Jim Daly

How to Successfully Blend Your Family

If you made a list of all the things in your life you never thought would happen, situations you never could never have imagined yourself being in, what would you write down?

For some of you, picking up the broken pieces of your life and starting over again with a blended family might be at the top of that list.

This new chapter of life may have come about through death or divorce or some other circumstance, but the challenge is the same: how to overcome the difficulties common to blended families and to give this new part of your life its best chance to thrive.

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

Halloween and The Reformation: Thoughts for Today

Many Americans, especially children, eagerly await the arrival of Halloween this Saturday. I understand and respect that some of my readers choose not to participate in the tradition of the day. If that is you, I appreciate your convictions. However, I think equally devoted Christians can respond differently. My wife and I have opted to allow our sons to trick-or-treat over the years.

We do, though, impose one important caveat: We’ve chosen to stay away from any of the gore and horror of the holiday.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, pop culture

Answering the Tough Questions Your Kids Ask

Kids sure come up with a lot of fun questions – like the little boy who asked his mom, “Was everything in black and white in the olden days?” Or the little girl who really wanted to know where the light goes when you turn off the switch.

But sometimes the questions children ask are tough and quite serious, like “Why does God allow bad things to happen?”, “Why do people get sick and die?”, or “Why are there things like war?”

Those kinds of inquiries aren’t easy to answer, and they usually come out of left field when parents least expect them.

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

3 Key Leadership Habits Every Leader Must Have

Brad Lomenick is the longtime president of Catalyst. A charismatic and insightful thinker, I’ve appreciated Brad’s ability to bring together some of the brightest minds out there today to tackle and discuss many of the challenges facing the next generation. He’s been a guest on our radio program and has become a good friend.

“H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle.,” is his latest book on leadership. In it, Brad offers practical and timely counsel.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: promos

Meet One of the Best Bible Teachers Of All Time

I’m excited to welcome Ray Vander Laan to our studios as our guest on today’s and tomorrow’s broadcasts we’ve titled, “Exploring God’s Enduring Story.”

Focus on the Family has been working with Ray since 1995 to produce the That the World May Know video series. I think it’s some of the best Bible teaching available anywhere. If you’ve seen any of the episodes filmed on location in the land where the Scriptures took place, I’m sure you understand why I feel so strongly about it.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Why Are Schools Cancelling Recess?

Some elementary schools across the nation are banning recess.

Why?

So kids can have more formal instruction time in class.

Limiting recess is just one example of what’s being done in the interest of giving teachers more time to teach. For example, we’re seeing children being introduced to formal academics earlier and earlier.

One teacher described it like this: “Kindergarten is now first grade, and first grade is now second grade.”

Kids are also coming home with more homework than in years past.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, parenting, pop culture

One Woman’s Story of Domestic Violence

Every now and then our radio broadcast covers a topic that breaks my heart.

This is one of them.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month here in the U.S., so we’re gearing today’s and tomorrow’s programs toward creating awareness about domestic violence and offering information and hope to those who may be suffering abuse themselves.

Some of our listeners might be thinking, “Why would Focus be talking about a subject like this on Christian radio?” Well, the sad truth is, domestic violence happens within the Christian community as well, so we need to talk about it openly and honestly.

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

Improve Your Marriage By Doing This One Thing Each Week

When was the last time you and your spouse enjoyed a date night together? You know, just the two of you, where you’re not being pulled on by kids or other distractions.

Ooh. That long ago, huh?

Well, don’t be too hard on yourself. I think most couples struggle in this area.

But it does illustrate an important point: We married couples have to be intentional about creating alone time with our spouse. If we don’t, what little free time we have will get eaten up by other activities.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage

Are You Searching for Answers to Life?

Is there something missing from your life, but you can’t put your finger on what it is? Have you searched high and low for answers, for purpose, for truth, but come up empty?

On yesterday’s and today’s broadcast, we have a recorded message from a man who’s been there. In his young adult years, Lon Solomon did it all and tried it all in his search for life’s ultimate meaning.

He grew up in a Jewish home.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Where’s the Common Sense in Houston?

Few things should concern us more than watching government officials take actions that put political correctness ahead of the safety of women and children.

What’s happening in Houston at the moment is a perfect example of this.

You may remember this ongoing story:

Houston’s Mayor Annise Parker, along with a willing city council, passed one of those laws we see more and more of today, which permits men who are dealing with their own gender identity confusion to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms (and vice versa).

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, policy, pro-life, religious liberty