Family and Home Archives

One of the Most Influential People You’ve Never Heard Of

At some point in our lives, most of us have wanted to achieve greatness and make a difference in the world. We dream about it as kids, and it’s a popular theme at almost every high school and college graduation.

But for every Billy Graham, William Shakespeare, or Abraham Lincoln, you need a Max Talmey.

My guess is Max Talmey (pictured left) isn’t a name you’re familiar with. Consider yourself in the majority. Most people don’t know he was an ophthalmologist and scientist in the early nineteen hundreds.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: news January 24, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

These are the Heroes of Today

My colleagues and I were talking about heroes yesterday afternoon, about the positive impact a courageous and principled figure can make in the life of another person, especially a child.

As we chatted the sun was slipping behind the mountains, bathing my westward facing office in a warm, golden glow. Is that a fitting metaphor, that amid all the sordid news of culture, the heroic figure is like the fading light of a long day?

One surely hopes not.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, pro-life January 23, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Remember the Unborn

Janurary 22, 1973 – January 22, 2013

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life January 22, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Missing Piece in the Gun Debate

Do you ever get the sense that fewer and fewer people are willing to address the root cause of big problems?

Take for example the fiscal state of America. Instead of cutting spending and tackling the crippling national debt, lawmakers raise taxes.

When it comes to education and struggling schools, rather than examining the curriculum or expanding parental choice, the immediate response is usually a call to increase the school district’s budget.

Abortion or sexually transmitted disease rates rise – and there’s a chorus of individuals championing the free distribution of condoms in public schools.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, news, policy January 18, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Short Video About Life, Love and the Gospel

Have you seen this new video from Cru?

I welcome your thoughts. Please pass this on, won’t you?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, family January 17, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Five Best Movies for Kids

Parents in search of reliable analysis of entertainment, especially movies and television intended for children, will find no better friends than our terrific team at Plugged In. And since Oscar season is here, they’ve decided to offer their own nominations for best films of the year.

Today, I’d like to share their list of the top five cinematic productions for the youngsters in your family.

BEST MOVIES FOR KIDS*

*Since the word kids is a pretty broad descriptor, we’ll give some context here: Generally speaking, we’re looking at middle school- and elementary-age children, but we’re also aware that different kids have different sensitivities.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, family January 16, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Before You Say You’re Not Qualified…

I recently came across this and wanted to share it with you:

NOAH got drunk.

ABRAHAM was too old.

ISAAC was a daydreamer.

JACOB lied.

LEAH was ugly.

JOSEPH was abused.

MOSES was a murderer and couldn’t talk.

GIDEON was afraid.

SAMSON had long hair and was afraid.

RAHAB was a prostitute.

JEREMIAH and TIMOTHY were too young.

DAVID was a murderer and adulterer.

ELIJAH was suicidal.

ISAIAH preached naked.

JONAH ran from God.

NAOMI was a widow.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: church, friendship, relationships January 14, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Life Lesson from the ‘Dancing Guy’ Video

Have you seen the “Dancing Guy” video making its way around the Internet?

As you’ll see below, it shows one person performing a bizarre dance at an outdoor concert. Initially, he’s just out there all by himself and he looks odd and out of place. But then, one person joins him. Before long, that first person’s willingness to join in draws a second person, then a third. And in a matter of minutes, what was once a lone dancer becomes dozens.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, pop culture January 10, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

A Story of Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan

At the time Dr. Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan first met in 1953, both men were rising stars, one in the pulpit and the other in a pseudo-political role.

Mr. Reagan was on the verge of signing a lucrative deal as a corporate spokesman for General Electric, a move that would not only earn him a good living but also put him in everyone’s living room for the next eight years.

Still, Dr. Graham’s future appeared even brighter.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, news, pop culture, religious liberty January 8, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did You See This Magazine Cover?

The January 14th edition of Time Magazine featured a startling admission.

Did you see it? Here’s the image:

The writer of the feature, Kate Pickert, suggests that abortion is losing ground in America because pro-life legislation has made it less accessible. I believe she’s partly correct. After years and years of toiling away at the task of defending the sanctity of life, the remarkable and heroic efforts of dedicated pro-lifers are bearing fruit each and every day throughout this country.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: pop culture, pro-life January 7, 2013 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura