Focused Living

My (David’s) mother passed away on Friday, July 17th. The life Care community in Philadelphia called the night before encouraging family members to make our way to Pennsylvania to say our ‘good byes’. I missed her actual passing by 40 minutes, but my sister and brother were near to carry her across the finish line. I cling to her confession of faith that she made in 1987 while she and I stood in our kitchen.

Mom was a vibrant and dynamic woman. Her last years were clouded with Alzheimer’s so our family’s grief has been a slow burn. As I have reflected over these last days, it’s very clear to me that God blessed my socks off with the parents he gave me. He used them to provide a solid foundation of love and to set the trajectory that I am on to this day.

When I arrived back home from my whirlwind trip to Philadelphia, one of my sons, Austin, expressed his sadness for me and asked, “So, Dad, you are an orphan now, right?” I smiled and explained, “Adult men are not usually referred to as ‘orphans’. But it’s true that I don’t have a mom or dad anymore in this world. God the Father is my dad...and He is good!”

God is my Father because He adopted me as His son, like I’ve adopted my sons. J.I. Packer, whom God took to heaven on the same day as my mom, expresses God’s goodness to us in adoption this way:

“Adoption is the highest privilege of the Gospel. The traitor is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship—He establishes us as His children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.”

At its core, Focused Living is a spiritual adoption agency. We point as many men as possible to the Father so they might find their place for eternity with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Pray for us as we seek for searching hearts every day in the marketplace.

Prayer Requests

Grip: Praise God that we will have an “in person” GRIP season this fall. Pray that many man will catch the vision for investing in one other man each year for the rest of their lives.

Forums: We Praise God that men have found our summer “Fueled series” on Zoom to be meaningful. Pray with us as we relaunch “in-person” forums on the week of August 24th. Pray that the different feel (smaller “in person” numbers; social distancing, Zoom guests) will not stymie the Spirit’s work in fellowship and conviction.

Writing: Please pray for quick minds led by the Spirit as we work to complete forum teachings for this fall, the GRIP Guide for this fall, and a rewrite of our Each One Reach One book. May God use these tools in men’s lives for his glory.

Staff: That we would remain focused on the relationships God brings to us: unbelievers, seekers, followers, disciplers, leaders, and Kingdom builders.

Outreach: that we would continue to take advantage of every opportunity to share the Gospel of God’s grace and love in our divided, confused, up-side-down culture.