Jim Daly

How to Help Your Kids Leave and Cleave Well

“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother, be united to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.”

That verse is Genesis 2:24. It’s usually referred to in the context of marriage. But Pastor Ted Cunningham pointed out to me that it actually begins as an observation about parenting.

It declares that a man will leave his father and mother. The verse assumes that our children will leave home as an adult, not as a child who must then set out on a journey to become a grownup on their own.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage, parenting

HHS Mandate Undergoing a Major Religious Freedom Makeover

We have received encouraging news from Washington, D.C. The so-called “HHS mandate” – the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule requiring all employers to furnish possible abortion-causing drugs in company health plans – is undergoing a major religious freedom makeover.

The old rule – created by President Obama’s HHS as part of Obamacare – forced organizations like Hobby Lobby and the Little Sisters of the Poor to violate their conscience and provide the objectionable drugs, or be subject to millions of dollars in crippling fines.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, policy, pro-life, religious liberty

Watch a Beautiful Video Explaining How Marriage Reflects the Gospel

A church in England has created a wonderful video, “This Is About That,” that illustrates some of the ways marriage reflects the gospel – and it’s definitely worth watching. Take a look:

I hope the truths expressed in this video help inspire you in your walk with Jesus, and in the ways you work to honor marriage in your life and community.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage

A Quadriplegic, Cancer-Surviving Woman Talks About God and Suffering

Joni Eareckson Tada says that suffering is “like a little splash-over of hell.”

Few people can talk about the intensity of suffering with more authority than Joni. A tragic accident fifty years ago left her a quadriplegic, requiring 24-hour care. She’s also survived a stage-3 breast cancer diagnosis, the removal of a 3-inch tumor, and months of chemotherapy that followed.

So when she talks about how to handle suffering in a way that enriches our lives and glorifies God, we all do well to listen.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Pregnant Teen Gallantly Takes on Planned Parenthood

You’re likely familiar with the controversy surrounding Maddie Runkles, the 18-year-old Maryland senior whose Christian high school is prohibiting her from participating in graduation exercises because of her confessed violation of the institution’s moral code.

Yet, overshadowed by the escalating debate are the bold remarks that Miss Runkles made calling for the taxpayer defunding of Planned Parenthood.

Standing before a mountain of baby socks representing children lost to abortion, the Maryland teen suggested that she’s the “perfect target” for Planned Parenthood.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, pro-life

Keeping Your Kids Safe Includes Emotional Safety, Too

The measures we parents take to protect our kids can be humorous at times. We teach them to ride their bikes with helmets, knee and elbow pads, and thickly padded gloves – every safety accessory short of bubble wrap. We fill our electrical sockets with plastic covers, erect gates in front of our staircases, and childproof our kitchen cabinets. Some parents even install video monitors to watch over their child’s every move.

Somewhere along the way, legitimate safety concerns have morphed into complete inoculation against every bump and scraped knee.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home

Memorial Day is About Honoring the One Million

One million. It’s a big number. But on today of all days, that number takes on even greater value and significance.

That’s because today is Memorial Day, the day we remember over one million Americans who have died in war on behalf of us all.

That figure is astounding by itself. But it’s even more sobering when you reflect on this: behind every number is a name, and behind every name is a family whose entire world changed forever because that soldier didn’t come home.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, events, family

Goya Foods Declines to Honor Convicted Terrorist, Shows Principled Leadership

I’ve previously mentioned on the blog how Focus on the Family has partnered with Goya Foods to help children living in at-risk communities.

Today I want to share with you another reason why I’m proud of Goya and the principled leadership emanating from the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.

The story involves New York City’s Puerto Rican Day Parade, which is scheduled this year for Sunday June 11th. This annual event celebrates the rich culture of the small Caribbean island and U.S.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, pro-life

What Are You Afraid Of?

What are you afraid of?

A lot of us were scared of the dark when we were little. There’s something about the lights going out that transforms ordinary shadows into dreadful monsters.

Years later, we still have our monsters, don’t we? Relational problems. Health crises. Significant life changes that are beyond our control. They’re more sophisticated than the creepy things we feared hid under our bed as children, but they haunt us just the same.

Back when you were a kid, you probably hid from your fears by pulling the blankets a little tighter.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

What Behavior Counts as Cheating on Your Spouse?

The Eighth Commandment seems clear enough:

“You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).

It should go without saying, but in the world’s terms, adultery is when voluntary intercourse occurs between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.

Straightforward enough, right? Well, the team here at Focus regularly fields questions such as:

“My spouse sent a romantic text message to another person, is that cheating?”
“Does an emotional affair really count as adultery?”

Beyond mere curiosity, these are actual real-life situations.