Family and Home Archives

A Gift of Thanks For You

The public’s reaction to the John 3:16 ad which ran during the NFL divisional playoff game between Tim Tebow’s Denver Broncos and the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots has given me and the team here at Focus on the Family a much needed lift.

Let me share with you how and why:

Times and finances are tough for all of us, especially for organizations like ours which are entirely reliant on the generosity of others to keep ministry efforts afloat.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith January 30, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

If You Had One Day to Live Over

The late UCLA basketball legend John Wooden enjoyed incredible success as a coach. He won ten championships in a twelve-year period and finished his career with an astonishing record of 664-162. A man of strong Christian conviction, Coach Wooden received his eternal promotion in 2010 at the age of 99.

He once wrote something that strikes me as a fitting lesson for parents as well as players and coaches.

Can you relate?

If I could go back and pick one single day in my life – in sports – to live over again, my choice might surprise you.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family January 27, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are You One of the “Crazies” ?

After a relatively quiet few months on the same-sex marriage front, activists in both Washington state and New Jersey have expressed a strong desire to push for legalization via their respective legislatures.

In Washington, some leading giants in corporate America have taken sides. Regrettably, Starbucks, Microsoft and Nike have all expressed strong support for what they view as “marriage equality” even though it’s anything but. As I and others have expressed on numerous occasions, same-sex marriage activists are striving to redefine, not equalize, a multi-millennial institution.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, policy January 26, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How’s Your “WOW” Factor?

When was the last time you stood and stared in awe and wonder?

I can remember those early days of fatherhood, when I would quietly slip into Trent and Troy’s room and watch their tiny chests rise and fall with every peaceful breath. It left me reaching for words that never came. Not only was I nearly speechless at the beauty of the new life before me, but humbled that I was blessed to have the new name of “Dad.”

In those moonlit nights, David’s words took on new meaning for me:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:14).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith January 25, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Christians and NFL “Goats” Have in Common

It’s always painful to watch another person hang their head in shame, even if it’s over a non-critical issue like a fumble or a shanked field goal in the NFL playoffs.

So, when the Baltimore Ravens’ Billy Cundiff missed wide to the left against the New England Patriots and the 49ers Kyle Williams fumbled his second punt return of the game against the New York Giants this past Sunday, many of us winced.

That’s because most of us don’t like to see another person hurting.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events January 24, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Because She Chose Life …

All of these individuals were adopted – but only because their birthmothers first chose to give them a chance at life. And because their birthmothers chose to carry them to term, the world was blessed by their respective lives.

Because she chose life…Steve Jobs was given an opportunity to transform the world of personal computing.
Because she chose life…Leo Tolstoy gave the world War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
Because she chose life…Gerald Ford helped guide the nation through political chaos and trauma.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life January 23, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is it a Sin to Watch a Movie That Takes God’s Name in Vain?

At the start of the weekend it seems appropriate to broach the subject of movies. Our Plugged In team receives thousands of emails each year, asking a variety of entertainment-related questions. I’d like to share one which we received recently:

In your movie ratings you include a section labeled “profanity.” I have a particular problem when the Name of Jesus is used as a cuss word….My question is this: Is it a sin to watch a movie where Jesus Name is used this way?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment January 20, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Commercial That Led Them to Christ

I want to share an exciting postscript to Monday’s piece, Some Numbers Are More Important Than a Score.

In the process of providing some background and detail on our commercial featuring the Bible verse John 3:16, I noted that we had received some remarkable news about a simple two-line tweet. It read:

Both my sons just saw your commercial and gave their lives to Christ as a result. Thank you. #John316

The father in question was named David Grumme.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, kids January 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Deathbed Blessing

Many of us have sat by the side of a dying loved one, trying to bring comfort, trying to help prepare them for their final journey home. But it’s especially powerful and telling, isn’t it, when the person who is suffering is the one who brings the greatest measure of comfort and perspective?

Joan Batura, the mother of Paul Batura, a colleague here at Focus, received her promotion to glory on January 12th. By her own acknowledgment, she had lived a long and wonderful life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith January 18, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Get Along with People

One Sunday morning, drowsing in a back pew of a little country church, I dimly heard the old preacher urge his flock to “stop worrying about your own halo and shine up your neighbor’s!” And it left me sitting up, wide awake, because it struck me as just about the best eleven-word formula for getting along with people that I ever heard.

Shine up your neighbors’s halo:

I like it for its implication that everyone, in some area of life, has a halo that’s worth watching for and acknowledging.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith January 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura