Managing the incoming information artillery barrage

There's a critical skill that we need to master, and we need to help our children master: handling the multiple firehoses of information available to us today. There are email, blogs, podcasts, cell phones, beepers, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, snail mail, and (gee I almost forgot :-) books. How do you practically sort it out? What's important? How do you focus? What would Jesus do!?

First, let's make sure we cultivate a love for God's Word in ourselves and our families. Work with your wife, and teach your children how to read the Bible -- both devotional and study methods -- and apply it. I'm learning that we need to weave prayer into this work, or else we'll cultivate dry theologians rather than wells of living water that can minister to others.

Second, make time and space for relationships. These are more precious than most books, and certainly more than almost anything that's on TV. The books Margin and Making Room for Life are particularly recommended here.

Third, there are particular skills for processing information that I believe will be increasingly essential for people. I recommend Surviving Information Overload and Getting Things Done in this category. If you are only shooting to help yourself, that's too low a goal. Purpose to teach your whole family about this.