faith Archives

These People Save Others from Themselves

New York City police detective Peter Keszthelyi is assigned to an unusual detail.

When an individual climbs out on a ledge or scales a bridge threatening to commit suicide, Detective Keszthelyi and a partner are called in to try and talk the person out of it.

There are 300 officers assigned to this highly specialized unit in New York City. Unfortunately, they’re busier than they want to be, but often very successful, too. Every situation is unique, of course, but the officers are skilled at trying to get the people to talk and see things from a new and hope-filled point of view.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, friendship October 9, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tim Keller: The Five Things You Need in Life

There are five things that comprise a wise, godly life. They function both as means to becoming wise and godly as well as signs that you are growing into such a life:

1. Put your heart’s deepest trust in God and his grace. Every day remind yourself of his unconditioned, covenantal love for you. Do not instead put your hopes in idols or in your own performance.

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, pastors, relationships October 5, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Homecoming Prank Follow-Up and Focus Connection

Last Wednesday I shared with you the touching story of Michigan’s Whitney Kropp. Miss Kropp is the 16-year-old high school student whose classmates attempted to embarrass her by nominating the sophomore to the school’s homecoming court.

Instead, the so-called “prank” turned her into something of a national celebrity.

Miss Kropp’s community rallied to her side. A Facebook page created to express support generated over 125,000 “likes.” The cost of her dress, shoes and flowers were covered by local merchants.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, news, pop culture October 1, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why the Presidential Election Could Come Down to Your Vote

When you review history, it’s remarkable how many things have been decided by the slimmest of margins:

Who can forget the presidential election of 2000? You’ll recall that George W. Bush defeated Vice President Al Gore by just 537 votes in Florida.

A race for the Alaskan House of Representatives in 2008 came down to a single vote.

That same year, Al Franken defeated Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Norm Coleman in a hotly contested election. Only 225 votes separated the two men.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news, policy September 24, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Check Your Motives

Sometimes we might do what’s right—but for the wrong (usually selfish) reason.

I’m reminded of the story of the philosopher Diogenes.

He was once seen sitting on a curb eating lentils and bread, a meager meal by any standard. A fellow philosopher, Aristippus, a man who lived well because he flattered the king, approached him and mocked his circumstance.

“If you would learn to be subservient to the king,” he snarled, “you would not have to live on lentils.”

Diogenes looked up with a smile, tilted his head, and replied, “Learn to live on lentils, and you will not have to cultivate the king.”

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, faith, relationships September 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Five Things You Might Not Know About the Ryder Cup

You’ve heard of the Ryder Cup and might even know a little bit about the storied golf tournament, but do you know anything about the man behind the trophy?

In this age of negotiating naming rights and corporate sponsorships, a youngster recently suggested the Ryder Cup was named after the Ryder Truck Company.

Not quite.

Because many of you are interested in golf and since Focus on the Family will be sponsoring a special event (more on this in a moment) in conjunction with this year’s tournament in Medinah, Illinois, I thought it would be fun to share five things you probably don’t know about the history of the Ryder Cup.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, faith, family September 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Strangest Secret

Over sixty years ago, Earl Nightingale, a former United States Marine who had been one of only twelve survivors of the bombing of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor, struck upon an idea.

At the time of his epiphany, he was an announcer at the legendary Chicago radio station WGN. Residents of the Windy City were drawn to his soothing, sonorous voice. But it was off the air, while reading a book by Napoleon Hill, a well-known motivational writer and speaker of that era, that Nightingale’s revelation came to him, like “a bolt out of the blue,” he said.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, faith, relationships September 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Before You Get Too Excited About the New iPhone 5…

“The fascination we have with the newness of these things…can be so undoing to our affection for Christ and our devotion to prayer and His word.”

– John Piper

“Sit loose to this world’s joy,” cautioned Robert Murray McCheyne, a Scottish pastor who passed away in 1843 at the age of 29. “The time is short.”

Amen?

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture, technology September 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Six Myths Christians Believe About Politics

After nearly a year of toiling away on the project, my latest book, ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God’s Heart, will be released next month.

What’s it all about?

I don’t want to give it all away, but if there is one theme woven throughout all the pages of the book, it would be this:

Are we more concerned with shaping (and winning) the debate than we are with shaping and refining our own attitudes toward the world?

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, policy, relationships September 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Do You Tell Your Children About 9-11?

To some, September 11, 2001 seems like a lifetime ago, especially to the parents of young children. Our oldest son, Trent, was just one year-old and Troy hadn’t even been born when the serenity of that late summer morning was shattered by terrorists.

As I drove the boys to school this morning we discussed the anniversary. Over the years we’ve talked a lot about what happened on that tragic day, about the loss of innocent life and how so many dreams of so many families never came true – all because their father or mother never came home.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, family, parenting September 11, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura