Gospel Tech

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:   1. New creations  2. Children of God  3. Given everything we need for life and godlinessBecause 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:Why is pornography different from other digital inputs, or even other sins?How does pornography impact the brain?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:Look for troubleLack a plan for safety (not-not looking for trouble)AccidentsYet 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: 

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:Is this a priority for our family?Is this game safe, ready, and good?Does this game line up with our family for: Characters, Violence, Language, Time, Content, and Player ExperienceShow 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:What type of tech are we using?What tech is most concerning right now?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:Seek out opportunities to be amazed at God's goodnessConnect with those God has put into our livesPlace our fears and anxieties before the LordPut the first things firstShow 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:Are they safe?Is my child ready?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:How much time we should spend on techWhat time of day we should use our techHow many times a day we should use our techShow 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 timea twenty year old who deleted social media to spend more time in his own life rather than the lives of othersa college senior who asked his mom to put parental controls on his smartphone to help him focus on his schooling and careerToday 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