W
e threw a canvas on the floor. Each member of the family held their favorite colored marker. On the count of three, and for the next fifteen minutes, we wrote and drew on the canvas many reasons to be thankful for.This activity highlights our celebration on Thanksgiving Day. We try to make it an annual tradition. Typical things come to mind: family, friends, work, school, and even difficult circumstances that allowed us grow. But this year, our daughters surprised us.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
They began to give thanks for the technologies at home that make our lives easier. One of them drew a picture of a toilet, while the other one drew a picture of the toilet paper. Oh, yes! How many can give thanks to God for living in an era of toilets and sewers? Our younger was thankful for her hair straightener – I could not relate to that one to be honest, while our older gave thanks for the stove… Yes! We also love to eat.
We live in privileged times. Many technologies have improved our standard of living. Many technologies also facilitate our ministerial mission; however, we take them for granted and do not take the time to express our gratitude for having them. I refuse to do that. Today, I am dropping my canvas on the web to acknowledge these 5 technologies for which to be most thankful.
The Sound System
The sound system that we use in our churches allows us to share a common worship and learning experience. We can all sing the same songs of praise in unison and listen to the sermon at the same time.
The sound system, with its microphones, cables, consoles, mixers and speakers, not only has allowed new ministry paradigms and massive revivals, but it has also allowed us to record these experiences to relive and reproduce them repeatedly; it has allowed us to leave a historical record of our meetings.
None of this was possible prior to 1877, barely 140 years ago:
I am thankful for the sound system
Thank you, Edison; thank you, Kellogg; thank you, Marconi; among many others.
The Internet
The Internet transformed the world with its capability for communication in real time. With the Internet web pages were born to publish information about our ministries and so that people may have easy access to them. E-mail was born to communicate without any delay. It allowed us to share all kinds of digital files: our precious photos, admirable music, and memorable videos. Many other technologies have benefitted from the Internet.
With the Internet, the possibilities for the gospel to reach the entire world multiplied exponentially. No other time in history can compare to the digital era.
None of this was possible prior to 1983, about 35 years ago:
I am thankful for the Internet
Thank you, ArpaNET; thank you, Kleinrock; thank you, Engelbart; among many others.
The eBook
I am an avid reader. I am a devoted book fan. For years, I dedicated myself to build a book library of varied interests and I was proud of it. That was until I started moving from one place to another. I learned that books were heavy and that they could not fit into a luggage case without having to spend a fortune even greater than the books cost itself. Then my friends got tired of moving around the books I still hold.
That is how I began to whittle down my library. I began to leave books behind in many places. Then, electronic books arrived and now, I can take my library everywhere I go. The Logos Library is one of my favorites. Followed by the online Bible and my Kindle books. I can even have them as audio books through Audible. Electronic books boosted my learning mobility by a factor of thousands.
None of this was possible prior to 1971, barely 46 years ago:
I am thankful for the electronic book
Thank you, Busa; thank you, Hart; thank you, Pritchett; among many others.
The Social Networks
Social networks and network socialization provided a more human touch to technology. With social networks, I found friends who I had not known about for a long time, met new people with similar interests and others with different opinions that helped me grow.
With social networks I can be close without being there. I can learn the needs and the emergencies, and lend a friendly hand, to help, rescue, and accompany.
Think about it, none of this was possible prior to 1997 barely 20 years ago:
I am thankful for social networks
Thank you, Weinreich; thank you, DeWolfe; thank you, Zuckerberg; among many others.
The Enterprise Resource Planning Software
The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software has many colors and flavors. It revolves around a central relational database and connects various applications that allow a company or organization, conduct the most typical business functions.
Today, Church Management Software (ChMS) help many churches keep their members organized, collect electronic donations, better financial controls, maintain employee’s payroll, serve children and youth, and analyze the impact your ministry is having.
None of this was possible prior to 1994, less than 25 years ago:
I am thankful for Enterprise Resource Planning software
Thank you, Lawson,; thank you Ellison; thank you Shelby; among many others.
I want to give thanks for these technologies, thanks to their inventors, their creators, and even, the commercial companies producing and promoting them. Without knowing it, they are collaborators with us in God’s mission and that of His Church.
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