Jim Daly

What to Do If Your 20-Something is Living in Your Basement

It’s a tough economy. Jobs are scarce. Many of today’s college grads are entering the “real world” with considerable student loan debt.

For many parents, what this means is that their adult children will “boomerang” or move back home with them after college.

Can you relate? I’d love to hear from you – both parents and the returning young adults.

Millennials face other consequences from their financial pressures, though. The harsh reality for many 20-somethings is that they believe they can’t afford to get married, because that would mean combining individuals who have a five- or six-digital student loan debt total between the two.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, finances, kids, parenting

The Super Bowl’s Top 5 Most Family-Friendly Ads

As I mentioned in Friday’s post, the team here at Focus thought it would be fun to create a countdown of the night’s most family-friendly ads. After all, we love to celebrate all things that elevate family – even commercials!

It was also nice for us, as Broncos fans, to find a source of distraction as the contest deteriorated on the field. Nevertheless, a big “congratulations!” to all you Seahawks fans out there – it was a well-earned win.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, kids, marriage, parenting, pop culture

One of the Most Controversial Super Bowl Ads of All Time?

Amid all the hoopla surrounding this Sunday’s Super Bowl, I can’t help but think back to the 2010 game. That’s the year Focus on the Family debuted its now-famous ad featuring Pam and Tim Tebow. It still gives me a chuckle to think how some groups branded our innocuous commercial “inappropriate,” “offensive” and “hate masquerading as love” – all without ever seeing it!

These allegations led to an intense media blitz leading up to the game that had me speaking with and appearing on what seemed an endless number of media outlets.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, parenting, pop culture, pro-life

How Your Teen is Like Spanish-Speaking Buzz Lightyear

If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with the Toy Story movie franchise. The films highlight the secret lives of toys. Here’s a scene from Toy Story 3 featuring a Spanish-speaking Buzz Lightyear:

So Rex presses one simple button, and an entire personality is reset.

That’s how it sometimes feels to be a parent of a teenager. All of a sudden, you’re seeing a different side to your child’s personality that just wasn’t there before. And I should know – we now have a teenager in the Daly household.

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

Does the Size of Your Family Matter?

I’ve previously blogged about intentional childless ness, so today I want to address the logical “next step” to that topic: family size. If children are a blessing – which they are – can a couple have too many kids? Is there an ideal family size?

In his book, “What to Expect When No One’s Expecting,” Jonathan V. Last cites how a growing number of Americans want less. They want fewer kids and smaller families.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, marriage, parenting

Did You Know About This Scandal at the Super Bowl?

Here in Colorado, we’re still basking in the glory of Jan. 19 AFC Championship game victory that bought our beloved Broncos a trip to this Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, it won’t all be fun and games in New Jersey this weekend. Beyond the talent of the players on the field and the glitz of the halftime show, the sad reality is that the Super Bowl is, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, “the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.”

Human traffickers are ready to exploit the party atmosphere and lowered inhibitions of the thousands of men who will be checking into local hotels.

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3 Lessons Christians Can Learn From the Grammys’ Wedding Ceremony

I’m the type who turns on the TV to watch a football game, not an awards show, but I did hear about the mass wedding at the Grammys last night.

Here’s a recap: actress and rapper Queen Latifah officiated a marriage ceremony for 33 same-sex and straight couples. The ceremony was part of a performance of the song “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

“Same Love” came to prominence during Washington’s Referendum 74 campaign, which ultimately legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, homosexuality, news, pop culture

VIDEO: Pro-Life Movie “Gimme Shelter” Opens Today

I want to tell you about a new movie – and a modern-day hero.

Kathy DiFiore is the head of a network of shelters for pregnant teens in New Jersey. Kathy has spent the past 35 years “in the trenches.” Her five shelters are run 100 percent on donations, and have saved more than 20,000 babies.

But DiFiore’s work goes beyond saving preborn children – she also helps their moms. Several Sources Shelters provide teen moms with childcare support, education and assistance programs.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, news, pop culture, pro-life

Glorifying God Through the Obstacles in Marriage

All marriages will face challenges. It’s not a matter of if you and your spouse will encounter hardship – it’s a matter of what type of situation you’ll have to walk through.

Mike and Reneé Bondi entered their marriage knowing exactly what type of obstacles they would encounter. Reneé had suffered a horrible accident that left her a quadriplegic while she was still engaged to Mike. Despite the fact Reneé tried to “release” Mike from his commitment to her, he knew in his heart that she was the woman God had set apart for him.

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

VIDEO: Looking Back on 41 Years Since Roe v. Wade

Today, pro-life advocates will be participating in the 41st annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Their participation – despite the snow and cold temperatures – solemnly testifies to the beauty of preborn life, the worth of each and every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy, and the need for us, as a country, to embrace a culture of life.

I was supposed to participate in that march today. I traveled from my home in Colorado to New York City for some work-related meetings before the march.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, kids, news, policy, pro-life