Focus on the Family Magazine - April/May 2024
It can be a struggle to raise a family while balancing your work life, social life and relationships. Focus on the Family magazine is here to help! Each complimentary issue delivers fresh, practical Biblical guidance on family and life topics. Every issue comes packed with relevant advice to build up your kids, strengthen your marriage, navigate entertainment and culture, and handle common challenges you may face in your marriage and parenting journeys. Plus you'll find seasonal advice ranging from back-to-school activities to date night tips for you and your spouse.
It can be a struggle to raise a family while balancing your work life, social life and relationships. Focus on the Family magazine is here to help! Each complimentary issue delivers fresh, practical Biblical guidance on family and life topics.
Every issue comes packed with relevant advice to build up your kids, strengthen your marriage, navigate entertainment and culture, and handle common challenges you may face in your marriage and parenting journeys. Plus you'll find seasonal advice ranging from back-to-school activities to date night tips for you and your spouse.
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New<br />
f r o m<br />
f o c u s<br />
Wisely guide your kids through <strong>the</strong><br />
ever-changing landscape of social<br />
media, music, video games and<br />
movies with help from <strong>the</strong> media<br />
experts at Plugged In. You’ll learn<br />
about <strong>the</strong> impacts of digital media<br />
and discover helpful strategies to<br />
limit your kids’ screen time.<br />
Scan to order <strong>on</strong>line at<br />
Shop.<str<strong>on</strong>g>Focus</str<strong>on</strong>g>OnThe<strong>Family</strong>.ca<br />
or call 1.800.661.9800<br />
Remote . . . but c<strong>on</strong>trolled<br />
When our children spread <strong>the</strong>ir wings<br />
and leave home as young adults, we<br />
want <strong>the</strong>m to think critically and biblically<br />
about <strong>the</strong>ir entertainment choices<br />
and technology use. Achieving that<br />
goal requires a strategy that shields<br />
<strong>the</strong>m from destructive c<strong>on</strong>tent and<br />
gradually moves <strong>the</strong>m into dialoguing<br />
about worldview and c<strong>on</strong>tent as <strong>the</strong>y<br />
grow into <strong>the</strong>ir middle teen years.<br />
As a result, <strong>the</strong>y’ll learn what it looks<br />
like to exercise c<strong>on</strong>trol and discernment<br />
in <strong>the</strong>ir media, entertainment<br />
and technology choices. Leaving <strong>the</strong><br />
nest will be <strong>the</strong> next step in <strong>the</strong>ir development<br />
instead of just an opportunity<br />
to go crazy trying all <strong>the</strong> stuff Mom<br />
and Dad wouldn’t let <strong>the</strong>m do. By that<br />
point, <strong>the</strong>y will already have practiced<br />
making entertainment and technology<br />
choices <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own—under our supervisi<strong>on</strong><br />
and with our active engagement.<br />
Growing in discernment<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Bible, we often read about<br />
how our faith compels and propels<br />
us to live differently from <strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Exercising biblical media discernment,<br />
<strong>the</strong>n, involves comparing our<br />
entertainment choices with what<br />
Scripture says is true, h<strong>on</strong>orable, just,<br />
pure, lovely, commendable, excellent<br />
and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).<br />
When we engage with entertainment<br />
and technology through this grid, it<br />
changes our perspectives <strong>on</strong> what we<br />
watch and how we watch it, how we<br />
interact with <strong>on</strong>line c<strong>on</strong>tent and what<br />
entertainment choices we’re willing<br />
to make.<br />
This kind of media discernment is<br />
something we should practice as parents,<br />
even as we model and teach it to<br />
our children. And that requires <strong>on</strong>e<br />
more important step.<br />
Moving bey<strong>on</strong>d<br />
<strong>the</strong> “neutral z<strong>on</strong>e”<br />
It’s tempting to indulge <strong>the</strong> noti<strong>on</strong><br />
that we can dabble in entertainment<br />
without it shaping or influencing<br />
us. Sure, we might avoid <strong>the</strong> really<br />
bad stuff, but by minimizing <strong>the</strong><br />
potentially problematic influence of<br />
entertainment, we likely w<strong>on</strong>'t realize<br />
how much we’ve compromised our<br />
standards.<br />
This is neutral-z<strong>on</strong>e thinking.<br />
History is filled with plenty of neutral<br />
z<strong>on</strong>es where two opposing powers<br />
agree not to go—a safe space of sorts<br />
between <strong>the</strong>m, like <strong>the</strong> demilitarized<br />
z<strong>on</strong>e between North and South Korea.<br />
You might be thinking, What does<br />
this have to do with technology and
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