It may be too soon for a “legacy” commentary on Steve Jobs. But part of Job’s legacy is that he helped popularize the “having a mobile device that can do everything, from anywhere at anytime” quickness of contemporary communication. His devices helped facilitate the cultural shift toward on-the-go, real-time media consumption. Because of him (and others), we can now hear about news, process it with others and, yes, even write a blog post about it as quickly as we want to. That I’m writing this on my Apple MacBook Pro is not meta irony as much as it is an unavoidable reminder of this man’s prodigious legacy and his brand’s revolutionary reach. How many of you who are reading this now on an Apple product?

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Steve Jobs is an icon. He has (almost) single-handedly transformed personal computing, revolutionized smart phones, created an intense market desire for the tablet computer, and changed how we shop for electronics. Few people have had the colossal business and cultural impact over the past three decades as Steve Jobs. I will never forget when my family got our first desktop Mac in 1984, and I am now looking forward to the iPhone 5 (this September…please!). I have an iPhone, iPad, and a MacBook Pro. Yes, I’m a Mac-geek. But at least I’m cool!

And I am also an evangelical Christian. You might be thinking, “So what! What on earth does being a Christian have to do with Apple computers or Steve Jobs?” More than you may think. I write books, speak publicly, and teach classes on philosophy and theology, which means I love motivating people to think deeply about the important issues of life. And Steve Jobs, one of the most powerful people of our day, has offered a secular “gospel” to our culture. My goal in this post is not to criticize Jobs (that would be foolish!), or to promote Christianity, but to contrast their respective worldviews so you, the reader, can decide what you think is true.

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Even before Apple pulled back the curtain on its new iPad--the iconoclast himself holding the brand new device and calling it "a truly magical and revolutionary" product--the anticipation for the Apple Tablet was enormous. The publishing world in particular was gaga in the days leading up to the announcement, a lot of industry leaders wondering whether or not the Apple tablet will revolutionize the distribution of newspapers, magazines, and books in the same the iPod transformed the music industry.

Whether the iPad ends up revolutionizing the way we buy and consume digital content of all kinds remains to be seen. But at first blush I do believe Steve Jobs has once again done something extraordinarily well. He hasn't just created a device; he has tapped into our imaginations. By calling the iPad "magical" rather than "useful" or "universal," Jobs has soared above the ordinary by placing this device--and let's face it, the iPad is just a device--into the realm of wonder rather than utility. If Steve Jobs is to be believed, the iPad isn't a device to merely help you do things more efficiently. It is device that will help you dream of doing things better.

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I bought an iPhone, the new 3Gs version that just came out.  It's my first iPhone.  I stood in line to buy it, which gave me plenty of time to think about this:  What if Christianity were more like Apple?

Everything about my iPhone purchase experience ran contrary to the way business is done these days.  With just about everything else I buy, it's all about expediency and anonymity.  Whether I'm buying books or groceries, whether online or in a store, the goal is to get in and get out with minimal effort and personal contact.  Not so with Apple.  Apple, especially the Apple Store, has created the ultimate hands on personal experience.

As I stood in line, I wasn't the least bit impatient (as I usually am in lines) because I really wanted what was inside the Apple Store.  At the same time, I reveled in the culture surrounding the transaction.  As I experienced the process of buying my iPhone, I couldn't  help but wonder if the experience of Christianity could be more like that.  Here are four observations I took from my Apple experience.

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I always believed in Apple. You know, in a kind of distant way. Like Steve Jobs was Bill Gates co-pilot, if you know what I mean. I know Apple is everywhere, but I guess I just never wanted to make it too personal. I mean, Apple is pretty busy with everything else going on in the world, right?

Then my daughters bought IPods. And my wife came home with this white Mac. I knew it was getting a little weird when Sarah walked in with an elegant, aluminum Macbook. I don’t know, but sometimes I think they feel a little bit . . . better than me. Like they have a personal relationship with their computers that I can’t have, just because I have a PC. I mean, what the heck, I’ve always had a PC and I don’t think I need some kind of a “personal relationship” with my computer! I’ve been fine all these years, right? Why change now, you know what I mean?

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Sorry it's been so long.  I've been teaching a lot the last couple weeks so my free time has been taken up with preparation.  Things are back to normal though so I'll try to be more diligent with writing here.

To lead off, a funny story.

Former Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Meyers wrote an article for Vanity Fair in January claiming that President Obama is the "Most Famous Living Person Ever".  It's the usual unrestrained media gushing about how we can thank him for 'making America cool again'.

Towards the beginning of the year, Steve Jobs announced his temporary leave of absence from Apple, the company he founded many years ago. It's not the first time Jobs has been removed from company involvement. It happened in 1985 too, only to be asked back 11 years later in an effort to save the company from near-bankruptcy. However, this time spectators wonder if Jobs' health condition will prevent him from ever rejoining the organization.

The challenge with the CEO's departure, as the Business Week article articulates, is that many wonder if the company can survive without his blend of driven-innovation, and passionate pursuit of customer-centric products. The company's lifeblood has been the CEO's personality, and the loss of his involvement leaves many wondering who will provide that spirit. 

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