Family and Home Archives

Connecting with Your Grandchildren

Although grandparenting is still a few years off for Jean and me, we’re both looking forward to the unexpected laughs that grandchildren bring.

Like the tea party one six-year-old held for her grandmother. After escorting grandma into the living room and offering her a seat at a table set up with a plastic tea set and snacks, they sipped their “tea” (which was actually just water) and laughed together for a half hour.

When the teapot was empty, the granddaughter announced that she was going for a refill.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family April 29, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Nurturing Your Spouse’s Heart

My marriage enjoyed a significant boost a few summers ago on a family vacation to Glacier National Park in Montana.

Jean, the boys, and I hiked to a place called Hidden Lake. It was spawning season for the trout, and the bears were especially active. From where we were several hundred yards away, we could see the bears splashing through the water hunting for fish.

I should say my boys and I could see them. Jean is nearsighted, and we didn’t have our binoculars with us, so she couldn’t see anything.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage April 27, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why are People Afraid of Coach Kennedy?

After nearly seven years of being sidelined for his faith, Coach Joe Kennedy finally had his day at the Supreme Court today.

Formerly of Bremerton High School in Washington, Kennedy refused a school district order to stop praying on the 50-yard-line of the team’s field after games.

In his eight years at the school, Kennedy mentored hundreds of football players – young men who considered him a good man to emulate. For the coach, his role on the sidelines wasn’t just a job – but a calling from God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 25, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Discovering What It Means to Be a Man

What qualities define masculinity?

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first man to successfully fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. His accomplishment took grit and toughness. Which is why Pastor Mark Batterson uses Lindbergh as an example for the kind of qualities a man needs to be successful as a husband, a father, a worker, and a follower of Christ.

Lindbergh’s historic flight aboard The Spirit of St. Louis took 33 hours, 30, and 30 seconds.Lindbergh was awake for nearly 55 hours.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 25, 2022 by Clara Greer

Encouraging Your Husband to Be a Hero

A lot of women enter marriage with high expectations. They expect connection, conversation, and intimacy with their husbands.

But when the intensity of that initial romance fades – as it always does – some wives begin to wonder, “Did I marry the wrong man?”

Dr. Juli Slattery’s answer to that question is: “The secret of intimacy in marriage is not finding a hero to be your husband but finding the hero in your husband.”

To achieve that, Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage April 21, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Please Pray for Coach Joe Kennedy

Many will remember the case of high school football coach Joe Kennedy.

Coach Kennedy was fired back in 2015 from Bremerton (Wash.) High School for praying silently on the 50-yard line after games. The coach never forced anyone to join him. He didn’t even pray out loud.

And for that, he was dismissed from his job.

Coach Kennedy will finally have his day in court on Monday. Our friends at First Liberty will be representing him, and I’m confident they’ll do a great job.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 20, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Coaching Your Kids Through the Teen Years

Dr. Gary Chapman says one of the most sobering questions he ever asked himself was: “What if my child turns out to be just like me?”

What if they have the same work ethic that I have?

What if they handle anger the way I do?

What if they treat their spouse the way I treat mine?

What if they have the same relationship with God that I have?

Answering those questions should remind every parent that the behavior we model is more important than the words that we speak.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting April 20, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Engaging the Culture in Winsome Ways

Data about the culture’s view of Christianity isn’t encouraging.

In 1996, 85% of Americans who had no religious commitment viewed Christianity favorably (Source: 2007 George Barna study).In 2019, nearly half (47%) of non-Christians had some level of negative feeling toward Christians (Source: 2019 Barna study, The Brand of Evangelicals).

Some of that negativity is fueled by seismic cultural shifts in recent decades. Tolerance rules above all other values, which means that any religion that claims a corner on truth is suspect.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture April 18, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Mulligan: A Parable of Second Chances

Do you ever wish you could get a second chance at something after your first attempt missed the mark?

In the world of golf, taking a second shot from same spot is called a “taking a mulligan.” There are several theories regarding the origin of the term, but most go back to the 1920s and a gentleman named David Mulligan who was known to embrace do-overs on the links at his country club in Montreal.

As a golfer, I can appreciate the temptation.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith April 18, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Attacking Stay-at-Home Moms is Latest Front in the Ongoing War on Children

According to feminist author Jill Filipovic, stay-at-home-moms are responsible for producing and encouraging the very worst of men. They’re also a drag on society and doing more harm than good to themselves, too.

In a series of tweets earlier this week, the controversial writer wrote:

“More mothers at home makes for worse, more sexist men who see women as mommies and helpmeets. Men with stay-at-home wives are more sexist than men with working wives; they don’t assess women’s workplace contributions [fairly]; and they are less likely to hire and promote women.”

Ms.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: parenting April 14, 2022 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura