Current Events Archives

Two Lessons I Learned from Richard DeVos

How does one possibly sum up a life as full and as fruitful as businessman and philanthropist Richard DeVos, the Amway co-founder and friend and supporter of many evangelical Christian efforts and organizations, including Focus on the Family, who died yesterday at the age of 92?

“The Lord was good to me and I gotta go out and try and tell how good God is,” Mr. DeVos recently reflected. “I’d like to be remembered by enjoying the time we were given here by loving what the good Lord gave us, and we did the best we could with it.”

I was honored to spend a very small fraction of Richard DeVos’ time with him, shortly after I had become president of the ministry.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith September 7, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Kavanaugh’s daughters should not have to watch their dad being bullied — When is all of this going to stop?

Have you been watching or reading anything related to the Judge Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings?

Sadly, yesterday’s proceedings devolved into chicanery and chaos. In fact, it got so bad that Judge Kavanaugh’s daughters had to be escorted out of the room.

I had the opportunity to react to this spectacle for FOX News. Click here to read my comments – and please let me know what you think.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, pop culture, religious liberty September 5, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

It’s Legal to Bring This to School

It’s that time of year again when parents and kids are checking their back-to-school lists twice before heading out the door:

Three-ring binder? Check.

Pencil sharpener? Check.

Lunch bag? Check.

The Bible?

Yes.

The Bible is now a must-have school supply for students like Ethan, who considers it essential for surviving the school day.

“When you have the Bible right out in front of you … when it’s sitting out on the corner of your desk, or in your backpack,” said Ethan, a 16-year-old student in Colorado, “it’s a constant reminder of what God has in store for you and to do what God wants you to do, rather than doing things off of your own selfish ambitions.”

Ethan was just one of the half a million students who participated last year in Bring Your Bible to School Day—an annual, religious-freedom event for students sponsored by Focus on the Family.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, religious liberty August 29, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Senator McCain’s Death Teaches Us About Life

Saturday’s death of John McCain marks the close of a long and remarkable life. The Arizona senator and famed Vietnam war hero was a committed public servant who honorably served his country over the course of the past six decades.

The senator’s reputation as a “maverick” resulted in political sparring from time to time, especially within his own Republican party, and even within our own circle of social conservatism. But despite his sometimes unpopular positions, Senator McCain engaged his opposition or detractors with good manners and good taste.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy August 27, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Guest Post: Five Questions & Answers About Today’s Schools

My colleague, Public Policy’s Director of Education, Candi Cushman, recently answered some questions about the public schools that were posed to her from Decision Magazine. I thought you would find her answers both enlightening and interesting.

On a related note, if you are a parent of a school-age child, I hope you’re aware of our upcoming, Bring Your Bible to School Day. It’ll be on Thursday October 4th. It’s not too early to register and participate in some of our pre-event promotion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, religious liberty August 24, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Democrat Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is Right

Earlier this month, the city of Chicago made headlines when 74 people were shot in a single weekend in numerous incidents and neighborhoods. As of today, 12 of those wounded have died.

Sadly, rampant crime in the Windy City is not a new phenomenon. During the July 4th holiday weekend in 2017, 101 people were shot, 14 of whom died.

For years, liberal commentators have been attributing the rise in violence to guns – or easy access to them, inadequate laws, insufficient government spending, drugs and the proliferation of gangs.

Topics: Current Events Tags: discipline, family, news, parenting August 22, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

In Praise of Law Enforcement

Colorado Springs residents woke up earlier this month to the difficult and upsetting news that a police officer had been shot, a victim of a targeted assault just east of the city’s downtown area.

Cem Duzel, a 5-year veteran of the force, remains hospitalized and in critical but stable condition. A native of Long Island, New York, the Turkish-American patrolman has been described by friends and colleagues as “quiet,” “kindhearted” – and “one tough cookie.”

Since news of the shooting, support and prayers for the wounded officer have been pouring in from all over the world.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, policy August 14, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Is This the Best Ad You’ve Ever Seen?

Buzz surrounding television commercials is usually reserved for the Super Bowl, and for good reason. For last year’s big game, NBC commanded in excess of $5 million for a 30-second advertisement.

But I have to tell you, I saw a spot the other day from Gillette that put a lump in my throat and a smile on my face.

Yes, it’s an ad for a new razor, of which there are many, but it’s a lot more than a company simply hawking its wares.

Topics: Current Events Tags: family, relationships August 8, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Jim Daly Praises New Religious Freedom Task Force

We are pleased by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement of the creation of a new Religious Liberty Task Force within the Department of Justice designed to promote and protect the freedom of people of faith.

Freedom of religion is considered to be our “first freedom,” not simply because it is the first guarantee contained in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but also because it is the freedom upon which our nation was founded and the national heritage that gives deeper meaning to our other freedoms.

Topics: Current Events Tags: faith, religious liberty July 30, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Did Prayer Deliver the Boys in the Cave?

The agonizing 18-day ordeal and successful 3-day rescue of 12 school-age boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand has captivated the world’s attention. In fact, there is news out today that corporate executives are already negotiating book and movie rights to the story. You can be sure that both will be blockbusters, maybe even by next summer.

Throughout the nearly three-week ordeal, both social and traditional media were replete with calls for prayer – for the boys, their coach and the Navy Seals who ultimately coordinated and assisted in their dramatic rescue.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, pop culture July 11, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura