Having trouble keeping up with changes in the world of technology?
I bet you are and I am, too. Hi, I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and aren’t you not only amazed, but just a little overwhelmed at the incredible changes that technology is bringing into our lives? For my anniversary last year, friends gave me an iPad – what with me and my disability, that little touch-screen is so convenient. My hands don’t work, so I can’t actually point, but I can lay my knuckle against an app and it’ll open without any pressure at all. Very disability friendly! And, oh, the incredible things they offer nowadays! Recently, I downloaded an app called Pandora onto my iPad and, oh my goodness, you punch in a music artist you like – like for instance, I keyed in the name of my friend Mary Beth Carlson who plays beautiful hymns on the piano… and not only does it start playing her selections, but this app will play for you all the other Christian artists who have that same style. It’s so amazing this high-tech age we live in.
But there are some things about technology that are such a headache. Like the other week I wanted to watch a special on TV, and I literally had to telephone my husband, Ken, he was up in Montana fishing, to ask him how to turn on the television in the living room! This newfangled remote control is supposed to make things simple, but sometimes, the best thing to do is get up, walk over, and actually turn a knob or push a button. When's the last time you did that to your TV?
And you know what? I’ve discovered something else. All the newfangled electronic Bible study aids on the market don't necessarily make Bible reading any easier, either. For instance, I have an app on my iPad that has all the up-to-date Bible maps, commentaries, cross-references listed right there on the side of the screen… everything at your fingertips (or for me, my knuckle-tip). Anyway, this app is so user-friendly and so fascinating, well… I find that I'm reading less of the Bible and more of the commentaries. I'm seeking less help from the Holy Spirit, and more help from all the study guides. I’ll start out reading the Bible, but after a few minutes, I'm off on a rabbit trail on my iPad. When it comes to God's Word, perhaps the best thing is to actually get up, get your hardbound Bible with actual pages, open it and read it. I mean no disrespect, but when's the last time you did that? If it’s been any longer than 24 hours, it's been way too long!
Psalm 119 says, “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word… Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” There’s not much that technology can do to improve upon that, right? So, sure, keep life simple, but keep it growing by getting back into your Bible today, friend! And let’s not neglect the other discipline, as well – prayer! Earlier this year I had the privilege of serving as the Honorary Chair of the National Day of Prayer, and I’d love to send you a copy of the message I gave that morning on Capitol Hill. I kept it simple in this message, but I also shared some principles that, I trust, will open your eyes to see wonderful things about the grace of our God. I’d love to send you a CD of the message (hey, a CD isn’t too high tech, right?! We all know how to work a CD player, at least I hope we do)! So for your free CD of this special message, please go over to my radio page after we’re finished at joniandfriends.org. In this crazy, high speed, over-the-top with technology world, may we all keep it straight and simple: Read the Word; spend time in prayer. I don’t think even Apple or IBM could improve upon that!
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
© Joni and Friends