{"id":307169,"date":"2021-07-23T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T11:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/look-up\/"},"modified":"2021-07-23T07:00:05","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T11:00:05","slug":"look-up","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/look-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Look Up"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When we look around today, we see most of the world absorbed in a screen. Arlene Pellicane points to the need for engaging in life by simply looking up.<\/p>\n<p>Show Notes and Resources<\/p>\n<p> \tWatch Arlene&#8217;s documentary here: https:\/\/www.happyhomeuniversity.com\/film<br \/>\n \tFind resources from this podcast at https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/Products.aspx?categoryid=130.<br \/>\n \tDownload FamilyLife&#8217;s new app! https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/<br \/>\n \tCheck out all that&#8217;s available on the FamilyLife Podcast Network.\u00a0 https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When we look around today, we see most of the world absorbed in a screen. Arlene Pellicane points to the need for engaging in life by simply looking up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/mp3.familylife.com\/fl2021-07-23.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:29:04","filesize":"26.62M","filesize_raw":"27911098","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2850,10350,2806],"tags":[4798,4237],"podcast_series":[8458],"cwp_profile":[3382],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-307169","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-character-development","category-digital-and-media-choices","category-spiritual-development","tag-kids","tag-technology","podcast_series-kids-and-screens","cwp_profile-arlene-pellicane","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/307169\/look-up","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/307169\/look-up","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"miQVCRRcHi\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/look-up\/\">Look Up<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/look-up\/embed\/#?secret=miQVCRRcHi\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Look Up&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"miQVCRRcHi\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg",508,508,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"kfairris@familylife.com","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/kfairrisfamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"When we look around today, we see most of the world absorbed in a screen. Arlene Pellicane points to the need for engaging in life by simply looking up.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2021-07-23.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Okay, I have a question for you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> You do? I have one. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Oh, you do? Here is mine; I\u2019ll ask mine first: \u201cDo you feel like I interrupt your screen time?\u201d [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Do you want me to be honest or say what I\u2019m <em>supposed<\/em> to say? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes, be <em>honest<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Welcome to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Ann Wilson.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> And I\u2019m Dave Wilson, and you can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com or on our FamilyLife<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> app.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> This is <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Do you feel like I interrupt your screen time? <br>\u00a0\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes, you interrupt my screen time, sometimes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Oh! That\u2019s so <em>depressing<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Well, I mean, if I\u2019m watching a game or I\u2019m, you know, reading a blog; yes. I mean, it\u2019s like, \u201cCan this wait two minutes?\u201d [Laughter] Is that a bad thing? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Okay, what was your question? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> When we\u2019re on a date\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014and I pull out my phone\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Ugh. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> There it is; that\u2019s what I wanted to know: \u201cWhat do you feel?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u201c<em>Oh<\/em>!\u201d\u2014[depressed tone]\u2014that\u2019s it; like, \u201cOh, no!\u201d I feel like, all of a sudden, somebody else came into the room; and they are much more attractive than I am. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Well, somebody is in the room with us right now; and she\u2019s going to help us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes, I am so glad. Arlene Pellicane is here. She wrote the book, <em>Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World<\/em>. We\u2019ve been with her several days. It\u2019s been so helpful because, Arlene, you have been helping us learn: \u201cHow can we manage this in our home?\u201d Welcome back to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> So great to be with you. Thanks for having me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> And today is questions day. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> You know, there is a whole list of questions we have that I think every parent and grandparent\u2014by the way, you know we\u2019re grandparents\u2014and you\u2019ve got another book, <em>Grandparenting Screen Kids: How to Help, What to Say, and Where to Begin. <\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>\u00a0<\/em>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019ll just start here\u2014it\u2019s not a question; or maybe, it is\u2014but as a grandparent, I think sometimes we\u2019re <em>exhausted<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> I didn\u2019t think I would be more tired at this age in life than I was when I was in my 30s and 40s, having kids; but you <em>are<\/em>. You\u2019re so tired; you\u2019ve got the grandkids, who are precious; but you want to a break, so you just say, \u201cHere watch this.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> I\u2019m going to say this has caused <em>conflict<\/em> with us; because Dave somehow has the Disney Channel on every time I walk into the room. [Laughter] The grandkids are just cuddled up with him\u2014and maybe, that\u2019s not as bad because you are being affectionate\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> It\u2019s awesome; I think it\u2019s <em>awesome<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> He does. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dave:<\/strong> But that isn\u2019t <em>all<\/em> I do, but I might do it <em>too<\/em> much. What do you say to grandparents? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u201cThat\u2019s only when Ann walks in.\u201d [Laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes! [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u201cAt first, she walks in: \u2018Oh! You caught me again!\u2019\u201d [Laughter] Two thoughts come to my mind as you share that. One would be: \u201cYou know what? When you are tired, you should get a little bit of rest; because it is true God gives you children when you are younger for a reason. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tMy dad is a retired doctor, and he would play doctor with my kids when they were little. What he would do is have <em>them<\/em> be the doctor. He was the patient; he would lay on the couch for like 20 minutes. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> That\u2019s a <em>smart<\/em> man. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014and gives you a good idea. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> He would have a doctor\u2019s kit that was just at their house, and my daughter would take the doctor\u2019s kit and do the examination and talk to him. He got to lay there for 20 minutes, so it was perfect. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tTry to <em>invent<\/em> games, where you get to be stationery. You really can be creative and try it. Especially with younger kids, they can handle that kind of imagination. Work in some <em>rest<\/em> during your time; and it is okay to think, \u201cAlright; I\u2019m tired. We\u2019re going to do one hour of this show,\u201d\u2014or whatever it is that you choose. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014yes, and have a limit. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u2014and to have a limit and to kind of set that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen what you can do is make things that are just special to your house. Maybe, it\u2019s a reading corner; and it\u2019s books that you have from the library. Maybe, the kids don\u2019t gravitate to it at <em>first<\/em>; because they are like: \u201cI want to play my game,\u201d \u201cI want to watch TV, Grandma.\u201d They might not like it at first; but eventually, they\u2019ll get that: \u201cOkay, I get to watch TV for an hour; and then I\u2019m going to play doctor so that Grandpa can lay around. Then we are going to have our library time.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBut that\u2019s up to you. You really can build things that they get used to that don\u2019t have to revolve around screens. You don\u2019t have to feel like, \u201cWe have to be on a screen the whole time.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> That\u2019s good. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Know, as a grandparent, you are more interesting and valuable than a screen, even though you might not feel like it. You might feel like, \u201cAll they want is my iPad,\u201d or \u201cAll they want is my phone.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes, and we feel like we can\u2019t <em>compete<\/em>\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014because it\u2019s so entertaining. We can feel like we are <em>boring<\/em>. But you\u2019re right; I think our kids just want to be with us\/\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014our <em>grandkids<\/em> just want to be with us. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Try the chocolate chip cookies. I think those\u2014coming out of the oven\u2014that\u2019s pretty hard to beat. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> That is what happens every time Bryce comes over\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> See. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014our two-year-old grandson. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> He is two years old. First thing he wants to do\u2014we make M&amp;M<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> cookies because he doesn\u2019t like the chocolate chip as much. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Ah! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> But he knows\u2014he just turned two\u2014he knows every <em>ingredient<\/em> that goes <em>into<\/em> the cookies. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> He really does; it\u2019s amazing. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> That\u2019s hysterical. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> He makes popcorn with <em>me<\/em>. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Arlene:<\/strong> That\u2019s so cute. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> My name is Pop\u2014so. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> So it could be <em>little<\/em> things. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes; so we\u2019ve talked about the effect of screens on our brains, our relationships\u2014five skills\u2014I mean, we\u2019ve hit some really hot stuff that\u2019s in your book. If you missed any of these shows, get the book; it\u2019s dynamite. It really is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014or go back and listen to the other days. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Oh, for sure.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHere\u2019s the first question I wanted to ask you: \u201cIf I am a parent of a middle schooler\u2014or maybe, any age\u2014how do I know when they are ready for a phone or a screen?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> A lot of times I think we\u2019ll give someone a phone just because they are <em>nagging<\/em> about it. [Laughter]\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes, we want that to be done. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> That is not the right reason\u2014like, \u201cWe just want this child to <em>stop<\/em> asking for this phone, so I guess we\u2019ll do it,\u201d\u2014so when you give the phone, it really needs to be that you see that your child is ready. That might be middle school; that might be high school\u2014you can laugh\u2014it might be college. [Laughter] It\u2019s the idea of: \u201cHow responsible is this child?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIf they are not responsible with their <em>normal<\/em> chores, then it\u2019s really hard to think, \u201cOh, they are going to be responsible with this phone; and they are going to do exactly what we say with this phone contract,\u201d\u2014when they <em>don\u2019t<\/em> clean their room, do their homework, walk the dog. If you see that your kid is not consistent with those kinds of things, then we\u2019re kind of kidding ourselves to think they are going to be consistent with a phone. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Although\u2014guessing here\u2014when you talked about your oldest son,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014he sounds like he is ready. He\u2019s responsible; he\u2019s a very mature young man. He doesn\u2019t have a phone. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> That\u2019s right; so here is phase two. First phase is: \u201cAre they responsible? Can they do it?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tPhase two is kind of that whole idea of: \u201cHow is this going to affect them as a person? Is it going to, all of a sudden\u201d\u2014for my husband, he would say\u2014\u201cWhy? Things are going so well with my 16-year-old son. Why would we <em>introduce<\/em> the phone and say, \u2018Oh, look, now, you can be on social media or play video games\u2019?\u201d He would be like, \u201cWhy would we even want to introduce that?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>You do have to have, I think, this caution of\u2014you never hear parents, who say\u2014\u201cI am so glad I got my child this phone; because now they are playing Fortnite, and they are on Instagram<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>. [Laughter] They are so satisfied; they are so healthy. We see them a lot; they are happy. The light has come back into their eyes,\u201d\u2014nobody says that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThey say: \u201cWhy did I give my phone\/this phone to this child?\u201d \u201cI gave it too early. It introduced them to things that were much too old for them,\u201d \u201cIt took them to the wrong crowd,\u201d \u201cIt gave them weird ideas that we <em>never<\/em> had as a family,\u201d\u2014so <em>most<\/em> people say that. For <em>that<\/em> reason, I do give the advice to delay the phone\/giving the phone as long as you can. That\u2019s why my 16-year-old does not yet have a phone. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Would you ever ask your kids, \u201cLet\u2019s talk about why you want the phone\u201d? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes; actually, my daughter, who is 14\u2014who does not have a phone\u2014had said just the other day, \u201cMom, if you guys let me have a phone, I think I would have a phone.\u201d \u201cOkay, what would you do with your phone that you can\u2019t do now?\u201d She really likes cardistry, which is like doing card tricks. She said, \u201cI would follow all these cardistry things on Instagram.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI said, \u201cWell, why don\u2019t you just do that on <em>my<\/em> phone?\u201d\u2014because we were laughing, because she wouldn\u2019t even talk to her friends on Instagram; she just wants to look at these card tricks. [Laughter] I told her, \u201cWell, do that.\u201d She has; so now, when you look at my Instagram feed, it\u2019s full of cards. [Laughter] That\u2019s okay with me. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIt was interesting to find out: \u201cWell, what would you do with it [phone]?\u201d Then like, \u201cOkay; well, you can do that with mine.\u201d Talk to your kids\u2014and that is a good idea\u2014\u201cWhat would you do with it?\u201d Then, maybe: \u201cCould you do it with the existing technology that we <em>have<\/em>?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> You can have work-arounds; but the questions are: \u201cAre they responsible?\u201d \u201cHow is this going to affect their soul?\u201d \u201cHow are they going to be emotionally?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSome kids can handle it; other kids can\u2019t. You\u2019ll know because your kid, all of a sudden, will be more withdrawn to their room. Maybe, they are not as happy as they usually are; that\u2019s the problem. Sometimes, in childhood\u2014I like to call it a childhood killer\u2014because the kid, who used to be out on the cul-de-sac, riding bikes or skateboard or hanging out; all of a sudden is like, \u201cI don\u2019t want to go out. I\u2019m just going to stay here on my phone.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> I was going to ask\u2014I mean, we\u2019re reading so much about anxiety, depression\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014suicide. Is this contributing? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Absolutely. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Is screen time contributing to those things? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes; absolutely, because you see screen time usage go up pretty dramatically: in 2012\u201441 percent of teens had a smartphone\u2014but that rose sharply to 89 percent in 2018. Then, in 2012, 34 percent of teens were using social media, many times a day; but now, 70 percent are using it. That was in 2018, so I\u2019m sure that\u2019s even higher. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe idea that half of the 18- to 24-year-olds are reporting anxiety and depression\u2014and you can imagine\u2014if you are not seeing people in real life, and if you are not getting ready for the real world, and then you have to go out there, and you have to figure all these things out, you don\u2019t know what to do. It\u2019s really something that\u2019s affecting kids. If they are on screens too much as kids, then it\u2019s going to affect them with depression and anxiety. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes; and I think one of the things that\u2019s very interesting\u2014if you think about when we were kids\u2014you go to school; maybe, there is peer pressure; maybe, you\u2019re getting bullied a little bit; maybe, negativity is happening; then you come home\/you\u2019re free. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Exactly! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> But in <em>this<\/em> world, that <em>never<\/em> stops. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes; I had a mother talk to me. She had a ninth grader, who was getting bullied at school. They actually changed schools in the district so she could have a new start; but the bully\u2014because of phones\u2014followed over to the other school and shared inappropriate videos that he had done before to the first school that was where the problem was. So now, the second school\u2014these people have the same thing\u2014so this problem <em>follows<\/em> her wherever she goes. Again, it\u2019s in the pocket; it\u2019s not something you just like walk away from. It\u2019s something you have 24\/7 access to; and that\u2019s <em>very<\/em> unhealthy. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> I would think\u2014this is me talking\u2014that there could be a positive\u2014and I know what you\u2019re going to say, because I know my answer isn\u2019t positive\u2014but especially a girl and boys\u2014one of the biggest things they do with their phones is text\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014like almost non-stop. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI see over at Rob and Michelle\u2019s house, and their daughters are\u2014[making hurried sounds]\u2014I\u2019m like, \u201cWow!\u201d They are talking to all their girlfriends. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> You think, \u201cOh, that\u2019s good; relationships are building; they are in conversation.\u201d They are not going to pick up a phone and call them; but it is a bad thing; right? Why? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> So the texting\u2014that\u2019s great that you are reaching out\u2014<em>but<\/em> how hysterical that, we are so advanced technologically, but texting is such a <em>crude<\/em> form of communication. It\u2019s just like\u2014then, for us, adults\u2014we talk into our phones, so there are these full sentences; right? [Laughter] But for the kids, they are all just abbreviations\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u2014they are all this. It\u2019s like such a <em>crude<\/em> form of communication, and that\u2019s the basis for a relationship. The bad thing about that is\u2014my goodness\u2014that\u2019s so backward. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThe most advanced form of communication is face to face: talking with words, talking with sentences, seeing body language. \u201cYou\u2019re <em>saying<\/em>, \u2018Oh, I\u2019m not stressed at all\u2019; but your <em>body<\/em> is telling me, \u2018[I] have a problem.\u2019\u201d That\u2019s advanced communication, let\u2019s say. But that\u2019s not what kids are getting. They are getting texting, which is <em>great<\/em> for: \u201cHey, what time do you want to meet?\u201d \u201cWhere are you right now?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u201cWhat\u2019s the weather today?\u201d Okay, that\u2019s great for texting. But: \u201cAre you a happy person?\u201d \u201cIs someone hurting you?\u201d \u201cWhat are you going to do with your life?\u201d \u201cWhat do you feel like is the <em>meaning<\/em> of your life?\u201d \u201cWhat is God saying?\u201d\u2014those are not good conversations for texting. Yet, that\u2019s the <em>basis<\/em> for communication for kids; and that\u2019s, I think, what the problem is. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSherry Turkle\u2014she is at MIT, and she\u2019s been researching this\u2014she talks about, in middle school\/that middle school teachers will say, \u201cYou know, it used to be that kids would come in the cafeteria, and they would talk to each other. That was really great for them to do; but now, they just talk about what\u2019s on their phones. They have their phones out, and then they are talking about what\u2019s on the phone.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Interesting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> It\u2019s a new conversation. She says the job of the new conversation is not doing what the old conversation used to do. The old conversation used to touch us emotionally, help us to relate to other people, help us to figure out our way in the world. The new conversation is just: \u201cHey, did you see that video?\u201d \u201cCan you believe she did that?\u201d \u201cCan you believe he got that score?\u201d It\u2019s a <em>different<\/em> conversation. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> So you\u2019re not really getting to know the person. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> You\u2019re not. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> You\u2019re getting to know their <em>opinions<\/em> about things;\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014but when you say, \u201cWho are you?\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Right! \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cWhat do you\u2026\u201d\u2014not just: \u201cWhat do you like?\u201d\u2014but: \u201cWho are you as a person?\u201d I think about that in marriage too. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> I love it when Dave and I talk about how we\u2019re doing or \u201cWhat are you like? What do you like, and what don\u2019t you like?\u201d\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> \u2014instead of giving an opinion about something you\u2019re looking at; it\u2019s interesting. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> And yet, it\u2019s a bad thing; but [there\u2019s] part of me is like, \u201cOh, I <em>don\u2019t<\/em> want to talk about that. [Laughter] I\u2019d rather\u2026\u201d\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> It\u2019s because you are on your screen too much, Dave. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> No; I mean, I\u2019d rather\u2014that\u2019s why I think maybe, first\u2014and I don\u2019t know if it is a gender thing or not\u2014but \u201cI\u2019d rather text back,\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014\u201c\u2019Fine\u2019\u201d; you know? [Laughter] Guys probably\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u2014 and \u201cWhy does this have to take ten minutes just to say, \u2018Fine\u2019?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Yes; and she\u2019ll say, Give me a number on a scale of 1 to 10.\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cUh, a 6 is going to <em>mean<\/em> a conversation.\u201d [Laughter] So there is some of that; it\u2019s an escape. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Sure. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> It\u2019s: \u201cI <em>don\u2019t<\/em> want to be intimate. This allows me to pretend I\u2019m intimate. I\u2019m just going to text you.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn some ways, that\u2019s a gift\u2014I mean, I\u2019m in a meeting; I can\u2019t answer the phone; but I can say, \u201cI\u2019ll see you in ten,\u201d\u2014that\u2019s wonderful. But if it\u2019s <em>avoiding<\/em> relationship, it\u2019s a <em>bad<\/em> thing for an adult or a kid; right? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes; so texting, as part of your communication tools, <em>fabulous<\/em>; you know? And once in a while, a get-out-of-jail-free card that you can use to avoid a long conversation [Laughter]; but for kids, it\u2019s like their <em>thing<\/em>. So they\u2019ve got to <em>learn<\/em> to sit with a friend and talk to each other\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Right. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> \u2014and have awkward silences and all that. They have to <em>learn<\/em> that. That\u2019s when you think, \u201cOkay; texting should be part of it, but it shouldn\u2019t be the <em>whole<\/em>.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Well, this has been fun because we are asking Arlene some of the questions that she put in her book: \u201cTop Ten Questions and Answers about Screen Time.\u201d Here is another one: \u201cWhat if my son is left out because his friends all play video games?\u201d I mean, we\u2019re even doing that at church these days; you know, you go in, guys are playing video games. So\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Not at our church, of course\u2014[Laughter]\u2014those other churches. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> But I notice some people do that, so how does your son deal with that? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes, this is a <em>huge<\/em> question. I think many parents\/they don\u2019t <em>want<\/em> their child to be disadvantaged. Of course, we don\u2019t want our child to be disadvantaged; so we\u2019ll say, \u201cOkay, you can do that; because I want you to fit in. I want you to have friends; I don\u2019t want you to be ostracized or alone.\u201d That makes sense. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWith Ethan, he\u2019ll say that people don\u2019t\/his friends are okay with it. He has friends, who don\u2019t game a lot; I think that helps. For every child, that you\u2019re saying\u2014like: \u201cYou can\u2019t be on social media,\u201d \u201cYou can\u2019t be on video games,\u201d etc.\u2014you are also trying to <em>help<\/em> them find things they <em>can<\/em> do. It\u2019s not just like\u2014\u201cYou don\u2019t do this,\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t do this,\u201d\u2014but: \u201cHey, we\u2019re going to go hang out with this person at the park,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re going to go do this sport together,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re going to learn this skill,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re going to camp,\u201d\u2014there has got to be other stuff. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tFor Ethan, he has other skills\/other things he likes to do, whether it is piano or sports; so he can find friendship. There\u2019s the key: he can find friendship with other boys his age through other activities, whether it\u2019s he plays chess with a friend that is two years older than him; he plays ultimate Frisbee in the park with some other school friends. There are things he can do. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI know it feels, sometimes, like video games are the only way to connect with boys. You hear that all the time: \u201cVideo games are the only way to connect with boys\u201d; but there is a basketball; and there is a football; there\u2019s a chess board; you can have a building project; you could learn on-the-job skills. I mean, there are a lot of things that boys could do together to connect. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThen to realize that your kid\u2014that you allow to play video games\u2014he might feel really great right now; but if a boy grows up around video games\u2014and there is a higher risk of addiction: four out of ten will deal with some kind of addiction-like something\u2014and by addiction, I mean: \u201cI haven\u2019t taken a shower because I\u2019m playing the game,\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t do my homework, because I\u2019m playing the game,\u201d \u201cI was just invited to go out to do something I usually like, but I\u2019ve decided not to do it because of the game.\u201d Those are the kinds of things I\u2019m talking about when I say addiction. A lot of boys, because of video games, that will happen to them. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHow is <em>that<\/em> going to affect them when they go for that first job interview? When they go to college, how is that going to affect them? They might be really having fun now; but later, will they be left out when conversations are not around video games?\u2014because they are real comfortable in the gaming community; but if you take them <em>out<\/em> of the gaming community, then they are really at a loss. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tSo you also have to think long term. Short term, he might have to struggle a little bit with friendships; but long term, \u201cWhat\u2019s\/how is this going to help him?\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> Well, I know this. When I sit down\u2014it\u2019s rare\u2014every once in a while to play a video game with my adult sons\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014I mean, they are 30s and late 20s\u2014I\u2019m always embarrassed, because I\u2019m no good. They\u2019re like, \u201cDad, you are so lame!\u201d They are zipping around, and I feel bad. At the same time, I\u2019m like, \u201cThat\u2019s good thing\u201d; because I didn\u2019t waste my life getting good at this. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> I think there have been times\u2014my oldest son had a PSP, this little gaming thing\u2014and I would play Retracer. I\u2019d be on a plane, and I\u2019d be playing it. You know, you get: \u201cOh, I want to get to the next level; I\u2019ve got to get this thing.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tI\u2019m like: \u201cI used to be sitting here, thinking, \u2018How can I have a conversation with this person on the plane?\u2019\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Ann:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br><strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cbecause I had a mindset that God wants to use me to lead people to His Son wherever I go,\u2014 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cwhether it\u2019s on an airplane, in an airport, in an Uber car\u2014you name it; that is my calling in life. That\u2019s all of our calling: \u2018Go and make disciples.\u2019 And what am I doing right now? I\u2019m not even looking at this dude.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tIn fact, I look over, and <em>he<\/em> is looking at a screen. [Laughter] I thought, \u201cYou know, if I put this thing away, and I say, \u2018Hey, man, how are you doing?\u2019 I bet you a conversation could lead who knows where; and God could use me.\u201d I just thought, \u201cThat is what I do not want to do in my life. I do not want to be looking down. I want to live life, looking up\u2014\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Arlene:<\/strong> Yes. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Dave:<\/strong> \u2014\u201cat God, and what He is doing in my life, and wants to do in me and through me and at others.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDigital world is a blessing from God; but if you are not careful, it can lead you to lose what life is about: primarily, loving God and loving others. In fact, \u201cParents, there is life happening right in front of you right now; and you need to be engaged.\u201d \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> Our screens can be a great tool, as Dave Wilson just said, but our screens make lousy friends. I think that\u2019s the heart of what Dave and Ann Wilson have been talking about with Arlene Pellicane this week. We have to make sure we are connecting with people, not with devices. We have to make sure our relationships are healthy and strong, because that\u2019s where life is. Use your screens for what they are intended to be used for; don\u2019t try to make them more than they ought to be. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThis is especially important for our children, who are growing up in a screen-saturated culture. Arlene Pellicane has addressed this subject in her book, which is called <em>Screen Kids<\/em>. It\u2019s all about <em>5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World<\/em>. We\u2019d love to send you a copy of this book. We are making Arlene\u2019s book available to <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> listeners who want to help extend the reach of this ministry\/help us reach more people, more often, with practical biblical help and hope for marriages and families. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<br>Every day, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are coming to us for equipping, and mentoring\/for training. It\u2019s one of the good uses for the internet and for devices, we think. You make this program possible, as a radio broadcast\/as a podcast. You make all that we do at FamilyLife happen when you donate. So again, if you are able to help with a donation today, not only will you be extending the reach of FamilyLife, helping more husbands and wives and moms and dads know how to navigate the challenges of marriage and family life, but you\u2019ll also receive, as a thank-you gift from us, Arlene Pellicane\u2019s book, <em>Screen Kids<\/em>. You can donate online at FamilyLifeToday.com, or you can call 1-800-FL-TODAY to donate over the phone. We are <em>grateful<\/em> for your partnership. We look forward to hearing from you. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe talked about the fact that there are good uses for technology in our day. David Robbins, who is the president of FamilyLife, is here with us; and we\u2019re doing all we can at FamilyLife to try to wisely use technology as a way to connect people with practical biblical help and hope. One of the ways we\u2019ve done that, David, is by developing a FamilyLife app to give people immediate access to help and hope; right? \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>David:<\/strong> Absolutely; I mean, technology and the four-inch screen in our pocket that has taken over our world in some way can be used for some really destructive things; but it can also be used for incredibly <em>redemptive<\/em> things. \u201cHow do we redeem the four-inch screen in our pocket?\u201d One of the ways is by getting access to biblical truth, and that\u2019s why the FamilyLife app exists. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tThat\u2019s why we\u2019ve improved it recently again. We\u2019re going to continue to do everything we can to make that a place where: you can access things easily; you can share it with other people; you can stop and start, and even put it on double time if you\u2019re in a bit of a hurry and Bob Lepine is talking too slowly. [Laughter] We want to do everything we can to provide the help and hope that we need as easily as possible. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Bob:<\/strong> [Speeding up his speech] I can talk faster if you think I need to talk fast; no, I\u2019m kidding. [Laughter] You can find the <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> app when you go to your app store: just type in FamilyLife as one word; our app will come up. You can download it, and then you have instant access to this program and other resources that are available from us, here, at FamilyLife. Thank you, David. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe hope you have a great weekend. Hope you and your family are able to worship together with your local church this weekend. I hope you can join us on Monday when we\u2019re going to talk about our own relationship with our screens. Wendy Speake is going to be here and tell us about a 40-day media fast that she took and how <em>cleansing<\/em> it was for her own soul. I hope you can join us for that. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tOn behalf of our hosts, Dave and Ann Wilson, I\u2019m Bob Lepine. Have a great weekend. We will see you Monday for another edition of <em>FamilyLife Today<\/em>.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<em>FamilyLife Today<\/em> is a production of FamilyLife; a Cru<sup>\u00ae <\/sup>Ministry. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tHelping you pursue the relationships that matter most.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tWe are so happy to provide these transcripts to you. However, there is a cost to produce them for our website. If you\u2019ve benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright <sup>\u00a9<\/sup> 2021 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/\">www.FamilyLife.com<\/a>\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t1\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/307169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307169"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/294104"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=307169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=307169"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=307169"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=307169"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=307169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}