Jim Daly

If You Want a Great Marriage, Do This

Hurdlers don’t usually stumble on the open stretch of track. Victory or defeat is mostly about clearing the obstacles.

It’s the same for marriage. Relationships don’t stumble when everything is calm, and life is rolling along smoothly. Problems tend to develop when couples encounter some kind of stress.

Those moments are an opportunity for husbands and wives to work together as a team.

My wife and I have gone through quite a few transition periods. We’ve faced challenges in our extended families, relocated to new cities, and raised two boys.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: book, broadcast, marriage, relationships

Andrew Luck’s Retirement Decision Has a Hidden Message (Even for Non-Athletes)

Are you a football fan?

I had the privilege earlier this week to contribute an essay to Fox News on the surprise retirement announcement from Indianapolis Colt’s franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck.

Here is in part what I wrote:

I suspect attitudes about money and happiness are at the heart of much of the public’s incredulity surrounding Luck’s retirement. While the NFL star has already earned nearly $100 million over the past seven seasons, he potentially stood to receive hundreds of millions more over the course of his remaining career.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: money, value

Radically Rediscovering Salvation

“Spirituality wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.” – Dallas Willard

Christians use a lot of words like “salvation,” “grace,” and “faith.” How often do we stop and really think about what those words mean?

We’re hungry to the core of our soul for relationship. The degree to which that need goes unfulfilled is the degree to which we will lose ourselves in the pursuit of more. More everything.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, christianity, faith

Braving Middle School Like a Boss

At some point, almost every boy will struggle with the feeling that he doesn’t measure up.

My teenage feelings of inadequacy shot to the surface one day while I was in gym class, standing behind a muscular upper-classman named Glen and one of his buddies. They were talking about how guys grow bigger as they get older.

Without warning, Glen wheeled around and – Bam! – he socked me right in the chest. “See this guy?” he said.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, parenting

Avoiding a Midlife Crisis

The middle of life is supposed to be a great time for men. Their marriages are doing well. Their children have launched, or are ready to go. Their careers are rolling, and the future looks bright.

Or maybe it doesn’t.

Maybe you’ve hit mid-life, and your marriage isn’t what you thought it would be. Maybe your children are struggling to launch. And your career is … sigh … fine.

If your life hasn’t slipped into a comfortable rhythm, we have encouragement for you today on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Avoiding a Midlife Crisis.”

Mid-life is a transition point, but it doesn’t have to be a crisis.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, manhood, men

A Mother’s Story of Loss and Redemption

Few parents have experienced the heartbreak of losing a child.

Fewer still have endured that suffering twice.

Lindsey Dennis and her husband, Kevin know the depths of that heartache. They also know how God’s comfort can bring beauty out of terrible circumstances.

Lindsey and Kevin are sharing their tragic and touching story with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “A Mother’s Story of Loss and Redemption.”

At what was supposed to be a routine prenatal visit, the couple was given shocking news: “We can’t find your baby’s skull.” Their baby was diagnosed with anencephaly.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, tragedy

A Poignant Day in the Daly Household

I’ll cut right to the point.

Jean and I are grieving a little bit this week – not over the death of a loved one or a dire medical diagnosis – but grieving nonetheless.

Our oldest, Trent, left for a nearby college earlier this week.

We couldn’t be happier for him, of course, especially seeing how he’s matured and grown over these last few years. We’ve been impressed with his choice of friends, his attitude and his overall goals and sense of direction.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: children, faith, parenting

Equipping Christians to Understand Sexuality

Take a look at these alarming statistics:

41% of practicing Christians believe that cohabitation is a good idea.60% of people on Christian dating websites say they have no moral inhibitions against sex before marriage.32% of Christian men ages 18 to 30 admit to having an addiction to pornography (not casual use, mind you, but an addiction).

How did we get so far away from God’s design for sexuality?

I’d love to read your thoughts in the comment section below.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Following God’s Pace Instead of Your Own

It’s easy for us as Christians to lose track of God’s timing in our lives. Our culture is driven, and we often fall prey to busyness. We work hard at our jobs. We volunteer at church. We have hobbies and responsibilities around the house. Some days there’s not much left of our time or our energy to keep our relationships in order.

That was true for Terry Looper. His goal was to become a wealthy businessman.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family

Heroic Moms Raising Godly Heroes

“We practiced an active shooter drill today.”

Those words from Lee Nienhuis’ grade-school aged son, Ryan, felt like a gut punch. She could barely hold herself together when he told her, “We pile up in the corner like puppies, and we hide.”

That wasn’t the only time Lee was confronted by the darkness her children face in this world. Another incident happened in church. The congregation was singing the hymn I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Lee could hear her son Ryan singing when they reached the words: “The cross before me, the world behind me.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting