Jim Daly

Should 2-Year-Olds Be Given Medication for ADHD?

It’s an unsettling trend that’s quickly gaining speed: toddlers are increasingly being prescribed drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A recent article from the Today Show cites the number of U.S. 2- and 3-year-olds receiving the medication at 10,000.

Are these drugs necessary?

Let’s be honest: toddlers can be a rowdy bunch. It’s not easy to parent during these years and keep up with the constant running, screaming, climbing, and curiosity that’s characteristic of this age.

But when you think about it, toddlers are active because it’s their “job” to play.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, kids, news, parenting

Santa Barbara Killings Remind Us of Violent Video Games’ Role in Culture

Video games are in the news more and more – and usually, it’s not for good reasons.

Gaming is sometimes blamed in the growing trend where young men are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve major life milestones like moving out of their parents’ house, going to college, getting married and starting a family. Some of these men are stuck in a prolonged adolescence; one stat says 18-to- 34-year-old men spend more time playing video games than 12-to- 17-year-old boys.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, pop culture, technology

Tears at Midnight

Some time ago I found myself in Washington D.C. attending a series of meetings. After spending the entire day and evening inside several buildings, I was eager for some fresh air. What followed would be a night I’d never forget.

With me in Washington that evening was my friend, Roger Sherrard. Roger is a constitutional attorney and a dear man, now serving as principal at Sherrard McGonagle Tizzano, in the state of Washington.

It was 11 P.M.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, news, relationships, religious liberty

Navy Seal’s Commencement Speech Full of Common-Sense Wisdom

May is full of graduations – for so many students, it’s a time of transition to a new era looming with possibility.

This year, the University of Texas at Austin welcomed alumnus Admiral William H. McRaven of the U.S. Navy to deliver the keynote address. He is the man who commanded the U.S. Special Operations Command responsible for organizing and carrying out the raid against Osama bin Laden.

During his speech, McRaven reflected back on the lessons he learned during his Navy Seal training.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, pop culture

Girls Propositioning Boys: Helping Your Son When the Tables Are Turned

Today’s children are growing up faster than ever. Thanks to TV, overtly sexual songs on the radio and the Internet, most kids have likely seen, heard and experienced more than their counterparts from previous generations.

And sadly – one trend we’re seeing is that sexually aggressive “tween” girls are now propositioning younger boys, offering them sexual favors.

One unbelievable example

In our two-part broadcast starting today, “Helping Sons Guard Their Purity,” our guest, FamilyLife President Dennis Rainey, shares a story about a boy who had notes in his jeans pocket from a girl who wanted to sit by him at lunch.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, kids, parenting, relationships, sex

An Interview with Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall

Since the self-titled debut of Casting Crowns‘ first album was released in 2003, the band has enjoyed great popularity among Christian audiences – but not for reasons you’d might expect.

Instead of light-hearted songs that only scratch the surface of our faith, Casting Crowns specializes in delivering hard-hitting hits meant to challenge listeners – and the larger Christian community – in our walks. The band regularly explores themes of holiness, relationships, witness and vulnerability in a way that encourages self-reflection.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, entertainment, marriage, parenting, pop culture

Joan of Arc… Noah’s Wife?

The Bible may be the best selling book in America, but that doesn’t mean we read and retain its content.

Consider:

At least 12 percent of adults believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife.
A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that more than 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.
A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.

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

The Best City for Love?

In a light-hearted article, the Wall St. Journal recently declared Colorado Springs, Colo., where Focus is headquartered, the top place in the U.S. to find love.

Seriously.

Here at Focus, we think that’s great. In fact, we’re even holding a gathering event that might help cement that title: this Aug. 7-9 Focus on the Family’s Boundless ministry is hosting Pursuit 2014, a special weekend for single 18-39 year olds.

If you’re not familiar with Boundless, here’s a quick overview.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: events, marriage, news, relationships

A Tale of Two Countries

Two stories struck me yesterday. In one way, they’re unrelated and yet at the same time, very much connected.

LaChanze Sapp-Gooding is the widow of Calvin Joseph Gooding. Mr. Gooding was killed on September 11th as he worked inside the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At the time of the attack, LaChanze was 8-months pregnant with their second child.

Meriam Yehya Ibrahim is a Sudanese Christian who was sentenced to death yesterday for refusing to renounce her faith and embrace Islam.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news

Two Ways Dads Can Help Their Children Succeed

Success.

How to define it?

To many Americans, success means challenging yourself to reach your full potential. It can mean financial stability and the ability to provide for a family.

To many in the world, it means reaching a certain level of self-fulfillment. And while there are various ways the above goals can be reached, the fact is that a college diploma remains an important common denominator of the American definition of success in many cases.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting