Family and Home Archives

Finding Peace Through Forgiveness

The assassination of our 20th President, James Garfield, offers an important lesson for people struggling with bitterness and resentment.

Let’s start with when Garfield was assassinated. It’s hard to say exactly. He was shot on July 2nd, 1881, less than four months into his term. But he didn’t die until 79 days later, on September 19th.

It’s also difficult to say exactly who killed him. The man who shot President Garfield was named Charles Guiteau. But Garfield didn’t die from his gunshot wound.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: forgiveness, relationships October 3, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Preparing Your Child for the Teen Years

Have you had “The Talk” with your child? You know, the one about sex?

If so, how did it go?

If not, why not? Maybe you feel nervous because you don’t know what to say.

I don’t blame you. The talk I had with one of my boys didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. I’d planned a weekend long father/son getaway. We had a good time, and I did my best to explain everything in a way he’d understand.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, parenting September 30, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Catching a God-Sized Vision for Your Family

Amy Rienow says she and her husband Rob got married … then dated for 10 years.

It was just a few months from first their first date to their wedding, which meant the years that followed were filled with surprises. They both loved the Lord, but they were clueless about the purpose of marriage and family.

Their crisis moment came 10 years into their marriage. Rob was a dedicated youth pastor. His number one passion was passing his faith to other people’s children.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, parenting September 27, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Connecting with Your Teen or Young Adult

There’s no one way to raise children. Discipline that works magic with one child may be completely ineffective with another.

At the bottom of every effective parenting strategy lies a universal foundation to good parenting: relationship.

Author Josh McDowell says, “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” That means your child’s primary concern in life is not your rules.

What matters most to your teen or young adult is knowing that you love them.

That sense of intimate connection won’t come through your instruction, lectures, or rules.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, parenting, relationships September 26, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Preparing to Care for Aging Loved Ones

We don’t like to think about getting older. We especially don’t like to think about death.

Maybe that’s why studies show only a third of us prepare for the inevitable with advanced directives. It’s also why a growing number of people are finding themselves ill-equipped for the rigors and responsibilities of caring for an aging loved one.

Taking on the care of an aging parent or family member is a big job that rarely comes about at a convenient time for the caregiver.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 23, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Pressing on through Rejection

By: Linsey Driskill

When a project I poured my heart and soul into was rejected, it stung. Badly.

While these painful moments happen to all of us, it’s easy to feel alone – thinking we’re the only ones.

But, even C.S. Lewis experienced rejection. Dr. Seuss’ first book was rejected twenty-seven times. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. In 1919, Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor said he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Elvis was told he’d be better off driving trucks than singing.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith September 20, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Reaching Your Child’s Heart When They Disobey

I remember taking our boys to Disneyland when they were around 6 and 8. One of them was determined to get his way and had a meltdown. My attempted solution was to threaten, “Control yourself, or you will never come here again.”

It was a silly parenting strategy on my part because at the time, Jean and I enjoyed taking the boys to Disneyland and creating memories. In other words, I wasn’t really willing to follow through on the consequences I threatened.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, children, parenting September 20, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Examining Your Part in a Difficult Marriage

Darryl and Tracy Strawberry are living proof that with God’s help, any couple can overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable and build a happy marriage. Their life together has been a difficult but rewarding journey.

They met each other in recovery. At the time, neither one was living for the Lord, and they were both broken people.

Darryl was $3 million in debt. He had been a power hitting, eight-time Major League All-Star who earned four World Series championships in 17 seasons with teams like the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, conflict, couples, marriage September 16, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Working Together as a Team in Your Marriage

The secret to winning in a team sport is no secret at all. Teammates have to share a common goal and know how to work together to achieve it. When you wear the same uniform, it’s not about “me,” it’s about “we.”

That commitment to unity is what makes a marriage work, too. But working together as a team isn’t always easy.

Just ask Joshua and Christi Straub. Their teamwork isn’t so great sometimes, either. And that’s saying something.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, couples, marriage September 13, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What to Do When Tragedy Impacts Your Family

I still remember when a small airplane crashed across the street from where I lived when I was 14 years old. I heard the crash, then called 911 and ran to the plane. I was able to help two 20-somethings get out of the burning wreckage.

At first, I thought the young men were the only two in the plane. I soon realized two other men had been in the front – the young men’s fathers.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, tragedy September 12, 2019 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura