Faith & Fast Cars

Posted on May 28, 2008
Filed Under Personal, Focus Ministries | Leave a Comment

The last time I went to a NASCAR race, I was something like 14 years old. That’s back when NASCAR legend Richard “The King” Petty was burning up the tracks. Ten days ago, I was invited by Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) to witness the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint All-Star Race XXIV at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.. I had no idea I’d get to watch the 100 laps of heart-stopping action from the best seat in the house–on the infield! That had to be the most exciting sporting event I’d ever attended.

Before telling you about the purpose of my trip, I’ve got to describe the thrill of being that close to the action. Walking around the garages where some 43 cars were gearing up for the race was breathtaking. Mechanics making their final checks crawled over and under every vehicle like ants at a picnic. Every time someone on the pit crew revved an engine it sounded like the sonic boom of the space shuttle upon takeoff. Frankly, I gained a new appreciation for the guy who invented earplugs.

It was a blast to visit with folks like Joe Gibbs, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Sam Hornish, Joe Nemechek and Kyle Bush. Read more

Steven Curtis Chapman’s Daughter Dies

Posted on May 22, 2008
Filed Under Personal, News Flash | 4 Comments

I have some very sad news to report.

Ten days ago, Maria Sue Chapman, the youngest child of Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was blowing out five candles on her birthday cake. Last night, Maria died in a tragic auto accident in Franklin, Tennessee. What makes this loss especially difficult is the fact that she was accidentally killed by an older brother driving one of the family vehicles in the Chapman’s driveway.

At the time, the entire family was home celebrating the recent engagement of their oldest daughter Emily as well as the high school graduation of son Caleb. In an instant, the festivities turned grim as Maria, her life hanging in the balance, was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. About 6:30 p.m. she died from her injuries.

I cannot fathom the pain this family must be dealing with over their loss. I’ve known Steven and Mary Beth for years. I know they love and cherish their children more than any of the success Steven has enjoyed as a musician. They’re also dear friends of Focus on the Family and special partners in our Hope for Orphans effort.

A number of years ago, Steven and Mary Beth co-founded Shaohannah’s Hope, a ministry designed to provide financial assistance to those who desire to adopt but lack the necessary funds. More than 1,700 families have been helped to date. Maria and sisters Shaohannah and Stevey Joy were adopted by the Chapman’s from China. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Chapman family has asked for any gifts to be directed to Shaohannah’s Hope. If you’d like to “meet” Maria Sue Chapman and share your condolences with the family, the Chapman’s have arranged a special website in her honor.

Tragic events like this remind us how short and fragile life is. Why not hold your own children a little closer tonight. Savor the moment. Look them in the eye and let them know how much you love them. Pray over them. And, as you do, join me in praying for the peace of Jesus to sustain the Chapman family during this time of great sorrow.

Our children are precious gifts on loan to us from God.

Tears & Prayers For China

Posted on May 19, 2008
Filed Under News Flash | 2 Comments

One week ago today, the world woke up to the news that China had been rocked by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Yesterday, the China Seismological Bureau revised the magnitude to 8.0. Whatever the number, the reality defies comprehension. The shockwaves from the epicenter in the Sichuan Province were felt several thousand miles away in Hong Kong. Some perspective: that’s like an earthquake in Los Angeles, California being felt in Atlanta, Georgia. This earthquake was so powerful, tremors could be felt in Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Russia.

Having made a number of trips to China over the years, I’ve been deeply impacted by this disaster. During my visits, I developed a close affinity with the people I met. Thanks to their partnership, Dr. Dobson’s commentary is now aired on China National Radio. It’s been gratifying to see how the Chinese have responded so favorably to his advice. But the thought that some of these friends may have been killed in the Sichuan earthquake grieves me. Read more

California High Court Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Posted on May 16, 2008
Filed Under News Flash, Marriage | 3 Comments

Yesterday, California’s Supreme Court ignored the will of the people by handing down a landmark decision overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The 4-3 decision reverses Proposition 22, which defined marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman. Keep in mind Prop 22 had been passed in 2000 by an overwhelming margin of Californian voters (61 to 39%).

That wasn’t good enough for these justices.

Dr. Dobson reflected, “In 1863, Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address that ours is a government ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.’ Well, not in the state of California, where four imperious and unelected justices have just overridden the will of the voters.”

While New Jersey and Vermont have granted same-sex couples many of the same rights and benefits of traditional marriage, California now joins Massachusetts as the second state to redefine the definition of marriage. I’m not an alarmist by nature. But their decision is genuinely alarming. Think about the implications. I predict: Read more

Where’s God When I Hurt?

Posted on May 14, 2008
Filed Under Personal | Leave a Comment

During the National Day of Prayer (NDP), I sat on the edge of my seat as NDP Honorary Chairman Dr. Ravi Zacharias told the following story. In 1971, when Ravi was a twenty-something young man, he traveled to the war-torn country of Vietnam for a series of revival meetings. Upon arrival, Ravi met Pham Hien, a 17-year-old youth, who gladly served as Ravi’s translator during his stay.

Not long after Ravi left the country, Pham was imprisoned by the Viet Cong because Pham had worked with Americans like Ravi. Locked away behind bars, Pham was subjected to harsh treatment. Among other forms of physical and psychological duress, his guards took away anything written in English while permitting only reading material penned in Vietnamese or French. Their ultimate goal was to strip away Pham’s faith in God—and they almost succeeded.

Unlike today where the U.S. military respects the faith of those imprisoned and, for instance, provides copies of the Qur’an to Muslims soldiers detained in Guantanamo Bay, Pham’s Bible was immediately confiscated. In its place, Pham was given the writings by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, co-authors of The Communist Manifesto. Read more

There’s More To Life Than Winning

Posted on May 12, 2008
Filed Under Personal, News Flash | 1 Comment

My dad was passionate about baseball.

As a young boy, I remember listening to my dad telling stories about the year he played for the Detroit Tigers. As I mention in my book, FINDING HOME, there are two reasons why it’s a bit difficult to prove whether or not Dad actually wore the Tiger’s uniform for a season. First, he’s dead. This, of course, complicates asking him any follow-up questions on the subject.

The second issue has to do with my last name. My siblings and I have discovered that “Daly” may not, in fact, be our real last name. (Read the book for the more complete story!) That said, Dad was as good at playing the sport as he was passionate for the game.

For years my father coached Little League baseball. He taught my brothers, Mike and Dave, how to properly hit and field a ball. By the time I was old enough to play, however, he’d lost interest in showing me the ropes. We never even played catch. Still, I refused to let that keep me from trying out for the local Little League program. I discovered that I, too, enjoyed playing sports. Read more

Dad Died Saving His Daughter

Posted on May 9, 2008
Filed Under Parenting, News Flash | 5 Comments

I never met the man. I didn’t even know him. But his last act has touched my life in a profound way. Here’s what happened four days ago.

With visions of Happy Meals dancing in her head, four-year-old Kaniyah and her dad, Joseph Richardson, left a Chicago apartment for dinner last Monday night. Walking several short blocks to the nearby McDonald’s was one of the simple pleasures she shared with her father, a 39-year-old musician and choir director. With the sun hanging low in the sky, the father/daughter duo talked and laughed as they made their way to the Golden Arches.

That’s when the near-perfect spring evening turned deadly.

They never made it.

Maybe it was the erratic driving of the oncoming red Chevy Cavalier that initially caught Joseph’s eye. Perhaps it was the screech of the tires as the car jumped the curb. Whatever tipped him off that he and his precious little girl were directly in the line of danger, we’ll never know. With only a split-second to react, Joseph grabbed Kaniyah and lifted her above his head so she’d avoid the impact of the car racing toward them. Read more

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About

Jim Daly is the President of Focus on the Family. He has been married to his wife, Jean, since 1986. They have two sons. The Daly family resides in Colorado Springs. Finding Home represents Jim's musings on work, family and faith.