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Faith and Tech Bytes with Amy Lynn.
Everything is going to let you down in some way shape or form. This not a curse, it's the likelihood of life. No human is perfect. Each of us have our own responsibilities in life and our own burdens. Sometimes we can expect too much out of people not knowing their troubles in life. We can often feel disrespected if we ask for something and it's not done. Either because it's forgotten about or the person just didn't want to do it. Think back to when you were in school and got homework. Didn't you dread it? But we made a choice, either to do it, halfway do it or not to do it at all. These decisions start early as you see. So, as a child you may have disappointed your teacher with what she felt was lack of effort. Again, that teacher has no idea of the child's home life. Without asking, without being told, no one knows the reason why people don't do what is asked of them.
Computers too can let us down. A system can crash and be unrecoverable, the hard drive may fail and even backup devices can break or even be lost. Burning data to DVD's or CD's isn't a failsafe either. They can become scratched or if you purchased an off brand sectors can be lost. Phones can get damaged as well as lost and if you didn't backup data then again your system or devices have let you down. If you have important content on your phone or computers you need to back it up, save it somewhere safe so it's there when you need it. Print things out before they get lost or damaged. Uploading everything to the cloud also isn't secure. Even online storage like Google Drive or Dropbox aren't 100% safe. There is no format online or off that offers 100% secure backups. Even external hard drives and USB sticks go bad. Please don't put your hopes and dreams that your data will be able to be accessed at a later date should you need it for something. I would recommend backing things up on multiple content, mostly offline. If however you travel you may need to have access to these files online.
Psalms 118:8: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man"
Have you ever noticed how older people will always make comments like "Oh that's back in style now?" It can feel annoying to hear that and more so the thought that our parents were ever considered "in style." This trend of everything is old is new again flows through life not just in style of clothing but also in faith. Example some things that were considered cults or cult like in the 60's or 70's is now considered mainstream. Things considered radical are normal. As time changes so do beliefs. This is part of natural growth, travels, and thanks to the internet access to new belief systems.
Technology is the same way. Often times you may do updates or upgrades on your computer and regret it. I been there done that tons of times. But thankfully there is a website out there called Old Version. Because newer isn't always better. This is a really awesome website that has old versions of just about everything you can think of. The good thing about Android phones is the ability to download older APK files to replace the bad version you may have accidently upgraded to. Sadly, iPhones don't have that option. That's why I don't recommend having auto updates or auto downloads turned on even with window updates. If you use your device, whatever it may be, computer or phone all the time. I'm sure you too have suffered from updates being more of a downgrade than anything. I will leave the link to the website in the about section of this podcast.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness"
You may have noticed after sharing some good news you feel as though you got slapped back down into place. This can be because of several reasons. Most importantly the bible teaches us to be humble. When we get a victory we are to give thanks to God for providing it. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Online it seems the more attention you bring to yourself the greater the target you are for mockery, hacking attempts, slander, spam, and more. It can often feel like we can't win. Working in tech you could be bug hunter and after finding one issue create another. It's called a cascading failure. This is often why after you do a virus or malware scan, and you removed that issue, you have other errors you have to deal with. You may need to reinstall software that you've been using, fix registry errors, defrag your hard drive and the classic restore and reboot.
When things beat you down, don't let it keep you down. You are stronger than you think and so is your electronic devices. Call your support or service agents if you need to. And in regards to faith, pray and rebuke!
Deuteronomy 20:4 "For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Being a people pleaser can really weigh on a person. Being forced to be the person who always has to apologize even when you aren't wrong is a sign you are in a unhealthy relationship. If the other party can't humble themselves and apologize for possibly hurting you, it's a toxic relationship. Respect should flow both ways.
I bet you are curious how this applies to tech. Simple, did you know you can have your electronic device custom made? You don't have to accept the templates you see for sale on the show room floors. Example, you may need more RAM for computer games. RAM is memory. If you are a power users you will need a processor that can keep up with you as well. If you do a lot of graphics, videos and movies, you may need a much larger disk drive in your device. Disk drive is where data is stored. Don't be afraid to ask someone how - whatever it is you need, can service you. This can also be applied to other things - don't be afraid to ask for free delivery! You are worth it.
Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
No one is perfect and nothing we do is perfect. The bible teaches us that perfection is rooted in pride. What may seem perfect to someone has flaws to another. Accepting that perfection is out of your control can be hard. In our daily lives and jobs we may try to strive for perfection. But even computers aren't perfect. The news shares almost daily how AI has done something wrong. Or how an update caused a device to be unusable. This is generally why companies offer beta testing to make sure the product they put out for sale or general use is working properly. You can be paid to be a beta tester but just remember the risks may not be worth any payment. You could lose whatever device you are testing on. The link to beta testing will be in the about section of this podcast.
My road to perfection ended when doing DIY. I decided after thinking how my house is over 100 years old, and NOTHING is perfect even when brand new installed why strive for perfection? Why let it eat at me? I was devastated that the new drywall I installed got busted. I grabbed my mud bucket filled both my hands and slapped it on the wall. Plow, plop, squish, mush, bang, boom, bop went the sounds as I covered the whole wall and textured it with my bare hands. And now the wall is done and I am happy. Perfectly imperfect.
Your computer or smartphone may not feel perfect either. You can adjust just about everything. From font size to make it easier to read, to brightness to make it easier to see. You don't have to accept default settings when it comes to any device you use. Click on settings and have your way tweaking things the way you want or need it to be. You can buy cases, coverings, protectors of all kinds to make things easier to use and safer as well. Don't be afraid to go on Amazon or Google and look up whatever you would like to do with your devices.
Psalms 73:26 “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
Have you ever had a friend who spoke to you more about their friends than sharing anything about themselves? I had a family member who I had to ask, "If you are telling me this about them, what are you telling them about me?" That family member stopped gossiping to me. The simple fact is if they are talking about someone else, they are most certainty talking about YOU.
And what does this have to do with tech? Well it's called privacy and cyber security. What are your devices telling about you? Do you have location services on for things it shouldn't be? Do you allow microphone and camera access when there is no reason for it? Even your photos can expose data such as your location. This is a topic too great for this podcast. But these are things you need to find out. If you are a parent what are your kids posting online that exposes your privacy? Videos of the outside of your house in the background of their videos? Uh oh! Delete!
Also if you want to keep track of your personal information you can set up free Google Alerts or Talk walker alerts.
Take control of your privacy today before someone exposes you in a way you don't want. I'll link to several resources in the about section of this podcast.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Chrome browser recently did an update and I wrote about how to fix it in my blog. They changed the way the logo appears. For many users this wouldn't be a problem. But for those in web design or those that simply hate change, this is a huge problem. Adjusting after all these years to a strange icon can be very hard to do. I'll leave the fix for this problem in the about section of this podcast.
The same thing can happen when you discover faith, salvation, or religion of any kind. Adjusting to let's call it "terms of service." Adjusting your behavior or outlook can be quite a difficult task. It can feel daunting or overwhelming. It takes time and focus. Don't give up, there is help out there. Building a support group will help. Sharing with friends and family your path in life, can help as you may find someone who is walking the same. Change is hard but it doesn't have to be and it doesn't have to be done alone.
Isaiah 43:19 says "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
I got an email "2 things today." I verbally reply, "Honey I have way more than two things to do everyday and your emailing doesn't make it any easier." Some places seem to think people don't have lives, a family, or a business that they maintain. Let's just drop more on your "to do list." This is about boundaries. This is about respecting those boundaries and setting up them if you don't have them. It's about saying the word NO. You need to decide what is important to you. What on your "to do" list can wait and what can't.
In regards to tech, you may have to say the word "No" to yourself from time to time, or your kids. Example social media time, no cellphones at the dinner table, timeouts, and family time. Like when you go to the theater and it asks you to silence your phone. These "rules" we run into in life are boundaries as well. They are boundaries businesses, cities, or law enforcement sets up to keep us safe and secure.
The Bible says a lot about respect and boundaries. There is a lot in the old and the new testament. Many of the teachings of Christ have him addressing this very issue. That's how important it is to figure out what your boundaries are and then stand by them. Be prepared, some may not be happy with your new found strength. Stand strong and remember, that boundaries are set up for your wellbeing. You can start small by limiting yourself on certain things you really enjoy, to putting your foot down to things you don't like.
Proverbs 25:28 - "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Many feel that technology slows them down. This could be because they are allowing tech to become a distraction instead of them controlling the technology. No one has to answer the phone or the texts when they come in and the same with emails. I know some who stress out at every sound and cause themselves to feel pressured to respond. You can turn sounds off. You can even silence certain texts if that's what you need. The great thing about technology is, WE have control over IT. If you don't want your emails to be downloaded, you go into your settings and turn that off. If you don't know how to change a setting, you go to Google and look it up.
While it's okay to take control over our lives when it comes to technology, the Bible teaches us to be careful of a controlling spirit. The manipulators in our lives. Controlling people will often use emotional trickery to get their victims to do what they want. This podcast goes hand in hand with my last episode titled "Boundaries." Control is important because we are to allow God to be in control of our lives. Decisions are to be prayed about and we are to trust in the Lord. God will guide us if we let him. Many are impatient and take action before God has given his answer. That's when we take control over our own lives instead of God. If you take the time to pray about something, doesn't it make sense to wait for an answer? After all if you text a friend a question, would you act before you got a reply?
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control".
Long before we had caller ID on our phones we had to take our chances that the person calling was who they said they were. And long before we had email, everyone use to snail mail. We would have to take our chances then as well that the mail we got was from a legitimate source. Now with AI, we are once again left wondering if that person we are hearing is who we think they are. People can fake the phone numbers they are calling from, just as they can fake the email addresses they are emailing from. This is why we need to protect ourselves, our phone numbers, our email addresses, and even our names. All these data breaches has made it entirely too easy for the bad guys to take advantage of us. I'd like to recommend using a service like My Data Removal. I will add their link in the about section of this podcast. They will remove your information not just online, but several offline companies as well, like junk mail.
Now I'm sure you are wondering how this applies to the faith portion of the podcast. The Bible actually has a lot to say about scams, liars, tricksters and the like. There have been many false witnesses and false prophets. This is why we need to pray for wisdom, truth and understanding. For our eyes, and ears can deceive us. I like to focus on the part of the Lord's prayer that says, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." We need not only earthly protection from crime but God's protection too. That's another reason why I believe faith and tech go hand and hand.
Proverbs 14:15 - The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Getting yourself organized is a lot easier with tech than you think. It takes determination and disciple to be organized. It doesn't "just happen." But technology can help you set schedules and time limits for things you set your mind to doing. Let's say you wanted to clean out your kitchen cabinets. No one is going to know how long something like that it going to take. You may run into the fact that you feel they need painted or that you just want to wash everything and put it back. To help avoid distractions you can set your phone to silent. You can set it to do not disturb even then have it play an audio book, podcast or song you enjoy. This helps keep your mind be "busy" while your body is active. You can do the same with other tasks. If you want to apply getting organized to computer work and don't have office, you can use the free web version which you can find the link to in the about section of this podcast.
Getting organized in faith takes time too. Finding the time to pray, finding the time to read the bible, finding the time to go to church. Asking God for help to be more organized is a start. Don't pressure yourself or give up. Take small steps. If you need to set a timer for say ten minutes while you read the bible or pray do so. If ten sounds too long, set it for five or even three. If you can't think of anything to pray about, go through each of your family members and pray for their needs. Pray for protection, guidance, understanding, and acceptance. Once you get into the swing of things you will find yourself discovering new things to pray for.
1 Corinthians 14:40 - "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
If you enjoyed this podcast, please be sure to like and subscribe to the Facebook and YouTube channels, Amy Lynn's Voice-Overs. You can stream the podcast anytime on demand and find all of our links to the podcast applications on amylynn.org.
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