Daly Focus Blog
Men, we’re at war.
Most guys probably don’t think about their roles as husbands or fathers in those terms very often. That could be why so many men succumb to the dangers of pornography and adulterous affairs. They seem oblivious to how the enemy of their soul uses those temptations to ruthlessly plot their destruction.
That’s why author and speaker Dr. Steve Farrar specifically compares a man’s role in his home to point men in military conflict.
The war epic Saving Private Ryan opens with one of the most riveting battle scenes in film history. It depicts in graphic detail the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. It’s a vivid depiction of heroic bravery and sacrifice.
I also think it depicts the spiritual battle that’s waging over your marriage and mine. Satan despises marriage, and he hopes to destroy each one he can. Trace human history back to the Garden, and you’ll see that Satan made his move against humanity after God brought Adam and Eve together in a union designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and His church and the intimacy shared between the Trinity.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Maximizing the Happiness in Your Marriage,” you’ll hear from researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn, who explains what the happiest married couples do to be … well, happy.
Her premise is simple: the best way to have a good marriage is to find out what the happiest couples are doing and emulate them. To discover what those things are, she surveyed thousands of married couples and dug more deeply into the relationships of those who independently reported high degrees of satisfaction in their marriage.
Readers above a certain age will remember the comedian Bob Newhart. Now 92 years-old, the actor known for his deadpan delivery once played a psychologist dispensing advice to a cast of eclectic characters. Encountering a woman who feared and thought continuously about being buried in a box, the doctor famously relayed a two-word solution:
“Stop it!”
Naturally, breaking a bad and destructive habit is easier said than done. But the first step is realizing the harm that is done by consuming pornography.
In 2014, brothers David and Jason Benham were considered the next stars of the HGTV cable channel. Their show Flip It Forward was expected to be as successful as Chip and Joanna Gaines’ show, Fixer Upper.
However, five weeks into a 10-week film shoot – and just months away from airing the first episode – David and Jason were fired. HGTV executives said activist organizations had begun confronting the channel and targeting advertisers. The reason?
The Benham brothers are unabashedly vocal about social issues related to marriage and pro-life values.
There’s a good chance that you know someone at church or at work who feels trapped in an abusive marriage. Three-quarters of Americans know someone who is a victim of domestic violence. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 1 in 4 women experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner.
As that person’s friend, you’re in a natural position to help. A lot of people in abusive relationships won’t seek out a counselor, but they will talk with a trusted friend.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Keeping Your Family Healthy,” we’re talking with Dr. Scott James, author of the book, God Cares for Me: Helping Children Trust God When They’re Sick.
He’s a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. He’s also a member of Focus on the Family’s Physicians Resource Council, a great team of physicians and medical professionals who volunteer their time to advise us about medical issues that are most relevant to families.
As followers of Christ, we believe that marriage is a symbol of something spiritual and sacred. In Ephesians 5:32, the apostle Paul calls marriage a “mystery” and compares it to Jesus’ relationship with the Church.
So why do so many of us allow ourselves to be distracted by the busyness of life instead of plumbing the depths of relational intimacy. There’s so much to do that we put our marriages and our children on autopilot while we tend to more “important” matters.
According to Psychology Today, 63% of people who say they feel lonely are currently married. Two people drive in the same car, sit at the same table, and sleep in the same bed … yet they feel worlds apart.
My colleague, Dr. Greg Smalley, discovered how lonely his wife, Erin, was after he spent a few weeks during the pandemic cooking family meals when their adult children moved home for a few months. Erin quickly wore out from trying to work and cook for the entire family.
Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs were married for ten years.
The first time.
In their mid-twenties, Jeff and Cheryl moved to Los Angeles and lived a stereotypical California lifestyle. They were successful at their jobs. They made a lot of money. They even had an ocean-front home with all of the right stuff to fill it. Yet, their marriage was mostly empty.
Cheryl thought their lack of intimacy would eventually correct itself.
It didn’t.
She thought the birth of their twins would fill their emptiness.
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.
