Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk

There is no better antidote to the dangerous lust for power than to serve others. That’s the contention of the late Chuck Colson, former Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon and founder of Prison Fellowship. He learned that whether we are serving our spouse and children, those in the workplace or in our church, our service has the potential to communicate the love of Christ.

The late Chuck Colson, former Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon, knew firsthand what it meant to have a problem with abusing power. But after he was sent to prison, he was no longer enamored by "earthly kings." Colson's life was radically transformed by "the power of the King of Kings living in us and the eternal values of God, which are so transcendent."

When Pastor Jonathan Pitts took his wife, Wynter, into his arms for their anniversary dance, he had no idea that within a month she’d unexpectedly die at the age of 38. The former executive director of Dr. Tony Evan’s ministry, "The Urban Alternative," he shares how he and his four grieving daughters found comfort through singing their favorite hymns together and by simply being there for each other. In this intimate and heartfelt tribute to Wynter’s life, Pastor Jonathan calls upon us to live fearlessly and never to assume we know God’s plan.

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one and wondering if anything will ever be safe or certain again? Pastor Jonathan Pitts, whose wife, Wynter, died unexpectedly in 2018, shares his darkest days of grief with breathtaking vulnerability. He and his four daughters found strength and hope in the Lord, comfort in their church community, and courage in each other to carry on.

All too often, the number of "likes" received on Instagram is what determines a teen’s self-worth. It's no wonder then, that 38% of young girls in the U.S. today have a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Patti Garibay, founder of American Heritage Girls (AHG), a Christian scout-type leadership development program, urges parents to prioritize their daughters' faith formation ahead of academics or athletics. She cites research from George Barna (The Barna Group), showing that when a child participates in faith-centered activities such as AHG in addition to regularly attending church, they are 75% more likely to carry their Christian faith into adulthood.

With a disregard for absolute truth in today’s culture, it has become essential that Christian families spend consistent time immersed in God’s Word. Pastor Michael Youssef, author of Hope for This Present Crisis, grew up under a socialist dictatorship and yearned to one day breathe America’s “air of freedom” inspired by its Christian heritage. Now a U.S. citizen, he’s become increasingly alarmed by the radical socialist agenda being taught in classrooms, and Christians being denied free speech.

Because mainstream America is no longer committed to biblical truth, our society is unraveling before our eyes. From our embrace of sexual immorality to socialistic policies, the ripple effect is spreading. World-renowned pastor, Dr. Michael Youssef, author of Hope for This Present Crisis, urges pastors to return to an orthodox, biblical Christianity. He explains that a watered-down gospel preached from fear-filled pulpits leads to parishioners willing to conform to a sin-stained world.

When "menopausal misery" hits, women can experience hot flashes, headaches, anxiety and sometimes even deep depression. In this part 2 discussion, the late author Jean Lush explains that as a woman’s menstrual cycle ceases, her body changes and she will often lack energy, be on edge, and can have frequent, exhausting mood changes. Lush counsels husbands to be extra supportive during this time, and tells women they can look forward to greater energy on the other side.

If you are a woman in your late 30's or early 40's, you may be experiencing a sense of general uneasiness, low self-worth and possibly even a withdrawal from some of the activities you once enjoyed. The late author Jean Lush had a good explanation: you likely could be premenopausal. In addition to any necessary medical treatment, she assures you that God will give you the grace you need to survive this season of change.

In 2021, having the old "birds and bees" conversation with your kids is no longer sufficient. In this age of smartphones, you'll also need to talk with your teen about the dangerous world of sexting and pornography. David Eaton, founder of Axis, urges parents to consider giving their teens a Gabb cell phone, which can only call, text without pictures, and use GPS. Additionally, thanks to the Axis website, which features over 300 parent-empowering resources, you can develop an ongoing conversation to connect with your teen's mind and heart.

When moms feel broken and burdened by feelings of inadequacy, Heidi St. John, author of Bible Verses for Moms, reminds us that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. Heidi's book provides Scriptural counsel on 80 alphabetical topics ranging from depression and discipline to weariness and worry. She urges women to network with other Christian moms with whom they can be vulnerable, because Satan loves an isolated target.

Between the isolation of COVID-19 and the craziness in our culture, moms today can feel disconnected and overwhelmed. Heidi St. John, author of Becoming MomStrong, reminds mothers to get into God's Word, because we can't pass along to our kids what we don't possess ourselves. While the world has attempted to hijack motherhood and relegate it to little more than a stopover on the highway of life, parents need to see this season as precious and fleeting.

Has learning become a burdensome chore for your children—and an ongoing frustration for you as a parent, as well? In today's edition of Family Talk, Cheri Fuller, author of Motivating Your Kids from Crayons to Careers, reminds parents that their own curiosity about the world around them can be infectious. She suggests engaging with your kids about their particular interests, talking about your Christian faith walk, sharing your experiences growing up, and possibly interviewing their grandparents, too. Doing so will help unwrap your child’s God-given gifts and ignite an unquenchable passion for learning.

Young children have a God-inspired curiosity about the world around them, typically prompting a flood of questions. But with parents busier than ever, the danger is that we either ignore these questions or belittle them. Cheri Fuller, author of Motivating Your Kids from Crayons to Careers, urges parents to affirm their child's desire to learn—and, if you don't readily know the answer to his or her question, look it up together.

Fern Nichols was at her wit's end, trying to deal with a rebellious, wayward son. Though in despair because of Ty's worldly choices, she stayed on her knees in prayer for him. A former teacher and founder of Moms in Prayer International, Fern understood the power of Deuteronomy 3:22, which declares, "Do not be afraid; the Lord your God Himself will fight for you." Thankfully, Ty was transformed by her prayers and God's love, which brought him to repentance.