Jim Daly

Five Things This Hero Taught Us About Fighting Evil

Nellie Grey, “the mother of the March for Life” each year in Washington, D.C., has died. She was 88.

Miss Nell devoted the last 39 years of her life to overturning the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision that legalized abortion. That Roe still lives on in law and Nellie Grey is dead will cause some critics and cynics to suggest she failed in her greatest pursuit.

Don’t believe it.

The story of Miss Grey’s life is a tremendous testimony to the power and significance of a single soul consumed by a magnificent obsession.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, family, policy, pro-life

Two of My Favorite Quotes

“So let the reader who expects this book to be a political exposé slam its covers shut right now. If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”

– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago

“When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, policy

Did You Know Tim Keller Does This?

About nine years ago Kathy and I were contemplating the fact that we had largely failed to pray together over the years. Then Kathy exhorted me like this:

“What if our doctor told us that we had a serious heart condition that in the past was always fatal. However, now there was a pill which, if we took it every night, would keep us alive for years and years. But you could never miss a single night, or you would die.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, marriage

What You Won’t Hear at the Olympics

Next to the actual moment of victory, one of the most inspiring scenes at any Olympics has to be the sight of a gold-medal athlete on the winner’s podium, watching and often singing their nation’s anthem as the flag of their respective country is hoisted high in celebration.

Only the instrumental score of each song is played, so unless you’re familiar with the lyrics or can read lips, you wouldn’t know what was actually being sung.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, pop culture

Dear Stay-at-Home Mom

You’ll never convince me that anybody works harder than a mother. Parenting is a joy-filled experience, of course, but it also requires a tremendous amount of effort. The legendary writer, John Steinbeck, once put it quite succinctly. “It takes courage,” he wrote, “to raise children.”

On the lighter side, the comedian Bill Cosby has always been deft at reminding us to not take ourselves too seriously. “No matter how calmly you try to referee,” he once said, “parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, kids, parenting

Ten Easy Ways to Express Appreciation to Almost Anyone

From Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace:

Give a verbal compliment (Say, “Thanks for…”; tell them, “I’m glad you are part of the team”).

Write an email (“I just wanted to let you know…”; “it is really helpful to me when you…”).

Stop by and see how your colleague is doing. Spend a few minutes just chatting and checking in on them.

Do something with your coworkers, like eating together.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: friendship, relationships, staff

The Recipe for American Renewal

Charles J. Chaput is the Catholic Archbishop of Philadelphia. He is also a friend of mine. We first became acquainted during his tenure at the Denver archdiocese. The Archbishop is among the most eloquent advocates for the biblical principles and values we share. I greatly appreciate the courage and boldness with which he speaks.

This past Sunday he gave an extended address on how to build a culture of religious freedom in America. He sees what we see – that little by little our liberties are being eroded by legislators and judges.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, policy, pop culture

What One Mom Has Learned from the Olympics

The London Games continue to serve up hours and hours of spirited fun for millions around the world. For parents, the Olympics also provide all kinds of “teachable moments” for our kids, from talking about the dedication required in training to how to handle disappointment when a medal is just beyond reach.

For one mom, the delayed broadcast of the Games has also served to give her some much needed perspective. Christy Cabe is a talented writer who chronicles life with a mother’s heart because, well, she’s a happy mom who is busily raising three young children.

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

Tell Me About Your Time at Chick-fil-A Yesterday

As most of you know, yesterday was “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” organized by our friend, former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee. Because they’re a privately owned corporation, Chick-fil-A isn’t expected to release sales figures from yesterday’s events, but from what I’ve seen and heard, it was a record-setting day for the organization.

Don’t you like it when good folks do well?

I visited one of the Chick-fil-A restaurants near Focus yesterday morning and bought 20 sandwiches for some members of my team.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: family, marriage, policy

What You Might Not Know About Olympian Missy Franklin

Missy Franklin has good timing – no pun intended.

At a moment when the country is hungry for some good news, for a hero to root for and an uplifting story about a star who will make you smile, the 17-year-old Coloradoan’s performance at the Summer Olympics seems to be just what the doctor ordered.

Have you been watching the games?

The family and I have been following the Olympics each night, especially the swimming, and we’re really getting into it.