Jim Daly

A Father’s Final Act of Love

Over the past few days I’ve found my thoughts turning often toward 13-year-old Gracie Johnson, the sole survivor of a freak Colorado rockslide that claimed the lives of her parents, sister, and two other relatives while hiking this past Monday in Buena Vista.

As a Colorado resident this tragedy may be hitting me especially hard, but you don’t need to be a local or even an outdoorsman to be affected by this widely circulating story. The idea of the unthinkable happening and changing our lives in a moment may be a universal fear, and one most of us would prefer not to dwell on.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, husband

Remembering Pastor Chuck Smith

By the time I accepted Christ in high school, the “hippie” movement was in full swing, as was the “Jesus movement” – a dynamic uprising of young Christians whose style and manner of worship was pretty unconventional, at least compared with that of the prior generation. Where I lived, many of these new believers were surfers and beach people. They were hungry for the Lord, but they didn’t have much interest in anything traditional – especially getting all gussied up for Sunday church in neatly pressed suits and dress clothes.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, family

“Focus Findings” is Where Research Meets Common Sense

We’ve probably all been there – we’re scanning a news article online or watching a story on a magazine news show and we see something that just stops us cold. It’s a declaration presented in fact, and even backed up by “research” that you know is at odds with what Scripture teaches.

“Christian marriages end in divorce at the same rates as all other marriages, so what does it matter if you don’t marry a believer?”
“Marriage is an outdated institution that demeans women.”
“Everyone knows kids do just as well when they’re raised by same-sex parents as by their biological parents.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: church, family, kids, pop culture

VIDEO: What Are You Known For?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and tell a story via video that will be shown at this year’s Catalyst conference in Atlanta, Ga. If you’re not familiar with Catalyst, it’s an organization that works to shape the next generation of leaders. Its annual conferences have drawn more than 100,000 young men and women eager to learn how to serve and lead others in a Christlike way. My friend, Brad Lomenick, heads up the movement and does a great job of bringing together people this next generation needs to hear.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: church, events, pop culture

How “Grace Unplugged” Director Brad Silverman Engages the Culture

One of my passions is to encourage believers to engage the culture with a Christ-like spirit. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, you can bless the people around you when you’re open to letting God use you in your sphere of influence.

Brad Silverman is one of those Christians who “gets” that. He’s a writer and director of movies. Some may consider Silverman to be something of an anomaly in Hollywood, but he is faithful to that calling.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: church, entertainment, pastors

Are American Christians Ignoring the Mayhem of the Middle East?

Our 24/7 news cycle is consumed these days with American politicians sparring over the debt ceiling and the implementation of President Obama’s controversial healthcare plan, both important debates to be sure. Meanwhile, the tragic fact that followers of Jesus Christ are being targeted and slaughtered across the globe is given scant attention.

We learned recently of the horrific attack against a Pakistani church by Muslim extremists that killed 85. In Kenya, the jihadists that attacked an upscale mall in Nairobi reportedly killed hostages that couldn’t recite the Koran.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events/ Family and Home Tags: church, faith, religious liberty

Meet Focus on the Family’s V.I.P. Guest

Here at Focus, we’ve been privileged to welcome many influential people for visits. Some are well-known Christian leaders and others are from the entertainment and sports worlds. We’ve hosted politicians and even public figures who passionately disagree with some of what we believe. Whoever it has been, we’ve been delighted to meet and host them on our campus.

As memorable as these opportunities are, however, they just don’t compare to the critically ill young boys and girls who have visited through the years thanks to the work of organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: family, kids, parenting, staff

Fetal Pain Opens Eyes to Preborn Humanity

Recently, a colleague shared an encouraging article with me from Utah’s Deseret News. Titled, “Small survivors: How the disputed science of fetal pain is reshaping abortion law,” the piece does an excellent job of highlighting the humanity of preborn babies.

The article tells the story of twin toddlers, Caleb and Julian, who had been born at 26 weeks and 5 days gestation. Their birth age is noticeably earlier than the 28 weeks milestone the Supreme Court had originally set as the point of “viability” back in 1972.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pro-life

5 Ways to Sabotage Your Marriage Before It Starts

Most people don’t get married planning to divorce, but the research suggests so much of what they do before they wed sadly leads them to that place.

Part of the reason might be that, as a culture, we’re often more enamored with the wedding than the actual marriage. A colleague of mine once worked in a church office. He regularly encountered heartbroken brides-to-be who made the mistake of booking the reception hall before the sanctuary, only to discover the church was already taken.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: husband, intimacy, marriage, sex, wife

One Reason Acts of Kindness Go Viral

Even the casual observer will acknowledge there’s an overabundance of sarcasm and biting attitudes throughout the culture today. Horrifying violence and evil are regularly depicted on the news and throughout social media. And in case you haven’t noticed, a growing number of people are cynical of societal institutions.

Then, in the midst of all that, there are the acts of kindness. A glimmer of hope and light, these stories oftentimes spread like wildfire via social media.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: church, events, news