marriage Archives

Do Happily Married People Make Better Employees?

This past Friday’s Wall Street Journal highlighted a new hiring practice for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. When evaluating the fit of a free agent, team officials don’t just spend time with the player.They also invite and interview the particular player’s wife, assuming he’s married. As explained in the Journal:

Shahid Khan, the Jaguars’ new owner, who made his fortune in auto-parts manufacturing, said he had the idea because he tries to meet all of the spouses of his employees.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, pop culture April 18, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Greying of Divorce

Exceptions to the norm naturally surprise us, like when we hear about a marriage of 40-plus years ending in divorce.

Do you know somebody who for no good reason has decided to walk away from their marriage of longstanding?

According to the research, approximately 4% of marriages that make it to 40 years will eventually end in divorce.

What would cause somebody to give up on their spouse after so many years together?

I think a lot of it is caused by the modern nature of marriage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: divorce, marriage April 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Why the Term “Working Mother” is Redundant

According to political consultant Hilary Rosen, Ann Romney, “has actually never worked a day in her life.”

This morning, Mrs Romney responded:

“She should have come to my house when those five boys were causing so much trouble. It wasn’t so easy.”

At the center of this issue is an ongoing point of tension for many families in America:

Are stay-at-home moms working mothers?

If you ask me, the simple answer to that question is a resounding “Yes!”

To try and draw a distinction between mothers who work outside the home and those who work full-time within it only diminishes the value of all mothers in general.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage, parenting April 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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

National Pray for Marriage Day

Brother Lawrence, a lay minister at a Carmelite Paris monastery in the mid 1600s, frequently extolled the power and benefits of prayer.

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful,” he wrote, “than that of a continual conversation with God.”

I agree with Brother Lawrence. Prayer is the answer to the challenges of our day. Of course we are to be people of action, but first we must be people of prayer.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage February 23, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did Hollywood Weaken “The Vow”?

The Vow,starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, was the number one film at the box office this past weekend, pulling in a remarkable $41 million. The romantic drama was billed as the ultimate “chick flick” with a lot of suspense rolled in for good measure.

The story revolves around a young couple who fall in love, marry and shortly thereafter, encounter the ultimate test in their relationship. The young wife is gravely injured in a car accident.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, marriage February 15, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Manly Challenge

Speaking on behalf of most men, I can say with confidence that guys love the thrill of a challenge. And although it might pale in comparison to summiting Mount Everest or running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, today’s radio program features a special invitation to all married men to “man up.”

First, some context:

On today’s show we’re talking with authors Bill and Pam Farrel, who have written the bestselling book, Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, husband, marriage, wife December 15, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Are Married Men Better Workers Than Single Ones?

Dr. Brad Wilcox is a friend and the highly respected Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. He’s also an Associate Professor of Sociology.

For years, Brad and his colleagues have been studying the positive impact of marriage on the culture. His work is not manipulated to prove a point. He’s a scientist who studies and analyzes data and draws conclusions based upon facts. In one of his most revealing articles, he makes an interesting statement, but one that also confirms what Christians believe about God’s institution of marriage:

The long-term fortunes of the modern economy rise and fall with the family.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage November 14, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Burned Biscuits

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain,” wrote the late Dale Carnegie, “but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” Let me ask you: What is the spirit like in your home and around your table?

The origin of the following story is unknown, but the moral is clear – and convicting.

BURNED BISCUITS

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage November 8, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura