I learned on our recent trip to Kansas, and after spending much time with children and nieces and nephews, that I was a little out of date when it comes to technology. Of course, I think I already knew that, but the time together drove the point home.

While they were sitting around talking to each other and, at the same time, texting friends and reading and posting to Facebook, Twitter and who knows where else, I got out my cell phone to make a call.

“What is that?” was the response. “I’ve never seen a phone so big and bulky,” they said.

Of course, I didn’t think my phone was so old and outdated because I remember the first cell phones. I carried one in a big black vinyl bag in my patrol car. It had a cord which connected the hand-held transceiver to the phone and battery just like the cord on my old land-line phone at the office. And then there were those bigger wireless units that reminded me of the old walkie-talkies used by the military.

The devices got smaller. It wasn’t long and I could carry one on my duty belt. Eventually they got small enough to fit in my shirt pocket. Istill have one of my favorite pocket-size cell phones at home. It had great reception with its telescoping antenna and I’d probably still be using it if only it accepted a SIM card.

But then, that was before the days of text messaging and full keyboards. I tried to get up to date by buying an older phone with a full keyboard so I could keep up with my text-crazy kids and a few friends. Yes, the phone was wide and thick in its protective case, but it worked for phone calls and texting - it didn’t work well for some of the other stuff kids do with their phones these days because it didn’t have a camera and it wouldn’t accept all the modern applications of the newer phones.

Well, it was upgrade time and I was looking for a solidly-built basic flip phone. If I could find it, I wanted onethat I could run over with a truck and still call home to talk about it. But, the phone company wanted to charge me a bundle for a basic phone and was just about giving away the latest in smart phones. I figure it has to do with the service plans needed for the two different types of devices.

I was about to decline my upgrade and use one of my antiques a little longer, but Mrs. Griz convinced me I should at least try one of the new devices - after all, she had been wanting one for a year or more and I was dragging my feet.

It would be premature for me to admit she may have been right, but I have been impressed by my new phone. It works for calling - I haven’t been dropping calls and it doesn’t call folks all by itself when I’m in the bathroom and other places like my older phone did without warning on occasion. It works for texting since the keyboard, when I turn the phone sideways, is big enough that I can usually click on a single letter at a time instead of two or three with each stroke of the thumb. It lets me check e-mail, take photos, post to Facebook, surf the Web and a lot of other stuff I don’t yet know how to do.

I’ve been impressed with some of the free apps even if I don’t regularly use them. I have done some reading on my phone. A host of books - some of them classics - are available for free download and easy reading.

Most impressive to me is the fact that I can read the Bible on my phone, in both the KJV and the Greek and Hebrew - I haven’t tried the Hebrew yet since it reads from right to left, has no vowels, and I’m a bit rusty - OK, a lot rusty - indeciphering it. If I need help finding a verse and remember a word or two, the search feature allows me to bring it up without digging out my big and bulky Young’s or Strong’s analytical concordances. That makes it a handy thing to have my phone with me, even at church.

I suppose now that I have upgraded, if I see church members with their phones out during one of my sermons, I shouldn’t assume the worst. They might just be following along in the sacred text or doing as the noble Bereans did when they “searched the Scriptures daily, [to see] whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be reached by e-mail at rmoll@ nwaonline .com.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 03/16/2011