Jim Daly

Man Up?

If you’re a guy and attend either a male-led small group or Bible study, or even pay the slightest attention to discussions about gender, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the catchphrase, “Man Up!”

What does it even mean?

My friend and Focus on the Family board member and president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Al Mohler, has an opinion. Responding to a recent Newsweek cover story on the subject of modern masculinity, Dr. Mohler wrote the following:

A true masculinity is grounded in a man’s determination to fulfill his manhood in being a good husband, father, citizen, worker, leader, and friend — one who makes a difference, fulfills a role for others, and devotes his life to these tasks.

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

Boys and Baseball

I have been traveling a lot lately, too much, really. Over the course of the last ten days, I’ve gone from Colorado to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, back up to New York City, Texas and all the way across the country to California. It was productive and exhilarating, and I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of great friends, both new and old.

But the trip was missing a favorite thing – my family! How I hate being away from Jean and the boys.

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

Update from Option Ultrasound

Many of you have been supporting and praying for Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound outreach. For those who might not be familiar with this ministry, the Option Ultrasound Program provides grants to qualifying pregnancy medical clinics for 80% of the cost of a new ultrasound machine or sonography training for medical personnel. Research has revealed that abortion minded women are much less likely to have an abortion after seeing an image of the child they are carrying.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life, technology

‘Huckabee’ Interview: Keeping the Focus on the Family

Last week I mentioned my scheduled appearance on the Fox News Channel program Huckabee. I thought some of you might want to see the finished product.

In a segment called “Keeping the Focus on the Family,” I discuss the ministry’s evolving role in the community and my new book, Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength (David C Cook, September 2010).

You can watch the clip here.

Let me know what you think.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, staff

Faith and Fortune Cookies

He was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg, a Jewish son of Nettie and Martin, and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

As a child, he sparred with his tough-minded mother, who worked in a delicatessen at the same time his father toiled away as an accountant. There was always tension in the family, a functional dysfunction. His parents didn’t get along, and they stumbled through a rocky marriage.

As a young boy, Allan attended Hebrew school for eight years, spoke Yiddish and found his niche making people laugh, most likely out of self-preservation and as a way to make sense of the senseless.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Two Things to Help Your Children in School

Where and how do your children learn best? When it comes to optimal learning environments and personal study habits, most of us have assumed that a concentrated session, in a quiet room, is the most effective way to learn.

Not according to the research: Varying the type of material studied in a single sitting — alternating, for example, among vocabulary, reading and speaking in a new language — seems to leave a deeper impression on the brain than does concentrating on just one skill at a time.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting

Media Alert: FOX News Interview

Just a quick note:

I would appreciate your prayers for my upcoming trip to New York City and an appearance on FOX News.

I’m privileged to be scheduled to join former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tomorrow, Saturday September 18th, on his popular television program.The show airs on FOX News at 8:00 PM EDT.

Would love to have you tune in! Among the topics to be discussed during the interview will be my latest book, Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength (David C Cook, September 2010).

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, staff

Craigslist and Sex Ads

I’ve never met Jim Buckmaster, and the chances are good that you haven’t either. But you’ve no doubt heard of Craigslist, the online site he’s run since 2000.

What started as a “hobby” of the company’s founder, Craig Newmark, is now a major presence on the Internet. From selling a bicycle to buying tickets to the big game, Americans have embraced its convenience and ease of use. What used to take days and dollars to pull off – placing a classified ad in a local newspaper – can now be done in a matter of mere minutes.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, news, sex

Burning the Qur’an Does Not Illuminate the Bible

I am pleased to join several of my friends and colleagues in adding my name to a simple but straightforward statement, published in a full-page advertisement, in today’s New York Times.

It’s sponsored by the American Bible Society. It reads as follows:

“Burning the Qur’an does not illuminate the Bible.”

The ad, along with its signatories, can be viewed by clicking here.

Of course, this was in response to the planned “Burn the Qur’an Day” which was scheduled for this coming Saturday down in Gainesville, Florida.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news

It’s a (potential) Major Award!

Gabriel Heatter, the old radio newsman of the World War II era, used to begin his broadcast with the same opening line: “Good evening, everyone. There is good news tonight!”

Well, our local paper, the Colorado Springs Gazette, has a “good news” type of story today that might be of some interest to listeners and supporters of Focus on the Family.

This encouraging development is attributable to God’s grace, the generous support of millions of listeners and viewers and the hard work of an incredible team here at the ministry.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, events, news