August 27, 2026
Our computer age swept in with massive cultural change. How could it not? Even if you only dabble in computers at work (which is highly unlikely), you still are exposed to more information thrown at you daily than your parents and grandparents faced in a month. You don’t have to read it but you do have to decide whether you will or not.
I think about family members who have passed, and I wonder how they would react to current events. My parents enjoyed a culture focused on the American dream, courtesy, the whole, “If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all” philosophy. My memories of a typical Saturday afternoon in the 50s include the sounds of a baseball game, lawn mowers, and tinny radio music. They had personal challenges but they made long range plans and pretty much lived them out. Now, long-held freedoms and traditions are questioned at every turn. I’m not naïve enough to think life was perfect back then, but it was brave and empowering with plenty of opportunity for reward.
Computers, smart phones, tablets and smart TVs have changed the way we read, seek entertainment and even go to school. I do not usually love change. But in spite of the Internet downside, there is a lot of upside as well. I believe God saw the computer age coming and we will serve Him with new ideas and new pathways. Never be afraid to go where God goes! Being a child of God, we live secure and confident, loved and adored, by our heavenly Father. It is the thing that makes people look at us, wondering where our confidence and optimism come from, the behavior that makes them look closer, wondering what it is we know that they do not. That is our job and our joy, representing the Kingdom of God in a way that calls people into the Glory of God’s love.
These are times when it is tempting to keep our faith and our prayers to ourselves. I always thought pretty much everyone was a Believer, with parents and grandparents who faithfully prayed them into the church. Our current disrespect and mockery of Christianity is a surprise. But it is in the Bible. I'm like Bilbo in the Hobbit; we are always surprised when we find we’ve been born into difficult times. Now we are challenged to trust God Like Daniel. No hiding. No pretending we’re not in the body. These are times when people will be martyred. We must trust God with the kind of courage the Israelites exhibited as they rushed through the Parted sea. No matter what happens in this world God is still in control.
Father, I confess I love my computer. It makes creativity easier and it’s a great equalizer, making available research in the NYC library and the Library of Congress. It blesses rural writers with the same privileges as corporate and government writers. Help me utilize the power available on the Internet and Lord, please help us find ways to thwart the thieves and perversion that long to destroy this tool for everyone.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.