faith Archives

The Ideal Age to Marry

I first met Jean Stephens in the summer of 1985 at a wedding in California. People often say that weddings are great places to meet people (for good reason!), but at the time I wasn’t interested in finding a girlfriend. It would be nine months before our first date, but we were married in August of 1986.

I was 25 years old.

According to the social science research, is that a good age to marry? It was for me – but how about the population at-large?

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, marriage March 1, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Praying For What You Have

Dr. E. Stanley Jones was a 20th century Methodist Christian missionary. A prolific author, he spent a considerable amount of his life in India laboring to spread the good news of the Gospel. He was a bold man whose actions earned him the nickname, “The Billy Graham of India.”

In one of his many books, Dr. Jones made a powerful observation regarding contentment.

“I don’t know of a thing that I want that I haven’t got,” he wrote.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith February 25, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Should Boys Wrestle Girls?

This is a story about three people: a 16-year-old boy named Joel Northrup, a 14-year-old girl named Cassy Herkleman and popular ESPN columnist, Rick Reilly.

For context, Joel and Cassy are high school wrestlers from Iowa; Rick is a talented and often humorous sportswriter, prone to zany antics. (He was so certain our Colorado Rockies wouldn’t make the playoffs in 2009 that he threatened to lick Denver’s Capitol dome if they did. They did – and he did.)

That said, this story is really more about the distinctives surrounding gender than it is about these three individuals – or wrestling itself.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pop culture February 23, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

Writing in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, John R. Miller, a former U.S. Ambassador, reminded readers of some history behind President’s Day:

In 1968, the public-employee unions, seeking a three-day weekend, convinced Congress to move the commemoration of Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February. This eventually led to what we now call President’s Day, which marks the birthday of not only Washington but of Lincoln and all the other presidents. By celebrating every birthday, we effectively celebrate none.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: events, faith, staff February 21, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Your Sense of Humor

Don’t you find it interesting that babies laugh before they talk?

Everybody likes to laugh. In fact, it’s a healthy habit. “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” wrote Solomon, “but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22).

Good parents and healthy children tend to see the humor in life.

Several months ago we received a letter from a young boy. I figured he wanted some advice on how to help his sibling break a bad habit.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, humor February 17, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Least Favorite and Most Important Broadcast

In the year since assuming my role as host of our radio program, I’ve always looked forward to my time in the studio with my colleagues, Juli and John.

That is until today.

Today’s program, “The Value of Standing for Life,” is probably the most difficult and least enjoyable one I’ve ever recorded. But, candidly, it may be the most important one, too.

Our broadcast today is about life and death. It’s about, among other things, the abortionist Dr.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, pro-life February 11, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Look to the Stonemason

Do you pay attention to detail – even detail that nobody but God can see?

Back when United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts was a lawyer preparing for oral arguments, he would spend countless hours with a pen and legal pad. During that time he would speculate on the hundreds of possible questions he might be asked. As part of the exercise, he’d write down both questions and answers in long hand. He would eventually transfer those Q&A’s from the yellow legal pad to index cards and memorize them in random order.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, husband February 9, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

How to Predict the Future

Yogi Berra once said that it’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.

He’s right – which is why I was so surprised when I began receiving notes from colleagues and friends reacting to my Super Bowl XLV prognostication in this space last Friday. I had actually forgotten all about it.

My prediction:

Packers 31

Steelers 24

Actual:

Packers 31

Steelers 25

“Have any good stock tips?” somebody asked. “Can we call you Jimmy the Greek?” joked another, to which I responded, “No, Jimmy the Irishman.” Yet another wrote, “Vegas is calling.”

“Sorry,” I replied.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, faith February 8, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Update on Chick-fil-A

Back on January 28th I wrote that Indiana University had banned Chick-fil-A from its South Bend campus. University officials were concerned about Chick-fil-A’s donation of food to a marriage conference in Pennsylvania.

In essence, IU was offended that a vendor appeared to be in support of traditional mainstream (biblical) values.

Well, they are apparently offended no more. Chick-fil-A is back at Indiana University.

Raving fans rejoice!

“I heard from many students, faculty, staff, alumni and citizens from across the area, the state and the country,” said Chancellor Una Mae Reck.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, news, pop culture, religious liberty February 7, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Faith at Super Bowl XLV

I think I know who’s going to win the big game.

But first . . .

Over 100 million people will watch Sunday’s Super Bowl contest between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Many of you will be watching for the football. Many more will be watching for the commercials. And some, like my wife, will be indifferent, maybe stopping to catch a few plays or a few minutes here and there.

Jean is like many women, I think.

Topics: Current Events Tags: entertainment, events, faith, pop culture February 4, 2011 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura