faith Archives

Building Lasting Memories in Your Family

Many moms feel overwhelmed by the shopping, cooking, and high expectations of the holiday season.

But making memories doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. One of author Jessica Smartt’s best memories is taking her first communion class. She doesn’t remember a lot of theology, but she does remember her mother taking her through a McDonald’s drive-thru to get a cheeseburger afterward. Just the two of them together, eating in the family pickup truck.

This time of year, it’s good to remember that a good reason for traditions is to connect with your children, to let them know that their family supports them, and to bond them deeply to their Christian faith.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting November 22, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The First Thanksgiving

It’s been over 400 years since the first Thanksgiving – and yet the more times change, the more they remain the same.

Thanksgiving 2023 comes during a highly volatile and uneven time in America’s history. Dissension and dysfunction seem to be everywhere. Anger and frustration are running high. You can feel it. You can see it.

Whether politically, economically, socially or spiritually, nobody knows for sure what is coming next – or even if it’s coming at all.

Well, truth be told, that sounds a bit like the first Thanksgiving.

Hollywood and artists tend to paint that first feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 as this idyllic Hallmark Hall of Fame kind of moment.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, family November 21, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Blending Two Lives into One Flesh

Author Kari Trent Stageberg – daughter of psychologist and author Dr. John Trent – and her husband, Joey, coach couples toward greater health and connection.

They say there’s a moment in every marriage that permanently changes the relationship. It’s called the “merge moment.” It occurs when husbands and wives realize their differences have the potential to drive them apart.

“Merge moments” are like two rushing rivers crashing into one another. They can be noisy, messy, and unpredictable.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage November 14, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Music of Hope

What would you say are the most crucial ingredients to human survival? Food? Water? Shelter? Equally important is the need for hope.

The Jewish Holocaust was one of the darkest periods in human history. Over six million people were murdered in German concentration camps. Millions more barely survived horrific conditions of disease, abuse, and starvation. The misery was unbearable.

When the Allies liberated camps throughout Europe, they were shocked by what they found among the gas chambers and mass graves – drawings, writings, sheets of music, all created by prisoners.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family November 13, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

American Heroes: Serving on the Front Lines

Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, a day to remember military servicemen and women who have served and sacrificed in defense of our nation’s freedom.

Former Marine and expert in PTSD and military and veterans’ issues Chad Robichaux is joining us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “American Heroes: Serving on the Front Lines.”

Chad originally joined the military after 9/11 fueled by a desire for retribution against terrorists. During eight tours of duty in Afghanistan, his interpreter, a man named Aziz, became like a brother and saved Chad’s life three times.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news November 10, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding Heaven: Knowing God and His Love

I don’t know about you, but thoughts of heaven bring me great comfort!

I love the promise in Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding Heaven: Knowing God and His Love,” we’re taking a unique look at the God of heaven – the Creator of the universe and the Light and Lover of our souls – with John Burke.

Topics: Uncategorized Tags: broadcast, faith November 7, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Answer Challenges to Your Faith

Some in the culture say, “There’s no such thing as truth.”

Question: Is that statement true? If there’s really no such thing as truth, then the statement itself is self-refuting.

Arguments against Christianity like that usually fall flat when you peel back the layers and respond with a broad knowledge of relevant issues, wisdom rooted in God’s Word, and an ability to speak truth in a winsome way.

We’re talking about how to develop all three on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “How to Answer Challenges to Your Faith.” Our guest is Greg Koukl, a Christian apologist and founder and president of Stand to Reason Ministries.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith October 25, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Green-Colored Glasses

My guess is you consider yourself an open minded person. You’re mostly right. I say mostly because we’re all biased. Each of us has filters through which we see the world.

We’re a lot like the people of Oz – as in The Wizard of Oz. In the original story, written by Frank Baum, the Emerald City is said to be made of green glass, emeralds, and other jewels. And yet, when Dorothy and her companions enter the city, the Wizard expects them to wear green-tinted spectacles.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 24, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Search for a Father’s Love

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “My Search for a Father’s Love,” we’re sharing my conversation with Lynsi Snyder, the owner and president of the In-N-Out Burger chain of restaurants located in the western part of the United States.

Although her family’s wealth made life appear like a fairy tale to outsiders, Lynsi has had a difficult and, at times, heart breaking journey. Her father died when she was 17 years old, which led her into a downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse and promiscuous relationships in search of love.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Andy Stanley, Pope Francis, and the Idolization of Evangelism

Believing the spirit of the Christian calls for us to assume the best intentions of fellow believers, I was intrigued when I first learned that North Point Community Church in Atlanta planned to host a conference late last month for parents of LGBT children and ministry leaders looking for more effective ways to serve those impacted by the heavy and increasingly controversial issue.

In fact, the outreach brought back memories of a similarly themed conference that my organization, Focus on the Family, hosted for several years well over a decade ago.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news October 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura