Jim Daly

Want to Laugh?

Summer is in full swing. Like many of you, my family has already enjoyed some vacation time together. It’s been wonderful to take a break from our daily responsibilities, to relax, and to connect with one another.

We’ve traveled a little, and we’ve laughed a lot. It’s been good for the soul.

In keeping with that spirit, for today’s broadcast, we thought we’d take a break from some of the serious issues we’ve talked about over the past several weeks to enjoy a little humor from our friend, comedian Ken Davis.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, entertainment, faith

Sharing Your Faith with Non-Believers

Is your home a lighthouse?

The purpose of a lighthouse, remember, is to shine brightly through the darkness to lead people on the open water safely to shore.

It’s no accident that sort of imagery illustrates how the Christian’s life is supposed to be. I’m sure you’ll recall Matthew 5, where Jesus says, “You are the light of the world” and then encourages us to let our “light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”

That means a Christian’s home ought to shine with God’s love, grace, and presence and be inviting to the neighborhood around it.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

How to Use Your Words Wisely

I’ll bet you remember the moment your life changed.

It may have been in childhood or even when you were an adult. But someone said something to you that was hurtful. That person may not have even meant for their words to sting, but they cut you deep, and that moment changed your entire perception of yourself from that point forward.

For me, it was ninth grade. I was in my high school’s weight room, getting ready for football season.

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Four Things You Can Do NOW About the Latest Planned Parenthood Scandal

The Center for Medical Progress released a secretly recorded video yesterday of Planned Parenthood’s top doctor describing how the organization sells the body parts of aborted preborn babies.

It’s difficult to watch:

Over lunch and wine, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, the Senior Director of Medical Services, describes how she harvests organs during the abortions she performs on babies up to 24 weeks gestational age. She explains how the procedure involves the doctors using ultrasound technology to guide their forceps:

You’re just kind of cognizant of where you put your graspers, you try to intentionally go above and below the thorax, so that, you know, we’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I’m not gonna crush that part.

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Seven Things You Should Know About the Oregon Bakers

By now you’ve heard the news: the devout Christian bakers in Oregon who declined to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony because of their faith convictions have been fined $135,000. They’ve been told to pay this week.

In light of this development, I want to share seven facts about the Sweet Cakes by Melissa case that might surprise you:

1. The case hasn’t been seen by a judge in a court of law. The authority issuing the amount?

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, policy, religious liberty

We Don’t Need Nice Men

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise” – C.S. Lewis.

It’s a popular trend these days to raise boys into “nice guys.” Men are expected to be sweet and gentle – almost feminine – in the way they interact with the people around them. But I think that mentality is putting our families at risk. We don’t need more “nice” guys. We need strong men.

First of all, let me clarify.

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Video: A Beautiful Rendition of Amazing Grace

Former U.S. Secretary of State and accomplished pianist Condoleezza Rice and Grammy-nominated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker recently teamed up to play a touching rendition of the favorite hymn “Amazing Grace.” I hope you enjoy.

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Hope for Parents of Prodigals

Few things are as painful for a Christian parent as a child who turns away from his or her faith. And the deeper the pain, the deeper our need for hope.

Maybe that’s why the story of the prodigal son has remained one of the most beloved parables in Scripture for centuries.

The story doesn’t make promises or guarantees about “wayward” children, of course. But it does offer hope to parents in desperate need of it.

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Same-Sex Couples at Family Gatherings: Would You Take Your Kids?

Long before the Supreme Court imposed same-sex marriage on the country, Christian parents had been dealing with the culture’s growing acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships and the impact it has on their children.

We at Focus are hearing from more and more of them as they navigate these difficult waters with friends and relatives who are homosexual while also trying to model Christian behavior for their own children. Here’s a question typical of those we receive:

My sister-in-law is currently married to her partner.

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

Do You Get Along with Your In-Laws?

Do you get along with your in-laws?

Okay, so I didn’t intend that question to be funny. But if you caught yourself snickering a little, who could blame you? In-law jokes (particularly about one’s mother-in-law) are a mainstay of modern comedy routines and a common stereotype in movies and television shows.

But within every joke you can find a kernel of truth. And the truth here is in-law relationships can be difficult.

When you get married, in-laws may start doing or saying things you never anticipated, and before you even know what’s hit you, you find yourself in an adversarial relationship.

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