Intro you to a Palm Pilot. Great tool. I have my address book in here. My daily planner here. I can record dates till the year 2032. Memo's to myself. Lists where I have to be and when and with who.
Here is a copy of my quicken books from at home. It divides up my spending according to category. Credit card -= 31%. Tax. 19%. Charity, just shy of 6% at the moment... Gives me a view of where I spend my money...

It strikes me that here are the two barometers of my life with God. The use I make of my 'wealth' - is measured in the time that I give to people and prayer, and the way I manage my accounts. I was surprised to find how low my charity was this year. And how much I spent on entertainment.

"What I say to you is this: "Make friends for yourself through the use of this world's goods, so that when they fail you, a lasting reception will be yours." An odd parable, isn't it. It has been used in history to justify usury, to reject the world, and about everything in between.

At its heart - it is the same story we heard last week. The man, like the son, found himself in desperate straits. He devised a plan that would 'rescue him' - and finds that he receives back from God more than his scheming would ever have merited. One - becomes the beloved son instead of a hired hand. The other, is kept on in his master's hire as opposed to being taken in by others. In both cases, it is action that has brought about unanticipated responses from God. So, if there is one attitude that is not suitable for the kingdom, it is that of keeping your hands in your pocket.

Ergo: Do something with your time this week. Do something with you pocketbook this week. Do something with the barometer of your love for God this week - be it your planner or your checkbook or your rosary or whatever it is. Regardless of what we have or don't have - the only posture that Luke says fails the believer - is that of standing around, doing nothing, with our hands in our pockets...