License to Parent with Trace Embry

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

Face to Face I have a question for you. Have we become a society that likes to hide? Because since the lockdowns it seems that some are okay with staying inside their four walls. But while we hide inside we also have more courage with our words on social media. You know these little devices, our phones? They give us the power to say things that we wouldn’t otherwise say. Especially if we were face to face. And this brings me to another question. Is canceling face-to-face relationships decivilizing our society? Discussing Relationships with Geremy Keeton Geremy is the senior director of counseling services at Focus on the Family. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and he leads the focused mental health team of clinicians and pastoral specialists. Episode Highlights: What does it take to be seen and known? What is the pace of our technology doing to us? How have smartphones impacted our youth? What pace will help us foster relationships? What are the 5 components of emotionally healthy people? How do you develop emotional health? Image from Canva

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? Image from Canva

Biblical Worldview For most of our nation's history America has been known as having a Christian culture. We’ve been a redemptive nation upholding moral standards. Standards that have mostly aligned with a Biblical worldview. We knew that ultimately moral right and wrong was for God to determine; the God we see in the Bible. Today, however, we’re raising kids in a culture that is increasingly antagonistic to God and His word. So as Christian parents we have to be more intentional about raising our kids with a Biblical worldview. Discussing Worldview with Nicole Hunt Nicole is an attorney and a spokesperson for Focus on the Family. She writes and speaks on issues that affect us today, like religious freedom, parental rights, marriage, and gender. Nicole is married to Jeff Hunt and they have four kids. Episode Highlights: Why is having a Biblical worldview so important? How do moral absolutes protect us? What is the danger in “do what feels good”? Who are you serving? How can you live out a changed life? How can you raise your kids to be counter-cultural? Image from Canva

Time and Intentionality Proverbs, Chapter 22 says: “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Parents know that you only have 18 years to guide and train your child in the way he should go. Those 18 years set him on a path for success in the world and eternity. Or that’s what you’re hoping for, right? You’re probably realizing that it takes time! Time and intentionality. Both of which take work. Being intentional with our time as we prepare our children for what lies ahead. Discussing Intentionality with Dave Glander Dave was formerly a devout atheist and now he is a deeply committed believer in Jesus Christ. He teaches Christians how to know what they believe and how to defend their faith. David is a pastor and founder of an apologetics youth camp called Equip Retreat and is also the author of How Why Where and The Faith Survival Guide. Episode Highlights: Where can you find teachable moments “as you go?" How can you take the sacred to the secular in your day? How much time per week, on average, do father’s spend with their children? What does it mean to be intentional? What do you need to sacrifice? Image from Canva

The Gift of a Lifetime Well, let me tell you about this gift. It does cost a little. It has a little investment involved. But this gift is so much more valuable than the latest gadget that they probably want. It’s a gift that can improve their lives now and in the future. It’s unlike most gifts that you know of. This gift is the blessing. So exactly what is the blessing? You’ll find out today on License to Parent. Discussing the Blessing with John Trent John Trent is the founder and president of Strong Families and claims that he, in fact, has the best child in the world. He writes, speaks, and trains others to create cultures of blessing in their homes, workplaces, ministries, and around the world. In fact, John’s written over 30 books. We’re going to talk with him today about his award-winning book called The Blessing. The Great Impact Episode Highlights: Does one’s childhood guarantee success or failure as an adult? 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? What is the blessing? Image from Canva