What is a 30-Day Secular Media Fast?

What if the noise of godless media is drowning out the voice of God? Not all media is bad... but maybe the distraction away from God is making harder to hear and see God at work.

This is a journey of a group of high school students who have committed to take 30 days to focus on God through God-centered media. This includes TV, movies, books, magazines, smart phone apps, and many social media outlets.

Here, you can follow their stories, their lives, and their challenges. Feel free to leave comments and encouragement.

Read
Relate
Respond

Friday, March 25, 2016

5. 4. 3. 2.

Well we have made it to the final 5 days and I'm starting to fell pretty good about the month, so far I have stayed focused on God and have stayed away from secular media. The end of the media fast is kinda bitter sweet for me. I am looking foward to being able to watch TV and all that again, but I also am kinda bummed because other than this month I realy don't have the perseverance to actually give up stuff like the media and focus on God.
Well happy fasting, remember 5 days left
-Erik

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Day 23

Day 23 of the media fast and I think this has been one of the easiest media fasts I've ever done. I think partly because I've grown to accept media is not what people need to be focused on. There are far better things to do like today, a couple of the girls doing the media fast and I went hiking. It was so much fun just spending time with people who are on the media fast as well and just spending time in God's creation. 7 more days to go!!!

The Final Week!

Well guys, we have one more week of this media fast to go. I'm sure for all of us there have been some difficult days. But only 7 more days to go! For me this media fast experience this week has been great! I've gotten to watch some fantastic Christian movies, as well as read some fantastic Christian Books and short stories. Through all of this I have realized one thing, that the whole point of the media fast is not to just avoid secular media (although that is good). The whole point is to take a break from our day to day lives, put down the phone and to just spend one simple month focusing on Christ. I have to say, I am really happy with how this media fast is turning out! I pray that all of you are being blessed by the media fast and all of the good that can come from it. Have a great last week everyone!

Impressed

Can I just say how awesome of a youth group we have right now! Our students are stepping up as leaders in some amazing, and not-so-up-front ways... between taking 30 Days to avoid media not focused on God to serving Middle Schoolers to finding ways to influence their friends... it's amazing to me to see God work in the lives of young people. Maybe that's why I love pushing, encouraging, inspiring, and playing with these students. Every year, we have a group of kids take a month to focus on God, in midst of school, Spring Break, sports, homework, chores, jobs, family tension, friend tension, church, youth group, etc. Maybe some of adults need to jump in for this last week and join them in their commitment... yes, the Final Four is vastly important to our stress release (sarcasm intended)... but maybe... just maybe... focusing on the Gospel for a week "may" do the same thing? Yes, I'm using a guilting tactic... but it doesn't make the fact any less true: The Gospel changes everything.

Keep it up everyone! I'm proud of you all!

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Week Three You Guys This Is Crazy

I mean can you even believe it? Already week three. That kinda blows me away. Like, by next Tuesday we'll be saying, "Only one more day!" and I don't know if I'm looking forward to it or dreading it. I've realized that my self control is terrible (not during the Media Fast... don't worry, I've kept off the media!). What I mean is that before the fast I was constantly on media, especially when I needed to be doing homework. Even when I wasn't doing homework, if I had nothing else to do, I would immediately turn to media to satisfy my need for "entertainment". And the things I scrolled through and listened to weren't exactly "wholesome" In fact, some of them tore others down or used crude humor, and the worst part was that I didn't even give a second thought about it. There was rarely a moment where a big warning sign popped up and said, "Now Madeleine, is this the kind of stuff people should be saying to each other?" Instead, I often kept scrolling through my feed, letting my mind be filled with things that didn't honor God or His creations.
     Now, whenever I hear secular music (in a restaurant, store, or blasting in someone else's car) I try not to listen, but if I do happen to catch the lyrics, I try to evaluate them. Are the things being said things that I would repeat? Things that I would be proud to say I listen to or hold fast to? Most of the time, the answer is no. So then I ask myself this question: Why is everyone so infatuated by this secular music if the things that are being sung are so awful? I don't have a straight answer, but I do think that one of the reasons is that it's appealing to the current culture and the human mind, although the ideas behind the songs could appeal to the human mind no matter what the time period. I'll admit that when I hear a song that I know and like when I'm out, I'll start to sing along, but then I stop myself and ask why I like the song. Is it because of the tune? Maybe, but that's not likely. Usually it's because of the lyrics, and although most of the songs I used to listen to are pretty clean, there are a couple that I realize have pretty bad lyrics (and even if they're not obviously bad lyrics, I know that the subliminal message is still there).
     So, having said all that, I come back to my original statement of being unsure about the end of the fast. I pray that when the end comes I will be able to retain my self control and continue to limit my use of social media (especially when it comes to homework time), but I know that I won't be able to do it alone. So, in a way, I'm looking forward to the end, because it will give plenty of opportunities for God to help me control myself; however, I will need lots of prayer and I know that I won't always be able to control myself.
     OK. That was a lot. Thanks for sticking with it, all of you. I know God has been working in all of us during this time, and I know He'll continue to work in amazing ways. Praying for you all!
     Madeleine

Monday, March 21, 2016

What a crazy week

so im running a kids camp with my friend and there is never a moment of rest. Its always energetic, always going, always moving. I came home today SO tired, i thought i was going to die. okay, not really, but you get the picture. It is days like these when i lay down on my floor and just listen to some good old Newsies, but oh yeah, can't do that. So what do i do instead? Well, i am weary and in need of rest, so i turn to my comfort, Christ. What a good oppurtunity to relax in the arms of Jesus.
Good luck Media-fasters!
-M