License to Parent with Trace Embry

Family Life

A parent's love for their children is immeasurable. For most of us, this love seems to be wired into us from the moment our first child is born. But is it possible that this unconditional love, despite good intentions, could be misdirected? Something that can block God’s design for a healthy family? Dennis Rainey talks to us about choosing a life that matters and about loving our kids, our spouse, and our God in ways that can help make family life the good life.

Loving Your Kids, Spouse, and God Effectively with Dennis Rainey

Dennis Rainey and his wife Barbara Rainey are founders of the family and marriage ministry Family Life. They have devoted their lives to seeing marriages thrive and individuals grow in their relationship with God. Dennis is a pastor, a popular author and speaker, and for over 25 years he was the host of the radio program Family Life Today. Dennis longs to empower people to live in courageous faith as they parent their kids and love their spouses well.

Episode Highlights:

What is God’s ecosystem?

What are the three most important relationships in life?

How is true success measured?

What is a life that “matters?"

What is the quote that brought Dennis freedom?

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Enough is Enough 2

Last week we heard from an expert in making the internet safe for your family. She said, “Let me just share the story of John Doe who was a convicted sex offender in a high-security prison. I talked to him for three hours. He would look for kids online that he was interested in. He was talking to a 13-year-old girl. That 13-year-old girl liked boys who were around 15 and played soccer. He would find pictures of boys that looked like that and he would send it and pretend to be that boy and engage that girl. Often times these lead to sexual encounters and situations where he would get nudes of them and back and forth and then used [those same pictures] to keep that child silent.” Donna Rice Hughes is the CEO and president of Enough is Enough.

Discussing the Internet with Donna Rice Hughes

Donna Rice Hughes works hard to protect our children from internet predators. She is the President and CEO of Enough is Enough and also is an internationally known internet safety expert, author, speaker, and producer. Donna’s vision, expertise, and advocacy have helped to birth the internet safety movement in America at the advent of the digital age. For 30 years Donna has been working hard to make the internet safe for your kids and family. She has developed and spearheaded the National Safe Wifi Campaign which is calling on corporate America to filter pornography and child sex abuse images off of public wifi. As a result of these efforts, two major companies that own stores all across America are now filtering wifi in their stores.

Episode Highlights:

How did the internet help close the gap between boys and girls and pornography use?

What dangers are girls more prone to over the internet than boys?

What percentage of 8-12-year-olds are using social media (regardless of “age restrictions")?

How many pro-eating disorder accounts does Instagram have?

What is the most important thing that Christian parents need to do about this issue?

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Enough is Enough

It is obvious that we are raising our kids in a nation that has veered from the Christian morals and moreens that helped make America a global superpower. Consequently, our children are now being abused as a logical outworking of this moral veering. So what is a wise and godly parent to do for today? We will be talking with Donna Rice Hughes about how we can bring a semblance of sanity and spiritual grounding back into our homes and hopefully back into our nation as well.

Discussing the Internet with Donna Rice Hughes

Donna Rice Hughes works hard to protect our children from internet predators. She is the President and CEO of Enough is Enough and also is an internationally known internet safety expert, author, speaker, and producer. Donna’s vision, expertise, and advocacy have helped to birth the internet safety movement in America at the advent of the digital age. For 30 years Donna has been working hard to make the internet safe for your kids and family. She has developed and spearheaded the National Safe Wifi Campaign which is calling on corporate America to filter pornography and child sex abuse images off of public wifi. As a result of these efforts, two major companies that own stores all across America are now filtering wifi in their stores.

Episode Highlights:

What word does Trace say some people argue that started America’s loss of morality?

What hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance does Trace point out?

How did the redefinition of “freedom” lead to many of our problems today?

What is Enough is Enough?

What happened to the underground black market crimes when the internet debuted?

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Feelings Pt. 2

Last time on License to Parent we talked with John Rosemond about the mental health crisis and how it is affecting our teens. Mr. Rosemond said, “My contention is that it all goes back to the fact that we followed the herd in the early 1970s and we radically overhauled our parenting practices and we “fixed” something that wasn’t broken and we are paying a terrible price for that.” Today we continue this conversation.

Discussing Mental Health with John Rosemond

John is a family psychologist, best-selling author, and a popular speaker on parenting issues. He is husband to his wife, Wilma, of 55 years, father to two successful adults, and grandfather to seven well-behaved grandchildren. John’s goal is to help you parent with love and leadership and to raise responsible adults. You can find his website here.

Episode Highlights:

What difference has Trace seen in parents and kids since smartphones came out in the early 2000s?

What does John say about the statistical data that the mental health field is helping reduce the mental health problem in America?

What does Trace say about epigenetics?

What is one of the most popular questions in psychology from a psychologist to their client?

What does John have to say about that question?

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Feelings

It used to be that when a parent needed advice for parenting they would go to a trusted and seasoned family member like a grandparent, an aunt, or an uncle - even if the child had behavioral problems. And if that didn't help, then the parent usually went to their pastor or clergy. But today we see that behavioral issues are viewed many times as clinical issues and this has given birth to what many refer to as the mental health industrial complex. John Rosemond is going to help us think through what modern mental health has become and the role it should or shouldn’t play in your family's well-being.

Discussing Mental Health with John Rosemond

John is a family psychologist, best-selling author, and a popular speaker on parenting issues. He is husband to his wife, Wilma, of 55 years, father to two successful adults, and grandfather to seven well-behaved grandchildren. John’s goal is to help you parent with love and leadership and to raise responsible adults. You can find his website here.

Episode Highlights:

What does John call psychology?

Why have people tried various times to take John’s license away?

What does John say is the truth about the mental health profession in America?

Emotions are not more important than what?

The more you talk to your child about their feelings the more - what?

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Prodigal

You may have read a myriad of books about raising godly kids and you are truly following the principles, but one of your own kids walks away from God. You could be a Sunday school teacher who taught other parents how to bring up godly kids and yet your child still leaves the fold. Or you are actually the author of a preeminent parenting book and still one of your kids abandons the Lord. As a parent, if you’ve been disillusioned by doing things right this program is for you.

Last time Kari Trent-Stageberg said, “Even though there was not a day that I didn’t hear or know that my parents were crazy about me, and that there was a God who was crazy about me - for me what it really was, was that God just felt incredibly abstract and I wasn’t able at the time to figure out the relationship piece. It made me think, "why would I follow this if it doesn’t actually impact my life?” Today we will continue our conversation.

Discussing Endurance with Dr. John Trent & Kari Trent Stageberg

Dr. John Trent is the Founder and President of the organization Strong Families. He is also the author of the book “The Blessing.” His daughter Kari Trent Stageberg works alongside her dad as CEO of Strong Families and together they help build stronger marriages, coach parents to be better parents, and move everyone toward a closer relationship with God.

Episode Highlights:

How long does Kari say that she lived in rebellion?

What does John Trent say to parents of children who walked away from God 20+ years ago and show no signs of returning?

Where did John go in the Bible to find encouragement while his daughter was walking away from God?

What does Hebrews 13:5 say?

What does Kari say we don't get to choose?

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Walk Away

Let’s say that you have read the myriad of books that have been written about raising godly kids and you are truly following the principles in those books to a “t." Still one of your own kids walks away from God as a teenager. Maybe as a Sunday school teacher, you taught other parents how to bring up godly kids from what you have read in those same books, and yet your Bible Quiz winner has now become an angsty teen. What happens when you’re actually the author of one of those preeminent parenting books and still one of your kids abandons the Blessing that you thought would guarantee you and your family blessing in return? As a parent, if you’ve been disillusioned by doing things right then this program is for you.

Discussing Parenting with Dr. John Trent & Kari Trent Stageberg

Dr. John Trent is the Founder and President of the organization Strong Families. He is also the author of the book “The Blessing.” His daughter Kari Trent Stageberg works alongside her dad as CEO of Strong Families and together they help build stronger marriages, coach parents to be better parents, and move everyone toward a closer relationship with God.

Episode Highlights:

How do we reconcile what the Bible says about training up a child when we do it and it doesn’t seem to work?

What was the idea behind the book “The Blessing?"

Where does the Blessing come from?

The Blessing is not a-what?

What caused Kari to walk away from God and her family? What brought her back?

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Daily Hope

No one would disagree that it is difficult to raise teenagers today. However, some would argue- when have parents not found the times unprecedented and the task of raising teenagers difficult? On the surface, this argument might sound plausible, but when we really peel back the onion to see all of the moving parts it seems apples are being compared to oranges. Perhaps a better analogy is that maybe molehills are being compared to mountains. A generation of kids without hope is what too many parents are dealing with today. What we need is hope for every day.

Discussing Hope with Mark Gregston

Mark is an author, speaker, radio host, and the Founder of a residential counseling center for struggling teens located in Longview, Texas. Mark’s passion for helping teens can be seen in his 50 years of involvement with families as a youth pastor, Young Life Area Director, and now as Executive Director of Heartlight. Today we discuss his new book, "Daily Hope for Families."

Episode Highlights:

What is the second leading cause of death in teens?

What quote does Trace give from Voltaire?

What is the main reason kids feel hopeless?

What main question does Mark ask himself?

What is our role as parents and grandparents?

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Digital Madness

If you haven’t noticed we are living in a time where parents have to raise their kids in a society that itself has become mentally ill. If you have listened in before you may have wondered if we are just being extreme or if our culture really has descended into an emotional, psychological, and spiritual abyss. Unfortunately, the data would suggest the later. Many times we suggest that parents ask what role digital technology may play in all of this. Today we will receive insights from Dr. Nicholas Kardaras' book, “Digital Madness: How Social Media is Driving Our Mental Health Crisis and How to Restore Our Sanity.”

Discussing Tech Addiction with Dr. Nicholas Kardaras

Dr. Nicholas Kardaras is an Ivy League-educated psychologist, best-selling author, internationally renowned speaker, and an expert on mental health, addiction, and the impacts of our digital age. He is one of the country's foremost addiction experts. Dr. Kardaras lives with his wife in Sag Harbor, NY and they have twin sons. He is a frequent presenter and lecturer on the subjects of philosophy, mental health, and both substance and screen addictions.

Episode Highlights:

What quote from Voltaire does Trace give?

What does Trace believe is the real root of our society's mental health problems?

Sin will take us _, cost us _, and keep us _.

Who do Dr. Kardaras and Trace theorize God is using to wake up His people?

“What harm can that do?” What harm does this phrase cause?

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Ask Trace

It’s another installment of Ask Trace where I ask Trace questions that are on your hearts. Today’s topic is kind of sensitive. It is around the topic of LGBTQ youth. Over the last couple of weeks, I have had several conversations about pronouns and how to adjust your thinking around that. In some of those eye-opening conversations, I am seeing parents, teachers, and leaders in the Christian community that are on opposite sides. Both believe that they are on the side of compassion and the gospel. So how does Trace handle this with the teens at Shepherd’s Hill Academy?

Email [email protected] to ask your tough questions.

Discussing LGBTQ+ with Trace Embry

Trace Embry is the Founder and Executive Director of Shepherd’s Hill Academy a Christ-centered, outdoor-focused, year-long, therapeutic boarding academy for troubled youth. Trace and his wife Beth started Shepherd’s Hill Academy in 2001 to bring healing to hurting families. They came to Christ after becoming parents and learned a lot through that process as well as in their leadership roles at Shepherd’s Hill. Trace is also the author of “The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill: An Extraordinary Odyssey of Divine Interventions” which accounts for the full journey of how Trace and Beth came to where they are now.

Episode Highlights:

What happens when you start to break down the fundamentals of reality?

What do common definitions of terms provide?

How are the students at Shepherd’s Hill addressed?

What is Shepherd’s Hill here to bring?

What leads to spiritual and psychological healing?

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