Family and Home Archives

Dan Was Right

In 1992, Murphy Brown was one of the hottest sitcoms on television. As you may recall, the show took its name after the lead character, a fictional forty-something TV news anchor. During its fourth season, the storyline took a controversial turn when Murphy—who was unmarried on the show—found herself “pregnant” and, rather than marrying the father, decided to raise the “baby” on her own.

That prompted then-Vice President Dan Quayle to take to task what he viewed as television’s glorification of single parenting as well as further evidence of the “poverty of values” plaguing America.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting, pop culture May 26, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Talking Smack with Teens

Yesterday I blogged about a new book by my friend and colleague Glenn Williams entitled, Talking Smack. I thought I’d add a few additional thoughts on this important topic. Not only is Glenn a psychologist and writer, he is also a substance abuse expert who offers solid advice on how to talk to your kids honestly and openly about drugs. Based upon years of training, Glenn can help you steer your youth toward making healthy decisions when temptation and peer pressure come knocking.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, parenting May 25, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Talking Smack

Glenn Williams is my friend and colleague here at Focus on the Family. In addition to serving as our Chief Operating Officer, Glenn is a psychologist, writer and substance abuse expert who has worked with parents and teens for more than 20 years. He’s recently authored an excellent new book titled, Talking Smack, on the perils of drug addiction, and offers mothers and fathers practical advice in dealing with the subject. I was privileged to be invited to pen the foreword and would love to offer you a sneak peek of the project.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, family, parenting, pop culture May 24, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Political Illusion

As you may know, my family turned-off our television set a couple of years ago. It was a personal decision; we found ourselves wasting way too much time watching it and too little time talking together as a family. I wouldn’t presume to suggest that you do the same, or feel guilty if you don’t. All I can tell you is that it has done wonders for the cohesiveness of the Daly family.

Perhaps this decision is why I so quickly connected with a recent column from Chuck Colson.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, pop culture May 20, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Predictors of Success

Wall Street Journal columnist and bestselling author Peggy Noonan penned an interesting column this past Friday. In it, she focused primarily on the forthcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Solicitor General Elena Kagan. She predicts they will be bland, more “show over substance” and full of senators “who give long soliloquies and put forth extremely long and circuitous questions.” She also thinks they’ll be plenty of posturing along with “vanity and camera hogging.”

I think Peggy is right, but she also made a few intriguing comments that confirms and highlights the very mission of Focus on the Family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage May 19, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrating Kids at the Old Ballgame

I’d like to tell you about a wonderful weekend that revolved around some of my favorite people and favorite things in life. I’m referring to my wife, Jean, and our boys, Trent and Troy. I’m also talking about children adopted from foster care, children in foster care, and the great and glorious game of baseball.

The story begins here in Colorado at the ballpark of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. They’re the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, events, family May 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Emerging Adults and the Teaching of Truth

Dr. Christian Smith is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame. Credentials of that caliber will usually place an academic’s scholarly work outside normal day-to-day banter.

Sometimes, but not always.

Such is the case with Dr. Smith’s new book entitled, Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. This collaborative work with Patricia Snell contains some interesting and eyebrow-raising information Christians need to know.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family May 12, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Gendercide: The War Against Girls

Gendercide, a term first coined in a 1985 book by Mary Anne Warren, is a cold and ominous sounding word, and rightly so. Coupled with a photo of a single pair of empty pink baby shoes silhouetted against a black backdrop, it’s downright haunting. But that’s what the editors of a recent issue of the Economist did when they published a startling expose on a largely ignored modern-day holocaust.

What is it all about?

According to a technical understanding of the term, “gendercide” is the deliberate extermination of one particular gender, male or female.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, pro-life May 11, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Motherhood By The Numbers

As you know, yesterday was Mother’s Day. It was an emotional time for me. My heart melts at the thought of my own dear mom, a great woman now gone from earth for nearly 40 years. Though decades have passed since her untimely death when I was just 9 years old, her influence on me remains steady and sure. My mother was a strong but very gentle lady. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her voice and feel the softness of her hand in mine.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, news, wife May 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

National Day of Prayer Reflections

How did you spend your National Day of Prayer?

Yesterday I mentioned that my plans included participating in a service with the staff here at Focus on the Family. We had a wonderfully moving and inspirational time together. Dan Woolley, a Colorado Springs resident and fellow ministry colleague with Compassion International, joined us.

Dan is a survivor of the Haitian earthquake. His story nearly takes my breath away. Dan shared his miraculous testimony of enduring 65 harrowing hours buried in the rubble of the Hotel Montana.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith May 7, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura