Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk

Ecclesiastes 9:9 says, "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of your life." That’s easier said than done! On today’s edition of Family Talk, Rhonda Stoppe (pronounced STOP-ee), Christian author of The Marriage Mentor: Becoming the Couple You Long to Be, explains how things can go wrong. For example, unmet expectations can breed resentment and unforgiveness. She urges husbands and wives to seek God’s affirmation first and spend time with older married couples who can provide godly mentorship.

Did you know that Dr. Dobson loves to fish, fry tacos with his wife, Shirley, and watch football? Or that when Shirley first approached Dr. Dobson on their college campus, she said, "Hi, legs!"? On this edition of Family Talk, evangelist Greg Laurie turns the tables and interviews America’s beloved Christian psychologist. Hear about the challenges Dr. Dobson overcame in life and how he became successful by depending solely on God.

On today’s edition of Family Talk, Valorie Burton, Christian author of Happy Women Live Better, recommends three things to feel content, whatever the circumstances. First, ask yourself what was the best part about each day. Second, it’s important to remember to play; have fun with your children, play with your pets, or dance with your spouse. Whatever you do, experience joy. Third, smile! God designed our bodies so when we smile, it triggers the release of serotonin and endorphins to our brains. Amazingly, our Creator wired us to feel okay, even in the midst of hardship.

Traditional psychology can help people who are struggling with depression or anxiety, among other problems. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Valorie Burton, Christian author of Happy Women Live Better, explains that positive psychology is the study of what happens when things go right. People who are content have a greater ability to deal with adversity. It’s important to remember that God wants you to experience joy. His Word declares, “Laughter is good medicine,” and “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

When Dr. Tim Clinton was on a plane headed to Colorado Springs to appear on Family Talk, he felt a nudge in his spirit from the Lord that the vast knowledge and wisdom of Dr. Dobson needed to be shared through an educational program. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. Clinton reveals that the result of that inspiration was the creation of the James C. Dobson Center at Liberty University. Online students can take 8-week courses based on Dr. Dobson’s 43 years of teaching and 8,000 broadcasts, all while working toward a master in counseling or selecting one of the family-focused minors that the center offers.

Too many parents are under the impression that education is simply reading, writing, and arithmetic. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Heidi and Jay St. John, who have homeschooled their seven kids, declare that education is never neutral! The founders of Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center insist that there is always a worldview being taught. In Luke 6:40, Jesus said, "Everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher." That is why Heidi wants to equip her kids with a biblical worldview, so they know why they believe what they believe.

According to the Washington Post, the number of children being homeschooled in the U.S. has nearly tripled since 2019. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Heidi and Jay St. John, who have homeschooled their seven kids and founded Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center, share three keys to a successful schooling model: flexibility, the one-on-one tutorial model, and a vision of Christian discipleship. The results? On average, kids that are homeschooled test three grade levels higher than their public school peers.

On today’s edition of Family Talk, Mark Levin, author of American Marxism, describes the stark differences between Marxism and our founding fathers’ vision for America: repression vs. engagement; compliance vs. speech; conformity vs. independence; and subjugation vs. liberty. These are not mere policy disputes, and consequently, the individual, the nuclear family, and our Judeo-Christian heritage are in the crosshairs. We’re long overdue for patriots to speak out.

The reach of Marxist ideology has spread into our country’s education, corporations, media, and government. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Mark Levin, author of American Marxism, tells Dr. James Dobson that this God-hating, individual-despising worldview is often cloaked in deceptive labels such as “progressivism.” In addition to advocating for homeschooling and school choice, Levin warns parents against sending children to colleges that indoctrinate them to hate America and its precious Judeo-Christian heritage.

In 2017, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed an egregious bill into law that forces pro-life doctors and nurses to violate their consciences and advocate for the murder of babies in the womb. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. Robert Lawler, a Christian obstetrician and gynecologist, explains why he refuses to comply. Despite possible penalties, he states that he took the Hippocratic oath to "first do no harm" to either one of his two patients—the pregnant woman and her developing baby. Thankfully, a federal judge has issued an injunction against this pro-abortion law which targets pre-born babies and religious liberty.

Psalm 139: 13-14 reads, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." On today's edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson and Janet Porter, founder of Faith2Action, continue discussing the new Texas Heartbeat Law and what it means for the pro-life movement. Porter’s firm belief is that if a heartbeat is detected, the baby should be protected. Thanks to the recent passage of the law, once cardiac activity is detected in a pre-born child, abortion is now prohibited in the state of Texas.

In the late hours of September 1st, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the Texas Heartbeat Law, legislation that prohibits abortion after a heartbeat is detected. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson and Janet Porter, founder of Faith2Action, examine this historic moment and consider what it means for the future.

Christian grandparents are the missing puzzle piece in the discipleship of their grandkids. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Larry Fowler, founder of the Legacy Coalition, urges grandparents to develop biblically-focused relationships with their grandchildren. Dr. Dobson noted, “An inheritance is what you give someone, but a legacy is what you build in someone.” Grandparents, what legacy are you placing in your grandchildren?

According to research, 3 out of 4 Christian grandparents take on a cultural view of grandparenting rather than a biblical view. When Larry Fowler asked a group of people at a conference how many of them had ever heard a sermon on grandparenting, only three raised their hands. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson sits down with Larry Fowler, founder of the Legacy Coalition, to discuss the great need for grandparents to be involved in their grandchildren’s lives. The most important thing a grandparent can do is live out his or her spiritual walk and testimony. In a rapidly changing society, grandparents are essential!

When grandchildren become teenagers, grandparents have a tendency to disengage, no matter how close they were with their grandchildren beforehand. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Mark Gregston, author of Grandparenting Teens: Leaving a Legacy of Hope, encourages grandparents to do the opposite, saying this is the time for them to press in, not check out. Rather than being concerned about what’s coming out of their teenage grandchild’s mouth, they should be listening to his or her heart.