Focus Daily Radio Program Wins Place in Hall of Fame!
Congratulations, Dr. Dobson!
After 31 years of broadcasting, Dr. Dobson has been honored with induction to the National Radio Hall of Fame. The 2008 Class was the first selected through national online voting, and the “Focus on the Family” broadcast is the first religious program to receive such an honor. From a press release earlier today:
“I’ve made a living putting thoughts into words throughout my adult life, but it is difficult to express how I feel about this honor,” said Dr. James Dobson today at a staff assembly. “I am especially pleased because the wonderful people at Focus on the Family deserve it. Our radio program has not been a solo effort. It has been a symphony performed by more than 10,000 people over the past 32 years. I am indebted to them all.’
“Particularly, I want to thank the Broadcast Team, past and present. They get a big ‘tip of the hat’ for all their hard work and dedication. They have earned the accolades this honor recognizes. I also want to thank all the friends across the nation who cast their votes for me. I love and appreciate them all.”
For more, go to www.focusonthefamily.com. You’ll see the press release on the front page.
And, thanks so much to the many who took the time to vote and make this honor for Dr. Dobson possible.
Groovy, Man
Take a trip back to the enlightened “Age of Aquarius.” Those turbulent 60s were hard for a lot of folks, but God intervened in some dramatic ways in the lives of at least four folks - our guests for this two-day flashback series.
Tidbit: Back in ‘93 when this was recorded I was the show’s producer. It was pretty fun to work with our guests. Today two of them are still here at Focus. That’s longevity!
Moms Who Say No
I’m married to a wonderful woman. She’s a terrific wife, and offers a lot of grace toward my many idiosyncrasies. As a mother, Dena’s heart for her kids is evident. She gives her all for our children - and could have an easier life if she’d be less interested in their character and heart and soul. But she is committed to developing responsible adults who love God and others. So she invests…and invests…and invests. I’ve learned so much about good parenting from her.
Among the many things Dena does well: she says no. Many permissive parents have a hard time denying their children’s requests - who wants to be disliked? My wife knows, however, that kids need an authority figure, not a friend. So while she often says, Yes,” she is also quite comfortable in drawing the line, saying “No” and sticking to it. That’s what good moms (and dads) have to do.
Another mom who thinks that same way is Julie Ann Barnhill, who says,
“You have to draw a line in the sand, and I think you have to communicate that verbally and then follow through … You don’t apologize or quantify or reconsider what you’re doing. That’s part of the difficulty of being ‘one tough mother.’ “
Hear more of Julie Ann’s wit and wisdom about motherhood here.
And be encouraged, Mom, to choose and win the right battles with your children!
Win a TIVO!
I don’t watch television - just not a priority at this stage in life - but for folks who do, TIVO is an indispensable tool. Every single person I know who has a TIVO loves it! If you watch television but don’t yet have one of these remarkable boxes, here’s your chance. Watch the video below for more details!
Tell us about the Dad you know - yours or someone else’s - who is a great father. You might be one of the winners of a TIVO - including a year of service - so what have you got to lose?
Can You Forgive?
What’s one of the hardest things in the world? Forgiving someone who hurt you. Here’s what some listeners are telling us about the series we’re presenting with Dr. R.T. Kendall:
- Having heard the broadcast, she called to ask how to forgive someone (in her case, an older brother) who doesn’t want to be forgiven.
- …heard today’s broadcast about forgiveness and while she understands the principles being conveyed by Dr. Kendall, she thinks it’s very important to clarify the issue of child molestation. She thinks what was said could encourage child molesters to tell children that ‘God says you must forgive me and not tell anyone’. She wants FOF to emphasize more clearly the necessity for children to tell a responsible adult about abuse being perpetrated.
Clearly, we’re touching a nerve here. How about you?How hard is it for you to forgive?
Racing and…Prayer?
Here’s a link to some photos of Dr. Dobson “on the road” recently. He was invited to a NASCAR event, and the pictures of that day reveal a new fan’s enjoyment of the sport. He prayed at a pre-race gathering.
On May 1 Dr. and Mrs. Dobson were in Washington, D.C. for National Day of Prayer activities, and there are some very nice shots of the Dobsons with President Bush.
BTW, audio of some of the events in D.C. is here.
I Was There
A remarkably event; unforgettable, really. The day Dr. Dobson surprised us all. Hear the crowd reaction at this link.
Overcoming The Mess
We home school our kids. On my occasional day off, I’ve noticed something. Every day when the postman comes by there is a race by the children to the mailbox. They are very interested in the stacks of bills and magazines and newsletters…because there might, just might, be something in there for them. After they investigate every envelope, the pile goes…somewhere. Rarely does it end up in the same place twice, though.
So when I come home from work, where can I find the day’s mail? On the desk? By the phone? In between the sofa cushions (really)?
How can a busy parent stay on top of the clutter that so easily develops from day to day, including the mail? Here’s one expert’s suggestion, specifically addressing the mail issue:
- Distribute the mail as soon as it comes in. Ask the following questions:
a) Is it junk? Toss it in the trash.
b) To whom does it belong? Put it in its rightful place.
c) Does it need follow up? Try to respond within 48 hours if possible.
d) Does it require reading? Place it in your reading file and take it with you so you can read while waiting at the doctor’s office, the dentist, to pick up a child from school.
Emilie Barnes is a nationally recognized home-and-office organization expert. Here’s another tip from Mrs. Barnes, especially to improve the clutter in a child’s room.
Children’s rooms need proper tools to keep them tidy and neat. Consider these suggestions:
a) Keep a small vacuum handy to quickly clean up messes.
b) Put up a pegboard or bulletin board to hang things on to keep things off the floor.
c) Use extra large wastebaskets with plastic garbage can liners.
d) Organize toys in plastic boxes or buckets.
e) Install closet rods (appropriate to the height of the child) so he or she can hang up their own clothes.
f) Limit snacking in bedrooms.
If You Are Single
If you single, here is a video of a candid conversation about the expectations many women have about marriage. Pretty informative!
Webcast With Dave Ramsey Friday April 4
Tomorrow from 5 - 7 p.m. Mountain time I’ll be hosting a special webcast with financial guru Dave Ramsey. You’ll be able to interact with Dave online or by phone. Plan to join us - this should be a fun two hours!
