Jim Daly

How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child

Jean and I have two boys, Trent and Troy. They’re in their 20s and on a good track through life. They’re active, so we don’t see them as often as we would like, but we stay in touch almost daily and have a good time when we’re together.

Unfortunately, that experience is not true of every parent with adult children. They disagree about lifestyle choices, job choices, dating choices, or faith choices. Even loving families experience tension when young adults and their parents don’t see eye to eye.

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Forge a New Path

I didn’t have good role models growing up. My dad left our family when I was five and died an alcoholic a few years later. Hank, my stepdad, walked out on my siblings and me the day of my mother’s funeral. My foster dad, Mr. Reil, brought even more chaos into my life.

By the time I became a teenager, I realized I had two paths to choose from. One led to bitterness and resentment, which would make me just like the broken father figures in my life.

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Five Ways to Grow Closer as a Couple

My wife, Jean, and I have been married for 38 years. For most of that time I’ve had the privilege of working at, and leading, Focus on the Family. Since our ministry’s inception, we have prioritized upholding God’s design for marriage.

Given that, you’d think I’d have this marriage thing down by now. But Jean will be the first to tell you (after I humbly admit it myself) that I’m still a husband in progress, hopefully becoming all that God desires of me.

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Finding God’s Beauty in Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Dementia is the general term for deterioration in memory and thinking, behavioral processing and the ability to perform everyday tasks for yourself. A dementia diagnosis is one of the most difficult issues a family can face. The statistics are staggering:

It’s estimated that one in three adults – 33% – will die with some form of dementia.

More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

More than one in nine people aged 65 and older has some form of Alzheimer’s dementia.

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Helping or Hurting? Understanding the Power of Your Words

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was one of the largest disasters in American history. Popular accounts from the time report that Catherine O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern in a barn. The small flame erupted into an inferno that destroyed miles of homes and burned Chicago’s business district to the ground.

So much destruction from a single spark.

That’s why the book of Proverbs urge us to be careful with our words. “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue” it says (18:21).

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Someone to Hold You Up

Do you need help?

It’s okay to admit it, if you do. Sooner or later, all of us need help. Even Moses.

Exodus chapter 17 tells about Moses receiving help while the Israelites are engaged in battle against an enemy. In the story, Moses stands on a hill and raises his staff above his head. As long as his arms remain in the air, the Israelites prevail. But when he lowers them, they begin to lose.

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Common Teen Issues That Drive Parents Crazy

The teen years can be stressful and chaotic – for teenagers and parents. Teens are experiencing a multitude of simultaneous changes – physical, emotional, social and cognitive – all while their drive for independence is ramping up. The choppy waters that result can destabilize a household and stir up conflict over who’s in charge of their bedroom, their friends, their schoolwork and more.

One thing Jean and I learned while raising our boys was the importance of giving them freedom to grow.

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A Military Veteran’s Mission to Ukraine

Each of us owe our deepest gratitude to military servicemen and women who dedicated their lives to protecting our freedom. Today I want to honor American veterans on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.

I’m talking with Chad Robichaux, who comes from a long line of military service members. His grandparents fought in World War II and Korea. His father served in Vietnam, and both of Chad’s sons served in the Marines. Chad was himself a force recon Marine who did eight deployments to Afghanistan, and who continues to serve and protect Americans all over the world, most recently in Ukraine.

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Permission to Fail

There’s a concept motivational speakers talk about called “failing forward.” It’s all about turning your mistakes into success. One of the best ways to instill that idea into your children is to give them permission to fail.

When my son Troy turned 12, he gave Little League a try. He was nervous. So was I. He had never played baseball before while the other kids had been at it four or five years already. I wondered how long it would be after Troy took the field for his inexperience to show through.

Continue ReadingTopics: Uncategorized Tags: family, kids

True Crime: Learning About Life Through Studying Death

“True crime” television shows and podcasts have become increasingly popular. The stories grab our attention. Perhaps we’re curious about the people who commit heinous acts. Perhaps we fear that “they” aren’t all that different from us.

The question of why suffering exists and why humans do horrible things to each other is a major obstacle to many people who struggle to believe in a loving God. And yet, Christianity is the only worldview that offers a compelling explanation – and answer – for evil in the world.

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