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Dave and Ann Wilson

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The Early Church and the Family

April 9, 2020
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Best-selling author and church history professor Jerry Sittser gives us a peek into the lives and marriages of the early Christians who were an influence for good in the Roman culture. How did they do that? Early Christians valued marriage and children, unlike their Roman contemporaries who divorced at will and practiced abortion and infanticide. Early Christ followers also upheld their vows of faithfulness, and even took in abandoned babies left to die. Christians also had a strong sexual ethic, and valued the lives of all, including singles, widows, and orphans.

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How did the unlearned, poor disciples of the early church change the world? Jerry Sittser, a professor of church history at Whitworth University, shares what the early Christians did to influence their neighbors and transform their culture. While the Romans practiced accommodation and the Jews practiced isolation, the early Christians maintained high standards of discipleship without isolating themselves.They were truly in this world, but not of it, and paid a costly price to follow Christ. 
April 8, 2020
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Entrepreneur Gary Ringger and his wife, Marla, talk about the thriving food business they built with God's direction and grace. Gary remembers his big break selling rice crisps to Quaker, and they also reflect on their decision to sell the company at just the right moment. Since then Gary and Marla have invested in hundreds of families by helping them adopt children through their ministry, Lifesong.   
April 7, 2020
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Businessman Gary Ringger and his wife, Marla, reflect on how they took Gary's dad's simple pig feed business and, with God's help, built a thriving food business called Ringger Foods. Gary realized early on that God was the real CEO and embraced his role as steward, carrying out plans as God led. Gary and Marla also talk about their commitment to tithing and the contract they made with God to dedicate 100% of their business to Him. 
April 6, 2020
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Conversations about money and inheritances can be uncomfortable. But wouldn't it be better to talk about it with family members while you can, rather than to leave it to the state to decide after you are gone? Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, walks through different scenarios, and gives suggestions about how to make wise money decisions.
April 3, 2020
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You can tell a lot about what a person values by the choices they make with money. Ron Deal, director of FamilyLife Blended, says finances and personal values are especially complicated in blended families. Ron urges couples thinking about blending a family, to plan, plan, plan, for your financial future together. He lists practical tools to help make asset management easier.
April 2, 2020
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Rob and Gina Flood talk about the communication skills they learned that turned their isolated marriage into a relationship of true oneness. Together they help couples understand how implementing these tools—first response, prayer, physical touch, mirroring, and proper timing—can take their communication from a C- to an A+.
April 1, 2020
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Like many couples, Rob and Gina Flood had a lot to learn about healthy communication in marriage. They realized early on that communication wasn’t about winning or losing, but about building up or tearing down. Together they share five communication tools that helped transform their marriage.
March 31, 2020
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Some marriages are difficult right off the bat. That was the case for Rob and Gina Flood, who were surprised their honeymoon was as difficult as it was. It was only after months of frustration they realized their bad communication habits kept short circuiting healthy dialogue. Learn what they did to turn their communication, and marriage, around.
March 30, 2020
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FamilyLife Today's Bob Lepine brings a wise and seasoned perspective to what God is doing in the world amidst COVID-19. He offers us two options on how to view the current crisis: 1) the "Imagine" option, with no one or nothing governing our world and the universe simply running on it's own, and 2) the "Providence" option, with the world and everything in it governed by God. Learn the practical comfort and profound implications of this "Providence" option.
March 27, 2020
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FamilyLIfe Today hosts Dave and Ann Wilson bring us six W's of hope for families during COVID-19, including: Word (reading the Bible), Worship (having a vertical perspective), Work/Play (finding a healthy balance), Words (relationships need communication), Walk (love and serve your neighborhood), and Weave (seizing the moment by coming together as a family).
March 26, 2020
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Featured Offer

Blended & Blessed®
Blended & Blessed® is the only one-day live event and livestream just for stepfamily couples, dating couples with kids, and those who care about blended families. Join sites around the globe on April 27th, 2024 as we unpack strategies that are crucial to building unity in your stepfamily. With some of today’s most trusted and respected experts, Blended & Blessed will challenge, inspire, and encourage you. 
Register Today More resources

About FamilyLife Today®

FamilyLife Today® is a weekday podcast featuring fun, engaging conversations that help families grow together with Jesus while pursuing the relationships that matter most.

About Dave and Ann Wilson

Dave and Ann Wilson are co-hosts of FamilyLife Today©, FamilyLife’s nationally-syndicated radio program.

Dave and Ann have been married for more than 40 years and have spent the last 35 teaching and mentoring couples and parents across the country. They have been featured speakers at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® since 1993, and have also hosted their own marriage conferences across the country.

Dave and Ann helped plant Kensington Community Church in Detroit, Michigan where they served together in ministry for more than three decades, wrapping up their time at Kensington in 2020.

The Wilsons are the creative force behind DVD teaching series Rock Your Marriage and The Survival Guide To Parenting, as well as authors of the recently released books Vertical Marriage (Zondervan, 2019) and No Perfect Parents (Zondervan, 2021).

Dave is a graduate of the International School of Theology, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. A Ball State University Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dave served the Detroit Lions as Chaplain for thirty-three years. Ann attended the University of Kentucky. She has been active with Dave in ministry as a speaker, writer, small group leader, and mentor to countless women.

The Wilsons live in the Detroit area. They have three grown sons, CJ, Austin, and Cody, three daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren.

Contact FamilyLife Today® with Dave and Ann Wilson

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