Daly Focus Blog
Here at Focus, we’ve long promoted the idea that married couples thrive when they take the time to go on a regular “date night.” Yes, that’s right – in the middle of our fast-paced lives and parenting craziness, husband and wives should put in the effort to plan a time together to talk and connect outside of the normal routine.
For most married couples, it’s not easy to go on dates regularly. For some, it’s hard to justify the expense.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
It’s a familiar formula for movie and TV plots: the hugely successful, workaholic husband and dad is a failure at home. His wife feels like he’s a stranger, and his kids resent him. The man’s life is crumbling around him, even while his career is in high gear.
The reason the plot is used again and again is because it sadly echoes reality in far too many homes across the country.
But what if I told you that the same principles and techniques that husband and father applies to his professional life would also help him excel at home?
Topics: Family and Home Tags: relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
When I was an eight-year-old boy, I looked to Hank, the father figure in my life, for all the things the other kids my age seemed to enjoy with their dads. Sadly, Hank wasn’t willing to be engaged in my life. He adored my mom, but my siblings and I were simply excess baggage. While my mother was affectionate and nurturing, Hank’s love for us was missing in action. As a youngster longing for a strong, caring father figure in my life, it would have gone a long way toward forging a close bond between Hank and my siblings and me if he had:
1.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, kids, parenting, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Online dating is one of those subjects that Christians enjoy debating. In one camp, there are some who believe looking for love online betrays a lack of faith in God’s provision of a spouse. In their view, the seemingly endless lists of online profiles creates a superficial consumer mentality that undermines the sacrificial nature of Christ-centered love.
The other side counters that online dating is merely a tool God can use to bring two people together – users don’t place their faith in the matchmaking site, but in the Lord.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
A recent article in Relevant magazine, “Confessions of a Prude”, explored the role cultural relevance has for Christians.
The author writes:
We culture-savvy Christians recoil at the labels assigned to us by society… sheltered, out-of-touch, or prudish.
True?
Well, just think of how often we seek to be culturally relevant, watching every movie, keeping up with every popular program on TV and making sure we understand the references on “Saturday Night Live.”
After all, don’t we have an obligation against coming across as self-righteous?
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
How are friendships forged and formed?
There are many ways, of course, from the traditional to the unorthodox, but C.S. Lewis once put it this way:
Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another: “What! You too?”
Dan Cathy is the president of Chick-fil-A and the son of the company’s founder, Truett Cathy. Dan is also a friend of mine, and I was reminded again this week of how much I appreciate the man when I saw a column about him from a homosexual activist in the Huffington Post.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I recently came across this and wanted to share it with you:
NOAH got drunk.
ABRAHAM was too old.
ISAAC was a daydreamer.
JACOB lied.
LEAH was ugly.
JOSEPH was abused.
MOSES was a murderer and couldn’t talk.
GIDEON was afraid.
SAMSON had long hair and was afraid.
RAHAB was a prostitute.
JEREMIAH and TIMOTHY were too young.
DAVID was a murderer and adulterer.
ELIJAH was suicidal.
ISAIAH preached naked.
JONAH ran from God.
NAOMI was a widow.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, friendship, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Is it possible that the worst thing that happens to you this coming year could turn out to be the best thing that happens to you this year?
In 1939, J.R.R. Tolkien prepared an essay to be delivered as a lecture at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. It was titled “On Fairy-Stories,” and in the piece he explained and defended the use of fantasy as a literary form.
The entire work is worth reading, but one part in particular speaks to our current state of affairs—and in a most hopeful way.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I was saddened yesterday to learn of the death of Zig Ziglar, a bestselling author and motivational speaker. He was 86. Zig inspired us and lifted our spirits by lifting up the name of Jesus. He reminded us to believe in ourselves only because Christ first believed in us.
Here are a few favorite quotes from over the years from the tongue and pen of Zig Ziglar:
Make every effort to be perceived as the most capable, not the most visible.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
There are five things that comprise a wise, godly life. They function both as means to becoming wise and godly as well as signs that you are growing into such a life:
1. Put your heart’s deepest trust in God and his grace. Every day remind yourself of his unconditioned, covenantal love for you. Do not instead put your hopes in idols or in your own performance.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, pastors, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
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.Home
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