What Do You Recommend?

Sitting in a conversation with Rob Kirkpatrick, the Executive Producer for our daily Focus radio program, we talked about parenting. We touched on several key resources and perspectives about child-rearing that we naturally rely on, day in and day out. For me, those include Dr. Dobson’s classic, New Strong Willed Child. And Dr. Kevin Leman’s book about the role of birth order in how children behave. And then there’s Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, Five Love Languages. And if I took a few more minutes, I could probably list several more books and videos that have been essential for me to use and apply as a parent.

I’m wondering what resources YOU might suggest to people – over and over again – as you go through the parenting journey? Give me a list of your favorite items – and some links, too.

A New Day!

Today marks the first day at Focus on the Family without our founder, Dr. James Dobson, who has faithfully completed the task he set out to do more than seven years ago: step away from the ministry he started and has loved for 33 years. In so doing, Dr. Dobson has done a rare thing.

Few leaders willingly let go of the helm, few make room for a new generation of leaders to step up, few fully depart and allow the organization to grow in new and different ways. Dr. Dobson has done this, though, and we owe him our heartfelt thanks.

Those of us staying at Focus are so grateful for the heritage and legacy Dr. Dobson leaves. We’re also quite confident in the coming days — and that’s not a confidence in ourselves; rather, we’re confident in the God who formed this ministry and continues to have His hand on the work, touching lives worldwide through our humble efforts.

During the past year, I’ve reflected on the many lessons God has given us in the story of Joshua. Quickly summarizing, At the end of the Old Testament book of Exodus, Moses died Joshua stepped up to lead the millions of God’s people who were ready to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. Turn the page, and you see in the opening verses of the book of Joshua a charge by God.

Joshua, be strong and courageous. Be strong and courageous, Joshua. Be strong and courageous. Joshua, be strong and courageous.

There’s no mistake in those verses. God repeated Himself to Joshua, the new leader, for a reason! There was much that could cause fear. There were unseen challenges and enemies. There would be difficulties with the people themselves, who would have doubt and whose hearts would stray. Yet, God had brought Joshua to this point, for “such a time as this” (to quote from the book of Esther). God knew all that had been done through Moses, He knew all that He had poured into Joshua, and He knew that the people were about to end 40 years of wandering to enter the Land He had promised their forefathers generations ago.

I don’t want to read too much into the parallels, but in many ways, Focus is now entering a new phase rather like that of the Israelites those centuries ago: without the faithful servant who brought us to this point. We’re entering a new season with a new leader and new challenges – and with many new opportunities ahead of us. There are sure to be hard and difficult things in store, but our God goes with us and in that we are convinced.

While we rejoice in the past miracles and wonders that God has accomplished through Focus on the Family to this point in time, we also look ahead, anxious to see how He will guide us in the coming years. We are confident because He assures us,

Be strong and courageous.

Our trust is in the Lord, we are confident of His charge to Jim Daly and to us as a staff, and we press ahead knowing God is in front, and He will accomplish His purposes through us if we will be humble, faithful and diligent.

This is not the end of the story for Focus on the Family. It may, in fact, be just the beginning! I hope you’ll stay with us as we charge ahead for the family.

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