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.
In order to dive right in to those big topics, Ruth and Jay are setting up the season with an introductory conversation we are calling “episode 0.” In this episode, Ruth and Jay dive into the topic of taming technology and its intersection with spiritual practices in a digital age. They discuss the complexities and emotional layers of technology's role in spiritual formation, ministry, and personal well-being. Ruth shares her long-standing interest in the subject and how technology has transformed her ministry and personal life. Jay brings his experiences as a pastor in Silicon Valley and shares a touching story about technology's impact on his own family life. Then the two do some definitional work around what exactly we mean by technology this season.
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:
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Analog Christian by Jay Y. Kim
Analog Church by Jay Y Kim
Music Credit:
Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist
He is Able from The Lord is in Our Midst (Transforming Worship)
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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