What do you think?
Rate this book
ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God's Heart
Written by Jim Daly, the compassionate leader of Focus on the Family, ReFocus inspires and motivates Christians to transcend political agendas and partisan battles and instead interact with others in a way that will consistently reveal the heart of God to a desperately hurting world.
Our culture has become painfully polarized, often hindering relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and the very people who need to discover the love of Jesus Christ. Remembering that we are foremost citizens of heaven serving a loving Father, we who call ourselves followers of Christ can once again be known by our love.
But how? In what context and through what means? How can we tear down the walls that divide our culture, our neighborhoods and workplaces and families, in this increasingly contentious world?
Drawing on a rich variety of true stories and sources both historical and contemporary—from behind the scenes in today’s halls of power, to moving accounts from church history, to powerful breakthrough’s in Daly’s own life and ministry—Daly challenges us to reclaim our responsibility, and our privilege, as God’s sons and daughters.
As followers of Jesus with his humility and compassion as our model, ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God’s Heart demonstrates how Christians can show the world an inexplicable taste of grace with no agenda other than to reveal the heart of God as the loving Abba father he is.
Our culture has become painfully polarized, often hindering relationships with neighbors, colleagues, and the very people who need to discover the love of Jesus Christ. Remembering that we are foremost citizens of heaven serving a loving Father, we who call ourselves followers of Christ can once again be known by our love.
But how? In what context and through what means? How can we tear down the walls that divide our culture, our neighborhoods and workplaces and families, in this increasingly contentious world?
Drawing on a rich variety of true stories and sources both historical and contemporary—from behind the scenes in today’s halls of power, to moving accounts from church history, to powerful breakthrough’s in Daly’s own life and ministry—Daly challenges us to reclaim our responsibility, and our privilege, as God’s sons and daughters.
As followers of Jesus with his humility and compassion as our model, ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God’s Heart demonstrates how Christians can show the world an inexplicable taste of grace with no agenda other than to reveal the heart of God as the loving Abba father he is.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Jim Daly
77 books15 followersJim Daly (born July 22, 1961) is the head of Focus on the Family, an international Christiancommunications ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Daly is also the main host of the Focus on the Family radio program.
Daly grew up in Southern California. He was abandoned by his alcoholic father at age 5, and orphaned by his mother's death from cancer when he was 9. He was then placed in a foster home, initially in Morongo Valley California, until he moved in with his older brothers and then with his father, who eventually turned back to alcohol and died. By the time that Daly was a senior in high school, he was living on his own.
Daly experienced a Christian conversion at 15 while attending a camp run by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He went on to study at California State University, San Bernardino, and eventually earned his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.
Daly worked in the paper industry until he was recruited to join Focus on the Family, at one-third of his six-figure private sector pay.
He has served at Focus for 16 years in a variety of positions before ascending to the presidency.
Daly grew up in Southern California. He was abandoned by his alcoholic father at age 5, and orphaned by his mother's death from cancer when he was 9. He was then placed in a foster home, initially in Morongo Valley California, until he moved in with his older brothers and then with his father, who eventually turned back to alcohol and died. By the time that Daly was a senior in high school, he was living on his own.
Daly experienced a Christian conversion at 15 while attending a camp run by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He went on to study at California State University, San Bernardino, and eventually earned his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.
Daly worked in the paper industry until he was recruited to join Focus on the Family, at one-third of his six-figure private sector pay.
He has served at Focus for 16 years in a variety of positions before ascending to the presidency.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this book by a man of faith and virtue. He looks to God for guidance in all aspects of his life. He is transparent and honest, admitting his failures and mistakes and asking for forgiveness. He is able to speak truth without backing down and explains the scriptural and Christian perspective on issues in our culture today.
September 19, 2018
Not sure of his point overall (living for God in all aspects of life?), but some good thoughts on interacting with culture, good illustrations, and a good way to learn more about Jim Daly.
April 2, 2020
A good easy read. In my opinion the main focus of the book is to not see “the world” as our enemies but people who God loves. How can we reach them for Christ if we see them as enemies? Our interaction with “the world” should be filled with grace and love.
A great reminder when we think of Jim’s position at “Focus on the Family” and the issues they are standing for, but should not be limited to that context.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
Are you ready to play Jesus’ way -- to see those living outside God’s will not as opponents to conquer but as people loved by God -- people who need to experience His love, possibly even through you.
Sometimes we’re more concerned about God making right the wrongs than we are with cooperating with Him to help us first right the wrongs of our own hearts.
I don’t see any teaching in the New Testament that lets us cast aside our Godly character to gain some victory, no matter how grand the prize. In other words the ends do not justify the means. If we Christians attempt to fight a battle with only the goal to win in mind, then we have sold out and do not have the character of Christ.
I engage, not in the hope of bringing God’s kingdom to this world, but in the hope of introducing the people of this world to eternal life and God’s kingdom to come.
Quotes from Chuck Colson - “If a blind man steps on your foot, would you be mad and hold it against him?” “The greatest friend of truth is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice, and her constant companion, humility.”
Are we making a point or making a difference?
Every interaction we have with another person either enhances or diminishes a person’s openness to God.
Aren’t we prone to do things in the name of Jesus so we can feel better about ourselves and prove we’re “really Christians” instead of acting humbly and compassionately for the true benefit of those around us?
A great reminder when we think of Jim’s position at “Focus on the Family” and the issues they are standing for, but should not be limited to that context.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
Are you ready to play Jesus’ way -- to see those living outside God’s will not as opponents to conquer but as people loved by God -- people who need to experience His love, possibly even through you.
Sometimes we’re more concerned about God making right the wrongs than we are with cooperating with Him to help us first right the wrongs of our own hearts.
I don’t see any teaching in the New Testament that lets us cast aside our Godly character to gain some victory, no matter how grand the prize. In other words the ends do not justify the means. If we Christians attempt to fight a battle with only the goal to win in mind, then we have sold out and do not have the character of Christ.
I engage, not in the hope of bringing God’s kingdom to this world, but in the hope of introducing the people of this world to eternal life and God’s kingdom to come.
Quotes from Chuck Colson - “If a blind man steps on your foot, would you be mad and hold it against him?” “The greatest friend of truth is time, her greatest enemy is prejudice, and her constant companion, humility.”
Are we making a point or making a difference?
Every interaction we have with another person either enhances or diminishes a person’s openness to God.
Aren’t we prone to do things in the name of Jesus so we can feel better about ourselves and prove we’re “really Christians” instead of acting humbly and compassionately for the true benefit of those around us?
January 19, 2013
This book is written by Jim Daly who is with Focus on the Family. In his writing he is trying to get across our responsibility as Christians to show the love of Christ to those around us. His approach is one of looking at Christ and following His example to those who disagreed with Him or who were not people most around Him would associate with.
I gave this book 4/5 stars. Overall this was an average book and I thought his writing came across a little too preachy. I did not agree with all he said and did put the book down and do some Bible searching of my own to compare his notes with what I read. That said I did like parts of the book. There were some great examples and thoughtful paragraphs that if you really study them could help you in your struggles with loving those around you.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
August 28, 2013
The author, Jim Daly, is the new president of Focus on the Family. If, like me, you think Focus on the Family got way too political and James Dobson went off the cliff to the right, then you need to read this book and be assured that Focus on the Family is back in good hands! I don't know the inner-workings of the organization, but it seems they have made a good choice in hiring Jim Daly.
If you have consistently loved Focus on the Family and have kept moving farther and farther to the right with Dobson, then you need to read this book to get back some perspective.
Our Sunday School class read this for a book study. The writing is pretty simplistic, but the message is good. It's a quick read. In my case, he was preaching to the choir, but I'm happy to recommend a book in which someone is singing my same tune.
If you have consistently loved Focus on the Family and have kept moving farther and farther to the right with Dobson, then you need to read this book to get back some perspective.
Our Sunday School class read this for a book study. The writing is pretty simplistic, but the message is good. It's a quick read. In my case, he was preaching to the choir, but I'm happy to recommend a book in which someone is singing my same tune.
January 19, 2014
An interesting look at engaging with society while maintaining our beliefs and witness for God. We must reconcile the temporal with the eternal. Written by the current President of Focus on the Family, there are some strong statements on politically charged issues that I'm not sure I agree with how it's presented, but there are also some real gems.
-"I believe we're commanded to respond kindly and respectfully to people with whom we disagree."
-"If we are truly interested in engaging and transforming the culture, we must try to change the hearts and minds o the people within the culture itself."
-[As believers,] are we making a point or making a difference?"
-"We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful."
-"Ideally, faith complements and informs our politics and policies."
-"I believe we're commanded to respond kindly and respectfully to people with whom we disagree."
-"If we are truly interested in engaging and transforming the culture, we must try to change the hearts and minds o the people within the culture itself."
-[As believers,] are we making a point or making a difference?"
-"We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful."
-"Ideally, faith complements and informs our politics and policies."
December 15, 2019
Daly makes a stark contrast between the Focus on the Family of James Dobson and the Focus on the Family of today, breaking away from his predecessor's combative relationship with the culture.
Instead, he humbly examines his own attitudes and motives without compromising his convictions. And he concludes that Christians must influence our broken society through an emphasis on actually living and loving our neighbors as Jesus would.
I can't say I agree with everything he says - Daly still gives too much legitimacy to Christian efforts to influence society through public policy - but he's moving in a positive direction.
Overall, ReFocus is an excellent - and big - first step toward making Focus on the Family relevant and inviting, rather than polarizing and alienating, to a broken world in need of the guidance it can provide.
Instead, he humbly examines his own attitudes and motives without compromising his convictions. And he concludes that Christians must influence our broken society through an emphasis on actually living and loving our neighbors as Jesus would.
I can't say I agree with everything he says - Daly still gives too much legitimacy to Christian efforts to influence society through public policy - but he's moving in a positive direction.
Overall, ReFocus is an excellent - and big - first step toward making Focus on the Family relevant and inviting, rather than polarizing and alienating, to a broken world in need of the guidance it can provide.
November 26, 2024
I picked up this book and borrowed it from
my doctor’s office. The title of the book called my attention-I was dealing with some anxiety lotta life transitions and crosswords in life. Refocus. It gives the reader a different perspective of things.. give yourself some grace and peace. Very interesting hearing their viewpoints about many world events. It’s the kitchen table topics everyone tends to avoid. The author does a great job explaining different viewpoints in a world where everyone struggles with “agree to disagree”Gracefully.
my doctor’s office. The title of the book called my attention-I was dealing with some anxiety lotta life transitions and crosswords in life. Refocus. It gives the reader a different perspective of things.. give yourself some grace and peace. Very interesting hearing their viewpoints about many world events. It’s the kitchen table topics everyone tends to avoid. The author does a great job explaining different viewpoints in a world where everyone struggles with “agree to disagree”Gracefully.
January 1, 2013
This is the best book I've read this year. If every Christian read it we would have a Revival of Love for the world-- truly being set apart, making a real impact for Christ in our daily lives.
March 22, 2014
This book was just the thing I needed to read at this time. The author took my fears and settled many of them with common sense, Bible verses, and history.
July 29, 2013
great book
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews