Family and Home Archives

Understanding God’s Plan for the End of Life

Did you know that nearly 40% of evangelicals believe “mercy killing” for someone who’s suffering is morally permissible?

That fact raises another question: How many Christians today understand the Bible’s perspective on suffering?

Few people have the credibility to address issues as poignant as suffering and the value of human life like Joni Eareckson Tada. Fifty years ago, she broke her neck in a diving accident and was left a quadriplegic. Since then, she’s been a tireless advocate for people with disabilities and has stood against the movement that promotes suicide for disabled and disadvantaged people.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 20, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Second Chances

There’s only one right answer to the question, “What do I do with a second chance?” You make the most of it.

That’s what NFL coach Mike McDaniels did. He was an assistant coach for the Houston Texans when he was fired after showing up late a second time to a 6 a.m. meeting. One minute, he was living his dream. The next, he was wondering if he’d ever get to coach in the National Football League again.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 17, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Getting on the Same Team Financially in Marriage

My wife and I approach recipes differently. Jean has a degree in biochemistry. She’s smart and sees life as a series of precisely calculated moves. To her, recipes are a detailed road map to be carefully followed. If the instructions call for one cup of flour, she’ll measure exactly one cup. She’ll even use a knife to scrape off the excess.

I’m more of a free spirit with recipes. I don’t see them as “a roadmap to follow” as much as “a few things to keep in mind.” I kinda, sorta measure ingredients, but not very carefully.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage September 16, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Relationship Agreement

Here’s a tip for a great marriage: have a hearty relationship agreement.

Relationship agreements were a funny plot line in the hit television show The Big Bang Theory. The lead character is Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a brilliant physicist who is so analytical that his personality and social habits are nearly robotic. In one episode, he enters into a romantic relationship with fellow academic, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. But because Sheldon disregards human emotion in favor of logic and reason, he creates a relationship agreement – a very detailed relationship agreement.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage September 13, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Helping Your Child Deal with Bullies

Daniel was 13 years old when he wrote a letter to his parents that he had a “great life.” A few weeks later, he was dead.

According to his letter, Daniel’s “great life” spiraled out of control right after he started junior high. Five classmates bullied him incessantly. And when Daniel tried to defend himself, fights broke out.

Daniel wrote that he had “begged and pleaded” with his teachers and the school’s principal to intervene, but they “didn’t do ANYTHING!” The school denied any wrongdoing, but the bullying didn’t stop until, sadly, Daniel ended his own life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 10, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding Peace in Your Everyday Life

One busy weekday morning, author Kay Wyma was backing out of her driveway when a big truck came barreling down the road and forced her to the shoulder. Frustrated and annoyed, she took a deep breath, slowed her heart rate, and realized that she had a choice to make: she could wallow in her anger and frustration, or she could be thankful that no one, including herself, had been injured.

She chose the latter. The moment she did, Kay felt compassion for the truck driver instead of condemnation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family September 9, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dealing with Emotional Disconnection in Marriage

I don’t think I’m overstating things when I say that most men have trouble opening up emotionally. Guys put up walls around their feelings for lots of reasons, but the consequence is always the same. They’re disconnected from deeper, more meaningful experiences with their spouse, children, and friends.

Men don’t usually use the word “disconnected” to describe themselves (we prefer descriptors like “lone wolf” or the “strong, silent type”), but as Shakespeare said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” A disconnected man is one who is unaware that he is nonrelational, distant, and emotionally unavailable.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage September 5, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Home or Hotel?

The next time your teenager doesn’t want to help out around the house, you’ve got an important decision to make. Do you want your child to live in a home or a hotel?

You see, a home is where a family lives. It’s where moms and dads and sons and daughters all contribute together to the running of the household in whatever way they’re capable. A hotel, on the other hand, is where people are waited on hand and foot and their every need is met.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 4, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Godly Rhythms to Help You Live Life to the Full

Busyness gets rewarded.

At work.

At church.

At home.

Some of us wear busyness as a badge of honor. We don’t want our kids to miss an opportunity, so we schedule them to the max. We’re busy from sunup to sundown and get by on coffee and energy drinks. We pledge to slow down when there’s a break in the action, but there’s never a break. Something always rushes in to fill the void.

The problem with that lifestyle is it’s unsustainable.

Topics: Family and Home September 3, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Listening to the Heart of Your Kids

Jean and I recognized early on in our parenting that our boys, Trent and Troy, needed to be parented differently. They were – and are – individuals. They each had their own personalities, needs, and interests. Sometimes that was a challenge to navigate. They did share one thing in common with each other – and with your children: the desire to be heard and valued.

Listening to the heart of your children is key to being an effective parent and having a strong relationship with them as they grow into adulthood.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids September 2, 2024 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura