I don't understand...

When I started this blog in spite of my beautiful wife, I thought I would have a lot more to say, but that is just not the case. I think I am a pretty creative guy, but getting that creativity on "paper" is much harder than it looks. Annie makes it look so easy. She can write a blog that is thought provoking, funny, and insightful in about 20 minutes. Me, it takes me an hour or so, that's the main reason for so few posts.
Now on to why I started this post to begin with..... As usual, on Sunday the preacher talked about something that really perplexed me. He taught on the parable of the shrewd manager. (Click here to read the parable. Go ahead. I'll wait.) Do you have any idea what that means? Vs. 8 blows me away! The guy gets congratulated for being dishonest, and Jesus thinks this is a good thing? Maybe I don't understand the definition of shrewd. So let's look at how Mr. Webster would define it. He defines it as marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen or given to wily and artful ways or dealing
It's very obvious I have never been to seminary, nor do I proclaim to be a theologian (I don't even think I can spell it.) So I need all of you guys with an M-Div to help me out. Remember your audience and keep it simple because I just don't get it.
Here's what I don't get: First, the guy is seen as doing something good by ripping off his boss. The boss even "looks favorably" on him. (I guess the Enron guys aren't so bad after all.) The kicker of it all is that JESUS even thinks it isn't such a horrible thing he did. Am I missing something here? JESUS even goes so far as to say that worldly people are better at business, than Christians. I realize that's because they know how to "deal" with each other. Does this mean that Christians can't be successful business men/ women? I guess guys like Truett Cathy would say Christians can be successful. Maybe, I'm over-complicating a simple parable, but the whole time in church I kept thinking over and over about this. So, all you youth ministers, children's ministers, bible study leaders, stay at home moms, and any one else who is way more qualified to clear this up than I am.