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Topic : 07/17 Living on a Prayer

Number of Replies: 987

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Created on : Friday, February 08, 2008, 12:25:06 pm

Author : DrPhilBoard1

(Original Air Date: 02/15/08) What happens when a parent’s agenda becomes so extreme that his or her children are forced to live a harsh, stoic existence? Dan and Janna are a college-educated couple married for 15 years with seven children, ages ranging from 2 weeks to 14. They have no income, no heat, no running water and are about to lose their house. Dan and Janna believe that their primitive lifestyle is God’s will, and that they are being led by the Lord. Janna’s mom, Carol, and stepdad, Rich, are worried about the health of their grandchildren. Are they eating enough? Are they warm enough? They say because the children are home schooled, they live in a cult-like home environment, and are not exposed to the outside world. Carol and Rich are willing to bail this family out one last time, but why are Dan and Janna refusing the help? After eight failed businesses, why won’t Dan get a job to support his family? Where will they go when they are forced out of their home? Talk about the show here.

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malloryrhodes

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February 17, 2008, 3:25 pm PST

Wow!

I can honestly not believe this show!! It made me so mad!! I feel beyond sorry for those children! What really gets me is the fact that two people in this world were able to find each other and agree to blaim God for bad investments! These people are not being responsible parents! It also seemed like they wanted people to feel sorry for them! They are not worried at all about the well being of their children because they were more worried about looking bad. The man was too hung up about the fact that no one believed he worked. Yeah so okay he got out of bed and worked on projects that have no possible way of bringing in money. I can not believe they went to college! I don't think they will change anytime soon because they don't believe they are doing anything wrong. Move on and forget about 1988 when you had money! In 1988 you were not parents! It does not matter if you get up and work if it's not stable. They have got to stop looking for a quick fix and excuses on why their children are cold and hungry. Stop blaming God and do something productive. This story makes me scared for this country! I love her parents and wish them the best!

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malloryrhodes

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February 17, 2008, 3:27 pm PST

02/15 Living on a Prayer

Quote From: april_75

I agree that human services/child protective services should investigate the conditions in the home. How safe if that collected water, just how cold is it getting in the house. But most importantly, are the children being abused, or are they truly loved.

I'd hate to see children taken away from loving parents. I'd like to see some form of loan for them to make necessary changes. However, Dan needs a job to be sure he can repay the loan and the rest of his bills. Surely, he can find something that provides for his family even if it's not his preferred type of job..

I totally agree with you!

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kgreene12

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February 17, 2008, 3:52 pm PST

Religious Nut

This man gives religion a bad name. How anybody in the name of religion who supposedly was educated would be content to live like a homeless person is hard to understand and then have seven children in the mix is even more difficult to understand. It frankly borders on child abuse. If those children were not home schooled but socilalized in a public school setting I think Social Services would have been called. If the older children have any sense of the outside world, I am sure they are embarrassed. My thirteen year old niece saw the program with me and even she recognized he was a bum and kept repeating-" Doesn't he know he has to have a real job to support seven children!!"

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paulawlnut

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February 17, 2008, 4:13 pm PST

He is mentally disturbed, she is brainwashed

I certainly hope the Doctor Phil show will reach out and save those children. That man is obviously mentally disturbed and his wife is brainwashed.

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bbkimberly

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February 17, 2008, 4:51 pm PST

What are they thinking?!

So, what happens in 2 weeks when they are evicted from the house? Is it a shelter or will they be under a bridge somewhere?
I don't care about what he was doing in 1987 or 2001! WHAT ABOUT NOW???!!! They are what, six months behind on their mortgage? Why didn't one of them do something 5 1/2 months ago??
I mean- come-on mom! Let him sit with the kids and you go flip burgers or SOMETHING.....ANYTHING! ANY $$ coming in is better than no $$.
Does this mother who "stands by her husband" want to follow him right off the cliff and sacrifice her kids?
This is child neglect.

The stagnant water 'collection system' he has going.....WHAT? Are you kidding me??!!

They are living on a mango tree and a prayer.

It's insane!!!!!

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catmardea

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February 17, 2008, 4:52 pm PST

02/15 Living on a Prayer

Quote From: zimexlady

....when the breast-feeding Mom runs dry, develops an infection, eats a harmful food, has to go to the emergency room, takes a medication which is harmful to breast-fed babies or baby is allergic to her milk and needs soy or special formulas? WHAT THEN? Can she boil drinking water for baby's safety? Their water supply did not look sanitary to me. Will baby eat unheated, non-refrigerated baby food when the time comes? How will she store pumped breast milk if Janna goes to work?

You are making some good points here. She will then get formula from WIC program. Since they are being evicted in a matter of days...by then hopefully she will have utilities included where they go next.

Thank you for your good points and for your reply to my comment.

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catmardea

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February 17, 2008, 5:00 pm PST

foster care

I pray that her parents apply to become foster care providers. That way, when Child Protective Services ultimately removes these children from the parents, they can be cared for by the grandparents.

Have we figured out what state they live in ?

Look at how many pages of posts there are! What a controvertial family this was. God help them.

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nannytina

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February 17, 2008, 5:48 pm PST

02/15 Living on a Prayer

Quote From: paulawlnut

I certainly hope the Doctor Phil show will reach out and save those children. That man is obviously mentally disturbed and his wife is brainwashed.

I totally agree with this statement. I think they both need some serious counseling and A LOT of prayer.

Everyone believes that the children should be taken from their parents. These children already live in horrible conditions, but it's something they've grown up in and it's "normal" to them. Don't you think that snatching them away from their parents will do more harm than good? Yes, I think maybe they should go to their grandparents for a while, if they're willing to take them, but I don't believe they should be permanently removed from their parents and split up. They do deserve a better life. None of this mess is their fault, but they shouldn't have to lose any part of their family.

I am very concerned for the baby. Yes, a lot of our grandparents were raised without electricity and running water, but things are different today. How does this family wash clothes, dishes, keep the house sanitary, etc.? How do they keep this baby warm enough? Who buys this baby diapers? Who provides this baby and all the other children with healthcare?

This is a scary situation and these parents need to wake up. If dad remains too clueless and refuses to get the help he needs and doesn't get a real job, then mom needs to pack all the kids up and get out. There are resourses for her if she'll use them. She can get the counseling she needs to undue the brainwashing. I continue to pray for them all.

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julie1418

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February 17, 2008, 6:07 pm PST

02/15 Living on a Prayer

Quote From: jstme52

VERY GOOD TRUE POST!

BUT will people listen .. to the word of GOD?
Of course not., its much easier, more fun(?) to be judgmental throw stones, and worse.

PEOPLE forget that they too can be in such a situation at ANY unexpected moment, for all their best efforts-perhaps not exactly like this situation, but the BIBLE also states that we are to have COMPASSION for others who perhaps are not as fortunate, or SMART as us. GOD is no respector of anyone, and HE looks at the heart.

From what I've seen and heard the hearts of most of the people posting are certainly NOT GOD-oriented, and as such, GOD is not amused., people should beware, and FEAR the LORD for treating one of His own in such a disrespectful, looking-down-ones-nose attitude. REALLY.

No one thought to even applaud the fact that at least he is THERE for his children!! In a time when dads are looked down upon, partly as being absent from his kids lives, this society (talk about MISGUIDED) only applauds those whom bring in 6 figure incomes, are gone 90% of the time due to workaholic status, while a man seeking after GOD is thumbed down!!

RIDICULOUS! The only thing that Dan might be guilty of is loving his children so much that he would like to be self-employed, make his own hours, to be available for his family., and he like so many others, has made mistakes-so what? At least he doesn't give up, he keeps trying and I'm sure that soon there will be a break-through, perhaps then the snippy MIL will go away quietly. I am reminded of a favorite adage:

IF you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem

If you are not part of the problem then you are part of the solution!

Listen up everyone-either help or stay out of it!

How silly! All anyone has to do is claim "God", spout a few Bible verses, and BAM! you can justify almost anything. If this man had not used God as his reason for letting his children live in squalor while he grew Mango trees, I highly doubt you would be so understanding.

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dixieblu

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February 17, 2008, 6:24 pm PST

this is a scary and sad

I saw the show and what I saw was a man using God as a excuse for not working or using his degree. God wants us to work and take care of our responsibilites. If he is indeed waiting for God to bail him out, I would remind him that "Faith without works is dead". God won't help him, if he isn't willing to all he can to help himself and his family. If he thinks he is going to make money growing one Mango and Avocado tree, he needs to do more research. This man is obviously lazy and his inlaws were right to contact Dr. Phil. They have a right to be worried about thier daugher and grandchildren. This man is deluded and I feel for the children. While I'm sure they love their kids, they need to provide a more stable living conditions by getting a job!

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