Current Events Archives - Page 2 of 67

Did the Pilgrims Really Wear Hats with Buckles?

Despite the seemingly unprecedented animosity directed towards people of Christian faith these days, religious persecution is not a new concept.

The Pilgrims who first established the Plymouth Colony in 1620 had encountered more than their fair share of religious bias prior to leaving England. They came here seeking religious liberty—one of the very same principles that would later be enshrined in our Constitution.

I recently had the opportunity to interview an expert on the Pilgrims for the Focus on the Family Broadcast.

Topics: Current Events/ Family and Home November 21, 2018 by Jim Daly

CBS Sunday Morning Show Left Out Jeff Johnston’s Powerful Testimony About Leaving Homosexuality

CBS Sunday Morning recently ran a story about what they called “conversion therapy” – a vague, broad term used by opponents of professional therapy or spiritual support for those with unwanted homosexuality.

They depicted some pretty extreme and even abusive practices. They also interviewed our staff member Jeff Johnston. Unfortunately, they left out an important detail about his background. Let me allow him to explain:

You’d think that a segment critical of therapy for unwanted homosexual attraction would at least acknowledge there’s another side to the story – especially when one of the people you’re interviewing has a powerful testimony about how counseling for his unwanted same-sex attraction did, in fact, contribute to his journey away from homosexuality.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, homosexuality, news November 14, 2018 by Jim Daly

EXCLUSIVE: Inside the Investiture Service of Justice Brett Kavanaugh

By: Tim Goeglein

The late/great novelist Tom Wolfe once posited that there would arrive a moment where fiction would lose its relevance because the reality of American life was so much more compelling and, at turns, unbelievable.

Such was the week or so after the midterm elections in Washington DC. It was a little like living inside a dynamic, almost surreal novel.

On Capitol Hill, the balance of power shifted from red to blue in the House of Representatives.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, government, supreme court November 9, 2018 by Jim Daly

The Election is Over. Now What?

The dust is beginning to settle after yesterday’s historic mid-term election. Politicos and pundits have been analyzing and dissecting the results, some of which are not yet final as ballots continue to be tallied. Earlier today, President Trump conducted a dramatic, combative and at times, explosive press conference from the East Room of the White House where he weighed in on the “split decision” rendered by the American people.

As I mentioned in my initial statement last evening, the outcome included both good news and bad news for Christians concerned about the family, the sanctity of life, religious freedom and free speech.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, government, news November 7, 2018 by Jim Daly

Jim Daly Statement on Mid-term Election Results

It appears that many of the pundits were correct when they predicted that Republicans would hold their majority in the U.S. Senate while Democrats would gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. This result is both good news and bad news for Americans concerned about the family, the sanctity of life, religious freedom and free speech.

The very good news is that it appears the U.S. Senate can continue to forge ahead with confirming the excellent judges the President has been nominating for the federal bench, almost all of whom have been constitutionalists, such as Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, government, news November 6, 2018 by Jim Daly

Four Important Reasons to Vote in This Year’s Mid-Term Election

The midterm elections are upon us, and once again issues that Christians care about are front and center, reflected in the positions of candidates and their political parties.

Voters of all political persuasions are motivated to vote this year, and polls suggest many races are so close that no one can predict what will happen.

As the experts always note, turnout will be key.

If you haven’t already early-voted yet, I urge you to make sure your voice is heard tomorrow.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, government, voting November 5, 2018 by Jim Daly

The Ordinary Voter Has Extraordinary Power

Outside of the Bluegrass State, the death of former Kentucky United States Senator Walter D. Huddleston earlier this month didn’t register many headlines. The 92-year-old broadcaster-turned-legislator, ill for several years, passed away quietly in his sleep.

First elected to the United States Senate in 1972, Huddleston, a moderate Democrat, eventually lost his bid for reelection in 1984 when a 44-year-old Republican judge named Mitch McConnell narrowly defeated him in a hotly fought contest.

Narrowly defeated is an understatement.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, government, policy, voting October 31, 2018 by Jim Daly

Halloween Safety Tips for Families

Does your family go trick-or-treating?

It’s one of those issues good Christians can (and sometimes do) disagree on. In previous years, I’ve written about how Christians tend to think about Halloween in one of three ways:

They enjoy it, focusing on the fun and candy part of it.
They amend it, so their children can enjoy activities like a “harvest festival” or “trunk or treating” at church.
They ignore it by not acknowledging the day in order to remain true to their convictions.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, parenting October 25, 2018 by Jim Daly

The Death of Civility

Earlier this week former First Lady and Democrat candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, made an astonishing statement. In fact, I believe that it succinctly sums up the dangerous and dysfunctional state of today’s American political affairs.

“You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about,” Mrs. Clinton told a reporter.

One day later, the former attorney general, Eric Holder, echoed Mrs. Clinton’s endorsement of incivility and potentially even mob violence by suggesting it was time for Democrats to act “tough.” Playing off of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s famous declaration during the 2016 presidential campaign, Holder said bluntly, “When they go low, we kick ‘em.”

This past summer, Democrat Representative Maxine Waters, one of the most liberal members of Congress, had urged supporters to physically harass Republican officials with whom they disagree.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news October 11, 2018 by Jim Daly

650K Students Set an Example for the Nation—One of Hope, not Division

While the national media focused on D.C.-based controversies and character smears last week, at least 650,000 students were busy setting a different kind of example in their schools.

Courageous youth—kindergarten through college age— celebrated Bring Your Bible to School Day, an annual, religious-freedom event for students sponsored by Focus on the Family on Thursday, Oct. 4.

They shared their faith by highlighting its source—the Bible, sharing God’s Word with classmates throughout the day and talking about their experience on social media using the hashtag #BringYourBible.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, kids, religious liberty October 10, 2018 by Jim Daly