License to Parent with Trace Embry

Grace and Compassion

Last week we began a conversation with Kendra about this new film that addresses the conflicts between the LGBTQ+ community and the teaching of the Bible; yet with compassion and grace.

Continuing the Conversation with In His Image Director, Kendra White

There is so much to uncover that we simply didn’t have enough time to squeeze it all in in one episode. If you missed our first interview with Kendra you can listen to it HERE.

Kendra joins us today to offer more great insights from the film.

Rooting Our Family in Scripture

Episode Highlights:

Investigating the topic of Choice Vs. Born this Way

Is abuse a factor in gender identity?

Does God make somebody desire the opposite gender? Does He trap someone in the wrong body?

Without freewill you cannot love

Is there conflict within the LGBTQ community?

Why must this topic be addressed in the church?

Scripture to help you address confusion

Image from Pixabay

In His Image

So what are our kids supposed to think? What are we adults supposed to think when educated individuals are promoting their ideas as scientific fact? In light of God and his human creation, what does it really mean to be created “in His image?” Can we be proud and practicing LGBTQ+ proponents with God’s blessing?

Interview with In His Image Director, Kendra White

Kendra White is Director of In His Image and producer at American Family Studios. From directing faith-based films such as Summer Snow to writing AFA’s children’s animated series Ryan Defrates: Secret agent, Kendra has produced a wide variety of resources to inspire, uplift, and encourage Christian families.

She began researching the topics discussed in In His Image two years ago and became increasingly burdened to speak out about these issues when she began noticing both family and close friends struggling with their gender and sexuality. “It became like a fire in my bones,” she says, “and I knew God was calling me to boldly proclaim the truth in love to those who are lost and hurting.”  

Sin & The Sexual Revolution

The 1960’s sexual revolution, along with postmodern thought, really gave us the green light to take the natural consequences out of our sins; particularly sexual sins. In the mental health industry, sin isn’t even in the equation.

The bigger problem comes when we sin and not only want everyone else to accept it but actually embrace it. But today in the case of the LGBTQ+ agenda, it doesn’t stop there. We are now expected to help celebrate it, but as believers, that’s something our faith won’t allow us to do.

Parenting in a Postmodern World

Episode Highlights:

God is in the business of setting people free & transforming lives.

The film, In His Image, shares testimonies of many individuals previously in the LGBTQ+ community.

Is there abuse in the mental health system?

Are drugs used on children with gender dysphoria approved by the FDA? Are there risks?

What should a parent's biggest takeaway be from watching this film?

We have to be ready to show genuine love for those questioning and uncomfortable in their own bodies.

How can our children take their hearts captive?

Image from Pixabay

Gender, Sexuality, Sin, and the Church

At the same time, accepting sinners cannot be the same thing as affirming sin. The church is to call every kind of sinner to repent. So how is the church to relate to those of the LGBT community? How are we to reach out with the gospel without being judgmental? Could it be that honest and patient relationships focused on gentle and kind conversations can help people understand what the Bible says about gender and sexuality, resulting in changed lives? Today, we’ll talk about a new documentary that will help start this conversation while being upfront and welcoming at the same time. Today we learn from God’s plan together, delighting in God’s plan for gender and sexuality.

Interview with AFA President, Tim Wildmon

Tim Wildmon is the President of the American Family Association and the Executive Producer of the documentary, In His Image. American Family Association is the parent ministry over American Family Studios.

Delighting in God’s Plan for Gender & Sexuality

What makes this documentary such an interesting film is that this is a conversation that is so difficult for most of us to have; especially with members of the LGBTQ+ community. But why is it so hard?

Perhaps it is difficult because there is a public outcry against any talk that would appear to be condemning any part of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. To be fair, our job is not to be condemning the sinner but rather to point out the sin and to lead the sinner into a warm, welcoming, and loving relationship with the savior, Jesus Christ.

What the Church Needs to Know about LGBTQ+, Compassion, and Sin

Episode Highlights:

Where can I watch the Documentary, In His Image, for Free?

Why was there even a need for a documentary on LGBTQ+ issues from a Christian perspective?

What is the definition of a family? Who gets to define it?

How do gender definitions and decisions impact our country and culture?

What are our children being taught in schools today? How does this impact our view of sin?

What is the overall goal of the film, In His Image?

How Parents can use the film, In His Image, as a Tool for parenting their children?

Image from Pixabay

In America today, pornography, at least as it has been traditionally defined, is everywhere. It’s not just a stack of naughty magazines sold from behind the drugstore counter anymore. Milder forms of it can be seen on billboards along the highway. Stronger forms are out in the open now too; right next to the candy rack at the local convenience store or gas station. That means that it’s not only in the line of sight of your children but well within their grasp as well.

This isn’t even the worst of it! Many parents have retained the worst of it in their satellite or cable tv packages in high definition motion picture and living color. It leaves nothing to the imagination.

Still worse, others have freely given their children their own private access to it. It travels with them to school, to play, and to bed each night via their smartphones.

Protecting the eyes, hearts, minds, souls, and spirits of our kids against an ever-present socially acceptable poison is essential for parents today.

Today we speak with Kristin Jenson. She’s the author of the best selling “Good Pictures, Bad Pictures” series of read-aloud books for kids that have sold over 150,000 copies worldwide and in seven languages. These books help kids develop an internal filter against inappropriate content.

Kristin is the founder of Protect Young Minds, an organization dedicated to helping parents empower their kids with tools to resist pornography. This includes the Brain Defense Safety curriculum for elementary students.

Kristin is an active member of the Safeguard Alliance, a national coalition to end sexual exploitation. In 2019 she spoke and the United Nations Civil Society Conference. She’s also testified before the Washington State Senate Law and Justice Committee on the public health crisis of pornography.

Kristin is a mom of three children and recently became a grandmother. She and her husband live in Washington state.

Educating Our Children on the Dangers of Pornography

Episode Highlights:

How can we give our children an internal filter against pornography?

Discussing sex and pornography with your children at a young age is advantageous to your child’s growth and future.

Is pornography healthy for anyone?

How does pornography impact the future health of our kids?

We must give our kids good, cohesive, age-appropriate, and convincing arguments on why pornography is harmful to them, their lives, and the world.

How do we teach our kids healthy self-discipline?

How to teach children what pornography is and what to do when they see it.

There is hope for those who have seen or continue to view pornography. There is redemption.

Image from Pixabay

When we think of addiction we often think of young adults strung out on some kind of drug lying in an alley or a gutter in some city in America. Terms like “stoner” come to mind; someone with long greasy hair, disheveled, seeking that next fix. Drug addiction doesn’t always look like that. Drug addiction is only one addiction that our common enemy, the devil, uses to diminish our kids and our entire nation. These other addictions are a little less easy to spot at first. When it comes to our kids, it’s easy to justify or become complicit in activities that look like routine culture norms that can be life-controlling or addicting.

Dr. Karl Benzio, MD is a Christian psychiatrist. He is board certified by the American Board of Psychology and Neurology. He has held several health system clinical director and management positions infusing his blend of spiritual faith with science to treat thousands. He loves to write, consult, and address the impact of a wide range of behavioral health issues and how to bring God’s healing to individuals, families, societies, and social policy issues. 

Addiction and Our Children

Episode Highlights:

Is the term addiction being abused?

Boredom helps develop creative thinking

There is an internal spiritual component to addiction

Everyone is addicted to comfort

What are the six stages of addiction?

Changes seen in children are an indicator to start asking questions

How to help our kids manage their feelings and questions

The importance of focusing on our relationship with our kids

Image from Pixabay

When we think about raising our kids, teaching them civics is not the first thing we often think about. Unless of course, we’re talking about the civics class they may or may not be taking in school. If they are teaching civics in your child’s school, the question we should be asking is “by what standard is it being taught?” Love of country, our neighbors, and posterity has always been the great motivation behind civics in America. But what happens when school systems indoctrinate our kids to have disdain for our nation, especially for certain people groups within it? As parents, how should we respond when the foundation of our constitution is being challenged, especially when options such as socialism and even communism are being portrayed as better systems?

Cheryl Chumley is an author, commentary writer, and the online opinion editor for The Washington Times. She is also a licensed private investigator of Chumley Investigations, LLC in Virginia. She is the author of the book, "Socialist Don’t Sleep: Christians Must Rise or America Will Fall.” She has also written “The Devil in DC: Winning Back the Country from the Beast in Washington” and “Police State USA: How Orwell’s Nightmare Is Becoming Our Reality."

Cheryl is the host of the bi-weekly podcast at the Washington Times called “Bold and Blunt.” She is a public speaker and media guest, speaking extensively on topics related to Christianity, the Constitution, politics and policy, the United Nations and sovereignty issues, Congress and Capitol Hill, and much more from a biblical worldview.

Cheryl is an Army Veteran, CASA Volunteer, and ambassador of a nonprofit. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, four children, Golden Retriever, and cat.

Today on License to Parent, Cheryl speaks to the unrest in our country and discusses how parents can use the current cultural situation to teach valuable lessons to our children.

Christians Must Rise

Episode Highlights:

What does it mean that “socialists don’t sleep?”

Is socialism a step to communism?

How should parents respond to activities and events related to socialism when it relates to their children?

Should our children be exposed to socialist ideas?

Why do we need a democratic republic?

Image from Pixabay

There is only one real God we can put our faith in. But God gave us free will. We are not his puppets. We can choose to accept him. This idea of faith and the idea that bad things happen in this world led to God sending you. So how are you leading your life?

It’s time to put away the cellphone, text messaging, and video game. It’s time to get a real-life full of purpose and meaning. Walk away empowered and enriched.

It’s so important that we come to the issue of violence from the critical perspective of faith-based. You have to take the bad stuff out before you can put the good stuff in. Dragging our kids to church once a week can’t simply overcome 40 hours of violent movies and video games.

Today we continue the conversation on Grooming Our Kids for Love and Not Violence with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. He understands how the military trains to kill and warns of the real dangers to our children in today’s video games.

If you missed Grooming Our Kids for Love and Note Violence Part I, be sure to listen in to this segment first.

Modern Violence & Our Culture

Episode Highlights:

In order for something to be violent there has to be “intent”

Children as young as 18 months recognize violence

Sex trafficking is related to the desire for violence

Our culture & entertainment has created a narrative of criminals as heroes

Sleep deprivation creates chronic pain

Screen Strong is a medical approach to screen addiction— Discover if your child is set up to succeed in college

The importance of getting involved in grassroots politics

Image from Pixabay

When we think of our kids being well-groomed, we think of issues tending to physical hygiene and dress; some things at least parents have some control over. Or to help our kids gain control over.

There is grooming going on with our kids today that many of them, or their parents, are not even aware of. It’s the grooming that builds appetites in our kids; violent and sexual appetites built by the constant consumption of violent and sexually explicit video games, movies, and other forms of entertainment. It’s said, “you are what you eat.” Well, what we consume with our eyes and our ears shapes what we become too, and in ways you would never have imagined.

Don’t think that your inability to ever imagine your child to become a violent killer or sexual pervert makes this ugly possibility an impossibility. Besides, how far down that path are you willing to go as a parent, and how do you know when you’ve crossed the point of no return? Violent tendencies and sexual perversion do creep up incrementally.

Grooming our kids for love and not violence - this is what License to Parent with special Guest Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman discuss today. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, currently the Director of the Killology Research Group. He is also a retired US Army Ranger, a paratrooper, and a former West Point Psychology Professor. He has a Black Belt in Hojutsu, the martial art of the firearm, and has been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. It's no wonder he is an expert speaker and author and one of our nation’s leading trainers for military, law enforcement, mental health providers, and school safety organizations.

Love & Not Violence

Episode Highlights:

The need to protect our children from the corrosive effects of culture.

Regardless of a moral or industry code, the media masses do not care how kids are impacted.

Assassination Generation - book by Col. Grossman on how A young person's obsession with video games that teach to kill increases their overall tendency to commit violent acts. 

Increase in sleep deprivation, drug overdose, more violence and murders, suicides, and sex trafficking  - What... the problem is the police?

The movie, television, and video game industries pump money into politics.

What parents can do, now and more to come in Part 2.

Image by beate bachmann from Pixabay

With this year brings so much change into our lives with the rearranging of our everyday lives because of COVID, do you think that we are unintentionally looking over our children and their needs? Have we let them fall victim to our culture because we have become complacent about all that has been going on?

Sam Sorbo is an American actress who has played in films such as Bonfire of the Vanities, 20 Bucks and also starred in television series such as Chicago Hope and Hercules, where she met her husband Kevin Sorbo. Sam is the host of a syndicated radio show, The Sam Sorbo Show. She also speaks all around the country and is an author of many books, including “They’re Your Kids, An Inspirational Journey from Self-doubter to Homeschool Advocate”… She has also written many books with her husband Kevin, she is a mother and also homeschools her children.

Parents And Homeschooling

Episode Highlights:

Do you believe that we have a systemic moral and spiritual problem in our society?

Our opinions of right and wrong as a culture change, so do the laws. But God’s view of right and wrong do not and will not ever change.

As parents we have to take a step back and not expect perfection but look more at the relationship with the child.

Do you believe that homeschooling is the best option for Christian parents in our culture today?

Picture via: Pixabay