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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Download/Upload (11/17/11)
    You shall not steal. (Exodus 20:15 NAS)
Using applications on the Internet is not something new to most of us. We frequently access, download, store, and share files over the Internet via computers, mobile phones, tablets, and other devices. All these are possible because of personal cloud computing.

Personal cloud refers to the adoption of Internet computing for personal use. In computer network diagrams, the Internet is symbolized by a cloud, hence the term ‘cloud computing.’ Cloud computing relates to the applications and files we access and operate over the Internet. These applications and files are usually stored at a remote location, accessible on the fly through mobile, hand-held, or other computing devices. The remote location may be our home, a data center, free space on the Web, or anywhere else connected to a storage device, such as a computer, server, or network attached storage, with network access to the Internet. We can upload and download data, music, videos, and other media files to and from this remote location, as well as share them with friends, family and colleagues anywhere, anytime.

Today, with cloud-enabled devices like iPhone®, iPad®, Android®, and other smart phones, sharing and accessing files stored in remote places is easy and convenient. Such convenience, however, can give rise to a certain danger. We tend to share files with others without much thought, even those we are unsure if they belong to the public domain, or are copyrighted.

According to an article on 'Piracy: Legal vs. Illegal Downloading' contributed by Federal Trade Commission to KnowWhereTheyGo.org, "downloading copyrighted material without expressed permission, (that is, without paying for the works), is illegal." However, “downloading music and movies from the Internet, under certain circumstances, is legal.”

Too often we have taken for granted and assumed all things on the Web are free. We frequently download ‘free’ things from the Internet, and distribute them to others via file sharing and e-mailing. Such an act is not much different from theft, if the materials we send are copyrighted. Storing and sharing things that are not ours is stealing, and can affect the livelihood of the rightful owners.

Unlike the dangers involving the upload and download of materials over the Internet, there is something of spiritual equivalence we can safely do that is quite the opposite. We can pray to God, and be assured our prayers rise up before Him (Revelation 8:4). That’s an ‘upload’ we can count on God to hear! We can receive God’s overflowing blessings poured down on us that will keep us having all sufficiency in everything, if we willingly give to God’s work (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7-8). That’s a ‘download’ full of blessings!

So, what should we do? We should not steal (Exodus 20:15). This means we should always ensure our uploading and downloading over the Internet or the cloud is legal. Never take for granted to think everything available on the Internet is free, or share materials we are unsure of their intellectual property rights. Give willingly to God’s work; bring our prayers to God; and expect a down pouring of God’s blessings from the clouds of heaven.

Thank You, dear Lord, for pouring down Your blessings on us when we willingly give to Your work. Receive our prayers O God as we bring them to You. Grant us wisdom Lord to know and differentiate the right from the wrong when uploading and downloading online. Help us not take for granted to assume everything is proper and good without verifying, and paying for what is due. Do not allow us to be careless Lord that we may not unknowingly deprive others of their livelihood.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This article has been read 1236 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Nancy Bucca
12/03/11
You make a good point about piracy with an excellent spiritual message at the end. Thanks for sharing.
Terry Lee
12/04/11
Very informative piece. I'm so happy you explained the 'cloud' concept, because I could never understand that before. I thought this piece was very well layed out and presented. My only exception would be the inclusion of the prayer upload/download, since this seemed to trail slightly away from your point. (I had expected something about how the Lord abhores dishonest scales, or something of that nature.) One other comment: Writing in the 'positive' is more powerful than writing in the 'negative'. So, for example, in your first sentence, instead of saying "is not something new," you might say, "is familiar".

Overall, I liked the discussion, the message, and the beautiful prayer at the end. I loved the inclusion of the trademark symbol, which worked to seal your point.
C D Swanson 
12/07/11
Beautifully written and nice job with this entry. I enjoyed it. Thank you. God Bless~