Jim Daly

‘Chemistry’ Isn’t the Secret to Marriage. Differences Are.

There’s a buzzword in pop culture that’s supposed to reveal the secret to a happy marriage.

“Chemistry.”

Successful relationships, we’re told, ultimately boil down to two people sharing common interests.

Obviously, the more points of agreement between a husband and wife, the better. But in God’s economy, the secret to a thriving marriage isn’t in a couple’s similarities, but in how they handle their differences.

God designed marriage to bring together two unique individuals into a sacred union where they “become one.” That requires a lot of hard work, selflessness, and a commitment to love your spouse through the good and the ugly.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage

Police Officer Adopts Boy He Helped Save

It’s a moving story of how God brought a father and son together through tragic circumstances.

It all started when Officer Jody Thompson responded to a dispatch about a physical child abuse case two years ago, CBS News reports.

When he arrived at the scene, Officer Thompson saw something he’d never forget.

A boy, John, was covered in bruises and abrasions from head to toe. He was severely underweight. His wrists were bound by belts, and he had been submerged in a trash can full of cold water.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, news

When Clams Marry Crowbars

Are you a clam or a crowbar?

That’s an analogy Dr. David Clarke uses to help husbands and wives understand how their poor communication skills have landed them in his counseling office.

In almost every marriage, there’s a clam. The percentages suggest it’s usually men, but it can be women, too.

In either case, clams are the ones who don’t naturally talk on an emotionally deep level. They clam up. But every time they do, their spouses break out a crowbar to pry them open.

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

Planned Parenthood Thinks It Will Win. I Don’t.

Lately, Planned Parenthood has been making it crystal clear what it’s all about – abortion.

That’s the big takeaway from a recent interview Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards gave to The Atlantic last week.

The piece looks at the existential threat looming over it: the United States Congress’ repeated attempts, backed by the White House, to defund the nation’s top abortion provider.

“This has led some to wonder why Planned Parenthood doesn’t just spin off its abortion services into a separate organization,” The Atlantic explains.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: pro-life

Freedom Never Lasts … Unless You Protect It

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Quick. Who said that?

If you don’t know the answer, here’s a clue: He was an American Patriot who said those words at the age of twenty-one just before he was hanged.

Still no guesses?

Don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. That kind of rich history hasn’t been taught very well for decades. It’s alarming, frankly.

Knowing and understanding our history is much more important than memorizing a sea of dates and names.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, events, policy

Moms and Dads: Live. Laugh. Make a Memory.

I like being busy and working hard. God gave us work for our benefit. It’s meant to enrich our lives while we’re providing for our families.

But too much of a good thing ain’t so good. If you’re not careful, you can miss the joys of life along the way.

Several years ago, when my now teenage boys were just little guys, I had an encounter with Trent and Troy that has become a cherished memory.

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

Meet a Couple Whose Best Years of Marriage Came After Their Divorce

Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs were married for ten years … the first time.

Their life together started perfectly. They moved to Los Angeles in their mid-twenties and were living the California lifestyle. They were successful at their jobs, they made a lot of money, and they even had an ocean-front home with all of the right stuff to fill it.

But for Cheryl, marriage was empty.

She thought the lack of intimacy between her and Jeff would eventually correct itself.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, divorce, marriage

The Five Best Moments of Focus’ 40th Anniversary Chapel

Last week was special. We celebrated four decades of God’s faithfulness to Focus on the Family, culminating in a very memorable 40th anniversary chapel service on Friday with special guests Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman – and some of the best parts were those that didn’t go as planned.

The day started early in the morning, as we prepared for the arrival of hundreds of ministry friends, staff, Secret Service agents, local law enforcement, members of the media, and even some protestors who set up camp across the street.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, events, faith, news

Feel Like a Bad Parent? There’s Hope. And Here’s Why.

I used to believe there was such a thing as perfect families. It started with The Brady Bunch. Mike and Carol were loving parents, the kids always seemed happy, and the family’s problems were not only minimal but easy to solve.

As I grew older, I wondered if everybody else around me had a perfect family, too. That’s how they all looked from the outside, anyway.

I’ve been ministering to families for nearly three decades, and I can tell you that a lot of parents feel intense pressure to be perfect.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, parenting

The Supreme Court’s Decision in Trinity Lutheran Case is a Win for All Americans

Here’s the media statement our public relations team sent to reporters concerning today. You can learn more about the case from our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom by visiting www.adflegal.org/the-playground-case. – J.D.

_____

For Immediate Release
June 26, 2017

Focus on the Family President Reacts to SCOTUS Trinity Lutheran Decision:
‘A win for all Americans’

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Focus on the Family President Jim Daly issued this statement today reacting to the Supreme Court’s 7-2 decision in the Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, religious liberty