New Life Live

Caller Questions & Discussion: Becky challenges us with an important question: What work do you need to do on your own journey? You can’t control how others perceive you or the choices they make, but you can take responsibility for your own healing and growth. My life is a mess because of my gambling addiction. I’ve lost everything, and the only person I could talk to about it committed suicid...

Caller Questions & More: Dr. Alice shares the story of a woman that she’s counseling who had an abortion when she was a teen and had to learn how to forgive her family. God wants you to move to forgiveness; it will set you free from bitterness and resentment. Are we to forgive everyone or just other believers? I struggle to forgive myself for the abortions I’ve had and other things. How do I m...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice shares a story about a high school cheerleader who became pregnant and had to leave school. Many teen girls and boys facing an unplanned pregnancy consider abortion and feel they can’t talk to their parents or church for support. I lost my beautiful 14-year-old daughter to a fentanyl overdose five years ago and regret selling my family estate years ago....

Caller Questions & Discussion: Chris shares a powerful insight on anger and fear—two challenging emotions addressed in the Bible. Reflecting on James 1:19, we’re reminded to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. How do I navigate life after being divorced for 3 years? I was gaslit, and it still haunts me. I filed a restraining order against my husband and am disabled; where do...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jim shares about the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and how it is one of the most often quoted Bible Scriptures. Families can base the foundation of their relationships on this verse, especially Christian parents. My friend is 39 and just learned that her father is not her biological father! Should she keep her mother’s secret? My son’s wife and their...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill shares about Jacob, who wrestled with God but ultimately surrendered. My daughter is in her 4os and is living with us. How do I deal with her hoarding? Do I tell my pastor I’m going to leave my church that I’ve gone to for 20 years? I feel judged by the pastor after I shared with him about getting a divorce. I’m 90, have lost a lot of people, and am goin...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Do I need to punish my 13-year-old son? He has been sexting a girl from school, and I’ve already taken away his phone. I’ve been married for over 41years and have a blended family, but my adult stepdaughter struggles to get along with me, even to the point of getting in my face and shouting. I’ve asked my 84-year-old mom, my only remaining family member, not to d...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Worry and anxiety can easily take over your life—but learning to identify your concerns is the first step toward healing. Becky reminds us that “life be life-ing, but God be God-ing!” My husband of nearly 50 years was involved with another woman and kissed her. He finally did a full disclosure. What do I need to focus on most? After struggling with sexual a...

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ shares a powerful story from the world of sports that reminds us that God is not only omnipotent but also a loving Father who deeply cares for us. Because of His love, we can bring our shortcomings to Him and trust that He listens. I’ve been in an avoidant relationship for 10 years. We’re both retired. But when I set a boundary with him, he broke up with me. W...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice shares two biblical promises that can carry you through pain: learning to be content and trusting that God works all things for the good. I’m 66 and feel like my heart has turned to stone. Why can’t I feel God anymore? My 45-year-old son and his wife cut me off after sending a letter saying they no longer celebrate Christmas. I haven’t seen them in 20 y...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jacqui discusses how reading helps your mental health. For example, literature can give us words for what we are feeling but don’t know how to express. Start by reading the Psalms, which provide language for our emotions and emotional health. Rather than telling men who look at sexually explicit materials that it is wrong, have you ever thought about telling...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Marc discusses statements that seem to show resilience but actually minimize the impact of trauma and past experiences. He explains two types of memories: implicit and explicit. Experiencing adverse childhood events isn’t about the severity of what happened—it’s about how we make sense of what we went through. I’ve been unemployed for two years and have depleted...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jim shares practical ways he and his wife grow closer spiritually—through praying, reading the Bible, and meaningful conversations. You can connect with your spouse spiritually, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day. How do I respond when my husband has separated emotionally from me but still plays the role of a loving husband and dad? He has anger outbursts, and...

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ discusses how we often waste energy focusing on past regrets, anxiety about the future, or trying to control everything around us—strategies that don’t work. He invites us to stop wasting energy on what we can’t fix and instead focus on what truly helps. Our 23-year-old son is bisexual and introduced us to his boyfriend last night. How do I navigate this? My d...

Caller Questions & Discussion: According to blended family expert Ron Deal, despite good intentions, most couples who bring children from previous relationships into marriage are not prepared to deal with them. The smarter you are, the better your family will be. I discovered my husband has been making a lot of phone calls to a female classmate from high school. To what extent should I insist...

Caller Questions & Discussion: I’ve been married for 53 years and we are both from alcoholic families. There’s no spiritual and emotional intimacy, and it has been hard for me to let him be physically intimate. My husband admitted to me that he’s taken a woman out twice and thinks that polygamy is in the Bible and he can have multiple wives. What can I do? Dr. John Townsend discusses the Towns...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Our good friend Dr. John Townsend talks about his band with his sons, and the Institute he founded, Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling, at Concordia University. How do I continue to flourish in my job with a bipolar coworker who is aligned with our boss? It’s not a safe environment. I’m retired and do all the things around the house for my wif...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Sheri shares insights from her chapter in the book The Healing Church , where she explores the impact of sex addiction on the betrayed partner. Can Jesus lie? I feel like Jesus is speaking to me about things like not wearing earrings. I’m in recovery and have been a substance abuse counselor for a decade, but I still feel shame. How can I find balance when I...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Chris shares how he has been working on his identity in Christ and journaling about how strong roots produce spiritual fruits. Even though it’s easy to get caught up in the outcome, Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19 reminds us to focus on deepening our roots in Christ. Are there any Christian spiritual resources my friend can use after her home was in a house fi...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice shares an experience with her son over the weekend that reminded her that boundaries don’t change the perpetrator, but they empower the person setting them. The way to establish healthy boundaries is to identify what you will not tolerate. My best friend’s son remarried, and his new wife has influenced him to leave Christianity and become a Jehovah’s Wi...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill discusses character development using habit stacking: identifying a habit you already do and adding another habit to it. I’m 32 and feel very insecure because I’m single, have no kids, and everyone around me is married with children. How do I stop being addicted to creativity? I have bipolar I, have been to the psych ward four times, and feel withdrawal...

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ shares how to break free from old habits, behaviors, and identity patterns that keep you stuck. It has been hard for me to find housing because of incorrect items reported on my credit report. I’ve gone through my savings and am now living in a shelter. If God can do all things, what will it take for me to move forward? If someone is viewing and downloading ch...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Special guest and clinical psychologist Dr. John Townsend discusses the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. My ex-husband was emotionally abusive. Now my son is getting a master’s in counseling and tells me I need healing and I need to comfort him. How can I respond in love? How do I cope with vulnerability, loneliness, and feeling inferior after b...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Chris explains that our tendency to block, defend, and deny the truth about our brokenness keeps us from fully experiencing God’s goodness. What, if anything, should I do to intervene in my 81-year-old mother’s shopping addiction? She likely has borderline personality disorder and has spent tens of thousands of dollars. I’m 37 and live in India. I’ve struggled wi...

Caller Questions & Discussion: Marc discusses the three essential steps a partner who has betrayed trust must take to begin restoring it in a marriage or relationship. I went to Every Man’s Battle and Intimacy in Marriage, but I have a big problem with lying, and my wife can’t believe a word that I say. Our 51-year-old son lives with us, and he drinks twice a week to the point that he blacks o...