The Blessing
Let me tell you about this gift.
There is very little investment involved.  The gift is so much more valuable than the latest gadget your child may want. It’s a gift that can improve their lives now and in their future. It’s unlike most any other gift you know of.  This gift is The Blessing.
So, what is the blessing?  You can find out today on License to Parent.

Discussing Blessing Your Children with John Trent
John Trent has the "best job in the world" according to him.  He is the Founder and President of Strong Families.  John writes, speaks, and trains others to create cultures of blessing in their homes, workplaces, ministries, and around the world.
John has written over 30 books. We’re going to talk to John today about his award-winning book called The Blessing.

Episode Highlights:

How do we bless our kids the most?
What is the greek word for forgiveness? How is it significant?
What is it like to experience the blessing?
Does one’s childhood guarantee success or failure as an adult?

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Healthy Teens
If you have ever thought that we now live in a time and place where it has never been harder to raise healthy teenagers, you'll get no argument from most parents. However, could it be that today's dystopian-like society might be making it impossible? Frequent listeners to License to Parent know the answer. There is a possibility of raising healthy teenagers. Teaching you how to equip your child to navigate the pitfalls and dangers of teen life in a world gone mad is our work. 
Discussing Health with Tom Kersting
Tom Kersting is a nationally renowned licensed psychotherapist, family counselor, author, and educator. He is a regular guest expert on many national television shows and talk shows. He also lectures throughout the country offering expert insight and advice for parents, children, and educators. Tom is the founder and owner of Valley Family Counseling LLC in Park Ridge, New Jersey. He and his wife have two teenage children. His latest book is "Raising Healthy Teenagers: Equipping Your Child to Navigate the Pitfalls and Dangers of  Teen Life."

Episode Highlights:

What are the main issues facing teens today?
What is mental freedom?
What are our kids constantly distracted from?
Why is practicing silent thought helpful?
What are the outworkings of an anhedonic state?

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Words of Love
How many of us have ever had a deep discussion with our kids about love? About what it is and what it is not? Love is a multifaceted term and the English language only has one word for it, but other languages, like Greek,  have many. Greek’s uses of its other terms for love can be for describing a parent, or the love of a spouse. An entirely different word for love is used for the love of a friend. And still, another word for love transcends all the rest. It is the kind of sacrificial and unconditional love that springs from God Himself. It can be so easy for our kids to get a distorted idea about love when this term is applied to the myriad relationship scenarios that life brings our way. We need to ask ourselves what are the biblical perspectives on love?
Discussing Love with Shannon Bream
Shannon is an American journalist and attorney. She is the host of Fox News Sunday and the chief legal correspondent for Fox News Channel. Shannon is also the author of several best-selling books including, “The Love Stories of the Bible Speak.” Shannon is married to her husband Sheldon and they enjoy traveling, fly fishing, and college football.

Episode Highlights:

According to Trace, when does genuine healing begin in the student of Shepherd’s Hill Academy?
How are the love stories of the Bible relatable?
Which characters is her book about?
How is sex like fire?
What is intimacy? What is it not?

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Hard Questions
Last week we spoke with Dr. Don Williams about his book “The Young Christian’s Survival Guide.” In this podcast, he told us that his Grandfather was an illiterate country farmer from central Georgia and yet he had a tradition that marked Dr. Williams’ life forever. He required the youngest of his nine children (who was literate) to read the Bible aloud for him each evening when he came in from the fields. His commitment to scripture marked Dr. Don’s father and in turn, marked Dr. Don. He genuinely loved the Lord and God’s word, despite his flaws. He had a real foundation. And this foundation is where apologetics truly starts. A person’s apologetics can only begin to be effective when that person is living a life of sacrificial love for the Lord. This conversation continues in this week’s podcast.
Discussing Biblical Truth with Don Williams
Dr. Donald Williams is a professor emeritus of Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, Georgia. Dr. Williams calls himself a border dweller. He says he stays permanently camped out in the borders between theology, literature, serious scholarship, and pastoral ministry. So to speak, Narnia and The Middle Earth. Dr. Williams has authored 13 books including “The Young Christian's Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians Are Asked about God, the Bible, and the Christian Faith Answered.” He is a pastor and church planter and has taken the gospel to places like Bulgaria, Uganda, India, and of course here in the United States.

Episode Highlights:

What is the biggest contributor for why kids are walking away from the church?
The problem wasn’t that they didn’t have answers it was what?
What backs up Jesus’ supreme confidence?
What is the purpose of answering a question with a question?
Why are the Beatitudes so “dramatic?"

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Lasting Impact
In our nation's past most people would have found it safe to say that kids who were submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ were more likely to bring joy to themselves and to their families than the kids who chose to pursue the sinful pleasures of the world. Yet in today’s information age the truth of Scripture, and the virtues of faith, family, and common sense are often belied as too restrictive, oppressive, and even immoral. Many now consider the Bible to be an evil collection of dark fairy tales that speak of the evil deeds of an oppressive God- far too horrifying to be true. In this world parents and children need help to answer some of the toughest questions that pertain to the veracity of God and His Word.
Discussing God's Veracity with Don Williams
Dr. Donald Williams is a professor emeritus of Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, Georgia. Dr. Williams calls himself a border dweller. He says he stays permanently camped out in the borders between theology, literature, serious scholarship, and pastoral ministry. So to speak, Narnia and The Middle Earth. Dr. Williams has authored 13 books including “The Young Christian's Survival Guide: Common Questions Young Christians Are Asked about God, the Bible, and the Christian Faith Answered” He is a pastor and church planter and has taken the gospel to places like Bulgaria, Uganda, India, and of course here in the United States.

Episode Highlights:

What issues does Dr. Williams’ book address?
Who specifically can benefit from the book?
If apologetics is the 2nd most important, what is the 1st?
What does Dr. Williams say about his father’s attempts to raise him to love the Lord?
What made the real difference in Dr. Williams’ walk with God?
Apologetics is only effective when spoken by what kind of people?

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Empty Nesting
Many parents invest 18 years into the lives of their kids before sending them out into this great big world. Maybe that’s you right now and your child is leaving the nest and that is something you excitedly anticipate. Or maybe it is a time of apprehension and sorrow and possibly even dread. Either way, it is a time of significant change and there is a certain sense of loss that is part of this new equation. However, that sense of loss does not have to result in the loss of your joy.
Discussing the Empty Nest with Jim Burns
Jim Burns is the president of the ministry Homeword where he writes and speaks on their core values. The core values are; strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids, and healthy leaders. Jim and his wife live in southern California and they have three grown daughters. Jim and his wife are finding joy in the empty nest. Jim has authored multiple books, the latest of which is, "Finding Joy in the Empty Nest: Discover Purpose and Passion in the Next Phase of Life."

Episode Highlights:

What is the best way to prepare for your children to leave the nest?
What advice does Jim give empty nesters?
What does "reinventing yourself" look like for an empty nester?
What are some suggestions Jim gives for filling your time?
What things in your life will take intentionality?

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Ask Trace
If you could sit down and get some free advice from a 20+ year expert on troubled teens, what would you ask? Here I ask questions on behalf of you, our listening friends. Every once in a while we sit Trace Embry down and ask him questions about parenting difficult teens. As you know Trace is the Founder and Executive Director of Shepherd's Hill Academy. Shepherd's Hill has turned around many young people that are heading in the wrong direction. Trace is skilled in working with teens and knowing what it takes to help your teen thrive. Find answers to questions about bullying, discernment, and more. Email asktrace@licensetoparent.org to ask your tough questions.
Discussing Parenting 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 is the #1 problem parents have today?
A family is not a democracy. What is it?
A child will be unhappy even though, what?
We are fundamentally-what?
Why is it important for parents to make their kids do things?

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Rebel Parenting
The cultural revolution in the 1960’s changed the face of America. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll led the way to much of what we still see today in rebellion and immorality. After all it's the youth of that generation that are the grandmas and grandpas of today. Now many parents, the children of the rebel generation, are having to navigate this new cultural norm and they’re finding that Biblical parenting flies in the face of what they were taught and what much of the culture now believes. Do today's Christian parents face a different kind of rebellion as they raise their kids? Perhaps a rebellion against the rebellion?

Discussing Parenting with Ryan Dobson
Ryan Dobson is a dad of two and he's the son of parenting expert Dr. James Dobson. Ryan has written six books. He speaks most weekends to people wanting help with their families and he is host of the podcast Rebel Parenting.
Episode Highlights:

How do you win the spiritual war?
What does a “weirdo” look like?
Who can learn to live in grace?
What is your family’s common denominator?
How does Ryan posture himself to reach his daughter?
What is the greatest experience in life?

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God in Tech
Just before the advent of the smartphone, it was reported that former US Education Secretary Bill Bennet said, “America is rapidly becoming the kind of nation that civilized nations send missionaries to.” For those who heard Mr. Bennett’s comment, it would have been hard for them to believe the kind of changes that would occur in America over the next 15 years. Smartphones have become a cultural change agent and maybe have even broken down the American Dream and culture. Those change agents seem to have gotten the drop on those who would otherwise use the internet for good. As we head into Easter it's a good time to ask the question, “does scripture have anything pertinent to say about the digital age and technology that we now have to navigate as parents?”
Discussing Tech with Chris Kaspar
Chris Kaspar is the founder of Techless an innovative tech start-up that created Wisephone- a pure and simple phone for intentional people. Chris is married to Ciera and is the fun dad of four beautiful daughters. Chris and Ciera have been foster parents for a handful of kids and they live for a deeper purpose.

Episode Highlights:

How are the 7 deadly sins related to tech?
What is the purpose of Techless?
What is God’s purpose for technology?
How does Chris define technology?
What Biblical passages does Chris offer to parents?

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The Blessing
If I said that I knew what the perfect gift was that you could give your child for their next birthday you would want to know what it was, right? This gift does cost a little bit of money, and it has a little investment involved, but it is more valuable than the latest technology. The one that they probably want. This is a gift that can improve their lives now and in the future. It is unlike most gifts that you know. This gift is The Blessing.
Discussing Blessing with John Trent
John Trent is the founder and director of Strong Families. He claims to have the best job in the world. He writes, speaks, and trains others how to create cultures of blessing in their homes, workplaces, ministries, and around the world. John has written over 30 books including his award-winning book “The Blessing." He and his wife have two wonderful daughters.

Episode Highlights:

How do we bless our kids most?
Who is the only perfect parent?
How many people does it take to make a difference in someone's life?
Where did John first see the blessing?
 What does “curse” mean in Hebrew?
What does every kid deserve?

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Ask Trace
If you could sit down and get some free advice from a 20+ year expert on troubled teens, what would you ask him? Find answers to questions about bullying, discernment, and starving children- but not from hunger. Email asktrace@licensetoparent.org to ask your tough questions.
Discussing Parenting 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 are our children starving for?
Science is the new- what?
How do we start feeding our children what they need?
Who else is training our children?
How can a previously lax parent make changes?

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Battle Plan
We all know the story of the prodigal son. In fact, it seems we all know a family that actually has a prodigal child. This is true for the President of the United States down to the average American Smith or Jones family. As believers in God and his Word, we understand that there are spiritual forces battling among us vying for our loyalty. A spiritual battle is also going on for our children. What parents need is a battle plan. Warfare strategies to win back the prodigals.
Discussing Warfare with Laine Craft
Laine Craft is a mom, wife, and partner with God. Laine wants to see the impossible things become possible. This is because she has walked through several impossible. She walked through a marriage that resurrected after 17 miserable years, God healing her daughter from life-threatening illnesses, and seeing her three prodigal children become free, whole, and healed from porn, drugs, alcohol, and depression. Laine is also the author of the book "The Parent's Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal". Laine wants to encourage parents that it is possible to win the war against the enemy.

Episode Highlights:

Why does raising our children to love God invite spiritual attack?
Who are the devil's main targets?
What is the prize for enduring this battleground?
What do every mission and every war have?
What does prodigal mean?

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Wisephone
It has been long overdue, but in recent years a handful of visionaries and a growing contingent of parents are beginning to wake up to a vital need that can effect positive change not just in families, but in our culture. If you have happened to lookover ways to restore righteousness, peace, and joy to your child-rearing experience in your home then stay tuned. Find out how your family can have a wiser, safer, and more “free” alternative to the dangers and corruptions that threaten your kids through smartphones.
Discussing Tech with Chris Kaspar
Chris Kaspar is a leader in the creation of healthy tech. He is a part of cleaning things up. He is the founder of Techless an innovative tech startup that created Wisephone, a pure and simple phone for intentional people. Before Techless, Chris founded Dancing Fox Films a film production company and Espresso, an ad agency specializing in brand development. Chris is married to his wife Ciera and is a father to four beautiful daughters. Chris and Ciera have also been foster parents for a handful of kids. They both live for a deeper purpose.

Episode Highlights:

How is cognitive dissonance a factor in the smartphone issue?
The mind can always justify- what?
What is mammon?
Why did Chris found Techless and what is his vision for the wisephone?
The goal of Techless is to “lead people to live fully with-” what?
What are the Wisephones specs?

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Ask Trace
Parent’s in today’s culture are facing some really hard choices. Raising their kids in a way that honors God means that their kids probably won’t be allowed to do things and activities that their friends get to do. When I was young it meant that I didn’t get to go to a movie theater. That was tough and caused lots of arguments in our household. Navigating culture and parenting leads to some tough questions.
Discussing Parenting 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 does Trace say is the stupidest thing that any parent could possibly say?
If you don’t train your children, who will?
What does Trace call the “right ways” to raise children?
Is God really the God of the homes in America?
If you parent according to the culture what can you expect your children to reflect?

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The Power of Music Pt. 3
Since the beginning of time philosophers, spiritual leaders, and even musicians themselves have all shared their convictions about the power of music and its ability to influence attitudes and behaviors for good or for ill. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are just a few who affirm these observations. In modern times scientists and musicologists have also weighed in on musics' extraordinary power to affect body and brain chemistry positively and negatively. Yet, many parents still see music as a benign form of entertainment that serves as nothing more than just that; entertainment. Could the music we allow be a catalyst for some of the ill behaviors that can wreak havoc in our homes?
Discussing Music with Joe Schimmel
Pastor Schimmel has been equipping Christians with the truth of God's word since 1987 and his testimony of the transforming power of Jesus Christ in his own life can be seen in the powerful expose “They Sold Their Souls for Rock and Roll.” Brother Joe started Good Fight Ministries with a mission to reach a lost and dying world with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Joe’s life work and ministry are dedicated to carrying out the great commission of Jesus Christ.

Episode Highlights:

What is the main sin the Bible mentions?
What are we designed to do?
What do we do about it?
What is the danger that superheroes present?
Who is much of the comic world influenced by?

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The Power of Music Pt. 2
Since the beginning of time philosophers, spiritual leaders, and even musicians themselves have all shared their convictions about the power of music and its ability to influence attitudes and behaviors for good or for ill. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are just a few who affirm these observations. In modern times scientists and musicologists have also weighed in on musics' extraordinary power to affect body and brain chemistry positively and negatively. Yet, many parents still see music as a benign form of entertainment that serves as nothing more than just that; entertainment. Could the music we allow in our homes be a catalyst for some of the ill behaviors that can wreak havoc in our homes?
Discussing Music with Joe Schimmel
Pastor Schimmel has been equipping Christians with the truth of God's word since 1987 and his testimony of the transforming power of Jesus Christ in his own life can be seen in the powerful expose “They Sold Their Souls for Rock and Roll.” Brother Joe started Good Fight Ministries with a mission to reach a lost and dying world with the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Joe’s life work and ministry are dedicated to carrying out the great commission of Jesus Christ.

Episode Highlights:

Words are powerful, but what other part of music is more powerful?
What part of the brain can be bypassed by music?
Why is it dangerous to have Christian music paired with a heavy sound?
What songs cause you to sing without grace in your heart?
How are worship and entertainment in music similar, yet different?

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Joy and an Empty Nest
Many parents invest 18 years into their kids' lives before sending them out into this great big world. Well, maybe that's you right now and your child is leaving the nest and that is something you anticipate. Or maybe it’s a time of apprehension, sorrow, and maybe even dread. Either way, it is a time of significant change and there is a certain sense of loss that is part of this new equation. But that sense of loss does not need to mean the loss of your joy.

Discussing Joy with Jim Burns
Jim is the president of the ministry Homeward where he writes and speaks on their core values. Those core values are strong marriages, confident parents, empowered kids, and healthy leaders. Jim and his wife live in southern California and they have three grown daughters causing the Burns’ to also experience this empty nest phase. Jim has authored multiple books and his latest is Finding Joy in the Empty Nest.

Episode Highlights:

What do children gain from emotionally sound parents?
Why are child-centric homes unhealthy?
When a child leaves to gain fresh experiences, what should you do?
What do you have the most of with an empty nest?
What must be redefined during the empty nest phase?
Empty nesting is not just about staying in love, it's about..what?

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The Perfect Parent
As a parent, you are thrown a lot of scenarios and there is no way to prepare for every single one of them. You may know deep down that you're not the perfect parent. As much as you’d like to be and as much as you try. Your children’s friends' parents seem to have it all together, but I want to share a little secret with you. There are no perfect parents. In this world, anyway.

Discussing Parenting with Dave and Ann Wilson
Dave and Ann Wilson are the hosts of the radio program Family Life Today. They are authors of Vertical Marriage and No Perfect Parents. Dave was chaplain for the Detroit Lions and together they have co-founded a large church in the Detroit area called Kensington Community Church. They’ve raised three sons and now are reaping the benefits and are now playing with their grandbabies.

Episode Highlights:

Who is the secret to successful parenting?
What is the second part of the secret to successful parenting?
What is your goal for your children?
What is the danger of having “happiness” be your goal for your children?
What is the difference between joy and happiness?
What family “hierarchy” is expressed and shown to be good?

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iSlavery with Nate Randle
Would you believe that virtually every other student in your child’s school has hard-core pornography wired directly into their bedrooms and that it is actually approved of and paid for by their parents? Would you ever consider paying to have pornography wired into your child's bedroom? Does that same hard-core pornography affect kids more or less if they were given unfettered access to it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year? When kids are given unfettered access to smartphones, this is effectively what’s happening.

Discussing iSlavery with Nate Randle
Nate Randle is the CEO at Gabb Wireless. In his role at Gabb Wireless Nate has overseen record-breaking sales along with a new level of community outreach which includes a special focus on helping single parents. Nate is married and has four kids so he brings a focus on family approach to his leadership at Gabb.

Episode Highlights:

What three elements lead to not speaking against smartphones?
What can the mind always justify?
What are just a few areas where smartphones cause problems?
What one thing do children do that makes parents give in?
You can trust your child, but do you trust who can reach them?
How are smartphones like swim lessons?

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Sexual Education with Jeff Johnston
We’re raising our kids in a post-Christian nation, so we can’t assume that our government, nor its agencies, are in agreement with God-fearing moral values that built and sustained what many would call American exceptionalism. For a while, foreign and domestic enemies have been chipping away at America's God-fearing heritage and infrastructure. Though colleges and universities have always been the prime target, today an even more vulnerable and impressionable demographic is being targeted. It’s our elementary schoolers and even our preschoolers. So as concerned Christian parents it’s time that we stand up, lift our voices, and make our concerns known.

Discussing Sex Ed with Jeff Johnston
Jeff Johnston is the Issues Analyst for Focus on the Family.  Jeff writes and teaches about Marriage, Homosexuality, and Gender. Basically, Jeff encourages and helps Christians understand the latest issues. A number of resources can be found on Focus on the Family including, The Daily Citizen, Back To School – For Parents, and “Sexualizing Schoolchildren: Comprehensive Sex Ed.”
Episode Highlights:

What does Proverbs 13:14 say?
What agenda is being put on children in public schools?
What booklet did Planned Parenthood publish worldwide?
What is the danger of teaching a child consent?
Why is this agenda confusing for children?

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