faith Archives

How to Talk with Your Kids about Bruce Jenner

Guest post by: Jeff Johnston

They are questions many parents probably aren’t fully prepared to answer:

“What does transgender mean?” or “Why is that man dressed like a woman?”

Yet transgender issues are becoming more mainstream, as evidenced by the recent “coming out” of Bruce Jenner as “Caitlyn” on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. Not only that, but many children are encountering transgender topics in their schools. More and more we are seeing a growing acceptance and encouragement of “transgendered children” as young as 5 in schools.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, news, parenting June 5, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are You Concerned Your Children Might Drift from the Lord?

Some of you had trouble getting to sleep last night, and I think I know the reason why. You just couldn’t get your kids off of your mind.

Maybe you have a daughter who is questioning her Christian faith. Or you have a son who has turned his back on the Lord and walked away. Or maybe you have younger kids, and you’re disheartened by the world you’re having to raise them in.

There are plenty of justifiable reasons to be concerned about your children and their future and, specifically, their spiritual well-being.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, family, parenting June 4, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Loneliness is a Strategy Against Our Souls

There may be no greater irony in our society than this.

Technology we could hardly have dreamed of thirty years ago is now at our fingertips. We can connect with almost anyone anywhere in the world within seconds in a dozen different ways – from the traditional phone call to email to social media to texting.

And, yet, more and more of us admit to feeling lonely.

How is that possible?

Maybe it’s because the “connection” we all believe we have is really an illusion.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, relationships May 21, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Hear What Happened Inside a Waffle House?

At only 5 years old, Josiah Duncan is teaching the country what it means to show love and compassion.

It all started when the Alabama boy and his mom, Ava Faulk, encountered a man outside a local Waffle House, news outlets report. Josiah didn’t understand why the man wasn’t clean. It turns out little Josiah had never heard of homelessness.

He had a lot of questions – but most of all, he was troubled that the man looked hungry.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, parenting May 20, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How a Young Woman Talked About Jesus in a Public School

I want to share some encouraging reports from this year’s Day of Dialogue free speech event.

When I originally blogged about the April 16th event giving Christian students a chance to share a hope-filled perspective on issues like marriage, sexuality and gender-identity issues, I told you we were expecting 18,000 young men and women would participate.

In reality, an estimated 25,000 students took the initiative to lead Day of Dialogue events in schools across the nation.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, kids, news, parenting, religious liberty May 18, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Abortion Worker Who Became a Friend

Let me ask you a question. How do you think Christians should engage a culture that often stands in direct opposition to God’s truth?

There are likely as many different answers to that question as there are people to respond to it. In my view, that says a lot about the creativity and passion of the Christian community.

But, however we strive to influence the culture, I hope there’s one underlying value that guides all we do and say: Jesus offers salvation to everyone.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, pro-life May 15, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Secret to Connecting with Your Spouse for a Lifetime

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 our spouse will create a deeper, more meaningful connection than the other two areas.

Here’s why: The benefits of spiritual intimacy naturally spill over into the other two areas. A spiritually connected couple will tend to have deeper emotional and sexual connection with one another.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage May 14, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Free E-Book and Other Resources For Your Family

For years, Focus on the Family has been offering wonderful resources to help our friends with their marriage, parenting and faith journeys. I want to share some of the items we’re currently offering, or that will be available soon.

1. “Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love” – Written by Focus marriage experts Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley for engaged couples, this book is full of helpful tips and wisdom to set soon-to-be newlyweds on a straight path toward a healthy marriage.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, family, promos May 12, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Find Out What One Man Does When His Family Is Threatened

Picture a man named John on vacation with his family along the coast of the Mediterranean. They’ve just finished dinner and are enjoying a casual stroll to their hotel. The air is warm, the breeze is cool, and ocean waves are crashing into the shore. It’s like something from a postcard.

It’s at about that time John notices someone following them. A few steps later, another man appears from a side street up ahead. Now the man in front and the man behind start closing in.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith May 7, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Oregon Bakers Fined $135,000 for Supporting Marriage

Late last week it was announced that Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of a bakery in Gresham, Oregon called “Sweet Cakes by Melissa,” had been fined $135,000.

Why?

Because they exercised their right of conscience and declined baking and decorating a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony.

This Christian couple with five children have been guests on our broadcast as they told their story of how their faith came under fire when they were confronted by a choice they thought would never come: obey God or obey an unjust law.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, religious liberty April 27, 2015 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura