Family and Home Archives

Thoughts on Violent Video Games

Over twenty years ago the Dakin toy company, then a well-known maker of cuddly stuffed animals for kids, ran a controversial advertisement in magazines and newspapers all throughout the country. With images of bloody knives, pistols and hand grenades framing the page, the headline asked the following rhetorical question:

“Is it any wonder the prisons are full?”

Still another ad in the series proclaimed:

“We help children develop more than their trigger finger.”

Directly beneath that ad was a cute little girl squeezing a Dakin teddy bear.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, technology June 30, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This is What Integrity Looks Like

Earlier this month Robert Adams of Arlington Heights, Illinois, was waiting to use an ATM machine when he discovered something you don’t often see: a clear plastic bag containing $20 and $100 bills resting beside the machine. He later learned that the sack contained a total of $17,000.

Following some research and a trip to a local Chase bank, it was determined that the bag belonged to the Loomis armored truck company.

Mr. Adams says he was never tempted to keep the lost treasure.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: finances, pop culture June 29, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Lazy Days of Summer

To be a boy again.

Jean recently snapped this photo of our boys, Trent and Troy, taking aim on some pop cans with their Airsoft guns.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting June 24, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Dad Difference

Golf fans will remember Rory McIlroy’s painful unraveling at the Masters in April, a colossal collapse where he lost a four-shot lead on the final day of the historic tournament. Charl Schwartzel’s win that day was dramatic and well-earned, but it left the 22-year-old McIlroy reeling. The Irishman’s subsequent tournament play in May and early June was lackluster – that is, until this past weekend when he won the U.S. Open.

Analysts and commentators were quick to seize on the turnaround.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, parenting June 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Practice Makes You Dirty

My friend and colleague, Gary Schneeberger, is Focus’ vice president of communications. His office is right down the hall from mine and includes, among other things, a 7-foot-tall statue of Superman (that’s a story for another time). But among the many things on his desk is this little glass vase holding a pair of golf balls.

Now, I’ve been in many offices that contain golf balls from courses all over the world – from the famed St.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage June 22, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on National TV Tonight

Just last Wednesday, in Tontitown, Arkansas, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar welcomed another baby into the family. This time it was their eldest son Josh’s and wife Anna’s second child. Michael James and mom are doing great.

Hale and hearty congratulations to the ever-expanding Duggar family!

Of course, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are the proud parents of 19 children, 10 boys and 9 girls. You might already be familiar with them from their hit reality television show, 19 Kids and Counting, which airs on The Learning Channel (TLC).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family June 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Opening the Day with Enthusiasm

The sun had barely risen yesterday when Trent and Troy burst into our bedroom.

“You gotta open it, Dad! You gotta open it!” eight-year-old Troy and ten-year-old Trent repeatedly hollered.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. One of the boys was holding a small wrapped box.

It was Father’s Day 2011, my 11th year as a dad.

Troy had picked out the gift and so he was particularly excited to have me open the package.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting June 20, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Retro Father’s Day Ads

Thank you for your warm and touching responses to yesterday’s reflections on Father’s Day. For those of you who haven’t yet shared your tribute, please do so by clicking here. In the meantime, with two days remaining until the big day, you might find that these vintage advertisements will give you a few ideas for dad – and spark some old ones!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting June 17, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Should Father’s Day Be Outlawed?

Somebody once said that it’s easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father. Sadly, that sounds about right. There is no test or final exam to qualify for fatherhood, though it would seem like a good idea if somehow there could be.

Over 24 million children in the United States today live apart from their fathers. That’s one out of every three. It’s even worse for African-American children. Nearly 64% of African-American boys and girls don’t have a dad in the home.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting June 16, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: The Pampers Commercial

In a recent interview, I suggested that when it comes to the debate in the culture concerning the sanctity of human life, we’re winning. Technology has done quite a bit to help change hearts and minds, but the overall momentum in the direction of life is encouraging and exciting.

As an example of how the corporate culture is moving in the right direction, I wanted to share with you a terrific commercial produced by the makers of Pampers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment June 15, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura