Hey everyone. Welcome to a little bonus edition
of the p practicality podcast.
Josh Smith is joining us again rem a
call that he was with us for our
last session talking about,
addictions of biblical
understanding and response.
And after we talked for a while about
that, Josh, thought it might be good just
to do a little bit of a follow
up focus specifically on our
mobile phones, our cell phone So, Josh, I
appreciate that thought and happy to have you
back with us.
Well, thanks again for having me Matthew, and
a lot of times, we do have these
conversations or we'll do presentations or or talks,
or even a message on something like this
and
afterwards in conversation, 1 of the things that,
is often expressed by individuals is we would
love to hear
more practical
resources on how to actually
make some of those changes that that we
were referring to. And so we discussed
you know, looking at
reducing the amount of time that we might
use our phone specifically,
in the area of, we addressed pornography
last time. And,
not only do we address concerns on what
we might look at on your phones,
but things we might communicate on our phones.
And so the idea is how do we
as Christians especially
reduce the amount of time
in general that we're using our phones, kind
of taking away
the agency or the the the product
that can create such a bad
situation for us. How do we reduce the
amount of time we're actually using the phone?
Well, I appreciate that because
I would confess it.
I'm probably looking at my phone. I am
looking at my phone more than I should,
more than I would like to. So,
happy to hear what you've got to say
today.
Mh. And I think we're all on that
same boat. And if we checked in our
in our apps at 8... In our phones,
it will actually tell us you know, how
long we've been on it for the day
or the week. Some of them we even
tell us how many times we open our
phone per day.
And that can be a humbling experience to
take a look at some of the times
that we've been on and the number of
times we've looked at our phones. So... Hopefully,
this will be a encouraging
episode or or podcast because there is hope.
There is encouragement
in that we can address some of these
issues.
Alright. Well tell me what you got.
Alright. So the first thing I'd like to
do is just briefly reiterate that, in in
the last episode, we looked at looking at
our phones, viewing
things we shouldn't be looking at, perhaps even
inappropriate
material.
And so the concern is what we see.
In addition to that, many people have have
come to the conclusion that there's also concerns
about this idea of constant comparison.
So when we look at our phones, even
if it's not
inappropriate context, sometimes behind the scenes,
there is
a sense in which we're constantly
comparing
to 1 another. So for on Instagram or
whatever app we use,
and we're constantly seeing pictures of people at
the beach or people on a vacation, or
people having a wonderful time.
Without even noticing it sometimes in our own
minds in our own hearts, we can envy
be or have jealousy and and it's not
even intentional. And sometimes we get in the...
Into this mode of, constant comparison, which doesn't
always lead to
thankful gratitude,
and,
contentment. And so
you know, that's a that's another area that
we wanna be careful of.
But it's not only necessarily what we're viewing.
But sometimes it's it's what we're communicating.
Now, Matthew, I I think you know and
and
some some May know this too that I
work in a high school. I work as
in a public high school as a school
counselor in many, many times,
there will be,
issues that arise
potentially physical,
altercation or,
threatening language or just people who are sincerely
upset
because of something that was communicated by text
or
through social media apps. And while I don't
think that's a a huge concern for our
listeners,
sometimes we do need to take note of
the way that we
communicate
through our phones.
Whether we're using Whatsapp or text or,
any number of apps. And I think,
Matthew, you you probably even experienced yourself different
times where you've
received the message or an email,
and and maybe it wasn't... It was difficult
perhaps to understand.
What exactly was being communicated and could have
been taken in the wrong way. Has that
has that happened to you?
Yeah. I'm often concerned about the tone
that is getting communicated in our digital communications.
I totally get what you're saying.
Yeah. And so,
again, we're looking at reducing the amount of
time that we're spending on our phones and
just being careful about the things that we
say.
In a previous
podcast as well, a number of months is
not even over a year ago. We discussed
also anxiety and how that the cell phone
the mobile phone plays an important role in
that and that it's just an overload of
information, and
you know,
as soon as cell phone
sales increased, especially around the year 2007,
so did anxiety among teenagers and adolescents. So
what we'll do if it's okay with you
is just spend a few minutes right now,
looking at ways that we can understand and
reduce the amount of time that we're looking
at our phones.
I would appreciate hearing that.
Absolutely. So 1 of the things I like
to do in in presentations that I do
in different
situations. Is to look at James chapter 3
in light of our phones. Now, James 3,
as you already know,
as a listener, you know that James 3
is talking about tam our tongues. And watching
the way that we use our words and
being aware of the...
Potential dangers that there are, and it's talking
about having that under control.
With God's help. And 1 of the things
I find to be very helpful is to
use this passage,
specifically in light of of our phones.
Now, we have a very high view of
scripture, and we want to make sure we're
not reading something into the text that's not
there.
And so we're we're gonna be talking about
putting phones
in the place of the tongue or the
mouth or or the... Words that we use.
And so
we always wanna be careful with that. We're
not saying that this is what the text
is
specifically talking about. But it is useful in
application. Yeah. Matt Smith has given an alternate
translation of James chapter 1 verse 26 for
the digital age. If anyone thinks he is
religious without controlling his thumbs,
his religion is useless and he has deceived
himself.
Well, that's useful and. I've actually read some
of his material to and found that helpful.
So that's exactly what I wanna look at
in chapter 3, but I did wanna note
that
that we wanna make sure
what we're looking at
in the text is is
exactly what it's trying to tell us. But
In this case, we'll buy application, we'll look
at it from the stance of the cell
phone. So I'm gonna read a couple of
those verses.
James chapter 3 and verse 2. It says
we all stumble in many ways.
And if anyone does not stumble in what
he
says or instead how he uses his phone.
He is a perfect man
able also to b his whole,
body.
If we put bits bits into the mouths
of horses so that they may obey us,
we guide their whole bodies as well.
Look at the ships also,
though they are so large, they are driven
by strong winds, yet they are guided by
a very small rudder, wherever the will of
the pilot directs
So also the phone is a small device
yet it boasts of great things.
How great a is set ablaze by such
a small fire and the cell phone or
the phone is a world of un unconscious.
The phone is set among our members, staining
the whole body setting on fire the entire
course of life and set on fire by
hell.
For every kind of beast and bird and
reptile and sea creature can be tamed and
has been tamed by mankind, but no human
can tame, the phone. It is a restless
evil,
full of deadly poison. And with it, we
bless our lord and father. And with it,
we curse people who are made in the
likeness of God from the same phone comes
blessing and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, these things ought not
to be so.
And so, again, I think that helps us
understand there are potential dangers with our phone
just like with the words that we use.
And so in the next few minutes,
I'd like to just give 10 or so
very practical,
hopefully useful tips
for reducing the amount of time that we're
on our phones. Yeah. Well, thank you for
those
always good and challenging
scriptures from James
chapter 3. Let us know what number 1
is on your list now, Josh. Okay. So
number 1 is
turning off our notifications.
So if we don't have the the sound
going off on our phone or the vibration
on our phone when someone messages us or
we get
you know, somebody snaps us, then there's less
temptation to go on to your phone. So
number 1,
is turn off notifications. Does that make sense?
Yeah. That... Yeah. That's good and useful.
I'm just thinking that, you know, there's some
apps that I have notifications on email, for
instance, I have off. Mh, I don't wanna
get a notification every time an email comes
in
And... But, yeah, I, I'll put some more
thought into what other apps I allowed to
notify me. That's very good. Excellent. And then
number 2 is when we're home,
to have a place that our phone goes.
Amen. So we have a a counter on
our kitchen right next to our sink.
And that's where I'd like, all of our
kids, our children,
those that have phones. And and even
Mel and I our our phones go in
the same place.
And so when we're home, that's where the
phone belongs.
Now if you want to
take some time and and message some people
or check some apps. You can do it
right there in the kitchen where where everyone
is present and can see.
And so that's a another useful way to
really reduce the amount of time that we
spend on our phones.
So if you if you
just wanna lay out on the couch for
a few minutes. You're kinda guaranteed of doing
that without, Mh,
looking at your phone because not near you
it's not in your pocket. And you're... Exactly.
So it's not in your pocket. And if
you do have notifications on, which after this
podcast, hopefully, you won't But if you do,
it'll be on the kitchen counter instead of
in your pocket and easy access.
So number 3,
Number 3. This was this is 1 that
I have never done, and, yet, I've had
a lot of clients and people that I
worked with. Who found it to be helpful
is to turn your phone
to a setting that's called grayscale.
Okay? So our... The people who design our
phones are very smart. They are
into... They are intuitive and that they want...
They know what
sounds and colors are going to attract our
attention.
And so 1 of the things we can
do is turn it to a setting where
the the colors will not be as attention
grabbing.
And thus less attractive to
our time in our eyes.
I never heard of that. Didn't know that
existed. So it's us
especially with the iphone and their steps so
you can go through and turn it to
grayscale.
Number 4, And actually heard this 1, we
were having a discussion at a youth conference
a couple of weeks ago. On how to
do this better. And 1 of the
teenage girls who was in our group,
made this suggestion, and so I'd like to
share it.
She said that when she begins scrolling,
again, it's not a sin to do so,
and it's not like it's it's evil necessarily,
but we want to reduce the time. She
says what she does is she sets a
10 minute timer
on her phone
and allows herself to scroll and kind of,
you know,
snap or message for 10 minutes and when
that timer goes off, she turns off the
phone and puts it back where it needs
to go. So 10 minute timer when you
begin using.
Does that make sense??
I thought we'd be surprised how quick that
U. 10 minutes gets away on us without
that time. Absolutely.
The fifth 1, the fifth of 10 is
to not use your phone as an alarm
clock.
So many people do that? That's that's how
they wake up in the morning. And so
what's the first thing you grab on the
nights stand next to the bed as soon
as you wake up?
My phone phone. Right? So using something other
than the phone as an alarm clock.
Some people, this was 1 discussed a few
weeks ago, also, which I found very
interesting and helpful.
Is to actually put your bible on top
of your phone. Now, ideally,
especially teenagers, if you're listening to this,
don't keep your phone in your bedroom.
Not a good place to have it.
If you're older and you're using your phone
as an alarm,
then put your bible on top of it.
So the first thing you grab in the
morning is not your phone. It is your
bible.
And so that is number 5.
So then what are we supposed to use
as as an alarm clock? An actual alarm
clock? Using an alarm clock.
Absolutely. Right?
Some people have watches too that you can
set with timers for a for an alarm,
but
you, using alarm clock. Very good.
And and I know... So we sometimes use
phones as
white noise, but, of course, there's also, alternate
white noise machines too. So... Yep. There is
there is a way around
the things that we
feel that we need the phone for.
There are other alternatives like you're saying. 100
percent. Use a fan, use an air purifier
or something like that to give you some
white noise.
Number 6, this was actually really useful is
to log out of your apps after using
them.
So log out.
And then what does that mean? You have
to do next time you wanna check your
feed or check your snaps or whatever it
is.
You have to log back in. Which is
kind of annoying.
And what you can do, this... This... Actually
I was working with another person who was
telling me this is if you make your
password this long annoying
password to put in.
Suddenly, you're like, it's not worth my time.
It's not worth the effort. And you end
up logging in significantly fewer times. So almost
like those those terrible Wi F passwords that
you have to go and actually look up
every time you wanna get back on the
Wi f, making your app login something like
that that actually make you go through a
process to get in. And so logging out
of your apps is a sixth way of
reducing your phone time.
Yeah. These are all good, Josh.
They're
they're they're challenging, but they're wise and they're
not impossible to do either. Mh.
Now here's an interesting 1 too, number 7.
Have a contest with your friend group. Have
a contest to see who spends the least
amount of time.
On their phone throughout the week. And there's
2 ways this can go.
It can be that the winner of your
contest,
gets rewarded in that if you all go
out for pizza or ice cream, the winner
the contest doesn't have to pay, like, somebody
else has to pay for them. Or they
win some sort of a of a, you
know, a funny trophy or prize.
And or the other end, of the spectrum
is that the loser has to pay for
the pizza for everybody else when they go
out. So sending some sort of a phone
time contest
which can be fun?
Yeah. That 1 interest me. I think I'm
gonna propose that to Esther
and
see if she'd like to buy me ice
cream or something if I win. Or you
had to buy her some ice cream.
I'm I'm quite curious as to who would
win that 1. So number 8 is have
a creative homes screen, Get get creative with
the screen that you put on your phone
so that, when you open it up or
even when you turn it on screen it's
a reminder of what's actually important in life.
Many of us have our families on the
the lock screen of our phone. So that
when we log in,
we are acknowledging,
you know, much like people would do above
a, a Tv or a computer where they...
Have a verse up there or their family
portrait,
putting something in there that reminds you of
the responsibilities,
And the
you know, the things that are most important
in our lives, even more important than looking
at our phone. So the question is for
you, Matthew, who's on your home screen, Who's
on your locks train for your phone.
Well, it's a picture of Ester and I
when we were out on a hike together.
So what's your suggestion? Perfect. No, That's exactly
it. Just something like that frame
it's it's just 1 of those things that's
a reminder of who and what is important
in our lives. It could even be a
a verse of the bible.
If if you're... If you don't have a
significant other, that would be a wonderful thing
to put on there. Sure.
2 more to go, Just briefly. Number 9.
Many people will put stickers on their phone
cases
that, again are a verse
or a reminder
of what's important and where where their responsibilities
lie. And so I've seen some stickers that
say things like Christ is. Explore,
something about the lord Jesus,
just a burst that they really enjoy. Those
are helpful things to put on your phone
case,
not only as a witness so that if
other people see it, they might ask, but
as a way to remind yourself of what's
important in life. Mh. And lastly,
we just wanna remind ourselves that this is
a heart issue primarily.
And I'm speaking to myself that... When I'm
on my phone, more than I'm in my
bible,
that's problematic.
At a conference I was at a few
weeks ago, 1 of the speakers actually asked
the young people in the audience to text
him. During his message,
if they had spent more time in their
bible.
Then they had spent on their phones throughout
the week. And
you know, I think it was more of
a play on words and and more of
a illustration than anything else
but
you know, that's that's a thought
provoking question.
And so it's a heart issue. And I
hope that will be
just as we wrap things up here Matthew.
I hope this will be
our heart cry.
The desire of our heart as many of
the songs
reiterate to us that we... Our desire would
be toward God. And that
instead of
because we're very big counseling on, not just
saying stop doing something,
but instead replacing it with something better.
So what... How great would it be? If
every time I went to scroll through my
phone.
Instead, I spent a few minutes in prayer
beforehand.
I think it'd be a blessing in my
life, And and, again, I speak to myself
first and foremost.
Josh, Thank you very much for these. I
really appreciated this. I've got a little challenge
for you now.
Okay.
We are likely gonna see each other in
about a month's time.
So, I want you to ask me for
there when we see each other how I'm
doing on some of these things. And if
I've
reduced some screen time and ask how how
I'm doing in my contest with Esther.
Okay. And,
you know, I might even up the game
a little bit Matthew and challenge you, and
we'll see maybe in the week leading up
to that time. Which 1 of us,
and and you might I might end up
you buying some some tea or you might
end up buying me some coffee, and we'll
just have to see how that goes.
Or a Kombucha.
Right. Exactly.
Alright. Very good. Thanks, Josh for these very
helpful
practical
suggestions,
and we appreciate your time and and
contributions very much. Thank you, Matthew.
Alright. We pray that these will be a
help to you all. May the lord bless
you in the week ahead.