Last night's local news reported that Dallas police cars with computers are being retrofitted, since the laptops can break loose in collisions. Nearly 300 cars will undergo maintenance to repair the problem. Moving the laptops further from the driver's side may mean that fewer officers will ride as partners. Or typists. Now if we could do something about cell phones on the freeway, we'd be getting somewhere.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's new operating system premiered yesterday. "Vista" is the first OS to be offered by the software giant since Windows XP. According to this morning's New York Times, far less hoopla surrounded the release than had been expected. As the company deals with a resurgent Apple and Web-based challengers like Google, its share of the technology world may be shrinking.

Nonetheless, some computer experts are calling this the Next Big Thing in technology, predicting that new versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will increase Bill Gates's share of the market considerably. Others are applauding the new software but warn that bugs remain. Some say we should not upgrade to Vista until a Service Pack is produced to fix the inevitable problems which accompany new releases. And the debate goes on.

Most of us want both innovation and safety. We want the newest technology, but we want it to work. We want to be in control of what we buy and use. If computers or their software can harm us, we'll do whatever it takes to fix things.

I face the same temptation in my relationship with God. I want his help and direction, but I want to be in control of the process. I'm willing to do what he requires in order to experience his blessing, but no more. C. S. Lewis said it well: "Our temptation is to look eagerly for the minimum that will be accepted. We are in fact very like honest but reluctant taxpayers. We approve of an income tax in principle. We make our returns truthfully. But we dread a rise in the tax. We are very careful to pay no more than is necessary. And we hope--we very ardently hope--that after we have paid it there will still be enough to live on" (in The Weight of Glory).

Meanwhile, our Maker is asking us to trust his word and will, to do whatever it takes, give whatever he asks, and go wherever he leads. To believe that he has a plan to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). To take the next step of obedience, whatever it is. If Jesus were King and Lord of every dimension of your life this morning, what would he want to change first?

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