DIGITAL COCAINE: A Journey Toward iBalanceby Brad Huddleston

Are you concerned about what the overuse and missuse of technology is doing to our young people and to us as teachers and parents?

“I have the right to do anything,” you say--but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)

• Grace and repentance• Addiction, not metaphorically, but in a literal and medical sense• Dopamine in the brain

iCRAZY – PANIC. DEPRESSION. PSYCHOSIS.“The computer is like electronic cocaine, fueling cycles of mania followed by depressive stretches.”

• Digital detox rehabilitation centers: 200 in South Korea (the most wired nation in the world), and China has 300• Digital dementia• Anxiety disorder - FOMO (fear of missing out)• Pleasure center of the brain - nucleus accumbens• Nomophobia (phone separation anxiety)• Consider changing your order and method of working with screens

• Multitasking: the brain must switch tasks. Multiple media use is tied to depression and anxiety• Schemas: Networks of associations in the brain. Multitasking disrupts this process• How this affects us spiritually• Social video gaming/cyber bullying: words affect us physically in the brain• Gaming has caused an enormous amount of problems around the world

“Spending two hours on a game station is equivalent to taking a line of cocaine in the high it produces.” -Steve Pope

• Anger is the number one manifestation from video gaming• Pornography: a type of polydrug, like Cocaine and Heroin combined• Minecraft: most addictive video game• What’s the worst thing about pornography? Matthew 5:27-29

• Anhedonia: (Source: Thrilled To Death by Dr. Archibald Hart)• Nucleus accumbens: reward area/pleasure center of the brain• When you overstress your brain it produces a chemical barrier• Numbness, I no longer feel anything• Pleasure with God

“If you want to drown out the voice of God just overdo it with technology and you will.”• Self harm epidemic - cutting; there’s a digital link

So what do we do about it?• “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age”

by Catherine Steiner-Adair EdD (Book) • “8 Ways Screens Are Ruining Your Family’s Life” by Lori Leibovich (Online Article)

1. Don’t put your baby in front of a screen. Ever.2. And think hard about putting your toddler in front of one too.

Yes, your television is a screen.

• LOS ALTOS, Calif.: “...Not a computer to be found. No screens at all. They are not allowed...”

“We limit how much technology our kids use at home.” -Steve Jobs

© BRAD HUDDLESTON MINISTRIES

© BRAD HUDDLESTON MINISTRIES

Are you, or will you become a “Low-Tech” parent? 1. Be a parent, not a friend. God called you to be their parent.2. Never introduce video games to your home.3. Remove all technology from bedrooms.4. No music while studying.5. As a parent, you might determine that your child cannot handle a smart phone. A flip phone is an option.6. Any digital activity that goes longer than one hour is going to push the adrenal system over the edge.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

7. Teenagers require about 9.25 hours of sleep per night.8. Make sure the bedroom is completely dark.9. No music while sleeping.10. Turn off all technology at least 2 hours before going to bed.11. Read traditional books.12. Get daily aerobic exercise and get out in nature.

• Do our children know the sweet intimacy of relationship with the Lord . . . or only with their devices?• Do they know how to daily read their Bibles and how to meet with God and then do they do it?

Brad HuddlestonBrad Huddleston is an internationally respected speaker, consultant, teacher and author on the important issues such as technology and culture. He has worked with universities, schools, churches and law enforcement, and spoken to tens of thousands around the world on both the advantages of well-used technology tools and the dangers of the growing trend toward technology addiction. Brad has an on-going collaboration with the Bureau of Market Research (BMR) and its Neuroscience Division at the University of South Africa. Brad has a degree in Computer Science and a Diploma of Biblical Studies. He’s also a frequent guest on radio and television and author of Digital Cocaine: A Journey Toward iBalance and The Dark Side of Technology: Restoring Balance in the Digital Age.

these resources and others can be found at www.bradhuddleston.com/shopStreaming only versions of the videos: bradhuddleston.podia.com

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122THINGS TO DO

INSTEAD OF BEING ON A SCREEN…

1. GET OUTSIDE FOR SOME FRESH AIR AND SUNSHINE

2. START OR ATTEND A BIBLE STUDY3. LISTEN TO AN AUDIO BOOK4. PLAY BIBLE TRIVIA5. USE AND PRACTICE THE TALENTS

GOD HAS GIVEN YOU 6. WRITE MUSIC7. TAKE A WALK8. LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT9. LEARN HOW TO COOK YOUR FAVORITE

MEAL ON YOUR OWN10. DRAW OR PAINT A PICTURE11. GO TO A COFFEE SHOP 12. RIDE A BIKE 13. LEARN TO JUGGLE14. PLAY WITH OR READ TO YOUR SIBLINGS15. LEARN TO WHISTLE WITH AN ACORN OR

BLADE OF GRASS16. TEACH/ASSIST IN A SUNDAY SCHOOL

CLASS/CHILDREN’S CHURCH17. SURPRISE A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A

BIG HUG OR A CLEAN KITCHEN18. HELP OUT WITH A KIDS’ BIBLE CLUB19. EMAIL MISSIONARIES TO TELL THEM

YOU’RE PRAYING FOR THEM20. DO THE THING YOU’VE BEEN

PUTTING OFF21. PLAY BALL WITH YOUR DOG22. LISTEN TO MUSIC23. ASK A PERSON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE

PRAYER FOR, THEN PRAY24. TUTOR OR MENTOR SOMEONE25. PLANT A FLOWER, VEGETABLE, OR HERB

GARDEN26. DO LAUNDRY FOR MOM27. MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE28. GO FOR A RUN 29. GO SKATEBOARDING

30. READ ABOUT MISSIONARIES (WWW.YWAMPUBLISHING.COM) 31. VISIT A LOCAL/NATIONAL PARK,

NATURE PRESERVE, OR LANDMARK32. TAKE AN EVENING DRIVE 33. PRACTICE HOSPITALITY34. LISTEN TO A BIBLE STUDY 35. TAKE A TRIP TO THE ZOO OR VISIT A

MUSEUM 36. RAISE MONEY FOR A MISSIONARY37. PLAY WITH LEGOS38. DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD INVEST

INTO ETERNITY 39. GO BOWLING40. JUMP ROPE41. SEE HOW MANY BOOKS YOU CAN READ

IN A YEAR42. SAVE UP YOUR MONEY TO BLESS

OTHERS IN NEED43. COMPILE HOME VIDEOS OR PICTURE

SLIDESHOWS 44. LEARN HOW TO TIE A NECKTIE OR A

BOW TIE 45. CLEAN THE GARAGE46. GET TO KNOW SOMEONE BY ASKING

THEM QUESTIONS 47. LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE48. LOOK AT THE STARS OR WATCH THE

CLOUDS49. WASH THE CAR 50. GO SWIMMING51. INVITE A FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER 52. HAVE A YARD SALE53. COMMIT TO STUDYING A BOOK OF THE

BIBLE/SPIRITUAL TOPIC54. PRACTICE CALLIGRAPHY 55. BAKE COOKIES FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS56. MAKE A TREAT OR MEAL FOR SOMEONE

WHO IS IN NEED© CALVARY CURRICULUM

57. GET A WORLD MAP AND PRAY FOR EACH COUNTRY

58. CLEAN YOUR BEDROOM59. SIT AROUND A CAMP FIRE60. REACH OUT TO SOMEONE BY CALLING

OR TEXTING THEM61. VOLUNTEER AT A CHRISTIAN CAMP OR

CONFERENCE62. BUILD A TREE HOUSE OR FORT 63. JUMP ON A TRAMPOLINE64. VISIT SOMEONE IN THE HOSPITAL/

NURSING HOME65. LEARN HOW TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL

USING THE WORDLESS BOOK/GOSPEL COLORS

66. ATTEND A SYMPHONY OR CONCERT 67. WORK OUT68. CLIMB A TREE69. DO CHORES70. PLAY A BOARD GAME OR CARD GAME71. TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS72. RESEARCH HEALTHY EATING73. LEARN ANSWERS TO PEOPLE’S MOST

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD, THE BIBLE, CHRISTIANITY, ETC.

74. LEARN TO SEW75. PRACTICE PHOTOGRAPHY76. JOURNAL A FEW LINES EACH DAY77. SERVE AT A HOMELESS SHELTER78. VISIT THE LOCAL FIRE STATION AND

TAKE THEM STORE-BOUGHT COOKIES AND SAY THANK YOU

79. LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE80. READ THE BIBLE 81. GO GET ICE CREAM 82. GO ON A MISSION TRIP83. TAKE A NAP84. PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SHARING THE

GOSPEL (READ “WILL OUR GENERATION SPEAK?” BY GRACE MALLY!)

85. READ A BOOK ALOUD AS A FAMILY (WWW.ENTERLINEGIRLS.COM)

86. SEND A PACKAGE TO SOMEONE TO SHOW THEM THEY’RE LOVED

87. HAVE A PICNIC88. DO A PUZZLE89. REDECORATE A ROOM90. BRUSH YOUR DOG91. GO WATCH A BASKETBALL GAME92. RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY 93. TALK WITH GOD 94. BUY BIBLES FOR KIDS YOU HAVE

CONTACT WITH WHO DON’T ALREADY HAVE BIBLES OF THEIR OWN

95. GET USED TO HAVING SOME QUIET IN YOUR LIFE

96. PRAY FOR PEOPLE AS THEY COME TO YOUR MIND

97. LOOK THROUGH OLD FAMILY PHOTOS OR PRINT PICTURES

98. PLAN A TEA PARTY99. STUDY HOW TO MORE EFFECTIVELY

INTERACT WITH PEOPLE100. SHOW KINDNESS TO SOMEONE NEW101. PLAY ULTIMATE FRISBEE102. HELP OUT AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR, FRIEND,

OR GRANDPARENT103. WRITE A BOOK104. WRITE A FAMILY NEWSLETTER EVEN IF YOU

DON’T SEND IT OUT 105. LEARN TO WOODWORK106. GO TO THE BEACH107. THINK ABOUT WAYS YOU COULD PREPARE

FOR YOUR FUTURE108. FACETIME A GOOD FRIEND109. GO ICE-SKATING110. READ A BOOK ABOUT SOMEONE YOU WANT TO

BE LIKE 111. PRAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE112. PLAY SPORTS WITH FRIENDS113. WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE TO SOMEONE

WHO’S IMPACTED YOUR LIFE114. WALK BAREFOOT IN THE GRASS 115. WRITE A LETTER AND DECORATE THE

ENVELOPE AND THEN SEND IT

116. SUBSCRIBE TO A WHOLESOME MAGAZINE 117. BABYSIT118. LEARN THE REASONS YOU CAN TRUST THE

BIBLE 119. TAKE A BIBLE COURSE120. WRITE DOWN YOUR FAMILY’S STORY, SO

YOU HAVE A RECORD121. WRITE A POEM122. ASK GOD SPECIFICALLY IF THERE IS

SOMETHING HE WANTS YOU TO DO WITH YOUR DAY

© CALVARY CURRICULUM