Family and Home Archives

Little Angels Help Lift Up Little Eyes

To many, Christmas is the season of angels, and I’m not referring to Clarence Odbody, George Bailey’s fictional guardian angel (Second Class) in the perennial holiday favorite It’s a Wonderful Life.

During Advent and Christmas we remember Gabriel’s historic appearances to Zechariah (Luke 1:11-20) and, of course, Mary (Luke 1:26-38), as well as the angel’s message to Joseph (Matthew 1:20). Then there is the angel who appeared to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-14) announcing Jesus’ birth. And finally, we remember the angel who appeared to Joseph again in a dream, warning him of Herod’s intent to kill his newborn son and advising him to escape with the family to Egypt.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, promos December 8, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Everybody Ought to Know About the Military Bible Ban

It came as a shock last week to learn that Bibles had been banned at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The official memo, issued by the hospital’s Chief of Staff, C.W. Callahan, was blunt and to the point:

“No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading material, and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.”

Yet, just as soon as the stunning and disturbing news spread, the ban was rescinded.

Sandy Dean, a public affairs officer at Walter Reed, tried to explain the origin of the offensive policy.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, policy, religious liberty December 7, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tests Don’t Always Count What Should Be Counted

What do you think about standardized tests?

Writing in this past Monday’s Washington Post, Marion Brady, a veteran teacher and curriculum designer, shared a fascinating story that confirms what many people, including the late Albert Einstein, have long suspected:

“Not everything that can be counted counts,” observed the German physicist, “and not everything that counts can be counted.”

He was right.

In the essay, Ms. Brady relays the story of a longtime friend who agreed to take a state-sponsored 10th grade reading and math exam.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news December 6, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What Andy Rooney Thought Every Child Needed

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 last month. 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: family, kids December 2, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Should the State Be Allowed to Remove Overweight Children?

By now you’ve probably heard the story of an Ohio mother whose 8-year-old son was taken away from her because of the boy’s weight.

The Cleveland Heights youth tips the scales in excess of 200 pounds. Doctors recommend that a child of that age and height should weigh somewhere between 55 and 60 pounds.

To be fair, I’m not aware of all the facts of the case. I did read that state workers had been monitoring the child’s situation for over a year.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, policy, religious liberty November 30, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Seconds and Thirds

Tomorrow’s celebration of Thanksgiving conjures up so many memories for all of us. As I’ve shared in the past, my recollections of the holiday as a child bring with them a mixed bag of emotions.

While I looked forward to the celebration, we didn’t have much. And, when my parents got divorced, with mom working several jobs just to make ends meet, times were hard. My mom did her best to pull together enough stuff to make it special.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, family November 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Paul Harvey: So God Made a Farmer

Paul Harvey, the late radio legend, shared the following essay at the 1978 National F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America) Convention. As we prepare our homes and tables for Thanksgiving, it’s always good to remember that the Lord uses many bright minds and talented hands to help keep the world warm and well fed (James 2:16). May God bless the farmer!

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith November 22, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

This Happened to My Son on a Plane

I was on a recent flight with our family and encountered something unexpected. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the trip, just another full plane with hundreds of people squeezed together, row upon row. On this particular segment, though, I happened to be sitting right across the aisle from the boys and kept an eye on them as they read and talked with each other.

Then it happened.

Troy proceeded to put up his tray table.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, family, kids November 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Happy Orphans?

It’s common to wax nostalgic for the past, to suggest that the “good old days” weren’t just good – but great. If only we could turn back the clock, so the logic goes, all would be well.

The only problem with such a theory is that it’s just so often not true. Case in point:

One hundred years ago, on April 14, 1911, the following headline appeared in the New York Times:

5,000 HAPPY ORPHANS AT A CIRCUS TREAT

Youngsters from Many Institutions in the City Have Their Annual Merry Day

The article went on to highlight just who these orphans were, referring to them as “little waifs and strays, orphans and half orphans” who had their one “happy day” of the year at the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, faith, family November 18, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Our Magnificent Obsession

Fred Barnes is the executive editor of the Weekly Standard and an astute political writer and commentator. I want to call your attention to his most recent column. It was titled “Hidden Persuaders: The unheralded gains of the pro-life movement.”

Fred writes:

That the pro-life movement is bigger is a given. It’s also younger, increasingly entrepreneurial, more strategic in its thinking, better organized, tougher in dealing with allies and enemies alike, almost wildly ambitious, and more relentless than ever.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, policy, pro-life November 17, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura