Survey: Focus on the Family Broadcast

Posted on July 22, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast | Leave a Comment

Would you take a few minutes to give us feedback on Focus on the Family radio broadcast? Your answers to eight quick questions will help us evaluate and improve our programming. Here’s the link.

Advice For Moms

Posted on July 21, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast, Parenting | Leave a Comment

It’s my observation that moms like to share thoughts, perspectives and suggestions about parenting. If you have kids, you’ve undoubtedly been helped by advice from other moms. This radio series, featuring Shelly Radic from MOPS, is full of great ideas for Moms – especially those of younger children.

I’d enjoy hearing from listeners who benefited from our conversation with Shelly. Leave a comment mentioning something specific that you appreciated – or even something with which you disagreed – and maybe you’ll receive a copy of Shelly’s book, Momology. I’ll select a couple of winners on Friday.

Super-Involved Parents

Posted on July 21, 2010 
Filed Under Fathering, Parenting | 1 Comment

I know a mom who is taking off work all week long to prepare for the upcoming school year.

I know a mom who drives 100 miles a week – or more – to ensure her children are involved with all the right activities.

I know a mom who does her teenager’s laundry – she just wants to help out.

She'll go to great lengths to be with her child, to do whatever it takes to help that child succeed!

She'll go to great lengths to be with and to help that child succeed in life!

Are these moms healthy in their approaches to parenting? I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with these illustrations – although I wouldn’t want my wife doing laundry for any of our teenagers. I’m simply wondering if there are boundaries to over-involved parenting? If perhaps some mothers do too much?

Here’s an article about “helicopter parents,” specifically addressing some of the indicators that a mom might be over-involved in her child’s life.

What do you think?

Am I a "helicopter parent?"

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Take Our Survey

Posted on July 20, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast | Leave a Comment

Brother, can you spare some time? Really, only a few minutes would be very helpful.

Take a few minutes to answer our broadcast survey. Your answers to eight quick questions will help us evaluate and improve our programming. Here’s the link to that survey.

There’s no incentive – beyond the knowledge that you’ll be helping us fine-tune our radio programming. And that your input can help millions of listeners worldwide.

Thanks much!

Post-Vacation Re-Entry

Posted on July 19, 2010 
Filed Under Fathering, Focus on the Family, Parenting, Personal, Photo | Leave a Comment

I’ve been traveling most of the past three weeks, a combination of business and travel trips. Last week was time away in the mountains with my wife and our four youngest kids. Today, as I re-enter the “normal world” of active children and engaging work, I’m reflecting…

John and Zane enjoyed fishing for trout.

Zane and I enjoyed fishing for trout in Western Colorado last week. No bites, but still fun time together!

If you have a minute, read Focus President Jim Daly blog post about his family’s time last week at K-Kauai Family Kamp.  And listen in here to a conversation I had with two gentlemen who are deeply committed to helping families through Christian camping (its one of the last segments of the show).

Also, if you’ve been on a family vacation this summer, I’d like to hear about your experiences.

Away With Family

Posted on July 15, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast | Leave a Comment

John Fuller is away at a camp with his family, and his access to the Internet isn’t reliable.

While he’s sorry to be away from the blog, he’s having a great time. He will post again when he returns.

Thank you for reading, and for your prayers!

Lindsay, LeBron, Who Cares?

Posted on July 8, 2010 
Filed Under Media, Personal, Social Concern | 1 Comment

Today as I scanned the “most popular” headlines at an online news source, I found it odd that two of the top three most widely read and followed news stories are about celebrities.

Lindsay Lohan’s public self-destruction is, at this time, the most popular news item at Google News. While it all seems rather sad, why is this young woman’s outrageous behavior of such interest to so many?

Tonight NBA superstar LeBron James will announce which team he will play for next season, via an hour-long ESPN special. He needs 60 minutes to tell us something that could be captured in two sentences?

Together, these two pop icons have generated more news reports than these other top stories combined. In fact, a quick tally revealed that people are more interested in Lindsay and LeBron than these other  important items:

Pretty lopsided “news,” don’t you think? And something I heard on the radio this morning makes me wonder: is the media driving this celebrity culture – or are consumers driving the demand for such reporting?A sports writer observed that ESPN is airing what is plainly an hour-long LeBron James infomercial because lots of people will watch it. The public demand for such programming is there, and the network is happy to deliver to the audience (and deliver that audience to advertisers).

Its a chicken-egg question. What do you think?

What's driving our celebrity culture?

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Thanks – and Prayers

Posted on July 6, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast, Photo, Physical Health, Social Concern, Spiritual Life | Leave a Comment

Here’s a comment that encouraged all of us here at Focus. It also inspired me personally to persevere in prayer for those in our armed forces.

“I’m an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps and spent eight months in Iraq.  I want to express my sincere appreciation to Focus on the Family.  The daily prayers and support of millions of Americans kept my Marines and me alive and delivered us home to our loved ones.  Having been an avid supporter of your ministry for many years, I continue to applaud your efforts to defend the family and promote the Christian principles that have made this country the greatest nation on earth.  May God bless you all – Semper Fidelis.”
Also, listen in to this honest conversation about the stresses that military families have to deal with. If you haven’t done so today, take a moment to ask God’s protection and favor on those serving our country. And pray again for them.

Seven Years Ago

Posted on June 27, 2010 
Filed Under Fathering, Life, Parenting, Personal | 1 Comment

I’ve been reflecting today on our youngest son’s birth. He turned seven today, and while he is happily playing with his new Legos and Buzz Lightyear gear, I’m struck by how normal Zane is in so many ways. He loves to play, roughhouse, read books, swim, run around at the park, and eating fruit. He blends into a crowd of kids pretty well. He is pretty strong. He talks a lot about Star Wars (Legos) and can beat me in boxing on the Wii. Zane’s life is pretty routine by most accounts.

Dena and Zane at the orphanage

Dena and Zane at the orphanage

His start in life wasn’t easy, nor usual. Born at 26 weeks, weighing just over two pounds, he spent his first days in neonatal intensive care. Somehow his tiny body pushed through that challenge, and he went on to an orphanage in eastern Russia. We met him when he was eight months, and brought him into our family shortly after that.

We’ve been blessed to have Zane in our lives! The Lord has brought him so very far, and there’s promise and spark in his life that is clear evidence of God’s grace and mercy.

God has also used that boy to teach us much about Himself, and about ourselves. And while I don’t know much about the circumstances surrounding his birth seven years ago, or his first seven months of life, I’m really glad I’ve been part of the past six years, three months.

Your Feedback

Posted on June 23, 2010 
Filed Under Focus on the Family, Focus on the Family Broadcast, Media, Spiritual Life | 1 Comment

As you probably know, Focus on the Family is here to come alongside families like yours with relevance and grace at each stage of the journey.  We support families as they seek to teach their children about God and His beautiful design for the family, protect themselves from the harmful influences of culture, and equip themselves to make a greater difference in the lives of those around them.

As we often say on-air, we’re here to help.  With practical resources – like our 1-800 Family Help line, counseling, and Websites – we’re committed to providing trustworthy, biblical guidance and support.

Of course, one aspect of our outreach involves radio, and it has been a true privilege to work on the daily Focus program for most of my tenure here at the ministry.  And some of the greatest joy is in hearing from folks who have been touched by our work. We receive a significant number of comments every day about our radio programming, much of it quite encouraging and touching. Let me share just one story that we just received:

Over twenty-five years ago, I began listening to your radio program at the recommendation of a mentor and friend. As a result, I’ve been touched by many of your guests over the years. I just wanted to take a moment to thank Focus for all of your wise counsel. In this day and age when it’s often difficult to see evidence of godly families, be assured that many of us in your listening audience are living testimonies that all of your prayer, hard work, and perseverance has paid off. I praise the Lord for the outstanding ministry of Focus on the Family!

We are grateful that God uses our work to impact lives, and I’m wondering if YOU have a story to tell? Leave a comment below and let others know how these broadcasts have made a difference in your life.

Also, I’d ask that you take a few minutes to answer our broadcast survey. Your answers to eight quick questions will help us evaluate and improve our programming. Here’s the link to that survey.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

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