family Archives

Praying for Persecution?

“Writing a book is an adventure,” wrote Winston Churchill.

“To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.”

Leave it to Winston Churchill to paint a colorful picture with words.

But on a related note, the mistress crack notwithstanding, today is September 1st, the official release date of my new book from Cook Communications, Stronger: Trading Brokenness for Unbreakable Strength.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 1, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

If I Were a Teacher…

The calendar still suggests summer, but in certain parts of the country, there is a touch of fall in the air. Here in Colorado Springs, we had our first 40 degree night in months just yesterday.

There is another sign of the coming change: in our family, the boys have headed back to school. Trent is now in the 4th grade and his younger brother, Troy, started 2nd.

I am grateful, of course, to see our boys grow and mature.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting August 25, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Back in the Saddle Again

It’s been nearly two weeks since my motorcycle accident, and I’m finally back at the office. The left ankle is in a cast and healing, though doctors tell me I’m still twelve weeks away from being able to put any pressure on the foot itself. Despite the pain and the awkwardness of getting around and having to prop the foot up on pillows, it’s good to be on campus again.

As the old saying goes, sometimes a change is better than a rest.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, staff July 7, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is the Good Life Good Enough?

Are you living a fulfilled life? Are you content where you are?

Those always seem like good questions to ponder, but I think they’re especially relevant in light of the recent news concerning Al and Tipper Gore’s marital separation. Please stay with me here. I don’t read the gossip columns nor do I spend time reading the tabloids. But I do try and make sense of the times in which we live and, as such, I’m always processing what I see and hear.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: divorce, faith, family, parenting June 14, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Greatest Need

What’s your greatest need today? Is it finding a job? Avoiding foreclosure? Getting married? Identifying one friend who cares enough to listen? Hitting a deadline? Learning how to corral an incorrigible two-year-old? Loving a spouse who is emotionally distant? Perhaps having faith that God will return your prodigal son or daughter safely home?

There’s a fascinating story in the Bible about a man who was paralyzed who thought his greatest need was to be healed. As you’ll see in a moment, in a way his story is our story, too.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family June 8, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Update on Ethan

If you’re new to my blog, let me point you to the touching and inspiring story of my nephew, Ethan. I blogged about Ethan earlier this year (see A Picture of Perseverance).

In short, our sweet little relative has endured far more than most adults. He’s undergone three open heart surgeries, all to reconstruct his entire coronary system. Throughout the long ordeal he has maintained an amazing attitude.

Since many of my readers were so kind to pray for Ethan, I thought I’d give an update on his condition as well as share some exciting news from within his family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, staff May 27, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Talking Smack

Glenn Williams is my friend and colleague here at Focus on the Family. In addition to serving as our Chief Operating Officer, Glenn is a psychologist, writer and substance abuse expert who has worked with parents and teens for more than 20 years. He’s recently authored an excellent new book titled, Talking Smack, on the perils of drug addiction, and offers mothers and fathers practical advice in dealing with the subject. I was privileged to be invited to pen the foreword and would love to offer you a sneak peek of the project.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, family, parenting, pop culture May 24, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Predictors of Success

Wall Street Journal columnist and bestselling author Peggy Noonan penned an interesting column this past Friday. In it, she focused primarily on the forthcoming Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Solicitor General Elena Kagan. She predicts they will be bland, more “show over substance” and full of senators “who give long soliloquies and put forth extremely long and circuitous questions.” She also thinks they’ll be plenty of posturing along with “vanity and camera hogging.”

I think Peggy is right, but she also made a few intriguing comments that confirms and highlights the very mission of Focus on the Family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage May 19, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrating Kids at the Old Ballgame

I’d like to tell you about a wonderful weekend that revolved around some of my favorite people and favorite things in life. I’m referring to my wife, Jean, and our boys, Trent and Troy. I’m also talking about children adopted from foster care, children in foster care, and the great and glorious game of baseball.

The story begins here in Colorado at the ballpark of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. They’re the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, events, family May 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Emerging Adults and the Teaching of Truth

Dr. Christian Smith is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame. Credentials of that caliber will usually place an academic’s scholarly work outside normal day-to-day banter.

Sometimes, but not always.

Such is the case with Dr. Smith’s new book entitled, Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. This collaborative work with Patricia Snell contains some interesting and eyebrow-raising information Christians need to know.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family May 12, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura