Cloud Computing
I read a couple of reports today on the Internet (which means the information has to be absolutely is most likely true and accurate made up, but could be true), stating there are two words Bill Gates hates to hear. I thought those two words might be something like, “Windows Bug”, “Service Pack”, or “Please Reboot”, but apparently they are something far more removed from the world of Microsoft. Supposedly, he hates to hear the words “cloud computing”.
Now, if you have not heard of cloud computing before, perhaps that is because you are not a geek and you have a life. However, if you are a geek like me, then you already know cloud computing is simply a slow traveler trying to connect to WiFi on the blimp. This is where Bill Gates comes into the picture, as he owns a dozen or so blimps and is completely frustrated over the lack of computer connections in the cute little people baskets connected to the bottom of the big blimpy part of the airship. Can you just picture his expression each time Windows pops up with the warning, “Lost connection”?
Just in case you can’t…
So much for cloud computing.
In reality, geeks either love cloud computing or they hate cloud computing. I’ve asked every single one of them and know beyond any realistic doubt what each one thinks about cloud computing… wait, I did miss a geek in Detroit who was playing an intense game of Wii Mario Brothers and a couple of geeks on the Goodyear Blimp (couldn’t get a connection), but as for all other geeks, I’ve talked to them. This is a fairly safe statement, as few geeks will admit they are geeks unless they are extremely wealthy and former CEO’s for Microsoft. For the few thousand I might have missed because they were not admitting to being geeks at the time (earlier Monday), they most likely love cloud computing or hate it. Much of their opinion probably originates on whether they have ridden in a blimp or not.
If you ask for a definition of cloud computing, you will hear an explanation with such abstract phrases like shared resources, distributed computing, networking infrastructure, something called a client server (which I always thought was a waitress), and blimp connections.
Again, so much for cloud computing.
The reality is this new technology will probably be the face of business or school processing in some form within the next five years. This takes the operating system and programs off the individual computers (i.e. Microsoft’s bread and butter) and puts the resources out in a technological “cloud” to be shared by others.
Could this be the end of Bill Gates? Nonsense! This man has survived FORTRAN, Basic, Windows, Anti-trust litigation, IBM, Seinfeld commercials, and the challenge of having too much money. A geeky thing like cloud computing is nothing more than a blimp on his radar screen… I mean, blip… yes, blip on his radar screen. Bill Gates does not surrender!
Paul did surrender. I know some of you may have trouble jumping from Bill Gates to Paul, but we are seeing two very successful men with two very differing approaches to their missions. Bill: Never surrender. Paul: Totally and completely surrendered to Christ.
By today’s standard, Paul was a complete and total failure. He never built any buildings, he didn’t develop any new products, and the methods he used to direct others were dispised by other leaders. In fact, he offended so many people, large crowds tried to stone him for preaching his message. His theme throughout his travels was simple: The Cross.
Paul had no other ambition, no other driving force in his life, other than, of course, Philippians 3:8-10:
…that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ– the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…
Instead of building in the world, Paul was building God’s Kingdom in the hearts of those he met; instead of developing new products, he made new believers; instead of seeking out his own goals and success, he focused on God’s goals and his success with the Lord’s purpose.
When we stand before God at the judgment, our buildings, houses, computer programs, cars, and blimps will not be used as a basis to measure our success or accomplishments. Our jobs, positions, and status will not be part of the appraisal. Our wealth will be meaningless numbers, our money as valuable as toilet paper at that moment. There will be one and only one measure of success for each and every person on that day:
- Were our hearts fully surrendered to God?
- Did we submit to God?
- Did we surrender our will to His will?
- Did we give up our goals and accept His?
- Did we follow the crowd or follow God?
- Did we give up our purpose or find our purpose in Him?
As a computer geek, a computer support specialist, and a business consultant, I have to admit to having had a fascination with Bill Gates, reading about his background, his achievements, and his success. I wrote programs in several of the same computer programs he wrote, at one time re-writing an operating system to increase file security. Am I envious of one of the wealthiest men in the world? Not really. I am interested in his success having remotely similar backgrounds and knowing a few of the same things, although our management styles and personalities are far different.
As a believer, I have to admit to having a fascination with Paul, reading his background, his achievements, and his success. I struggle with the same faith gripping and sin temptations he faced, fully understand that whole Romans 7:19 passage, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing.” Am I envious of one of the most sincere men in the New Testament? Not really. I am interested in his success and see him as a mentor in similar struggles.
My ambition is to learn a Paul focus and surrender to God with the tenacity of a Bill. I want to be transformed into the likeness of a Jesus and learn more and more to say only those things God gives me. I want to be able to claim, “I know my Father in Heaven is with me, because I do only His will.”
Maybe that’s the real definition of “Cloud Computing”. What do you think? Where are you in this struggle between the Bills and the Pauls in your life?
Glenn Sasscer
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