Family and Home Archives

See Past the Prison

Life can be beautiful. It can also be really ugly. The difference often lies in your perspective.

Most people consider San Francisco Bay one of the most stunning views in California. The Golden Gate Bridge. Mountains. Bike trails. The sparkling bay waters. Everywhere you look, you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Unless you’re a prisoner on Alcatraz Island just a mile off shore.

For three decades, Alcatraz was home to one of the most notorious penitentiaries in American history, housing infamous gangsters like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family October 19, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Search for a Father’s Love

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “My Search for a Father’s Love,” we’re sharing my conversation with Lynsi Snyder, the owner and president of the In-N-Out Burger chain of restaurants located in the western part of the United States.

Although her family’s wealth made life appear like a fairy tale to outsiders, Lynsi has had a difficult and, at times, heart breaking journey. Her father died when she was 17 years old, which led her into a downward spiral of drug and alcohol abuse and promiscuous relationships in search of love.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Navigating the Middle School Years

The middle school years can be tough. And not just for the kids. They can be challenging for parents as well.

As your child enters adolescence, your parenting approach will likely have to shift gears. There’s a lot going on, after all. Not only is a whirlwind of puberty at your child’s doorstep, but his or her priorities are changing. Family often becomes an afterthought, while friends and independence become most important.

What’s a parent to do?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids October 17, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Risk Everything

What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken today?

If you didn’t try something that scared you to death – or at least pushed you beyond your comfort zone – maybe you didn’t risk enough.

That’s how Major Brian Shul approached life. The renowned American fighter pilot flew 212 combat missions in Vietnam and almost died in a catastrophic crash near the Cambodian border. After his rescue from the jungle, he spent a year in the hospital and was told he’d never fly again.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 16, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Above All, Pray!

When moms and dads ask me for parenting advice, I encourage them to pray for their children. Because sometimes prayer is all you have.

I’ll never forget the struggle my son Troy went through while he was being born. He somehow got his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and swallowed amniotic fluid. One moment everything was fine. The next moment we were facing one of the most dangerous birthing situations possible. And there was nothing Jean or I could do.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 13, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Not as Smart as We Think

We modern people think we’re pretty smart. We live in an age that put men on the moon, landed rovers on Mars, and fired a telescope into space that can see 13 billion lightyears into the past. We’ve created supercomputers that perform a quintillion calculations per second and electron microscopes that observe the world at an atomic level.

And yet, despite our intelligence, we can still be pretty ignorant. Our technology fools us into thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 12, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Raising Up Gen Z to Follow Christ

Gen Z is desperate for guidance and inspiration.

Jason Jimenez has been pastoring parents and students for over thirty years. He’s raised four Gen Z kids of his own. He says this current generation of children represents the most difficult parenting challenge in America’s history. The spread of secularism, violent school shootings, racial and political divides, and the influence of social media have radically altered the parenting landscape.

He once led a question-and-answer session with fifty students about the topic of government.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting October 11, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life

What’s the difference between a poorly dressed man on a tricycle and a well-dressed man on a bicycle?

Attire.

Get it?

Okay, so I’m not much of a comedian. Which is why you’ll enjoy our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Bringing Laughter to Everyday Life” with a real comedian, Tim Hawkins.

Our broadcast regularly deals with serious issues pertaining to marriage and parenting. Those programs are important. But sometimes it’s good to loosen up, sit back, and have a good laugh.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family October 10, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Empowering Women to Take Control of Their Finances

At a conference where she was speaking, author and speaker Deborah Pegues was approached by a woman who told her, “I lost my home after my husband died because I didn’t realize what a balloon payment was. When it came due, I didn’t have the money.”

More women than she can count have told her similar stories. Deborah is a certified public accountant with an MBA in business finance and has written more than 20 books.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family October 9, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Soar Like a Bird

If you’re having trouble getting life off the ground, take a cue from the Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orville. Be open to change and new ideas.

The Wright brothers weren’t the first to experiment with flight, but they accomplished something no one else did. While other inventors barely got their designs off the ground (if they got them off the ground at all), the Wright brothers developed a system that kept the plane aloft and stable.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family October 6, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura