family Archives

Emerging Adults and the Teaching of Truth

Dr. Christian Smith is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame. Credentials of that caliber will usually place an academic’s scholarly work outside normal day-to-day banter.

Sometimes, but not always.

Such is the case with Dr. Smith’s new book entitled, Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. This collaborative work with Patricia Snell contains some interesting and eyebrow-raising information Christians need to know.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family May 12, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Motherhood By The Numbers

As you know, yesterday was Mother’s Day. It was an emotional time for me. My heart melts at the thought of my own dear mom, a great woman now gone from earth for nearly 40 years. Though decades have passed since her untimely death when I was just 9 years old, her influence on me remains steady and sure. My mother was a strong but very gentle lady. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her voice and feel the softness of her hand in mine.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, news, wife May 10, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Father’s Field of Dreams

There’s a degree of mystery surrounding my father’s life that will forever remain unsolved. I remember listening to Dad as he shared stories about his younger days playing baseball. Of particular interest were the stories he told from the year he played with the Detroit Tigers.

I can’t prove that he actually did play pro-ball with that team for several reasons: he’s dead, which complicates asking any follow-up questions. And, as I described in my first book, Finding Home, there’s a lingering issue regarding our real last name.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting April 19, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrate Family Tour

I’m thrilled to announce that next week, April 12th, Focus on the Family will be kicking off a 12-city “Celebrate Family Tour.” Starting with a gathering at the InterContinental Hotel in Dallas, we’ll be hosting live events around the country between now and the end of the year. At each stop along the way you’ll have the opportunity to experience a live radio show in the making, with co-host John Fuller and myself.

Next Monday in Dallas, where we’re expecting upwards of 1,500 attendees, our special guest for the program is best-selling author and marriage expert Dr.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: events, family, promos April 9, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Feeding My Time Capsule

Moms and dads know that some of the most enjoyable moments with kids will often come like lightning out of a clear blue sky. Secularists called it “serendipity”—chance encounters. But those of us who are Christians see them for what they are—gifts of insight and pleasure from our gracious and loving God.

I was reminded of this during a recent ski trip to Salida, Colorado. When Jean and Trent and Troy and I sat down to wait for a pizza at a local restaurant one evening, I decided to try something we hadn’t done before.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting April 5, 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

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

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

Radio Feedback

This is a guest blog post by Gary Schneeberger, Vice President of Media and Public Relations at Focus on the Family:

Last week Jim Daly shared his journey of faith during a two-day Focus on the Family broadcast. Even though I knew the details of Jim’s story, I found myself fighting back tears all over again as he spoke. As turbulent as his childhood was—having his father abandon his family when Jim was at a young age and having lost his mother to cancer when he was seven, I am convinced those years prepared Jim for his current role ministering to today’s families.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family March 18, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura