Family and Home Archives

What Do You Think of Childless Restaurants?

Just two weeks ago McDain’s Restaurant and Golf Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, implemented a new rule that bans children under the age of six.

According to owner Mike Vuick, there’s “nothing wrong with babies, but the fact is you can’t control their volume.”

One occurrence is not a trend, but there seems to be evidence of a growing impatience or downright irritation with young children these days. Or at the very least, there appears to be an unwillingness to recognize a distinction between children who are well behaved and kids who wreak havoc in public places.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, news, pop culture August 2, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Who Manages Your Budget?

The story is told of two men, both married to their respective wives for just over a year. They were discussing the adjustment that accompanies such a major transition, and in particular, the challenge of managing the family’s finances.

“I’m the head of my house,” the first man said dogmatically. “I think I should be; after all, I earn the money.”

“Well,” the other man replied, thinking himself more egalitarian, “my wife and I have a perfect agreement.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, finances August 2, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are You the Next Guy?

My friend and colleague, Marlen Wells, is a former Toronto police officer. After twelve years on the force he turned in his badge to pursue a calling in youth ministry. He and his wife, Bobbi, have five children, two of whom are still teens. Perhaps because of the “street sense” he culled from a career as a cop, Marlen knows how to creatively communicate with people, especially young adults.

I’ll share just one example. I wonder if you can relate.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting August 1, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Christian Classics – Part V

Conversion: The Life-Changing Power of the Word

(from Augustine’s Confessions, Book VIII, Chs. 8-12)

There was a garden attached to our lodging, and we had the use of this as of the whole house; for our landlord, the owner of the house, did not live there. To this garden the tumult in my heart had driven me, as to a place where no one could intervene in this passionate suit which I had brought against myself until it could be settled—though how it would be settled You knew, not I.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith July 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Christian Classics – Part IV

On the Benefits of Continual Conversation With God

(from The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, Fifth Letter)

I know that for the right practice [of the presence of God], the heart must be empty of all other things; because God will possess the heart alone; and as he cannot possess it alone without emptying it of all besides, so neither can He act there, and do in it what He pleases, unless it be left vacant to Him.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith July 27, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Christian Classics – Part III

On Thinking Rightly about God

(from The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer)

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith July 26, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Christian Classics – Part II

On The Hidden Life in Christ

(from The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan)

Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out, is the devil: but in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith July 25, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Christian Classics – Part I

If you had all the time in the world to read, what books beside the Bible would you invest your time in?

Jim Ware is a longtime member of the Focus team. He is a highly talented writer as well as a gifted musician. He can often be seen simultaneously reading and walking on his lunch break around the streets of our campus. He would probably deny it, but he may be the most well-read person you would ever meet.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith July 24, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

An Officer and a Gentleman

Lt. Col. (Ret) Richard Korthals, a beloved Focus volunteer for over a decade and a decorated veteran of World War II, passed away this past Sunday morning. He was just one month shy of his 89th birthday.

From the fields of his family’s La Crosse, Wisconsin, farm, as a young boy Dick would look with wonder to the skies, dreaming of one day becoming a pilot. His dream came true. He went on to serve our nation in the Army Air Corps of Engineers, ultimately tasked with flying a C-47 transport plane in the Philippines between 1943 and 1945.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, husband July 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: Defending Marriage on Capitol Hill

Focus on the Family has been proudly and consistently defending the sanctity of marriage for decades. The institution was created by God Himself as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman for the benefit of the human race. And despite efforts by a vocal minority to redefine this multi-millennial institution, we will never tire or grow weary in our ministry of upholding God’s plan.

Many of you are familiar with my friend and colleague, Tom Minnery, who serves as our senior vice president of public policy here at the ministry.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, policy, religious liberty July 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura