Stories of the Heart and Home

March 2001

Dear Friends,

I have a new book to share with you this month. It is titled Stories of the Heart and Home by Word Publishing, and was written by yours truly. The book offers a compilation of illustrations, stories and humorous incidents that were originally included in my writings and speeches through the years. Now they have been assembled together under this one cover.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading some of these stories about families, faith and friendship. Then perhaps you will write and share your own experiences with me. Here we go:

YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN

It occurred in 1945, shortly after the end of the Second World War. A young associate pastor named Cliff and his fiancée, Billie, were anxious to get married, even though they had very little money. They managed to scrape together enough funds for a simple wedding and two train tickets to a city where he had been asked to hold a revival with a friend. By combining this responsibility with their honeymoon, they thought they could make it. They planned to stay at a nearby resort hotel.

PUPPY LOVE

It began at 11:00 one morning when I was in the seventh grade. I was sitting in my school classroom when a boy near me motioned toward the door. I looked in that direction and saw my father beckoning me to come outside. He said we were going home and that I would not be returning to school that day. He didn’t explain why. As we walked to the car, I knew that my dad must have something awful to tell me.

CALLING ROBERT’S BLUFF

In the absence of parental leadership, some children become extremely obnoxious and defiant, especially in public places. Perhaps the best example was a 10-year-old boy named Robert, who was a patient of my good friend Dr. William Slonecker. Dr. Slonecker and his pediatric staff dreaded the days when Robert was scheduled for an office visit. He literally attacked the clinic.

THE LOST MARBLE

When I was a boy, I heard a mystery program on the radio that captured my imagination. It told the story of a man who was condemned to solitary confinement in a pitch-black cell. The only thing he had to occupy his mind was a marble.

NO COINCIDENCE

I recall today that tragic time in 1987 when my four friends were killed in a private plane crash. We had been together the night before, and I had prayed for their safety on the journey home. They took off early the next morning on their way to Dallas but never made it.

STAY AWAY FROM PINK CHAMPAGNE

The best honeymoon story I’ve heard came from some friends close to Shirley and me. After a fancy wedding, they drove to a local hotel and checked into the bridal suite. The new husband glided into the bathroom to freshen up, and his wife awaited his grand entrance. During that interlude, she noticed a large bottle of champagne had been delivered to their room, compliments of the hotel.

A MAN OF HONOR

There is, perhaps no better illustration of the commitment to principle and honor than is seen in a letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou of the Union army. He penned it to his wife, Sarah, on July 14, 1861, one week before the Battle of Bull Run.

A FATHER’S FINAL PRAYER

In August 1977, my wife and children joined me for a trip to Kansas City, Missouri, for a short visit with my parents. We enjoyed several days of family togetherness before it was time to leave. As we drove to the airport where we said goodbye, I asked my father to pray for us. I will never forget his words.

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Well, that’s it for my March letter. You can get a copy of Stories of the Heart and Home by visiting our online bookstore. I think it is a fun and inspirational book—just right for a friend or acquaintance who might need something to read.

I appreciate the privilege of coming into your home each month, rather like a friend dropping by for a visit. May I ask you, in return, to come see us here in Colorado Springs? Our Welcome Center has been enlarged, giving us one of the finest Christian bookstores in the country. It is four times the size of the original. The Odyssey Center has also been expanded to accommodate the large number of children who love coming here to see "Mr. Whittaker" and their other favorite Odyssey characters. There is a place for kids to perform on stage, and a studio where they can record their own voices to be inserted in Odyssey programs. Then there is the main attraction: a twisting, turning, three-story slide that will make your children walk funny for two or three days.

The ever popular Welcome Center is just one good reason for coming to visit Focus on the Family. There are many more. Nearly 200,000 people have joined us for tours of the ministry in the past year. And of course, Colorado Springs is a great city to visit, with the Air Force Academy, Pikes Peak and many exciting things to see and do. So pack up your kids and come on down this summer. Diane Ingolia and her team of tour guides will treat you like royalty.

Thanks to each of you who contributed to Focus these past several months. There was a moment in December when I wasn’t sure we would have the funds to continue the work we have been doing, but now I believe we will be able to make it. Your continued support and prayers mean so much to all of us. If you have a need or a problem you’d like to share with us, please do call, write a letter or send a fax. In fact, we need to hear from you. What you think is important to us.

Greetings to you all from the entire staff.

Your friend in Christ,

James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
President