Family and Home Archives

Why Is Relational Intimacy So Scary?

It’s been said that fear is the enemy of intimacy. I think that’s right.

Our guest on today and tomorrow’s program, author Donald Miller, agrees as well. He compares intimacy with standing on the edge of a cliff, fighting through anxiety and fear to jump into the water.

We don’t often equate fear with lack of intimacy because we don’t recognize all the ways we avoid vulnerability with the people closest to us. We rely on our humor, beauty, social status, or whatever identity we’d rather people see than our deepest, truest selves.

Topics: Family and Home June 30, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sex and Love: Do Husbands Know the Difference?

Do most men know the difference between love and sex?

A lot of men assume they have that distinction pretty well settled – until they realize the lines are more blurred than they thought, and their marriage suffers because of it.

The fact is, struggles related to sex and intimacy within a marriage are one of the top reasons we’re contacted here at Focus on the Family. So it’s an important issue for us to address.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, intimacy, marriage, wife June 23, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Involved Fathers Are Superheroes

In celebration of Father’s Day this weekend, let’s look at one sometimes-overlooked characteristic of a good dad …

He is, quite simply, a hero.

Forget Superman, Batman or Captain America. When you’re in trouble, you need Dad to save the day.

Dad will save kids from the brink of danger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoQssWPRNR0

He’ll risk his life to save his child.

And sometimes, Dad will even give his life to save his child.

The benefits involved fathers provide to their children are countless.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, kids, parenting June 19, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: God Wrote a Book

Augustine of Hippo called the Bible “our letters from home.”

Abraham Lincoln once reflected that the Bible, “is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book.”

The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, former pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church and a longtime member of our board, said, “The Bible is not a book of the month, but the Book of the Ages. It’s so majestically deep that scholars could swim and never touch the bottom.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith June 16, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The “Secret” to a Successful Marriage

Talk shows discuss it.

Researchers study it.

Too many articles and books to count have been written about it.

I even chime in on this blog from time to time with my thoughts on it.

What’s the it I’m talking about?

It’s the secret to a happy and successful marriage.

There are a lot of practical steps couples can take to build a healthy relationship. Hopefully, you’ve learned some solid advice right here at Focus from our radio programs, periodicals, and other materials we offer.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage June 15, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Do You Ever Waste Time with Your Spouse?

Do you ever waste time with your spouse?

That may seem like an odd question. But your answer will get to the heart of what your relationship with your spouse is all about.

You see, some couples don’t do too well with “wasting” time with one another. Simply being together with no particular agenda and nothing to focus their attention on except their spouse is uncomfortable.

In other words, they have a hard time with intimacy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, pastors, promos June 11, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: We’re Qualified to Adopt Children But Not a Dog?

My wife, Julie, and I are privileged to be the parents of three young boys: Riley (9), Will (4) and Alex (3), all of whom we adopted at birth.

Like any parent, we walk the hall of our home at night and peer into their darkened rooms, listening for the easy breathing of children at peace. Our boys are busy and spirited, the kind of youngsters who melt your heart and at the same time can test your patience.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, relationships June 9, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to PAY Your Way to Financial Contentment

Note: Our hearts are breaking for those impacted by the devastating floods in Texas, Oklahoma and Mexico. Epic rainfall has crippled the area. Reports indicate that at least 35 people have been killed and scores more are missing. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged. Please join me in praying for those mourning and navigating these very difficult circumstances. -JD

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Well, the first of the month is right around the corner, and for many of us that means the mortgage or rent is due.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, finances, marriage May 28, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Your Husband Overcome Sexual Abuse

Several weeks back I shared a few thoughts relating to a two-day broadcast we were airing. It was about the sexual abuse many women suffer in childhood, and the pain that follows them into adulthood.

But sexual abuse isn’t a trauma only girls face. It’s also common to boys as well — and it’s terrible for every victim.

Boys are told they shouldn’t cry. Men are supposed to be tough. They’re strong; they’re conquerors. But what do those messages imply to a boy when he has been overpowered and victimized?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, intimacy, marriage May 19, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Secret to Connecting with Your Spouse for a Lifetime

Let me ask you this: Which part of your marriage relationship do you believe will develop the deepest intimacy?

Here are your choices:

Sexuality
Emotions
Spiritual connection

They each have their place, of course, but all things considered, spiritual connection with our spouse will create a deeper, more meaningful connection than the other two areas.

Here’s why: The benefits of spiritual intimacy naturally spill over into the other two areas. A spiritually connected couple will tend to have deeper emotional and sexual connection with one another.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage May 14, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura