“Being a dad is the only thing a man does in his life without a specific plan.” - Jeff Hamilton

Cheat codes for parenting don’t exist but today’s episode with Dad Academy founder Jeff Hamilton is the next best thing. If you’re a dad and you’re desperate to do this parenting thing well and you’re not entirely sure how to do it, this one’s for you! Join Jim and Jeff as they unpack 4 key principles to father with purpose and build a lasting legacy. Dads, you’re far more important than you realize - and by the end of this episode, we hope you believe it.

HomeWord:

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord+ Online Courses: https://homeword.com/homeword-plus/

Leave a Message for HomeWord: 949-485-3905

Have a question you want Jim to answer? Email us! info@homeword.com

Refresh Your Marriage Conference, March 14, 2025: https://my.thecrossing.com/registration?registrationinstanceid=213

Promise Keepers Website: https://promisekeepers.org/

Connect with Jeff Hamilton and Dad Academy:

Dad Academy Website: https://www.dadacademy.info/

IG: @dad.academy

TikTok: @dadacademy

Twitter/X: @dadacademy

Facebook: @dadacademy

Books:

Dad Academy: Helping Fathers To Parent with Purpose Workbook: https://a.co/d/80ajWBB

Pass It On: https://a.co/d/7nUlIaj

Raising Spiritual Champions: https://a.co/d/iwLjFME

Order Jim’s New Book:

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

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In today’s episode, Jim welcomes his friend Dr. Aaron Santmyire. Aaron is a husband, father, nurse practitioner, author, and host of The Clarity Podcast. Aaron has spent the last 20 years of his life serving in Africa, specifically Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Kenya, and recently released a book called A Caring Family: Seven Virtues that Help Your Family Care Better and Love Longer. Together, Jim and Aaron dive into the value of teaching virtues at home such as loyalty, emotional honesty, patience, and spiritual focus - and how each virtue helps us, and our kids, become more like Christ.

Jim’s Takeaways: The 4 Phases of Ease

Helping your children move from dependence on you towards independence:

1. I do it and you watch
2. I do it, you do it
3. You do it, I assist
4. You do it

HomeWord:

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord+ Online Courses: https://homeword.com/homeword-plus/

Leave a Message for HomeWord: 949-485-3905

Have a question you want Jim to answer? Email us! info@homeword.com

Refresh Your Marriage Conference, March 14, 2025: https://my.thecrossing.com/registration?registrationinstanceid=213

Dr. Aaron Santmyire:

Dr. Aaron Santmyire Website: https://aaronsantmyire.com/

The Clarity Podcast: https://aaronsantmyire.com/podcast/

Books:

A Caring Family: Seven Virtues that Help Your Family Care Better and Love Longer

A Caring Life: How Each of Us Can Change The Trajectory of an Uncaring World

Order Jim’s New Book:

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

Send us a text

When someone we love is suffering, we can feel utterly helpless. We long to trust God, but frustration creeps in when healing doesn’t come, and exhaustion from caregiving on an empty tank weighs us down. Where can we find the hope and peace God promises in His Word?

Today, Jim welcomes author, entrepreneur, and career coach Camille Block to discuss her new book, Hope for Secondhand Suffering: Tools for the Heart When You Can’t Fix Your Loved One’s Pain. As the medical conservator, advocate, and voice for her brother Kevin - who lives with severe cerebral palsy quadriplegia - Camille has spent over 50 years caring for him. With heartfelt honesty, Camille shares the many ups and downs of her life’s journey alongside her brother, and how, thanks be to God, she’s found hope in the suffering.

HomeWord:

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord+ Online Courses: https://homeword.com/homeword-plus/

Leave a Message for HomeWord: 949-485-3905

Have a question you want Jim to answer? Email us! info@homeword.com

Refresh Your Marriage Conference, March 14, 2025: https://my.thecrossing.com/registration?registrationinstanceid=213

Camille Block:

Camille’s Website: https://www.camilleblock.cc/

Camille’s Instagram: @camilleblock.author

Camille’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camilleblock.author/

Books:

Hope for Secondhand Suffering: Tools For The Heart When You Can’t Fix Your Loved One’s Pain: https://a.co/d/iDtys5q

Order Jim’s New Book:

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

Practical points for the caregiver (taken from Hope for Secondhand Suffering):

• Get enough sleep
• Have boundaries and keep your priorities
• Get and receive help from other people
• Stay healthy physically
• Pray/meditate
• Have time alone

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Those of us who have been married for more than a few years understand that while marriage is wonderful it can also be frustrating, lonely, and, at times, HARD - but it doesn’t have to be hard all the time! Today, Jim welcomes back author and speaker Arlene Pellicane to discuss her brand new book, Making Marriage Easier. Jim and Arlene unpack the 4 key decisions you can make within your marriage to clarify your values and create a clear path forward - helping you and your spouse remember that you can love AND like one another - after all, that’s how this all started, right? Get back to the beautiful basics of marriage and rediscover the serious fun you can have on this journey.

HomeWord:

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord+ Online Courses: https://homeword.com/homeword-plus/

Leave a Message for HomeWord: 949-485-3905

Have a question you want Jim to answer? Email us! info@homeword.com

Refresh Your Marriage Conference, March 14, 2025: https://my.thecrossing.com/registration?registrationinstanceid=213

Arlene Pellicane:

Arlene’s Website: https://arlenepellicane.com/

Parents Rising Conference, Sept 6, 2025: https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/conference

Making Marriage Easier Website: https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/makingmarriageeasier

The Happy Home Podcast: https://shorturl.at/ESpPG

Contact Arlene: speaking@arlenepellicane.com

Books:

Making Marriage Easier: https://a.co/d/i6XWVBB

Parents Rising: https://a.co/d/ilCwXHm

31 Days to a Happy Husband: https://a.co/d/bgfxgvy

All Books by Arlene Pellicane: https://shorturl.at/Af2p5

Order Jim’s New Book:

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

Jim's Takeaways

These 4 “decisions” are taken from Arlene’s new book, Making Marriage Easier:

1. Play by the Rules
2. Give Thanks Every Day
3. Serve Your Spouse
4. Take Fun Seriously

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Husbands, are you aware that your wife has unique sexual needs? Wives, do you recognize that your husband does too? And married couples—are you even talking about it? According to today’s guests, Dr. Gary and Barbie Rosberg, many couples don’t. But open communication and understanding each other’s needs are essential for a satisfying sex life and a thriving marriage. Join Jim as he explores the distinct sexual needs of men and women, drawn from the Rosbergs’ book, The Five Sex Needs of Men and Women. This candid and insightful discussion goes beyond the bedroom, addressing the everyday connections that build up to the intimate act God designed for marriage.

The Rosbergs are executive life and marriage coaches, award-winning authors, and beloved international marriage conference speakers. Make sure to subscribe to their brand new podcast The Rosbergs: Your Marriage Coaches, where Dr. Gary and Barbie equip and encourage listeners that the “more” they’re longing for in their marriage isn’t out of reach.

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord Voice Line: 949-485-3905

Send HomeWord a question: info@homeword.com

The Rosbergs Website: https://www.americasfamilycoaches.com/

The Rosberg Group: https://www.rosberggroup.com/

The Rosbergs Resources: https://gary-rosberg-kqts.squarespace.com/store

The Rosbergs: Your Marriage Coaches Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rosbergs-your-marriage-coaches/id1775332105

Books:

The Five Sex Needs of Men and Women: https://a.co/d/d4GLd28

The Five Love Needs of Men and Women: https://a.co/d/3JaSy08

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men: https://a.co/d/gcx9DbT

Send us a text

Jim Burns founded HomeWord in 1985, and we are constantly amazed at what God has done since then! As each new generation begins their parenting journey, we strive to meet their needs - and boy, some of their needs are very different from when we began 40 years ago. With the rise of technology, questions around gender ideology, and the decline of faith-focused homes, how are we adapting? Today, Jim welcomes Marcus Preciado, the new president of HomeWord, to discuss where he believes God is leading the ministry. With sincerity, enthusiasm, and hope, Marcus and Jim share fresh initiatives being implemented at HomeWord and express their joyful anticipation for the future.

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord Voice Line: 949-485-3905

Send HomeWord a question: info@homeword.com

Meet Marcus Preciado, New President of HomeWord: https://homeword.com/about/marcus-preciado/

Books:

A Student’s Guide to Sexual Integrity: https://homeword.com/product/students-guide-to-sexual-integrity-gods-plan-for-sex-and-your-body/

Doing Life With Your Adult Children: https://homeword.com/product/dlwac-book/

Send us a text

“We become our habits, and our kids become us. This is why habits of the household are the most spiritually formative thing parents do.”

Today, Jim welcomes writer, speaker, and lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley to speak about, what Jim has called, one of the best parenting books he has ever read: Habits of The Household. Throughout this revelatory conversation, Jim and Justin discuss the beauty of daily rhythms and how each choice helps shape our children’s understanding of discipleship to Jesus. With grace and practical encouragement, Justin urges us to be active in forming our habits rather than letting the chaos of everyday life form them for us. This is a profound and deeply encouraging discussion we’ll be returning to again and again.

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord Voice Line: 949-485-3905

Send HomeWord a question: info@homeword.com

Connect with Justin Whitmel Earley

JustinWhitmelEarley.com

Instagram: @justinwhitmelearley

HangTenMovement.com

Books:

Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms

The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction

Made For People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship

Finding God At Home by Ernest Boyer Jr.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

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“Is technology bringing my family together or pushing my family apart?”

Technology is such an integral part of society that it can worm its way into our lives without much notice - but if we really ponder this question, are we content with our answer? Today, Jim welcomes Dr. Alice Benton back to the show with an insightful Q&A all about our digital use as families. Dr. Alice is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in Parent Support & Training, Health & Wellness, and Trauma Recovery. Throughout this conversation, Jim poses some of the most common questions parents have about screen use.

Special Note:

Check out the timestamps below for specific questions asked, and be sure to contact HomeWord if you have a question you want answered on the show!

Questions in this Episode:

[6:53] What do I do when my child says ‘I’m the ONLY one who doesn’t have a smartphone!’?

[8:47] When does screen time become harmful to kids?

[11:00] How do you find the compromise on-screen use when one parent is a screen-enabler and one is a screen-limiter?

[13:08] What do you say to the single mom/single parent who is trying to implement screen boundaries and their ex is going against or ignoring those boundaries?

[17:28] What do you think about GPS monitoring on a child’s phone/device?

[19:28] What do you do when a child is addicted to their screen?

[23:52] What do you do when your child is caught looking at porn?

[26:44] “My spouse is addicted to porn. What do I do?”

Listen to Jim’s first episode with Dr. Alice Benton here: Episode 9: Daily Conversations for Screen Management

HomeWord Website: https://homeword.com/

HomeWord Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@homeword

Jim Burns Blog: https://homeword.com/jims-blog/

HomeWord Voice Line: 949-485-3905

Send HomeWord a question: info@homeword.com

Dr. Alice Benton Website: https://dralicebenton.com/

New Life Live: https://newlife.com/broadcasts/

Daily Conversations for Screen Management Course: https://dr-alice-benton-university.teachable.com/p/digital-parenting-daily-conversations

Digital Parenting Conversations Course: https://dralicebenton.com/digitallybalancedparenting

Books:

Understanding and Loving Your Children in a Screen-Saturated World: https://a.co/d/8bO4XzJ

Send us a text