Daly Focus Blog
Do you have strong feelings about Halloween? Tomorrow’s annual holiday elicits strong feelings on both sides of the spectrum.
With its admittedly pagan origins, involving druids, ghosts and goblins, among other things, there are Christians who deliberately ignore even the seemingly innocent aspects of the day.
At the same time, there are many of us who choose to focus on the happier side. Many churches even hold “harvest” festivals and invite children to dress up in fun costumes.
I proposed to Jean the old-fashioned way. I asked her mom and dad for permission to marry her. Honestly, I think they were shocked with me. They weren’t a Christian family, so they didn’t fully appreciate the rich view of marriage offered in the Bible.
So, when I went to them and said, “I really want to marry your daughter. Would you give us your blessing?” they were slightly befuddled and didn’t quite know how to respond.
A teenager’s world can be chaotic. The question is, how can parents help their teens not only survive, but thrive, in the face of peer pressure, social media dangers, and challenges to their Christian faith?
One of the greatest examples of a teenager who stood strong was David. Before he became king over Israel, David was a shepherd. Culturally, he was insignificant. He was the youngest member of his family, who wasn’t afforded much respect. His older brothers would have inherited most of his father’s wealth and reputation.
By now you’ve likely heard that earlier this week, a Lonestar state jury ruled in an 11 to 1 decision that James Younger, the son of Jeffrey Younger, be transitioned due to the preferences of his non-biological mother, Dr. Anne Georgulas.
Simply put, officials had, in essence, mandated that a seven-year-old boy be put on puberty-blockers, pumped up with cross-sex hormones and eventually surgically castrated against the will of his father.
Thankfully, we received word on Thursday that the judge presiding in the case overruled the jury and granted joint custody to both the mom and dad.
Deep in their hearts, most guys want to be good men. They want to work hard and be faithful husbands and involved dads.
But a lot of guys feel like frauds. We know what to do. (At least, we think we do.) But we don’t always feel capable of doing what we know we ought to do (Romans 7:15).
Some guys feel like a fraud because … well, they are one. They’re hiding something sinful from their wives and Christian brothers, whose love and support they need most.
By: Jonathan McKee
Decades ago the question was, “Do you know where your children are?” Today the question is, “Do you know who is following your children?”
Key word: following
Consider the app Instagram for a moment, the No. 1 social media platform used by teens today. Take a peek at anyone’s profile and you’ll see the word “followers” at the top of the screen with a little number above it. That number has become incredibly significant to today’s teenagers.
More than likely, you’ve taken a personality test or two, read a book on the subject, or even heard us talk about the topic on our Focus on the Family Broadcast. In 42 years, our ministry has featured numerous guests who have helped listeners discover whether they’re a lion or a golden retriever. A pleaser or an avoider. A sanguine or a choleric.
If none of those terms sound familiar, listen through some of our past broadcasts that cover personality and love styles.
“I quit. I don’t want to be a mother anymore.”
Author Sarah Parshall Perry blurted that out one day in a moment of weakness while her husband was travelling for work and she was caring for three children with the stomach flu. She was exhausted after days with little sleep.
Her breaking point came as she was bathing her youngest child even though she hadn’t been able to shower herself. When she brushed against the shower curtain, and it collapsed on them both, she cried, “I quit.
You may have read “The Fox and the Crow” when you were a child. As you’ll recall, the famous story from “Aesop’s Fables” warns us to be wary of flattery.
Or, you may have read about Christian’s journey to the Celestial City in “Pilgrim’s Progress.” On the road to the Celestial City, Christian meets a giant named Despair. Just as Christian must overcome the giant, Despair is a reality many Christians face in their spiritual lives.
Regular readers of my blog will remember me mentioning my dear friend, the late Reverend H.B. London.
H.B. was Focus on the Family’s “Pastor to Pastors” for over 20 years, a devoted shepherd who understood the challenges of ministry because he served several churches for more than two decades.
Today is the one-year anniversary of H.B.’s promotion to Glory, and so I thought it would be appropriate to use this occasion to remember a good man – and encourage all of you to thank your pastor for the incalculable contribution they are making in your life and the lives of others.
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.
