marriage Archives

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.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, marriage July 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

One Father Too Many

The Obama administration is actively changing the cultural norms of our country. Equally troubling, the nation’s chief executive is doing so at the expense of our most vulnerable—the rising ranks of fatherless children.

I’m disappointed President Obama has marred an otherwise noble initiative designed to raise awareness of, and offer solutions for, father absence with a political tip of the cap to advocates of homosexual parenting.

This past Sunday, the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day, within the traditional White House proclamation, the president included a single incendiary sentence that not only undermines the unique and complementary roles of mothers and fathers, but also one which science simply does not support.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, homosexuality, marriage June 23, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dan Was Right

In 1992, Murphy Brown was one of the hottest sitcoms on television. As you may recall, the show took its name after the lead character, a fictional forty-something TV news anchor. During its fourth season, the storyline took a controversial turn when Murphy—who was unmarried on the show—found herself “pregnant” and, rather than marrying the father, decided to raise the “baby” on her own.

That prompted then-Vice President Dan Quayle to take to task what he viewed as television’s glorification of single parenting as well as further evidence of the “poverty of values” plaguing America.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting, pop culture May 26, 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

Tiger Woods and Billy Payne

Yesterday marked the opening of the famed Masters golf tournament at Augusta National and, more precisely, the official return of Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour.

Augusta National is a beautiful slice of the American South, but for lovers of the game, it’s more than just a picturesque course. In fact, it’s been called golf’s Garden of Eden. “If there’s a golf course in heaven,” Gary Player once remarked, “I hope it’s like Augusta National.” But then he added dryly, “I just don’t want an early tee time.”

How four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods will ultimately fare against the competition is anyone’s guess.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, marriage, news, pop culture April 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your Family Live!

I’m thrilled to announce that last Wednesday Focus on the Family launched Your Family Live! If you missed it, don’t worry. This is a web-based TV program airing live each week, Wednesdays 2-3pm EST. Co-hosted by Dr. Juli Slattery and Yvette Maher, Your Family Live! is especially dedicated to the topics of marriage and parenting.

The debut program featured special guests Jill Savage, Blog Mom Jennifer “McKMama” McKinney, Tammy Maltby and Toby Mac.

I believe you’ll find this hour-long dialogue to be a source of insight and hope—not to mention filled with fun and encouragement!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting, promos April 5, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Brouhaha in Boulder: A Tough Witness

The Breakpoint commentary by Chuck Colson last Friday was exceptional. I thought you’d appreciate his compassionate yet biblically-based perspective in the following transcript:

Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Boulder, Colorado, recently informed the parents of two students that their children wouldn’t be re-admitted for next fall’s term. Normally, that would be a matter between the parents and the school and not the stuff of national news. But not this time. That’s because the parents in question are a lesbian couple.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, marriage March 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Ultimate Valentine Gift

If you’re familiar with Calvin and Hobbes, you know Calvin is a young boy with a hyperactive imagination. Most of the time we see Calvin conversing with Hobbes—a stuffed tiger who comes to life within Calvin’s head. Together, the duo typically investigates the meaning of life.

In one scene, Calvin asks Hobbes what it’s like to fall in love. Keep in mind Calvin is about six-years-old which is why he’s seeking the wisdom from his older, imaginary friend.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, marriage, promos February 12, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Turning the Tables on Me

Dr. Kevin Leman, psychologist and author of Have a New Husband by Friday, has been our guest for several days on the Focus on the Family broadcast this week. I really appreciate Dr. Leman. Although, boy, did he do a number on me during yesterday’s program! After spending two broadcasts giving marital advice to wives, he ambushed me right there in the studio.

Let me set the stage for what happened.

Dr. Leman began by explaining that the average marriage lasts just seven years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage January 29, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Want My Marriage to Thrive

When I was a teenager, I remember sitting in world history class dreaming of football when the teacher started talking about a weather condition known as “the doldrums.” The doldrums occur when the prevailing winds stop blowing and a extended calm settles upon the open sea—which is a serious problem if you’re a sailor relying upon wind power to get you to where you’re going.

Thousands of years ago, European sailors on a quest to reach new lands would sometimes encounter the doldrums during a voyage across the equatorial region of the Atlantic ocean.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, marriage, promos December 15, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura