Daly Focus Blog
What I’m going to share with you today is a version of a popular email forward. The author is unknown. But because the advice is so simple and foundational, it’s probably worth reviewing again.
What strikes you will be dependent upon what’s going on in your life. I hope what sticks with you will be the thing you need to work on.
Simple Steps to a Good Life
Pray.
Go to bed on time.
Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
“Christianity says that the trouble with men and women is in their heart, in their ultimate power of vision and understanding.It is not that they are partially wrong, they are all wrong; they are looking in the wrong direction, they are blinded at the most vital point. The organ that keeps them going is itself in trouble—the heart. So our Lord puts this great emphasis upon “first,” and “heart,” and “eye” and this is just a pictorial way of saying that what the human race needs is not just to be improved a little bit here and there … they need to be radically changed.”
– Dr.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Kyle Idleman is the teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and the author of Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus. His words strike right at the heart of this issue:
We have all kinds of funny ways to measure our relationship with God and have things that we point to as evidence, like the fact that there is a fish on our bumper or people will talk about the fact that their grandparents went to church or that they have four Bibles in their house … Jesus doesn’t want fans; he wants completely committed followers.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell came to a conclusion today when the Philadelphia doctor was found guilty of first-degree murder. It took the seven-woman and five-man jury ten days to reach its verdict. The proceedings were filled with gruesome and horrific details, including charges that Mr. Gosnell murdered children born alive. The more I learned of what happened inside that clinic, the more my heart was rubbed raw.
To be clear, the guilty verdict elicits no glee.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pro-life by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Within Christian circles, Max Lucado is a household name, beloved for his gentle and inspiring books. The San Antonio-based pastor is a publishing icon. More than twenty million of his titles are in circulation, and his throngs of readers eagerly await each year’s new release. Now at about this point you’d probably expect me to share a story of Lucado’s humility, to tell you that even with his bestseller status, he doesn’t struggle with pride or ego.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2013
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Americans have long turned to prayer both in times of joy and times of sorrow. On their voyage to the New World, the earliest settlers prayed that they would “rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work.” From that day forward, Americans have prayed as a means of uniting, guiding, and healing.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, religious liberty by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The headlines have been gruesome and the facts behind the stories are difficult to even read. We recoil at the horrors that seem to be present at every turn these days. The Boston Marathon bombings, the agonizing trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, the shootings at Sandy Hook and the Aurora theater come readily to mind.
Sadly, this road of national tragedy is growing increasingly familiar.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pro-life by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
What does grace look like to you?
Grace often shines brightest when the circumstances surrounding it are at their darkest. It’s a person forgiving their spouse the betrayal of their infidelity. It’s extending love to someone who has spewed harsh words and hatred at you. In certain cases, it’s the skilled hands of a doctor rescuing the life of a murderer.
I was struck by that exact imagery recently in the hours following the manhunt of the young man accused of the Boston Marathon bombing.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Let me be candid.
I’m not a gun enthusiast. It wasn’t part of my heritage or upbringing. Even though I know how to use various firearms now, I’m still something of an amateur on the subject.
Even so, I feel the need to comment on the discussions in Washington and throughout the media recently calling for increased gun control legislation.
From my viewpoint, attention is being focused in the wrong direction.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the specifics of the gun control debate.
Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Brad Lomenick is a good friend of mine and he just released a new book this week. It’s titled THE CATALYST LEADER.
In the book Brad shares eight essentials for becoming a change maker – a leader who has the potential to dramatically impact the world for the sake of the Kingdom. I highly recommend this book to those who are passionate about the calling God has placed on their lives.
To give you a better sense of Brad and the book, here are two questions recently posed to him:
Q: What is the Catalyst Leader about?
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
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.Home
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