Ask Trace In today's societal landscape parents are faced with tough decisions. Raising their children in a manner that aligns with their faith often requires a denial of certain activities that their peers might enjoy. During our co-host, Michelle Hill's own childhood this meant not being allowed to go to movie theaters, a source of disagreement within her household. Navigating cultural norms and effective parenting can lead to some tough questions. Discussing Parenting with Trace Embry Trace Embry is the Founder 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: Trace sheds light on the most misguided statement any parent might make. The importance of parental guidance: "If you don’t train your children, who will?" Identifying the "right ways" to effectively raise children, as highlighted by Trace. An exploration of whether God truly holds sway within American households. The potential outcomes when parenting adheres strictly to prevailing cultural norms. Image from Canva

Five Lies Perhaps we need to look to our society for answers. Discussing Our Society with Rosaria Butterfield Rosaria Butterfield is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, author, and speaker. She is a former tenured professor of English and Women’s Studies at Syracuse University. Rosaria converted to Christ in 1999 in what she describes as a ‘train wreck.’ Today we are discussing her book, Five Lies Of Our Anti-Christian Age. Episode Highlights: Why can society be considered another parent to our kids? When and why did American society begin turning away from a biblical worldview? What is the definition of culture? How does unfettered access to social media and digital outlets affect our kids? What are the five lies that our society promotes? Image from Canva

Raising the Unshakable When raising kids, it’s important that parents raise them to be unshakeable. But what exactly does that mean? Today, we are continuing our discussion with author Lauren Gaines about instilling an unshakable spirit into our kids and teens, and what that looks like. Discussing Resilience with Lauren Gaines. Lauren is an author, speaker, teacher, and mother. She is the creator of Inspired Motherhood, an online community for moms, and author of Unshakeable Kids. Today, Lauren is a busy mom of three, and her unique approach to parenthood can be credited to her masters degree in school psychology. Episode Highlights: Is there a void of ‘grit’ in today’s kids? Why is it important to not be too gentle when raising kids in today’s society? How can parents create a loving bond without constantly pacifying their kids? Can discipline be an act of love? Are parents prioritizing the right things? Is society pressuring women to do too much? Image from Canva

Building Strong Marriages It has been commonly understood that stronger marriages have always helped to produce healthier and more well-adjusted children. There are many studies on this topic. Today we will talk with Bob Lepine about his most recent book, “Build A Stronger Marriage”. Discussing Marriage with Bob Lepine Bob Lepine is best known to radio and podcast listeners as the long-time co-host of Family Life Today. Now you can hear him on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg. Bob is a pastor and he serves in various other ministries. In his spare time, he writes books. Bob and his wife Mary Ann live in Little Rock, Arkansas. They have five children and 10 grandchildren. Episode Highlights: What sense does a strong marriage give to the children? What fundamental, when addressed, helps secure marriages? What has happened to marriage in America? First and foremost- what kind of relationship is marriage? In what way is marriage emblematic of the godhead? Image from Canva

Raising Conservative Kids Throughout history, parents in every country around the globe have been given the right to exercise final authority over their own children. This includes how they raise their kids. Teaching them things like values, religion, and worldview along with reading, writing, and arithmetic. However, these days political correctness, the “woke” police, public schools, the media, government, and more appear to have teamed up to create something on par with Hitler's Youth. Today we will be talking with Stacy Manning, co-author of “Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City”. This book will help you preserve your right to be the final authority over your own children. Discussing Woke Culture with Stacy Manning Stacy Manning is senior Editor for the organization Them Before Us which advocates children over adult desires and helps to give children a voice. Stacy is a stay-at-home suburban mom, author, and a side hustle professional. She and her husband have over 20 years of experience raising their 3 children behind enemy lines in a suburb just outside of Seattle. When Stacy does not have her hands in another writer's work she is barefoot in the kitchen making her husband a sandwich. Episode Highlights: When did the slippery slope start? What does it mean to be “woke”? What does Trace say about systemic racism? What tool do the “woke” use to dismantle society? What two questions do conservative kids need to be able to answer so they can defend their worldview? Image from Canva

Entertainment Roles In the past, by and large, Christian parents in America raised their kids to assimilate into the culture, but that was when American culture had, for the most part, accepted and lived by Judeo-Christian moral values. Today the cultural pendulum has swung far from any semblance of the biblical standard that once shaped it. So now we have to raise our kids in a more intentional way. One that prepares them to swim against the flow of our culture. Today we will be talking with Focus on the Family’s Adam Holz about the role entertainment might play not only in shaping our culture but in our homes and churches as well. Discussing Entertainment with Adam Holz Adam Holz served as an Associate Editor at NavPress Discipleship Journal and consulting Editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s Reviews. These are reviews of movies, games, books, and music. Adam is the site's director. He and his wife Jennifer have three children. In their free time the Holz’s enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming, and of course- watching movies. Episode Highlights: How do SHA students come to understand the emptiness of the world’s promises? What two things draw the students to Jesus? What is Plugged In? What specifically is Plugged In trying to provide? What is the site's hope? Image from Canva

The Miracles of Shepherd's Hill Have you ever taken a step of faith believing that God was directing you and knowing that He would do just that? Trace and Beth Embry saw a need in our world and knew God was calling them to be the answer and to bring healing. So step by step, brick by brick, child by child, through God they are breathing life into our next generation. And they are watching God build something incredible. Discussing Miracles with Trace Embry Trace and his wife Beth have a heart and a passion for the parents of the youth of today’s culture. Trace was a former business owner and police officer in the Chicago area, but God led them on a journey. The Embry family basically gave up everything to move to Georgia and begin Shepherd’s Hill Academy. Trace is the author of "The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill". Trace and Beth have 5 kids and 9 grandchildren. Episode Highlights: How do you define miracles? What is the story of Shepherd’s Hill? How did you know this was from the Lord? How was the land of SHA a miracle? What is it like to keep stepping out in faith one step at a time? Image from Canva

Intentional Parenting Open the Bible to Proverbs 22 and you will find these words, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” As parents you know you have 18 years to guide, direct, discipline, coach, and train your child “in the way he should go.” Those 18 years set them on a path for success in the world and hopefully eternity. That is what you hope for, right? You’re probably realizing that it takes time! Time and intentionality. Both time and intentionality take work. Being intentional with our time as we prepare our children for what lies ahead. Discussing Intentionality with Dave Glander Dave Glander was formerly a devout atheist and is now a deeply committed believer in Jesus Christ, and a Speaker for Reasons for Hope. Dave teaches Christians how to know what they believe and how to defend their faith. He is a pastor and founder of an apologetics youth camp called Equip Retreat and is the author of “How, Why, Where” and “The Faith Survival Guide." Episode Highlights: What does Deuteronomy 6:6-7 say? What does the “as you go” concept mean? What do our kids need to see in us all the time? What does Colossians 3:23 say? What is the average time a parent spends face-to-face with their child? Image from Canva

Faith Still Moves Whether in raising our children or in life in general, we exercise faith. The object of our faith makes all of the difference. If you and your family have been blessed by Trace Embry’s book, “The Miracles of Shepherd's Hill,” then stay tuned. Today we will be speaking with Fox News’ Harris Faulker who has also broached the realities and benefits of faith, prayer, healing, and miracles in the face of adversity. It is all in her New York Times Best Selling book, “Faith Still Moves Mountains: Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer.” Discussing Prayer with Harris Faulkner Harris Faulkner is the author of the New York Times Best Seller “Faith Still Moves Mountains: Miraculous Stories of the Healing Power of Prayer.” She is a six-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. Harris currently anchors two daily daytime programs on Fox News; The Faulkner Focus and she is the co-host of Outnumbered. Outside of her work as a journalist Harris is a motivational speaker, writer, and philanthropist. She is involved in the Green Beret Foundation as well as the Navy Seal Foundation. She helps funds breast cancer research and has received an award for her humanitarian efforts.  Harris and her husband have two daughters. Episode Highlights: What was Shepherd’s Hill when Trace bought it? What was Harris’ motivation for writing her book? What statistics surprised Harris during her research for her book? What does Harris say about facing the unknown? Where does truth come from? Image from Canva

Sound Minds It is no secret that grit is something that seems to be lacking in many of our kids today. This even includes some of our 30-something-age kids. So how can we impart a sturdier constitution in our children while they are still at home? Not only for the sake of our children’s future but for our sanity and success as parents. After all, we may likely need the help of an emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually strong offspring to take care of us someday. Find out how to raise kids with sound minds and whole hearts who stand firm in their God-given identities. Discussing Parenting with Lauren Gaines Lauren Gaines is an author, speaker, teacher, and mom. She is the creator of Inspired Motherhood which is an online community for moms. Today Lauren is a busy mom of 3 whose unique approach to parenthood can be credited to her Master's Degree in School Psychology. She worked in the public school system and taught Human Development as an Adjunct Professor. Lauren understands the mental overload that families are experiencing today. Episode Highlights: What phrase has led to our cultural decline? What is the best gift we can give our kids? What does overload do to our kids? What vital skill do young children not have? Where does the problem start? Image from Canva