Podcast Summary: Focus on the Family with Jim Daly

Episode: Make Fun a Priority Now – Here's Why!

Date: September 19, 2025
Guest: Annie F. Downs (Author and Podcaster)
Hosts: Jim Daly and John Fuller

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and energetic episode, speaker Annie F. Downs discusses the often-overlooked but vital role of fun in the Christian life. Challenging the taboo around “fun” in faith communities, Annie explores how intentional fun acts as a catalyst to joy—especially during challenging or painful seasons. Through personal stories, biblical insights, and practical tips, the episode empowers listeners to embrace fun as a biblical, restorative, and community-building practice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Link Between Fun and Joy (01:25–04:20)

• Fun Is Not Just for Kids: Annie notes that adults frequently dismiss fun as childish or even as something suspicious or "sinful." She asserts that “fun is part of how God made us, and it isn’t just for children, it’s for us too.”

• Joy vs. Fun:

  • Joy is described as the deep emotion that fills us.
  • Fun is the action or the catalyst, the “oven that bakes joy.”
  • Illustrative Quote:

    “Joy is that loaf of bread. Fun is turning the oven on.”
    (03:10, Annie F. Downs)

• Action Precedes Emotion: When you’re struggling to find joy (e.g., during hardship or grief), intentionally engaging in fun can help stir it up.

2. Holding Joy and Suffering Together (06:15–13:30)

• Personal Story: Loss of T.J.: Annie shares a poignant story about her nephew T.J., who passed away after living 56 days due to a medical condition. The family’s experience was a blend of celebration and mourning, laughter and tears.
• Community and Grief: Annie and her sister wrote Where Did TJ Go?, a children’s book about heaven, to help T.J.'s brother Sammy process the loss.
• Key Point:
  • Joy and suffering are not mutually exclusive; Christians are invited to hold both at once.
  • Notable Quote:

    “We can hold joy and suffering at the same time.”
    (11:20, Annie F. Downs)

• Reference to "Inside Out": Holding both happiness and sadness is theologically sound; it is through experiencing both that we live truthfully.

3. The Spiritual Importance of Fun (13:30–17:30)

• Fun Requires Vulnerability:
  • Engaging in fun—whether trying new things, being silly, or facing the unknown—makes us vulnerable, which deepens relationships.
  • Memorable Moment: Story about friends on a roller coaster who couldn’t scream because they were Broadway singers.
    (14:45–15:30)
  • Quote:

    “Fun really requires vulnerability… If you choose fun and allow yourself to be vulnerable, joy follows because you know that you're known and loved.”
    (14:45, Annie F. Downs)

• Fun Builds Connection:
  • Recounting experiences at Dollywood, Annie illustrates how shared fun can spark new friendships and community.
    (16:00–17:30)
  • “Fun makes you feel connection, and that really matters... There’s such joy in not feeling alone.”

4. Fun as a Tool to Remember and Long for Eternity (17:30–21:00)

• Memory and Taste of Heaven:

  • Fun experiences remind us of our childhood and awaken a deep, God-given longing for eternity, as referenced in Ecclesiastes 3:11.
  • Practical Reflection: Moments where we don’t want the fun to end are a glimpse of the eternal joy to come.
  • Quote:

    “The thing you are feeling when you say, ‘I wish this wouldn’t end,’ is a taste of what won’t end.”
    (19:35, Annie F. Downs)

• Relief vs. Escapism:

  • Annie uses the whale metaphor to distinguish healthy breaks (relief) from unhealthy escapism.
  • Test for Escapism: If at the end of your fun you think, “I did that too much,” you may be escaping instead of refreshing.

5. Practical Applications and Ideas for Fun (21:00–24:35)

• Simple, Affordable Ideas:
  • Guacamole-thon: Try three different Mexican restaurants, rate their guacamole, and have fun as a family or with friends.
  • “Fun is important in our faith lives because of the vulnerability, the connection, and the power of remembering.”
• Key Encouragement:
  • Fun doesn’t have to be big or costly; daily, small acts matter.
  • “Just have this moment where you go, oh, this is what forever’s gonna be like.”
    (23:55, Annie F. Downs)

6. Why Fun Matters in Christian Life (23:55–24:35)

• Ultimate Reason:
  • While the world does need to see Christians live joyfully, Annie’s primary point is that we, as believers, need joy for our own survival and witness.
  • “Our joy is not natural, it’s supernatural… Fun is gonna be one of the ways you can do that.”
  • Fun is a "tool that increases your joy," helps you rest, refresh, and remember heaven.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Fun is turning the oven on… there has to be some action when you are searching for joy.”
  (03:10, Annie F. Downs)

• “We can hold joy and suffering at the same time.”
  (11:20, Annie F. Downs)

• “Fun really requires vulnerability… If you choose fun and allow yourself to be vulnerable, joy follows because you know that you're known and loved.”
  (14:45, Annie F. Downs)

• “The thing you are feeling when you say, ‘I wish this wouldn’t end,’ is a taste of what won’t end. It is just this moment you have in the middle of fun… Eternity is set in your heart.”
  (19:35, Annie F. Downs)

• “Fun is important in our faith lives because of the vulnerability, the connection, and the power of remembering.”
  (23:30, Annie F. Downs)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:25] — Annie F. Downs begins her presentation
• [03:10] — Bread and oven analogy for joy and fun
• [11:20] — The story of T.J. and holding joy and suffering together
• [14:45] — Vulnerability creates joy through fun
• [16:00] — Dollywood story and building connections
• [19:35] — Fun as a glimpse of heaven and eternity
• [21:00] — Whales and the difference between relief and escapism
• [23:55] — Why fun really matters for believers

Practical Takeaways & Suggestions

• Fun is a spiritual discipline that brings vulnerability and deeper connection.
• Don’t wait for joy to magically appear—be intentional about bringing fun into your life.
• Invite your family, friends, or even newcomers into fun activities; it’s a path to deeper fellowship.
• Look for small, manageable ways to inject fun into your week (guacamole-thon, art, reruns, potlucks, etc.).
• Remember, fun is not escapism—check your heart and your habits.
• Fun moments are a window into the joy and eternity God has prepared for us.

Final Thoughts

Annie F. Downs’ message is a lively and practical reminder that fun is essential—both for our individual spiritual health and for building resilient, joyful communities. By choosing fun, we position ourselves and our families to receive God's joy even in the hardest of seasons.

Resource Mentioned:

• Chase the Fun: 100 Days to Discover Fun Right Where You Are by Annie F. Downs

“Just have this moment where you go, oh, this is what forever’s gonna be like. This is what we’re pointing towards.”
— Annie F. Downs (23:55)