faith Archives

Birds of a Feather – #2

I originally posted this post several years ago. With Easter approaching, I thought it appropriate to repost it today.

Here’s one from the travel file.

During the last twenty years I’ve had the opportunity to visit more than seventy countries. I noticed there’s a rather unusual feature found on the churches in the Baltic States, France, Germany, Hungry, and the Netherlands among other countries in the region.

Upon close inspection, you’ll discover that many churches don’t have a cross at the top of their steeple, spire, or bell tower.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith April 1, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Picture of Perseverance

Please take a good look at this photo of our sweet little nephew. His name is Ethan. What do you see?

The scene is a familiar one, isn’t it? On the surface, a young child is drawing with chalk on a sidewalk in the warm sunshine. It’s a simple and carefree pleasure of childhood, a cheap one, too—and in this instance, a young boy’s chance to creatively express himself.

It’s also a picture of innocence; a sweet and happy outing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids March 31, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Question for an Astronaut?

You may remember my blog back in February detailing our family’s magnificent visit to the Kennedy Space Center and the night launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Trent and Troy (& Dad!) are still talking about it. Jean is, too, but the Daly boys are a bit more obsessed.

Thankfully, Endeavor’s 13-day mission was deemed a wild success.

It included three spacewalks and the delivery of the final module to the U.S. portion of the space station.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 30, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Transformational Radio

Can a radio program change the direction of a family’s future?

We received an email the other day that suggests it can. I’d love to share an excerpt of it with you. Beth’s words put a lump in my throat. She wrote:

I wanted to let you know that just last week I filed for divorce. We have been married for 19 years . . . Our finances are extremely limited. [However] I was so desperate that even living in a hotel seemed better than staying here.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, technology March 26, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Please Pray for my Nephew Bobby

My 30 year-old nephew, Bobby, is dying. He has cancer. Wicked cancer. A tumor is pressing against his lungs and heart and breathing has become extremely difficult. I have had the opportunity to see him these last few days. I’ve hugged him and told him how much I loved him.

There is such sorrow and such grief. It is so difficult to watch a loved one suffer and feel helpless beyond offering comfort and prayer. I really lost it yesterday and found myself crying deep tears from places unknown.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, staff March 23, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Brouhaha in Boulder: A Tough Witness

The Breakpoint commentary by Chuck Colson last Friday was exceptional. I thought you’d appreciate his compassionate yet biblically-based perspective in the following transcript:

Sacred Heart of Jesus School in Boulder, Colorado, recently informed the parents of two students that their children wouldn’t be re-admitted for next fall’s term. Normally, that would be a matter between the parents and the school and not the stuff of national news. But not this time. That’s because the parents in question are a lesbian couple.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, marriage March 22, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Prayer Road

About a year ago the Lord impressed upon my heart the need to pray more often with my boys. That’s when I got the idea to start a family tradition called The Prayer Road. When Jean or I drive the boys to their charter school in the morning, we follow a road that cuts through a somewhat rural neighborhood. That’s our “prayer road.” As we drive, we intentionally don’t turn on Adventures in Odyssey, the radio, or listen to music.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting March 20, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

NCAA Bans Focus Ad

The latest Focus on the Family ad featuring our “Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life” message was banned last week by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Here’s what happened. In short, our agreement with CBS Sports to run the Tim and Pam Tebow ad in the Super Bowl included the placement of banner ads on various Web sites which the network maintains. One of those outlets was a Web site for the NCAA basketball tournament.

I should point out the banner ad had nothing to do with the topic of abortion or sexuality or any other “hot button” issue.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news, pop culture February 27, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When I’m Weak I’m Strong

Over the last several weeks I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my new book entitled, Stronger, which is scheduled to be released this fall. I realize the title might be a bit misleading. After all, it’s not a workout manual, a primer on pumping iron, or getting fabulous abs of steel. While I do have a treadmill in the basement and believe in physical fitness, the idea here has to do with building strength of character.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, promos February 17, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Super Surprised By It All

It’s true, isn’t it, that our best laid plans often go astray? Just looking back over this past week, I’m struck by how events have unfolded. Life is full of surprises! To be sure, we anticipated there would be interest in our first-ever Super Bowl commercial featuring Pam and Tim Tebow. If not, we wouldn’t have done it. But never in our wildest dreams did we think it would become the most “buzzed”-about spot leading up to the big game.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: faith, news February 8, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura