Jim Daly

Priceless Memories

I was scheduled to be in Ireland for several days of meetings last week. I packed, kissed the family goodbye, tossed my bags in the trunk, and headed to Denver – alone. While I enjoy traveling and working with our partners around the world, I sure miss my family. Upon arriving at the Denver International Airport, I was in for a surprise. The United Airlines representative informed me that my flight was delayed.

Translation: I’d miss my connection to London and, in turn, wouldn’t make it to Ireland in time for several key meetings.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

Karate-Chopping Mom

If there’s one resource that my mother could have used, it would have been Dr. Dobson’s book Parenting Isn’t For Cowards. After all, as a child there were times when I was quite the handful. Case in point.

As a six year old, I tagged along with my mom whenever she went grocery shopping. You see, I always got to pick out a toy. If I didn’t get one, I’d throw a full-body tantrum – the kind of fit that turned the heads of other moms.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, parenting

A Father’s Heart

Life is short. It’s longer for some, shorter for others.

Even to live to be 120, in the grand scheme of things – specifically, in view of eternity – life is still short. Which is probably why Moses prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” None of us knows how long we have to live. Moses knew that making the most of our moments on earth comes from gaining God’s perspective on what’s really important.

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

Arresting News

I came across a news story several months back that I’ve been meaning to comment on. Here’s The New York Post headline that originally caught my eye: Arrests Soar For Young & Ruthless. In their report the Post documented an alarming trend in crimes committed by youth in New York City. No question, the facts are disturbing: 52,936 youth (ages 13-18) had been arrested during 2006. Don’t rush too quickly past that figure.

That’s more than half the population of Albany, the state’s capital.

Continue ReadingTopics: Current Events Tags: family, kids, parenting

Chicken and the Egg

Let me tell you about an unusual conversation I had the other day. I was speaking with a friend who had left behind a thriving career in order to gain some much needed perspective on his life and family. During his season of reflection he wanted to do something radical. Much to his wife’s surprise – and his children’s glee – he set out to pursue his childhood dream of raising chickens.

Chickens? Rhode Island Reds to be exact.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith

Go for the Gold

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? If you’re like many, you might have purchased a treadmill with an eye on walking more this year. Perhaps it was a membership at the YMCA or a health club, the purchase of a stationary bicycle, or simply buying a new pair of walking shoes to encourage a regular cardiovascular routine.

Perhaps you cut up the credit cards in an effort to dig yourself out of debt.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, family

The Applause of Heaven

The battle over who gets to compete for the coveted Super Bowl XLII ring comes down to how the Patriots, the Packers, the Chargers, and the Giants perform in the final playoff round. Personally, I had been pulling for the Colts to do a repeat performance of last season. After all, head coach Tony Dungy is such a class act, both on and off the field. He’s one of the best role models to come along in a long time.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, pop culture

God Still Changes Lives

If there’s one thing that I can almost guarantee in 2008, it’s that you and I will encounter struggles in our marriage or family life. This is, after all, a fallen world. Things break. Relationships become strained. Misunderstandings happen. Sickness happens. Life gets messy. Even Jesus as He walked on this earth refused to sugar coat reality. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, relationships

Garden Variety Marriage

Happy New Years!

If you live in New Jersey, and if you believe marriage should remain the union between one man and one woman, I’ve got great news for you. Come to think of it, this victory is good news regardless of where you live. After all, what happens in one state ultimately impacts the rest of us. Here’s what happened.

A number of heavily funded groups in the Garden State with a radical agenda have been working behind the scenes to redefine marriage to include same-sex partners.

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

Name That Christmas Carol – #1

Here’s a fun group activity a friend sent to me that you might enjoy using with the family over the Christmas holiday. The goal is to see who can identify the real song title from this list of twenty-one hints. You could divide the guests or family members into two teams or simply make it every person for him or her self. Maybe sweeten the pot with a White Elephant gift for the person or team who gets the most correct answers.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, technology