GDLC Audio

This week, we are focusing on something that, in my opinion, is a huge piece of what steals people's joy, power, and peace, and that is the lost art of being able to say “no.” Every yes we make is a no to something else, and every no we say is a yes to something else. Our yeses and nos point to our greater identity, focus, and mission of life, and so this week, we look at what it means to say no t...

This week, we are focusing on something that, in my opinion, is a huge piece of what steals people's joy, power, and peace, and that is the lost art of being able to say “no.” Every yes we make is a no to something else, and every no we say is a yes to something else. Our yeses and nos point to our greater identity, focus, and mission of life, and so this week, we look at what it means to say no t...

Join us for a deep-dive into the book, "The Anxious Generation," by Jonathan Haidt. After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the...

How can we help bring our children "back to earth" and lead them into a fuller and richer experience of childhood? How important are adults' habits toward cell phones in this process? Explore these questions and more as we conclude our study of "The Anxious Generation."

Is it too late to fix the impact the digital world has created on our children and on us? How are parenting decisions driven by doing what every other parent is doing? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Nine.

Does a phone-based life generally pull us upward or downward? Has the digital age made us better at loving God and loving others, or not? Do you feel your cell phone, social media accounts, and screen time are making you more like Jesus or more like the world? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Eight.

The rise of the digital age has impacted boys just as much as girls but in different ways. How is the digital world enabling boys (and men) to flounder? Why are boys more drawn to video games and the fantasy world more than girls? What boundaries do we need to instill in boys from getting lost in the virtual world? How are the addictions different when it comes to men versus women in their online...

Is it safe to allow teenagers to participate in social media platforms? How does social media affect the individual and the social lives of groups? Why are girls more vulnerable to the effects of social media than boys? What steps could you take toward adding more quality time for your family? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Six.

What "rules" do you have regarding technology in your home? How does an increase in social media platforms correlate with increased social deprivation? As a parent, has your phone gotten in the way of the presence and socialization your child needs from you? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Five.

What actions can you take to lessen your child's time spent in the virtual world and increase their opportunities for fun and responsibility in the physical world? How can we help guide our children from adolescence into adulthood? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Four.

This chapter discusses the overprotection and under protection of children/adolescents in the real world versus the digital world. What is your parenting style? How does a digital childhood deprive our children from key experiences necessary for full development? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Three.

How does the 24/7 nature of the smartphone impact relationships? What caused the spike in mental health issues for teens? What does it mean for a child to practice attunement? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Two.

How can our own phone habits teach our children the importance of cell phones? How can we, as parents, keep a lid on total screen-based activities and be mindful of our behaviors and what they're modeling? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Twelve.

Modern technology makes it easy to track our children's whereabouts, grades, and even behavior electronically. This can become "the world's longest umbilical cord." Could you cut down on the ways in which you electronically track or watch your child in the real world? What were the impacts of the studies of two schools that went phone-free? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Eleven.

What does it mean to be living in an "attention economy"? Is social media safe to use, harmless, should be used in moderation, dangerous, or should be illegal? Should we encourage phone-free schools? Can and should the government incentivize more and better real-world experience? Explore these questions and more in Chapter Ten.

Most parents experience a feeling of being trapped or powerless when it comes to technology, cell phones, social media, and the digital age. What role do these things play in the vicious circle of social disconnection, loneliness, anxiety, and depression? Explore this question and more in Chapter One.

This week, we are looking at how we are able, as Paul says, to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Even in Romans 5, Paul says we can rejoice in our sufferings because of the presence of our God with us in all circumstances. Only when we have fixed our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfector of our faith, are we able to lift up a voice of praise no matter the worldly circumstances that we are fac...

This week, we are looking at how we are able, as Paul says, to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Even in Romans 5, Paul says we can rejoice in our sufferings because of the presence of our God with us in all circumstances. Only when we have fixed our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfector of our faith, are we able to lift up a voice of praise no matter the worldly circumstances that we are fac...

This week, we are looking at where true contentment comes from. I read one definition that said, “Contentment isn’t an excited kind of happiness; it’s more like a peaceful ease of mind.” In Matthew, Jesus is drawing the perspective of His listeners to the Kingdom of God and calling them to trust the worldly needs to be provided by God. Paul was not feeling content but then Jesus reminded Him that...

This week, we are looking at where true contentment comes from. I read one definition that said, “Contentment isn’t an excited kind of happiness; it’s more like a peaceful ease of mind.” In Matthew, Jesus is drawing the perspective of His listeners to the Kingdom of God and calling them to trust the worldly needs to be provided by God. Paul was not feeling content but then Jesus reminded Him that...

This week, we look at the promises that God has made to us regarding our eternity. This week is also Reformation Sunday as we remember and celebrate the eternal life of so many saints who have gone before us. We remember those who have gone before us and the promise that we will all be where they are one day.