Why Steve Jobs Didn’t Let His Kids Use iPads (And Why You Shouldn’t Either)

Here is an insightful article by  Sarah Lesnar I found here.   I have a concern over the long term use of electronics have on the way we think and read and relate to each other socially.  There is lots of material coming out about this issue. ~ David

If you fall within the Gen-Y era like us, chances are you’ve given a bunch of thought as to how you would raise your own children in this day and age (assuming you don’t have children already). Especially with technology, so much has changed since our childhoods in the 90s. Here’s one question: Would you introduce the technological wonder/heroin that is the iPod and iPad to your kids? Steve Jobs wouldn’t, and for good reason too. In a Sunday article, New York Times reporter Nick Bilton said he once assumingly asked Jobs, “So your kids must love the iPad?” Jobs responded: “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.” Especially in Silicon Valley, there is actually a trend of tech execs and engineers who shield their kids from technology. They even send their kids to non-tech schools like the Waldorf School in Los Altos, where computers aren’t found anywhere because they only focus on hands-on learning. There is a quote that was highlighted in The Times by Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics and a father of five. He explains what drives those who work in tech to keep it from their kids. “My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they say that none of their friends have the same rules…  That’s because we have seen the dangers of technology firsthand. I’ve seen it in myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.” If our current addictions to our iPhones and other tech is any indication, we may be setting up our children for incomplete, handicapped lives devoid of imagination, creativity and wonder when we hook them onto technology at an early age. We were the last generation to play outside precisely because we didn’t have smartphones and laptops. We learned from movement, hands-on interaction, and we absorbed information through books and socialization with other humans as opposed to a Google search. Learning in different ways has helped us become more well-rounded individuals — so, should we be more worried that we are robbing our children of the ability to Snapchat and play “Candy Crush” all day if we don’t hand them a smartphone, or should we more worried that we would be robbing them of a healthier, less dependent development if we do hand them a smartphone? I think Steve Jobs had it right in regard to his kids. So the next time you think about how you will raise your kids, you may want to (highly) consider not giving them whatever fancy tech we’ll have while they are growing up. Play outside with them and surround them with nature; they might hate you, but they will absolutely thank you for it later, because I’m willing to bet that’s exactly how many of us feel about it now that we are older.

Read more at: http://nextshark.com/why-steve-jobs-didnt-let-his-kids-use-ipads-and-why-you-shouldnt-either/#rmns

Lighten Your Load

Theology or thinking biblically gets a bad rap among some of those who claim to follow Christ. To say that you believe in Jesus Christ is to make a theological statement! Here is a great example of thinking biblically about our sin can indeed lighten the load we too often needlessly carry around! Read and rejoice in the truth of the gospel in your life. ~ David 

One day while driving, I came upon an elderly man running. His frame was completely bent over, and each step appeared laborious. At first I thought it was his age, but as I looked closer I noticed what was keeping him hunched over—he was running with weights in both hands. Holding on to those weights kept him from running with freedom and ease.

As I watched his arduous progress, it reminded me of how often we run our spiritual race in a similar way. A variety of weights burden us in the Christian life. For many of us, we have no idea the exact cause for our ailments and struggles because we fail to recognize that we are even carrying these heavy loads. All we know is that our race seems difficult and that we yearn to run with freedom and joy.

The writer of the book of Hebrews urged his listeners: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). While many types of burdens can weigh us down, it is helpful to consider three types of unbelief that hinder our Christian race. Unbelief regarding past sin, present temptation, and future joy can overload our hearts—encumbering, distracting, and discouraging us.

Unbelief About Our Past

Past sins cling closely, threatening to trip us as we run. Old decisions drag behind us like cans tied to a newlywed’s car. They clang and shout, falsely proclaiming, “Not good enough.” Do you feel the weight of your past? Perhaps you chose to tell that lie, engage in adultery, participate in gossip, have an abortion, or steal from someone else. These sins can plague our souls, falsely declaring us unworthy to even be in the race.

The good news is truly good: 

For such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:11)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17)  

In Christ, we are not defined by our sin, but by our sonship. We were sinners, but now we are saints. We were enemies of God, now we are his children. The weight of past sins can be thrown aside. Mourn them but don’t be defined by them. Instead, let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Unbelief About Present Temptation

While past sin can encumber our walk, present temptation also has the power to weigh us down in our race. Paul explained to the Romans, “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Rom. 7:22-23). Sin still wages war against our souls. When we chose to live outside of God’s ways, we carry burdens that slow our race.

As Puritan author Thomas Brooks wisely warned, “He that would not get burned must dread the fire. To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ is like one who thrusts his finger in the fire and then prays that it might not get burnt.” 

By the Spirit’s work in our hearts, we realize the weakness of our flesh and avoid playing sport with sin. Disobedience is the height of empty living, leaving us joyless and passionless in our race.

Unbelief About Future Joy

Phrases like “Time is short” and Carpe diem spur us on to chase after every earthly experience, relationship, and pleasure. While it is true that our lives fade as quickly as the grass, and it is important that we seize the day, often we misdirect our efforts in ways that weigh us down rather than lighten our load. When we forget that heaven is a future hope, we unduly burden ourselves by trying to create our own slice of heaven on earth. The false belief that this world is all there is encumbers us with unrealistic expectations and hopes to gain as many trinkets and treasure as possible.

In contrast, when we anticipate our heavenly home, we can live our days here in joyful abandon for the kingdom. Time is indeed short, and we should seize the day, not to build our own kingdoms, but to build Christ’s church. By setting our hopes on future pleasures, fighting present temptations, and letting go of past sins, we can run our race with freedom and purpose, giving thanks to Jesus, the forerunner of our faith.

Melissa Kruger serves as women’s ministry coordinator at Uptown Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the author of The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World (Christian Focus, 2012). Her husband, Mike, is the president of Reformed Theological Seminary, and they have three children. You can follow her on Twitter.

The Necessity of Perseverance in Faith and the Assurance of Salvation

Here is a follow up to Mondays post.  I found this over the weekend on Desiring God.

1) In order to be saved and spend eternity enjoying God’s presence a person must persevere in faith to the end (1 Corinthians 15:2; Colossians 1:22,23; Luke 8:11-15;Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 3:14; Romans 11:20-22; 2 Timothy 2:11,12; Revelation 2:7,10,11,17,25,26; 3:5,11,12,21).

2) An obedient lifestyle which springs from faith is necessary for final salvation (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 John 3:4-10,14; 4:20; John 8:31; Luke 10:28; Matthew 6:14,15; 18:35; Genesis 18:19; 22:16-17;26:45; 2 Timothy 2:19). This is not to say that God demands perfection (Philippians 3:12,13; 1 John 1:8-10; Matthew 6:12).

3) A person who has truly been born again will persevere in faith. God sees to that (1 Peter 1:5; cf. also John 6:37-39; 10:26-30; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; 5:24;Romans 8:1-4,28-30; Ephesians 1:4,5).

4) In Scripture we are told of people who appear to be Christians and yet fall away (Luke 8:13,14; Hebrews 6:4-5; 10:26-29). John says that their falling away proves they were never Christians in the first place (1 John 2:19; cf. also Hebrews 6:9; John 8:31; Colossians 1:22,23; Hebrews 3:6,14).

5) Should we entertain the possibility that we might be those who fall away? The answer is yes, if we are persisting in attitudes/actions that spring from unbelief.

The apostle Paul entertained the possibility that he might be disqualified if he was not careful how he “ran the race” (1 Corinthians 9:27); and he commanded the arrogant Corinthians to entertain the idea that they might be those who fall away (1 Corinthians 10:12—read this carefully in the context of 9:24-10:13).

Paul also gives warnings in Romans 11:20-22 and Galatians 5:2-21; Ephesians 5:5.

The writer of Hebrews gives similar warnings: Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-14; 4:1,11; 6:4-6;10:26-31; 12:25.

6) We are commanded to examine ourselves to see whether or not we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10).

7) We are expected to enjoy and commanded to experience the assurance of salvation (1 John 5:13; Hebrews 6:11; 10:22).

8) The biblical teaching of the assurance of salvation must be seen in the context of God’s terrible threats to those who fall into persistent unbelief, and the context of God’s glorious promises to those who trust him.

The way in which we persevere in faith and thereby maintain assurance of salvation is by taking seriously the glorious promises and the terrible threats found in Scripture (cf. Hebrews 10:19-31; also Deuteronomy 28).

Pastor John & Pastor Tom

Perseverance in in the Faith and the Assurance of Salvation

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23 ESV)

Sunday I shared how I understand the conditional clause in v. 23 that starts with 'if indeed.'  Here is what I said, Reconciliation does not leave us hanging but initiates in us moral change that leads to our ultimate moral perfection. We, who are now sinful are promised to be holy and blameless and above reproach, presentable to God without the fear of standing in the presence of a holy God. All of us are strugglers on a journey toward perfection, found in his presence. On that day we will cease from striving, we will cease from being disgusted with our sin, and we will cease from sinning. What a glorious promise that is. But there is a hitch. That promise is conditional, “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel.” This causes some of us trouble but it should not. Remember that Paul is writing a letter to address a church troubled by false teachers threatening to lead the church astray from the truth of the gospel and faithfulness to Christ. This letter addresses this issue and in it Paul appeals to them to remain faithful to the true gospel. The promise of future glory is conditional upon remaining faithful to the gospel, described as 'stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel.' This passage and passages like this all over the New Testament tells us that a one time act of faith in Jesus Christ that makes us eternally secure in final salvation irrespective how we life is unbiblical. What it does tell us is that perseverance, remaining faithful to Christ, is an affirmation of the reality of that initial act of faith. So while I think Paul is confident that they will persevere (see Col 2:5)  yet he is also confident that they must persevere (See Col 2:18). He wants them to live with the confidence that they have final salvation but he is also warning them not to take their salvation for granted. The New Testament writers are always promising and prodding. Promising them that their salvation is secure in Christ and prodding them to continue in Christ. Here he is prodding us forward, to keep moving along in our faith. When churches become imbalanced in either promising or prodding, people either fret over their salvation which leads to despair, wondering if they will ever make it or they become so lax over their lives that they have a false sense of security. Those who truly come to faith in Christ become God's children and will always remain God's children but not outside of persevering in the faith, remaining faithful to Christ and growing in Christ. Paul is warning us to move along in our faith but not to question our faith.

Free Audio Book, Everyone's a Theologian by R. C. Sproul

Free audio book from Christian Audio here.

I don't know the minister who published this so I cannot endorse him but the video will make you think hard about your own hunger for God's word!

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2-3 ESV)

Post by Davi Morgado.

The Confidence and Need to Persevere

"And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister." (Col 1:21-23 ESV)

If it is true that the saints will persevere to the end, then it is equally true that the saints must persevere to the end.  Peter T. O'Brien, Colossians, Philemon, WBC, p. 69