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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Professor Bradley Watson, who is the Phillip McKenna Chair in American and Western Political Thought at St. Vincent College, where he also teaches law. Professor Watson talks about his new book, Living Constitution, Dying Faith: Progressivism and the New Science of Jurisprudence.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Christ Otto, founder of the Red Envelope Project, about "Red Envelope Day," which is scheduled for March 31. Mr. Otto talks about how he came up with the idea for the Red Envelope campaign, what he is asking pro-life citizens to do on March 31, and why he believes this initiative could help change hearts regarding abortion.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Eva Ritchey, president of the North Carolina Pro-life Democrats. Eva discusses "Why Not NC," a joint initiative between her group and North Carolina Right to Life aimed at getting the General Assembly to pass legislation that would give North Carolinians the opportunity to purchase "Choose Life" specialty license plates that help raise funds for pregnancy resource centers across our state. Eva talks about the "Choose Life" plates legislation that has been introduced in both the State House and Senate this year, and encourages citizens to contact their legislators about these bills.

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In part 2 of a two-part series on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks continues a discussion with Mitch Temple, director of marriage programs at Focus on the Family, about how to build strong and healthy marriages. Mitch is a licensed family and marriage therapist and is the author of the book, The Marriage Turnaround. He also talks about the importance of healthy marriages to society and various Focus on the Family programs for married couples.

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In part 1 of a two-part series on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Mitch Temple, director of marriage programs at Focus on the Family, about his new book The Marriage Turnaround. Mitch is a licensed family and marriage therapist who has operated a successful private counseling practice and has written several books on the topics of marriage and relationships. He discusses some of the dangerous popular myths about marriage today and how married couples can have a lasting marriage.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Herbert London, president of The Hudson Institute, about his new book, America's Secular Challenge. Mr. London is a noted social critic, whose work has appeared in nearly every major newspaper and journal, including the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He discusses secularism as a religion, its dangerous influence in American society, and what can be done about it.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Michael New, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama. Dr. New was previously on the program to discuss his study analyzing effect of parental involvement laws on the rate of abortions performed on minors. In this follow-up interview, Dr. New responds to criticism of his study by the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, and explains why parental involvement laws are so important to reducing abortions nationwide.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of NC4Marriage, about the statewide grassroots campaign to get the General Assembly to pass a marriage protection amendment bill this year so citizens can vote on it in November 2009. Tami talks about NC4Marriage, why North Carolina needs a marriage protection amendment, and how citizens can get involved to help protect the institution of marriage in North Carolina.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with John West, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs at the Discovery Institute, about Academic Freedom Day, which is scheduled for February 12. Dr. West discusses the event, which aims to encourage free discussion and debate about the competing theories of evolution and Intelligent Design. He also provides examples of the threats to academic freedom on college campuses nationwide, and ways for people to get involved in this important event.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Dr. Milton Gaither, associate professor of education at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, about his new book, Homeschool: An American History. Dr. Gaither also discusses a recent study by the U.S. Department of Education, which estimates that there are 1.5 million home-schooled children in the United States, and details some of the recent changes in homeschooling.

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This week on Family Policy Matters, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), about the latest attacks on abstinence-until-marriage education. Valerie, who is also a former abstinence educator, also discusses a letter the NAEA recently sent to (then) President-elect Barrack Obama. The letter, which was signed by hundreds of organizations, including the North Carolina Family Policy Council, asks Mr. Obama to meet with abstinence education leaders and to continue federal funding for AUM education.

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In the part two of this interview, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with noted author and Christian apologist, Dr. Francis J. Beckwith, about his book, Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice. Dr. Beckwith is professor of philosophy and church studies at Baylor University in Texas. He continues to refute some of the common arguments used to support abortion, and offers advice for the future of the pro-life movement.

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In the first part of a two-part series, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with noted author and Christian apologist, Dr. Francis J. Beckwith, about his book, Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice. Dr. Beckwith is professor of philosophy and church studies at Baylor University in Texas. From 2006-2007, he also served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Beckwith explains the moral reasoning behind the pro-life position against abortion and discusses some of the common flawed arguments raised by abortion proponents.

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This week on Family Policy Matters NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Kristin Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. Kristin talks about the organization’s undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood of Charlotte, North Carolina, where a student volunteer from NC State pretended to be the 15 year-old victim of statutory rape in order to find out whether clinic staff would report the crime or help the perpetrator continue his abuse. She also discusses the mission and purpose of Students for Life of America, and the general climate on college campuses today regarding abortion.

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This week on Family Policy Matters NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Scott Walter about the impact of same-sex marriage on our society.

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This week on Family Policy Matters NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Christian author, Harold Fickett, about his new book, The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters, which he co-authored with Chuck Colson. He is associate editor of the web magazine, Godspy, and co-founder of the journal, Image. Mr. Fickett, who has been contributing to articles and books with Chuck Colson for over 25 years, discusses the meaning and nature of Christianity, as well as the biggest threat facing it today.

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This week on Family Policy Matters NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Denise Burke, Vice President of Legal Affairs for Americans United for Life Action. Denise has extensive litigation experience regulating abortion and has previously served as a judge advocate general in the United States Air Force. She discusses the dangers and impact of the Freedom of Choice Act and what pro-life advocates can do to keep it from becoming law.

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This week on Family Policy Matters NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Christian apologist, Frank Turek, Ph.D. about his latest book Correct, Not Politically Correct: How Same-Sex Marriage Hurts Everyone. Dr. Turek is founder and president of CrossExamined.org, and co-author with Norm Geisler of the book, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. He discusses why same-sex 'marriage' is harmful to children, adults and our nation's health and economic prosperity.

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In the second of a two-part series, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks this week with pro-life activist and author, Carol Everitt. Carol, who formerly owned and operated a chain of abortion clinics in Dallas, Texas, is the author of the book, Blood Money: Getting Rich Off a WomanÕs Right to Choose. She discusses her journey from the abortion industry to the pro-life movement, including her personal experience with abortion and details about the business of abortion in the United States.

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In the first of a two-part series, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks this week with pro-life activist and author, Carol Everitt. Carol, who formerly owned and operated a chain of abortion clinics in Dallas, Texas, is the author of the book, Blood Money: Getting Rich Off a WomanÕs Right to Choose. She discusses her journey from the abortion industry to the pro-life movement, including her personal experience with abortion and details about the business of abortion in the United States.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Mike McManus, co-founder and president of Marriage Savers, a nonprofit organization that works with churches to strengthen and save marriages. Mike has written the "Ethics and Religion" nationally syndicated column since 1981. He talks about his latest book, How to Cut America's Divorce Rate in Half: A Strategy Every State Should Adopt.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Stephen Baskerville, Ph.D., assistant professor of government at Patrick Henry College in Virginia and president of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children. Dr. Baskerville is the author of the book, Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fathers, Marriage and the Family. He discusses some of the important issues he raises in the book, including the impact of divorce on the family, especially on fathers.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Star Parker, founder and president of CURE, the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education, and the keynote speaker for the NCFPC's upcoming Major Speaker Series dinner in Winston-Salem on November 18. A well-known speaker and author, Star regularly provides expert testimony before the U.S. Congress and is a national expert on the issues of race and welfare. Star shares her personal transformation from a struggling single mother on welfare to the successful woman she is today, and explains her opposition to the welfare state. She also addresses issues from her latest book, White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Star Parker, founder and president of CURE, the Coalition for Urban Renewal and Education, and the keynote speaker for the NCFPC's upcoming Major Speaker Series dinner in Winston-Salem on November 18. A well-known speaker and author, Star regularly provides expert testimony before the U.S. Congress and is a national expert on the issues of race and welfare. Star shares her personal transformation from a struggling single mother on welfare to the successful woman she is today, and explains her opposition to the welfare state. She also addresses issues from her latest book, White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with John Rustin, vice president and director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council, about the Council's new 2008 Voter Guide for the General Election. Rustin talks about the nonpartisan, impartial voter guide, which includes candidate responses to survey questions on a variety of family policy issues and covers national and state-level races. He also explains why it is legal for churches to distribute.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Michael New, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at the University of Alabama and a visiting fellow at the Family Research Council (FRC) in Washington, DC. Dr. New discusses a new report he conducted for FRC, analyzing the impact of parental involvement laws on the rate of abortions performed on minors. Dr. New talks about the differences between laws that require parental consent for an abortion to be performed on a minor and laws that simply require parents to be notified.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Doug Jacobs, Director of Public Relations and the Executive Director of the Council on Christian Affairs and Public Life for the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. Doug talks about the upcoming 'Politics of Jesus' seminar scheduled for October 9 and 10 in Durham, NC, as well as the role of Christians in society.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Bob Ditmer, former host of "Family News in Focus" at Focus on the Family and now director of radio ministries at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Bob talks about a powerful new educational tool from the North Carolina Family Policy Council that features his voice talents in a one-minute news feature for radio stations called North Carolina Family Minute. Daily broadcasts of North Carolina Family Minute are available to radio stations at no charge.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington DC, about the role of Evangelicals in public life and their importance to the upcoming election. Mr. Cromartie was recently reappointed by President Bush to his second four-year term on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, where he serves as vice-chair. He is the author of over a dozen books, including A Public Faith: Evangelicals and Civic Engagement.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks Lisa Snell, director of education and child welfare at the Reason Foundation, a nonprofit think tank advocating free minds and free markets. A regular contributor to School Reform News and Privatization Watch, she has testified before the California legislature and other state government agencies on issues involving education and child welfare. Lisa discusses charter schools, how they operate, and their impact on African American students nationwide.

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This week NCFPC director of research, Matt Lytle talks with Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Grove City College, about a recent controversial report from the American Psychological Association (APA) on abortion and mental health. Dr. Throckmorton, whose research has been published in journals published by the APA and the American Mental Health Counselor's Association, discussed the report's findings and the reaction to the report from the pro-life community.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with John Morris and Paul Ribeiro, two law students who just completed a six-week summer internship at the North Carolina Family Policy Council. John is a second year law student at Elon University School of Law, and Paul is a second year law student at Campbell University. Both men are members of the Blackstone Fellowship, a group of scholarly legal students funded by the Alliance Defense Fund. Paul and John discuss their experiences at the NCFPC this summer and some of the public policy issues they addressed.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, the world's largest outreach ministry to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction. Alan, who struggled with and overcame same-sex attraction as a young adult, addresses the question of whether there is a genetic basis for homosexuality, and why he believes it should not really matter to the debate over homosexuality.

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This week, we celebrate the 500th program of "Family Policy Matters" with a look back at a few of the many great interviews we've done over the past nearly 10 years. This program includes segments of interviews with the following experts: Christian apologist, Dr. Ravi Zacharias; family scholar, David Blankenhorn; pediatrician and author Meg Meeker, MD; Dr. Rex Rogers, author of Gambling: Don't Bet On It; Focus on the Family founder, Dr. James Dobson; Randy Thomas of Exodus International; Dr. Martha Shuping, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating post-abortive women; and psychiatrist Dr. Miriam Grossman, author of the groundbreaking book, Unprotected.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Vicki Hartzler, a former state representative for Missouri, about her book, Running God's Way: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Successful Political Campaign. Vicki, who was overwhelming elected to the Missouri State House three times, also served as the spokesperson for the Coalition to Protect Marriage in her state, spearheading the campaign to amend Missouri's constitution. She talks about the importance of Christian involvement in public policy, and why Christian men and women should consider running for political office.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Sheila O'Connor Ambrose, a fellow of The Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization in New York, about the new book, Marriage: The Dream That Refuses to Die. Sheila served as editor of the book, which was written by noted historian and Emory University professor, Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, who passed away in 2007 from MS. Sheila talks about Professor Fox-Genovese, who was her friend and former teacher, and explains why she spent the last few years of her life, writing about the institution of marriage and why it should be protected from redefinition.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Robert Knight, Director of the Culture and Media Institute at the Media Research Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Robert is a veteran journalist who formerly worked as a news editor and writer for the Los Angeles Times. He discusses the blatant bias in the mainstream media on the issue of homosexuality, and how the public can ensure that the press presents both sides of this and other critical issues.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Susan Yates, co-author of the recent book Barbara and Susan's Guide to the Empty Nest: Discovering New Purpose, Passion and Your Next Great Adventure. Susan talks about her book, which focuses on the feelings and changes associated with the empty nest. She also addresses how people in this stage of life can take advantage of their time without children and care for their aging parents.

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This week NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, about the organization's Parents for Truth campaign. Valerie, who is a former abstinence educator, discusses the recent attacks on abstinence education, and exposes the facts about comprehensive sex education. She also explains how parents can get involved in the effort to ensure that federal funding and support of abstinence education continues.

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In the second part of a two-part series, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with author and pediatrician, Meg Meeker, MD, about her latest book, Boys Should Be Boys: Seven Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons. Dr. Meeker talks about the unique and important roles that moms and dads play in the lives of boys, as well as the importance of teaching boys about the big questions of life, and the importance of faith.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with author, Meg Meeker, MD, about her latest book, Boys Should Be Boys: Seven Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons. Dr. Meeker is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, and a popular speaker on teen issues. She discusses some of the major problems facing boys today, and how parents can help their sons grow into healthy and happy young men.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with author, Michaelene Fredenburg about her new book, Changed: Making Sense of Your Own or a Loved One's Abortion Experience. Ms. Fredenburg is the founder and director of the outreach program, Abortion Changes You, and a frequent lecturer on college and university campuses nationwide. She talks about her own experience with abortion, and the powerful impact of abortion on both women and men.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D., founder and executive director of the National Association of Single Sex Public Education (NASPE) and the author of the book, Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men. Dr. Sax discusses the growing educational crisis among boys in the United States, and why so many boys today are in trouble. He also talks about the key differences between boys and girls, and the benefits of single sex education.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with David Blankenhorn, founder and president of the Institute for American Values (IAV), a pro-family think tank based in New York. Blankenhorn discusses a new initiative sponsored by IAV and several other groups called "The Thrift Project," which takes aim at todayÕs Òdebt cultureÓ and encourages Americans to save more and reduce their debt.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Jill Rigby about her new book, Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World. Jill is founder of Manners of the Heart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to returning civility and respect to our society. She joins the program to discuss why kids today are becoming increasingly selfish and how Christian parents can raise responsible children who have "God confidence" instead of self-confidence.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Mike and Harriet McManus, co-founders of Marriage Savers and co-authors of the new book, Living Together: Myths, Risks and Answers. Mike and Harriet talk about their book, which focuses on the increase in cohabitation in the United States and the dangers of living together outside of marriage. They also address how churches can tackle the issue of cohabitation with young people in their congregations, and how communities can strengthen marriage.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Randy Hicks, president of the Georgia Family Council, a non-profit research and education organization in Atlanta that is committed to strengthening families and promoting a civil society. Randy talks about a groundbreaking new report from the Georgia Family Council and several national pro-family organizations, highlighting the financial cost of divorce and unwed childbearing to taxpayers. The study is the first-ever to include the costs to all 50 states, including North Carolina.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Lindalyn Kakadelis, executive director of the North Carolina Education Alliance (NCEA). Lindalyn talks about a new NCEA study examining the benefits of education tax credits. She also explains why it is time for North Carolina to join the growing number of states to offer families this important form of school choice.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with well-known Christian apologist, speaker and author, Dr. Ravi Zacharias, the Honorary Chairman of the 2008 National Day of Prayer. Dr. Zacharias talks about his involvement with the National Day of Prayer, the Biblical responsibility of Christians to pray for our nation and its leaders, and the importance of prayer for our nation's future.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with William C. Duncan, director of the Marriage Law Foundation, and an adjunct scholar at The Sutherland Institute. Mr. Duncan talks about a recent article he wrote for The Sutherland Institute about parental rights in education in Europe and the United States, how we differ, and whether we should be concerned that our country may be headed in the same direction.

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks talks with Christian apologist and author, Frank Turek, Ph.D., about his new speaking initiative and web site, Crossexamined.org. The initiative is aimed at addressing the current crisis of faith among many teens in the Church. Dr. Turek, who is co-author of the award-winning book, I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, explains the hostile climate facing Christian students at many universities today, and why so many Christian young people leave the Church after they get to college. He also discusses how parents can help prepare their children from a young age to defend challenges to their faith, which they will most certainly face.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Bradford Wilcox, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, about his new research "Protectors or Perpetrators? Fathers, Mothers and Child Abuse and Neglect." Professor Wilcox discusses the myths about fathers and child abuse as well as the benefits that married fathers offer when they live with their children.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Peter LaBarbera, founder and president of Americans for Truth, a national organization dedicated to exposing the homosexual activist agenda. Peter talks about the upcoming "Day of Silence," a pro-homosexual event that is scheduled for schools nationwide on April 25, and what parents can do about it. Americans for Truth is co-sponsoring a national campaign called the "Day of Silence" Walkout, which encourages parents to pull their children out of class on April 25 if their school is participating in the pro-homosexual event.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Joe Davis, chairman of the board at First Things First of Gaston County, a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen families by reducing divorce and out-of-wedlock births. Mr. Davis discusses what First Things First is doing to help reduce divorce and unwed motherhood in Gaston County, and why this effort is so important to that community and North Carolina in general.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Gerard Robinson, president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), a national organization that actively supports parental choice in education to empower families and increase educational options for Black children. Mr. Robinson talks about the need for more parental choice in education, and why school choice is important to the Black community in particular.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Linda Harvey, president of the pro-family group, Mission: America, about her new book, Not My Child: Contemporary Paganism & the New Spirituality. She talks about the recent rise in teen paganism, the consequences, and what parents can do.

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This week, award-winning journalist, Dale O'Leary joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss her new book, One Man, One Woman. Dale is an internationally known lecturer on marriage, feminism, life issues and the culture war. She discusses the ongoing attacks on marriage by homosexual activists and their allies, and what Christians can do to help protect this age-old institution from redefinition.

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NCPFC President Bill Brooks talks with activist mom, Brenda High, the founder and co-director of Bully Police USA, on the program this week. Brenda's son, Jared, committed suicide at the age of 13 as a result of bullying by his peers at school. Since his death, Brenda has become a passionate crusader against bullying and has helped lawmakers in several states enact anti-bullying laws aimed at protecting all students. She shares her personal story, and discusses why anti-bullying laws should not define victims.

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William A. Dembski, Ph.D., senior fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, joins NCPFC President, Bill Brooks on the program this week. Dr. Dembski discusses his new book, The Design of Life: Discovering Signs of Intelligence in Biological Systems, which he co-authored with Jonathan Wells. He explains Intelligent Design, and why Darwin's theory of evolution is flawed.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Jennifer Marshall, director of domestic policy studies at The Heritage Foundation, to discuss her new book, Now and Not Yet: Making Sense of the Single Life in the 21st Century. She discusses her online survey of single women that is featured in the book, and offers tips for single women on how to make the most of the single years. She also talks about some of the pressures facing Christian singles today and how the church can help.

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In the second part of this two-part series, Dawn Stefanowicz, author of Out From Under: The Impact of Homosexual Parenting, details her experiences as a child who was raised by a homosexual father and how it negatively impacted her life. This week, the discussion also includes the impact of homosexual parenting on public policy.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with author, speaker and pro-family advocate, Dawn Stefanowicz, about her groundbreaking new book, Out From Under: The Impact of Homosexual Parenting. In the book, Dawn details her experiences as a child who was raised by a homosexual father and how it negatively impacted her life. She talks about how her father's homosexuality prevented him from being the loving and strong father she desperately needed, and how she ultimately found healing in her own life through God's grace.

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This week, David Cortman, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss the distribution of Bibles and other religious materials in public schools by outside groups, such as the Gideons. David recently litigated a case in Florida involving two Gideon representatives who were threatened with arrest for passing out Bibles at a local school. He talks about that case, as well as two school systems in North Carolina that changed their policies last year to prohibit outside groups from leaving Bibles on school grounds.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Kim Conroy from Focus on the Family about Project Ultrasound, an effort to provide ultrasound equipment and training to pregnancy resource centers. Kim discusses the importance of these ultrasounds and the impact they have on potential mothers.

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In the second part of this two-part series, John G. West, Ph.D., a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss his new book, Darwin Day in America: How our politics and culture have been dehumanized in the name of science. Dr. West is associate director of the Discovery InstituteÕs Center for Science and Culture, and the former Chairman of the Department of Political Science and Geography at Seattle Pacific University.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Melinda Delahoyde, president of Care Net, about "Sanctity of Human Life Week 2008," which is scheduled for January 20-27. Care Net operates the largest network of pregnancy resource centers in the nation. Prior to joining Care Net, Melinda led educational outreach for Americans United for Life. She talks about the importance of Sanctity of Human Life Week to the pro-life community, and she offers tips about how churches and individuals can get involved.

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This week, John G. West, Ph.D., a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute, joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss his new book, Darwin Day in America: How our politics and culture have been dehumanized in the name of science. Dr. West is associate director of the Discovery InstituteÕs Center for Science and Culture, and the former Chairman of the Department of Political Science and Geography at Seattle Pacific University. He explains how Darwinism has influenced every area of American society, from the criminal justice system to sex education.

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This week, NCFPC president Bill Brooks talks with Angela Lowe Heider, MD, about her new book, The Rise and Fall of Dr. Mom: Women, the Healthcare Crisis and the Future. Dr. Heider is an obstetrician and gynecologist who previously practiced medicine in Durham. She discusses the pressures that many working mothers face, and explains why she decided to leave her career in medicine to be a stay-at-home mom.

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This week, Darrell Allison, president of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss the state's low graduation rates. Mr. Allison previously worked for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He talks about a new report commissioned by his organization that analyzes North Carolina's high school drop-out rate, and he explains why increasing parental school choice is the solution to helping more students succeed.

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Allan Carlson, Ph.D., president of The Howard Center for Family Religion and Society, joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss his new book, The Natural Family: A Manifesto, which he co-authored with Paul T. Mero. Dr. Carlson talks about the meaning and importance of the 'natural family' and why it works best as the central unit of society, and he offers a number of policy recommendations to help strengthen the family in our nation.

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Chris Atkins, Senior Tax Counsel and Director of State Fiscal Projects for the Tax Foundation, joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss the increasing number of court rulings directing states to spend more money on education. Chris is the author of a recent Tax Foundation report on the issue, entitled "Appropriation by Litigation: Estimating the Cost of Judicial Mandates for State and Local Education Spending." He talks about the impact of these judicial education mandates on state education funding, including in North Carolina.

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David Barton joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks again this week for the second part of our series on the origins of Thanksgiving. David is the founder and president of Wallbuilders, a former public school teacher, and the author of numerous books on American history, including Original Intent. He offers parents tips on how to ensure that their children are learning the truth about AmericaÕs rich Christian heritage.

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Is it correct to describe Thanksgiving as a Christian holiday? Historian and author David Barton joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to answer that question. A former public school teacher, David is the founder and president of Wallbuilders, and the author of numerous books on American history, including Original Intent. David discusses the true origins of Thanksgiving, and the ongoing attempts to secularize the Thanksgiving holiday and American history in general.

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Constitutional lawyer and pro-family activist Michael Farris joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to discuss his new book, From Tyndale to Madison: How the Death of an English Martyr Led to the American Bill of Rights. Mr. Farris is chairman and general counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association and the chancellor of Patrick Henry College. He addresses some of the most common myths surrounding the history of religious liberty in the United States, including the myth that the Enlightenment had more of an influence on the Bill of Rights than Christianity.

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Is sexual orientation change possible? And is the attempt to change sexual orientation harmful? This week, licensed clinical psychologist, Mark Yarhouse joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks to discuss a groundbreaking new study that seeks to answer these important questions. Mark is a professor of psychology at Regent University and the director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity at Regent. He is the co-author of a new book entitled, Ex-Gays? A Longitudinal Study of Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual Orientation, and he discusses the results of the study on this week's program.

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J. Matt Barber joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to discuss a dangerous piece of pro-homosexual legislation that is currently pending in Congress, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Mr. Barber is Policy Director for Cultural Issues at Concerned Women for America in Washington, DC. He formerly served as corporate outreach director for Americans for Truth, a pro-family group based in Illinois. He discusses the history of ENDA, why it is critical to the homosexual agenda, and what pro-family citizens can do to help stop its passage.    

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David Tubbs, assistant professor of politics at The King’s College in New York City, joins NCFPC president, Bill Brooks this week to discuss his new book, Freedom’s Orphans: Contemporary Liberalism and the Fate of American Children. A fellow of the Witherspoon Institute, David is the former associate editor of the American Journal of Jurisprudence. He discusses the dangerous consequences that result when a society allows the desires of adults to supersede the welfare of its children.    

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Is homosexuality being promoted at your child's school? And if it is, what should parents do? Linda Harvey, founder and president of Mission: America, joins NCFPC President Bill Brooks this week reveal how homosexuality is being promoted in classrooms across the United States, including North Carolina. Linda, who has been a featured speaker at Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conferences, discusses some of the clever tactics used by homosexual activists and their allies to get into the classroom, and offers parents and students advice on how to combat homosexual propaganda with the Truth.    

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks, talks with Maggie Gallagher, president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (IMAPP). One of the leading voices in the Marriage Movement, Maggie is a syndicated columnist who has been featured in the New York Times and National Review, among other national publications. She is the author of several books, including The Case for Marriage, which she co-authored with Linda J. Waite. Maggie discusses a new report from IMAPP analyzing the impact of no-fault divorce on the divorce rate in the United States. She also talks about how no-fault divorce laws harm women and children in particular.   

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This week, NCFPC president, Bill Brooks, talks with Lindalyn Kakadelis, executive director of the North Carolina Education Alliance (NCEA), about the ABC's of Public Education Accountability Report, which was released earlier this month by the State Department of Public Instruction. Lindalyn is a former teacher and Charlotte school board member, who currently serves as a board member for Mecklenberg Citizens for Public Education. She discusses how the State grades our schools under the ABCs program, the federal government's No Child Left Behind law, and whether there is a better way to measure student and school success.  

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Should female seminary students be offered courses in cooking and sewing as part of a humanities degree? Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) president, Paige Patterson, thinks that they should, and he joins NCFPC president, Bill Brooks, this week to discuss why SWBTS is offering a new homemaking concentration. Dr. Patterson formerly served for 11 years as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and he served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He addresses the controversy surrounding the homemaking concentration at SWBTS and discusses the Biblical basis for preparing women to be good homemakers in addition to other careers. 

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An increasing number of teens in the United States attend drug-infested schools where illegal substances are sold and used, according to a new survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Elizabeth Planet, CASA's Director of Special Projects, joins NCFPC Bill Brooks this week to discuss the survey's findings. She talks about the widespread use and distribution of drugs on America's middle and high school campuses, and offers tips for parents and educators on how to address this growing problem. 

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Is there a genetic basis for homosexuality? Have scientists really discovered a homosexual gene? Douglas Abbott, Ph.D., joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to answer these questions. Dr. Abbott is Professor of Child, Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska. He discusses a recent article he wrote for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) entitled, "Myths and Misconceptions About Behavioral Genetics and Homosexual." 

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Author and speaker Joe Dallas joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to discuss his book, The Gay Gospel: How Pro-Gay Advocates Misread the Bible. A former homosexual, Joe is the founder of Genesis Counseling, and the past president of Exodus International. He discusses pro-homosexual theology, how it is being used in churches across the country to legitimize homosexuality, and how Christians should respond.  

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John Rustin, vice president and director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Council, joins us to discuss the recently concluded 2007 legislative session of the General Assembly. John monitors legislation daily throughout each legislative session and works to ensure that the interests of North Carolina's families are heard and understand by our legislators.  

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Continuing a discussion we began last week on the modesty movement in the United States, author Wendy Shalit joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week to discuss her new book, Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good. Wendy is the author of the 1999 critically-acclaimed book, A Return to Modesty, and the founder of the online forums, Modestyzone.net and ModestyYours.net. Wendy discusses the counter-sexual revolution among young people today, and how casual sex oppresses young women and destroys true love.  

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Popular author and noted speaker Dannah Gresh joins NCFPC president Bill Brooks this week. Dannah is the founder of Pure Freedom and the author of the best-selling book, And the Bride Wore White. Dannah discusses the sexualization of girls in our culture, and how parents and churches can encourage modesty in young women.  

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Each summer, the North Carolina Family Policy Council (NCFPC) hosts law students who are part of the Alliance Defense Fund's Blackstone Fellowship. This summer, Ben Kuipers, a law student at Case Western Reserve School of Law in Ohio, spent time researching and writing on several projects. On this program, Ben shares some of his research findings on issues ranging from charter schools to hate crime laws, as well as the lessons he learned while interning at the NCFPC.   

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W. Bradford Wilcox, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, joins us this week to discuss his new report, "Religion, Race and Relationships in Urban America." Dr. Wilcox talks about the positive effects of religious practice and belief on parenting, and how churches in urban communities can do a better job at strengthening marriages and families.   

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In recent years, evangelical Christians have become increasingly active in America's culture war, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood and mischaracterized groups in the nation. Dr. J. Budziszewski, professor of philosophy and government at the University of Texas in Austin, joins us this week to discuss his new book, Evangelicals in the Public Square. Professor Budziszewski discusses who qualifies as an "evangelical Christian," and addresses the lack of a cohesive political theory among evangelical Christians.   

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Does the Church have a Biblical duty to care for the needs of orphaned children around the world? John Fuller, vice president of the audio and new media division at Focus on the Family, and co-host of the "Focus on the Family" radio program, joins us this week to answer this important question. John also talks about the new Orphan Care Initiative launched by Focus on the Family and several other ministries and how concerned Christians can get involved.   

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An increasing number of unmarried women are having children in the United States, including many women who are living with the father of their child. Drs. Jennifer Manlove and Suzanne Ryan, research scientists at Child Trends, join us this week to discuss their recent report on unwed childbearing and its impact on society. They discuss how cohabitation negatively impacts the children of unmarried couples, and why the healthiest place to raise kids is still inside of marriage.   

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The federal government is taking an increasing role in public education in America. Neal McCluskey, a policy analyst with the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, joins us this week to talk about his book, Feds in the Classroom: How Big Government Corrupts, Cripples and Compromises American Education. He also discusses ways that public education could be more effective and responsive to community needs.               

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The United States Supreme Court recently ruled to uphold the 2003 federal ban on partial birth abortion. Mailee (PRON: MY-lee) Smith is a staff attorney with Americans United for Life and she co-wrote UALOs amicus briefs to the high court in the cases dealing with partial birth abortion. She is our guest this week and will talk about what this ruling might mean for abortion restrictions on the state level.

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Forsyth County Commissioners are defending themselves against a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. The lawsuit challenges a policy that allows various clergy members from the community to offer sectarian prayers before commission meetings. Mike Johnson, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, has agreed to represent the commissioners and explains why the Forsyth County policy is legal and constitutional.                

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At first glance, laws against hate crimes sound like a good thing, but these measures can actually be dangerous and a threat to our free speech and religious liberties. Chris Stovall, senior legal counsel to the Alliance Defense Fund talks about federal hate crimes legislation that's making its way through Congress and how this measure could create special rights for homosexuals.                

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All over the country, there are moves to abolish the funding for and the teaching of abstinence until marriage education in favor of condom-based "Comprehensive Sex Education." A new poll from Zogby International shows that parents overwhelmingly support the teaching of abstinence education in our public schools. Valerie Huber, executive director for the National Abstinence Education Association, discusses the poll and the ongoing battle over sex education in our nation.                

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The average American family pays more in total taxes than they pay in food, clothing, and shelter combined. Dr. J.D. Foster, Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy at the Heritage Foundation talks with us this week about taxes and how high taxes impact families and middle class families in particular.                

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Internet Gambling has been called the "crack cocaine" of gambling because it is highly addictive. In our program this week, we'll talk with Chad Hills, a gambling research analyst at Focus on the Family Action. He discusses the scope and threat of gambling on the internet and a federal law passed last year that's helping to restrict internet gambling in the United States.               

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Those who oppose the teaching of Abstinence Until Marriage education in our public schools are using a recent study to argue that schools should implement comprehensive sex education. Our guest this week is Dr. Gary Rose, CEO of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health. He discusses the problems with comprehensive sex education, the problems with the Mathmatica abstinence study, and how it should not be used to make policy decisions on the effectiveness of abstinence education.              

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A growing number of medical doctors believe that their profession has been hijacked by a dangerous ideology that puts sexual freedom above the health of young people. In this week's program, Dr. Miriam Grossma, a psychiatrist at UCLA, talks about this and her book entitled, Unprotected: A Campus Psychiatrist Reveals HOw Political Correctness in Her Profession Endangers Every Student.              

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The debate over the potential harms of same-sex marriage continues to rage, with some questioning how harmful it could be to allow homosexuals to marry. Dr. David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values contends that legalizing same sex marriage would seriously weaken the institution of marriage and rob children of their right to their two natural parents.               

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The Day of Truth is coming up on April 19th in schools all across the country. The Alliance Defense Fund is promoting this event as a response to the Day of Silence which falls on April 18th, and is designed to support homosexuality in our schools. In our program this week, ADF Legal Counsel Mike Johnson talks about why it's important for Christian students to participate in the Day of Truth as a means of telling the true story about homosexuality in their schools.              

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Legislation ha been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly which would replace the state's Abstinence Until Marriage law with comprehensive sex education. In this week's program, we continue our conversation with Abstinence Educator Mike Long about why comprehensive sex education is dangerous for our children and why Abstinence Until Marriage education is the most effective way to protect the total health of young people.             

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Legislation has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly which would replace the state's Abstinence Until Marriage law with comprehensive sex education. In this week's program, we're talking with Abstinence Educator Mike Long about why comprehensive sex education is dangerous for our children and why Abstinence Until Marriage education is the most effective way to protect the total health of young people.             

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We hear a lot about the income gap and the education gap in America, but author Kay Hymowitz believes there is a marriage gap in our country between lower income people and those with more income and education. In our program this week, Hymowitz discusses her book, Marriage and Caste in America, Separate and Unequal Families in a Post-Marital Age, where she identifies a trend that of lower income, less educated people placing a lower value on marriage and subsequently not giving their children the many benefits of being raised in a traditional family.             

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Many people in our society today believe that the government has a responsibility to protect them from disaster. Dr. Marvin Olasky, editor-in-chief of World magazine, talks with us about how dangerous this attitude is and about the role of government and Christians during catastrophes. He also discusses his new book, "The Politics of Disaster: Katrina, Big Government and a New Strategy for Future Crisis."             

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We quite often hear that better pay for teachers is a key ingredient to improving our public schools. However, Terry Stoops with the John Locke Foundation contends that North Carolina already has competitive pay for teachers. He talks about that in this week's show and about his recently published report entitled, "Learning about Teacher Pay."             

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A large number of Americans define themselves as evangelicals, but according to research by the Barna Group, many of these people don't actually fit the definition. George Barna, founder of the research firm The Barna Group, talks about the definition of evangelical and the number of Americans who can truly be classified as such.            

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There is a growing campaign in North Carolina to allow more school choice for public school children. Darrell Allison is the president of a new organization, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, which was formed to spearhead this effort. On our program this week, he talks about why more school choice is important to the educational goals of our state and how this organization is planning to accomplish their mission.            

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With much of the discourse in our culture these days surrounding homosexuality, it is essential that Christians know how to respond in love to our homosexual neighbors and co-workers without compromising God's truth. Randy Thomas, executive vice president of Exodus International talks about some ways Christians and the Church can respond. This is the topic of his new book, God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door, which he co-authored with four colleagues at Exodus International .          

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The fourth annual Day of Purity is February 14, 2007. Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Council, based in Orlando, Florida, is our guest on this week's show. He talks about the Day of Purity and why Valentines Day is the perfect time to talk to young people in our schools about why waiting until marriage to have sex is the safest and best plan for their lives.           

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The Center for Education Freedom at the Cato Institute in Washington, DC, recently conducted a survey, rating each state in regards to school choice. Andrew Coulson, Director of the Center, is our guest this week. He speaks with us on how North Carolina ranks and what our state can do to make strides toward giving parents more choice in how where there children are educated.           

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In 2005, Terri Shiavo, an adult young woman, gained national attention when she was killed y court order, despite her parent's desperate legal challenge to save her. Now, David Gibbs, who served as the attorney for Terry Schiavo's parents, discusses what really happened during those days and why it matters to every American.           

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A Recent survey released by the Alan Guttmacher Institute claims that the majority of Americans have had sex outside of marriage. Our guest this week, Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst with Focus on the Family, discusses why she finds fault with the survey and with its implied criticism of teaching sexual abstinence until marriage in our public schools.          

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Amidst all the rhetoric about reproductive choice for women, the story that often gets lost is the one regarding women who are suffering the aftermath of abortion. On this week's program we speak with Leslee Unruh, founder and president of Abstinence Clearinghouse, a nationwide resource center for abstinence education research and materials. She talks about her own personal experience with abortion and the impact it has had on her husband and her family.         

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Religious practice has enormous benefits for society. That's the subject of a recent report authored by Patrick Fagan, the William H.G. Fitzgerald Research Fellow in Family and Cultural Issues at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC. On this week's show, Fagan talks about the report entitled, "Why Religion Matters Even More: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability."         

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Although the issue of stem cell research is often the subject of emotional appeals and countless news stories, many people still don't understand what all the fuss is about. Our guest this week, Dr. David Prentice, will shed some light on the ethical concerns surrounding this topic and explore differences between embryonic and adult stem cell research. Dr. Prentice is a senior fellow at the Center for Human Life and Bioethics at the Family Research Council in Washington, DC and is an internationally recognized expert on stem cell research and cloning.          

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Though often shunned by the education establishment, charter schools have become a central part of education reform in states across the country including North Carolina. This week's guest is Jeanne Allen, the president and founder of the Center for Education Reform. Jeanne will be talking about the advantages of charter schools and why North Carolina should remove its cap on the number of charter schools allowed in the state.         

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Confusion about the constitutional right of religious expression is particularly pronounced during the Christmas season, especially in public schools where some school officials have suppressed any mention of religion during the holiday. On this week's program, Tami Fitzgerald, the staff attorney for the North Carolina Family Policy Council, will help to clarify what the law really says. Tami will be talking about the growing hostility toward the true meaning of Christmas in our society, why this hostility is unconstitutional, and what we can do about it here in North Carolina.         

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This week's program continues discussion with Dr. Meg Meeker about the critical role that fathers play in the lives of their daughters, including how fathers teach problem solving and resistance to the damaging messages often conveyed in today's culture. Dr. Meeker has spent 20 years in pediatric and adolescent medicine and counseling teens and parents. She is the author of the book "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know."        

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From the earliest years, a father plays a pivotal role in shaping the character and life of his daughter. In this first of two programs, Dr. Meg Meeker explains the unique qualities that fathers possess in raising and protecting daughters. Dr. Meeker has spent 20 years in pediatric and adolescent medicine and counseling teens and parents. She is the author of the book "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know."       

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A new vaccine for some strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been receiving a lot of attention lately as concerns are being raised about requiring young girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. and is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. This week's guest is Linda Klepacki, the sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family. Linda will shed some light on what the HPV vaccine is and offer some key issues parents should take into account when considering whether to allow their child to get the HPV vaccine.      

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Raising responsible and respectful children is a challenge for parents. Especially in a culture that has replaced teaching self-respect with emphasizing self-esteem. This week's guest is Jill Rigby, founder of Manners of the Heart Community Fund and author of the book, "Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World." ON this program, Jill will discuss how parents can raise children who respect others and themselves, and offer them practical advice on how.      

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Despite growing social-science evidence that points to the benefits of traditional marriage to both adults and children, many in the field of family law (judges, lawmakers, and attorneys) continue to accept a growing diversity in family structures. On this week's program, Maggie Gallagher, a noted scholar and author, will discuss "Marriage and the Law: A Statement of Principles," which details the importance of preserving marriage in the law. Maggie will be discussing the document, which was signed by over 100 family law experts, along with the changing nature of family law and how to get it headed in the right direction.      

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Recently the CDC reported that the percentage of sexually experienced teenagers dropped 13 percent in the last 15 years. Several reasons for the decline were cited in the research, though the positive influence of abstinence-until-marriage education on reducing teen sex was not credited in the CDC's report. This week Dr. Gary Rose, the president of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health, examines the research and the role that abstinence education has played in helping more teenagers postpone sexual activity.      

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Attempts to redefine marriage and advances in reproductive technology have begun to open the door to alternative definitions of parenthood, where children may have more than two legally recognized parents. This week's guest, Elizabeth Marquardt, discusses this emerging trend and how it threatens the wellbeing of children. Elizabeth is the director of the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values.     

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The number of parents choosing to educate their children at home in North Carolina has been growing significantly over the years. And as home schools become more numerous, so has the interest in the way this form of education works. This week's guest is Ernie Hodges, the president of North Carolinians for Home Education. Ernie will explain what home schooling looks like in North Carolina and what is required to make it successful.    

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Years ago, proponents of allowing a spouse a simple means of getting a divorce, known as no-fault divorce, promoted it as an ideal and humane way to end a marriage. However, the years have shown that no-fault divorce has detrimental effects on families, especially women and children. On this week's program, the senior fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute, Dr. Janice Crouse explains no-fault divorce and how it has negatively impacted the family.    

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For three years in a row, state marriage amendment legislation has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly, but no bill has ever been brought up for consideration - making North Carolina the only state in the South where efforts to pass a state constitutional amendment have consistently faile. This week's guest, Dr. Matthew Spalding, will explain the purpose and importance of a state marriage amendment and why North Carolina needs to amend its state constitution to preserve the institution of marriage. Dr. Spalding is the director of the B. Kenney Simon Center for American Studies at the Heritage Foundation.   

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For almost eight years the North Carolina Family Policy Council has been broadcasting this weekly program across North Carolina to inform listeners about important public policy and family related issues. Recently "Family Policy Matters" reached a significant milestone - broadcasting its 400th program. To commemorate, we have pulled together portions of just a few of the many great interviews we have had over the years to share with our listeners.  

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Each year thousands of pro-lifers gather on the first Sunday in October to pray and carry signs to raise awareness of the tragedy of abortion. In North Carolina close to 30 towns and cities will observe Life Chain Sunday on October 1. On this week's program, Royce Dunn, the founder and national director of Life Chain, will explain the purpose and meaning of Life Chain and how people can get involved.  

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Many parents report knowing what goes on at the parties their teenager attends. However a new survey shows an alarming unawareness of the drug and alcohol use at these parties. On this week's program Elizabeth Planet, the director of special projects at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, talks about their new survey on this issue. She explains what teenagers report about substance abuse at parties and what parents can do to protect their children. 

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A new study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that teenagers who listen to music laced with sexually explicit lyrics are more likely to engage in sexual activity. This week Bob Waliszewski, the director of Focus on the Family's Plugged In department will talk about the study's findings, as well as the broader issue of how sexually explicit themes of today's popular music impacts the attitudes and behaviors of young people, and what parents can do about it.

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Children who experience divorce are impacted in several ways. Unfortunately, most churches have not effectively reached out to minister to the unique needs of these children. This week's guest is an author and speaker who has ministered to divorced families for years. Linda Ranson Jacobs is Director of Children's Ministries for The Church Initiative, and organization that develops ministry materials for churches. On this program she will discuss the special needs of children of divorce and the Divorce Care for Kids program she developed.

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Each summer the North Carolina Family Policy Council (NCFPC) hosts law students who are part of the Alliance Defense Fund's Blackstone Fellowship. This summer Stephanie Evans and Brian Ratledge, both students at the Campbell University School of Law, spent time researching and writing on several projects. On this program, Stephanie and Brian will share some of their research findings as well as their insights from the perspective of an NCFPC intern.                    

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The writing and philosophy of John Dewey has had significant impact on education in this country for decades, but many are unaware of what he believed. This week's guest, Henry Edmonson, is a professor of political science at Georgia College and is the author of "John Dewey and the Decline of American Education." Mr. Edmonson will explain the negative influence Dewey's philosophy has had on education including his view on human nature, history, religion, and the family.                   

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In part two of his interview, Dr. Stephen Monsma continues his discussion about faith-based social service programs and how they differ from those run by the government. This week Dr. Monsma details how government involvement with religious organizations affects their work, as well as, the level of public acceptance for faith-based programs.                   

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In the years since welfare reform was adopted, many social service programs have been helping people get off welfare and into the job force. Secular or government-run welfare-to-work programs have been joined by faith-based organizations to help equip the needs with job and life skills. In the first segment of a two-part interview, Dr. Stephen Monsma, author of the forthcoming boodk, "Putting Faith in Partnership: Welfare-to-Work in Four Cities," explains his research comparing the differences between secular and religious social service programs.                  

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The North Carolina Family Policy Council (NCFPC) has released a 12-part video series called Family Policy Perspectives. This new tool can be used by churches, schools, and other groups as an educational resource on a number of important issues including marriage, abortion, gambling and human sexuality. This week, Traci Griggs, the director of communications for the NCFPC and the producer/editor of the series, explains the content of the videos and its accompanying curriculum. She also talks about how it can be a helpful resource to educate people about important family policy issues.                 

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For years, crisis pregnancy centers have been promoting life and meeting needs by counseling women with unwanted pregnancies. Recently, a national abortion rights group released a report criticizing these centers and calling them "an affront to choice." On this week's program, Kim Conroy, the director of the Sanctity of Human Life Department at Focus on the Family, will address the issues raised in the report and explain how crisis pregnancy centers are working to provide women with compassionate alternatives to abortion.                

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A common perception is that America is worse off than it has ever been, however a new report points out that Americans are better off now than at any other time in history. Yet many challenges still remain. This week's guest, Michelle Bernard, is the president of the Independent Women's Forum, and the coauthor of "America's Promise: Our Progress Toward a Society of Freedom and Fulfillment." She will be discussing what has improved in America and what has not.               

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For centuries it has been commonly understood that marriage is an inherently good social institution. However, with the recent attempts to redefine marriage, greater attention is being placed on just how traditional marriage benefits society. On this week's program, Dr. James Stoner, a political science professor at Louisiana State University, discusses a new landmark document recently published by the Witherspoon Institute entitled, "Ten Principles on Marriage and the Public Good." Stoner will talk about some of the key principles found in the document that explain why marriage is in the public interest.               

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in the wake of Massachusetts' legalization of same-sex "marriage," the Catholic Charities of Boston announced that they would no longer be placing children for adoption because the state requires them to do so with same-sex parents. This week, Maggie Gallagher, the president of the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, discusses her article "Banned in Boston: The Coming Conflict Between Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty." She explains how the Boston example demonstrates the inevitable legal entanglements that will be experienced by faith-based organizations when same-sex marriage is permitted.              

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The General Assembly's 200 Short Legislative Session is well underway as lawmakers hammer out a budget and consider other issues. On this week's program, North Carolina Family Policy Council director of government relations John Rustin gives an update on several issues under consideration by the General Assemble including lottery funding, video poker, and a state marriage amendment.             

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The promotion of homosexuality is on the rise in public schools across the country. In an effort to help parents evaluate the presence of such promotion in their child's school, a new "Risk Audit Survey" has been released by Mission America. On this week's program, Linda Harvey, the founder of Mission America, will discuss the new tool and how it can help parents assess whether homosexual education exists in their local schools.            

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As increased secularism and opposition to the Judeo-Christian worldview are evident in today's public schools, more and more parents are rethinking how they choose to educate their children. Some are even calling the for the total removal of Christian students from public schools altogether. This week's guest, E. Ray Moore is among those who take this view. Ray is the director of Exodus Mandate and a former U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain. He will be discussing why he believes Christians should educate their children apart from the public school system and respond to common arguments against his position.           

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In today's culture many have been deceived into believing that destructive behaviors are just the opposite. Whether it is homosexuality and abortion or the the corruption of young people through the entertainment industry, immorality has been repackaged to become acceptable and mainstream. This week's guest, David Kupelian, is the managing editor for Worldnetdaily.com, one of the world's largest independent news websites. He is author of the book, "The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom." David will explain what he means by "the marketing of evil" and how it has affected today's culture.          

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The Internet has become a useful resource for millions of Americans, but it has also become a dangerous place for teenagers and children. Online pornography and sexual predators trolling chat rooms are among the risks that young people face. This week's guest, Colby May, serves on the board of directors of Enough is Enough, a non-profit organization dedicated to making the Internet safe for families and children. He will explain more about the sexual exploitation of children on the Internet and what parents can do to protect them.          

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The aggressive promotion of homosexuality i schools across the nation has misled many students about this behavior and the truth that change from homosexuality is possible. In an effort to get an alternate message out, Liberty Counsel and the Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays have teamed up in a new school initiative called "Change Is Possible Campaign." On this week's program, Mat Staver, the founder and president of Liberty Counsel, will explain the campaign and the dangers of promoting homosexuality in schools.         

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Recent events in North Carolina have demonstrated how the promotion of homosexuality is getting preferential treatment in schools. A seminar promoting homosexuality called "The New Gay Teenager" was presented to students at the Governor's School last summer without parental notification and a student in Dunn, North Carolina, was told he could not wear a t-shirt or pass out cards promoting the Christian perspective on homosexuality on the "Day of Truth," a day after students were allowed to observe the pro-homosexual "Day of Silence." This week Mike Johnson, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), will explain the circumstances surrounding these events and how ADF is getting involved with the legal questions raised by the actions of school officials.        

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Discontent with the state of public education has been increasing over the years, as have calls for more choices for parents who want to send their kids to better schools. And a new legal analysis released by the North Carolina Education Alliance finds that school choice programs are entirely consistent with both the U.S. and North Carolina Constitutions. On this week's program, David Rolan, the attorney who wrote the analysis, explains the legal rationale for the constitutionality of school choice in North Carolina.       

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What makes women happy in marriage? This is an age-old question that has transcended every society. With gender roles evolving over the past decades, the answer to this question appears to have changed. However, findings from a new study offer an interesting and surprising answer to this question. This week, Dr. Steven Nock, professor of sociology and director of the Marriage Matters Project at the University of Virginia, discusses the findings of his new study published in the journal, Social Forces, which explores what makes women happy in marriage.       

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A recent study that examined the content of children's television programming concluded that it is "no longer a safe haven for children." Melissa Caldwell, the senior director of programs for the Parents Television Council, will discuss the new study "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" on this week's program. Melissa will talk about the results of the study and why parents should be concerned about the programs their children are watching.      

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On Thursday, April 27, hundreds of high school students will participate in the "Day of Truth" a nationwide response to the promotion of the homosexual agenda in schools and an effort to promote Christian truth. The Alliance Fund (ADF) created the event as an answer to the "Day of Silence" where students promote homosexuality and attempt to censor the Christian viewpoint. This week, Delia Van Loenen, legal counsel for ADF, will discuss the event and why it is important.      

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Recently, a group critical of abstinence education released a report opposing new federal funding guidelines for Community-Based Abstinence Education programs. The report claims that the new guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are extreme and dangerous because they focus on the importance of marriage. This week's guest, Dr. Gary Rose, is the president of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health. He will be talking about the new funding guidelines, the report and why abstinence until marriage is best.     

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This week's program continues an interview with Dr. Jeffery Satinover about how politics, not science is driving psychological associations to label homosexual behavior as normal. This week, he will focus on the misrepresentation of the scientific record in key Supreme Court decisions. Dr. Satinover is a psychiatirst, visiting lecturer at Princeton University and author of "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth."     

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A significant step forward in the attempt to gain normalization for homosexuality in the culture came when major psychological associations began to label the behavior as normal. However, as this week's guest Dr. Jeffrey Satinover contends, these organizations are driven by politics and not scientific research. Dr. Satinover is a psychiatrist, visiting lecturer at Princeton University and author of "Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth." In this first of a two-part series, he explains some of his findings regarding the politicizing of homosexuality in the psychiatric field and the ramifications of that decision.     

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The U.S. Supreme Court handed pro-life demonstrators a victory last month after the court determined that federal racketeering and organized crime laws could not be applied to groups that protest outside abortion clinics. This week's guest, Jordan Lorence, will explain how the high court ruled and what it means for the pro-life movement. Mr. Lorence is Senior Vice President of the Alliance Defense Fund and an attorney who specializes in constitutional law.      

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Divorce and out-of wedlock births are a society-wide problem. And none have been more negatively affected than the Black community. This week's guest is Reverend Eugene Rivers, the founder and president of the Seymour Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, a Black Christian think tank in Boston, Massachusetts. rev. Rivers will be discussing the Institute's statement entitled "God's Gift: A Christian Vision of Marriage and the Black Family," which looks at the breakdown of the family in the Black community and calls for a restoration of marriage.      

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A recent report issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that consumers would benefit from an "a la carte" method of obtaining programming. This is an option that pro-family advocates support as a way for families to only have to pay for channels they want to watch. This week, Lanier Swann, the director of government relations for Concerned Women for America, will explain more about the FCC's findings and what it means for television programming.      

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The institution of marriage has undergone a number of challenges over the last decades, especially in the wake of the sexual revolution. However, marriage remains critical to the stability of society. This week, Dr. Bradford Wilcox, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, discusses his new book, "The Meaning of Marriage: Family, State, Market and Morals," which includes some of the best contemporary scholarship on marriage from a variety of disciplines. He will explain why marriage is such a socially vital institution.     

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This week, Robert Crowther, the director of communications at the Discovery Institute, continues discussing Intelligent Design. On this program, Robert talks more about the debate over Intelligent Design and how this scientific theory on the origin of life fits into schools' science standards.    

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In December, a federal judge ruled that a Pennsylvania school board violated the U.S. Constitution by offering Intelligent Design as an alternative to Darwin's Theory of Evolution. This case and the increased exposure that Intelligent Design has received in the media has led to many questions about what this scientific theory really means. This week, Robert Crowther, the director of communications at the Discovery Institute answers many of these questions and explains some of what the judge said in this case.   

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A new position paper by the Society for Adolescent medicine has come out against abstinence and is certainly not the last, but is such criticism warranted? This week's guest is Leslee Unruh, a national advocate for abstinence and the founder and president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse. She will be discussing the position paper and why abstinence education works best.  

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Last September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed hate crime legislation that, if passed by the full Congress, would increase penalties for crimes against a person based on their "sexual orientation." Such legislation is strongly opposed by the pro-family organizations because it bestows legal legitimacy to homosexuality and creates an unequal system of justice. This week's guest, Alan Chambers will be talking about the legislation, a national campaign against it and why hate crime legislation is bad public policy. Alan is president of Exodus International, the largest evangelical organization dealing with homosexual issues in the world. 

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As the nation marks the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering some important cases. And as changes continue on the high court, 2006 could be a critical year in the abortion battle. Here to discuss these cases on the program this week is Daniel McConchie, the director of public policy for Americans United for Life. Daniel will explain what issues are at stake and what changes on the court could mean for the pro-life movement.

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Often absent from any discussion on abortion is the emotional toll that it has taken many women. Recent studies have confirmed that abortion can have a long-term negative impact on a women's mental health. This week's guest, Dr. Martha Shuping, is a clinical psychiatrist in Greensboro, North Carolina who specializes in treating women who have suffered the tragedy of an abortion. On this program, Dr. Shuping will discuss the emotional impact of abortion, obstacles in our society to healing, and how post-abortive women can find help.

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The apparent conflict between scientific discovery and religious belief has been an issue for many Christians. As well, many in the scientific community have rejected Biblical truth as irrelevant to science. This week's guest, Dr. Nigel Brush, discusses this divide and explains how Christianity and science can intermingle in the search for truth. Dr. Brush is a professor of geology at Ashland University in Ohio and author of the book The Limitations of Scientific Truth: Why Science Can't Answer Life's Ultimate Questions.

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This is part two of a discussion about sexual wholeness with Hanelle Hallman, a licensed professional counselor and executive director of Desert Hope Ministries. This week Janelle will discuss some of the issues facing homosexuals, but will also talk about God's ability to bring healing to those who struggle with sexual issues and how the church should respond to them.

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Today's culture is dominated by the consequences of sexual behavior that is outside of God's design.  This week's guest, Janelle Hallman, is a licensed professional counselor and executive director of Desert Hope Ministries.  She specializes in female homosexuality and emotional dependencies.  In part one of her interview, Janelle defines Biblical sexual wholeness and explains some of the origins of homosexuality.

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Parents are often intimidated by the prospect of talking to their kids about sex.  Yet, in today's culture, parents know that it is imperative that their children hear the truth about this important topic.  To aid in this process, the Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MISH) has released a new book entitled Questions Kids Ask About Sex: Honest Answers for Every Age.  On this week's program, Dr. Gary Rose, the president and CEO of MISH, will discuss this new resource and how parents can effectively communicate about sexual health with their children. 

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Very often the mere mention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is enough to strike fear in the hearts of many individuals. For years the ACLU has been challenging religious freedom, while advocating for a liberal social agenda including abortion, homosexuality, and pornography. This week's guest has written a book that examines the negative impact that the ACLU has had on America. Alan Sear, the president and general counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund, has co-authored The ACLU vs. America: Exposing the Agenda to Redefine Moral Values and will be highlighting some of the findings in his book.  

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Much of the talk surrounding today's divorce culture centers on what has been called the "good divorce." However, attempts to minimize the effects of divorce on children have come at their expense and the expense of marriage itself. This week's guest, Elizabeth Marquardt, whose book Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce is based on a groundbreaking national study that examined the emotional, moral, and spiritual lives of children of divorce, talks about divorce's effects on children and what they face as a result. Elizabeth is an affiliate scholar with the Institute for American Values.    

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This week's program features part two of a discussion with Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse about some of the ideas in her book Smart Sex: Finding Life-Long Love in a Hook-Up World. Dr. Morse explains the negative impact that the sexual revolution has had on the way our culture views sex. She also explains why strong, healthy marriages are essential to the success of a free society.    

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Contrary to the sexual revolution's proclamation of sexual freedom, it is sex within the loving bonds of marriage that bring true happiness an societal benefit. In this first of two programs, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse discusses the trivialization of sex in our culture and how marriage offers the environment that is essential for the "natural purposes of sexual activity." Dr. Morse is a research fellow with the Acton Institute and author of the book, Smart Sex: Finding Life-Long Love in a Hook-Up World.   

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This week's program features part two of a discussion with Nancy Pearcey about having a Biblical worldview. Nancy continues with an explanation of how to develop a Biblical worldview and offers advice for parents who want to develop this mindset in their children.  Nancy is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of the book, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity.   

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A recent study found that only 16 percent of evangelical Christians base their decisions about moral issues on what the Bible says . This amazing finding shows the lack of a Christian worldview in the church. On this first in a two-part series, Nancy Pearcey explains what a Biblical worldview is, why it is important, and why so many Christians do not look to the Bible for their views on morality. Nancy is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute and author of the book, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity.  

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As efforts progress to counter the moral decline in today's culture, there is one group of people that must not be overlooked - today's youth. A new program called "Generation Joshua" has been established to help equip young people with the skills and knowledge to get involved and make a difference. This week's guest is Ned Ryun, the director of Generation Joshua. Ned will be discussing the program and why it is important to begin training the next generation in how to engage the culture.  

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This week's program continues a discussion with Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk ("Father Tad") about the topics of stem cell research and human cloning. This week he takes on a common argument in favor of stem cell research and then moves to a discussion about the process of human cloning and the ethical dilemmas that this poses. 

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Recent advances in bioethics have raised ethical concern about the use of embryonic stem cells and cloning to cure human diseases. This week's guest, Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, is the director of education and staff ethicist for the National Catholic Bioethics Center and holds a Ph.D in neuroscience from Yale University. In his first two shows, Father Tadeusz will be discussing the ethics and science behind embryonic stem cell research and why adult stem cells are a proven alternative to this controversial procedure.

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A common phrase used to disregard efforts to align public policy with traditional religious views has been "you can't legislate morality." But is such a phrase accurate? This week's guest, Frank Turek, asserts that morality is legislated all the time, and it is simply a question of whose morality will be advanced. Frank is senior partner of The Austin Group and coauthor of the book, Legislating Morality: Is it Wise? Is it Legal? Is it Possible? In this interview, he talks about the role of the law in our society and how to legislate morality correctly?

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With millions of people playing and even state governments and churches involved, gambling has become a part of the mainstream of American life. But widespread acceptance does not negate the harmful nature of gambling. This week's guest, Dr. Rex Rogers is president of Cornerstone University and author of the new book entitled, "Gambling: Don't Bet On It." Dr. Rogers will be discussing how gambling has become so accepted, and why it should be rejected by churches and governments. 

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Each summer the North Carolina Family Policy Council hosts legal interns who spend six weeks doing research and writing. these law students are part of the Blackstone Fellowship, a legal leadership development program that is a ministry of the Alliance Defense Fund. This week, interns Tim Hesler and Matt Gerrald share some of what they have learned during their time with the policy council, including research on important issues and newfound perspectives on the public policy arena.

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On September 2, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned its legislative session. State lawmakers considered (and in some cases ignored) many important issues that impact North Carolina's families. This week's guest, John Rustin, the director of government relations for the North Carolina Family Policy Council discusses some of the bills that were passed, including a state lottery, and other bills that were not considered, such as the state marriage amendment.   

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Each year millions of students gather around the flagpole at their school to worship and pray. The event, known as "See You at the Pole," takes place this year on Wednesday, September 21. This week's guest, David Overstreet, is with the National Network of Youth Ministries, and organization that assists in coordination the event. David will be talking about the annual event, the rights of students to participate and how students in North Carolina can organize a "See You at the Pole" event at their school.  

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Attempts to legitimize homosexuality have not been limited to popular media and public policy. Efforts are also being made in the religious community through the promotion of pro-homosexual theology- theology that attempts to normalize homosexuality from a Biblical perspective. This week's guest, Joe Dallas, is the founder of Genesis Counseling, past president of Exodus International and a regularly featured speaker for Focus on the Family's Love Won Out Conference. Joe will be talking about pro-homosexual theology, how it is being used in churches across the country and how Christians can combat it with Biblical truth.

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The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools has provided a state-certified elective Bible course to 312 school districts in 37 states. Recently, the National Council has been featured in  the news because of a report attacking  their Bible curriculum as sectarian, full of errors and inappropriate for public schools. This week's guests are the the National Council's founder and president Elizabeth Ridenour, along with Alliance Defense Fund attorney Mike Johnson. They will be discussing these recent attacks and set the record straight about the Council and its Bible curriculum.

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This week's program continues a discussion with Mat Staver, the president of Liberty Counsel, about how religious freedoms are lost and how to defend them. Mat is an attorney who specializes in constitutional law ad is the author of the new book Eternal Vigilance: Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom. This week he explains some of the roadblocks to religious freedom that Christians frequently face, especially with regard to demonstrations and zoning laws.

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Freedom of religion is one of the hallmarks of the American democracy. However, it is a freedom that continues to be challenged by many claiming a separation of church and state. This week's guest, Mat Staver, offers some insight into how religious liberties are lost and explains the freedoms protected by the Constitution. Mat is the founder and president of Liberty Counsel, a religious civil liberties education and legal defense organization and the author of the new book Eternal Vigilance: Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom.          
         

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The Attention being given to President Bush's nomination of Judge John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court has highlighted the importance of the court's role to both sides of the political spectrum. But many Americans are unaware of what the proper role of the Supreme Court is. This week, Phyllis Shlafly discusses what the courts were designed to do and how many have abused their role. Ms. Schlafly is the president of Eagle Forum and has been a leader in the pro-family movement for over four decades. Her new book the The Supremacists: The Tyranny of Judges and How to Stop It, explains the misuse of power by the courts and what can be done about it.          
         

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This week's Program is part two of an interview with Jeff Schafer, the senior legal counsel for the Washington D. C office of the Alliance Defense Fund. On this program, Jeff continues his analysis of the U. S. Supreme Court's decisions regarding the posting of the Ten Commandments and offers further insight into the impact these rulings might have on religious freedom in America.        
         

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Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered two highly anticipated rulings on the constitutionality of posting the Ten Commandments on public property. Unfortunately, the high court did little to clarify the confusion by handing down two differing opinions- one that upheld the constitutionality of a display in Texas and another that declared two Ten Commandments displays in Kentucky unconstitutional. This week's guest, Jeff Schafer will explain what the Court did and what it means to religious freedom jurisprudence in this country. Jeff is the senior legal counsel for the Washington D.C. office of the Alliance Defense Fund. This is the first of a two-part interview.        
         

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Until now, little has been known about what the broad range of mothers from many different backgrounds across the country thinks and feels about motherhood. However, a new study by the Motherhood Project at the Institute for American Values has surveyed thousands of mothers in the United States about their attitudes, values, concerns, and experiences. This week’s guest, Enola Aird, is the Director of the Motherhood Project and the coauthor of this study. Ms. Aird explains the study’s findings and what its findings tell us about motherhood today.       
         

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This week's program is part two of an interview with Professor Ed Morse, Associate Dean and Professor of Law at Creighton University, about Indian casino gambling. In addition to further discussion of the economic impact of casino gambling, Professor Morse discusses some of the problems with current federal law that regulates Indian casinos.        
         

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Casino gambling is an important issue in North Carolina. The Tar Heel state currently has only one casino, which is operated by the Cherokee Indians on their reservation. The casino is limited to certain types of gambling, but the tribe is seeking to expand more Vegas-style gambling. Such a move could have economic impact on the state and the region. This week's guest is Professor Ed Morse, Associate Dean and Professor of Law at Creighton University. Professor Morse is con-author with Dr. Ernie Goss of a new study entitled, "The Impact of Casino Gambling on Individual Bankruptcy Rates from 1990 to 2002." In this, the first in a two-part series, he will be talking about the findings of his study on casinos and bankruptcy rates.       
         

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This week's program continues part 2 of an interview with Dr. Daniel Heimbach about topics in his book True Sexual Morality: Recovering Biblical Standards for a Culture In Crisis. This week, Dr. Heimbach explains a few of the counterfeit views of sexual morality that exist today and how we can restore sex to God's perfect purpose and design.      
         

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As families across the country celebrate Father's Day this month, it is important to remember the vital role that fathers play in the lives of their children. This week's guest, Glenn Stanton, is the Director of Social Research and Cultural Affairs, and a senior research analyst at Focus on the Family. Glenn has written extensively on fatherhood and will be sharing his insights on the unique contribution fathers make in their children's lives. In addition, he will offer advice to single dads, discuss some of the pressures facing today's dads and explain how the church can play a unique role in encouraging fatherhood.     
         

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The last several decades have seen a significant alteration in the traditional view of sexuality- particularly sexuality as prescribed in the Bible. The result has been serious negative effects on individuals, the family and even the church. The week's guest, Dr. Daniel Heimbach, addresses the "counterfeit" views of sexuality in today's culture and what the Bible has to say about true sexual morality. This is the first in a two-part series of interviews. Dr. Heimbach is a professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina and author of the recently released True Sexual Morality: Recovering Biblical Standards for a Culture in Crisis.    
         

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Years ago it was common practice for married couples to be preferred when a home was being sought for an adoptive child. However, according to a new policy brief published by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (IMAPP), which reviewed all 50 states' adoption laws, legal preferences for married couples in adoption is rare. In fact, some states even ban "discrimination" based on marital status when placing a child into a home. This week's guest, Maggie Gallagher is the president of IMAPP, a syndicated columnist and author. Maggie will be talking about the report, including North Carolina's adoption law and why married couples should be preferred in adoptions.     
         

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Despite claims by some that the major world religions are basically the same, there are very real differences between them. Different too are the ways that media outlets cover these religion. This week's guest , Marvin Olasky, will explain a little about some of these religions and how they are portrayed in the press. Dr. Olasky is a professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and is editor-in-chief of World magazine. He is author of a new book entitled The Religions Next Door: What We Need to Know About Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam- And What Reporters Are Missing.    
         

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In the debate over public policy and its affect on the family, much of the discussion seems to focus on the negatives. However, anew document called The Natural Family: A Manifesto, is a positive statement about what the pro-family movement is all about. The document outlines a pro-family worldview and a program of action for building a family-centered society. One of the Manifesto's authors, Dr. Allan Carlson joins us for this week' Family Policy Matters. Dr. Carlson is the founder and president of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society and is the founder and international secretary of The World Congress of Families.   
         

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Parenting in a culture filled with immorality can be a real challenge. Unfortunately, even the once-safe environment of the home is not immune from the constant barrage of anti-family messages being sent by the culture. This week's guest, Rebecca Hageline, addresses this danger in her new book entitled, "Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That's Gone Stark Raving Mad." Rebecca is a vice president for communications and marketing at the Heritage Foundation, she is the author of the weekly column " Heart Beat," and is a radio commentator for Salem Communications. In this interview, she will address how popular culture is invading today's families and what parents can do to protect their children from its influence. 
         

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On Tuesday, May 10, North Carolinians from across the state will gather at the State Legislature for a citizen action rally in support of a State Marriage Amendment. Currently, there is legislation in the North Carolina House and Senate to amend the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. However, neither bill has been brought up for consideration. The rally is part of an effort to encourage the State Legislature to take action on this important legislation. On this week’s program, North Carolina Family Policy Council president Bill Brooks will give further details on the purpose and details of the rally. Bill is joined by Mike Johnson, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund and one of several speakers who will be present at the rally. Mike will be talking about the need for a state constitutional amendment to protect marriage.
         

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On Thursday, May 5, millions of Christians will gather at rallies, breakfasts and other events to mark the National Day of Prayer- a day to pray for the nation and leadership in all levels of government. This week's guest, Jim Weidman, is a vice-chairman of the National Day of Prayer. He is also an executive cabinet member at Focus on the Family, and host of "The Family Night Guy," a weekly radio feature. Jim will discuss the details of this year's event and what role prayer plays in our nation's history and future.         

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In most discussions about the lives and interests of teenagers, one topic that is often absent is religion.  However, a new study by the National Study of Youth and Religion, a four-year research project at UNC-chapel Hill, has shed new light on the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. This week's guest, Dr. Christian Smith is the co-author of "Soul Searching," which highlights the major findings and conclusions from the study. Dr. Smith explains what teenagers think about religion, how it influences their lives, and what all this means for parents and youth leaders.        

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When most people think of their work environment, the word "fun" is not often associated with it. However, this week's guest proposes an approach to the corporate mindset that would make work fun again. Dennis Bakke is president and CEO of Imagine Schools and formerly founded The AES Corporation where he served as its CEO from 1994 to 2002. On this week's program Dennis discusses his new book "Joy at Work: A CEO's Revolutionary Approach to Fun on the Job" where he sets forth a challenge to take a new look at how to define the purpose and practice of business by emphasizing principles like integrity, social responsibility and fun.      

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Research has shown that involved, attentive and responsible fathers are a great benefit to children, families and society as a whole. This week's guest, Dr. Ken Canfield, is the founder and president of the National Center for Fathering, an organization that has been equipping men to be good fathers. Dr. Canfield will be facilitating an upcoming seminar called "The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathering" coming to Durham on April 29 and 30, 2005. On this program, he will be speaking about the upcoming seminar, the importance of fathers and special struggles today's fathers face.     

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On April 14, 2005, students across the country will participate in the "Day of Truth," and event to encourage students to speak the truth about homosexuality in their schools. The Day of Truth is a response to the "Day of Silence," an event where homosexual activists encourage students to protest discrimination against homosexuality by remaining silent at school the entire day. However, it has been the students who have attempted to speak against the homosexual agenda that have been silenced and even punished for their beliefs. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is sponsoring the Day of Truth, and Joe Infranco, a Senior Vice President with ADF, will be explaining the event, why it is necessary, and how students in North Carolina can get involved.    

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This week's program features part 2 of an interview begun last week with Dr. Stephen Meyer, the Director and Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute. Dr. Meyer continues his discussion about the theory of Intelligent Design including why it has faced criticism from many in the scientific  community. He also offers some helpful resources for parents and students who want more information about Intelligent Design.    

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The theory of Intelligent Design as a way to explain the existence of living things, has been getting a lot of attention in scientific and education fields, as well as in the media. However, there has been much confusion about exactly what the theory means. This week's guest is Dr. Stephen Meyer, the Director and Senior Fellow of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute. In this first of a two-part series, Dr. Meyer will be discussing the theory of Intelligent Design, how it differs from Creationism and evolution, and why it is attracting so much attention.    

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In today's society where family schedules are crammed full and many homes have only one parent there has been a dramatic reduction in the amount of time families spend together. this is the subject of a new book written by this week's guest Mary Eberstadt. In her book "Home-Alone America," Mary argues that we've become a nation of parent substitutes- using day care, after-school programs, and behavioral drugs as a substitute for mom and dad. And as a result, the behavior, education and health of children have suffered. Mary discusses this trend and why the presence of parents is so important.  

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This year, the United States marked the 32nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Since then, over 40 million abortions have taken place. This week's guest, Carrie Gordon Earll will discuss the impact of abortion on our nation, the progress the pro-life movement has made, and what it will take to rebuild a culture that respects and welcomes life. Carrie is the senior policy analyst for bioethics at Focus on the Family, where she researches and writes on a range of topics including abortion, en-of life care decisions, and stem cell research. 

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Recently, the Parents Television Council released a study that examined a year of prime time programming on the major broadcast networks to determine how religious issues and people of faith were depicted. The study, entitled "Faith in a Box: Entertainment Television and Relgion" found that religion is being portrayed more and more negatively, which does not reflect the viewpoints of most Americans. This week's guest, Melissa Caldwell, who is the director of research for the Parents Television Council, will discuss the study and its findings.

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This week's program features part two of an interview with guest David Blankenhorn. Mr. Blankenhorn is the founder and president of the Institute for American Values and a signatory to a statement by over 140 leaders of the Marriage Movement declaring their intention to strengthen marriage across the country. David will continue his discussion of the Marriage Movement's purpose, including the major challenges facing the effort to renew marriage in the United States.    

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Recently, over 140 leaders of the grassroots marriage movement signed a statement declaring their intention to continue to strengthen marriage and ensure that as many children as possible grow up in a home with their married mother and father. This week's guest, David Blankenhorn was a signatory to the statement. He is the founder and president of the Institute for American Values and the author of several books including "Fatherless America. In this first in a two-part series of programs, David will be talking about the Marriage Movement and their goals to strengthen marriage in the United States.   

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In an effort to encourage young people to express their intention to stay sexually pure and to counter the culture's message of sexual promiscuity, the Second Annual Day of Purity has been scheduled for Valentines' Day (February 14). This week's guest, Rena Lindevaldsen, a litigation counsel for Liberty Counsel and the national coordinator for the Day of Purity, explains the event and how students and churches in North Carolina can get involved. 

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In January, pro-lifers and abortion supporters across the nation marked the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, 1973 U.S. Supreme Court Decision that legalized abortion on demand. This week, Barbara Holt, the president of North Carolina Right to Life is on the program to talk about what is happening with the abortion issue in North Carolina, including what pro-life legislation is coming up during the General Assembly's 2005 legislative session.            

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As America struggles with its own definition of marriage, experimentation with the family in European nations has provided some important lessons that should serve as a warning to those who would seek to redefine the traditional family.  This week's guest is Allan Carlson, the president and founder of The Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society and author of "The Swedish Experiment In Family Politics."  He will be talking about European family policy, why it has failed, and what America can learn from Europe's mistakes.          

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The popular way to portray a Christian father in the media is often to characterize him as an unbending authoritarian who is cold and disengaged from his wife and children. However, a new book about how religious beliefs affect fatherhood paints a completely different picture. This week's guest, Professor W. Bradford Wilcox, has written a new book entitled "Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands." Professor Wilcox examined data from social surveys to determine how religious beliefs and practices impact the family life of married men and their children. In this broadcast, he will be talking about the important findings in his book.        

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This week's program continues part two of an interview with Sharon Jaynes, the vice president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, a ministry that offers spiritual encouragement to women.  In this segment, Sharon talks about how women can strike a healthy balance between work and family.  Sharon also explains more about the guiding principles that Proverbs 31 abides by to encourage women to be more Godly.     

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With the responsibilities of home, work, and friends, today's women are facing many challenges.  In addition, the popular media's depictions of beauty and womanhood have left many women feeling inadequate.  This week's guest, Sharon Jaynes is the vice president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, a ministry that offers spiritual encouragement to women.  In part one of a two-part series, Sharon talks about some of the issues facing women today and how popular culture is misleading women into trying to be something that they are not.   

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