Daly Focus Blog
I’m delighted to share a big announcement: Focus on the Family is the major promotional partner for the award-winning docudrama “MULLY.”
This powerful film tells the story of Dr. Charles M. Mully, a man who gave up riches and power to help the 2.6 million abandoned children living on the streets in Kenya, Africa, rescuing 12,000. The movie’s themes of selflessness, service, and the intrinsic worth of every child drew us to this film – and I know they’ll reverberate in your heart, too.
Christians, non-believers, and people of other faiths have always had something in common. We have questions about life and about God.
I recently had a conversation with Dr. Timothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, that reaffirmed to me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to the questions we’re asking right now in 2017.
Like questions about identity. Who we are is often wrapped up in what we do, what others think of us, and what we own, all of which are the fruit of what we achieve.
David Green learned how to give to others long before he founded Hobby Lobby, the well-known chain of retail arts and crafts stores across the United States. His parents never had much money, but they were two of the most generous people David has ever known.
David still remembers his dad writing someone a check for $100 even though the most he’d ever made in a week was $138. And his mom once gave a dress out of her own closet to a woman in need.
“I gave him everything I could physically and emotionally just to keep him around. He was a need, a necessity.”
Author Danna Gresh says that comment from a college-age young woman is reflective of the curse described in Genesis 3:16: “Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”
According to Dannah, the curse is like a “violent craving” for many women. It’s not that they want a man, they feel like they need one.
You don’t have to know Chonda Pierce for long to believe that humor is wired into her DNA.
Like the night the film about her life, Laughing in the Dark, premiered in theaters. Chonda asked her son to accompany her. Halfway through the movie, she leaned over and chuckled into her son’s ear, “This is the saddest movie I have ever seen.”
Humor has carried Chonda through a lot of heartache:
Her suicidal father, who stood in the pulpit every Sunday but touched her inappropriately at home.
Who we are often gets buried underneath a mountain of what we do.
There’s something much deeper to all of us that we’ll struggle to find until we get beneath the surface into the deeper question of “Who am I?” We were created for more than just working every day.
Ernie Johnson Jr. had that kind of an identity crisis. You’d never know it from the outside. He was an award-winning sportscaster for national television networks.
When Kim Meeder was growing up, she adored her parents.
She thought her father was a superhero. He didn’t wear a cape, fly, or leap tall buildings, but there wasn’t much else he couldn’t do. Her mother was the most beautiful and loving woman in the world, and Kim wanted to grow up to be just like her.
But when she was just nine years old, Kim lost both of her parents in a horrific tragedy that shattered her heart and left her disillusioned with God.
When actor and comedian Patton Oswalt suddenly lost his wife, Michelle, in April 2016, he went public with his grief.
“She hasn’t left a void. She’s left a blast crater,” the heartbroken widower wrote in an open letter, where he also talked about the impact his wife’s death has had on their 7-year-old daughter, Alice.
And his public, palpable grief may be why some people have reacted with surprise – and even criticism – when news broke of Patton’s recent engagement last week.
Last week was special. We celebrated four decades of God’s faithfulness to Focus on the Family, culminating in a very memorable 40th anniversary chapel service on Friday with special guests Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman – and some of the best parts were those that didn’t go as planned.
The day started early in the morning, as we prepared for the arrival of hundreds of ministry friends, staff, Secret Service agents, local law enforcement, members of the media, and even some protestors who set up camp across the street.
Vice President Mike Pence will be joining Focus on the Family staff and friends today in celebrating 40 years of helping families thrive.
In addition to Vice President Pence’s participation as our featured speaker, award-winning Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman will also be at the special chapel service. He will be leading us in a time of worship.
We wanted to open this special event up to our friends who faithfully support and pray for our ministry, as well as the families we love and serve.
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.
