Today I killed a computer.

Today I killed a computer. It was easy really - I merely wished it dead. The deceased in question is about ten years old and lived in the Science department at our school in a store room cum prep room between two class rooms. Everybody used it and everybody complained about it. Besides its age, and possibly because of it, it was very slow. It took me approximately half an hour to log in. However, we were lucky to have it. Normally only heads of department get computers. So we put up with the problems.

You see, computers play a game with people. The rules are fairy simple. The computer tries everything it is capable of to frustrate the humans. If the humans lose their tempers, or walk around the rest of the day in a bad mood, or physically strike or kick the computer, the computer wins. If the humans display patience and good humour no matter what, then the humans win.

We were about even. Three days ago it finally dawned on us that we didn't have a number of faulty CD's and DVD's that couldn't be read by a computer. We had a computer with a broken CD drive.

The process to rectify it goes as follows: I send an e mail to our computer fundi. He replies in a week or so to say he will look at it. Then I meet him in the passage and he tells me he couldn't get into the lab because it was locked because he came after school the day before. Like we are going to leave a store of dangerous chemicals and interesting equipment unlocked in a school full of teenagers!

My colleage and I were discussing the problem. We both agreed that we needed a new computer. However they wouldn't give us one unless it was irreparably broken.
"Well, perhaps it could accidentally fall off the table," I suggested.
He pointed to the tower on the floor.
"It doesn't have anywhere more to fall. How about if some acid got spilled on it?"
I thought that it might look suspicious if acid got down the back of the computer under the table.

So I sent the e mail.

Yesterday I was testing our entry for the Technology Olympiad after school. Then I thought it would be just as well to enter our results and they were done. The computer screen was blank and wouldn't respond to anything so I assumed a power cut had switched off the computer and I switched it on again. I typed in my name and password and then made myself of cup of coffee while I waited for it to load my personal settings. After half an hour I read through the team's report and corrected all the spelling mistakes. Loading was still going on. At four o clock I decided that it was stupid to spend time after school waiting for a computer when I could just as well record the results the next day. So I went home.

This morning the computer was still loading my settings. I rebooted it and went to do some practical demonstrations for two grade nine classes. At break the computer was still loading my settings.

Not being able to send an e mail, I sent an SMS.

To be honest, the computer won this round. I was miserable the rest of the day, being unable to do anything I wanted and unable to read any e mails which might have informed me of the programme for the Science Expo on Saturday. Finally I gave in and went to discuss my frustration with our vice principal who takes an interest in the school computers.

Towards the end of the school day the computer fundi came to investigate. It seems our computer was hanging.

"This is quite an old computer," he told us. "You need a new one. This one's dead. I'll speak to the vice principal about getting you one."

So the computer might have won the battle, but we won the war. We killed the computer by wishing it dead. We have declared tomorrow a day of celebration - I mean mourning.

"Prey"

I've just been reading an excellent book by Michael Crichton called "Prey" Using technologies of computer programming, nanotechnology and molecular biolgy, scientists made tiny nano-units capable of co-operating together to form a camera for military use. Because the swarm was unstable in high winds, the scientists programmed into them the ability to evolve and to learn - also to sustain themselves with solar power and reproduce. They hoped they would randomly evolve to solve the wind problem.

Well, you can guess what happened. A typical Fankenstein scenario. Man creates monster (with good intentions and for the greater good), monster runs amok and man can no longer controll him. In this case the units started flocking together and attacking and killing animals and ultimately humans. This was how they reproduced.

The rogue swarms wanted to get back into the facility (because that's how they were programmed - to be of use to man.) However, if they got in, everything would be destroyed.

It reminded me a lot of the salvation story. God made man for Himself and our souls can only find rest in Him because we were programmed that way. However, something went wrong. Sin came into the world and was inheritable (let's call it a faulty DNA code.) This caused man to act in ways that are destructive, antisocial and even evil. These particular acts are not sin, the faulty code causing this behaviour is (Like the swarm who was now trying to kill the humans)

With the faulty code it is impossible for man to get into heaven. The rogue units have to be destroyed. In the story that is exactly what happens in the end - thermite and explosive gases ensure that the nano-units are totally destroyed.

An excellent book and very well written. I wish I could write like that.

I was inspired

I was inspired this morning by listening to the following. It does not apply to me but I would like it to. It is a great goal to strive towards.



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The Fellowship of the Unashamed


I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

By Dr. Bob Moorehead



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The Adventure of Living game

Life is like a board game.   I am thinking of something like Monopoly or Careers.

There is a certain amount of luck or chance.   You throw the dice and you are stuck with that random integer.   The skill, however, comes in the decisions you make.    Although you are working within the confines of a game, the decisions are real and they have consequences to the game.   What are also real are the emotions engendered.   We can all remember being brought to tears by having to sell all our hotels and houses in a bravely fought Monopoly game or the excitement of throwing a six at just the right time.   Even once the game has been packed up and put away those emotions of loss or defeat linger like sticky shadows.   In the end though, real life goes on.   The game was like a two dimensional interlude in three dimensional life.

In the same way, our life on earth is merely a 3 dimensional interlude in 4 dimensional eternity.   There is a certain amount of luck or chance involved and we cannot work out of the boundaries defined by our given personality or circumstances.   The choices we make, however, are where the skill comes in.   The trick is to play our best game with what we are given, realizing that others play a different game according to the roll of their dice.

However, unlike a board game where real life goes on regardless of how we played the game and whether we won or lost,   The game of Life is central to the unfolding of our eternity.   It is the only method given to us to shape that eternity.   The decisions we make in this life are crucial to our future life....and we only get to play once!

Bright little speck

Tonight I saw a parable.   As I was sitting in a crowded hall, listening for the umpteenth time to Nicky Gumble's talk on healing, my eye caught a bright speck on the carpet.   As I saw the brightness, it looked like there was possibly a room beneath us, well illuminated and there was a small hole or crack allowing me to see the light from below.   I couldn't take my gaze away from this curious incandescent spot.   After the talk I reached down and forward to try to retrieve this thing that fascinated me so.   I felt nothing and my fingers came up empty yet the little bright speck had disappeared.   I can only imagine it was a small piece of glitter, left over from Sunday School activities.

We are like that little speck.   We have no light of our own.  All we have to do is face the Light and reflect Him.   It's not up to us.   On our own we are nothing but a tiny speck of glitter on a huge carpet but when His light shines on us at just the right angle the effect is mesmerising.

Napier video

A Video to give you a glimpse of life in Napier New Zealand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwQw1JSSzs

The X factor

Yesterday is X-perience

Today is an X-periment

Tomorrow is X-pectation

We need to use Yesterday's X-perience in conducting Today's X-periment to fulfill Tomorrow's X-pectations