It can be very hard to find rest in our world.  Between a Blackberry, kids, the home phone and social media, it can be hard to focus on anything, much less rest.

One study found that people who are interrupted by technology score 20 percent lower on a standard cognition test.  A second demonstrated that some students, even when on their best behavior, can’t concentrate on homework for more than two minutes without distracting themselves by using social media or writing an email.

We always wonder what we’re missing, what we should be doing, even when we’re supposed to be resting.  With technology, we don’t have to suppress that – we can always know, we can always be available.

People say it’s harder and harder to unplug.

Even as I wrote this, I found myself turning to all kinds of distractions – it’s always when I try to focus on writing that I decide some amazing new change needs to be made to the app or social media.  This makes it hard to work and rest – I’m constantly blending the two, and doing neither well as a result.

For this year’s vacation, I committed to turning my smartphone off, and only checking in once a day to make sure things are running smoothly with Redeem the Commute.  I’ll have to physically make sure my phone isn’t around, because I know I’ll be tempted otherwise.

But that isn’t a foolproof formula – I can always go get my smartphone if I get too curious.  Find rest can’t just be about strategies – because our problem is inside us.  There is something inside me that is still wanting to check email, check the news, etc.

We’ll explore what that is, and what to replace it with this week.

Question: How do you “unplug” and rest?  What strategies do you use?

Ryan Sim - July 16, 2013

Tuesday - Study It - Originality

We're looking at the final section of the Sermon on the Mount this week: "When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28-29 ESV) Jesus' teaching is widely thought of as being the greatest and most original human teaching to have ever existed. No one is quoted more than Jesus. Many people, even those who are not Christians, have the greatest respect for Jesus and try to live by his teachings. A friend of mine once proudly quoted to me: “Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘a house divided against itself cannot stand’” I had the joy of telling him that Lincoln was actually quoting Jesus! When I began a Masters degree – I read through the grading structure – what constitutes an A, B, C, etc. Description of an A+ was "Profound and Creative - Strong evidence of original thought." This is a rare thing indeed – someone who can come up with completely original ideas, rather that simply quoting, or worse, stealing the work of others. Jesus dared to do this - in the Sermon on the Mount, he regularly started with, "I say to you." or "I tell you." Whenever he says “they say” and quotes another religious teacher, he is about to say they’re wrong! He was acting as if he could just say these things under his own authority, as if he was the source of all wisdom, knowledge and morality. Because he was! But they didn't know that yet. Question: Reflect on all that Jesus has been teaching and what we have studied in the Sermon on the Mount through the last several months. What has amazed you about his teaching? What has confused you?

From Series: Sermon on the Mount | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

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