Daly Focus Blog
Before the railroad, Americans on the move traveled by stagecoach. Given the relative ease of modern-day transportation, it’s difficult to imagine just how uncomfortable it must have been to be jammed inside a small open-air compartment and bounced along an unpaved rocky road on wooden wheels. We can get a sense of the atmosphere, though, by some of the “rules” that were posted inside each coach.
Here’s a sampling:
Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink share the bottle.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The family and I are on spring break this week, but I’m curious for your feedback surrounding Suzanne Collins’ bestseller-turned-Hollywood-thriller The Hunger Games.
Have you gone to see it?
Would you permit your son or daughter to watch if they wanted to?
Why – or why not?
Given the young age of our boys, we haven’t paid attention to the book or the movie. Their minds are focused on much tamer fare, including Legos and other books and games.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, kids, parenting, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
What does spring cleaning look like in your home?
According to the late Andy Rooney, the following things are true about housework:
Vacuuming a large rug is the easiest housekeeping job. Anyone doing it gets more credit than he or she deserves. This is partly because the vacuum cleaner makes so much noise it gives the illusion that someone’s working hard.
Putting away the vacuum cleaner is harder than vacuuming.
The single easiest thing to do in exchange for the most credit, is mopping the kitchen floor.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
The following is a condensed excerpt from my friend Tim Keller’s excellent new book, which I strongly endorse, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God:
Practical Counsel for Marriage Seekers
Recognize that there are seasons for not doing marriage-seeking:
When you are going through a significant transition — starting a new job, starting a new school, death of a parent, or some other fairly absorbing time or event — it might not at all be a good time to begin a relationship.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: intimacy, marriage, relationships by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
I mentioned the other day that my colleague and Tim Tebow fanatic, Sue, was pouting over the arrival of Peyton Manning to the Denver Broncos and the subsequent trade of Tim to the New York Jets.
Thankfully, her poutiness was rare and short-lived. But I’m not so sure I can say the same thing about my son Troy who’s been known to pout to either make a point or get his way.
His brother calls it “pouty magic.”
The act doesn’t usually work, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying!
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
“Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do.
Both are nonsense.
You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”
– Rick Warren
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, pop culture by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This is taking “March Madness” too far.
Springfield, Massachusetts,father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.
As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”
Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This is taking “March Madness” too far.
Springfield, Massachusetts, father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.
As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”
Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
This is not about whether tattoos are a good or bad idea.
Instead, this a true story about a young woman named Debbie whose tattoo has not only saved her life but perhaps even the lives of her small children.
A colleague of mine recently found himself inside a greasy spoon burger joint one late winter afternoon. His waitress at the establishment was efficient and friendly. They struck up easy conversation. When she placed a plate down on the table he noticed a rather distinctive looking tattoo on her forearm.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith by Jim Daly with Paul Batura
According to a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle there is a disturbing trend developing with teenage girls on the internet:
A growing number of tweens and teens, mainly girls, are posting videos on YouTube asking commenters if they’re ugly.
Type ‘Am I ugly?’ or ‘Am I pretty’ into the YouTube search box and dozens of videos pop up, including one of an 11-year-old girl who poses for the camera, twirling her shoulders, smiling big, and pulling her long hair out of a pony tail.
Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pop culture, technology 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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