Daly Focus Blog
The middle school years can be tough. And not just for the kids. They can be challenging for parents as well.
As your child enters adolescence, your parenting approach will likely have to shift into a few different gears. There’s a lot going on, after all. Not only is the whirlwind of puberty at your child’s doorstep, but his or her world is shifting. Family often becomes an afterthought, while friends and independence take top priority.
Joni Eareckson Tada is an overcomer. At 17, she dove into shallow water and surfaced a parapalegic. For nearly 50 years now, Christ has worked through her story and life to encourage others with disabilities similar to hers.
The late Louis Zamperini was an overcomer. As detailed in “Unbroken,” the book and Hollywood movie about his life, he was shot down in World War II and barely survived 40 days adrift at sea. He was “rescued” by the Japanese only to become a prisoner of war, then beaten and tortured mercilessly.
I think both parents and children would agree that one of the best things we’ve ever come up with here at Focus on the Family has been Adventures in Odyssey, the radio drama for children ages 8-12.
When it first began, a lot of people were skeptical the venture could be successful in the age of television, movies, and other visual entertainment. But our Adventures in Odyssey team members are some of the most talented and creative in the business, and this little radio program that could has been capturing the hearts of young and old alike for almost 30 years.
Each December and January we re-air a selection of our best-loved broadcasts of the year. It gives our listeners a second chance to listen and benefit from the God-centered, practical marriage and family advice that has become a hallmark of the Focus on the Family broadcast. It also gives our friends an opportunity to recommend a favorite program to a friend.
The next few weeks will be busy for everyone. In order to make things easy for you, I wanted to list the upcoming broadcast schedule.
Are the people around you struggling in some area of life? Maybe the real question is: Are you attentive enough that you would notice?
Let’s face it, we tend to have pretty shallow relationships with most of the people we cross paths with every day. We ask co-workers how they’re doing when we pass in the hall, but we expect a generic “fine, thank you,” rather than a genuine answer.
It could be that someone near us is having a rough go of it, but we’d never notice because we’re too wrapped up in our own daily routines.
Do you remember the dreams you had for your life when you were finishing up high school and about to step foot into adulthood?
Dan Miller had a list of them. He wanted to be a physical education teacher, a pilot, and he dreamed of playing guitar in a band.
But all of that was nearly stolen away from him in the summer of 1955 when his life changed overnight.
After Dan graduated from high school, he had one foot firmly planted in his future.
Focus’ second-ever “Bring Your Bible to School Day” will be here this Thursday, Oct. 8. It’s a day for public school students from kindergarten to college to celebrate their religious freedom and to share the hope they’ve found with their friends.
Today, tomorrow and Wednesday we’re running a commercial on the Fox News Channel to help raise awareness of this wonderful event. Here’s a preview of the ad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi9J-gRelSM
We hope you’ll share this commercial on your social media sites because there’s still time to sign up!
Yesterday and today’s broadcast features an interview with Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Association, and Sam Adams, the mayor of Portland from 2008 to 2012. As some of you may be aware, Sam was one of the first openly gay mayors in the United States.
Kevin and Sam’s unusual friendship began when the Palau organization went to city hall and said, “How can we help you address critical needs in the community that are going unaddressed right now?”
Sam and his administration were wary.
Let’s imagine you’re looking for a job online and come across a posting that describes the position as follows:
WANTED: Gregarious, dynamic and charismatic leader; excellent teaching and speaking skills required; must be empathetic and a good listener; proficient in conflict resolution, capable of juggling numerous priorities and managing unrealistic expectations. Must be available seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Compensation is not commensurate with experience.
Are you ready to apply?
I can probably guess what you’re thinking – “I’m not crazy, Jim!
I used to think successful people achieved great things because they faced less adversity than those who fail. But when I became an adult, I realized everybody encounters challenges of one kind or another. What matters is how we respond to the obstacles we face.
Probably no one communicates the truth of that concept better than best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, our guest on today and tomorrow’s programs we’ve titled, “Battling Giants in Everyday Life.” His latest works tell the stories of people who not only overcame adversity, but in many ways those challenges became the catalyst for their success.
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.
