faith Archives

A Two Word Solution to an Age-Old Problem: Stop It!

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.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage, parenting, pop culture October 27, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Godly Perspective on End-of-Life Decisions

What would you do?

Imagine this scenario: You’re standing beside a hospital bed. The prognosis is not good. The doctor gives you two options. Remove your loved one from artificial life support. Or keep them alive indefinitely with it.

What would you do? What is biblical? What is permissible? What is compassionate?

Many families are facing complicated decisions in this era of intensive-care medicine, and they need help navigating it. To that end, Dr. Kathryn Butler is our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “A Godly Perspective on End-of-Life Decisions.” She’s a former trauma surgeon with a decade of experience as a critical care specialist.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 26, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Sharing Your Faith with Boldness

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.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, pro-life October 22, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding God’s Healing for Sexual Brokenness

You don’t have to be a Christian or a social scientist to recognize the terrible consequences of mismanaged sexuality.

For 50 years, the sexual revolution has popularized casual sex, but it has also produced sexual casualties. Like Sy Rogers. He was 6 years old when he was repeatedly molested by an adult male. After his mom was killed in a drunk driving accident, his father sent him to live with female relatives. The feminine mannerisms he developed led to bullying from boys who told him that he was gay.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 13, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Breathe Spiritual Life into Your Marriage

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.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage October 7, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Your Child Build a Lifelong Faith

One of the most challenging issues Christian parents contact us about is discipleship of their own children. Many moms and dads don’t feel qualified to share their faith effectively.

Do you fear miscommunicating the Gospel and leading your kids astray? Was discipleship never modeled for you growing up? Do you believe that the Church and Sunday school should be enough to teach your kids about their faith?

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Helping Your Child Build a Lifelong Faith” we’re addressing those concerns and encouraging you to take up this responsibility.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids October 6, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When God Gives You a Second Chance

I’ve needed God to give me a second chance a few times.

Just one example would be my high school football career. I was my team’s starting quarterback and spent long hours honing my abilities and pushing myself to be at the top of my game. Several colleges had offered me scholarships, and future opportunities seemed wide open for me. I was proud of my accomplishments and potential. Arrogantly so.

God humbled me. That journey started the night my big brother confronted me after one of my games.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 4, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Hope and Renewal for Our Pastors

What do you think a typical week is like for your pastor? A few hours of study and a sermon on Sunday? The occasional hospital- or home-visit?

I recently talked with two couples – Marshall and Merrie Eizenga and Sam and Pauline Doerksen – who say many pastors routinely experience stress at the level of first responders.

They would know. The Eizengas served as pastors for 35 years. The Doerksens were pastors for 22 years. Together, they now co-direct the Kerith Creek Retreat Center in Canada.

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

WATCH: Our New Bookstore – in Holland, Michigan!

For the last nearly half-century, Focus on the Family, through our radio broadcast and host of other resources has been introducing you to all types of individuals with compelling and redeeming messages offering help and hope. Many of these resources are available online or in our magnificent retail store here in Colorado Springs.

Now, I’m delighted to announce that Focus is expanding outside of Colorado to western Michigan and the beautiful town of Holland, home of Hope College.

We’ve just opened a new bookstore there in the middle of the city.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith September 22, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Engaging the Culture with Truth and Love

Our country is at a crossroads. Society is rapidly changing – and not always for the better. Some people call it “woke” or “cancel” culture, where only certain points of view are allowed to be expressed.

Many Americans feel like these disturbing seismic changes happened overnight. The truth is our culture has been chipping away at the Judeo-Christian value system for decades. Increasingly, the Christian viewpoint is unwelcome in public settings. And that problem will only become more challenging for families and for the church.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, pop culture September 14, 2021 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura