Notes from the Technology Conference

Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11

Technology, Relationships and God’s Way Conference (see previous post)

Saturday’s speakers: Lloyd Lorentz, Ryan Bowman, Jared Groff, Kevin Greiner, Larry Rohrer, and Nelson Rutt. Sunday’s speakers: Sunday school – Glendon Zook. Church – Jon Cassel.

Large internet companies make money by consuming, attracting, repacking, reselling, or redirecting our attention. Your attention = Their profit

Addiction: compulsively seeking something despite the negative consequences.

It’s not an exaggeration to describe the iGeneration as being on the brink of the worst mental health crisis in decades – Jean Twenge

Technology is not where your children will get true encouragement and strength. Encourage them. Speak strength into them. Guide your children toward wisdom and courage.

Don’t be driven by technology. Drive it! You be the one in control.

Phubbing – looking at your smart phone instead into the eyes of the person who is talking to you.

Is God the center of your life or is technology the center of your life?

Do not be deceived. Friends can have a bad influence. We influence our family and friends by our digital connections.

Beware of internet games with a dark side because we are fighting a spiritual warfare.

The positive side of digital technology: Our lives are made easier. Instant/constant connections. Global opportunities to spread the Gospel.

The negative side of digital technology: Technology is persuasive and needs our attention. Causes distractions. We miss the beauty of God’s creation.

Be transformed into a person of positive influence.

Is the way you use media nudging people to or away from God?

We are eternal beings and we influence people who are eternal beings.

Remember your early days of driving a car? You didn’t learn about the telephone poles, you learned about the road, your surroundings and those around you. God is our source of wisdom for navigating the technical highway. Don’t look to social media or the government to protect you from internet “telephone poles.”

The government and tech company leaders do not care about your heart.