Jim Daly

Elisabeth Elliot Showed Me What True Conviction Looks Like

I was in my early 20s and returning from a year of college in Japan when a friend invited me to hear Elisabeth Elliot speak in Kansas City.

She lit that auditorium of more than 18,000 people on fire.

As you most likely know by now, Elliot passed away on June 14 at the age of 88. She was a heroine of the faith, one of the most influential Christian women in the 20th century.

Here was a woman the world first met in 1956 when her husband, Jim Elliot, was among the five missionaries speared to death by the Auca Indians in Ecuador.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith

Involved Fathers Are Superheroes

In celebration of Father’s Day this weekend, let’s look at one sometimes-overlooked characteristic of a good dad …

He is, quite simply, a hero.

Forget Superman, Batman or Captain America. When you’re in trouble, you need Dad to save the day.

Dad will save kids from the brink of danger:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoQssWPRNR0

He’ll risk his life to save his child.

And sometimes, Dad will even give his life to save his child.

The benefits involved fathers provide to their children are countless.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: husband, kids, parenting

We Ache for the Church and Faith Community of Charleston

We grieve with our brothers and sisters in South Carolina today as they mourn the deaths of nine people – including their beloved pastor, the Rev. Clementa Pinckney – at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Authorities believe the shooting was racially motivated. The suspect, now in custody, is a 21-year-old white male, Dylann Roof. Inexplicably, he was said to have sat in on the worship service for almost an hour prior to opening fire on those in attendance.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: church, news

The Supreme Court Decision Won’t End This

Just as Roe v. Wade didn’t end the abortion debate, it’s unlikely the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage via the Obergefell v. Hodges case will stop our nation’s passionate discussion on marriage.

On the contrary, I suspect the forthcoming ruling will mark the beginning of a long and protracted controversy about not only marriage, but religious freedom.

Why?

Before I answer the question, let’s briefly look to the possible outcomes expected at the end of the month.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, news, policy, religious liberty

VIDEO: God Wrote a Book

Augustine of Hippo called the Bible “our letters from home.”

Abraham Lincoln once reflected that the Bible, “is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book.”

The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, former pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church and a longtime member of our board, said, “The Bible is not a book of the month, but the Book of the Ages. It’s so majestically deep that scholars could swim and never touch the bottom.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

The “Secret” to a Successful Marriage

Talk shows discuss it.

Researchers study it.

Too many articles and books to count have been written about it.

I even chime in on this blog from time to time with my thoughts on it.

What’s the it I’m talking about?

It’s the secret to a happy and successful marriage.

There are a lot of practical steps couples can take to build a healthy relationship. Hopefully, you’ve learned some solid advice right here at Focus from our radio programs, periodicals, and other materials we offer.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage

Seven Stories You Should Know About

A news summary on issues that matter.

North Carolina Law Protects Freedom of Conscience

Good news: A bill that will permit court officials to decline performing same-sex marriage responsibilities became law yesterday in North Carolina. According to House Speaker Tim Moore, the law “protects sincerely held religious beliefs while also ensuring that magistrates are available in all jurisdictions to perform lawful marriages.”

The Value of Children in an Anti-Natality Age

World magazine features an insightful article about the growing anti-natality perspective in our culture, which often pits the environmental movement against childbearing.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: finances, homosexuality, kids, news, pop culture

Do You Ever Waste Time with Your Spouse?

Do you ever waste time with your spouse?

That may seem like an odd question. But your answer will get to the heart of what your relationship with your spouse is all about.

You see, some couples don’t do too well with “wasting” time with one another. Simply being together with no particular agenda and nothing to focus their attention on except their spouse is uncomfortable.

In other words, they have a hard time with intimacy.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, pastors, promos

Shouldn’t People Be Allowed to Love Who They Want?

With the Supreme Court’s decision on the marriage case expected by month’s end, questions on homosexuality and same-sex marriage abound. We regularly receive inquiries from sincere Christians who want to know how to best navigate this sensitive topic with their children, neighbors, coworkers or friends. Other questions we receive, especially from members of the press, are from those who can’t quite understand why Christians can’t just “evolve” with the growing cultural consensus.

It’s important we understand this issue from both a legal and theological perspective.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, news, policy, religious liberty

Guest Post: We’re Qualified to Adopt Children But Not a Dog?

My wife, Julie, and I are privileged to be the parents of three young boys: Riley (9), Will (4) and Alex (3), all of whom we adopted at birth.

Like any parent, we walk the hall of our home at night and peer into their darkened rooms, listening for the easy breathing of children at peace. Our boys are busy and spirited, the kind of youngsters who melt your heart and at the same time can test your patience.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, relationships