Daly Focus Blog
God wants to help you become an overcomer.
Like Joni Eareckson Tada. At 17, she dove into shallow water and surfaced a paraplegic. For nearly 50 years now, Christ has worked through her story to encourage others with disabilities similar to hers.
Or like the late Louis Zamperini. 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.
In our current era of woke politics and a blurring and morphing of the differences between males and females, are we losing sight of distinctly manly qualities? We believe we are, and these are very different than mere male characteristics.
Being male is a function of distinct body parts and DNA. Being a man is wholly a question of character—about what a man chooses to do and how he does it. It’s incumbent on fathers of sons to exhibit and teach their boys what it takes to grow up and assume their unique role in society.
Are you a mom wanting to do something big for God, but you don’t have the energy or the time?
Maybe God has already given you your greater purpose.
Author and mom Shontell Brewer recalls feeling guilty every time her pastor talked about making a difference through mission work. She was the mother of five children and struggled with feeling like she couldn’t get to the real work of missions until she completed the childrearing phase of her life.
Matt Hammit was the lead singer of the Christian rock band Sanctus Real for 20 years. In the early years of the band, performing at a music festival, he noticed a beautiful girl in overalls dancing like no one was watching. The next day, at another worship event over three hours away, he saw her again.
Her name was Sarah. Raised in a Christian home, she became a “party girl” in college. When she saw Matt onstage at the music festival leading worship, she felt drawn to him and prayed, “God, I’ll quit drinking if you let me marry that guy.” They began dating and quickly fell in love.
You remember Clark Kent. He was a mild-mannered man … until he pulled open his shirt and revealed the superhero outfit underneath that announced his true identity. Then he was Superman, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Dads don’t wear a superhero’s outfit under their clothes, but don’t let that fool you. They have true heroic power. Their mere presence has a dramatic influence in the lives of their children.
By: Gary Schneeberger
While I was in Boston on business a few weeks ago, I picked up a Father’s Day card for my Dad at a tony downtown stationery shop. I’ve long been both a card guy and a card snob, so the simple but elegant bifold printed on recycled paper drew me like catnip entices a tabby.
On its outside it simply says, “I love you, dad” – with the subtle flourish of the period at the end of the sentiment being a red heart.
What “season” is it for your marriage? Is it summer because things are warm and sizzling with your spouse? Or is it winter because things feel a little chilly?
I remember how it felt when Jean and I fell in love. Like many couples in a new relationship, we enjoyed being together every chance we could, and daydreamed about seeing each other when we couldn’t. It was easy to think, “We’ll always feel this way!”
But relationships are like the weather; they change.
Focus on the Family serves the culture according to five foundational pillars. The first pillar is evangelism and discipleship.
Many Christians shy away from evangelism these days. Sharing one’s faith seems more difficult than ever. We don’t want to take an aggressive, “in your face” approach, so we swing the pendulum the other way and become silent, “undercover Christians.”
Is there a middle ground?
Greg Koukl is our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding Peace in Your Everyday Life.” He is an apologist and the founder and president of Stand to Reason ministries.
Tonya was 13 when she became pregnant and aborted her baby.
She endeavored to move on with her life as if nothing had happened. Yet, in the weeks that followed, something still seemed to be happening inside of her. She soon discovered that she had been pregnant with twins, and one of the babies had survived the procedure. A few weeks later, Tonya gave birth to the child and put her up for adoption.
Twenty-one years later that child – now a grown adult named Claire – called the adoption agency from where she had been adopted.
“It’s just like an American to think you invented the family.”
That’s what Dr. Lilian Wahomey, a psychologist in Kenya, jokingly said to me over lunch one day. I met with her almost 25 years ago to explore ways Focus on the Family could come alongside families in Africa.
I asked, “Do you think a focus on marriage and parenting is be relevant in this part of the world?”
With a friendly smile, she reminded me that the core needs of marriages and families transcend language, culture, nationality, and socio-economic status.
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.
