Is freedom the absence of rules and discipline? Or is it submitting to rules and discipline? I believe freedom begins with submission. Let me explain it this way. I like to play golf. But it’s a hard game. The first time I grabbed a club I didn’t whack a ball 300 yards straight down the middle of the fairway. A golf swing takes years of practice to develop and a lifetime to master. And yet, it’s discipline of learning to swing a club properly that offers me freedom. The more I master the mechanics and rhythm of my golf swing the freer I become to hit the right shot at the right time anywhere o ..read more

Adam and Eve were put in charge of the Garden of Eden, but Adam was ultimately accountable for what happened there. That’s what makes his failure so devastating. Not only was he with Eve when she plucked forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but he took a bite himself (Genesis 3:6). The world has been suffering ever since. Unfortunately, many young men don’t know their purpose. They are wandering aimlessly and need help discovering God’s plan for their lives. Whether they’re healthy or disabled, wealthy or poor, a student, a mechanic or an accountant, they’re called ..read more

“Mayday! Mayday!” You recognize that distress call, don’t you? Even children understand what it means. The fact that they do reveals two important ingredients to effective communication. Simplicity and clarity. The “mayday” distress code was created in 1923 by Frederick Mockford, an airport radio officer in London, after his boss challenged him to devise a distress code that could be understood by pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Because much of the air traffic at the time was between London and Paris, Mockford proposed the expression “mayday.” It was easy to say, and it sounded l ..read more

While on vacation in Italy, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott visited Michelangelo’s famous statue of King David. So did thousands of other people that day. To escape the crowds, the Parrotts explored a nearby hall called “Hall of the Prisoners.” On display were several unfinished statues that Michelangelo labelled “The Captives.” The incomplete works were emblematic of mankind’s struggle to feel integrated with God, with ourselves, and with the people around us. Our relationships can only be as healthy as we are. On Focus on the Family with Jim Daly “Improve Yourself, Improve Your Relationships,” I ..read more

Parenting children is one of the greatest blessings a man or woman can experience. But it has its challenges. Parenting can be overwhelming, embarrassing, and messy, too. That’s why praying for and with your children is so important. Their fate is ultimately in God’s trusted hands. He loves them more than we can and knows better than we do what they need. My hope for you is that you’re able to approach prayer more out of confidence than fear. Maybe you’ve never prayed together as a family. If not, then it’ll probably feel awkward and unnatural at first. That may be why a majority of parents re ..read more

You don’t have to be married for long to know how tough sleeping together can be. And I don’t mean that kind of “sleeping together.” I mean actual sleep. Getting some shut-eye. Who can sleep with all of that loud snoring, blanket stealing, tossing and turning, and bad breath? And don’t forget the inevitable tug-of-war between early-birds and night-owls. It’s no wonder so many of us are tired and cranky. Even the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says a large segment of the population suffers from a lack of sleep.  In fact, they call it a “public health problem.” With so many compl ..read more

Isn’t it strange that in a nation nicknamed the “land of opportunity” so many of us struggle to find happiness? Maybe it’s because our society is driven by envy rather than gratitude. Psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud explains why people controlled by envy find happiness so elusive. It’s because envious people believe they need what they don’t have. They tell themselves, “If only I had that car, or that job, or a different relationship, life would be so much better.” In reality, even after they get what they crave, nothing changes. They’re just as unhappy as before, and their search for the missing ..read more

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Do you remember people saying that when you were a child? How old were you when you realized that it wasn’t true? Words can hurt. That’s a good reminder if you’re part of a family whose members like to joke around with each other. Channeled properly, friendly teasing can be both healthy and bonding. Laughter is contagious. It brings people together by diffusing arguments and smoothing out differences. But when teasing spills outside proper boundaries, problems develop. One family member becomes a target, and the tone of teas ..read more

Being a parent is the most natural thing in the world in many ways. But there’s a lot to learn as well. At Focus on the Family, we routinely hear from parents who struggle with how and when to discipline their child. If you have questions in that area, keep a few basics in mind. First, make sure your child understands the rules before you discipline him. If Junior hasn’t been told ahead of time a particular behavior is wrong, cut him some slack. Second, remember the difference between defiance and a mistake. And if your child’s behavior can be attributed to immaturity or clumsiness, don’t puni ..read more

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian message. But that doesn’t make forgiveness easy. Forgiveness is difficult because we often confuse “forgiving” with “excusing.” Forgiveness never excuses the wrongs against us or waters down the awful nature of an offense. It doesn’t pretend that something didn’t happen. Forgiveness acknowledges the ugliness of the sin, no matter how dark, then sets us free, not the other person. Forgiveness releases our heart, heals our pain, and allows us to move forward through life in peace. Even after one sorts through common misconceptions about forgiveness, i ..read more