Topic : 07/17 Living on a Prayer

I was very angry while viewing this episode of the show. I mean, anyone could tell that this guy is not in a right frame of mind. They have seven kids to raise and you mean to tell me, that he has not yet realized that he needs to stop with the entrepreneurial stuff and actually get a stable job, that pays a weekly paycheck. He could get a job at a fast food joint, as long as he has a job. It's not even like he has a huge mortgage to pay every month. An 800 dollar mortgage is what most people would hope for. A job that pays atleast 8.00 an hour could atleast get them by with the mortgage until he finds a job that pays more. But he isn't interested in doing that. What he wants to do is do everything his own way and defend himself against whatever he considers to be a personal attack against his choices and beliefs. He hasn't been succesful in almost any of his business ventures and when Dr. Phil points this out to him, instead of realizing that, he says that he might not have been succesful recently, but way back in 1988, he had a succesful business. Well, 1988 isn't 2008 buddy and you haven't made a decent income in quite a few years. And the worst thing is that even after knowing how their financial state is, they still are having more kids. The mother is a stay-at-home mom, but she could have easily gone out to try to find a job. At first I thought that they didn't beleive in women working, but at one point I beleive Dr. Phil asked her if she was going to work at some point and I think she said yes. She could have tried to find a decent job before having this latest baby. I mean she has a degree in Communications, which means that she could be a professional right now. But off course they weren't thinking of that, instead she is counting on her husband to get them out of this situation. And then when her mother and step-father are trying to show their concern, she makes it out to be like they are judging her family harshly. Well maybe you do need to be judged so that you can start making different decisions. Sometimes people judge you when they see you acting like a fool. I mean off course your parents are going to be worried about your financial stability, specifically because there are kids involved. If it was just him and her and there were no kids, then that would be a different story. I actually hope that the kids do get taken away because the standard at which they are living would be considered neglectful and abandonment in a way. And off course these people have to know that their kids aren't happy with the living conditions. Having no heat and no hot water would make anyone miserable. I remember at one point, my parents were going through hard times and they couldnt afford to pay for oil, so we didn't have hot water for about a month. And that was torture enough. We had to heat up water in cooking pots and then pour it into the tub. That wasn't exactly fun, especially on those mornings when you wake up and the house is freezing and you want to be able to atleast take a nice hot bath. So I definately feel sorry for these kids who are going through alot worse than I ever experienced.  

OMG I completely agree. I found it to be so disturbing. There is some mental illness going on here. I'm not being mean, but something is seriously wrong!

Dr. Phil, that man needs his head examined before someone hurts him for the abuse and lack of care & protection provided his family. The wife needs some sense knocked into her as well, but him mostly!

The homeschooling issue & lack of electricity is still not a problem, as I see it from the first time I wrote regarding this story, but all I can say is, just what is he thinking?!

The 3 young Hebrew men of the Old Testament did not just walk into the fiery furness on their own, they were THROWN into it by very strong men... AND, because the fire was stoked up 7 times hotter than it was, they would NOT have survived by just walking up to the entrance and expect God to protect them. Phooey on his logic.

Dr. Phil, I too am appalled by his use of scripture as a way to avoid the issues at hand. He twists things so badly to fit his situation, that even he doesn't know what he thinks. Just look at his expressions.

He is physically able to get a job, unlike myself who is just barely able to sit at a computer. I am approximately 95% unproductive in all aspects of life due to spinal/neural problems. Believe me, if my situation was reversed with his, I would NOT be doing all that he is doing... I WOULD BE OUT THERE WORKING TO PROVIDE FOR MY 8 DEPENDANTS !

I saw a fireplace in the living room. I wonder if it was electric or a wood burning one. IF it uses wood, then why on God's Green Earth is he not bringing in wood to keep HIS children and wife warm?! If that child dies from being cold, it will be held against him, to be sure.

The water system that is being shown on the show did NOT look safe to me, but looks can be deceptive.
Overall, this "man" does not have passion for life and needs to get his head out of his hind end and become productive. If not for his own sake, then for those souls in his home. God help him!

   This is so disturbing. Like other posts, I am afraid that some day he will justify killing his family and then himself. He was so rigid in his thinking. He showed no indication that he REALLY heard Dr. Phil. His affect seldom changed except when he would speak angrily at the parents-in-law. He took the defense mechanism of denial to a whole new level. And the block-out paint? How could his wife not see the contradiction of values there? I believe I would have had to question his integrity at that point. She believes God is leading him to assist  people escape accountability when endangering lives? Whew!!!  Perhaps Dan came up with the idea after paying more than one fine for running a stoplight.
   He says he is not sure what he will do after they are evicted. Possibly, the man has been rescued his entire life and he figures someone else will step up to the plate for him and his family again. His irresponsible thinking and selfish choices apparently have worked for him in the past. The fact that his family suffers is not a consequence that causes him pain. A true narcissist.

I would like to say that i relate to everyone on the stage today.... as for the couple, I believe it's the right to HAVE children as many as the LORD blesses them with, I personally don't believe in birth control of any form - I don't think you can be against something like abortion, but ok  other forms of birth control whatever the method...so therefore that's my stand on them having children - with that being said I whole heartly believe it is the respnsibility of the father (and mother if he needs her help) to work and support HIS family. As the pastor pointed out the God-giving scripture that backed that up. It has always been my FIRM belief that you don't get to pick & choose what parts of the Bible you want to follow at your conveniece - you must take it as a whole. For the dad on the stage I believe it's time he grows up in the scripture, as it is true that God will deliver, there's so much more he needs to learn in the Good Book to apply to his life and his situation. I believe the mom stated that her plans were not to work cause of the young one in her house and so be it if your situation affords you to - we all know children turn out better with a full time parent rather than tv, sitters, or etc. raising children b/c of working mothers - BUT i think it's plain that this is Not her case. Even Priscilla worked with Aquilla [ a biblical couple that was tent makers] for the need of the family. For Dr. Phil, I was pleased to hear his confession of God, I have wondered often, although his statement on pray to God and row to shore, sounds alittle like "just incase God don't, I myself will" at least to me and if that be the case then it's really not having faith in God at all, is it? then the other statement about hearing God- as it is true i think many do hear what they want but that doesn't mean God wasn't speaking....Those two statements by Dr. Phil made me think of 2 occasions when my oldest was about 5yrs. old. (the mouth of babes...lol) to the 1st = she once said that God CAN move mountains, but he expects us to show-up with a wheelborrow (meaning we don't get out of the work) and to the 2nd = she was speaking to her Auntie about hearing God and her Auntie questioned why she couldn't hear him then and my daughter simply replied, "Maybe it's b/c you don't listen....
Last but not least to the grandmother & step- grandfather.... just quit....quit being involved, quit handing the hand-outs...just quit

I'm troubled that ppl as such or as even the one that posted that they might kill their children would even act like this is abuse...there is plenty parents that struggle to give their children their needs & fail and religion plays no part of it, it's just a hard situation by circumstance, as a society do we rush in to take the children...no....I believe there is parents in this world doing a lot worse than these 2 to their children...yes they may be confuse, going about it the wrong way - but abuse....NO!

AMEN!

I was very curious to see this couple sit through this show and show no affect or emotion . I fee this is unnatural.  Could this be the result of something that is being injested?  I worry for the whole family

I agree.

 

The issues this family is dealing with are in no way related to their educational choices or number of children. There is underlying dysfunction with the parents that needs to be professionally addressed.

 

Regaring whether or not their lifestyle is "God's will", God will never "speak" something to someone that contradicts what is already written in the Bible.

 

I hope that these parents get help, make changes and give their children a better life. They deserve it!