Daly Focus Blog
Is your marriage stuck in the doldrums?
The word “doldrums” is a nautical term. It describes a region near the equator where trade winds from the north converge with trade winds from the south. They neutralize each other to the point that wind near the ocean surface completely dies out. That’s bad news for vessels that rely on wind to move forward. They’re “stuck in the doldrums” – hopelessly adrift until the breeze kicks up again.
If you’re a fan of the television show Seinfeld, you probably remember the episode about “Festivus” – the absurd, pseudo-holiday created by the loveable curmudgeon Frank Costanza.
According to Frank, the holiday is celebrated on December 23 to combat the commercialization of Christmas. He created the holiday when his holiday shopping resulted in a fistfight with another man who reached for the last doll on the shelf at the same time. It was while – as Frank put it – he “rained blows upon the man” that Frank came up with the idea for “a Festivus for the rest of us!”
There were two important components to “Festivus.” The first was called the “Airing of Grievances.” This tradition was about scolding family members for their disappointing failures.
When you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye, do you understand why?
According to Dr. Kevin Leman, a common reason most couples overlook is birth order. That little boy, that little girl that you once were, you still are. Your birth order influences how you see relationships and, therefore, your marriage.
Birth order is the dynamic relationship that exists between a parent and a child and between a child and his or her siblings.
Christmas is all about Jesus. We celebrate the historic reality that the Creator of the universe cloaked Himself in flesh and blood and submitted Himself to the care of human parents as a vulnerable, dependent child – the ultimate expression of humility.
“Unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, British evangelist Canon J.John has a challenge for you this Christmas: as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, allow your heart to consider the rest of His life as well.
Each of us owe our deepest gratitude to military servicemen and women who dedicated their lives to protecting our freedom. Today I want to honor American veterans on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
I’m talking with Chad Robichaux, who comes from a long line of military service members. His grandparents fought in World War II and Korea. His father served in Vietnam, and both of Chad’s sons served in the Marines. Chad was himself a force recon Marine who did eight deployments to Afghanistan, and who continues to serve and protect Americans all over the world, most recently in Ukraine.
“Focus on the Family is encouraged by Tuesday’s election results – a decisive electoral and popular vote triumph for President-elect Donald Trump – but not because of any partisan cheerleading.
“Instead, the outcome confirms American families are hungry to live in a nation where they can raise their children in an environment that is physically safe, economically viable, and where moms and dads and kids can unapologetically worship God. They believe parents – not politicians – have the authority to guide and direct their children’s education.
Our culture is so divided that people place disagreement with others on the same level as intolerance or hatred.
In contrast to that attitude are two American forefathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who demonstrated how to debate issues vigorously while treating one another with respect and civility.
Adams and Jefferson stood shoulder-to-shoulder through the American Revolution. But in the years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, political differences made them bitter rivals. Yet, through it all, they decided they were Americans first and political opponents second.
Election Day is in eight days. Are you ready to vote? I hope so.
Voting someone into power who represents your values is a rare freedom in human history. And that freedom comes with significant responsibility: be clear what your values are and understand how they could be impacted on Election Day.
Keep in mind the following values that every American ought to vote to protect:
We want a society that believes every single human life has value and deserves respect and dignity.
Dr. Bill Lile is known as the “Pro Life Doc.” He is an active OB/GYN in private practice and a national speaker who unveils both the horrors of abortion and the magnificence of preborn human life.
He is joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly for an important and sobering conversation about the atrocity of abortion and why Christians should continue to stand strong for life.
Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”The battle for life is as intense as ever because pro-abortion activists spin narratives that pro-life supporters protect preborn babies at the expense of women and girls.
We recorded the latest edition of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly in a different kind of studio. Instead of microphones and recording consoles, we were surrounded by more easels, paint brushes, and canvases in one place than I’ve ever seen.
The studio belongs to Morgan Weistling, who has been an artist since he was old enough to hold a crayon. He has studied under some of the most legendary illustrators and artists of the last century.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
