Jim Daly

A Recipe for a Happy Marriage

Lorain had a passion for helping couples thrive in their marriages.

For 52 years, she crisscrossed the state of Oklahoma with her husband, Homer, as he preached from church to church. Along the way she came up with a succinct formula for marital happiness. Here’s her recipe for a happy marriage:

1 cup consideration
1 cup courtesy
2 cups praise
2 cups flattery carefully concealed
2 cups milk of human kindness
1 gallon faith in God and each other
1 small pinch of in-laws
1 reasonable budget
1 cup contentment
A generous dash cooperation
2 children (at least)
1 cup confidence and encouragement (for each)
1 large or several small hobbies
1 cup blindness to the other’s faults

Flavor with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage

What Does Jesus Believe About Race?

A couple of weeks ago, I shared my concern that America seems to be sinking to a new low in race relations. The media has highlighted in graphic detail just how fractured our culture has become.

Even in times when our country has been at its most unified, racial division has remained an unresolved schism bubbling just below the surface. In the wake of severe racial strife over the past couple of years, the “Black Lives Matter” movement emerged, only to be quickly countered by “Blue Lives Matter” and “All Lives Matter” groups.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, pro-life

Building a New Future in Remarriage

“Here’s the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”

Most of you could probably finish that theme song from memory. The Brady Bunch was the quintessential television family of the early 1970’s, largely because of its wholesome, albeit simplistic, portrayal of blended families.

In the world of television sitcoms, problems are cleanly resolved by the end of each 30-minute episode. But let’s face it, rebuilding a family is rarely as simple as Mike and Carol Brady made it appear.

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

Want to Raise Selfless Kids? Here’s How

The only things certain in life are death and taxes.

Oh … and the fact that children are born selfish.

Straight from the womb, kids have no boundaries. They don’t care if their mom and dad are hungry, overworked, or haven’t slept in days. They’ll scream for food when they’re hungry and for a new diaper when the old one has, let’s say, fulfilled its purpose.

Fortunately, there’s nothing in that behavior for parents to worry about because that’s the means God has given infants to have their needs met and to survive.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, parenting

Kirk and Chelsea Cameron on How to Make Your Marriage a High Priority

The differences that nearly ended their marriage were woven into their DNA.

By his own admission, he grew up a pampered Hollywood child actor. She was from a hard-working middle class family in upstate New York and later became an actress herself.

The external pressures they faced were immense as well. No city can exploit a couple’s differences quite like Hollywood. So when actors Kirk and Chelsea Cameron married in 1991, they committed to building a life together in a place notorious for tearing them down.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage

How Can You Keep Your Family Safe in Public Restrooms?

It was 2008 when my state of Colorado passed what local media dubbed a “bathroom bill.”

In the days and weeks leading up to then Gov. Bill Ritter’s signing of the controversial bill, many people were incredulous when Focus on the Family warned the bill would open bathrooms and locker rooms to the opposite sex.

“The claims that are made in this campaign are not based in fact. They are based in fear,” Gov. Ritter’s spokesperson had said.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: family, homosexuality, news, policy

Pokémon Go: What Parents Need to Know

Today I want to share with you a piece by Adam R. Holz, who works on Focus’ Plugged In team, that will hopefully help you navigate the questions and requests your kids might have about the “it” game of the moment, Pokémon Go.

You can also download our free resource, “A Quick Pokémon Guide for Parents” online. Let me know your thoughts about the game — and our guide — in the comments section!

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, parenting, relationships

Determining Your Child’s Love Style

Have you ever tried to push a fully inflated beach ball under the water and hold it there?

You can only hold it beneath the surface for so long. Sooner or later, your strength will give out, and the ball will pop back up.

It’s a lot like parenting. How so?

Well, to answer that question, we’ve invited Milan and Kay Yerkovich back to our microphones. They were with us a couple of weeks ago to discuss how we develop a deeper connection with our spouse by understanding their love style and ours.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, parenting

No More Perfect Parenting

Friends: Three policemen were killed yesterday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You can read my thoughts about this terrible news on my Facebook page. -JD

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Have you ever felt like a trapped monkey?

Neither had I until a friend described to me how other cultures hunt for monkeys.

The hunters hollow out a coconut and fasten it to a tree with a rope. Inside the coconut, they put a small portion of food that can be reached through a small hole.

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

This is the Only Real Solution to the Terror Attack in Nice, France

The death toll from yesterday’s terrorist attack in Nice, France, was raised to 84 this morning. According to reports, two Americans were included in the count. The driver of the truck that rammed into the crowd, which had gathered to watch fireworks and celebrate Bastille Day, is Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel. He was shot and killed by police.

“France has been struck on the day of her national holiday,” said France’s president, Francois Hollande. “Human rights are denied by fanatics, and France is clearly their target.”

This latest episode of terror comes barely a month from the terrible shootings inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were murdered and 53 others were wounded.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news