Daly Focus Blog
The first of the month will be here before you know it. That means the mortgage or rent is due. So is the water and electric bill. Maybe even the car payment and auto insurance. Oh, and don’t forget the car needs more gas soon. You can fuel up on your way to the grocery store.
That’s how it goes with money, doesn’t it? It comes in, and the money goes right back out. And, for a lot of us, there’s not much left over when it’s all said and done.
As followers of Christ, we believe that marriage is a symbol of something spiritual and sacred. In Ephesians 5:32, the apostle Paul calls marriage a “mystery” and compares it to Jesus’ relationship with the Church.
So why do so many of us allow ourselves to be distracted by the busyness of life instead of plumbing the depths of relational intimacy. There’s so much to do that we put our marriages and our children on autopilot while we tend to more “important” matters.
One of the most challenging issues Christian parents contact us about is discipleship of their own children. Many moms and dads don’t feel qualified to share their faith effectively.
Do you fear miscommunicating the Gospel and leading your kids astray? Was discipleship never modeled for you growing up? Do you believe that the Church and Sunday school should be enough to teach your kids about their faith?
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Helping Your Child Build a Lifelong Faith” we’re addressing those concerns and encouraging you to take up this responsibility.
I’ve needed God to give me a second chance a few times.
Just one example would be my high school football career. I was my team’s starting quarterback and spent long hours honing my abilities and pushing myself to be at the top of my game. Several colleges had offered me scholarships, and future opportunities seemed wide open for me. I was proud of my accomplishments and potential. Arrogantly so.
God humbled me. That journey started the night my big brother confronted me after one of my games.
What do you think a typical week is like for your pastor? A few hours of study and a sermon on Sunday? The occasional hospital- or home-visit?
I recently talked with two couples – Marshall and Merrie Eizenga and Sam and Pauline Doerksen – who say many pastors routinely experience stress at the level of first responders.
They would know. The Eizengas served as pastors for 35 years. The Doerksens were pastors for 22 years. Together, they now co-direct the Kerith Creek Retreat Center in Canada.
Focus on the Family president Jim Daly reacts to the House passage of H.R. 3755:
In a galling twist of irony, liberal members of the House of Representatives passed last week (on party lines) the “Women’s Health Protection Act” – a tragic piece of legislation designed to guarantee unfettered access to abortion.
In reality, the legislation doesn’t protect anyone – it actually endangers women and ends the lives of innocent children, along with cheapening the sacredness and value of life overall.
Using soft words to describe dark deeds has become the calling card of abortion advocates, who routinely refer to abortion as “healthcare.” It’s simply not true, and saying so however many times they do won’t make truth of a lie.
The apostle Paul had little time for deceivers, admonishing fellow believers in Ephesus to “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (5:11).
I’ve interviewed parenting experts who say, “Let go, and allow your kids to make mistakes.”
“That’s easier said than done!” is how most parents would answer back. Author Crystal Paine discovered just how hard parenting can be in the drop-off lane at school. The principal stopped her husband, Jesse, and asked for a meeting.
Their daughter had been exhibiting serious behavior problems and had become suicidal. Other students labelled her a bully, and she was dismissed from school.
According to Psychology Today, 63% of people who say they feel lonely are currently married. Two people drive in the same car, sit at the same table, and sleep in the same bed … yet they feel worlds apart.
My colleague, Dr. Greg Smalley, discovered how lonely his wife, Erin, was after he spent a few weeks during the pandemic cooking family meals when their adult children moved home for a few months. Erin quickly wore out from trying to work and cook for the entire family.
America has made great strides toward racial equality. But progress must continue. Our children must be taught how to become living examples of God’s love for every tongue, tribe, and nation.
How do you teach your children to love and serve others with respect, without regard for someone’s ethnicity or skin color?
To speak to that challenge, Trillia Newbell and Dr. Danny Huerta are joining us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Teaching Children to Celebrate Racial Diversity.”
Trillia Newbell is appearing on our program for the first time.
Stay-at-home moms are a big topic here at Focus on the Family. I have great respect for them. They work hard from sunup to sundown, and they often don’t get acknowledged for who they are or what they do every day.
If you’re a stay-at-home mom who feels isolated, alone, or overwhelmed, I encourage you to listen to our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Discovering Your New Identity as a Stay-at-Home Mom.” Our guest is Jen Babakhan, who talked with me about God’s calling for mothers and why your role in the family is so important.
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.
