Jim Daly

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?

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

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

How Not to Get a Job

A colleague recently came across a funny website I thought you’d enjoy. It listed some hilarious mistakes people made on their résumés. Here are a few highlights:

“Skills: Strong work ethic, attention to detail, team player, self-motivated, attention to detail.”

“I have a demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.”

“Graduated in 1882.”

“Took a career break to renovate my horse.”

“My work ethics are impeachable.”

“I consistently tanked as top sales producer for new accounts.”

“Dear sir or madman…”

“Skills: I can type without lokng at thekeyboard.”

“Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.”

One woman sent in her résumé and cover letter without deleting a friend’s edits, including such comments as, “I don’t think you want to say this about yourself here.”

The whole job interview process can be stressful, can’t it?

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: humor

A Great New Book

Brad Lomenick is a good friend of mine and he just released a new book this week. It’s titled THE CATALYST LEADER.

In the book Brad shares eight essentials for becoming a change maker – a leader who has the potential to dramatically impact the world for the sake of the Kingdom. I highly recommend this book to those who are passionate about the calling God has placed on their lives.

To give you a better sense of Brad and the book, here are two questions recently posed to him:

Q: What is the Catalyst Leader about?

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: church, faith