| March 19th, 2001 - Constant Change is Here to Stay "New cafes offer Java and the Web" states the title of a recent article in the Weekend section of The Washington Times. The author goes on to describe how "the times, they are a changin'..." in the ways people are communicating, relating, finding lifetime partners, and conducting business. Perhaps you've heard of Napster? The amazing online peer-to-peer music markenting vehicle which allows members to share their music in the form of MP3 files with others. Recent court rulings have determined that copyright infringement laws are violated because the original artists of the music which is being widely disseminated through this tool (and others like ti) are cut out from their due royalties. The very fact that this has been a matter of debate in our courts is proof that we are beginning to look at the way we communicate and conduct businees, trade and commerce in entirely new and different ways. The old bashtions and paradigms are beginning to crumble! As one insightful news reporter put it, One hnndred years ago young people were advised not to go into the following career fields: acting, sports, and/or music because there was NO MONEY IN IT! But the last century's advances in communication and technology have altered that drastically. As an open minded conservative I am a strong believer in holding on to traditions and practices that work well for us, but am always open to new and innovative ideas which improve and revolutionize the way we do things. In the early 1900's there was a popular movement to do away with the patent offices because it was thought unlikely that there were any more inventions or improvements to existing patents. How wrong was that!? Today we stand on the edge of a new frontier with new worlds to pioneer in science, medicine and technology. The only limit to where we go is our own short-sightedness. We appear to be in a bright age of discovery and an upward technological trend of creature comforts that will not stop advancing. One thing however will never change. Jesus said, "Heaven (the existing cosmos) and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) The apostle Peter describes an inevitable meltdown: "But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent (intense) heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy lifestyle, conduct and godliness." (II Peter 3:10,11) God is the unchanging God. He claims in the bible, "I am the Lord , I change not." (Malachi 3: 6). Whether future changes in biological, chemical and technological research prove beneficial or massively destructive we can be sure of one thing: Our ultimate safety is found in Him, the unchanging God. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (Psalms 46: 1,2) |