DadAwesome DA384 | Turning Down the Noise, Turning Up the Presence: A Dad's Guide to Analog Living (Jay Kim)
✅ The 5-movement Examen prayer that's transforming bedtimes (free PDF included!)
✅ Why this dad says NO social media until 18 (and the research backing him up)
✅ Simple breath prayers that turn everyday moments into encounters with God
✅ The daily catechism question that reminds his kids of their true identity
In a world where screens compete for our attention every waking moment, how do we raise kids who know they belong to God instead of their devices? Jay Kim, a pastor living in Silicon Valley, shares his family's journey of moving at the "pace of peace" while navigating digital distractions. From practicing the ancient prayer of Examen with his 10 and 7-year-old to implementing radical boundaries around smartphones, Jay offers practical wisdom for dads who want to show up—really show up—for their children in an analog way.
TAKEAWAYS
- Moving at the "pace of peace" means prioritizing relationships over plans and never compromising people for productivity
- The Examen prayer creates a powerful bedtime rhythm: presence, gratitude, reflection, confession, and hope for tomorrow
- Breath prayers can transform everyday moments—try "God, you control outcomes" (inhale) and "help me to be faithful" (exhale)
- Digital addiction requires intentional intervention: practice one hour tech-free daily, one day weekly, one week yearly
- Your kids need to see you detached from devices—dock phones away from family spaces to model analog presence
- Catechism in daily rhythms reinforces identity: "What is our only hope in life and death? We are not our own, we belong to God"
- Social media should have age restrictions like alcohol and tobacco—consider no social media until 18
- The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) is the antidote to digital-age discontentment, fragility, and foolishness
GUEST
Jay Kim is a pastor in Northern California's Silicon Valley, author of multiple books including Analog Christian and Analog Church, and host of the Digital Examen podcast. He and his wife Jenny have two children and are committed to practicing intentional, incarnational family rhythms in one of the world's most digitally connected regions. Jay's work focuses on helping followers of Jesus navigate technology with wisdom while cultivating deeper spiritual practices.
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- Analog Christian by Jay Kim
- Analog Church by Jay Kim
- Digital Examen Podcast
- The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Examen Prayer Family Guide (Free PDF)
- Heidelberg Catechism for Children
- Listen. Listen. Speak. by Jay Kim