Jim Daly

Is It Possible to Have an Argument-Free Marriage?

Is it possible to enjoy an argument-free marriage? Fawn Weaver, our guest on yesterday’s radio program, says that you can.

Now, before you dismiss her belief in marital bliss too quickly, I encourage you to give her a listen. She’ll tell you plainly that you won’t build an argument-free marriage by striving for peace at all costs, by avoiding serious conversations, or by sweeping important issues under the rug.

She says the key to eliminating arguing is effective marriage communication that gets to the truth of a matter and that genuinely resolves conflict.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage

Teen Suicide Clusters: What Parents Need to Know

Southern Colorado has been rocked by teen suicides recently, and it’s been devastating.

Our sons go to school in a district that has faced three student suicides in the past two weeks. During the last 13 months, there have been nine deaths in the district, between two schools located only a mile apart. And in nearby Pueblo, there were five student suicides last month. These recent deaths follow 29 student suicides that occurred in El Paso County (Focus’ home) between 2013 and 2015.

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

Hammer Time

My sons are now becoming young men, and along with it comes the memories of a simpler time, when they were boys. Today I want to share with you a blog post that ran back in 2007. The main idea of this piece – to allow your children to make mistakes as they grow up – remains true today. I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane with me… and that you heed the lesson I learned years ago while hanging out with my boys at a local Lowe’s store.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: humor, kids, parenting

Why Parents Should Raise Boys Different Than Girls

Here’s a scenario that will likely play out tonight in households everywhere.

Somewhere a parent will sit down with his or her son and jump into a long-winded monologue that forces the son to sit still and patiently listen. Over the course of that talk, the son’s eyes will glaze over, and the parent will repeatedly say, “Sit still and look at me while I’m talking to you.” When they’re done, the parent will feel compelled to ask, “Did you hear what I just said?” and the son will feel compelled to answer, “Umm, not really.”

The nursery rhyme says it all.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, parenting

Ashton Kutcher’s Senate Testimony on Sex Trafficking Goes Viral

Ashton Kutcher’s recent testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his efforts to end sex trafficking has gone viral.

The popular actor has been working to end modern-day slavery for some years now. Back in 2009, he helped found Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, an organization that builds software to fight human trafficking.

He currently serves as Thorn’s chairman, a role that has allowed him to meet trafficking victims and learn the heartbreaking stories of others.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, policy, pro-life

My Thoughts on President Trump Revoking the Obama Administration’s Bathroom Mandate to Public Schools

There is good news out of the new Administration in Washington, D.C., this time for the nation’s students and their parents.

The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice “Dear Colleague” guidance letter issued Wednesday revoked a controversial and misguided Obama-era education policy. That previous policy directed the nation’s schools, upon threat of the loss of federal funding, to allow boys who identify as girls, and vice versa, to use the restrooms, shower facilities and locker rooms of, and participate in programs designated for, the opposite sex, such as a women’s choir or track team.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, policy

Meet Two “Ordinary” People God Used to Accomplish Great Things

Our spirits are uplifted when we see ordinary men and women who overcome amazing obstacles in their lives through unwavering faith.

Like Corrie ten Boom. Almost 34 years after her death, she is still a spiritual giant for millions of Christians around the world. We’re drawn to her because she was a common person who had moments of doubt, but who also had tremendous faith in God.

While imprisoned in a German concentration camp, her barracks were overrun with lice.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Christian Business Owners Who Dissent on Same-Sex Marriage are Free Speech Heroes

I’ve shared with you many times about the growing number of Christian businesses who are being sued for refusing to service same-sex commitment ceremonies and weddings.

At first blush, one would think that this is a religious freedom issue – and obviously, that is the case.

But have you considered that these are also free speech cases?

Let’s look at what’s happening to Washington State florist Barronelle Stutzman, who is the owner of Arlene’s Flowers.

A born-again Bible-believing Christian, Mrs.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, religious liberty

Men Can Escape the Trap of False Intimacy

I want to speak directly to the men today.

Some of you are probably tired of reminders about the importance of your sexual purity. But I encourage you to join me today and tomorrow for our broadcast, “Men: Maintaining Sexual Purity.” Our guest is author Fred Stoeker, the president of Living True Ministries and an expert in this area.

He speaks from personal experience and from biblical wisdom to show both younger and older men the value of honoring God with their sexuality.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, intimacy, relationships

Does Your Family Need a Year Off?

I like how author Joanne Kraft describes the hectic schedule she used to run herself ragged trying to keep. She swept through her days like a “busy mom hurricane.”

Can you relate? Do you feel like you’re always running? Is your “busy” switch permanently in the “on” position, and you just go, go, go?

If so, maybe you can also relate to what Joanne’s busyness cost her. Like the time she skipped her son’s baseball game for potato salad.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family