Family and Home Archives

The Warrior in WAL-MART

Does your community undergird or undermine your role as a parent?

It doesn’t take much effort or energy to find examples of bad behavior in our society. Turn on the television, surf the Internet, pickup the daily newspaper. Because “noise makes news” our kids are regularly assaulted by images and stories that contradict Judeo-Christian values and just plain common decency. We lament how communities no longer hold kids accountable like they once did. How often we find ourselves bemoaning the loss of heroes and colorful characters in our communities to whom our children might look to for guidance and even accountability.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids August 23, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Back-to-School Shopping

Have you seen them? Are you one of them?

All across the country, millions of parents, more often than not with children in tow, have descended upon stores and shops in search of coveted school supplies. If you’re not one of them and think that sounds like an easy task, think again. Many of today’s students are given a laundry list of very specific items to bring into the classroom, ranging from the classic wooden ruler to allergy-free wet wipes.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting August 20, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Hope in a Bag

Have you ever experienced a sermon that was so powerful and so convicting you felt compelled to do something radical about the message? That’s what happened to Mike Yankoski. Last week on the Focus on the Family broadcast we aired a fascinating two-day conversation with Mike who, as a Christian college student living in Santa Barbara, California at the time, marched out of his pew and onto the streets to better understand the plight of the homeless.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast August 15, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God is Back

Prior to assuming the role as president here at Focus on the Family, one of my most exciting assignments within the ministry was leading and guiding our international division. As a vice president, I watched our broadcast spread into over 150 countries, garnering millions of new listeners over the course of several years. Additionally, our printed resources were beginning to be translated into dozens of different languages, reaching untold numbers of new believers. It was both humbling and incredible to see—not to mention exciting!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith August 14, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Incredible Hulk vs. Dad

Do you ever yell at your kids?

Okay, maybe it’s not a full-fledged, lung-bursting roar loud enough to give the Lion King a run for his money, but do you raise your voice in anger when your children misbehave? Maybe you’re not the ranting type, but do you clench your teeth and, like a Doberman ready to strike, growl out your words one at a time?

“Do . . . what . . . Daddy .

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, parenting August 12, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Silence is Golden

A couple of days ago I blogged about our recent family vacation in which the four of us went completely “dark”—we exchanged the television, the radio, and the Internet for some serious peace and quiet. Even if we had wanted to use our cell phone, there wasn’t any coverage. All of the electrical umbilical cords tethering us to the frazzled pace of life had been cut.

This was by design. Jean and I planned the trip to have no contact with the outside world which, for five glorious days, allowed our family to pull inward.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, technology August 7, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Have No Clue

My friend Mark sent me this email and, frankly, I’m stumped on how to delicately answer his daughter’s question. He writes:

Hey Jim,

My wife and I had a really awkward experience during our vacation last week. Any chance you could give us some advice on how to handle it? Here’s what happened. We were traveling on the stretch of highway from the Orlando, Florida area heading south toward West Palm Beach. The kids were sitting in the back of our minivan, engrossed in their fifth episode of Adventures in Odyssey.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: intimacy, kids, parenting August 7, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Talking Health Care & Abortion

There are two things that will drive a debate to the point of a decision: Pain and partisan politics, though not necessarily in that order.

The legislative wrangling regarding health care reform is raging red hot these days. Admittedly, it’s a complex issue. For some, there is a genuine and sincere appeal to its passage, centered on a desire to help those families least able to help themselves. Few would fail to acknowledge the real pain of those most in need; those who are unable to access necessary health care for themselves and their loved ones.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: policy, pro-life August 5, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fun and Fear

Sometimes, a little fear can wind up being a lot of fun—instructive, too.

Jean and I took the boys camping last week up to beautiful Mueller State Park, a picturesque spot located just outside the town of Woodland Park, Colorado.

Our site was perfectly situated; a cozy corner of land nestled among towering pines and an Aspen tree grove. It was great not to have the pressure of keeping a schedule. To borrow a phrase, we had “gone dark” once arriving in the park.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family August 4, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

High Cost of Healthcare Reform

Thursday’s broadcast last week featured a conversation between Tony Perkins (president of Family Research Council), our own Senior Vice President Tom Minnery and myself on the topic of managing the nation’s healthcare. As you may know, the nation is engaged in a vigorous debate whether or not the government should step into the health care arena—or leave health coverage to private providers.

It strikes me that regardless of whether you come down on the side of handing the healthcare system to the government or keeping it privatized, we need to acknowledge there aspects of the current system that require our attention.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, news, policy, pro-life August 3, 2009 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura