family Archives

Toes in the Sand

There are nice beaches – and then there are really nice beaches.

During spring break my family and I discovered one of the most beautiful slices of sand and surf in the country – thanks to an extremely generous friend who gave us the gift of saying at their beach house. It’s a picturesque town called Seaside, located on the Florida panhandle halfway between Panama City and Pensacola. Forgive me if I sound like a travel agent, but Seaside will take your breath away.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, parenting, relationships April 8, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

I Wouldn’t Want it Any Other Way

Two years ago I was speaking in Glendale, Arizona. For Pastor Steve Hubler, one of the guests, that night would forever change his life . . . and the life of his church.

You see, Steve carried with him a burden that taxed his spirit for ten years. Steve has graciously agreed for me to share portions of this letter I just received with you:

I’m one of them, one of the thousands who cannot participate in one of life’s most basic endeavors, the conception of another life.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, family February 26, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Celebrate This Heartbeat

When I wrote my first book, Finding Home, I collaborated with Bob DeMoss. Bob and I have a friendship that goes back some twenty years. Last week, Bob’s world was turned upside-down with a family medical emergency. Yesterday he sent me an email with the details. He’s agreed with my request to share the story with you.

The phone rang unusually early for a Monday morning. My sister Becky called from Philly to inform me that my brother Steve (age 49) woke up feeling numbness throughout his right arm and leg.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting February 20, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Priceless Memories

I was scheduled to be in Ireland for several days of meetings last week. I packed, kissed the family goodbye, tossed my bags in the trunk, and headed to Denver – alone. While I enjoy traveling and working with our partners around the world, I sure miss my family. Upon arriving at the Denver International Airport, I was in for a surprise. The United Airlines representative informed me that my flight was delayed.

Translation: I’d miss my connection to London and, in turn, wouldn’t make it to Ireland in time for several key meetings.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting February 4, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Karate-Chopping Mom

If there’s one resource that my mother could have used, it would have been Dr. Dobson’s book Parenting Isn’t For Cowards. After all, as a child there were times when I was quite the handful. Case in point.

As a six year old, I tagged along with my mom whenever she went grocery shopping. You see, I always got to pick out a toy. If I didn’t get one, I’d throw a full-body tantrum – the kind of fit that turned the heads of other moms.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting January 31, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Father’s Heart

Life is short. It’s longer for some, shorter for others.

Even to live to be 120, in the grand scheme of things – specifically, in view of eternity – life is still short. Which is probably why Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” None of us knows how long we have to live. Moses knew that making the most of our moments on earth comes from gaining God’s perspective on what’s really important.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, parenting January 29, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Arresting News

I came across a news story several months back that I’ve been meaning to comment on. Here’s The New York Post headline that originally caught my eye: Arrests Soar For Young & Ruthless. In their report the Post documented an alarming trend in crimes committed by youth in New York City. No question, the facts are disturbing: 52,936 youth (ages 13-18) had been arrested during 2006. Don’t rush too quickly past that figure.

That’s more than half the population of Albany, the state’s capital.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, parenting January 25, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Go for the Gold

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? If you’re like many, you might have purchased a treadmill with an eye on walking more this year. Perhaps it was a membership at the YMCA or a health club, the purchase of a stationary bicycle, or simply buying a new pair of walking shoes to encourage a regular cardiovascular routine.

Perhaps you cut up the credit cards in an effort to dig yourself out of debt.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, family January 18, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God Still Changes Lives

If there’s one thing that I can almost guarantee in 2008, it’s that you and I will encounter struggles in our marriage or family life. This is, after all, a fallen world. Things break. Relationships become strained. Misunderstandings happen. Sickness happens. Life gets messy. Even Jesus as He walked on this earth refused to sugar coat reality. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, relationships January 9, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Doctor’s Order: No PlayStation

Jean and I were at a birthday party last week. While we dined with the adults, the boys were in another room with their peers enjoying kid-friendly food and games. One of the after dinner activities for the children was playing with a Wii (pronounced “We”). That’s the hot new video game console offered by Nintendo. As I learned, what sets Wii apart from other video games is a wireless controller that senses motion. This allows the gamers’ hand movements to interact with the on-screen action.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family, kids, parenting, pop culture December 21, 2007 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura