Family and Home Archives

Arguing Happily Ever After

Somebody once said there are two types of married couples – those who argue (from time to time) and those who lie and say they don’t.

There was an interesting article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal that suggests it’s not if we argue, but how we argue that will determine the overall health of our marriages.

All couples disagree – it’s how they disagree that makes the difference,” reports Howard Markman, professor of psychology at the University of Denver and co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: husband, marriage, wife July 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bigotry and Marriage

Frank Rich is a long-time columnist for The New York Times. As a former drama critic, he’s no stranger to the stage and certainly knows how to stir the pot. He once referred to the Passion of the Christ film as “a porn movie, replete with slo-mo climaxes and pounding music for the money shots.”

Mr. Rich has been a frequent critic of evangelical Christianity. Focus on the Family has born the brunt of his sharp pen several times, but as an opinion columnist, he gets paid to share his perspective, and that’s part of what makes America great.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, marriage July 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Life Saving Pizza???

George Linn might very well be alive today because he ordered a pizza.

This past Friday the Lakewood, Colorado man was awaiting delivery of a pie when he suffered a heart attack. His wife, Kami, was about to call 911 when Chris Wuebben, the pizza delivery man, showed up with their order.

Bad timing?

Hardly.

Mr. Wuebben had been a paramedic in Ilinois before moving to Colorado.

While Mrs. Linn called 911, Chris Wuebben administered CPR, stopping the heart attack.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, humor July 20, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Modern Day Miracles

I wrote last time about the media’s obsession with bad and sensational news. Sadly, the headlines are so often dominated by negative developments even though the world is full of beauty, wonder and yes, miracles. So much of life is based upon things unfolding behind the scenes outside our view. Our days, much more than we fully appreciate and acknowledge, are guided and controlled by God’s invisible hand.

In other words, what we see is not all there is.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, parenting July 13, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

It’s a Mad, Mad World

Has BP finally plugged the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico? Did a federal judge really just overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act? Is the stock market still on its wild roller coaster ride?

I’m only asking because the news media has appeared obsessed these last few days with only two main subjects:

LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan.

To be clear, I have nothing against either of these individuals.

I’m happy for Mr. James and saddened for Ms.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture July 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Back in the Saddle Again

It’s been nearly two weeks since my motorcycle accident, and I’m finally back at the office. The left ankle is in a cast and healing, though doctors tell me I’m still twelve weeks away from being able to put any pressure on the foot itself. Despite the pain and the awkwardness of getting around and having to prop the foot up on pillows, it’s good to be on campus again.

As the old saying goes, sometimes a change is better than a rest.

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

The Cost of Independence – #1

There is an old saying that suggests a person’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do what he likes.

I think there is wisdom within those words.

America will celebrate her 234th birthday on Sunday with its usual grand and glorious traditions. Don’t you just love all the pomp and pageantry, along with the flags and fireworks that accompany family and community gatherings?

What a day! Thank God for the United States of America.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, religious liberty July 2, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are You Afraid to Die?

As a subject of conversation, death is an uncomfortable topic. Should it be?

Some of us are more intimately familiar with it than others, but it’s ultimately a reality that touches everyone. Having just survived a harrowing motorcycle accident and been spared serious injury, I’m sure you can appreciate the fact that this topic is on my mind.

In that context, let me take you back to something written by John Donne (1572-1631). Donne was both an English preacher and a prolific writer who lived at a time when church bells would regularly peal out across cities as part of funeral proceedings.

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

Your Money and Abortion

Would it shock or anger you to learn that your tax dollars have been paying for abortion, albeit indirectly, for years? Wait until you read some new figures just out this week in a report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

During this past winter’s highly controversial debate over the universal health care bill, Focus on the Family and CitizenLink, along with other numerous other pro-life groups, fought passionately, though ultimately unsuccessfully, to prohibit the legislation’s inclusion of federally funded abortion coverage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: policy, pro-life June 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

No-Fault Parenting

One of the treats about being a father and having children is the chance to watch yourself grow up all over again. Have you ever thought about it that way? I certainly have. Admittedly, life in 2010 is drastically different than it was in 1960s America when I was a boy, but the essence and wonder of childhood are primarily the same. Or is it?

There are many days when I catch a glimpse of Trent and Troy doing something that ushers me back 40 or so years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, parenting, pop culture June 15, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura