Jim Daly

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

Ronald Reagan on Fatherhood

What does fatherhood mean today in America?

I guess the same as it always has.

Fatherhood can sometimes be walking the floor at midnight with a baby that can’t sleep. More likely, fatherhood is repairing a bicycle wheel for the umpteenth time, knowing that it won’t last the afternoon. Fatherhood is guiding a youth through the wilderness of adolescence toward adulthood.

Fatherhood is holding tight when all seems to be falling apart; and it’s letting go when it is time to part.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, husband

Does it Matter How You Dress for Church?

Does it matter what we wear to church?!

A colleague broached this question a few days ago and it reminded me of my early days as a Christian, back at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California.

By the time I accepted Christ in high school the “hippie” movement was in full swing, as was the “Jesus movement” – a dynamic uprising of young Christians whose style and manner of worship was pretty unconventional, at least compared with that of the prior generation.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: church, husband, pop culture, wife

Five Things Every Great Leader Has in Common

It’s easy to find fault in others, to look out at the culture and identify individuals who, though in positions of great influence and responsibility, fail miserably as leaders. We see it in politicians who are more driven by popularity than by principle, who will seemingly do anything to remain in power. We see it in executives who preserve their own pensions at the expense of shareholders. We see it in the home, where mothers and fathers whittle away their precious few years of influence with their children.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: friendship, relationships