Mike,

>>No. Plan for the real future - life after death
>
>If you can prove that tomarrow will not be real, but heaven is... gladly. Otherwise, this is way too cultish.

*chuckle*

Using the scientific method you cannotprove today was real. Do it again. <g>

Seriously Mike, please don't misunderstand.. The Historic Christian position essentially demands that we not live in the future nor in the past but in the present. Far too many people (including myself over the years) have fallen prey to the temptation of avoiding today's pains and troubles for the false serenity of escapist thought. The interesting thing is (and I believe I've mentioned this before) is that "eternal life" is not something that will happen to people in the future. Eternity and time are essentially mutually exclusive (if you think about it a bit <g>) and therefore "eternal life" is a quality of life (immediate, constant & continuing "now" & presence of God) as opposed to a "by & by" kind of event. Makes you live now! Christians that I know who "get" this are the most alive people I've ever met.

>
>>>If anyone asks you for anything, give it to them without question. (Matthew 5:42)
>>You cannot outgive God.
>
>So you think that I should teach my children things like "If someone wants something of yours, give it to them" or "if someone hits you, ask to get hit again"? Sorry, I don't think I will. Thats rather reckless.

Well, again, you are arguing from an extreme interpretation. In no way do I think that one should allow others to take advantage of them. That would be a case of ceding one's ability to choose to another and that's dangerous. Remember, I'm a big believer in the notion that choice is one of the most precious gifts given by God. More often than not it's abused but when used correctly it sets one free, but it requires the 'flip side' of responsibility. Allowing others to choose for you is irresponsible. However, giving (by choice & freely) is a hugely liberating event when one has their priorities right and their relationship with God is more important than some new material possession. Again, it's all about priorities and the whole notion of putting first (spiritual) things first is IMO hugely healthy. You can bet your bottom dollar I'd teach my children that "it is more blessed to give than to receive", coupled with the notion that one should always make their own decisions in conjunction to the leading of God.

>
>On the other hand, we could appy his advice to specific non-real world scenarios to show that it holds true, but ignore it in the rest of our lives.
>
>And by the way, give me your car.

I have to laugh at this. Many many moons ago the church I was then attending was holding its services in a circus tent. They had rented the tent because the growth was so explosive that they needed an intermediate location while the new sanctuary was being built. We went from some 250 people to well over 2500 in the matter of just a few months. Well, anyway, I was sitting there during a service one night and kind of praying in my mind. I asked the Lord for a car as I didn't have one. Right after the service a fellow who had been sitting a few chairs over came up to me and said, "The Lord spoke to me and told me to give you my car." It was a 1962/3 Chevrolet Impala.

So.. If the Lord ever instructs me to give you my car I'll be delighted to do it. It's happened to me and It'd be fun to give one to someone. These things actually do happen but they should always be done in response to the leading of God's Spirit.