marriage Archives

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

Fireproof is Red Hot in Theaters

In 2006, Alex Kendrick and his brother Stephen, both members of Sherwood Baptist church, wrote and produced Facing the Giants, their second family-friendly independent film. While the production values were on par for a low budget film, viewers were drawn to it’s message of faith and trusting God to do the impossible–both professionally and personally.

Last weekend Alex and Stephen, with the help of a few hundred volunteers from church, returned to the big screen with their third independent film, Fireproof.While Giants tackled winning on the football field, Fireproof addresses those who are struggling to win at their marriage.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, marriage, pop culture, promos September 29, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

California High Court Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Yesterday, California’s Supreme Court ignored the will of the people by handing down a landmark decision overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 4-3 decision reverses Proposition 22, which defined marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman. Keep in mind Prop 22 had been passed in 2000 by an overwhelming margin of Californian voters (61 to 39%).

That wasn’t good enough for these justices.

Dr. Dobson reflected, “In 1863, Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address that ours is a government ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.’ Well, not in the state of California, where four imperious and unelected justices have just overridden the will of the voters.”

While New Jersey and Vermont have granted same-sex couples many of the same rights and benefits of traditional marriage, California now joins Massachusetts as the second state to redefine the definition of marriage.

Topics: Current Events Tags: homosexuality, marriage, news, policy May 16, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

What’s Your Marriage Worth?

One of my favorite movies is the Princess Bride. At one point in this playful story, Westley, a.k.a. “Farm boy” and the “Dread Pirate Robert” looks the lovely Princess Buttercup in the eye and offers this sobering bit of insight: “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

Westley was right. Life on this side of the Garden of Eden is filled with pain. Anybody dealing with a terrible two-year-old knows this. Anybody suffering in a bad relationship knows this.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, relationships March 25, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

83 Years of Love

I wish I had met John and Amelia Rocchio.

The Guinness Book of Records honored the couple as holding the world record for staying married the longest – 83 years. If given the chance to visit with them, I would have asked what they did to fuel the flames of romance for eight decades. Did they go on regular dates? Did they take trips to exotic places? Or, did they incorporate simple pleasures like candle light dinners at home, or hold hands on regular walks through their Rhode Island neighborhood?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage, relationships March 4, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Divorce Heats Up Global Warming Debate

Let’s talk about divorce for a moment.

My parents were divorced when I was five years old, so I speak as one who has first hand experience in both the pain and the host of insecurities that are often a byproduct of a failed marriage. My first observation has to do with the cavalier attitude toward divorce popularized by the law firms who specialize in dissolving marriages.

For instance, I came across a full color advertisement hanging on the wall in a men’s restroom with this slug line: “Don’t Let Your Starter Wife Take Your Dream House.”

Starter Wife?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: divorce, marriage February 13, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Garden Variety Marriage

Happy New Years!

If you live in New Jersey, and if you believe marriage should remain the union between one man and one woman, I’ve got great news for you. Come to think of it, this victory is good news regardless of where you live. After all, what happens in one state ultimately impacts the rest of us. Here’s what happened.

A number of heavily funded groups in the Garden State with a radical agenda have been working behind the scenes to redefine marriage to include same-sex partners.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, marriage, policy January 3, 2008 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Eating Humble Pie

Last year my family was living in a community just around the corner from Focus on the Family. I remember one particular evening Jean needed to go shopping after dinner. I offered to hang out with the boys while she ran errands. I should point out it was already dark by the time Jean backed the minivan out of the driveway . . . right into our neighbor’s car across the street.

Jean wasn’t distracted or in a hurry.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage, wife December 4, 2007 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When Love Must Be Tough

I’ve met a number of genuine tough guys in my life. Back in sixth grade, for example, I met Chuck Norris – yes, the Chuck Norris who battled Bruce Lee in the Way of the Dragon. Chuck was a special guest in our karate class taught by my homeroom teacher, Mr. Fried – a serious tough guy in his own right. Mr. Fried was both a fifth degree black belt instructor and a reserve deputy sheriff who just happened to be a personal friend of Chuck Norris.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, husband, marriage, wife October 11, 2007 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura