Daly Focus Blog
The death today of former first lady Barbara Bush, the wife of the 41st president, George H.W. Bush and the mother of the 43rd, President George W. Bush, marks the earthly conclusion of a remarkable and well-lived life. She was 92.
Lovingly nicknamed the “Silver Fox” by her adoring husband, Barbara was married to George for 73 years, a record for a presidential couple. As a wife, her commitment was unprecedented and as a mother to six, her love was unconditional.
A little over three years ago, in February of 2015, 21 Christian men were martyred by ISIS on a beach in Libya. Their story captured the world’s attention for a brief time, but soon other stories, both important and trivial, stepped in to grab the spotlight. Such is the nature of the news cycle.
On occasion, I have used this blog to bring updates on what is happening in the area where those brave men sacrificed their lives in Christ’s name.
There’s a reason that Jesus talked so much about money: Our relationship with God and our stewardship over money are inextricably connected. He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV).
God wants to help us align the desires of our hearts – what we love, what we’re passionate about – with the stewardship of our resources. Stewardship isn’t about building our own kingdoms. It’s about using money in a way that brings God glory and furthers His kingdom.
I am delighted to announce that Focus on the Family’s NIrV Adventures in Odyssey Children’s Bible has been nominated as a finalist for best Bible of the year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).
As I’ve mentioned before, The NIrV Adventures in Odyssey Bible provides an exciting journey through the Scriptures hosted by familiar characters from the beloved Adventures in Odyssey audio drama. Designed for children ages 7 to 12, this full color Bible includes both the Old and New Testaments and these special features:
66 book introductions
100 word searches
200+ devotionals
300 fun trivia facts
A 30-day guided reading plan
Maps of key biblical events
Eight comic-book adventures illustrated by Marvel/DC Comics artist Sergio Cariello
The ECPA’s Christian Book Award “recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry.” The program began in 1978 and now includes 11 categories including Bibles, Bible Reference Works and Christian Living.
Week ending April 3rd:
Triggers (by Amber Lia & Wendy Speake)
I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is (by Michele Cushatt)
I’d Like You More If You Were More Like Me (by John Ortberg)
Happy, Happy, Happy (by Phil Robertson)
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (by Ben Carson)
How We Love (by Milan Yerkovich)
The Freedom from Depression Workbook (by Les Carter)
The Holy Spirit (by Billy Graham)
The Mom Project (by Kathi Lipp)
I Can Only Imagine (by Bart Millard)
Love & Respect (by Emerson Eggerichs)
Blessed, Blessed .
This past Easter Sunday, Stephen Colbert’s animated television show, “Our Cartoon President,” not only lampooned the President (which is expected), but Colbert also had the nation’s chief executive talk crassly about severing a part of God’s anatomy.
Of course, his defenders will says it’s just a joke – satire on steroids. After all, how can we take a cartoon seriously?
Mr. Colbert is an entertainer, and as such, he understands how to get a strong response from a crowd.
From growing up dirt poor to becoming reality television superstars, Phil and Kay Robertson, of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, have persevered for more than fifty years together.
It hasn’t always been easy. Their first years together were defined by poverty and alcohol abuse so severe Miss Kay eventually kicked Phil out of the house. Phil says their transformation individually and as a couple was only made possible through repentance.
“We look at the word ‘repent’ as a bad thing,” Phil says.
Today is Good Friday, the day Christians remember Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. Sunday is Easter, the day we celebrate His resurrection.
The rest of the world spends this season conjecturing about who Jesus is or debating whether or not He ever existed.
Throughout the culture, the story of Easter is seen as having everything to do with personal faith and nothing to do with objective truth. Religion, it’s believed, doesn’t deal with facts, it deals with personal experience and feelings.
“Who am I?”
Deep down, that’s a question we’re all asking ourselves. Sometimes it’s answered for us by others … and not always in a good way.
Author Michele Cushatt remembers being 19, in college, and overhearing some fellow students talking about her. One of the boys in the group said, “Michele would be beautiful if she wasn’t so fat.”
She was crushed, embarrassed, and humiliated. Worst of all, his comment solidified what she already believed about herself: Beauty was out of reach for her.
“Make each day a masterpiece.”
That bit of advice comes from Coach John Wooden, a legendary college basketball coach who was respected by millions of people. He died in 2010 at the age of 99.
He led the UCLA Bruins basketball team to 10 NCAA national championships in just 12 years, including an 88-game winning streak. He was the first person to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, both as a player and a coach.
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.
