“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.“ (Matthew 3:11)

In 1997 Apple released an ad that featured some of the world’s brightest innovators and connoisseurs. Short clips of Mahatma Ghandi, Jim Henson, Martin Luther King Jr. and others played as a voice described the personalities on screen. The ad used words like “rebels,” “misfits,” and “crazy ones.” It told us that these people “see things differently”.

In Matthew chapter four, Jesus began to preach saying, “Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is near.” Repentance is not whimsically and emotionally flipping back and forth like an indecisive squirrel on hot asphalt. But it is a profound realization of sin that graciously transforms us.

Jesus was telling people to change the way they think. Was this something new? Not at all! Jesus is proclaiming the same call to repentance as John the Baptist and all the other prophets who have gone before him (Matt. 3). Why? Because repentance still was, and ever will be, the necessary factor to prepare our souls for the kingdom of heaven.

We must think differently and Apple knows it, but comparatively, the similarities are rather short lived. What Apple hasn’t got figured out is that we must think differently about our sinful state, about God, and about our brief and fragile existence.

God, I revere and praise you for your faithfulness. You reign in heaven and I pray that your will would be done on earth. Thank you for repentance and the opportunity to change. Holy Spirit, continue to renew my spirit by making my thoughts more like Christ. Amen.

Hurting from the pain of losing a child? We care and want to pray for you.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry” (Proverbs 25:11, The Message).

Only hours earlier we got the stark news that we had been dreading. Doctors said there was no more treatment available for our son’s cancer.  He would live—at the most—only days. While our heads had anticipated this information, it was now harsh reality that broke our hearts.  Seventeen-year-old Rick sat in the sun room reading a book as I blindly set about making lunch.

The doorbell rang and on the porch stood a good friend. Someone had called him with the news. He walked in and placed in my hands one perfect apple, its deep crimson skin almost glowing. After a quick hug, he walked into the sun room to be with Rick and I sat on the stairs just looking at this right and perfect gift. Although unaware of any precise comforting thoughts, somehow the sharp edge of grief had been dulled by the jewel-like gift.

In this case, the “right word” was unspoken. It was just an apple, but obviously chosen with care and offered with love. It was a custom-made piece of jewelry.

Father, help me choose words—and gifts—to fit the needs of those you place in my path. Amen.

Questions: Is there someone in your life that is struggling and could use a “jewel-like gift”? Tell us about a time when you received a perfect gift in your time of despair.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Finding the courage to encourage (life lesson)

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Pornography is a multibillion dollar industry, but you won’t find it on your iphone, at least not officially.

Tate:
If Dylan was 20 today, how would he feel about your company? Would he think the iPad had the faintest thing to do with “revolution?” Revolutions are about freedom.

Jobs:
Yep, freedom from programs that steal your private data. Freedom from programs that trash your battery. Freedom from porn. Yep, freedom. The times they are a changin’, and some traditional PC folks feel like their world is slipping away. It is.

Tate:
“And you know what? I don’t want “freedom from porn.” Porn is just fine! And I think my wife would agree.”

Jobs writes simply, “you might care more about porn when you have kids.”

I was pleasantly surprised by Jobs’ comments. I certainly didn’t see that coming. It pretty unusual to see someone outside of the church come down against porn.  I applaud Jobs’ effort to keep porn out of the hands of children – many of whom do have access to iphones.  I know in my family all the adults have them and when we get together, only a few minutes will pass before one of the kids asks “Uncle Gord, can I play on your phone?”

I do appreciate the effort, but on closer inspection the no porn stance gets a little fuzzy. Jobs claims not to be interested in selling pornography, but Wired Magazine reports that there is a Playboy app for sale. I’m not sure I understand the difference.

Does Apple have the right, or even the responsibility to govern what can and cannot be sold in the App store?

More:
Why is porn a big deal? Take a real look at pornography
Need help? Talk privately to a mentor

Everyone knows someone who is an Apple enthusiast.  Whether they’re a fan, or a  fanatic  a group in California wants to help them find others like them.  Will your dating life also be “designed by Apple in California”?

The new site set to launch in June 2010 is called Cupidtino – a cute take on Cupertino, the California town that has been home to Apple HQ since 1975 and cupid.  (Whether you needed to read that explanation or not is probably a good indicator of whether or not this site is for you.)  Plans are underway to release it on all Apple platforms, which I have to assume means there will be an app.

An early report on CNN.com prompted several questions of “is this a joke?” but there might be something to say for this off beat concept.  While the old adage claims that opposites attract, if you and your partner have nothing in common, there’s going to be a lot of “putting up with” as you trade off attending events you both enjoy.  Can love grow out of a mutual love of technology? It’s certainly been based on less before.

Acting as its own personal ad the site describes itself saying, “Diehard Mac & Apple fans often have a lot in common – personalities, creative professions, a similar sense of style and aesthetics, taste, and of course a love for technology. We believe these are enough reasons for two people to meet and fall in love, and so we created the first Mac-inspired dating site to help you find other Machearts around you.”

As for interest in the site, the day the post went up on CNN.com, cupidtino.com exceeded its bandwidth.  That’s probably a very good sign.

Would you ever try a site like this?

Check the Apple website for more information on their new products.
Watch this video for tips on how to get good deals on tech gadgets.

Related reading: Success vs. Significance – With John Kang, President and CEO, of two multi-billion dollar companies

Will you be lining up to buy the new iPhone? Do you like to have the newest and latest tech gadgets? Has technology made your life better or worse?