License to Parent with Trace Embry

With more and more young people being lured into believing that socialism is the answer to our nation's ills these days, what will the future of American patriotism actually look like? Can you or your children be true American patriots, while promoting socialism at the same time? So, with respect to patriotism, what should we stand for and what should we be teaching our kids to stand for--and why? Today we speak with Burgess Owens on this very topic.

Super Bowl Champion, Burgess Owens has shown throughout his life a passion for the pursuit of excellence. At the core of his message is optimism that is both inspiring and instructional. As he uplifts our system of government, the freedom and opportunity available because of it, his mantra is embodied in two words…"Dream Big". Burgess discusses what it takes to win, regardless of one's circumstances, background, color or culture. He encourages all to dream bigger, expect more, risk more, struggle more and win more. A priceless message from someone who has been there. He is also the author of Why I Stand: From Freedom to the Killing Fields of Socialism.

From Freedom to the Killing Fields of Socialism

If you go through our history we find a love for God. When we love God, we serve each other. We are the most diverse and progressive in terms of opportunities and freedoms because we’ve learned over time to love each other from the inside out. The concepts and ideas that we are loved and created by God have been at war with the ideology of socialists, Marxists, and atheists from the very beginning. That is our fight today.

However, our fight is not a conversation or even an argument. The ideas that directly oppose Christian values are fought in entertainment, news, academia, and other media in order to propagandize the message. That is how people begin to believe that things like socialism and anti-god principals actually work. But if we look through history we see that it never has worked and never will.

In order for us to really speak truth into our children, we need to learn our history. “The first battleground is re-writing our history.” Our kids today don’t know about how great the people in our past were and all the things that they have done. They had such a love for country and God that they fought for our freedom.

Patriotism starts with love and respect for God. Then it drills down to the family unit. We understand that a family name is important. We never do anything to soil that name. We learn about respect for women. Without respect for women, we will never be true men. We learn to see past our differences and see inside out. We love others because we share the common bond of a country we want to make better and kids we want to care and provide for. Now we can sit down, have conversations, agree to disagree, but find the best way to work together.

Episode Highlights:

Is socialism a new idea?

How can parents speak truth into their children?

What is a patriot?

Picture via: Pixabay

With more and more young people being lured into believing that socialism is the answer to our nation’s ills these days, what will the future of American patriotism actually look like? Can you or your children be true American patriots, while promoting socialism at the same time? So, with respect to patriotism, what should we […]

If you're a college kid with an accruing mountain of student-loan debt--or a high-school kid looking at your friends' necktie deep dungeon of debt, then free college with no college debt sounds pretty appealing. But, what a lot of our kids aren't aware of, is their history--in this case, the history of socialism. I'm not sure socialism has worked very well anywhere it was tried. So, today's parents have to ask themselves a few questions: "What am I doing to educate my child about America's political history? How do I want that political history to affect my child's political and professional future?" And, "Do I really want our liberal, failing public school system; our kids' favorite entertainment personalities; their 300 social media acquaintances; and, our liberal--postmodern-thinking press to be their only source for political insight?

Today we talk socialism with Dr. Frank Wright, a protégée of Dr. James Kennedy. Dr. Wright served for over a decade as the President and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters and later President and COO of Salem Communications. In 2015 Dr. Wright returned to Dr. James Kennedy ministries where he is now President and CEO. Dr. Wright holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University and is an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Throughout the years, he has been very vocal about Dr. Kennedy’s direct impact on him and his ministry, and their shared vision and worldview makes Dr. Wright the ideal person to continue D. James Kennedy Ministries’ push toward the future.

From Formation to Socialism?

If you don’t have a biblical framework to overlay what we see happening day by day in today’s culture it all looks like chaos. But it’s not chaos. It’s by design.

It was said of Benjamin Franklin when he came out of the constitutional convention, “What kind of government did you give us.” To which he answered, “a Republic if you can keep it.” A Republic is where the people elect representatives that represent their interest on their behalf. The fallen nature of man was not something that escaped Mr. Franklin so even he wondered at the longevity of it. I like to say we live in a Constitutional Republic. We are in a Republic where we elect representatives but the structure of government is framed by a constitution.

What exactly is socialism? It is the government ownership or control of all of the means of production of society. That’s land, labor, and capital. When the government owns everything or controls it then all kinds of things happen or don’t happen. When young people today say they are in favor of socialism I ask, “do you realize under socialism there would and could never be Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc.” The hallmark of socialism is control. There is no free market. In application, socialist governments go so much further to include the control of speech, jobs, etc. It does not stand competition for authority. Two things that compete directly with a socialist government are the family and the church.

Were the disciples living a socialist lifestyle? In Acts 5 you see that the disciples were keeping their goods in common. However, it doesn’t say they kept ALL of their goods in common. They shared based on needs. They shared voluntarily. The difference is a socialist government takes the money from you. The disciples did it voluntarily. Secondly, look where they brought the money; not to the government but to the church.

Parents, start with your kids on this. The reason that you know that socialism is not biblical is because it is government theft. It is a violation of the commandment “Thou shalt not still.” Secondly, socialism is the gospel of envy. Thou shalt not covet is the other commandment. One of the funniest things about socialism is you will never see socialism begin in a poor country. It happens and begins where there is a system of free enterprise that allows wealth to accumulate.

Episode Highlights:

If you’re a college kid with an accruing mountain of student-loan debt–or a high-school kid looking at your friends’ necktie deep dungeon of debt, then free college with no college debt sounds pretty appealing. But, what a lot of our kids aren’t aware of, is their history–in this case, the history of socialism. I’m not […]

And what about the new dangers that lurk in our children’s pockets? Too many parents are allowing the likes of Ted Bundy, Larry Flynt, El Chapo, every porn star and the rest of the seedy-side of town, not only into their own homes but into the privacy of their kids' own bedrooms without realizing it. My gosh, even our government won't let you pull the lever on a slot machine until you're 21, because of it's addictive nature. Today we speak with Kirk Cameron on his new film to find out how it can help parents navigate this endless barrage of digital stimuli that are affecting families today.

Kirk Cameron is a television and film actor and producer, noted recently for his work in the family films Saving Christmas and Mercy Rule, the documentaries Unstoppable and Monumental, and the inspirational film Fireproof. He is also known for his memorable roles on ABC’s Growing Pains, the Left Behind movies, and co-host of The Way of the Master television series. Kirk spends much of his time producing new television and film projects and speaking to people around the country, teaching them how to share their faith and live out a gospel-centered marriage and family. Kirk and his wife Chelsea are the founders of Camp Firefly, a camp for seriously ill children and their families. Together, they live in California with their six children. Kirk is also the creator of the recent documentary (now available on Netflix, Amazon Prime and more) called Connect.

Connecting to Your Kids in a Digital World

Kirk Cameron’s new film, Connect, speaks to families about the newfound challenge surrounding being digitally connected. The topic in an of itself is a challenge. It’s a constantly changing moving target. This whole topic really got sprung on us as parents. We are the guinea pigs. We’re parenting the first generation of children who grew up fully immersed in digital technology.

Kirk created the film Connect when his children were required to use smart digital devices. At this time his children were involved in sports and other activities that required some usage of digital technology. It was then that he realized that just because they were a “good family” didn’t mean his kids weren’t being exposed to terrible things. He made this documentary to talk with 5 experts in the field to understand how technology and social media affect all of the areas of life. The documentary was designed to give real help to parents navigating the digital world.

Don’t fall for the “I would never do that mom and dad.” At our weak moments or times where peer pressure is high, we revert to the lowest common denominator of human nature. We make poor decisions that we never thought we would. After learning the neurological and biological effects (not to mention the physical and emotional) of technology on our kids, it’s important for parents to get involved.

So, what can we do? Don’t feel like you are alone as a parent. All of us are dealing with the same thing and it’s hard. Ultimately it comes down to your child’s relationship with you and with God. Model for your kids what healthy technology behavior looks like. Dedicate text free time as a family. Connect with your kids. Experts are saying that even though kids have more virtual followers, they are lacking real-life relationships.

Episode Highlights:

How is the documentary Connected relevant to my family?

How is digital technology impacting our kids?

What can we, as parents, do to connect with our kids?

Picture via: Pixabay

And what about the new dangers that lurk in our children’s pockets? Too many parents are allowing the likes of Ted Bundy, Larry Flynt, El Chapo, every porn star and the rest of the seedy-side of town, not only into their own homes but into the privacy of their kids’ own bedrooms without realizing it. […]

My dad used to say that his grandkids were God's reward for not killing me during the course of my upbringing. But, all joking aside, grandkids are wonderful; and, grandparenting is wonderful. But, there really are a lot of responsibilities and obligations--as well as big-time rewards that go along with being a good grandparent--which I'm still working on. It's kinda like "parenting lite" if your kids are actually being the parents that God has called them to be. If not, grandparenting can also be pretty frustrating--even heart-breaking and exhausting. But, I'm certainly no expert on the whole grandparenting thing. Like I said, I'm still a work in progress, myself. So, I'm looking forward to hearing from a guy who actually wrote a book on The Heart of Grandparenting.

Dr. Ken Canfield, a nationally-known leader, and scholar has committed his life to 8x10 canfield big group2 soft color-5strengthening families and fathers. He has founded and continues to engage in several organizations dedicated to improving family well-being, most notably the National Center for Fathering, where he served as President for 16 years. He is currently president of the National Association for Grandparenting (GrandsMatter.org), which he founded in 2016.

Ken and his wife Dee (a Professional Counselor) have been married 40 years. They have five children, three daughters, and two sons, ranging in age from 26-36. They also have three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and twelve grandchildren.

How Grand to be a Grandparent

There is nothing better than preparing the next generation and those after for success. What really got me into this was the recognition that grandparents were often displaced, forgotten or marginalized. In other cultures, grandparents are depended on and they live for their grandchildren. We need a little bit of that! In Deuteronomy, we see that we should remember what we saw and teach them to our children and children’s children. Our calling extends to our extended family. There are so much value and benefit in engaging with our grandchildren.

You will actually live longer and healthier lives if you engage with grandchildren. Cognitive abilities are kept “on their toes” as you stay up with and interact with the grandchildren. To engage with them will challenge you mentally. When you impart wisdom, humor, reality appropriate to their age, they are endowed with a sense of heritage and confidence that comes only through you.

The mark of the good grandparent is that they are engaged, intentional and proactive. It will not only enhance your wellbeing but the wellbeing of your grandchildren as well. Ken Canfield authored the book, The Heart of Grandparenting.

The Heart of Grandparenting has 5 pillars: Heritage, Example, Angelic Attributes, Reconciliation, Teachers. Grandparents have such an amazing opportunity to raise up and train the next generation in a way that only they can.

Episode Highlights:

What do Grandparents bring to the family?

How can Grandparents impact children in a way others cannot?

What can Grandparents do to train up the future generations?

Picture via: Pixabay

My dad used to say that his grandkids were God’s reward for not killing me during the course of my upbringing. But, all joking aside, grandkids are wonderful; and, grandparenting is wonderful. But, there really are a lot of responsibilities and obligations–as well as big-time rewards that go along with being a good grandparent–which I’m […]

So, what, then, are we to make of our boy’s competitiveness and their rough and tumble ways? Are these unnatural and ungodly traits that need to be rectified? And, what are we to make of the growing remorse that more and more young women are now feeling after following Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the modern feminist movement for their moral truth and fulfillment in life? In the midst of it all, how do we convey and teach our kids to convey the truth of God, tempered by the love of God to a world devoid of God? Raising our kids to be Bold and Broken, God’s way.

David and Jason Benham (the Benham Brothers) are former professional baseball players, nationally acclaimed entrepreneurs, and best selling authors. Their rise to success earned them a reality show with HGTV that was set to air in the fall of 2014 - yet the show was abruptly canceled because of their commitment to Biblical values. Appearing on CNN, Fox News, ESPN, ABC's Nightline & Good Morning America, the Benham's continue to stand up for what they believe and encourage others to do the same. David and Jason have a combined 9 children and live on the same street in Charlotte, NC. They recently released the book Bold and Broken, which we will talk about a little bit more today.

Bridging the Gap Between Heaven and Earth

We’re becoming a people who are now minimizing and marginalizing the natural and God-given personality traits of the traditional American male. And, no doubt, the aggressiveness that's innate in so many males, something that shouldn’t be confused with violence, by the way, needs to be harnessed for the appropriate times and places. This is called loving discipline. And it comes part and parcel with good parenting.

We recognize the attack on masculinity is actually on God’s design. It’s a spiritual battle. The Benham brothers grew up high energy boys who state, “we probably should have been on ADHD medication.” But they recall the words of their father that “only those horses willing to be broken by their master are fit to pull the king’s chariot. The rest are left out to pasture.”

We, as men, have everything within us to do great things, but that same power can destroy. The heart has to change and submit to the gospel of Jesus. When we learn to be his disciple and be controlled by his spirit (not controlled by our spirit) we are able to do what we are called to do. Satan hates it when men are real men. When men submit to the ultimate man who is Jesus they become a powerful weapon for good and good things.

What does it look like to be bold and broken? The book was written based on Ezekiel and the importance of standing in the gap and combining boldness and brokenness. Boldness apart from brokenness makes you a bully. Brokenness but no boldness makes you a bystander. Brokenness is a heart of surrender. It is the fuel for boldness.

Episode Highlights:

What does it mean to be bold and broken?

Can you have boldness without brokenness (and vice versa)?

How can parents instill godly values and god-given characteristics into our children?

Picture via: Pixabay

So, what, then, are we to make of our boy’s competitiveness and their rough and tumble ways? Are these unnatural and ungodly traits that need to be rectified? And, what are we to make of the growing remorse that more and more young women are now feeling after following Hollywood, Madison Avenue, and the modern […]