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Through free will, you can help us educate future generations of Lutherans through programming like issues etc the word of the Lord

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learn more at freewill.com slash issues etc.org pastor Brian Wolfmiller author of the

Issues etc book of the month finally free three lessons in the parable the prodigal, author of the Issues, Etc, Book of the Month, Finally Free,

Three Lessons in the Parable, the Prodical Son.

One of the major points that's often missed is that Jesus with this parable of the prodigal

Son is calling those Pharisees and scribes away from their complaining, grumbling at the mercy of Christ, and to join the angels

in rejoicing over the repentance of a sinner.

Learn more about Finally Free at Issuesetc.org. A lot of things contribute to America's falling birth rate. A lot of it has to do with the falling marriage rate as well. But are there other factors around the periphery that make a difference? What if someone says,

well, I want to remain childless because I want to travel, I want to be able to afford and to have

the time and freedom, autonomy might be the word, to go and do those big trips several times a year,

or maybe just once a year. Does that contribute to it?

Welcome back to issues, etc. joining us to answer the question is travel hurting America's birth rate. Dr. Lyman Stone, director of research for demographic intelligence, senior fellow and

director of the pro-natalism initiative at the Institute for Family Studies. He's author of a recent

column for IFS titled Mile High Status, How Travel

Plans Might Be Wrecking the Birth Rate.

Dr. Stone, welcome back.

It's great to be with you.

Why should Christians, in general, Americans in particular, be concerned about birth rates?

I think those are two different questions, and I'll deal with the more important one first,

...