Phillip’s Blog

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Help! The Smartphone Ate My Family

Help! The Smartphone Ate My Family

Your family is worth the fight, and you are the trailblazer they need.

Today’s parents are trailblazers, raising children in a digital world no generation has faced before. Smartphones can connect us, but they can also consume us—stealing time, focus, and relationships. There’s no ancestral wisdom to lean on, no well-worn map to follow. The decisions you make today will set the course for your children—and for generations to come.

7 Considerations in the Age of Video Games

7 Considerations in the Age of Video Games

For nearly two decades I have been speaking to youth and parents about making wise media and entertainment choices from a Biblical Worldview. One of the hot topics has been the subject of video games. It was not uncommon to have teens asking me what I thought about...

Juggling or Orbits?

Juggling or Orbits?

How often have you said or heard someone say something like, “I’m having trouble juggling all the different things in my life”? It’s even more notable when I hear it from a young adult who is single without the responsibilities of children, or home ownership, or...

Overcomer Movie August 23

Overcomer Movie August 23

Last summer I had the privilege of being on set for the new Kendrick Bros. film Overcomer. My son CJ and I attended their boot camp before the first day of filming and helped for a couple days in the art department building sets and working on some set dressing. A few weeks later my wife Mary and I were back on set and were able to sit in as background extras for the opening scene. The scene took most of the day to film but I had a blast sitting and standing then sitting and standing next to…

2019 Filmmakers Guild

2019 Filmmakers Guild

In November of 2013 I began planning an outreach to Christian filmmakers that I called the Christian Worldview Film Festival and Filmmakers Guild. I wanted to provide training in addition to establishing a film festival so I invited around 30 speakers to give over 50 workshops during the first three days of this week long event. That first conference was held in March 2014. For anyone considering running a large event I don’t recommend…

Sunnyside Skate Church, Chicago 1991

Sunnyside Skate Church, Chicago 1991

I wish I had a copy of this original picture, all I have is a poor photocopy that was recently found folded up in a box of miscellaneous items. On the first row you can find a picture of Phillip Telfer at the age of 18. My wife Mary is also in this picture (this was taken before we were married). I had moved to Chicago from my home state of Oregon to work with an inner-city church…

The Christian in Complete Armour

The Christian in Complete Armour

A few months ago, a friend recommended The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall, originally published in 1669. Thankfully, it is still available today in print and digital. Charles Spurgeon said… “Gurnall’s work is peerless and priceless; every line is full...

Who is Phillip Telfer? What is the core of my identity? I’m a child of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. What you do is not as important as who you are. But in case you’re wondering about what I do, here you go…

Husband & Father: Mary and I have been married for 33 years and blessed with 4 children, a fantastic son-in-law, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and three precious grandchildren.

Minister: I serve as a pastor by day (and night) and I’m the founder and director of the nonprofit ministry Media Talk 101

Coffee Nut: When I’m not serving the flock, I’m serving good, home roasted coffee to family and friends.

Woodworker: Another hobby that has “turned” into a small family business is woodturning. Working with wood a little bit each week keeps me sane in this big world of personalities.

Film Festival Director: Since that didn’t seem like enough on my plate, I also started the annual Christian Worldview Film Festival and Filmmakers Guild.

Author: When there’s time to spare, I love to take a Pilot G2 gel pen and a pad of paper and write! I used to pour a lot of creative writing energy into music, and now that has shifted to the fun of writing a novel.

Musician: I got my start in ministry as a singer/songwriter. You can find some of my music, both new and old, on your favorite music streaming service.