Family and Home Archives

Guest Blog: Chuck Colson

I consider Chuck Colson to be a dear friend and a great man. I was particularly impressed with a recent Breakpoint commentary of his and wanted to share it with you in this space.

Please let me know what you think:

The 0.2% Solution
Crunching the Same-Sex Marriage

The pressure to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples keeps increasing. The impression is given that thousands upon thousands of gays and lesbians are unable to do the one thing they want to do more than anything else: That is, have a wedding.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, homosexuality, marriage October 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why Baseball Is More Than Just a Sport

I realize that not everyone loves baseball. In fact, I’m sure some of you don’t even care for it, preferring other sports – or no sport at all. But stick with me here, because with the start of the World Series tonight in St. Louis, I’m reminded that baseball is more than just a sport.

It’s even more than just a game.

My childhood is full of some tough memories. Memories of a broken home, broken promises and dreams that just didn’t come true.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family October 19, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Fact Every Parent Needs to Know

In this age of exploding technology, not to mention statistical spin, it’s important to remember that things are seldom as they first seem.

Consider a new study that was released last week from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). At first glance, the findings appear promising, even encouraging. According to the report, nearly 75% of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 are now choosing to abstain from sex.

Given previous negative trends on this matter, this is good news, unless, of course, you’re the parent of a teen who falls within the other 25%.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, sex October 18, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Can You Imagine Forgetting Your Spouse?

It seems like a scene straight out of Hollywood, but with a script almost too implausible to believe – even for fictional film:

At the time a pilot and CEO of a private jet company, former NFL player Scott Bolzan, slips on some oil at work, falls hard, hits his head on concrete and forgets everything.

And I mean everything.

Rushed to the hospital, a nurse informed him that his wife was on the phone. Not only didn’t he know who his wife was – he claims he didn’t even know what a “wife” was!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage October 13, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Meet a Twenty-Something Who Doesn’t Believe in Sex Outside of Marriage

Do you know couples who live together outside of marriage?

So do I.

In fact, the narrative has become a familiar theme, even within the Christian church: twenty- and thirty-somethings have grown sour on the institution of marriage, for all kinds of reasons. But instead of swearing off romantic relationships (after all, “Love does make the world go ‘round”), couples have decided to move in together. Give it sort of a “test-run.”

No wedding, no ring, and presumably, no worries.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, pop culture, relationships October 12, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Historic Clash for Religious Liberty

As a contributor to Newsweek’s On Faith blog I was recently asked the following question:

Q: John Garvey, President of The Catholic University of America wrote on the op-ed page of the Washington Post Sunday about the new health insurance regulations which, he writes, “will require Catholic University to offer its students sterilization procedures and prescription contraceptives, including pills that act after fertilization to induce abortions. If we comply, as the law requires, we will be helping our students do things that we teach them, in our classes and in our sacraments, are sinful — sometimes gravely so.”

Is this just?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, policy, pro-life October 11, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

In Christopher Columbus’ Own Words

Excerpt from the letter of Christopher Columbus to Luis De Sant Angel announcing his discovery.

The eternal and almighty God, our Lord, it is Who gives to all who walk in His way, victory over things apparently impossible, and in this case signally so, because although these lands had been imagined and talked of before they were seen, most men listened incredulously to what was thought to be but an idle tale. But our Redeemer has given victory to our most illustrious King and Queen, and to their kingdoms rendered famous by this glorious event, at which all Christendom should rejoice, celebrating it with great festivities and solemn Thanksgivings to the Holy Trinity, with fervent prayers for the high distinction that will accrue to them from turning so many peoples to our holy faith; and also from the temporal benefits that not only Spain but all Christian nations will obtain.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 10, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Because Paul and Clara Jobs Said “Yes!”

What if Joanne Schieble hadn’t said “yes” ?

What if Paul and Clara Jobs had said “no” ?

Joanne almost didn’t. The Jobs almost weren’t even asked.

Have you heard the story?

Steve Jobs is being lauded and remembered as the pioneer he truly was, a remarkable man with an amazing mind who changed the way the world communicates.

By now you’ve probably read or heard that Mr. Jobs was adopted as an infant. Born in 1955 to an unwed mother, Joanne Schieble, his life took an incredible turn the very night he made his grand entrance.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, pro-life October 7, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Chris Christie and the Nebraska Farmer

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made an interesting remark the other day. I wonder if you heard it? During a press conference announcing his decision to not seek the presidency in 2012 he said:

We got a FedEx over the weekend, at home, from a farmer in Nebraska, to my children. Asking my children to sit me down and tell me that it was OK to miss their games, their concerts and their events, because my country needed me more, and if they did that, they would be remembered in the history books as the people who changed the course of our country’s history.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, pastors October 6, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

‘Hate’ Is Too Big a Word to Be Used with Such Little Restraint

I’m delighted to be in Atlanta today attending the annual Catalyst Leadership conference. I’ll have more to tell you about the week’s events in the coming days, but for now wanted to share with you an essay I wrote on a very significant challenge facing Christians. The following piece was published by CNN’s Belief blog.

Can you please let me know your thoughts and perspective? It helps me to be aware of where you’re at these days on such vital matters pertaining to our public expression of faith.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, marriage October 5, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura