Daly Focus Blog
I’ll bet you remember the moment your life changed.
It may have been in childhood or even as an adult. But someone said something to you that was hurtful and that moment changed your entire perception of yourself from that point forward.
For me, it was ninth grade. I was in my high school’s weight room, getting ready for football season. Coach Logan walked through the weight room, looked at me, and said, “Man, you’ve got bird legs.
Imagine growing up in a loving, Christian family, giving your life to ministry as a 3rdgeneration pastor, and being married to the love of your life.
But you have a secret.
Nick Stumbo was that man. He learned at a young age that anything sexual should be secretive. Sex was exclusively for marriage, and anything outside of that was wrong – even talking about it.
So when things of a sexual nature started entering into Nick’s life – like exposure to pornography at a friend’s house, the school bus, or sporting trips – his reaction was, “I can’t share about this with anyone.
What’s your definition of a hero?
Do they wear capes? Do they have superhuman strength? The ability to leap tall buildings?
When I think of heroes, I think of my football coach in high school, Paul Moro. He shaped a lot of teenage boys’ character and helped them learn to play football along the way.
I also think of Mrs. Bandy, my elementary school nurse. I was living in a dysfunctional foster home and would sit on the hill behind my school at recess and cry.
Being pro-life means much more than being against abortion. Our value statement on the sanctity of human life reads:
We believe that human beings are created by God in His image. Therefore every person, from conception to natural death, possesses inherent dignity and immeasurable worth – including preborn children, elderly individuals, those with special needs and others marginalized by society. Christians, then, are called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
Author and speaker Emily Colson has lived the truth of that statement up close and personal.
I saw a video that illustrates the important role fathers play in the lives of their daughters. It captured a dad in his living room watching a basketball game, jumping and yelling in support of his favorite team. Right by his side, his three-year-old daughter copied his behavior. She mimicked every jump, every hand clap, and every expression of excitement.
Then the mood changed. The dad started shouting at the television. He complained about a blown call.
Like a lot of first time moms, Jerusha Clark kept a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting on her bedside table. She referenced it frequently. Mostly she stuck to topics on eating well and her labor and delivery.
Looking back, she remembers skipping the section on postpartum depression. Why bother? She was generally a happy woman. She enjoyed her pregnancy, and she loved being a mom when her child was born.
A few months later, everything changed.
Let me ask you this: Which part of your marriage relationship do you believe will develop the deepest intimacy?
Here are your choices:
Sexuality
Emotions
Spiritual connection
They each have their place, of course, but all things considered, spiritual connection with your spouse will create a deeper, more meaningful connection than the other two areas.
Here’s why. The benefits of spiritual intimacy naturally spill over to the other two areas, but not necessarily the other way around.
Author and speaker J.John tells this story:
At the end of a long work day, an employee left his factory, pushing a wheelbarrow through the gate to head home. Inside the wheelbarrow was a small box.
The security guard stopped the man and asked, “What have you got in your wheelbarrow?”
“I’ve got a small box,” he said.
“What’s in the box?”
The worker replied, “The sawdust from the floor. At the end of the day, it gets swept up and is thrown away.
Mom, you play a pivotal role in your son’s life.
It’s you who will help your son learn how to communicate verbally, to express his emotion, and to share his feelings – things he’s not as likely to learn from his dad.
You’re also the primary woman who will demonstrate how your son ought to treat other women – with love, strength, kindness, and character.
Then, along about junior high, your relationship with your son will begin to shift.
Today’s guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “My Journey to Salvation”is Adolph Coors IV. In this presentation recorded at a prayer breakfast, Mr. Coors shares what it was like to grow up in the family that founded the Coors Brewing Company, one of the largest breweries in the world.
His story is a fascinating tale of wealth, privilege, and tragedy – and the lessons he learned along the way are thought-provoking. Hear why he walked away from the company that bears his name and how he found the grace to forgive the prison escapee who kidnapped and brutally murdered his father.
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.
