My dream began with a gathering of people. As I watched, each of them was either using a laptop (Does that sound old?), cell phone or tablet. They were getting involved in a new media program. But as time went on, I heard various folks saying things like “I can’t use this” or “what? This just stopped”. Others were explaining to them that the problem was not the new download but was in fact the need for a newer version of the software that was running. And that conversation began to separate people. Quickly. Voices rose. People walked off. Frustration, anger, bewilderment.

I heard one specific conversation. “I do not want the ‘latest and greatest! I want what I have!’” The other person was gently explaining the need for the new software upgrade for the ability to be able to run the new media. “But, I like this!” “Then you will not be able to use this new media.” Back and forth they went.

Despite working in the technology world I get it. I have clients who are using software from 2003. Every now and then a fix will appear, but after a while manufacturers are like “enough is enough” and they walk away from the support of that software version. These people just keep babying it along.

Many years ago a dear friend of mine would pray not for a patch, not for a fix in our lives but a new system upgrade. Not just the software but the operating system of our lives. While his theology may have been skewed (We became a new creation through the death of Christ and our acceptance of His life.) I understand what he was saying. I need to be able to handle what is coming into my life, being added to my life. (”Lord! Expand my heart” is a popular outcry.)

But like my dream, sometimes there is a change required. I often hear lots of technology words used in the church and those words include download (revelation) or upgrades (increased capacity) and for some that is awesome. For others…not so much.

As I thought about my dream, I realized there are two sides to life here.

One side, enjoys life the way it is. They bemoan the loss of Windows 97 or Windows XP. I hear it ALL the time in my calls to businesses. “I build my own”. (Mostly because they can, allowing them customization, but sometimes just because…)”I don’t want the new” or “I only fix what breaks”. Unfortunately, while that line of thinking is popular and on some levels, okay. It leaves the company open to cyber-attacks, crisis, loss of data, etc.. In the church it is the same way. God is a forward moving God, always moving His people ahead. It is His nature. He loves us too much to “leave us here”. For instance even today there are some waiting to see if the internet is a fad in technology. For some in the church, they look at love or grace and wonder if it is a fad. And upgrades? Well, sometimes our capacity to love or embrace grace is hindered by our “operating system” as if we can never change.

But last night while I was sleeping, an update came into my computer, shutting it off and updating it. This morning when I awoke my computer was refreshed and ready to roll. God often does things in our lives in our “nights” just as He did for Abraham or Adam.

And then there is the other end of the spectrum in the tech world. Trying out everything. Every application, every software, EVERYTHING! But in the tech world “bad things” can happen. Last night I received a “gift” from someone. Or at least they thought it to be a gift. It was what we call malware. Launched in a computer it can remove ALL the data or lock you out, demanding ransom money to release your information. Or just break your system. Fortunately, I have protection and a little more wisdom than I did when I first entered the world of technology many, many years ago.

In our walk with Him, there are many like that. Hey! I was like that. I would rather “miss God for trying” than sit in my chair and wonder “was that you?”

But, let’s be real. Not everything is God. Not everything is good. The latest and greatest in the church may not be healthy or health providing. In fact, sometimes it can be a form of “malware” that has come in. At first, it may not even be a big deal, but perhaps down the road, the truth of the matter reveals a very destructive path. (Sure, it can be a person or even a people, but at the heart of it,it is the enemy of our souls.)

And it is here where our elders and leaders are so important. Like a well managed, technology team, so should our elders and leaders, be encouraging people to change when it is necessary. Not in times of crisis, but pro-actively allowing God to shape and to change.

And like technology, we do not “have to “ try everything to be effective. But, I submit to you we do need to evaluate from the word of God and God Himself the changes that come to us.

We desire faith. We look to change. We hope in him. And like a well running machine, those things will keep us functioning at our best. We will take life as it comes and over come. We will accept challenges as simply things to apply faith and understanding to.

There ARE some amazing things coming to our region, to our nation and to our world. I am excited about them.

Only yesterday, we had the conversation about “what speed” was our first internet. As we shared notes and relived some history, NOT one of us were saying hey, we want to go back to the slow, slow way” of life in the 90’s technology world. We have evolved.

And our world in Him is the same way. We have evolved. We have come to understand grace, love, faith. And not just for understanding’s sake. We are living it! Do not be like the person in my dream who could not enjoy some of the new things in life because of an outdated system. Be not the same with God. If God is pointing to you to change, do not resist Him. Embrace Him!

Our world is shaking right now. Nearly every headline is one of despair. BUT, our God has foreseen this and prepared us. For some of us it requires an upgrade in thinking. A change in how we do things. But rest assured, victory is at hand. Just as new technology can not run old software neither can old thinking appropriate the things of God for today, for now.

If you need an upgrade accept it. If you need some new “software” or the latest version, so be it.

Life your hands and cry out for God to reveal Himself to you. To heal you and make you whole. Release your faith and watch the shock of others as lives are changed. Healing, wholeness and life abundant. It is the latest and greatest.