In 2007, I took up a new hobby: crusing the countryside on a rented Harley. That foray into Harley riding and leather duds has turned into an annual gathering of guys. Last year ten of us hit the trail to Vail. About a week ago, five of us took off for Estes Park. This time out, retired Major Leaguers Dave Dravecky (Padres, Giants), Frank Pastore (Reds, Twins), Tim Burke (Expos, Mets, Yankees), joined Mark Stapleton, a businessman from Nevada, and myself for a ride to remember.
More Families Like the Obamas
Several months ago, during the news conference at which Dr. Dobson announced he was stepping down as Chairman of the Board of Focus on the Family, the media were on hand in full force. I was there to support him in that watershed moment. After Dr. Dobson was finished with his remarks, I had a few minutes to speak with the reporters who had come to our campus.
The first question I received was this: ”How does this move change the future of Focus?” I said that the media is often critical over our efforts in the public square which can, at times, overshadow our core mission, namely, strengthening marriage and families.
I’ll Make a Note of It
The other day there was an issue that required parental attention in the Daly household. Trent was upset that he had been disciplined. I can’t remember whether the offense warranted a spanking or a timeout. Either way, Trent’s reaction was to run to his room and plop down into his soft, oversized-bean bag chair.
One of the things Jean and I try to do after we discipline the boys is to reaffirm our love for them.
Dinner: the Antidote for Risky Behavior
Ken Windebank, a colleague of mine, likes to ask a question of people, and I have begun to do it myself. The question is simple, “What’s one thing you did well as a parent?” The other day, for instance, I was meeting with a very successful financial manager in Southern California. I’ll call him Gary. I asked Gary that question and, after a brief pause, he said, “The best thing we did was to have dinner together as a family every night.”
Eating dinner together?
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
A surprising number of business owners I’ve spoken with over the last several months are shaken by the state of the economy. They’ve been candid about the difficult predicament this tight economy has put them in. Many are concerned about having to cut the size of their staff in order to stay financially viable. Others are painfully aware they’re about to lose their family business and, with it, their entire life savings if sales don’t improve.
God Speaks Through Little Kids Books
Sometimes God has to use simple words to get through to me. Case in point.
One of the things I like to do after dinner is to engage the family in a brief time of devotions. Given the age of our boys, we’re reading from a children’s picture story version of the Bible. The other day I was reading the story of King Saul, David, and Goliath. Keep in mind that the editors of the children’s Bible condensed the whole 58-verse saga down to about eight illustrated pages with maybe six words on each page.
My First Commencement Address
I don’t know about you, but God seems to find new ways to stretch me. My latest stretching moment occurred earlier this month. The Honorable Bill Armstrong, former Senator from Colorado and now the president of Colorado Christian University (CCU), invited me to give the commencement address for the graduating class of 2009. Me? I had never done that type of thing before. Weren’t there more qualified people to do the job?
Talk about being outside of my comfort zone.
Thanks, Coach!
The official start to the football season is several months away, but I’ve got football on my mind probably because I just had the privilege of spending some time with Jim Zorn, NFL head coach of the Washington Redskins. Jim was hired by the Redskins franchise shortly after legendary head coach Joe Gibbs retired in January of 2008. Jim’s been a long time friend of Focus on the Family and, I might add, his daughter graduated from our Focus on the Family Institute.
Breakfast of Champions
Last week I traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in an Alliance Defense Fund breakfast held in honor of former Attorney General Edwin Meese. He’s one of those rare men with a long record of distinguished service to our country and a man I admire. Ed Meese served as President Ronald Reagan’s chief policy adviser and currently works at The Heritage Foundation.
Of his numerous accomplishments, General Meese has been—and continues to be—a champion of “originalism”; he believes the Constitution should be interpreted in light of the “original intent” of our Founding Fathers rather than what an activist judge might want it to mean.
The Smile I Carry With Me
I know this is a tad early, but here’s a reflection with Father’s Day around the corner. As I said in my first book, Finding Home, life is wonderful . . . and life is hard. Having moved 23 times as a kid, I’ve experienced my share of both and prefer the good stuff this journey has to offer. Especially considering the train wreck that was characteristic of my childhood. My family put the “D” into Dysfunction.
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