Family and Home Archives

Halloween and Christianity

This coming Sunday is October 31st, a date of historical significance on several levels, depending upon your faith tradition and cultural upbringing.

To many Christians, October 31st is remembered and revered as “Reformation Day”, a key date in Church history. It was on the last day of October in 1517 when Martin Luther wrote a letter to the Catholic Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, protesting, among other things, the sale of indulgences. He had other complaints, too, and what would become known as the “95 Theses” were nailed to the door of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church) in Wittenburg, Germany.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, faith, parenting October 29, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Know That You Don’t Always Have to Know

When Lee Strobel quit his job as a Chicago journalist back in the late ‘80s and joined Willow Creek’s pastoral staff, his colleagues wondered if he had gone off the deep end. From a professional standpoint, his decision struck them as strange: His job was a dream come true and, in fact, the culmination of a pursuit that began as a kid when he founded and published a neighborhood newspaper at age 12.

He was committing certain career suicide, they told him.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith October 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Way to a Stronger Marriage

I’m headed to Atlanta this morning to participate in Focus on the Family’s Celebrate Family Tour. Tonight’s event is featuring the hilarious comedian, pastor and teacher, Mark Gungor. Mark is one of the most sought-after speakers on marriage and family in the country. If you’re in the area and would like to attend, please know we’d love to greet and host you this evening.

Before I go, though, I wanted to invite you to listen to today’s broadcast.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, wife October 27, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Who is Raising Who?

To even suggest that children help raise their parents sounds like something out of the progressive parenting phase of the 1970s.

But, hold on.

However provocative the premise, yesterday’s and today’s guest on Focus on the Family, Dr. Dan Allender, is about as far from advocating for permissive parenting as you can get. With his Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Michigan State University, Dr. Allender’s advice is biblical and practical, if not somewhat counterintuitive.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting October 26, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Wins and Losses

I was reminded yesterday that even when your team loses, you can still enjoy a winning weekend.

My brother-in-law, Jon Kingdon, is a scout for the Oakland Raiders. Our family loves and admires him, but because of our affinity for the hometown Denver Broncos, there’s always been a fair amount of teasing between us. (For non-football fans, the Broncos/Raiders rivalry is legendary and dates back to the 1960s. In fact, the Broncos and Raiders have met on Monday Night Football more often than any other matchup in MNF history.)

As it was, the Raiders came to town this weekend to play the Broncos.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, parenting, pop culture October 25, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Secret Dance

I need to warn you.

Yesterday’s and today’s radio program is a beautiful, poignant and inspiring story, but you might find yourself holding back some tears as you listen.

So, there you have it. Consider yourself warned.

Our guests are Angie and Todd Smith. Angie is a devoted mom and a gifted writer. Todd is the lead singer of the Dove Award winning group Selah.

But they’re not here to talk about music.

They’re here to talk about life, and all its ups and downs and twists and turns.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family October 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

So Wonderfully You Made Me

“Amy” looks like a typical 22 year-old college student. She is smart, focused, energetic and enthusiastic. She acts and talks with an eye towards a bright future, even thinking about law school after finishing her bachelor’s degree.

She is also not ashamed to be happy, though just over three years ago, she was told her life would be ruined unless she did the very thing she least wanted to do. Many of her friends may have disagreed with her choice, called her crazy and assured her that regret would follow all the days of her life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, pro-life October 19, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Daly Trips to the E.R.

I was driving home from the airport the other night when my cell phone rang. It was my sweet wife, Jean, calling, always a welcome occurrence, especially after a day away from home.

“Guess where we are?” she asked with a lilt and bit of play in her voice.

I didn’t want to say it, but I was thinking, I don’t want to guess … please tell me.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed.

“We’re at the emergency room again,” she said, “but this time it’s for Troy.”

I could tell by the tone of her voice that Troy wasn’t in any grave danger, but anytime your child requires professional medical attention there is always cause for concern.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, family, kids, parenting October 15, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Radio Changes Lives

I want to briefly share something exciting with you.

Each day, a team member here at Focus on the Family compiles what we internally refer to as a “Response Report” regarding the daily radio broadcast. Our phone representatives talk with thousands of listeners per day, and they record what people are thinking and saying about the day’s radio program. Some of the callers are blunt and don’t hesitate to criticize the program; still others might praise the very same one.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage October 14, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Busy! Busy!

Are you feeling a bit frazzled? If so, I hope you’ll tune in today to the second part (Part one is available here) of a two-day broadcast. To listen, simply click here.

Our guest is my friend Dr. Richard Swenson. Dr. Swenson is a trained medical physician who served for 27 years in both private practice and as an instructor with the University of Wisconsin. He left the profession when he felt God was leading him to be what he calls a “watchman on the wall”–someone who interprets the signs of the times.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, technology October 13, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura