faith Archives

Journeying from Tragedy to Triumph

Would you be able to forgive the person who shattered your life?

In a recorded message on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Journeying from Tragedy to Triumph,” Bryan Koch shares how a drunk driver turned a pleasant Sunday afternoon motorcycle ride into a horrendous tragedy for his family.

After a lovely summer afternoon drive, Bryan and his wife, Lynn were less than a mile from their home when their motorcycle was run off the road by a driver whose blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith March 3, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sudden Cardiac Arrest: A Survivor’s Story

Give her an opportunity, and Pamela Christian will gladly tell you about the day she died.

It all began during an afternoon of tennis with girlfriends. She had been battling stomach problems all morning, a problem she dismissed as indigestion. But after a few practice swings, she started feeling short of breath and lightheaded, too much for the amount of exertion her warmup required.

In a matter of minutes, she began vomiting and collapsed to the ground.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith February 22, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Using Your Love Language to Grow Closer to God

What is God’s love language?

I’m sure your familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman’s take on the five love languages:

AffirmationActs of serviceQuality timeReceiving giftsPhysical touch

Understanding the concept helps us strengthen our relationship with our spouse and with our children by expressing love to them in the specific ways they feel that love. The five love languages are how we feel love from others as well.

Because we were created in God’s image, we each feel God’s love and presence primarily in one or two of these ways.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith February 9, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Evangelicals Christian Nationalists?

Earlier this week, USA Today published a provocative editorial titled, “Christian nationalism is a threat, and not just from Capitol attackers invoking Jesus.”

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), our guest on today’s broadcast, was singled out by the essayist and falsely accused of being one of those dangerous individuals who uses his faith for political purposes.

It’s true the senator is a devout believer in Jesus Christ and a strong defender of his country – but that doesn’t make him a religious nationalist – that is, someone who fuses his love of God with his country in idolatrous fashion.

Many of us cringed when we saw Christian symbols and signs inside the Capitol melee of January 6th.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, politics February 4, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Using Kindness to Open Doors in the Culture

I’ve been thinking about kindness a lot because I believe it lies at the heart of the Gospel. Have you ever met a believer who became a Christian as a result of judgment, condemnation, or ridicule? Me neither.

One of my favorite verses is Romans 2:4, which reminds us that it’s the kindness of God that opens people’s hearts to the message of God.

I often ask myself, “Am I reflecting God’s kindness? Or am I just being nice?” Scripture never tells us to be nice.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: culture, faith January 20, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Starting Off the New Year Right

A new year is upon us, and you know what that means, don’t you?

It’s time to get the next 12 months off to a great start.

Some of us may choose to make New Year’s resolutions. Others may prefer to think in terms of goals, objectives, or plans. Whatever lingo you choose, the challenge remains the same: making it happen.

That’s where things get tough because there’s nothing magical about the flip of the calendar.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, New Years January 1, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering the Truth About My Identity

A homosexual activist once asked me, “When are Christians going to leave behind their medieval beliefs about sexuality and come into the 21st century?”

He was referring to the Bible, of course – which confronts all of us with some pretty powerful ideas that are not always easily digestible.

So, I responded, “Christians are followers of the Bible, not editors. We’re compelled to follow God’s Word because it’s His truth, and we believe Jesus when He says the truth sets us free” (John 8:32).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality December 29, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Your Five Core Needs Being Met?

For you and me to experience wholeness, five desires of our hearts must be met:

Security – who can I trust?Identity – who am I?Belonging – who wants me?Purpose – why am I alive?Competence – what do I do well?

Each of those are listed in their correct order, by the way. If you feel safe and secure, you’ll feel empowered to discover your identity – your deepest passions and strengths. Out of those, you’ll discover your purpose and develop competence.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith December 10, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seeing Christmas Through Women’s Eyes

Has it ever occurred to you how many holiday traditions sterilize the historical truth of Christmas?

This time of year, the joy of the season is everywhere. There are lights and decorations; the smell of cookies, pies, and freshly cut Christmas trees; and music that remind us of snow, sleighs, and reindeer.

But all of that beautiful imagery stands in stark contrast to the difficult circumstances surrounding the very first Christmas. Consider the lives of three women who lived it: Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: christmas, faith November 30, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sharing God’s Light Through Art

We recorded our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Sharing God’s Light Through Art” in a different kind of studio. Instead of microphones and recording consoles, we were surrounded by more easels, paint brushes, and canvases in one place than I’ve ever seen.

The studio belongs to Morgan Weistling, who has been an artist since he was old enough to hold a crayon. He has studied under some of the most legendary illustrators and artists of the last century.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 6, 2020 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura