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Catalyst 2010: A Movement of Restorers

Esther Fleece

Where can you find 13,000 multi-generational leaders who wholeheartedly desire to serve God’s purpose within their generation?

The Catalyst conference in Atlanta is a great place to start.

Thousands of “grass top” leaders gathered there last week, displaying a beautiful spirit of unity among evangelical subgroups.

It’s not an overstatement to suggest those in attendance are changing the world.

How?

One person at a time.

Groups like TOMS Shoes celebrated an incredible milestone of giving the one millionth pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, faith, pop culture October 11, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Who is Wooing You?

It sounds like the opening line of a classic Dr. Seuss kid’s book, doesn’t it?

Who is wooing you?

When it comes to romantic relationships, I think there’s a tendency to see “wooing” as primarily a component of courtship prior to marriage. It’s a familiar scene, isn’t it? There is the boyfriend, flowers and chocolates in hand, maybe even leaving a little love note under his girlfriend’s windshield wiper at work. A colleague of mine, while dating his then girlfriend, now wife, would bring groceries to her apartment in between paychecks.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage, pop culture October 8, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Boy Down!

It is late and we’ve just returned from the emergency room.

I am reminded of an old poem by Roberta I. Teague. It’s titled, “Raising Boys.”

Here is a brief but relevant excerpt:

Broken bones and bloody knees,
I should have been a nurse.
I take it all in shaky stride-
Just grateful it’s not worse!

Many of you have been so kind to pray — and continue to inquire — about the status of my broken ankle.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family October 7, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Man Up?

If you’re a guy and attend either a male-led small group or Bible study, or even pay the slightest attention to discussions about gender, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the catchphrase, “Man Up!”

What does it even mean?

My friend and Focus on the Family board member and president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Al Mohler, has an opinion. Responding to a recent Newsweek cover story on the subject of modern masculinity, Dr. Mohler wrote the following:

A true masculinity is grounded in a man’s determination to fulfill his manhood in being a good husband, father, citizen, worker, leader, and friend — one who makes a difference, fulfills a role for others, and devotes his life to these tasks.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, husband October 1, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Boys and Baseball

I have been traveling a lot lately, too much, really. Over the course of the last ten days, I’ve gone from Colorado to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, back up to New York City, Texas and all the way across the country to California. It was productive and exhilarating, and I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of great friends, both new and old.

But the trip was missing a favorite thing – my family! How I hate being away from Jean and the boys.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting September 30, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Update from Option Ultrasound

Many of you have been supporting and praying for Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound outreach. For those who might not be familiar with this ministry, the Option Ultrasound Program provides grants to qualifying pregnancy medical clinics for 80% of the cost of a new ultrasound machine or sonography training for medical personnel. Research has revealed that abortion minded women are much less likely to have an abortion after seeing an image of the child they are carrying.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life, technology September 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

‘Huckabee’ Interview: Keeping the Focus on the Family

Last week I mentioned my scheduled appearance on the Fox News Channel program Huckabee. I thought some of you might want to see the finished product.

In a segment called “Keeping the Focus on the Family,” I discuss the ministry’s evolving role in the community and my new book, Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength (David C Cook, September 2010).

You can watch the clip here.

Let me know what you think.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, staff September 23, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Faith and Fortune Cookies

He was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg, a Jewish son of Nettie and Martin, and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

As a child, he sparred with his tough-minded mother, who worked in a delicatessen at the same time his father toiled away as an accountant. There was always tension in the family, a functional dysfunction. His parents didn’t get along, and they stumbled through a rocky marriage.

As a young boy, Allan attended Hebrew school for eight years, spoke Yiddish and found his niche making people laugh, most likely out of self-preservation and as a way to make sense of the senseless.

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

Two Things to Help Your Children in School

Where and how do your children learn best? When it comes to optimal learning environments and personal study habits, most of us have assumed that a concentrated session, in a quiet room, is the most effective way to learn.

Not according to the research: Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — alternating, for example, among vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — seems to leave a deeper impression on the brain than does concentrating on just one skill at a time.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting September 20, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Media Alert: FOX News Interview

Just a quick note:

I would appreciate your prayers for my upcoming trip to New York City and an appearance on FOX News.

I’m privileged to be scheduled to join former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tomorrow, Saturday September 18th, on his popular television program.The show airs on FOX News at 8:00 PM EDT.

Would love to have you tune in! Among the topics to be discussed during the interview will be my latest book, Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength (David C Cook, September 2010).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, staff September 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura