faith Archives

‘Hate’ Is Too Big a Word to Be Used with Such Little Restraint

I’m delighted to be in Atlanta today attending the annual Catalyst Leadership conference. I’ll have more to tell you about the week’s events in the coming days, but for now wanted to share with you an essay I wrote on a very significant challenge facing Christians. The following piece was published by CNN’s Belief blog.

Can you please let me know your thoughts and perspective? It helps me to be aware of where you’re at these days on such vital matters pertaining to our public expression of faith.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, marriage October 5, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Hear What Ozzie Guillen Said?

Ozzie Guillen was introduced last week as the new manager of the Florida (soon-to-be Miami) Marlins, a struggling Major League Baseball franchise. A former player, Guillen managed the White Sox for the last eight years and regularly made headlines for expletive-laden and eccentric comments.

In fact, a few years ago, when a reporter asked him if he was planning to resign his position, Guillen replied, “I’m not a quitter. When I want to quit, I’ll do a lot of stupid things and make sure they fire me and get paid.”

The Venezuelan-American didn’t exactly make good on his promise, but he did react rather colorfully to the press when contract negotiations with Chicago in late September failed to satisfy his financial demands.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, finances, pop culture October 4, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Selective Hearing

A thought-provoking story:

It was high noon in Manhattan, and the streets were, as usual, buzzing with crowds, cars, taxis, horns blowing, brakes screeching, sirens wailing. Two men were making their way together through the crowd. One was a native New Yorker, and the other a visiting farmer from Kansas. Suddenly the farmer stopped in his tracks. “Hold on,” he said, “I hear a cricket.”

His friend replied, “Are you kidding? Even if there were a cricket around here, which isn’t likely, you would never be able to hear it over all this noise.”

The farmer remained quiet for a few moments and walked several paces to the corner where a bush was growing in a large cement planter.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 3, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes of Courageous

If you’re looking for a convicting, uplifting, encouraging and redeeming film, Courageous, which opens today nationwide, is it.

You’re likely familiar with the makers of this terrific movie, Sherwood Pictures, a ministry of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Previous projects include the award-winning Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel. Focus on the Family is delighted to offer all of these films on DVD. To request your copies, please click here.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, faith, pop culture September 30, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Roger Ebert’s Curious Faith

It would have been hard to grow up in America during the past 40 years having never seen or heard the name of Roger Ebert. The Chicago-based 69-year-old film critic was the first movie reviewer to win the Pulitzer Prize, in addition to hosting numerous television shows and penning a syndicated newspaper column.

Mr. Ebert is paid to give his opinion, a job he takes very seriously. Although I prefer to get my reviews from our award-winning Plugged In team, I wouldn’t begin to wade into the deep waters of the movie review business.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith September 28, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Leggo My Eggo?

Just a quick slice of life from the Daly household last week; perhaps you can relate?

The other morning I was preparing my coffee in the kitchen and our boys, Trent and Troy, were enjoying their blueberry waffles. Troy, age 9, popped up from the table in the hope of searching out a second helping. But when he got to the toaster on the counter he noticed there was just one waffle remaining.

What was he going to do?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting September 26, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dave Ramsey’s Great Advice

The Denver Broncos’ Tim Tebow might very well be the most talked about backup quarterback in the history of the National Football League. With each passing week “Tebow Talk” seems to grow, both nationally and especially on local radio and television here in Colorado.

For those of you who are sports fans, have you caught wind of it?

Tim did play in this past Sunday’s game – but only as a decoy receiver, so riddled were the Broncos with injuries.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture September 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Paradox of Life

It’s easy to be swept up into the world’s value system, to be tempted by the lie that suggests our worth or importance is based upon a job, our level of income or even our social status – maybe even in our church circles. The Bible suggests the opposite is true. The apostle Paul reminds us that in Christ we may be rich despite our poverty and that while being void of material or temporal abundance we actually possess every good and necessary thing (2 Cor.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith September 20, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Dare You!

I recently came across a small book from another era. It was written by the late William Danforth, the founder of the Nestle Purina Company. In addition to his business pursuits, Mr. Danforth dedicated his life to helping youth, and traveled the country with a simple message for youngsters:

In order to really enjoy the life God has blessed you with, you need to be square – as in living a “four square” life that includes play, work, love and worship.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith September 15, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your “Federal Family”

President Ronald Reagan used to joke that the nine most terrifying words in the English language were, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”

It was one of his classic tongue-in-cheek references, but memorable because it contained a grain of truth.

Well, according to a recent report, some officials are taking his faux warning to heart.

A review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website suggests that the term “government” is out and the phrase “federal family” is in.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, policy September 13, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura