Jim Daly

WATCH: Exclusive Debut of Newsboys Video Kicks Off “Bring Your Bible to School Day”

Last year’s inaugural “Bring Your Bible to School Day” was huge, and this year’s event on Oct. 8 promises to be even bigger.

Just like last year, all 50 states will be represented. But where last year we had about 8,000 students participating, we’re expecting that number to be exponentially higher for the 2015 event.

Think about what God can do through multiple thousands of students, from kindergarten to college, bringing their Bibles to school as a visual way to celebrate religious freedom and share God’s hope with friends!

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, pop culture, religious liberty

Baseball, Yogi and You

Note: In light of Yogi Berra’s passing last night at the age of 90, I wanted to dust off a piece I wrote about him three years ago. Many will remember Mr. Berra’s Hall of Fame playing career and funny way with words. He was a character, that’s for sure! But I’m most impressed with the love and devotion he exhibited to his wife of 65 years, Carmen, who passed away in 2012. May the Lord bring comfort and peace to the Berra’s three sons and extended family.

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Follow Jesus by Taking Action, Not Just Talking

Christians desire to serve God. We read His word and seek His will. Maybe we even pray, “God, break our hearts for the things that break Your heart. Give our hearts joy for the things that give Your heart joy.”

But our guest on today’s program, Pastor Eugene Cho, wonders, “Are we more in love with the idea of following Jesus than actually following the teachings of Jesus?”

That question isn’t some thoughtless accusation he levels against the church.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith

Call Your Senator and Help Reduce U.S. Abortions

The latest undercover video taking viewers behind the scenes at Planned Parenthood was released this week. As with the previous videos, this one is a glimpse into a world most Americans would rather ignore; a place where abortions are sold, preborn babies are killed and their body parts are harvested for research, allegedly for profit.

If your heart is broken by these videos and you want to do something to help stop abortion, here’s an opportunity to act:

There’s a major pro-life vote scheduled to take place in the U.S.

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

Trusting God In the Goodbyes

During a recent trip to Pennsylvania, I had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Pietrocola. Ms. Pietrocola and her family are friends of the ministry, and last summer she attended our Boundless conference. Amanda shared with me that she and her family had recently fostered two young girls. Their story provides a good snapshot of the realities associated with foster care. It’s rarely the neat and tidy Hollywood screenplay. While we enthusiastically champion foster care, we also think it’s important to paint an accurate picture of the challenges associated with the ministry.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, pro-life

Teaching Good Manners to Your Kids

Sometimes parents think of a child’s manners in the most basic of terms, like table etiquette or how polite they are when guests come to the house. But the benefits don’t end there. Manners actually equip your children for success in their adult life.

To that end, a few years back, my wife and I enrolled our boys, Trent and Troy, in something called Cotillion. It’s all about teaching manners and preparing kids to interact with others as maturing young men and women.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting

Good News on the Marriage Front

New research suggests the millennial generation is finally ready to settle down, get married and start a family – in that order.

That’s good news after years of disheartening trends. Ever since the sexual revolution, most of what we’ve heard about marriage has been bleak. Marriage scholar Brad Wilcox explains: “Since the 1960s, the rate of new marriages has fallen by more than 50 percent, and rates of divorce and single parenthood has more than doubled.”

Until recently, things haven’t shown signs of improving.

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Change Your Attitude and Debt-Proof Your Life

You’ve probably heard it said before, but it’s as true now as it ever was: money problems are one of the most consistent reasons for the breakdown of marriages.

That fact is why we return to the topic of money again and again here at Focus on the Family, to help and equip couples who are struggling with their finances.

Our guest on our program Wednesday (Sept. 16), Mary Hunt, has been there. She knows what it’s like to crawl out of incredible financial debt.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, finances

Adversity Can Make You or Break You

I used to think successful people achieved great things because they faced less adversity than those who fail. But when I became an adult, I realized everybody encounters challenges of one kind or another. What matters is how we respond to the obstacles we face.

Probably no one communicates the truth of that concept better than best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, our guest on today and tomorrow’s programs we’ve titled, “Battling Giants in Everyday Life.” His latest works tell the stories of people who not only overcame adversity, but in many ways those challenges became the catalyst for their success.

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These Thoughts Still Hold True

Today, on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, I want to share some thoughts I wrote during at the 10-year mark. So much of what I said then is, sadly, still applicable now at a time when our nation and its people remain divided among many lines. As we remember those we lost on 9/11, I hope we also remember the unity and brotherhood of that day. -JD

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“Ten Years Later”

On Sunday, our nation will mark the ten-year anniversary of 9/11.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, faith