Keeping It Young

Dave Young, Bethlie Young
  • 4.9 (310)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly podcast hosted by Dave and Bethlie Young who have spoken to thousands of people across America and around the world. Their heart is to encourage, direct, and strengthen your marriage, family, and ministry life. You will find humor, helpful teaching, and great encouragement. Join them each week as together they share Biblical and practical insights.

  1. 3h ago

    Overcoming Technology Part 2

    In part two of the Overcoming Technology series, Dave and Bethlie continue unpacking how smartphones and social media quietly reshape our habits, relationships, and spiritual life — and what to do about it. Building on Tony Reinke's 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You, they walk through the specific ways technology damages attention, relationships, and reflection, then move into practical, doable changes. Recap the 12 ways phones change us (from Tony Reinke's book), continued from Part 1: -       Phones constantly pull our attention away from the present moment (and the "seven-minute foundation" needed for meaningful conversation) -       Digital interaction often replaces physical presence with people around us -       Online metrics drive an unhealthy desire for affirmation (likes, followers, influencer culture) -       Skimming digital feeds reduces deep reading comprehension -       Endless entertainment is available at any second (the disappearance of boredom) -       Online personas mask true self-understanding -       Digital connectivity frequently leads to isolated lifestyles rather than true community -       Screens provide private access to harmful or distracting imagery -       An overload of trivia crowds out deep reflection -       Constant checking stems from anxiety over being disconnected -       Impersonal digital spaces lower our patience and kindness in communication -       Constant notifications eliminate the silent spaces needed for prayer and calm thought   The four-step framework for overcoming technology:   Determine if you need to overcome technology (are you controlled by it? better because of it? how is it affecting your kids?) Educate yourself (read books, research — they recommend The Tech-Wise Family and 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You) Recognize the damage it can cause (the list above) Determine the changes needed — practical steps discussed: -       Set time limits (using phone settings or a timer/Alexa) -       Change habits (phones out of the bedroom, off the table at meals, a charging basket) -       Replace with something better (a regular watch instead of a smart watch) -       Silence notifications and check at scheduled times -       Remove non-essential apps (or access certain platforms only on a computer) -       Turn off notifications and keep the phone on silent

  2. Sep 7

    Overcoming Technology Part 1

    Overcoming Technology Part 1 Is your phone running your house or are you running it? What about other forms of technology? Dave and Bethlie are back from their August break and kicking off a new stretch of the Overcoming series: Overcoming Technology. How do you overcome technology? We've listed a few suggestions: Determine if you need to do so Are you controlled by it? Are you better becausse of it? Where are you being negatively impacted by it? Are your children being negatively impacted by it? 68% of us admit that electronic devices keep us from having real conversations 50% of us see phones as a significant disruption to our family meals. Educate yourself Read and research 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You My Tech Wise Family The Tech Wise Family Recognize the damage it can cause Sleep disruption Reduced physical activity Social isolation Mental health issues Digital eye strain Shorter attention span Cyberbullying Loss of privacy Technology addiction Environmental damage

  3. Aug 25

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 5

    Episode 330: 7 Steps to Building a Christian Family — Part 5 Text: Deuteronomy 6:6–12 (review of 6–9, new focus on 10–12) Recap of Steps So Far Underlying foundation: knowing God — building a real, living relationship with Him (not just a salvation moment). Fear God — reverent awe + healthy fear of consequences. Keep God First — requires ongoing self-examination ("Lord, am I keeping you first?"). This is similiar to the purpose of a revival: intentional, recurring evaluation of the heart. Love God with heart, soul, might/mind/strength — loving God with total, unguarded enthusiasm. Teach God's Word Diligently — not just memorization but application, so Scripture "pops up" in the heart in the moment of decision or conviction (Proverbs 6). Step 5 (this episode): Enjoy God's Blessings Wisely (Don't Forget God in Abundance) Deut. 6:10–12 — warns Israel that once they live in houses they didn't build, drink from wells they didn't dig, and eat from vineyards they didn't plant, and are "full," the danger is forgetting the Lord. This step "nails us as Americans" — most people live in homes they didn't build, eat food they didn't grow, and eat out of fullness/abundance rather than hunger.  God is not against blessing/prosperity — the text itself promises houses, food, and abundance as gifts from God. Nice homes, cars, and possessions aren't inherently wrong or "spoiled." Caution: don't confuse God's blessing with the American Dream. Someone can have the bigger house, nicer car, or yacht and be completely unblessed if their family and relationship with God are falling apart. True blessing shows up as peace, joy, love, and gentleness in the home — not material markers. Scripture ties blessing to obedience/pursuit of righteousness (referenced the Deuteronomy blessings/curses passage and the pattern seen across Joshua vs. Judges) — but this isn't a strict formula; God remains gracious even amid failure. Practical Application: Enjoying Blessings "With Care" / Frugality Money has two purposes: to live, and to give — live more frugally (smaller home, older-but-nice car, lower payments) to free up margin for giving and to avoid overwork that outsources parenting to daycare/babysitters. Have a grateful heart as a discipline — actively resisting complaint over aging cars, food choices, etc., which the hosts frame as a subtle form of forgetting God. Practical family habit: praying before meals with genuine, unhurried gratitude rather than rote routine; teaching kids a thankfulness verse; verbally noting "isn't it amazing we get to eat like this?" as a repeated family phrase. How blessed are you? In your blessings, are you forgetting God?(e.g., packed schedules of travel/activities, expensive Christian schooling, but no family devotions, gratitude, or altar at home).

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 5

  4. Aug 16

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 4 [Archive]

    Please pray for Dave and Bethlie as they continue this season of pause on the podcast. If you're a brand new listener or a orignal listener from 6 years ago, we're sure this series will be a blessing.   Recap of Steps So Far Fear God — must first know God to stand in awe of Him. Host shared a personal illustration: praying as a family for a new RV, and God's provision through friends/supporters — using it to show their kids God's goodness firsthand. Keep God First Love God (heart, soul, might/mind/strength) Step 4 (this episode): Teach God's Word Diligently Deut. 6:4–9  1. It must be personally real first (v.6 — "shall be in thine heart") You can't teach what you don't know/live yourself — parents need their own regular time in God's Word before they can pass it on. There is value in a physical Bible over a phone/app: fewer distractions (notifications), and the ability to highlight, underline, and write notes  Not legalistic about method (no requirement to read X chapters/day) — the goal is that Scripture is treasured and genuinely part of daily life, not just consumed on a screen. 2. It must be diligently taught (v.7 — "teach them diligently") Two forms: Formal family devotions — scheduling a set time (Dave and Bethlie do this in the evenings). Their practice: reading a passage, reviewing memorized passages (Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, Psalm 1, 19, 23, 100), closing in prayer. Informal/organic teaching — woven into daily life as Deut. 6:7 describes ("when thou sittest... walkest... liest down... risest up"): Using teachable moments from TV (example: an Andy Griffith episode with a drunk character as an opening to discuss what the Bible says about alcohol; also referenced a real story about alcohol contributing to an affair in a church). Correcting sibling conflict by quoting Scripture on the spot, and having kids write out Bible verses as a consequence/reinforcement. Attaching specific verses to recurring life moments — e.g., Psalm 19:1 ("The heavens declare...") for stargazing, Psalm 23 imagery for green pastures/lakes seen while driving, Ecclesiastes ("in all labor there is profit") for schoolwork motivation, Proverbs 11:16 ("a gracious woman retaineth honor") for daughters navigating "mean girl" dynamics, Job 31:1 ("I have made a covenant with mine eyes,") for teenage sons and purity of eyes. 3. It must be prominently displayed (v.9 — "write them upon the posts of thy house") Scripture decor/signs around the home Kids writing verse references or phrases on their own hands as personal reminders — modeled after a young evangelist who traveled with the family; framed as intentional and temporary, not a tattoo. 4. It must be reasonably explained (previewed, to be covered in a future episode) As kids get older, genuine "why" questions are an opportunity to explain Scripture's reasoning — distinguished from rebellious "why," which needs correction rather than explanation. As kids mature, ask them "What do you think we should do based on what the Bible says?" to build their own habit of returning to Scripture.

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 4 [Archive]

  5. Aug 10

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 3 [Archive]

    Please pray for Dave and Bethlie as they continue this season of pause on the podcast. If you're a brand new listener or a orignal listner from 6 years ago, we're sure this series will be a blessing. Series Recap Fear God — To fear God, kids must first know God (can't stand in awe of someone unfamiliar). Keep God First — God takes priority over comfort, convenience, and blessing. A home can look put together (loving spouses, "good kids," active church attendance) and still fail at these principles. None of this happens by accident; it requires deliberate, daily practice. Parents can "perform" faith at church, but they cannot fool their own family — kids sense whether God is genuinely first. Step 3 (this episode): Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength "No one rebels against that which they love." What you love becomes obvious to others (illustrated humorously via sports team loyalty). How to Train Kids to Love God In the good times: Teach kids to be thankful. Teach them to be thankful for each other (birthdays, Father's/Mother's Day, graduations), and for God's provision through others (writing thank you notes). Prioritize church attendance even when life is comfortable — ease is often when people quietly deprioritize God. Invest financially/practically in opportunities for kids to encounter God (e.g., sending kids to summer camp despite the cost). In the dark times: Personal Example: loss of children (infant loss), loss of both of Bethlie's parents, church transitions, ministry conflicts/misunderstandings. Foundation matters: loving God consistently in good times prepares a family not to be "blown out of the water" by hard times. Framing for kids: hardship isn't God abandoning the family — it's the reality of living in a fallen/sin-cursed world; God remains good and can grow us through difficulty. Model consistency: continue church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and kindness within the home even when discouraged — kids watch whether parents' faith holds up under pressure. Have honest, age-appropriate conversations with kids about what's happening and reaffirm the family's commitment to keep loving God through it. Serving others during hard times shifts focus off self and onto others — described as "powerful." Callback to Episode 1 theme: "serve the Lord with gladness" — serving happily in both good and bad times testifies to love for God. Caution on guarding the tongue (referencing James 1:26) — complaining/negativity undercuts a credible testimony of loving God, especially in front of children. Closing Thought "Love is never stagnant — it is either growing or declining. "Relationship with God requires ongoing, active pursuit, not a one-time declaration. Summary challenge to listeners: fear God, keep God first, and love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength — then train the next generation to do the same.

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 3 [Archive]

  6. Aug 3

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 2 [Archive]

    Turn to Matthew 6:19-21 and Philippians 1:21 and join Dave and Bethlie as the continue their discussion on Building A Chrisitian Family. Here are some practical diagnostic questions for parents: When did you last skip an activity (beach, TV, a purchase, a look/fashion choice) because God comes first? Do your kids see you pray, read Scripture, and make decisions on the basis of faith rather than convenience? Personal example: host's daughter prayed for two years before the family took a scaled-back Disney trip, modeling "seek the Lord first" over just charging it to a credit card. "Priorities are demonstrated by actions (money, calendar, speech, treatment of others), not just by stated beliefs."

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family Part 2 [Archive]

  7. Jul 27

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family [Archive]

    In this "From The Archives" episode, we revisit this popular series entitled Seven Vital Steps to Building a Christian Family, based on Deuteronomy 6. God charged Israel to live distinctly from surrounding culture and to actively pass that faith down to children and grandchildren. This is a multi-generational, slow-built process rather than a quick fix. Step One: The Fear of the Lord Psalm 33:8, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, 8:13, 10:27, 14:27 — Fearing God is tied to wisdom, knowledge, protection, and a fuller life. Practical ways to cultivate reverence in kids Congregational singing as an act of worship and awe Daily gratitude and prayer at meals Careful, deliberate use of God's name in the home Creating "awe" experiences

    7 Steps To Building A Christian Family [Archive]

  8. Jul 21

    Overcoming Challenging Events Part 2

    Dave and Bethlie finish up the second part of this Overcoming Challenging Events series. 3. Keep growing Only God can bring beauty out of ashes Satan wants to increase the ash heap God wants to grow beauty from the ash heap He does it as we grow in Him Stay in the Word Read it daily Listen to it read aloud You Version Blue letter bible Etc Pray a lot Keep trusting God Remind yourself of truth Sin is bad Sin is the reason for all the wrong in the world God is good God is continually working to enable us to overcome the wrong   4. Be prepared for people When they forget When they say the wrong thing When they let you down

    Overcoming Challenging Events Part 2
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About

A weekly podcast hosted by Dave and Bethlie Young who have spoken to thousands of people across America and around the world. Their heart is to encourage, direct, and strengthen your marriage, family, and ministry life. You will find humor, helpful teaching, and great encouragement. Join them each week as together they share Biblical and practical insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Young, Bethlie Young
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    334
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Keeping It Young

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