Daly Focus Blog
If someone asked you this question, how would you answer?
“What if my health declines to the point that I can only survive on a breathing machine. I’m not sure that’s something I want to do, but I’m afraid to dishonor the Lord. Should I artificially prolong my life with a respirator?”
When you’re wrestling with a question as profound as whether or not life is worth living, only God – not conventional wisdom – is adequate to answer.
I had the privilege of sitting down with bestselling author and teacher Dr. Os Guinness some time ago in Washington, D.C. Os is a brilliant scholar and social critic who has devoted years of thought and study to the cultural chaos running rampant in America.
I’m eager to share our extended conversation on this week’s podcast, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek with some of the more memorable observations and reflections he offered.
Did you know that nearly 40% of evangelicals believe “mercy killing” for someone who’s suffering is morally permissible?
That fact raises another question: How many Christians today understand the Bible’s perspective on suffering?
Few people have the credibility to address issues as poignant as suffering and the value of human life like Joni Eareckson Tada. Fifty years ago, she broke her neck in a diving accident and was left a quadriplegic. Since then, she’s been a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and has stood against the movement that promotes suicide for disabled and disadvantaged people.
On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, I’m speaking with Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
Johnson is the first Speaker of the House in the history of the United States Congress to take over mid-service. Before serving in Congress, Johnson worked as a constitutional lawyer for 20 years, serving with Alliance Defending Freedom as a litigator and spokesperson. He was elected to the Louisiana State House in 2015 and to the U.S. Congress, serving Louisiana’s 4th district, in 2016.
Good fathering isn’t about good intentions. It’s about action.
Years ago, a friend of mine lived next door to a family consisting of two children, a mom, and a dad who struggled to take action. That became clear the day he came home with an aluminum fishing boat he’d bought for a couple hundred bucks. It was nothing fancy, but he looked forward to getting out on the lake each weekend, so his kids could fish and swim.
There’s only one right answer to the question, “What do I do with a second chance?” You make the most of it.
That’s what NFL coach Mike McDaniels did. He was an assistant coach for the Houston Texans when he was fired after showing up late a second time to a 6 a.m. meeting. One minute, he was living his dream. The next, he was wondering if he’d ever get to coach in the National Football League again.
My wife and I approach recipes differently. Jean has a degree in biochemistry. She’s smart and sees life as a series of precisely calculated moves. To her, recipes are a detailed road map to be carefully followed. If the instructions call for one cup of flour, she’ll measure exactly one cup. She’ll even use a knife to scrape off the excess.
I’m more of a free spirit with recipes. I don’t see them as “a roadmap to follow” as much as “a few things to keep in mind.” I kinda, sorta measure ingredients, but not very carefully.
Here’s a tip for a great marriage: have a hearty relationship agreement.
Relationship agreements were a funny plot line in the hit television show The Big Bang Theory. The lead character is Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a brilliant physicist who is so analytical that his personality and social habits are nearly robotic. In one episode, he enters into a romantic relationship with fellow academic, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. But because Sheldon disregards human emotion in favor of logic and reason, he creates a relationship agreement – a very detailed relationship agreement.
Dear Friends:
Nearly 60 million people tuned into last night’s presidential debate in Philadelphia between Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat nominee, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate.
But what I’m writing to you about today is about neither political candidates nor political parties. Not even the Election. I’m reaching out to you about abortion and our ongoing quest to save preborn babies.
One of the more pointed parts of last night’s exchange involved the now half-century plus debate over the sanctity of life.
Research shows an estimated 70% of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives. Trauma can range from divorce to abuse to a global pandemic – something we all experienced. Even everyday stress has a cumulative effect.
Dr. Gregory Jantz is founder of The Center: A Place of Hope in Edmonds, Washington, a renowned treatment center for depression. He says when his clinic opened years ago, he “didn’t fully understand that most ailments and afflictions people deal with can be traced back to trauma of some kind.
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.
