Family and Home Archives

Andy Rooney: The Following Things Are True About Housework

What does spring cleaning look like in your home?

According to the late Andy Rooney, the following things are true about housework:

Vacuuming a large rug is the easiest housekeeping job. Anyone doing it gets more credit than he or she deserves. This is partly because the vacuum cleaner makes so much noise it gives the illusion that someone’s working hard.

Putting away the vacuum cleaner is harder than vacuuming.

The single easiest thing to do in exchange for the most credit, is mopping the kitchen floor.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting March 27, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tim Keller: 8 Tips for Marriage Seekers

The following is a condensed excerpt from my friend Tim Keller’s excellent new book, which I strongly endorse, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God:

Practical Counsel for Marriage Seekers
Recognize that there are seasons for not doing marriage-seeking:

When you are going through a significant transition — starting a new job, starting a new school, death of a parent, or some other fairly absorbing time or event — it might not at all be a good time to begin a relationship.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: intimacy, marriage, relationships March 26, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Dose of Pouty Magic

I mentioned the other day that my colleague and Tim Tebow fanatic, Sue, was pouting over the arrival of Peyton Manning to the Denver Broncos and the subsequent trade of Tim to the New York Jets.

Thankfully, her poutiness was rare and short-lived. But I’m not so sure I can say the same thing about my son Troy who’s been known to pout to either make a point or get his way.

His brother calls it “pouty magic.”

The act doesn’t usually work, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, kids, parenting, pop culture March 22, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Two Lies Too Many People Believe

“Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do.

Both are nonsense.

You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”

– Rick Warren

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, pop culture March 15, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Parents Ruining Youth Sports?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts,father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, parenting March 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Have Youth Sports Gone Mad?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts, father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting March 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Possibly the Best Use of a Tattoo

This is not about whether tattoos are a good or bad idea.

Instead, this a true story about a young woman named Debbie whose tattoo has not only saved her life but perhaps even the lives of her small children.

A colleague of mine recently found himself inside a greasy spoon burger joint one late winter afternoon. His waitress at the establishment was efficient and friendly. They struck up easy conversation. When she placed a plate down on the table he noticed a rather distinctive looking tattoo on her forearm.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith March 13, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Don’t Let Your Teen Daughter Do This

According to a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle there is a disturbing trend developing with teenage girls on the internet:

A growing number of tweens and teens, mainly girls, are posting videos on YouTube asking commenters if they’re ugly.

Type ‘Am I ugly?’ or ‘Am I pretty’ into the YouTube search box and dozens of videos pop up, including one of an 11-year-old girl who poses for the camera, twirling her shoulders, smiling big, and pulling her long hair out of a pony tail.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pop culture, technology March 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why Super Tuesday Matters to You

Four presidential candidates will compete for 419 delegates scattered throughout ten separate states today, the greatest concentration of votes in any single day on the primary campaign’s calendar.

Historically, a big win for any one candidate is likely to propel them to their party’s nomination. A string of losses usually leads to a dropout and a one-way ticket home.

In other words, it’s a make or break kind-of-day. On the fate of Super Tuesday (potentially) rests the future of the nation’s next president.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: policy, pop culture March 6, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

You Don’t Often See a Headline Like This

The devastation spawned by the 74 tornadoes in 10 states over several days last week is nearly impossible to fathom.

It just doesn’t compute.

We read of the numbers killed (39) and wince and wonder why. We cringe at the images of destruction and want to cry, especially when we realize that behind every number lost is a name and an entire world forever changed for those left behind.

I’m especially thinking of the Babcock family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news March 5, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura