entertainment Archives

The Dad Difference

Golf fans will remember Rory McIlroy’s painful unraveling at the Masters in April, a colossal collapse where he lost a four-shot lead on the final day of the historic tournament. Charl Schwartzel’s win that day was dramatic and well-earned, but it left the 22-year-old McIlroy reeling. The Irishman’s subsequent tournament play in May and early June was lackluster – that is, until this past weekend when he won the U.S. Open.

Analysts and commentators were quick to seize on the turnaround.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, parenting June 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: The Pampers Commercial

In a recent interview, I suggested that when it comes to the debate in the culture concerning the sanctity of human life, we’re winning. Technology has done quite a bit to help change hearts and minds, but the overall momentum in the direction of life is encouraging and exciting.

As an example of how the corporate culture is moving in the right direction, I wanted to share with you a terrific commercial produced by the makers of Pampers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment June 15, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Win a Trip!

ATTENTION! I’m out of town today, but just wanted to make sure you were aware of a great contest here at Focus that will be wrapping up next week:

Tell us about a Courageous Parent you know…We’ve all come across people like this, difference-makers who go “above and beyond” to better the lives of kids and teens. We want to hear about these special men and women. To honor the Courageous Parent you have in mind, share your story with us.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, faith June 9, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tim Tebow’s “Strange” Priority

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is out this week promoting his new book, Through My Eyes, an inspiring memoir about his faith, life and, oh yeah, football, too.

The former Florida Heisman Trophy winner’s philosophy is wonderfully simple:

Live pure. Work hard. Leave the rest to God.

Many of you are aware that Tim and his mother, Pam, starred in Focus on the Family’s Super Bowl commercial last year. Pam’s decision to defy doctor’s orders and carry Tim to term is a dramatic story and one that has inspired other women to reevaluate the wonder and beauty of preborn life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events June 8, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Serendipity, Spagnuolo Style

Life is interesting.

I recently accepted an invitation to speak to a pregnancy resource center in St. Louis. It’s always an honor to meet these modern-day heroes. A few weeks prior to my visit, a member of the Focus team received a telephone call from a very kind Focus listener named Lory. Apparently Lory had been listening to a local Christian radio station in Missouri and heard an advertisement promoting the upcoming event and my participation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith April 8, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes with the Duggars

Tens of thousands of families visit our campus each year, but few, if any, have as many members with them as the Duggars.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are the proud parents of 19 children, 10 boys and 9 girls. You might already be familiar with them from their hit reality television show, 19 Kids and Counting, which airs on TLC. They’re an inspiring bunch on so many levels, and we were honored to host them here at Focus last week.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment March 24, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Howard Stern’s Admission

I want to share a telling quote with you from the king of shock jocks, Howard Stern. In a wide-ranging interview with Rolling Stone’s Neil Strauss this week, the incredibly raunchy Stern admitted to being addicted to the approval of other people:

“The curse is I take it so seriously. I gotta know, do you think I did a good show and are you satisfied? That’s the neurosis and that’s the source of all problems for me.”

Stern’s bold admission reminds me of a powerful chapter from Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment March 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

VIDEO: The Beauty of March Madness

With all the heartbreak and heartache in the world today, from the suffering in Japan to the war-torn Middle East to our domestic challenges, basketball might seem like a superfluous subject to write, or even think, about.

But maybe that’s the very reason why I’m inclined to do so.

The NCAA basketball tournament kicked off earlier this week. Upset wins by Richmond, Morehead State and Gonzaga last night ushered in what promises to be three weeks of great fun and excitement.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events March 18, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Great Advice

What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever given – or received?

When Theodore Roosevelt was a young boy he asked his father for counsel on charting a career. Here is how he remembered the incident:

He gave me a piece of advice that I have always remembered, namely, that, if I was not going to earn (much) money, I must even things up by not spending it. As he expressed it, I had to keep the fraction constant, and if I was not able to increase the numerator, then I must reduce the denominator.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, family March 11, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Charlie Sheen is My Neighbor

Admittedly, we don’t have much in common.

We were born years apart, he to parents of great means and me to parents grasping to make ends meet and an alcoholic father in search of meaning itself.

We’ve been going our separate ways ever since.

I’m happily married. He’s not. I enjoy a warm and loving relationship with my boys; the courts dictate when he sees his.

I attend church. He doesn’t. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, pop culture March 4, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura