I Love My High-Tech Life

See that alarm clock! I remember every night's routine of winding it up to keep it going – especially so that the alarm would go off the next morning. Fast forward to today and my “Alexa” plays a comfortable sound that wakes me up!

A few days ago, I blogged about high discernment being better than high-tech. Don’t get me wrong! I’m not knocking our world of technology. Even when one of my high-tech devices goes on the fritz, doing life the good-old-days way, is a hassle. You know – the microwave, the dishwasher, etc. We are so high tech that we get whatever we need for whatever we are doing at the time -- from driving to all kinds of gadgets in every place -- the kitchen, the car, garage, music, fitness, watches. I'm so grateful to be able to move through my life with less to be concerned about – like when I drive so many miles to Tulsa or down to Austin. The technology in my car -- a GPS sytem and indicators let me know when a tire is too low or it’s time for an oil change.

I can’t imagine how long it would take me to write my daily blogs without my computer and access to the internet. The Internet has forever changed the way we relate to one another. Getting messages out to a large list of people in an instant, at one time, unlike the days of phoning all those people or snail mail. The good old days, were good, but, hallelujah, for these good NEW days when we get so much accomplished so much faster.

My little world of technology makes so much difference to me, but it's truly a miracle for those who can see now because of specialized glasses, for those who can hear because of implants, and those without limbs or even a voice have access to technology that gives them the ability to speak.

What a privilege it is to be alive today and see how many people are benefited because of man’s creation. Our Great Creator creates through His children. Every creative act is a partnership with The Creator! I am so privileged. You are so privileged. How often we take our blessings for granted. I’m impressed to consider the gifts in my life that are not available to others -- the ability to see, read, write, or have access to running water, electricity, the internet, transportation, a safe space to call home. If you are reading this blog -- you are so blessed!

God started all this “technology” business. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He created life itself. That is who we are: Children of the Creator. This blog today is pretty basic in its message but quite advanced in us recognizing that technology is a gift from Him, our Creator, and He operates through His skilled image-bearers. It is His Genius that inspires innovators with innovations, artists with art, creators with creations AND you and me who should open up our hearts and lives to Him -- and just perhaps, we might come up with the next technology that creates something that will be used to know Him better, love each other more and glorify Him above all! Let's live with expectant, anticipatory waiting -- not listening like we are chilling in a rocking chair, but listening like we are on the edge of our seat … like we are anticipating a God-idea!

Technology ROCKS!!!

I get amused when I hear folks talking about the “good old days” when we could leave our doors unlocked, where the worst thing we did in schools was chew gum, where kids played outside using their imaginations, and gas was 23 cents a gallon (or less). But were the good old days -- really that good? Were the good old days that good when tornadoes came without warning because, without technology, no one could see them building ahead of time. And were the good old days that good when it took days to communicate with a loved one because the only communication was "snail mail". Now we can communicate instantaneously by social media and email. In the good old days we had to stop at a pay phone to make a call. We had to carry a camera for photos, and an extra “Palm Pilot” that carried our contacts in it. Now we have cell phones that do it all. I love this photo of “Before and After" photo.

My word for today is TECHNOLOGY: methods, systems, and devices which are the result of scientific knowledge being used for practical purposes.

Yesterday I posted that I had been on a retreat for the weekend. That meant being unplugged from technology. As most know, my personal mission since my husband graduated to heaven 7+ years ago, has been to provide a daily blog and Facebook post (without exception). I do my best to post before 6 am, with the only exceptions being when I’m out of the country or out of cell coverage. I didn’t like those “exceptions”, so I set out for a solution. That’s when I discovered Hootsuite, which is an app that gives me the ability to schedule my Facebook or any other social media platform to post at the specific time I need it to. Now, I use Hootsuite and for my blog, I simply schedule it in my Google App – blogger. So, when a friend, who knew I was on an "unplugged" retreat, asked on my FB post “How do you do this when I know you are on retreat?,” I explained Hootsuite to her. Just maybe you can use that app if the need arises, too!.

Sometimes it’s good to UNPLUG from technology so we can hear more clearly from God, to walk a short distance rather than taking the car, to climb stairs instead of taking the elevator or escalator. Sometimes it’s better to visit someone face-to-face, rather than texting or calling. It's a treat to recall good memories from the past, but being alive in this day and this time, in this generation.....is right when and where God planned for us to be. We are here on purpose and if we embrace the opportunities, the technologies, the possibilities and the experiences of these good new days, they will be the BEST DAYS of our lives.

Thanks be to God for TECHNOLOGY and those incredibly wise and gifted inventors and innovators who used their God-given minds to give us shortcuts and conveniences – especially when we need them the most. And, I'm grateful to get to connect with amazing people like you. Thanks, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Henry Ford, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and to all the other inventors and innovators that made life so much easier for us. Thanks, God, for being the unparalleled Creator of all of us -- Who can give us ideas, creativity and witty inventions on a daily basis. We just have to tap into His wisdom and creativity!

Jesus said “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...." John 14:12. Jesus took His message by donkey or by foot. Today, TECHNOLOGY has taken that same message around the world and the spread of Christianity is nothing short of supernatural. There are still huge segments of the world’s population that have never even heard the name of Jesus. May we pray continually for TECHNOLOGY and INNOVATION that will open doors for ALL to hear the GOOD NEWS so we can say, "Even so, Lord Jesus, COME!"

Thankful for the Good New Days

Day 183 of Photo Inspirations – Thankful for the Good New Days
The good ole' days had its charm, but I’m so thankful for these good new days.  I know I’m dating myself, but I was there when we used manual typewriters and carbon paper for copies. We put the paper between the paper table and platen.  Then rolled the platen knobs clockwise until the paper was in.  Then we lifted the paper bail and put it down on the top of the paper. Next was moving the carriage over manually to the right until it wouldn't go any further.  (The margins stopped the carriage). Then WHOA LA, we could begin typing our first sentence.  When we heard the 'ding' at the end of the line, we'd return the carriage with the carriage return.  WHEW!  All of that to produce a page of typewritten words.

AND now we have computers and tablets that within a matter of a few seconds or minutes, a page of words is completed and a simple Control P, prints the page out.  Bada bing, bada boom.

Back then our sources for information…in my case, was The World Book Encyclopedia -- that's where our research for school reports and essays came from.  Thumbing through pages after pages to find the information and then manually typing up what I had read.  WHEW!  Hours of research and a long time to type the report.

Now we have the internet that with a simple Google word search, blogs, information, photos, and youtube videos appear that give us everything we need for a thorough report, complete with images.

The internet is so awesome that I can repair a clogged toilet with just a little information I obtained from an online search. (Yes, I did -- last week.)  I found a miracle cure for a yucky wart – apple cider vinegar and duct tape. (I still use that remedy for those crazy little bumps that randomly appear.)  I find the definition to words in seconds.  I find stores and services – their hours, their products and the prices without having to use a thick Yellow Pages Book.  I find images that I can use in my Facebook posts.  I can find scriptures, then copy and paste them into my messages.

For this post today, I’m simply expressing gratitude for yet another blessing.  Technology has brought so much spice to me in this season of life that I sure don’t have time for bingo.  Okay, marking B-8 on a bingo card can bring enjoyment to folks, but there’s nothing to compare with the connection to the world via my computer and the Internet.  The Internet brings the world to us – I don’t want to stop learning EVER and I can continue to learn in this technology age.  Hanging out in cyberspace is my gig.  I've connected with friends and relatives from my childhood.  We talk about the good ole’ days and celebrate these good new days.  I love to Skype or Google Hangout or Facetime with my grandchildren.

Perhaps you have some lonely friends or family members that don't get out much anymore.  Perhaps, the gift given to me in this Information Age is a gift you can give to them.  They may tell you they don’t want to “mess with it” at first, but believe you me – they’ll be thanking you when they find so much  in the cyberspace world of wonder -- not to mention, they'll find lots of things that will remind them of their past as well.  After all, that's what this typewriter and encyclopedias did for me today!

It's an Upside Down World!

Day 65 of Photo Inspirations -- It's an upside down world -- well, at least from this vantage point it is. It's all about perspective. And, this world can seem quite upside down -- even when we're right side up.   What happened to the good old days when we could leave our doors unlocked, where the worst thing we did in schools was chew gum, where kids played outside using their imaginations, and gas was 23 cents a gallon?

But were the good old days -- really that good?   For years after, a trip to the dentist was still horrifying to me.  Oh the painful memories that brings back -- no good anesthetic while he drilled and poked.  Now, I have a dentist that is literally PAIN FREE -- even getting a root canal. Were the good old days that good when tornadoes came without warning because, without technology, no one could see them building ahead of time.  And were the good old days that good when it took days to communicate with a loved one because the only communication was "snail mail".   Now we can communicate instantaneously by social media and email.

In the good old days AND in the good new days, there have always been distractions that kept us from our relationship with God and the people who are right with us right now.  No question, we need to keep the priorities in our lives....THE PRIORITY!   But, when we get that right, technology and all that living in THIS DAY brings, is a beautiful thing. And, I get to connect with amazing people like you.

It's truly a matter of perspective.   Yes, it's great to recall sweet memories from the past, but being alive in this day and this time, in this generation......is right when and where God planned for us to be.  We are here ON PURPOSE and if we embrace the opportunities, the technologies, the possibilities and the experiences of THESE GOOD NEW DAYS, that will be the BEST DAYS of our lives.   Let's live RIGHT SIDE UP -- realizing we're right where we're supposed to be.  Let's make the most of being here......right here, TODAY, and live each day believing that TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

Never Underestimate What God Plans for Your Kids

I'm back in Texas, and had the opportunity to visit with my husband's best bud and cousin, Wes Wuerch and his precious wife, Letha Wuerch, Pastors here in Texas. I loved talking about the "good ole' days" and remembering the times when these two guys played their trumpets in church and sang together. They both went on to be ministers and pastors and they served God and His people in such beautiful ways. And now seeing the fruit of their labors by the many people whose lives were radically changed, and, they too, are being used by God in amazing ways today. Seed time and harvest.

Who knew those two little mischievous boys would have such an impact on this world? Their mamas.... and God. I'm telling you mamas and papas, today, "Never underestimate what God will do with your kids. He has great plans for them." These two guys are proof that He just needs the seed. He's the Master Gardener and he turns seeds into a mighty harvests." Now it's time for us to cultivate the soil, plant the seed and let God give the mighty increase!