Jim Daly

Why Did This Photo Go Viral?

It’s a photo so touching it’s been shared tens of thousands of times since it was first posted on Facebook this Memorial Day weekend.

The picture shows U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Earwood praying with his bride-to-be, Maggie, moments before the wedding ceremony. The pair are holding hands around a corner to avoid seeing each other before Maggie walks down the aisle. Caleb stands in full dress uniform, praying, while Maggie is visibly emotional.

“We were about to take our first steps in life together, and we didn’t want to take a step without it being in God’s will,” said 21-year-old Caleb.

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

How a World War II Helmet Brought a Father and Son Together

Bill Mansfield was a military man. He served at the tail end of World War II, then in Korea and Vietnam. Like so many servicemen of his generation, he witnessed firsthand the horrors of war. Men around him died, and every day in battle brought new fear that he wouldn’t survive either.

That kind of trauma hardens a man.

After each deployment, Bill came home with a few more rough edges than when he’d first shipped out.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, family

The History of Memorial Day

It can be easy to think of Memorial Day simply as the unofficial start of summer or a family day filled with ice cream and barbecue.

Those aren’t bad things. However, it’s good for us to remember – and teach our children – that Memorial Day is so much more than a day of fun. It’s a day of remembrance.

I will leave you with a video sharing some of the history of this important day.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events

The Boy Scouts, Game of Thrones, and a Warning from Canada

A news summary on issues that matter.

Boy Scouts’ President Calls for End to Ban on Homosexual Leaders

When the Boy Scouts began allowing openly homosexual members in 2013 we warned the change would inevitably and eventually lead to the acceptance of homosexual leaders.

Sadly, this prediction has come true.

Yesterday, Robert M. Gates, president of the Boy Scouts of America, officially called for the group to end its ban on homosexual Scout leaders. Speaking at the organization’s national meeting, Mr.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: marriage, news, policy, pop culture, pro-life

Loneliness is a Strategy Against Our Souls

There may be no greater irony in our society than this.

Technology we could hardly have dreamed of thirty years ago is now at our fingertips. We can connect with almost anyone anywhere in the world within seconds in a dozen different ways – from the traditional phone call to email to social media to texting.

And, yet, more and more of us admit to feeling lonely.

How is that possible?

Maybe it’s because the “connection” we all believe we have is really an illusion.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: broadcast, faith, relationships

Did You Hear What Happened Inside a Waffle House?

At only 5 years old, Josiah Duncan is teaching the country what it means to show love and compassion.

It all started when the Alabama boy and his mom, Ava Faulk, encountered a man outside a local Waffle House, news outlets report. Josiah didn’t understand why the man wasn’t clean. It turns out little Josiah had never heard of homelessness.

He had a lot of questions – but most of all, he was troubled that the man looked hungry.

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

Helping Your Husband Overcome Sexual Abuse

Several weeks back I shared a few thoughts relating to a two-day broadcast we were airing. It was about the sexual abuse many women suffer in childhood, and the pain that follows them into adulthood.

But sexual abuse isn’t a trauma only girls face. It’s also common to boys as well — and it’s terrible for every victim.

Boys are told they shouldn’t cry. Men are supposed to be tough. They’re strong; they’re conquerors. But what do those messages imply to a boy when he has been overpowered and victimized?

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, husband, intimacy, marriage

How a Young Woman Talked About Jesus in a Public School

I want to share some encouraging reports from this year’s Day of Dialogue free speech event.

When I originally blogged about the April 16th event giving Christian students a chance to share a hope-filled perspective on issues like marriage, sexuality and gender-identity issues, I told you we were expecting 18,000 young men and women would participate.

In reality, an estimated 25,000 students took the initiative to lead Day of Dialogue events in schools across the nation.

Continue ReadingTopics: Focus Events Tags: faith, kids, news, parenting, religious liberty

The Abortion Worker Who Became a Friend

Let me ask you a question. How do you think Christians should engage a culture that often stands in direct opposition to God’s truth?

There are likely as many different answers to that question as there are people to respond to it. In my view, that says a lot about the creativity and passion of the Christian community.

But, however we strive to influence the culture, I hope there’s one underlying value that guides all we do and say: Jesus offers salvation to everyone.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, kids, pro-life

The Secret to Connecting with Your Spouse for a Lifetime

Let me ask you this: Which part of your marriage relationship do you believe will develop the deepest intimacy?

Here are your choices:

Sexuality
Emotions
Spiritual connection

They each have their place, of course, but all things considered, spiritual connection with our spouse will create a deeper, more meaningful connection than the other two areas.

Here’s why: The benefits of spiritual intimacy naturally spill over into the other two areas. A spiritually connected couple will tend to have deeper emotional and sexual connection with one another.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage