Jim Daly

Are Parents Ruining Youth Sports?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts,father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Some are suggesting that since all of this took place at the Holy Name School as part of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) sports program that it’s something of a black eye on the faith-based community.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, news, parenting

Have Youth Sports Gone Mad?

This is taking “March Madness” too far.

Springfield, Massachusetts, father Timothy Lee Forbes was arrested this past Friday night for allegedly assaulting the winning coach in a sixth-grade championship basketball game. His son was on the losing team and apparently managed the loss with a greater degree of self-control than his dad, who actually bit off part of the victorious coach’s ear.

As Dave Barry would say, “No, I’m not making this up.”

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: kids, parenting

Possibly the Best Use of a Tattoo

This is not about whether tattoos are a good or bad idea.

Instead, this a true story about a young woman named Debbie whose tattoo has not only saved her life but perhaps even the lives of her small children.

A colleague of mine recently found himself inside a greasy spoon burger joint one late winter afternoon. His waitress at the establishment was efficient and friendly. They struck up easy conversation. When she placed a plate down on the table he noticed a rather distinctive looking tattoo on her forearm.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Don’t Let Your Teen Daughter Do This

According to a recent story in the San Francisco Chronicle there is a disturbing trend developing with teenage girls on the internet:

A growing number of tweens and teens, mainly girls, are posting videos on YouTube asking commenters if they’re ugly.

Type ‘Am I ugly?’ or ‘Am I pretty’ into the YouTube search box and dozens of videos pop up, including one of an 11-year-old girl who poses for the camera, twirling her shoulders, smiling big, and pulling her long hair out of a pony tail.

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

Miley Cyrus: Forget Jesus?

I certainly don’t follow Miley Cyrus’ tweets, but many kids do, so parents might want to be aware of the latest controversy surrounding the former Disney star and her Twitter account.

According to a story that a colleague sent me, Ms. Cyrus posted a photo on Twitter the other day of Lawrence Krauss, a physicist best known for his belief that there is no God and that the universe came from nothing. Accompanying the photo of the scientist was the following quote from him:

“You are all stardust.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: faith, pop culture

Guest Voice: Christians are Hypocrites

Focus on the Family’s Esther Fleece was recently identified by CNN’s Belief Blog as one of the “Five Women to Watch in Religion.” Here she reflects on the television program, GCB:

_______________________________

ABC aired a new program last night, GCB, based on the book, Good Christian B*tches. Apparently ABC’s attempt at being relevant and cutting edge involves a not-so-subtle reference at an insulting profanity aimed at Christian women.

Well, gee, thanks, ABC.

I find that reference especially out of place given where we are at as a nation, though.

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

Why Does Some Music Make You Cry?

There are few people who know less about music than me, but a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about music and emotion grabbed my attention.

The piece attempted to answer an interesting question:

Why is some music more likely to make people cry?

Is it a matter of nostalgia, a tune tied to a specific time or event in our lives? Or is it the strength, power and message within the song’s lyrics?

Not according to some experts.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, pop culture

Why Super Tuesday Matters to You

Four presidential candidates will compete for 419 delegates scattered throughout ten separate states today, the greatest concentration of votes in any single day on the primary campaign’s calendar.

Historically, a big win for any one candidate is likely to propel them to their party’s nomination. A string of losses usually leads to a dropout and a one-way ticket home.

In other words, it’s a make or break kind-of-day. On the fate of Super Tuesday (potentially) rests the future of the nation’s next president.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: policy, pop culture

You Don’t Often See a Headline Like This

The devastation spawned by the 74 tornadoes in 10 states over several days last week is nearly impossible to fathom.

It just doesn’t compute.

We read of the numbers killed (39) and wince and wonder why. We cringe at the images of destruction and want to cry, especially when we realize that behind every number lost is a name and an entire world forever changed for those left behind.

I’m especially thinking of the Babcock family.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, news

The Best Things in Life

There are many kinds of success in life worth having. It is exceedingly interesting and attractive to be a successful business man, or railroad man, or farmer, or a successful lawyer or doctor; or a writer, or a President, or a ranchman, or the colonel of a fighting regiment, or to kill grizzly bears and lions.

But for unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly makes all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids