faith Archives

Living As a Disciple of Jesus in Community

When people ask me why they should go to church, I remind them of this: Human beings exist in two worlds – the physical and the spiritual. The physical world includes everything we can touch, see, smell, and hear. The spiritual world includes things that are no less real even though they can’t be directly observed.

Human life is biological, but it transcends biology. Although the spiritual realm can’t be physically seen or touched, it can be experienced – like when we feel there must be more to life than living and dying.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith January 14, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Understanding the Spiritual Impact of Healthy Living

Is pursuing a healthy lifestyle something we can actually enjoy?

Author Gary Thomas says, “Yes.”

I trust Gary, but I’m skeptical. If you’re anything like me, your lazy side frequently wins out over your desire to take health and fitness seriously. We know our health is important, but it’s hard to be consistent.

I’m talking with Gary on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly about pursuing and maintaining strong, physical health, so we can be fit and effective in serving God’s kingdom.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith January 9, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Healthy Budget Habits for Your Marriage

Jade Warshaw serves as a debt elimination expert, financial coach, and co-host of The Ramsey Show. But she wasn’t always so savvy about financial matters.

Perhaps her lowest moment came while standing in line at a Publix grocery store with $45 worth of food, fearful that her card would be declined. Overspending on credit cards was a common practice for Jade and her husband back then, eventually racking up $460,000 in debt.

Inspired to make a change, they worked hard for seven and a half years to pay it off.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family January 6, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Marriage and Motherhood

As a Denver Broncos fan, I don’t usually root for the Kansas City Chiefs. But I’ll make an exception for the Chiefs’ kicker, Harrison Butker, who came under fire after a commencement speech at Benedictine College went viral. Detractors said his comments were disrespectful to women.

But were they really? If you give his speech a fair hearing, I believe the answer is clearly no. Butker celebrated his wife. He praised her tireless dedication to their marriage and to their children.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting January 2, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Erase the Dividing Line

Many marriages are like the community of Beebe Plain, Vermont. They’re divided.

The international border between Canada and the United States runs right down the middle of Beebe Plain, Vermont. It splits the main road through town in half. It also cuts right through the middle of a building on the east side of town called the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. Inside, there’s even a black line painted on the floor that marks where one country ends and another begins.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 31, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Evidence for the Existence of God

Do you ever wonder:

Is there a Creator?

If God is real, why do people suffer?

What does Easter have to do with the existence of God?

If God exists, why does He seem hidden or distant?

Can we deduce anything about God from scientific evidence?

Does our DNA reveal anything about God as a designer?

Can God be personally experienced?

On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, I’m talking with former atheist, Lee Strobel.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 30, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Forgiveness Isn’t Fair

Do you remember all those times when your parents told you to “play fair”? Well, what if I told you – when it comes to marriage – don’t?

“Playing fair” is one of the worst things you can do to a relationship. It’s a big reason so many couples struggle to forgive their spouse when they make a mistake. “Fair” is all about keeping things even between two people – which sounds good in theory but doesn’t work so well in practice.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage December 27, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Handling Anxiety God’s Way

Author Curtis Chang personally understands the suffering anxiety causes. Growing up, he was a latchkey kid who dealt with severe anxiety every day, tormenting him with fearful thoughts that his parents would never come home from work and leave him to fend for himself. He coped by repeatedly calling his mother’s office and tracking her arrival home.

While serving as a pastor, Curtis coped with anxiety through preparation and study. But the stress of pastoring eventually pushed him beyond his ability to cope, and he had a breakdown.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting December 26, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding True Joy at Christmas

Merry Christmas!

On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, I’m celebrating the holiday in a unique way. Here are few hints. Think:

Long beards.

Duck hunting.

Camouflage outfits.

The backwoods of Louisiana.

Delicious Cajun recipes.

That’s right. I’m exploring the joys of family and faith and reflecting on what Christmas is all about with Phil and “Miss Kay” Robertson of the Duck Dynasty clan.

They share fun stories – like:

How to cook a squirrel.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family December 25, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Best Festivus Ever

If you’re a fan of the television show Seinfeld, you probably remember the episode about “Festivus” – the absurd, pseudo-holiday created by the loveable curmudgeon Frank Costanza.

According to Frank, the holiday is celebrated on December 23 to combat the commercialization of Christmas. He created the holiday when his holiday shopping resulted in a fistfight with another man who reached for the last doll on the shelf at the same time. It was while – as Frank put it – he “rained blows upon the man” that Frank came up with the idea for “a Festivus for the rest of us!”

There were two important components to “Festivus.” The first was called the “Airing of Grievances.” This tradition was about scolding family members for their disappointing failures.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith December 24, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura