are a little frazzled to say the least. I hope to get out some time next week.”
thanks everyone for your prayers and donations. God is on the move.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Update from on the ground in Haiti
I was just forwarded this email from our friends Mark and Aegis Stuart. Mark and Aegis are in Jacmel Haiti at the ministry they founded www.handsandfeetproject.org
Restoration Ministries is in the same town, Jacmel. It's about 15 minutes away. We still don't have official word on the status of our structures. We continue to raise funds knowing that there is an immediate and urgent need. If you feel led to give you can go to www.conduitmission.org we're wiring our first round of cash this afternoon. Pastor Lafluer is enroute and once he's on the ground I want him to have immediate access to financial resources.
Please pray. And please give. www.conduitmission.org
Here is the email..
Hi everyone....
Our internet is working finally. So I'm sending this to a few of you....
Everyone here is ok, but we are all very scared. The buildings held up great, but there are several houses right around us that have collapsed. Also, Hotel Cyvadier had major damage, while the brand new three story "peace of mind" hotel was demolished. Francine, one of our teenage nannies was in afternoon school and escaped while the building was collapsing around her because she was sitting by the door...however many of her classmates died yesterday. Many houses and and buildings have collapsed in Jacmel including the hospital. I know most of the news there is coming from PAP, but there is substantial loss of life here on the south coast. We need prayer for wisdom and strength. Its very chaotic here. We were able to buy diesel this morning and hopefully get more propane for cooking tomorrow. Last night was crazy...slept on the dirt in the center of the village...away from the buildings. Tonight we may venture back indoors, but that is yet to be decided. We go in and out to get necessities. The Haitian people are numb and sad to say very used to death, but this has created what seems to be a hypnotic state. I've never been in a situation were you feel SO helpless, fearful, and small. The tremors are coming again as i type this. Whoa!!!
Mark
-- everyone
mark stuart
With a heavy heart,
Darren
PS- If the Lord is leading you to give to Hands and Feet Project you can do that at www.handsandfeetproject.org
Restoration Ministries is in the same town, Jacmel. It's about 15 minutes away. We still don't have official word on the status of our structures. We continue to raise funds knowing that there is an immediate and urgent need. If you feel led to give you can go to www.conduitmission.org we're wiring our first round of cash this afternoon. Pastor Lafluer is enroute and once he's on the ground I want him to have immediate access to financial resources.
Please pray. And please give. www.conduitmission.org
Here is the email..
Hi everyone....
Our internet is working finally. So I'm sending this to a few of you....
Everyone here is ok, but we are all very scared. The buildings held up great, but there are several houses right around us that have collapsed. Also, Hotel Cyvadier had major damage, while the brand new three story "peace of mind" hotel was demolished. Francine, one of our teenage nannies was in afternoon school and escaped while the building was collapsing around her because she was sitting by the door...however many of her classmates died yesterday. Many houses and and buildings have collapsed in Jacmel including the hospital. I know most of the news there is coming from PAP, but there is substantial loss of life here on the south coast. We need prayer for wisdom and strength. Its very chaotic here. We were able to buy diesel this morning and hopefully get more propane for cooking tomorrow. Last night was crazy...slept on the dirt in the center of the village...away from the buildings. Tonight we may venture back indoors, but that is yet to be decided. We go in and out to get necessities. The Haitian people are numb and sad to say very used to death, but this has created what seems to be a hypnotic state. I've never been in a situation were you feel SO helpless, fearful, and small. The tremors are coming again as i type this. Whoa!!!
Mark
-- everyone
mark stuart
With a heavy heart,
Darren
PS- If the Lord is leading you to give to Hands and Feet Project you can do that at www.handsandfeetproject.org
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Haiti Needs Your Help: $25 Challenge
As you've probably seen, Haiti was hit today with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. We've heard precious little information from our friends in Jacmel, only that they're all alive.
We've heard reports that there is destruction all around. Haiti is predominantly made up of shacks. The vast majority of buildings are made up of unreinforced concrete. Think about the damage in a place like California with all the reinforced concrete buildings, and imagine what a waste land it would be with out any of those safety standards.
The images will be coming very soon of the death, destruction and suffering that is already going on. We don't know the exact needs, but we do know that there are going to be desperate needs.
I'm not asking where is God, I'm asking where is the church. This a time for us to shine in the darkness.
Please pray. Stop whatever you're doing an pray. And then..
Our friends in Haiti can't ask you. We can't hear their cries for help, or their screams of pain and fear, but please know that they are real. They're not statistics, they are humans that God loves.
I'm asking on behalf of them.
I challenge you and everyone you know to donate $25 to Conduit Mission. We will give EVERY penny you donate over to Restoration Ministries in Jacmel Haiti as soon as the banks will allow.
Please, don't take this lightly. Please know that you can make a difference. Maybe you fast a day or two and use that money. Maybe you put something on craigslist. Or Maybe just go through the cushions. Pray about it, and give as the Lord leads.
This is our time to be a Conduit of His resources from our land of plenty to a land desperately in need.
Please forward this to whomever you can.
Thank you.
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
To donate go to www.conduitmission.org hit the donate now button.
We've heard reports that there is destruction all around. Haiti is predominantly made up of shacks. The vast majority of buildings are made up of unreinforced concrete. Think about the damage in a place like California with all the reinforced concrete buildings, and imagine what a waste land it would be with out any of those safety standards.
The images will be coming very soon of the death, destruction and suffering that is already going on. We don't know the exact needs, but we do know that there are going to be desperate needs.
I'm not asking where is God, I'm asking where is the church. This a time for us to shine in the darkness.
Please pray. Stop whatever you're doing an pray. And then..
Our friends in Haiti can't ask you. We can't hear their cries for help, or their screams of pain and fear, but please know that they are real. They're not statistics, they are humans that God loves.
I'm asking on behalf of them.
I challenge you and everyone you know to donate $25 to Conduit Mission. We will give EVERY penny you donate over to Restoration Ministries in Jacmel Haiti as soon as the banks will allow.
Please, don't take this lightly. Please know that you can make a difference. Maybe you fast a day or two and use that money. Maybe you put something on craigslist. Or Maybe just go through the cushions. Pray about it, and give as the Lord leads.
This is our time to be a Conduit of His resources from our land of plenty to a land desperately in need.
Please forward this to whomever you can.
Thank you.
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
To donate go to www.conduitmission.org hit the donate now button.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Conduit Financial Report 2009
For the past 26 months, The Conduit Mission has existed to be a Conduit of God’s love to the world around us. We’ve been a missional organization committed to God's Word and being the supply line to those on the front lines of building the Kingdom around the world. To date, we’ve taken in and given away over $130,000. With those resources we’ve fed and clothed dozens of kids month after month in Haiti, we’ve fed refugees in Africa, built a home for serving the poor in Jacmel Haiti, invested in serving Place of Hope right here in Middle TN. We’ve done all this by working directly with the Churches on the ground already, knowing that God never called the Government to do these things, He called the church.
We were just a nickel and dime organization, made up of a few committed followers of Christ who all worked our full time jobs while simultaneously knowing that Jesus didn’t just save our souls, but is currently transforming our lives. We looked at Matthew 25 and took seriously Jesus command to love the “least of these brothers of mine.”
In 2009 here are some highlights. The detailed account is available upon request in pdf format, and will be on the Conduit Mission website before the end of the week. Here are the highlights.
Child Feeding Program Haiti: $9180.26
Child Sponsorship Program Haiti: $11568.00
Come Alive Ministries- (for Christian University in Ghana, Africa) $2320.56
Missions Haiti: $1198.00
Place of Hope: $3152.89
Restoration Ministries $3364.29
Restoration Building Fund $26,324
That means we had $57,108.89 flow through The Conduit into the hands of those on the front lines.
Enough money was raised to finish the home in Haiti that will allow Restoration Ministries to better serve and expand the feeding program, University age Christians were able to go to a Christian University in Ghana, hundreds of meals were served in the feeding program in Jacmel Haiti, Place of Hope was able to give the hope of Christ to the least of these brothers right here in our own back yard.
We were able to give away well over 90% of the revenues that came into The Conduit Mission for our mission programs.
In the middle of the worst economy in the United States since The Great Depression, God has utilized our little band of warriors to serve him with our finances.
Thank you to each and every one of you who were a part of this year. This is not nor has never been a one man operation. It’s each of us coming together and (as Paul commanded in 2 Cor. 8,9) giving as we were able.
For the next two months, Conduit will be meeting on Saturday nights at 6pm. We’ll rotate out every other Saturday as we build to an official “launch” of Conduit Church. On the in between Saturdays we’ll still meet but in a round table format to discuss, dream, strategize and pray about what God is unfolding in Conduit as a church.
I hope you can join us this Saturday night. 6pm at Journey Church. We will have a time of prayer, teaching, communion, and fellowship together. Kicking it Acts 2:42 style. Jim Henderson has some great stuff planned for the kids, and Corey Peek will be taking the middle/ high school age kids for some ministry focused on them.
Shannon and I are so honored to serve you. Please know we’re thinking about and praying for each of you individually and specifically.
See you Saturday night.
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
www.conduitmission.org
We were just a nickel and dime organization, made up of a few committed followers of Christ who all worked our full time jobs while simultaneously knowing that Jesus didn’t just save our souls, but is currently transforming our lives. We looked at Matthew 25 and took seriously Jesus command to love the “least of these brothers of mine.”
In 2009 here are some highlights. The detailed account is available upon request in pdf format, and will be on the Conduit Mission website before the end of the week. Here are the highlights.
Child Feeding Program Haiti: $9180.26
Child Sponsorship Program Haiti: $11568.00
Come Alive Ministries- (for Christian University in Ghana, Africa) $2320.56
Missions Haiti: $1198.00
Place of Hope: $3152.89
Restoration Ministries $3364.29
Restoration Building Fund $26,324
That means we had $57,108.89 flow through The Conduit into the hands of those on the front lines.
Enough money was raised to finish the home in Haiti that will allow Restoration Ministries to better serve and expand the feeding program, University age Christians were able to go to a Christian University in Ghana, hundreds of meals were served in the feeding program in Jacmel Haiti, Place of Hope was able to give the hope of Christ to the least of these brothers right here in our own back yard.
We were able to give away well over 90% of the revenues that came into The Conduit Mission for our mission programs.
In the middle of the worst economy in the United States since The Great Depression, God has utilized our little band of warriors to serve him with our finances.
Thank you to each and every one of you who were a part of this year. This is not nor has never been a one man operation. It’s each of us coming together and (as Paul commanded in 2 Cor. 8,9) giving as we were able.
For the next two months, Conduit will be meeting on Saturday nights at 6pm. We’ll rotate out every other Saturday as we build to an official “launch” of Conduit Church. On the in between Saturdays we’ll still meet but in a round table format to discuss, dream, strategize and pray about what God is unfolding in Conduit as a church.
I hope you can join us this Saturday night. 6pm at Journey Church. We will have a time of prayer, teaching, communion, and fellowship together. Kicking it Acts 2:42 style. Jim Henderson has some great stuff planned for the kids, and Corey Peek will be taking the middle/ high school age kids for some ministry focused on them.
Shannon and I are so honored to serve you. Please know we’re thinking about and praying for each of you individually and specifically.
See you Saturday night.
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
www.conduitmission.org
Friday, December 11, 2009
Conduit Church Update
Hey Everyone
I so enjoyed our first official gathering as Conduit Church. Due to our location issues, it’s going to be difficult to lock in to a consistent Sunday night gathering before the end of the year. I was just so blown away by who God is joining together for this work.
I’ve had a lot of folks asking if we can get together again soon. After investigating the calendar, it seems that the only time that really works is this Monday night. It’s last minute and I don’t want you to feel any sort of pressure to be there if you’re otherwise committed or have stuff going on with the kids school schedules. We’ll meet at Journey Church again.
If you have kids and plan on coming, please RSVP to this email address so we can have a good idea and can properly serve them. We’ll meet at 6pm again and unpack some more of the vision for Conduit. We’ll post the teaching again on the podcast if you can’t make it.
UPDATES:
CHRISTMAS IN HAITI: Philip Peters and Theresa Swain with Restore Haiti did a tremendous job getting Christmas gifts to our kids in Haiti. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard in making that happen. When you’re opening your gifts on Christmas day, know that there are a whole lot of kids in Haiti who will get to do the same.
CHURCH LOCATION: The search continues for a location in the Spring Hill area. I’ve had some great conversations with schools, real estate agents, and other pastors in the area. There is a real sense of community among the pastors and I’ve been given some great wisdom on the area.
WEBSITE: Our very own Breezy Baldwin has been working on the website. please go to www.conduitmission.org and get a look at her work on that site. You can also see the new church logo there as well. The website should be up and running very soon.
$$: I have been actively working the phones with pastors attempting to fund raise for the church. We have some support from Journey Church and my goal is to have other churches lock arms with us as well until we get on solid ground. If you would, ask the Lord if He would lead you to start tithing into the church. We don’t have any overhead right now, but will soon start encountering the start up costs. You can donate online at the www.conduitmission.org site. Click on donate now, and put “church plant” in the subject line. You can also mail a check payable to Conduit 256 Seaboard Lane C-103 Franklin, TN. We’re set up and legal so there is a full tax deduction available to you.
SERVING: I’ve been asked by many of you about where you can serve. By January I’ll have a firm grasp of what we’ll need, and those that feel led can let me know. With the work we’re doing for our partners internationally in addition to the “normal” church things we’ll have a wide array of possibilities.
TIMELINE
· Dec 12, 2009- Pastor Jamie will be making the announcement at Journey Church that they are sending us out to plant Conduit Church in Spring Hill.
· January 10, 2010- Journey Church will do an ordination service, ordaining me into full time ministry. (my mom is smiling in heaven)
· Sometime at the end of February or the beginning of March Journey will have a “sending service” as they officially send us out to be Conduit Church. We'll get the exact date locked down in the next couple of weeks.
As for Conduit Church- starting in January we’ll begin having weekly gatherings for a time of prayer, fellowship, teaching, worship, strategy and if I get my way, food. We’ll use these times to mentally, spiritually, and pragmatically be ready for March.
As we move into March we’ll have full blown services. We’ll use the month of March to get our stuff together. Make sure our systems for children, worship, etc are all in place.
We’ll use these next few months to unpack our Villages (small group ministry), get our Children’s ministry resourced and Jim Henderson staffed up with the folks he needs, build the infrastructure for middle school and high school ministry, as well as the other ministries that will be needed.
Although we’ll have been meeting together since January, we’ll have an official launch service on Easter Sunday in April.
I look forward to seeing those of you who can make it Monday. Please know that I'm praying for you each individually. Please pray for the work God is calling each of us to do. I like the prayer that Paul prayed from prison in Philippians. He didn't pray God get me out of here, he prayed God help me to use this opportunity to communicate the gospel clearly. Amen.
Darren
PS- The teaching portion of last weeks gathering is posted. It includes a word from Jim Henderson and his heart for the ministry to kids at Conduit Church. You can find it at www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
Super PS- If you feel led, remember that $15 feeds a kid in Haiti for a month. You can donate at www.conduitmission.org put "food for haiti" in the subject line.
I so enjoyed our first official gathering as Conduit Church. Due to our location issues, it’s going to be difficult to lock in to a consistent Sunday night gathering before the end of the year. I was just so blown away by who God is joining together for this work.
I’ve had a lot of folks asking if we can get together again soon. After investigating the calendar, it seems that the only time that really works is this Monday night. It’s last minute and I don’t want you to feel any sort of pressure to be there if you’re otherwise committed or have stuff going on with the kids school schedules. We’ll meet at Journey Church again.
If you have kids and plan on coming, please RSVP to this email address so we can have a good idea and can properly serve them. We’ll meet at 6pm again and unpack some more of the vision for Conduit. We’ll post the teaching again on the podcast if you can’t make it.
UPDATES:
CHRISTMAS IN HAITI: Philip Peters and Theresa Swain with Restore Haiti did a tremendous job getting Christmas gifts to our kids in Haiti. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard in making that happen. When you’re opening your gifts on Christmas day, know that there are a whole lot of kids in Haiti who will get to do the same.
CHURCH LOCATION: The search continues for a location in the Spring Hill area. I’ve had some great conversations with schools, real estate agents, and other pastors in the area. There is a real sense of community among the pastors and I’ve been given some great wisdom on the area.
WEBSITE: Our very own Breezy Baldwin has been working on the website. please go to www.conduitmission.org and get a look at her work on that site. You can also see the new church logo there as well. The website should be up and running very soon.
$$: I have been actively working the phones with pastors attempting to fund raise for the church. We have some support from Journey Church and my goal is to have other churches lock arms with us as well until we get on solid ground. If you would, ask the Lord if He would lead you to start tithing into the church. We don’t have any overhead right now, but will soon start encountering the start up costs. You can donate online at the www.conduitmission.org site. Click on donate now, and put “church plant” in the subject line. You can also mail a check payable to Conduit 256 Seaboard Lane C-103 Franklin, TN. We’re set up and legal so there is a full tax deduction available to you.
SERVING: I’ve been asked by many of you about where you can serve. By January I’ll have a firm grasp of what we’ll need, and those that feel led can let me know. With the work we’re doing for our partners internationally in addition to the “normal” church things we’ll have a wide array of possibilities.
TIMELINE
· Dec 12, 2009- Pastor Jamie will be making the announcement at Journey Church that they are sending us out to plant Conduit Church in Spring Hill.
· January 10, 2010- Journey Church will do an ordination service, ordaining me into full time ministry. (my mom is smiling in heaven)
· Sometime at the end of February or the beginning of March Journey will have a “sending service” as they officially send us out to be Conduit Church. We'll get the exact date locked down in the next couple of weeks.
As for Conduit Church- starting in January we’ll begin having weekly gatherings for a time of prayer, fellowship, teaching, worship, strategy and if I get my way, food. We’ll use these times to mentally, spiritually, and pragmatically be ready for March.
As we move into March we’ll have full blown services. We’ll use the month of March to get our stuff together. Make sure our systems for children, worship, etc are all in place.
We’ll use these next few months to unpack our Villages (small group ministry), get our Children’s ministry resourced and Jim Henderson staffed up with the folks he needs, build the infrastructure for middle school and high school ministry, as well as the other ministries that will be needed.
Although we’ll have been meeting together since January, we’ll have an official launch service on Easter Sunday in April.
I look forward to seeing those of you who can make it Monday. Please know that I'm praying for you each individually. Please pray for the work God is calling each of us to do. I like the prayer that Paul prayed from prison in Philippians. He didn't pray God get me out of here, he prayed God help me to use this opportunity to communicate the gospel clearly. Amen.
Darren
PS- The teaching portion of last weeks gathering is posted. It includes a word from Jim Henderson and his heart for the ministry to kids at Conduit Church. You can find it at www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
Super PS- If you feel led, remember that $15 feeds a kid in Haiti for a month. You can donate at www.conduitmission.org put "food for haiti" in the subject line.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Conduit Reborn- Sunday Night 6pm
One of the challenging things about Conduit over the past couple of years was the idea of trying to identify what it was. It's a Bible Study that studies the Bible but also with the ability to respond to the Jesus that we encounter in those pages. I spent a lot of time an energy trying to say what I didn't think it was. We just never got around to calling it was it actually was.
We've been Conduit of His Word. We have believed that God's Word truly is what He promises it to be. We have allowed it to divide our own souls, cutting away the impurities. We've adjusted our lives as we embrace every chapter, every verse of His Word. As we've gone through the Word, the Word has gone through us, and we have been transformed.
We've been Conduit of His resources. The well over $100,000 we've given away has changed the lives of people here in Middle TN and around the world. Refugees were fed, college students in Ghana given a chance, our precious kids in Haiti eating, educated, and raised in the gospel, set captives free through Place of Hope in Columbia. We have been a supply line for the Church on the front lines declaring the gospel.
We've been Conduit of the gospel. We've responded with our lives by obeying the simple call of "go". We've gone and been the personal hands and feet of Jesus to people around the world, especially in Jacmel, Haiti. The Spirit has moved in, through and around us just as Jesus promised.
What do you call a group of Christians gathered together like this? Forgive me for stating the obvious, but in the book of Acts it's called a Church. Conduit is a church. We're responding to that call, to that invitation from God. Those of us that began when this was was birthed are now being joined by those of you who have felt the Lord leading to lock arms, to further the work of the kingdom. We have truly only scratched the surface of what God can do.
In John 10 Jesus said that you and I would have rivers of living water flowing from within us. It said He was speaking of the Holy Spirit to come. What would that look like, for a group of believers to have rivers of living water flowing from them? I mean, we get it esoterically and metaphorically, but what does that look like on a quite literal level? We'll talk about that on Sunday.
I'd like to invite the Conduit family to join us this Sunday night for our first official gathering as a Church. It'll be a time of worship, of prayer, of consecration. It'll be the beginning of something beautiful.
Details:
6:00pm Journey Church. Building 8 In The Factory.
Childcare will be provided.
We'll be done by 7:15.
I'd like to ask the older kids, middle schoolers and High School age to be part of the gathering.
I hope you can make it. We're so excited to serve beside you on this amazing journey that God is calling us all on.
Blessings,
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
A Conduit of His love to the community in front of us, and the world around us.
We've been Conduit of His Word. We have believed that God's Word truly is what He promises it to be. We have allowed it to divide our own souls, cutting away the impurities. We've adjusted our lives as we embrace every chapter, every verse of His Word. As we've gone through the Word, the Word has gone through us, and we have been transformed.
We've been Conduit of His resources. The well over $100,000 we've given away has changed the lives of people here in Middle TN and around the world. Refugees were fed, college students in Ghana given a chance, our precious kids in Haiti eating, educated, and raised in the gospel, set captives free through Place of Hope in Columbia. We have been a supply line for the Church on the front lines declaring the gospel.
We've been Conduit of the gospel. We've responded with our lives by obeying the simple call of "go". We've gone and been the personal hands and feet of Jesus to people around the world, especially in Jacmel, Haiti. The Spirit has moved in, through and around us just as Jesus promised.
What do you call a group of Christians gathered together like this? Forgive me for stating the obvious, but in the book of Acts it's called a Church. Conduit is a church. We're responding to that call, to that invitation from God. Those of us that began when this was was birthed are now being joined by those of you who have felt the Lord leading to lock arms, to further the work of the kingdom. We have truly only scratched the surface of what God can do.
In John 10 Jesus said that you and I would have rivers of living water flowing from within us. It said He was speaking of the Holy Spirit to come. What would that look like, for a group of believers to have rivers of living water flowing from them? I mean, we get it esoterically and metaphorically, but what does that look like on a quite literal level? We'll talk about that on Sunday.
I'd like to invite the Conduit family to join us this Sunday night for our first official gathering as a Church. It'll be a time of worship, of prayer, of consecration. It'll be the beginning of something beautiful.
Details:
6:00pm Journey Church. Building 8 In The Factory.
Childcare will be provided.
We'll be done by 7:15.
I'd like to ask the older kids, middle schoolers and High School age to be part of the gathering.
I hope you can make it. We're so excited to serve beside you on this amazing journey that God is calling us all on.
Blessings,
Darren Tyler
Conduit Church
A Conduit of His love to the community in front of us, and the world around us.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Conduit November 30- God Will Find You
In June of 94, I flew to Atlanta GA. One of the senior agents at Vanguard Entertainment Agency had encouraged me to come and check out the possibility of becoming an agent. They were booking Carman back when he was still cool, The Newsboys before and while they were cool along with other Al Denson kind of CCM acts.
I had never booked a show for a band in my entire life so I was a perfectly long shot candidate for this gig. I was 23 and too stupid to know that, so I went with an enormous amount of optimism. I was going to get this job. Ignorance truly is bliss.
I was dating someone at the time, and we were dramatically mismatched. She was into Oscar Parties and French Cuisine. I was into Country Music and burgers. Besides, she was taller than me. We had broken up once before but it didn’t take. This felt like a perfectly good way to break it off. I would get the gig, play the “I don’t do long distance card” and presto.
Right before leaving for Atlanta and a day after breaking off the other relationship I had, quite by surprise, run into Shannon Anderson at the Mall where she was assistant managing a shoe store. I hadn’t seen her in a long time. She’s really fun to look at so I was very pleased to see her again. We had dated for a few months a while back but hadn’t seen or talked to each other in almost 2 years. She had played the “it’s not you it’s me card.” It worked the first try.
It was a perfectly innocent encounter. As I recall her washing machine was broken, so I offered her to do laundry at my place while I was out of town. I had no ulterior motives. I wasn’t doing the ol’ “you can do laundry at my house” move.
I came home from Atlanta a week later completely down trodden. The gig didn’t materialize like I naively thought it would. It looked like I would continue down the road of professional waiter/ rock star wannabe. I still had my white Washburn guitar, my crappy peavey sound system, and a dream. I felt like I would be stuck doing that forever. Khaki pants, green apron and bow tie on the weekdays, matching denim jeans/ jacket on the weekends.
And then it happened. Something hit me quite by surprise that summer that was completely not in my plans. I had completely unexpectedly borderline accidentally fallen in love with Shannon. We had a relationship forming that was not scripted, it was out of the blue, it was God.
I was smitten with Shannon Anderson the first time I laid eyes on her. She had just moved to Tulsa, OK in a Chevy Impala that was the envy of senior citizens everywhere and probably would’ve qualified her for the seniors discount on coffee at McDonald’s. I was impressed with her spunk in that at 19 she drove the 1,000 miles from Park River, ND to Tulsa, OK all alone. As I got to know her, I found out she was so much more than a pretty face. She loved (still does) God so much. She is one of the most caring and compassionate people I’ve ever known. She loves to give, to serve, to love.
In the summer of 94 We were both on the same page. If we were going to be in another relationship this one was for keeps. I proposed to her on one knee in a fountain in a restaurant in Tulsa that has long since gone out of business. Looking back on it, I was the exact kind of guy that if one of my daughters brings home someone like that I’m going to have a heart attack. I had based my entire life strategy on the premise that something neat would happen.
We had started dating in July, were engaged by August and married by December. It was a whirlwind of young love and God’s sovereignty wrapped into one six month period. I didn’t find God’s will that summer; God’s will found me. If I had gotten that gig in Atlanta there would be no Shannon Tyler. There would be no Madilyn, Ashleigh, Lauryn and Ethan.
In November, right before the wedding I got another call from Vanguard Entertainment. The job was materializing after all. Chuck Tilley, who I am grateful for to this day for giving me my start in the music industry, hired me to be an agent in his company.
Shannon and I got married as planned in December and very soon after were loaded up in a Uhaul for Atlanta, Georgia. The first bands he gave me to work with were Ian Eskelin and a little no rent acoustic guitar rock band in a mini van called Jars of Clay. Next up was Third Day (they had an excellent conversion van) and we were off to the races. This was the start of my 15 years of working in Christian Music, but more importantly the start of my 15 years and counting with Shannon. We have lived a lot of life together. I can honestly say that I know what Paul was talking about when he wrote of a God that was able to do more than I could ask or think. (Eph 3:20)
I’m remembering that tonight as God is leading my family on a new journey. We certainly haven’t sought this. God pulled it out of His hat. I remember those months in the summer of 94. I was restless, wondering what I was supposed to do with my life, wondering if I was going to be doing the same thing until I died, wondering if God really did have a plan for my life. This time the feeling wasn’t dire, I mean, seriously, I have a great gig. If this is what God called me to grow old doing then no problem. There was a definite unsettling. There was a realization that there was something coming. There were lots of unanswered questions.
Moses’ brother Aaron is being groomed to be the High Priest in Exodus 28 and 29. This was a guy who was sitting around minding his own business in the desert, and God picked Him. Aaron didn’t have to find God’s will for His life. God’s will found him. There wasn’t even any such thing as High Priest before. There is no way Aaron could’ve dreamed that would be his gig some day. I wonder if Aaron felt the same kind of restlessness, the same kind of tension, wondering if he was going to be forever in the same fields, working the same sheep, if this was all that God had for him.
And then out of nowhere, in just a few months, He was the guy that Hebrews would tell us is the picture of Jesus Christ, the High Priest.
We’re going to talk a little about that tomorrow night. If you’re in an unsettled place, a place of wondering what’s next, a place of wondering if God has something more for you, tomorrow would be a great time to join us.
We’ll meet at 730pm at Journey Church. Building 8 in the Factory in Franklin, TN.
Blessings,
Darren Tyler
www.conduitmission.org if you have $15, you can feed a kid for a month in Haiti. If you’ve got a $32 a month, you can sponsor one of our little ones there.
IMPORTANT: WE HAVE A DONOR WHO HAS AGREED TO MATCH DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR UP TO $5,000 ANY MONEY THAT WE RAISE TOWARDS FINISHING OUR HOUSE IN HAITI. IF THE LORD LEADS YOU, EVERY THING YOU GIVE DOUBLES TOWARDS THE HOUSE. WE'RE SO CLOSE ON GETTING THIS FINISHED.
I had never booked a show for a band in my entire life so I was a perfectly long shot candidate for this gig. I was 23 and too stupid to know that, so I went with an enormous amount of optimism. I was going to get this job. Ignorance truly is bliss.
I was dating someone at the time, and we were dramatically mismatched. She was into Oscar Parties and French Cuisine. I was into Country Music and burgers. Besides, she was taller than me. We had broken up once before but it didn’t take. This felt like a perfectly good way to break it off. I would get the gig, play the “I don’t do long distance card” and presto.
Right before leaving for Atlanta and a day after breaking off the other relationship I had, quite by surprise, run into Shannon Anderson at the Mall where she was assistant managing a shoe store. I hadn’t seen her in a long time. She’s really fun to look at so I was very pleased to see her again. We had dated for a few months a while back but hadn’t seen or talked to each other in almost 2 years. She had played the “it’s not you it’s me card.” It worked the first try.
It was a perfectly innocent encounter. As I recall her washing machine was broken, so I offered her to do laundry at my place while I was out of town. I had no ulterior motives. I wasn’t doing the ol’ “you can do laundry at my house” move.
I came home from Atlanta a week later completely down trodden. The gig didn’t materialize like I naively thought it would. It looked like I would continue down the road of professional waiter/ rock star wannabe. I still had my white Washburn guitar, my crappy peavey sound system, and a dream. I felt like I would be stuck doing that forever. Khaki pants, green apron and bow tie on the weekdays, matching denim jeans/ jacket on the weekends.
And then it happened. Something hit me quite by surprise that summer that was completely not in my plans. I had completely unexpectedly borderline accidentally fallen in love with Shannon. We had a relationship forming that was not scripted, it was out of the blue, it was God.
I was smitten with Shannon Anderson the first time I laid eyes on her. She had just moved to Tulsa, OK in a Chevy Impala that was the envy of senior citizens everywhere and probably would’ve qualified her for the seniors discount on coffee at McDonald’s. I was impressed with her spunk in that at 19 she drove the 1,000 miles from Park River, ND to Tulsa, OK all alone. As I got to know her, I found out she was so much more than a pretty face. She loved (still does) God so much. She is one of the most caring and compassionate people I’ve ever known. She loves to give, to serve, to love.
In the summer of 94 We were both on the same page. If we were going to be in another relationship this one was for keeps. I proposed to her on one knee in a fountain in a restaurant in Tulsa that has long since gone out of business. Looking back on it, I was the exact kind of guy that if one of my daughters brings home someone like that I’m going to have a heart attack. I had based my entire life strategy on the premise that something neat would happen.
We had started dating in July, were engaged by August and married by December. It was a whirlwind of young love and God’s sovereignty wrapped into one six month period. I didn’t find God’s will that summer; God’s will found me. If I had gotten that gig in Atlanta there would be no Shannon Tyler. There would be no Madilyn, Ashleigh, Lauryn and Ethan.
In November, right before the wedding I got another call from Vanguard Entertainment. The job was materializing after all. Chuck Tilley, who I am grateful for to this day for giving me my start in the music industry, hired me to be an agent in his company.
Shannon and I got married as planned in December and very soon after were loaded up in a Uhaul for Atlanta, Georgia. The first bands he gave me to work with were Ian Eskelin and a little no rent acoustic guitar rock band in a mini van called Jars of Clay. Next up was Third Day (they had an excellent conversion van) and we were off to the races. This was the start of my 15 years of working in Christian Music, but more importantly the start of my 15 years and counting with Shannon. We have lived a lot of life together. I can honestly say that I know what Paul was talking about when he wrote of a God that was able to do more than I could ask or think. (Eph 3:20)
I’m remembering that tonight as God is leading my family on a new journey. We certainly haven’t sought this. God pulled it out of His hat. I remember those months in the summer of 94. I was restless, wondering what I was supposed to do with my life, wondering if I was going to be doing the same thing until I died, wondering if God really did have a plan for my life. This time the feeling wasn’t dire, I mean, seriously, I have a great gig. If this is what God called me to grow old doing then no problem. There was a definite unsettling. There was a realization that there was something coming. There were lots of unanswered questions.
Moses’ brother Aaron is being groomed to be the High Priest in Exodus 28 and 29. This was a guy who was sitting around minding his own business in the desert, and God picked Him. Aaron didn’t have to find God’s will for His life. God’s will found him. There wasn’t even any such thing as High Priest before. There is no way Aaron could’ve dreamed that would be his gig some day. I wonder if Aaron felt the same kind of restlessness, the same kind of tension, wondering if he was going to be forever in the same fields, working the same sheep, if this was all that God had for him.
And then out of nowhere, in just a few months, He was the guy that Hebrews would tell us is the picture of Jesus Christ, the High Priest.
We’re going to talk a little about that tomorrow night. If you’re in an unsettled place, a place of wondering what’s next, a place of wondering if God has something more for you, tomorrow would be a great time to join us.
We’ll meet at 730pm at Journey Church. Building 8 in the Factory in Franklin, TN.
Blessings,
Darren Tyler
www.conduitmission.org if you have $15, you can feed a kid for a month in Haiti. If you’ve got a $32 a month, you can sponsor one of our little ones there.
IMPORTANT: WE HAVE A DONOR WHO HAS AGREED TO MATCH DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR UP TO $5,000 ANY MONEY THAT WE RAISE TOWARDS FINISHING OUR HOUSE IN HAITI. IF THE LORD LEADS YOU, EVERY THING YOU GIVE DOUBLES TOWARDS THE HOUSE. WE'RE SO CLOSE ON GETTING THIS FINISHED.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Conduit Nov 16- God's Dream
I started Platform Management in 2001. October 2001 to be clear. If you’re astute you might realize that it was not a great time in history to be starting a new endeavor. One month after the attacks on 9/11 I was putting out a shingle for a new management company in the Christian Music Industry. It wasn’t that I was especially spiritual and intuited the Lord calling me to launch Platform. To the contrary, the company that I launched a couple years earlier with some friends was flaming out in the most spectacular of forms.
In the late 90’s someone in the high tech space with an idea and even a half-baked resume could score multiple millions of dollars from VC companies. So you now had an idea, a dude, and a lot of cash. Their first obstacle as a newly funded company was building out a leadership team of people with very specific technical skill sets and abilities. The money was flowing in the Bay Area and we had this idea that a head hunting firm focused specifically on that area, and the high salaries that were being handed out, could be very successful. We were almost right.
Along with 3 friends we started just such a company called Shikare. “Shikari” is a Hindi word for big game hunter. In the spirit of cleverness and in celebration of the “new ecommerce economy” we added an e at the end. We were headhunters that focused specifically on wireless application and other software companies in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley area. Our business model was to approach the abundance of recently funded high tech companies and offer to help them build out their leadership teams.
It was our job to find the well guarded, highly valued, uniquely skilled folks in companies like Cisco and Price Waterhouse Coopers and talk them into taking a gig with our client. It is one of the only industries where my skills as a talent agent in the music industry would come in handy. I was trying to sell the talents of a person who thought they were worth more than they were to someone who thought they were worth less than they were.
We had received an interesting amount of cash up front in the form of seed funding as well as 100,000 pre IPO shares in the company that funded us. Our compensation would be somewhere between 20-30% of their first year salaries. We took this in a combination that was usually half cash and half stock options. These were Pre IPO options with no vesting period. We had a very reasonable intention and realistic expectation of becoming wealthy.
I don’t know that I ever articulated it, but part of my motivation, which seemed so noble at the time, was that when I became wealthy, then I could retire and pursue ministry full time; never having to worry about money. I could just imagine what it would be like to be financially secure, and then have the ability to serve God without a care. It’s embarrassing when I look back on it to see how full of crap the idea was. I mean seriously, not a single disciple or early church guy set out with that idea. It’s a perfectly American idea, but not remotely Biblical.
The problem was we were a little late to the party. March of 2000 was when we received our funding. It was also, coincidentally the peak of the Nasdaq run. The air in the dot-com bubble had started to leak. As it is with many bubbles, the majority of us were blissfully unaware of the problems that loomed ahead. A domino effect had begun.
Investors had finally come to their senses. Companies like “Excite@Home” or “Flooz” or “Pets.com” had to be able to make money in order to make money. This “new economy” was not new at all. The companies started folding by the minute. The stupid sock puppet from the pets.com commercial was in hiding.
The hard to find talent for our clients were suddenly in great abundance. The folks that were almost impossible to find, were suddenly looking for jobs. The CEO of a company that we worked with told me, “Darren, I like you, so I’m gonna shoot you straight. It would be a better use of my money to stand on the roof and throw it down to poor people than to retain you guys. I’ve got piles of resumes on my desk.”
And then, 9/11 happened. The preponderance of our customers and clients were of a Middle East descent. In the climate that followed 9/11 the country had changed and with a majority of our business being done with folks who were considered suspect by default, it was the final bloody nail in our coffin.
Those coveted pre IPO stock options were completely worthless. They would have been just as valuable had I used them to paper the walls in my bathroom. We split what money was left and went home.
It was during this time that I realized my only option was going back to the Christian Music business that I had left. So on a wing and a prayer I launched Platform Artist Management. I remember saying at the time. “you know it’s always been pretty easy to know in the past when it was time to move on from a company I started, we were out of money. Watch God let this company be successful and see if I’ll walk away from it then”. Those are words that are ringing in my ears as God is unpacking this vision for Conduit; Church.
Platform Artist Management happens to be successful. In the middle of a down economy, and the music industry as a whole being crushed, our little management firm is doing well. And of course, it’s now that God would ask me to walk away.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking for pity nor am I looking for props. This is no sacrifice. Not that I won’t miss it, not that I won’t miss the financial security. But when I consider all that Jesus has done for me, and when I consider what awaits me and my family in eternity, this isn’t a sacrifice; it’s just obedience. It’s just putting my money where my heart is.
In Ecclesiastes 1 we see the word vanity, which is also translated as vapor in relation to the work and toil done by humans. I learned that money is indeed like vapor. I could see it, I could experience it, but it was ultimately impossible to hold on to, to grasp, it was vapor.
The truth is I still get to pursue ministry full time, and not worry about money. Not because my plan worked and I have an abundance of money, but because I have an abundance of God. I can choose to worry, or I can choose to trust God. I assume I’ll dance with both of those from time to time. Maybe my American dream won’t come true, but dreams aren’t real anyway. They’re ultimately, well, they’re vapor.
Tomorrow night we’re going to dig into Exodus 27. I’m excited to get back to our study of finding Jesus over and over again in this amazing book. We’ll be back at Journey Church at 730pm.
Darren Tyler
CONDUIT MISSION: thanks to everyone for keeping up with our child sponsorships in Haiti. If God is moving in your heart, please consider signing up at www.conduitmission.org to sponsor one of our kids in Haiti. It’s $32 a month and we can feed, clothe, educate and spiritually mentor a child. And if you want to meet them? Come with me to Haiti in April.
In the late 90’s someone in the high tech space with an idea and even a half-baked resume could score multiple millions of dollars from VC companies. So you now had an idea, a dude, and a lot of cash. Their first obstacle as a newly funded company was building out a leadership team of people with very specific technical skill sets and abilities. The money was flowing in the Bay Area and we had this idea that a head hunting firm focused specifically on that area, and the high salaries that were being handed out, could be very successful. We were almost right.
Along with 3 friends we started just such a company called Shikare. “Shikari” is a Hindi word for big game hunter. In the spirit of cleverness and in celebration of the “new ecommerce economy” we added an e at the end. We were headhunters that focused specifically on wireless application and other software companies in the San Francisco and Silicon Valley area. Our business model was to approach the abundance of recently funded high tech companies and offer to help them build out their leadership teams.
It was our job to find the well guarded, highly valued, uniquely skilled folks in companies like Cisco and Price Waterhouse Coopers and talk them into taking a gig with our client. It is one of the only industries where my skills as a talent agent in the music industry would come in handy. I was trying to sell the talents of a person who thought they were worth more than they were to someone who thought they were worth less than they were.
We had received an interesting amount of cash up front in the form of seed funding as well as 100,000 pre IPO shares in the company that funded us. Our compensation would be somewhere between 20-30% of their first year salaries. We took this in a combination that was usually half cash and half stock options. These were Pre IPO options with no vesting period. We had a very reasonable intention and realistic expectation of becoming wealthy.
I don’t know that I ever articulated it, but part of my motivation, which seemed so noble at the time, was that when I became wealthy, then I could retire and pursue ministry full time; never having to worry about money. I could just imagine what it would be like to be financially secure, and then have the ability to serve God without a care. It’s embarrassing when I look back on it to see how full of crap the idea was. I mean seriously, not a single disciple or early church guy set out with that idea. It’s a perfectly American idea, but not remotely Biblical.
The problem was we were a little late to the party. March of 2000 was when we received our funding. It was also, coincidentally the peak of the Nasdaq run. The air in the dot-com bubble had started to leak. As it is with many bubbles, the majority of us were blissfully unaware of the problems that loomed ahead. A domino effect had begun.
Investors had finally come to their senses. Companies like “Excite@Home” or “Flooz” or “Pets.com” had to be able to make money in order to make money. This “new economy” was not new at all. The companies started folding by the minute. The stupid sock puppet from the pets.com commercial was in hiding.
The hard to find talent for our clients were suddenly in great abundance. The folks that were almost impossible to find, were suddenly looking for jobs. The CEO of a company that we worked with told me, “Darren, I like you, so I’m gonna shoot you straight. It would be a better use of my money to stand on the roof and throw it down to poor people than to retain you guys. I’ve got piles of resumes on my desk.”
And then, 9/11 happened. The preponderance of our customers and clients were of a Middle East descent. In the climate that followed 9/11 the country had changed and with a majority of our business being done with folks who were considered suspect by default, it was the final bloody nail in our coffin.
Those coveted pre IPO stock options were completely worthless. They would have been just as valuable had I used them to paper the walls in my bathroom. We split what money was left and went home.
It was during this time that I realized my only option was going back to the Christian Music business that I had left. So on a wing and a prayer I launched Platform Artist Management. I remember saying at the time. “you know it’s always been pretty easy to know in the past when it was time to move on from a company I started, we were out of money. Watch God let this company be successful and see if I’ll walk away from it then”. Those are words that are ringing in my ears as God is unpacking this vision for Conduit; Church.
Platform Artist Management happens to be successful. In the middle of a down economy, and the music industry as a whole being crushed, our little management firm is doing well. And of course, it’s now that God would ask me to walk away.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not looking for pity nor am I looking for props. This is no sacrifice. Not that I won’t miss it, not that I won’t miss the financial security. But when I consider all that Jesus has done for me, and when I consider what awaits me and my family in eternity, this isn’t a sacrifice; it’s just obedience. It’s just putting my money where my heart is.
In Ecclesiastes 1 we see the word vanity, which is also translated as vapor in relation to the work and toil done by humans. I learned that money is indeed like vapor. I could see it, I could experience it, but it was ultimately impossible to hold on to, to grasp, it was vapor.
The truth is I still get to pursue ministry full time, and not worry about money. Not because my plan worked and I have an abundance of money, but because I have an abundance of God. I can choose to worry, or I can choose to trust God. I assume I’ll dance with both of those from time to time. Maybe my American dream won’t come true, but dreams aren’t real anyway. They’re ultimately, well, they’re vapor.
Tomorrow night we’re going to dig into Exodus 27. I’m excited to get back to our study of finding Jesus over and over again in this amazing book. We’ll be back at Journey Church at 730pm.
Darren Tyler
CONDUIT MISSION: thanks to everyone for keeping up with our child sponsorships in Haiti. If God is moving in your heart, please consider signing up at www.conduitmission.org to sponsor one of our kids in Haiti. It’s $32 a month and we can feed, clothe, educate and spiritually mentor a child. And if you want to meet them? Come with me to Haiti in April.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Conduit Nov 1- Lessons From Larry
If you want to go to Charrit Creek Lodge, I wish you the most sincere of luck in getting there. Tucked firmly inside the Big South Fork National Park, it is accessible only on foot or horseback.
Myself, Drew Cline, Kortland Fuqua, and Jamie George found ourselves on the latter as we made our way to an elder's retreat for my home church, Journey. The plan was to ride the horses to the lodge 12 miles and then keep the horses there at the stables for rides into the surrounding forests and mountains.
Ask 5 random people and they'll tell you they haven't heard of this massive sprawling 125,000 acre Nat'l park covered with forests, gorges, bluffs, mountains and rivers straddling the TN/ KY border. It's located only 2 1/2 hours from Nashville on the Cumberland Plateau. When you hear the weather people say "it's going to snow up on the plateau", this is where they're talking about.
Upon arrival at the lodge you'll find a structure built somewhere in the mid 1800's with some additional structures built more recently. Say around 1920. There is no electricity. The ceilings in the bunkhouse were all short, very closed in. The website describes this as the cozy accommodations. They were so cozy that at one point Jamie hit his head so squarely on the top of the surprisingly short door jam that it knocked him down. People in the 1800's were clearly much shorter than we are 150 years later.
There are family style meals served by a full time inn keeper like dude who lives in a smaller cabin. He's been here for 8 years living with no electricity in a cabin in the woods. My first impression would be that someone who lives here full time on purpose might have some issues. I had envisioned a dark well inside the staff quarters. If you were to eavesdrop you might hear the words "it wants to put the lotion on". (my apologies for the obscure reference from Silence of the Lambs. just calling them as I see them) The guy actually turned out to be quite normal. His name is Brian. He's a marathon runner, and quite the cook I might add.
And then there's Larry.
Larry has been on this mountain for 30 years. He runs Southeast Pack trips and is equal parts mountain man/ ladies man. He's got plenty of TN accent, but not the deep drawling kind as much as it is lively and entertaining. His catch phrases were "heavy duty" and "rock and roll". As we pulled up to his barn, Quiet Riot "Bang Your Head" was blaring.
He seems to live life with his finger on the trigger, with 21 horses, a dog named Winchester, and a cool duster. No question if you needed a posse that Larry was your guy. Larry figured out that what he calls regular life, people like you and I call adventure. He has figured out that people would pay an interesting amount of money to live his life for a few days.
Every time I couldn't get the horse to do what I wanted, Larry would shout, "operator error". Larry told me later that day, "they're pretty much stupid. They could buck us off at any minute and run away. They don't. How stupid is that. " This caused a philosophical shift in my approach to Spur. I had been thinking of it more like a carnival ride than a partnership between myself and Spur.
One night after dinner, Larry offered us a moonlight ride. This sounds way more romantic than it is. To be clear it's riding your horse through the pitch black in the woods. You begin to understand exactly what happened to the headless horseman. Larry had been into the vodka a little bit that afternoon and there was definitely a question about the laws of drinking and driving applying to the horse. Ultimately I decided that since the horse hadn't been drinking we should be just fine.
Larry said; "boys, you gotta trust your animal". I asked Larry about his comments a couple days earlier that the horses were pretty much stupid, and he said ah, forget about that. He said they could see better in the dark. I asked him what about getting my head knocked off by branches. Larry said, the "problem with being tough, is that it's tough".
He took us on a trail a couple miles through the dark woods to the top of an overlook that was stunning by day and breathtaking by night. This dangerous ride turned out to be the highlight of our retreat. Learning that life with a guide is so much easier, so less scary. As long as I knew Larry was leading the way, I had a sort of calm. He had been this way before. After 30 years of this, he knew where he was. There were scary moments, but overall it felt peaceful. I was bolstered because I was with a band of brothers whom I trusted. I had Spur, whom I was forced to trust, and who proved himself trustworthy.
I learned that with the right folks around me, the right guide in front of me, the right horse beneath me, that I could go places and experience things I would've never dare think of by myself. We stood there on the edge of a cliff while Drew sang How Great Thou Art accapella and God was there.
There is so much that we've accomplished at Conduit because we've done it together. We've gone places that we wouldn't have gone because we did it together. We have an amazing guide in the Holy Spirit and Jesus who carries us. He is indeed trustworthy. We're not an institution. We're a band of people saying yes to the adventure, the danger, the beauty of a relationship with God. How is it possible that the idea of "church" became so boring, so domestic over the centuries?
What I realized Larry meant wasn't that Horses were stupid, it was that they were servants. They have the power to kill me, or at the very least throw me a few feet in the air and choose not to. They're not stupid, they're servants. They're trustworthy. They're not tame; they're just kind.
Tomorrow night Conduit is back at the Tyler house. It's chili night! A couple of you have already responded with what you're bringing. Please check out the list below and email Shannon at spaigetyler@yahoo.com with what you can bring.
We'll be kicking off at around 630 with the food and 730 with the worship and teaching time.
Darren Tyler
THE LIST:
If you can bring one or more of the below, please email Shannon at spaigetyler@yahoo.com
2 people to bring Chili
1 bag Tostitos
1 fruit
1 veggies
2 Desserts
5 two liter bottles
1 crackers
2 side dishes
Myself, Drew Cline, Kortland Fuqua, and Jamie George found ourselves on the latter as we made our way to an elder's retreat for my home church, Journey. The plan was to ride the horses to the lodge 12 miles and then keep the horses there at the stables for rides into the surrounding forests and mountains.
Ask 5 random people and they'll tell you they haven't heard of this massive sprawling 125,000 acre Nat'l park covered with forests, gorges, bluffs, mountains and rivers straddling the TN/ KY border. It's located only 2 1/2 hours from Nashville on the Cumberland Plateau. When you hear the weather people say "it's going to snow up on the plateau", this is where they're talking about.
Upon arrival at the lodge you'll find a structure built somewhere in the mid 1800's with some additional structures built more recently. Say around 1920. There is no electricity. The ceilings in the bunkhouse were all short, very closed in. The website describes this as the cozy accommodations. They were so cozy that at one point Jamie hit his head so squarely on the top of the surprisingly short door jam that it knocked him down. People in the 1800's were clearly much shorter than we are 150 years later.
There are family style meals served by a full time inn keeper like dude who lives in a smaller cabin. He's been here for 8 years living with no electricity in a cabin in the woods. My first impression would be that someone who lives here full time on purpose might have some issues. I had envisioned a dark well inside the staff quarters. If you were to eavesdrop you might hear the words "it wants to put the lotion on". (my apologies for the obscure reference from Silence of the Lambs. just calling them as I see them) The guy actually turned out to be quite normal. His name is Brian. He's a marathon runner, and quite the cook I might add.
And then there's Larry.
Larry has been on this mountain for 30 years. He runs Southeast Pack trips and is equal parts mountain man/ ladies man. He's got plenty of TN accent, but not the deep drawling kind as much as it is lively and entertaining. His catch phrases were "heavy duty" and "rock and roll". As we pulled up to his barn, Quiet Riot "Bang Your Head" was blaring.
He seems to live life with his finger on the trigger, with 21 horses, a dog named Winchester, and a cool duster. No question if you needed a posse that Larry was your guy. Larry figured out that what he calls regular life, people like you and I call adventure. He has figured out that people would pay an interesting amount of money to live his life for a few days.
Every time I couldn't get the horse to do what I wanted, Larry would shout, "operator error". Larry told me later that day, "they're pretty much stupid. They could buck us off at any minute and run away. They don't. How stupid is that. " This caused a philosophical shift in my approach to Spur. I had been thinking of it more like a carnival ride than a partnership between myself and Spur.
One night after dinner, Larry offered us a moonlight ride. This sounds way more romantic than it is. To be clear it's riding your horse through the pitch black in the woods. You begin to understand exactly what happened to the headless horseman. Larry had been into the vodka a little bit that afternoon and there was definitely a question about the laws of drinking and driving applying to the horse. Ultimately I decided that since the horse hadn't been drinking we should be just fine.
Larry said; "boys, you gotta trust your animal". I asked Larry about his comments a couple days earlier that the horses were pretty much stupid, and he said ah, forget about that. He said they could see better in the dark. I asked him what about getting my head knocked off by branches. Larry said, the "problem with being tough, is that it's tough".
He took us on a trail a couple miles through the dark woods to the top of an overlook that was stunning by day and breathtaking by night. This dangerous ride turned out to be the highlight of our retreat. Learning that life with a guide is so much easier, so less scary. As long as I knew Larry was leading the way, I had a sort of calm. He had been this way before. After 30 years of this, he knew where he was. There were scary moments, but overall it felt peaceful. I was bolstered because I was with a band of brothers whom I trusted. I had Spur, whom I was forced to trust, and who proved himself trustworthy.
I learned that with the right folks around me, the right guide in front of me, the right horse beneath me, that I could go places and experience things I would've never dare think of by myself. We stood there on the edge of a cliff while Drew sang How Great Thou Art accapella and God was there.
There is so much that we've accomplished at Conduit because we've done it together. We've gone places that we wouldn't have gone because we did it together. We have an amazing guide in the Holy Spirit and Jesus who carries us. He is indeed trustworthy. We're not an institution. We're a band of people saying yes to the adventure, the danger, the beauty of a relationship with God. How is it possible that the idea of "church" became so boring, so domestic over the centuries?
What I realized Larry meant wasn't that Horses were stupid, it was that they were servants. They have the power to kill me, or at the very least throw me a few feet in the air and choose not to. They're not stupid, they're servants. They're trustworthy. They're not tame; they're just kind.
Tomorrow night Conduit is back at the Tyler house. It's chili night! A couple of you have already responded with what you're bringing. Please check out the list below and email Shannon at spaigetyler@yahoo.com with what you can bring.
We'll be kicking off at around 630 with the food and 730 with the worship and teaching time.
Darren Tyler
THE LIST:
If you can bring one or more of the below, please email Shannon at spaigetyler@yahoo.com
2 people to bring Chili
1 bag Tostitos
1 fruit
1 veggies
2 Desserts
5 two liter bottles
1 crackers
2 side dishes
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Conduit Oct 26- The Tears Of A Muslim
Endrian is a kindergarten age child being raised in a Muslim family in a tiny house on the outskirts of Semarang Indonesia. Endrian’s father suffered a stroke and is paralyzed from the waist down. He’s a proud man, and without a wheel chair “walks” with his hands while dragging his limp lower body. There are not government programs, no social security disability, no way to support his family. This is especially bad news in a community that in the throws of poverty. The onus is on Mom to provide. In a world where most Father’s can barely subsist, mom being the breadwinner is an exercise in futility. Endrian seems to be unaware, but there is a look in his eye that conveys seriousness, almost as if on some subconscious level that he understands the magnitude of the situation.
Kevin is a singer in a rock band. He screams, sings and jumps for a living. He is married with a beautiful daughter and they live a not so stereotypical rock star life outside of the not so rock star town of Lexington, KY.
He heard a sermon from his pastor a few years back about loving his enemies. It was the kind of thing that we hear from our Pastors from time to time, but for some Holy Spirit reason it really stuck this time. While thinking about what it looked like practically to love his enemy, the opportunity arose for him to sponsor a child with Compassion International. When Kevin saw the photo and information of Endrian, the young Muslim from Indonesia, it seemed like a perfect way to live out this command.
Maybe Endrian himself wasn’t Kevins enemy but Islamic radicals have declared us all their enemies. By loving Endrian, Kevin and his wife Julie are part of a spiritual counter insurgency that doesn’t involve tanks or missiles. It is subtle, it is pure, but make no mistake; it is an assault on hell.
I sat as a spectator as Kevin and Julie had traveled around the world to meet this young man and his family whom they loved but had never met. For 3 years they have faithfully sponsored Endrian through compassion. They’ve written letters back and forth. They’ve sent pictures. It’s kind of like a pen pal with benefits. This little 2 dimensional guy was very much a 3 dimensional real live human being. Watching them meet face to face for the first time was one of the more moving experiences of my life.
It was blazing hot inside this little house with no running water, let alone air conditioning. We could see the Mosque that Endrians family attends from his front door. Here we were, a handful of Christians, serving this family while their Mosque offered no support other than a clear if not spooky call to prayer that could be heard multiple times a day. (kind of like the church bells that used to wring out from the Methodist church in my home town, just a little more eerie)
We were invited inside where we all sat on the floor and us Americans did what we do best in those situations, sweat. We were given a tour of the home, we saw all 3 rooms. They ran a little snack shop out of the front door of their house. We were told that they were able to set up this business that is the only source of income for their family from money that Kevin and Julie had sent for a Christmas present.
Sitting in a circle on the floor Kevin asked the family how he could pray for them. The 22 year old son (also living in the home) answered simply and succinctly: “Muslim”. Our translator was uncomfortable with any questions that had anything to do with Jesus. If you know Kevin, you know that doesn’t necessarily stop him. He handled it like a pro. He and Julie were kind, caring, compassionate and an excellent example of Jesus to them.
The law in Indonesia states that someone of one religion is not allowed to teach someone of another religion. On your government ID you check a box next to your religion. I’m not 100% but I think the options are Islam, Hindu, Christian, Buddhism, and Catholicism Almost 90% of the worlds 4th largest nation check the box marked Islam. (When I asked our host what box would you check if you’re Jewish, her response was “well, um, you don’t”.)
The only way that this law can be subverted is if the person being taught or their legal guardian signs a legal document stating that it’s OK. This is taken very seriously, and as I write this I know of a couple of Sunday school teachers sitting in a Jakarta prison for violating this law.
As is often the case with the Lord, an obstacle turns into an opportunity. Local churches provide supplemental education, medical services, and much needed food for children. The Church, the bride of Christ, is alive and well in countries like Indonesia. The churches aren’t just a gathering place for a show on Sundays. They’re a real live service to the community. Organizations like Compassion International make possible the financial provisions to carry out this mission.
There are many Muslim families who sign the legal documents to allow for churches to teach their children. Many of them are coming to know Jesus and slowly but surely, so are their families. Endrian’s paperwork at the church still has “Islam” checked by his religion. I personally think it’s just a check mark. Islam might be marked on the paper, but Jesus is marked on his heart.
God has His thumb on this boy and his whole family. His mosque, which is 100 yards away gives them nothing. However, God sent Kevin and Julie all the way around the world just to give him a hug. Don’t’ tell me that God doesn’t have a plan for him.
If we would’ve shown up with just gospel tracts and a bull horn and preached the gospel with just our voices, I’m not sure what kind of impact, if any, we would’ve had. I’m sure between the few of us we could’ve cooked up some skits or broke out the puppets. Instead we showed up preaching the gospel with our lives AND our mouths. We were part of the larger Body of Christ doing our part. Providing the muscles while these wonderful believers do the heavy lifting.
As we left, I saw something that showed we had made an impact. There was no altar call, no bowing heads closing eyes and raising hands. What I saw were tears. I saw tears in the mother’s eyes. I saw tears in the 22 year old sons eyes. I saw tears in the father’s eyes. And there, in the tears of a Muslim I saw the Holy Spirit at work.
He was drawing them, wooing them, calling them. The gospel is being taught to Endrian on a daily basis. We couldn’t win his family with a lecture, but look what we did with love.
Tomorrow night we’re back at Journey Church. 730pm. We’ll dive into Exodus 26. We’re looking at the tapestries that cover the tabernacle as well as the veil that was inside of it. As with everything in the tabernacle, it’s a picture of Jesus. A beautiful veil hung on wood. Ring any bells? I hope so. There are many many more bells to be rung in this chapter.
Blessings,
Darren
www.conduitmission.com remember that you can feed a child in Haiti for $15. Donate at the Conduit Mission site.
If you’re interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International, please email me and I can point you in the right direction. If you already are, please don’t stop. I have seen first hand what God can do through this act of love.
Kevin is a singer in a rock band. He screams, sings and jumps for a living. He is married with a beautiful daughter and they live a not so stereotypical rock star life outside of the not so rock star town of Lexington, KY.
He heard a sermon from his pastor a few years back about loving his enemies. It was the kind of thing that we hear from our Pastors from time to time, but for some Holy Spirit reason it really stuck this time. While thinking about what it looked like practically to love his enemy, the opportunity arose for him to sponsor a child with Compassion International. When Kevin saw the photo and information of Endrian, the young Muslim from Indonesia, it seemed like a perfect way to live out this command.
Maybe Endrian himself wasn’t Kevins enemy but Islamic radicals have declared us all their enemies. By loving Endrian, Kevin and his wife Julie are part of a spiritual counter insurgency that doesn’t involve tanks or missiles. It is subtle, it is pure, but make no mistake; it is an assault on hell.
I sat as a spectator as Kevin and Julie had traveled around the world to meet this young man and his family whom they loved but had never met. For 3 years they have faithfully sponsored Endrian through compassion. They’ve written letters back and forth. They’ve sent pictures. It’s kind of like a pen pal with benefits. This little 2 dimensional guy was very much a 3 dimensional real live human being. Watching them meet face to face for the first time was one of the more moving experiences of my life.
It was blazing hot inside this little house with no running water, let alone air conditioning. We could see the Mosque that Endrians family attends from his front door. Here we were, a handful of Christians, serving this family while their Mosque offered no support other than a clear if not spooky call to prayer that could be heard multiple times a day. (kind of like the church bells that used to wring out from the Methodist church in my home town, just a little more eerie)
We were invited inside where we all sat on the floor and us Americans did what we do best in those situations, sweat. We were given a tour of the home, we saw all 3 rooms. They ran a little snack shop out of the front door of their house. We were told that they were able to set up this business that is the only source of income for their family from money that Kevin and Julie had sent for a Christmas present.
Sitting in a circle on the floor Kevin asked the family how he could pray for them. The 22 year old son (also living in the home) answered simply and succinctly: “Muslim”. Our translator was uncomfortable with any questions that had anything to do with Jesus. If you know Kevin, you know that doesn’t necessarily stop him. He handled it like a pro. He and Julie were kind, caring, compassionate and an excellent example of Jesus to them.
The law in Indonesia states that someone of one religion is not allowed to teach someone of another religion. On your government ID you check a box next to your religion. I’m not 100% but I think the options are Islam, Hindu, Christian, Buddhism, and Catholicism Almost 90% of the worlds 4th largest nation check the box marked Islam. (When I asked our host what box would you check if you’re Jewish, her response was “well, um, you don’t”.)
The only way that this law can be subverted is if the person being taught or their legal guardian signs a legal document stating that it’s OK. This is taken very seriously, and as I write this I know of a couple of Sunday school teachers sitting in a Jakarta prison for violating this law.
As is often the case with the Lord, an obstacle turns into an opportunity. Local churches provide supplemental education, medical services, and much needed food for children. The Church, the bride of Christ, is alive and well in countries like Indonesia. The churches aren’t just a gathering place for a show on Sundays. They’re a real live service to the community. Organizations like Compassion International make possible the financial provisions to carry out this mission.
There are many Muslim families who sign the legal documents to allow for churches to teach their children. Many of them are coming to know Jesus and slowly but surely, so are their families. Endrian’s paperwork at the church still has “Islam” checked by his religion. I personally think it’s just a check mark. Islam might be marked on the paper, but Jesus is marked on his heart.
God has His thumb on this boy and his whole family. His mosque, which is 100 yards away gives them nothing. However, God sent Kevin and Julie all the way around the world just to give him a hug. Don’t’ tell me that God doesn’t have a plan for him.
If we would’ve shown up with just gospel tracts and a bull horn and preached the gospel with just our voices, I’m not sure what kind of impact, if any, we would’ve had. I’m sure between the few of us we could’ve cooked up some skits or broke out the puppets. Instead we showed up preaching the gospel with our lives AND our mouths. We were part of the larger Body of Christ doing our part. Providing the muscles while these wonderful believers do the heavy lifting.
As we left, I saw something that showed we had made an impact. There was no altar call, no bowing heads closing eyes and raising hands. What I saw were tears. I saw tears in the mother’s eyes. I saw tears in the 22 year old sons eyes. I saw tears in the father’s eyes. And there, in the tears of a Muslim I saw the Holy Spirit at work.
He was drawing them, wooing them, calling them. The gospel is being taught to Endrian on a daily basis. We couldn’t win his family with a lecture, but look what we did with love.
Tomorrow night we’re back at Journey Church. 730pm. We’ll dive into Exodus 26. We’re looking at the tapestries that cover the tabernacle as well as the veil that was inside of it. As with everything in the tabernacle, it’s a picture of Jesus. A beautiful veil hung on wood. Ring any bells? I hope so. There are many many more bells to be rung in this chapter.
Blessings,
Darren
www.conduitmission.com remember that you can feed a child in Haiti for $15. Donate at the Conduit Mission site.
If you’re interested in sponsoring a child through Compassion International, please email me and I can point you in the right direction. If you already are, please don’t stop. I have seen first hand what God can do through this act of love.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Conduit Oct 11- The War On The One Who Is Terror
On the way to Memphis Sunday morning I had been listening to CNN on XM radio. The blow hard pundits for hire were out in force debating whether or not we should be sending more troops into Afghanistan. I was sleepy because I had to leave at 6am and the dunk’n donuts coffee hadn’t kicked in yet. One sure way to wake up is to hear someone who is completely loony tunes, who has never seen battle, make crazy statements that are based on something other than common sense. CNN does this very well for me.
I was going to visit a new friend who launched a church called Nations Church in Memphis, TN. www.nationsmemphis.tv This is one of those churches that I’m pretty sure God is really jazzed about. They’re not flashy. They meet in the fellowship hall of an old school church of God that as best I can tell is on life support. In fairness they did have candles and fabric draped tastefully from the ceiling and super arty looking painting depicting different values of the church.
But that wasn’t what made it so cool. Here in the protected, sheltered, white suburbs of Memphis, TN was a church that existed to bring Jesus to the Nations.
The pastor announced that there were 3 men that were going to Afghanistan. Based upon my radio experience this of course peaked my interest. It was my automatic assumption that these would be 3 of America’s finest military men heading over to serve our country in one of the armed service branches.
They were leaving in a few hours and we were going to pray for them. Imagine my surprise when 3 burly looking, quasi bearded, white dudes came to the front who looked nothing like army dudes. They weren’t going as soldiers. They were going as missionaries!
One of the very few things that resonated with me from the CNN show was a profile on a man named Greg Mortenson. Greg and his organization are building schools in Pakistan. Morteson says that educated women can serve as a firewall against extremists. He said that for a young man to pursue Jihad he has to get his mother’s blessing, if he doesn’t receive this, then it is a shame to him.
I had never heard this but that profound truth is something that resonated with me. To the best of my knowledge Greg isn’t a Christian and depends on education alone. What if we introduced Jesus into the mix? Who on earth would have the courage to go? What would a Christian mom say of her son going to Jihad?
Imagine what could happen if the message of Christ, of peace, of salvation was being brought to this war torn people with the same passion and precision that Greg Mortenson is delivering education. I saw 3 men today that weren't imagining it, they were doing it.
As I write this they are probably somewhere between Atlanta and Dubai. They’re going to be on a plane for 24 hours and then enter into this war torn region exhausted, anxious, and maybe even afraid. Paul would tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 2 that he should endure suffering like a good soldier, something that these men will clearly put into practice.
There is indeed a war going on in the Middle East, and it runs far deeper than our bunker busting bombs can reach. Paul told the Corinthians that our military technology is of no use in this war. He said that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty. They are mighty to the pulling down of strong holds.
It’s above my pay grade to know exactly what the United States Military should be doing in Afghanistan. I am grateful that It is not my decision. As Paul commanded, I pray for my leaders in government. This is my duty and I do it gladly.
While I don't know what the Government should be doing it is dramatically clear what we as the Body of Christ should be doing. We need more troops on the ground. This is a nation that needs Christian’s who have the drive and courage of Greg Mortenson but the zeal and power of Christ like the apostle Paul
I was honored to see these 3 spiritual soldier’s heading to Afghanistan. They’re going to preach the gospel to the poor. They’re going to open the eyes of those that are blinded by the darkness. They’re going to release those that are oppressed. They’re going to be Jesus hands and feet in a battle that only He can win.
As I think about them. As I think about their wives and children and their tears that flowed while we prayed today, this exhortation from Paul comes to mind.
Ephesians 6:10-12 declares, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
You and I serve as a supply line in this battle. Conduit has sent over $100,000 to provide for the troops that are on the front lines. This is an important endeavor. People’s lives, their very eternity depends on it.
We have been on the front lines. We have one of our own, Victoria Ware, who is serving in the Dominican Republic in this army of God for the next 6 weeks. I’m proud to serve our commander beside you. And one day, the ground skirmishes will be over, when our King comes back and the war will be won. Amen.
I’m sorry to tell you that there is no Conduit tomorrow night. It’s a long story but I’m going to be enjoying a “strolling dinner” (not sure what that means) at a fundraiser for the Gospel Music Association. Believe me I’d much rather be hanging with you guys opening digging into the truth of Jesus in the Tabernacle. We’ll make it up next week.
Please spread the word.
Blessings,
Darren
I was going to visit a new friend who launched a church called Nations Church in Memphis, TN. www.nationsmemphis.tv This is one of those churches that I’m pretty sure God is really jazzed about. They’re not flashy. They meet in the fellowship hall of an old school church of God that as best I can tell is on life support. In fairness they did have candles and fabric draped tastefully from the ceiling and super arty looking painting depicting different values of the church.
But that wasn’t what made it so cool. Here in the protected, sheltered, white suburbs of Memphis, TN was a church that existed to bring Jesus to the Nations.
The pastor announced that there were 3 men that were going to Afghanistan. Based upon my radio experience this of course peaked my interest. It was my automatic assumption that these would be 3 of America’s finest military men heading over to serve our country in one of the armed service branches.
They were leaving in a few hours and we were going to pray for them. Imagine my surprise when 3 burly looking, quasi bearded, white dudes came to the front who looked nothing like army dudes. They weren’t going as soldiers. They were going as missionaries!
One of the very few things that resonated with me from the CNN show was a profile on a man named Greg Mortenson. Greg and his organization are building schools in Pakistan. Morteson says that educated women can serve as a firewall against extremists. He said that for a young man to pursue Jihad he has to get his mother’s blessing, if he doesn’t receive this, then it is a shame to him.
I had never heard this but that profound truth is something that resonated with me. To the best of my knowledge Greg isn’t a Christian and depends on education alone. What if we introduced Jesus into the mix? Who on earth would have the courage to go? What would a Christian mom say of her son going to Jihad?
Imagine what could happen if the message of Christ, of peace, of salvation was being brought to this war torn people with the same passion and precision that Greg Mortenson is delivering education. I saw 3 men today that weren't imagining it, they were doing it.
As I write this they are probably somewhere between Atlanta and Dubai. They’re going to be on a plane for 24 hours and then enter into this war torn region exhausted, anxious, and maybe even afraid. Paul would tell Timothy in 2 Timothy 2 that he should endure suffering like a good soldier, something that these men will clearly put into practice.
There is indeed a war going on in the Middle East, and it runs far deeper than our bunker busting bombs can reach. Paul told the Corinthians that our military technology is of no use in this war. He said that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty. They are mighty to the pulling down of strong holds.
It’s above my pay grade to know exactly what the United States Military should be doing in Afghanistan. I am grateful that It is not my decision. As Paul commanded, I pray for my leaders in government. This is my duty and I do it gladly.
While I don't know what the Government should be doing it is dramatically clear what we as the Body of Christ should be doing. We need more troops on the ground. This is a nation that needs Christian’s who have the drive and courage of Greg Mortenson but the zeal and power of Christ like the apostle Paul
I was honored to see these 3 spiritual soldier’s heading to Afghanistan. They’re going to preach the gospel to the poor. They’re going to open the eyes of those that are blinded by the darkness. They’re going to release those that are oppressed. They’re going to be Jesus hands and feet in a battle that only He can win.
As I think about them. As I think about their wives and children and their tears that flowed while we prayed today, this exhortation from Paul comes to mind.
Ephesians 6:10-12 declares, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
You and I serve as a supply line in this battle. Conduit has sent over $100,000 to provide for the troops that are on the front lines. This is an important endeavor. People’s lives, their very eternity depends on it.
We have been on the front lines. We have one of our own, Victoria Ware, who is serving in the Dominican Republic in this army of God for the next 6 weeks. I’m proud to serve our commander beside you. And one day, the ground skirmishes will be over, when our King comes back and the war will be won. Amen.
I’m sorry to tell you that there is no Conduit tomorrow night. It’s a long story but I’m going to be enjoying a “strolling dinner” (not sure what that means) at a fundraiser for the Gospel Music Association. Believe me I’d much rather be hanging with you guys opening digging into the truth of Jesus in the Tabernacle. We’ll make it up next week.
Please spread the word.
Blessings,
Darren
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Conduit Oct 5- God's Building Program
Without fancy church building consultants, no faith commitment cards and no fund raising thermometer on the wall, Moses stood before the people of Israel and asked for their help in building the tabernacle. The first church building program in history was to construct something that was little more than a giant tent with a lot of gold inside. The type of tent that could’ve been on MTV cribs, as long as they didn’t film the exterior.
Israel was sent out of Egypt with gold and silver given to them in the voluntary plundering that kicked off 40 years of exciting wilderness wandering. They would’ve been rolling deep in the exact laundry list of items that Moses was requesting. They thought they struck it rich. In reality they did, but it’s interesting to note that they were carrying the building supplies for the tabernacle.
What really struck me was how the people gave to this building project without any sort of pressure, guilt trip or power point presentation. Exodus 25:1 tells us they gave as their hearts prompted them to. This is a thought that Paul would echo in his letter to the Corinthians when he said that each man should give as he is able, as the Lord leads, with joy. (2 Cor 8,9)
We see throughout the Old Testament, taking care of His earthly house was of significant priority to God. He told Moses in Exodus 25 and many more times, to build this tabernacle to the exact specifications that He would give him. God would ordain Solomon to build a magnificent temple using the pile of wealth that David had set aside as provision. Centuries later God would go so far as to command Cyrus king of Persia to rebuild the temple. (a sort of spiritual outsourcing)
As we consider how important God’s earthly habitation was in the Old Testament, it begs the question: What does it mean to take care of God’s house today?
It’s really a misnomer to call our church buildings of today God’s house or the house of God. The New Testament tells us that we are each individually the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19) That’s fancy spiritual speak for God dwelling in us individually. The metaphor goes further to suggest that collectively as the Body of Christ we make up a temple of the Holy Spirit. Each of us are the building blocks, or stones and Jesus Himself is the cornerstone. (Eph 4:19-21)
At the risk of stating the obvious, if we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then taking care of our brothers and sisters in Christ is of paramount importance to God. If your temple, like mine, is doing great then congratulations.
That being said, perhaps it would do good for us to read to the words of Haggai.
Haggai 1: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house
Living in paneled, well maintained home while God’s house is in ruins. It’s a thought that gives me pause as I consider the efforts and energies put into architectural structures are being served so well, while tens of millions of spiritual temples lie in ruins.
I’ve heard it said that if every believer were to tithe that we could pay off the entire debt of every church in America and feed every hungry person in the world. I don’t’ know if that’s true, but I wonder if it would matter. I wonder if too many of the churches would build bigger buildings, incur larger debts and all the while the real temple of the Holy Spirit remains in ruins.
Paul commanded us in 1 Thess 5:11 to build each other up. I know there are spiritual connotations in a statement like that, but I wonder if there is a physical element as well. You can’t read something like 2 Cor 8 and 9 and not know that serving the Body of Christ that are poor and oppressed is important. Maybe building each other is a far reaching command.
Would you mind searching your heart as I search mine. I know that there are literally tens of millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are marginalized, starving, and/ or persecuted. There is a temple that lies in ruins, what would the Lord ask of us.
I want to state that I’m not opposed to having facilities for us to gather in as believer’s. I just wonder if our priorities are out of whack. I know our brothers and sisters in Haiti make due with excruciatingly less in their church facility. I’ll bet we could find some areas that we could simplify and refocus those resources.
When Nehemiah considered that his people were in “great trouble and disgrace” he wept. (Neh 1:3) His compassion quickly turned to action. I pray that God would break our hearts, and move us to action.
Hope you can join us Monday night at 730pm. We’ll be back at Journey Church.
Darren
GOD’S BUILDING PROGRAM- If God is speaking to you, and you’re looking for a place to direct resources to building God’s house, we’d be happy to be the Conduit for you. Whatever money you donate will go immediately into the hands of our brothers and sisters, the temples of God in Haiti, Africa and right here in Middle Tennessee. You can donate online at www.conduitmission.org
Parenthetically, I think that there is one progress thermometer that does exist in heaven. The gauge of progress is blood.
John wrote in Revelation 6 of a time of justice that was coming. Under the inspiration of the Spirit John wrote that he saw under the altar those that had been “slain because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained”.
They asked God how long must they wait for their blood to be avenged. They were told “just a little longer”. And then this provocative statement: “until the “number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed was completed”. The thermometer if you will, filled with blood, will one day reach it’s fullness. God said in Deut 32:35 “vengeance is mine”. Our God is a God of love and mercy and.. justice.
Israel was sent out of Egypt with gold and silver given to them in the voluntary plundering that kicked off 40 years of exciting wilderness wandering. They would’ve been rolling deep in the exact laundry list of items that Moses was requesting. They thought they struck it rich. In reality they did, but it’s interesting to note that they were carrying the building supplies for the tabernacle.
What really struck me was how the people gave to this building project without any sort of pressure, guilt trip or power point presentation. Exodus 25:1 tells us they gave as their hearts prompted them to. This is a thought that Paul would echo in his letter to the Corinthians when he said that each man should give as he is able, as the Lord leads, with joy. (2 Cor 8,9)
We see throughout the Old Testament, taking care of His earthly house was of significant priority to God. He told Moses in Exodus 25 and many more times, to build this tabernacle to the exact specifications that He would give him. God would ordain Solomon to build a magnificent temple using the pile of wealth that David had set aside as provision. Centuries later God would go so far as to command Cyrus king of Persia to rebuild the temple. (a sort of spiritual outsourcing)
As we consider how important God’s earthly habitation was in the Old Testament, it begs the question: What does it mean to take care of God’s house today?
It’s really a misnomer to call our church buildings of today God’s house or the house of God. The New Testament tells us that we are each individually the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19) That’s fancy spiritual speak for God dwelling in us individually. The metaphor goes further to suggest that collectively as the Body of Christ we make up a temple of the Holy Spirit. Each of us are the building blocks, or stones and Jesus Himself is the cornerstone. (Eph 4:19-21)
At the risk of stating the obvious, if we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then taking care of our brothers and sisters in Christ is of paramount importance to God. If your temple, like mine, is doing great then congratulations.
That being said, perhaps it would do good for us to read to the words of Haggai.
Haggai 1: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"
5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house
Living in paneled, well maintained home while God’s house is in ruins. It’s a thought that gives me pause as I consider the efforts and energies put into architectural structures are being served so well, while tens of millions of spiritual temples lie in ruins.
I’ve heard it said that if every believer were to tithe that we could pay off the entire debt of every church in America and feed every hungry person in the world. I don’t’ know if that’s true, but I wonder if it would matter. I wonder if too many of the churches would build bigger buildings, incur larger debts and all the while the real temple of the Holy Spirit remains in ruins.
Paul commanded us in 1 Thess 5:11 to build each other up. I know there are spiritual connotations in a statement like that, but I wonder if there is a physical element as well. You can’t read something like 2 Cor 8 and 9 and not know that serving the Body of Christ that are poor and oppressed is important. Maybe building each other is a far reaching command.
Would you mind searching your heart as I search mine. I know that there are literally tens of millions of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are marginalized, starving, and/ or persecuted. There is a temple that lies in ruins, what would the Lord ask of us.
I want to state that I’m not opposed to having facilities for us to gather in as believer’s. I just wonder if our priorities are out of whack. I know our brothers and sisters in Haiti make due with excruciatingly less in their church facility. I’ll bet we could find some areas that we could simplify and refocus those resources.
When Nehemiah considered that his people were in “great trouble and disgrace” he wept. (Neh 1:3) His compassion quickly turned to action. I pray that God would break our hearts, and move us to action.
Hope you can join us Monday night at 730pm. We’ll be back at Journey Church.
Darren
GOD’S BUILDING PROGRAM- If God is speaking to you, and you’re looking for a place to direct resources to building God’s house, we’d be happy to be the Conduit for you. Whatever money you donate will go immediately into the hands of our brothers and sisters, the temples of God in Haiti, Africa and right here in Middle Tennessee. You can donate online at www.conduitmission.org
Parenthetically, I think that there is one progress thermometer that does exist in heaven. The gauge of progress is blood.
John wrote in Revelation 6 of a time of justice that was coming. Under the inspiration of the Spirit John wrote that he saw under the altar those that had been “slain because of the word of God and the testimony they maintained”.
They asked God how long must they wait for their blood to be avenged. They were told “just a little longer”. And then this provocative statement: “until the “number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed was completed”. The thermometer if you will, filled with blood, will one day reach it’s fullness. God said in Deut 32:35 “vengeance is mine”. Our God is a God of love and mercy and.. justice.
2 Years of Conduit in One Video/ Song
When you look into the eyes of the people from Africa, Haiti, and Indonesia you see a resilience. You can see what faith can do.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Happy Birthday Conduit
On September 16, 2007 I sent this email:
*******
You may or may not notice, but I am typing a full half octave higher than before. If you show up on September 16, I'll explain in more detail. But in the meantime, if you want to get a read on what happened to me, go rent Braveheart and forward it to the end of the movie. You know, the part where he is strapped the table screaming freedom!?
Shannon and I have missed you all so much these past few months. I have missed getting to share with you all of that TMI stuff that was so cathartic for me, and so kind of you to humor me by reading. I have missed getting to search the scriptures with you.
In my down time this summer, God began to stir something inside of me. I began to ask myself a lot of questions that I had never asked before. I began to see stuff in the Word that I had never noticed before.
Through this process I started thinking…
• What if there was a gathering of people that got together weekly and didn't "study" the Word like some sort of academic exercise, but searched the scriptures for the treasures that lie within?
• What if that last question was not just semantics?
• What if it was a gathering that was simple, no fancy programs, no org charts, no fancy research, no pencil pushing consultants with clipboards and opinions?
• What if in simplicity there was almost zero over head in the budget?
• What if big impact didn't have to mean big attendance numbers?
• What if it could meet in a neutral location on a main street that is highly visible?
• What if this gathering found out that the Word is exactly what God promised it would be to us?
• What if the water of the Word softened our hearts, allowing the Potter to mold us into the image He desires?
• What if we get into the Word and begin to care about the things that Jesus cared about?
• What if every week an offering is taken just like normal, but the vast majority of it is given away to the front lines of feeding, clothing, and housing those in need all around the World?
• What if we could partner with just a handful of organizations and move just a small amount of the abundant resources in this region to places with nothing?
• What if together we really could do more?
• What if?
The picture that I believe God showed me was of a conduit. What's that you city boys and girls ask? A conduit is a fancy word for a pipe. If you were to tear the sheet rock off the walls in your home you'd find conduit throughout that house all of the electrical wiring transferring power safely from one place to another. If you're driving around the Midwest and see farmers watering their crops, the sprinklers, nozzles, etc are all connected to a conduit which goes to where the water is; allowing it to freely move from a place with plenty of water to a place with no water.
A conduit is not fancy. It's not expensive. It has no moving parts. It's all around you but you never see it. And yet, without it there is no electricity in your walls and no water in the fields of Nebraska.
And thus, on September 16, 2007 at 7pm at The Listening Room in Downtown Franklin we will launch the Conduit Bible Study. We will search the scriptures verse by verse. We will feed on the milk and the meat of the word. And lest we become spiritually fattened for the kill, we will respond to it with action. Not Faith or Works. It's Faith that Works.
We'll follow the model that Paul gives us in 2 Cor. 8 & 9. There will be no pressure, no emotional strings being pulled. We will just all give what we can in a strategic manner, giving what we each personally can, and when it's combined together we can put it in the bucket, and almost immediately funnel it, or "Conduit" it to organizations who are taking care of the poor all around the World. (for those of you following along, they are the "nozzles" in this analogy)
I hope this all makes sense. I'm more excited about this than I have been in a long time. If you want to be prepared for what is coming read in the first few chapters of Acts how the early church worked. Read 2 Cor. 8 & 9 and see that those verses we love to quote about God blessing us for giving, are talking about giving to the poor.
If you don't mind, would you send me a quick email letting me know if you plan to attend? It would just be helpful if I could get a rough estimate of what to expect on our launch night. The Listening Room isn't a giant place and I want to make sure we're prepared.
That sound you hear is the heart beat of God.
********
Like any living and breathing organism, Conduit has grown and matured. In the early days I spent a lot of energy trying to define Conduit by what it was not, more than by what it is. I was pretty adamant that it “isn’t a church”. After all we don’t have a children’s pastor and I actually “go” to church at a real church.
As Conduit has grown, so have I, and those that have been apart of this little corner of the Kingdom of God.
When I look back at the initial vision, I see that short of us still being in downtown Franklin, we have absolutely held true to the vision.
We’ve been a Conduit.
Conduit of His Resources: We’ve taken in and given away over $100,000 dollars. Those resources are feeding, clothing, educating, serving in Christ our brothers and sisters in Haiti. They have served our brothers and sisters at Place of Hope who are battling for their lives against addiction. Refugees were fed in Myanmar. A school is being built in Ghana to train young men and women to be Christ like leaders to serve their nation. 96.5% of what has been taken in to Conduit has been given away.
Conduit of His Love: We’ve taken trips to Haiti where we served our brothers and sisters spiritually and physically. The medical clinic we held in Jacmel, Haiti was profound. We witnessed first hand the food that is being given to the children there through our work. Uganda, Haiti, Indonesia, have all seen Conduit “boots on the ground” in the past 2 years.
Conduit of His Word: We continue with our original vision of being a Bible Study that actually studies the Bible. We’ve dug deep in the Word and found that the treasure of Jesus is found on every page.
As for the future? It’s looking good. God is continuing to write our stories individually as well as the story of Conduit collectively. For starters, we’re no longer defining Conduit by what it’s not. What is it exactly you might ask? In the coming weeks and months we’ll unpack that.
Tomorrow night we’re NOT going to be meeting at Journey Church. Instead we’re going to be meeting at my home in Franklin. It’s going to be a mini celebration of 2 years of God moving in our lives. We’ll hang out on our patio, light up the fire pit, and talk about Jesus.
If you plan on attending, please email me and I’ll gladly get you my street addy.
If you could bring some sort of drink, side dish, secret recipe something, feel free to do so.
Blessings,
Darren
*******
You may or may not notice, but I am typing a full half octave higher than before. If you show up on September 16, I'll explain in more detail. But in the meantime, if you want to get a read on what happened to me, go rent Braveheart and forward it to the end of the movie. You know, the part where he is strapped the table screaming freedom!?
Shannon and I have missed you all so much these past few months. I have missed getting to share with you all of that TMI stuff that was so cathartic for me, and so kind of you to humor me by reading. I have missed getting to search the scriptures with you.
In my down time this summer, God began to stir something inside of me. I began to ask myself a lot of questions that I had never asked before. I began to see stuff in the Word that I had never noticed before.
Through this process I started thinking…
• What if there was a gathering of people that got together weekly and didn't "study" the Word like some sort of academic exercise, but searched the scriptures for the treasures that lie within?
• What if that last question was not just semantics?
• What if it was a gathering that was simple, no fancy programs, no org charts, no fancy research, no pencil pushing consultants with clipboards and opinions?
• What if in simplicity there was almost zero over head in the budget?
• What if big impact didn't have to mean big attendance numbers?
• What if it could meet in a neutral location on a main street that is highly visible?
• What if this gathering found out that the Word is exactly what God promised it would be to us?
• What if the water of the Word softened our hearts, allowing the Potter to mold us into the image He desires?
• What if we get into the Word and begin to care about the things that Jesus cared about?
• What if every week an offering is taken just like normal, but the vast majority of it is given away to the front lines of feeding, clothing, and housing those in need all around the World?
• What if we could partner with just a handful of organizations and move just a small amount of the abundant resources in this region to places with nothing?
• What if together we really could do more?
• What if?
The picture that I believe God showed me was of a conduit. What's that you city boys and girls ask? A conduit is a fancy word for a pipe. If you were to tear the sheet rock off the walls in your home you'd find conduit throughout that house all of the electrical wiring transferring power safely from one place to another. If you're driving around the Midwest and see farmers watering their crops, the sprinklers, nozzles, etc are all connected to a conduit which goes to where the water is; allowing it to freely move from a place with plenty of water to a place with no water.
A conduit is not fancy. It's not expensive. It has no moving parts. It's all around you but you never see it. And yet, without it there is no electricity in your walls and no water in the fields of Nebraska.
And thus, on September 16, 2007 at 7pm at The Listening Room in Downtown Franklin we will launch the Conduit Bible Study. We will search the scriptures verse by verse. We will feed on the milk and the meat of the word. And lest we become spiritually fattened for the kill, we will respond to it with action. Not Faith or Works. It's Faith that Works.
We'll follow the model that Paul gives us in 2 Cor. 8 & 9. There will be no pressure, no emotional strings being pulled. We will just all give what we can in a strategic manner, giving what we each personally can, and when it's combined together we can put it in the bucket, and almost immediately funnel it, or "Conduit" it to organizations who are taking care of the poor all around the World. (for those of you following along, they are the "nozzles" in this analogy)
I hope this all makes sense. I'm more excited about this than I have been in a long time. If you want to be prepared for what is coming read in the first few chapters of Acts how the early church worked. Read 2 Cor. 8 & 9 and see that those verses we love to quote about God blessing us for giving, are talking about giving to the poor.
If you don't mind, would you send me a quick email letting me know if you plan to attend? It would just be helpful if I could get a rough estimate of what to expect on our launch night. The Listening Room isn't a giant place and I want to make sure we're prepared.
That sound you hear is the heart beat of God.
********
Like any living and breathing organism, Conduit has grown and matured. In the early days I spent a lot of energy trying to define Conduit by what it was not, more than by what it is. I was pretty adamant that it “isn’t a church”. After all we don’t have a children’s pastor and I actually “go” to church at a real church.
As Conduit has grown, so have I, and those that have been apart of this little corner of the Kingdom of God.
When I look back at the initial vision, I see that short of us still being in downtown Franklin, we have absolutely held true to the vision.
We’ve been a Conduit.
Conduit of His Resources: We’ve taken in and given away over $100,000 dollars. Those resources are feeding, clothing, educating, serving in Christ our brothers and sisters in Haiti. They have served our brothers and sisters at Place of Hope who are battling for their lives against addiction. Refugees were fed in Myanmar. A school is being built in Ghana to train young men and women to be Christ like leaders to serve their nation. 96.5% of what has been taken in to Conduit has been given away.
Conduit of His Love: We’ve taken trips to Haiti where we served our brothers and sisters spiritually and physically. The medical clinic we held in Jacmel, Haiti was profound. We witnessed first hand the food that is being given to the children there through our work. Uganda, Haiti, Indonesia, have all seen Conduit “boots on the ground” in the past 2 years.
Conduit of His Word: We continue with our original vision of being a Bible Study that actually studies the Bible. We’ve dug deep in the Word and found that the treasure of Jesus is found on every page.
As for the future? It’s looking good. God is continuing to write our stories individually as well as the story of Conduit collectively. For starters, we’re no longer defining Conduit by what it’s not. What is it exactly you might ask? In the coming weeks and months we’ll unpack that.
Tomorrow night we’re NOT going to be meeting at Journey Church. Instead we’re going to be meeting at my home in Franklin. It’s going to be a mini celebration of 2 years of God moving in our lives. We’ll hang out on our patio, light up the fire pit, and talk about Jesus.
If you plan on attending, please email me and I’ll gladly get you my street addy.
If you could bring some sort of drink, side dish, secret recipe something, feel free to do so.
Blessings,
Darren
Conduit September 22- Postcard From Alaska
The thing about Alaska that is different from where I live is the disparity between the numbers of things that can kill you. While it’s not entirely likely it is in fact possible that an innocent walk through the Anchorage City park could end as a piece for “When Animals Attack.” Putting all rationally statistical arguments aside, it is an option.
I found myself very curious about this and quizzed just about any local who would talk to me about their experiences growing up in Alaska. It seemed everyone had a story of an encounter that had either happened to he or she personally, or someone they knew. Stories of hunkering down on a golf course while a herd of Moosen (the plural for moose?) surrounded them. There was a story of getting lost and dying. There was the youth pastor who crashed his plane into the mountain, someone taken out by the bore tide, and of course, the bears.
For some reason the bears really stuck in my mind like my irrational fear of flying. The thing that I found the most disturbing was the complete lack of continuity on the advice for what I should do in the highly unlikely yet entirely possible event that I would encounter a bear.
I was told by one person that I should look the bear in the eye. Another local when I suggested that I would look the bear straight in the eye responded with “what would you do that for? That’s crazy.” I was told to hunker down and play dead, covering my neck and head, I was told to stand firm and “act big”. I asked, like should I raise my arms over my head? This was met with a phrase I would come to hear often in Alaska: “What would you do that for?”
The lady at a local grocery/ bait shop/ bakery told Adam Agee and I that we shouldn’t worry because it’s the fall and unlike the Spring they’re full. She earnestly suggested that if we were going to walk in the woods we should wear bright colors and make a lot of noise. I was wearing black and scared silent. As we headed out the door she offered helpfully, “you know you ought to be careful the bears might be hunting.” As we drove away I was struck by the fact that if they’re not hungry then were they hunting for sport?
The one resolute piece of advice that was absolutely the same from everyone was that I should not, under any circumstances, for any reason, run. This was very sad to me because in that situation, the only response I could see myself mustering was a sort of muppet like flailing of my arms and wilding running away.
It was clear with all the conflicting advice we were getting that we were going to have to come up with our own plan.
Brian Calcara, Stellar Kart bass player/ former Iowan suggested very helpfully and quite seriously that we should yodel. He was pretty certain that he had heard this before. I was pretty certain that I was going to let him do the yodeling. Draw attention to himself while I snuck off.
There were 4 of us wandering around on foot on Saturday and I figured that should we encounter a bear that my odds went down to 1 in 4 of getting taken down. The fatal flaw in my thought process of course being that I was with a bunch of skinny musicians. Any God fearing, flag waving, American bear would go for the big meal instead of the skimpy one given the chance. There was also the chance of using one of the skinny guys as an appetizer and me as the entrée.
Alas, after all this mental energy that I had expended, we never saw a single solitary bear. In fact our entire wild life experience was a bald eagle at about 2,000 feet away, a ground squirrel and a guppy looking baby fish in the lake.
Yodelleheehoo
The thing I found most frustrating about Alaska was the results of my photography. I would see this majestic mountain range, or vast expansive view, or towering glacier and eagerly snap pictures. When I looked at the photos I realized that it was so one dimensional. There was no depth. No perspective. No reality of just how overwhelming it was. It was just a picture.
I guess that’s how the people of Israel must have felt and maybe still feel when participating in the feasts outlined in Exodus 23. In these festivals we find pictures of a Messiah who was yet to come. These weren’t just dinners like our Thanksgiving feast. They were much more deep, much more profound.
When we look at these feasts, it’s like a photo album of Jesus. The beautiful part is that you and I don’t have to live in the photo album, we have the real thing. And just like Alaska, He’s way better in real life.
When I got home today, I didn’t walk past my wife and go inside to kiss the picture of her on the wall. No way, I wanted to real thing.
At Conduit tomorrow night we’re going to get a look at some of the pictures of Christ in Exodus 23. As always the more we get to know the Lord the more in love we are with Him. Our love for Him has resulted in over $100,000 being distributed to our brothers and sisters in Africa, Haiti, and right here in Middle Tennessee. That’s not just a picture of Jesus, it is Jesus in action through you and I.
We’ll kick off at 730pm at Journey Church. Building 8 in the Factory. I hope you can make it.
Darren
Remember that $15 can feed a child for a month in Haiti. For $32 a month you can feed, clothe and educate that child. All donations to Conduit are 100% tax deductible and continue to go right through our account and directly to the people we are serving. You can donate online at www.conduitmission.org
I found myself very curious about this and quizzed just about any local who would talk to me about their experiences growing up in Alaska. It seemed everyone had a story of an encounter that had either happened to he or she personally, or someone they knew. Stories of hunkering down on a golf course while a herd of Moosen (the plural for moose?) surrounded them. There was a story of getting lost and dying. There was the youth pastor who crashed his plane into the mountain, someone taken out by the bore tide, and of course, the bears.
For some reason the bears really stuck in my mind like my irrational fear of flying. The thing that I found the most disturbing was the complete lack of continuity on the advice for what I should do in the highly unlikely yet entirely possible event that I would encounter a bear.
I was told by one person that I should look the bear in the eye. Another local when I suggested that I would look the bear straight in the eye responded with “what would you do that for? That’s crazy.” I was told to hunker down and play dead, covering my neck and head, I was told to stand firm and “act big”. I asked, like should I raise my arms over my head? This was met with a phrase I would come to hear often in Alaska: “What would you do that for?”
The lady at a local grocery/ bait shop/ bakery told Adam Agee and I that we shouldn’t worry because it’s the fall and unlike the Spring they’re full. She earnestly suggested that if we were going to walk in the woods we should wear bright colors and make a lot of noise. I was wearing black and scared silent. As we headed out the door she offered helpfully, “you know you ought to be careful the bears might be hunting.” As we drove away I was struck by the fact that if they’re not hungry then were they hunting for sport?
The one resolute piece of advice that was absolutely the same from everyone was that I should not, under any circumstances, for any reason, run. This was very sad to me because in that situation, the only response I could see myself mustering was a sort of muppet like flailing of my arms and wilding running away.
It was clear with all the conflicting advice we were getting that we were going to have to come up with our own plan.
Brian Calcara, Stellar Kart bass player/ former Iowan suggested very helpfully and quite seriously that we should yodel. He was pretty certain that he had heard this before. I was pretty certain that I was going to let him do the yodeling. Draw attention to himself while I snuck off.
There were 4 of us wandering around on foot on Saturday and I figured that should we encounter a bear that my odds went down to 1 in 4 of getting taken down. The fatal flaw in my thought process of course being that I was with a bunch of skinny musicians. Any God fearing, flag waving, American bear would go for the big meal instead of the skimpy one given the chance. There was also the chance of using one of the skinny guys as an appetizer and me as the entrée.
Alas, after all this mental energy that I had expended, we never saw a single solitary bear. In fact our entire wild life experience was a bald eagle at about 2,000 feet away, a ground squirrel and a guppy looking baby fish in the lake.
Yodelleheehoo
The thing I found most frustrating about Alaska was the results of my photography. I would see this majestic mountain range, or vast expansive view, or towering glacier and eagerly snap pictures. When I looked at the photos I realized that it was so one dimensional. There was no depth. No perspective. No reality of just how overwhelming it was. It was just a picture.
I guess that’s how the people of Israel must have felt and maybe still feel when participating in the feasts outlined in Exodus 23. In these festivals we find pictures of a Messiah who was yet to come. These weren’t just dinners like our Thanksgiving feast. They were much more deep, much more profound.
When we look at these feasts, it’s like a photo album of Jesus. The beautiful part is that you and I don’t have to live in the photo album, we have the real thing. And just like Alaska, He’s way better in real life.
When I got home today, I didn’t walk past my wife and go inside to kiss the picture of her on the wall. No way, I wanted to real thing.
At Conduit tomorrow night we’re going to get a look at some of the pictures of Christ in Exodus 23. As always the more we get to know the Lord the more in love we are with Him. Our love for Him has resulted in over $100,000 being distributed to our brothers and sisters in Africa, Haiti, and right here in Middle Tennessee. That’s not just a picture of Jesus, it is Jesus in action through you and I.
We’ll kick off at 730pm at Journey Church. Building 8 in the Factory. I hope you can make it.
Darren
Remember that $15 can feed a child for a month in Haiti. For $32 a month you can feed, clothe and educate that child. All donations to Conduit are 100% tax deductible and continue to go right through our account and directly to the people we are serving. You can donate online at www.conduitmission.org
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