Jim Daly

Bigotry and Marriage

Frank Rich is a long-time columnist for The New York Times. As a former drama critic, he’s no stranger to the stage and certainly knows how to stir the pot. He once referred to the Passion of the Christ film as “a porn movie, replete with slo-mo climaxes and pounding music for the money shots.”

Mr. Rich has been a frequent critic of evangelical Christianity. Focus on the Family has born the brunt of his sharp pen several times, but as an opinion columnist, he gets paid to share his perspective, and that’s part of what makes America great.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: homosexuality, marriage

Life Saving Pizza???

George Linn might very well be alive today because he ordered a pizza.

This past Friday the Lakewood, Colorado man was awaiting delivery of a pie when he suffered a heart attack. His wife, Kami, was about to call 911 when Chris Wuebben, the pizza delivery man, showed up with their order.

Bad timing?

Hardly.

Mr. Wuebben had been a paramedic in Ilinois before moving to Colorado.

While Mrs. Linn called 911, Chris Wuebben administered CPR, stopping the heart attack.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, faith, humor

The Pride of the Yankees

It’s been a tough few days in the Bronx. Although the New York Yankees enjoy one of the most celebrated traditions in all of sports, this week has been anything but traditional for the legendary baseball club.

On Sunday morning, Bob Sheppard, the team’s long-time public address announcer, died. He was 99. Two days later and 12 hours before Major League Baseball’s All-Star game, the team’s former owner, George Steinbrenner, suddenly dropped dead of a heart attack.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, pop culture

Modern Day Miracles

I wrote last time about the media’s obsession with bad and sensational news. Sadly, the headlines are so often dominated by negative developments even though the world is full of beauty, wonder and yes, miracles. So much of life is based upon things unfolding behind the scenes outside our view. Our days, much more than we fully appreciate and acknowledge, are guided and controlled by God’s invisible hand.

In other words, what we see is not all there is.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: adoption, parenting

It’s a Mad, Mad World

Has BP finally plugged the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico? Did a federal judge really just overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act? Is the stock market still on its wild roller coaster ride?

I’m only asking because the news media has appeared obsessed these last few days with only two main subjects:

LeBron James and Lindsay Lohan.

To be clear, I have nothing against either of these individuals.

I’m happy for Mr. James and saddened for Ms.

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

Back in the Saddle Again

It’s been nearly two weeks since my motorcycle accident, and I’m finally back at the office. The left ankle is in a cast and healing, though doctors tell me I’m still twelve weeks away from being able to put any pressure on the foot itself. Despite the pain and the awkwardness of getting around and having to prop the foot up on pillows, it’s good to be on campus again.

As the old saying goes, sometimes a change is better than a rest.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, staff

The Cost of Independence – #1

There is an old saying that suggests a person’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do what he likes.

I think there is wisdom within those words.

America will celebrate her 234th birthday on Sunday with its usual grand and glorious traditions. Don’t you just love all the pomp and pageantry, along with the flags and fireworks that accompany family and community gatherings?

What a day! Thank God for the United States of America.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, religious liberty

Condoms for Kids?

There is news out of Massachusetts this week that the Provincetown School Board has decided to revise their controversial plan to make condoms available to children as young as 5 years of age.

Of course, revising an immoral policy without fully addressing the root cause of the objection can sometimes amount to patching a screen door on a submarine.

As originally drafted, any child in Provincetown schools could have requested a condom and received one without a parent ever knowing of the transaction.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: kids, parenting, policy

Are You Afraid to Die?

As a subject of conversation, death is an uncomfortable topic. Should it be?

Some of us are more intimately familiar with it than others, but it’s ultimately a reality that touches everyone. Having just survived a harrowing motorcycle accident and been spared serious injury, I’m sure you can appreciate the fact that this topic is on my mind.

In that context, let me take you back to something written by John Donne (1572-1631). Donne was both an English preacher and a prolific writer who lived at a time when church bells would regularly peal out across cities as part of funeral proceedings.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

I Crashed My Motorcycle

I’ll admit it, I’ve had better days.

I crashed and flipped my motorcycle two days ago while riding with some friends on the west side of Monarch Summit. We were up near Gunnison, Colorado enjoying the trip when my world turned upsidedown—literally. In the process, I shattered and dislocated my left ankle and tore several ligaments.

Friday morning, the day after the spill, Jean and the boys asked me how I felt. “Like I just played in a game of tackle football,” I told them.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: events, staff