Family and Home Archives

This Secret Can Change Your Life

Over sixty years ago, Earl Nightingale, a former United States Marine who had been one of only twelve survivors of the bombing of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor, struck upon an idea.

At the time of his epiphany, he was an announcer at the legendary Chicago radio station WGN. Residents of the Windy City were drawn to his soothing, sonorous voice. But it was off the air, while reading a book by Napoleon Hill, a well-known motivational writer and speaker of that era, that Nightingale’s revelation came to him, like “a bolt out of the blue,” he said.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, parenting, pop culture, relationships August 8, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Help Help Your Child Thrive in the Middle School Years

By the time kids enter middle school, their march toward independence is well under way.

But let’s face it – it can be a confusing time for parents.

When a child spreads his wings, it can feel like he’s turning his back on you instead. But that’s not really the case. Your middle schooler needs you as much as he always has.

In some ways, more.

He just needs you in a different way than he did in his formative years.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, family, kids, parenting August 7, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You Know This Influences the Success of Your Marriage?

When you ask couples which household issues influence the success of a marriage, things like kids and finances usually rise to the top.

But did you know that chores rank third on that list?!

How can something as simple as housework fuel conflict in a marriage?

Rather easily it turns out. As we all know, life gets busy. Not long after the “I do’s,” couples tend to get focused on (or maybe I should say, “distracted by”) the household tasks they care about, while forgetting the burdens their spouse is carrying.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, marriage, wife August 4, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Andy Rooney Thought Every Child Should Have

Although he struck many of us as something of a curmudgeon, I enjoyed watching and reading Andy Rooney over the years.

Mr. Rooney lived a long and colorful life before passing away at the age of 92. Many of his newspaper columns were compiled into various books. The following essay that I’m going to excerpt, “What Every Kid Should Have Growing Up,” comes from one of his best-selling works titled Sweet and Sour.

Reading over this list, I have to admit that I wish I had all these things growing up.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, family, kids, parenting, pop culture August 1, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Know If You’re Making Healthy Food Choices for Your Family

It’s up to parents to show their family how to live a healthy lifestyle. But as you’ve probably discovered, that can be easier said than done. The labels on packages can be tricky. And just how many grams of fat and carbs should be in our diet anyway?

If you’re wondering how to help your family make good food choices, we hope you’ll join us this week for our three-day broadcast series titled, “Sound Advice on Healthy Eating,” with our guest, registered dietician David Meinz.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, kids, parenting July 31, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God’s Blueprint for Healthy Families

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know I enjoy highlighting the abundance of research that pops up in support of families. The reason is simple: Well-designed studies affirm again and again that God’s blueprint for healthy families can be trusted, regardless of which way the winds of culture may blow.

Take, for example, a recent article by Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Executive Director and Senior Fellow at Concerned Women for America’s Beverly LaHaye Institute.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, marriage, parenting July 29, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Ten Books Every Christian Should Read

Although not everybody has the luxury of enjoying a summer vacation, the season invariably lends itself to setting aside some time to read a good book. If you’re looking to pick one up, our online resource center is packed with exciting and entertaining titles.

Whatever your taste, I think you’ll find a title to your liking.

If you’re more inclined to invest in the classics (including some modern ones), the following list should be helpful to you.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, pop culture July 28, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Every Family Needs this Summer

Summer is officially here, and along with it traditionally comes a season when many families take time to vacation and be together to rest, regroup and have some fun.

I say “traditionally” because such vacations may be becoming increasingly rare.

There are no legally mandated paid holidays in the United States, but many businesses and organizations do offer their workers paid time off as part of their compensation package.

However, do you know that Americans leave as many as 175 million available vacation days unused in the typical year?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 25, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tips for Budgeting for Back-to-School Spending

A new school year is just around the corner, and you know what that means:

The annual hunt for school supplies.

Did you know preparing for school in the fall is, on average, a family’s second largest expenditure each year, outranked only by Christmas?

Maybe that comes as a surprise to you, but I’m sure this won’t: The time and cost required of parents to get their kids ready for a new school year can not only put a strain on their wallet, but on their marriage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting July 24, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Answering Questions Single Adults Ask

We talk a lot in the church about God’s design for marriage. And rightly so.

But what often gets overlooked is His purpose and work in the life of singles.

Some Christians feel called to be single. Many others yearn for marriage, but for various reasons, struggle to find that kind of meaningful relationship. When months and years tick by, and that deep, heartfelt desire for connection remains unfulfilled, disappointment and frustration can set in. That can pose a serious challenge to a person’s faith, and sincere questions often emerge.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family July 22, 2014 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura