Today we’re diving into a topic that touches nearly everyone’s lives: the time we spend on social media and our smartphones. In this episode, we explore how the hours we spend scrolling, liking, and tweeting are not just fleeting moments but can be significant in shaping our daily lives and overall well-being.

We’ll start by breaking down the problem—why social media and smartphone usage have become such dominant forces in our lives and the subtle ways they might be undermining our productivity, mental health, and personal relationships.

But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom! We also discuss practical strategies and actionable steps to reclaim your time and find a healthier balance. Whether you’re looking to cut down on screen time or just curious about how to better manage your digital habits, this episode is packed with tips and insights that you can start using today.

So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s get started on taking back control from our screens.

Show notes:

How Much Time Does The Average Person Spend on Social Media? www.medium.com.

Time Spent on Social Media Graphics: https://twicsy.com/blog/time-spent-on-social-media.

Helpful tips:

To limit screen time on an iPhone, you can use the Screen Time feature to set limits and restrictions for your device or for a child's device:

• Open Settings
• Tap Screen Time
• Select a category to set limits and restrictions

Here are some of the categories you can use:

• App Limits: Set time limits for apps
• Downtime: Schedule time away from the screen
• Communication Limits: Set limits based on your contacts
• Always Allowed: Choose apps you want at all times
• Content & Privacy Restrictions: Block inappropriate content

You can also limit your time on individual websites by:

• Swiping down to the bottom of the categories list and tapping Websites
• Choosing Add Website
• Entering the URL for any websites you want to limit
• Setting the amount of time you are allowed to use the selected websites

You can also set a screen timeout by:

• Opening the Settings app
• Scrolling down and selecting the Display & Brightness option
• Scrolling down again and choosing Auto Lock

Although most parents would like to think their tweens, teens, and adult-ish kids would not view or access pornographic material, the statistics tell us differently. And while none of us want to talk about it, many of our spouses are doing the same.

As school commences and our teens and young adults enjoy greater freedom than ever before, how can we encourage healthy, meaningful conversations about the dangers of pornography and its addictive consequences? And how can we have similar tough conversations with those adults closest to us?

Please join us as Justin Garrett, a Christian pastor, discusses the increasing prevalence of pornography use by our young adults and how the Church can support families as they navigate this difficult issue.

Special Guest:

Justin Garrett: Lead Pastor at Athens Church, Kansas City, MO
Justin is a Columbia, MO native and worked at a church called The Crossing for 16 years. Justin and his wife, Jen, have three sons.

Justin attended Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, graduating in 2009 with a Master of Divinity. In 2021, the family launched Athens Church in Kansas City.

To learn more about his church, go to https://www.athenskc.com/

Resources Justin recommends:

https://www.covenanteyes.com/e-books/ - a wonderful collection of short and free ebooks, The Porn Circuit and Your Brain on Porn are very good. Their service is the one our whole family pays for with all devices.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/59baI34QD9A2fjLCipitDJ?si=iny9GCbFSU2s7SmWeUdRBw – A recent Preston Sprinkle podcast with an author and pastor on pornography.

https://fightthenewdrug.org/ - They are not religiously affiliated, I’ve heard people speak of them as genuine non-Christians who are just trying to educate and help people.

The Death of Porn – an older and trusted pastor writing a book on the subject in a style of letters to the reader.

Surfing for God – a classic at getting beneath the symptom of porn consumption to understand what’s going on in the heart and desires.

School days are upon us. The backpacks have been purchased and stocked. Lunch boxes have been prepared and a new pair of shoes await by the door. Hopefully, we’ve done everything we can to ensure a successful start to the school year.

It can feel daunting to send our children out into the world without our guidance. We may have provided them with all the material tools, but what about instilling confidence and self-esteem? Can they handle feedback, correction, and consequences?

Research on parenting styles is extensive. Although there may not be a “perfect” parenting style, there are certainly styles that encourage and some that diminish. Please join us as we discuss various parenting styles - what works and what doesn’t.

Show Notes and References:

Parenting Teens with Love and Logic, Preparing Teens for Responsible Adulthood by Foster Cline, MD & Jim Fay

Parenting Styles: What Parenting Style is Right for You?

https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/parenting/what-parenting-style-is-right-for-you

Lawnmower Parents: What are They? www.WebMD

Lawnmower Parents: Definition

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/lawnmower-parent

Welcoming a new baby to the family is a precious experience. It can also be a time of uncertainty, questioning, sleep deprivation, and unexplained emotions. Our guests, Maddie and Kyle Wolf, join us today to share their experiences as first-time parents of Baby Luka (aka Robin’s granddaughter).

What do new moms and dads need? Which is best, breastfeeding or bottle? How can family and friends help? Our guests are quick to point out that everyone’s experience, and baby, is different. Maddie wisely shared “Fed is best” regardless of whether parents choose bottles or breastfeeding. Kyle spoke of the importance of supporting your partner and sharing responsibilities. And they both agree that bringing food that can be eaten single-handedly (because that other hand is holding the baby😊) is their favorite.

Our guests were also honest and forthcoming about a few of the challenges they’ve experienced, and how they overcame them. We learned a lot, and we hope you do too.

Join us for this delightful, yet honest peek into parenting an infant in 2024.

Special Guests: Maddie and Kyle Wolf
Maddie and Kyle were married in 2022 after dating for several years. Maddie, a Nurse Practitioner, and Kyle, a CPA, live in Overland Park, KS, and are the proud parents of Luka. They join us today, not as experts in parenting, but as a couple learning to manage their daughter's needs, with their own and each other's needs as well.

As a new school year approaches, children, teens, and young adults will encounter a plethora of choices and challenging decisions. With the widespread availability of cell phones and computers, accessing online content, including inappropriate material, is easier than ever. So, how can we protect our children of all ages from harmful materials that can affect their well-being and future relationships?

While an addiction to explicit content is not a medical diagnosis, many would cite the negative financial, relational, and self-esteem consequences that stem from an industry that often does not reflect healthy, consensual, and respectful interactions. Repeated exposure to unrealistic images and behaviors can negatively impact one's sense of normalcy now and in the future.

When children use home computers, parental control apps such as Bark or Aura can be installed on their devices to restrict access to inappropriate websites. However, tech-savvy individuals, even young ones, can sometimes bypass these controls, or accidently wander into pornographic sites. Additionally, there are numerous books and websites designed to address these concerns. Research suggests that the most effective approach involves frequent, honest, and direct conversations about the negative aspects of explicit content, and the anxiety, depression, and stress often associated with such an addiction.

Being a parent in 2024 is challenging; being a young person navigating issues that may conflict with their religious values, parental advice, and peer pressures is even harder. At the very least, let's offer our prayers and support to all involved.

Resources:

Addictionhelp.com

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrOrs6lz21mjwUJPIFXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNncTEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1719682213/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.addictionhelp.com%2f/RK=2/RS=QnCrf0.ApfONEMuTAtfnXzHCmSM.

Pornography Use Among Young Adults in the U.S.:

https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/pornography-use-among-young-adults-in-the-united-states

New Report Reveals Truths About How Teens Engage with Pornography:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-reveals-truths-about-how-teens-engage-with-pornography-301717607.html.

"Who are the people in your neighborhood?"

Those of a certain age will remember Mr. Rogers singing that ditty. Once upon a time, we celebrated with our neighbors, borrowed a cup of sugar from the folks next door, and probably worshiped with some of them every Sunday. Busy schedules, a desire for privacy, or the simple fact that decks on the back of the house have replaced sitting on the front porch, have significantly impacted how we interact with those who live nearby.

In today’s world, although loneliness has been deemed an epidemic, knowing our neighbors may be rare. Yet, as Christians, God commissioned us to “Love thy neighbor as Thyself.” In fact, a reference to our "neighbors" appears in over 100 verses in the Bible.

Our guests, Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, have written two inspiring books about Neighboring as an act of faithfully following Christ. They are with us today to share their call to Neighboring and to offer helpful and practical tips for getting to know those in our neighborhood. With Labor Day right around the corner, now may be a perfect time to plan a potluck or fish fry and invite those on your block to join you for food and fellowship. In doing so, you might find yourself being the fisher of men Jesus calls us to be.

Special Guests: Chris and Elizabeth McKinney, Authors and Podcast Hosts

Chris (MDiv, Covenant Seminary) and Elizabeth McKinney live with their four daughters in Columbia, Missouri. They work for Cru City and serve as associate staff at their church, The Crossing. They are the co-authors of Placed for a Purpose and Neighborhoods Reimagined: How the Beatitudes Inspire Our Call To Be Good Neighbors. They write, speak, and are passionate about equipping believers to love their next-door neighbors. You can find them on Instagram at Placedforapurpose.com and as co-hosts for the Placed For a Purpose Podcast.

Do you remember your first day of school?

Regardless of one’s academic status, be it kindergarten, middle school, senior year, or a freshman moving into the dorms, the first day of school is a milestone moment. Quite often, more tears are shed by parents than pupils. There’s just something about witnessing your child embark on a journey independent of you that creates a little (or big) tug at the heart.

As the first day of school quickly approaches, we turn to an expert educator for advice on preparing students for academic success. Her advice was wise and winsome. It turns out that parents and teachers are the key to success in the school year ahead.

Join us for all of Judi's advice and help the kiddos in your life have a great school year.

Special Guest:
Judi Schoonover is a retired Kindergarten teacher and pre-school screener for the Columbia Public Schools with more than 40 years experience in education. She is something of a legend in Columbia, MO, where she lives with her husband, Dan.

Mistakes are made every day. Some require a simple, "I’m sorry." Others may result in lengthy conversations and a restructuring of the issue. And then there are mistakes that change a person’s life forever. Robin’s brother, Buddy, made that kind of mistake.

Truth be told, we’ve all made mistakes. The hope with every error is that we learn from it and do not repeat it. It is not our job to judge, there are Courts and Commandments that render judgement. Maybe our role is to accept people for who they are, forgive them their trespasses, and support them as they re-engage in society.

It’s said there are things in life that either make us or break us. The question becomes, "How do we respond?" Our guest has responded with graciousness and tenacity. He refuses to allow his restrictions to overshadow his successes and welcomes discussions about his past. In his own words, he entered prison “spiritually sick and addicted to alcohol,” and returned to society 13 years later as a spirit-filled, recovering alcoholic who is the first to give all the glory to God. In fact, he is convinced he would not be here today without his time in prison, and his eventual spiritual renewal.

Now that’s a testimony!