Jim Daly

Bill Hybels’ Most Expensive Turkey

Have you noticed that most adults share a curious trait?

We can turn almost anything into something gravely serious. It’s no wonder stress-related illnesses have become so prevalent. That’s why it’s good to remind ourselves regularly to take a deep breath, relax, and laugh at ourselves.

Well-known pastor Bill Hybels can teach us a little something about that. He’s passionate about his work and calling, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. He even proves it from time to time by inviting others to laugh along with him.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: humor

President Obama’s Prayer Proclamation 2013

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, 2013
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Americans have long turned to prayer both in times of joy and times of sorrow. On their voyage to the New World, the earliest settlers prayed that they would “rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work.” From that day forward, Americans have prayed as a means of uniting, guiding, and healing.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, policy, religious liberty

From Boston to Aurora to Sandy Hook, a Problem that Has a Name: Sin

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The headlines have been gruesome and the facts behind the stories are difficult to even read. We recoil at the horrors that seem to be present at every turn these days. The Boston Marathon bombings, the agonizing trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell, the shootings at Sandy Hook and the Aurora theater come readily to mind.

Sadly, this road of national tragedy is growing increasingly familiar.

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

A Great Commercial – Especially for Those with Daughters

Have you seen this commercial produced by Dove?

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How does this strike you?

Do you see yourself as other see you?

More importantly, how does God see you?

My friend Graham Baird is a pastor here in town. In a sermon he recently preached using this video as an illustration, he noted that we tend to under-rate our beautiful qualities and over-rate the things that don’t matter.

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

This Photo is Worth More Than a Thousand Words

Did you catch the dedication of the Bush Library yesterday?

The NBC News Facebook page ran this photo along with the following caption:

For the first time since the 2006 funeral of Gerald Ford all the nation’s former living presidents came together with the current commander in chief to honor one of their own Thursday at the Bush Library dedication.

To be sure, these five men represent very different views and ideologies. As evangelical Christians, we’ve applauded some of the things they’ve done and decried others.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: news, policy

Would You Save a Murderer?

What does grace look like to you?

Grace often shines brightest when the circumstances surrounding it are at their darkest. It’s a person forgiving their spouse the betrayal of their infidelity. It’s extending love to someone who has spewed harsh words and hatred at you. In certain cases, it’s the skilled hands of a doctor rescuing the life of a murderer.

I was struck by that exact imagery recently in the hours following the manhunt of the young man accused of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, news

The Solution to the Gun Debate

Let me be candid.

I’m not a gun enthusiast. It wasn’t part of my heritage or upbringing. Even though I know how to use various firearms now, I’m still something of an amateur on the subject.

Even so, I feel the need to comment on the discussions in Washington and throughout the media recently calling for increased gun control legislation.

From my viewpoint, attention is being focused in the wrong direction.

I don’t claim to be an expert on the specifics of the gun control debate.

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

The Secret to Easier Family Meals

Do you ever get into a “chicken rut?”

That’s how a colleague of mine described her cooking routine – a repeated use of chicken in the kitchen, night after night, much like the myriad of ways the character “Bubba” in Forrest Gump cooked shrimp.

It’s understandable to find yourself in a cooking rut. Families are busy. It’s tough to find time for meal planning, grocery list building and recipe finding when parents also have to take kids to soccer practice and youth group as well as help with the night’s homework.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: parenting, promos

Looking for a Good Movie to Watch?

If you’re looking for a film to watch in the theater, I’d like to suggest the award-winning movie “Not Today,” currently out in theaters.

Powerfully moving, “Not Today” highlights the real problem of human trafficking taking place in India through the eyes of Caden, a rich American 20-year-old young man, who travels to India with friends. While there, he a meets a father forced to sell his young daughter, Annika. The movie chronicles how Caden and the father team up to rescue Annika.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, parenting, pop culture, pro-life

My Conversation with Kirsten Powers

I mentioned last Friday how Kirsten Powers (pictured left), a regular contributor to FOX News and a highly respected journalist, had the nerve to write a column in USA Today detailing the horrific case of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.His trial, which is now in its fifth week, had, up until that point, earned surprisingly little attention from the mainstream news media, despite the fact that the details of the case are so shocking and so horrifying that they deserve to be a major national news story.

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