Jim Daly

What U.S. Marines and Christians Have in Common

The United State Marine Corps has launched its latest recruitment campaign and it touts a single theme:

Chaos.

“We’re going to have a chaotic future in front of us,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, “which also portends a potentially busy time for the Marine Corps.”

The campaign was launched after research indicated Millenials, their target, strongly resonate with the idea that the military exists to serve those in need.

“Most people hear the sounds of chaos and run in the opposite direction,” intones the ad’s narrator.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: church, faith, news

Could Manning Be Good For Tim Tebow?

A collective groan went up around the office yesterday when news of Peyton Manning’s anticipated signing with the Denver Broncos was first reported by ESPN. It’s not that the folks around me dislike Peyton Manning, who in addition to being a certain future Hall of Fame quarterback, is also a very good guy.

It’s just that, to quote Sue McFadden, a colleague on my team, “I love my Timmy.” In fact, her Facebook status summed up the sentiments of many, I think:
“I’m allowing myself 24 hours to be pouty over this Peyton Manning thing, then I’ll move on.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture

When Women Do Brave Things

On Saturday, thirty-nine young women, each one representing a year of legalized abortion nationwide since 1973, began a walk of 250 miles in southern Texas. Over the course of the next 19 days they’ll cover the distance between the nation’s largest abortion center in Houston to the courthouse in Dallas where the case of Roe v. Wade was first heard.

The journey is being sponsored by an organization called Back to Life, whose founding mission is to stir America’s conscience to the injustice and tragedy of abortion.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, pro-life

Why Shooting Free Throws Can Teach You About Life

College basketball’s yearly offering of “March Madness” is officially underway. Have you caught any of the action yet?

Many of the games over the next few weeks will be decided at the free-throw line. And although the majority of these shots are made, an uncontested shot from 15 feet away is no “gimme” – unless your name is Bob Fisher.

Mr. Fisher doesn’t play on any team. The Nebraska resident has held the same job with the Department of Agriculture for the past 24 years.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, pop culture

The Two Lies Too Many People Believe

“Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do.

Both are nonsense.

You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”

– Rick Warren

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, homosexuality, pop culture

Are Parents Ruining Youth Sports?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts,father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, parenting

Have Youth Sports Gone Mad?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts, father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting

Possibly the Best Use of a Tattoo

This is not about whether tattoos are a good or bad idea.

Instead, this a true story about a young woman named Debbie whose tattoo has not only saved her life but perhaps even the lives of her small children.

A colleague of mine recently found himself inside a greasy spoon burger joint one late winter afternoon. His waitress at the establishment was efficient and friendly. They struck up easy conversation. When she placed a plate down on the table he noticed a rather distinctive looking tattoo on her forearm.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Don’t Let Your Teen Daughter Do This

According to a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle there is a disturbing trend developing with teenage girls on the internet:

A growing number of tweens and teens, mainly girls, are posting videos on YouTube asking commenters if they’re ugly.

Type ‘Am I ugly?’ or ‘Am I pretty’ into the YouTube search box and dozens of videos pop up, including one of an 11-year-old girl who poses for the camera, twirling her shoulders, smiling big, and pulling her long hair out of a pony tail.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting, pop culture, technology

Miley Cyrus: Forget Jesus?

I certainly don’t follow Miley Cyrus’ tweets, but many kids do, so parents might want to be aware of the latest controversy surrounding the former Disney star and her Twitter account.

According to a story that a colleague sent me, Ms. Cyrus posted a photo on Twitter the other day of Lawrence Krauss, a physicist best known for his belief that there is no God and that the universe came from nothing. Accompanying the photo of the scientist was the following quote from him:

“You are all stardust.