Tonight when I left a prayer meeting at our church I found two text messages (on my iPhone) from friends telling me that Steve Jobs had died. I was surprised at how sad I felt at the news. My prayers are with his family and friends.The following is a post I wrote in April of last year when the iPad was first released. I share it again here to mark his passing.
Dear Steve Jobs,
Tonight my son Joshua Quinn and I drove to the Apple store in Montgomery Mall with our good friends the Marescos--Kenneth, Patrick and Braden--to see and touch your new iPad. On the way home we all talked about whether or not we "felt a connection" with it (we all did) and what our favorite features were. I loved looking at pictures on it--so much more personal and intimate than a laptop. Joshua Quinn liked playing a car racing game. Kenneth said reading a book on it made the Kindle look like a decrepit Palm Pilot.
I was thoroughly impressed. Yes, I agree with all the hype about the iPad being a game-changer for how we read books, surf the web and interact with all the digital stuff in our lives like movies, games and photos. Of course you already know all this.
I did not buy one, though sometime down the road I might. Even though I consider myself a foaming-at-the-mouth Apple fanboy, I'm glad to say I've grown in self-control a bit over the years. And I don't feel I need to own an iPad to enjoy the unfolding spectacle of public interest and your gift of stirring up media interest. I just enjoyed watching other people use the iPad at the store. I can't imagine what it's like for you to watch people using it. That must be fun for you.
It struck me tonight how many of God's characteristics your work embodies. The Bible teaches that man is made in the image of God. In other words man is the creature most like God on the earth. And that's on display in your life. The creativity and attention to detail and joy you take in unveiling your work to the world, are all qualities that point to the ultimate Creator and Inventor and Showman.
Mr. Jobs, you are created in God's image. He's the one who has given you all the incredible gifts and talents that have allowed you to succeed. I sincerely pray that you'll glorify him--that you won't be like the ancient King Nebuchadnezzar who proudly surveyed the kingdom he built and ascribed it all to his own majesty and brilliance. (If you've never heard his story, it's in chapter 4 of the book of Daniel and is worth reading.)
I've been using your computers now for 25 years. I'm grateful for the work you've done. I mean that. Thank you! And I want you to know that I pray for your good health often. I also pray that one day soon you'll come to know and worship God's son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to save sinners like you and me. All the success you've achieved is meaningless apart from knowing him and finding through faith in him reconciliation with God.
God bless you, Mr. Jobs. And great work on the iPad.
Sincerely,
Joshua Harris
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