63 | Technology Action Steps, Worshipping God Through Trials & Trusting God in the Fire (Jeff Zaugg)

We release dadAWESOME episodes every Sunday and since this month (March 2019) has 5 Sundays, this is a special bonus episode. Jeff Zaugg shares his reflections on the previous 4 episodes outlining 5 action steps to put this these insights around Screens, Smartphones and Social Media into action. Expanding beyond the technology theme, Jeff shares three stories about trials, pain and choosing to worship in a season of unanswered prayer.

ACTION STEPS from the previous 4 episodes:

1. Hit the "Pause Button" and calm down before responding >> “Angry outbursts teach our kids I can’t go to mom, she’ll freak out or dad isn’t safe. Consider the ramifications of that feeling. If mom or dad isn’t safe, then who will our kids run to for comfort, for advice and for admiration.” (19:45 mark of episode 59)
2. Walk with your kids and become a "Media Mentor" >> We need to walk with and dialog with our kids be creating a safe atmosphere for conversations (20:30 mark of episode 60)
3. Reframe technology to be a fun family connection vs. a battle mentality that frames technology as hostile >> (16:16 mark of episode 61)
4. Avoid using technology as a negative punishment >> Try to minimize punitive conversations around screen time, social media and smartphones (30:00 mark of episode 61)
5. Trust God to bring darkness to light >> embrace the opportunity to walk along side our kids when they are exposed to something on their screens. (20:43 mark of episode 62)

Worshipping God while Walking through Trials:

• Acts 16:22-26 "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.  After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose."
• James 1:2-5 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Trusting God in the Fire:

• Story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
• Daniel 3:15 “if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire…and what God is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”
• As the King was concerned, the only options were to bow or burn; but it didn’t ruffle these Hebrew boys because they had a third option: BELIEVE
• 18 “but even if he does not deliver us from the fire.”
• Hebrews 12:2 “who for the joy set before him endured the cross;”

Hillsong song “Another in the Fire” “And should I ever need reminding How good You've been to me.  I'll count the joy come every battle. Cause I know that's where You'll be”

Another in the Fire (Hillsong United) - Joel Houston and Chris Davenport talk about the story behind Another In The Fire by Hillsong UNITED

Here's a link to my dad's Caring Bridge Updates