I don't know if you can relate to this but I think I frustrate my wife because I have plenty of clothes in my closet and drawers but I seem to wear the same 4-5 things over and over again.
My wife has just undergone the semi annual clothes purge from my closet. Some lucky Hispanic gentlemen are usually the lucky recipients of this purge after they end up in the Tyler garage sale.
The problem isn't so much that I don't have options. The problem isn't even that I don't necessarily like the options. (with notable exceptions such as the silk boxers and button down dress shirts) The problem is more about easy access.
You see, my wife is very good at keeping up with the laundry. So when I wear something, chances are it's going to be washed, dried, and back in rotation in a matter of a couple days. So when I head to the closet those are the things at the front or on top. I might be inclined to dig down 2-3 shirts or jeans, but no more than that.
The underwear drawer it not a dissimilar situation. Don't get me wrong. Like every guy I've got the actives and the reserves, but I've definitely got my "go to" and again normally it's on the top of the drawer. (the notable exceptions being the afore mentioned silk boxers)
My dad tells a story about his favorite yellow shirt disappearing soon after he and mom got married. A crime that has my moms fingerprints all over it, although she was never prosecuted. She had motive and access. It would have been an open and shut case in any court of law.
It seems to indicate that this is a timeless problem. I'll bet that Adam would have worn the same fig leaves over and over again if it weren't for how itchy leaves can be when they dry up. And I assume animal skins would go putrid at some point but I digress.
My desire to not dig deep isn't so much about laziness as it is about hassle. Easy access, simply execution and I'm off to the races.
As we approach these next few weeks of how to approach the Bible we're definitely going to dig deep. It occurs to me that a supernatural text written by a supernatural God would require supernatural assistance in getting it inside of you.
Tonight we're going to talk about rightly dividing the Word. 2 Timothy clearly says that we should know how to rightly divide the Word. Hebrews tells us that the Word should divide our spirit and soul. But what does that mean? How on earth do I divide the Word? It seems that it means we should just "understand" it, but it actually says "divide". What meanest these things?
We'll talk about it tonight. Bring your Bible and a shovel. We're going to dig deep.
See you tonight at 7:30pm at Journey Ecclesia in Building 8 at the Factory. Philip Peters will be leading worship.
Blessings,
Darren
PS- IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION- I got an email from a friend who was concerned that I am advocating not knowing the Word yourself and allowing others to be the ones who teach it to you. Due to their specific religious upbringing that seemed to be what the email indicated. Just to be clear: I am NOT advocating that in the least. Quite the contrary. I'm suggesting that just studying for the sake of head knowledge isn't the point. Getting the Word in you, meditating on it, keeping it in your hearts, etc all require diligence and time in the Word. We are, and will continue to be a gathering that is dedicating to searching the scriptures verse by verse and finding Jesus Christ there.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Conduit July 21- How To NOT Study The Bible
Why is it that the Bible can seem so overwhelming? If it’s so important and so crucial to my walk with the Lord, then why does it have to be so hard? How is it possible that it can seem so boring?
I personally believe that the Bible itself isn’t the problem, but that it’s our approach to it. I use the word study a lot when referencing the scriptures. When I went to Bible College, we “studied” the Bible. We were memorizing stuff, learning the history of the divided kingdoms, and impressing ourselves with all the knowledge we were gaining. Knowledge that the Bible itself says “puffs up”.
Think with me for a minute.
The Bible gives us all kinds of great advice on how to approach it and oddly enough “studying it” is not on the list.
When you go to Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible, it is actually about Gods word. Read through that and see if you can find the word study. We are commanded to keep, obey, consider, learn, neglect not, rejoice, meditate, long for, be consumed with, trust in, and seek the Word. But not one time are we told to study it.
Joshua was admonished to let not the Word depart from his mouth, to keep it.
David said that Gods Word was a lamp for his feet.
Jesus referred to the Word as “seeds” in his parable of the sower.
I could go on but there are multiple pictures, images and descriptions of the Word and how we’re to handle it.
But keep looking and you’ll only find the word “study” around 4 times depending on the translation less. Reducing it to studying it seems to miss the point
John 5:39 Jesus admonishes the Pharisee’s about studying the Word looking for eternal life and missing the point that Jesus was the one that the Word they were studying was pointing too. Read it in context. He is not giving them a ringing endorsement for that approach to the scriptures.
2 Timothy 2:15 Is the clarion call to study the Word. It’s one that I’ve leaned on and quoted before. Except that the original Greek word isn’t study. It’s “spoudazo”. It means to be diligent, to exert yourself. It’s usually translated as “endeavor” or “diligent” and only once translated as study.
Solomon did say that he studied the word but in Eccl 12:12 he says that study makes you weary. Anyone who has fallen asleep studying for a test can give a hearty amen!.
John says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word. If I’m looking to build my relationship with my wife, the last thing on my list is to “study” her.
My approach to the Bible is looking for Jesus. Whether it’s in the types and shadows of the laws, the genealogies, or the prophecies He is there. Jesus himself said it all pointed to him. When He encountered the two disciples on the road to Emmaus it says that He took them through the Word and showed them how it all pointed to Him. And I love this part; it says “there eyes were opened”.
Finding Jesus in the Word opens your eyes. Let’s look for him. And as we do, we’ll continue to be blown away by Him, and grow in our love for Him.
My prayer is that when we get through this series, that you’ll have a new appreciation for just how amazing God is. So join me as we learn how to NOT study the Bible. Let’s not make this semantics, let’s approach the Word as the Word itself tells us to approach it.
Monday night at 7:30pm at Journey Ecclesia.
Blessings,
Darren
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
www.conduitmission.org
I personally believe that the Bible itself isn’t the problem, but that it’s our approach to it. I use the word study a lot when referencing the scriptures. When I went to Bible College, we “studied” the Bible. We were memorizing stuff, learning the history of the divided kingdoms, and impressing ourselves with all the knowledge we were gaining. Knowledge that the Bible itself says “puffs up”.
Think with me for a minute.
The Bible gives us all kinds of great advice on how to approach it and oddly enough “studying it” is not on the list.
When you go to Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible, it is actually about Gods word. Read through that and see if you can find the word study. We are commanded to keep, obey, consider, learn, neglect not, rejoice, meditate, long for, be consumed with, trust in, and seek the Word. But not one time are we told to study it.
Joshua was admonished to let not the Word depart from his mouth, to keep it.
David said that Gods Word was a lamp for his feet.
Jesus referred to the Word as “seeds” in his parable of the sower.
I could go on but there are multiple pictures, images and descriptions of the Word and how we’re to handle it.
But keep looking and you’ll only find the word “study” around 4 times depending on the translation less. Reducing it to studying it seems to miss the point
John 5:39 Jesus admonishes the Pharisee’s about studying the Word looking for eternal life and missing the point that Jesus was the one that the Word they were studying was pointing too. Read it in context. He is not giving them a ringing endorsement for that approach to the scriptures.
2 Timothy 2:15 Is the clarion call to study the Word. It’s one that I’ve leaned on and quoted before. Except that the original Greek word isn’t study. It’s “spoudazo”. It means to be diligent, to exert yourself. It’s usually translated as “endeavor” or “diligent” and only once translated as study.
Solomon did say that he studied the word but in Eccl 12:12 he says that study makes you weary. Anyone who has fallen asleep studying for a test can give a hearty amen!.
John says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is the Word. If I’m looking to build my relationship with my wife, the last thing on my list is to “study” her.
My approach to the Bible is looking for Jesus. Whether it’s in the types and shadows of the laws, the genealogies, or the prophecies He is there. Jesus himself said it all pointed to him. When He encountered the two disciples on the road to Emmaus it says that He took them through the Word and showed them how it all pointed to Him. And I love this part; it says “there eyes were opened”.
Finding Jesus in the Word opens your eyes. Let’s look for him. And as we do, we’ll continue to be blown away by Him, and grow in our love for Him.
My prayer is that when we get through this series, that you’ll have a new appreciation for just how amazing God is. So join me as we learn how to NOT study the Bible. Let’s not make this semantics, let’s approach the Word as the Word itself tells us to approach it.
Monday night at 7:30pm at Journey Ecclesia.
Blessings,
Darren
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
www.conduitmission.org
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Conduit July 14- How To "Study" The Bible
When you get saved you’re offered many helpful steps to make your Christian walk complete. Going to church, praying every day and in some more ambitious circles you should really begin tithing immediately so as to have someone called the devourer rebuked and to avoid what those pesky canker worms and locusts will do to you.
And for sure you’ve got to read your Bible. Read it every day you’re told.
This is a great piece of advice except that to the uninitiated the Bible can be somewhat of an overwhelming tome.
Imagine with me that you’ve never heard of the Bible. That you’ve never heard the stories with the flannel graph characters from the well meaning Sunday school teacher with a mustache and floral print dresses. (the floral dresses if it was a female the mustache if it was either)
Imagine with me that you’re reading it for the very first time. What would it look like for you?
For starters it’s really long. I mean REALLY long. It’s got like 1, 000 pages. And even more it’s in small print and just to make sure your eyes roll completely back into your head, it’s in two columns!
Then you realize in a hurry that there are no “points”. Christian books are supposed to have points or for the more sophisticated they have “steps”. Usually they’re numbered and range anywhere from three to ten steps or points and with a few notable exceptions twelve. But the Bible doesn’t have any of that. It’s got chapters, and verses, but they don’t seem to serve any other purpose than to locate that statement you really liked about being successful and have your breadbaskets full. (never mind that bread has so many carbs)
There are all kinds of seemingly unhelpful information about whether or not my boil is clean or unclean and a command on how to properly go to the bathroom outside.
There is that one book full of really wise things that are bite sized and suitable for framing. Kind of like Gods very own “successories”.
There are definitely some exciting moments with drama, adultery, and intrigue. It’s kind of like a new NBC series but with robes. You got a guy who becomes king and for sport kills his neighbor and takes his hot wife. There’s that one about the dude who marries a hooker who constantly cheats on him and yet God still tells him to stay with him. And of course that great one about the guy who was super hero strong but after being seduced by a buxom young hottie gets his hair cut off and in a Shakespearean final act he kills himself and all of the enemies in one act.
There are those short books with strange names towards the middle with titles like Habukakuk and Haggai with images of beasts with twelve heads that drink blood for who terrify cities and for whom mothers take their children off the streets.
And then there are the genealogies. I mean seriously have you read a genealogy? Meshuickansianaianrama the son of Reahoboamaninian begat Hababukiareaianwho dwelt in the valley of Meshiuknian which is by the Jordan. Maybe the reason they don’t use last names in the Bible is because the first names are just too long?
As you hit about ¾ of the way you get to what appears to be Chapter 2, but it’s in fact a different section. It’s called the New Testament. The only “testament” that I’ve ever actually seen before was my “last will and testament”.
The New Testament is pretty cool except the part where they kill the hero. You’re not supposed to kill the hero. I mean seriously. Oh wait. Whew. He rises from the dead. What a twist. Normally if the hero dies he would wake up and realize it was all a dream.
If you can make it all the way to the end you find that part with all the beasts again. Sounds vaguely familiar. Almost like that stuff from those books in the middle. And then there’s that hero guy again who rose from the dead. He seemed so peaceful, and now he’s got the fire, the sword and he flies. He really is a hero. He just needs a cape. It’s kind of like Batman but with a horse.
I certainly am not trying to offend anyone. If you’ve known me or been around me at all you know of my love for the Bible. I believe it is Gods perfect word, perfectly recorded for you and me. There are reasons it’s written the way it is. God does not make mistakes.
The Bible can seem very daunting. It can seem very complicated, hard to understand. Whether you’re a new believer or have been around the church block a time or two, the Bible is the one thing you want to be passionate about, and yet it can be the very thing you fail at most often.
Maybe that’s because it isn’t meant to be “read” as much as it was to be searched. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to be memorized as much as we are to meditate on it. And maybe, just maybe we need the help of a higher power to completely get the beauty and sophistication that is the Bible. Perhaps God wrote the Bible this way because He knew we would have to depend on Him to fully grasp it.
I love it enough that we’re going to spend some time in the next couple of weeks talking about how to approach the Bible. I hate to use the word “study” it because that word is used very rarely in the New Testament. But for lack of a better words we’re going to learn how to “study” the Bible.
I hope you can make it. I’m going to share some of my own tools of the trade and the ways that I personally approach it. I’m hoping you can bring some of your thoughts and suggestions as well.
See you Monday night at 7:30 at Journey Ecclesia in Building 8 at The Factory.
Darren
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy
And for sure you’ve got to read your Bible. Read it every day you’re told.
This is a great piece of advice except that to the uninitiated the Bible can be somewhat of an overwhelming tome.
Imagine with me that you’ve never heard of the Bible. That you’ve never heard the stories with the flannel graph characters from the well meaning Sunday school teacher with a mustache and floral print dresses. (the floral dresses if it was a female the mustache if it was either)
Imagine with me that you’re reading it for the very first time. What would it look like for you?
For starters it’s really long. I mean REALLY long. It’s got like 1, 000 pages. And even more it’s in small print and just to make sure your eyes roll completely back into your head, it’s in two columns!
Then you realize in a hurry that there are no “points”. Christian books are supposed to have points or for the more sophisticated they have “steps”. Usually they’re numbered and range anywhere from three to ten steps or points and with a few notable exceptions twelve. But the Bible doesn’t have any of that. It’s got chapters, and verses, but they don’t seem to serve any other purpose than to locate that statement you really liked about being successful and have your breadbaskets full. (never mind that bread has so many carbs)
There are all kinds of seemingly unhelpful information about whether or not my boil is clean or unclean and a command on how to properly go to the bathroom outside.
There is that one book full of really wise things that are bite sized and suitable for framing. Kind of like Gods very own “successories”.
There are definitely some exciting moments with drama, adultery, and intrigue. It’s kind of like a new NBC series but with robes. You got a guy who becomes king and for sport kills his neighbor and takes his hot wife. There’s that one about the dude who marries a hooker who constantly cheats on him and yet God still tells him to stay with him. And of course that great one about the guy who was super hero strong but after being seduced by a buxom young hottie gets his hair cut off and in a Shakespearean final act he kills himself and all of the enemies in one act.
There are those short books with strange names towards the middle with titles like Habukakuk and Haggai with images of beasts with twelve heads that drink blood for who terrify cities and for whom mothers take their children off the streets.
And then there are the genealogies. I mean seriously have you read a genealogy? Meshuickansianaianrama the son of Reahoboamaninian begat Hababukiareaianwho dwelt in the valley of Meshiuknian which is by the Jordan. Maybe the reason they don’t use last names in the Bible is because the first names are just too long?
As you hit about ¾ of the way you get to what appears to be Chapter 2, but it’s in fact a different section. It’s called the New Testament. The only “testament” that I’ve ever actually seen before was my “last will and testament”.
The New Testament is pretty cool except the part where they kill the hero. You’re not supposed to kill the hero. I mean seriously. Oh wait. Whew. He rises from the dead. What a twist. Normally if the hero dies he would wake up and realize it was all a dream.
If you can make it all the way to the end you find that part with all the beasts again. Sounds vaguely familiar. Almost like that stuff from those books in the middle. And then there’s that hero guy again who rose from the dead. He seemed so peaceful, and now he’s got the fire, the sword and he flies. He really is a hero. He just needs a cape. It’s kind of like Batman but with a horse.
I certainly am not trying to offend anyone. If you’ve known me or been around me at all you know of my love for the Bible. I believe it is Gods perfect word, perfectly recorded for you and me. There are reasons it’s written the way it is. God does not make mistakes.
The Bible can seem very daunting. It can seem very complicated, hard to understand. Whether you’re a new believer or have been around the church block a time or two, the Bible is the one thing you want to be passionate about, and yet it can be the very thing you fail at most often.
Maybe that’s because it isn’t meant to be “read” as much as it was to be searched. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to be memorized as much as we are to meditate on it. And maybe, just maybe we need the help of a higher power to completely get the beauty and sophistication that is the Bible. Perhaps God wrote the Bible this way because He knew we would have to depend on Him to fully grasp it.
I love it enough that we’re going to spend some time in the next couple of weeks talking about how to approach the Bible. I hate to use the word “study” it because that word is used very rarely in the New Testament. But for lack of a better words we’re going to learn how to “study” the Bible.
I hope you can make it. I’m going to share some of my own tools of the trade and the ways that I personally approach it. I’m hoping you can bring some of your thoughts and suggestions as well.
See you Monday night at 7:30 at Journey Ecclesia in Building 8 at The Factory.
Darren
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy
Friday, July 11, 2008
It’s that time! It’s time for hundreds of thousands of Christians to gather together in the dusty fields, converted farms and theme parks of America. It’s time for thunderstorm cancellations; for oppressive heat; for dehydration. It’s time for cold showers; no showers; porta potties and sleeping in tents, hotels and campers. It’s time for Christian festivals!!!
Of all the really great stuff to experience at this uniquely American Christian event called a Christian festival is the uniquely American Christian vendor. I know that Jesus had large crowds that would gather around him but I wonder if he knew what he was missing by not allowing vendors to set up their tents at his gigs.
The vendors at the festivals are a great place to enhance your walk with the Lord by properly accessorizing your faith. After all is un accessorized faith any kind of faith at all?
The T-shirts are the main items you find and they’re just great. There are usually slogans like “a blood donor saved my life” or “tree hugger” with a picture of someone hugging a cross or one of the new hot title: “global warming” with a picture of a globe on fire and a caption that reads “don’t be here when things really heat up”
The idea is that people will become so overwhelmed by the sheer cleverness of our slogans that they will be compelled to engage us in a dialogue and this will in turn allow us to win souls. Peter said we should be ready to give an answer whenever anyone asks us about our faith, and these T-shirts will certainly cause folks to ask some questions. (not sure if they’re the right questions, but questions nonetheless)
I’m personally a big fan because it takes away all the pressure and burden of living a life sacrificially in service and loving our neighbors and replaces it with this really easy solution.
Not to be outdone, There are the trinket people. Of course there are the key chains and necklaces, but that’s not the good stuff. For instance for Fathers day you might want to purchased the ash trays with a picture of Jesus in the bottom looking up at you to sort of scare you from smoking and candles that smell like Jesus. Seriously there is a candle that is made with Psalm 45:8 as the recipe. It says that Jesus garments will smell like myrhh, aloe and cassia. Light this candle up and your whole house will smell like Jesus.
Every year there is a sort of unofficial competition among my people to find the best item from a vendor at the tents. Recent winners have included Christian Poker Chips , The Nativity Egg Timer, Wash Away Your Sins Bubble Bath, and Bobble Head Jesus. The all time favorite of mine and winner for best in show would have to be the product that was made out of hexagon steel nuts that you wore around your neck with carved sayings in them that were titled with no sense of irony at all: “Jesus Nuts”. I don’t know how to promise you enough that I am not making that up.
I guess it never really occurred to me that Jesus was commercially viable. I'm thinking it never occurred to him since he lived his life without even a house, let alone money. I mean I know He's rich now what with the streets paved in Gold and such. But maybe He knew something that tends to allude us here on earth. Maybe mixing commerce and the gospel is just not meant to be.
I understand the irony of what I'm saying when you consider my day job. It kind of freaks me out just a bit to think about it too much. But I think it's worth asking the questions. At what point did ministry become a career choice and not a calling.
Pragmatically I tell myself that money is needed to cover the expenses, to pay the bills, etc. I don't have the answers. Sometimes I'm afraid of what the answer might be, but I guess it's about time I find out.
Of all the really great stuff to experience at this uniquely American Christian event called a Christian festival is the uniquely American Christian vendor. I know that Jesus had large crowds that would gather around him but I wonder if he knew what he was missing by not allowing vendors to set up their tents at his gigs.
The vendors at the festivals are a great place to enhance your walk with the Lord by properly accessorizing your faith. After all is un accessorized faith any kind of faith at all?
The T-shirts are the main items you find and they’re just great. There are usually slogans like “a blood donor saved my life” or “tree hugger” with a picture of someone hugging a cross or one of the new hot title: “global warming” with a picture of a globe on fire and a caption that reads “don’t be here when things really heat up”
The idea is that people will become so overwhelmed by the sheer cleverness of our slogans that they will be compelled to engage us in a dialogue and this will in turn allow us to win souls. Peter said we should be ready to give an answer whenever anyone asks us about our faith, and these T-shirts will certainly cause folks to ask some questions. (not sure if they’re the right questions, but questions nonetheless)
I’m personally a big fan because it takes away all the pressure and burden of living a life sacrificially in service and loving our neighbors and replaces it with this really easy solution.
Not to be outdone, There are the trinket people. Of course there are the key chains and necklaces, but that’s not the good stuff. For instance for Fathers day you might want to purchased the ash trays with a picture of Jesus in the bottom looking up at you to sort of scare you from smoking and candles that smell like Jesus. Seriously there is a candle that is made with Psalm 45:8 as the recipe. It says that Jesus garments will smell like myrhh, aloe and cassia. Light this candle up and your whole house will smell like Jesus.
Every year there is a sort of unofficial competition among my people to find the best item from a vendor at the tents. Recent winners have included Christian Poker Chips , The Nativity Egg Timer, Wash Away Your Sins Bubble Bath, and Bobble Head Jesus. The all time favorite of mine and winner for best in show would have to be the product that was made out of hexagon steel nuts that you wore around your neck with carved sayings in them that were titled with no sense of irony at all: “Jesus Nuts”. I don’t know how to promise you enough that I am not making that up.
I guess it never really occurred to me that Jesus was commercially viable. I'm thinking it never occurred to him since he lived his life without even a house, let alone money. I mean I know He's rich now what with the streets paved in Gold and such. But maybe He knew something that tends to allude us here on earth. Maybe mixing commerce and the gospel is just not meant to be.
I understand the irony of what I'm saying when you consider my day job. It kind of freaks me out just a bit to think about it too much. But I think it's worth asking the questions. At what point did ministry become a career choice and not a calling.
Pragmatically I tell myself that money is needed to cover the expenses, to pay the bills, etc. I don't have the answers. Sometimes I'm afraid of what the answer might be, but I guess it's about time I find out.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Conduit July 7- Waterworld?
We went “swimming” on vacation. A lot. Of course this is different than the water aerobics class at the Y or the competitive swimming for the Olympics. This swimming is the kids in the pool with yours truly as their own aqua servant, launching pad, flotation device and personal swim coach. That was just at the pool.
The funny thing is my kids would have been 100% content to hang around the pool. But seeing as how we have a pool in our neighborhood that is quite large I reminded them that if Daddy wanted to hang out at a pool all week there was no need to drive 468 miles.
And so it was that I would drag them down to the beach where they would have fun, but with the constant longing to get themselves back to the pool so Daddy could throw them some more. (I was literally throwing them 5-6 feet in the air in canon ball formation, which meant I got a fairly sufficient upper body workout)
And so it was, water in the pool, water at the beach and for good measure it rained a couple days so water from above. With the humidity there was water in the air around which for a man of my size means water from inside. Our entire vacation was water centric. In fact I’m quite convinced that if my kids saw that stupid movie Water World with Kevin Costner that they would think that is a fine way for the world to end; in water.
Time lapse….
As I sat down to write this at 11pm on Sunday night there was a special on CNN about clean drinking water around the world. I find it completely ironic that I’m sitting here writing about an absolute excess of water while this show was on in the background. I put my computer down and watched for a while. I needed to sleep on it.
There are 1 billion people in the world right now without access to clean drinking water. That’s the entire population of the Americas. The guy from UNICEF was heralding as a success the fact that just under10 million children died from diseases derived from unclean water. To get your mind wrapped around that number, realize that the population of Georgia, including Atlanta, is 9.3 million. So we could add Nashville to that picture and still be just under 10 million people.
It just reminded me that what we are doing at Conduit is important, and that the picture of what we’re doing is so appropriate. Not that you need reminding, but our name denotes being a pipe or conduit of Gods resources, power, and ministry from a place of plenty to places in need.
Jesus so often spoke in terms of water. At the last day of the Feast of Tabernacle, the last day of the water pouring ceremony that reminded the people of Israel of their time in the desert when water came from a dry rock, Jesus stood up and said That if anyone was thirsty they should come to him and drink, and that from them would flow rivers of living water. It said he spoke this of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 7)
Joel referred to the Holy Spirit as the former and latter rain. (Joel 2)
So what does it mean to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit to the World? To us in America where we have so much water that we vacation in it, we have no concept of this, but water is life. The absence of water means death from the most simple of means. Behind Malaria, the number 2 killer in the world is diarrhea brought on by water born illness. Something you and I look at as an inconvenience and a sickness that we make funny child hood songs about is the number 2 killer in the world. It ought not to be.
And so it is that Conduit is bringing water both literally and spiritually to the World. Jesus told the Pharisee’s in Matthew 23 that they shouldn’t focus all their energy on things like tithing and forget justice and mercy. He told them they should tithe but to keep justice and mercy on the front of their minds. He said that in the middle of the “woe unto you” chapter.
I don’t say that to bring guilt upon anyone. I don’t say that to get you to send Conduit money. I just know that we all (including me) need reminding of stuff we already know. If you haven’t been a Conduit of Gods resources lately, maybe ask Him today where he would like to you to stand. Where you can stand to release the life giving water of the Spirit or where you can release the life giving resources.
We do offer a simple solution if you’re feeling led right now. Conduit is a ministry that is devoted to this very thing. I have no idea who gives money. I believe that’s the way it should be. If you feel led you can go to www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy and click on the donate now link. We clean out the account once a month and send the money directly to our ministry partners who are on the front lines of justice and mercy.
But don’t just stop with the money. Don’t write a check and mark it off your list. Be the Conduit of the Spirit, of the rivers of living water. There are people all around who are desperately thirsty. You don’t have to go hand out tracts, or take some fancy witnessing class, just Love them, be kind to them, feed them, SHOW them God.
TIME LAPSE>>>
I’m so glad to get back in the saddle tonight. Hebrews 7 talks about that mysterious man Melchizedek. Paul holds up Melchizedek as something basic that we should all know about. The question is; why? What on earth for? Genesis 14 tells the story about this guy and that’s the last mention of him for 1,000 years till David makes mention of him in Psalm 110. If Paul hadn’t said that it would be quite easy to just skip right over him and get to the fun stuff with Abraham and Moses.
After tonight you’ll have a good grasp on who this guy was, what He represents, and probably most importantly why it even matters. If every word of Scripture is inspired and I believe it is, then Uncle Mel is an important guy to understand.
So tonight at 7:30! Journey Ecclesia at Building 8 in the Factory.
The funny thing is my kids would have been 100% content to hang around the pool. But seeing as how we have a pool in our neighborhood that is quite large I reminded them that if Daddy wanted to hang out at a pool all week there was no need to drive 468 miles.
And so it was that I would drag them down to the beach where they would have fun, but with the constant longing to get themselves back to the pool so Daddy could throw them some more. (I was literally throwing them 5-6 feet in the air in canon ball formation, which meant I got a fairly sufficient upper body workout)
And so it was, water in the pool, water at the beach and for good measure it rained a couple days so water from above. With the humidity there was water in the air around which for a man of my size means water from inside. Our entire vacation was water centric. In fact I’m quite convinced that if my kids saw that stupid movie Water World with Kevin Costner that they would think that is a fine way for the world to end; in water.
Time lapse….
As I sat down to write this at 11pm on Sunday night there was a special on CNN about clean drinking water around the world. I find it completely ironic that I’m sitting here writing about an absolute excess of water while this show was on in the background. I put my computer down and watched for a while. I needed to sleep on it.
There are 1 billion people in the world right now without access to clean drinking water. That’s the entire population of the Americas. The guy from UNICEF was heralding as a success the fact that just under10 million children died from diseases derived from unclean water. To get your mind wrapped around that number, realize that the population of Georgia, including Atlanta, is 9.3 million. So we could add Nashville to that picture and still be just under 10 million people.
It just reminded me that what we are doing at Conduit is important, and that the picture of what we’re doing is so appropriate. Not that you need reminding, but our name denotes being a pipe or conduit of Gods resources, power, and ministry from a place of plenty to places in need.
Jesus so often spoke in terms of water. At the last day of the Feast of Tabernacle, the last day of the water pouring ceremony that reminded the people of Israel of their time in the desert when water came from a dry rock, Jesus stood up and said That if anyone was thirsty they should come to him and drink, and that from them would flow rivers of living water. It said he spoke this of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 7)
Joel referred to the Holy Spirit as the former and latter rain. (Joel 2)
So what does it mean to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit to the World? To us in America where we have so much water that we vacation in it, we have no concept of this, but water is life. The absence of water means death from the most simple of means. Behind Malaria, the number 2 killer in the world is diarrhea brought on by water born illness. Something you and I look at as an inconvenience and a sickness that we make funny child hood songs about is the number 2 killer in the world. It ought not to be.
And so it is that Conduit is bringing water both literally and spiritually to the World. Jesus told the Pharisee’s in Matthew 23 that they shouldn’t focus all their energy on things like tithing and forget justice and mercy. He told them they should tithe but to keep justice and mercy on the front of their minds. He said that in the middle of the “woe unto you” chapter.
I don’t say that to bring guilt upon anyone. I don’t say that to get you to send Conduit money. I just know that we all (including me) need reminding of stuff we already know. If you haven’t been a Conduit of Gods resources lately, maybe ask Him today where he would like to you to stand. Where you can stand to release the life giving water of the Spirit or where you can release the life giving resources.
We do offer a simple solution if you’re feeling led right now. Conduit is a ministry that is devoted to this very thing. I have no idea who gives money. I believe that’s the way it should be. If you feel led you can go to www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy and click on the donate now link. We clean out the account once a month and send the money directly to our ministry partners who are on the front lines of justice and mercy.
But don’t just stop with the money. Don’t write a check and mark it off your list. Be the Conduit of the Spirit, of the rivers of living water. There are people all around who are desperately thirsty. You don’t have to go hand out tracts, or take some fancy witnessing class, just Love them, be kind to them, feed them, SHOW them God.
TIME LAPSE>>>
I’m so glad to get back in the saddle tonight. Hebrews 7 talks about that mysterious man Melchizedek. Paul holds up Melchizedek as something basic that we should all know about. The question is; why? What on earth for? Genesis 14 tells the story about this guy and that’s the last mention of him for 1,000 years till David makes mention of him in Psalm 110. If Paul hadn’t said that it would be quite easy to just skip right over him and get to the fun stuff with Abraham and Moses.
After tonight you’ll have a good grasp on who this guy was, what He represents, and probably most importantly why it even matters. If every word of Scripture is inspired and I believe it is, then Uncle Mel is an important guy to understand.
So tonight at 7:30! Journey Ecclesia at Building 8 in the Factory.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Conduit June 30- Amish Much?
This whole family vacation thing is so counter to how I was raised. My family never had much money and since you can’t power your vehicle with government cheese or pay for your hotel in food stamps we never went anywhere for the express purpose of relaxation and getting away from it all.
That’s not to say that when we were younger that we didn’t go and visit Grandpa and Grandma in Manhattan, KS. We would load up the green “olsmochevy” affectionately known around town as the “lime limmo” and high tail it to Grandpas house.
This was not even close to a vacation. My grandparents had lots of rules designed to reign us in and to keep us from breaking all the fragile stuff that never fails to add up and surround the parameter of old peoples houses. The worst part of all was they didn’t have cable TV. In those days Cable consisted of somewhere around 13 channels but let me tell you that it sure beat trying to watch the AG report on PBS on a TV signal powered by rabbit ear antennae. (Someone please give me props for using the proper plural of the word antenna?)
There were 4 Tyler boys and the car was wide enough to fit us all 4 across the back snugly. I remember it seeming like it took forever even though it was only a couple hours. There were no seatbelts in the back. We would spend the trip playing bloody knuckles or “getting in each others space” or just punching each other. On occasion, my dad would bring one of us up to sit in the middle of the bench style front seat; again with no seatbelt. This was done in between threats to pull this car over and “beat each one of your bare a___s!”
For entertainment my father, taking a cue from Grandpa, would wait till we weren’t looking and honk the horn in two short spurts and announce that we had missed seeing the roadrunner. No matter that the horn sounded more like a train than the well known “beep beep” of the road runner, we were still taken by disappointment.
My children on the other hand roll in style in the appropriately named Honda Odyssey. While being strapped to their respective seats, we operate a multiplex theater environment because of the different ages of the children and thus their disparate movie tastes . If they should get bored with the movies, then there is the mobile arcade known as the Nintendo DS. Movies and video games not enough? How about jamming some tunes on the Ipod Nano?
If I’m being honest I sort of struggle with this. My wife, to her credit, will declare no movies from time to time on the trip but I have to confess that sometimes I succumb to the easy option of letting them have what they want for the sake of peace and quiet. God forbid that the DVD player won’t work.
As parents the danger is to look to our children and with a sense of nobility to earnestly declare that I am not going to let them “go through what I had to go through”. The irony of that is the stuff I went through is what made me into who I am today. What exactly am I protecting them from? I’m quite certain that many of our great world leaders were raised in homes with no indoor plumbing and they seem to have turned out just fine.
It makes you wonder if there was a reason that Jesus, who of all people could have chosen any time in history to be born, didn’t choose the modern conveniences and technology found in our society.
I don’t feel like taking my kids with me on vacation is spoiling them rotten or turning them into the cliché rich snot nosed Williamson county kid. For starters I’m not rich. And besides only one of my kids has a snotty nose this week. I’m not declaring Amish and moving to Pennsylvania to forego mobile phones and zippers. I’m just asking some open ended questions of myself.
I’m asking myself if what I’m doing for my kids is for them or if it’s for me. I’m asking myself if maybe I’m buying into a world system under the guise that everyone is doing it. My oldest daughter has already announced that she wants a cell phone because “everyone else has one”. (she is 11 and just got done with 5th grade) Will I give into this request?
What I LOVE about Conduit is that it is one part of our lives that I am absolutely sure about. My kids get to see their Daddy and Mommy putting our money where our mouths are. We take careful time to explain to them the mission that we have going and show them the pictures of the children that we are feeding and hold you guys up as examples of Gods people as they should be. All the multi-million dollar youth facilities in America have not stemmed the tide of kids who turn away from the Lord after graduation. The number is well over 70%. This is a staggering and frightening number supported by the research of the Barna group.
I pray that all the noise in their lives here in America doesn’t drown out the sound of Gods voice or the pictures have them so distracted that they don’t see God moving. Alas, I have waxed philosophical.
I hope you don’t mind.
Jeremy Hezlep is going to be bringing the Word Monday night and he is going to be talking about living in the world but not of the world. I have a feeling that maybe some of the stuff he is going to talk about is stuff I need to hear. Jeremy has so much wisdom beyond his years. He did such a great job last time that we had to have him again.
Amy Courts Koopman will be joining him leading worship. If you have not heard Amy sing, you’re in for a real treat. I rank her voice as one of my favorites. There are lots of people who can sing, but there are precious few who have voices you want to hear over and again. I count her voice as one of those.
We'll meet on Monday night at 7:30pm at Journey Ecclesia in Building 8 at the Factory. Come be part of this new thing God is doing. This simplicity of the Conduit. May that same simplicity infiltrate all of our lives.
Blessings,
Darren
That’s not to say that when we were younger that we didn’t go and visit Grandpa and Grandma in Manhattan, KS. We would load up the green “olsmochevy” affectionately known around town as the “lime limmo” and high tail it to Grandpas house.
This was not even close to a vacation. My grandparents had lots of rules designed to reign us in and to keep us from breaking all the fragile stuff that never fails to add up and surround the parameter of old peoples houses. The worst part of all was they didn’t have cable TV. In those days Cable consisted of somewhere around 13 channels but let me tell you that it sure beat trying to watch the AG report on PBS on a TV signal powered by rabbit ear antennae. (Someone please give me props for using the proper plural of the word antenna?)
There were 4 Tyler boys and the car was wide enough to fit us all 4 across the back snugly. I remember it seeming like it took forever even though it was only a couple hours. There were no seatbelts in the back. We would spend the trip playing bloody knuckles or “getting in each others space” or just punching each other. On occasion, my dad would bring one of us up to sit in the middle of the bench style front seat; again with no seatbelt. This was done in between threats to pull this car over and “beat each one of your bare a___s!”
For entertainment my father, taking a cue from Grandpa, would wait till we weren’t looking and honk the horn in two short spurts and announce that we had missed seeing the roadrunner. No matter that the horn sounded more like a train than the well known “beep beep” of the road runner, we were still taken by disappointment.
My children on the other hand roll in style in the appropriately named Honda Odyssey. While being strapped to their respective seats, we operate a multiplex theater environment because of the different ages of the children and thus their disparate movie tastes . If they should get bored with the movies, then there is the mobile arcade known as the Nintendo DS. Movies and video games not enough? How about jamming some tunes on the Ipod Nano?
If I’m being honest I sort of struggle with this. My wife, to her credit, will declare no movies from time to time on the trip but I have to confess that sometimes I succumb to the easy option of letting them have what they want for the sake of peace and quiet. God forbid that the DVD player won’t work.
As parents the danger is to look to our children and with a sense of nobility to earnestly declare that I am not going to let them “go through what I had to go through”. The irony of that is the stuff I went through is what made me into who I am today. What exactly am I protecting them from? I’m quite certain that many of our great world leaders were raised in homes with no indoor plumbing and they seem to have turned out just fine.
It makes you wonder if there was a reason that Jesus, who of all people could have chosen any time in history to be born, didn’t choose the modern conveniences and technology found in our society.
I don’t feel like taking my kids with me on vacation is spoiling them rotten or turning them into the cliché rich snot nosed Williamson county kid. For starters I’m not rich. And besides only one of my kids has a snotty nose this week. I’m not declaring Amish and moving to Pennsylvania to forego mobile phones and zippers. I’m just asking some open ended questions of myself.
I’m asking myself if what I’m doing for my kids is for them or if it’s for me. I’m asking myself if maybe I’m buying into a world system under the guise that everyone is doing it. My oldest daughter has already announced that she wants a cell phone because “everyone else has one”. (she is 11 and just got done with 5th grade) Will I give into this request?
What I LOVE about Conduit is that it is one part of our lives that I am absolutely sure about. My kids get to see their Daddy and Mommy putting our money where our mouths are. We take careful time to explain to them the mission that we have going and show them the pictures of the children that we are feeding and hold you guys up as examples of Gods people as they should be. All the multi-million dollar youth facilities in America have not stemmed the tide of kids who turn away from the Lord after graduation. The number is well over 70%. This is a staggering and frightening number supported by the research of the Barna group.
I pray that all the noise in their lives here in America doesn’t drown out the sound of Gods voice or the pictures have them so distracted that they don’t see God moving. Alas, I have waxed philosophical.
I hope you don’t mind.
Jeremy Hezlep is going to be bringing the Word Monday night and he is going to be talking about living in the world but not of the world. I have a feeling that maybe some of the stuff he is going to talk about is stuff I need to hear. Jeremy has so much wisdom beyond his years. He did such a great job last time that we had to have him again.
Amy Courts Koopman will be joining him leading worship. If you have not heard Amy sing, you’re in for a real treat. I rank her voice as one of my favorites. There are lots of people who can sing, but there are precious few who have voices you want to hear over and again. I count her voice as one of those.
We'll meet on Monday night at 7:30pm at Journey Ecclesia in Building 8 at the Factory. Come be part of this new thing God is doing. This simplicity of the Conduit. May that same simplicity infiltrate all of our lives.
Blessings,
Darren
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Conduit- Jesus Loves Crisco
Running by Monell's this week; and I mean literally running in that I was on mile 4 of my 7 mile run, I sensed the smells and excitement that can only come from sitting down to a family style meal rich in taste and saturated fats. If I'm being honest, I believe it caused me to yearn. Any time you're in a restaurant where the food is served in large serving dishes or piles it's going to be a winner.
Which got me thinking about the marriage supper of the Lamb spoken of in Revelation 19. I can only hope that in our glorified body state that lard can once again become a staple of our diet. Crisco after all is white. And what can be so bad about that?
We all know that Jesus was into group dining as evidenced by the feeding the masses trick he did a couple of times. Along with the miracles, I tend to think that the large crowds were there on the chance that there could be free food. So it's no surprise that one of the pinnacle moments in our future is this marriage supper of the Lamb thing.
Where I'm from we had Pot Luck (Blessing depending on your theology) dinners where everyone sort of brought their secret recipe something in crock pots and we all gluttonized together in the name of Jesus. I'm not sure if this supper with Jesus will be a bring your own dish thing but short of Monell's catering this affair I believe this to be the best option.
I personally know a couple of ladies already there who could change your life (even in Heaven) with their fried chicken. There is one lady who could even get deviled eggs menu with her recipe. I'm hoping that there won't be fillers like goulash and salad. I'm also thinking that after 40 years of it that there won't be mana there either.
And then there's the desert, Good Lord the desert. I mean that literally. Coconut cream pie is already a glimpse of eternity, so imagine it while experiencing eternity simultaneously. I'm sure there will be those Oreo deserts and that chocolate cake like they have at Stoney River too.
There will probably be some interesting conversations when it comes to the vegetarians. I don't imagine that there will be tofu or veggie trays but maybe God will make some exceptions under the auspices of "to each their own".
I have heard it said that this supper; which is what we called it in the Midwest. Lunch was lunch and dinner was supper, but I digress, could go on for days like they can in a Jewish wedding ceremony. (John 2:1-2) And if Peter is right about a day being like a thousand years in the Lords house, then a 3,000 year supper could be coming our way. No wonder they were gathered around the throne singing Holy is the Lord in Revelation.
These were the things I thought about as I continued on my 7 mile run complete with a bleeding chaffed nipple. (note to self: don't wear a white shirt again and remember the Vaseline) Perhaps it's just that I'm 37 and can't bend it like Beckham but I really truly hope that eternity with Jesus includes lots of guilt free eating and no more exercising. I do trust God and I know that whatever it is He's got in mind that it'll be great, but for now I yearn. I yearn for biscuits, gravy, and Jesus. (and stain removing detergent for my newly red stained white shirt)
So tomorrow night we're trading spaces with our friends at Renown Huntsville. Angus Nelson and the gang from Huntsville are bringing their operation to us. They're a group not unlike ours existing in Huntsville, AL and making an impact on their community and the world. It's exciting to know that there are others out there doing the same things, driven by the same purpose and in love with the same Jesus.
We have a special treat also in that Amber and Sarah from Everlife will be joining Adam Agee from Stellar Kart for a special time of worship. Only in Nashville.
By the way, Angus went to Bible College with me and can independently verify my mullet as well as how much of an upstanding student that I was. You can get a glimpse of Renown is doing at www.renownhuntsville.com
Remember that we kick off at 7:30 at Journey Ecclesia at building 8 in the Factory.
See you then!
Darren
REMEMBER THE PODCASTERS, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
I have last weeks teaching posted. Don Cobble spoke on Israel. It was fascinating to say the least.
COMING IN JULY:
How to study the Bible. I've had folks asking me how I study the Word, where do I get this stuff from, etc. I thought it would be great to take the month of July and let me share with you how I personally search the scriptures and see if it helps you in your walk.
Which got me thinking about the marriage supper of the Lamb spoken of in Revelation 19. I can only hope that in our glorified body state that lard can once again become a staple of our diet. Crisco after all is white. And what can be so bad about that?
We all know that Jesus was into group dining as evidenced by the feeding the masses trick he did a couple of times. Along with the miracles, I tend to think that the large crowds were there on the chance that there could be free food. So it's no surprise that one of the pinnacle moments in our future is this marriage supper of the Lamb thing.
Where I'm from we had Pot Luck (Blessing depending on your theology) dinners where everyone sort of brought their secret recipe something in crock pots and we all gluttonized together in the name of Jesus. I'm not sure if this supper with Jesus will be a bring your own dish thing but short of Monell's catering this affair I believe this to be the best option.
I personally know a couple of ladies already there who could change your life (even in Heaven) with their fried chicken. There is one lady who could even get deviled eggs menu with her recipe. I'm hoping that there won't be fillers like goulash and salad. I'm also thinking that after 40 years of it that there won't be mana there either.
And then there's the desert, Good Lord the desert. I mean that literally. Coconut cream pie is already a glimpse of eternity, so imagine it while experiencing eternity simultaneously. I'm sure there will be those Oreo deserts and that chocolate cake like they have at Stoney River too.
There will probably be some interesting conversations when it comes to the vegetarians. I don't imagine that there will be tofu or veggie trays but maybe God will make some exceptions under the auspices of "to each their own".
I have heard it said that this supper; which is what we called it in the Midwest. Lunch was lunch and dinner was supper, but I digress, could go on for days like they can in a Jewish wedding ceremony. (John 2:1-2) And if Peter is right about a day being like a thousand years in the Lords house, then a 3,000 year supper could be coming our way. No wonder they were gathered around the throne singing Holy is the Lord in Revelation.
These were the things I thought about as I continued on my 7 mile run complete with a bleeding chaffed nipple. (note to self: don't wear a white shirt again and remember the Vaseline) Perhaps it's just that I'm 37 and can't bend it like Beckham but I really truly hope that eternity with Jesus includes lots of guilt free eating and no more exercising. I do trust God and I know that whatever it is He's got in mind that it'll be great, but for now I yearn. I yearn for biscuits, gravy, and Jesus. (and stain removing detergent for my newly red stained white shirt)
So tomorrow night we're trading spaces with our friends at Renown Huntsville. Angus Nelson and the gang from Huntsville are bringing their operation to us. They're a group not unlike ours existing in Huntsville, AL and making an impact on their community and the world. It's exciting to know that there are others out there doing the same things, driven by the same purpose and in love with the same Jesus.
We have a special treat also in that Amber and Sarah from Everlife will be joining Adam Agee from Stellar Kart for a special time of worship. Only in Nashville.
By the way, Angus went to Bible College with me and can independently verify my mullet as well as how much of an upstanding student that I was. You can get a glimpse of Renown is doing at www.renownhuntsville.com
Remember that we kick off at 7:30 at Journey Ecclesia at building 8 in the Factory.
See you then!
Darren
REMEMBER THE PODCASTERS, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
www.darrentyler.podomatic.com
I have last weeks teaching posted. Don Cobble spoke on Israel. It was fascinating to say the least.
COMING IN JULY:
How to study the Bible. I've had folks asking me how I study the Word, where do I get this stuff from, etc. I thought it would be great to take the month of July and let me share with you how I personally search the scriptures and see if it helps you in your walk.
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