My Introduction

 When I was choosing my major, I decided on Computer Engineering - a combination of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.  I made this decision based on my fascination with the evolution of technology.  My long term goal was to attend Law School and study Intellectual Property Law.  I was completely intrigued by the fact that people could "own" thoughts and ideas and the laws that governed them were rapidly evolving.

I attended Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) at a time when most students had computers in their dorm rooms, but few took them to class, e-mail had become the primary source of communication between students and professors, but cell phones were just beginning to emerge.  During this time of huge technological growth, I was also seeing changes in our culture, but I didn't think much about it at the time...

Though I was interested in technology, my passion was the study of God's Word.  Most of my extra-curricular activities in college involved Bible study of some sort.  When I moved to Austin after graduation, I began working at Motorola in their microprocessor division and joined a Bible-preaching church and became involved in a discipleship group with girls that became the dearest friends I have ever known.  This discipleship group prompted a time of incredible spiritual growth unlike anything I had ever experienced, even though I had been a believer since the age of five.

One day I was sitting in my cubicle doing verification on a small component within the microprocessor when I was hit with a thought like a lightening bolt... How were the eight hours a day I was spending on this impacting the kingdom of God?  Was it really worth my time to help people have smaller cell phones?  Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe that you can (and should!) impact the kingdom no matter where you are or what you are doing.  If everyone was a preacher, Bible teacher, worship leader, etc., we'd be starving, homeless and without cellphone communication! :-)  I just came to realize that even though I liked technology in general, the minuscule details that go into creating it wasn't for me.  So, Law School plans were tossed aside and I began taking classes at Dallas Theological Seminary while still working full-time as an engineer.

During my seminary days, a LOT of "life" happened.  My role at Motorola transformed into one where I was training people how to develop chips with the ARM processor.  I got to travel the world doing this training and I also found out that teaching was a driving passion in my life (even though I wasn't particularly interested in the subject I was teaching at that time).  I also got married (to THE most wonderful husband in the world!), got pregnant three months later (the timing not planned by us, but an extremely wonderful blessing), and then quit working for monetary gain to stay at home with my baby (no mother ever really quits working!).  When my oldest child was a year old, I got pregnant again and decided the "plan" needed to change.  I put my Masters degree goal on hold and graduated in 2007 with a Certificate of Graduate Studies.  Like I said, a lot of life in only four years!

Since seminary, I had a third (and final!) child and have both enjoyed and been extremely challenged by motherhood. :-)  A little over a year ago, I came across a blog review in the DTS alumni newsletter.  It was called donteatthefruit.com and it talked about issues of faith and technology.  I was thrilled with the content I was reading!  Finally I had found something that combined many of my skills, interests, and passions.  Once the niche was found, I started researching, thinking about, and preparing to teach women about the theological issues that effect our faith in God.  And so, last month, I started this blog as the first step in teaching the message that God has put on my heart.  My hope is that the thoughts that are share through this media will take people deeper into their relationship with God.  If it ever becomes glorifying to myself instead of Him, that's the day it stops.  (And my accountability girls are reading this and keeping me to it!)

Also, last month, John Dyer (the writer of Don't Eat the Fruit) came out with his first book entitled From the Garden to the City: The Corrupting and Redeeming Power of Technology.  It is a thought-provoking, well written, highly interesting and very informative book about the relationship between faith and technology.  Be sure to pick one up soon (see http://fromthegardentothecity.com/ to start reading immediately).  In subsequent posts during the next 13 weeks I will be reviewing each chapter of this EXCELLENT book.  Be sure to become a "follower" of my blog so you will know when those posts are published and we can journey through this subject matter together!