Family and Home Archives

A Father’s Field of Dreams

There’s a degree of mystery surrounding my father’s life that will forever remain unsolved. I remember listening to Dad as he shared stories about his younger days playing baseball. Of particular interest were the stories he told from the year he played with the Detroit Tigers.

I can’t prove that he actually did play pro-ball with that team for several reasons: he’s dead, which complicates asking any follow-up questions. And, as I described in my first book, Finding Home, there’s a lingering issue regarding our real last name.

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

Bringing Up Girls

It’s been forty years since the release of Dr. Dobson’s first book, Dare to Discipline. Between then and now, several generations have come of age, but Focus on the Family’s founder has continued to offer his signature advice to parents with the same passion, precision and poignancy.

Dr. Dobson’s latest offering, his 33rd title, Bringing Up Girls: Practical Advice and Encouragement for those Shaping the Next Generation of Women, hit bookstores nationwide on April 13th.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting April 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Secrets of the Mountain

When it comes to finding wholesome family entertainment on network television, there are so few family-friendly options that when one comes along, I’m eager to support it. Thanks to a joint effort between Wal-Mart and Proctor and Gamble, Secrets of the Mountain, a made for TV movie, will air on NBC tonight (8 PM EDT).

Taking a page out of Hallmark Hall of Fame and the days of the Wonderful World of Disney Sunday night films, executives with both corporations have committed to helping fund “family-friendly” entertainment.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, pop culture April 16, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Heartbreak Across America

By now you’ve probably read or heard the news regarding Russian adoption in America.

“Future adoptions of Russian children by citizens of the United States, which are now suspended, are possible only if an agreement is reached,” said Andrei Nesterenko, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.

On a good day, international adoption is a complicated and high risk affair, not to mention an emotionally exhaustive endeavor for all parties involved. In recent years you’d need a scorecard to keep track of what countries have opened or closed or changed their adoption programs.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, faith, parenting April 16, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Six Words to Change the World

Yesterday, President Obama wrapped up a 47-nation nuclear summit. Given the national attention to the summit, I found myself reflecting on something that occurred in 1979 during my freshman year in college. It was then that Mother Teresa was presented with a Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work amongst the poorest of the world’s poor.

As she received her award, Mother Teresa was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?” Her answer might surprise you.

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

A Case for Optimism?

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Somebody once said that optimists invented the airplane (Orville and Wilbur Wright) but a pessimist invented the parachute (Louis-Sebastien Lenormand).

Of course, rarely are things so simple and so straightforward, especially when you discover the parachute was actually conceived long before the introduction of the airplane! The “modern” parachute was created to escape from ill-fated hot air balloons. Two people might look at the very same thing but wind up coming to very different conclusions.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 8, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Feeding My Time Capsule

Moms and dads know that some of the most enjoyable moments with kids will often come like lightning out of a clear blue sky. Secularists called it “serendipity”—chance encounters. But those of us who are Christians see them for what they are—gifts of insight and pleasure from our gracious and loving God.

I was reminded of this during a recent ski trip to Salida, Colorado. When Jean and Trent and Troy and I sat down to wait for a pizza at a local restaurant one evening, I decided to try something we hadn’t done before.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting April 5, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your Family Live!

I’m thrilled to announce that last Wednesday Focus on the Family launched Your Family Live! If you missed it, don’t worry. This is a web-based TV program airing live each week, Wednesdays 2-3pm EST. Co-hosted by Dr. Juli Slattery and Yvette Maher, Your Family Live! is especially dedicated to the topics of marriage and parenting.

The debut program featured special guests Jill Savage, Blog Mom Jennifer “McKMama” McKinney, Tammy Maltby and Toby Mac.

I believe you’ll find this hour-long dialogue to be a source of insight and hope—not to mention filled with fun and encouragement!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting, promos April 5, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The BEST news!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here; He is risen!”

Luke 24:5b-6a

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 4, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Birds of a Feather – #2

I originally posted this post several years ago. With Easter approaching, I thought it appropriate to repost it today.

Here’s one from the travel file.

During the last twenty years I’ve had the opportunity to visit more than seventy countries. I noticed there’s a rather unusual feature found on the churches in the Baltic States, France, Germany, Hungry, and the Netherlands among other countries in the region.

Upon close inspection, you’ll discover that many churches don’t have a cross at the top of their steeple, spire, or bell tower.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith April 1, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura