Daly Focus Blog
Ralphie Parker wanted just one thing for Christmas:
“An official Red Ryder, carbine-action, two-hundred-shot, range-model air rifle.”
Fans of the perennial Yuletide favorite “A Christmas Story” know the plot like the back of their hand. Many even recite the lines from memory.
Of course, Ralphie’s quest is repeatedly met with a warning and a charge:
“You’ll shoot your eye out!”
If you ask me, the film works and has aged so well because it taps into the spirit and desires of boyhood.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This 39-second clip demonstrates the need for engaged dads more than a thousand research papers ever could.
In 1998, the Jenny Jones Show aired an episode titled “Boot Camp my Pre-Teen” featuring a former Marine trying to shape up seemingly incorrigible boys.
The show takes an unexpected twist, however, when the drill sergeant asks a 10-year-old a question:
“Do you want me to be your daddy for the next eight years, son?”
Undoubtedly, the tough Marine thinks the idea will scare the child.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Just a few miles to the west of the Focus campus stands one of the premier ministries in all of Christendom. There, in the shadow of the red rocks of the Garden of the Gods park is headquartered the Navigators, an international, interdenominational organization committed “to know Christ and Make Him Known.”
Jim Downing, a long-time member of the Navs and a personal friend of their founder, Dawson Trotman, continues to serve the ministry as a volunteer on the collegiate team.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Today I want to share with you my November newsletter.
Thank you for your support—it’s one of the things I’m grateful for today!
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It’s November, and that means Thanksgiving and—FOOTBALL! That word might not resonate with all of you, but for many families, the act of sitting back in a recliner to watch a game on Thanksgiving afternoon is as much a tradition as the turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Amanda was almost 18 and about to “age out” of the foster care system.
But while our nation’s laws consider someone who’s 18 to be an adult, you and I know there’s still a lot of growing up left to do at that age. Even young adults need a mom and a dad.
For example, Amanda still yearned for a mother’s love to soothe her on the bad days and share the joy with her on the good ones.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, faith by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The fourth post in my National Adoption Month guest series highlights The Batura Family. Paul Batura is a longtime Focus team member who currently serves as Focus’ vice president of communications. He and his wife Julie adopted their three boys at birth.
My hope is by highlighting these real-life adoption stories, families who are considering and praying about adoption may learn a little more about the process. I hope that readers will see how God uses adoption – both the gritty and the glorious – for His glory.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, faith, family by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
His death wasn’t front-page news in America; in fact it wasn’t reported until three days later on page 18 in The New York Times.
That’s because the passing of the beloved Christian author Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis fifty years ago today (Nov. 22, 1963) happened to coincide with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
President Kennedy, of course, was murdered in Dallas while riding in an open car. C.S. Lewis died in Oxford, England, hours later, after struggling with heart trouble.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, pastors, religious liberty by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
One of the greatest tasks of any parent is to raise children who care about others, and who show God’s love to their fellow man.
While there is no “10-step” program to ensure our kids will grow up to value “the least of these,” there’s something we can do to help instill this heart of compassion in our little ones. We can create an environment of awareness, and encourage our children when they seek to live their faith.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
What would you do if you were asked to compromise your religious convictions?
For an increasing number of believers in this country, that’s not a hypothetical question anymore. It’s a real-life decision they’re having to make – and the cost for standing for their faith can be high.
Christian business owners who are trying to run their companies according to their biblical beliefs are finding themselves increasingly at odds with our country’s laws and “erotic freedom.” That’s why in today’s broadcast, we’re exploring the challenges to our religious liberties.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, religious liberty by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
For many families looking to adopt, the ride can be scary and expensive. That was the case for friends of Focus on the Family, Jonathan and Amanda Schmitt. The Schmitts’ story is the third in the adoption series I’m running during this November, National Adoption Month. (You can also read parts one and two.)
Here’s the Schmitts’ adoption story, as told by Amanda.
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Months turned to years and I still wasn’t pregnant. We were beginning to question what was going on.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, family, kids by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.Home
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