Jim Daly

Who is Raising Who?

To even suggest that children help raise their parents sounds like something out of the progressive parenting phase of the 1970s.

But, hold on.

However provocative the premise, yesterday’s and today’s guest on Focus on the Family, Dr. Dan Allender, is about as far from advocating for permissive parenting as you can get. With his Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Michigan State University, Dr. Allender’s advice is biblical and practical, if not somewhat counterintuitive.

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

Wins and Losses

I was reminded yesterday that even when your team loses, you can still enjoy a winning weekend.

My brother-in-law, Jon Kingdon, is a scout for the Oakland Raiders. Our family loves and admires him, but because of our affinity for the hometown Denver Broncos, there’s always been a fair amount of teasing between us. (For non-football fans, the Broncos/Raiders rivalry is legendary and dates back to the 1960s. In fact, the Broncos and Raiders have met on Monday Night Football more often than any other matchup in MNF history.)

As it was, the Raiders came to town this weekend to play the Broncos.

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

Television Moms and Dads

Given the endless challenges facing the state of the faith, the family, the country and even the world, you might not think I should be spending my time writing about television parents, but please humor me, won’t you?

By now you’ve probably heard of the passing of the always elegant Barbara Billingsley, that supermom of the 1950s iconic television program, Leave it to Beaver. Mrs. Cleaver cooked and cleaned the house in a dress and pearls and was always there to welcome home the boys, Wally and Theodore, and her faithful husband, Ward.

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

The Secret Dance

I need to warn you.

Yesterday’s and today’s radio program is a beautiful, poignant and inspiring story, but you might find yourself holding back some tears as you listen.

So, there you have it. Consider yourself warned.

Our guests are Angie and Todd Smith. Angie is a devoted mom and a gifted writer. Todd is the lead singer of the Dove Award winning group Selah.

But they’re not here to talk about music.

They’re here to talk about life, and all its ups and downs and twists and turns.

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

Special to CNN.COM

Our friends at CNN.com invited me to contribute to its discussion on anti-gay bullying. Although we’re prohibited from republishing my piece in its entirety, we are permitted to share a small portion and link to the full piece.

I welcome your thoughts!

My Take: Christianity Not to Blame for Anti-Gay Bullying

Editor’s Note: Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family and author of Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength (David C. Cook, 2010).

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, homosexuality, news

Remembering a Wonderful Life

Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson died this past Friday. She was 84.

Born in Pittsburgh, Texas in 1926, Dr. Jefferson was the first African-American woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School (’51). She served as a surgeon at Boston University Medical Center and was a professor of surgery at the university’s medical school. She excelled in everything she pursued and ran in pretty high circles while doing it, but her greatest passion was for the very least among us: the unborn child.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, pro-life

So Wonderfully You Made Me

“Amy” looks like a typical 22 year-old college student. She is smart, focused, energetic and enthusiastic. She acts and talks with an eye towards a bright future, even thinking about law school after finishing her bachelor’s degree.

She is also not ashamed to be happy, though just over three years ago, she was told her life would be ruined unless she did the very thing she least wanted to do. Many of her friends may have disagreed with her choice, called her crazy and assured her that regret would follow all the days of her life.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, pro-life

Daly Trips to the E.R.

I was driving home from the airport the other night when my cell phone rang. It was my sweet wife, Jean, calling, always a welcome occurrence, especially after a day away from home.

“Guess where we are?” she asked with a lilt and bit of play in her voice.

I didn’t want to say it, but I was thinking, I don’t want to guess … please tell me.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed.

“We’re at the emergency room again,” she said, “but this time it’s for Troy.”

I could tell by the tone of her voice that Troy wasn’t in any grave danger, but anytime your child requires professional medical attention there is always cause for concern.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, family, kids, parenting

Radio Changes Lives

I want to briefly share something exciting with you.

Each day, a team member here at Focus on the Family compiles what we internally refer to as a “Response Report” regarding the daily radio broadcast. Our phone representatives talk with thousands of listeners per day, and they record what people are thinking and saying about the day’s radio program. Some of the callers are blunt and don’t hesitate to criticize the program; still others might praise the very same one.

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

Busy! Busy!

Are you feeling a bit frazzled? If so, I hope you’ll tune in today to the second part (Part one is available here) of a two-day broadcast. To listen, simply click here.

Our guest is my friend Dr. Richard Swenson. Dr. Swenson is a trained medical physician who served for 27 years in both private practice and as an instructor with the University of Wisconsin. He left the profession when he felt God was leading him to be what he calls a “watchman on the wall”–someone who interprets the signs of the times.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, technology