relationships Archives

Check Your Motives

Sometimes we might do what’s right—but for the wrong (usually selfish) reason.

I’m reminded of the story of the philosopher Diogenes.

He was once seen sitting on a curb eating lentils and bread, a meager meal by any standard. A fellow philosopher, Aristippus, a man who lived well because he flattered the king, approached him and mocked his circumstance.

“If you would learn to be subservient to the king,” he snarled, “you would not have to live on lentils.”

Diogenes looked up with a smile, tilted his head, and replied, “Learn to live on lentils, and you will not have to cultivate the king.”

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, faith, relationships September 19, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Strangest Secret

Over sixty years ago, Earl Nightingale, a former United States Marine who had been one of only twelve survivors of the bombing of the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor, struck upon an idea.

At the time of his epiphany, he was an announcer at the legendary Chicago radio station WGN. Residents of the Windy City were drawn to his soothing, sonorous voice. But it was off the air, while reading a book by Napoleon Hill, a well-known motivational writer and speaker of that era, that Nightingale’s revelation came to him, like “a bolt out of the blue,” he said.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: discipline, faith, relationships September 17, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Six Myths Christians Believe About Politics

After nearly a year of toiling away on the project, my latest book, ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God’s Heart, will be released next month.

What’s it all about?

I don’t want to give it all away, but if there is one theme woven throughout all the pages of the book, it would be this:

Are we more concerned with shaping (and winning) the debate than we are with shaping and refining our own attitudes toward the world?

Topics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, policy, relationships September 12, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Tim Tebow, Chastity and New York

Is it more difficult to remain a virgin in New York City than elsewhere in America?

Some pundits and culture-watchers seem to think so, leading to speculation in Monday’s New York Times that New York Jet Tim Tebow is going to have a tough time remaining chaste in the Big Apple.

The writer of the piece spoke with Miki Reaume, a Christian and former Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. “When my friends found out I was planning on waiting until I was married, I got laughed at quite a bit,” she said.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture, relationships, sex August 22, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Have a Quiet Child? Here are Three Things You Must Do

Susan Cain is the best-selling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking. A popular lecturer, the Harvard-trained lawyer offers terrific insight and advice for everybody in her book, but especially for parents who have “quiet”- tempered children:

“The best thing parents and teachers can do for introverted kids,” she writes, “is to treasure them for who they are, and encourage their passions.”

Here are three things she recommends parents do:

Topics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, relationships August 21, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Ten Easy Ways to Express Appreciation to Almost Anyone

From Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace:

Give a verbal compliment (Say, “Thanks for…”; tell them, “I’m glad you are part of the team”).

Write an email (“I just wanted to let you know…”; “it is really helpful to me when you…”).

Stop by and see how your colleague is doing. Spend a few minutes just chatting and checking in on them.

Do something with your coworkers, like eating together.

Topics: Current Events Tags: friendship, relationships, staff August 7, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Batman Shooting: Why God Allows Suffering

Lee Strobel is a former journalist who didn’t believe in God until he launched his own personal investigation to attempt to disprove God’s existence. Strobel’s research led him to the opposite conclusion. The experience was chronicled and eventually turned into a book titled, The Case for a Creator. It has since sold millions of copies. He later became a pastor and has been a frequent guest on our radio program.

This past Sunday Lee preached a powerful sermon at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith, pro-life, relationships July 24, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Would You Give Away Your Entire Salary?

If you felt God leading you to give away all of your income to help the poor, would you do it? That’s exactly what Traceway Baptist Church in Clinton, Mississippi, did between April 2010 and April 2011.

John Richardson is the pastor of the small congregation, which usually hosts about 50 people each Sunday.

“Everything that was given to our church in the offering plates,” said Pastor Richardson, “was given away to abused mothers that got out of bad situations basically with the clothes on their backs, or people that were trying to break free from addiction, or people that had lost jobs or facing foreclosures, or had extreme medical bills, or anything like that.”

In total, the church distributed approximately $60,000 throughout the 12-month period.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, relationships July 23, 2012 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Penn State Sin Makes Every Man a Suspect

Just when you didn’t think Penn State’s sexual abuse scandal could get any worse, last week’s independent investigation revealed that it’s done just that.

A seven-month study comprised of more than 400 interviews and a review of 3.5 million documents found that top university officials seemingly cared more about the school’s football program than they did the safety of innocent children.

It turns one’s stomach to think of the abuse of any child, let alone a child abused by a predator who was being protected by people with the power to prevent the evil.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, relationships July 16, 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