Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk

Today's TV sitcoms joke about marital infidelity. But the late Adrian Rogers of the "Love Worth Finding" ministry declares that sexual immorality is the last step on the way down to hell. He warns that if America doesn't experience a moral rebirth, we will join the graveyard of other nations. He quotes Pastor Kent Hughes who said, "The man who commits adultery tells his child, 'Your mother is not worth much, and your father is a liar and a cheat. Furthermore, honor is not nearly as important as pleasure.'"

In Part 2 of "The Miracle of An Abortion Survivor," author Claire Culwell continues her inspirational account of miraculously surviving an abortion when her birth mother was only 13 years old. Claire forgave her birth mother, who came to faith in Christ. Years later, when Claire found herself pregnant out of wedlock, she again experienced the life-changing forgiveness of God. Inspired by her new-found friendship with Abby Johnson of the movie "Unplanned," Claire has become a powerful champion for life.

When Claire Culwell turned 21, she desired to meet her birth mother who had placed her up for adoption. Nothing could have prepared her for what she discovered. Her birth mother, Tonya, was only 13 at the time of her pregnancy, and Tonya’s mother had insisted that she get an abortion. However, the abortionist was unaware that Tonya was pregnant with twins, so only one of the children was aborted. Claire was the twin who survived! She shares her emotional story in her new book, Survivor: An Abortion Survivor's Surprising Story of Choosing Forgiveness and Finding Redemption.

Do you feel empty and that your time is running out? That's how blind Bartimaeus felt in Mark 10:46. Yet when Jesus passed by him, the beggar shouted in faith, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Rabbi, I want to see." Evangelist Franklin Graham points out that not only did Jesus miraculously restore this man's sight, but He forgave his sins, erasing his past, as well. Like Bartimaeus, Jesus can forgive your sin and erase your past too.

While it's easy to understand what it means to be mentally intelligent, what does it take to be relationally intelligent? God wants us to thrive in our relationships. But sadly, because of sin, otherwise healthy relationships have become distorted between God and man, parent and child, and within peer groups. Guests John Trent and Dewey Wilson, co-authors of The Relationally Intelligent Child, sit down with Dr. Tim Clinton to explain how parents can pass on relational behaviors to their children. They encourage imparting crucial skills such as fearless exploration, unwavering resilience, and wise decision-making.

Augustine once said, "Hearts are restless, O God, until we find our rest in Thee." Former Indianapolis Colts football coach Tony Dungy, author of Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance, explains that once a man chooses the uncommon path to be in a right relationship with God, he will stand up for godly values in the culture, cherish his wife, and treasure his children. He won’t simply follow the crowd. As Dungy says, if you put the Lord first, everything else falls into place.

Teenagers are often desperate to fit in and to be accepted by the "in" crowd. That’s why sometimes they make bad decisions that lead to regret. Former Indianapolis Colts football coach Tony Dungy, author of Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance, points to the truth of Romans 12:2 ("Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."). Dungy challenges teens and adults to take the narrow road, the uncommon path; that is, Jesus is the only source of true fulfillment. Coach Dungy discusses this and much more, including his role as a mentor.

Many people enter into toxic relationships, from friendships to dating, and even marriage. Often, they live in fear, feeling like they have to constantly perform to be accepted. Pastor Michael Todd, author of Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex, reminds us that our Savior loves us so much that He paid the ultimate price to redeem us. Pastor Todd says that once people comprehend the depth of that undeserved love, then they can understand that they don't deserve to be treated poorly. In other words, grasping our vertical relationship with God helps keep our horizontal relationships in proper perspective.

Before God created Eve, He gave Adam His holy presence, an identity, and an assignment. God gave Adam these things so that he would not look for them in Eve. Pastor Michael Todd, author of Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex, believes the reason so many relationships fail is because people enter into them with faulty expectations, including hoping the other person is going to be their savior. Pastor Todd explains to Dr. Tim Clinton what he believes a love relationship should look like in the eyes of God.

Just as 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the "love chapter," and Hebrews 11 is the "faith chapter," James 3 is called the "tongue chapter." This passage describes how a horse is controlled by the bit in its mouth; a ship by its rudder, and man is controlled by his tongue. Dr. James Dobson and guest R.T. Kendall, author of Controlling the Tongue, remind us that we will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word we have spoken.

Couples who experience the pain and trauma of a miscarriage may at times wonder if God might be punishing them for some previous sin. In this Part 2 conversation, Dr. Walt and Barb Larimore, along with Russ and June Gordon—who between the four of them have suffered six miscarriages—remind us that God is with us and He cares. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." The Larimores and Gordons also urge the church "to mourn with those who mourn," as Romans 12:15 proclaims.

When couples experience the profound sense of pain and loss from a miscarriage, well-intentioned family members and friends can say hurtful things. But Dr. Walt and Barb Larimore, along with Russ and June Gordon, who have suffered a total of six miscarriages between them, urge those who wish to console others to simply say, "I am so sorry! God cares. And I love you." They share with host Dr. James Dobson that couples should name the lost baby, figuratively bury their child, and allow themselves time to heal.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost 50% of kids between the ages of 13 and 18 will have a diagnosable mental disorder in their lifetime. Sadly, most go undiagnosed and untreated. Dr. Matthew Stanford, author of Grace for the Children: Finding Hope in the Midst of Child and Adolescent Mental Illness, sits down with Dr. Tim Clinton to urge parents and churches alike to be proactive, because children don't know how to ask for help. If you suspect something is amiss with your child, don’t delay in getting a mental health evaluation.

Psalm 139:23 says, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts and lead me in the way everlasting." Dr. Matthew Stanford, author of Grace for the Children, explains, "God not only knows children’s thoughts, but also their hearts. While He celebrates children’s joys, He also feels their pain and frustration." Whether your child is struggling with autism, depression, or Attention Deficit Disorder, Dr. Stanford wants you to know that there is no shame in getting professional help.

As a mother, do you ever feel you should have been more patient with your kids, or more loving toward your husband? Popular blogger Becky Thompson, author of Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart, says it’s time to get off the carousel of guilt, and don’t let the Devil accuse you! God wants you to believe in your ability to be a good mom and not second-guess yourself. In a fitting pre-Mother’s Day message, Becky says it’s time that moms saw themselves through God’s eyes.