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Category Archives: Technology

Teen Trap #8: Media

A few years ago I was in the Verizon store I overheard a conversation between a teen girl and her mom. The teen girl expressed how she wanted a particular expensive phone and her mom stated, “it’s just a phone; I don’t understand why you need this. It’s not like the phone is your life.” Then the teen girl responded, “No mom, my phone is my life!” Then she walked away. This teen girl fell into the trap that I’m hoping you will avoid.

Media is an agency by which a message is conveyed, transmitted, or transferred to someone else. It is a popular avenue for mass communication. Think about it…the smartphone you have in your back pocket can be used to connect with almost anyone in the entire world to receive or deliver a message! With your daily interaction with various sorts of media you are confronted with all kinds of messages, posts, tweets, videos, lyrics, etc that will impact your life in some manner.

The messages that media transmits can defile your thinking! For example, Achan (Joshua 7:1-26) allowed his eyes (what he saw) to affect his meditation (what he thought) which led to sin and deception (what he did). Achan allowed his input to control his output and it resulted in regret and the death penalty.  

If you want to live in a high-tech world undefiled follow these Scripture principles: Don’t submerge yourself into a sinful culture, but find your delight in meditating on God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-3). Choose to allow your words and thoughts to be pleasing to God (Psalm 19:14). Guard your mind from defiling influences and messages (Proverbs 4:23). Tear down meditations (thoughts) that contradict God’s Word (2 Cor. 10:5).

Your mind is the Most Valuable Player in your life. All the decisions you make will flow from your mind. Guard it! 

- 6 Statements about Media -

1. I recognize that I live in a media saturated age and that every wrong thing is screaming for my attention—my meditation. – Remember, media is way to mass communicate messages to other people. Someone somewhere wants you to listen to what they have to say. They are screaming for your attention! If you give them your attention they will start to convince you of their agenda and that will impact the way you live.

2. I acknowledge that media obsession is a huge part of today’s teen culture. *The average teenager spends about 53 hours per week consuming media! – Media is part of American/Worldwide culture and can definitely be used for many godly things and works. However, out of control media usage is dangerous and can really have some generational side-effects. By the way, 53 hours of media consumption is more hours than a full-time job! *Source: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation reporting via the USA Today & L.A. Times

3. I understand that much of modern media is either trying to defile (corrupt, brainwash, pollute) or divert (waste, occupy, squander) me. This can prevent me from preparing for my adult years. – Media that is out of control will do 2 things:

  • Defile – It will corrupt your beliefs, morals, and values about life. It will seek to change the way you think about issues (love, sex, relationships, politics, marriage, children, family, money, church, etc). Be extremely careful that media isn’t polluting you!
  • Divert – It will waste you! Media can be very addicting to the point where you squander away your time, energy, and money and have very little leftover to give to important matters. There is a time and place to enjoy media, but establish some guidelines to assure that you are NOT diverted from preparing for your future and growing spiritually!

4. My connection to cyber-world can cause me to disconnect from more important relationships (i.e. God, parents, pastor, family, etc.). It’s time to start using the OFF button!  Disconnect to reconnect! – As great as media can be, it’s sad that it has and currently is destroying relationships and friendships. We can get so plugged into our media we neglect to cultivate face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversations and genuine interaction with important people God has placed into our lives (parents, family)! It’s time for you to start disconnecting so you can reconnect with your God, your parents, your siblings, your pastor, your family!

5. I must remember that what I text, post, tweet, send, listen to, or watch may become a “digital fingerprint” that could haunt me later in life. – When consuming media keep in mind that what you type, post, view, skype, and listen to can come back to trouble you!! Every time you log on you leave behind some kind of digital fingerprint that can be detected and could bring regret, disappointment, and sorrow.

6. I realize that my media intake will be digested and will come out in the form of values, decisions, beliefs that cause me to do right or wrong.   Input = Output – Once again, your media input will produce a conduct output.  The media that you consume will tinker with your values, decisions, beliefs which will generate a lifestyle!

What I meditate on is what I will become!

The Ark is Coming!

So check this out…Answers in Genesis (AiG) is raising funds to build Noah’s Ark to the exact dimensions stated in Genesis 6! Yeah, really! In November of 2009, a CBS News survey revealed the finding that the remains of Noah’s Ark would be the greatest archaeological discovery of our day. A recent web survey asking which archaeological discovery people would most want to see made next was Noah’s Ark (43%)!

Noah’s Ark seems to capture the general public and people want to know more about this biblical event. That is why the leaders at AiG are taking on this gigantic (no pun intended!) task of researching and building a full-scale Noah’s Ark! They are projecting to finish and open to the public by year 2014. I bet the real Noah wishes he could have built his Ark that quickly! They are considering a site in Grant County (Kentucky) within a 40-mile interstate drive of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Praise God for this project and may it be a great tool that will spread the truth of the gospel to the world!

If you want to read about the real Noah’s Ark get a Bible and read Genesis 6-9. The main lesson you will learn is that God always blesses obedience! That is still true for today!

Your Spiritual Profile!

Social networking is becoming, if not already, a requirement to relate to other people. Having an online profile is commonplace in society today. One neat thing about social networking is that you get to choose who you want to follow (i.e. twitter) and be friends with (i.e. facebook). At the same time, other people are able to follow you and be friends with you! Scary huh?!  Did you know that in Philippians 3:17-21 the Bible gives you guidelines on how to manage your “spiritual profile?”

Follow those who Pursue Christ (v.17) – Paul encouraged his church to imitate him as he followed Christ. Church leadership (Pastors & Deacons) ought to be primary examples on how to pursue Christ and live the Christian life. Paul also recognized that there were other real life examples (patterns) that served as very powerful object lessons on how to live the Christian life. The Bible commands you to take note of, observe, and keep your eye (“…mark them which walk…”) on believers who passionately follow Christ. You must develop a “spiritual profile” of those who passionately pursue Christ because they encourage your spiritual growth. You must (1) identify and then (2) follow them.

For example, my youth pastor, Mike Washer (Director of National Hoops Ministries), is a great example of living by faith. I have personally seen God use him in great and mighty ways through his evangelistic ministry. My faith has grown as a result of “following” him when it comes to living by faith.

Who are you “following” that is an excellent example of living the Christian life? Are you a real life example of passionately pursing Christ? Would someone “mark” you as an example?

Avoid those who Oppose Christ (v.18-19) – On the other hand, there are MANY people in the world today who “profess Christ” or reject Christ and are seeking to distract and deceive you which will result in ruining your Christian testimony. These people are actually enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ and must be avoided. In other words, stop following them. The Bible lays out four descriptions of those who oppose Christ:

  1. Their Destiny - “Whose end is destruction,“ – Their eternal destination is destruction in hell. 
  2. Their Desires - “…whose God is their belly,” – They are occupied with selfish living. Self-esteem is their appetite!
  3. Their Boastings - “…and whose glory is in their shame,” – They boast in the most extreme forms of wickedness. They take pride in perversions (immorality, violence, rebellion).
  4. Their Focus - “…who mind earthly things.)” – They have a temporal focus. They think and live for the here and now.

You must identify and avoid following the enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ because they hinder your spiritual growth. Who are you “following” that is an enemy of Jesus?

Remember your Identity in Christ (v.20-21) – One of the primary reasons people participate in social networking is to create an identity. In these verses Paul reminds you of your identity as a Christian, that your true citizenship is in heaven and that you must be eagerly waiting for the return of Christ!

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”Paul encourages you to keep resting in the promise of glorification where you will be free from the presence of sin and receive your transformed (perfect) body. The core motivation for spiritual growth is the hope of the return of Jesus Christ, because that marks the end of your pursuit for the prize of Christlikeness!  

A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle and the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener and his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He asked, “By the way, when was the last time the owner was here? “About ten years ago.” The gardener replied. The visitor asked, “Then why do you keep the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?” The gardener replied, “Because I’m expecting him to return.”  “Is he coming next week?” The gardener replied, “I don’t know when he is coming, but I am expecting him today.” Are you excited about the day when your redeemed spirit and glorified body will be able to perfectly manifest the glory of God? 

In summary, you must diligently manage your spiritual profile by looking to godly examples, looking out for enemies, and focusing on the glorious return of Jesus Christ!

Defeating the Media Monster, Pt. 2

I’m addressing how we, as families, can defeat the Media monster that is saturating our culture and more importantly our homes. In my last post (see the one below) I presented the wrong reasons why we allow media into our homes and then listed the challenges media brings into our homes. We can have victory in the area of media, but we must be willing to execute the following steps. 

1. Engage as a Parent – We need Christian parents that will engage or re-engage and take an active role in biblically shepherding the next generation. Please read the parenting passages in the Bible those are found in Deut. 6, Eph.6, Col. 3. The reason the media monster is invading many homes is primarily because parents have failed to stay involved. Many parents have become lazy in managing their homes and the consequences are severe. So, how do we engage as parents in a media saturated culture?

  • Accept It – Embrace the fact that your children are living in a “high-tech” world! Go ahead and accept the fact that culture is not going back to cassette tapes, pay phones, land-lines, snail mail, and donkey kong! Many parents are in denial about the media or trying to stop it (good luck with that!). You must gear up and start preparing your children to live in a world that is saturated with media!
  • Get Involved – The best way you can defeat the “media monster” is through active participation! Don’t be afraid to participate in the media. You can’t afford to abandon the next generation and let them defeat the media monster! You must biblically take active roles in parenting in a high tech world! Now, this doesn’t mean you go out and create a profile on every social networking site nor buy every gadget that comes out on the market. Please use discernment. The best way you can get involved is by setting the pace. We have an incredible opportunity to set the example and biblically train the next generation! Your godly example will speak volumes to you’re the members of your family! Let them see you action! Here is good rule of thumb to follow: Whatever you allow your children to do, you should do it first. (For example, before you allow your child to have a Facebook you should take the time to learn the “ins and outs” first).

2. Establish a Biblical Philosophy- We need Christian families who will establish and execute a biblical philosophy regarding media usage! A philosophy is the framework by which you make your decisions regarding various things in life.  In other words, it is your objective, mission, and purpose in which you operate. Allow me to get you started on establishing a biblical philosophy in your home regarding media…  

  • Exalt God – Does this media provide opportunity to glorify God? (1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 1:20; Col. 3:17). Your primary focus as a parent must be to teach your children how to honor and love God (Deut. 6:5-9), that includes the area of media!
  • Edify Others – Does this media offer avenues to encourage other believers? (Prov. 16:24; Matt 12:36; Eph. 4:29-31). Too often, among Christians, there is gossip, slander, lying, criticism, immoral talk, filthy joking, etc. taking place in your communication. God and His Word have specifically commanded you to exhort, encourage one another.  You must demonstrate and teach your children how to do the same in life as well as through the media!
  • Evangelize the Lost – How will this media help us proclaim the truth to a lost world? (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15).  According to the U.S. Census every 12 seconds someone dies in the USA. (www.census.gov). It is very easy to get our focus off of seeking to communicate the Truth of the Gospel. You must strive to use your media outlets to proclaim the Truth to every creature, along with face to face witnessing.  You must lead by example!

Once you establish a biblical philosophy YOU MUST execute it! Work God’s plan! You can’t be passive about it. This means taking an active stand on the Word of God in order to train your children in the way they should go! (Pr. 22:6).

3. Employ Practical Points- Here are some practical and helpful ways for you to defeat the Media Monster in your home.

  • Collect all usernames & passwords. This should be a must for all your children. It is not an invasion of privacy! Your child’s willingness for open accountability will reveal a lot about your child’s heart. (They must also know that you are accountable to your spouse).
  • Get on the media learning curve. Just like driving a car—first you learn, then you teach. The principle is the same with media. Simply—if you allow it, you must learn it. You can’t afford to have media outlets or gadgets in your home that you do not understand. This will also give you the edge on what’s entering the culture. It won’t be long before your child will be asking for it and if it is appropriate you will already have a head start. The USA Today has a great technology section that really stays in tune with what’s going on.
  • Provide healthy and productive alternatives to media. Help your children stay in balance by practicing moderation. Lead your children to read, play games, play a sport, learn an instrument, develop a hobby, etc.  
  • Install internet safety programs. It is best to have internet safety in your home, on your mobile phone, and in other areas where you have internet access. Safe Eyes is great internet software, please visit, www.internetsaftey.com.
  • Partner with your Pastor, side by side working together. You and your pastor are a team. He is there to help you biblically parent and help your child biblically submit to your leading. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or need advice, please go to him! He is your teammate!
  • Unplug on purpose. Disconnect from media so you can re-connect as a family. Many families are disconnected because they are so connected to everyone else. Plan times where all media is turn off, unplugged, put away, or even taken away and have good ole’ fashion “family time.”

It is possible to defeat the Media Monster and biblically guide your family in a “high-tech” world!  But it must start with you recognizing your biblical role as a parent and leading by example! I hope you desire to train up the next generation to use media in a way that honors the Lord and advances His purposes!

Defeating the Media Monster!

We are living in a day where technology is “parenting” the next generation on how to act, think, establish priorities, and make decisions. Let’s just be honest, the media monster is eating our families alive and seeking to spiritually destory! The Media Monster is all over the place! The L.A. Times recently reported that children, ages 8-18, spend nearly 8 hours per day on media! Click here to read the article. That is enough hours to be a full time job!

Before I inform you on how you can guide your family in a high tech world allow me to submit 7 wrong reasons why we allow media into our homes:

  1. Peer Pressure - We as parents as well as our children live in the “fear of man” from day to day. So we obey it by allowing media into our homes. “I want people to think well of me and my children. I don’t want them to feel left out.” Read Prov. 29:25.
  2. Acceptance- In many cases we don’t want our children to dislike us. We want them to be our friends. So we quickly do what they say. Friendship with your children is not achieved through giving them what they want, but by biblically parenting them! Deut. 6, Eph.6, Col. 3.
  3. To Eliminate Conflict- We are tired of the fighting, begging, and saying no. So we “give in”  in order to remove the conflict (or at least we think so!).  
  4. To Spoil- Oftentimes we want our children to have it better than we did. That’s understandable, however, if that is the reason for allowing media into our homes we are not “bring[ing] them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4).
  5. To “Show Off”- Our sinful love and desire for money and things can cause us to show off our success and we oftentimes use our children to do that.
  6. For Instant Communication- Let me explain, of course communication between family members is needed and in some cases necessary. I understand that. However, I believe we use this reason to justify media and really it’s a subtle way of saying we don’t trust in the sovereignty of God. Frankly, it could be a failure to know our God!
  7. Convenient Babysitter- This may not be the case for everyone, but it is for some. We are so busy with our careers, pursuing home projects, and other things that parenting our children is not something we have a lot of time to do. So we provide media items to occupy them. We are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to parent the next generation, because of our selfishness!  

Now, before I tell you how you can biblically guide your family in a high tech world allow me to present 5 challenges the Media Monster brings into our homes:

  1. Perversion- Allowing many outlets of media into our home increases the avenues in which filth can enter our homes. This challenge robs or threatens our purity!  2Tim. 2:22 - “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Rom. 16:19 - “…wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”
  2. Deception- The media of our culture is constantly proclaiming Satan’s lies about love, happiness, and life. Additionally, media provides ample opportunity for harmful communication (gossip, lies, slander), deceptive profiles (be someone else), and develop inappropriate relationships. This robs or threatens our integrity!
  3. Obsession- All forms of media tend to become dominant in our lives. In other words, we become “slaves” to our media items. These things literally become obsessions that hold us hostage and threaten our purpose! 1 Cor. 6:12 - “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
  4. Disconnection- The Media Monster is so prevailing in some families that is has overrun real family connections. There is less time for eye-to-eye contact, heart-to-heart conversations, and genuine interaction because of the abundance of media demanding our attention! We are familiar with everything in the world except each other! This robs our family! (Eph. 6:1-4).    
  5. Emptiness- This is the result of the previous 4 challenges. Uncontrolled media will leave us “chasing after the wind.” (Eccl. 1). This robs our identity!  

SO…how do we biblically defeat the Media Monster? I will tell you in my next post! Thanks for reading!