Jim Daly

Overcoming Impossible Odds

The Rubik’s Cube is the best-selling children’s toy in history. It was invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik, an architectural design professor who used the cube to teach his students how to analyze design problems in three dimensions.

But before his students could use the cube, Rubik had to figure out how to solve it himself. That posed an immense challenge. The Rubik’s cube has over 43 quintillion combinations. To put that number into perspective, if everyone on earth did one combination a second, all 43 quintillion combinations would take almost 200 years.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Clearing Out Your Space and Schedule

I’m a well-organized person. I like things neat and tidy. Generally, that quality leads to positive results in my life. But it can also lead to dashed expectations and conflict. Clutter around the house can really bother me, if I let it.

So can clutter in my schedule. My leadership team here at Focus on the Family helps me manage my time well, but my life is full, and I always have more to do than I have time to do it.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

Navigating the Grade School Years

I refused to go to kindergarten.

On my first day, I dug in my heels and wouldn’t walk to school with my siblings. I told my mom no and meant it. I was so stubborn about it that she personally had to usher me down the block and into the building.

I didn’t want to go, but I’m glad I did because something magical happened that first morning.

Her name was Mrs. Smith. My kindergarten teacher.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting

The Spite House

Most of us have been angry enough to say something spiteful. But a man named Charles Froling got so angry that he built an entire house to express his spite.

In 1908, Charles inherited a patch of land from a relative in Alameda, California. He planned to build a home there, but the city refused to grant him permission. Instead, they appropriated most of his land, so they could build a new city road. Charles appealed to his neighbor for help, but his neighbor was afraid that the city would take his property, too, so he chose not to get involved.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage

Reaching the Next Generation for Christ

Young people in America and Europe are leaving the Christian church at an unprecedented rate. Statistically, this generation is the least religious in history. Teenagers, in particular, are turning toward atheism at a rate double that of the general population.

Many struggle to believe claims made by the Bible. Or to reconcile faith in a loving God with evil and suffering in the world. Some cite bad experiences with a church or conflict with a Christian as their reason for doubt.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, parenting

Modeling a Healthy and Happy Marriage is the Best Thing You Can Do for Culture

If marriage makes the headlines these days it’s usually for negative reasons, such as a recent survey indicating that while eighty-three percent of young people would like to get married someday, eighty-five percent of them think an official union isn’t necessary to “have a fulfilling and committed relationship.”

According to official statistics, marriage rates have dropped 60 percent over the last fifty years, and those cohabitating have risen exponentially. Not surprisingly, singleness is also going up.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage

Who is Smarter?

Who is smarter? Albert Einstein? Or your neighborhood auto mechanic?

A lot of people would answer Einstein. But if Einstein’s car broke down on the side of the road, his ability to untangle physics’ greatest mysteries would be useless. In that moment, what he’d need is an understanding of the inner workings of the combustion engine.

Intelligence is relative to our circumstances. So is athletic ability. J.J. Watt, the former pro football player and Defensive Player of the Year, was a stellar athlete.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family

Encouragement for Remarried Couples

“Here’s the story of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls…”

You could probably finish that theme song from memory. The Brady Bunch portrayed the quintessential television family of the early 1970s, largely through its wholesome, albeit simplistic, depiction of a blended family.

But while problems are easily resolved in 30 minutes in the world of television sitcoms, things are rarely that simple in real life. Rebuilding a family is closer to Gil and Brenda Stuart than to Mike and Carol Brady.

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Sue for Entitlement

From the “strange but true” file comes this unusual story of selfish entitlement.

Twenty-seven-year-old Raphael Samuel filed a lawsuit against his parents because – get this – they didn’t seek his permission before giving birth to him. Because of that oversight, he said, his parents were obligated to pay his expenses for the rest of his life.

Talk about selfishness run amuck. Instead of feeling gratitude for everything his parents did to sacrifice and give him a good life, Raphael chose what has become a common attitude – entitlement.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

Parenting Struggles and What They Teach

Now that my boys are grown, I’m looking back at that part of life as a wonderful time. I really loved being a dad. Sure, there were challenging moments, but the rewards of parenting have always far outweighed the difficulties. In fact, a lot of our memories were joyous. Many were centered around laughter.

It’s important for families to keep a sense of humor and laugh with each other.

In that spirit, I have some fun stories for you to hear on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Parenting Struggles and What They Teach.”

Our guest, author Ken Swarner, is throwing his family under the bus … with their permission, of course.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

Overcoming Impossible Odds

Clearing Out Your Space and Schedule

Navigating the Grade School Years

The Spite House

Reaching the Next Generation for Christ

Modeling a Healthy and Happy Marriage is the Best Thing You Can Do for Culture

Who is Smarter?

Encouragement for Remarried Couples

Sue for Entitlement

Parenting Struggles and What They Teach

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