Family and Home Archives

Our Awesome, Dazzling God

Author, speaker, and parenting coach, Tedd Tripp, is perhaps best known for his book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. In chapter eight of his latest book, Instructing a Child’s Heart, I love the emphasis that Tedd places on helping our children to be dazzled by God. He believes all of us have been uniquely created for worship, and worship of God occurs almost as a reflex whenever we’re dazzled by His glory.

Personally, I’m dazzled whenever I witness an awesome sunset, one of God’s colorful creatures, or when I’m standing in the presence of a massive waterfall.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting November 14, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Watching What We Watch

You don’t need me to tell you that the temperatures are dropping and the sun setting earlier now that Daylight Savings time has kicked in. And, I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that with colder temps and darkness settling much earlier, our kids have less incentive to remain outdoors to play. Which, of course, means they’re now spending more time in the house.

Why, then, am I stating the obvious?

Because as we head into the winter, house-bound kids will spend more time watching television than engaging in outdoor activities.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, kids, parenting November 13, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Six Months to Live

Last week I was speaking to a group of Focus on the Family friends in Michigan. At the end of most events I have the time to linger with the guests. I enjoy getting to meet and spend one-on-one time listening to their stories.

Among those in attendance was a women named Glenda who came over to shake my hand. Glenda told me how her husband, Fred, had read my autobiography Finding Home almost exactly one year ago to the day.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, staff November 5, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Crash Landing

October 14, 1978 is a date forever etched upon my mind. I was seventeen at the time living in Yucca Valley, California. The Village People had just burst onto the music scene with their hit single “Y.M.C.A.” while the Bee Gees were topping the charts with “Stayin’ Alive.” That, of course, is not why this date stands out in my memory after thirty years.

This particular morning I was relaxing at home watching a major league playoff game on television when a loud racket outside of the window caught my attention.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting, relationships October 30, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Wife is My Crown

Back in 1985, when I was still single, I had an interesting experience during a church service. In the middle of his sermon, the pastor stopped preaching, walked right up to me and said, “I have a word from the Lord for you. I believe God has your mate picked out for you, and she’s going to have a heart for the things of God. She’ll be your crown.”

Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, relationships, wife October 24, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Hunting We Will Go

I’m a blessed man. My job allows me to meet incredible people and taste different slices of life that I might not otherwise have experienced. As previously reported, I’ve enjoyed the thrill of watching a NASCAR race from the best seat in the house–on pit road. I’ve hit the road on the back of a Harley with friends. And I had the chance of a lifetime to watch a Boston Red Sox baseball game at Fenway Park.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: relationships October 21, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From Vampires to Saving Faith

Last week best selling author Anne Rice was a guest on the Focus on the Family broadcast. For two days she and Dr. James Dobson had a conversation about her spiritual journey from “an unhappy atheist,” as Anne described herself, to a follower of Christ in 1998. If you missed these programs,you’ll want to carve out some time to hear Anne speak about the awesome way that God changed her heart.

I should point out that not everyone who heard these programs was pleased that Anne was on the Focus broadcast.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith October 15, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Tyranny of the Urgent

Earlier this year I mentioned a powerful little booklet by Charles Hummel entitled, The Tyranny of the Urgent. Hummel artfully describes the tension between two contestants which vie for our time: the urgent things and the important things. He argues that the urgent things–such as the demands at the office, “the winds of other people’s demands,” or even our own “inner compulsions”–typically trump the things which are important, like regular dates with our spouse, personal solitude, exercise, or devotions.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith October 13, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fighting For Dear Life: Part 2

Yesterday, I began to share with you the dramatic story of baby Ethan, the son of our niece Cassandra. From the moment Ethan was born, his life hung in the balance. As promised, here’s the rest of what happened.

Fifteen minutes outside of Vero, Florida, Cassandra and Shawn received much needed good news: Ethan survived the trip to Miami’s Children’s Hospital and was in the operating room. A fresh wave of tears hit them as they reflected on the goodness of God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids October 1, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fighting For Dear Life: Part 1

Ever since Sarah Palin was picked as John McCain’s running mate, babies with “special needs” suddenly took center stage in the headlines. Much has been written about her decision not to abort a baby with Down syndrome. Some believe she shouldn’t have brought a special needs child into the world. Others believe she and husband Todd made the right choice. Regardless of your political leanings, I thought I’d add some perspective on the value of every human life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pro-life September 30, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura