¤[Theme music]
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me.
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In the early 1800s, an
English woman named Mary Shelley
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had a contest with her
future husband and another man
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to see who could
write the best horror story.
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A few years before,
she had traveled in Germany
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near Frankenstein Castle, which
is near the city of Darmstadt.
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It seems that Mary
was influenced by stories
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about Frankenstein Castle,
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and so she wrote the
story of "Frankenstein."
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In Mary Shelley's
novel, a scientist working
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in a laboratory creates
an eight-feet-tall being
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that ends up being
described as a monster.
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It's a story, ultimately,
about science gone wrong.
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A scientist or alchemist
attempts to create something,
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and things don't
work out as intended,
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as he works with the
technology of his day.
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The story was a cautionary tale.
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Technology can come
with unintended consequences.
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And it seems that today,
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society seems to have created
another Frankenstein's monster.
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Technology has given the
world some wonderful things.
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The Industrial Revolution--
that was technology.
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Today, modern medicines
do a great amount of good.
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Modern
transport-- it's incredible.
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Now, you could argue that
there's a downside to some
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of these things, but
there's also a gigantic upside.
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Modern technology
has given us computers.
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Today we're able to
access information anywhere
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in the world from
virtually anywhere in the world,
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any time we like.
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That's good, right?
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You can watch
whatever you want to watch,
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whenever you want to watch it,
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from the privacy of
your own private space.
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That's good, too, right?
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Today you can type
messages in moments,
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send them to anyone anywhere.
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You can post photos to
photo-sharing websites,
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broadcast video of
whatever you're doing,
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wherever you're doing it, to
the whole world, if you want,
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whenever you'd like to do so.
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You no longer need to be a
newspaper publisher to share
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your point of view with
everybody on the entire planet.
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That's good...right?
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Well, we know it
isn't always good.
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And we're coming to
understand more and more that,
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in many cases, it's
actually positively harmful.
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When an Englishman
named Tim Berners-Lee invented
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the World Wide Web early in the
1990s in Geneva, Switzerland,
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it's doubtful that
anyone anywhere realized
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what it would become
only a few short years later.
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And it's probably fair to
say that most people who use
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the internet and modern
technology today don't realize
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what it really has become.
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There's no
question modern technology
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provides great opportunities.
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It's how you're
able to watch this,
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and I'm glad you're able to.
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Technology is used to
promote good values and to share
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positive messages--
and to proclaim the gospel.
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That's good.
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But it seems that when it
comes to modern technology,
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every silver
lining has a dark cloud.
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Today's generation is the
first generation in history
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to be connected to a constant
stream of electronic information
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and entertainment.
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And while that might seem like
a silver lining in many ways,
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that constant
stream of temptation,
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the constant access to
sin, is a very dark cloud.
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Today's young people
have to grow up in a world
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where being liked means
something slightly different
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to what it meant
a generation ago,
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and the pressures
that come along with that
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are impacting the
lives of young people--
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and the lives of
not-so-young people--
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in a very, very real way.
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Society is now wired.
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Or more to the
point, it's wireless.
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Whereas television
decades ago brought the world
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into the living room,
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smartphones bring the
world into your pocket.
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And it's a
different kind of world,
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a world where there
are virtually no controls.
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And what's the constant
connection with the internet
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doing to us as individuals?
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How's it challenging
people of faith who claim
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to be disciples of Jesus Christ?
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And what's it doing to society?
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Websites today offer
you anything you want.
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And a lot of things
that you really don't want.
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It's no secret that there's some
dark content on the internet.
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Unfortunately, it's
eminently accessible,
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even to children.
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I spoke with one young lady,
who shared with me just how easy
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it can be for children to
access the sort of content
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that parents don't
want their children seeing.
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>>Kyla Steinkraus: I
took my family to church,
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um, myself, my
husband, my 12-year-old son,
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and my 7-year-old daughter.
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And I took my
daughter to go to the bathroom,
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and I left my
son in the back row.
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My husband was volunteering
in the audio-visual department,
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which is a back room
that has a glassed-in window,
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um, but he was not directly
with my son at the time.
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And when I came
back a few minutes later,
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after taking my
daughter to the bathroom,
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um, I found my husband with
a tablet and a 10-year-old boy,
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and he was very upset.
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So I asked him what happened,
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and he said that
the 10-year-old boy
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had just shown my son
pornography on his tablet--
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at church.
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>>John: In church?
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>>Kyla: Yes, in church.
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And I was so, so
upset I was shaking.
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It took me a minute to
really--for it to sink in.
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It was definitely a
very negative experience,
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a very saddening experience.
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Your child loses some of
their innocence at that point,
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and it was, it was a
hard thing to go through.
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>>John: So, how'd this happen?
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>>Kyla: The
10-year-old boy had the tablet,
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and he came over and sat by
my son and his friend and said,
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"Here, I want to
show you something,"
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and he pulled up the
pornography on his tablet
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and showed it to the boys.
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And to their
credit, both boys said,
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"No, we don't
want to look at this."
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But the 10-year-old then shoved
it in their faces and said,
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"No, I want you to see this."
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My husband, who
was in the A/V, um,
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heard the commotion and
looked through the window
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and saw that
something was happening,
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saw the boys trying
to push the tablet away.
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And so when he came out
and saw what was on the tablet,
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he got very upset
and took it immediately.
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And that's the
point where I came in.
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And I took the
boy aside and said,
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"You're 10, you
know; you're 10 years old.
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How did you
even get pornography?
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Like, what happened?"
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And that's when he told me
that he had an Instagram account
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and a pornography company
had created a profile page with,
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um, a picture of a
beautiful scantily-clad woman,
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who then went and searched
for this young boy's profile--
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or, well, they
were searching for kids
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and found him and was
posting little comments
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under his pictures.
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And so, as a curious
kid, he clicked on it to see
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what it was, and it took
him directly to pornography,
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unfortunately.
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>>John: I think that's something
many parents don't realize,
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is that there are
predators-- individuals or sites
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or companies, or
whatever they might do--
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that are coming after your kid.
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They don't care who the kid is,
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just as long as they can get
access and then groom the child.
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It's very intentional
what's going on, right?
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>>Kyla: Yes, correct.
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I know an 11-year-old girl
who had an adult child predator
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pretend to be
another 11-year-old boy
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and start chatting with her,
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and over time said that he
wanted to be her boyfriend,
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and then asked her to send
pictures of herself to him,
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and then asked her to send
nude pictures of herself to him,
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which she did.
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>>John: She did--11 years old?
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>>Kyla: She
did, at 11 years old.
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>>John: Well,
well, let me ask you,
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so, this
11-year-old that you know of,
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uh, was she that kind of kid?
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Is she the sort of kid
that a person might say,
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someone who knows her, say,
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"Yeah, well, she'd
do something like that"?
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Or, totally out of the blue?
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>>Kyla: No, it was
very out of the blue.
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She was just in
fifth grade, very innocent,
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had never had a
boyfriend before.
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She was very
childish, very young.
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It was totally
shocking and unexpected,
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and, and out of the blue,
and the parents were devastated.
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>>John: I, I think
that's a really important point,
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and I--forgive me for
asking the way I did--
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"was she that kind of kid."
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I don't know how
many 11-year-olds
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are that kind of kid.
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But, you know, there are
some children you might say,
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"Yeah, well, it wouldn't
surprise me if this child
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did something reckless."
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But what you're saying
is this was a model child
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from a model
family without any signs
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that she might do something,
which is quite remarkable.
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It's quite a step
from playing a game to...
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sharing those
kind of photographs.
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How do you think then--and
this means that any parent
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must realize that, that
their family is at risk,
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under similar circumstance.
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How did that
child get from A to B?
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How did that process take place?
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>>Kyla: Well, I, you know, I
hear it a lot where parents are.
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They, you know, they
give their kids a smartphone,
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but they say, "Well,
my kids are good kids."
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Uh, "My kids
would never do that."
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Um, they'll, "They
would never try to do that,"
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or "They wouldn't be interested
in that kind of thing."
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But the thing is, is
that it's not that their kid
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is going out looking
for that kind of stuff.
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That stuff is looking
for their kid and is--
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those companies,
those child predators
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are hunting these kids.
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>>John: So, this 11-year-old
child shared pictures
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that no parent wants an
11-year-old child sharing.
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What happens to those pictures?
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>>Kyla: The
parents did call the FBI,
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and it was an
adult child predator
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who had targeted their daughter.
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But they were unable
to recover the pictures,
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so the pictures are now
part of the child pornography.
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They get shared among pedophiles
and predators online...forever.
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>>John: And that's not
something that any parent
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wants to go through.
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>>Kyla: No.
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>>John: Or have
the child go through.
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>>Kyla: Yeah.
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>>John: So, Kyla,
let me ask you this.
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Parents are watching
this, and they're thinking,
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oh, my goodness.
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What should
parents who are concerned--
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what should they do?
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What can they do right
now to address the situation
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in their own
experience-- like, right now?
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>>Kyla: I think the
number one most important thing
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that they could do right
now is take away the smartphone.
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It really gives your kid
unfettered access to everything.
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And gives predators
unfettered access to your child.
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And it's not the
coolest thing to do;
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it's not the
easiest thing to do.
00:11:03.49\00:11:05.76
But to me, my
child's-- your child's safety
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and your child's soul is
the most important thing.
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>>John: Kyla, thanks so
much. I appreciate this a lot.
00:11:14.47\00:11:17.47
We'll be back with
more in just a moment.
00:11:17.51\00:11:19.84
¤[Theme music]
00:11:19.87\00:11:27.35
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>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:11:58.68\00:12:01.08
I'm John Bradshaw.
00:12:01.12\00:12:03.02
It's a new age.
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Modern technology has
changed the way that we do life.
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Now, you've seen people
sitting together in a group,
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but everybody has
their heads...down;
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they're gazing at their devices.
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Now, is that harmful?
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Well, no, not necessarily.
00:12:16.90\00:12:18.20
But the
potential for harm is huge.
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And that
potential is being realized.
00:12:21.90\00:12:24.11
Now, in a moment we're going
to talk about social media--
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Facebook and Instagram
and Snapchat and Twitter
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and so forth.
00:12:28.61\00:12:29.54
They are huge today.
00:12:29.58\00:12:32.31
But there's a fundamental issue
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that we're going
to discuss first.
00:12:33.62\00:12:35.62
The internet has really brought
with it the death of privacy.
00:12:35.65\00:12:40.36
Now, privacy is a human right,
00:12:40.39\00:12:42.72
recognized as such
by the United Nations.
00:12:42.76\00:12:44.99
Now, you might think you're
carrying a smartphone with you
00:12:45.03\00:12:47.30
when what you're actually
carrying with you is a...
00:12:47.36\00:12:50.60
tracking device.
00:12:50.63\00:12:52.13
You see, unless
you've taken action,
00:12:52.17\00:12:53.67
your smartphone
tracks your movements.
00:12:53.70\00:12:56.40
It keeps a record of
everywhere you've been
00:12:56.44\00:12:59.14
and of most things that
you've thought or written.
00:12:59.17\00:13:02.81
Your laptop or your smartphone
almost certainly contains
00:13:02.84\00:13:06.11
information that you
don't want other people seeing.
00:13:06.15\00:13:10.09
Take a look at your search
history and then ask yourself
00:13:10.12\00:13:13.02
how you'd feel if simply your
search history was made public--
00:13:13.05\00:13:17.13
and not because you've
necessarily done anything
00:13:17.16\00:13:19.09
illegal or immoral.
00:13:19.13\00:13:20.70
Your devices contain an enormous
amount of sensitive information
00:13:20.73\00:13:23.80
about you--maybe health
information or other personal
00:13:23.83\00:13:26.70
or interpersonal information.
00:13:26.74\00:13:29.44
What you post online,
00:13:29.47\00:13:30.97
whether that be a photo
or a comment or an opinion,
00:13:31.01\00:13:33.98
becomes part of a permanent
electronic record of your life.
00:13:34.01\00:13:38.58
Kids--or adults, for
that matter--who post photos
00:13:38.61\00:13:41.32
or conversations online
ought to be asking themselves
00:13:41.35\00:13:44.15
if what they are posting is
what they would want a teacher
00:13:44.19\00:13:47.76
or a grandmother to see.
00:13:47.79\00:13:50.03
It's, it's a must
to think that way.
00:13:50.06\00:13:51.96
You see, even if you think that
you've got nothing to hide--
00:13:51.99\00:13:54.56
which may well be true--
00:13:54.56\00:13:56.30
you've certainly got
something to protect.
00:13:56.33\00:13:59.40
Devices are often now
a gateway to accounts,
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.00
emails, personal information.
00:14:03.04\00:14:05.87
Essentially, they're a gateway
00:14:05.91\00:14:07.78
to a running
history of your life.
00:14:07.81\00:14:10.85
And you don't want people
getting their hands on that.
00:14:10.88\00:14:13.98
I talked with Michael Dinkins,
an internet security expert
00:14:15.02\00:14:19.72
at UTC, the University
of Tennessee at Chattanooga,
00:14:19.75\00:14:23.32
and he shared with
me some ways that people
00:14:23.36\00:14:25.23
can protect themselves online.
00:14:25.26\00:14:27.50
>>Michael Dinkins: Well,
first thing, in my opinion,
00:14:28.73\00:14:30.30
is to become aware of
what the "threat-scape" is.
00:14:30.33\00:14:33.67
Uh, they need to understand
fully what, what is the attack,
00:14:33.70\00:14:37.51
uh, and what's coming at them.
00:14:37.54\00:14:39.07
You need to use
strong passwords.
00:14:39.11\00:14:41.11
You need to, uh,
upgrade your systems,
00:14:41.14\00:14:43.38
make sure it has the
latest operating system patches,
00:14:43.41\00:14:45.88
latest security patches.
00:14:45.91\00:14:47.88
You should have
different account names
00:14:47.92\00:14:50.52
and different account passwords
for every site that you go to.
00:14:50.55\00:14:53.56
You have screen
time for children, uh,
00:14:53.59\00:14:56.32
that should be monitored, uh,
because they can go anywhere.
00:14:56.36\00:15:00.33
They need to understand
that once you put something
00:15:00.36\00:15:03.37
on a social networking site, or
even in a private drive space,
00:15:03.40\00:15:07.67
once it's out
there, it's out there,
00:15:07.70\00:15:08.94
and it's out
there probably forever.
00:15:08.97\00:15:11.51
Take advantage of any
convenience that you want to,
00:15:11.54\00:15:14.64
but understand that whenever
you embrace convenience,
00:15:14.68\00:15:17.35
somebody else
knows about it, you know.
00:15:17.38\00:15:20.38
So, uh, you've just got to
find that balance on how...
00:15:20.42\00:15:25.49
invisible you want
to be on the internet.
00:15:25.52\00:15:28.26
>>John: It comes as a terrible
surprise to a lot of people
00:15:29.26\00:15:31.39
to learn that their email
service gives third parties
00:15:31.43\00:15:34.36
the right to read their
email, which is entirely legal
00:15:34.40\00:15:37.90
because you
checked off on fine print,
00:15:37.93\00:15:40.27
which made it
legal for that to happen.
00:15:40.30\00:15:43.44
People give away a lot
about themselves online.
00:15:43.47\00:15:46.27
Now, again, only you can
decide how much is too much.
00:15:46.31\00:15:50.51
But research from Cambridge
University has said that
00:15:50.55\00:15:53.05
after you "like"
just 10 Facebook pages,
00:15:53.08\00:15:56.85
advertisers can get to know
you as well as a colleague does.
00:15:56.89\00:16:00.79
After 70 "likes," someone with
that information can know you
00:16:00.82\00:16:04.36
about as well as
a close friend does.
00:16:04.39\00:16:06.70
And after 150 "likes"?
00:16:06.73\00:16:09.13
You've essentially given
up as much about yourself
00:16:09.16\00:16:12.13
as your parents know.
00:16:12.17\00:16:14.74
Advertisers once thought
that consumers would become
00:16:14.77\00:16:17.11
desensitized to
this lack of privacy,
00:16:17.14\00:16:19.51
but studies show
that the opposite
00:16:19.54\00:16:22.14
appears to be happening.
00:16:22.18\00:16:23.98
So, what about social
media and the effect it's having
00:16:24.01\00:16:26.98
on your life and on society?
00:16:27.02\00:16:28.98
And what does the Bible
say that speaks to this?
00:16:29.02\00:16:32.59
I'll be right back.
00:16:32.62\00:16:33.86
¤[Theme music]
00:16:33.89\00:16:41.96
>>John: Thank
you for remembering
00:16:42.63\00:16:43.67
that It Is Written exists
00:16:43.70\00:16:45.33
because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:16:45.37\00:16:48.07
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:16:48.10\00:16:51.24
please call us
now at 800-253-3000
00:16:51.27\00:16:55.61
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:16:55.64\00:16:57.01
to the address on your screen,
00:16:57.05\00:16:58.48
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com
00:16:58.51\00:17:02.15
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:17:02.18\00:17:04.92
Our number again is 800-253-3000
00:17:04.95\00:17:09.39
Or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com
00:17:09.42\00:17:12.66
¤[Music]
00:17:12.99\00:17:14.10
>>John: Thursday,
August the 5th, 2010,
00:17:14.10\00:17:16.43
was not a happy day for 33 men
00:17:16.46\00:17:20.27
when a collapse
in a mine in Chile
00:17:20.30\00:17:23.24
buried them 2,300
feet below ground.
00:17:23.27\00:17:28.38
No matter how much
they tried to escape,
00:17:28.41\00:17:30.65
there was no way out.
00:17:30.68\00:17:32.55
Rescue would have
to come from above.
00:17:32.58\00:17:36.99
On the outskirts
of the San Jose Mine,
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.55
over two-and-a-half
thousand people gathered,
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.96
and with each failed rescue
attempt, despair increased.
00:17:42.99\00:17:48.00
Families gathered
together to pray for a miracle.
00:17:48.03\00:17:53.10
From the Atacama Desert
comes a story of tragedy,
00:17:53.13\00:17:56.57
a story of uncertainty,
yet a story of courage,
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.38
hope, and ultimately,
a story of salvation.
00:18:00.41\00:18:04.31
Wait on the Lord, and
the miracle will come.
00:18:04.35\00:18:08.25
"Trapped."
00:18:08.78\00:18:10.02
Watch now on itiswritten.tv
00:18:10.05\00:18:13.02
>>John: Thanks for joining
me today on It Is Written.
00:18:13.92\00:18:16.36
The world has changed.
00:18:16.39\00:18:17.93
Technology has rewritten
the rules of engagement.
00:18:17.96\00:18:21.10
Young people, especially,
are being forced to grow up
00:18:21.13\00:18:23.50
in a world that is radically
different from the world
00:18:23.53\00:18:26.10
their parents or
grandparents grew up in.
00:18:26.13\00:18:28.64
Temptation looks different today
than it did in days gone by.
00:18:28.67\00:18:32.11
Temptation now hunts for you--
00:18:32.14\00:18:34.54
and your
children or grandchildren.
00:18:34.58\00:18:36.54
And it comes in more
attractive ways than it used to.
00:18:36.58\00:18:39.48
And that's by design.
00:18:39.51\00:18:42.65
Social media sites were
created by very bright people,
00:18:42.68\00:18:46.32
whose intent was to get
you to use their product
00:18:46.35\00:18:49.19
as much as possible.
00:18:49.22\00:18:50.93
In other words, they
want to get you hooked.
00:18:50.96\00:18:55.13
It's interesting
that in recent times,
00:18:55.16\00:18:57.30
some of the people who
took part in developing
00:18:57.33\00:18:59.77
social media services like
Facebook have expressed regret
00:18:59.80\00:19:03.87
over what they created.
00:19:03.91\00:19:06.11
Facebook's founding
president has criticized the way
00:19:06.14\00:19:09.24
that the company
"exploits a vulnerability
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.91
in human psychology"
by creating what he called
00:19:11.95\00:19:14.48
a "social-validation
feedback loop."
00:19:14.52\00:19:18.12
Another said he believed
that social media was "eroding
00:19:18.15\00:19:21.09
the core
foundations of how people behave
00:19:21.12\00:19:23.53
by and between each other."
00:19:23.56\00:19:25.69
That same man said that
he doesn't doesn't allow
00:19:25.73\00:19:27.86
his children to use social media
00:19:27.93\00:19:30.07
because of the way it
deliberately hooks people
00:19:30.10\00:19:32.60
to spend more and more time
on those sites and to divulge
00:19:32.63\00:19:37.91
more and more personal
information about themselves.
00:19:37.94\00:19:41.21
He said, "You don't realize it,
but you are being programmed,"
00:19:41.24\00:19:45.28
saying that people
have to decide how much
00:19:45.31\00:19:47.25
of their
intellectual independence
00:19:47.28\00:19:49.45
they are prepared to give up.
00:19:49.48\00:19:51.89
A former Google executive said,
00:19:51.92\00:19:53.46
"Our minds can be hijacked.
00:19:53.49\00:19:55.72
Our choices are not as
free as we think they are."
00:19:55.76\00:20:00.16
And the
technology obviously works.
00:20:00.20\00:20:02.93
One piece of research said
that the average millennial
00:20:02.96\00:20:05.73
checks their
phone 157 times a day.
00:20:05.77\00:20:11.41
A former Facebook executive
said that social media sites
00:20:11.44\00:20:14.18
are "exploiting a vulnerability
in human psychology."
00:20:14.21\00:20:19.51
And maybe here's the rub.
00:20:19.55\00:20:21.25
One of the co-creators
of the "like" button said,
00:20:21.28\00:20:24.69
"If we're not vigilant,
computers and mobile devices
00:20:24.72\00:20:28.49
will guide our
attention poorly."
00:20:28.52\00:20:31.49
Think about that.
00:20:31.53\00:20:32.63
The "like" button was
created to exploit our desire
00:20:32.66\00:20:35.66
to be affirmed--or liked.
00:20:35.70\00:20:38.00
You can easily see how it
can lead a person to do or say
00:20:38.03\00:20:40.94
or post things that later
they might seriously regret.
00:20:40.97\00:20:44.97
You know, people
have been killed,
00:20:45.01\00:20:46.81
people have died doing
crazy things in an attempt
00:20:46.84\00:20:50.51
to make content that
they hoped would go viral.
00:20:50.55\00:20:54.78
They wanted to be
seen and noticed and liked.
00:20:54.82\00:21:00.66
Now, think of the
spiritual ramifications of this.
00:21:00.69\00:21:04.89
You've likely heard people say,
00:21:04.93\00:21:06.29
"I go online;
00:21:06.33\00:21:07.40
I go to Facebook or
YouTube for just a few minutes.
00:21:07.40\00:21:10.40
I just waste time
scrolling through comments
00:21:10.43\00:21:13.60
and clicking on links."
00:21:13.64\00:21:15.37
You might have
said that yourself.
00:21:15.40\00:21:17.31
What is seen as a form
of entertainment really is
00:21:17.34\00:21:20.24
nothing less than an addiction
for a whole lot of people.
00:21:20.28\00:21:24.68
Now, there's another
purpose of social media.
00:21:24.71\00:21:26.88
One, they want to get
you hooked to use their site.
00:21:26.92\00:21:28.92
Secondly-- think about this--
00:21:28.95\00:21:30.89
Facebook, for example, isn't
selling you social networking.
00:21:30.92\00:21:33.79
They're giving
that to you for free.
00:21:33.82\00:21:35.82
What they're
selling is information--
00:21:35.86\00:21:38.19
your
information-- to other people.
00:21:38.23\00:21:40.83
And how are they
getting that information?
00:21:40.86\00:21:43.10
You're giving it to them.
00:21:43.13\00:21:44.77
Now, again, you might
not have a problem with this.
00:21:44.80\00:21:46.70
It surely isn't illegal.
00:21:46.74\00:21:48.54
But it tells you how careful
you have to be to make sure
00:21:48.57\00:21:50.84
that you're not
sharing more about yourself
00:21:50.87\00:21:53.51
than is appropriate--things
that are not dangerous to share.
00:21:53.54\00:21:58.25
So now, let's look at
a few biblical principles
00:21:58.28\00:22:00.85
to help guide us
with modern technology.
00:22:00.88\00:22:03.75
One, you want to live like
you've got nothing to hide.
00:22:03.79\00:22:07.72
To do that, you want
to have nothing to hide.
00:22:07.76\00:22:10.43
The internet has a way of
sucking people into doing things
00:22:10.46\00:22:13.50
that they might
not otherwise do,
00:22:13.53\00:22:15.30
and saying things they
might not otherwise say.
00:22:15.33\00:22:17.77
So, here are some
Bible verses to keep in mind
00:22:17.80\00:22:20.14
that can help you with this.
00:22:20.17\00:22:21.54
Psalm 51, verse
10, David's prayer.
00:22:21.57\00:22:24.17
He prayed,
00:22:24.21\00:22:25.04
"Create in me a
clean heart, O God;
00:22:25.07\00:22:27.61
and renew a right
spirit within me."
00:22:27.64\00:22:30.31
Second Corinthians 5, verse 17:
00:22:30.35\00:22:32.35
"Therefore if any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature:
00:22:32.38\00:22:35.92
old things are passed away;
00:22:35.95\00:22:38.12
behold, all
things are become new."
00:22:38.15\00:22:40.62
So, you want to be
fully given to Christ.
00:22:40.66\00:22:42.92
There's a lot of
garbage on the internet,
00:22:42.96\00:22:44.96
in the media, in society.
00:22:44.99\00:22:47.03
Only the power
of God in your life
00:22:47.10\00:22:49.66
is going to keep you from that.
00:22:49.70\00:22:51.87
That's all.
00:22:51.90\00:22:52.83
There's a lot of
tawdry stuff online.
00:22:52.87\00:22:55.10
Even reputable
websites leave little or nothing
00:22:55.14\00:22:58.34
to the imagination these days.
00:22:58.37\00:23:00.04
There's very little
that's hidden anymore.
00:23:00.08\00:23:02.24
And that's a
challenge for believers.
00:23:02.28\00:23:04.41
So, remember what Paul wrote
00:23:04.45\00:23:05.98
in Philippians
chapter 4 and verse 8:
00:23:06.01\00:23:08.52
"Finally, brethren, whatever
is true, whatever is honorable,
00:23:08.55\00:23:12.62
whatever is
right, whatever is pure,
00:23:12.65\00:23:14.99
whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good report,
00:23:15.02\00:23:17.59
if there is any excellence and
if anything worthy of praise,
00:23:17.63\00:23:21.30
dwell on these things."
00:23:21.33\00:23:24.47
God says there are some things
00:23:24.50\00:23:25.90
that shouldn't
even be on your mind.
00:23:25.93\00:23:28.50
There's no doubt modern
technology has made it easier
00:23:28.54\00:23:31.61
than ever before
to encounter sin,
00:23:31.64\00:23:34.24
and harder than ever
to keep away from it.
00:23:34.28\00:23:37.38
Technology has made it
easier than ever to access sin
00:23:37.41\00:23:41.12
and to access it privately.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.32
It's easier than ever to
encounter meanness and hate.
00:23:43.35\00:23:46.59
The internet is full of it.
00:23:46.62\00:23:48.06
It's easier than ever
to be victimized by others,
00:23:48.09\00:23:50.66
even by people
that you don't know.
00:23:50.69\00:23:52.79
What we need is the
power of God to keep us away
00:23:52.83\00:23:55.86
from where we shouldn't be and
to keep us where we should be.
00:23:55.90\00:23:58.43
It's essential that
you know Jesus as a friend,
00:23:58.47\00:24:02.17
so that you are
validated by Him,
00:24:02.20\00:24:04.57
and you don't feel the need to
be validated by others online--
00:24:04.61\00:24:07.94
chasing "likes" instead
of pursuing the love of God.
00:24:07.98\00:24:12.78
It's essential we're able
to keep our lives in balance.
00:24:12.81\00:24:15.35
Of course, you can have
healthy relationships online,
00:24:15.38\00:24:17.79
healthy interests online.
00:24:17.82\00:24:19.72
But it's easy to
become unhealthy.
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.72
God is able to keep you where
you need to be and want to be.
00:24:22.76\00:24:27.60
We need the ability
to say what we should,
00:24:27.66\00:24:30.70
and not to say
what we shouldn't.
00:24:30.73\00:24:32.80
A lot of people have
made their lives complicated
00:24:32.83\00:24:34.74
by forgetting Proverbs 13,
verse 3 when they go online.
00:24:34.77\00:24:37.41
"He who guards his
mouth preserves his life,
00:24:37.44\00:24:41.08
but he who opens wide his
lips shall have destruction."
00:24:41.11\00:24:45.21
If Solomon was
writing that today,
00:24:45.25\00:24:47.28
he might have said something
about guarding the keyboard.
00:24:47.32\00:24:50.49
And we need something that
the Bible calls "temperance."
00:24:50.52\00:24:54.16
Galatians 5:22 and 23 says this:
00:24:54.19\00:24:57.36
"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
00:24:57.39\00:25:01.43
gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
00:25:01.46\00:25:05.93
against such there is no law."
00:25:05.97\00:25:09.10
That word "temperance,"
00:25:09.14\00:25:10.27
that's what we
would call "self-control."
00:25:10.31\00:25:13.38
I saw a definition
of that, which said,
00:25:13.41\00:25:17.21
"The virtue of one who masters
his or her desires and passions,
00:25:17.25\00:25:22.88
especially sensual appetites."
00:25:22.92\00:25:26.52
You see, what we need is
surrender to the Holy Spirit.
00:25:26.55\00:25:30.03
As the times change,
temptations change with them,
00:25:30.06\00:25:34.13
or at least, temptation is
brought to us in different ways.
00:25:34.20\00:25:37.77
Revelation 14:12
speaks about the "saints...
00:25:37.80\00:25:40.60
who keep the commandments
of God and the faith of Jesus."
00:25:40.64\00:25:45.07
Technology has not
made that unattainable.
00:25:45.11\00:25:49.14
But it should make us
realize that we need God;
00:25:49.18\00:25:52.38
we need the Holy Spirit in
our lives more than ever before.
00:25:52.41\00:25:57.22
If you're struggling
with this, God can help you.
00:25:57.25\00:25:59.92
And He will.
00:25:59.95\00:26:01.02
Ask God to be your
strength; tell Him He must.
00:26:01.06\00:26:04.69
Ask God to deliver you.
00:26:04.73\00:26:06.39
And watch God work--
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.10
and experience
God's power in your life.
00:26:08.13\00:26:13.03
>>Announcer: To receive your
free DVD copy of this program,
00:26:13.90\00:26:16.54
call us now at 800-253-3000
00:26:16.57\00:26:20.31
"The Dangers of Technology"
DVD also includes bonus material
00:26:20.34\00:26:23.88
from internet security
expert Michael Dinkins,
00:26:23.91\00:26:26.65
which will help keep you
and your family safe online.
00:26:26.68\00:26:30.42
Don't miss "The
Dangers of Technology."
00:26:30.45\00:26:32.65
It's yours free when
you call 800-253-3000
00:26:32.69\00:26:36.73
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:26:36.76\00:26:38.49
or visit iiwoffer.com
00:26:38.53\00:26:43.50
>>John Bradshaw:
Let's pray together now.
00:26:44.27\00:26:46.03
Our Father in heaven, we
know that modern technology
00:26:46.07\00:26:48.97
brings temptation to
us like never before.
00:26:49.00\00:26:51.27
¤[Music]
00:26:51.31\00:26:52.41
And look at us. We're
just poor, weak people,
00:26:52.44\00:26:55.81
in need of Your
help and Your strength.
00:26:55.84\00:26:58.75
So, thank You that You
have pledged not to leave us
00:26:58.78\00:27:01.85
and not to forsake us.
00:27:01.88\00:27:03.28
We need Your
assistance; we need Your power
00:27:03.32\00:27:05.72
in this very real
battle against sin,
00:27:05.75\00:27:08.32
as presented to us
in this modern age.
00:27:08.36\00:27:11.63
Lord, I pray, protect
us online and offline.
00:27:11.66\00:27:14.76
Give us wisdom, self-control
as we live our online lives.
00:27:14.83\00:27:21.77
And I pray, Lord, that our
primary pursuit would be Jesus.
00:27:21.80\00:27:25.67
Teach us to love Your approval
00:27:25.71\00:27:29.81
more than the
approval of others.
00:27:29.84\00:27:31.51
And keep us where we ought
to be, even when our weakened,
00:27:31.55\00:27:34.45
fallen hearts want to
lead us in another way.
00:27:34.48\00:27:37.39
Give us Your Spirit,
that we are born again,
00:27:37.42\00:27:40.36
and keep us in the center
of Your will now and ever.
00:27:40.39\00:27:43.06
We pray in Jesus's name.
00:27:43.09\00:27:46.06
Amen.
00:27:46.09\00:27:47.60
Thanks so much for joining me.
00:27:47.60\00:27:49.03
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:49.06\00:27:51.23
Until then, remember:
00:27:51.27\00:27:52.93
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:52.97\00:27:56.84
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:56.87\00:28:02.84
¤[Theme music]
00:28:02.88\00:28:12.92
¤[Theme music]
00:28:12.92\00:28:25.97