This week, Ruth and Jay delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by technology in our spiritual lives. They discuss the necessity of solitude, silence, and retreat for spiritual formation and explore how digital distractions can hinder these practices. Ruth shares her personal journey and insights into managing technology's role in her spiritual practices, while Jay offers practical strategies for minimizing digital interruptions. They emphasize the importance of intentionality in creating sacred spaces free from technological distractions and offer thought-provoking questions to help listeners assess their relationship with technology and its impact on their spiritual life.

Questions to ponder this week:

Ask yourself, in the presence of God, where am I?

Am I addicted? Is there any way in which I am a slave or in which I am in bondage to my technologies?

We’re back for Season 27, titled “Taming our Technologies: [Spiritual] Practices for a Digital Age.” This season we have a special co-host, pastor, author, and podcast host Jay Y. Kim! Jay will be joining Ruth all season long to explore the impact technology is having on our lives with God, our attention span, our parenting, our community, and our creativity. Jay and Ruth will wrestle with their own questions and wonderings about finding balance in using technology in good and helpful ways while also acknowledging its challenges. This season aims to be gracefully thought-provoking, practically helpful, and ultimately hopeful and encouraging.

Jay Kim serves as lead pastor at West Gate Church in the Silicon Valley of California. He's the author of several books including Analog Christian, Analog Church, and Listen, Listen, Speak. Jay also hosts the Digital Examen podcast and much of his work focuses on the intersection of the digital age and spiritual formation.

Mentioned in the episode:

Brick device

Wilderness Time by Emilie Griffin

Music Credit:

Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist

Chasing Butterflies from Music in Solitude

On October 8, we will be hosting another full Online Oasis entitled, A Path to Freedom: Moving from the False Self to our True Self in God. In this Online Oasis we will clarify what we mean when referring to the false self and true self, explore the movement from the false self to the true self with reflections on several characters from Scripture, identify key spiritual practices that open us to this grace, and slow down and enter into space for reflection. REGISTER HERE to join us on Wednesday, October 8, from 12:00–1:30 CST for this bit of respite in the middle of your day.

Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes that incorporate a spiritual practice to help balance out the technological woes discussed in each episode. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders. Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.

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