Jim Daly

Marriage is as Much a Responsibility as a Fundamental Right

The local newspaper usually reflects the heartbeat of the community.

Usually, though not always.

The Colorado Springs Gazette is our hometown publication. They do a great job covering our area despite the fact they have a shrinking staff of writers. Last week, the libertarian minded editorial board officially endorsed same-sex marriage. The editors graciously offered me an opportunity to respond in this past Sunday’s edition.

Here is the essay; I welcome your thoughts.

Marriage is as Much a Responsibility as a Fundamental Right

By Jim Daly

The Gazette’s recent endorsement of gay marriage makes the same mistakes on a number of issues that we’re accustomed to seeing from active proponents for the issue.

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

Susan’s Story

Although it seems like a distant memory now, it was only a few months ago that Focus on the Family’s “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life” ad aired during the Super Bowl. Rather than being confrontational, as some critics had speculated, it was actually an upbeat celebration of the bond between Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam. A few days after the Super Bowl, the Barna Group released data showing that more than 5 million people reconsidered their position on the issue of abortion after viewing the ad!

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, pro-life, staff

Seven Predictors of Divorce

I last shared Dr. Gottman’s six predictors of marital success and happiness. Here now are his top warning signs of coming marital strife:

1. Harsh Start of Arguments

The partner who starts the argument is aggressive or hostile, is insulting, attacks his partner’s character, uses sarcasm, shows contempt or disgust—all of which lead to escalation or withdrawal.

2. Criticism

Attacking character or traits, instead of addressing the problem specifically.

3. Contempt

Disgust, disrespect, condescension, sarcasm, eye-rolling.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: divorce, marriage, relationships

Six Predictors of Marital Success and Happiness

How’s your marriage?

According to Dr. John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington and the founder of the Gottman Relationship Institute, there are several things to consider when gauging the health of your marriage.

Here they are:

1. High Levels of Friendship, Respect, Affection, and Humor

This is defined as liking each other, being each other’s best friend, doing things together; showing interest in and respect for the other’s thoughts and feelings, avoiding put-downs, supporting each other’s goals and aspirations, feeling affection for each other, having fun and laughter together, being Number One in each other’s eyes.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: relationships

Why the Proposition 8 Decision Matters

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision this past Wednesday nullifying the votes of 7 million Californians was, obviously, deeply troubling. The appeal process will be costly and lengthy, but those of us committed to marriage should be optimistic and hopeful. Our own analysts have carefully studied the ruling and fully expect the decision to be overturned upon appeal.

Nevertheless, you might be wondering why the Proposition 8 decision, an issue presumably only dealing with the state of California, should matter to every person in every state of the union.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, policy

A Family Update

Some of you may have heard or read about Focus on the Family reducing its budget by $27 million for the upcoming year. Of course, we’re hardly alone. Nearly every ministry, organization and corporation in America has been forced to deal squarely with today’s challenging economic times.

In order to balance the books, we’ve trimmed 13% of our staff, which means we’ll be saying good-bye to 110 of our friends and colleagues in these coming days and weeks.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, finances, staff

When Good Inventions Go Bad

It’s a product of the fallen nature of man:

Anything and everything that was created for good, from medicine to technology, will eventually be corrupted for ill purposes.
A recent case in point: A new “video conferencing” feature made exclusively for Apple’s iPhone. It’s called FaceTime. Here is how the company is promoting it:

People have been dreaming about video calling for decades. iPhone 4 makes it a reality. With the tap of a button, you can wave hello to your kids, share a smile from across the globe, or watch your best friend laugh at your stories — iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi.

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

What Tim Tebow’s Deal with Jockey Tells Us

Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos first-round draft pick and Focus on the Family’s favorite QB, is in the news again today, this time for signing on as a spokesman for Jockey underwear.

The punsters are having a field day with the association (I’ll refrain), but I’m happy for Tim and his family. After he agreed to film Focus on the Family’s “controversial” Super Bowl commercial, many industry watchers suggested he had blown any chance for major endorsement deals.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, news, pop culture

Arguing Happily Ever After

Somebody once said there are two types of married couples – those who argue (from time to time) and those who lie and say they don’t.

There was an interesting article in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal that suggests it’s not if we argue, but how we argue that will determine the overall health of our marriages.

All couples disagree – it’s how they disagree that makes the difference,” reports Howard Markman, professor of psychology at the University of Denver and co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies.

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

Bigotry and Marriage

Frank Rich is a long-time columnist for The New York Times. As a former drama critic, he’s no stranger to the stage and certainly knows how to stir the pot. He once referred to the Passion of the Christ film as “a porn movie, replete with slo-mo climaxes and pounding music for the money shots.”

Mr. Rich has been a frequent critic of evangelical Christianity. Focus on the Family has born the brunt of his sharp pen several times, but as an opinion columnist, he gets paid to share his perspective, and that’s part of what makes America great.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, marriage