Daly Focus Blog
What if many of the problems and concerns most often raised by secularists these days were solved by solutions regularly championed by people of faith?
School districts around the country, including those in my home state of Colorado, are shutting down buildings and institutions because of a lack of enrollment. Where are the students going? In some cases, they’re attending private or home schools – but more often, they’re not going anywhere because the boys and girls simply don’t exist.
Many Christians who struggle with depression often feel isolated and ashamed. Admitting to feelings of despair within a community of faith often leads to judgmental attitudes or well-meaning Christians who suggest that depressed people “choose joy” or “pray more.”
But what are believers with depression to do when God doesn’t ease their suffering?
Author Sarah Robinson struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts from a young age. Even after becoming a Christian at age 15, her struggle continued.
If God is good, why does He allow evil to exist?
Have your children ever asked you that question?
Have you ever asked your children that question? How do you think they’d answer?
How about these questions?
Where did the universe come from?
Do science and religion contradict each other?
Do all religions worship the same God?
How do we know God hears and answers prayer?
Author Natasha Crain didn’t know how to answer these and other important questions when her children asked.
When author Becky Baudouin’s girls were little, strangers would comment about how cute they were. Then they’d share a mommy platitude. Something like, “Enjoy every minute! It goes by fast!”
Becky knew what they meant, but she also thought to herself, “What about moments that are terrible and the only good thing about them is that they don’t last forever?”
Here’s another one: “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Out of balance, this one puts a lot of pressure on mom to act like she’s happy and together when she’s really not.
It was Shakespeare who said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” What he meant was that the nature of a thing doesn’t change just because you rename it.
Take the word “faith,” for example. Faith is often associated with religion, but everybody has the capacity for faith. Even atheists. That’s right, atheists live by faith just like religious people do. They just call it something else.
In general terms, faith is about believing that something exists even though you can’t directly observe or measure it.
For over 45 years, Dr. Tony Evans has served as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, which has grown from ten people to over 10,000.
He’s also a former NFL chaplain who has spoken to several Super Bowl teams on the eve of the big game. One characteristic each of those winning teams shared was an intense focus on the ultimate prize – the Lombardi Trophy. None of the players were satisfied with having a winning record or making the playoffs.
Success doesn’t count unless you earn it.
On April 21st, 1980, 26-year-old Rosie Ruiz took first place in the women’s division of the Boston Marathon. Her victory garnered national attention for two reasons. First, she set a new world record. Second, no one remembered seeing her over the course of the race until she neared the finish line.
Boston Marathon officials launched an investigation and discovered that Ruiz had slipped out of the crowd and entered the race just one mile from the end.
How do you connect spiritually with your spouse?
Some couples are so structured that their devotions are like mini-church. They gather together each night, read from the Bible, and hold hands while praying.
That’s not very realistic for most of us. At least, not very often. We live at a fast pace. Connection happens on the move while we’re getting the kids to school or off to Little League practice. It’s not until late in the evening that we’re settled enough to have meaningful conversation.
Not every negative feeling is bad. In fact, a bad emotion can often point to something good. Like when you and your spouse can’t be together, but you miss one another’s company.
Consider the late President Reagan and his beloved wife, Nancy. Since their passing, their love for one another has become almost legendary. Even during the demanding eight years they spent in the White House their marriage remained a priority, and they openly expressed their admiration for each other.
Have you had “The Talk” with your child? You know, the one about sex?
If not, why not? Maybe you feel nervous because you don’t know what to say.
I don’t blame you. The talk I had with one of my boys didn’t go quite as well as I’d hoped. I planned a weekend-long father/son getaway where I did my best to explain sex and sexuality in a way he’d understand.
Driving home, I asked him, “Any questions?”
“No.
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.
