Family Life Today

Fatherly Advice to Singles--Get Married

Dr. Al Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, talks to singles about the mystery of marriage.

2/3 Finding Your Soul Mate

Are you waiting for destiny to bring you your perfect match? Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Choice, points out that there is no scriptural evidence for believing in a "soul mate" and encourages men and women to pray and pursue biblical wisdom when seeking a spouse.

2/2 Stories of Trials and Faith

Robert and Bobbie Wolgemuth describe the stories from their favorite couples in the Bible, and relate how we can learn from the trials others have faced.

3/3 Winning as a Stepmother With a Father's Help

Could you use some help with your step mothering? Maybe help is closer than you think! Stepmother Laura Petherbridge and Christian counselor Ron Deal tell fathers how their loyalty and support toward their wives can make a world of difference in a blended family.

1/3 The Role of the Stepmother

If being a mother is hard work, then being a stepmother is twice as difficult. Successful Stepfamilies founder Ron Deal, along with author and stepmother Laura Petherbridge, talk about the challenges unique to a stepmother.

1/2 Following God Together

A hymn writer once said God only uses suffering “my dross to consume and my gold to refine”. For quadriplegic Joni Tada, God has used more than four decades of confinement to a wheelchair to refine her character. And, after almost four decades of marriage, her marriage to Ken has refined into an exquisite embrasure of God’s fully sufficient grace.

2/3 Purposeful Parenting

Mom, you know you have to protect your children. But do you know how? Mother of five Susan Merrill, director of the popular website iMOM.com, talks to moms about cultivating patience. Susan tells how, in one particular situation involving a wayward child, she relinquished her anxiety and frustration to the Lord and found a refreshing answer. Susan reminds us that God loves the prayer of a helpless parent.

2/2 Trusting God in the Valley

What do you do in life’s valleys? Amy Julia Becker and Jennifer Shaw talk about the unique challenges of raising a child with special needs. Amy Julia is mother to Penny, who has Down syndrome. Jennifer's son Toby, has Sensory processing disorder. Both women commend their husbands for stepping up and serving them sacrificially when times were especially hard, making their marriage bonds even stronger. Amy Julia and Jennifer also share how they’ve seen God at work in the midst of their...

3/3 Cracking the Code of Female Behavior

Having a hard time figuring out the woman in your life? Then join us as author Shaunti Feldhahn coaches men on female behavior and unlocks the mysteries of the fairer sex.

1/3 Men and Women: Understanding the Differences

There’s no denying that men and women are different. But do you realize HOW different? Author Shaunti Feldhahn talks to Dennis Rainey about some of the biggest revelations she discovered while doing research for her books, “For Men Only,” and “For Women Only.”

4/4 Bob and Karrie: On the Road to Recovery

Bob and Karrie Wood, leaders in the Celebrate Recovery Ministry, tell Dennis how they first put their faith in Christ and how God's power and love began to break the spell of their addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, and eating disorders. Hear how God continues to renew and restore their lives and their relationships with those they love most.

2/4 Stumbling Onto Hope

Karrie Wood, a leader with her husband, Bob, in the Celebrate Recovery Ministry, shares how God delivered her from her addiction to alcohol and bulimia when she began putting her trust in a God who forgives, transforms, and offers hope.

A Place to Belong

What secrets in your past are you keeping in the closet? Author Lisa Troyer spent many years trying to run away from her past, which included sexual abuse delivered at the hands of a former high school teacher. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t outrun it, or the shame, guilt and depression that came with the memories. Lisa recalls the watershed moment when she finally found the freedom to admit her abuse to herself and others.

1/2 Taking Steps to Wholeness

Pornography promises a feast for the eyes. But it soon becomes poison to those who consume it. Former pastor TC Ryan tells of his descent into the world of sexual addiction. Beginning with sexual exploration in early adolescence, his behavior quickly became compulsive and continued into marriage, much to his dismay. Ryan recalls warring against his faith, and praying to God for deliverance from his sin.

1/2 Something Amiss

Pornography is hurting a lot of marriages. Vicki Tiede knows. Formerly married to a pornography user, Vicki recalls the confusion she felt over her husband’s disinterest in sex, beginning on the honeymoon. But after finding inappropriate magazines, and concerned about the amount of time he was spending on the computer, she finally put two and two together. Distraught and pregnant she sought help from her pastor and recommitted her life and her marriage to Christ.

2/3 Confession: A Hard Step to Freedom

After forgiving her husband for his sexual addiction and working hard to keep her marriage together, Meg's husband later confessed to having an affair. Author Meg Wilson talks about the hurt and anger she felt after her husband's betrayal and tells where she found encouragement and strength to walk through this trial.

2/2 Laughter and Tears

Last November, FamilyLife passed a milestone. Hear a very special 20th anniversary message as Dennis Rainey & Bob Lepine join colleagues to reflect on the triumphs, failures, outtakes, and heart piercing moments from the last 20 years.

2/2 Love Renewed: Barry and Pam Abell--Day 2

Money can't buy happiness. Hear the compelling story of Barry and Pam Abell, an upscale couple who seemingly had it all, until they gave it all up for a rich relationship with Christ and each other.

3/3 Changed Heart, Changed Life

Arriving home from Bible study, Angela got the call every parent dreads. Her son, Christopher, was in jail, busted for selling drugs. Could this be the answer to her prayers? Christopher and his mother, Angela, talk about his time in prison, the shock of finding out he was HIV positive, and the way God slowly and patiently drew Christopher to the only one who could rescue him now, Jesus Christ. Hear what Christopher is doing now, and what his plans are for the future.

1/3 A Gay Son’s Journey to God

Sometimes getting from here to there isn’t a direct shot. Often the road God takes us on has unexpected twists and turns. Christopher Yuan, a professor at Moody Bible Institute, reflects back to the day when he finally “came out” to his parents and drove resolutely away, ready to fully embrace the gay lifestyle he knew back at University of Kentucky where he was a dental student. In despair, his mother, Angela, tells how she turned to a God she’d only heard about to find peace, joy, and hope...

1/2 My Boy, My Prodigal

There are defining moments in every life. Dennis Mansfield, an executive film producer and father of three, talks about his spiritual journey, his marriage and his children, particularly his oldest son, Nate. Dennis talks openly about Nate’s early drug use, his spiral downward into the drug culture, including his run-in with the law, and his attempts with his wife to help their prodigal son.

1/2 Adopting Deborah

Adoption isn't a fairy tale, but it is a miracle. Barbara Rainey talks about her early adoption desires and her dream-come-true daughter Deborah, whom she and Dennis adopted more than twenty years ago.

2/2 On The Death of the Saints

The death of someone we love is an unwelcome reality, but how do we continue to live and function in a worldly realm when someone who has impacted us so deeply is no longer with us? Join us as Dr. Michael Easley eulogizes his friend and mentor Dr. Howard Hendricks, and unpacks the Gospel truth of our coming resurrection.

3/3 Lessons We've Learned as Parents

Some of the greatest lessons of life come through parenting. Michael and Sharon Dennehey, the parents of 12 children, nine of whom are adopted, have spent much time in life’s classroom and reflect on what adoption has taught them. The Denneheys remind listeners that as believers, we’ve all been adopted by God, and that expanding their family through adoption hasn’t depleted the love they have to give, but has enlarged it.

1/3 Nurturing a Heart for Adoption

Have you ever considered adoption? Michael and Sharon Dennehy didn’t, at least not in the early years of marriage as they dreamed about their ideal family. But God began to change their minds. And then they saw George, a little boy from Romania with no arms, and knew they wanted him to be their son. Michael and Sharon talk about the incredible family God designed for them, which includes 12 children, nine of whom are adopted and many of whom have special needs.

Biblical Womanhood

When we experience failures and defeats, it’s tempting to walk away, and Priscilla Shirer says that’s the moment when Christ often shows up and uses our defeat as a pulpit to proclaim His glory. Join us, as Priscilla Shirer speaks on the Sisterhood of the Net, on the next FamilyLife Today

Characteristics of a Repentant Spouse

Are you looking for something that can revolutionize your marriage? Eric Mason says you might want to start with a little repentance. He shares characteristics of a genuinely broken, truly repentant spouse, based on Psalm 51.

Saved by Suffering

How do you cope with suffering when it comes? Do you look for the silver lining or throw a pity party? Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, exposes the myth that good things naturally come to good people and bad things happen to bad people, but instead points us to the truth that suffering is a universal part of life and comes to all equally. Tullian recalls the difficulty he had coping with his parents divorce, but now sees it as a gift that exposed his...

The Reality of Suffering

Life has its moments of suffering. But in those moments our faith grows, as does our character. Pastor Tullian Tchividjian remembers some painful situations in his past, including the time not too long ago when he took over the pastorate at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Tullian reveals what God taught him in that difficult situation, and considers what it was that set him free to be who God called him to be. Tullian further explains why suffering is really a gift of God in disguise.

Where are the Fathers?

Kids are running on fumes today – what our guest, Pastor Doug Wilson, calls father hunger. Doug, a father of three and grandfather to 16, implores men to be intentional in their role as fathers and model and instruct their children on the responsibilities of manhood: to provide and protect.

Jesus Loves Me

Learn a simple and creative way to teach your children the true meaning of Easter. Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine have some kids in the studio to help them talk about this important story.

Honoring Christ as the Great “I AM”

God first introduced Himself as “I AM.” How would you introduce him to others? Barbara Rainey talks about her new resource designed to teach your family about the great I AM, and to proclaim His name during the Easter season. Called “Behold the Lamb,” Barbara explains how this devotional can be used during Holy Week as to explain who Jesus is.

Letters of Love

Trying to reach your loved one's heart? Why not try a love letter! Church history professor Michael Haykin shares some revealing letters written by some of our most beloved theologians from the past, including Samuel Pierce, Benjamin Bedham, and Martin Lloyd Jones.

Pornography: Poisoning Marital Intimacy

In today’s society, pornography is so ubiquitous that many counselors essentially presume it is present in any marriage where sexual difficulties exist. Russell Moore exposes the evil of pornography to the light of Gospel truth, as he explores the root causes behind sexual and relational dysfunction in Christian marriages.

Purity: Not Just for the Unmarried

You’re faithful to your spouse, right? You’ve never cheated, and you wouldn’t think of starting. And, your spouse feels the same way, right? Consequently, you’re not a risk for sexual temptation, right? Russell Moore says not so fast. You WILL encounter sexual temptation in your marriage, because sexual temptation is a demonic response against the holy sexual intimacy in your healthy marriage. Moore outlines how to guard your marriage bed against the assaults of the devil.

Romance That Goes the Distance

Dennis and Barbara Rainey tell how going the extra mile in romance can put the "mmmm" back in marriage.

Ingredients to Make Romance Grow: Security and Acceptance

Dennis and Barbara Rainey encourage you to give your marriage a romantic lift by accepting your spouse as he/she is.

Significance After the NFL

Jeff Kemp was a successful NFL quarterback with a great marriage, wonderful kids, significant ministry and a great heritage of spiritual vitality. So why, after eleven years as a quarterback in the NFL, was he standing on the porch of his home lamenting his troubles? More importantly, how could he find his way out of a deep pit of despair? Jeff Kemp reflects on moving from success to significance.

Valuable Lessons From My Sons

Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, shares what he's learned from his sons, Eric and Jordan, as well as his son James, who died in 2005.

Unlocking the Mysteries of Lent

Many Christians have forgotten the “holy” in the holidays…and perhaps none more so than Easter. Barbara Rainey helps us rediscover Easter, as we rediscover Lent… Easter’s season of preparation for the greatest holiday in the church year.

Great Marriage Means Lavish Forgiveness

It is impossible to experience marriage as God designed it without being liberal and lavish in forgiveness. Dennis Rainey shares the second installment of lessons he's learned in over 40 years of marriage, to students at Southern Seminary.

A Marriage Revolution

Though madly in love, marriage didn't bring the happiness they longed for. Hans and Star Molegraaf tell how their marriage fell apart nearly as quickly as their red-hot romance had started. After separating, Hans tells how he began to come face-to-face with his anger issues, but Star admits she had already found someone else. Hear how God lead them back to one another and miraculously renovated their marriage.

Unity

Just five guidelines for a successful marriage: sounds easy! Author and pastor Tommy Nelson details these important steps, and gives a few thoughts to consider before you take the plunge.

The Start of the Extraordinary

After 10 years of marriage Justin and Trish Davis felt like virtual strangers living under one roof. A slow drift became a great divide, and an extramarital affair threatened to end their marriage for good. But God had other plans. Justin and Trish Davis talk honestly about the marital problems that almost sunk their relationship and their ministry until God’s truth and healing brought their marriage back on solid ground.

No Ordinary Beginning

Sometimes a drizzle can turn into a downpour. When Trisha first met Justin Davis on the campus of Lincoln Christian College sparks didn’t fly. At least not right away. But Justin persisted and soon their friendship turned to romance, and marriage followed. Justin and Trisha reflect back on their college days, their courtship, the awkward proposal and their even more awkward honeymoon.

Creating a Family Vision

Where is your family heading? If you don’t know, it’s likely you’ll wind up somewhere you don’t want to be. Greg Gunn, a father of seven and President of Family Vision Ministries, and his wife Rhonda teach couples how they can discover their family’s unique purpose and passion by creating a Family I.D.

Encouraging Our Guys

Are you encouraging your husband to be all he can be for Christ? Dennis Rainey and Pastor Kenny Luck, the Founder and President of Every Man Ministries, reflect on a wife’s ability to motivate and encourage her husband, especially as it relates to a man’s involvement in ministry. When men get healthy, says Luck, the church gets healthy, and Christ’s kingdom is advanced.

Our On-Again, Off-Again Relationship with Food

Christian counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of the book "Love to Eat, Hate to Eat," explains how we can take a biblical approach to food.

Is Food Your Idol?

Christian counselor Elyse Fitzpatrick, author of the book "Love to Eat, Hate to Eat," explores the connection between idolatry and our abuse of food.

Outrunning the Debt Monster

Are your spending habits becoming a debt habit? Christian financial expert Ron Blue shares four biblical principles for building a healthy financial foundation for your family.

Rousing Recipes for Fun Family Devotions

Building a strong spiritual heritage can start with simple recipe cards! Kurt and Olivia Bruner (parents of four) tell parents how to whip up fun family devotions with FamilyLife’s Just Add Family resource. Grab a card and go for new ideas to make family times fun, appealing, and fruitful.

Are You Adopted? Part 1

Her mother had died years earlier and her father was gravely ill. But Lois was about to get the shock of her life. Author Lois Rabey tells how she felt when a family secret that had been hidden for 48 years was finally revealed.

Soulmates, Unicorns and other Myths

Are you on a quest to find your soul mate? If so, you may be on the wrong journey. Counselor Jim Keller probes the legend of the soul mate as he explores and explodes mythologies of marital happiness. Jim Keller turns marriage upside down and sheds light on what makes a Godly marriage.

In Praise of Large Families

How many children does it take to make a large family? Four? Six? Eight? Dennis Rainey talks with Leslie Leyland Fields, author of the book "Surprise Child," about the benefits of a large family. Leslie, a mother of six, tells how her big family has enlarged her heart and changed her in ways she didn't think possible when she was single.

Blending Your Family Traditions

Bob and Vicki Maday each had adult children from previous marriages, when they decided to get married. But, since their kids were adults, they should be able to process this new blended family like adults, and transition quickly. Right? Not so fast. Bob and Vicki's adult daughters Katie and Jonell share the complicated emotions they had to wade through when their parents married each other and created a new blended family.

Coming Out of the Clouds

As a forty something woman, Rhonda found herself widowed. Her late husband had been a Godly man, a highly respected surgeon, a great dad and the love of her life. Now he was gone. Across town, Rhonda’s pastor, Rob Bugh – her husband’s best friend and pastor – had only recently watched cancer take the love of his life. Now, even in the midst of their grief, sparks were beginning to fly between newly widowed Rob and Rhonda…but could it really work? Hear Rob and Rhonda’s story of blending two...

How We Build Strong Families

Dennis Rainey shares the second five urgent steps a family can take to stay spiritually healthy.

His Name Matters – Exalting Jesus at Christmas

Our homes are living testimonies of our values, and no more so than at Christmas. But how do we cut through the social noise at Christmastime and proclaim the name of the one who owns this holiday? Barbara Rainey reveals an exciting new way you can put Christ back into Christmas.

Submission and Respect

How do you respect and submit to an unbelieving spouse? Lynn Donovan, Dineen Miller, and Darla Stone love their husbands. But loving their husbands doesn’t mean there are things they wouldn’t like to change about them, especially spiritually. These faithful women learned long ago that even though their spouse may not share their faith, God still expects them to submit to their husband’s authority as leader of the home. Hear them tell how they honored their unbelieving husbands in the areas...

Unequally Yoked: Three Stories

Do you wish you and your husband were on the same page spiritually? That’s what authors Lynn Donovan, Dineen Miller and Darla Stone also wanted as they dove deeper into their faith. But what could they do while they waited for their husbands to come to the Lord? Find out what these prayer warriors did to help their marriage thrive and grow despite the spiritual differences.

Buck Denver Asks…

Cutting down trees? Hanging stockings? Santa Claus? What do any of these have to do with Jesus’ birthday? More than you think! VeggieTales Creator Phil Vischer talks about his latest Christmas DVD which explains the meaning behind some of our fondest Christmas traditions.

Jesus: the Reason We Celebrate

Are you tired of reindeer, snowmen, and Santas dominating your Christmas holidays? Would you like a simple way to focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas? If so, we might just have the answer. Barbara Rainey explains how Adorenaments – seven names of Christ from the passages of Luke and Isaiah, shaped into beautiful ornaments, can help you reflect on the true nature of Christ our King as they hang on your tree, wreath, or gifts this Christmas.

Finding Life in the Cross

Keith and Kristyn Getty talk about their music and the need to reflect Christ's work on the Cross in the hymns that they write.

Why Me?

Has God ever let you down? Jerry Sittser lost his wife, mother and daughter in a tragic accident that left him wondering, "Why?" Then a friend challenged him with the thought, "Why not?" Rethinking his expectations about life and Christianity, Jerry came to realize that God didn't promise him a pain-free life, but promised instead to be with him in his loss and suffering.

Taking Up Our Cross

Have you taken up your cross lately? Authors Michael and Hayley DiMarco recall times when they’ve had to die to themselves in order to bring life to their marriage. They assure listeners that it’s okay if they find they’re at the end of themselves because they’ll find something more valuable – the abundant life that Christ has promised.

Considering Remarriage

God has redeemed the past. God will be with us in the future. For many Christians, the last place they think to live is in the here and now. They imagine that re-marriage will solve their problems and bring them happiness. Jerry Sittser and Ron Deal remind us that our most pressing business right now is what God has brought into our lives today. Be assured, God will give us grace for our tomorrows.

Becoming Spiritually Ambidextrous

As we live our lives, we are writing a story. The best stories include challenges and adversities. Years after the death of his wife, mother and daughter, Jerry Sittser discusses how God uses suffering to write his story.

The Final Mission

After nearly a decade of service, Navy Seal Adam Brown said goodbye to his wife and family, departing for what he expected to be his final mission. It was truly his final mission. But Adam was on two missions. One for the US military, and the other was a mission from God. A riveting story of heroism, sacrifice and redemption, as told by his widow, Kelly Brown.

Dynamic and Destructive

For awhile her life lacked direction. But now that she was back home in Arkansas, life was looking up. Kelly Brown, widow of Navy Seal, Adam Brown, talks about meeting Adam, a daring young man with a sparkle in his eye and a bent towards living in the extreme, when she was 21. They fell hard and fast. But alcohol and drugs almost ruined their relationship before it started. Hear her tell about their rocky romance and how she eventually became “Mrs. Adam Brown.”

The Attraction Begins

A long-time missionary couple, an exotic locale, and a handsome sea captain: the recipe for disaster? Missionary Judy Starr found herself enticed to leave her marriage for a handsome sea captain. It was unthinkable, but it happened while she and her husband were ministering in the Caribbean and she began an emotional affair with another man.

What Spells Romance?

Are you romantic? Author and home-schooling mom Heidi St. John talks frankly to wives about infusing their marriages with a little bit of old-fashioned romance. Heidi reveals what spells romance to her husband, such as praise, quality time, a submissive spirit, and sex; and she asks wives to consider what they can do to keep their marriages from bogging down in the mundane.

Time for a Radical Sabbatical

Are you feeling overwhelmed with busyness? If so, you'll want to hear about the radical steps one over-extended mother took to step out of the rat race and refocus on her family. With extra time back in their schedules, author Joanne Kraft talks about some of the fun family field trips they took and her favorite family memories from their relaxing and rejuvenating year off.

Dating Friendships

Is dating that beneficial? According to pastors Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas, not really. For Heistand and Thomas, the activity of going on a date isn't a problem, but too many people use the dating relationship to justify their sexual activity, as if "being in a relationship" makes promiscuity okay. Instead of dating, they encourage singles to establish dating friendships, getting to know someone gradually over time, and then making their intentions of marriage known before beginning to...

Grace Adopts Us into His Family

Max Lucado shares the compelling story of Lee Nailling, a boy of eight who learned firsthand about adoption when his father put him and his two younger brothers on the orphan train from New York to Texas. Find out what happened to Lee, and what happens to us all, when God declares us to be His very own sons and daughters.

God's Best Idea

What's so unique about grace? Everything! Best-selling author Max Lucado explains why grace is so essential to the Christian message and why it frees believers from having to prove themselves to God. Max notes that we shouldn't limit grace to what Jesus already did for us; it's what He does—His presence inside our heart. Bottom line: God is the ultimate heart surgeon, transplanting His heart into ours, as He tells us in Ezekiel 36: "I'll remove your heart of stone and replace it with a heart...

How Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman Met

Before he was a Grammy and Dove Award winning singer-songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman was just another struggling Nashville artist, until he met a young woman named Mary Beth. Hear how a storybook romance blossomed into a marriage that honors God through the hard times as well as the good.

The Realities of Dating Again

Are you ready to date again? Christian counselor Ron Deal shares his thoughts about dating and remarriage, and encourages those who are divorced or widowed to be intentional about creating a home that is redemptive, even if remarriage never happens. Weighing in on the topic is Pastor Rob Bugh and his wife, Rhonda, who have a blended family of nine; and Sabrina Beasley, whose seven-year marriage ended in 2010 when her husband was killed in a car accident, leaving her a single mother of two.

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Discovering Biblical Leadership

Will the young man who marries your daughter know how to lead her? Pastor Voddie Baucham explains why a young man must be able to lead in love, righteousness, and intimacy in order to be a good husband.

Step Up Young Man

What does it mean when a young man asks a woman's father for her hand in marriage? Pastor Voddie Baucham talks with Dennis Rainey about the significance of the hand-off from a bride's father to her fianc, as well as the characteristics a young man must have that show he is ready to marry.

The Day Everything Changed

Thanksgiving Day 2009 is forever etched in the mind of Lauren Chandler. That's the day her husband, pastor Matt Chandler, experienced a series of violent seizures that marked the beginning of Matt's two-year battle with brain cancer. Listen to an exclusive interview and update with Matt and Lauren Chandler.

Signing Over Your Life

"We'll do anything." That's the prayer that Jennie Allen and her husband, Zac, told God as they sought His will for their lives. Even though it felt like death, Jennie explains, she was at a point where she didn't want to be normal but wanted to surrender to Christ completely. What was the result? Peace, and a life and a message that is simpler and clearer than ever before.

Adoption: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

When you're a successful collegiate football coach for a top program, life is already plenty complicated. So why would God call you into something so challenging as adoption? For Georgia Bulldog coach Mark Richt and his wife Katharyn, the answer was found in the face of their adopted daughter. Join us for a compelling story of sacrificial and surprising love.

Reaching Out to the Orphan, Part 2

The cost of adoption and fatherlessness weighs particularly hard on the next generation of men. Rick Warren, Dennis Rainey, Jedd Medefind and Russell Moore continue their discussion, in a special edition of FamilyLife Today recorded live at the Orphan Summit.

Two Lives Changed

Each year, thousands of young men and women age out of the foster care system, and a very large number of them are left hopeless and at risk. Find out how one church embraced the challenge and changed the lives of two young women forever.

Mixed Feelings Stirred Up By the Empty Nest

Am I the only one who feels this way? Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates recall how they felt when they first entered this confusing, liberating, and emotion-packed stage of life called the empty nest.

Next Stop: Eros

Respect for our husbands has far-reaching effects, especially in the bedroom. Wife and mom Arlene Pellicane lets wives in on a little secret about sex – husbands equate making love with respect, and the less intimacy they share with their wife, the less they feel respected. Hear Arlene's great advice for affair-proofing your marriage.

Married to a Liar

Are you totally honest with your spouse? Are they totally honest with you? Lou Priolo, author of "Picking Up the Pieces," reminds us that communication must be honest and open if we're going to have a healthy marriage. Concealment – or not telling the entire truth, is still a lie. But what do you do if your spouse isn't telling the truth? Lou explains that any behavior done to mislead or deceive is a lie and must be confronted.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Live long enough, and someone will likely break your heart. Author and biblical counselor Lou Priolo talks about the emotions people feel as they struggle with a broken heart: guilt, loneliness, despair, hopelessness and shame. Lou encourages the brokenhearted to practice forgiveness and to remember Romans 12:18: "So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with everyone."

The Bible - Fun?

The Bible, and Bible study, is thought by many to be dry and boring. The good news is, it doesn't have to be! VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer wants parents and children alike to know that learning the Bible can be exciting and fun! Phil talks about his latest project, a 13-DVD series called Buck Denver Asks…What's in the Bible?, that will take families all the way through the Bible – Genesis to Revelation.

Help on the Path: Embracing Surrender

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can look up. That's where author and counselor Sharon Hersh found herself after her husband left her. Sharon tells how she turned to her old friends, alcohol and work, for comfort, but soon realized that only God, and all His grace, could lead her out of despair. Sharon recalls the moment when she was able to forgive her husband and surrender to God's will for her life.

Dr. Meg's Food Advice

Tired of your kids scrunching their noses at the family dinner table? Family pediatrician Dr. Meg Meeker gives some wise advice for getting your kids to eat.

Celebrating Special Children

Rest for the weary. Cameron Doolittle and Brenda Solomon come together to talk about Jill's House, the respite care facility that's giving much needed rest to families in the Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland area. Founded by Brenda and her husband, Lon, after they experienced the need for respite firsthand while caring for their daughter Jill, Jill's House provides overnight programs and weeklong day camps to children with special needs ages 6 to 17 and their siblings.

Putting an End to Youth Entitlement

Do you feel more like the household maid than the queen of her castle? When Kay Wills Wyma asked her son to clean his room and he replied that it was her job, she knew something had to change. Kay and her husband began a 12-month experiment with their five children, introducing a new chore each month and rewarding them for a job well done. Amazed by what her kids were able to accomplish and the confidence they began to have, Kay began to realize the value of making kids work.

Advice From a Former Enabler

Mom, are you tired of doing it all? Self-described enabler and mother of five, Kay Wills Wyma, tells how she introduced her kids to the basic tasks of independence by implementing an unusual one-year experiment designed to teach her kids to be helpers, rather than the helped, one household chore at a time.

A Family is a Ministry

We all dream of what life will be like once we’re married. But the reality doesn’t always match the dream. Tracey Eyster, author of “Be the Mom", talks frankly about the early years of her marriage as she and her husband, Bill, were climbing the corporate ladder. A season of infertility, followed by the joyous birth of their daughter, showed her that her focus now had truly changed, and she longed to be home. Tracey tells Dennis Rainey how she supported Bill while he earned accolades as a...

Our Children as Our Mission Field

"Erin was excited to impact the youth of her culture. But she is more excited now to impact generations to come as she diligently loves and mothers her two children. Author Erin Davis reminds listeners that it’s not a matter of whether or not you work inside or outside the home, but a matter of faith as you seek to fulfill God’s agenda rather than your own. Erin reflects how her ministry to kids has been enriched since she had children of her own, and how God is using motherhood as a way to...

Unpacking Peer Pressure

Feeling like you’ve been edged out in popularity by your tween’s friends? Take heart Mom and Dad– you are still the most important person in your child’s life. Mom and daughter duo, Dr. Brenda Hunter and Kristin Blair, talk about raising tweens during the perilous middle-school years. Although peer pressure is powerful, especially since “fitting in” is the most important thing in a middle-schooler’s life, parents need to be at the top of their game, recognizing bad influences and encouraging...

Embracing the Stay-at-Home Life

Meeting “the one” her freshman year, moving to Germany… Those weren’t the only surprises God would have for her in the coming years. Lisa Williams, the former anchor of the K-LOVE morning show, tells what it was that lead her into radio and talks frankly about her 20 year struggle with infertility, her family, and her decision to become a stay-at-home mom.

The Challenges of Freedom

You’ve graduated, and the next chapter of your life is about to begin. Michael and Hayley DiMarco, founders and publishers of Hungry Planet books, reminisce about their own launch at 18 into the big, wide world and tell what they should have, and could have, done better, as they embraced their new-found freedom.