Jim Daly

Banning Drive-In Churches is a Road too Far

Since the outbreak and escalation of the coronavirus pandemic in March, pastors and faith leaders throughout the United States have cooperated with local and state officials in doing their part to “flatten the curve” of the pathogen by either canceling or transitioning in-person church services to online platforms.

For anyone born over the course of the last one-hundred years, the changes in weekly worship habits have been unprecedented. In fact, church services during the Spanish flu epidemic between 1918 and 1920 carried on as usual – for good or bad.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: church, Coronavirus, current events

Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Ways

A
lot of people wonder, “Can God truly be good, even when He allows pain and
suffering in my life?”

That
question deserves a serious, thoughtful answer. To that end, we’ve invited Dr.
Larry Crabb to join us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Trusting God When We Don’t Understand His Ways.”

Dr.
Crabb is author of the book When God’s
Ways Make No Sense. He has some
timely thoughts about how faith can anchor our lives in the midst of uncertainty.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family

On the Coronavirus, the Following Things are True

On the 100th day of the COVID-19 global pandemic, I would offer to you that the world has learned a few lessons.

This list is hardly exhaustive, but it’s nevertheless irrefutable – at least from my perspective:

1. We are not in control. God is.

2. Humans are frail, fragile – and resilient.

3. Because of sin, bad things happen to everyone.

4. No matter how dark the night, the sun rises in the morning.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: Coronavirus, current events, faith

How Our New, Free Streaming Service Can Help Your Family Celebrate Easter

Do you and your family find yourselves watching more movies and television these days?

If so, please don’t forget to check out Focus on the Family’s new streaming service, Focus@Home.We’re adding new content every day, including some wonderful special material for Easter from our friend Ray Vander Laan, perhaps best known for his teaching in our rich and meaningful series, That the World May Know.

We’ve also added The Truth Project, our award-winning Christian worldview series from Dr.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: easter, family, focus at home

4 Ways to Have Dollars and (Common) Sense During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Although Wall Street’s rout seems to have stabilized in recent days since the first surge of coronavirus cases, the volatility of the financial markets is nevertheless unprecedented in modern times.

Your perspective of this last month may mirror the late President Reagan’s witty observation of long ago:

“Recession is when your neighbor loses his job,” he once remarked. “Depression is when you lose yours.”

Economic experts are working feverishly to stabilize the markets. Part of the emergency relief plan involves stimulus checks for families – funds that should be received in the coming weeks.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: Coronavirus, family, finances

Giving and Receiving God’s Grace

Fortunately,
I got out of it. Not because I outsmarted anybody, but because somebody showed
me grace when I deserved judgment.

My final
year of high school I worked for a produce company in southern California. One
day my boss had me tag along with one of the truck drivers. We drove for hours
to drop off a load of potatoes, only to discover when we got there that all of
the workers had gone on strike.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

5 Things Every Family Needs to do Before the Coronavirus Pandemic Ends

If you’re like most people, you’re praying for a quick end to the coronavirus global pandemic. I don’t blame you. So am I. The virulent pathogen has taken over 10,000 lives and upended hundreds of millions more here in the United States alone.

It’s a tragedy unlike we’ve seen in America in over a century.

You’re doing your best to make the most of your time at home, possibly balancing your career with homeschooling kids – all the while trying to maintain your sanity and remain safe and healthy.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: current events, family

Teaching Kids About Easter

Several years ago, when video stores were still around, Jean and I went looking for a movie that told the story of Easter. We couldn’t find the title we were looking for on the shelf, so we asked the young lady behind the counter if another copy was available.

When she heard the word “Easter,” she pointed us to
several kids’ videos that had something to do with decorating eggs. We said,
“No, we’re looking for a video about the real story of Easter, the death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Judging by the confused look on her face, she
had no idea what we were talking about.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: easter, family

Focus on the Family Launches Streaming Platform Focus@Home

Focus on the Family has launched a free streaming platform for families called Focus@Home. The platform features some of Focus’ most popular content, including the animated video series “Adventures in Odyssey” and “McGee and Me,” and video series and feature films such as “Last Chance Detectives,” “Every Boy Needs a Hero” and “Mully.”

Additional content, including Ray Vander Laan’s “That that World May Know,” “The Truth Project” and more will be added over the coming weeks.

To access the free content, simply visit www.focusonthefamily.com/streaming.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, focus at home

Trusting God in Today’s Economy

Are
you suffering financially because of the coronavirus pandemic? If so, our
broadcast “Trusting God in Today’s Economy” is for you!

We’re
airing a message by Steve Farrar, the author of Manna: When You’re Out of Options, God Will Provide. Steve
recorded this talk a few years ago in response to the stock market crash of
2008, but the principles he shared are timeless.

At some point, each of us finds
ourselves in a wilderness – moments where we are utterly dependent on God to help
us through circumstances that are beyond our control.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: current events