Family and Home Archives

Sharing Jesus’ Love Through Food and Fellowship

Have you ever noticed how much of Jesus’ ministry on earth was centered around meals? Among others, there was the wedding at Cana, a dinner with the reviled Zaccheus, and the beautiful symbolism of the Last Supper. Jesus was even criticized for eating with “tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 12:16).

As one scholar put it: “Jesus ate his way through the Gospels.”

For Bri McKoy, Jesus’ ministry through meals became a model through which she created community and shared God’s love with the people He placed in her life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, entertainment, faith, relationships August 20, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest blog: My Summer at Focus on the Family

Every summer we have the privilege of recruiting a group of young adults for our internship program here at Focus. We believe it’s important to invest in the next generation of men and women who will carry the torch for faith and family! Rebecca Wirth was our 2018 intern in the Master Writers department. These are her reflections on her experience in the internship program. – Jim Daly

On any given Tuesday morning this summer, you could find me with five of my fellow interns sitting at a table at Focus on the Family, chatting about everything from the weather to biblical truths.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, relationships, staff August 17, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The State of Colorado is Harassing Baker Jack Phillips

Here we go again.

Despite the fact that the United States Supreme Court ruled this past June that the state of Colorado had violated Masterpiece Cakes owner Jack Phillips’ freedom of religion, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission has once again notified the beleaguered baker that he has violated Colorado law for declining to create a cake symbolizing a gender “transition.”

We’re finding out that it all started in June of 2017 when a transgender activist attorney began a series of communications with Masterpiece Cakeshop asking for certain kinds of cakes: one celebrating the attorney’s “transition” from male to female (with blue icing on the outside, pink on the inside), others celebrating Satanic messages or containing graphic sexual imagery.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, pro-life, religious liberty August 16, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Cultivating a Healthy Single Life

Imagine two keys.

Now imagine threading those keys onto a ring. Here’s the question: Are either of those keys more complete together than they were individually?

Answer: No! And neither will you be if you’re single and hoping to be married one day. “Singlehood” is often mistakenly assumed to be synonymous with “incomplete” – as in, there’s something unfinished in you that only a spouse can complete.

As romantic as Hollywood makes that scenario sound, it’s not really true.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, relationships August 16, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does God Care if You’re Happy?

Do you view God as distant, unhappy, or angry? Do you wonder if He cares about your happiness?

Some in the Christian community consider happiness an ungodly pursuit, one for the spiritually immature. They say that God calls us to joy, while happiness is what the world offers.

If that’s how you’ve been taught, you may be surprised by what our broadcast guest Lisa Harper has to share – that God is happy and that happiness is a gift from Him that we should actively pursue.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith August 14, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What to Do When Your Fairy Tale Marriage Fades

King Artaxerxes commissioned Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah and his men set to work with trowels in one hand and swords in the other (4:17) defending against enemies on all sides.

In many ways, married couples face similar opposition. They’re building their homes with jobs, hard work, and children in one hand and the sword of the Word of God in the other, defending their families against a culture that’s increasingly hostile to them.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, intimacy, marriage, wife August 10, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Don’t Be a Miserable Christian

I’ve always liked the poem by William Wordsworth titled “Character of the Happy Warrior.” Though not intended, it is an appropriate charge to Christians who seek God’s strength in their efforts to engage winsomely.

Here are a few poignant verses:

Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he

That every man in arms should wish to be? …

Who high endeavors are an inward light

That makes the path before him always bright …

Who, doomed to go in company with Pain,

And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith August 7, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Help Help Your Child Thrive in the Middle School Years

By the time kids enter middle school, their march toward independence is well under way.

But let’s face it – it can be a confusing time for parents.

When a child spreads his wings, it can feel like he’s turning his back on you instead. But that’s not really the case. Your middle schooler needs you as much as he always has.

In some ways, more.

He just needs you in a different way than he did in his formative years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting August 6, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Conquering the First Day of Grade School … as a Parent

On my first day of kindergarten, I refused to go. My mom had to drag me down the block to the school.

But something magical happened that first morning – and her name was Mrs. Smith, my kindergarten teacher. I had an immediate crush on her. In fact, I was so smitten, I didn’t want to leave that afternoon. So just like my mother had to drag me to school, my teacher had to drag me home.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting August 3, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does It Matter If a Wife Earns More Than Her Husband?

According to a recent report from the United States Census Bureau, most people believe it’s “socially desirable” for the husband to earn more than his wife.

In fact, in the event that a wife does earn more than her husband, researchers discovered that couples tend to downplay or under report the financial difference.

Why?

Obviously, there’s a lot of history, tradition and even controversy surrounding this topic. For instance, the issue of pay equity is hotly debated and often comes up in the midst of political campaigns.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, finances, husband, marriage, wife August 1, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura