The question: do you think? I do not ask, “What do you think?” But, “Do you think?” For thinking is a lost art in a reactionary digital world. Focus is hard to come by, for the internet giants have no reason to promote it. They need your clicks to get their cash. The more distracted we are, the more money they have. Your brain is a gift from God.
Read moreArchival Post: How I Use My Phone
First, I am not a legalist. I think each believer needs to go to their Heavenly Father and ask for His wisdom in the intricate affairs of life. What follows is what I, personally, Nate Holdridge, have received from Him for my life.
Read moreJesus Christ: The Ultimate Man - Part 3
In the Old Testament era, there was a priesthood. They existed to serve and worship God, but also to facilitate the worship of others. They were focused on God, but also on God's people. They were meant to make the house of God a house of prayer for all nations. Their lives were focused upward, but also outward. (5 Minutes/1000 Words)
Read moreThe Forward Focus of God (Genesis 17:5)
God is a renamer. He doesn't hesitate to take your old person and make you new. All through Scripture, God exemplifies his heart of renewal by renaming people he loved. (2 Minutes/600 Words)
Read moreHow I Use My Phone
OK. This post might not make it very far. What I mean is, it might not be for only a handful of you. For many, what I am about to detail will seem impractical and unnecessary, unhelpful even. But, since Americans spend an average of 3-5 hours per day looking at their phones, I thought I would tell you about my relationship with mine.
Read moreFaith Works for God (Hebrews 11:7)
I'd get it if Noah objected. He didn't live near a large body of water. The earth likely hadn't produced any rain by the time he came around. We'd understand if he balked at God's direction to build a massive boat in the middle of nowhere. (6 Minutes/1300 Words)
Read moreArchival Post: Recommended Resource: Freedom
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Recommended Resource: Freedom
Planning & Organization: My "iRules"
Recommended Resource: Freedom
Have you ever noticed the airplane effect? In flight, without WiFi, your options decrease. Perhaps, your productivity increases.
Studies have shown that human interaction with the internet is changing the human brain. We are rewiring our circuitry, becoming a more easily distracted people. Much of this comes from the constant buzzing and pinging of our computers and phones.
I use software called Freedom. I use it on my Mac, although it is also available on iPhone and iPad. It is not available on Android.
Basically, Freedom disables internet access for an amount of time you choose. I use it almost daily.
When I open the Freedom software it asks me how many minutes I would like to be offline. I enter in the desired amount. It then shuts down the internet for that length of time. The only way to shortcut it is to restart your computer. I call it “the restart of shame.”
I spend much of my week writing, studying, and reading. For my inquisitive brain, the ability to dismantle the internet for a set period of time is helpful.
I have used Freedom for many years now, following their software through various stages of development. I choose not to have internet browsers on my phone, so this helps cut down on the distractions as well.
I know some people need the internet for specific sites while they are working. Freedom has you covered there. You can create blocks of time where the most distracting parts of the internet are disabled. The productive parts will still be accessible.
Freedom isn’t the only trick I use to aid my focus, but it is a significant one. I recommend it highly.