Gospel Tech: Recent Episodes

Nathan Sutherland

A resource for parents who are feeling outpaced and overwhelmed as they raise children in a tech world.

Our goal: Equip parents with the tools, resources, and confidence they need to raise kids who love God and use tech.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 is a gift to everyone living in this tech world. We can quickly reflect on the what, why, and where of tech quickly in order to use tech intentionally.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3TwksNy

God has given us our children as a mission field, and He's proclaimed His Good News that we aren't in charge of saving them; just loving them. It's not easy, but it is freeing, and it's exactly what our children need.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4px0rSK

Parenting is hard, and parenting in a tech world can be downright overwhelming. The good news is that we have a good God who calls us to faithfulness, not perfection. So today, rather than focusing on ourselves as parents, we're going to reflect on who God is, who we are, and what it means to be a child of God.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fxV1ma

For part two of our conversation as we dive back into the unexpected places our children may run into unsafe pictures, and how we can intentionally help them both before they find such content, and especially after they've come across it.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ffawQF

Today we get to talk with Kristen Jenson, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, a resource that has been an encouragement to Anna and I as we raise our humans in a tech world. It's also one of the resources we reference most when giving workshops for parents on how to engage this tough conversation. Today we discuss Kristen's new book: Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, A Guide for Girls.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ffzjTR

Our opportunity as parents is to set loving boundaries. This will involve saying "yes" whenever we can and "no" as often as we need to. When it comes to tech, it is unloving to give our children gifts we know will harm them or those around them. Instead we give them gifts that will produce good fruit, that are safe by design and, in the case they're not inherently safe, they are appropriate for this child in this season.

Creating loving boundaries models the love God has for us, and the love He showed even to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:22). We can extend this same mercy and love to our kids, and it starts by having healthy boundaries around our tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4oQiaUQ

Our kids are capable of having fun at the pace of real life. It's hardwired into them. Teaching sixth grade this year gave me a front row seat for just how much today's youth love having social, interactive, creative fun at the pace of real life.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4xFUpmw

The last six months of consistent classroom teaching has reminded me of an important lesson: Students are more capable than they think. In reading, writing, and math, many times what our students need aren't intensive lessons covering specific steps for success, but rather repeated opportunities to achieve, to practice doing important skills even if they do it poorly early on, and a chance to see their own growth over time.

It is a beautiful thing to see a student learn a new skill, and it is a satisfying moment for everyone when that student realizes he or she is capable of learning beyond what they expected for themselves.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4aRIEzw

Many of us feel the tension between wanting to use technology well and wondering if it’s quietly shaping us in ways we didn’t choose. This episode digs into that tension, from Pope Francis’s vision for Christian humanism in the age of AI to the surprisingly spiritual discipline of embracing boredom, and why both matter for families trying to follow Jesus in a noisy world. If you’ve ever caught yourself doom‑scrolling, multitasking your quiet time, or avoiding stillness, this conversation will feel uncomfortably familiar in the best way.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4vF2iH3

We fail a lot as parents. God doesn't call us to be perfect, but to be faithful. Through intentional repentance, confession, and prayer God can overcome the mistakes we make and even use our brokenness to bring his kingdom.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43DdLvo

In Christ we are new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), and that must change the way we parent our children. We must speak gently, act rightly, be generous with our time, energy, and resources, and think of our children the way God thinks of us. This is an act of the will, for sure, but it's only truly possible through the active working of God's Holy Spirit giving us the heart and will to love as he calls us.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49fQFyl

As we look towards Christmas and the greatest gift God gave us in his Son, we need to think intentionally about how we can give our children the best gifts. Namely, we want to give the egg, not the scorpion (Luke 11:11). Today we continue our conversation about Analog Adventures this Christmas, and get into how these this Christmas can be a time to focus on fun at the pace of real life.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WO7A3O

Giving good gifts is a gift and responsibility as a parent (Just see Luke 11:11). This Christmas we can give our children amazing gifts that inspire, encourage, and equip them to have fun at the pace of real life. That's right, we're talking Analog Adventures! Over the next two weeks we'll discuss Board Games, Art, Competitive Fun, Books, and STEM.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3X7gpFN

While nerds are great at lots of things, we can struggle being present, knowing our limits with tech use, and generally submitting to God's kingdom and not our own. It is easy, in Tolkien's words, to move from Escaping to a better Reality towards Deserting the call God has put on our lives. The problem, at the end of the day, isn't that we haven't made a good enough reality yet, but that our world is broken and needs the great Restorer.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/47BNX4U

Nerds are amazing at experiencing wonder, seeing past the mundane into the Reality God has made, and avoiding the typical traps that come with pursuing purpose in the daily grind. Today we'll celebrate how God has made nerds, and how you as a parents can celebrate your child, your own nerdiness, or maybe even grow in the area of faithful imagination.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4h99rJE

Sometimes the hardest part of healthy screen time is knowing what to do instead. So how do we know if our child has too much screen time, and what can we do instead? There are three questions we need to ask, and then four activities we can use to quickly point our children back to analog adventures.

Are screens babysitting?
Does my child content with screen time?
Is tech a consistent battle for our family?

The average school-aged child has six "blocks" of discretionary time a day. We will look at four possible analog adventures: books, board games, art, and baking.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nNUQWC

Have you quit praying? Think about the last week: What happened when you saw that last horrible news article, or video on SM, or had someone at work tell you about another heart-rending tragedy. What did you do? If you're anything like me, you didn't pray. You might've shrugged, or cried a little, or made a snarky remark (also more like me than the other two)--but if you're like me, you didn't pray. Our lack of prayer shows we are forgetting just who it is we serve. We serve a God who is:
1. A good father 2. Creator God of everything 3. Calling us to kingdom work

We pray to see His will be done and His kingdom come. Let us not give up in doing what is good, but instead to pray without ceasing, even if it means we pray about our lack of desire to pray.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4pS7m8R

There are three unique struggles on social media thanks to the advent of AI:
1. Bots and the Dead Internet 2. So much p*rn 3. Problems with Reality Retention

There are three steps we can take today:Step 1: Get internet out of the bedroom.Step 2: Get your family hedges setup — start talking about this!
* Ask your child: Have they seen AI generated content? How can they tell what is real and what is fake? * For younger children: Let’s play a game called “real” v. “story”. .Elsa and Frozen, Vacation we went on as a family

Step 3: Get off the internet. If you’re under the age of 16 you don’t need SM. If you’re under 15, you don’t need a smartphone.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4pCrZWn

There are mean people online. Three steps to take to help ensure we handle mean people well are:
1. Assume others are intelligent 2. Attack ideas, not people 3. Remember the Gospel: We were all once sinners (Ephesians 2:4) — now we’re saints, by grace.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3JZr8ie

Few people go online looking to change their minds. Most want validation or escape. With this in mind, we must be intentional with our social media interactions. Today we'll discuss three ground rules for dealing with mean people online, and give practical examples we can look to for how to do online conversations and ministry well.

Three ministries who use social media well as an outlet for gospel hope are:
1. Tim Barnett, Red Pen Logic 2. Brady Cone, Calibrate Ministries 3. The Bible Project

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3VcSYtT

It's hard to make good friends. Today we'll discuss three questions we can discuss with our children to help them build healthy, and helpful, friends online and in real life.
1. Are we of equal value? 2. 2. Does this person make me a priority? 3. 3. Is the person the point (or is it a shared activity)?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45XlupG

Can we use social media well, or is the fact it's designed to take our time, focus, and money make it more harmful than helpful? We'll cover there dangers, three blessings, and how we can remember to not gain the world but lose our soul.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4neMQxh

God gives us clear statements of what is expected of our behavior both online and offline. Today we'll look at what God requires of our words, minds, focus, and content.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45uelwM

In America we have rules for helmets on a bike, licenses for a car, and permits for a gun, but we don't have any real standards about children and social media. We need a clear way to know when our children are ready, what to say when they're not ready, and a simple way to assess if social media is going well once they've started to use it.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4mEKUxx

Social media is inherently unsafe: It is designed for maximal engagement, with feeds drawn from live users on a global network, with a viewing rate far beyond what children will experience in nature (the average TikTok video is viewed for 5 seconds).

Today we'll look at the age, limits, and boundaries we can lovingly put around our children to get the best chance of healthy results when using social media.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Jwa8ji

We need to treat our tech like we treat our food: With a high priority on quality, an awareness of what causes us to crash, and a plan for making it happen in the trenches of real life. Our tech will benefit from a similar focus.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4o27CRO

Summer is a time when we can make space for what is most important. Specifically, we can go low(er) tech, make God's Word a priority, and make time for fun at the pace of real life.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3TVhFu9

Hey friends, just a quick heads-up that today’s conversation touches on some mature and important topics, so you might want to pop in some earbuds or wait for a quiet moment alone.

Using the best tech well means using it to see God's kingdom come, and His will be done. But how do we do this when it comes to topics that are politically charged and high stakes, like abortion? Today we talk with Roland Warren, the President and CEO of Care Net, about how to live out Christ's mission that we are to live life abundantly. We'll take the time to discuss the Dobb's Decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the changing landscape with the Plan B pill, and why good laws are important but are secondary to the change that will make them matter.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nW6bo5

Having fun at the pace of real life is a skill these days. It takes practice, flexibility, and the creativity to say yes as often as possible.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/407qPr1

It's easy for Summer to get busy, and then for good things to crowd out the best things. Today we discuss setting summer priorities, and Cal Newport's encouragement that:

We must limit ourselves to a max of three priorities
We delegate, or relegate, non-priorities (even awesome ones)
Plan a max of 1 priority event each day

In doing this we allow ourselves the space to faithfully act on what God has called us to do, and leave space and bandwidth to be present for all God has for us this summer.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4nwpG6m

Summer break is amazing for students, but not for their learning. Research shows us that more than half of students lose up to 40% of their proficiency in reading and math over the summer months. Today we'll talk about why this happens, and what we can do to intentionally and consistently help our students keep their learning edge through the school-free months.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45SsjsK

Our children are creative. They create from a young age as they design, draw, sing, and play their way through new experiences. Sometimes tech builds on these beautiful creative moments, and sometimes, as Jake Weidmann points out, they simply exist within the confines of other peoples' creative endeavors. Today we'll talk with Jake Weidmann, husband, Christ-follower, and master Penman, about his lifelong journey of following Jesus through the gifts and creativity he's been given.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3SDv4X8

Walking in freedom from pornography doesn't simply mean having better rules, it means having a better focus on who, and whose, we are. Today we'll put a bow on this five-part conversation and look at how we:

Remove and replace
Remember our identity
Live in Victory

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43V6pTf

How do we parent children well in a world saturated with pornography? It's actually quite simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy. It takes hard work, and diligent relational parenting, to do these three steps well. First, we define the term p*rnogrpahy, then we talk about it in a way that equips our children to spot the lie, then we build hedges around our family to give them every opportunity to make the right decision in healthy ways.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4kTbsug

The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us more than forgiveness, it gives us identity and power in the face of our sins. In Christ we are:

New creations
Children of God
Given everything we need for life and godliness

Because of this we can live in freedom, starting today, no matter our history of mistakes or current struggles. Real victory is possible, in this life, and there is a real way for us to walk in that freedom.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Hd43Hz

To better understand our conversation on pornography, we need to understand the lay of the land when it comes to research about pornography. Today we'll address three specific questions:
1. Why is pornography different from other digital inputs, or even other sins? 2. How does pornography impact the brain? 3. What does research tell us about porn and our world?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43HS0L3

Today we begin our short series on walking in freedom in an area of sin that is pervasive within the church: pornography. This conversation is hope-focused and aimed at equipping parents, students, friends, pastors, and believers from all walks of life to experience fullness of the freedom Christ has saved them for (Galatians 5:1).

Today's conversation focuses on the lie of pornography, and how pornography is the perfect representation of our fallen condition, because porn is a lie from our flesh, from the world, and from the devil himself.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4mn6cAz

Parenting means showing up. I've been wrestling with how to be a better parent, and often feeling like I'm falling short. When I'm laying in bed I'll run through all the ways I could've done a better job. In praying about this I've been convicted that, while I can always do better, I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be. My job as a parent is to show up. Today we'll talk about the three ways we can show up for our children: in prayer, in relationship, and in loving boundaries.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3GS2MWb

Jesus instructs us on just about every topic we run into during our human lives: He addresses abiding, suffering, love, grace, compassion, right living, being made new in him, and faith. He addresses Hell a lot. He’s pretty specific about his teaching on wealth, and on the fact that we all have borrowed time. In thinking about it, I think Jesus addresses play pretty comprehensively. He even mentions play, if only by extension from his other topics.

Today we'll dive into four aspects of playing well as Jesus instructs us, and check if our play helps, rather than hinders, our sleep, our ability to mourn and to be with those who mourn, to rejoice and be with those who rejoice, and to be still.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3EEF4MB

AI can be an amazing tool, if we use it right. Today we'll discuss the three best ways to use AI well, and three uses of AI that we should avoid.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3EQhAE0

As a follower of Jesus, every day is Easter! Jesus is alive, and that's a big deal in every area of life: How we think about ourselves, how we parent our kids, and how we go about doing the good works we're called to do.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4lLNQsQ

Has your child ever been irritable after using his or her favorite tech? Does a certain show or game ever consistently lead to fights? If so there's a good chance your child is overstimulated and needs help getting back on a healthy path. In today's conversation we'll discuss the five signs of a brain overstimulated by screens and talk through specific steps we can take to ensure tech use remains healthy for our children.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Rb0DH9

We live in a culture that encourages low focus, low attention, and low discipline in doing the hard stuff. To raise up our children well in a tech world requires a clear understanding of our goals, our priorities, and our plans.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/42uzQLg

There are three ways to get into trouble online:
1. Look for trouble 2. Lack a plan for safety (not-not looking for trouble) 3. Accidents

Yet in all three scenarios loving parents take the same actions: We build hedges around our family, networks, and devices, and we have the intentional conversations about how to use the best tech well.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4l9WkJW

Tech is amazing at helping us leverage our strengths for productive purposes. Organized people become more organized, social people become more social, and the doers of life get more done. Yet that same tech that allows us to truly shine in areas God has gifted us can be equally distracting, and even destructive, when our weaknesses show up. We can make more mistakes, faster than ever before. We can also put our trust in our amazing, God-given abilities and be tempted to believe that we can do good works on our strength. Those never end well. So today we'll talk about how we use the best tech well in the areas of our strengths, as well as our weaknesses, and remember together that our goal isn't to be productive, or even impressive, but to use all the tech that makes much of Jesus.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4hITtVn

We are parenting in a time-stretched world. After sleep, school, food, and travel we have, on average, five discretionary hours a day. How will we spend that time? More importantly, as followers of Jesus, how are we called to spend those moments that aren’t prescribed for us? Today we’ll talk about the top five priorities we have as parents, and discuss how each is an opportunity to raise our children up in the way they should go.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3F4sVQH

What can we do to ensure our tech stays healthy even when the weather is bad? I live in the Pacific Northwest, and our rainy season isn't set to stop for another three months at least. It's easy to pick up some bad tech habits, and make excuses about them because the days are so long and the weather is so poor. So what can we do instead? Today we'll talk through five great alternatives to build healthy, resilient tech habits with our kids and make the most of our rainy days.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DAgb3Z

Every family in America knows someone who has been harmed by pornography. Talking about phonography is fraught with challenges because it is personal, hurtful, potentially even an ongoing situation. It is into that environment that we join John-Michael Bout and his ministry Into the Light, which is committed to helping families have the difficult and important conversations--including those around phonography.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Xj7SAc

Gaming can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be a good thing that distracts from the best things. Today's conversation is to equip wives to have the important, and sometimes difficult, conversation with their spouse about why we game, if it's a good fit, and how we can game on purpose not for purpose.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3XagMzT

Video games can be amazing, but many young gamers struggle with balancing their digital adventures with their real life opportunities. Today answer three questions every parent needs to ask about video games:
1. Is this a priority for our family? 2. Is this game safe, ready, and good? 3. Does this game line up with our family for: Characters, Violence, Language, Time, Content, and Player Experience

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4aWpU0G

Making friends in an internet age can be tough. Everyone is online (90+% of teens), and more than half of teens say they are online “almost constantly”. So how do we help our children make good friends?

We start by teaching them what it means to be a friend: someone who is of equal value, a priority to you, and real world. Then we look at which tech best supports developing these friends, and which tech simply gives us an area of common interest and convenience, but which also makes us expendable rather than exceptional.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WVS5aj

3/4 of teens have seen p*rnography. More than half of them seeing it on accident. This means the battle isn't just with the internet, but with our children's peers. The good news is that we can make a plan, talk it out, and build meaningful hedges that help us raise porn-resilient youth.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WHsKAO

Our children ask us for new tech all the time, and as loving parents we long to give them good gifts. Yet our children aren't all the same, some can handle more digital responsibility than others, so how do we know when the timing is right for new tech? The answer is simple, if not easy: We give them all the tech that is Safe, Ready, and Good.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ggDblW

In the digital world there are a lot of new ways to do old things: Young people hangout online, play sports via the internet, and get famous for their ideas and influence. So how do we know if this is just the latest phase in life and culture, like the printing press or the bicycle, or if there is something unhealthy in our child's life that needs intervention?This is the beauty of a RESET. We simply look at our child's tech use and ask: "Does this tech impede my child's Relationships & Responsibilities? Emotions? Sleep? Enjoyment? Time?"

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/40mwAQN

Our kids ask us for all kinds of tech, and as loving parents we love to give them good gifts. So how do we know which tech they should use and which they should avoid? Today we'll walk through the six simple questions that will help us choose great tech AND teach our children how to discern which tech is the best for them.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BVcV2t

We can ensure our tech is healthy to start the New Year by answering three simple questions:
1. What type of tech are we using? 2. What tech is most concerning right now? 3. What can we do instead?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4h88y2H

It's tough being a kid. Being raised in a tech world is even worse. In today's conversation I talk directly to the teens in our lives, and give a reminder that yes, our choices matter, and God's call is even bigger than our mistakes. (Originally recorded May 28, 2024: Episode 227)

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3P2kVl9

Prioritizing isn’t one of my gifts. I’ve got great energy, I’m adaptable, and I can do a great job being present. Being prepared is another thing. While I’d love to justify my lack of planning on account of my spiritual superiority (I’m clearly a Mary, not a Martha), I have to acknowledge that we are called to count the cost of following Jesus. That’s not possible when I have no idea what is at stake. It’s easy to get busy, do good things, and miss making the most of the moments we are given. Yes, this applies to technology, but I’m mainly concerned with our day-to-day—those 16-18 waking hours each of us are gifted.

Today we’ll discuss how to be intentional with our days, and some simple ways we can submit our busy calendars and hearts to our loving heavenly Father.

(originally recorded May 21, 2024: Episode 226).

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ZYOlqu

This year has seen God provide again and again for the relationships, resources, and opportunities to do the work of both Flint and Iron and Gospel Tech. Thank you, listeners, for being such an active part of helping us reach more families, make top-tier resources, and for doing the hard work of raising healthy youth in a tech world. Today's episode is a quick overview of where God has taken us, what I'm excited about from this past year, and a few specific reminders we can take into the new year as we thank God for what he's done, and what he's doing.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Dkca34

Christmas Break is a great excuse to talk about tech with your family. Your family is going to have more free time on your hands, more people to visit(along with their devices), and all of this means it's a great chance to talk about your expectations in time, place, and content, as well as what to do when something goes wrong with tech. This Christmas Break we can be intentional to have conversations about using tech from the hope we have in Jesus, not for hope in our daily lives.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49yzear

Christmas is coming, and so are those hangouts with family and friends who aren't in your usual rotation. These are the times when new tech can show up, and intentional conversations and boundaries can help our children and family stay safe with their tech use.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49m3IMU

The holidays are a chance for us to be deliberate with our time. As followers of Christ we have the chance to do more than simply survive this season--we can:
1. Seek out opportunities to be amazed at God's goodness 2. Connect with those God has put into our lives 3. Place our fears and anxieties before the Lord 4. Put the first things first

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3CLb00n

Christmas is an amazing chance to inspire and invest in high quality, high-engagement activities. Today we'll talk about five of our favorite ways to engage the minds and hearts of young people in real-world, tech-free play.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fTHCmY

The great news of the gospel is that we are saved from sin and set free to live freely. Today we look at how this truth goes further than just being from from making mistakes and dives into the freedom we have to own our mistakes, repent, and lead our families in making new choices because we are free. Our freedom in Christ isn't license to make excuses, but rather a declaration of our need and the chance to see real, spiritual freedom come even into our technology.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fEUQDR

We can show our children how to use the best tech by bringing it intentionally into our homes. Today we'll talk about how we can think about our tech well, choose intentional tech, and I share a little of what the hottest tech is in the Sutherland house right now.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fwt9x1

This week I've had the opportunity to practice what I preach. One of my lovely humans struggled with an unhealthy RESET due to tech I allowed. So what now? Today we'll discuss how the Gospel of Jesus helps us address unhealthy tech as a heart issue, and build our relationships with our children as we seek to serve and lead them in the way they should go.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3NJtS20

Should your child play Roblox? Is Minecraft a safe choice for a child? How do we go about handling YouTube? Today, we're putting our tech conversations to work and looking at all three of these to assess:
1. Are they safe? 2. Is my child ready? 3. Is the fruit good?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3YxGY8Q

Christmas is coming, and your child is going to ask for that new tech. What will you say? Today we'll give you the tools you need to answer in hope, not fear, and ensure that you give your child all the best tech and none of the tech that will harm or distract them for their full potential in Christ.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BLYs8u

The location of our tech matters. Raising healthy youth is more than simply having good rules, it means having good conversations about how, and where, we use our tech. Today we'll discuss why location matters and what we can do to ensure that our families use best tech in the best ways.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ey4A2G

Tech has a way of creeping into the nooks and crannies of our lives. Today we begin our series on the three boundaries we all need around our tech, and we start with time.Specifically we address:
1. How much time we should spend on tech 2. What time of day we should use our tech 3. How many times a day we should use our tech

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BwdM95

The lie of anonymity is one of the great lies tech tells us. We are told we can do what we want, go where we want, and be who we want without real life consequences. This is a lie, and it brings harm and death to many hearts and families. Today we discuss what to do with hidden sins: why they matter, how to address them, and how to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to the darkest and most hurt areas of our lives.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Xt56HT

Video games are a perennial struggle for time management. If we have decided that games are a great option for our kiddos, how do we balance them with everything else that's important in life? Today we'll walk through the process of making the most of our gaming time, and in building a conversation that supports what is most important with graceful firmness.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/47FIkRX

Jesus says that he came for us to have life, and to have it to the fullest (John 10:10). So what does this "fullest" life look like? And how can we get it in a hectic tech world like ours? Today we discuss three changes we can make, starting today, and three additions Nathan has made to his life recently.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3XyNZWh

So your child has made a mistake. On purpose. Potentially repeatedly. Now what? Today we'll discuss the difference between confession and repentance (and why it matters A LOT), what removing and replacing can look like, and what new actions we can take to develop healthy tech choices.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3TffhP8

Today's episode is a celebration of what God has done, with your support, in Flint and Iron and Gospel Tech this past year. We've grown in reach and resources, we've developed amazing relationships, and we have reached more families with hope and help in raising healthy youth in a tech world.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4fYEfvI

Talking about technology can be an amazing win for both parents and children. In today's conversation we break down how we can talk about tech's benefits, potential drawbacks, and it's fit for our family as we tackle even the hardest tech conversations with hope and grace.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dRp1Xo

School is starting and smartphones are at the center of the conversation. Should our schools ban smartphones? Today we'll talk about how parents and schools can take steps to ensure the best possible outcomes for students and staff, while including the best technology possible for health, growth, and learning.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3M4IMiC

My new book, Gospel-Centered Tech, equips parents, leaders, and mentors talk about tech health, communicate the gospel, and connect the hope of the gospel to everyday life. My hope is that every family will know the terms Tool and Drool Tech, will understand how to apply a RESET, and will use tech on purpose, not for purpose, as they live out the fullness of life God has called them to. The book is short and sweet, and it's coming out next week (August 13th!).

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4c9Tn6d

The Graceful Disconnect is a guide for parents to foster deeper family connections and faith and avoid the common pitfalls of tech-saturation in daily life. In today's conversation Anna walks us through what inspired this book, how it will help parents (especially moms), and what families can expect from a season of graceful disconnect.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dnveKE

Summertime provides an amazing opportunity for us to discuss the fifth of the Five Fixes for unhealthy tech: Loving Boundaries. Today we'll discuss how to build open communication around tech, which is the basis for any meaningful tech change, and develop practical hedges for our family, devices, and network.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4bPQ5oN

Summer is an amazing time for adventures. The key to great making summer fun? Real world, analog adventures. Today we'll dive into how we can make this happen even with busy schedules and small budgets.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3S9D7Lk

Summer is here, and our children have a lot more time on their hands. How do we help them navigate the tech that helps vs. hurts? I've received a number of queries from parents and I'm using three recent scenarios to inspire our conversation on how we can use tech from hope, not for hope, and ensure our tech is safe, good, and that our children are ready for it.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3RVTqLL

Anna joins us today to talk about how summer changes our tech rhythms, where we're struggling to use tech well, and how we can implement one of the Five Fixes to improve our summer fun and tech health.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3XJdN2n

Young people are asked this question from the time they can speak. Yet what we do isn't as important as who we are while we're doing it. In today's conversation we'll discuss what we're called to do as followers of Christ, and reflect on whether our current goals and achievements (or failures) in the area of a career line up with who God is calling us to be.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3VuT0wU

It's a story I'm hearing more and more often:
* a high school junior who swapped Instagram for Whatsapp to reclaim her goals and time * a twenty year old who deleted social media to spend more time in his own life rather than the lives of others * a college senior who asked his mom to put parental controls on his smartphone to help him focus on his schooling and career

Today we talk about how we can use all the tech that helps us be more like Jesus, and none of the tech that distracts us from Him.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4eajvjM

Love and dating is always an awkward world, especially in middle and high school, and tech only makes it worse. Today we'll talk about what it looks like to truly love someone, how we can step into loving relationships, and what we must get right about love and tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ky5EGg

“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" (Luke 11:11)

I love to give my children good gifts. Whether it's a delicious treat, snappy new clothes, or a new game or toy, I love being able to provide my children with not only what they need but also what they want. Sometimes, however, my children ask for things that aren't good for them. It might be as simple as ice cream for breakfast, but sometimes what they ask for can hurt more than just their tummies. Today we discuss what it means to ask for, and receive, good gifts from loving parents. In the process we recognize that sometimes the most loving answer is "no".

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45axwd9

It's tough being a kid. Being raised in a tech world is even worse. In today's conversation I talk directly to the teens in our lives, and give a reminder that yes, our choices matter, and God's call is even bigger than our mistakes.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4brDl8q

Prioritizing isn’t one of my gifts. I’ve got great energy, I’m adaptable, and I can do a great job being present. Being prepared is another thing. While I’d love to justify my lack of planning on account of my spiritual superiority (I’m clearly a Mary, not a Martha), I have to acknowledge that we are called to count the cost of following Jesus. That’s not possible when I have no idea what is at stake. It’s easy to get busy, do good things, and miss making the most of the moments we are given. Yes, this applies to technology, but I’m mainly concerned with our day-to-day—those 16-18 waking hours each of us are gifted. Today we’ll discuss how to be intentional with our days, and some simple ways we can submit our busy calendars and hearts to our loving heavenly Father.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WIQoO1

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to raise our children in the way they should go. Galatians 5:19-22 reminds us of the fruit we are to look for in our lives and hearts. Today we'll talk about how to do the first when the second isn't going the way we'd hoped.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3UtjsGQ

Today we sit down with uber-dad, top-tier nerd, and my good friend Justin Pavey to talk about how we can help our children see more of God through the talents, interests, and opportunities he's given us.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WpWFOD

God calls us to a relational, embodied existence. This is impossible to do in solely virtual spaces, and trying to exist only online causes anxiety, loneliness, and depression. We have the opportunity teach our children how to be present, and it starts with making space in our lives and calendars to be together.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3wcQe6P

Everyone wants to live their best life, but what if living your best life now literally means living for, and with, Jesus? Today we end our Season One of Can We Talk with a conversation about how Christ empowers us to live the best life possible, and how that doesn't always look like what we'd plan (mainly because our plans are rarely ever truly what is best).

Show Notes:

Drool Tech is designed to take our time, focus, and money. Not only does it manipulate our decisions, our investment includes the loss of opportunities we would have had if we'd been able to move on with real life. The loss of relationships, real world stress, and experiences of personal agency (you made a choice, saw the outcome, and learned from it), have made a brittle and anxious generation of youth and adults. Yet there is great hope. Today we'll look at how freeplay, agency, and healthy stress can help restore and reverse some of the damage Drool Tech has brought to old and young minds alike.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Qcw4k6

What does it mean to be a Christian? It seems simply, we've all known this since summer camp: Put your faith in Christ and you get eternal life. But is that what Jesus taught us? What did Jesus say about his power for our life today, not just our life in eternity? Today we're talking about what it means to be buried with Christ, raised to new life with him, and how that empowers living for God's kingdom today.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3U0ShTy

Jonathan Haidt’s new book changes the tech conversation. From this moment onward, no one can respond to concerns about tech with “nuh uh” and be taken seriously. The research has been compiled, the conversational table has been set with delicious morsels of facts, research, relationship, and experience, and now the meal can commence. This book will change the way legislation, lawsuits, school boards and admin, parents, and young people tackle the tough questions about tech. We can no longer say we didn't know.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4aVIDbk

We can know God. Not just as a theory, or a vague idea, but as a person to interact with, talk to, and be loved by. Today we discuss how we can know God, why it's reasonable and relevant to do so, and what knowing the God of the Bible means for the rest of our daily life as believers.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4aOl1Wd

Martin Luther, in summarizing many church fathers and mothers, cited the three temptations that draw us away from God: The flesh, the world, and the devil. Technology offers the same three distractions from God's best for us, and today we look specifically at how these sublte lies slip easily into our daily lives, and what we can do to recognize and resist them with truth and hope.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3TUrvfi

”The devil’s three temptations of Christ aren’t about getting him to “sin”, as we think of it, but to get him to take his rightful kingdom by an easier road—to do the right thing in the wrong way.” -John Mark Comer, Live No Lies.

Today we discuss the three temptations of technology, not to be afraid of it, but to expose it for what it is. We can live free with tech, and we can also live free of it if necessary. This conversation is to help each of us recognize, and resist, the three temptations of tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49oNy3w

God matters today. Many of us believe that, but we need to connect that truth to our daily lives in a world filled with frenetic goal chasing, instant gratification technology, and the many fears being shouted from every digital rooftop. Today’s conversation focuses on how God fuels the most important conversations and solutions to the problems of our day.

Show Notes:

How do we teach our children to use tech well? We've setup hedges, we've assessed tech health, and we know the lies tech will tell us. Today we discuss how to help our children use tech well by looking at the fruit, the fit, and the safety of our new tech. Doing this empowers us to use the best tech, stay hope focused, and fight for our children (not just with them) when it comes to technology.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4cvRWQT

Today we focus on the "tech" of culture, God, and tech. Nathan Sutherland shares a bit of what we can do to be intentional with our tech use, how we can talk about tech with our children, and how there is great hope for tech used well for ourselves and our children.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43qKq5S

We continue our conversation about how to use to use tech well with a look at how to keep our tech use healthy. We do a quick dive into RESET and building hedges, and equip ourselves with the information we need to fight for our children, not just with them, when it comes to tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43rGfqn

Our cultural moment is unique because we aren't just post Christian, we're quite nearly pre-Christian. As a middle school teacher Nathan Sutherland saw the number of students who didn't have proper context to understand even simple Biblical text references from Western authors: baptism, floods, and overcoming giants. Today we discuss the idea of what has shaped modern thinking, what it means to be post modern and maybe even post-post modern, and how we can live intentionally as followers of Christ in these seasons and times.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/48TPErQ

Today we begin a three-part series addressing a parent question about how we can use tech well. To begin, however, I need to address the elephant in the room: Tech isn't without goals of its own. Tech makes four promises it cannot keep, and we run into trouble when we begin to believe these lies and try to use tech to fulfill needs it cannot meet. I end the conversation with a host of amazing thinkers and writers who point us to steps we can take to use tech on purpose, not for purpose.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3IyF9je

There are some conversations that feel a little too loaded, even a little too taboo, to discuss with neighbors, co-workers, friends, or family (sometimes that last one especially). Today we kick off a series called Can We Talk, a discussion designed to help us reclaim the conversation around culture, God, and tech. You won't find hot takes, click bait, or knee-jerk reactions from our Twitter feed (we still call it Twitter, after all). What you will find is two guys named Nathan who love Jesus deeply, who want others to trust and follow him, and who are hungry to help real conversations get started in real lives and relationships around culture, God, and tech.

Join us as we walk this path ourselves. We hope you are encouraged and equipped to begin these conversations where God has planted you, and as you seek to follow God in reaching all the people he loves so much.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43eK5mQ

Covenant Eyes can be an amazing resource for image accountability on digital devices, but it can also feel overwhelming. Today Anna and Nathan talk through when Covenant Eyes is a good resource, and how it might be a benefit to families. Check out the video version on YouTube for the extended version that includes a full walk through of installing Covenant Eyes on Anna’s phone.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4c2z5g3

Today's conversation is aimed at the men in the room: Those same ones I've talked to about what it means to be a nerd dad. How can we be great husbands, fathers, and men in a digital age? What does that look like when Jesus never mentions the internet, smartphones, or video games? Today we'll talk about the clear standard we are given as men to live humbly before our God, and what that looks like when it comes to being sober minded, above reproach, and the husband of but one wife.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49s3pPQ

iPhones are notoriously difficult to keep accountable and therefore to keep safe for young eyes and minds. Apple has doubled-down on user privacy at all cost, which means it is difficult for an iPhone to default to safety. It’s not surprising then that one of the questions I’ve been hearing a lot recently is how to protect, track, and mend mistakes made on an iPhone.

In today’s conversation we’ll talk about why iPhones are so difficult to keep accountable, how we can handle tough tech conversations about the content and choices our children might be making online, and what next-steps we can take to improve the safety and health of our children when they use their smart devices.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3wjw8HI

Sometimes our tech is just a little too far for fun. Instead of using it because we're ok, we find we need it to be ok. In today's conversation we'll learn from the work of Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. Her book Dopamine Nation has been an encouragement and reminder, and in today's conversation we'll discuss how tech can become unhealthy, how we can fix it, and what we can do to create healthful tech habits in our own lives and homes.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49uUL2o

*NOTE: This episode might be one to listen with ear buds in, as this topic is sensitive for young kids.

Pornography is a conversation frought with emotional, societal, and spiritual baggage. It's something we'd like to pretend doesn't exist, and especially something that our children will never have to deal with. The problem is, they will—and making them deal with it alone isn't helpful. ENTER: Today's conversation! We're going to talk about what to know about pornography, how to address it purposely, and some resources to help make a plan that is hope-focused and lovingly direct.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3UvYY1M

Every parent is likely to face the question: "Can I get a smartphone?" As a parent there is a double-sided fear: I don't want to say no out of reflex, because I'm old and don't understand, and I don't want to say yes out of guilt and give my child something dangerous or unhealthful. What can we do? Today we'll talk through the five cautions to understand with a smartphone, the age our children should get a smartphone, and how we can support healthy tech choices along the way.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ud43vw

This week we continue our conversation on making tech safe at home by asking the age old question: Which tech should my child use? We know what type of tech it is thanks to the first episode in this series, we also know if it's healthy, and we've built hedges to keep it that way. Today we'll go one step further and learn to assess the tech our children ask for so they're both ready, and healthy, when new tech comes into your home.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/491aq9u

One of the questions I address most often is "How can we make tech safe at home?". In last week's episode we addressed the two types of tech and how to know if tech is healthy. Today we look at building a hedge around our devices, networks, and families.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/420zDyD

The START HERE series is designed to get you the information you need to raise healthy kids in a tech world. Today we discuss the two types of tech our children will use, and how to know if that tech is healthy.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/48JChuS

I want to peel the curtain back a bit and dive a bit deeper into the three areas God has layed on my heart for the work of Gospel Tech this year. Whether you’ve been with us since day one, or found us this week, I’m excited to share what God is doing and how you can pray with us as we jump into 2024.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4aHy7VR

This year has been so encouraging, thanks to listeners like you and the many other people and opportunities God has provided to help the work of Gospel Tech grow. Today's episode is a quick overview of where God has taken us, what I'm excited about from this past year, and a few specific reminders we can take into the new year as we thank God for what he's done, and what he's doing.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3GTjn8M

Advent is a time of year we remember God fulfilling His promise of a Messiah. Today we discuss the three advents, and how Christmas is an amazing reminder not only of what God has done in Jesus, but what we are called to do every day in our physical and digital spaces. Our tech must be used in light of all three of The Bible's Advents.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/483jjiC

We nerds are known for going all-in. We are passionate about our areas of expertise and interest, so how do we know how far is too far? In today's conversation we'll talk about what to do when we feel the weight of the world in our souls, how to assess if this is a good season for our activity of choice, and walk through specific steps we can take to begin excellent adventures right where we are.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4ahx3b6

My goal in these Nerd Dad conversations is to help dads do what they are called to do: Love God with all they are, and help their children do the same. You’re raising a little nerd, whether you like it or not. So, how do you do this well? In short, provide activities and experiences that point them towards God in awe and wonder, that pique their God-given curiosity, and that they can participate in from hope, not for hope.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3t5U5kD

Today we continue our conversation about how we as nerd dads can both nerd well and love our children even better. We'll cover specific steps we can take to make intentional time for God, five accessible ways to pursue our wives, and the attitude we need to truly be able to make disciples.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/47M3HiY

I hope that you enjoyed last week's episode! This week is a continuation of that, and we'll be discussing the concept of being a "nerd" in the context of Christianity, particularly for fathers. To review, a "nerd" is anyone with a niche passion, which can be in the analog or digital world. While technology can be a tool for expressing your passion, it can also distract from the reality of God's presence if you let it. Prioritize balance, keeping your identity fully focused on the Lord. Let's dig in.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49MqbSK

Did you know you’re probably a nerd? The heart of a nerd yearns for something beautiful. As a nerd you aren’t satisfied with the way life is going now, yet you're not up for to rebuild yourself as something else—something with abs and a mustache and a deep love of whisky—you’re not sure where to turn.

Nerds, we need to talk. In today’s conversation I’m launching us into a topic I’ve avoided for years. Today we talk about being nerds, what that means for those within, and outside of, digital spaces, and what it means to be a nerd and a follower of Christ.

I’m not going to make excuses for your bad habits or sins, but I am going to point you to the God of all Wonder who has made and designed each one of you to be vessels of his glory. Your nerdiness, and that of your spouse, roommates, and children, might be just that.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/40J2SoX

Today we answer questions from listeners like you! We'll cover how to make tech safe, some solid tech choices for our younger tech users, and give some encouragement to parents who don't even know where to begin.

If you'd like to submit a question just send an email to questions@gospeltech.net or send us a message @loveGodusetech on facebook and instagram.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3smD6Kn

Have you ever looked at tech today and wished for a time when things were simpler? I've found myself pining away for those days when remote controls were new inventions and there was literally nothing on tv if you watched too early or too late. Today is our chance for a bit of a reality check.

In today's conversation we get the special treat of hearing from my dad, Greg Sutherland, and take a little trip down memory lane to the late 1980s and a fateful decision he and my mom made to do what, at the time, was nearly unthinkable: Get rid of television.

I didn't have this episode planned, but I'm so thankful for the chance to record it and I"m excited for all of you to get a chance to hear from a wise and loving man on what it means to raise kids who love God and use tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49il8cw

Sometimes in this modern age of entertainment it feels like going outside is a punishment reserved for punishing unruly children who have lost their screen time priveleges.

Just this week I heard myself hollering "Stop hitting your brother. Go outside!"

But is it possible, or even beneficial, to default to outdoors? In an age when the indoors offer every comfort and distraction we could ask for, what does it look like to encourage and even equip our children for the wonder and amazement of outdoors?

Today we'll look at two time-tested classics for introducing young hearts and minds to the lessons and fun of outdoor play, sports and time in nature, as well as how we can begin to step outside with intentional, if little, steps.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3tPMfLO

Analog adventures simply mean having fun at the pace of real life. Choosing to add these to our lives means we push away distractions and make space for something deliberate, maybe even slow, and beautiful.

So how do we do it?

Today we’ll talk about how we can make analog adventures by playing something, and making something.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/46Qfqwv

How do we make real-life fun easy for our children? What can they do OTHER than their digital outlets, and how can we support making it awesome?

In this series we're looking at how to do Analog Adventures with our family. Today we talk about how to include reading and questions as part of our intentional adventures in addition to our digital fun.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ZLUkgs

Sabbath is a gift. It's not a rule meant to ruin our fun, it's a present we are to open and enjoy. But how do we sabbath in a tech world? Today we talk about the three ways we can practice sabbath with our tech and begin to enjoy the rest and presence of God even in our daily tech lives.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3REUkNh

Sometimes tech is just too much for a child, or for a season, and we need to take a step back. I want you to know two things:
1. It's reasonable and loving to remove unhealthy tech. Take a tech break. 2. Tech breaks need to be 30 days.

If you've given a RESET, found there's an issue, and tried to manage the problematic tech but to no avail--it's time for a tech break. In today's conversation we'll discuss:
* taking 30 days away from unhealthy tech to reset your child's brain * using a RESET to start the conversation * building a hedge around your family (family tech framework) * how this is both Biblical (remove, Matthew 5:28-30) (raise up, Prov. 22:6) (good fruit vs. bad fruit, Gal. 5:19-22) and loving (give child an egg, not a scorpion (Lk. 11:11)

Finally we'll talk about replacing with Analog Adventures-pace of real life and how to introduce the tech back again after 30 days. Keep in mind, there's always a chance you won't replace it.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PQgWJk

Disclaimer: This story contains sensitive content that may not be safe for young ears. Consider putting in earbuds if you have kids present.

How do we best protect our children from pornography in a tech world? The answer may surprise you.

Yes, we take preventative measures like filtering and building hedges around our tech, but those aren’t enough. What we need to do is talk about pornography with our children.

But how?!

That’s where Sam Black comes in. Sam has spent the last 16 years as the Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes, a screen accountability software program.
He recently published The Healing Church which deals with the tough conversations around pornography and the American church, and he’s with us today to talk about how we can raise porn-resilient children in a tech world.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PHPuxt

As hope-focused parents who use all the tech that helps our children, and none of the tech that hurts them, our children don't need smartphones at school. In fact, to quote a pro in the field of smartphones and social media, we need to get phones of out schools now (Jonathan Haidt).

Today's discussion tackles this conversation in three steps:
1. Why the smartphone conversation is different now 2. What schools can do 3. What we can do

This conversation is one focused on the strong believe that God has made our children with a purpose, that education is a gift we must steward well, and that smartphones have their uses but the classroom is not one of them.

There’s LOTS of stuff out there we could be doing. Many of those options are either morally neutral or even good (working out, time with friends, playing sports, serving at church).

The question is, what will get your time this week, when push comes to shove, what falls off the table first? Sometimes we’re choosing our tech because it makes us feel important or we simply can’t stand being alone with our thoughts. Sometimes we choose being busy or being still and abiding, and many of us choose our tech as the go-to way to fill the void.

Today we’re addressing five ways to use our tech on purpose and ensure our tech use is intentional as we head back to school.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PltkB6

We're on to part 2 of prepping our tech for school!

Now that we've assessed our tech, we need to build a hedge around it. We need to build a hedge around our:
.📱 Devices
.🎮 Network
.🏡 Family

This first step provides a next-step for tech conversations and continues the tech wins with our family so that we can fight for our kids, not with them, when it comes to technology.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Pkuo8p

This past year we have grown faster than we ever dared dream, and I want to take the chance to share what God has done in 2022, our vision for 2023, and how you can join us on this journey to help families love God and use tech.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3E1X6o1

It’s time to prep our tech for school! We’re going to do this in three parts and spare everyone the 1+ episode this almost became. 🤪

We first need to assess our tech. We need to know:
.📺 What tech are we using?
.⏱ When and where are we using it?
.🏥 Is it healthy?

This first step provides a solid base for tech conversations and the beginning of tech wins with our family so that we can fight for our kids, not with them, when it comes to technology.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3YAz7FL

All of us want to thrive, but what does it mean to do so in a tech world from a Biblical standpoint?

I recently read a book where the author encouraged readers to “do today, thrive tomorrow”. At it’s core this is a beautiful reminder to "go to the ant, you sluggard" and prepare in times of plenty for times of need. That's both Biblical and wise.

But when these ideas extend from the internet's idea of thriving, when it is the lynchpin in a conversation about reaching all God has for us, I take umbrage. This “best life now” language becomes our starting point and then we try to figure out how God fits into it.

Let's be clear: Jesus didn’t come so we could become the best version of ourselves. He came that we might die to ourselves and live for Him.

Today our conversation looks at what it means to thrive in a tech world, and how we can do so well with the days, and talents, God has gifted us.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/446TdZC

How’s your tech going this summer? Summer comes with less structure, more free time, and different hours — generally we’re not waking our children up at 6am in the summer to get their rears in gear.

A tech check-in takes just a couple minutes, and it is a great launchpad for positive tech conversations.

Today we'll discuss how you can use three intentional questions to empower you to get those tech wins at home, no matter how healthy or unhealthy your tech is right now:
1. Is my tech safe? 2. Is it a good fit for my child? 3. Does my child's tech make him or her look like Jesus?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/45506ve

2/3 of Americans game. In fact, there are more gamers over the age of 45 than there are under the age of 18 (ESA, 2022). This is why Brent Dusing created TruPlay games, to be a light on purpose in a space where so many people go for purpose.

You don't have to become a gamer to appreciate this. Each of us can think about what God has equipped us to do, what passions he's planted in our hearts, and how He might use our talents to spread the Good News and share the hope of the Gospel — maybe even in video games.

Check out TruPlay: https://truplay.games/GospelTech
Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3riok6D

How can the Church help people find victory over lust, pornography, and the lies that go with them?

To help us answer this question we talk with Sam Black, Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes and author of The Healing Church, a book designed to help churches and families set free from pornography to serve God as they are called.

Sam shares from his personal testimony, his wealth of experience in the field of accountability software, and his personal passion to see churches be the body of Christ for all who seek hope and healing in Jesus.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3D2QRzQ

Can we use tech to be more intentional with our tech? Heath Wilson, co-founder of Aro, thinks so. He's co-founder of Aro, a device and app that help your family create healthy habits around the most powerful and pervasive device you own: your smartphone.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3r3WpqR

Today we discuss how to make space for people in episode two of our Summer Session series. The question: How can we be intentional this week about including the people God has planted us near?

We'll discuss three great listens for the week, an helpful and encouraging book, and root our conversation in Matthew 13:31 and Acts 1:8: God casts us unto gardens to see His Kingdom grow, and he empowers us for this work by his Holy Spirit. We're not saved from the world, we're saved for it.

Summer is busy, so I'm launching these Summer Session episodes to help get you useful encouragement while you enjoy the new rhythms summer has to offer.

Today we discuss how what we listen to can help us focus on the things of the Spirit. I'll address three great podcasts, an audio book I've found incredibly helpful when it comes to focusing on the Spirit, and a reflection to make this week an intentional practice in living out Romans 8:5-8.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/44hqh1t

Stepping away from screens can be tough, and awkward. We don't always know what to do with our time, and sometimes it just feels like punishment — for everyone. So how do we do this well? How do we take time back from tech?

In today's conversation we'll cover four steps in this journey we can begin today. We'll discuss how to plan your:
1. tech (what and where) 2. day (4 chunks that work for nearly all ages) 3. play (simple, analog, present) 4. rest (in both our work and our play)

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3qQaFDK

This past year AI moved from something dabbled in by specialists and researchers to the front lines of education, business, and the creative arts thanks in large part to the break throughs provided by ChatGPT. But how should we think about it as followers of Christ, raising healthy youth in a tech world?

Today we'll discuss three benefits, and three concerns, of AI and what we can do to be discerning creators and consumers of this newest tech on the digital frontier.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Cp9UDV

This past week I got a chance to speak with a group of graduating seniors about what it looks like to trust and follow Jesus in a tech world. I want to remind these students, as well as any parents and future graduates who hear this, of three truths:
1. We can accomplish our mission in any vocation 2. You're going to find out a lot about who truly loves you 3. Making a mistake doesn't make you a mistake

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3MTyJN6

How do we abide?

Jesus says it’s crucial: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

But what is it, and how do we do in this on-the-go tech world of ours?

Today we're going to discuss four ways to make conscious, moment by moment decisions to follow Jesus with our everyday choices. We'll use four great books on the subject to help us discuss how to:
1. Keep tech in its proper place 2. Trust God for the little and the big things: hope, joy, and even our personal desires, make-ups, and goals. 3. Prayerfully change habits and behaviors that celebrate hurry 4. Participate in the daily battle that is setting our minds on the things of God

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BZSjlL

Let's make this summer amazing. We can do it on a budget, with our families, in town. You don't have to spend a lot of money or brainpower. All it takes to make summer awesome is to be intentional with our tech, build in some fun, and practice rhythms of rest. After that you just add friends, and you've got yourself a party.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/43mjxyV

Summer is approaching fast, and we need to assess our tech to ensure we're ready for the fun, freedom, and digital changes that come with a few months outside of school.

To help prep our tech for summer we:
1. Assess our tech 2. Check our hedges 3. Start the conversation

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BzD6I4

I've received a lot of amazing parent questions this past wee. In today's episode we address five parent questions:
1. How can we share the Gospel in a digital world? 2. How can we make YouTube more safe? 3. How do kids get around parental controls? 4. Comment on AI 5. Is limiting tech time building it up in my child’s mind?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3pukJSc

Today we're going to discuss three types of helpful tech:
1. Hedge Tech 2. Growth Tech 3. Purposeful Tech

With each of these we'll discuss specific examples, how they might fit into our daily family life, and we'll discuss the benefits even some of the high-end tech, like AI, has to offer our families in daily life.

Resources mentioned:
* Gryphone Router * Bark Home * Circle * Canopy * Ad Block * Gabb Phone * Bark Phone * Bark (accountability) * covenant eyes (accountability) * board games * Nintendo Switch (because of solid Parental Controls) * Aro phone box

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/40XKxTA

This episode almost didn't happen. I rewrote it three times. I had to fully record it twice. I pray it'll be useful.

I want to talk about whether our tech is helping us love God well, but at the heart of that conversation is a discussion about failure. God loves to use failure to achieve his purposes. He starts in 3:15 and hasn't looked back. He isn't scared by it, but the also isn't ok with it. If God could just ignore failure Jesus wouldn't be necessary. Instead God does something else: He uses failure.

This matters in talking tech because most of our Drool Tech is aimed and getting aroudn failure. Games give fail-proof adventures, social media gives fail-proof connections, and pornography gives fail-proof intimacy (no one has ever been turned down by porn). Yet that stuff can't bring us hope or peace, and some of it brings death to the very things we're hoping to nurture.

Today's conversation looks at failure, how God uses it, and how we can use tech from hope and not for hope. It's ambitious, and I pray I pull it off.

Justin Pavey returns to the show for a third time to talk all things parenting, digital, and raising kids in a nerdy house with Jesus at the center. Today we discuss how we handle kids and video games, how we determine limits with tech, parenting children well in a nerd world, and determining time limits.

Want more of Justin? Check out:
* episode 5 & episode 101

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4162n7P

He is risen! In light of Easter, let’s think about our eschatology of our technology. When Jesus returns, what tech will still be here?

Today I want to take a step back from teh daily hustle and bustle of buiolding hedges, gauging tech safety, and assessing tech health and instead what to simple ask: Are we using our tech on purpose, or for purpose?

What happens when our child wants to make a mistake?

We've talked extensively about how to build a hedge around your network, devices, and family. We've talked about how to assess tech health, how to decide what tech to adopt, and how to remove and replace. But now we need to go one step further, into the unthinkable: Our child is making poor choices despite our best efforts.

Now what?

Today we're going to talk about how we can lovingly step into our child's life and understand, engage, and respond to breaches of trust while keeping the focus on loving, teaching, and raising our children up in the way they should go.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3MapZ6v

How do I set boundaries on school devices?

I was asked this question at every talk I gave this week. You’ve got an educational device. It’s not optional. So how do you help make it safe?

Today we'll walk through how to build a hedge around your network, devices, and family, and what it looks like to apply these steps to our school devices, home school tech, and houses with older siblings.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3z5PONk

Do our children need social media? It might be the wrong question. There's lots of stuff we don't need but we still enjoy, and as loving parents we want to give them good gifts. So when your child asks for social media, or a smartphone (which is almost always a sideways request for social media), what do we say?

Today we'll dive into this conversation looking specifically at TikTok as our example. In our discussion we'll answer four questions about TikTok, and social media in general:
1. Do we have a hedge? 2. Is it tech safe? 3. Does it fit our family expectations? 4. Does it support my child's purpose?

What if I work in tech?

There are quite a few of you. You work at Meta, Apple, Valve, Alphabet, and Microsoft. You work in engineering and design and retail and administration. You design user interfaces and cloud computing systems and Tool Tech and Drool Tech.

Today I want to address what it means to be someone who is gifted with the time, talent and opportunity to work in the tech world. What does it mean to be a Christian in the tech space?

You’re in this space, and you’re there to be salt and light.

Show Notes:

I get asked about Roblox more than any other game right now. It makes sense. The game has 200 million monthly players and something like 75% of boys aged 9-12 in the US play this game.

I've decided to take this question and make it the ultimate opportunity to walk through what we've been talking about for the last few weeks. Today we apply the "Adopting New Tech" model and walk through the conversation as it applies to a world-leading video game.

Today we'll answer:
1. Is it safe? 2. Does it fit your famliy expectations (both for tech and for games)? 3. Is it a good fit for your child?

Habits are a powerful thing. They power our little decisions effortlessly, and those little choices have major consequences. But what habits is our tech helping us build?

Today we talk with Yu-kai Chou, one of the world's foremost leaders in gamification, and discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of behavioral design, and what it means to be a Christian in a world where some tech is designed to distract.

Video games are amazing, or at least they should be. While many video games are fun, few actually line up with the truths of the Bible. If we took Philippians 4:8 as our video games standard, very few would pass the test.

Brent Dusing wants to change that. He’s a Christian, father, and CEO of the gaming studio TruPlay Games. His goal is to create games that are fun to play and point back to truths about God.

Brent is the first to say that you don’t have to play video games, but if you do you should make sure it's something that is good for your heart and mind. TruPlay is here to help make that happen.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3EoeJPr

Today we're getting to the bottom of smartphones, and we're doing it quickly.

My hope for this episode, and for this podcast in general, is to give more than just "good" answers when it comes to tech. My goal is to point you as a parent toward hope.

So, does your child need a smartphone? No.

But if yous top there, you might get the right answer and miss the real point: an opportunity to parent and love your child where they are!

So listen to today's conversation, we'll talk through five reason smartphones are a net-loss for children under 16, and we'll also talk through what it looks like to prepare your child for a tech world.

Want more on this conversation? Check out Episode 160 on the Gospel Tech Podcast!

Three ways to listen:
🔗 click the link in the profile
🎧 search Gospel Tech in your favorite streaming service (iTunes, Amazon)
⭐️ 🌎 copy this link into your browser: https://www.spreaker.com/user/14032757/160-start-here-smartphones

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3HJMFqG

Resources Mentioned:
That Haidt & Twenge document on social media:
* https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w-HOfseF2wF9YIpXwUUtP65-olnkPyWcgF5BiAtBEy0/edit

Porn is scary, but it doesn't have to be. As loving parents we need to help our children know more than what to avoid, we need to point them to the life and hope available in Christ.

The porn conversation, while never easy, doesn't have to be complicated. Today we'll discuss God's clear standard, how it is delivered with incredible grace and hope, and how we can see God's victory even in areas of repeated, intentional personal failure.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3HJMFqG

Welcome to the first episode of the What the Tech?! miniseries with Micah and Nathan! This series is focused on empowering parents to talk about healthy gaming with their children. Today’s episode is dedicated to the topic of Gamer Rage. Today we’ll talk a bit about what it is, how to know when it’s a problem, and what you can do about it.

About your hosts:
Micah is an avid gamer fresh into the adult world of work and independent living. Nathan is a recovering gamer with a family and a passion for seeing people love God and use tech.

Welcome back to What the Tech?!, a miniseries with Micah and Nathan! In today’s episode we talk about the three best things about video games, as well as three cautions to be aware of when it comes to gaming. You’ll notice Micah and Nathan differ a bit on these, Nathan brings his old-man energy to bear in this conversation.

About your hosts: Micah is an avid gamer fresh into the adult world of work and independent living. Nathan is a recovering gamer with a family and a passion for seeing people love God and use tech.

This series is focused on empowering parents to talk about healthy gaming with their children.

Welcome back to What the Tech?!, a miniseries with Micah and Nathan! In today’s episode we talk about games as service. You used to buy a game and get a game. Now it is common that you buy a game and get the opportunity to pay a lot more money for additions, subscriptions, and even purchases within that game. Today’s conversation will give you everything you need to know to think through games as service.

About your hosts: Micah is an avid gamer fresh into the adult world of work and independent living. Nathan is a recovering gamer with a family and a passion for seeing people love God and use tech.

This series is focused on empowering parents to talk about healthy gaming with their children.

Welcome back to What the Tech?!, a miniseries with Micah and Nathan! In today’s episode we talk all things e-sports: What is it, why does it exist, and is it just a flash in the pan or will these games be around for awhile? This conversation is especially focused on helping parents wrap their brains around why the word “sport” is attached even loosely with the idea of video games.

About your hosts:
Micah is an avid gamer fresh into the adult world of work and independent living. Nathan is a recovering gamer with a family and a passion for seeing people love God and use tech.

This series is focused on empowering parents to talk about healthy gaming with their children.

Does your child love video games?

Talking about video games can be tricky. Video games bring up hurts and hopes from marriages, parenting, and personal pasts, many of which have gone unaddressed.

There’s a lot to say, but today we're focusing on:
1. Video games are awesome (that's not an accident) 2. If you choose to play them, play the good ones (I give you six questions to ask!) 3. Be in all the spaces your children are in

At the end of the day, video games are one more opportunity to parent our children well. We get enter their world, ask real questions, and be a part of their journey to finding their highest joy in God through Christ. You don't have to play video games, but if you do, let's make sure you do it well.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3kX7h6L

Is your child trustworthy with tech?

I’m not asking “Is your kid a ‘good’ kid?”, because saying your child isn’t ready for the weight of tech isn’t about being good or bad, it’s about being physically, emotionally, and spiritually prepared.
My 3 year old is immature in all three areas, but she’s an amazing kid. For a 3 year old.

Similarly, I’ve taught some incredible middle school students—who did their work and were great friends—that I would never trust with a lighter. I’m 100% sure some of them would start a fire if I left them alone for more than five minutes.

It’s the same idea with tech. Your child is wonderful. This tech is fun and amazing. But are the two a good fit, in this season, based on what you’ve seen and know so far?
Answering that is simple, but not easy:1. Check for trustworthiness in the little things (Luke 16:10) 2. Build trust in little steps

In today’s conversation we’ll talk about how to assess, and build, tech trust with your child.

If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s coming for you: “Mom / Dad, I want that new _______ (insert newfangled tech)”.

What do you say? You want to give your child amazing things they want, but how do you know if this is a good idea?

Today we’re going to build the base for this conversation and equip you with everything you need to answer this question well. Whether its an app, game, device, show, or album, you will be empowered to do more than win: you’ll be empowered to parent.

The basis of the conversation is three simple questions:
1. Is it safe? (Matt. 7:7-10) 2. Does it meet family expectations? (1 Cor. 10:23) 3. Does it support your child’s goals & purpose? (Luke 6:45, Gal. 5:19-23)

With this foundation you can address new tech in hope, not fear, and gain some parenting wins along the way.

Want to know whether your tech is healthy, but don't know where to start? Look no further! The START HERE series is designed to get you into these tech conversations quickly so that you are empowered to talk about healthy tech, communicate the Gospel, and connect the hope of the Gospel to your everyday tech life.

Understanding healthy tech requires that we:
1. Know the two types of tech 2. Assess our own tech health 3. Discern whether tech is a pebble or a blister

Today we'll cover all three and give you everyting you need to begin these critical tech conversations in your own life and home.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Gm9Nuu

Welcome to the first episode of 2023! This podcast is called Gospel Tech because we parent in a tech world, from the hope of the Gospel. Today we walk that out!

Today we'll talk about hope, and how the Gospel gives us a reason for today and a purpose for tomorrow. In today's episode we discuss how the Gospel changes how we parents our kids with tech, how we look at ourselves, and the way we handle tough circumstances that may even be out of our control.

What better way to celebrate 2022 than listen to the most popular episode of the year? I dug into the data and found that htis episode, #137, is the most listened to of all this year's productions. Maybe we'll have to talk some more video game content in the new year!

Episode #137 Description:
Video games can feel overwhelming for parents. How do we know if video games are a good idea? Which games should we pick? Today we answer these questions and give all parents a firm-foundation with which to love their children and make intentional tech choices when it comes to video games.

Resources mentioned:
Episode #133: What to do when your child asks for new tech:
https://www.gospeltech.net/133-back-to-school-3-what-to-do-when-your-child-asks-for-new-tech/

ESRB for game reviews: https://www.esrb.org
Watch the game for yourself: http://youtube.com
A wonderful example of story in games done well: The Bastion character video. https://youtu.be/to8yh83jlXg

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PMs48q

Advent means Arrival, and in this season of Christmas we celebrate Christmas and the arrival of the Christ child.

Yet as Christians we really celebrate three advents: The arrival of the Messiah, the Holy Spirit, and the glorified King.

Today we’re taking a look at the incredible joy, hope, and reverence that should accompany our celebration of Christmas this year; that there are really three advents at hand, and they each matter very much for how we live out our daily, and tech, lives.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3G33rB7

Some verses to read for your Advent this year:
1. Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-23 (a virgin and Joseph's doubt) 2. Micah 5:2-5, Matthew 2:1-6 (a savior and the magi) 3. Matthew 4:12-17, Isaiah 9:1-7 (I like reading the NT account first—I feel it adds beauty and emphasis to the Isaiah passage)

How can we have fun at the pace of real life?

Video games are fun, movies are festive, but at some point we need a break. Our brains, hearts, and lungs need some space to breath. We need some Analog Adventures.

Three things to keep in mind:
1. “I’m bored” is really asking for a reset back to the pace of real life. 😵‍💫
2. Keep activities wonder-focused. Fun should never be a punishment. 🤗
3. Fun doesn’t have to mean expensive.

Today we discuss a few adventure ideas, how to make them work for your family, and give some options that even the Scrooge's out there will enjoy.

SHow Notes: https://bit.ly/3hlcQdT

What’s your plan for tech when family comes to town?

There’s a good chance someone in your life, maybe even someone you’ll see for Christmas, has a different tech standard than you and your family. So what can you do?

First, make sure you’ve listened to last week’s episode about making tech safe at home! 🤗

Remember that you’re not scared of tech: Your boundaries come from hope for your kiddos. You want them to become all they are made to be!

So ask:
is it safe (Drool Tech, Browser, App, Accountable)
does it mean family expectations (Phil. 4:8 - content)
does it line up with my child’s purpose and potential (Gal. 5:22—the fruit)

Then, take these three steps to ensure tech is a benefit for all this season:

Be open. Bring up your concern, your expectations for your child, and ask for suggestions on how it could be handled.
Be gracious. focus on the problems, not the people: We don’t let our kids play games (at all, very long, rated T or higher…)
Be focused. your experience, and solutions.

Christmas is officially on the way, so how do we ensure that our tech at home is safe and maximize the opportunity for fun, sharing, and engagement? In today's conversation we'll discuss how to build a hedge around our tech, create clear expectations, and be present in tech to ensure we use it in hope and for God's glory and our good.

Show Notes: http://bit.ly/3VBwfFS

Christmas is an amazing time to remember the gifts God has given us: His only son and the Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:11). As parents we get a chance to show our children a bit of what it means to give good gifts, and today we're going to talk about how. Today we address:

A great way to think about gift purchasing
How to assess new tech for your family
Ten analog adventure gifts for Christmas!

Resources:
.Check out our new partner: Gabb Wireless! (gabbwireless.com/promo/GOSPELTECH). Use this link to get a free phone with a 2-year contract and $20 towards accessories.

As we head towards Thanksgiving, lets take this opportunity to call out these areas in our lives that steal our Thankfulness:
Control
Anxiety
Distraction

And let’s combat them in Christ with the tools we’re given:
Draw close to God
Stay connected to the vine
Check the fruit

Timeline:
0:00: Intro
2:10: Thank You

5:30: What deters our thankfulness?
6:30: Control
15:30: Anxiety
17:30: Distraction

21:30: Solution #1: Draw Close (James 4:4,8)
26:00: Stay Connected (John 15:4-5)
29:00: Check the fruit (Galatians 5:19-22)

Show Notes: http://bit.ly/3UVb69j

🎉🎧NEW PODCAST (Ep. 146) IS LIVE!🎙🎉

Wonder is critical when it comes to living as God calls us to live. Wonder helps us realize our place in creation, it re-establishes the pecking order of power, and it reminds us not only of God’s greatness but also of the loving, kind, and gentle Heavenly Father he is—one who gives good gifts.

In our digital age it feels like we live in an Age of Wonders, yet few of our technological advances cause us to look past the object itself towards a greater source.

In today’s conversation we’ll discuss the importance of wonder, how to experience in our digital age, and why wonder is so important as we experience Wonder that is truly rooted in the Gospel.

There are three ways to listen:
🔗 click the link in the profile
🎧 search Gospel Tech in your favorite streaming service (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify) ⭐️
🌎 copy this link into your browser: https://www.spreaker.com/user/14032757/interview-with-kristen-clark-girl-define

Today's verse: Psalm 139:14
“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”

Timeline:
0:00: Overview
1:00: Thank you’s
1:40: Check out Lome! (withlome.com)

2:10: What is Wonder?
3:00: Wonder Part 1: Amazement
5:30: When amazement goes askew
7:45: Amazement in the Bible
11:30: Tech should bring true amazement

15:30: Wonder Part 2: Awe (/terror)
17:25: Awe in the Bible
22:35: Awe exposes us. They begged Jesus to leave.

26:00: The purpose of Wonder
27:00: Making Wonder #1
27:30: Making Wonder #2
28:00: Making Wonder #3

6:15: What motivates your ministry to women and young women?
7:50: What does comparison look like in the digital age?
11:25: What can we do to help our daughters with comparison?
15:00: How can parents begin conversations about self-image, beauty, and the digital world with our children?
21:15: What advice would you give to your 12-14 y/o self?
25:00: What are some positive social media accounts and follows for young women?
30:15: What other resources can our families utilize for these important conversations?

37:00: Review & Closing

Resources to help your family use tech well:
.Lome: go to withlome.com to use Lome for free!

.Bark: A fantastic resource to help make the internet a more loving place for our kiddos. We’re such big fans of this resource that we’ve partnered with Bark: You can enter GospelTech10 at checkout for 10% off!

.Gryphon Internet Routers are running a sale! Check out gryphonconnect.com to help build your family's network hedge.

.Gabb Wireless: Takes the guess work out of giving your child a phone. Your child gets a phone: no internet, app store, image-texting, or backdoors. They get a GPS, a quality camera, and the freedom to enjoy these formative childhood years.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3hhiVYt

parenting #parentoutside #internetsafety #gaming #socialmedia #streaming #tiktok #instagram #snapchat #parentingishard #parenting #raisingkids #gospel #LoveGod #usetech

Hope can be hard to come by in a digital world. We are surrounded by bad news, inundated with people doing better than us, and constantly teased with promises of a better life if we only play that game, watch that show, use that product.

When we talk to our children about technology, and parent them in a tech world, we need to remember that hope means having a reason for today and a purpose for tomorrow. As Christians we find that in Christ, and it influences the shows we watch, apps we use, games we play, and tech we use as a family.

Today's conversation revolves around three reasons for hope that I want every child to hear from a caring adult:
1. Little choices matter (and that's a good thing)
2. Everyone has a purpose
3. It's never too late to be great

Timeline:
0:00: Hope Intro
1:45: Thank Yous
4:00: Healthy Tech Partner — Lome! (withLome.com)

4:30: The Hope Talk, preface =)
7:20: Hope (not shame)

10:40: Little choices matter
17:00: Everyone has potential
22:20: It’s never too late to be great (making a mistake doesn’t make you a mistake)
30:00: Student #1, grades
35:00: Student #2, mental health

38:50: Final Thought: Hope isn’t a better version of you, it’s becoming more like Christ.
43:00: Closing

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DiyUNi

Hope can be hard to come by in a digital world. We are surrounded by bad news, inundated with people doing better than us, and constantly teased with promises of a better life if we only play that game, watch that show, use that product.

When we talk to our children about technology, and parent them in a tech world, we need to remember that hope means having a reason for today and a purpose for tomorrow. As Christians we find that in Christ, and it influences the shows we watch, apps we use, games we play, and tech we use as a family.

Today's conversation revolves around three reasons for hope that I want every child to hear from a caring adult:
1. Little choices matter (and that's a good thing)
2. Everyone has a purpose
3. It's never too late to be great

Timeline:
0:00: Hope Intro
1:45: Thank Yous
4:00: Healthy Tech Partner — Lome! (withLome.com)

4:30: The Hope Talk, preface =)
7:20: Hope (not shame)

10:40: Little choices matter
17:00: Everyone has potential
22:20: It’s never too late to be great (making a mistake doesn’t make you a mistake)
30:00: Student #1, grades
35:00: Student #2, mental health

38:50: Final Thought: Hope isn’t a better version of you, it’s becoming more like Christ.
43:00: Closing

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DiyUNi

Comparison is often a natural part of growing up, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. Getting value by feeling better than others is dangerous to our hearts, as well as to our relationships and mental health. In todays' conversation Kristen Clark of Girl Defined walks us through her journey with the Lord from a place of comparison to one of contentment, and gives us powerful insights into how we can guide and love our daughters as they live out the Gospel in a digital world.

Timeline:
0:45: What is Girl Defined?
2:30: Kristine’s testimony
6:15: What motivates your ministry to women and young women?
7:50: What does comparison look like in the digital age?
11:25: What can we do to help our daughters with comparison?
15:00: How can parents begin conversations about self-image, beauty, and the digital world with our children?
21:15: What advice would you give to your 12-14 y/o self?
25:00: What are some positive social media accounts and follows for young women?
30:15: What other resources can our families utilize for these important conversations?
37:00: Review & Closing

Comparison is often a natural part of growing up, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. Getting value by feeling better than others is dangerous to our hearts, as well as to our relationships and mental health. In todays' conversation Kristen Clark of Girl Defined walks us through her journey with the Lord from a place of comparison to one of contentment, and gives us powerful insights into how we can guide and love our daughters as they live out the Gospel in a digital world.

Timeline:
0:45: What is Girl Defined?
2:30: Kristine’s testimony
6:15: What motivates your ministry to women and young women?
7:50: What does comparison look like in the digital age?
11:25: What can we do to help our daughters with comparison?
15:00: How can parents begin conversations about self-image, beauty, and the digital world with our children?
21:15: What advice would you give to your 12-14 y/o self?
25:00: What are some positive social media accounts and follows for young women?
30:15: What other resources can our families utilize for these important conversations?
37:00: Review & Closing

🎉🎧NEW PODCASTS (Ep. 143) IS LIVE!🎙🎉

Today we continue our conversation about building tech trust with our children.

Last week we discussed how to ensure tech is a good fit for our family, child, and season of life.

In today’s conversation we look at ten ways to gauge tech trust, as well as what to do when tech trust is broken.

There are three ways to listen:
🔗 click the link in the profile
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Today's verse: Luke 16:10-12
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”

Today's Gospel Tech Partner: Lome, the platform for creating intentional family life rhythms. Check them out for free at withlome.com.

Timeline:
0:00 - Introduction
2:15 - Thank You
4:20 - New Partner: Lome!
5:12 - Family Tech Framework (Goseptechworkshop.com)
6:40 - Intro to: 10 Ways to Check for Trust (use three)
8:15 - verse for today

10 Ways to Check for Trust
10:00 - #1
11:00 - #2
12:20 - #3
13:20 - #4
16:30 - #5
17:30 - #6
19:10 - #7
20:10 - #8
21:45 - #9
23:10 - #10

26:30 - What if I have to take tech back?
29:00 - Amazing resource: Bark!
31:30 - Review of the Big Picture

Resources:
.Lome: go to withlome.com to use Lome for free!

.Bark: A fantastic resource to help make the internet a more loving place for our kiddos. We’re such big fans of this resource that we’ve partnered with Bark: You can enter GospelTech10 at checkout for 10% off!

.Gryphon Internet Routers are running a sale! Check out gryphonconnect.com to help build your family's network hedge.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3CEN2jy

parenting #parentoutside #internetsafety #smartphone #gaming #socialmedia #streaming #tiktok #instagram #snapchat #parentingishard #parenting #raisingkids #gospel #LoveGod #usetech

How do we build tech trust with our children?

The first thing we do is make sure the tech is a good fit for our family, our child, and this season of life. We should not give our children devices that are inherently unsafe, go against family expectations, or damage or distract from his or her purpose in Christ.

In today’s conversation we’ll cover what it takes to ensure a new tech is a good fit for your family.

Today's verse: Luke 16:10-12
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”

Today's Gospel Tech Partner: Lome, the platform for creating family life rhythms. Check them out for free at withlome.com.

Timeline:
0:00 - Introduction
2:15 - Thank You
3:00 - New Partner! Lome
3:50 - Building Tech Trust
6:00 - verse for today
8:30 - 3 Areas to Begin Building Tech Trust
9:30 - Safe tech?
12:00 - Family Fit?
13:30 - Child’s Purpose?
16:30 - Breach of trust

This is our last episode on the "Back to School" series! To wrap this all up we dive into conversation with Anna about how we can make Analog Adventures with our own families.

The emphasis of today’s conversation: You can do it, even on a low budget, even if it doesn’t look great on Instagram🤗. To quote the amazing @maandpamodern: Adventures aren’t the goal in themselves, they’re the vessel for deeper relationships with our kiddos.

So listen in as we walk through a few of the options available to us as parents for Analog Adventures in daily life.

Show Notes:
1. The Read-Aloud Family, by Sarah Mackenzie: Wonderful tool for starting read-aloud adventures with your family
2. Honey for a Child's Heart, by Gladys Hunt: Great reading list resource
3. Adventuring Together, 100 Days of Adventure, by Greta Eskridge: Both do a great job keeping the focus on adventure as the vessel for relationship, not the goal in itself.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3EjsrUl

In today’s episode Anna weighs in on our conversations through the first four episodes, and brings her insight and wit to bear on subjects that matter to us as parents as well our kids.

Resources:
.Bark: A fantastic resource to help make the internet a more loving place for our kiddos. We’re such big fans of this resource that we’ve partnered with Bark: You can enter GospelTech10 at checkout for 10% off!

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3UKB7ci

How do we keep the internet safe at home?

This question haunts the minds and hearts of parents who have young children and a house filled with modern tech: smartphones, smart tvs, tablets, laptops (some provided by school), how do we raise our kids to be healthy and whole?

Today we answer this question! We’ll focus on three practical areas:
1. Develop a culture of healthy tech
2. Set healthy boundaries
3. Build a hedge

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3CedpOu

Today we wrap up our conversation on finding balance with gaming. We focus specifically on:
1. How to know when gaming is healthy
2. How to be a part of your child's gaming world

I also address one of the most-asked questions I get when discussing video games: How do we handle spouses who play video games?

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3UnZXi5

Video games can feel overwhelming for parents. How do we know if video games are a good idea? Which games should we pick? Today we answer these questions and give all parents a firm-foundation with which to love their children and make intentional tech choices when it comes to video games.

Resources mentioned:
.Ep. 133: What to do when your child asks for new tech: https://www.gospeltech.net/133-back-to-school-3-what-to-do-when-your-child-asks-for-new-tech/

.ESRB for game reviews: https://www.esrb.org
.Watch the game for yourself: http://youtube.com
.a wonderful example of story in games done well: The Bastion character video. https://youtu.be/to8yh83jlXg

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3DD483h

Being present matters. Today's conversation is an extension of Tuesday's, with three examples that help us connect what we learned about friendship to our own daily lives.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BKuFui

Are smartphones and social media the new cul-de-sac? Do our children need to be online in order to have friends?

In today's episode we talk about what it takes to make a friend, be a friend, and keep a friend in this digital world.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3L7gJxo

In our previous conversation we discussed how to handle conversations about new tech with our children. Today we're going to walk through specific conversations addressing three tech parents hear about most often: smartphones, social media, and video games.

Time:
1:30. Smartphones
11:45. Social Media
20.15. Video Games

Resources:
Video Game Grades: I've made a simple tool to help determine if a video game is a good fit for your family. Go to https://www.gospeltech.net/resources/, enter your email, and enjoy!

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3RIQMGB

It's going to happen: Your child is going to come home from school completely enthralled with some new tech. One of their classmates, or someone on their team, will have something new and shiny, and they're going to bring you a pitch for one:
a smartphone, video game, or the latest social media platform.

Whatever it is, you’ve got to have an answer. In today's episode we'll walk you through exactly how to do that, and how to use these tech conversations as a win for both you and your child.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ALAPZk

2/3 parents say they believe it's harder to parent now than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technology as their reason (Pew, Auxier et al, 2020). That feels about right. Parenting can feel downright overwhelming in this tech world!

Today we'll discuss three steps we can all take to help ensure we have healthy tech as we take on the coming school year.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3e7txYs

How do we prep our tech for school? We use a RESET.

In today’s conversation we’ll discuss the two types of tech, how to assess tech health, and some practical ways we can begin these conversations at home with children of all ages.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3AOIx6x

Roger Smith is a 30+ year educator, the VP of a national sports camp, a parent of two young adults, and a major advocate for young people growing up in a tech world.

Roger has been on the front lines of education since the advent of the personal computer and the internet. Now his elementary school students show up with smartphones and are issued school laptops. In today’ interview he shares encouragement for parents, timely reminders, and some impassioned challenges for how we can fight for our children in this tech world.

Resources:
.Learn more about NBC: https://www.nbccamps.com
.a great dumb phone for your fam:
Gabb Wireless: https://gabbwireless.com
Wisephone: http://gotechless.com
.a wonderful tool to help keep online activity open: http://bark.us

There's lots of good information out there on tech. You can watch a documentary, read a book, or review the research. But often ingesting that information doesn't motivate change. Until today.

Today we focus on what we CAN do, wherever we are in our tech use and with whatever information we've got on us as of this morning.

We'll talk about what it looks like to RESET & RENEW. Then we'll apply those to our families and have practical steps for making conversations, and changes, we need to love God and use tech.

Resources Referenced:

The Lexon Flip Plus: the alarm clock you've been looking for
a helpful article talking more about RESET
The 2 hour course I reference: The Gospel Tech Small Group Curriculum
Our website: gospeltech.net
our social media: Instagram & Facebook
The Biblical Standard for our tech use: That we produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), not the fruit of the Flesh (Galatian 5:19-21 & Romans 1:30), that our content meets God's expectations for what we enjoy (Philippians 4:8), and that it reflects the fullness of God's love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3OVu6B5

There’s a really good chance your child has asked you to get them a smartphone. My first conversation was with my oldest child when he was in kindergarten. His classmate had one and used it to play games during the school day. Whatever age you child, this conversation is fraught with big emotions, a predictable “but everyone else has one” argument, and the difficulty as a parent of threading the needle between being intentional and being out of touch with reality. It's not easy, and today's conversation will walk through the research and practice that will help inform our decisions, as well as practical steps we can take to help get our children on the road to eventual (if delayed) digital independence.

Resources:

Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling In Las Vegas. The book I couldn't remember in the podcast--Ms. Dow Schull looks at how slot machines engage users beyond just gambling, and the implications that has for other digital tech.

Gabb Wireless: great options for trainer phones

The Wise Phone: another great dumb phone option

An article we wrote for Fierce Parenting on how to make your smartphone a dumb phone

A great Protect Young Eyes article on home routers

Some other honorable mentions:

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. A look at unhealthy tech design and specifically the pull to refresh in Smartphones.
The Social Dilemma: A documentary that sheds light on some of the design aspects of social media (although know going in that the documentary falls short of giving any practical or hopeful next steps)
Hooked: How To Build Habit Forming Products A book by Nir Eyal in which he explores “experiences designed to connect the user’s problem with the company’s product with enough frequency to form a habit.” Show Notes: https://onpurposely.com/gospel-tech-crash-course-5-smart-phones/

Should my child be on social media?

This question can feel loaded, but it doesn’t have to be. Social media conversations are fraught with strong opinions, a desire for belonging, and the parenting version of the boogieman: We don’t know everything ab out every app, and what we do know is often enough to make us lose the little sleep we get.

Today we're going to clarify that there is, in fact, a Biblical standard for social media. We'll talk about how we make these big decisions with our children, and what parents need to know in order to be informed and intentional when stepping into the world of algorithm-guided relationships. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3RPyEMf

Pornography is real and it is hurting the minds of our children.

7/10 tweens and 8/10 teens will encounter nudity or content of a sexual nature online (Bark, January 2021). So what can we do? A lot! There is great hope for this conversation and very practical, loving steps we can take to help our children know what love is, what God says about their bodies and sex, and how to handle pornography when they run into it.

There is a lot of new tech out there. As parents, we often ask: Should my child use _________ (insert new amazing device)?

To help us answer this question we often want data, research, and public opinion. Is it worth it? Should they have it? While this question spans the breadth of all tech, ranging from VR to e-readers, we’re going to focus today’s conversation specifically on video games.

The conversation is actually much simpler than it seems, because our goal isn’t to get the most distraction in a day, but the most true joy in each moment.

Welcome to Week #1 of the Gospel Tech Crash Course!

Each week this summer we’re going to address the most-asked questions from families, starting this week: Why do we need the Gospel in our tech conversations? The Gospel is more than just “good information”, it’s Good News, and in today’s conversation we’ll look at how that Good News changes even the way we use our tech.

Thanks for joining us, and welcome to the conversation!

Over the last few weeks we’ve talked a lot about what we should do to have an intentional summer full of healthful fun and healthy tech. This week Anna and I talk about what these plans and fun look like in our own lives. As always, Anna brings the fire, and we get to walk out how this conversation isn’t about being perfect but being intentional with the time and opportunities we’re given.

We cover three points specifically:

At the end of this summer, I want my summer to have been ____________.
Make a plan: analog adventure, play a game together, make a meal, use tech together (watch, play, listen)
Three steps for intentional, safe tech at home

Resources mentioned:

Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt https://www.thecoddling.com
iGen, Jean Twenge, http://www.jeantwenge.com/igen-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/
Dopamine Nation (*viewer discretion—some anecdotes are troubling) https://www.annalembke.com/dopamine-nation

We are called to disciple our children in the way they should go, but how? Today we're going to address what discipleship looks like in a tech world, and how we can all do it starting wherever we are today.

Guiding verses today:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[fn] 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

verses to encourage us as we love our kiddos as parents, journeying with them and pointing them to God’s purpose for them (also known as discipline)

Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, or the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Hebrews 12:6: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Jesus in talking about the vines John 15:2: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Revelation 3:19: “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”

Helpful Tech for Discipleship:

awesome children’s Bible: The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd Jones
audio book: The Jesus Storybook Bible
devotional to do with kids: Indescribable, by Louie Giglio
Bible content and lessons: The Bible Project
great overviews like how to read the bible
insights on books that can be tough to understand, like Psalms
helpful guides for reading the New Testament

If you use Veggie Tales, use their stuff from before 2012. Dreamworks acquired Big Ideas (the company that creates Veggie Tales) that year and their more recent stuff has just been cartoons starring vegetables.

Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science (Indescribable Kids)

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name

This past week I received a message from a concerned parent: "How can I keep the internet safe for my children at home?" She shared that a family friend recently disclosed a long-running struggle with pornography, and she was overwhelmed both by the potential dangers online but also by the sheer volume of potential solutions. Which options are best? How many do we need? How much is "safe enough" to go online, and where does online accountability slip into online spying?

These are all amazing questions and it made me realize we need an episode that puts all of this in a single spot for parents. So, here it is! Today we're going to talk about how to make the internet safe at home.

Resources referenced in the episode:

Circle - wifi / home network
Gryphon - wifi / home network
Bark - personal devices
Covenant Eyes - image accountability
Gospel Tech Small Group Course - support for talking out tech with your family, and then walking it out in your daily journey

We’ve been talking deeply about what it looks like to prep for summer, to live life intentionally in light of the Gospel, and today we’re going to talk about five ways to apply all that great info in our summer prep and plans. This is because today I’ve got five activities we can all do, immediately or in the future, to help us walk out this conversation on tech and keep it thoroughly rooted in the hope we have in Christ.

Some sweet and gentle reminders to point you back to Christ and the Gospel in this season of grief, anger, confusion, and doubt:

Ann Voskamp
Eugene Cho
Jennie Allen
Jackie Hill Perry
Tim Keller
Oceans Never Fill (read “A Poem to Fix What is Broken”)

That board game list (because I can’t resist):

ages 3-4: Animal Upon Animal (Hadley loves it!), Hoot Owl Hoot

ages 5-7: Sleeping Queens, Outfoxed, Labyrinth (our kiddos love the Pokemon version!)

ages 8-10: Sushi Go, Carcassonne, Clank!

ages 11-12: Wingspan, Dixit, Kingsburg

ages 13+: Superfight, Codenames, Anomia

The cooking with kids resource I mentioned: Raddish Kids

A great resource for your family as you make a plan for your priorities with Lome.

summer

familytech

raisingkids

analogadventures

encouragement

Today is a unique episode: I couldn’t fall asleep because this podcast was burning a hole in my brain. That’s never happened before. In fact, I had another conversation all queued up, and I bumped it to a future week. Today’s podcast is here as an encouragement, as a public sharing of the reminder I very much needed from the Lord, and that I get to share with you: That our faith in Christ doesn’t save us from hurt and pain, it actually allows us to be more present in it and through it. Our call isn’t to safety, or to comfort, but to serving our God and King in whatever garden he should choose to cast us into (Luke 13:19).

In a tech world this means keeping certain truths in front of us, and prayerfully attending to how we address this life’s hardships with our children, with our spouses, and with the wide waiting world online and outside our front door that we are called to each day.

Resources

Verses referenced in this episode:

John 1:11 — Jesus came for all of us broken folks

Luke 5:31 — he didn’t come for the ones who look the best in a lineup

Revelation 2:1-18 — we are called to faithfulness, no matter the situation

Ephesians 2:1-10 — we’re saved for the world, not from it

John 15:1-10 — being connected to the vine determines our fruit (not our effort)

Matthew 22:37-40 — Jesus gives two commandments that encompass the entire OT.

Matthew 28:19 — Jesus gives his third commandment: go and make disciples.

1 John 4:19 - we love because he first loved us

Romans 5:8 - because he died for us before we ever asked for it

Rev. 19:11-15 — yet all of this grace and hope doesn’t mean we’re ok with sin. Jesus isn’t, and neither are we!

Summer time is amazing because it’s a break from the norm. Even though workdays continue at the same old pace, the weather changes, our kiddos are out and about, and there is a sense of freedom in the air that just doesn’t exist at any other time of year (except, maybe for Christmas break).

The last thing we want is to let our summer fall victim to an endless list of “to dos” or to a series of unplanned show binges, social media trends, or gaming distractions. Let’s take control and have a plan.

Today we’ll talk through the three steps to take control of our tech this summer:

Prep your priorities
Talk it out
Walk it out

Chris McKenna is a former CPA with Ernst and Young, turned youth pastor, turned family tech specialist and youth advocate. As you will hear in our conversation today, Chris has a passion for seeing young people use tech well and a nearly limitless knowledge of what it takes to keep safe and healthy for our kids.

Resources:

the article on routers: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Routers
a great article on putting parental controls on all devices: Parental Control for Every Digital Device
the Protect App — more than 500 lessons, bilingual. A great way to start these conversations
follow Chris and the PYE team on Facebook and Instagram
you can find more great resources on the Protect Young Eyes website

Quotable Quips From Chris McKenna:

“Delay is the Way” (19:00)
“Raising healthy youth isn’t a NO tech strategy, it’s a SLOW tech strategy”
“It’s fine if you’ve said “no”, but educate them as if you’ve said “yes”
Families need a Digital Trust Framework: 5 attributes in families whose kids use tech well. ALL families, whether “no, slow, or go”, are healthier with tech when they do these five things:
copy me
- co-play: “tech is a WE activity, not a ME activity”.
- curiosity
- conversation
  - coaching
"No matter your tech battle, you’ll lose that fight if you do it on your own."

We are hot on the heels of our first-ever work trip. It involved five talks in three days, a pair of cross-country flights, and three lessons that are amazing reminders that God is working in hearts around the US and the world. Thank you all for being on this journey with us! So excited to see where the Lord takes this work and conversation.

Today we get a special treat: A conversation with my friend and former student, Micah Roberts. Micah is an avid gamer, he's gamed since before he can remember, and his insights are a valuable look not only into the world of gamers but also into the world of how we can lovingly parent children who love video games (and model healthy gaming for them). He's also the one who coined the phrase: "Game like you like your life." Today's conversation is spontaneous, honest, and a beautiful view into the world of gamers.

Resources:

Games with soul: That Dragon Cancer, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Games without soul: FIFA, Clash of Clans

Having high expectations doesn't mean being unreasonable or mean. It means knowing what our children are capable of, and acting towards that belief in hope not fear. In today’s conversation Nathan talks through how he’s been learning this lesson the hard way, raising kids who are interested in (of all things) video games. He discusses what it looks like to parent out of hope not fear, and to base our tech parenting on Biblical truths while always reminding ourselves that God loves our children even more than we do.

Today we have a chance to talk with Reilly Flynn, Co-Founder of Lome and someone who has dedicated his life to pursuing Christ in all avenues, including product design and tech use. In the process he's made Lome, a family organization platform intended to help families be more present both with, and without, their tech.

In today's conversation Reilly is going to guide us through the big ideas of what it looks like to live life well and ditch distraction. We'll talk family, entrepreneurship, the future of tech, and how faith is both the foundation of healthful tech design as well as the future of healthy tech use. Whether you’re a stay at home parent, a single person, a business owner, or a retiree looking to the next stage in God’s journey for you this conversation will encourage and challenge you to think intentionally about the days and gifts you’ve been given, and what God might be calling you to do in raising young people who love Him in a tech world.

Resources:—

Check out Lome, the family organizational platform (aka: super-useful calendar thingy!)
A couple resources we reference when talking about intentional tech:
What Technology Wants, by Kevin Kelly (co-founder of Wired)
Superintelligence, by Nick Bostrom
The Center For Humane Tech, founded by Tristan Harris (one of the main participants in The Social Dilemma)
An excellent book on living intentionally with tech in a hope-focused way: The Tech-Wise Family, Andy Crouch
Want email that doesn’t track (or sell) your personal info? Check out Proton Mail
Learn more about a world leader in gamification that is trying to use the powers of habit-building for good: Yu-kai Chou

What Technology Wants

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

Greta joins us again for another great conversation about raising healthy youth, porn resilience, and how adventure is an amazing vessel for relationship with our children (even on a budget).

Resources:

Check out Greta's latest book! 100 Days Of Adventure
And her first book: Adventuring Together
A great intro resource Greta suggests for talking about pornography: Good Picture, Bad Picture by Kristen Jenson.
Check out Greta on IG and FB
Want Greta to come speak to your small group, co-op, church, or school? Contact her here!

100 Days of Adventure: Nature Activities, Creative Projects, and Field Trips for Every Season

Adventuring Together: How to Create Connections and Make Lasting Memories with Your Kids

Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids

There’s a really good chance your child has asked you to get them a smartphone. My first conversation was with my oldest child when he was in kindergarten. His classmate had one and used it to play games during the school day. Whatever age you child, this conversation is fraught with big emotions, a predictable “but everyone else has one” argument, and the difficulty as a parent of threading the needle between being intentional and being out of touch with reality. It's not easy, and today's conversation will walk through the research and practice that will help inform our decisions, as well as practical steps we can take to help get our children on the road to eventual (if delayed) digital independence.

Resources:

Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling In Las Vegas. The book I couldn't remember in the podcast--Ms. Dow Schull looks at how slot machines engage users beyond just gambling, and the implications that has for other digital tech.
Gabb Wireless: great options for trainer phones
The Wise Phone: another great dumb phone option
An article we wrote for Fierce Parenting on how to make your smartphone a dumb phone
A great Protect Young Eyes article on home routers

Some other honorable mentions:

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. A look at unhealthy tech design and specifically the pull to refresh in Smartphones.
The Social Dilemma: A documentary that sheds light on some of the design aspects of social media (although know going in that the documentary falls short of giving any practical or hopeful next steps)
Hooked: How To Build Habit Forming Products A book by Nir Eyal in which he explores “experiences designed to connect the user’s problem with the company’s product with enough frequency to form a habit.”

Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

Tech can be a confusing topic for many parents, but not anymore! In today's conversation we're going to tackle the three things every parent needs to know when talking, and acting on, the tech in their family. By the end of today's episode you will know:

There are actually two types of tech
If your tech use is healthy
What steps to take for healthful tech at home

Josh is co-founder of Be In Touch, an organization focused on educating families about digital wellness. In today's conversation we get to hear how God set Josh free from compulsive and addictive behaviors, both in tech and other areas of life, and how Josh now works to help see their full potential and make choices that line up with it in this digital world. He and his co-founder Kate do this through their website, Be In Touch.org, as well as online and live talks on the topics we most want to see our children be informed and healthful in: screen time, cyberbullying, social media, stranger danger, and pornography.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Beintouch.org.za to find helpful articles, videos, how-to instructions, and webinars
Great resources from Be In Touch like the: Screen Time Guidelines, Digital Family Alliance, 8 Steps to Digital Wellness
Reach out to Be In Touch on social media: Facebook & Instagram
A great resources for talking about God's greatness with our children: The Bible Project
Want a devotional to read with your younger kids in < 5 minutes? Indescribable: 100 Devotions For Kids About God

Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science (Indescribable Kids)

Our kids are going to ask us, at some point, to use tech and their argument will sound something like: "All of my friends are on there!" So what do we do? As loving parents we have probably given them all the tech we are comfortable with. They play the games we know about, they use the devices we believe are age appropriate, and they engage the apps and websites we believe are helpful. So if they're asking for more there's a good chance it pushes us out of our comfort zone. But how do we know if it's unsafe/unwise, or just something new (and nobody likes change)?

In today's conversation Anna and Nathan discuss the value of digital tech in relationships, two major concerns to keep in mind, and the steps a family can take to ensure they add all of the tech that helps and none of the tech that distracts.

Resources Mentioned:

Voxer, Marco Polo: tech that is social without the algorithms, feeds, or ads (remember, all social media needs to be used in accountable environments). If you choose to use something like WhatsApp, know that there are no parental controls. You'll need outside accountability.
Want help making a family tech framework? Use Gospel Tech's Small Group Workshop.
A verse to help guide our friends & tech conversations with our children: 1 Cor. 10:23

Today Anna and Nathan assess the tech use of their own family using the resources of RESET and RENEW. They talk Tool & Drool Tech, and Nathan gets one spontaneous (but timely) reminder that just because he talks healthful tech for a living doesn’t mean he’s flawless with his own tech use.

Resources mentioned:

.Our Spring calendar is filling quickly. We are currently booking mid-May and into summer. Want Nathan to speak at your school, church, or home group co-op? Email nathan@gospeltech.net or visit the website.

.Do you have someone you’d like us to interview? Send ideas to us: nathan@gospeltech.net or on social media @lovegodusetech (instagram, facebook)

.A Gospel basis for Digital Trust: Luke 16:10.

.Want help having tech conversations? We’ve made a small group curriculum for that! Part 1 helps you talk it out as parents, Part 2 helps you walk it out as a family. Check it out here!

There's lots of good information out there on tech. You can watch a documentary, read a book, or review the research. But often ingesting that information doesn't motivate change. Until today.

Today we focus on what we CAN do, wherever we are in our tech use and with whatever information we've got on us as of this morning.

We'll talk about what it looks like to RESET & RENEW. Then we'll apply those to our families and have practical steps for making conversations, and changes, we need to love God and use tech.

Resources Referenced:

The Lexon Flip Plus: the alarm clock you've been looking for
a helpful article talking more about RESET
The 2 hour course I reference: The Gospel Tech Small Group Curriculum
Our website: gospeltech.net
our social media: Instagram & Facebook
The Biblical Standard for our tech use: That we produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), not the fruit of the Flesh (Galatian 5:19-21 & Romans 1:30), that our content meets God's expectations for what we enjoy (Philippians 4:8), and that it reflects the fullness of God's love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

LEXON - FLIP+ Reversible LCD Alarm Clock Radio Controlled - Black

Doug is a computer programmer, speaker on tech health, and author of the book [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires And How You Can Break Free.

We cover a lot of ground in today’s conversation, but the one take-away is the same:

There is great hope for raising healthy youth in a tech world
We as parents play a major role in making tech health happen within our homes and with our children.

At the end of the day we're looking for more than balanced tech for our families--we want hope. Doug does a great job of helping us connect our real world parenting with the bigger picture of our purpose and the hope that awaits all who call on the name of Jesus.

Resources Referenced:

Doug's Book: [Un]Intentional and his website www.thatdougsmith.com.
Some great screen accountability options: Covenant Eyes (filters and scans for inappropriate images), Bark (scans text, searches, and images for unsafe and unkind content)
Screen Strong: A wonderful organization focused on reclaiming kids and reconnecting families.
Gospel Tech-RESET: a tool designed to help parents and young people assess tech health.

Today's conversation builds on the last two, and can be summed up simply as: Being humble & kind will make us curious.

When I’m humble enough to realize I have mistakes as well
and that leads me to be kind because I realize their value is equal to mine, and so is their opportunity
then what once would have seemed like obstacles that inconvenience me and problems I have to solve become questions I want to learn more about.

Today we will address four questions:

How do we develop curiosity in our children?
How Does Curiosity Help In Life?
How Does Curiosity Apply To Parenting In A Tech World?
How Does Curiosity Improve Our Relationship With God?

Resources referenced:

Indescribable, a devotional focused on God's wonderful creation, by Louie Giglio
Three verses that remind us of God's love, grace, and mercy:

God sent his son so whoever believes will be saved (John 3:16)

He did this while we were still sinners, so not just for the good ones (Romans 5:8)

And his plan, as a good shepherd, was to die in our place (John 10:10-11)

I referenced them enough, so you might as well see some video games that have some wonder built in: Nature, building & belonging, and if you REALLY care, this will just about sum up everything you need to know about the awe of God's creation inserted in to a game.

The second attribute we need as parents when raising healthy youth in a tech world is Kindness.

It’s going to impact our tech parenting in three ways. Kindness will change our tech:

Direction
Correction
Inflection

Bible Verses Referenced

God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4)
We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)
Our goal is to always listen, and do, what the Father says (John 5:30)
Our love isn’t from our effort, but from our changed hearts (John 5:39-42, Matthew 23:13-30, Ez. 11:19, 36:26)

Helpful Resources:

Want to know if your tech RESET is healthy? Article by Gospel Tech
Tool to help make a Family Tech Framework
Want help making your family calendar as a family? Lome does a great job with this (not a sponsor, we just like their stuff!)
See the notes in episode 102 for help with accountability and big topics

Parenting healthy youth in a tech world is about more than just the right rules. It requires humility, which allows us to make two key realizations:

Our children will make mistakes
Those mistakes don’t impact their value in God’s eyes (or our value as parents)

In today’s conversation we’ll cover the practical ways humility changes our tech conversations, and how parenting from a place of humility helps us be more like Jesus to our children.

Resources Mentioned:

Two great resources for talking sex and pornography with your children:

Birds and the Bees (@birds_bees)
Greta Eskridge (@maandpamodern)

Building a hedge around tech:

How to block pornogrpahy from any device, Protect Young Eyes
Content filtering and accountability, Covenant Eyes
Home network protection (wifi): Gryphon Router or Circle
Accountability and internet safety: Bark

A Biblical standard for tech: Gal. 5:22 & Phil. 4:8

22 months ago Justin Pavey and I took to the microphones to talk all things tech, nerd, and adulting. Today we continue that conversation, discussing everything from our tech low-points as youths to what it looks like to raise kids who are amazed by life, God and still able to appreciate Escape in its most Tolkienian form.

Resources Mentioned:

A Biblical standard for tech use: Phil. 4:8, Gal. 5:22 vs. Rom. 1:30, Gal. 5:19-21
A link to the Tolkien essay “On Faery Stories”, and his thoughts on the benefits of Escapism.

We made it to episode 100!

We are so excited to share this episode with you, so grateful for the fact that we have the chance, and we look forward to seeing what the Lord continues to do in the future!

Today we’re going to celebrate what God has done and talk about the three tech steps every family can take to help raise healthy youth in a tech world.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

How do we know if our tech use is healthy? Use a RESET
Building a hedge around your tech at home (routers and device protection!)
Bonus: We really like Covenant Eyes for internet accountability (adults and young people), and Bark for home computers and phones (not sponsored, just really like both products!)

The changes to daily life have impacted all of us, but how have they impacted our children with special needs? Specifically, if I have a child with developmental-behavioral complications, such as ADHD or Autism, how might the increased social isolation and technology impact their growth and health? Today get to hear from a professional in the field who speaks to the benefits and practical steps we can take as families to support and love our young people wherever they are in their journey to love God and use tech.

We've all got one resolution for this year: Win at tech. It's been two straight years of bad tech habits and feeling like we "should" do better, and now we're resolved to do it. In today's episode we'll discuss three resolutions we can implement today that will help us all live healthier tech lives.

This Christmas I (Nathan) am picking up a tradition passed along by my papa Pete: Every Christmas Eve Papa would sit us down and read the Christmas story from the Bible--he'd make sure we all heard the promises of God before we dove headlong into our presents. As I prepared to do the same thing with my own children, nieces, and nephews I was convicted that I need to tell them more than simply a baby named Jesus was born. The entire point of Advent, and the anticipation of a Messiah, was because there are really three Advents promised by God and we need to live in light of all three at the same time. This episode is a reminder that we can do that starting today, and that it will impact every area of our lives.

A short list of verses to remind ourselves, and our family, of what God has done and is doing:

Genesis 22:15-18 (after Abraham puts Isaac on the altar to sacrifice)
Isaiah 9:2-7 - The promise of the Messiah - the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…
Luke 4:16-21 - Jesus declares himself the Messiah, echoing what Isaiah
John 7:37 - rivers of living water
Revelation 22:1-3 - everything will be made right, and those rivers of living water will fill us, flow from us and from the city.

Anna's back! It has been a LONG time, 48 episodes to be exact, since we were last graced by Anna's presence on this podcast. We get an update, talk tech, kids, life, and dive into a bit of how this Advent season should be shaping the way we use our tech.

There is a lot of new tech coming out for Christmas, and the Q is asked: Should I get get my child (insert new amazing tech) device?

To help, we want reviews of new VR set, that new smartphone and smart watch. We want to know if we should get that reader, tablet, or Echo Dot. We want more info on that PS5, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck.Is it worth it? Should they have it?

But the conversation is actually much simpler than that. It's now about whether they would enjoy this new toy, but rather do they love their life.

Sometimes I feel like I need permission to parent. It's not that I feel I'm doing a bad job, but I just feel like I'm in over my head. In business, teaching, and speaking we call it the imposter syndrome. It's that feeling you get when you give a presentation, or discipline your child, that you're not nearly qualified enough to be making these decisions. Today I want to tell you that you are everything your child needs in a parent, and it isn't your confidence but your Christ-like love that's going to make a difference raising your child in a tech world.

There’s a solid book on parenting written by Ted Tripp called Shephering Your Child’s Heart. It’s worth a read. I just reread it and realized there isn’t really a book like this about tech.

So while I may never write that book, I figured this episode could be a crash course in how we can apply Biblical principles of parenting to raising healthy youth in a tech world.

Our conversation today follows three key steps we can all take to help love our children like Jesus in light of the Gospel.

We are all experts at judging ourselves. We are incredibly critical of our flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings. One reaction to these harsh critiques is to make excuses: It wasn't that bad, I couldn't done worse, it's "relatively harmless".

Today's conversation looks at how we have a higher standard than simply explaining our mistakes away, and we must accept that hope for ourselves so that we can extend it to our children as we look to raise them well in this tech world.

I often get asked “But why is it Gospel Tech?” Why not just something like ‘Healthy Tech’ or something that focuses on making good tech decisions?

The answer is pretty simple: the Gospel is the only thing that gives us the power to make meaningful change. Yes, we could remove smartphones and that would provide a benefit. We could protect from pornography, and that would stave off some addictions and hurt. But at the end of the day we haven’t changed our character or the character of our children. At the end of the day, we still have hearts that yearn for purpose and we lack an object of our affections that can handle that kind of weight.

That’s where the Gospel comes in. In today’s conversation we’ll talk through the three reasons the Gospel is so foundation to our conversations and practices with modern technology.

Christmas is coming and, given the oddities with logistics and shipping in this 2021 Covid year, I decided to address healthy-tech Christmas choices early enough for it to still be useful for you! In today's conversation we're diving into how we can wow our children this Christmas while giving gifts that reflect the truth of the Gospel and the hope we have for our children.

Parenting can be tough! In this digital world it's easy to feel like you're constantly one step behind. There are just so many apps, games, websites, videos and, on top of it, voices of people who seem to know more who keep telling you what to do.

Today's episode is about setting aside our very real, but overwhelming, worries and concerns and turning our hearts back to what is most important in our lives as parents. The goal of this episode is to give you a reminder of why you do what you do. These three encouragements are what we all need to remember in order to raise healthy youth in a tech world.

We were made for adventure. The God of the universe saw all he made and said "Let's make men and women in our image" (Gen. 1:27), and in the process we bring God glory not simply be being obedient, but by reveling in all of God's amazing creation. As John Piper says it: We are called to be Christian Hedonists, finding our adventure in fully enjoying God each and every day.

In today's conversation we'll discuss what it looks like to do exactly that, three ways we often go off the rails with our adventures, and what we can do to intentionally enjoy adventures to God's glory and our good.

Digital tech is everywhere, and it can be an amazing blessing. But how do we know when it's a blessing and when it's a distraction? Even more importantly, how do we talk about such a complicated subject with our children, teens and young adults?

In today's podcast we're going to walk through how to point our children to the big picture of the Gospel, address the truths about tech when it is unhealthy, and raise kids who intentionally use tech for God's glory and their good.

Pornography is real and it is hurting our children's minds. 7/10 tweens and 8/10 teens will encounter nudity or content of a sexual nature online (Bark, January 2021). So what can we do? A lot! There is great hope for this conversation and very practical, loving steps we can take to help our children know what love is, what God says about their bodies and sex, and how to handle pornography when they run into it (because odds are they WILL run into it in this digital world).

What can we do with the Gospel when it comes to tech? What can we do, starting today, to apply the tech to our lives in faith? Today's conversation gives seven steps every family can take that put the Gospel at the center of our tech lives in practical ways, and that will challenge all of us to trust God more in areas of our lives that can be easy to excuse because they're "not that bad". Let this episode encourage you to see God for all He is, and see the amazing hope and opportunity there is in loving God and using tech.

Roger Smith is a 30+ year educator, the VP of a national sports camp, a parent of two young adults, and a major advocate for young people growing up in a tech world.

Roger has been on the front lines of education since the advent of the personal computer and the internet. Now his elementary school students show up with smartphones and are issued school laptops. In today’ interview he shares encouragement for parents, timely reminders, and some impassioned challenges for how we can fight for our children in this tech world.

We need to have transparent tech. Many of our digital devices are branded with the idea of freedom, privacy, and personal exultation:

Our shows are selected based on our preferences.
Our social media is populated by people who follow us.
Our devices are encrypted and personal.
Our online identities are easily obscured or hidden.

Yet instead of online anonymity healthy tech means we:

Avoid digital secrets
Apply the Gospel in action
Have a plan for what to do when tech is unhealthy

Today's gives practical steps we can all take to ensure our tech is transparent.

It’s back to school time!

So how do we keep our technology safe? Or, for many of us, how do we push tech back into the normal little box we used to keep it in?

Today we’re going to talk specifically about how we can prepare for this new season of school and tech in three areas:

our home networks and devices
smartphones
specific steps for safe tech times and places

We have a problem with comparison. We are constantly trying to decide if we’re good enough for God, as parents, as citizens, based on how we perceive we rank to those around us. It’s for this reason social media is so devastating to so many of us. We are constantly bombarded by our inadequacy but, unlike the Gospel, social media offers us no recourse.

This is a problem in our personal lives, as it leaves to spiraling anxiety and depression, poor sleep, and lack of general satisfaction, but it is also detrimental to our spiritual lives and the lives Christ has called us to as His Church.

Today we’re tackling this conversation, and my hope is we’ll come out of it more prepared to love, repent, and be the body of Christ.

It can be easy to tell when our children are unhealthy with their tech (check out episodes, 71, 54, 53, 49 and many others!), but what should we do about it? One of my all-time favorite options is the Analog Adventure. Today we'll discuss how we can find real-world outlets for energy and creativity that our children will love to do and that will inspire more of who God has created them to be rather than distract from his purpose and plans for them.

Should our children be on social media? This conversation can feel loaded. Kids often believe it includes a request for a smartphone (because which kid honestly would prefer to use social media from a shared public computer?) and parents frequently have no idea what to make of most of the apps out there.

Today we're going to clarify that there is, in fact, a Biblical standard for social media. We'll talk about how we make these big decisions with our children, what parents need to know in order to be informed, and what benefits and potential pitfalls we should expect when stepping into the world of algorithm-controlled relationships.

Should our children play video games?

More than 2/3 of Americans play video games, and it's a fairly even split between males and females (although mays tend to put in the most time). So there's a good chance our children will ask us if they can play video games, and we want to have an answer built out of the Gospel not simply our opinions or feelings in the moment.

In today's conversation we'll look at video games versus some of the other favorite entertainment tech options (social media, shows, music), and remind ourselves what the Gospel says about our gaming.

Then we'll walk through how we can help ensure gaming stays a benefit, not a distraction, to God's purpose for them.

Finally we'll address what to do if and when gaming gets out of control—how to spot it and how to lovingly intervene.

What gets you out of bed every morning? There is a difference between making through today, and living with the legacy God has given us. Legacy is a word fraught with the middle school trauma of poorly-executed motivational speeches. We have come to think of legacy as the influence we have on the world after we're gone, but is that what the Bible tells us? Today we're going to discuss how legacy is less about what or who we become, and more about being who God has made us in Christ. It isn't about carpe-ing the diem or achieving some scrap of success. It's about living in light of a greater hope, looking to those who have lived long, and not so long, yet reflect the hope available to each of us today through God's saving work in Christ Jesus.

Healthy tech doesn't have to be elusive or overwhelming. In fact, it can be practical, accessible, and something you can begin to live out today. With our foundation in the Gospel we have a basis for truth, and therefore reality. Now we just need a practical way to live it out. Today we'll discuss the #1 thing every family can do to begin healthy tech at home, as well as a couple bonus ideas for connecting the Gospel to our tech in practical ways.

We’ve all seen it: someone we know uses a screen and comes away distracted, moody, forgetful, or just a little bit off: broken commitments, dropping friends, change in attitude, low energy or motivation.

At some point we’ve probably all been that annoying tech-user.

But what is that screen actually doing? Is it rotting our brain? Is that screen really responsible, or is it just a personal issue?

Today we’re going to put this question to rest and point back to what Jesus invites us to have in the Gospel.

Healthy tech takes work. It requires we remove the unhealthy and replace it with _________, what? Alternatives seem daunting when we're talking about replacing some of our favorite unhealthy tech outlets.

Today we discuss how we can intentionally select activities that are high-interest, build healthy habits, and are accessible for this stage and time of life. In the process we can ensure we use only the tech that helps us better love God, and remove everything else.

It's important to understand what we mean when we say "tech". Is it anything that plugs into a wall? Anything with a screen? Our answer will determine how we understand healthy tech boundaries as well as how we can best connect the Gospel to our daily tech use. Today we'll talk about how there are actually two types of tech which are quite distinct when it comes to healthful tech use.

Safe tech is about more than simply having good rules. We need to get beyond good guidelines and talk about the basis of making our homes safe from the inside out. In today's conversation we set the basis for our conversation in the Gospel, showing how Jesus clearly addresses how our hearts should interact with tech (and how we can know if we're doing it wrong), and then build from there to point our hearts, and those of our family, to the Good News that God saves sinners. The goal of all of this is to use our tech well, and love God more.

We hear lots of scary stuff about tech:

unhealthy screen time
addiction to tech
dopamine triggers
increasing depression and anxiety
lurking bullies and stranger danger

So how do we know if our child's tech use is healthy? It's actually quite simple. But knowing tech health is easy, and almost useless. We need to have a larger conversation that includes tech health, equips us to focus on the hope of the Gospel, and allows us to take action in both healthy and unhealthy tech realities.

How does the Gospel effect our entertainment? Specifically, how does the good news of Jesus Christ impact our gaming? This is more than simply knowing the right rules or only playing the "safe" games. This is a deep-dive into what makes us tick, into why we game in the first place, and making sure there aren't any strongholds in our free-time, our amusement, or our hearts that might cause us to lose some of the joy, peace, and freedom God has won for us in Jesus.

Our lives are awash in big questions: politics, education, faith, technology--the number of things we're expected, as parents, to get right is staggering. Today I can help you clarify at least the faith and technology part, because today we are going to address three reasons you need the Gospel as the foundation of your tech use.

For more resources visit our website: gospeltech.net

You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook (@loveGodusetech).

If you have any questions you can reach Nathan directly at nathan@gospeltech.net.

Thank you for listening!

It's easy to miss the moments to teach our children healthful tech. It's equally easy to feel overwhelmed when we realize we're faced with one of those moments. Today's conversation focuses on three practical steps we can take to help our family have a firm foundation for tech conversations, as well as a meaningful action plan moving forward.

Today we'll address three steps every parent can take to address healthy tech with their kids. If you feel like tech in your family is an uphill battle, or maybe you feel like you've already lost and it's not even a battle anymore, then prepare to be encouraged. These are steps every parent can, and should, take when learning to fight for their family when it comes to tech.

Addictive video game design isn’t some kind of voodoo magic. It’s a science. We can look at a game and very quickly assess whether it is designed to be unhealthy—whether the game is more than just a great story or engaging gameplay, but in fact is programmed to extract time and money from those who play it.

This episode is a practical approach to understanding the health of our gaming choices and habits.

RESOURCES:

Resource for making a family tech framework
Verse for today: “‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Gospel Tech Episode 63: Can Video Games Be Addictive
Example of a game with fast feedback: Candy Crush.
Great overview of the four types of rewards used in unhealthy game design: Ben Lewis-Evans, UX Researcher, Epic Games (Fortnite), Psychology PhD.
Call of Duty Prestige Ranks
Marshmello's Fortnite Concert
Clash of Clans, a game who has benefited greatly from microtransactions
In 2018 both Belgium and the Netherlands banned Loot Crates

As parents we want answers. We don't want theory, we want actionable steps we can take right now.

If my kid isn’t sleeping I don’t want a bunch of research about sleep, I want my 8 hours of sleep back. Now!

If my kid has a bad attitude I don’t want general facts about child development, I want concrete actions I can take to help win my child’s heart.

This episode will address actions you can take, starting today, with your family to answer the question: "What should I do about tech in my family?”.

Resources referenced:

Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity. Ward et al, 2017
Philippians 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Help making a family tech framework: gospeltech.net/resources
Other resources on the subject: gospeltech.net

There's a lot of news and information available in the digital world. What we don't need is one more talking head telling us what to think about current goings-on. We need to be reminded of the Gospel and how it applies to the way we consume our news and information.

We absolutely must engage the news and the world events around it, but we don’t serve the news. We don’t worship any individual, outlet, or even country over the name and power of Jesus, his blood that redeems us, and the power of the Holy Spirit he has won for us. In Jesus we are indwelled by the Living God. In Jesus we are Children with a full eternal inheritance in addition to being brand new creations—we want new things, we say new things, we get rid of the old things.

And that needs to be something we actually DO when it comes to our news.

Join in our conversation today as we talk about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ must change the way we engage our news.

We need to understand this conversation in order to apply the Gospel to this area of our tech. We need to understand:

what we mean by addiction
what make video games unique from other activities
what we can do with this info to help us raise healthy youth in a tech world

Here are the resources referenced in this episode:

intro of Animal Crossing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AkEFot5UF0
Epic Games (Fortnite) UX researcher, Ben Lewis-Evans, talks rewards, feedback, and video game engagement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjHl8Vrfrfk&list=WL&index=1

Resources:

https://www.gospeltech.net/resources/
RESET: https://www.gospeltech.net/how-do-i-know-if-my-childs-tech-use-is-healthy/ and there is also a podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000504369124
Articles: gospeltech.net/blog

Podcast episodes referenced in this episode:

Analog adventures: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000465922282
Books - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000500046640
Board games - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000498958510
How to reclaim healthy tech
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000507413497
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000508299547
kids and smartphones: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000516915359
social media: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000514056394

Today's podcast is dedicated to answering a listener-submitted question (Thank you amazing listeners!), and it also happens to be one of the more common questions we hear from parents: When should my child get a smartphone?

This conversation is foundational to applying the Gospel to our daily tech lives and we'll tackle it in three parts:

1) the big picture around smartphones

2) weighing the upsides

3) engaging this conversation within your home

Resources:

Gospel Tech resources including the game review resource: https://www.gospeltech.net/resources/
The online workshop to help your family build a tech framework: gospeltechworkshop.com
For online accountability we strongly suggest Covenant Eyes with Android smartphones and home computers: https://www.covenanteyes.com
For an additional layer Circle is a great resource to help maintain safe wifi access at home: https://meetcircle.com/app/

We talk a lot on this podcast about how we can intentionally raise healthy youth in a tech world. We talk a lot about the Gospel and how it empowers our actions, but what about when our child makes poor choices on purpose? What if we've done all the right stuff and they simply refuse to go along with it?

Today's conversation is dedicated to the reality that sometimes our children are prodigals: They make bad decisions on purpose. They do so openly, and they are not sorry or repentant. Join us today as we dive into how we can process this as parents and should, and shouldn't, do when trying to love a tech prodigal.

note: Nathan tried to mix his enthusiasm for this topic with using big words. Please forgive his misuse of the word "glut" at 9:38. He meant deficit.

Modern life often requires we adopt digital tech, but some tech has been slow to drop the Drool tech and enhance the Tool tech. Today we talk with Chris Kaspar, founder of Techless and the Wisephone—a phone for those who want a phone, pure and simple.

Chris talks to us about his experiences in the tech industry, what inspired his creation of Wisephone, and how we as loving parents can use tech such as this to encourage and support healthy tech in our lives as well as the lives of our kids.

resources:

The Techless Website
article: The Dangerous Riches of Our Smart Phones

When we go online we need to act out of the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel transforms us, it changes who we are, what we want, and why we want it. So when we go online, the same is true.

Today we walk through how the Gospel changes our social media use. We’ll base our discussion out of Matthew 22:35-40 and look at what it can mean for us to truly love God and love our neighbors in this online, digital world.

We need to learn how to talk about tech, especially in our marriages. Today we talk about lessons we learned from a reason tech-instigated kerfuffle and how we can all apply these lessons to strengthen our resolve to truly love one another as God has called us to, and use tech in the process.

Today’s podcast is going to focus entirely on a question asked by a concerned parent: “What are the best tools, workshops, and tips for protecting our families [from sexual content online]?”

Today we’re going to talk specifically about online accountability, pornography, and some specific tools, workshops, and resources you can use to equip and support your family in this critical area.

Resources:

website:https://fightthenewdrug.org

check them out on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fightthenewdrug/

S.3, Ep.8: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000495377769

S.3, Ep.4 talks about that if you’d like a general overview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000492084424

gospeltechworkshop.com

Tools:

Covenant Eyes for accountability (it's the one I use personally),
Meet Circle for help with home wifi,
Swap any smartphones to something like the Wisephone or Gabb Mobile.

We get told a lot of things in a day:

our kids tell us what they want from us.
our spouse tells us what he or she needs.
our boss tells us (usually) that we could do better.
social media tells us how amazing other people are.
the news tells us the world is going down in flames.
our flesh tells us we’ve worked hard and deserve an escape.

Yet what does God tell us? We only know when we listen.

Let’s make time to read God’s word today.

Carve out a total of 10 minutes.

Start in Psalms, maybe alternate each day between that and the Gospel of Matthew.

Finally, don’t expect it to be perfect. Expect it to be intentional. Expect God to show you that he’s never left you nor forsaken you, and he will continue to walk through this season—and the next—for as many as he’ll give you.

Take some time today, plan some time for tomorrow, and let’s make the space and time to hear God in our lives.

Today marks one year of doing this podcast!

A year ago Anna and I sat in our kitchen trying to figure out how to do this podcast thing. I spent two hours trying to figure out why only one mic would work (spoiler alert, it’s because computers can’t recognize two yeti mics at the same time. THAT SHOULD BE ON THE BOX).

Now we're in 2021 and so thankful to God for His many provisions and to each of you for joining us on this journey as we work together to love God and use tech.

In today's episode we'll share some of how God has been faithful and also share a few of the big dreams we're praying through as we look into year two of the podcast!

Resources referenced in the podcast:

Top 5 Most Listened to Episodes.

Tech Boundaries - Ep.1.
How do we address pornography with our children? (ep. 20)
Why your child doesn’t need a smartphone (ep.24)
How do I know if my tech use is healthy? (ep.2) - we talk about it again here (s.3, ep.19)
Interview with Roger Smith—Raising healthy youth in a tech world (30 year educator and VP of largest basketball camp in the US) (s.3, ep.1)

Today we complete our conversation about the seven steps to healthy tech. Do you want to have healthy tech? Do you want to know what to do if your tech isn't healthy? We'll get you there by the end of today's conversation.

Today we specifically address:

Replace with Amazement
Create Analog Adventures
Question what you’re consuming
Have hard conversations

In the last two years of running Gospel Tech I've been asked the same question a LOT: "What does my family need to do to fix our tech?"

Today I'm diving in to give everyone what they have asked for: A few simple steps to get this healthy tech conversation started! Ok, I say a few, but I mean seven...it feels like a few.

I've broken it into a two-part conversation and today we will focus on the critical first steps that we can all take today to begin our journey toward better loving God and using tech.

Let’s be real: The reason Drool Tech is so prevalent as an outlet for kids and adults is it’s SO convenient and it works SO well!

Sometimes we just need that one show to buy us 20 minutes to shower, or have a quiet time, or even just sit in another room with our palms pressed into our eyes and think our own thoughts for just one minute! The problems come when we start to train our children to behave by subduing them with Drool Tech.

Today we'll talk through simple analog adventure options that will help us, and our children, delight in the amazing world and adventures God has made for us.

Resources I reference in the episode:

The Gospel Tech Handbook & Workshop: These will help you make a family tech framework.

Art
Art for Kids Hub
How To Hand Letter
Digital Art For Beginners has some great resources.
Audacity (free recording program)
Andrew is music: in this case, nature sounds!

2. Building

legos / duplos
snap circuits
magna tiles
TinkerCAD (3D design and ties in with Autodesk).

3. Board Games

S.3, episode 12: Specific games and details.
An article with a list of some great family-friendly games by age range.
A walkthrough on how to do it for your fam: “Which Board Game Should I Buy My Kids: Marvel / Star Wars Edition”
*please avoid Minecraft

4. Read!

S.3, episode 13: Specific books and resources for finding great reads.
An article with a list of high-interest books by age that you can check-out here
The CD player we use
.Two great book resources: Read Aloud Revival (@readaloudrevival), Honey for a Child’s Heart

Sylvania SRCD243 Portable CD Player with AM/FM Radio, Boombox (Blue)

Elenco Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit, Over 100 Projects, Full Color Project Manual, 30 + Snap Circuits Parts, STEM Educational Toy for Kids 8 + , Black

Honey for a Child's Heart

Magna-Tiles Metropolis Set, The Original Magnetic Building Tiles For Creative Open-Ended Play, Educational Toys For Children Ages 3 Years + (110 Pieces)

Anna's back on the podcast! Today we look at the norm of TV in culture and push back on it a little bit. We’re not saying you need to throw your TVs out the window—but like anything our culture presumes to be “normal”, we want to align our ideas with a Biblical worldview, including our beloved televisions.

We all make mistakes, and our tech lives are no exception. So what can we do if our tech isn’t healthy?

We ask God to give us new hearts that want to do his will (Psalm 51:10).
we remove anything that causes us to sin (Matthew 5:29-30).
we replace the unhealthy with faith in action (Matthew 7:24-27).

Resources referenced:

Last week's episode (S.3, ep.19) will help you determine if your tech use is healthy!.
The Gospel Tech Handbook, and accompanying videos, will help you make a tech framework for your family!

Let's start this year of right with a reminder of the Gospel and a clear look at how we can know if our tech use is healthy. Today we'll talk about:

The good news of the Gospel
The two types of tech
How to apply a RESET to our own lives and extend that to our children

Today we’re talking about HOW to make a Family Tech Framework. We know it’s something we SHOULD do, but it feels overwhelming. Where do we start?

We start by making some basic ground rules, like all tech expectations apply to all family members, and then we build into five other areas that must be covered. The point isn’t the finish the framework, the point is the conversations that will come up with your child as you talk through what it looks like to love God and use tech.

In this episode we reference some resources:

Great accountability option - Covenant Eyes: covenanteyes.com
Games that have valuable conversations - That Dragon, Cancer: https://youtu.be/vlKCJlhJwxU, homepage: http://www.thatdragoncancer.com/#home
Teens spend 8 hours a day on Drool Tech - Common Sense Media, 2019: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/news/press-releases/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-new-research

The Gospel Tech Handbook is here! As part of the Gospel Tech workshop this tool empowers parents to be the tech resource for their kids, so you don't have to outsource your expertise on your child! It helps you assess your tech, discuss it in meaningful ways, and create a plan to love God and use tech.

In today's podcast we walk through some of the "why" behind this resource (and they're probably not the reasons you think).

We also look at practical steps for how we can help re-establish healthy tech as we wrap up 2020 and get ready for what 2021 has in store. As we do we must remember that tech is not a problem to fix, it's one more area we can serve our children and model for them what it means to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

You can check out more about this online workshop at: Gospeltechworkshop.com

As we look forward to Christmas we remember what Advent is all about: The coming of the long-promised Messiah, the fulfillment of God's promise to fix the problem of Sin of his own effort, mercy, and grace (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:7, Psalm 22:1, John 19:30). Understanding Advent means:

1) We plan our actions in this life in light of the work God has already done

2) We act on those plans

3) We connect our tech, and especially our Drool Tech, to the truths God reveals in the birth of his Son, our Messiah.

Resource: “Should My Child Play This Game?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22U1mc0t0mw

There are three amazing tidbits David Murrow gives in our interview with him today:

we need to fix our eyes on Jesus, not on Facebook. (5:45)
We need to be “wolf aware”. (12:00)
most of what you read online is true…but that doesn’t mean it isn’t biased. (34:30)

In our conversation David mentions a few resources / articles so I've included the links if you'd like the check them out for yourself:

(24:00): reference to the rolling stone article. Link here: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/russia-troll-2020-election-interference-twitter-916482/
(26:30) he references WA Post articles. Here is an example from May, 2020: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2020/05/24/grocery-workers-coronavirus-risks/?arc404=true
(28:43) media bias chart. It’s pretty great! - https://www.adfontesmedia.com

A little about David Murrow: David Murrow has been in video production for nearly four decades and has produced over a thousand television commercials, documentaries, and specials. His work has aired on NBC, ABC, CBS, Discovery, and HGTV and many others. He’s operated a media production company in Alaska since 1987. His books have been featured in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Today we are speaking with him about his latest book: Drowning In Screen Time (releasing Dec. 29, 2020).

gospeltech #techwise #drowninginscreentime #bewolfaware #socialmedia #techaddiction #healthytech

If we don’t talk to our kids early and often about technology, about the allure, benefits and dangers, Big Tech is more than happy to step in. There are four different trillion dollar tech companies (Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft who are vying for the hearts and attention of our children. If we don’t teach our children about tech, these companies will.

In today’s episode we’ll discuss how the Gospel applies to our tech, how Big Tech vies for our attention and the hearts and minds of our children, and what we can do about it.

The Family Tech Framework resource we discuss in the podcast can be found here: gospeltechworkshop.com

If you haven’t watched it yet, the Social Dilemma is worth a viewing.

There are lots of reasons to read, but four major reasons to make it a priority when looking for analog adventures are that it:

Expands vocabulary.
Improves imagination.
Increases empathy.
Develops academic success.

We will also discuss some excellent reading options to get early wins with your children in this amazing analog adventure!

Resources we discuss:

Read Aloud Revival Booklists: Prepared lists of books to read with your child.
- Honey For a Child’s Heart: Suggested readings broken down by age and interest.
- Analog Adventure Guide: Books: The reading list I reference in the podcast.
- Four Steps for Finding a Great Book: An article to help you deep-dive on your own!

Honey for a Child's Heart

Board games are amazing at creating adventure and amazement rather than simply consuming other people having such experiences.

If you want to research games on your own I highly recommend Board Game Geek. Check out some of the highest ranked games in lists like:

Family Games
Strategy
Party Games
Best Overall

You can also check out the blog post that lists each of the games we discussed in today's episode.

Today we’re talking about sleep in three facets:

Biblical model for rest and rejuvenation
The science behind sleep
How your (and your children’s tech) disrupts this

Sleep is one of those areas we know is important to our overall well-being, we know it’s important for our children, and yet, it often gets pushed to the back burner. For a number of reasons. But a like a lot of facets of tech that we talk about here, we need to step back and consider our big picture goals—for ourselves and for our families.

If our chief goal is to glorify God and enjoy him, then even decisions regarding our sleep and the tech we allow in our bedrooms should aim to achieve this goal.

The alarm clock we reference in this episode is here (not sponsored -- we just love it and use it ourselves): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V1PZS8W/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_XZDPFb4G8Q7AH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you want to contact us you can email us at Nathan@flintandiron.org or check us out on social media on either Facebook or Instagram @loveGodusetech.

If you want help making a Family Tech Framework (which includes addressing our need for sleep) you can check out Gospel Tech’s Online Workshop here: gospeltechworkshop.com!

LEXON - FLIP+ Reversible LCD Alarm Clock Radio Controlled - Black

Dina Alexander started Educate and Empower Kids (educateempowerkids.org) as a resource to help parents fight for their kids in a tech world. She especially loves talking with parents about how to establish healthful boundaries in the areas of smart phones and pornography.

In today's conversation we get to hear from Dina on some of the most-asked questions regarding tech for kids:

When should my child get a smart phone?
What boundaries parents do I need to create for my family?
What online resources can I use to help engage my kids in this conversation?

Many parents we speak with talk about feeling trapped in the smartphone conversation. They're concerned about problems a smartphone may cause, or even see the it causing issues with focus, behavior, and relationships, but they've already given them a smart phone. Now what?

We tackle this tough conversation with a focus on the hope we have in Christ, not the fear of what could go wrong with tech.

Then we walk through practical steps on what it looks like to act on hope, not fear, in situations we know are potentially dangerous and unhealthy.

A few other resources:

Last week's episode (hope > fear -- Accountability vs. Control): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s-3-ep-8-re-establishing-tech-boundaries-accountability/id1498508882?i=1000495377769

Our previous discussion on why your child doesn't need a smartphone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882?i=1000484865287

Want help making a family tech framework? We made Gospel Tech's Online Workshop just for that! Check out the workbook and resources at gospeltechworkshop.com

Today we're continuing our conversation about how to Re-Establish tech boundaries specifically with a discussion focused on the important difference between accountability versus parent control of technology.

For Accountability vs. Control we’re going to address:

God’s respect for the human will
Love as a verb
Accountability focuses on redemption / hope. Control focuses on punishments / fear.

We’ll end by answering the question: “How do we help keep our kids accountable?

Be clear with expectations.
helpful checks in place
Clear next-steps for remove/replace

Here are the promised resources for learning more on this subject:

The Techwise Family, Andy Crouch
Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport
Glow Kids, Nicholas Kardaras
The Shallows, Nicholas Carr
The Four, Scott Galloway
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, Tony Reinke

The Gospel brings us back to hope - so we don't stare at tech and go “Oh man, it’s gonna be bad, better run away.” Instead we say “wow, this is gonna be bad, we’d better stay close.”

This film includes interviews with lots of people who have a deep understanding of what’s going on in the world of tech development. Here are just a few:

-Tristan Harris, former Google ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Tech.

-Shoshana Zuboff, PhD, Harvard Business School, Author: Age of Surveillance Capitalism

-Jeff Seibert (former Twitter exec)

-Roger McNamees, FB venture capitalist

-Jonathan Haidt, PhD, NYU Stern School of Business, author: The Rightoues Mind: Why Good People Are Divided on Politics and Religion

-Aza Raskin - inventor of the infinite scroll

-Cathy O’Neil, PhD, Data Scientist, Author: Weapons of Math Destruction

-Sandy Parakilas, former FB / Uber management

-Guillaume Chaslot, (former youtube engineer, IntuitiveAI CEO, AlgoTransparency, FOUNDER)

This video is well worth a watch. The information is pertinent and powerful. It’s worth a chance to reflect. Three major take-aways that make me believe everyone should watch it, are:

This tech conversation is complicated - in the first minutes they ask "What is the problem” and every person stumbles over their words. It’s not that there isn't a problem, it's simply a one-word answer, or one sentence, feels cheap.
It will not resolve itself - there is literally no incentive for trillion-dollar companies to simply give up on their trade.
There is hope - lots of it. But without action that hope will be squandered

I’d add one more we have for this conversation - we know from whom we get our hope. It is the definition of unloving to be indifferent to the helpless and the needy. Our kids, our grandkids, our friends and family, even our enemies, are being eaten alive by tech that is simply smarter than they are. It’s costing us all as a country, sure, but more importantly it's impacting the hearts and minds of people who need to know their purpose and be shown the great love God has for them.

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids - and How to Break the Trance

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains

12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You

“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and where someone else begins. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom.”

-Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, Boundaries (1997)

A question we get a lot has to do with managing tech boundaries with those we do life with: friends, family members, neighbors. How do we maintain our family’s tech policies when our kids are with others who might have differing expectations?

We must first be sure we establish our own family policy so it’s clear for us what’s a go and what’s not. If you missed the episode on why your family needs a policy and how to do that, go back and check out the past couple of episodes—Nathan walks you through how this process works and why it’s so important.

So we must first start with making sure we are clear within our family on what our tech framework is.

Second, we have to clearly and kindly communicate those expectations with others (and here’s where things can get awkward. But also why we strongly advise knowing expectations ahead of time, so when an invitation to game/play/FB messenger etc comes up, you and your kids know the answer. Check the framework!)

Today we'll talk about some tangible tips for processing this conversation with: Grandparents & babysitters, Friends/Neighbors, School, and even ourselves (we argue ourselves out of right action because we some mix of overwhelmed / under-confident /making excuses).

OTHER RESOURCES:

We reference this book in this episode and strongly recommend it when thinking through boundaries in any area of your life: Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life (Cloud and Townsend)

If you want to know more about the Gospel Tech Online Workshop you can find that here! https://gospeltechworkshop.thinkific.com/

Here's a Video Game Resource I created to help families determine what games their kids should play: https://youtu.be/22U1mc0t0mw

And you can reach out to us on social media here:

Instagram: @flintandiron

Facebook: @sparkingpurpose

Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life

Most of us have formed some tech ruts over the last few months. We've got habits that we want to change, but where do we start? Most families live with their bad tech habits because getting rid of them feels overwhelming and unreasonable.

But we can get a fresh start with our tech by re-establishing our tech boundaries and we can do it in five easy steps:

1) Assess your tech. Take a RESET, and keep the Gospel at the center: This isn't about "fixing" yourself or your kids, it's about loving God with all you are.

2) Focus your anger. It's easy to get mad about tech but this only leads us to get cynical or anger with people who use tech. Focus your anger on removing obstacles to hope. Hope in Christ is the key to all actions we take regarding tech.

3) Remove anything that distracts. We're following Matthew 5:29 on this one - if it causes sin, cut it off.

4) Replace with Analog Adventures. There is no single replacement activity that will work for every person, but Analog Adventures will help you and your child :

a) be more preset

b) have fewer negative tech habits (addiction, depression, overstimulation, joy tied to input, bullies, accidental porn exposure),

c) find more joy in daily life (think John Muir).

5) Create Analog Adventures that: focus on interests/passions/giftings, have a scheduled place in your calendar, and fit your ability to provide: $, location, specialists.

OTHER RESOURCES:

If you want to know more about the Gospel Tech Online Workshop you can find that here! https://gospeltechworkshop.thinkific.com/

Here's a Video Game Resource I created to help families determine what games their kids should play: https://youtu.be/22U1mc0t0mw

And you can reach out to us on social media here:

Instagram: @flintandiron

Facebook: @sparkingpurpose

Today we're walking through the nitty gritty of actually creating a tech framework in one of the four areas of Drool Tech. The four primary areas for Drool Tech are:

music
social media
shows / movies
gaming

Today we're going to tackle the area of music because it's a not been beaten to death by others and families often have the fewest walls pre-built when having this discussion. Music is personal enough that everyone understands, but it usually isn't the #1 tech argument the family has.

For each area you’ll need to make sure you have clear expectations for:

time:
place:
content:
priorities:
safety:

When you do this you’re living out Proverbs 22:6 - you’re raising your children up in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not stray from it.

We don’t just want our kids to know about God, we want them to know God personally and powerfully. The best way is for us to introduce them to the God we know, and we do that in relationship.

Resources referenced:

The Gospel Tech Online Workshop: https://gospeltechworkshop.thinkific.com/

Some amazing songs: Good To Go, by Canon, The Saints by Andy Mineo, Start Over by Flame

Find us on Instagram: @flintandiron

Find us on Facebook: @sparkingpurpose

A family tech policy, or what we call a Family Tech Framework, is a powerful tool to re-establishing tech norms. It can also be something we agree with in theory, but have a really hard time implementing in our own families. It can simply feel too overwhelming to apply to real life. Where do we start?

Today we're going to talk through the process of how to make a family tech policy. There are really three steps:

1) Start with the Gospel. We have to start with heart change, otherwise we're just training our kids how to fake it well. (8:29)

2) Establish the two types of tech: Tool and Drool. (14:02)

3) Build those family norms in five areas: time, place, content, priorities, and safety. (23:10)

In the podcast I mention the Online Gospel Tech Workshop Anna and I have created to help families through this process of creating a Tech Framework. You can find the Online Gospel Tech Workshop here: https://gospeltechworkshop.thinkific.com/ You can check out a free preview of the content and sign-up to have full access when it goes live on the 21st! The workshop comes with a 100 page workbook PDF to help you walk through this with your family or even work through the process in small groups.

If you have any gamers in your household you may also find this game review resource helpful: "Should My Child Play This Game?": https://youtu.be/22U1mc0t0mw

If you're anything like us you've probably found yourself at the end of seven months of quarantine (thanks Covid) with some tech habits that are less than preferable. Now school is starting up online and we've got to get some things worked out!

In this episode Anna and I address what a tech policy is and three reasons your family needs one. We'll address the benefits of a tech policy that include that it:

1) Puts you in the driver’s seat of the tech conversation for your family.

2) Helps you fight for your family, not with them, when it comes to tech.

3) Allows you to parent, not police.

At the end of the day a family tech policy best emulates the way God treats us. He doesn’t rule with an iron hammer. In fact, He is notable for his long-suffering and steadfast love (Psalm 86:5, Exodus 34:6). He doesn’t micromanage our decisions - Adam and Eve were allowed to pick off the tree after all, but he also doesn’t let us go when we fail (2 Timothy 2:13).

We hope this episode encourages you to love your family well, and to point them back to the Gospel of Jesus in hope of who they are designed to be.

Roger Smith is a 30 year educator in the public schools. He’s also the VP of Northwest Basketball Camps, the largest basketball camp organization in the United States.

In today’s interview Roger shares his unique perspective gained from teaching, training, and hiring young people for more than thirty years. His passion to see young people reach their full potential, and his heart to see them find their purpose in Christ, makes this conversation both challenging and encouraging.

In today’s podcast we’ll discuss what parents need to know about tech at home and in the classroom. We’ll walk through the benefits and pitfalls of tech in both places, and we’ll also walk through how we can intentionally use tech and not let it use us in these uncertain times.

Join the conversations through our Gospel Tech Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gospel-tech/id1498508882

If you’d like to learn more about Gospel Tech you can watch this short video: https://youtu.be/DwED5hnXxas

Today we’re in the 6th and final episode of the Gospel Filter Series! We’re going to tie it all together in the idea that the Gospel is the reminder that we are empowered to do everything God asks of us. Paul talks in Romans 7:15,18-19 about how we all have flesh that desires things other than what God desires for us. His Solution?! Set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:6).

The Gospel is the good news that God saves sinners - but we have to go beyond HEARING the good news and get to actually believing it. Faith is a verb. It's something we do. The Gospel Filter allows us to look at this world for what it is: Deeply broken and Fully Loved by God. It is already paid for, but not yet restored. It is where we are called to work and serve, but not our final home.

The tech in this world is an extension of the people in it. When we engage it we do so:

humbly
actively
with a Holy Spirit perspective
and with hope given to us by our heavenly father

This conversation will focus on how we can use tech to show God's love, and how God's love should impact the way we use our tech.

The penultimate addition to the Gospel Filter series is here! In episode 5 of 6 we're addressing how the Gospel enables optimism.

We’re natural cynics. We look for the flaw, wait for the bad, and expect the worst.

But God is the ultimate optimist. He pursues the bad way before they become good. He doesn't just pick the ones who have a head start, or those doing impressively well on their own. He picks the ones in dead last, the drop-outs, the complete embarrassments. Then he makes them good.

It's easy to be demoralized in our broken world. Thanks to tech we can see brokenness on a scale of Biblical proportions. In 10 minutes online I can observe death, hurt, sickness, corruption, and hate on the scale of millions - it's hard to fathom yet alone impact. So what do we do with this information? If you're anything like me, you probably become cynical.

In college I double-majored in history and political science. It took me all of one semester to become jaded. Most of us see there's too much injustice, over too much time, to expect anything other than the worst. Any attempt to simply be "optimistic" comes off as either trite or creepy. You either become PollyAnna, singing about how great your suffering is, or the Joker, smiling through the tears.

However, the Gospel enables optimism because we can look to the source of hope.

.We engage people online with hope because in God there is hope for all of us.

.We engage this broken world because we know the already but not yet. We have present power and future hope.

.We go all in this life because God went all-in.

In Christ we no longer have a right to our cynicism. God paid for it in the blood of his Son Jesus. Our only option now is prayerful, repentant, humble optimism.

In this episode Anna and I walk through how the Gospel lovingly establishes a basis for truth in our lives, which in turn lets us make intentional decisions regarding our choices, tech, and loving action.

The Gospel does this by:

Showing us the truth
Freeing us in truth
Freeing us for the good works God has planned for us.

In his teaching Ravi Zaccharius returned repeatedly to what he said was the saddest account in the whole Bible - Pilate interviewing Jesus. One on one he asks Jesus if he is a King. Jesus asks him if this this rhetorical, or if he’s actually seeking truth (John 18:34). Pilate’s response is to glibly ask “What is truth?” and then walks away (John 18:38).

The Truth, the one that will set us free, is God. (John 8:32)

A brief aside - I’ve found conversations about big ideas like “truth” and “reality” can be very confusing, especially when people don’t share the same groundwork for understanding. So I can point to God’s truth, but if a person says “there is no god” then we need a simpler place to start. John Mark Comer gave the best definitions I’ve heard:

Truth is that which best corresponds to reality.
Reality is that which happens when you’re wrong.

So what is the truth? That we are slaves to sin. We don't get to pick what we want to do - we do what our desires tell us. (John 8:34, Romans 6:6-7)

“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” / “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

Set us free how? By the death and resurrection of Jesus. (John 3:16)

Set us free why? To bring God glory and participate in the work he’s planned for us (Romans 8:29, Eph. 2:10).

Quick Recap: The Gospel is foundational to our tech because it impacts everything we do. We've discussed previously how the Gospel is a "been done", it's good news of what God's already done for us. It's not a list of to-dos so God will love us or take pity on us. He already loves you and me, even though we were his enemies (not just lost puppies with good intentions - Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5).

So we don't earn salvation, Jesus did. This means we can be assured of our wholeness and eternal life not because we look at our life and say "Yes, I'm awesome, I'm certain God loves me because of me" but we can with real clarity say "Yes, I'm terrible - and I'm certain God loves me because of Jesus." See episodes 1 and 2 for more on this!

In today's episode we're going to talk about the action of the Gospel. It's true we don't act in order to earn God's love (see above), but God's love must push us to action - we love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19). We'll look today at the four things we're empowered to do in faith (which is a verb) because of God's love for us:

pray
make disciples
repent
forgive
trust

I didn't have a chance to go into this on the podcast, so I'll put it here: God shows us that love is an action, not just a feeling. God's love from heaven was real, but it was only powerful in defeating sin, Satan, and Death when it came as Jesus, the Son of God, as a human who would live, die, and rise again to physically bring us new life. It was the same love, God's feelings for us didn't change, but it had to actually happen to win us the victory. The only difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament is a new covenant in Jesus' name - we still serve the same God. It took action to get that new covenant - and Love came down to establish it. Not a love of warm feelies, but a love of action - even action to an innocent death on a cross. What held him there? It wasn't nails (Matthew 26:53). It was love. Not soft, push-over, do-what-you-like because I don't want to offend you love, but a love more than willing to offend if it meant choosing the highest good for the other person. Jesus set his godhood aside like a robe (Philippians 2:7) and became fully man - not because he wanted a challenge, but because he wanted many siblings in the kingdom of God (Romans 8:29). So we also love - not to make ourselves or others "feel" good, but to extend the love that looks to others good and not our own. It's the same good that God establishes for all who love him. It's a love that keeps God a father, not a genie. He knows how to give good gifts (Matthew 7:11), not simply fulfill wishes, and he is working all things together for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) - to those who do the will of his Son (John 14:15).

Arrogance is so common place sometimes we begin to admire it rather than hate it.

We consider it confidence, or swagger, or some sort of independent mindedness marking one as exceptional. The crazy part about arrogance is that’s exactly what the arrogant person is thinking too.

Let’s be clear: Arrogance is not a trait of the Holy Spirit - God is not arrogant, therefore someone who believes the Gospel cannot be arrogant.

The Gospel eliminates arrogance for three reasons:

Proves We Need A Savior
Demands Faith in Action
Clearly Defines the Difference Between Conviction and Condemnation

When we use tech we apply these same truths. We recognize our need, shine the light of the Gospel on our lives and tech use, and don’t use our own brokenness as an excuse to not address the curable diagnosis of sin. We lovingly, consistently, Biblically, point ourselves back to Jesus and let his goodness overwhelm all the excuses and lies they’ve put up for why we're “fine”. Whenever we let ourselves slide there is almost always arrogance/damaged pride involved.

Having this part of our Gospel Filter in place allows us to better love in our tech use as well as our daily lives.

What do the ancient Persians, long-distance running, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ all have in common? Technology! And more specifically the Gospel Filter that we're starting to talk about today.

We talk a lot about Gospel Tech, but what is the Gospel? And if I understand what the Gospel is, why does it impact my tech? In the words of a particularly savvy sophomore I recently spoke with: What does God have to do with my tech?

Its a common question and one that, without a solid answer, none of the rest of our conversations really matter. Yes, we can come up with some clever solutions to common problems, but all we're really doing is pulling the leaves off a weed - it doesn't change the actual condition of our tech use or our hearts that drive that tech use.

This Gospel Filter miniseries is intended to help us flesh-out the conversation about what the gospel is and why it matters in making our tech decisions. My hope is to encourage parents to be able to reflect on their own faith, tech use, and conversations with God so that they can prayer, work, and walk together in conversation with their children to better love God and use tech.

The smart phone conversation starts early in families these days, and once it starts it seems to go on forever. My six year old son came home from kindergarten earlier this year and asked when he'd get a smart phone like his buddy in class. Anna and I also get this question a lot from parents who want to do the right thing, and believe they have the right answer, but want to make sure they're not being reactionary or simply "old fashioned".

So we made an episode to help with that! Today we're going to answer the question "When should my child get a smart phone?"

And, spoiler alert, our answer is when they're 16 or 17. No really. There are very few reasons it's beneficial before then and there are lots of reasons it should wait. We'd actually argue it should be even later in life (the brain is developing into the our mid-20s and we've seen plenty of adults who've build up some terrible habits), but we also understand this is the real world and parents need to be prepared to raise kids who are healthy and whole, loving God and using tech, not simply sheltered and ignorant of the real hope and dangers out there.

In this episode we'll cover seven reasons to not give a smart phone before age 16:

focus
bullies
happiness
pornography
overstimulating tech
sleep
strangers (creepers and just outside influences)

If you want to read more of the research you can check out:

.Removing smart phones can increase test scores. Beland, Murphy, 2015: eprints.lse.ac.uk/62574/

.Smart phones can cause brain drain. Ward, Duke et al, 2017: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/691462

.Use of entertainment technology has a “robust negative impact” on gpa. Jacobsen and Forste, 2011: DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2010.0135

This episode is designed to help us as parents remember our role and recall important parenting truths. We address four lies we believe as parents about the tech our children use. When our children struggle with tech use, when they are way out of hand and we can see that things have gone from bad to worse, we often find ourselves paralyzed by one of these four lies:

I'm not enough to help in this problem.
It's too late. The damage is already done.
It's my fault. I messed them up.
If I step in now, I'll lose my kid.

These four lies are powerful because they bring up all the parental shame that isn't ours to bear. Yes, we are broken people and not at all perfect parents, and yet we are the very people that God has given these children to carry the Gospel to their broken hearts. God doesn't call us to super-human effort to raise our children, he calls us to Holy Spirit powered faithfulness. This means we prayerfully and repeatedly pursue our children, despite our flaws, and we model what it means to be a repentant, loving, and determined pursuer of our kiddos. God never gives up on us, and we pass that same tenacious love along to our children.

This means we silence the shame that comes from these four lies. We are the front lines of loving our children well, and recognizing these lies for what they are enables us to better love our kids and helps us walk this journey as we work to love God and use tech.

Today we get the opportunity to talk with my friend, and pastor (@gospellifechurch), Rob Mayer about what it looks like to apply the gospel to our daily tech lives. We'll cover the bases on our own hearts, raising our families in a tech world, and even doing our ministries with and through tech. This conversation is an encouragement to keep our focus on how we can best love God and use tech.

Tech makes promises it can't keep. It promises:

You’ll get rich quick
You’ll be happy
You’ll have a purpose
You’ll be famous
You’ll be wanted
You’ll be in charge
You’ll be anonymous

We believe these lies in little ways every day. Maybe it's going to my phone one extra time when I could have just been quiet, or even done something more productive. Maybe it's feeling great when I gain followers online or, conversely, terrible when someone posts something I disagree with or even directly against me.

We must connect these lies with the truth of the Gospel so we can love God and use tech.

Pornography is a topic we don't even like to admit is a thing. There's so much shame, guilt and confusion (along with a healthy slice of denial) in the area of sex and pornography that we often just don't want to address the topic with our kids. Today we get a chance to talk with Greta Eskridge of Ma and Pa Modern (@maandpamodern) about her work to help families address pornography early in healthy, safe ways that keep parents as a resource and God's design for each of us as the focus. Greta is passionate about helping parents protect their kids from the devastating effects of pornography and she loves to travel the country sharing her message of joyful, connected parenting. We'll talk about how to address it, work through some helpful resources, and discuss ways we can better prepare, not just protect, our young people.

A little about Greta! Greta's a nature lover, book reader, and coffee drinker. She is a home schooling mom of 4, wife of 21 years to her husband Aaron, and an author and speaker. Greta’s first book, Adventuring Together, releases July of 2020 with Thomas Nelson (which is going to be an amazing source for working out those Analog Adventures!)

Greta would love to connect with you on her blog at www.gretaeskridge.com and on her Instagram feed. You’ll find her there @maandpamodern.

Resources referenced in the podcast:

Good Picture, Bad Picture, by Kristen Jenson
The Tech-Wise Family, by Andy Crouch
How To Talk To Your Kids About Pornography, by Dina Alexander
Greta on Instagram: @maandpamodern
Geta's website: GretaEskridge.com

How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography

Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today's Young Kids

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

Today we get to talk about intentionally pursuing our children and what that looks like when we are often competing with tech for time (either our own tech use or the tech use of our children).

Often the default setting is to turn to tech when we are fatigued (individually and as we parent). We aren’t going to say that there isn’t ever a place for tech (in our own lives, for our kids to use, or even communal use); it’s often the easiest choice for us or to hand over to our children. But it’s not always the choice that allows for deeper relational roots to grow and for real discipleship opportunities to occur.

We're going to specifically challenge the notion that if they’re quiet and occupied, then we’re all good.

This is a conversation that seems to come up more during quarantine than regular life, but since this is a new normal for awhile it's all the more imporant to inentionally talk about how we can pursue our kids.

Today we're going to talk about the lie of anonymity. It's one of the most painful lies we believe in Drool Tech today. We are invited to believe we can be whoever we want, say whatever we like, do whatever we feel, and see only what we desire.

We can be whoever we want because there's no tether to reality.
We can say whatever we like because there is nothing too inane or profane to shout on the internet.
We can do whatever we feel because our desire to do it is what makes it right (and it'll never be tracked back to us anyway, so no one gets hurt, right?)
We see only what we desire because entire corporations focus on making sure that's the case. Customized algorithms for information, friends, streams, feeds, and results is a trillion dollar business. But if they fall short you can always train the system by blocking the outliers.

Understanding this well matters.

Let’s root this in scripture and then I’ll share some of my own experience with accountability software and give some recommendations.

Why do we (and especially our children) need accountability:

.There are no secrets. (Luke 12:3)

.God never leaves us nor forsakes us. (Hebrews 13:5)

.In fact, He remains faithful even when we are faithless. (2 Timothy 2:12-13)

Anonymity is the enemy of love. You can't fully love someone you don't fully know. God both fully knows us, and loves us anyway (Romans 5:8).

Let's fight to be known, and reflect that even in our tech use.

It's easy to find ourselves using our phones when we don't need to be. My personal favorite is finding myself swiping through social media when I'm supposed to be heading up to bed. What are the odds what I see on there will actually help me sleep?

So to help us make better tech choices we're going to talk today about how we make our smart phone into a dumb phone. We'll also talk a little about how to have the smart-phone conversation with our kiddos (spoiler alert: No individual devices before 10th birthday, and no smart phones before 16).

We'll address four ways we can make a dumb phone:

1) set our phone to grayscale

2) turn off all notifications

3) take email off our phones

4) remove all social media apps

Gospel Tech is a resource to help families love God and use tech, so today we’re going to dive into the second half of that: How do I raise my kids to love God?

We’re going to look at four specific areas:

Love God In Front of Them
Share your Testimony
Model…

-humility

-value in Christ

-identity & purpose (child of God, saved for good works)

-options: guilt vs. shame. Shame is the no-option voice. There’s no way out except to further bury it.

Help Them Ask Big Questions

This conversation is to equip and encourage you as a parent that you're not the one saving your kid, that there are tangible things you can do today, and that the experience of raising kids who love God is as natural as introducing them to a person you love. You don't have to be a pro, you just have to be a person, made in the image of God, who realizes you need hope beyond your own control. And when we love God, using tech is a much more enjoyable experience!

This week Anna is back and we share a conversation that's been going on for a couple weeks now: What to do once the kids are in bed! Maybe it's the Covid talking, but there came a point where we felt like life was just on repeat - and the shows were burning time that we should have been using elsewhere. But where?

In today's conversation we'll talk about how we ensure that our time, and the content we consume, is in line with what we're called to do, have, and be in Christ. We'll also share how that's looked in our lives the last couple weeks. It's not all pretty, but it's real and we're excited to have you be a part of the conversation!

There's a short list of questions that come up a lot. Today we're going to address the top four:

Should my child have a smart phone?
How much time should they spend on tech?
Which video games should they play?
Should they be on social media?

We'll tie these in with our understanding of the gospel to ensure that we're not just making more rules but are faithfully teaching our kids how to love God and use tech.

Anna and I get a chance to discuss the perks of being unavailable, both in our tech lives and in the craziness of regular life. There are lots of reasons we choose to be busy to the point of distraction, in our lives it is often “good” things we choose instead of the few “great” things we’ve been called to. Today we’ll look at Jesus’ example - he made time to refresh his mind, body, and spirit even in the midst of the greatest earthly ministry of all time. He would literally walk away from opportunities to heal in order to ensure he stayed connected to his heavenly Father and could hear the Holy Spirit. This is the example we’re given on how a life should look, so let’s see how that applies to our FOMO, should’s, and anxieties we deal with every day.

Today we’re going to talk about Transparent Tech—how do we lovingly keep tech open to conversation and in line with who we are and what we are called to be, have and do in Christ.

We will address how our tech can be transparent in five areas. How we:

Model tech use and raise children in way they should go
Set expectations that exemplify what is true, honorable, just and pure
Create support to take away the lie of anonymity
Address problems and failures that will inevitably occur
Make decisions on healthy teach so we can not only keep our families healthy but be aware of how our actions impact others

It's one thing to know my kid's had too much tech, it's entirely another to know what I can do about it! In the episode we talk about this idea of analog adventures - real world experiences that encourage their gifts, interests, and passions. God has uniquely designed each of our kids to love different activities, and be skilled in different areas. So while there isn't one single activity that fits every child, there are general truths that apply to each: These activities should help us love God , love others, and be make us into more of the person God has designed us to be.

It's been three weeks - how is it going? I know in our house, Pre Covid, the kids watched minimal TV. In Covid times, Miss Frizzle comes on once/day to teach science—and even that tiny change means my 6 year old will start asking at 8 am “When’s it show time?”. And I think I'm losing my mind. So today's episode is dedicated to finding some tech wins! We'll look at five specific areas we can claim tech wins. We can:

Cultivate and create real relationships and experiences.
Start great conversations
Acquire skill and mastery of a skill or action
Cultivate awe for the created world
Apply intentional systems for wins (tokens, distance, charts!)

I think the last two weeks of quarantine have taught me a valuable lesson - I’m terrible at being bored. How about you? It doesn’t take much down time for me to begin thinking back with fondness on tedious activities done outside the house - suddenly a trip with the kids to Costco feels like a vacation I’ve been forbidden to take. And never in my life have I so wanted to get out of my home and do a workout at the YMCA! These times of constant isolation can be factories of boredom, and I want to encourage all of us to embrace our boredom a bit. No, we shouldn’t self-isolate into a state of depression or fear, but we also should inundate ourselves with stimulation to the point where we can no longer fear boredom.

For many of us boredom can be akin to being under water too long: Our lungs burn, our body is screaming for us to go to the surface. It can feel that way when we get bored - all we need is one solid binge on Netflix or social media and we’ll be fine! But boredom is less about our brains gasping for more input and more about our brains (and even our souls) screaming that they’ve had too much.

Today we’ll talk about the importance of boredom and why this season of solitude is an excellent opportunity to regain a gift we’ve been given.

Anna is back! In this episode we address the concept of creating tech free rhythms in our lives. We first came across this idea in Andy Crouch’s book The Tech Wise Family a few years ago—if you haven’t read, it’s a must read. It is equal parts challenging/convicting on how we use tech and encouraging with some real tangible ways to live intentionally.

So the principle is this—we mentioned this on IG in early January that we were going to try to implement this into our lives this year, and we want to really flesh out what that looks like and why it matters for our family’s spiritual and emotional well being.

One hour a day
One day a week
One week a year without tech

We hope this will be entertaining, encouraging, and that you will feel equipped to better love God and use tech by the end of it.

As I'm recording this from Washington State new measures are going in on this escalating virus pandemic: No groups larger than 50 can meet (so most churches are down), schools are closed for six weeks, and as of this morning all restaurants are closed for two weeks.

We all fear six weeks without plans with our kiddos and no outside resources or activities that can be counted on. But in the midst of all the crazy, what should we be doing? We hear lots of verses thrown around about not feeling anxious, but what about the anxiety I feel? Do I just tell myself to stop? I know I should’t fear, but I do, so now what?

In this episode I will share four encouragements we can all take to heart to help us love God and be faithful with the opportunities we’re given in this crazy season. We will:

Focus on what is true
Be a helper
Reclaim the time
Have a plan

This is a season we need to be reminded that fear is real, this world is broken, and God is working in it and through it and has invited us to be a part of that work. I hope this episode encourages you and equips you to better love God and use tech.

As parents we are called to:

Raise our children up in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:1 - children obey your parents, which implies the parents are tea ching them things)
Hold a standard for what we find joy in: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right , whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent, praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8)
Model daily relationship walked out with God and others, and the humility required to live as a fallen person filled with a Holy and Righteous God. (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Hebrews 12:7-11 - which reminds us that parenting is really a model of God’s relationships with us.

In a digital world this means we'll need tools that help us navigate content, brain breaks, and the hard conversations that living in a broken world will bring.

Last week we answered one of the most commonly asked questions we receive from families: Which games should my child play? This week I'm doing an interview with my good friend Justin Pavey in an episode we're calling a Tech Testimony. Justin and I aren't tech experts, we're two 30 something dads who have a shared passion for all things tech, love video games [and handle that differently] and want to share with you guys one of many conversations we have around all things tech. We love Jesus, enjoy tech and the research around it, and want to engage this conversation along with you.

In this episode we're digging into one of the most questions I get asked most frequently: Should my child play this game?

As parents we want to provide amazing experiences for our children and we don't want to feel like a big mean ogre withholding awesome things just because we don't understand "kids these days". But is that what's going on? Are there games worth playing and, if so, how can we know?

I hear this question a lot: How much is too much? How do I know if my child's tech use (or my own tech use, or my spouses tech use) is healthy? In this episode we'll look at a couple tools to help us assess our tech. The goal is to be more effective at fighting for our families, not just with them, when it comes to tech use. We do this by keeping their purpose, not just our rules, as the focus of each conversation when it comes to tech health.

It's officially here! Welcome to the Gospel Tech Podcast! This is our first official episode and the only one Anna and I have actually been able to record together so far. =) We will walk through some of the research and personal challenges of setting tech boundaries, and talk through what is actually applicable for real-life families (not just in theory) as well as how it ties in with being families who love God and use tech.

Since last episode addressed the fact that sometimes our tech isn't always healthy, this episode works through some alternative adventures and opportunities that don't involve Drool Tech. The goal isn't simply to avoid digital tech, but to remove the tech that is a distraction from our full potential (see Episode 2 for Drool Tech and the idea of a RESET) and replace it with opportunities to grow in our gifting and interests.

The Gospel Tech Podcast is arriving next Wednesday, 2/18/2020! We are going to talk about how we can be families who love God and use tech (not the other way around). Our goal is to equip parents with the resources they need to fight for their families, not just with them, when it comes to tech.

Join us as we work together to better love God and use tech.

Want to know more? Check us out!

website: https://www.gospeltech.net
Instagram: Instagram.com/loveGoduseetech
Facebook: facebook.com/loveGodusetech