Family and Home Archives

Gallup Reports Shift Toward Life

According to the Gallup polling organization more Americans are identifying themselves as “pro-life” and fewer as “pro-choice,” this year over last year.

As reported:

The 41% of Americans who now identify themselves as “pro-choice” is down from 47% last July and is one percentage point below the previous record low in Gallup trends, recorded in May 2009. Fifty percent now call themselves “pro-life,” one point shy of the record high, also from May 2009.

To be fair, these statistics have been bouncing around over the last decade, but when you consider that 56% of Americans qualified themselves as “pro-choice” in 1996, the trajectory toward a majority support of life is encouraging.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news June 14, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How Would You Spend One More Day with Your Dad?

Here’s the scenario:

If you could turn back the clock and spend one last day with your father, what would you do? If your dad is still living, what would be the ideal way to enjoy his company?

Father’s Day, which is this coming Sunday, doesn’t receive nearly the same degree of attention as Mother’s Day. Nevertheless, millions of dads will still be hailed as heroes, and rightly so.

Not everyone has a happy story or good memories of their upbringing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family June 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Immigration Reform is a Family Concern

Immigration reform remains a hotly contested issue that stirs up a great deal of passion from a wide range of perspectives. In fact, when it comes to the subject of how to manage the millions of individuals who have illegally entered the borders of the United States and assimilated into our culture, almost everyone has an opinion.

But mere opinions don’t solve problems, especially a conundrum as complex and layered as what to do with upwards of 12 million individuals living in the shadows of our society.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news, policy June 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When it Comes to Genetics, God Doesn’t Make Errors

According to research that was recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, scientists will soon be able to screen pre-born babies for as many as 3,500 different genetic disorders.

Currently, the only conditions that are (occasionally) tested for prior to birth include Downs syndrome, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and spina bifida.

News of this emerging technology raises a number of concerns, especially for anyone who respects and appreciates the sanctity and dignity of life. Case in point: 90% of pre-born babies who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting, pro-life June 11, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Dying Father, a Grateful Son

John Strege is a friend and a talented author and writer for Golf Digest. He recently penned a moving story about a son’s last round of golf with his dying father at Pebble Beach.

John writes:

It began as a dream, a boy, 16, and his father, descending the steps behind The Lodge at Pebble Beach and gazing wistfully at Eden. Some day, the boy vowed on behalf of both of them, before life intervened, as inevitably it will.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family June 8, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

We Must Pray for Judges as Well as Outcomes

Whatever the pending Supreme Court case, you can be sure that people on both sides of the issue are praying for a decision in their favor.

But I wonder if instead of just praying for the outcome of the case, we should be spending more time praying for the justices who are making the decision.

Like many of you, I find it intriguing to follow the Supreme Court, especially during this timeof year. Over the course of the next four weeks, Chief Justice Roberts’ court will be wrapping up the year and issuing rulings on a variety of cases, including the all-important one on the Affordable Health Care Act.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, religious liberty June 6, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

I recently came across an excellent article from Abraham Piper, the son of author and pastor John Piper. For parents who are currently struggling with a child (of any age) who has either strayed from their Christian faith or never professed Jesus as Lord of their life, this will serve as practical guidance to help you manage what is a very difficult reality.

Do you resonate with the following sentiments? If you do, I’d like to know what you’re currently struggling with and how you’re managing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, family, homosexuality June 5, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Does Twitter Feed Narcissism or People?

Saturday’s New York Times featured a fascinating story on the power of the social media service, Twitter, when it comes to spreading the Gospel.

Created in 2006, Twitter allows users to distribute messages of up to 140 characters in length to a predetermined network of friends and followers.

According to the report, Christian “tweets” are forwarded, on average, 30 times more often than their secular-themed counterparts.

Why?

The author attributes part of the reason to the pithy nature of the Christian message:

On average, verses in the King James Version are about 100 characters long, leaving room to slip in a #bible hashtag and still come in under the 140-character limit.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, technology June 5, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Three Reflections Every Dad Should Read

Today’s Focus on the Family radio program features some very moving reflections about fathers and fatherhood and the reminder to make the most of your fleeting years as a dad.

I hope you’ll click here to access the entire show. But in the meantime, I wanted to share three poignant quotes from three of our featured guests:

I wasn’t the dad I should’ve been when [the] kids were growing up … And I’ve tried to make up for lost time and lost ground…I’m a crusader on this, because I was so determined in the Marines.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband June 4, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Thoughts on Homosexual Comic Book Characters

When it comes to the latest comic book news, I’m reminded of what the late humorist Will Rogers used to say:
“All I know is what I read in the newspapers.”

So, what I’m about to tell you is a bit more than I know, but if you have teenagers who read Marvel and DC comic books, you’ll want to know about it, too.

Both comic book lines are attempting to capitalize on the culture’s increased acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, homosexuality May 31, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura