Jim Daly

Learn the Fundamentals of Parenting

Vince Lombardi was the legendary football coach of the Green Bay Packers. Throughout the 1960s, his teams dominated the National Football League. But their astounding success was not the result of new and innovative ways to play the game. It was quite the opposite.

In fact, one notorious example demonstrates how adamant Coach Lombardi was that his players master the fundamentals. At the beginning of training camp the year after one of the team’s most successful seasons, Lombardi gathered his men for a pep talk.

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

What the Media Isn’t Reporting on ISIS’ Beheading of 21 Christian Men

The tragic images are almost impossible to see and process.

There on the shore of Libya stand 21 young Christian Egyptian men, each clad in an orange jumpsuit. Behind each man is a hooded radical Islamist, holding a knife.

We know what’s coming next.

If American Christians were ever tempted to believe martyrs are only people we read about in the Bible and history books, the 21 men who were brutally beheaded because they called Jesus Christ their Savior remind us nothing could be further from the truth.

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

God Meets Imperfect Families in Their Messiness

Maybe you know this feeling a little too well.

You see other families from the outside, and they look exactly like what you envision a good Christian home to be. Their children don’t squabble, and they obey their parents with almost gleeful enthusiasm. Life seems perfect.

But your reality seems a lot different. You break up two or three spats between the kids before you even leave for church. And once you get there, you paint a smile on your face and answer everybody’s, “How’re you doing?” with a robotic, “I’m great.”

But deep inside you know things aren’t great.

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

Fans of “The Drop Box” Buying Out Theaters

The movie doesn’t debut for another two weeks, but already “The Drop Box” is selling out theaters in cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Diego, Miami, Denver, San Antonio, Phoenix, St. Louis and right here in Colorado Springs.

We’re really encouraged by this positive response to the film that we’ve produced in partnership with Kindred Image. Church and community leaders are purchasing group tickets or even buying out theaters so they can help spread the important message this movie brings.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: adoption, entertainment, news, pro-life, promos

This Valentine’s Day, Go Beyond “I Love You”

It’s a little sad how even the most heartfelt phrases can sometimes become habit.

“I love you.”

These are three meaningful words that every husband and wife should say to each other, often.

And yet, sometimes even this beautiful expression can lose some of its luster.

That’s why I appreciated the heart behind this video: a husband and wife, together for 56 years, were asked to describe what they felt for each other … but with one catch.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: marriage, relationships

Why Focus is Reviewing “Fifty Shades”

The movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” premieres this weekend. It’s ironic the film is being marketed as a “love” story, because it’s anything but.

Real men don’t denigrate, exploit and abuse women.

After much soul searching, Focus on the Family’s media discernment arm, Plugged In, decided to review this film. Paul Asay explains why in a post on the Plugged In Blog. Here’s some of what he had to say:

Religion News Service reports that advance tickets are selling particularly briskly in “the Bible Belt and the Midwest,” statistically the two most heavily churched parts of the country…

I don’t believe our primary mission at Plugged In is to say nice things about nice movies: It’s to shine that light in a sometimes murky world.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, marriage, pop culture, sex

How to Take Your Marriage from Selfish to Magnificent

Do you think of your marriage as a “magnificent obsession”?

Hopefully, you’re on the journey toward seeing your relationship in that light. But each of us – at different times in different ways – allows self-interest to tarnish our marriage’s potential.

Selfishness can creep into a relationship from the moment a man and a woman meet, even when they don’t mean for it to. In the initial months of dating, couples pursue a relationship because they like the way they feel when they’re together.

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

This Unromantic Notion Will Give Your Marriage a Boost

What would you say if I suggested that on this Valentine’s Day, you celebrate your “average” marriage?

It doesn’t sound too romantic, does it?

The suggestion certainly goes against the Hollywood notion of love, with its exaggerated portrayals of couples blissfully, breathlessly enraptured with each other.

But let’s get real here.

Real life isn’t like a jewelry ad in a magazine where everything looks picture-perfect. It’s not as exciting as the song on the radio praising the thrill of a brand-new relationship.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: marriage

Mom Abandons Her Baby with Down Syndrome; Thousands Give Help

A news summary on issues that matter.

“Dad Refuses to Give Up Son With Down Syndrome” and accepts his wife’s divorce instead. In response, thousands have donated almost $500,000 to his GoFundMe page to help the new single dad become his son’s full-time caretaker. Most recent reports provide a statement from the mother and show at least the possibility of reconciliation. With an abortion rate of about 50 percent for preborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, the bottom line is many refuse to care for such a child.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news

It’s Good to (Literally) LOL

Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh? I think we all do. As legendary comedian Bob Hope once said, laughter is an “instant vacation.”

My family can attest to that. We love to laugh together. It bonds us together and enables joy, love, and grace to flourish in our home.

Simply put, laughter helps make our house a pleasant place to be. The more we laugh the more we enjoy one another’s company, and that strengthens our relationships.

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