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
Sunday, June 29, 2008
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.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tis The Season
I've got about 8 sets of rachet wrenches that are sitting in the garage. I've never gone out and purchased a set of rachet wrenches mind you, they've been given to me as Christmas presents. And more interesting to note, they're all from the same person. They've taken over the spot that underwear used to take under the family tree growing up. Gee Mom, underwear, how thoughtful and simultaneously embarrassing with my grandmother sitting right next to me. And what's that in my stocking? Grape bubble yum? 13 years and running, wow, what a surprise.
I was thinking about that as Christmas approaches and the Tylers are trying to figure out how to give our kids what they want for Christmas without giving them everything they want so we don't turn them into little ungrateful American jerk teenagers who grow up feeling entitled to pretty much everything because they're "special' and because "they can be anything they want to be if they only try hard enough".
We have some neighbors, The Jones, who have these wonderful kids who are teenagers that seem to have circumvented this process, perhaps I should sit at their feet an learn. But meanwhile, we've got Christmas coming.
Not sure if you've ever gotten gifts that require you to earnestly look on with a completely false sense of excitement and exclaim things like, wow that's interesting or man I can sure use that the next time I need to turn the lights on but am trapped in my bed and can only clap. The gifts that either didn't require much thought or the gifts that the giver actually owns, appreciates and assumes that everyone else would want one too. This is the population that is responsible for the success of the Chia Pet.
As we are giving this year, we're taking special care to involve our children in the process of giving to others besides ourselves. I just have to believe that them witnessing their parents sacrifice and give to others has to be more impacting than us getting a boat.
We're going to also teach them this year how to give to Jesus what he wants and not what we want Him. It would be nice if Jesus wanted things like us going to Church and voting for republicans but somehow that doesn't seem to be on the agenda in His mission. We can wrap that up in a pretty little bow, put a bumper sticker on our car for W, drive to church and think that we've accomplished His will for our lives.
I don't think that WWJD bumper stickers are bad, I just think they're on the level of rachet wrenches and bubble yum. Nice, but not necessarily what the Lord wants.
What does the Lord require? What is he looking for? What could we give Him for Christmas that he actually wants?
Micah 6:8 (The Message)
8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.
As we're gathered around this Christmas, celebrating the reality that God became flesh and dwelt among us, let's lay ourselves at the foot of the tree. (tree is used often as a picture of the cross) Let's offer ourselves as the living sacrifice that Paul talks about in Romans 12. Let's give unto Jesus ourselves, and all that means. Serving the poor, fighting for Justice, and being compassionate.
I don't know how it's possible that the Lord can possibly any more blessed than he already is, but I know that this will bless Him.
I was thinking about that as Christmas approaches and the Tylers are trying to figure out how to give our kids what they want for Christmas without giving them everything they want so we don't turn them into little ungrateful American jerk teenagers who grow up feeling entitled to pretty much everything because they're "special' and because "they can be anything they want to be if they only try hard enough".
We have some neighbors, The Jones, who have these wonderful kids who are teenagers that seem to have circumvented this process, perhaps I should sit at their feet an learn. But meanwhile, we've got Christmas coming.
Not sure if you've ever gotten gifts that require you to earnestly look on with a completely false sense of excitement and exclaim things like, wow that's interesting or man I can sure use that the next time I need to turn the lights on but am trapped in my bed and can only clap. The gifts that either didn't require much thought or the gifts that the giver actually owns, appreciates and assumes that everyone else would want one too. This is the population that is responsible for the success of the Chia Pet.
As we are giving this year, we're taking special care to involve our children in the process of giving to others besides ourselves. I just have to believe that them witnessing their parents sacrifice and give to others has to be more impacting than us getting a boat.
We're going to also teach them this year how to give to Jesus what he wants and not what we want Him. It would be nice if Jesus wanted things like us going to Church and voting for republicans but somehow that doesn't seem to be on the agenda in His mission. We can wrap that up in a pretty little bow, put a bumper sticker on our car for W, drive to church and think that we've accomplished His will for our lives.
I don't think that WWJD bumper stickers are bad, I just think they're on the level of rachet wrenches and bubble yum. Nice, but not necessarily what the Lord wants.
What does the Lord require? What is he looking for? What could we give Him for Christmas that he actually wants?
Micah 6:8 (The Message)
8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously.
As we're gathered around this Christmas, celebrating the reality that God became flesh and dwelt among us, let's lay ourselves at the foot of the tree. (tree is used often as a picture of the cross) Let's offer ourselves as the living sacrifice that Paul talks about in Romans 12. Let's give unto Jesus ourselves, and all that means. Serving the poor, fighting for Justice, and being compassionate.
I don't know how it's possible that the Lord can possibly any more blessed than he already is, but I know that this will bless Him.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Crashing
You have know idea just how perfectly pleased I was with myself as I had the weekly Conduit Email polished and ready to go on Wednesday. It was full of insightful and witty commentary about flying. I wrote it as the flight I was on leveled off at 32,000 feet. There were astute observations about lift, clever banter about how entire gaggles of geese must be so jealous that gaggles of humans can fly without flapping, (seems like I had a clever joke about chickens being especially jealous)
I speak of this with a sense of longing and despair, for you see my hard drive crashed upon my arrival in Minneapolis. There is a certain sense of irony that my hard drive crashed right after writing prose that included something about an airplane crash. Truth be told if forced with a gun at my head to choose between a plane crash and a hard drive crash I would begrudgingly choose the hard drive, but not without careful consideration about when I last backed up.
Going for 36 hours with no computer access was simply unnerving. Especially when I got stuck in Chicago O'Hare for a 6 hour layover with nothing but a blackberry, coffee and a keen eye for the D level celebrities wandering the concourse (the chiseled jaw guy from Fantastic Four and the dude from This Old House on PBS. )
I was told by an impossibly chipper mac "genius" that it should only take 3-4 days to get me back up and running. But he said this with the kind of judicious fervor of a kid who used his computer for gaming and updating his myspace profile and not someone who manages his company, his bands, yes his entire life on his computer. Think about someone telling you that they'll get your head sewed back on in 3-4 days.
I digress.
Last week we hit Revelation 2 head on. Remember as we look at these letters that
1. They were written to an actual local church that at one point in history actually existed
2. They apply to churches across the ages. The letters say "hear what the spirit says to the churches" plural.
3. They apply to you and I personally. "he who has an ear, let him hear". So if you have an ear you qualify
4. Amazingly, when looked at in order, represent the 7 epics, stages or whatever fancy name you want to call it of Church History.
Ephesus represents the early church from 32-100AD. The name Ephesus means darling in the Greek language that it was taken from, and that is exactly what the Lord was dealing with them about. After commending them on their passion for sound doctrine and their good works, He challenged them because they had forsaken their first love. That is a word for you and I personally and especially as a group at The Conduit. We're passionate about the Word, and we're anxious to do good works. We just can't forget the reason we do it all to begin with.
This week is Smyrna. It's a church name that means myrrh. Remember myrrh? The very things the wise men brought at Jesus birth were Gold (for a king) Frankincense (for a priest) and Myrrh which was a burial spice. Seems like someone (God) was up to something doesn't it. At any rate Smyrna represents the church from 100-312 AD. This is a time in history when 10 Roman Emperors carried out some of the most massive persecution and murders of Christians ever recorded. Myrrh is a spice whose properties are released through crushing. Crushing? Well, we'll talk about that Sunday night.
This is the last Sunday night before Thanksgiving. Would love to see everyone before I commit diet hari-kari.
See you Sunday at 7pm!
I speak of this with a sense of longing and despair, for you see my hard drive crashed upon my arrival in Minneapolis. There is a certain sense of irony that my hard drive crashed right after writing prose that included something about an airplane crash. Truth be told if forced with a gun at my head to choose between a plane crash and a hard drive crash I would begrudgingly choose the hard drive, but not without careful consideration about when I last backed up.
Going for 36 hours with no computer access was simply unnerving. Especially when I got stuck in Chicago O'Hare for a 6 hour layover with nothing but a blackberry, coffee and a keen eye for the D level celebrities wandering the concourse (the chiseled jaw guy from Fantastic Four and the dude from This Old House on PBS. )
I was told by an impossibly chipper mac "genius" that it should only take 3-4 days to get me back up and running. But he said this with the kind of judicious fervor of a kid who used his computer for gaming and updating his myspace profile and not someone who manages his company, his bands, yes his entire life on his computer. Think about someone telling you that they'll get your head sewed back on in 3-4 days.
I digress.
Last week we hit Revelation 2 head on. Remember as we look at these letters that
1. They were written to an actual local church that at one point in history actually existed
2. They apply to churches across the ages. The letters say "hear what the spirit says to the churches" plural.
3. They apply to you and I personally. "he who has an ear, let him hear". So if you have an ear you qualify
4. Amazingly, when looked at in order, represent the 7 epics, stages or whatever fancy name you want to call it of Church History.
Ephesus represents the early church from 32-100AD. The name Ephesus means darling in the Greek language that it was taken from, and that is exactly what the Lord was dealing with them about. After commending them on their passion for sound doctrine and their good works, He challenged them because they had forsaken their first love. That is a word for you and I personally and especially as a group at The Conduit. We're passionate about the Word, and we're anxious to do good works. We just can't forget the reason we do it all to begin with.
This week is Smyrna. It's a church name that means myrrh. Remember myrrh? The very things the wise men brought at Jesus birth were Gold (for a king) Frankincense (for a priest) and Myrrh which was a burial spice. Seems like someone (God) was up to something doesn't it. At any rate Smyrna represents the church from 100-312 AD. This is a time in history when 10 Roman Emperors carried out some of the most massive persecution and murders of Christians ever recorded. Myrrh is a spice whose properties are released through crushing. Crushing? Well, we'll talk about that Sunday night.
This is the last Sunday night before Thanksgiving. Would love to see everyone before I commit diet hari-kari.
See you Sunday at 7pm!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Friends Are Friends Forever
Luke 16: 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
Jesus had just told a story about a manager getting canned Donald Trump style for mismanaging the owners cash. The manager, like many desk job people(i.e. ME) realized he was entirely too old, too fat, and too out of shape to work a real job so he had to skate to the puck. Figure out what he would do. His solution was to call all of the folks who owed his boss money, and cut their bills in half as his last act of "management". His plan, a very shrewd one, was to make friends so that his future would be secured.
Here's what sort of surprises me, Jesus commended him. And then Jesus goes on to say that the "children of light" should take some cues from this guy and plan for our future as well. He says that we should use money to make friends.
Now I think I can speak for all of us when I say.. "what?" At first glance that doesn't seem to make any sense. But notice what Jesus says in totality.. "so that when it's gone, you'll be welcomed into eternal dwellings. "
Jesus is talking about making friends with your money, but not friends for the here and now. He's not saying to use your money to buy influence, or to get people to like you because you're the person who buys lunch. He is saying that we should plan for our future. OUR REAL FUTURE... Heaven. Friends for eternity. When you or I take the money that we've been entrusted with, and give it to serve the poor and the vulnerable. Those with great debts to the Lord so to speak, we are making friends. How so?
Imagine your first day in heaven. Imagine meeting folks whose lives were saved, whose suffering was alleviated, whose hearts were changed by the power of God as a result of money that you gave to a person, a church or an organization to fund them in their mission. Or money that you gave directly to someone in need. These folks, many of whom you may never meet this side of eternity, they are your friends.
And what Jesus is saying is that these friends, will be there to welcome you and I to our eternal dwellings. I personally can't wait to meet them. What a great day that will be.
So instead of my energies being focused on planning on my retirement, my bigger house, my shopping sprees, I can actually planning for the real future. Retirement is just a stopping off point on the way to eternity. Me spending money that I don't have to buy things I don't need to impress people I don't really like is ridiculous.
I can't take my money with me, but I sure can take other people. And those people, well they're my real friends. Friends that will be there to welcome me, and welcome you into our eternal dwelling.
www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy
Jesus had just told a story about a manager getting canned Donald Trump style for mismanaging the owners cash. The manager, like many desk job people(i.e. ME) realized he was entirely too old, too fat, and too out of shape to work a real job so he had to skate to the puck. Figure out what he would do. His solution was to call all of the folks who owed his boss money, and cut their bills in half as his last act of "management". His plan, a very shrewd one, was to make friends so that his future would be secured.
Here's what sort of surprises me, Jesus commended him. And then Jesus goes on to say that the "children of light" should take some cues from this guy and plan for our future as well. He says that we should use money to make friends.
Now I think I can speak for all of us when I say.. "what?" At first glance that doesn't seem to make any sense. But notice what Jesus says in totality.. "so that when it's gone, you'll be welcomed into eternal dwellings. "
Jesus is talking about making friends with your money, but not friends for the here and now. He's not saying to use your money to buy influence, or to get people to like you because you're the person who buys lunch. He is saying that we should plan for our future. OUR REAL FUTURE... Heaven. Friends for eternity. When you or I take the money that we've been entrusted with, and give it to serve the poor and the vulnerable. Those with great debts to the Lord so to speak, we are making friends. How so?
Imagine your first day in heaven. Imagine meeting folks whose lives were saved, whose suffering was alleviated, whose hearts were changed by the power of God as a result of money that you gave to a person, a church or an organization to fund them in their mission. Or money that you gave directly to someone in need. These folks, many of whom you may never meet this side of eternity, they are your friends.
And what Jesus is saying is that these friends, will be there to welcome you and I to our eternal dwellings. I personally can't wait to meet them. What a great day that will be.
So instead of my energies being focused on planning on my retirement, my bigger house, my shopping sprees, I can actually planning for the real future. Retirement is just a stopping off point on the way to eternity. Me spending money that I don't have to buy things I don't need to impress people I don't really like is ridiculous.
I can't take my money with me, but I sure can take other people. And those people, well they're my real friends. Friends that will be there to welcome me, and welcome you into our eternal dwelling.
www.myspace.com/conduitbiblestudy
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